//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 - A Less-Than-Helpful Speed Boost 
// Story: Equestrian Celestial Forge 
// by TheDriderPony 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash groaned as the tree-shaped bruise on her side made itself known with every movement. She could faintly hear the sounds of combat across the clearing as Daring Do, her hero, her idol, fought off Ahuitzotl's wildcats.

Alone.

At her insistence.

She needed to get up. To get back in the fight and help but just trying to stand made her bite back a hiss of pain.

There was nothing she could do. She was just useless baggage to the adventurer after all. Just a danger and a liability.

The tingling in her wings only added insult to injury, a sure sign that just when she needed it most, another one of her friends was getting a superpower instead of her. Typical. But the feeling continued to grow, swelling up far past what she'd felt before and her spirits rose with it.

Was it finally her time? She crossed her hooves, mentally begging for something awesome like time travel or ninja skills or even just a sweet sword to help Daring Do fight.

The power surged as it seeped into her skull, filling her mind with knowledge and an awareness of power. Subconscious knowledge on how to move swiftly and efficiently, how to ignore obstacles and just keep working, and overall a overwhelming sense of speed which all came together in the form of—

"The hay? That's it? That's all I get!?" She groaned as she rolled over, her vision getting hazy as she watched Daring Do get carried away, trussed up in ropes, towards a distant temple.

"Lousy stingy power-giving space thing."