//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: Training with Rainbow Dash // Story: Scootaloo's Race // by RushingWind-01 //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash and Rushing Wind haven't seen Scootaloo ever since the second race of the Pro Tournament, and Rainbow Dash decided to go and look for her. She was certainly worried - if anything terrible would happen to her, she would never forgive herself for that. Soon, she found Scootaloo, who wore a big frown on her face. She was striding away from the track in San Pranciscolt, where the last race was held. Rainbow Dash flew over to her. "Hey, Scootaloo! How did the second race go down? You don't look so happy...", Rainbow asked, with a worried look on her face. "I... I don't wanna talk about it right now...", Scootaloo said. Rainbow Dash tried again. "Hey, come on. I'm your sister. You can tell me if something's wrong." Now, Scootaloo felt something inside her. Something that told her to tell the truth. "Well...", she started, "Those two races I did didn't go so well... Everypony is just way too fast and I'm struggling to keep up. I'm just not able to hit the speed necessary to pass everyone... And most importantly... How am I ever gonna be able to become as fast as Rushing Wind if I can't even pass those fast contenders?" "Damn...", Rainbow Dash said, shocked about that explanation, "What in Equestria happened back there?" "Soarin scolded me, he said I was way too slow to become a Pro...", Scootaloo said. "He did WHAT!?" Rainbow Dash was hit with a shock when she heard that, "Why would he do something like that? That's not like him at all." "It's true... He won those first two races... I'll never be able to catch him...", Scootaloo responded. "But didn't you recently have training with Rushing Wind and Hanzal?", Rainbow Dash asked. "I did... But it looks like it didn't do me much good...", Scootaloo said in defeat. Rainbow Dash didn't know what to say. The training with those two fellow Pegasi got Scootaloo through the Amateur Tournament as well... But now, it looked like she needed some kind of special training... Special training with the best. She flew over to Scootaloo, and said: "Look, Scootaloo. If training didn't do much good, the only thing you can do is... get more training." "Well, then tell me how to go faster than a Wonderbolt who obviously is racing over the track like a rocket!", Scootaloo said in disbelief. She couldn't see how more training would do any good to get her through the tournament. "You know... Rushing Wind can't teach you how to get faster. But I... I can show you how to. I used to be a slow Pegasus as well when I was as young as you until I earned my Cutie Mark. And do you want to know how I did that? With a lot of training." Rainbow Dash's explanation met the ears of a curious Scootaloo who now was keen to do training with her mentor, hoping that she will get faster. Later that day... The night sky above Ponyville was beautiful, and normally by this time, everypony was asleep. But not Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo. They were on the field with the oval track where Rainbow Dash used to test the speed of Pegasi for the tornado. "Alright, squirt. Show me what you got!", Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo buzzed her wings and took off, flying as fast as she could. Then, she hit the speed calculator. "9.1 wing power...", Rainbow Dash read out. Scootaloo was flashed of the sheer speed she was able to hit, but she knew that it was still slower than Soarin. "From what I've heard from Rushing Wind, Soarin is able to hit about 10.2 wing power, and so do Spitfire and Fleetfoot. They almost cross the line to the Elites, who hit at least 10.5 wing power.", Rainbow Dash explained. "Ten point two? That's more than one wing power faster than me!", Scootaloo said. "Don't worry, there is a way to get this fast. I'll tell you, it's not easy, though.", Rainbow Dash responded. Then, she positioned herself next to Scootaloo. "Don't worry, I'll only fly as fast as Soarin would, so... try to keep up!", Rainbow Dash said and gave the signal. "Ready, Set, Go!", she called out and took off along with Scootaloo. The little Pegasus was close thanks to slipstreaming, but the only thing she could do was hit a speed which was slightly lower. After three laps, the two stopped. "Okay, here's the thing. Speedy flying is nothing fancy. It's all about the sheer speed that comes from muscle.", Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo flapped her wings. She knew that her flap was powerful thanks to built-up muscle as well as the enhanced wings from Rushing Wind. But knowing that she needs to build up more muscle, she said to Rainbow: "Can you show me how to get that 'muscle' you're talking about?" "Sure thing, Scoots. That's why we're here.", Rainbow responded. For several hours, Scootaloo repeated the routine of wing-ups and other training programs Rainbow Dash set up for her. And every time after those programs, they would try the catch-up training again. Soon, Scootaloo was able to barely pass Rainbow Dash within three laps - but only when they started next to each other. "Now for the next training. What place did you get in the second race?", Rainbow Dash asked. "Seventh. Why do you ask?", Scootaloo asked back. "That means Soarin will start six positions ahead of you, and you start on the same side as he does. I'll give you four laps to pass him.", Rainbow Dash said. "I should gain six positions within four laps when everyone is faster than me? Okay, I'll try!", Scootaloo said in enthusiasm. And then, more training followed, with Scootaloo always getting stupid close when the two Pegasi reached the finish line. More training programs and more testing, and everything resulted in better outcomes, but still not in the win. The next morning dawned. Scootaloo was training with Rainbow Dash all night long, but she didn't think about giving up. When she hit the speed calculator once more, she hit a speed of exactly 10 wing power, and after another catch-up attempt, Scootaloo emerged successful with a split second to spare. "Good job, squirt!", Rainbow Dash said. Scootaloo felt exhausted after training all night, but she knew that it would be worth it in the end. Her speed has increased, she managed to complete her training, and she felt ready for the next race. But first, she needed to take some rest before the next race began...