November 10, The last day of fall,
I had been preparing, training my mind and body for this. The day I would be the first place winner in the running of the leaves. The day I would beat Rainbow Dash.
“Just remember you two.” Waya glared at Phoenix and I, “No fire. It's not fair to those of us without magic.”
“We know.” Phoenix said, “And no tripping other racers.” he glared back at Waya.
“Of course,” Waya said, “I still don't get how something can be a competition without attacking the others. Ponies do thing weird.”
“None more so than you, Wolfie.” I said.
“Don't call me...” Waya stopped and sighed, “ you're never going to stop are you?”
“Nope” I answered with a grin.
He shook his head, “I thought it was hard fitting in with the pack. I never thought it would be this difficult living with my own kind.”
“That's why you have friends like us.” I said.
“We're not friends, Shiro.” he replied.
I said, “Just cause you want to kill me doesn't mean we can't be friends.”
“Yes,” said the wolfish pony, “Yes it does.”
“Well you two hang out enough.” Phoenix said.
“I'm merely learning any weaknesses he may have.” Waya said.
“Sure you are,” Phoenix said, “and I'm a flying ice cube.”
“Are you three done?” asked Jynx as she walked in, “Cause I'm going to wait while you three clop each other off.”
“Coming babe.” I said, “We don't don't want to piss her off, come on.”
“Here carry this for me.” Jynx said indicating a rather big box.
I put it in my bag and strapped it to my back. It was rater light for its size.
“What is it?” I asked.
“You'll see.” she said keeping me in the dark.
“Is it sexy?” I asked.
“It is to me.” she answered.
“Eww.” Dash said walking out of her room, “Why is that the first thing I hear in the morning.”
“Because your brother-in-law is a horn ball.” said Phoenix.
“Ugh, I know. They keep me up half the night, and the nightmares do the rest.” Dash said.
“Dash, grow up.” Jynx said, “What do you expect a married couple to do? Come on before we're late.”
The five of us started for the Whitetail Woods. The town was rather empty as most ponies were somewhere along the raceway. It was kinda creepy. I halfway expected a zombie horde to amble around the corner. The silence didn't help.
Phoenix must have agreed because he suddenly started up, “Shiro, have you thought about a good topic for our assignment for Daring's class?”
“I was thinking about the Equestrian Revolt.” I said, “We could interview Tia about how she took power. Plus not too many know what Luna saw from the war.”
“Plus we can throw in how you beat Chronos when he tried to take Equestria back.” Phoenix said.
“Hell no.” I replied, “I'm not going to try to flaunt that just for an A.”
“That's right,” Jynx said, “He's too good for petty tricks like that.”
“Maybe somepony should learn from him.” Pinkie said coldly, popping out of nowhere.
“Pinkie,” I said, “Try to be nice to him.”
I was starting to wonder if a changeling had replaced the pink mare. I never knew she COULD hold a grudge. Especially when it had been established that what happened was an accident. There had to be something more behind that.
“Shiro, you're going to be the first not-pony to run this you know. Isn't that super-duper!” she said more like the usual Pinkie, “You might even win!”
“As if.” snorted Dash, “He has about as much a chance of spontaneously turning into a pegasus as he has beating me.”
“And being a chaos mage means there's still a chance of that happening.” Jynx said.
“Well, I'll give him that.” Dash said, “Who knows, I might suddenly explode. With the amount of shear awesome contained in me it's a possibility.”
“Or your head might get so big it weighs you down like an anchor.” I said.
We soon arrived at the starting place, and checked in. After a quick review of the rules, We lined up at the starting line. Most of the ponies I didn't recognize. Many were shooting me looks from fear to humor.
Dash was to my left, Phoenix and Waya to my right, Twilight just behind Waya. This was going to be awesome. The rush of adrenalin was already pumping. I couldn't even hear Pinkie's and Spike's commentary, I was so focused.
“I hope you like the taste of dust,” Dash said, “Cause that's what I'm going to be feedin ya.”
I just smiled and lowered myself as if I were getting ready to pounce on a deer. A unicorn to the side sent a glow through his horn and a resounding pop signaled us to take off. Waya took the lead off the line, followed by Dash, Phoenix, and myself.
It didn't take long for the wolf-raised-pony's sprint to take it's toll. He was use to helping his pack hunt, not run long distance races. Oh well, one less threat.
The three of us that remained stayed neck and neck throughout the majority of the race. It wasn't until the last half mile that Phoenix, too, started losing ground. It was just me and Rainbow. And we were in the last stretch.
This was the deciding moment. We both took off in a sprint.
1000 feet; we were still neck and neck.
800 feet; I pulled barely ahead.
700 feet; Dash took me by a hair.
450 feet; I took the lead again.
300 feet; this was it I had the lead I was the wi...
At the final 50 I was passed by a blur of color. My victory snatched away at the last moment. I padded up to the smug pegasus, gasping for breath.
“When... the hell... did you... get to... be such... a fast runner?” I asked
“What do you think I've been doing for the past couple months?” She asked, “I can't exactly practice flying right now.”
I hadn't thought about that. Most of her days were occupied with work and flying. Without her wings she couldn't do either leaving her with the whole day free, every day.
“Holy Celestia, Dash. That was awesome.” said Phoenix trotting up in third.
“Way to go little sis.” Jynx said walking up with the rest of our friends.
We all congratulated Dash. Twilight had come in fourth, just behind Phoenix, and Waya was right behind her.
After the excitement died down a bit Jynx pulled a box out of her bag
“Hay Dash, I need you to do something for me.” she said pulling two crystal, cupped, egg shaped things, “Turn your side to me please.”
“What's that?” Dash asked.
“It's just a little something to help you out.” Jynx answered.
She placed the twin objects over the scars on Rainbow Dashes sides and chanted something under her breath. In a flash of light they were gone.
“What the hay, Jynx!” Dash yelled, “What did you do?”
Everyone but Jynx looked at Rainbow, our eyes widened and mouths agape.
“What?” Rainbow asked, “Do I have something in my mane?”
She brushed her hoof through trying to dislodge what ever she thought was there, “What are you guys staring at?”
She turned her head and took on an expression that mirrored ours. Sprouting from her back was the thing she wanted most... wings... but not just wings. They were made of pure light, multicolored light.
“I told you I'd fix you.” Jynx said, “Give them a try, they work.”
Dash looked back at her sister wordlessly and looked back giving an experimental flap. She rose a foot off the ground and fell back to the ground again. She looked back to Jynx again with tears streaming down her face, and gave a powerful thrust launching herself into the air. She flew around for several minutes before coming back down and trowing her hooves around her older sister.
“It's like they're my real wings.” she said, “I can even feel them.”
The rest of us joined in the hug. It was a beautiful moment. And like all beautiful moments it had to be interrupted. Of course I never expected it to be ruined like it was.
When Phoenix joined in one of his hooves went around Pinkie. The normally friendly mare surprised everyone when she turned around and punched him in the jaw.
“DON'T TOUCH ME!” she screamed at him... I had enough.
“Pinkie! Get to the library right now!” I said.
“But he...” she started.
“Go now or I'll drag you.” I was completely serious.
She turned around and headed off, her head down, and hair deflated. I hated having to do what I did, but it was necessary.
“Dash.” I started.
“I know what to do. Meet you at Twilight's” she said and flew off.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
“What the hell, Pinkie.” I scolded the pink mare sitting in the chair in the middle of all her friends, “You're not the type to stay mad at someone, especially for an accident. What's this really about?”
She hadn't looked at a single one of us the whole time.
“It's because he hurt Inkie.” she said sheepishly.
“Oh, come now.” Rarity piped up, “You don't have to be Applejack to tell you're lying. Tell us what's the matter.”
“Not only did you hit a good pony, but you ruined Dash's moment!” Jynx was more ticked off them me, “She finally gets her wings back and you kill the mood. Why? Because you can't get over an accident?”
“No.” Pinkie said, “He's a big meanie.”
“Why don't you tell them the truth.” said a voice from the door.
Inkie walked in and sat in front of her sister. She gazed at her sister, not with anger, but something more akin to worry. Pinkie started sweating and bit her lip nervously.
“Tell them what you told me,” said the scared mare in a tender loving voice, “Please.”
“I-I can't.” Pinkie squeeked.
“Pinkie...” Inkie lifted her chin and looked in her little sisters eyes, “What is the one thing you love to do the most?”
Pinkie looked away, “To make my friends smile.”
“And are your friends smiling?” Pinkie shook her head, “Do you know why?”
“They're mad at me.” Pinkie said crying.
“No.” Pinkie looked into her big sister's eyes, “It's because they're worried about you. They know this isn't the real you. If you want them to smile, tell them what you told me. Tell them why you're mad, and who you're really mad at.”
“OK,” Pinkie sat up and wiped her eyes, “I'm mad at myself.”
Twilight was about to start questioning her but stopped when I put my paw on her shoulder. This was something Pinkie had to say at her own pace.
“I'm mad because...” she hesitated, looking at Phoenix, “Even after you burned Inkie I... I still... I still had feelings for you.”
No one expected to hear that. Everyone looked at Phoenix, who was as confused as the rest of us.
Pinkie continued, “When you would come into the shop every day you were always so polite and kind. I wanted so badly to ask you out but I didn't think you felt the same way.
“When I heard you were coming to come pick up some stuff from the rock farm I was determined to ask you, but then Inkie got hurt and I should have hated you but I didn't. I still wanted you to be my special somepony.
“Then when I found out it was just an accident I knew I blew it with the one stallion I wanted more than any other. I knew you would never like me so I tried to hate you too, but...” she couldn't continue. She started crying into her hooves.
To my surprise, Phoenix walked up to her and put his hoof on her shoulder.
“Do you know why I went to Sugarcube Corner every day even though Cloudsdale is a 45 minute flight away?” he didn't wait for a response, “It was to see the most beautiful, kind, caring mare in Equestria. Do you know why I kept coming here with Shiro even though you were acting like you hated me?” he put both his hooves on her shoulders and lifter her, “It was in the hopes that maybe, just maybe, I could still have a chance to make you MY special somepony.”
Pinkie looked up, wide eyed into his smiling face. A smile slowly grew on her face and she leaped up and threw her hooves around his neck. They sat there in each others embrace.
Pinkie shouted, “Best day ever!”