Chapter Preview: I'll Make A Pony Out Of You!

The first scene for this week's next exciting chapter of AJBS! Nothing but training, training and more training for Stardust under the watchful proud eyes of his teacher, the expectant eyes of the other annoying voice inside his head, and the amazed eyes of his Princess. What new tricks will the human-turned-Earth-Pony learn that'll benefit his journey in the foreseeable future? Enjoy!

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Everything was becoming a blur.

Images like running through paint, nothing more concentrated on than the sound of blue pegasus taunting me, provoking me as much as possible just to make certain I keep up with her speed. The mare in question was also a blur as I rushed by, Balance increasing my speed to a level I hadn't experienced since the time I dressed up as a villain and did battle with the cocky pegasus.

Good times.

Beside the mare were two purple blurs as well, one lavender, the other light purple with green scales, here to assist me with tapping into and mastering these newfound abilities of mine. And all the while, a certain wise voice popped up in my mind.

Physical enhancement is merely a step upwards in unlocking your full potential. Strength, speed, sense, all that comes to you in time and far more. With each passing day you learn and practice, the closer you are to achieving your destiny.

Whatever that is.

Then, spotting the lavender blur raise her limb as a signal, my hooves screeched to a halt upon nearing them. Literally. My own limbs began digging into the ground of the track in effort of stopping myself, creating a cloud of dust as a result from the speed and abrupt halting. Rainbow blew away the dust with her wings, whereas Twilight inspected the stopwatch floating before her.

"Ten laps in thirty-five-point-seven seconds," Twilight stated informatively, inciting Spike to jot down the recond into the notepad. With a smile, the alicorn glanced at me. "An improvement from your last attempt, fourty-two-point-six."

I grinned at the clear pride in the mare's tone. But whereas Twilight was impressed, Rainbow expressed seeming indifference. "Eh, not bad." But behind that mare's shrug, I felt how amazed even this pegasus of speed was. "Got a long way to go before you can match my speed though."

...I wonder. If my strength matches that of whatever I was facing, could the same thing apply with racing?

Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow's response, still smiling regardless before turning to me again. "Ready to try again?"

"Love, I was born ready." Ignoring the pegasus' snort, I prepared myself on the start of the wide track once again. Remember that race track Rainbow used to test other pegasi to prepare for making that water tornado for Cloudsdale? Same track.

Twilight's voice was authoritative, "On my mark... Go!"

Pretty sure I left their manes blowing by the sudden speed. Because holy [BEEP] was I going fast! I still wasn't use to it, having grown more accustomed to being Mr. Incredible than the Flash. The more I tapped into these powers, everything becoming a quick blur again as I passed my first lap, the more I was beginning to realize I was essentially a mixture of Superman and a Jedi.

"You can do it bro!" Ah, Spike, supportive as always.

"Come on, I can move faster in my sleep!" Ah, Rainbow, arrogant as ever.

Are you one to talk?

Are you?

Third lap.

"I beat ten laps in five seconds when I was a filly!"

You know, I remember the time when you wouldn't accept any of their [BEEP].

Fourth lap...

"The Wonderbolts would be laughing at you right now!"

"Rainbow!"

"What? It's true!"

Recall how prideful and independent you were? The man who would do as he pleased, unfazed by the opinions of these lower ponies? What happened to him, I wonder...?

Seventh lap...

"And you call yourself worthy for a Princess, you can't even complete a lap without looking exhausted!"

How the mighty fall. I am utterly embarrassed to inhabit your pathetic mind, boy. Even your Princess is internally ashamed to be with you.

Shut up shut up shut up!

Teeth bared, growing sick and annoyed with Rainbow and Sombra's respective taunting, my eyes narrowed in intense concentration, every bone in my body desiring to prove them wrong, my limbs picking up more and more speed. The irritation, mixed with the determination to prove them wrong, was powering my run, slightly grateful I took off my cape and hat for this.

"Is that all-?!"

Passing them, leaving them literally in the dust, I took secret delight at the sound of the pegasus coughing from the results. And Balance was, once again, useful as ever as I completed the final lap, probably moving so fast that even Sonic would've been impressed.

Judging by the awestruck expressions on their faces. Pausing the timer, Twilight glanced at the small watch eye-widened, stunned. "Sixteen-point-two seconds..." Spike, upon the mare's nudge, broke out of his own stupor and wrote the results down.

And Rainbow... Well, right then I was feeling internal joy and amusement at the look on her face. Retribution, thy name is Stardust.

...Hey Sombra?

What?

Thanks man.

...Make no further mention of it.

"Well it's... It's still far from my own record!"

With a cocky grin plastered onto my own muzzle, I responded in mocking casualness, "Oh I know. But I didn't want to beat the record of 'Equestria's Fastest Flier,' now did I?" Twilight covered her amused grin at the banter with a hoof, Spike was still looking at me as though I were a Power Pony come to life, and Rainbow looked positively fuming at the taunt...

Then scoffed and looked away.