It was awsome being the only number one in the unit. I was kicking everypony off the equipment, they hated me for it. Two weeks went by and I had finally caught up with my training that I had lost from the week before, so I guess it made up for it. We were all preparing for the final test we didn't know what it would be or how hard it would be, all we could do was wait for Rapidfire to come and deliver the news of the challange. That was pretty much all the info we had gotten. Rapidfire was going to give us the challange.
I was on the featherweights when Rapidfire came strolling in. More of stormed in, he came straight out of the sky we heard him before we saw him. The whistling of the resistance between him and the sound barrier screeching in our ears. His wings flared as he came to the track stopping him immediately, he floated the two foot drop down. We all witnessed his entrance in awe, it was almost as cool as when I won against Soarin and did that corkscrew Rainboom.
"Hello Bolt Cadets." he said his voice commanding, "I hope you've all been training hard because it all comes down to this." He paused the suspense was killing all of us.
"Your final test," we were all at the edge of our horseshoes, "is to be the first through the Wonderbolt's unnoficial training camp." We were all confused.
"Rapid we said we wouldn't make them do that it's too dangerous even for us." I heard Spitfire whisper to him.
"Relax, they'll be fine I have security at every point of danger to avoid and accidents." Rapidfire told her.
"Now if you'll all follow me I'll take you to the unofficial training grounds." He took to the sky, we all soared upward to follow him.
We followed for a few miles above the clouds, I watched them go by wondering how far we had gone. Finally he dipped below the clouds, we followed him. Pushing through the clouds so that we didn't get stopped by them. I a small cave in a clearing of a bunch of trees. We landed in the clearing just a couple of yards away from the mouth of the cave.
"Here we are the Lost Everfree cave." Rapidfire said.
"Wh-what wait WHAT!?" Thunder stuttered.
"This is the unofficial Wonderbolt Training grounds, the Lost Everfree cave. Here you have to get through to the other side which will spit you out in Ponyville. There if you make it by avoiding the pirate traps or not getting mauled by one of the many monsters in the cave you will be greeted by your friends and family waiting on the other side. First to make it through is the new Wonderbolt. Got it?" We all nodded, "Then what the hay are you waiting for GO! GO! GO!"
We all took off into the mouth of the cave, my adrenaline had gotten the better of me. I ran into a spike at the top of the ceiling. I noticed that they were all over the place at the top and bottom. Twilight had mentioned them to me, water that condensated from the ceiling brought minerals with it as it dripped forming a spike as it dripped to the ground another spike identical to the one above it formed as well. They were called stalagtites and stalagmites, I forgot which was which but all I knew right now was that it ment my flying was limited to how high of low I could fly.
I kept a constant pace weaving in and out of lower hanging spikes, I had already passed Whirlwind up. We all knew she wasn't going to make the cut she was after all the weakest link. I had come to a clearing that seemed to be spike free. Actually it looked like it had been hollowed out. I put it out of my mind and decided to keep going. A loud crash is what stopped me.
Eight big glowing red eyes appeared out of the hole in front of me.
"Oh oh!" this couldn't be good at all.
It was the biggest spider I had ever seen. And it was comming right at me, I rose toward the ceiling but it climbed the wall following me up. I dived down and banked right aiming for the smallest hole. I found myself crashing into a wall narrowly avoiding getting impaled. I sighed and hoofed it out of danger.
That was too close, I got back into the air and started to fly but was stopped by a shriek of terror. I turned around and saw that Whirlwind had gotten herself caught in a web. I looked ahead to see that Thunder had turned to watch as well he turned around and chased the lead colt, Sparkflame. I looked back to see the spider preparing to dig it's fangs into my competitor.
I turned around and zoomed straight to the giant arachnid. I slammed hard into its side it dropped the frightened filly the web she was entangled in broke and she flew up next to me.
"Thank you." she said smileing
"Don't mention it, let's just get going before that thing figures out where it is." We took off into the hole. We didn't travel long before Whilrwind stopped and landed on the ground. I put a hoof on her shoulder.
"What's wrong, are you hurt?" I asked.
"Just my pride, you go on." she told me, "You deserve this prize more than anything else." she told me.
I looked at her for a moment, "Go on, I'll be fine we're near a way station now I can bunk here and wait for a guard to escort me to safety now go you have to catch up to Thunderhooves." I smiled.
"Thanks." I told her.
"Mares gotta stick together." she said. We hoof bumped and I took off.
I caught up quick to Thunderhooves, turned out he sprained his wing. As I zoomed past I stuck my toung out and kept on going. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I burst through to hear the cheering I looked down to see my adoring fans but instead saw everypony gathered around Sparkflame. I was so devastated I sank to the ground and just sat there.
Twilight and the others were already there.
"I'm so sorry Rainbow, you really deserved that spot." she said.
I felt the tears welling up, all of my efforts were for nothing.
"WAIT!" we all heard somepony calling from the cave, it was Thunderhooves panting and cradeling what I thought was a sprained wing. It was so dark I hadn't noticed it before but his wing was bent back and upward it was broken.
"He cheated!" Thunderhooves pointed an accusing hoof at Sparkflame. "I was in front and he came up behind me and grabbed my tail between his teeth and threw me to the floor. I could have died you plothole!" he shouted.
They all shot suspicious glances at Sparkflame.
"Is that true Sparkflame?" Soarin asked.
"I uh... uh I..." he sputtered. Before he could say another word Thunderhooves ran up and lifted Sparkflames upper lip to reveal some of his tailhairs still caught between the colts teeth.
"The evidence is undeniable Sparkflame, you are disqualified and the one who was supposed to be in front will be crowned the new Wonderbolt." Spitfire said.
My heart began to flutter I held my breath waiting for my name to be called.
"Thunderhooves is the new Wonderbolt." she said, my wings and heart once more fell from the dispair of having lost after so much effort.
"Acctually." he said swiping off the hoof of the congradulatory Soarin, "I'm not the one you should be cheering for." He said, walking over to me, he winked. "Rainbow and I were neck and neck until we heard that giant spiders attack on Whirlwind." the chatter began, "I turned around and kept going for the exit, but Rainbow risked her flank to save somepony she didn't have to. And for that I relinquish it to her, I know that if we would have duked it out in the cave she totally would have won."
They all listened to his speech.
"Well then miss Rainbow Dash we have no choice but to make you the honorary New Wonderbolt." Fleetfoot said putting a gold medallion in the shape of a lighning bolt around my neck and handing me a uniform. I beamed at them gleefully watching everypony roar into an applause, even Thunderhooves.
This was truly the best moment of my life.