//------------------------------// // More Training and the Race // Story: Ponies One Half // by Emma Iveli //------------------------------// Chapter 12: More Training and the Race Rainbow Dash was utterly exhausted. After Ryoko’s little visit, she had continued practicing the Rainburst, which of course eventually took out a lot on her. "Rainbow Dash.", a voice came. The Pegasus looked up and saw Twilight Sparkle having a certain look on her face; a look that meant she was about to do what she does best: lecture. “You can’t train that way! You’ll just end up exhausted! Do you want to practice so hard you’ll be in a coma?” Rainbow just grabbed a pillow and stuffed her face into it in an attempt to tune out Twilight's words, but to no avail. “You have to balance it out. You have to both practice and perfect the Rainburst. Otherwise, you won’t be able to win.” Rainbow groaned. She HATED being lectured, and she had enough! “Okay, okay! I’ll do it!” yelled Rainbow, unable to take it. “Good.” Rainbow sighed afterward, thinking, This is going to be a hard next few days. I really do not want another lecture from her. After a few more seconds, the Pegasus got an idea. …I think I know someone who can help out in my training. Applejack's still a beginner in martial arts. I'm gonna need an expert like me. And I think I know just the one… <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The next day… Ran was at the school's race track, sparring with Ranma-Chan. As it was, Ranma's female form was much faster than his male form, something Cologne figured out sometime before they “left” for Japan. “I’m going to show you how to do Marital Arts Running,” said Ranma-Chan. “I’d like to see you try,” countered Ran. The four spectators, Alex, Hikaru, Akane, and Momo, watched their banter. “Are you actually going to race?” asked Alex. This stopped the banter as the two prepared themselves for their spar. Once again, Hikaru served as the referee for this race/fight, holding a whistle hung around her neck. “Three!” “Two!” “One!” Hikaru then blew the whistle and it was on. The two sped off like a speeding bullet and began their spar. The blows they exchanged were swift, and at times were vey blurry. Momo said as they watched, "Looks like something from Dragonball Z." When everyone looked at her, she said, "My friend who got me into anime showed me an episode." However, there was one thing Ranma-Chan forgot to factor during this spar; the finish line. Seeing it just in reach, Ran broke off from the battle and reached the finish, winning the spar. “You cheated!” yelled Ranma-Chan. “The point was to get to the finish line first,” clarified Ran. “Do over!” “Fine.” They had another spar, which Ran once again won. And another, and another. At this point… “I think they forgot what they were doing…” mumbled Akane. Hikaru nodded as she did a face palm. Then, Cologne appeared once again out of nowhere. “At least it's gotten to the point where she’s not worried about perfecting the Rainburst,” she said, scaring Akane. “Please don’t do that,” pleaded the youngest Tendo. “Don’t worry sugar cube," assured Alex. "You’ll get used to it.” “I know.” Akane was still getting used to Pinkie Pie's antics. While they were more strange than Cologne's sudden popping in, the latter was less common than the former. “Let them do it,” said Cologne, “It will be good for her.” They then watched Ran begin to gloat over Ranma-Chan with a few sweat drops. “It might make things worse,” said Alex. “We’ll just have to wait and see won’t we?” “I win again, Ranma!” gloated Ran. “I’ll beat you this time for sure!” bantered Ranma-Chan. Unfortunately, for the rest of the day, she had failed to deliver. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The next day… Word had spread throughout Tokyo about the upcoming Anything Goes Martial Arts Marathon between Ran and Ryoko. Many people talked about it, knowing that it was going to be awesome. In fact, it got to the point where Ran had to find a place to eat lunch without anyone bothering her at school. Thankfully, her friends were there all the way. “Is there any martial arts you won’t try to prove that you’re the best at?” asked Akane. Ranma put a hand to his chin and rubbed it as he began to think. “If there’s something that makes me wear a dress or something else girly like cheerleading for ballet, then that’s something I won’t do.” “I doubt there’s martial arts ballet or cheerleading.” Oh, how wrong you are, Akane. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In a classroom at Furinkan High… A girl with long blue hair sneezed while eating lunch and reading some BL Manga. “That was weird…” she mumbled as she then shrugged. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At Seisyun High… A girl with brown hair sneezed, scowling since she knew someone was talking about her. “I’ll go see if was the Speed Demon,” she grumbled. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Shampoo think martial arts ballet work.” “What about cheerleading?” asked Akane. “Shampoo doubt it exists.” “Maybe after you beat Ryoko, I’ll challenge her,” said Ranma. “If you’re unable to beat me, you won’t be able to defeat Ryoko,” pointed out Ran. “I’ll show you.” This made everyone sweat drop. “Great grandmother gave Shampoo the day off to watch them,” said Shampoo, “She say it really interesting.” “That’s one way of putting it,” said Hikaru with a big sweat drop. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Over the course of the next few days, the spars continued, and Ran kept getting better, which was the reason for the spars. However, she had forgotten a little something. Two days before the race… “I’m getting tired of this,” groaned Ranma-Chan. “What? Can’t keep up,” teased Ran. “That and weren’t you also supposed to perfect the Rainburst?” An awkward silence ensued. “I can’t believe I forgot.” She turned to the spectators… um… spectator. Akane, Alex, and Hikaru had gotten tired of watching the spars as there was nothing they could do to help. Momo, on the other hand, had stayed. “You’re finally getting back to Rainburst training?” she asked. Ran sweat dropped, unable to come up with a response, and that she had almost forgotten Momo was the only one watching. She sighed and turned to Ranma-Chan. “I’m going to perfect it today or my name isn’t Rainbow Dash.” “So then that means your going to be changing your name to Ran Issanni all the time?” asked Momo. Ran tried to come up with a response, but had none. Momo's mind is too literal to understand metaphors and such. “Never mind.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> That night, at the Tendo residence… After getting lost again, Ryoga managed to arrive earlier that afternoon and was now telling a story of what happened during the time lost. “So let me get this straight," said Nabiki. "You wound up taking this old woman all around Japan for several days before finding the proper police box?” “Yeah…” Ryoga sheepishly admitted. “Have you ever considered buying a GPS?” “I don’t have that kind of money.” Before Rarity could consider offering him the money to buy one, Ran entered the room. “I perfected the Rainburst,” she said. “Really?” asked Twilight. “Finally…” mumbled Akane. “At least she remembered about it,” muttered Nabiki. “So, what’s going on?” asked Ryoga. “Rainbow Dash was challenged to an Anything Goes Martial Arts Running race,” explained Fluttershy. “There’s Anything Goes Martial Arts Running?” Ryoga was a little surprised by it. Then again, he was well versed in one of the weirder forms of Anything Goes Marital Arts, so he couldn’t complain. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the next couple days, Ran trained as hard as she could to defeat Ryoko and eventually, the day of the race came. The two racers did their stretches at the starting line as the event was getting under way. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Hello and welcome to the Furinkan High VS. Seisyun High Anything Goes Martial Arts Marathon," said the event's announcer. "I am Shiro Asakura of Seisyun High.” “And I’m Momo Mochi of Furinkan High!” Since she had prior experience as an announcer for a race, Momo had been selected to be the announcer for Furinkan High. “We’ll be watching a race between the reigning champ Ryoko 'Speed Demon' Hirano and newcomer Ran 'Rainbow Dash' Issanni. This will be a race to determine whether or not the newbie can defeat the winner! Momo, give us the course!” “Okay! It’s a circle around a lot of Tokyo, it runs past the border between Furinkan and Tomobiki, then turns for a while it hits the Higurashi Shrine, before turning, it goes around all sorts of places before getting to this place again.” “You didn’t look at the route after the Higurashi shrine, did you?” “Well those are the only two things the readers would be interested in.” “What?” Shiro stared at Momo thinking she was crazy, “But this isn’t being written. This is a webcast.” “In less than a minute, the race will begin.” Momo had ignored the baffled Shiro. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> As the two participants got ready, Ryoko’s fans began to cheer. They were a group of fanboys wearing T-shirts dedicated to Ryoko. “Ryoko! She can really move! Ryoko! She’s got an attitude! Ryoko she’s the fastest thing alive! The Fastest thing alive!”, they sang. The otaku boy said in response, "Sonic called. He wants his theme song back!" “Fan boys,” muttered Ryoko, then turned to Ran, “You’re lucky you don’t have to deal with that… but it might help to have a cheering section.” Ran just jabbed her thumb to her friends and classmates in response. Cologne was also there. “Yay! Go Rainbow Dash!” cheered Chiyo on her own way, causing everyone else in the section to face palm. Ryoga, who managed to stay at the Tendos long enough, merely blushed at Chiyo’s cheering, while the otaku boy blushed and said “So… Moe…” “Her cheering…” said Ryoko with a sweat drop, “Is she for real?” “She’s always been like that,” explained Ran. “I see. But you’re lucky you don’t have fan boys.” She was immediately proven wrong. “Go Ran!" cheered Kuno. "You can defeat her!” Ryoko sweat dropped at that. “At least it’s only one.” “But it’s Kuno…” The two then readied themselves, knowing it there was a proper time to banter, it should be while they're fighting. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the stands, Ran’s friends were all sitting together. “I can’t believe how big this thing is,” said Hikaru in awe. “This area takes its Anything Goes Marital Arts seriously,” explained Akane. “Seriously, I think this might be excessive,” commented Alex. “Maybe…” As they conversed, they watched Kuno get into a fight with one of Ryoko’s fanboys. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Three!” said the referee. “Two!” "One!" “Go!” On the signal, the two started jogging at a brisk pace. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “It seems like Ran knows her way around a marathon,” remarked Shiro. “Of course she does," replied Momo. "Back home, my friend Twilight got fifth place in a race because she read a book.” “So…” “That was her first time in a marathon. Also, in that race, Rainbow Dash and Applejack ended up tied for last even though they were well ahead for the majority of the race.” "Really?!" Shiro whistled, “Okay, 5th place is good for a first timer. Anyway, as the race begins, for those watching from the carefully-placed screens or the livestream online, let’s explain how we bring it to you.” “The Seisyun High Science Club has hooked up several remote control helicopters with cameras and are having them follow Rainbow Dash and Ryoko.” “Do you always call her by her nickname?” mumbled Shiro who then returned to the topic at hand, “Anyway, we bring you the pictures live… these cameras will also be on alert for any cheating involved.” “Rainbow Dash wouldn’t cheat… well, not after what happened last time.” “No… not Rainbow Dash cheating... it’s… you know what, I’d rather not explain Ryoko’s problem with the cheerleaders.” “What?” “Don’t ask.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The two runners were evenly matched as the race began. However, it was only the start. “I see you get the point of a marathon,” remarked Ryoko. “Yeah,” replied Ran. “But you forgot this is Anything Goes Marital Arts Running!” She then tried to kick her legs, but Ran managed to jump and land several feet away. “You got lucky!” Ran then began to turn around and run backwards, a tactic she learned from her spars with Ranma. At the same time, she blocked Ryoko’s blows and thanks to this stance it was easier. “Any second now, you're going to fall. After all, I haven’t seen a backwards runner who couldn’t last this long.” “Are you sure?” Ran then managed to get in a good kick on one of Ryoko’s legs, causing Ryoko to fall. Ran then took this chance to take the lead. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “No fair!", yelled Momo. "Did Rainbow Dash just cheat?” “No… that’s the point of Marital Arts running!” explained Shiro. “Oh yeah.” IS this girl for real? thought Shiro with a sweat drop. Just then, through the screens, he saw Ryoko get up, dust herself off, take a deep breath, and seemingly glow with an aura of some kind. “She's doing it! It’s time for her nickname!” “What do you mean?” “There’s a reason for her nickname. Your friend may have the Rainburst, but Ryoko has Demon Speed. Something she can use multiple times in a single race.” On the screens, Ryoko zoomed off, becoming a blur in the cameras' eyes. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At the starting/finish line, the fanboys began to sing their song again. “She’s clearly using Chi,” said Cologne. “And she appears to be much more skilled than Rainbow Dash.” “She didn’t even learn about it until we got here,” said Hikaru. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the race… Ran continued her steady pace, knowing from experience that exerting oneself all throughout was gonna end with her falling behind. Just then, she felt something behind her. Turning around, she saw Ryoko with her arm extended out like she was about to clothesline her. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “It’s the Demonic Decapitation!” yelled Shiro. “Why would she name her attacks like that?” “Her fanboys did. I personally think it’s a little gruesome.” “Oh, okay.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Ran barely dodged the Ryoko's super speed clothesline. “Wow… you’re one of a few people who managed to evade my attack.” Ryoko gave a smirk. “I’m glad I challenged you!” “This fight is only getting started,” replied Ran. And so the Anything Goes Martial Arts Race truly began! But would Ran be able to defeat her opponent? Only time will tell.