//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Rainbow Streaks // by DerpyJr //------------------------------// "Are you sure you're reading that thing right?" Rainbow trotted up to the anemometer to observe its readings with her own eyes. The mechanism, however, only confirmed Twilight's words. "Eighteen point five? This thing must be busted or something." "There's no way Rainbow Dash. Anemometers are built to withstand hurricanes and fierce storms. Besides you felt that tailwind just like everypony else." Rainbow was no match for Twilight's solid logic. She hung her head in defeat. "Fine." Rainbow pointed a hoof at Lorio. "But if I can beat your wingpower by ten points then I don't have to go on the date." This worried Lorio quite a bit. Rainbow wasn't the self-proclaimed fastest flyer in Ponyville; the simple fact of the matter was she is the faster flyer in Ponyville. To think she could be his score by ten more points wasn't foolish. He was more than sure Rainbow could surpass his score but he wasn't about to back down. "Deal," he said firmly. Rainbow quickly flew to the starting line and began stretching her wings and limbs which produced numerous cracking sounds. "Whenever you're ready, Rainbow Dash." Lorio shot her a sly smile. A blush came across the scowl on her face. What's with him?! she thought. After a few more moments of preparations Rainbow was finally ready to start. She took her stance, almost mimicking Mach, and spread her powerful wings. Soon began beating them. Her wing-beats were too fast to be caught be the naked eye. It was almost as if she was a hummingbird. Her hindlegs and flank soon rose high off the ground, a cloud of dust now forming behind her. Everypony held their breath in anticipation. Some ponies were bracing themselves on trees and anything else rooted to the ground, waiting for the powerful tailwind that was soon to follow. Rainbow was now almost perpendicular with the ground. Ponies were beginning to wonder if she'd somehow messed up her position but the thoughts were shattered by the exploding cloud of dust. Those who had a clear view of Rainbow at the starting line found themselves confused when she was gone in an instant. Mach stared in amazement as he watched his unbelievably fast friend fly across the track. She was already near the anemometer but just before she passed, Rainbow's almost invisible wings became clearly visible for a moment. Did she...? The tailwind that followed swept up everything, and everypony, in its path. The few ponies with the foresight to brace themselves were spared from the furious winds. Once everything settled, Twilight and Spike were waiting on the readings from Rainbow's amazing performance. It was Lorio's turn to be nervous. He waited silently for the results, pleading for Rainbow to not have destroyed his record. "Well?!" Rainbow shouted impatiently. After a few more seconds the machine finally processed Rainbow's results. Spike and Twilight turned to face the crowd of ponies behind them. Every pony leaned in expectantly, craving the final results of the bet between the two pegasi. "The results are..." Twilight started. "Drum roll, please?" Spike immediately complied, making a drum roll sound effect. "Rainbow you needed twenty eight point five. The score is...twenty seven point nine!" Spike ended his drum roll with a "tsss!" Everypony cheered happily for Lorio, sweeping him up and tossing him into the air. Lorio was ecstatic. He could almost couldn't believe he actually won. The cheering crowd took notice of Rainbow slowly walking up to meet Lorio and slowly set him on the ground. Rainbow walked up to him, blushing. She shyly turned her head away from his. "...Next Saturday. Eight o' clock. Sugarcube Corner." "Got it." Lorio replied. The crowd began cheering again but it was soon cut off by Rainbow's yelling. "Alright! Enough of that! Back to training everypony!" The blush on her face made the real reason for breaking up the cheering clear. Everypony let out a simultaneous "aww" and reluctantly returned to their training. Rito ran up to Lorio and simply gave him a prideful hoof bump. Twilight, Spike, and Mach all went up to meet Rainbow who was still obviously flustered. "Congratulations, Rainbow. You got a date!" Twilight hugged her. "You go girl." Spike added. "You guys are enjoying this aren't you?" Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What? Rainbow we're really happy for you!" "Yeah well glad somepony is," she sighed. "Rainbow, are you that against going on a date with the guy? I mean, he's seems nice, he's handsome, and to top it all off he's fast. Not as fast as you but then again who is?" Rainbow smiled proudly. "You got a point there...about being fast, I mean." "My point is Rainbow at least give the stallion a chance." "Fiiine," Rainbow groaned, rolling her eyes. With that Twilight went to tend to her anemometer, testing if it still worked properly. It may have been able to withstand storms but the wingpower of Mach, Lorio, and Rainbow Dash hitting it one after another must've surely knocked a screw loose. Mach, now alone with Rainbow, finally decided to speak. "You can drop the act now, Dash." "What act?" she questioned. "The 'I don't want to go on this date' act," he answered smiling. "I saw you slow down just before you hit the anemometer on the track." Rainbow's eyes widened, her cheeks reddened, and her voice stuttered. "I-I don't know what you're talking about! Y-You must be imagining things." She laughed nervously. "You can't fool me Dash! You want to go on this date don't you?" Rainbow's blush deepened her mouth moved but words didn't come out. Mach let out a satisfying laugh. "I knew it! Same old Dash hiding her real intentions." "Sh-Shut up! So what if I do? It's none of your business!" Dash took off into the air and began yelling orders to everypony on the training grounds. Pushing them harder, especially Lorio. Mach sighed and smiled before noticing Rito walking up next to him. Rito put a hoof around Mach. "It's tough looking out for these two isn't?" Mach returned the gesture, putting a hoof around Rito. "You know it." They stood watching as Rainbow yelled at Lorio with a blush on her face as Lorio smiled.