//------------------------------// // The Countdown // Story: The Traveling Pony // by screenaholic //------------------------------// "Three cups of coffee at dinner, what was I thinking?" Twilight sat at a desk reading A Unicorn's Guide to Controlling the Elements by candlelight, unable to sleep despite it being so late. After leaving Sweet Apple Acres, Twilight and Wind Walker spent a relaxing day together. Of course, they were forced to do so in order to store energy in the wings, but Twilight didn't mind. They spent most of the day in town, Wind Walker eager to see the local sites and meet the local ponies. When the night came and they finally filled the amethyst to capacity, they decided to get dinner before they went back to the library and went to sleep. However, they were enjoying their conversations at dinner so much they weren't in any hurry to end it. Luckily, both of them seemed to have quite a thirst, and they were able to delay their nightly retirement while they satisfied their thirst with multiple cups of coffee. "At least it's letting me catch up on my studies." Between depositing my energy into the wings, and not being able to sleep, I just hope I'll be able to stay awa...what's that noise? Twilight looked towards the stairs and listened to the sounds coming from downstairs. It sounded like hoofsteps. Twilight quietly closed the book and walked downstairs. As she approached the bottom she saw the source of the hoofteps. Wind Walker, walking right towards the door. "Wind Walker? Where are you going?" As soon as she spoke he froze. After a moment he turned around to face her. "Hey Twilight, what are you doing up so late?" "I couldn't sleep, to much caffeine. Where are you going?" Twilight made sure to ask the question again. She knew he was trying to avoid the question, she learned how to spot it from A Beginner's Guide to Conversational Conquest. "I-I was just going to the bathroom." "That's the front door." She knew he was lying. Wind Walker looked at the door and chuckled. "Oh yeah, I get mixed up when I wake up in the night. Thoughts get all jumbled." He was nervous, she could see it. "You're wearing your coat and hat." It was, very deliberately, not a question. She didn't ask him why he was wearing it, because she knew why. "Where are you going?" "I wear them everywhere Twilight, force of habit." He was able to keep his voice calm, but Twilight could very easily see how desperately he was trying to avoid her question. "Wind Walker-" "Sorry Twilight, but I really gotta go." He turned towards the bathroom and began to enter. Before she could say another word, he added, "Thanks for the directions, try to get some sleep." With that he shut the door. Twilight stood there for three minutes, staring at the door. Eventually she went back up the stairs and went to bed, suddenly finding herself very tired. That night she dreamed of a lonely figure atop a hill. "Two strips of haybacon sound good Wind Walker?" Twilight asked. "Sounds perfect Twilight, thanks." Twilight put the haybacon on their plates, alongside the toast and oatmeal, and floated them onto the table. "Let's just hope this time Rainbow doesn't crash into here again." "I think she's too busy preparing for the race to ruin our breakfast." As of yet, neither had said a word about last night. There's no need to talk about it now, I don't want to want to stress him out before the race. "You nervous about the race?" Wind Walker took a bite of haybacon before answering. "Nah, it's all in good fun." "Maybe for you, but I heard that some ponies are betting on you to win." Wind Walker gave a chuckle. "Really? Well that's a lot of pressure on me isn't it? I'm surprised anyone's betting on me, they've seen what Rainbow can do." "Ponies like cheering for the underdog." The stallion gave a sly grin. "And who are you cheering for." Twilight froze. Rainbow Dash was one of her best friends. After all they've been through, it would seem obvious Twilight would always cheer for her. That's why Twilight was so surprised to realize she didn't know who she wanted to win. Twilight was relieved she didn't have to answer, because before she could Wind Walker laughed and stood up. "Come on, we better get going. Can't be late to my own race." "One hour left until the big super duper race begins!" "That's right Pinkie. And with local legend Rainbow Dash, and Equestria's only flying unicorn Wind Walker, it's sure to be an interesting one." Spike and Pinkie Pie spoke into the megaphones from inside of the hot air balloon above the stands. "Thanks again for the ride Big Mac," Wind Walker said jumping off the cart, just on the edge of the clearing containing the stands. "Eeyup." Upon entering Sweet Apple Acres, Granny Smith sat at a booth selling tickets to the race for two bits each. Then Big Macintosh offered ponies a cart ride to the stands for an extra bit. Of course, Wind Walker and Twilight got in for free. "Wow, look at all of the ponies that showed up." Twilight was amazed by the massive turn out, the stands were packed to the brim. The stands were covered in banners for Sweet Apple Acres, and Carousel Boutique. In the stands, Looking Glass (the local binocular salesman,) the Cakes, and Applejack were selling their wares to the audience. "Come on, let's go." Wind Walker walked towards the stands, followed closely by Twilight. It wasn't long after they entered the clearing that they were spotted. "Look, there he is!" Someone in the crowd shouted, followed by cheers. Wind Walker smiled and waved to the audience as he approached the starting line. They saw Rainbow Dash stretching there, with Fluttershy giving her words of encouragement. "You ready to get your flank kicked?" Wind Walker shouted as he approached. "Well well well, look who finally decided to show up. How are you going to win a race when you can barely even get here on time?" They shared a laugh, and gave a friendly hoof bump. "Good luck Rainbow Dash," the coated stallion said. "You too," the rainbowed mare responded. "Well Pinkie, both of the contestants have arrived." "Yepie Spike, which means we're going to need everypony else in the stands." Twilight looked at Wind Walker and Rainbow Dash. "Well good luck to you both, it looks like we have to take our seats." "Hold on a second." Wind Walker dug his wings out of his bags and hoofed them to Twilight. "Hold onto these for me will you?" "Of course, come on Fluttershy." "Good luck you two." With that Twilight and Fluttershy left the starting line and entered the stands. They found that Rarity had saved the two of them seats next to her. When they took their seats, Twilight saw Applebloom talking to Wind Walker and Rainbow Dash. She was wearing a referee's shirt, and Twilight assumed she was going over the rules of the race. Twilight passed the time until the race talking to her friends. "Okie dokie lokie everypony, the race is about to begin!" "Racers, please take your marks." The whole crowd got excited as they heard the announcing duo from above. "Three," they shouted in unison as Wind Walker and Rainbow Dash braced themselves. "Two!" Wind Walker unfolded his wings. "ONE!"