Race 2: A Atrange Mission from the Cutie Map
At Blue Blood's hideout, Barry had spent the last half hour explaining how he came to be in Equestria. He told of coming from Earth, and of how the Speed Force, a sapient cosmic entity, had gifted him, and a select few, with super speed. He told of how all of his speedster mentors had betrayed him, driving him to despair. He told of how the Speed Force had sent him to Equestria to save himself by having him become a mentor to a speedster whose powers had yet to be awaken. Blue Blood listened carefully during the whole explanation, interrupting only when further clarification was needed.
“So, after our little tiff I went to the library to learn everything I needed about Equestrian customs. I think I have the basics, but I still need help with the details. There has to be a reason the Speed Force sent me to you."
Blue Blood raised an eyebrow. “Do I look like a speedster to you?”
“No, but you’re someone I can trust, especially because you have a secret to hide from those you care about, right?”
Blue Blood simply shook his head, sighing.
“Normally, I would have sent you to the nearest shrink, but I believe you. Maybe the one who needs a shrink is me. After seeing you in action, I have no choice but trust you."
“You should see the other meta-humans, and ordinary humans as well, like my friend Oliver. Have I mentioned that you remind me him? . . . only without the backing of Felicity or the shadow organization A.R.G.U.S.”
“I know; I know. The guy stole my origin story; I get it. Now back to the point, what do you want from me? Yes, you mentioned that you wanted me to be your guide at this world, but what does that entail?”
“Like I said, I’ve learned a few things in the library, such as the history of the principality and the explanation of the few pony races; I even spared a few hours to master my flying. But, I still have to find the speedster. So, I was hoping we could help each other. I help you with your crime-fighting, and, in exchange, you let me use your equipment to detect any anomaly.”
Blue Blood just looked at Barry in disbelief. “You’re telling me that you actually learned how to fly in two days? And you did that thing during your breaks from studying Equestrian history?”
“I'm not just a fast runner; I'm also a fast learner,” explained Barry with half a smile.
Blue Blood frowned as he considered Flash’s offer. Having a little help didn’t sound bad, actually. That night, he been able to retire Caballeron only because of the Flash’s intervention. The Arrow had always worked alone; those four years on that island had required that he be self-reliant, but, during the last few weeks, the criminals had become better. They had been hiring more security, moving their operating bases more often, or even setting traps for the masked vigilante. So, the Arrow’s work had been getting more and more difficult.
“Did you actually learn how to fly in less than a day?” asked Blue Blood again.
Barry winked an eye to the prince and extended his new wings. Tiny lightings bolts arced from one part of his his body to another before he disappeared in a red and golden streak, only to appear right on the adjacent rooftop, waving at Blue Blood.
As Blue Blood's eyes widened, Barry reappeared right in front of him. The speedster grinned. “I told you, I’m the fastest pegasus alive!”
“Indeed, you are. Tell me, can you handle the ledgers for a few businesses?”
“Sure, but why?”
“Because I need somepony I can trust to help with the accounting of my night club chain and my other businesses. I can't hire just anypony without the risk of exposing myself. And, considering your situation, you're in need of a job; am I right?"
“I used to be a forensic scientist, so I should be able to handle a few numbers,” replied Barry.
“So, you’ll be working for me as your cover during the day, and, at night you can help me with those who failed Equestria and also look for your speedster student.”
“Sounds great, but when I find the speedster . . .”
“You’ll quit; I already know that, and I don’t care. You know that somepony like me can’t associate with others for long.”
Ponyville, Castle of Friendship:
Spike grumbled as he left his breakfast to answer the chime for the service entrance. “Yes?”
To his surprise, a bespectacled figure in a gray cloche hat and purple cloak pushed her way past the stunned dragon and shut the door. Spike picked himself up and took a closer look at the visitor. "A. K. Yearling?" he gasped.
The author nodded. Shakily, she said, "I . . . I need to see the princess."
"Follow me," said Spike.
As they entered to the dining nook, Spike said, "Hey Twilight! You'll never guess . . ."
Twilight cut him off. "Miss Yearling? What brings you here?"
Ignoring Starlight and Spike, the author walked straight to Twilight and too her by the withers. "Call your friends; you all know who I really am. I don't know who else I can talk to."
Twilight felt the trembling in the author's hooves. The princess said as she guided Yearling to the table, "Please, sit and have a cup of tea. You're among friends here." She then turned to the others and said, "Bright the girls here; it's urgent."
As Starlight and Spike brought the balance of the former Element Bearers to the nook, they found the author staring morosely at her cup of tea.
Rainbow Dash gave voice to what the others were thinking. "A. K. Yearling? What happened to you?"
Yearling reached under her cloak and winged over the bejeweled headdress. "This is the Helm of Mare-dock. It's part of the treasure Caballeron beat me to. As always, he was going to sell it to the highest bidder, but . . ."
“So, you took it from him?” asked Rarity, confused.
Yearling shook her head. “Have you seen today’s paper?”
“No, but I have it here,” said Twilight as she levitated it from under her wing.
“Any specific new yer interested in?” asked Applejack
Yearling opened the paper ito the editorial section. She pointed the headline that whispered, 'ARROW'S LATEST VICTIM?'
“What’s with that?” Asked Spike.
“Read it” said Yearling, dryly.
Twilight obeyed: “Yet another of Canterlot's rich and famous was found murdered at home in what the Royal Guard has described as underwolrd retribution. This time,. the famous antiques dealer Moldy Gold was the victim"
Twilight looked at Miss Yearling, who nodded.
“Yes, Moldy Gold was his true name. Keep reading”
The Princess of Friendship gulped and continued:
"The Royal Guard had recieved a packet of evidence proving that Gold was actually known as Doctor Caballeron among the criminal element, the same as the iconic villain from the 'Daring Do' series of novels. The evidence showed that Gold had been engaging in the same criminal activities as his famous namesake. The crimes included multiple counts of burglary and sale of stolen property. If convicted, Gold would have served multiple life sentences"
“The Royal Guard would neither confirm nor deny that the Arrow was responsible for this murder spree. They further refused to acknowledge the existence of the vigilante"
"The artifact I brought was given to me by the Arrow after he took care of Caballeron. He said he would kill me if I were to become like Caballeron."
“What? But that’s insane!” said Rainbow. “How could he say such thing?”
Daring punched the wall in anger. “I don’t care about that! He killed Caballeron, damn it! He had no right to do that! He . . . he took away the only thing that was keeping my life interesting."
She began to cry. “Ancient temples, death traps, angry aborigines, all the things that were exciting to Daring Do just got monotonous after a while. Caballeron was the only thing left that truly challenged me. Each meeting forced me to improve. Although he was my enemy, I truly appreciated him, and now he's gone"
Yearling looked up. "I'm afraid! I don't want to be killed by the Arrow!"
Twilight frowned. “It’s only natural to be afraid when you're threatened by a serial killer. This Arrow is a menace; he may have brought corruption among the Canterlot elite to light, but he's murdered time and time again."
“So, he kills corrupt ponies?” asked Pinkie Pie, who was unfamiliar with the Arrow.
“Only if they don’t reform,” explained Applejack, who followed the news about the vigilante with interest from the first report. “First, he tries to intimidate them into going straight. If he fails, they're bucked."
Twilight frown deepened. “This nonsense had gone too far.”
Between the tea and the company, Yearling was finally able to regain her composure. “Thank you. I really needed to talk to somepony. I'd heard about the Arrow, but I never thought he'd be this frightening in person. I'm sorry to bother you, but you're the only ones who know I'm Daring Do."
Fluttershy replied as she gave Yearling a gentle hug, "It's no bother; that's what friends are for. Besides, everypony deserves a little kindness, especially after a scare like that."
Yearling returned the hug. "Thank you. Thank you all. I know I shouldn't be afraid because I'm not a criminal. But, I can't help but feel empty. I never realized how big a part of my life Caballeron was until he was taken away."
The others silently crowded around Yearling, showing their support. Suddenly Rarity's and Rainbow Dash's Cutie Marks started flashing.
"What is that?" asked Yearling.
“Come on, girls! To the Cutie Map!" Twilight replied.
Yearling followed as the others rushed to the Throne Room. An icon of three blue diamonds, and an icon of a cloud with a tri-colored lightning bolt orbited over a familiar castle on the map.
"You're being summoned to Canterlot," said the purple alicorn.
"Awesome, so I can have a word with the Arrow!" Rainbow Dash grinned in anticipation.
The others looked at her with concern, but they kept their fears silent. Rarity and Rainbow Dash escorted Yearling to the next train to Canterlot. Though she would vehemently deny it, Yearling was relieved to have the company.
The conductor trotted down the aisle, magically projecting his voice as he announced, "Canterlot! Canterlot station!"
“Do you want us to walk you to the hotel?” asked Rainbow as she joined her fellow passengers in preparing to disembark.
Yearling shook her head. “No. You have to go to the Castle, right? You've already helped me enough. This isn't the first time I've been threatened; I'll let you know if anything happens."
Rainbow nodded. “Okay. If we beat the Arrow, I’ll let you know!”
Yearling winked an eye to the cyan mare and flew back to her hotel. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash hovered by Rarity as they made their way to the Castle. As always, they checked in with Princess Celestia, who personally guided them into their usual rooms.
“As always thank you for receiving us” said Rarity bowing to the Princess of the Sun.
“It's my pleasure.” The diarch smiled. "So, do you have any idea what friendship problem you have to solve?"
"I don't know, but I seriously want to kick the Arrow's flank." Rainbow Dash punctuate her statement with a few punches to the air.
Celestia frowned. “Don’t you dare even thinking about him! Do you realize how dangerous he is? Do you realize how important you are? He may only attack corrupt ponies, but he won't hesitate to hurt you if you get in his way."
Rarity agreed. “The Arrow is the second worst person whom you could encounter in Canterlot! The first is . . ."
While she was distracted, she and Blue Blood ran into each other. She groaned, "Speaking of Tartarus . . ."
"What are you doing here, nephew? I thought you had already moved out?" asked Celestia.
Blue Blood aimed a hoof to the orange pegasus with blond mane who was staggering under the two boxes on his back. "As you can see, I still had a couple of boxes."
The pegasus grumbled, "What do you have in there, Ollie? Rocks?"
The prince rolled his eyes, annoyed. "I've told you a thousand times to stop calling me like that! I'm not the pony you think I am! And be careful! You're carrying my collection of priceless tie pins."
“Nephew, you're welcome to visit the royal residence, but I really prefer you notify me of such things in advance," said the white alicorn.
“I did, or at least I thought my assistant sent you a note this morning."
The Princess shook her head. "I didn't receive any note."
Blue Blood glared to the orange pegasus. “Barry . . .”
“Don’t look at me! That was the first thing I did this morning before doing the shopping for that new diet of yours. I gave the note to one of the guards of the entrance."
“Barry, I told you to . . .”
Celestia silenced him with a nod of understanding. "These things happen, nephew. I'm sure my guards will give me the note before I need to lower the sun. Since we're all together, would you and your friend like to join us for lunch?"
Rarity had to bite her tongue to contain her indignation, but luckily, neither Celestia nor Blue Blood paid attention to her.
"How's my schedule, Barry?"
"Full. We barely have time to leave these rocks of yours at your place before going to the club."
Indignantly, Blue Blood lectured.
"These 'rocks' are valuable pieces of art made with gold, diamonds, rubies, topazes, sapphires . . ."
Barry interrupted him with a smile. "Still rocks, only shiny."
The reactions were as varied as the personalities in the room. Blue Blood brought a forehoof to his face in exasperation. Celestia chuckled softly. Rarity silently swallowed her indignation for a second time. Rainbow Dash, however, was lying her back on the floor, wings spread, clutching her sides with her forehooves as she laughed. She winked an eye to the orange pegasus.
“Anyway, you’re too busy for today, boss Blood.”
“Thank you, Barry. I'm sorry, Aunt Celestia. As much as I'd like to join you and these lovely mares, duty calls. As always, it's been a pleasure. Toodles!”
He strode off purposefully while Barry staggered drunkenly behind, shifting the boxes from side to side.
“Do you think the friendship problem has anything to do with him?” asked Rarity, distraught.
Princess Celestia smiled. “Of course not! Don’t you see? He has a friend now! My poor nephew is finally starting to live again."
That night:
The day had been especially unproductive for the two friends. They found not even a hint of a friendship problem; everything in Canterlot seemed to be perfectly in order.
“Rarity I’m telling you. This mission has something to do with the vigilante!”
“Rainbow, please, whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it.”
The cyan pegasus gently put a forehoof in Rarity's mouth.
Rarity disdainfully plucked it away with her magic. “Rainbow!”
Rainbow Dash whispered urgently, "Psst! Listen!"
Rarity stayed quiet and looked around; she could hear somepony running. She finally spotted a pony whom she recognized as the Castle’s head butler; he was running to a dark alley. It seemed suspicious, so Rainbow began to follow him.
“Rainbow, don’t you dare look for the Arrow!” whispered a very scared Rarity.
The warning was too late; Rainbow Dash was already charging at full speed towards the butler.
Meanwhile, the servant bumped into a shadowy beaked figure.
"This letter was supposed to be sent to Prince Rutherford" said the butler as he hoofed it to the figure.
“Perfect, switch it with this one,” said the figure as he gave the butler an identical-looking envelope in return.
The butler nodded and went back toward the castle as cautiously as he could. Once he was out of the figure's sight, Rainbow Dash tackled him from behind.
“What do you think you’re doing? Princess Celestia trusted you!!” asked the cyan mare.
“Please, I’m innocent! If I don't do this, my mother is dead! She's very sick and they said they’ll pay for her treatment as long as I do as they say!"
“Princess Celestia could help you,” said Rainbow as she took the exchanged letter.
Rarity came to a screeching halt behind her friend. “Rainbow! Stop!”
“He's just a victim of the circumstance! said a new voice from above them. It was a strange sound, almost as if five people were saying exactly the same thing at the same time.
The two mares took stock of their surroundings; it was in a seedier part of the city, full of dark nooks where a criminal could lurk. They then took a closer look at the stranger. He was dressed in a red body suit that exposed his wings and his muzzle. Where his cutie mark should be, he had a yellow lightning bolt extending somewhat beyond a white circle.
“Who are you?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Me? I am the Flash, the fastest pegasus alive”
Rainbow and Rarity exchanged a look and giggled.
“Ahahahahahaha! You? The fastest pegasus alive? Hahahaha, you’re kidding! You’re kidding, right?” mocked Rainbow Dash.
Rarity smiled at the stranger. “Please my good sir, everypony knows that the fastest pony alive is . . .”
Their conversation was interrupted by a muffled thud that followed by a scream of pain. An authoritative voice shouted, “Gustave Le Grand! You have failed Equestria!”
“Damn it! I must go before he hurts somepony else!” said the Flash. He vanished in a red and gold blur before Rarity or Rainbow Dash could respond.
Rainbow whined as she mantled her wings in frustration. “No, no, no, no! This guy is almost as fast as me!”
Rarity put a reassuring forehoof on the butler as she spoke. "Rainbow Dash, I think we're done here. I'm pretty sure our friendship mission was to help this poor pony. Let's leave before . . ."
“Rarity, don’t you see? I have to prove this Flash guy I’m the fastest pegasus alive!” With that, she zoomed after the Flash.
“I swear you’re going to pay for this Rainbow Dash!!”
In the meantime, the famous gryphon chef was shaking in fear as the masked vigilante aimed an arrow at his face. As soon as the butler had left the scene, the Arrow had come from out of nowhere, breaking both of the chef's hind legs with his bow. The masked pony proceeded to question the terrified gryphon.
Two unicorn bodyguards appeared from the shadows to help Le Grand. The Arrow shot an arrow through the chef's wing and rapidly reloaded. As the gryphon screamed in agony, the Arrow sneered. "Take another step and your paycheck is gone."
“Please forgive me!” begged the gryphon.
“Why should I? You betrayed the principality that adopted you as their own.”
“I have money! Tons of money!”
“Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to sabotage the treaty with the yaks?"
“My family relies on the export business. If those new trade routes open, we'll be ruined!”
“So, it’s all about money. You’re an idiot! Your family could still make a good living handling the logistics and the warehouses! You had to be greedy and take it all! YOU HAVE FAILED EQUESTRIA!
Rainbow Dash stumbled onto the scene. "Where are you? Show yourself, Flash!" She groaned. "I can't believe I just said that."
The bodyguards pounced, grabbing Rainbow Dash in their unicorn magic and dragging her to them. The leader said, "Just in time! Who we have here? An Element of Harmony herself! Let the boss go, or she's dead."
“The tables have turned, right?” mocked the other bodyguard.
Rainbow Dash struggled to break the magic hold, but it was too powerful. She cursed both her pride and her stupidity.
“What are you waiting for? Let our boss go!”
The Arrow shrugged and shot an arrow into Le Grand's other wing. The chef screamed at the new source of agony.
“You asked for it,” said the thug.
He drew a knife with a forehoof. A red and gold streak casually batted it from his grasp. Rainbow Dash shot skyward as she was suddenly released. She watched in amazement as the streak battered the thugs and left them tied together, hanging upside down from a lamp post with magic suppression rings on their horns. Her pegasus senses allowed her to see the actions that would have been too fast for another tribe to perceive.
“What in Tartarus just happened?” asked the thug who had threatened Rainbow Dash.
Then the streak came to stop and resolved into a strange pegasus in a red body suit.
“What can I say? I’m the fastest pegasus alive.”
The Flash turned to the Arrow.
“Let him live. The Royal Guard can handle things from here.”
“He has failed Equestria! There's not enough evidence to convict him!”
The Flash held up the envelope in a wing tip. "There is now"
Rainbow Dash’s jaw dropped; when did he take the letter?
“You really are something. Okay, I'll spare his life but I need to show him the error of his ways."
The Arrow broke the chef's left foreleg with his bow. As the chef's screams filled the air, the Flash sighed. This guy was exactly like Ollie.
"I think we still need more evidence," said the Arrow.
“Leave that to me,” said Flash as he disappeared in a red and gold blur, only to reappear a half second later, wearing a saddlebag stuffed with papers. "I got all the incriminating documents from his home."
The Arrow nodded and aimed his bow at Rainbow Dash.
“Stay out of my way." Contemptuously, he let the arrow fly.
Instinctively, she soared high and to her left. A red and gold blur blocked her view of both the projectile and her assailant. The blur resolved into the strange pegasus, who held the arrow in his mouth.
The speedster spat out the arrow and asked, "Are you okay?" He offered his right forehoof.
Dash rejected the hoof with a frown. “Go to Tartarus.”
“As you wish”
The Flash flew away as fast as he could, using his normal powers. Rainbow Dash screamed in frustration as accelerated toward him. The Flash looked over as the cyan mare caught up.
“Don’t you have something better to do than follow me?”
“I am the fastest flyer in Equestria, Celestia damn it! I won't’ allow you to take away my title!”
“I’m not interested in your title; I’m only looking for a speedster like me, a true speedster”
Before Rainbow could ask, the Flash accelerated away. Rainbow Dash followed, eyes watering as the Mach cone began to form around her. She was still too slow to catch him. Then, it happened. An explosion of rainbow light filled the night sky as pegasus magic filled the vapor cone. Even at supersonic speed, Rainbow Dash was too slow to catch him. How could he go so fast without generating a Rainboom?
Rainbow Dash felt her speed bleed off as she glided in a giant spiral. When she finally touched down a rooftop, she was trembling like a leaf. Everything she thought was true, everything she thought she was, had just been taken away. She gasped, "A speedster. A true speedster."
She collapsed bonelessly, so dispirited that she didn't notice her cutie mark flashing, signaling that her mission had been accomplished.
In the meantime, Rarity stopped to gain her bearings. She had tried to follow Rainbow Dash, but a ground bound unicorn had no chance of keeping up with a pegasus at full speed. Looking around, she found that she was still in a dangerous part of the city. A sudden noise startled her; she dove into the nearest cover, a dumpster. Though the gap between the lid and the lip, she saw a familiar shadow. She risked putting her eye closer and looked up. On the rooftop, the masked vigilante had pushed back his hood. The domino mask did nothing to hide his identity from Rarity.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
Rarity’s cutie mark flashed; her mission was accomplished.