Twilight Sparkle sighed under the waft her wide line of bangs. The purple hair cutting into her vision as if to remind her she needed to get it cut again. Something she could easily do herself with a little magic had she not been so busy lately. It had been a long time since Shadow Shimmer moved into her basement, and for the most part he kept to himself, but as promised to Celestia he went out everyday for a while to meet the ponies of Equestria. Twilight assumed this was to ease him out of his shell and make friends. Though Twilight liked the shy, awkward, and often stammering pony. It just seemed his personality to be like that. Even so he seemed a lot happier now that he had returned to Equestria, and made an effort to find friends of his own. Not that Twilight wasn't his friend, but he needed lots of them to make him feel welcomed within Equestria.
Twilight stretched her wings back as she arched a long drawn yawn, “Spiiike... I'm so bored” she huffed leaning back in her chair. Her long mane wafting the new found feathers on her sides. Ever vigilant reminders that she was no normal unicorn anymore. That now she was a princess with responsibility. Her studies were beginning to rag on her tolerance for work loads as she had been doing said work all day, and had no time to actually hang out with her friends like Shadow was now.
“Well I'm not sure there is much I can do about that Twilight. Your the princess here after all” Spike shrugged at her from high atop a tall ladder wooden ladder. Feather duster in hand as he tended to Twilight Sparkle's older study books that had begun to gather dust. However Spike's momentary high point was brought to an end by a loud bang that rippled the room causing Spike to loose his balance and fall right atop Shadow Shimmer who was just entering the building through the front door.
“Ooof” Shadow Shimmer grunted as Spike butted heads with him on the way down the ladder. “Oh! I'm sorry about that Mister Spike” He said very politely as he lifted Spike back to his feet, and with the duster he dropped dusted the little purple dragon off.
“Oh no its okay... and you don't need to call me mister” He sighed before snatching back his little black feather duster away from Shadow Shimmer. “Maybe you can get “Princess” Twilight out of here. She's been bored all day.” Spike complained in his usual whinny voice before climbing back up the wooden steps of the wooden ladder once again.
“Oh! Yes I've forgotten your a Princess now! How ungrateful of my barging in like this.” Shadow Shimmer said happily in his usual calm and soft young voice. He took a quick bow before continuing on. His soft hooves clopping as he came to Twilight's side at her desk. He recognized her stress symptoms immediately. A common thing that plagued him in his early days of study.
“Ugh! Please don't remind me Shadow... I've been doing nothing but paper work since I got that title, and I'm not really a princess either. I've wings now that's all." she complained as she twitched her wings some. "Then again I guess these wings didn't come cheap.” She groveled looking at the stack of papers in front of her, and proceeded to slam her head on her desk with a moan.
Shadow Shimmer rubbed her back apathetic of her mood, “I know how it is Twilight Sparkle. Ever since I watched you get those wings I had wondered what would have happened if I had been Celestia's student still too. Do you think I'd have been a Prince or something?” He said sharing his usual strange pondering with with what he insisted was still the young new princess.
Honestly Twilight had never considered the fact that Shadow Shimmer was at one point student of Princess Celestia before he was trapped in the Realm of Shadows. “You know...” Twilight began to ponder the idea of Shadow as a prince only to be cut off by another loud bang as the front door slammed again, and this time as Rainbow Dash entered the room Spike once again toppled from his ladder. Though this time completely missing the pony on his way down. Rainbow quickly moving to help the little dragon up, but he lifted a hand in defiance of it.
“No no... I got it” Spike grumbled as he picked up his feather duster while clambering back to his feet. Though it was clear he said so only to attempt to attain a bit more attention.
“Alright Spike!” Rainbow Dash giggled as she clopped on by the little dragon disappointed dragon. She seemed rather happy on this day more so than others. Her smile so great that her teeth gleamed from the light beaming in from the nearby windows.
“Hello Miss Rainbow Dash!” Shadow Shimmer nodded and greeted in a happy manner as her had grown accustomed. Himself smiling back as the light blue mare with a rainbow mane made her way to Twilight's other shoulder.
“Please don't call me that. Miss makes me feel like an old pony” Rainbow huffled rolling large red eyes at Shadow Shimmer. “Hey Twilight! how's it going!” She continued on not really giving Shadow the benefit to respond knowing he would likely say it again.
Twilight grummbled with here head still planted deep into her papers on the desk. The hard wood seemingly muffling her words. “Wow that great, huh” Rainbow blinked obviously being sarcastic about the situation.
“You seem smug today miss... I mean Rainbow Dash” Shadow pointed out as she was grinning again and also posing as if to show off. Shadow Shimmer oblivious to much more than her grin.
“Oh yeah I am! I totally just won first place in the pegasus races!” Rainbow Dash gleamed again posing and displaying the medal around her neck... that Shadow had failed to noticed at the time she entered till just now. “I am totally the fastest pony in all of Equestria!” She beamed again happy as could be.
“Really? that's strange? I just met another pony today who claimed to be the fastest pony in all of Equestria?” Shadow said aloud seemingly confused about his routine outing today. Tapping a hoof to his chin he tried to recall exactly what transpired again.
“Yeah I know I... Wait... Wait what?!” Rainbow Dash shook her head in surprise not expecting anything other than 'Your awesome!'. Never before had someone else claimed to be fastest in the land other than her. She was the inventor of the Rainboom. Nothing can beat the speed and power of the Rainboom. She scoffeled at even the thought. “Who? Would possibly think they are faster than me?!” She scoffed again turning up her snout an a disgusted manner.
“Just today in town I met a pony who claimed that no one in Equestria could beat her in a race. She claimed she was the fastest there was. Though she seemed kinda angry about it. Like no one would believe her or something...” Shadow nodded eyes rolled back to the corner of his socket as he tried to remember his encounter again tapping his hoof to his chin.
“Bah! That's impossible!” Rainbow Dash spat as she shook her head not even accepting the possibility another pony could be faster than the mighty Rainbow Dash.
“Really Rainbow Dash? Is it so hard to believe another pony would or could claim to be faster. Who was this pony anyway Shadow?” Twilight shook her head at Rainbow's brash behavior finally raising it from her desk. She then turned to ask the younger dark purple pony about what who he saw that day.
“Oh! It was an Earth pony actually... Her name was... Firecracker I think. She was a really pretty pony.” Shadow Shimmer answered with a smile and nod.
Rainbow Dash raised her brows at even the idea that a non Pegasus pony could even keep up with her much less win a race over her. More often than not the Pegasi were among the fastest ponies in Equestria and never has a pony on the ground managed to match her own top speeds. Especially when she was amidst a Sonic Rainboom. Rainbow dash had matched wings with other fast fliers in the pegasus world, but the idea of being beaten by a pony on the ground was less than laughable.
“Oh really? I've actually heard of this Firecracker I think. Celestia talked to me about her once when I was visting her.” Twilight said tapping her hoof to her chin now as she was trying to recall the visit more precisely. It really had been so long since she heard about Firecracker that she forgot most of the specifics. It was just casual banter they had while walking through the castle.
“I don't care who she thinks she is! She can't go around blabbing she is better than me!” Rainbow Dash yelled out as she grabbed Shadow by his scruff and began to drag him to the door. “Now your going to show me who this so called faster pony is right this instant”.
“Rainbow Dash she never claimed to be better than you specificly... She just claimed to be the fastest around Equestria. Lots of ponies likely say that kind of thing” Twilight tried to rationalize Rainbow Dash, but the pony had already slammed the door, and again Spike came rolling down the wood ladder like had twice before.
It took another moment of thinking before it really hit Twilight. An image in her mind flashed of a pony figure standing in a forest lit in complete flame and inferno. “Oh no! I remember now! Celestia had to ban a pony named Firecracker from racing because the racing started fires wherever she went!” Twilight remembered suddenly as she went wide eyed with surprise. Then quickly she started to the door to stop Rainbow, but then stopped and bit her lower lip looking back at her desk. “Oh I really should get this work done too though...” She looked back and forth between desk and door unsure what to do. Spike blinked from up on his ladder sighing at the sight of Twilight's typical indecision, “Really?” He groaned half lidded as if the answer was pretty obvious what she should do.
It was still pretty early in the evening when Rainbow Dash arrived in town with Shadow Shimmer still close to her side. The evening sun danced wonders through town bouncing between glazed windows and of the fresh dew of water garden plants. The town seemingly alive with ponies getting their after work shopping done in what was likely a bazaar of some sorts. Ware and food alike sold up and down the busy street. Though really the only thing that concerned Rainbow Dash was finding the pony she heard so much about.
“Alright Shadow were here. Now where is she?” Rainbow dash said glancing around quickly and at the ready like some pony could possibly be about to jump her at a moments notice. Her massive glowing red eyes scanned across the street like a hawk. Even though she had no idea what Firecracker even looked like.
“Well it was much earlier today Rainbow Dash... She might have gone home already” Shadow Shimmer admitted with a bit of a shrug looking about more casually than the jumpy Rainbow Dash. It was then that he spotted a cutie mark out in the crowd. A large horse shoe burning red hot as it was crossed by a the grace of a yellow lightning bolt. A rare cutie mark was beauty to Shadow's eyes and one he'd not mistaken anywhere. “Oh wait! I think I see her over there!” Shadow said clopping out ahead of Rainbow who curiously followed up behind the slightly younger pony.
As the two got closer Rainbow Dash finally able to get a better look at the pale yellow pony. It was an impressive look to say the least. Firecracker wasn't just a pale yellow pony, but one with a unique twist. Her hooves burned a reddish orange as if burning red hot themselves. Even the tips of her ears had this similar change in tone as they drew up the top of her head. Never had Rainbow seen such a unique flair to any pony. Firecracker was still young, but it was clear this pony was built like a brick house. Her legs were like mighty trunks, and seemed to somewhat offset her smaller middle. Firecracker's mane was a straight deep crimson that covered a single eye, and cut inward just were her neck met with her body.
“Hello Firecracker!” Shadow Shimmer greeted from a distance as he trotted up with Rainbow Dash tight at his flank.
“Oh? Hello again Shadow... I didn't think I'd see you again so soon?” Firecracker said looking genuinely surprised at the sudden arrival of someone she had spent most the morning with again so soon.
“So this is the mighty Firecracker!” Rainbow Dash beamed not letting Shadow return the greeting to the pony. “I've heard a lot about you?” The pale blue pegasus beamed circling Firecracker almost as if she was inspecting her all over.
“Umm... you okay there kid?” Firecracker finally interrupted the awkward moment as Rainbow Dash finally got around to the ponies face again almost snout to snout. They stood at equal height though it was clear that Rainbow's lean figure and big wings were built for flying and Firecracker's thick trunk like legs were built for long distance running.
“Yeah I do... I hear you've been mouthing off around here. I heard you think you're the fastest pony in all Equestria...” Rainbow Dash blurted loudly and accused Firecracker face to face. Clearly making a scene to draw the attention of nearby ponies around them.
It was clear Firecracker was none to keen on accusations against her as her expression quickly grew very annoyed, “Yeah... Everyone knows that now hotshot. It's not exactly a topic of debate around town anymore today.” Firecracker gloated with so much confidence that she knew without question none could match any other around.
“Yeah well I didn't!” Rainbow Dash blurted in response flapping backwards into the air to show off her impressive wing span. “Cause I am the fastest in Equestria! Not you!” She continued in defiance and flexed her wings before thrusting herself down and landing again. “Besides no Earth pony could ever match the speed of a true Pegasus.” She giggled at even the though of a pony running faster than one that could fly.
However whatever her intentions may have been they struck a foul cord in Firecracker anyway. A weak spot in her past that made her once annoyed glare deepen down into an angry scowl. “How dare you! Mock me with your stereo types” Firecracker blurted in a furry, and judging by rainbows smug grin its exactly what she wanted.
“What you wanna put your hooves to the test against a Rainboom!? You must be crazier than you look!? The pegasi rule at speed” Rainbow Dash edged on the already raging pony on.
Firecracker exploded as she quickly pounded heavy her hooves against the street beneath her. Each blow cracking the ground into a spider's web and distending it into a deep depression under her.. The blows so strong they created small earth quakes down the street. Jostling about all the nearby ponies and even knocking a few of them over amidst their shopping. Rainbow was caught of guard and completely shocked by the sheer strength of the pony before her. When she finished her ponds into the street, Firecracker billowed a frightening puff of steam from her nostrils and from then on they seemingly billowed the frightening fume.
“You Pegasi are all the same! Telling me I'm no good cause I'm an Earth pony! I'll show you!... Come at Dawn to Apple Acre and I'll show you who's fastest in all of Equestria. Oh! and if fail to show up and I'm there waiting? I win by default.” Firecracker challenged the now much less optimistic Rainbow Dash.
Now having seen the sheer power of Firecracker first hand she wasn't quite sure she had made the right choice anymore. As she watched Firecracker push through the crowd and away from the conversation. All that she could think was, "Ooh Shadow... I think we made a big mistake...”
Shadow who was still nearby felt the need to raise a brow at Rainbow Dash having included him in on her little challenge. “We?” He said aloud sarcasticly as Rainbow Dash scratched at her head not sure still if her actions would get her in trouble.
