(EQW)
Turns out Sunset wasn’t kidding when she said that there was a race happening in the school carpark. After breakfast, the group of seven had all clambered into Fluttershy’s family’s minivan and had driven to school. Of course, once they had gotten there, the gates were all closed. But Sunset fixed that by producing a skeleton key from her pocket (complete with a skull and crossbones etched into the handle) and opened the gates.
Where she got the skeleton key from, no one knew. But some of the others had a sneaky suspicion that it had something to do with when she was new to this world. In any case, Sunset sure wasn’t shedding any light on the subject when she was asked. She just got a look on her face similar to a deer caught in the headlights and hurried to get out of the minivan.
As soon as the gates were opened, Fluttershy drove into the school carpark, parking in one of the farthest spots there was. It had been part of the plan that was made before they had all left the farm, but there was still some wariness about it. Mainly, there were a couple of people worrying about getting caught (read: Fluttershy and Applejack). But still, everyone piled out of the minivan – Rainbow Dash getting some help thanks to her need of a wheelchair – and started working on their various tasks, also planned before leaving the farm.
The first thing Rainbow Dash did was wheel herself straight over to Sunset Shimmer, who was acting as lookout by the carpark gate. Apparently, the other two contestants already knew to come around to the carpark, but it was the others’ concerns that forced someone to stand watch. Though, who was going to be watching the gate while the race was on was another story.
“ So. Explain to me, again, why we are racing in the carpark and not on a proper race track?” The wheelchair bound girl asked after a few minutes.
“ Because, knowing our Rainbow Dash, she probably wasn’t thinking about the sports centre in the city when she made the arrangements for the race.” Sunset replied. “ And because my skeleton key doesn’t work on the locks that lead to the school’s track field, we have to race in the carpark instead. And before you ask why the race had to be held here, it was because someone had it in their head that because there are two Wondercolts racing and only one Shadowbolt, we were hosting the event.”
“ Right. Why the skeleton key, though?”
“ Dash came to me asking for help after Principal Celestia and Vice Principal Luna both said that she couldn’t use the school field for a ‘personal’ race. Not quite sure how she knew about my skeleton key, but I agreed to helping her find a way into the school. Thus we are here.”
“ And now I’ve gone and thrown a spanner in the works by being in a wheelchair and swapping places with the one who made this race happen.”
“ Well, yeah.”
Silence fell between the two as Rainbow Dash contemplated what she had just been told. Behind them, the other girls were making quite a bit of noise as they worked (though the main source was Pinkie Pie and her excitement despite the obvious tune that Applejack was whistling to herself as she worked). In any case, Rainbow only glanced at the track before a smile formed on her face.
“ Well, you can’t keep me from a race, Sunset. No matter where I am. So I best get to checking that track is ready for me.” She finally said, making Sunset turn to her after having momentarily forgotten that the girl was beside her.
Before Sunset could even open her mouth with any kind of answer, Rainbow Dash had turned around and was already on her way to the finish line. The finish line was really only a line of silver tape on the ground with a fabric flag on either side curtesy of Rarity and Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie was currently still going around the edges of the track and placing down markers for boundaries. Dash kept that in mind as she pulled up to the edge of the track and pulled out the gloves that Rarity had managed to so quickly make for her along with a couple of extra pairs for the other runners. After putting on the gloves, she took another look around.
Over by the minivan, Applejack was helping Twilight with setting up a small table for food and drink that had been brought with them. It was on Applejack’s request that water be available for the racers and anyone else who was watching. Pinkie, however, just had to add the need for food for the spectators for some reason. Her argument was that her Pinkie Sense was telling her that something amazing was going to happen (though no one had seen her twitch or jerk about, so no one was actually sure about it or not. Nevertheless, they didn’t question it).
Fluttershy and Rarity, on the other hand, had finished with the starting area and were now over by the fence into the school yard, working on the old bolt of fabric that Rarity had brought with her the day before. Rainbow Dash wasn’t exactly sure what they were doing with the still massive lot of fabric, but from what she could see, it looked like Fluttershy was painting one particular swab of the stuff while Rarity was being all delicate with cutting strips off it for some reason.
Finally, pulling at her gloves to make sure they were on tightly, Dash lined herself up with the silver tape starting line and closed her eyes for a few elongated seconds. She allowed her mind to let go of all but one thought as she drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out, the majority of her surroundings leaving her alongside her breath. The next breath she took only seemed to reinforce the one thing that her mind was thinking about; getting across the finish line and winning first place.
With a third and final breath, she opened her eyes and leant forward slightly, trying to make herself as streamline as possible. It was a little awkward considering the wheelchair she was using wasn’t anywhere near racing standards, but it would have to do. Right now, she had a race to run. So, with a small shake of her head to get rid of any unwanted thoughts and a few strokes of her powerful arms, Rainbow Dash sped past the starting line, forcing the wheelchair to reach speeds it had probably never knew it could reach.
Rarity’s gloves worked brilliantly. The fashionista had padded the thumb and forefinger so much that they looked like they had mutated somehow, but considering it was protecting her hand from possible damage, Dash was more than pleased with the quick work that had been done that morning.
The wheelchair, on the other hand, really wasn’t what she was used to, and this level of uncomfortableness went way beyond the awkwardness from earlier. To be honest, it had taken the paraplegic athlete a little while to realise that her speed had been cut considerably thanks to the swap. But she put the thought aside and focussed on what she was doing; especially considering she had only just noticed that there was a turn coming up.
Just by looking at it, Rainbow Dash knew it was tight, but she could do nothing about it now. All she could do was swerve to the right in order to turn left, and make sure she was as wide as possible whilst still staying within the marked area. Even then, she was somehow able to sense that her back wheel had slid out of bounds ever so slightly as she reached the zenith of the turn.
Finally, she managed to pull out of the turn without knocking any markers. As soon as she was relatively straight, however, she slowed her speed until she could come to a stop in the middle of the track, unknowing to the fact that she had been watched until someone finally spoke up.
“ Everything okay, Rainbow Dash?” Sunset called from where she stood at the gate.
“ Yeah. Just… turn’s too narrow. Needs widening.” Dash panted in reply as she focussed on returning air to her lungs.
“ Sorry, Dashie. I’ll get right on it!”
With those words, and before anyone could stop her, Pinkie Pie had bounded off in the direction of the minivan in order to get more supplies. And, apparently, the supplies included the two wheelchairs that they had somehow managed to pool together the money to both rent and buy from the local pharmacies. Somehow she was pushing both of them towards her nearest turn with the materials needed to make more markers sitting on their seats. The only thing that the others could guess she was using the wheelchairs for was to help with the widening of the turns.
Rainbow Dash watched her pink, overenthusiastic friend for a few minutes, trying to figure out why she needed all those materials in order to fix a couple of turns. In reality, Pinkie would only need to make two or three more markers for each end, moving the markers that were already in use. But no one knew what exactly went on in Pinkie Pie’s head, so Rainbow Dash just ignored it and turned towards the refreshment table. Regardless of anything, she needed a drink.
“ So. Rainbow Dash is in a wheelchair. Never thought I’d see the day.” Someone called from the gates, forcing Rainbow to stop her advance on the refreshment table and turn her head towards where she had heard her name being called. “ What happened? Forget where the goalposts were?”
That was all it took for Rainbow Dash to turn her wheelchair around completely and start making her way to the new arrival. The girl in front of her had similar coloured skin to hers, but her hair was a deep golden blonde colour, almost like lightning. She also had a glint in her eyes that clearly portrayed her passion for sports as well as a clearly hidden curiosity as to why her rival was in a wheelchair in the first place. But the tone in her voice when she spoke had sounded like a challenge. And that was what Rainbow Dash took it to be.
“ Goalposts have nothing to do with the wheelchair.” The rainbow haired girl replied, a slight growl in her own voice. “ And I don’t want your concern either. I am perfectly fine with how I am now. So if you’re looking for a fight, I can bring it.”
“ Concern? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“ You didn’t have to say anything. I can see it.”
“ Whatever. I’m not here for a fight anyway. I’m here to run.”
“ Well, I’d hate to disappoint you, but we ain’t running. We’re racing… wheelchair style. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with a water bottle.”
On those words – which clearly left the newcomer slightly confused – Rainbow Dash spun around and wheeled herself over to the refreshment stand. And a badly needed drink wasn’t the only thing that was given to her once she got there. Sunset Shimmer could see that Applejack was taking it upon herself to let Rainbow know everything she needed to know about her fellow racers. So, with a quick look to check if anyone else was coming past the school, Sunset decided she needed to follow Applejack’s lead and explain what was going on.
“ Rainbow Dash saw some wheelchair race on the internet the other day and made a bet with Applejack that she could race like that as well as use her legs. It escalated, so now she’s in the wheelchair for the week.” She explained as she stepped up to the newcomer’s side. “ She said she was going to let you and Indigo Zap know that there are now two races, but you know how Rainbow Dash is; she tends to forget things like that, sometimes. Sorry about the late notice, Lightning Dust.”
“ That explains the wheelchairs. But why is Pinkie Pie using them if those two spare ones are for me and Indigo to use?” Lightning Dust replied.
“ The turns were too narrow. Pinkie decided to use them to help widen the turns, apparently. Plus, It’s Pinkie Pie. No one knows what goes on in her mind.”
“ True.”
“ Um, why are there wheelchairs on the track?” A third voice asked, making both Sunset and Lightning turn.
At the gates stood a girl very similar to Lightning Dust. The only differences between them were the tan skin colour and the blue hair. It was almost like they had swapped hair and skin colours. But before Sunset Shimmer could even think about mentioning anything on the subject, Lightning Dust was by the new comer’s side and giving her both a high five and a slightly more than friendly hug.
“ Indy! Been so long!” The blonde haired girl exclaimed.
“ Uh… not really, Dusty. The Friendship Games weren’t that long ago.” The other, presumably Indigo Zap, replied as she managed to pull herself out of the embrace.
“ I know. But compared to what we used to be like, before you went to Crystal Prep and that, it’s been a while.”
“ I guess. Now would someone like to answer my question?”
Lightning Dust looked over to where Rainbow Dash was over by the fence before turning back to Indigo Zap. “ Apparently, it was Dash’s idea.”
“ Right…” It was clear Indigo Zap wasn’t convinced.
Sunset decided she had better step in and explain once more. “ She made a bet with Applejack about racing in a wheelchair, it escalated from there so that now she has to be in said wheelchair for a week as well as race in it. Turns out today’s race was in the middle of the bet period so she changed today’s running race into a wheelchair race. We even tried to make it a fair race for you guys, spending all morning just to work things out and all.”
“ Which is why there are two extra wheelchairs. They are for you two to use.” A new voice piped up, forcing the three still by the gate to turn their attentions back on the carpark.
Sure enough, there was Rainbow Dash, sitting with a smug look on her face. Though, how she managed to get from one end of the carpark to the other in that short time, no one knew. However, it was now known as to why she had been by the fence in the first place; both her legs had been tied to the sides of the wheelchair she sat in as well as strapped to the foot stool. And it was clear on the girls’ faces that none of them could figure out why Rainbow’s legs were strapped up like they were.
Rainbow Dash, of course, left them guessing as she gathered a pair of thick padded gloves in each hand and passed them to Lightning Dust and Indigo Zap.
“ Trust me. You two are going to need these. Without them, you can probably say good-bye to the skin of your thumbs. And a tip; close your hand and use your thumbs, you’ll go places.” She said, noticing the confused looks on the other girls’ faces as they took the gloves. “ Oh, and one of you may need to wrestle the wheelchair off Pinkie Pie if you plan on racing today.”
The looks that she received clearly told Rainbow Dash that none of them – and this included Sunset Shimmer – knew what she was talking about. So, she did the natural thing and pointed her thumb behind her. Sure enough, over in the massive space that was beside the refreshment stand was a flying puffball of pink. Apparently, Pinkie Pie had just discovered how fun it was to sit in a fast moving chair, especially considering the fact that one had to power the chair themselves in order to get around.
She was spinning in circles and making herself quite dizzy.
Sunset instantly became worried, not just for the safety of her friend, but also for the wheelchair. Nether one of those chairs was exactly cheap when it came to buying and renting them (one of the pharmacies wouldn’t let them rent out a wheelchair) and Sunset had been forced to dip into her living money in order to pay for most of the second wheelchair. Not to mention the chair that Pinkie Pie was in was quite possibly the second wheelchair considering the chair from the first shop was now waiting at the start/finish line. Especially seeing that the wheelchair that Sunset was now the owner of now sported streamers around the handlebars to help tell it apart from the other.
“ I better go sort that out before she hurts herself or someone else.” She said hurriedly before dashing off to get the wheelchair back.
The three athletes watched her heave, a clear sense of awkwardness starting to settle over them, before turning to face each other. It was almost as awkward as the time that Rainbow Dash had come clean to Fluttershy about being gay. Not to mention the confusion that both Indigo Zap and Lightning Dust wore on their faces easily told Rainbow Dash that she was going to have to explain things. And not just about how to use a wheelchair. There was just one problem with all of this. She hated explaining things.