Chapter 10: Dash to the Finish
“Hey this is your favorite DJ Lady Velvet coming over the air wave’s right to you with yet another song for all of you participants for the annual Running of the Leaves Fall Festival! Here’s Jordin Sparks-One step at a time!” Ranma was already up on his feet in his back yard practicing his more traditional Martial Arts to help stretch out her limbs and steady her breathing as he was participating in the very last and most well-known part of the festival, a bike race known as the Running of the Leaves. Still... she wished she didn't have to continue getting new buckets of hot and warm water for this work out.
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Over on the other side of town two others were working out as well with martial arts under the tutelage of not just Twilight but also their mother. Dashie Rain and Scooter Rain where getting the normal treatment from their loving mother Dawn Rain. “Higher, you need to kick higher girls! Come on Scooter you can make it, Dash slow down, remember to keep your pace.” Dawn instructed lovingly. Being once known as Spitfire of the Wonderbolts and now team leader of the Bolts and parent to two loving girls was the best thing she could ever dream of Human or Pony. When she was just Spitfire the Wonderbolt all she had was the show, her fellow Bolts, and that was it. Whenever the shows where over and she returned to her cloud home, she was alone with no one to welcome her home or ask how the day was.
Or at times even be there when she broke down or became sick but now. Now she had the girls, she had a family, and she had what she’s always wanted. Love. Dashie or Rainbow Dash as she was once known as a raving fan girl turn handful after she became a child but grew into the oldest daughter she wouldn’t trade the world for. Scooter or Scootaloo was also a handful as a baby but became the joy of her life and the rambunctious little sister to her Dashie and they loved her, their mother, just as much as she loved them.
Twilight however was there for much… different reasons than training Dashie. Sparkle Sunset was in actuality Dashie’s girlfriend. During their stay on Earth the two had grown as close friends till one race Dashie was in. It was her third Running of the Leaves race that two realized they truly loved one another.
=Flashback=
“And the winner is… Fantasia!” Velvet yelled over the crowds. Dashie couldn’t believe it. Fantasia, Derpy’s oldest Daughter beat her in a race! What was worse was she got last place again right behind Applejack, again! She’d never win, she’d never be a Bolt like her mom, and she’d never be good enough. “Dashie?” Dashie looked up to see Twilight next to her. “You’ll do better next year.” Dashie just cried into her knees. “No I won’t Sparkle! I’ll never do any better! I’ll always loose!” Sparkle sat down next to her dearest friend and held her. “Don’t say that Dash. You’ll get better, I know you will.” Dashie just held onto her friend and cried her eyes out. She had lost not just once but four times and she hated it. And each time her loss was just worse. The first time was her bike breaking on the second jump from the start.
The second loss was due to a blow out at the very mild of the pack causing her and a few others to get really banged up. The third was the next worse as she and Applejack or AJ as she was now called, got competitive yet again and ended the race in a serious brawl that got her mother and Big Mac involved. They had to jump in to get them separated from each other. Dashie ended up with a black eye and broken lip, AJ however got the worse of it. She had broken her hand along with two black eyes and a busted lip. The two didn’t talk for three weeks since then and only started talking again after Fluttershy and Twilight got on both of them for it. Now… now it was just a plain loss to a ten year old. She couldn’t take it anymore. She liked Derpy and she was one of her best friends and was happy she was no longer wall eyed. Apparently she had gotten a head injury in her youth causing her to gain said wall eye so she never had to worry about it ever again and was now one of the best postal workers in town and also one of the best skateboarders in town as well and never once missed a mailbox or a delivery.
But Sparkler, Fantasia as she was now known, was the winner this year and she was just as young as Scooter was so now… what was she to do? If she could even beat a kid then… “Dashie?” Dash looked up to her friend, her closest friend. “Please don’t cry anymore, it doesn’t suit you.” Sparkle said hugging her tighter. “But, I… I couldn’t win.” Dashie replied sadly. “So, you have something better than first place.” Sparkle said shyly. “Yeah? What?” Dashie asked before she gained a quick peck on the cheek. “Me.” Sparkle said holding her. “But I…” Dashie asked confused. “I… I like you Dashie, really like you. Please don’t push me away.” Dash looked to Sparkle and saw that she too was crying. “Twilight… you sure?” Sparkle nodded sniffing till her head was lifted. “Then… I like you too.” And returned the kiss.
=Flashback end=
Dashie smiled at Twilight as she got back into the flow of the art and her mother’s teachings. “You can do it Dashie. You did well last race and you’ll do well again.” Twilight said smiling back. “You know I will Twi, I won’t let you down.” Dashie said happily. Having a girlfriend had really helped her out. The race two years ago went far better than the last few races and landed Rainbow in fourth place and the year before second. “Hey mom can me and Twi hang out tonight? Alone?” Dashie said smiling. “Well… alright but back before curfew you two, remember we still need to get down that new trick we all learned thanks to her.” Dashie nodded remembering the Drift they just learned. “Going to try for third this year Scooter?” Twilight asked happily. “Yep, I got fifth last year I want to really get up there with sis.” Scootaloo said before falling over in a high kick. “Oomph!”
The girls just giggled at this.
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“Come on Ranma, ten more loads to go.” AJ said as the two worked together in the barn. “Gotcha AJ, and thanks for letting me work out her before the race.” Ranma said tossing down yet another hay bale from the wagon. “No problem Ranma, you’re a good worker and a good friend and what kind of friend would I be for not helping you like you did for me and my kin?” AJ responded smiling. “One of the best.” Ranma said whipping his brow. “So… what more can you tell me about the race?” AJ held her chin then looked to Ranma. “Well what do you already know?” Ranma sat down for a bit and sighed. “Only what James and Violet have told me. It’s the biggest part of the Fall Festival. Every person with a bike can compete and it’s actually fun.” AJ smiled at that as she too sat down. “Well then I’ll tell you a bit of history. The Running of the Leaves been here for years and was originally used to… end disputes.” It was a lie which she flinched at but thankfully Ranma didn’t see it. She hated lying but… she had to keep the town safe, even if he was Luna’s love and a good friend.
“Really?” Ranma asked looking from his seat. “Well yeah. You see there used to be a lot of land feuds back in the day and well the people here didn’t like the might make right thing anymore so one day these two fellers decided to do a race to win the land they wanted. From then on it kept going and the need for land ownership became less and less till well it was just plain old who was best. Been a tradition ever since.” AJ explained or tried to. “Huh, well why they call it the Running of the leave?” Ranma asked curious. “Something about how the leaves looked when they ran through the woods. Now come on, breaks over.” AJ said gaining a nod from Ranma.
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The next day was a bit of a shock for Ranma. “What no way!” James sighed as he brushed off the cookie crumbs that he got showered with. “Yes way, Dashie Rain and her little sister are competing and their mom is doing the announcements.” Ranma sat back in his seat in shock and awe. He had heard a lot about the Rain family and being impressed was an understatement. Dashie Rain and Scooter Rain’s mother took care of that. She was one of the top bike racers in not just the town but also the entire state of California along with her team, The Bolts. “Man I don’t think I’m going to stand a chance if she’s in it.” Ranma said half smiling. It wasn’t really true. He could easily beat her but… where would the fun be in that to use his skills and art in such a way it would make him look like well… a show off. He wasn’t Ranma Saotome, the egocentric jock anymore. Nope, he was Ranma Cloudsdale, a man seeking out a brand new life, and a home.
Back then Ranma Saotome was a jerk, a by definition jock, who KNEW they were being a jerk but couldn’t stop themselves. And the only reason Ranma Saotome had done so was to prove to everyone that ‘he was a man’ and that was it. But not anymore. Ranma Saotome was no more and Ranma Cloudsdale was all that was left behind. Saotome had only enemies and those who could use him claiming friendship, Cloudsdale however had friends and people who really wanted to be his friends with little to nothing in return other than the kindness they gave him back. He loved the town and the town was starting to like him. Sure it was small but it felt like home. “Well who knows Ranma, you might actually win. Dashie has had a bad streak growing up but she has gotten better since two years ago.” Violet said over her shake. “What you mean by that?” Ranma asked. “Well… don’t let anyone know but Dashie used to get last place every year since age ten. Her worse loss was to a kid that was just starting middle school.” Ranma blinked at this. “But isn’t her mom…” Violet sipped her shake and nodded. “Dawn Rain, team captain of The Bolts? Duh, and she’s been training her ever since she could start on a bike and been really supportive of the two. Hey you could even go over to the test tracks and see them train if you like.”
Ranma thought on this. “Well I would like to know what I’m facing during the race.” Violet nodded happily at this and paid for the meal. “I’ll show you on the way to my place. I got to get ready for tonight.” James only smiled and leaned forward in his seat at this. “What’s wrong Vi, got a hot date tonight?” Violet blushed at this before putting her shades back on. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” She said gaining a heartfelt laugh out of her two friends. “Come on I’ll lead you there. Catch you later James.” James quickly paid for his stuff and ran after the two. “Hey wait up you two I want to meet Miss Rain too.”
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Fluttershy watched from the stands as her best friend ran the track with Scootaloo right behind on the bikes. Their mother, Spitfire, watching right next to her with two stop watches but this was not where her focus was today and let out yet another long sigh. “What’s on your mind kiddo?” Dawn said gently as she kept an eye on her kids. “Oh it’s… it’s nothing Miss Rain.” Fluttershy said hiding behind her hair. “Come on now you can talk to me and we all know when you have something to hide Flutters.” Spitfire said gently and motherly. Sighing Fluttershy brought her hair back over one of her ears and looked at her. “How does she do it Miss Spitfire?”
“Do what kiddo?” Spitfire said turning her attention to Fluttershy for a few seconds before looking back at the track. “Be with Twilight.” Spitfire blinked at this and soon giggled a bit. “Oh, it’s that kind of conversation. Alright well, tell me about her.” Fluttershy looked at her in shock before giving a small squeak. “Don’t worry, if you want it between us it’ll stay that way. Heh, even Dashie come to me for advice on this.” Spitfire said gently. Fluttershy sighed and put her chin in her hands. “There’s this… girl I really like. Her name’s Ranko Cloudsdale.” Spitfire thought on this. “The sister to the new kid with the power house voice?” Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “She has such a beautiful voice and her hair is such a beautiful shade of red.” She gave of a relaxed and very happy sigh as she thought about Ranko.
“So I heard. So… does she like you back?” Spitfire said as she smiled at one of Scootaloo’s tricks, a three-sixty frontal which was landed perfectly which was soon followed by Rainbow doing a Superman with her own bike. “Um well… she um…” Fluttershy said trying to get the words out. “Yeah?” Spitfire gently pushed. “Um well… a while back Angel ripped up one of my pony’s clothes and I had to replace them. Ranko was at Cliff’s store and they were looking for another pony to make as Ranko’s best friend. After a long moment they agreed on…” Spitfire waited for the answer as she watched her girls finish up the little practice race. “Me.” Spitfire fell over at this causing Fluttershy to gasp.
“Miss Rain are you alright?!” Fluttershy asked worried. “Out of you six girls she choose you? Wow. What reasons did she give for that?” Spitfire asked from her position. “Well she said I was…‘sweet, kind, gentle, and really liked the outdoors since I’m always tending to my animals.’” Fluttershy confessed. Spitfire sat back up and after letting it soak in nodded. “For a girl that’s actually the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. No wonder you like her so much.” This turned Fluttershy a bit red in embarrassment.
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“Good day everyone and welcome to our most well-known and famous event! The Running of the Leaves!” Sparkle called over the mike. On her shoulder was her dearest pet Spike the iguana. Ranma just shook his head at the two smiling. The Fall Festival was actually fun and much different than the only carnival he’d ever been in. Here there was an apple pie eating contest which two kids, champions actually, won once again; there was a water dunking game as well with Pinkie being the dunked; there was also the meeting with the well-known Bolts racing team who gave off a very entertaining show that reminded him a bit of Shampoo and her own bike with a few of the teams’ jumps. Yet after all these smaller events finally came the bike race, the Running of the Leaves and Ranma was ready… or he was. Thanks to a bit of rain from a short sprinkle it was now Ranko who was racing and not Ranma.
“Hey Ranko, I didn’t know you’d be racing.” A voice beside her said. Ranko turned and found it was Scooter on her own bike for the race. “Yeah well I wanted to try it out and it sounded kind of fun.” Ranko replied. “Well just be careful out there on the track, those woods have a lot of hidden stumps and tree roots that could really cause you to get hurt.” Ranko blinked and this and gave Scooter a nod in understanding. “Hey Scooter! Hurry up or we’ll be at the back of the pack!” another voice yelled. Both turned to see it was Dashie waiting on her own bike. “Coming! Good luck Ranko!” Scooter said riding up to her sister. Ranko sighed and soon followed, wishing Kasumi was there to watch her.
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The girls sat right next to each other with Ms. Rain right behind them. “So Summer, who you rooting for?” Rarity asked her. Fluttershy turned deep red at the question. “Summer?” Rarity asked worried. “Ah don’t mind her Rarity, she’s just got her mind on other things.” Ms. Rain said gaining a small smile from Summer. Rarity gave a slow nod and turned back to the race.
Summer then turned her attention to the racers and almost squealed when she saw Ranko roll up to the starting line next to Dashie and Scooter. Ranko was in the race! Summer smiled at this but then began to worry. She knew how the path went and also knew how dangerous it was after a slight drizzle on some of it. She just hoped Ranko would come out of it okay and unharmed. Normally such a race wouldn’t be so bad and had some minor injuries but Ranko was new to such a race and… she just couldn’t bear the thought of Ranko getting hurt one bit. “Racers on your marks!” Sparkles voice called out. Summer kept her eyes on her crush and gulped. “Get set!” Summer edged forward in her seat as if she was about to bolt herself. “GO!”
At this Summer bolted upright with everyone else as the racers flew off the starting line yelling as best she could, “Go Ranko! Go!”
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Ranko, Scooter, and Dashie where ahead of the pack trying to push for first place. Each curve, jump, and low hanging branch taken with a carefully planned turn, jump, and dodge as they went neck to neck. That was till… “Ah!” Ranko skidded to a halt with Dashie as they turned to see Scooter on the path holding her arm. “Scooter!” Dashie yelled dropping her bike and running over to her sister worried. “Scooter you okay?!” Scooter shook her head. “I caught a root and slammed into that rock.” Scooter said looking at a jagged looking stone. “She okay?” Ranko said riding up to them. “No, I think she might have broken her arm.” Dashie said with a frown and a few tears. “I’ll ride back and try to stop the pack!” Ranko said ready to bolt. “No, wait! Doing that could cause an even bigger accident. Help me get her off the path.” Dashie said quickly.
Ranko nodded and with a careful team effort got Scooter, the bikes, and the rock off the path far before the pack rolled past. “Sigh, there goes another year.” Dashie said shaking her head. “No way Dashie. You can easily catch up to them. I’ll be fine.” Scooter said holding her arm as Ranko took out her medical kit she had on her bike just in case of emergencies. She had started to carry it on her after the accident at Apple Farms. “Let me look at that.” Ranko said gently. “No way Scooter. Your more important than winning some dumb race. Now let’s get you bandaged up and then back to the starting line.” Ranko nodded to Dashie and then Scooter and got a sad smile back. “Okay.”
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Summer looked through the returning pack for her friends and crush but couldn’t find them at all. “Hey, anyone see Scooter or Dash?” AJ said worried. “Think they got last again?” Rarity asked looking to the girls. “I hope Scooter is okay.” Bloom said next to Belle. Sparkle looked through the group and gasped at what she found out. “Girls! A few of the racers said they saw Ranko, Dashie, and Scooter on the side of the forest path! One of them looked injured!” The girls all gasped at this and caused Summer to not just gasp but run for the forest path! “Summer wait! We don’t know where on the path they’re…”
“HEY!” a voice yelled out from the beginning path. Everyone looked to find Dashie, Ranko, and a banged up Scooter with her arm in a sling walking up the path with their bikes. “Scooter!” Ms. Rain yelled running up to them. “Ranko.” Summer said silently also running up to them. “Come on girls and someone get the Nurse!” Twilight yelled as they ran up to the three racers. Ms. Rain quickly stopped before Scooter and looked her over. “Oh Scooter, what happened to you? Are you alright? I was so worried about you.” Scooter tried hard to keep her mother from hugging her. “Mom, mom! I’m fine. Ranko fixed me up after my crash.” Ms. Rain looked up to the two other girls. “Scooter hit a tree root causing her to slam right into this huge rock in the middle of the path. Ranko and I stopped and got her off the path and cleared the way for the other racers.” Dashie explained soon hugging her mom and the girls. “We were lucky I had my First-aid kit on me. We think it might be broken but I’ve done first aid a lot on Ranma during training to know how to set a break and keep it stable. She’s a really strong kid.” Ranko said ruffling Scooter’s hair.
Ms. Rain looked up to Ranko smiling. “Thank you for being there Ranko. I don’t know what we would have done without you.” Ranko blushed a bit and scratched the base of her pig tail. “It… was nothing Ms. Rain.” Summer soon came up to her hiding behind her hair. “Ranko…” Ranko looked to her blinking. “Um, yeah Summer.” She was soon surprised by Summer giving her a tight hug then turning away quickly right after. “Thank you for helping them.” Summer said before returning to her friends. Ranko blushed even redder at this. “Your… welcome…”
To be Continued.