//------------------------------// // 27 - Accidents Happen! // Story: The Storm's Challenge // by OneLonelyPickle //------------------------------// Chapter 27 - Accidents Happen! Rainbow turned to Crackclaw and Jerri. The sun was beating directly down on all three, now at the height of its strength. “Okay, everybody!” Rainbow encouraged, “This is it! No flipflopping out there! We came here to win, right?!” “Right!” was the cry she received in response. Rainbow nodded with fire in her eyes and a glint in her jagged smile. “Then let’s go!” Team 117 shared one last cheer and then took off. Rainbow threw a hopeful glance at an empty spot in the stands and sighed. “Hey.” Rainbow turned to see Zephyr standing close by. They shared a warm smile. She called out to him. “Hey Zeph – great race, by the way!” Zephyr flipped his ponytail back. “Ehh, it was pretty boring, but thanks. That Spitfire is something else. You’ll have to be pretty impressive to top that.” He winked at her. “Good luck, RB. Don’t lose.” Rainbow held up a hoof and curled it into something like a fist. “Not a chance!” “Rainbow! Let’s go!” It was Jerri. Most of the other flyers had already gotten into position. Rainbow quickly remembered where she was and sped off. “SEEYA LATER, ZEPH!” Rainbow and Jerri flew down the center of the field and entered the passage to the second leg. “I’m so excited to see you race, Rainbow! I hope there’s a VBI down at the Moving Maw so I can watch!” Rainbow looked back, frustrated. “Focus on winning your leg, Jerri! I’m counting on you, remember?” Jerri was ecstatic. She gripped her face in her claws. “R-Right! Sorry, Rainbow Dash! I won’t lose!” The two followed a straight, narrow drop until they reached an area that opened considerably. It was the start of the Speed Course. A platform for the second leg flyers to wait at was just at the opening of the drop. Rainbow felt dizzy staring down the track, like looking down a deep, dark hole. Cheering rocked the walls. Rainbow almost forgot about the fans that filled the balconies lining the Speed Course. As far as she dared to look down the tunnel, she saw hooves and wings waving towards her and the other flyers. It was loud, but invigorating. Rainbow felt new life take her over and distract her from the fear of failure. “Hey, eh, you must be Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow turned to the source of the voice. It was Slapshot, dressed only in a dark grey winter hat. Because of that, Rainbow could actually see his cutie mark, a hockey stick with a puck. He wore a wide smile as his teeth chomped away at something like bubble gum. “Guess we’re in the same race then, yeah?” Slapshot said, cockily. Rainbow tightened her brow and returned the same kind of smug grin. “That’s right. I’ve heard you’re pretty fast, but you can’t beat me!” Slapshot glared. “Bah, big talk for a rookie, eh? That stuff doesn’t work on me, pal.” A shrill gasp made both ponies snap their necks towards the sound. A bat pony mare was fluttering towards them. “Mein Vort! Zis must be zhe Rainbow Dash zhat I’ve heard all zhe sings about!” Ms. VeeVee grabbed Rainbow’s face and moved it around as if she was studying the features closely. “Zis mane is utterly unglaublich! Your freund Miss Rarity did not lie!” Rainbow struggled and pushed VeeVee away. Slapshot was drooling as his eyes glued themselves to the lithe form that had appeared. “Hey, knock that off! And since when does Rarity know a bat pony from who-knows-where who just came to town for the races?” VeeVee’s amber eyes came alive and she opened her mouth to reveal a set of bat fangs amid a sharp-toothed grin. “Ve are zhe partners! She did not tell you – mmm no?” Rainbow turned away. “Haven’t really seen her.” Rainbow turned back, still miffed. “Anyway, I know you’re one of the big shots around here, so don’t think you can butter me up and take my guard down!” Rainbow snorted and tensed up. VeeVee cackled like she’d just heard the most ridiculous thing ever. “You are zhe riot, Rarity freund! Do you like zhis outfit? One of Miss Rarity’s, stylish und – how you say – flexible—” VeeVee struck a pose, moving her neck and head up and away while stretching out a back hoof, pushing out her chest and showing off the side of her body. The rich, violet silk clung to VeeVee’s curves like a wet shirt on a minotaur. Ribbons of gold and silver flecked the clothing from the toes of her hooves to the middle of her neck. Slapshot jumped up and hoof bumped the air. “10 outta 10, babe!” Slapshot whistled, and it was then that Rainbow noticed that most of the male flyers had gathered around, acting similarly foolish. Rainbow shook her head rapidly. “Uggh seriously? This silly horsehay is breaking my focus!” Slapshot started to hoot and holler even louder, looking at Rainbow from time to time with a devious gleam. The male crowd showered VeeVee with praise, to which she simply giggled with a demure grace and struck a few more poses. Yup, she’s definitely friends with Rarity… thought Rainbow, staring at the display with a deadpan. “Okay sweeties! Everypony get ready! The race is about to being. Once you hear the cannon, it’s go time!” Rainbow swallowed hard. She positioned herself ready to pounce. She kept her eyes glued to a VBI screen on one of the walls. As soon as Crackclaw gets down here and hands me that necklace, I’m off like lightning! A rumbling sound reverberated through the Speed Course from above. The pegasi on the balconies screamed and cheered in reply. Rainbow felt a bead of sweat streak down her face as she watched the mass of flyers on the screen fight for a spot at the entrance to the Jungle Gym. “The second race is underway, sportsfans, and if you’re not back yet from getting chow and merch, you better hurry! We know this won’t take long! Already in front is—” Rainbow drowned out the words. She scanned the screen desperately. She saw no hint of ebony scales or wings. It was harder to follow along when all she could see was the screen compared to being close to the field itself. She closed her eyes tight and began to talk quietly to herself in a drone. “He’s gonna make it, he’s gonna make it…” Moments that felt like hours dragged by. The cheering, the anxious talking of the other flyers, the commentating… it all hit Rainbow’s ears and fell like clouds hitting a mountainside. Rainbow moved her tail back and forth, making sure it was limber for steering. She flicked her ears so they were ready to move in any direction for optimal noise perception and spacial judging. She unfurled her wings and flapped them, slowly then faster, as a warm up. She took in a large gulp of air, then exhaled. The Wonderbolts outfit was starting to feel too tight. She needed to get airborne. Alright… The first of the trick flyers came through the tunnel. They all wore silver EFL medallioms. Her competition was leaving the platform and ripping air down the Speed Course. Rainbow gritted her teeth. Come on, Crackclaw! More flyers came, and more flyers went. Rainbow started to chew on her lip hard as sweat poured down from her forehead. Then she saw him. “Rainbow, here!” Crackclaw tossed the wooden necklace as he shot out of the tunnel, lost his balanced, then slammed down onto the platform. Rainbow craned her neck and the necklace slipped right around her. Then she kicked into gear 10. Like a whip Rainbow tore off the platform and caused a small boom where she ascended. Her goggles kept the sting of the air from damaging her eyes. Everything around her was a blur except the end of the track. Blobs of colors, other flyers, left her vision as soon as they entered. Rainbow’s hooves were straight in front of her and her wings were vibrating with the speed of a hummingbird and the strength of an ox. Her teeth were gnashed together as her cheeks and lips flapped in the wind. She had to be first at that point. First turn! Rainbow expertly tilted her body and made the turn without a hitch. No more colorful blobs were in front of her for the entire length of the track up to the following turn. She barely noticed the balconies filled with squirming, colorful masses, and she certainly didn’t hear the sounds they were generating. But then something did make her take notice. A roar from behind her. She risked a peek and looked back. “Thought you were gonna win that easy, eh?” It was Slapshot, looking just as wild as she did. There was one other flyer behind him, a mare. What the hay?! I-Impossible! Rainbow picked up the pace. If she had been able to feel the burning throbbing throughout her wings and her sides, numbed by copious amounts of adrenaline, she would have crumpled in a second. Slapshot appeared right next to her, and in another moment so too did the mare. Rainbow spotted the gleam of a medallion around her neck. Slapshot shouted. “Sorry, but I plan on coming first today, yeah?” Slapshot pulled ahead just slightly and puffed up his cheeks. Rainbow stared with total confusion. Then something shot out of his mouth, and she flew up to avoid it. The mare from the EFL to her right was not so lucky. “Ahhh, what the hayyyyyyyy!” Whatever Slapshot spit out of his mouth landed on the mare’s left wing and bounced partially to her right. The sticky substance connected bothand the mare was instantly stopped like she had been hogtied. She started to fall like a rock. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Rainbow screamed at Slapshot. She didn’t have to think about it twice. She changed course and shot straight down towards the falling mare. In just the nick of time she swooped up the falling flyer and gently laid her down on the floor of the Speed Course. Rainbow saw that staff were quickly approaching from a side door and took to the air again, tearing off after Slapshot. “Thank you!” the mare called out to Rainbow, who was fuming. She’d never felt her brow crease so tight or her facial features pull into such a snarl. She managed to grit her teeth even harder than before the incident. Her wings became imperceptible to the naked eye. “SLAPSHOT!!!” Many flyers had managed to pass her during the incident. Two turns later, upon approach to the end of the leg, Rainbow found Slapshot. He looked back and blinked in surprise. “Oh hey there, eh? That was some heroics back there, Rainbow Dash! I’m impressed, yeah?” “YOU’RE SCUM! WHEN I GET MY HOOVES ON YOU—” The end of the leg was fast approaching. Rainbow tried to force her wings to submit and go faster, but the tank was empty. The cascading waves of pain were beginning to lick away at her nerves. The adrenaline was wearing off. “Sorry, eh? No such luck today!” Rainbow watched Slapshot quickly take off his necklace and hand it to his teammate. He landed with oompf to cheering crowds from the balconies. Rainbow came to a sliding stop on the platform, completely forgetting her necklace and the race. “R-Rainbo—” Jerri’s pleading went unheeded. Rainbow stomped up to Slapshot, who had changed his demeanor and looked at her like she was from a different planet. “WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HER, SOMEPONY FROM THE EFL LIKE YOU!” Slapshot turned every which way, dumbfounded. “W-wha? B-But I didn’t mean to! The sap just flew out of my mouth! It was an accident, I swear!” A referee dressed in white and black came out of a side door while Jerri shook Rainbow. “Rainbow! RAINBOW! GIVE ME THE NECKLACE!” Rainbow looked at Jerri and a harsh cry escaped her lips. “CRUD! THE RACE!” She struggled to get the necklace off her neck and handed it to Jerri, who took off in an instant. Rainbow cradled her head in her shaky hooves. The pain was in full force now throughout her body. “HOW COULD I… ARGGGH!” She turned back to Slapshot with murderous lust in her eyes. “YOU!” Rainbow smacked the referee and pointed at Slapshot. “He cheated! He spat something out at another flyer and almost got them killed!” The referee rubbed the spot where Rainbow had smacked, glaring at her momentarily before turning to Slapshot. “Is that true, Mr. Slapshot?” The hockey star played dumb, waving his hooves in front of him. “N-No sir, y-yeah? It’s a total misunderstanding, eh? I mean, accidents happen! Why don’t we talk about it with Maelstrom, he knows me! He’ll vouch for me!” The referee turned back to Rainbow. “I’ll discuss this incident with Maelstrom and we will see if anypony else can corroborate your story.” Rainbow got into the face of the referee and shouted. “My STORY!? But it just happened! Wasn’t everypony watching? When Spitfire and Zephyr were fighting for first place the VBI was on them the entire time! Are you saying nopony saw Slapshot and I?!” The referee glared back. “Yeah, that’s right. There are other flyers, too, so don’t get so full of yourself, kid. Like I said, I’ll talk it over with Maelstrom and see if anypony else will corroborate your story.” Rainbow was steaming. She watched as Slapshot winked at her from behind the referee. She turned away from the two of them and went to a corner of the platform to stew in her anger. I can’t believe this! Is he going to get away with it because he’s close to Maelstrom??? Rainbow remembered what was going on and started to hear the voice of Tele-P again. “Ohhhhh that’s gotta hurt! That griffon is going down, folks!” Rainbow’s eyes widened and she found the nearest VBI screen. Her worst fears had been realized. Jerri was falling within the Moving Maw. Rainbow looked out onto the Maw itself from behind the screen and saw a yellow-white form slowly falling as all manner of flyers were making their way through the course. “JERRI! JERRI COME ON!” Rainbow screamed as loud as her sore lungs and vocal cords could manage. “COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT! DON’T LET THIS STOP YOU!” Rainbow looked over to the screen again. Jerri was shaking her head and looked determined, albeit bruised and battered. “Like, wow, everypony! Looks like the support from her teammate, the one and only Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale, snapped Jerri out of it! She’s going to keep going!” Jerri flapped wildly and got herself back into position in the Maw. She flew past the floating, rotating obstacles without grace, narrowly dodging most of the things that wandered her way. Still, she made progress, and while the flyers around her might be hit or collide with something and simply fall all the way to the bottom of the course, Jerri did not give up. Right at the end of the course, a powerful column of cloud smoke came up like a freight train and blasted Jerri. It shot her all the way up to the ceiling, slamming her against the cloud wall, before gravity sent her plummeting downwards. “Rats, folks! The new fan favorite, Jerri, got hit again! There’s no way she’ll make a comeback no—!” Jerri started flying, slowly, back towards the finish line. She clutched onto the necklace around her for dear life. Her right eye was puffy and enflamed. One of her wings was missing feathers. Still she pushed on. Rainbow, back on the platform, fell to her knees. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF THAT HARD, JERRI!” she screamed. But it was no use. Nothing was stopping Jerri. As she flapped her wings for the last time that day, she threw up a claw and grabbed the edge of the final platform. She pulled herself up with sheer willpower and dragged herself off to the metal platform. Many necklaces were already laid on it. She took hers and unceremoniously flopped it onto the pile, then collapsed. Rainbow gasped. She didn’t care about the course or the race and took off through the Maw. She ignored all of her pain and deftly swerved around each and every cloud obstacle that appeared. In just a few minutes she reached the finish line. Staff were already preparing a stretcher for Jerri. “What the heck were you thinking, Jerri?” Rainbow cried. “You didn’t have to go that far!” Jerri just smiled at Rainbow weakly and produced a thumbs up. “Heh…” she whispered. Rainbow got closer so she could hear, tears welling in her eyes. “I said… I wouldn’t let you down. And I didn’t.” Her beaky smile went from cheek to cheek as sleep overtook her and she passed out. “Alright, alright,” called a referee,. “Clear out! Get back up to the waiting area while the last flyers finish up!” - - - Rainbow slowly flapped her wings and made it back to the field in the middle of the stadium. Crackclaw came flying towards her and landed. “Rainbow Dash! Are you okay? I saw Jerri on the screen. I mean, wow, you ponies are crazy.” Rainbow looked up at Crackclaw and forced a smile. “Hey… good job, Crackclaw. I’m fine. It’s Jerri I’m worried about, but nopony will let me see her right now. They said to wait until the results were in and the injured flyers had been assessed.” She realized she needed to see her friends at that moment. To hear Pinkie’s high-pitched voice say something silly, to hear Fluttershy’s concern and Rarity’s “proper” words, and even Applejack’s honest truth. She even missed Twilight’s over-analyzing and egghead talk. But there was nothing except empty spots in the stands when Rainbow looked. She fell to the grass and collapsed. “Rainbow Dash!” Crackclaw cried. He picked her up and brought her to eye level. Rainbow’s gaze was solidly on the ground, regardless. “Rainbow Dash come on! Snap out of it!” Tele-P’s voice called out from the speakers around the stadium. “Alrighty, sportsfans! The results are in! Look up at the screen now to see who progressed and who didn’t!” Rainbow’s head felt like a boulder, but she managed to turn it upwards and look at the screen. Her eyes latched onto one of the lines in the list and she stared until the words started to swirl around in her brain in a dark haze. Position 26 – Team 117 – Crackclaw, Rainbow Dash, Jerri – NOT PROGRESSING