//------------------------------// // Victories // Story: Shooting Star // by Comet Burst //------------------------------// A huge cheer went up as Rainbow Dash entered into Cupcake Corner. She was immediately blind sided by a mess of pink hair and the sound of party favors. "Yay, we all knew you could do it, Rainbow Dash!" Pinkie Pie squealed as she squeezed Rainbow Dash. Looking around the place, she saw all of her friends were there, Twilight Sparkle beaming behind them. Suddenly lightheaded, Rainbow pried herself away from Pinkie's death grip hug and smiled at everypny. Fluttershy, Rarity and Sweetie Belle, Applejack and Apple Bloom, Mr. and Mrs. Cake and especially Scootaloo were all cheering and congratulating her. Rainbow grinned widely back as she replayed the events of the race in her head. It had started off well with Rainbow getting the lead early since about half of the pegasus stumbled over tree roots at the start. Rainbow Dash didn't remember any trees near the cliff, but it seemed to not matter since the wind they generated in the valley caused rocks to shift and block several pathways. She had never been more focused on winning the race, but it felt almost too easy, as if the ground itself wanted her to win. It wasn't until Princess Celestia put a medal on her did the reality of winning set in. She was now going to run the Daybreak Dash when Celestia raised the sun. The party at Cupcake Corner brought her back from her memories as all the ponies asked her questions, offered her sweets and drinks and socialized. The most famous question of the night was if she was nervous about racing the Daybreak Dash. Rainbow Dash always laughed and said it was going to be a breeze. The music played, her friends were there, the food and drinks never seemed to run out, the party was a blast. The only thing missing was a bluish white stallion with a jet black mane. Comet was nowhere to be found, much to Rainbow Dash's disappointment, but it didn't dampen her evening. While Rainbow Dash partied, Comet lay in his bed, trying to sleep through a vivid dream. He hadn't been invited to Rainbow Dash's party and therefore knew nothing about it, so after the race he had gone home to get some shut eye before training to race tomorrow. He had always had a knack for racing, but he never thought it would be what his calling in life was. Granted he received his cutie mark while racing, but he often thought it meant much more than speed. The comet to him symbolized his desire to use his abilities for the benefit of other ponies, as his courier job said. A comet was quick, to be sure, but it also inspired hope in those who wished upon them and brought wonder and awe to everypony else. In his dream, Comet was running alongside who else but Rainbow Dash as they both raced with the sun at their backs. The world was a greenish blur as the ran neck and neck, matching each others speed. They kept racing until Comet heard a shrill cry from behind him. Turning his head, a big black mouth lined with razor sharp teeth was closing on both him and Rainbow Dash. Comet looked over to her, but instead of a cyan colored pegasus was a sterling white unicorn running with her eyes closed. A sickly indigo surrounded her horn as she opened her eyes, revealing a harsh yellow iris that gave Comet chills just by looking at them. The unicorn screamed harshly, causing Comet's neck hair to stand up just before the maws slammed shut, waking Comet from his sleep. He panted as his heart raced out of control. He was covered in a cold sweat as he tried to recall the nightmare, but was unable to do so. The pale light of Luna's moon shined through his window, casting tricky shadows and giving his apartment a haunted feel. Comet couldn't remember the dream, but he had been terrified and the dream seemed far too real. He had felt something, the presence of somepony right next to him. Finally calming himself down, Comet lay back down and forced himself to sleep. ---------------------------------------------------- The eye had widened in the pool of water. The burning yellow iris quivered with excitement. There they were! At long last, after five hundred years it had finally found both Hypersonic's and Clydesdale's bloodlines. The blue one with the multicolored mane was fast, just like her predecessor. She had escaped the tendrils when they reached for her, instead they only slowed her competition. Oddly, the sabotage wreaked by the tendrils had assured her to win. While enraged the prey had escaped, the eye felt a cruel sense of correctness on the situation. How could it fulfill its purpose if it killed them before the Dragon Dash? Wasn't that the whole reason it had waited for so long? The eye continued to sit motionless as it pondered its situation. It wanted to avenge itself, but this wasn't the opportune moment. This was not the time or place to do it. It could already torture them by simply touching them. The stallion had felt its presence as it invaded his mind. It could still sense the mare as she walked over to a unicorn of great power. Had she felt it too? Was she protecting herself? No, no, it did not matter. Five hundred years of festering anger, pain and darkness had made its powers grow substantially. This unicorn was mere childs play compared to it. The eye contracted the pupil, shrinking it to the size of a small rock. It would be content for now, knowing its revenge had begun, knowing they couldn't hide from it now. The appropriate time was approaching, the Dragon Dash would be run by both of them. Their deaths were assured. A shriek loud enough to wake the dead startled the caves inhabitants. Bats, rodents and insects either running from the sound. How easily predictable. Still, the eye enjoyed its new pets. All the creatures froze in a second, causing an eerie silence to echo through the cave. All their eyes glowed a sickly yellow before they all took off in one general direction. The eye remained in the pool, sensing the animals navigating their way out of the cave.