//------------------------------// // 24 - Teammates // Story: The Storm's Challenge // by OneLonelyPickle //------------------------------// Chapter 24 - Teammates “15 minutes until registration ends!” Rainbow’s hair stood on end upon hearing the announcement. She looked around frantically. It appeared most of the teamless flyers were no longer teamless. Rainbow spent way too much time looking around and being picky. She chewed the end of her hoof. Gotta choose, gotta choose…! She blurted out in frustration. “That’s it! I need somepony who’s good at trick flying and somepony who’s got great reflexes!” Everypony around Rainbow stopped and looked at her. A few in the crowd coughed. She looked around with a grumpy face and a blush. A figure stepped forward. “Me. I’m good at trick flying.” Rainbow looked up. He was a dragon, standing on two legs much taller than any pony at the Citadel. His scales were an onyx black and his snout was a straight, vertical triangle jutting out from his face. His amber eyes were fiery and full of life. He pointed behind him at a group of other dragons. “Not like they’ll take me, so you’ll have to do. You fast?” Rainbow struck a cocky pose and flashed a smile. “Fastest pegasus in Equestria!” The dragon nodded. “Alright, cool.” He bent down to shake Rainbow’s hoof. “Name’s Crackclaw.” Just then, a pale yellow blur shot up right in front of Rainbow’s face. Rainbow blinked at the griffon now smiling far too wide at her. “Rainbow Dash! My name’s Jerri! Ohmigosh, it’s really you!” Jerri the griffon put a vicegrip on Rainbow’s hoof and shook until Rainbow felt her brain rattle. Her eyes spun around and around once Jerri finished her ‘greeting’. “I can’t believe my dreams came true! You’re actually here AND you need a teammate!” Rainbow took a step back and looked Jerri up and down. The griffon’s down was pale yellow, paler than Fluttershy’s coat, with tufts of almost-white feathers sticking up on her head. Her back end was going up and down rapidly in excitement. Rainbow returned the smile, albeit somewhat forced and awkward. “Uhh… yeah! I need somepony – or, uhhh, griffon, I guess – who’s got the best reflexes!” Jerri practically exploded into a mass of feathers out of pure joy. “That’s me, Rainbow Dash! Go ahead and try to hit me, as fast as you can! You won’t be able to!” Rainbow looked at Crackclaw, unsure, and he just shrugged. She turned back around. “A-alright.” She flew into the air and dove at the griffon as fast as she could. Her hoof collided with a feathery face and knocked Jerri into the field. “What the hay!” Rainbow called, noticing that others were whispering and pointing. “You said you could dodge!” Jerri got up, rubbed her sore face, and beamed. “S-sorry, I was so excited! I sort of just stared at your without reacting!” Rainbow facehoofed and groaned. The announcer called out once again. “10 minutes until registration ends!” Rainbow cried out in dismay and turned to Jerri. “Fine, FINE! Could you please promise me that you won’t screw up in the relay?” Jerri got serious and saluted Rainbow. “Ma’am, yes ma’am! I would never, ever, let you down. Gilda told me all about you! And then when I learned you were a hero in Equestria, well — I sort of worship the ground you walk on, Rainbow Dash! I hoped against all hopes that if I came here, I would find you!” Rainbow cocked her head. “Wait, you know Gilda?” Crackclaw tapped his foot impatiently as Jerri nodded super-fast. “Sure! We were both runaways from Feather Peak who met outside the Griffonlands! There’s a town down there where lots of griffons who want to live with Equestrians stay! She told me everything there was about you, and I always thought it was just hot air, until I asked some travelling ponies from Equestria once and they told me you saved the country from some guy named Discord and some changeling queen and mwahahnd eagheab—” Crackclaw had his hand around Jerri’s beak. “Right, great story. Totally got me hooked. Can we please just go register before we’re all disqualified?” Rainbow shook herself. “G-good idea! We’ll talk after! Let’s go!” - - - Rainbow, Crackclaw and Jerri looked at the new racing bibs they received. The number “117” was painted on it in black. “Okay, all set then!” Rainbow said, smiling at her new teammates. They both returned the smiles. “Now all we need to do is not be totally last and we advance to the next race, then we’re all on our own. So let’s work together until then!” “Rainbow Dash!” Rainbow heard Fleetfoot call out to her and turned around. “Are those your teammates? Spitfire and Soarin’ are about to explain the relay to the rest of the Wonderbolts, you should come too!” Rainbow nodded and team 117 walked over to the area on the field where all of the Wonderbolts were gathered. The captains of the Wonderbolts were positioned in front. “Okay, soldiers, listen up!” Spitfire commanded. “We didn’t come here today to lose, any of us! So let’s make sure every last Wonderbolt crosses that finish line victorious!” She nodded at Soarin’ and he took over. “The relay is going to be split into two races due to the amount of flyers. The Saddlebred Citadel is big but the course isn’t that wide so the organizers figured it’d be more interesting this way. Everypony in teams 1-59 will race first, then teams 60-117 will go.” The Wonderbolts talked among themselves for a moment and Crackclaw spoke quietly to Rainbow. “Means we can watch how it goes for the first teams. That’s good.” “Mhm,” Rainbow replied. She noticed Jerri staring at her and did a double take. “Uhhh…” “Hah, sorry Rainbow Dash!” Spitfire shouted, “Alright, quiet now… QUIET!” She glared at the Wonderbolts until not a peep was heard. “The goal of the relay is to get a wooden necklace from the start of the race, which the first racer will carry, to the end of the relay. At a certain point, the first racer passes the necklace onto the second, and then at the last leg, the second racer passes it to the third and last racer. The last racer has to place the necklace onto a metal stake. The first 25 teams in each race to place their necklace on the stake will advance to the second round of races. The others will be out. Done. Goners. Losers! That won’t be any of you!” “No ma’am!” cried the Wonderbolts. Spitfire and Soarin’ took turns explaining how each leg of the race was to play out. As Rainbow had already known, thanks to Zephyr, each leg required a different type of ability to succeed: first trick skill, then speed, then finally reflex. She was sure she could leave the other flyers in the speed leg in the dust, but her teammates? Rainbow forced the lump in her throat down. * * * Sweetie Belle rested her face on her hoof. She huffed with boredom as she looked out on the city of Canterlot from high above the ground on the landing platform of the Saddlebred Citadel. “When are the others going to get here?” she asked. Rarity replied. “Now now, let’s not be impatient, Sweetie Belle. The race doesn’t start until noon. Fluttershy and Pinkie will come, and if we don’t meet them here, they’ll never be able to find us in that giant stadium.” She brought a hoof up to her face and turned to a white-faced Applejack. “Could you just imagine Fluttershy trying to navigate around thousands of ponies if we weren’t there? She’d positively die! I mean sure, Pinkie Pie would be with her, but she’d be too busy trying to learn everypony’s name and what kind of party they like.” Applejack was staring wide-eyed at the cloud floor. “Y-yeppers…” she said quietly. Sweat driblets streaked down the side of her head. Rarity flicked her with a hoof. “Honestly, darling, you need to relax! Peony told us it was perfectly safe!” Applejack slowly shook her head. “S-sure she did, but it just ain’t natural. Last time we walked on clouds, Twilight cast the spell herself. This is something else entirely!” “Look! They’re here!” Sweetie Belle cried. She started to jump up and down. “And Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are with them!” Indeed, the gang spotted a balloon carrying Fluttershy and two little fillies hanging onto the basket from the inside. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom waved frantically at their tiny friend, who waved back just as frantically. Sweetie Belle squeakily cried out, “Hi girls! Hi Fluttershy! Hi… umm, where’s Pinkie Pie?” Rarity and even Applejack looked over at the balloon as it started to dock. Fluttershy and 2/3rds of the Cutie Mark Crusaders got off. There was no Pinkie Pie, however. “Morning everypony,” Fluttershy said. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom teleported over to Sweetie Belle. “You made it! I wasn't sure I’d see you two here!” Sweetie Belle cried. Scootaloo replied, “You kiddin’ me? We were planning this from the beginning! We caught up to Fluttershy early this morning before she left!” Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah, we wouldn’t miss this fer the world! Maybe we can get our Cutie Marks as superfans!” All three fillies breathed in to stock up on air, then shouted in unison: “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SUPERFANS! YAY!” One of the stallions who had gotten off the balloon spilled his coffee all over himself as the shrill screaming assaulted his ears. Applejack ran up to her little sister. “Apple Bloom!” she cried, “Granny letcha leave? Or did you go without her permission?” She raised a brow and scrutinized her sister. Apple Bloom shook her head. “Not a chance, big sis! Granny told me to come last night, said ah should make sure yer not foolin’ around up here when ya could be working the orchard!” Applejack blew air out of the side of her mouth. “That Granny. Her head’ll be spinning when she sees the bits ah’ve made. Anyway, where’s Pinkie Pie?” She turned to Fluttershy. The demure mare cleared her throat. “Umm, her and Spike had to help the Cakes with an emergency. Apparently, they’re staying in Canterlot for the duration of the races, but something happened at Pony Joe’s place. They told me not to worry about it, but that they just had to help.” Applejack frowned. “Well, shoot. They’ll miss the first race then! Ah’m sure Spike was excited, and he must have taken the day off an’ everything!” Rarity joined in. “I almost forgot about little Spikey Wikey. He must be doing okay, then? Not too overwhelmed?” Fluttershy smiled and shook her head. “Not from what I could tell. He was acting quiet, though, and he seemed a bit nervous. I guess it’s got to do with whatever is happening with the Cakes. But Pinkie seemed like her normal self.” It was at that moment that Applejack turned and realized that three little fillies that were previously standing close by were nowhere to be seen. “The girls!” she cried. Rarity and Fluttershy snapped to, and all three mares looked every which way around them. “Where the hay did they run off to now?” * * * Spike waved up at Saddlebred Citadel, far above Canterlot Castle in the distance. He sighed as Pinkie smiled and ruffled his head crest from his position on her back. “I know, Spike. It’s a real bummer. But we’ve got an important job to do!” Spike exhaled with sadness once more. “Everypony says this is going to be a once in a century amazing race! Are you really sure we’re going to find something if we sneak inside Maelstrom’s tent? And what if we get caught?” The two were once again on the road to Canterlot, this time dressed in detective attire. Pinkie had her usual duds on, of course, and Spike wore a bowler hat and his red bowtie. Big saddlebags hung over either side of Pinkie’s haunches. “Well, there’s only one way to find out. Don’t you worry, Spike! I have a plan! And plan IMTAFSCETGHITASE can’t possibly fail!” Spike raised his claws. “Plan…what?!” “Plan Infiltrate Maelstrom’s Tent And Find Super Crucial Evidence To Get Him In Trouble And Save Equestria! It’s… a title in progress.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Sure, fine. But did we need to hide the plan from Fluttershy? Why did you make up all that stuff about the Cakes?” Pinkie responded as she trotted ever closer to Canterlot. “Becauseeee, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy would just try to talk me out of it or come with me. If they try to talk me out of it, it will just make it harder to focus on the plan, and if they come with me, it’ll be harder to actually execute the plan. We can’t draw any suspicion to ourselves, Watspike!” “Watspike? Really?” Pinkie giggled. “Just go with it.” Spike laid down on Pinkie’s back and threw his claws behind his head as he looked up to the clear, blue sky. “And I’m guessing I’m an important part of your plan, huh?” “Sure are! You’re my faithful assistant!” “Great, great. Now I’m two ponies’ faithful assistant…” * * * Apple Bloom stared at the center of the Citadel field. “Lookit this place, girls! It’s amazing!” she shouted. The other CMCs joined her and all three breathed, “Wow…”. It wasn’t yet packed in the stadium, so they could see without any issues. They feared it might not be that way once the races start. “We need to find good seats!” Scootaloo declared. Sweetie Belle nodded. “We can’t leave it up to our sisters and Fluttershy, they’ll choose spots that are good for adult ponies.” Speaking of the devilpony, the CMCs heard the shouting of Applejack and Rarity from the hallway leading to the landing platform. “Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom! Scootaloo! Where are you?” The CMCs looked around for the perfect seating area as the older ponies continued their own search. Rarity finally spotted her sister and called out to her. “Sweetie Belle! You stay right there! We’re coming!” Sweetie Belle sighed. “Alright Rarity…” Apple Bloom chimed up. “Well this spot looks pretty good actually! Let’s just sit here!” The three little fillies sat down on a bench about halfway up between the top of the wall and the field. It provided a good vantage point of everything, and because one of the stadium entrances was directly below their spot, the CMCS wouldn’t have to deal with adult ponies blocking the view. Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy reached the fillies, somewhat out of breath from the chase. After the inevitable sisterly scolding, everypony got situated. The stadium was slowly filling up with ponies of all shapes, sizes, and colors. The fillies even spotted a few griffons and the occasional dragon. Ponies, wearing the bronze medallions of EFL volunteers, were moving through the rows selling all types of concessions, like peanuts, popcorn, and nachos. Some even carried trays of cider mugs. “Well ah’ll be gosh darned!” Applejack exclaimed, “They’re selling cider! Ah didn’t know that was a thing!” Rarity made a throat noise and Applejack turned to her. “Now now, Applejack – don’t be getting any ideas. Remember, YOU were the one to suggest we not sell anything today.” Applejack lowered her eyebrows. “Ah know, ah know! I was just saying is all!” One of the EFL volunteers walking by was selling foam fingers and other novelty sporting items. Applejack and Rarity bought one for each of their sisters, and Fluttershy bought one for Scootaloo, and two for herself. She bought a funny sky-blue hat with a set of white pegasus wings coming out from either side as well. “My, Fluttershy,” Rarity began, “I didn’t realize you got into the sporting spirit like that!” Fluttershy nodded, more excited than usual. “Oh yes! Rainbow Dash is expecting our support and I’m going to give it to her 100%, right from the start. This isn’t going to be like the Best Young Flyers competition!” Fluttershy jumped when a nearby stallion screamed something down to the field, right by her ear. “Umm… well, at least 80%.” Scootaloo jumped onto her hooves and pointed down at the field. “Look!” she shouted, “It’s Rainbow Dash, guys!” Everypony turned, and sure enough, the cyan mare was standing among the Wonderbolts off to one side of the now-packed field. “Woowee! Rainbow! Hey, Rainbow!” Applejack cried, hooves on either side of her mouth. The other ponies joined in. An embarrassed Rainbow Dash turned around and waved up at her friends, sunlight bouncing off her large, wavy smile. “GO RAINBOW DASH WOOOOOOO! YOU CAN DO IT!” Fluttershy leapt into the air and waved her be-fingered hooves around. “RAINBOW RAINBOW RAINBOW!” Rarity, Applejack and the CMCs subconsciously leaned away from Fluttershy, taken aback by the display. “T-the race hasn’t even started yet, sugarcube…” Applejack said. Rarity smiled awkwardly at a nearby, grumpy-looking couple holding their foals’ ears as Fluttershy screamed. “I can’t help it, girls!” Fluttershy exclaimed, “I’m just so… pumped! And I see Bushwhacker too! BUSHWHACKER! GO BUSHWHACKER!” The ponies turned. Off to the other side of the field, the EFL was, like the Wonderbolts, being addressed by their captains. Fluttershy saw that Bushwhacker was one of them, and he waved with a smile. The other EFL members turned to see what it was about. Fluttershy noticed how many ponies were watching her now and she sat back down, red heat overtaking her cheeks.