//------------------------------// // The Fastest One Alive // Story: Ponies One Half // by Emma Iveli //------------------------------// Chapter 13: The Fastest One Alive The "Furinkan High VS. Seisyun High Anything Goes Martial Arts Marathon" continued, with Ran and Ryoko continuing to exchange blows as they ran the course. It was still a very long way to the finish line. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “And now we get to the Tomobiki section,” said Shiro. “And I would like to remind the camera operators not to try to look for Lum in the crowd. She may be beautiful, but everyone's here to watch the race, not the scantly clad alien princess.” “What?” asked Momo. Shiro was surprised that Momo didn't know about her. “You don’t know about Lum?” Momo shook her head. “Just never mind…” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “What did you do back there?” Ran asked Ryoko, who then tried to push her. “Don’t talk, fight!”, Ryoko reminded. Ran went ahead, then turned around to do her backwards run. “This again? You’re a one trick pony.” “What?” Ran fell over on her back from being called a “one trick pony” as she did not understand the term. “Wow, I guess you hate having pointed out that you only have one thing in your arsenal.” Ryoko then ran past her. Ran sweat dropped and thought as she got up, I guess it’s an expression here. She then caught up with Ryoko and delivered a powerful punch, sending her flying. “That’s what I’m talking about,” said Ryoko. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the crowd, everyone was enjoying the race. Among them was a girl with green hair and horns protruding from her head. She was watching with excitement as the race approached her and her companion, a young boy with similarly colored hair and a single horn protruding from his head. “Oh, I don’t get why Darling didn’t want to come,” she said. “He said something about the two being too flat,” replied the boy, who added in an all­-too-innocent way, “Whatever that meant…” The girl scowled. “Darling”'s going to get his… Just then, That was when one of the cameras flew down in front of her, as if expecting her to be wearing something other than the t-shirt and jeans she was wearing. It then flew away 'sadly' before it could be electrocuted by lighting. CAMEO! <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the announcers booth… “So Lum is not dressed in her trade mark tiger striped bikini,” said Shiro, “Good thing too, because she would've blown up the camera.” “So… Lum is an human version of a Eleboo,” said Momo as she checked a computer for information on this Lum person. (By the way, that’s Electabuzz for you Americans!) Shiro blinked from her strange antics, “Sure… let’s go with that…” He had no idea how to respond to his co-announcer referring to Lum as a Pokémon. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the race… Ryoko caught a glimpse of the green-haired girl and knew that they were in the middle of Tomobiki knowing it would best to suggest a ceasefire. “Let’s just race until the turn,” mumbled Ryoko, “I want to get out of this area as fast as I can.” Ran stared at her and asked, “Weren’t you the one who planned out this race path?” “No… my school did. I think my arch-nemesis is behind it…wouldn’t be surprised if she used puppy-dog eyes at the principal to get her way just to annoy me. Don’t ask… you don’t want to know.” Ran just shrugged. She might not have been there very long, but even she knew the reputation of Tomobiki. Then again, it was only because no one in the track team wanted to race anywhere in the town and they had told her why. But still… <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “It appears they’re just racing until the turn,” said Shiro, “I understand why, Tomobiki is a den of weirdness that can’t be topped.” “What if Furinkan is filled with people who are cursed to change into something else because of the water temperature?” asked Momo. “That’s weird… but it doesn’t beat dinosaurs that appear from nowhere because of time travel.” “Wow… that happened?” “That’s not the weirdest thing either.” “Oh, they’re approaching the turn.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> As the racers approached the turn, Ryoko smirked. She’s going to do that thing again, thought Ran as they made the turn. Ryoko faced Ran and said, “Well Rainbow Dash, it’s time to see if you can catch up to me.” She took a deep breath, then was once again off with her Demon Speed. “She planned this…” muttered Ran. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back in the announcers booth… “Looks like the turn was the one of the points she had in mind to use Demon Speed," said Shiro. "Which is why she’s the best around.” He then looked at Momo and realized that they had to have some form of neutrality, “Unless Ran beats hers, that is.” “You didn’t have to add that,” said Momo. “Oh… okay.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Ran turned the corner, and knew that she had to do. I was planning to save this for the end of the race… she thought. That was when she did it; the Rainburst. With it, she caught up to Ryoko, who couldn’t help but stare at the trail. “So that’s the Rainburst I heard so much about,” she mumbled. “That’s right.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the announcers booth, Shiro’s jaw dropped. “She’s running so fast she’s breaking the laws of reality,” he said, “Somehow, it’s completely shattering the visible light spectrum.” “Oh, that’s not what’s going on," said Momo. "She’s running so fast that there’s an afterimage caused by her hair.” “Oh… It’s less fun your way.” “Sorry…” “It’s okay.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At the starting line, the Ryoko fanboys were confused and didn’t know how to react. Their opinions were divided; some of them wanted to say things about how the Rainburst was just a cheap imitation of Demon Speed, while the others wanted to say that was the most awesome thing they ever seen! It got so out of hand that the fanboys split into two factions. “Rainbow Dash is just as awesome as the Speed Demon!” yelled someone on the pro-Ran side. “Ryoko will win the race, it ain’t over until it’s over!” yelled someone on the anti-Ran side. Cue fan fight. Most of the Furinkan High students ignored them because it was getting too weird. “She may have perfected it,” said Cologne, “But she still has a limit.” “Do you think she’ll wear herself out?” asked Hikaru. “It’s doubtful. She may hate losing, but she knows her limits.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the race… Watching the screens, the two announcers saw that Ran and Ryoko have slowed down from their subsonic speeds and resumed exchanging blows. “They are now approaching the Higurashi shrine!” said Momo. “That’s right," agreed Shiro. "The legendary Higurashi shrine, said to hold a well that’s hundreds of years old.” “And it acts like a time portal, but only to a chosen few.” “What… You know what, never mind.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At the shrine gates, the family that managed the shrine waited for the two racers. With them stood someone who seemed to be a teenage boy with long white hair, wearing red garments that went out of style hundreds of years ago, a strange necklace, and a baseball cap on his head. “So what is this again?” the boy wanted to know. Oddly, his voice sounded just like Ranma's did. “An Anything Goes Martial Arts Marathon,” answered the daughter of the family. “Is that common in this time period?” “Only in one district.” That was when Ran and Ryoko zipped past them while dodging each other's blows. The boy’s eye twitched for some reason, “That’s… that what you were waiting for the last few days? THAT?” The girl glared at him and said, “Sit, boy.” The necklace glowed and it somehow forced him to the ground. CAMEO! <><><><><><><><><><><><><> At the announcer booth… “Oh come on, she already did that joke!” complained Momo. “What?” asked Shiro. “Then again, Inu-Yasha is much more known than Urusei Yatsura.” Shiro stared at his co-announcer, deeply confused at what she was talking about. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back on the track… The two racers continued to exchange blows. Ran tried to do a sweeping kick at Ryoko’s feet, but her opponent jumped into the air. “You have to do better than that, Rainbow Dash,” mocked Ryoko. That was when Ryoko saw something ahead and smirked. They were at another “Demon Speed Point” as she called them, so as she landed, she began to speed up once again. “Horse apples,” spat out Ran; she wasn’t sure if she was able to use the Rainburst again so soon. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “She used Demon Speed again!", said Shiro. "I don’t think Ran “Rainbow Dash” Issanni will be able to catch up.” “Oh no! You can beat her Rainbow Dash!” yelled Momo, “I know you can do it!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Just then, Ryoko decided to turned around and stopped. She gave a sigh and said, “She's still a newbie. I guess she can’t use the Rainburst as much I can use Demon Speed.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The screens showed this, and the fanboys started cheering. “Ryoko is compassionate!” yelled one. “I love it when she does that,” squeed another. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “I don’t believe it!” yelled Shiro, “It’s not seen that much. But here it is; the Demon’s Compassion as it’s known!” “What?” asked Momo, “The Demon’s Compassion?” “Ryoko strongly believes in playing fair. If she feels like she has an unfair advantage, she will stop doing it! Though… it really depends on Rainbow Dash’s pride… normally this involves the Seisyun High Cheer Squad… but it’s rare to see something like this!” “I don’t think Rainbow Dash will like this.” “Yeah… she does seem like the type.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the race, Ran got to where Ryoko was standing. “What?” “Sorry, I couldn’t help it Newbie,” replied as Ryoko joined Ran in running. “Wait… you’re going easy on me?” “I guess you don’t want me to?” “No…” “Fine then.” Ryoko then jumped into the air and performed a spinning kick to Ran’s back. “Why you…” Ran quickly got up and landed an uppercut on her. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “Oh man! It’s getting serious!", said Shiro. "Looks like Rainbow Dash has too much pride. Then again, this is a race where the cheer squad wasn’t involved, so it balances out.” “Why do you keep bringing up the cheer squad?” asked Momo. “If you attended our school, then you’d know…” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> The two conceited to hit each other, the blows getting fiercer. As they did, Ryoko noticed something; While Ran was a newbie, her hits were much more precise than hers. “So I take it you’re a black belt,” she asked. “So what if I am?” “You are?! I was just messing with you…” Ryoko sweat dropped on this discovery. “Crap….” Just then, she made another smirk. “I’m not as skilled as you are when it comes to actual martial arts, but I know one thing.” Once again, she began to channel her Demon Speed; they had gotten to another one of her points to use it. Ran gritted her teeth, but figured that it had been long enough to once again do it! Immediately, she did the Rainburst. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “She did! She really did it!" cheered Momo. "She did the Rainburst for a second time!” “But will she be able to do it a third time in this race?" said Shiro. "We’ll have to wait and see.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Ryoko was about to slow down from her Demon Speed when she saw it; Ran was catching up to her. “So it looks like you’re able to do it a second time.” she taunted. “You talk too much during a fight,” said Ran. “Don’t you dare steal my line!” Once again, the fight got serious. Ran managed to kicked Ryoko several feet into the air, who got up and tried to come back with an upset which Ran dodged. Ran began to speed up very quickly, away from Ryoko. You’re not going to be the one to defeat me, thought Ryoko, who then began to pick up her speed. She knew that it was time to use the Demon Speed. Ran saw Ryoko catching up to her and thought. I only have one more Rainburst within me… I’m sure of it. They continued at the pace they were going. This went on for a while, however… <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “We got less than 100 meters until the finish line!” said Shiro, “I’m sure this is where the magic happens! Who will make it first?” “Come on, Dashie!" cheered Momo. "You can do it!” “Dashie?” Shiro then shrugged. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Ryoko made yet another smirk. She knew one thing; she had to use the final Demon Speed. Just as she got ready for it, something happened; She slipped on a pebble, and sprained her ankle. Great, I twisted my ankle, she thought, Just perfect. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “What just happened?” asked Shiro. “She slipped on a pebble,” answered Momo, “I hope she's all right. After all, the writer once slipped on a tiny pebble and broke her ankle.” “Yeah... wait, what? ” He then shook his head. “Anyway, it looks like she’s down.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at the race… Ran turned around and saw what happened. “You okay?” she asked. “I’m fine and dandy! I can still race.” She tired to get up, but couldn’t stand up for long. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> In the stands, the crowds were silent. “What do you think Rainbow’s going to do?” asked Alex. “I don’t know,” answered Hikaru. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back with the racers… Ran held out her hand. “Huh…” said Ryoko. “You were taking going easy on me, and now doing the same for you.” Ryoko stared at the hand and didn’t know how to react. “You don’t have to do this on your own. You would win fair and square…” “I could, but it wouldn’t feel right.” “Yet you complain when I showed you compassion.” “That was different. You’re hurt.” Ryoko continued to stare at Ran’s hand, which was still held out. “You’re an interesting one.” Ryoko took the hand, “And because of that, you're my only opponent that I truly respect.” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> “She took her hand! She took her hand!", yelled Shiro. "Unless these are ploys.... I’m declaring it a tie people!” <><><><><><><><><><><><><> Ran helped Ryoko up, and helped her to the finish line. It took about 10 minutes and when both of them crossed, the crowd had no honest idea on know to react. “That was anti-climatic,” Ranma broke the silence. This earned him several smacks on the head. That was also when the fanboys began to cry and swarmed Ran. “You Ran Issanni! You are so compassionate!” yelled one of them. “You are Ryoko’s true rival!” cried another one. “You will be the only one we will ever cheer on if you’re not racing against Ryoko,” called out a third. “Way to go, Rainbow Dash…" said Ryoko. "My fanboys are now yours." “What?” asked Ran with a sweat drop. “We’re going to have to do this again. But next time, I’m going to win.” “Yeah right.” The two shook hands and a rather interesting friendship/rivalry was born. This would turn out to be the only one that would be a true friendship as the other Equestrians would gain rivals as well. <><><><><><><><><><><><><> That night at the Tendo Residence… “Rainbow Dash! Go out with me!” “Ms. Issanni! Marry me!” Rainbow Dash tried to drown out the voices using her pillow. As it was, some of Ryoko's fanboys… the ones who had developed a crush on her—had followed her home. “It’s the middle of the night!" Akane yelled from her window. "Go away!” Rainbow Dash may not have won the title of the best runner in the city, but she had a horde of obsessive fan boys… That didn’t even go to her school! Then again, it was Nerima…