Every have a writer's high? That moment when you just want to write and not stop? Well I had one and this was born. Enjoy!
Rainbow Dash roared angrily at her latest defeat. Currently she was taking all of her anger out on all the fluffy rainclouds in the sky. Turning what was suppose to be a light drizzle in the afternoon into a clear sunny day. When she was down to her last cloud Rainbow, instead of destroying it, lied down on it and pouted. It was bad enough that she had lost once to Sonic but TWICE! In front of all of Ponyville no less! The only thing she could be happy about the situation was that the Wonderbolts hadn't seen the races. If they had seen the double loss her chances of being a Wonderbolt would have gone completely down the drain. Who in Equestria would accept second best?
"No. NO!" Rainbow shouted
She wasn't second best. She was THE best. She had always been the best for as long as she could remember. Winning every race she ever participated in, not counting the running of the leaves as she was running not flying. That was the case until now.
"He had to have cheated!" Rainbow bargained with herself "His speed had made a wind that slowed me down. Or...or... the sounds his shoes make when he runs disoriented me!"
All that reasoning just lead her back to same thought.
Sonic wasn't a cheater.
And she had lost because she was slower.
It had been a dream come true. Not only had Rainbow been practicing with her idols, the Wonderbolts, she had been accepted into their group! After showing off her more then impressive moves to the Wonderbolts they had been in too much awe to even speak at first. But when they finally did they were practically begging on their hooves and knees for Rainbow to become one of them. Rainbow, of course, played it cool and casually said yes. And the Wonderbolts thanked Rainbow and Celestia above that she said yes.
Rainbow did the last few loops with Soarin and Fleetfoot before completing a Sonic Rainboom as the big finale.
"That was so awesome Rainbow Dash!" Soarin said as he flew over to her along with Fleetfoot
"You have to be the most awesome pony the Wonderbolts have ever had!" Fleetfoot followed
"Aw shucks you guys" Rainbow said, waving a hoof. Their compliments secretly feeding her.
"Hey Rainbow Dash"
Rainbow turned to Spitfire who called up to her from the ground.
"Can I talk to you?" she asked
"Sure thing boss" Rainbow called back and she quickly zoomed down to her
When Rainbow got to the ground she was a little uneased at the disgusted look Spitfire was giving her.
"Wha-whad you need me for boss?" Rainbow asked nervously
Spitfire's look didn't change.
"I don't know how to tell you this Rainbow Dash but...were kicking you off the Wonderbolts team"
Rainbow's eyes widened and her heart felt like it was being stepped on.
"What? But...WHY?"
"I'm sorry Dash but we wanted the fastest thing alive to be a Wonderbolt. We thought you were it until you raced Sonic"
"But...but he's just the fastest hedgehog alive. I'm the fastest pony alive!" Rainbow desperately reasoned
"Pony, hedgehog, it doesn't matter. You still lost which makes you the second fastest. And we Wonderbolts don't associate ourselves with second place"
The words came slow to Rainbow. Her mind twirled as what was happening bucked her repeatedly in the face
"It's best if you just pack your things and leave" Spitfire suggested before flying off with Soarin and Fleetfoot
"Soaring, Fleetfoot, Spitfire wait!" She called out to them
"Sorry Dash, but we have a reputation to keep up. Having second best would just make us look bad"
"No please!"
Rainbow flew as fast as she could after them. But the more she flew, the farther the Wonderbolts and the world went. Darkness surrounded her and all she could do was desperately reach out to light that was her dream.
"NOOOO"
Rainbow Dash shot up from the fluffy cloud. Panting heavily it took her a moment before she was able to process that it was just a bad dream. Realizing that didn't make her feel better. Instead she laid back down on the cloud in a fetal position
"The Wonderbolts wouldn't kick me out for being second. Would they?"
"Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow snapped out of her trance and looked down from her cloud to see Carrot Top desperately trying to get her attention.
"What's the matter?" Rainbow asked as she hovered down to her
"I need someone fast to help me. It's urgent!"
Rainbow smiled "Well if speed is what you need then I can help you"
Carrot Top sighed in relief "So do you know where Sonic is?"
Rainbow's eyes widened and her left eye twitched "Sonic?" she whispered
"Yes! I just said that I needed someone fast!"
Close to snapping Rainbow just simply sped off before she did something she would regret. As she flew Rainbow only seemed to get more angry, what Carrot top said not helping in the slightest. She was so angry and she just wanted to rant. And she knew just the pony who to rant to
"And that's my problem Twilight!" Rainbow concluded
Twilight was doing some calculations on Sonic's speed when Rainbow had burst in and started ranting. Eager to help a friend Twilight set up a therapist room where she listened to Rainbow's full story.
In her therapist attire, Twilight thought it over before finally speaking.
"It seems that you're upset because you're not used to losing"
Rainbow faced hoofed.
"I knew I should have gone to Fluttershy" Rainbow muttered
"Well excuse me. My special talent is in magic not psychology" Twilight said offended
Rainbow sighed and turned on the couch she was laying on "I'm sorry Twilight it's just ever since I was a foal I had never lost a race flying. And then all of a sudden I meet Sonic and my perfect streak is completely taken away from me. And now all of Ponyville, including myself, thinks that I'm now second best"
That calmed Twilight who was now giving Rainbow a sly look "Are you sure everypony thinks you're second best? I know a group of kids, especially a certain filly, that would disagree"
When Rainbow finally understood what that meant a huge smile formed on her face.
"Of course!" Rainbow shouted, taking to the air
Than faster than you could blink she was out the door.
"Thanks Twilight!"
"You're welcome!" Twilight called back before returning to what she was originally doing
With excitement burning her soul Rainbow flew as fast as she could to the Apple Orchards. More specifically the clubhouse that held her fan club everyday around this time. This would be just what she needed to end her anger. Wasting no time Rainbow reached the clubhouse, peaked inside, and froze.
All the fillies and colts, except Scootaloo, where there of course. But every poster, sticker, decoration, plushie, and rainbow wig was nowhere in side. All of which where replace with ones for Sonic. And instead of cheers for her, every single last cry was for Sonic.
"Okay" Snips said at the podium with a Sonic wig on his head
All the others hushed down so that they could hear.
"Here goes the first meeting of the new fan club for the true fastest, awesomest , most spectacular person in all of Equestria. Sonic the hedgehog!"
The rest of the fillies and colts cheered in agreement. That was all Rainbow needed to hear as she flew backwards in disbelief. Landing harshly on the ground Rainbow starred wide eyed at the ground below. First her title, then her fan club, it was all too much for Rainbow. But slowly Rainbow did start to regain hope when she realized one last thing.
"Scootaloo!" Rainbow realized
As quickly as she could she flew all over Ponyville until she spotted the Cutiemark Crusaders near the outskirts of Ponyville. Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, Sweetie with a stopwatch, where watching/timing Scootaloo as she ran from one crudely painted line to the other.
The three fillies screamed as Rainbow nearly crashed down on them in her landing. Scootaloo was especially scared as Rainbow got in her face specifically.
"Hey Scootaloo!"
"Um...hi R-rainbow Dash" Scootaloo responded fearfully
"Why don't you and me hand out for awhile. I can teach you how to fly and show you all my tricks"
What rainbow expected to happen was for Scootaloo to completely freak out in excitement. But instead Scootaloo looked at the ground nervously as she shuffled her hooves.
"Actually Rainbow Dash"
Already Dash knew she wasn't gonna like what came next.
"I was thinking that since I'm still not able to fly, I could take up running like Sonic" Scootaloo explained, her smile fake and only used to try and make a situation brighter.
Something inside Rainbow cracked at that moment. She stood there, unmoving and silent for awhile. Her rainbow mane falling over her eyes.
"Rainbow?" Scootaloo asked worried, reaching out a hoof
Before that hoof had any chance to make contact Rainbow was gone and into the sky. Knowing full well what she was about to do next.
"So I think Applejack is still mad at me about the bet" Knuckles explained
"I think it's the same with Pinkie and I. The only thing she wants to talk about now is the race" Amy followed
Sonic, Amy, and Knuckles walked together in a group though Ponyville as they discussed their similar problems.
"It's the same with me and Dash. We're not having as much fun as we used to before this whole race thing. Actually we're not having any fun" Sonic admitted looking down
Ever since this race was brought up Sonic felt that he and Dash have just been growing more distant. It made him wonder.
"Do you think I should have let her win?"
"No!" Amy and Knuckles shouted in unison
"Look Sonic I know you feel bad and all but bare I mind she was the one who started this whole thing" Knuckles reminded
"And besides" Amy continued "You are faster. Why should you have to hold back because it hurts her pride?"
"I guess you're right" Sonic replied lowly "But still I-"
Sonic was cut off at the sound of something plummeting. Everyone turned to see Rainbow roughly impact the ground. Before anyone could check and make sure she was okay she got up, shook the dust off, and with anger piercing her eyes, shouted so that all of Equestria could hear her.
"LISTEN UP EVERYPONY!" she shouted
Everyone already had their eyes on her. Her shouting gave her their full attention.
"ME AND SONIC ARE GOING TO HAVE ONE MORE RACE. ONE. MORE. RACE. TO SEE WHO THE REAL FASTEST THING ALIVE IS. TOMORROW!"
Rainbow then flew into Sonic's face. Her hate filled eyes striking fear into Sonic's.
"AND YOU BETTER BE THERE HEDGEHOG IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!"
And before anyone had a say Rainbow flew off again to the unknown. No one spoke as they watched her leave. Only moving to small whispers when she was gone.
Sonic, still shocked at what his friend had become, didn't move as his mind tried to process what happened. When he finally came to he turned to Amy and Knuckles who shared a similar expression.
"Yeah...maybe I should let her win this one" Sonic suggested
"What no!" Knuckles shouted, fully snapping out of his trance
"Well you've seen what's happened to her. Maybe if I just let her win this one everything will go back to normal"
"Sonic. Just because she's upset that you broke her precious record, doesn't mean you should break yours to help her pride"
Again Knuckles had a point. But that didn't stop Sonic from mentally debating on what was the right thing to do.
It also didn't stop the growing feeling inside of him that nothing good was going to come from this.