//------------------------------//
// The Gailenean 1000 
// Story: Doctor Whooves Episode 9: Triple Rainbow 
// by Doctor Perseus 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 1: The Gailenean 1000


Eagle Park, Feathersville, The Griffin Kingdom, Gaia, Summer, 1021 C.E.

The 19-year-old Rainbow Dash couldn't help but awkwardly stare at her older self. It was clear that she was going to go through a fair amount of changes between now and then. The future Rainbow had a longer mane, a somewhat taller and stronger structure, somewhat larger wings, and a mature and knowledgeable aura emanating from her.
"I know how awkward this is," said Rainbow the elder to Rainbow the younger. "Trust me, I was in your hooves at one point."
"Oh yeah!" replied Rainbow the younger with a smirk. "I guess you were."
"What year is it?" Derpy asked.
"1021. You're about nineteen years in the future."
"The near future. That's a nice change," Twilight sighed.
"So what are you doing with her exactly, Dashie Two?" Pinkie Pie asked. Rainbow the elder turned to Gilda and Gilda blushed as she stared at Rainbow the younger and Pinkie Pie.
"I know this must look confusing to you two but Dash and I have made up," Gilda replied as she wrapped an arm around Rainbow the elder.
"Made up? After everything that happened between us?" Rainbow the younger questioned.
"It's a long story. I guess I should go ahead and apologize on both my behalf and the behalf of my past self. I'm sorry about being such an ass to you all back then. I promise you that I've changed."
"I guess I don't have any place to argue since my future self has forgiven you."
Rainbow the elder chuckled a bit but then her smile faded.
"I've feared the arrival of this day for a long time," she said under her breath. "It looks like I'll have to face her a second time."
"What was that?" Applejack asked.
"Nothing! Just thinking out loud!"
Applejack turned to Rainbow the younger and said, "You're a bad liar, Rainbow."
"Why are you telling that to me? She's the one who's lying!" Rainbow the younger argued.
"She is you!"
"Oh yeah...I guess she is."
"So what's this Gailenean 1000 that you were talking about?" Twilight asked.
"Didn't John mention something like that just before we left?" Spike asked.
"He did didn't he?" Rainbow the elder chuckled. "The Gailenean 1000 is a huge race that is held every three years."
"I'm guessing that it starts after our time because I haven't heard of any race called the Gailenean 1000," said Twilight.
"Correct as usual, egghead. Princess Luna and King Hornbeak started the race back in 1009. This is the fifth race and I'm going to win it!"
"You seem pretty confident in yourself," said the Doctor.
"Maybe a little too confident," Gilda added. Rainbow the elder glared at Gilda teasingly and the griffin simply looked away.
"So where are we exactly?" Rarity asked.
"We're in Feathersville. It's a small town in the Griffin Kingdom as well as the starting point for the race," Rainbow the elder replied. "The race starts here, stretches down to Baltimare (which is the midway point), and then ends in the capital of the Griffin Kingdom, Phoenix."
"It sounds like a pretty difficult race," said Derpy.
"It is. I've trained a long time and now I finally think I'm ready to beat it."
"But there's more to the story, isn't there?" the Doctor inquired.
"Yeah. It's my friend, Spitfire. She's in the race and I-"
"Wait just a minute!" Rainbow the younger snapped. "Did you just say that your friend is Spitfire? As in the Spitfire?!"
"Pretty much."
Rainbow looked like she was about to explode in a mushroom cloud of happiness. 
"Take slow, deep breaths, Dashie," said Pinkie Pie as she led Rainbow the younger away to calm down.
"I better go help," said Fluttershy as she trudged after them.
"I remember when I used to be like that," Rainbow the elder said with a smile. The Doctor looked at the future Rainbow. He could tell that something else was bothering her aside from the Gailenean 1000.
"Is there anything else you want to tell us?" he asked.
"Not at the moment, Doctor."
"Why don't we show you around town before you continue your trip?" Gilda suggested.
"Sounds good! I've never been to the Griffin Kingdom. I can't believe it took me nineteen years to get here but better late than never!" said Twilight happily. 
"Gilda, why don't you give my past self and the others the grand tour? I've got to go meet with Scootaloo," Rainbow the elder said. Gilda nodded in return.
"What's Scootaloo got to do with all this?" Rainbow the younger asked as she returned with Pinkie and Fluttershy.
"She's my assistant."
Before the present Rainbow could ask any questions, the future Rainbow spread her wings and took off into the sky.
"Do I do that often?" asked Rainbow the younger.
"Yes," replied everypony simultaneously. 

Starting Line, Feathersville, The Griffin Kingdom, Gaia, Summer, 1021 C.E.

Scootaloo was standing next to the starting line, writing down a series of notes for Rainbow Dash. The 26-year-old mare was anxious to give her boss the info so that she could go and try out the new club in town.
"Ponyville really needs to get a club," Scootaloo said as she finished scribbling notes onto a piece of paper. A familiar rainbow streak shot through the sky and landed next to the brown pegasus.
"How's it going, Scootaloo?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Just fine. I'm just finishing up my racetrack info guide for you. I'm marking down all the checkpoints and all of the recommended places to take a break."
"You can take a break if you want to, Scootaloo."
"I would like to take a break but I don't want to be lazy on the job, Rainbow Dash. When I'm working as your assistant, you come above everything else."
"Still the same as you were when you were a filly."
"Hey! Once a fan, always a fan!"
"Cute."
"Uh huh. Do you have something to tell me, boss?"
"Actually, I do."
"Well go ahead. I'm listening."
"Remember when I told you about the time I traveled around with the Doctor and met my future self?"
"Yeah."
"Well today's that day."
"Wait...so that means that the past selves of you, the Doctor, and the others are here?! Today?!"
"That's pretty much what I'm saying."
"But that means that...she'll be here soon."
"I know that, Scootaloo. We better meet up with Gilda and the others. I don't think it would harm the timeline too much if I warned the Doctor about our little visitor in advance."
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Rainbow Dash. Remember what the Doctor always says?"
"Spoilers. Spoilers. Spoilers. I know! I just want to make things go by a little bit easier for a change!"
"Applejack tried to change something and look what happened there!"
"That's different! Let's just go meet up with them anyway!"
"Okay, but I'm keeping my eyes and ears on you!"
"I wouldn't expect it to be any other way."
Scootaloo giggled. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo then spread their wings and took off. As they flew off, they didn't notice the dimensional rift slowly opening next to the starting line.