• Chapter Two: Race of the Pegasi •

…

Rainbow Dash woke up abruptly, feeling the light of a new day showering down on her skin. She sat perched under the covers of the bed, admiring the warmth for a few moments, before reluctantly getting up and stumbled her way out of the room. She made her way to the 'kitchen' and ate some cereal out of the packet. It was out of date, but the only thing really wrong with it, was the fact that it was very stiff. She considered it crunchy instead to get over the the bits of flakes, hard as rocks, grinding against her teeth. She yawned, and stretched her muscles. She worked her way outside, and trotted along the alleyway lazily. She wasn't really sure what she was going to do, now that she had lost her job. All she knew was, her parents didn't know yet and she had to keep it that way.

"Dashie! Hold up!" She only knew one pony who used that nickname on her, and she peered up to see Soarin in the sky above her, soaring down excitedly holding a piece of paper in his mouth. It was flapping all over the place, and Rainbow Dash was surprised the flier hadn't torn apart yet. He descended to the ground beside her.

"What is it?" She asked, sitting down on her rump, wondering why the colt had got up so early in the morning to see her, and why there was a piece of paper in his jaws.

"Read this!" He handed her the flier, and she zipped through the writing. She scanned the text, skipping unimportant things and mumbling some sentences which interested her.

"Flying competition... Who is the most competitive... Prize bits... 60,000 bits? Omigoshomigoshomigosh!" She dashed into the air excitedly. And flew down and hugged Soarin, too excited to control herself. "Do you know what this means? 60,000 bits is enough to keep my whole family up! Soarin thank you so much! Thank you!" She squeezed him again.

"Can't... breathe..." He choked. She didn't care though. Only hugged him tighter, before flying into the air again. "I have to enter! I have to win! This is for the sake of my family! Thank, you Soarin!" She squealed, before she descended back down to the ground.

Soarin had regained his breathe and the pale blue colt smiled, "no problem. I know you need this. I found the flier in Cloudsdale this morning, and I know that you and your family need the bits, so I brought it straight here," he replied.

Rainbow Dash frowned, "what if I don't win?"

Soarin laughed, "everypony thought I was the fastest pony in Equestria. I thought I was too, until I met you. Of course you'll win!"

She smiled at him, "that doesn't mean I shouldn't practise. Are you going to enter too?"

He shook his head, "you need this more than me."

"Well then... do you want to be my trainer?" She asked, giving him puppy dog eyes.

He hesitated, "I don't know..."

"Please?" She begged, making her face look even more sad.

He sighed, "fine. Now give me twenty wingups!" A fake strict expression burst across his face, but it was overpowered by a smirk.

She laughed. "Let's go to the gym in Cloudsdale first." The two pegasi had a race to Cloudsdale, this time Soarin beat her. Rainbow Dash complained that a bit of cloud went in her eye, and that was the only reason why he won. When they reached the gym, Rainbow Dash eagerly did all the exercises he commanded her to do. Then they went outside and she flew laps. The competition was tomorrow, and the judge was some pony named Turquoise Gem, or whatever. Rainbow Dash had never heard of her, but she knew this pony must be rich, considering she was giving 60,000 bits to the winner. By the end of the day, both Rainbow Dash and Soarin were exhausted, and they went to the same café they went to yesterday and again, got two chocolate milkshakes and chatted.

"You'd better win tomorrow," Soarin mentioned, slurping up a bit of his milkshake.

"There's probably going to be lots of competition though..." Rainbow Dash frowned, with a doubtful expression on her face.

"Rainbow Dash- you are the most competitive pony I know! Not to mention you're the only pony who comes close to beating me. You'll do fine!" He smiled.

She nodded and smirked, "close to beating you? One more race and I swear I'll be in the lead!"

"You're on!" He returned her smirk. After they had finished their milkshakes, they zoomed back down to earth. Rainbow Dash won, because Soaren claimed he got a bit of cloud in his eye, and that was the only reason she had won. Sure.

…

Rainbow Dash woke up, and instantly she jumped out of bed, not as relaxed as she had been yesterday. She stretched her wings, and preened her feathers, before she was certain she was ready to go outside. She grabbed an apple from a bin she used as a bench, and trotted outside, taking a bite into the delicious, red fruit.

She took another bite, "Soarin, I know you're out here! Show yourself!" She called. There was only silence. She sighed, and lazily sat down.

Boom! A slash of lightning dipped it's way down, and singed the earth, right next to her hooves. The charred ground began to smoke.

"What?" Rainbow Dash jumped in surprise, her rump no longer on the ground, and she stood into a defensive stance. There was the sound of historical laughing above her, and she looked up to see Soarin sitting on a storm cloud, peering over the edge of it.

"Haha... You... Haha... Should have seen your... Haha... Expression!" He laughed in between his words he managed to choke out.

"Very funny," she rolled her eyes, and flew up, sitting on the storm cloud next to him. "But I don't think nearly giving your friend hiccups before she is about to do a race which basically is the pathway to her future, is the wisest idea," Rainbow Dash muttered.

"But it was so funny!" He was finally calming down from his amusement.

"Oh, I am going to get you back, that's for sure," she grinned at him smugly, "you mess with karma, oh I will give you karma!"

He gulped, before grinning, "ok, let's get to Cloudsdale. Cloudsdale is where Turquoise Gem is holding the competition, and there are already pegasi lining up to get their names down in." Rainbow Dash nodded, and the two friends flew up to the sky. They weren't racing this time. They were just flying swiftly, side by side, enjoying each other's company. Finally they reached Cloudsdale, and Soarin wasn't lying. There were dozens of pegasi sitting in the line, waiting for their names to be put down. The pony writing down the names was a yellow pegasi, with a turquoise mane. That must be the judge, Rainbow Dash thought. She rapidly made her way to the back of the line, beating another group of pegasi to it. The wait was forever, but at least she had Soarin's company. They chatted for a bit, until finally, Rainbow Dash reached the front of the line. She gave a broad smile to the coach, but the strict pegasi didn't even look up.

"Name," Turquoise Gem muttered. There was no enthusiasm to her voice.

"Rainbow," Rainbow Dash replied.

The yellow pegasi looked up, her eyes piercing, "full name."

"Rainbow Dash!" The cyan filly gulped. This mare was scary. She was glad to get away from the glaring eyes.

As she walked out of the line, a number was given to her. They basically just spray painted it onto her flank, much to her annoyance. She had been looking forward to showing off her Cutie Mark of a a rainbow, shaped like a lightning bolt of three colours; red, yellow and blue, swooping out of a cloud. Oh well. Rainbow Dash's number was 68, and she trotted to the change room to get prepared. Soarin wasn't allowed in the change room because he was a boy.

"Hey Rainbow Dash! Oh wow! Are you going to be racing? I am so excited to watch you win!" An orange filly with a crazy purple/pink mane trotted up.

"Scootaloo!" Rainbow Dash liked Scootaloo. She was a lot younger than Rainbow Dash, but she was cool. "Thanks! I am really nervous for the race though..."

"Don't be. Everyone knows you are going to win! You are the greatest flier in Equestria!" Scootaloo smiled.

"Thanks," Rainbow Dash replied, and watched the filly trot away. Her attention was caught by a speaker up ahead.

"Could all racers please make their way to the starting track, I repeat, could all racers please make their way to the starting track?" The voice boomed. It was slightly static, but it was audible.

"That's my queue," she muttered, and followed a bunch of other pegasi to the track. Rainbow Dash peered at all the numbers on the pony's flanks. The highest number she could see, was 84. The racing course must be huge, to be able to fit 84 pegasi on it! Rainbow Dash eagerly trotted up, where all the pagasi were massing. She soon found out it was around Turquoise Gem.

"The rules are, you must line up in the order of your numbers on the racing track. You are not allowed to do anything to your fellow racers, and you must complete all the obstacles- or you will be disqualified. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am," all the pegasi shouted, including Rainbow Dash. The cyan filly gulped.

"Ok. Line up in front of me, in your number orders," Turquoise Gem boomed. Number one was quick to follow commands. She was a purple pegasi with an orange mane. Next number two came, number three, and so on.

"Number 66? Are you here number 66?" Turquoise Gem peered around, until finally, a white colt with a yellow mane trotted up and lined up. "67?" A pink mare with a green and yellow mane was there quickly, with a huge grin on her face.

"68?" That was Rainbow Dash, and the cyan filly with the rainbow mane hopped up excitedly, and lined up behind 67. 69 soon came; a green mare with a purple mane.

"Aren't you a bit too young to be racing?" Asked 69, a hint of amusement in her voice. She glanced down at the cyan filly with the rainbow mane, snorting in satisfaction.

Rainbow Dash peered up and shook her head, "no?"

The mare laughed. "See you at the finish line... Tomorrow!"

Rainbow Dash held her anger. There was no point fighting. None of these ponies knew that she wasn't just the average filly. She had more speed than an above-average full-grown mare, and she didn't care what these ponies thought. Eventually every pony had lined up, and they were making their way to the track. Rainbow Dash was right. The track was wide. All the ponies were easily able to fit across it. Rainbow Dash scanned the crowd, until her eyes finally rested on a pale blue colt with a crazy dark blue mane. He was looking back at her. There was not a hint of doubt on his face, and Rainbow Dash filled up with determination. She knew she could do this.

"Good luck," she smiled sweetly at 69, but showed a hint of competition in her eyes.

The green mare just held her head high. "I won't need it, filly. You're the one that needs the luck here."

"Yes because I'm just a poor, defenceless little filly, who doesn't even know how to fly. Oh, thank you for the insults, but I think I can fly better without them," Rainbow Dash replied smugly. The mare didn't reply, just gave a huff of disapproval. Rainbow Dash turned to 67, who seemed kind enough.

"Good luck!"

67 looked down, and smiled, "thank you! Good luck to you too!"

Rainbow Dash turned her attention to the track, and examined it. It wasn't too complex. It did have a few obstacles, and sudden swerves, but nothing Rainbow Dash couldn't handle. She got into a take off stance, her head low, and her wings spread out competitively.

"On your marks..." Turquoise Gem began. Rainbow Dash kicked the cloud with her hoof, and breathed out the air.

"Get set..." Rainbow Dash spread out her wings even further, so the muscles were aching.

"Go!" With a trail of rainbow behind her, Rainbow Dash was a blur, as she zoomed across the starting line. She flapped her wings as fast as she could, and she angled her body so the wind would whip off it; instead of it, buffeting into her body. Every ounce of competitiveness was flowing through Rainbow Dash's veins. Her feathers brushed slightly against a pair of wings beside her. She turned around. Another pegasi was flying neck and neck with her. It was number 7, who was a white pegasi mare with a blue and purple mane. The two ponies were in the lead.

"Hey... You're quick for a filly," the mare said, smiling devilishly at her.

"Thanks... You're alright for a mare I guess," Rainbow a Dash replied, making her voice sound hesitant, which only made the mare a bit annoyed, much to Rainbow Dash's pleasure. The first of the obstacles were approaching the two. This was where Rainbow Dash's smallness would come in use. She would easily be able to zip through the narrow obstacles because she was smaller, whilst the larger pegasi would struggle with certain ones. Rainbow Dash flapped harder, as the first hoop of cloud approached her. Rainbow Dash flattened her wings to her body and spun around in a circle in the air, as she whooshed her way through it with ease. She steadied herself from the circling, and flapped her wings again, increasing in speed. Several more hoops were ahead of her, and she was easily able to zip her way through them. Number 7 was behind her, struggling slightly, much to Rainbow Dash's content. The course suddenly swerved to the left, and Rainbow Dash angled the tips of her feathers to the right direction, and she whirled her way to the left. Some more obstacles were approaching quickly. Rainbow Dash flattened her wings to her body again, but flapped the tip feathers slightly, as she whooshed through a cloud tunnel. It was narrow, and she felt some of the sides brush against her feathers, but it was no problem, as light returned from the dark tunnel, as she broke free and went flying along again in daylight. There was a swerve to the right this time, and Rainbow Dash was less fortunate, as she wasn't prepared. She couldn't make the tight turn she had planned, as she zipped ahead. She still managed to make the swerve though, just it took a bit longer to do it, allowing number 7 to catch up. The two pegasi were neck and neck again and number 7 showed no signs of giving up. The finish line was there... There was no more obstacles to Rainbow Dash's disadvantage, and it was a full out flight to the finish. 7 was now ahead of her, her flapping getting increasingly stronger. There is no way I can win this, Rainbow Dash thought, growing sad by every second. My family need this so much... And Soarin would be so sad if I didn't win. She tried to flap harder, but she was gradually loosing more and more energy. She just just about to give up, when a sudden sound entered her ear.

"68! 68! 68!" Rainbow Dash recognised Soarin's voice. "68! 68! 68!" Suddenly more voices joined in from the audience, "68! 68! 68!" Soon enough, everypony in the audience was cheering for the filly. Rainbow Dash listened in amazement. Everypony is cheering for me! Everypony wants me to win! I have to win! With the sudden edge of energy, Rainbow Dash flapped harder than she ever had before. She felt the sound barrier closing in on her, but she wasn't going to let that stop her. She flew harder and harder, the sound barrier about to close in on her... Boom! She broke free from it, and the booming hurt her ears, but she still soared faster than she ever had. She flew right past 7 and across the finish line.

Everyone in the audience was silent, as they stared at the cyan filly in shock. Rainbow Dash gulped. Had she done something wrong? Then a huge applause broke out. Everypony in the audience cheering for the blue filly with the rainbow striped mane.

"What... was... that?" Soaren flew from the audience, next to Rainbow Dash, and she hugged him excitedly.

"I won! I won! Wait... What do you mean 'what was that?'" She tilted her head.

"That boom thing... Where you broke sound barrier... What was it?" Soaren asked, sill in shock.

"It's called a Sonic Rainboom... I've only ever did one other in my life, and that was when I was little."

"Omigosh! You won Rainbow Dash! You won!" An ecstatic Scootaloo galloped up and hugged the cyan filly.

"Of course I did! Did anyone ever doubt it?" She asked, puffing out her chest.

"Well... The time you were behind that number 7, we were a bit doubtful..." Soarin began. Rainbow Dash just gave him a playful glare.

A yellow pegasi with a turquoise mane flew up to the three. Her expression was unreadable, as she descended next to them.

"Congratulations Rainbow Dash," she simply said.

"Thanks! When do I get my prize money?" Rainbow Dash bounced up and down.

The judge smirked, "you don't."

Rainbow Dash, Soarin and Scootaloo stiffened. "...What do you mean... I don't?" Rainbow Dash stepped forward furiously.

To Rainbow Dash's horror, a green flame engulfed the judge. It peeled it's way down her, until a beautiful form stood before them, and Rainbow Dash felt like she was going to choke. There was a gasp from the audience, and everypony went silent, and bowed their heads. All the racers, who had now finished, bowed their heads. So did Soarin and Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash was the only one who stood tall, stiff with shock.

"Queen... Chrysalis..." Rainbow Dash gasped, and she still stood before the queen in horror.

Then the queen began chanting a spell, as a green flame began swirling around Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow Dash, you're life has been such a breeze.

But in the future, you dare threaten Queen Chrysalis- me!

Your name is now Cinderainbow, you're life is parallel.

You will not see light again; I'm changing your destiny.

Rainbow Dash stared in horror as the green flame opened up a portal, and Rainbow Dash felt herself being lifted through it.

"Rainbow Dash! No!" Rainbow Dash heard the voice of Scootaloo as the filly went jumping into the portal after the cyan mare.

"No Rainbow Dash! Wait Scootaloo!" Soarin leapt after the little foal, trying to grab hold of the foal to keep her safe.

"What are you doing Scootaloo? Soarin?" Rainbow Dash screamed them in horror, trying to reach out for the filly and the colt, but she was too far away, as the swirling green tornado whizzed around them. The last thing Rainbow Dash heard was the sound of Soarin shouting out 'No!' At the portal closed behind them and Scootaloo screaming.

…

"Ugh... Where am I?" She touched the ground around her, not opening her eyes yet. The ground felt cold, and dusty. Her hooves ran along something wooden. She kept running her hoof down it until she reached the end, which was full of straw bristles.

"Cinderainbow! Cinderainbow! Wake up you flea! You mongrel! You haven't cleaned the floor, now get up for me!" A high pitched, annoying voice squawked angrily down at Rainbow Dash, ringing through her ears painfully. Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open, and she stared around the room she was in. The floor was glossy marble, and there was a fireplace right next to where she was. She was holding a dusty old broomstick, and the pony before her was a pink earth pony with a purple and white mane. She had blue eyes, and had a tiara perched on her head. Her eyes were piercing as they glared into Rainbow Dash's soul.

"Diamond Tiara?" Rainbow Dash recognised the filly from Scootaloo's class. Scootaloo had mentioned her and had said she was really mean.

"Stop acting so innocent, and get cleaning before you get me infected with your diseases. And use your manners, you mutt. Use thank yous', no thanks's and pleases!"

Rainbow Dash snorted, "you're not being very polite to me right now, diva."

Diamond Tiara shrieked, as if she'd just been shot. "Mummy! Silver Spoon! This thing needs a spank hence, we may as well send her to the grave with her parents!"

Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open, wider than ever before, "my parents? What did you do to them? What did you to to my mum and dad?" Rainbow Dash roared, jumping forward, and attempting to strangle the filly, but the thing squealed, and sprayed Rainbow Dash in the eyes with her perfume. Rainbow Dash dropped to the ground in pain, clutching her blazing eyes. "What did you to to my parents?" Rainbow Dash managed to snarl through gritted teeth. Diamond Tiara only snickered, and trotted up to two other ponies who had entered the room. One of them, Rainbow Dash recognised as Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara's friend. Silver Spoon was blue-grey, with a pale white-grey platted mane. She wore teal glasses, and her eyes were narrowed viciously. The other pony... Rainbow Dash recognised the tyrant queen Chrysalis all too well, and she let out a steady growl at the back of her throat. Chrysalis only laughed.

"Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, honeys... Please go out and put something nice on, while I talk to Cinderainbow." The evil queen's voice was devious and there was a smug expression exploding across her face. How Rainbow Dash longed to swipe it off her with an aggressive buck of her back legs. Something confused Rainbow Dash though.

"Did you just call me... Cinder-rainbow?" She was growing angrier by each second, and she felt like she was going to burst in fury, when she heard the two fillies laughing as they strutted out of the room, their heads high.

"I hope she gets a good spanking. Not one, but two! Actually no, that's not enough! Mum give her a few!" Silver Spoon snickered as she followed Diamond Tiara. When the two were gone, Chrysalis stepped toward Rainbow Dash a huge grin on her face.

"Well I can see you're wondering where you are, you do not have a clue. Well I can explain, to begin with, your whole life is new. Your name is now Cinderainbow, why don't I tell you your backstory. Your mum died when you were born, and I won your dad's heart much to my glory," Chrysalis began.

"Oh, great. Now I have a dead mum, an evil step monster, and two evil step blisters! I couldn't be any happier," Rainbow Dash screamed, tears welling in her eyes. Now let's just wait for what they did to my dad.

"Well your dad died mysteriously, oh how sad we've been. We needed a use for you so we decided to make you clean!" Chrysalis smirked, pointing to the broomstick.

"What does the new name have to do with this, might I ask you snitch. What was wrong with Rainbow Dash you lying, ungrateful witch?" Rainbow Dash took a step forward, and to her surprise her words rhymed. Everyone was rhyming... She didn't understand.

Chrysalis only gave a fake surprised look, "oh you've been cleaning the chimney a lot lately, haven't you seen your reflection? We named you Cinder because of the ashes in your mane section." The changeling queen held up a mirror, and Rainbow Dash peered into it. To her surprise, she was still had the cyan coat, but her rainbow mane was no longer sparked with colour, but grey, and dull, with cinders.

Chrysalis took the mirror away, "and now that you belong to me, the only thing you do is clean, clean, clean. You are my slave you dirty rag, now make this room more spotless than I have ever seen!" With a whip of the tail, Chrysalis was out of the room. Rainbow Dash collapsed to the ground in tears.

"I hope Scootaloo and Soarin are ok."