The Changeling's wings flapped harder than they had ever flapped before, making up some speed as the air rushed through the holes in its wings. Something about air resistance or aerodyamics or some such complicated malarkey the purple unicorn had tried explaining to it, to no real effect. It was trying to catch up, but panting in exhaustion, and couldn't go all that much farther.
A blue blur whizzed like lightning up behind the Changeling, and skidded to a midair halt, wings flapping in a very lazy manner. "Come ON." Rainbow Dash protested. "What's taking you so long? I've already lapped you seven times. What fun is a race if you're not even gonna try?"
The Changeling just glared.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Alright, fine, we can walk the rest of the way, I guess." She relented, and reluctantly folded her wings, landing expertly back on all fours from a few feet in the air, striking a runners pose. "I can out fly you, I bet I can out run you!"
Her companion for the day sank to the ground in relief, panting heavily and barely able to lift its wings.
Rainbow frowned. "Aw, nuts. I guess I worked you a little TOO hard." She knew she could be a little bit over competitive. Okay, a lot over competitive. "Uh... good effort, I guess." She said. "You don't talk much, do you?"
The Changeling responded by rippling into a perfect replica of Dash herself, but said nothing.
Rainbow Dash blinked in surprise. "You're bold, kid. I like that. I'm gonna call you Sparky. Come on, Sparky! We're gonna be late for meeting the Crusaders! They're over at Scootaloo's mother's house today, I've never met her, but if she's anything like Scoots, she's sure to be almost as awesome as me!" She boasted.
Sparky facehooved, but followed regardless, assuming its insectoid shape once more.
"How about a good old fashioned adventure song, Sparky?" Rainbow asked. "Something with lots of power behind it! Do you know any good travel songs?"
Any response from the Changeling was cut short by a bright pink pony bursting out of the hole of a nearby tree. "Oh! Oh! I know one!" She inhaled sharply.
It's adventure time! Come on grab your friends!
We'll go to very distant la-
"No!" Rainbow interrupted, and shoved Pinkie back into the tree. "I wasn't being serious!" The Changeling was hiding fits of laughter behind its hoof.
Rainbow looked annoyed. "Ugh, why do they always have to stick me with the slowponies?" She complained, continuing her journey towards the outskirts of Ponyville. They passed a playground, where parents watched their little foals squeal and giggle.
"I wonder why Scootaloo never talks about her mom, anyway." Rainbow wondered aloud, the Changeling dragging behind, quite obviously tired, and ignored the statement.
"Alright, alright, already." Rainbow said impatiently, and hoisted the creature up onto her back, taking to the air again. She did several loops around the park, before finally landing in a residential area. She approached the house she'd been directed to, and was shocked to see Princess Celestia herself standing half-hidden in the shade. Rainbow lowered her front legs immediately. "P-Princess! What are you doing here?!"
"Observing." Celestia said. "As I always have." She frowned slightly. "Your Changeling looks exhausted."
"Yeah, we were racing. I won, obviously."
Celestia frowned in disapproval. "Rainbow Dash, you must learn to harness your speed. Not everything is a race. You are a very gifted flier, but not everypony can keep up with you. There are times you may have to slow down. What good is seeing a rose if you cannot watch it grow?"
"Huh?" Rainbow shrugged. "I'm not talking about roses, I just wanna go fast!" She beat her wings a few times.
Pinkie Pie bounced past again at that point, her own Changeling tagging behind, and once more singing one of her completely random lyrical concoctions.
Gotta go fast!
Gotta go fast!
Gotta go faster! Faster!
Faster faster fast-whoop!
The party pony, not watching where was going, had tripped right over a rock. "Oooh! I don't have this one yet!" She exclaimed, picked it up, and bolted off so fast that her shadow was left behind. The shadow gasped, and bolted off after its owner. The Changeling looked as if it was about to go completely crazy, but ran to catch up.
Princess Celestia held a straight face through all of this, and tried very hard not to acknowldge what had just happened, instead turning again to the blue pegasus.
"I know." The princess smiled. "But be careful you do not fly right past what's important."
"Duh," Rainbow said, and the door flung open. Rainbow Dash looked towards Celestia again, but the princess was gone. "How did she-" The rest of her statement was cut off by Apple Bloom.
"Come on! Come on! Yer late!" The farm pony insisted, dragging Dash and the Changeling inside.
Sweetie Belle sat with a second Changeling and Scootaloo, the latter of whom was bright red.
"Are you SURE you wanna meet my mom? I mean, we don't have to," Scootaloo said, looking nervous.
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. The Changeling she had brought went to join its companion, and the two exchanged a small series of clicks. A figure appeared in the doorway, and a familiar voice filled the air.
"Well, well. Rainbow Dash! It's always nice to see you again."
The multicolored mare squinted her eyes, which nearly bulged out of her head when she saw who it was. "YOU?! But... but... buh..." Darkness overcame her, and she fell to the floor.
Apple Bloom facehooved. "She fainted, ah called it. Y'all owe me two bits."
Scootaloo was trying to hide her face in her wings. "Aw, man. I knew this was a bad idea."
Sweetie Belle was giggling. "Well, THAT could've gone better."
The two Changelings just exchanged glances. They had no idea what was going on.