Chapter 6
Need For Speed

There is a world record that every pegasus dreams of breaking. For a pegasus, this record means more than life itself. While many pegasus have tried to break this record, 99.9% of them have failed. It is the air speed record. For hundreds of years, this record has been unchallenged. That is until, a pegasus was able to break it. Can you guess who? That's right. It was Rainbow Dash. Around 10 years ago in Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash broke the air speed record with everyone in town present. Included were two pegasus from the Equestria World Record Committee. From that moment on, many pegasus thought that this record would never be broken again. However, there would soon be a pegasus that would come to challenge Rainbow Dash's air speed record. If you guessed it was Skyline, you were right. But what if I told you that his attempt to break the air speed record would result in Skyline going back in time to the Old West? It all began one morning in a place called Flat Plains that was located west from Ponyville. It was also nicknamed 'The Devil's Playground'. This was the same place were Flareon raced Rainbow Dash in his Mustang GT. Skyline was once again training in preparation for tomorrow where he would attempt to break the air speed record in this exact spot. Not only was everyone in both Cloudsdale and Ponyville going to be present, but his mom, dad, and the Wonderbolts would be present too. Not to mention two members from the Equestria World Record Committee. Even though there was already a lot of pressure being put on Skyline, he didn't mind it at all. Skyline actually enjoyed the added pressure. Skyline knew for sure he was going to shatter the record so badly, no one would ever be able to beat it. To help his chances, Skyline constantly consumed cans upon cans of an energy drink called Speed Plus. Skyline was so dead set on breaking the air speed record, he failed to read the labels on the cans that warned about overconsumption. After already consuming twice the amount warned, Skyline flew into the air for his last speed run of the day so he could get as much rest as possible for the big day tomorrow. As Skyline quickly picked up speed, he suddenly began to feel a churning feeling in his stomach. Even though the feeling was starting to cause him pain, Skyline choose to ignore it. He had more important things to concentrate on. As Skyline started to reach his max speed, the area around him suddenly became distorted. It was like the sensation of flying through a tunnel that was constantly shrinking. The farther Skyline went through the strange tunnel, the smaller the exit at the end became. Just then, the tunnel abruptly ended and Skyline suddenly found himself in a desert. There was what looked like a town in the distance. "That's funny. I could have swore I was in Flat Plains," Skyline muttered as he slowed down, "How the heck did I end up in a desert?" His stomach continued to ache in pain. "Dang. My stomach hurts. I think I may have had too much of that Speed Plus stuff. Maybe that town over there has some medicine." Skyline was then shown heading towards the town. A couple of minutes later, Skyline finally made it to the town. There was a sign that read 'Rusty Dust'. As he was walking through Rusty Dust, Skyline noticed something was off. The ponies in town were wearing old-fashioned clothes. Not only that, but they were speaking in an old western accent. "Well...this ain't any town I've known of that's for sure." Just then, a unicorn was seen running out of a nearby tavern.

"That's it! I can't take it anymore!" he exclaimed, "I don't care how good the perks are. There's no way I'm doing this for another day!" The stallion quickly spotted the nearest pony by him, which happened to be Skyline, and ran over to him. He then stuck something on Skyline's chest. It was a gold star. "You can be sheriff! I'm getting the hell out of here!" Skyline could only watch as the pony ran out of town. The reason why the unicorn was in such a rush soon appeared out of the same tavern he came out of. It was a big unicorn with a full beard followed by two other unicorns.

"Looks like you scared away another sheriff boss," the pony on the right said.

"That makes it...the third one this week," the pony on the left said, "Can't you give them some slack? Pretty soon there won't be any left to mess around with."

"Ain't my fault these yellow-bellied cowards have no backbone," the big pony chuckled, "They're so weak they don't even deserved to be called sheriffs. Speaking of Sheriffs...where's the next one at?" He quickly noticed the sheriff's Badge on Skyline's chest and walked over to him. "So...you must be the new sheriff. Other than being an alicorn, you don't look like anything special. I doubt someone like you would last even one day."

"Sorry dude, but I'm not the sheriff," Skyline replied.

"The name's Dirty Dan you little runt," he said with a sneer, "You best learn your manners fast or else you're going to learn why I'm the boss of this town the hard way." Before Skyline could react, Dirty Dan activated his magic and sent Skyline flying into a nearby water trough. Dirty Dan and his friends laughed as Skyline struggled to regain his balance and fell into the water again. After having their fun, they walked away. A young female earth pony soon appeared to help Skyline out of the water trough. She then handed him a rag so he could dry himself off.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah...I'm fine," Skyline muttered, "What the hell was that guy's problem anyway? Stupid jerk."

"That was Dirty Dan," she replied, "Ever since that pony arrived here in Rusty Dust, he's caused nothing but trouble. Dirty Dan has scared away every single Sheriff we've had. This town is in desperate need of a pony who can stand up to him. Please...I'm begging you. Can you help us sheriff?"

"Sorry miss, but I don't have time to help you out," Skyline said, "I'm preparing to break the air speed record tomorrow. Speaking of which, do you know the way back to Ponyville? I really have no idea where I am." She simply looked at him confused.

"Ponyville? Where's that? I've never heard of it. Is that a new town?" the pony asked curiously. Skyline couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You're kidding right?" Skyline asked sarcastically, "Ponyville. How have you never heard of it? Next you're telling me you don't know about Manehattan or Las Hooves!"

"I don't know about those either," the pony replied. Skyline didn't know how to respond to that one.

"Were you born in a cave or something?" Skyline asked.

"No...I was born right here in Rusty Dust sheriff," the pony replied with gusto.

"For the last time...I'm not the sheriff," Skyline said sternly. He then took off the sheriff's badge and gave it to the disappointed mare. As Skyline prepared to leave Rusty Dust, he suddenly spotted something that caught his eye. It was a newspaper stand. Skyline used his magic to bring one of the newspapers over to him. When Skyline saw the date on the top right corner, his heart skipped a beat. It was the year 1887. Somehow, someway, Skyline had traveled back in time to the past. To the Old West. Now it made sense to him way that pony he was speaking to didn't know of Ponyville, Manehattan, or Las Hooves. The problem was how did he end up in this time period in the first place. It was at that moment Skyline remembered that strange tunnel he was flying through. Was it possible that was a tunnel through time? Was he able to do this because he drank too much Speed Plus? Nothing made any sense. Skyline was so deep in though he failed to realize his stomach had stopped hurting. Just then, the female pony walked over to him.

"Excuse me sheriff...something wrong?" she asked worried. Skyline flinched when she touched his shoulder.

"This isn't a joke right? Is this really the year 1887?" a panicked Skyline asked.

"Yes...that's right," she replied, "Why you ask?"

"Uh...no reason," Skyline stuttered nervously. Skyline knew there was no way she would believe he was from the future. Skyline quickly changed the subject. "Hey...um...I didn't catch your name."

"Oh! I'm sorry sheriff. My name is Mabel Crisp," she replied with smile, "It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance."

"The name's Skyline," he said. Skyline soon realized that she told him her name was Mabel Crisp. That was actually the name of Granny Smith's mother. As if Skyline was dealing with enough surprises already. However, Skyline didn't have time to bother worrying about it. He had to return to the future. Nothing was going to stop him from breaking that air speed record. That meant Skyline needed to get this hooves on some Speed Plus. "Hey Mabel. Do you have any Speed Plus? I'm really thirsty."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think we do," Mabel Crisp replied.

"Figures," Skyline muttered, "Oh well...looks like I'll have to make some myself. Good thing I remembered all the ingredients in it. Even though this is the Old West, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to gather the ingredients to make Speed Plus." Skyline then turned to Mabel Crisp and told her the ingredients he needed. For some reason, she seemed concerned. "Is something wrong Mabel?"

"You see sheriff, because of how this town is located in a desert, there aren't a lot of places we can go to get ingredients like those you just mentioned," Mabel replied, "That is why the ingredients we use to make things like food and other things are considered even more valuable than silver or gold. At the moment, Dirty Dan and his gang are ones in control of the Food Bank where the ingredients are being kept."

"So that means for me to get access to that Food Bank and get the ingredients to make Speed Plus so I can return home to my time, I have to get rid of Dirty Dan first," Skyline said sternly. He then used his magic to retrieve the sheriff's badge from Mabel Crisp and put it back on his chest. "Looks like you have yourself a sheriff." Mabel Crisp was overjoyed by this and gave him a sincere hug.

"Sherriff Skyline, do you have a plan about how to deal with Dirty Dan?" Mabel asked, "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that you decided to be sheriff, but Dirty Dan is a monstrous beast. Are you sure you can handle him alone? If you want, I could back you up. I may not look like it, but I'm a tough girl!"

"Don't worry about me Mabel," Skyline replied, "I already know what to do. There's only one way to deal with a pony with an overinflated ego like Dirty Dan. It's time I give him a taste of his own medicine." Sherriff Skyline was then shown speaking to Mabel Crisp regarding his plan. The two ponies soon got the plan into action as the clock above the town hall was about to struck noon. A couple of minutes later, Dirty Dan and his friends were seen walking through town, when suddenly, Skyline appeared before him. Dirty Dan noticed Skyline was wearing the sheriff's badge.

"You need something sheriff? Like another whoppin'?" Dirty Dan asked sarcastically.

"I challenge you to a duel!" Skyline yelled. In response, everyone in town stopped what they were doing and gathered around them. Dirty Dan immediately burst into laughter.

"You seriously think you can beat me? Has the sun already got to that empty head of yours sheriff?" Dirty Dan asked.

"What's the matter Dirty Dan? Chicken?" Skyline asked with a mischievous smirk. You could literally almost hear Dirty Dan grind his teeth together after being called the one word no one ever dared to call him.

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" Dirty Dan shouted. He then signaled for his friends to go away.

"Here's the rules. Whoever loses has to leave this town for good and never return," Skyline said. The crowd gasped.

"Fine by me sheriff," Dirty Dan replied, "I'm gonna beat you so bad you'll wish you never set your hooves in my town!" A few seconds later, Skyline and Dirty Dan were shown standing about ten feet apart as the crowd of onlookers, including Mabel Crisp, were watching in anticipation for the duel between the two ponies. Just then, the town hall clock struck noon and the duel got underway. Dirty Dan was the first to make a move and quickly shot a magic bullet at Skyline. Amazingly, Skyline was able to dodge it with ease. Everyone, including a baffled Dirty Dan, was speechless. Dirty Dan was considered the fastest shot in the west. He never lost a duel. This was the first time he missed. However, Dirty Dan refused to give up and continued to shot magic bullets at Skyline. Similar to before, Skyline dodged them without breaking a sweat. Dirty Dan was furious with rage. "Darnnit! Stop moving you coward!" Before Dirty Dan could react, Skyline fired a magic bullet so powerful, it knocked Dirty Dan off his hooves and sent him tumbling into the pig pen behind him. Everyone burst into laughter as Dirty Dan continued to fall and slip into the mud. When he looked up, Dirty Dan saw Skyline towering above him with a smug smirk on his face. An embarrassed Dirty Dan quickly ran pasty Skyline and straight out town. The crowd of ponies cheered as Dirty Dan ran away. Right as Skyline turned around, he found himself locking lips with Mabel Crisp.

"Thank you so much sheriff!" Mabel Crisp exclaimed happily as she embraced him in a hug. Skyline couldn't help himself from blushing.

"It was nothing," Skyline replied, "I was just doing what I had to do. Now this town can stop worrying about Dirty Dan. I have a feeling he's never coming back."

"You're gonna leave...aren't you?" Mabel Crisp asked. It took Skyline awhile to respond.

"Yeah...I'm sorry Mabel, but I can't stay here," Skyline replied, "Before I go...mind helping me make some Speed Plus? I'm gonna need it for my long trip back."

"Of course," Mabel Crisp said with a smile, "It's the least I could do for you sheriff...I mean Skyline." The two of them were then seen heading to the Food Bank to get started on making some Speed Plus. A couple of hours later, after they were done making a fresh batch of Speed Plus, Skyline immediately began to consume as much as he could until he began to feel the same aching pain from before. After giving back the sheriff's badge and saying goodbye to Mabel Crisp, Skyline flew into the air and quickly left Rusty Dust. Skyline could hear the sound of everyone cheering his name as he left the town. As Skyline reached his max speed, he suddenly found himself traveling through a strange tunnel, which was probably the tunnel through time, once again. Not long after, the tunnel ended and Skyline was relieved to see he was flying across Flat Plains. He was back in the present time. In the end, Skyline was able to break the air speed record once held by his mom. Even though Rainbow Dash was mad Skyline broke her record, she was happy that he was the pegasus who beat it. The celebration for his new world record was held in Apple Acres. Everyone, including Prince Flareon, Princess Twilight, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna attended the party. Along with breaking the air speed record, it turns it Skyline was also the pony who came up with Speed Plus. Though no one, except for Skyline, knew about this.