Between the tears that flooded his cherry-red eyes and the whipping winds that streaked by as he flew, Red Line left the Canterlot Arena District in a hazy blur. Aristocrats and tourists alike looked up in confusion as the living bullet shot by overhead, ruffling their maps and musing their fancy attire. By the time Red was able to arrest the warring emotions of panic and denial within him, he found himself far across the Equestrian capital in an unknown and shabby section of the city, albeit shabby for Canterlot still counted among the cleanest and most upbeat urban area that he had ever seen.
Red sniffed back his tears and attempted to regain some semblance of composure as he calmed enough that his panic and denial were slowly replaced by an embarrassed depression. Red watched for a moment as the ponies below him milled about their daily lives, completely unaware of the turmoil afflicting the pegasus hovering overhead. He observed the relatively plain and unadorned dress of the ponies below as they drifted between the shops and stalls of the middle class district, and as the minutes ticked by Red found himself feeling slightly more at home, if not more at ease.
His heart settled into its normal rhythm and the events leading up to his escape from the Derby Building replayed unbidden behind his eyes. What I really could use now, is some stiff cider, Red thought as he began looking for a suitably discreet area for him to set down. Finding one, Red landed on the roadway with a clumsy thump. Pride shattered beyond his ability to care about appearances, Red trudged down the city street with his head hung low, searching for a watering hole suitable to drown in as he tried to avoid the sounds of the gossiping masses around him.
“...Twenty wing power in five seconds!”
Red’s head sunk even lower on his shoulders as he slogged on, looking left and right for a pub open at this early hour.
“They say you could see the Rainboom from here! Can't Believe I missed it…”
His pace quickened as he tried to leave the chattering ponies behind.
“… Can’t wait to see her in person!”
Turning a corner, Red ran into even more ponies wandering about, gesturing excitedly to each other with the newspapers held in their hooves.
“She’s barely a mare! Just a small town pony working as a weather manager in a place called…”
Red’s breath quickened as he shook his head back and forth, wishing the voices of the crowd away. His silent plea unsuccessful, Red broke into a canter, as if he could outrun the words of those surrounding him.
“...says in the paper that she must have topped out at fifty wingpower!”
“Argh!” Red Line cried in frustration, unable to escape the reminders of his failure. Looking around desperately, he saw and veered off into the nearest shop’s doorway.
A soft chime sounded as he banged the door open and stumbled inside. Red’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim indoor lighting of the shop. As the room brightened, he looked around and saw he had barged into a quiet eating establishment of some kind. The thick wooden booths that lined the walls were mostly full, containing softly speaking ponies who nursed pastries and steaming green mugs. The floor was a white and grey checkerboard, while pastel green shades accented the walls and edges of the furniture. Toward the back of the room stood a large bar area with stool seating. The whole place somewhat reminded Red of a brighter version of the Lazy Wing.
Stepping forward, Red noticed a heavy chalkboard hung above the bar, its surface covered with a confusing menu of alcoholic caffeinated beverages and, of all things, doughnuts. Booze and pastries, leave it to Canterlot, Red shook his head in an amusement that failed to lighten his grim mood. The bar area seemed to be where most of the customers were seated, each sporting seemingly identical beverages. A large tan earth pony was tending, dressed in a cook’s whites. Looking up from spit-shining another green mug, the proprietor caught Red’s eye and motioned him over to the only unattended stool.
Knowing this was likely his only chance for a real drink at this hour, Red took the invitation with a defeated shrug and approached the empty seat. Eager to drown out the swirling thoughts of the days events, Red only absently noticed as he sat between a stallion with the look of a haggard business pony who was staring stoically forward, more lost in his thoughts than even Red, and a cyan mare a few years younger than himself whose head was thrown back as she drained what was obviously not her first drink of the night.
Finishing with a customer across the bar, the stallion behind the counter approached Red with a warm smile. “Heya pal. Nice to see a new face. Name’s Doughnut Joe. What can I getcha?” he asked, flicking his head toward the chalkboard.
Red didn’t bother looking up as he spoke, his tone that of one defeated, “bring me whatever you have back there that’s going to get me where I’m goin the fastest, Joe”
“Hah, you betcha buddy. I’ll mix up something special,” Joe said, quickly taking a few more orders before he turned back toward the rear of the bar and started pulling down bottles from the fully stocked shelves.
“Woah, Sounds *hic* serious. You ok pal?” A bold feminine voice sounded to his left. “This is usually a friend of mine’s thing, but since she’s not here, you wanna tell me what's up?
Turning toward the sound, Red took his first real look at the cyan mare who sat beside him. Wow, are you lucky Spectrum isn’t here. Red remarked to himself as he noticed the attractive pegasus. The lean, toned muscles, athletic poise, and striking magenta eyes did the mare a world of favors, but it was her mane and tail which caused Red Lines mouth to gape slightly. A prismatic spectrum flowed from her boyish bangs and cascaded all the way down her neck. Her tail flourished behind her in the same brilliant rainbow pattern. Ol’ Spec would probably drop to a knee and propose on the spot. Red shook his head again as he pulled his mind back to his troubles.
“No thanks, I’m just here for the drinks” Red said, a little sharper than he meant to. He chastised himself for snapping at a nice mare who was likely only trying to help a fellow pegasus who was obviously upset, but he was already deep enough into self loathing that this additional admonition did little to change his mood.
“Ok pal, suit yourself,” The prismatic mare turned back with a shrug as Joe reappeared with a tray of steaming mugs balanced on one hoof.
Panting as she zipped from block to block above the bustling city streets in her search, Wild Fire’s eyes locked onto the familiar form of a lavender pegasus as he sped toward her. Weary muscles flexed with new vigor as she rushed out to meet him. “Any sign of Red?” she asked breathlessly.
Still trying to catch his breath after his frantic flight, Spectrum could only answer by shaking his head in defeat.
“Argh!” Wild Fire bucked her hind legs in frustration, sending an unfortunate nearby road sign spinning off into the distance. “He could be anywhere! What are we going to do?”
His heaving chest finally slowing into a normal rhythm, Spectrum took a moment to look up at the Sun as it trekked across the sky before he spoke. “I...I think we had better get you back to the Derby Building, my dear. The registry window will be closing soon.”
Wild Fire shook her head in surprised anger. “What? What the buck are you talking about? Red is out there somewhere! He's going to miss the biggest race of his career if we don’t find him! Not to mention that he just found out the goal he’s been working his whole life for doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in Tartarus of happening! Who knows what he’s doing right now!” she said, her hooves stomping noiselessly in the air.
“Wild Fire… Fi, please.” Spectrum hovered over and placed a hoof on his friends shoulder, arresting her frenetic gaze with his own steady one. “It is obvious that Red does not want to be found right now, and considering his abilities, there is no way that I can think of for us to do so. Not until he is good and ready. We will find Red Line, I promise you; but first lets make sure that you don't miss the most important race in your career, ok?”
Wild Fire’s tensed muscles began to relax as she took strength from her friends calm reassurance, but she still shook her head. “Spec, We can’t just let him throw this away,” she said, head hung low.
“Don’t worry, my dear. We will think of something.” Spectrum said as he took her hoof in his and turned them back toward the Derby Building.
*** Five Days Later ***
The now familiar chime was rung out softly as Red Line pushed open the door and again entered the coffee shop. Coffee shop, pub, or bakery? I’ve been coming here for a week now and still have no idea what to call this place, Red mused to himself as he approached the bar.
As he moved through the shop, he absently noticed how deserted the place was. Every one of the booths lining the walls were empty and the usually crowded bar area now held only the familiar figure of the depressed business pony, already deep in his cups and passed out with his head and hooves on the counter. Shrugging at the realization, Red moved to take a seat, habit and his new distracted demeanor causing him to take his usual stool beside the unconscious stallion despite the numerous empty options along the bar.
Noticing his arrival, Joe flashed a smile from behind the counter and began filling his mug. After the last few days, he knew Red’s order by heart. Impatient for his first drink of the day, Red fidgeted as he again took stock of the near-deserted shop. He didn’t remember a time during the last week he spent coming to Joe’s when the place wasn’t filled with chatting ponies using specialty coffee as an excuse for a little early morning alcohol.
Hearing the soft chime once again, Red glanced back toward the door and saw the cyan pegasus with the brilliant prismatic mane enter and head straight for the bar. Red turned his eyes to the green mug which now sat steaming in front of him as he waited for it to cool, not wanting to invite any attempts at conversation by making eye contact. Still, he heard as the mare’s hooves clicked on the tile floor as her confident stride brought her up to the bar. He heard a flutter of wings and felt as the mare made a short leap and landed expertly on top of her stool next to him.
“Hey Joe!” the colourful mare called out to the proprietor as she settled in the seat. “Can I get some service here, or what?” Red could practically hear the grin on her face as she teased the gruff stallion in her playfully bold voice.
Red’s brow furrowed slightly; he had never seen the mare energetic like this. She usually went straight to throwing back drinks at a pace Red Line couldn't help but admire. His head sunk lower on his shoulders, not wanting to be affected by the mares infectious cheer.
“Heyya kid!” Joe called back affectionately as he made his way over. “Whaddya want? The usual?”
“Nah Joe, I’ll just have a regular coffee this time. I’ve got somewhere to be,” she said, voice filled with unmistakable pride.
“Well you seem to be in a better mood today! What gives kid?” Joe asked with a smile as he crossed over with the coffee pot in-hoof.
Red Line took a deep pull on his mug, trying not to pay attention to their conversation despite his own interest. The mare had been sullen and dower every day for the past week and he couldn't help but wonder at the drastic change. Red compromised, tilting his head to watch the scene from the corner of his eye.
“Ah, it was no biggie. I was just really nervous about the big derby tonight. I’ve never seen so many ponies in one place. I guess I was just afraid of letting everyone down,” the mare said flicking her colourful hair back and taking a sip from her mug.
The big derby. A fresh wave of disappointment washed over Red at the reminder. That was the reason Joe’s was so empty. Everyone was probably rushing down to get seats at the stadium. Forgetting himself, he turned his head and looked over at the cyan mare. Ah dung, look at her. I should have known she was a racer. Red Line’s head sunk even lower until errant strands from his burgundy mane drooped down onto the bar, the same torrent of emotions which caused him to duck into the shop a week prior threatening to resurface within him.
“Well good for you!” Joe reached behind him to the donut tray. “Here, have one on the house. What changed your mind?”
Red Line’s ears perked up in spite of himself.
“I guess I just needed a little reminder. Luckily for me, my friend found me just in time to remind me of something I’ve already learned.” The mare said, taking another sip. Joe merely raised an eyebrow in interest, inviting her to continue.
“Ya see, not to long ago I was in a bit of a bad place. I had a competition coming up that I really really wanted to win, but no matter how long and hard I practiced my moves I just couldn't pull them off.” She paused to take a bite of her doughnut. “And that’s a pretty tough pill to swallow when you are are awesome as me. I mean come on, I’m the best!”
Red Line’s mouth pulled back in an amused smirk at the familiar words before he remembered himself and set his face back to neutral. Careful, It’s way to easy to fall hard when you think you stand up above everypony else, He thought grimly.
“Anyway, when it was time to compete, even with all my friends there and the greatest cheerleader in Equestria rooting for me, it wasn’t enough. I was a nervous wreck. Not my finest moment, and if you tell anybody, I'm going to deny it!” The mare raised a hoof threateningly before continuing.
You tell it filly. Sometime or another you have to realize no matter how many ponies believe in you, It doesn't make you special. It just makes it worse when you fail, Red Line thought as he took a sip from his drink.
“So like I was saying, when the time came and I was out there in front of the judges, the crowd and all my friends, my worst fears came true. I choked. I actually did even worse than in practice! In that moment, I felt like everything I had worked for, everything I dreamed I would be one day, was a lie,” the mare said, shoulders slumped slightly as she spoke.
Sing it from the mountain top sister, Red raised his mug in salute before he remembered he was eavesdropping. He turned his head back toward the bar quickly before he was noticed and fixed his eyes forward, although his attention remained on the conversation.
“So that was it. I blew it. I would never get the chance to live my dream. At least that's what I thought,” the mare’s shoulders picked back up and her face lit with a fierce determination and cocky smile that Red Line found familiar but couldn't place. “At least that was until one of my friends went and got themselves in trouble. In that moment, I suddenly didn't care what I could or couldn't do. I didn't care that I had let everyone down. I didn't even care that I would never realize my dream. All I knew is that my friend was going to get hurt unless I could stop it.”
The mare, caught up in her storytelling, suddenly jumped up onto the bar and struck a daring pose. Red Line leaned closer, hanging on the cyan pegasus’s every word, all pretense of ignoring the conversation lost. His interest went unnoticed by the excited mare as she continued.
“And man, you should have seen me Joe. I was amazing! I don't want to ruin anything for you, but I have never pulled off any move in my history as a daredevil that would compare to what I did that day to save my friend. And do you know how I was able to do it?”
Red Line shot his hooves out to steady himself as he nearly fell of the edge of his stool.
“I pulled it off because in that moment, it didn’t matter to me that I may not be good enough to live out my dream. I knew that even if I tried my best and stilled failed, everything would be ok as long as I am with the ponies I love. I knew that all I needed to be happy was to do my very best and be with my friends!”
“Your Right!” Red Line shouted as he bolted to his feet, shocking the other two ponies into dumbfounded silence and knocking the unconscious business pony to his right off his stool in one explosive movement. “You'retotallyright! HowcouldIbesostupid!” Red spoke so fast the other ponies could hardly understand his words as he practically vibrated with barely restrained energy. He leapt up onto the counter and embraced the cyan pegasus using both leg and wing. “Thank you! Thank you so much!”
“Uh n-no … p-problem” The mare gasped as the hug crushed the air from her lungs.
“Uuuuggghhhh” A moan sounded from the unconscious form of the business pony from the floor.
“I gotta get out of here! I have to find Fi and Spec before the race!” Red Line said, releasing the mare and bolting toward the door, yanking it open. “Thanks filly! You are awesome!” Red called over his shoulder as he took off, zooming toward the city center with the trademark red corona in his wake.
As he shot through the air away from Joe’s coffee shop, he heard the rapidly fading voice of the filly behind him.
“See? Told you I was Awesome!”