//------------------------------// // Part Two: The Win // Story: Rainbow Dash Rides a Dragon // by Art Inspired //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash Rides a Dragon The Win As her memory ended, and the dragon below growled ferociously, Rainbow nodded her head. “Let’s do this.” Immediately, though expectedly, the monster hurled its entire body down and began to take Rainbow for the fastest ride of her life. Tornado-speed winds lashed her cheeks and made the leather scar her hooves. She couldn’t bring her body down to its neck, for the pull of the dragon’s frame prevented her from hardly even thinking about doing so. All She could do was hold on tightly and pray the strap wouldn’t cut. It straightened itself out just before crashing directly into the waters below. Gliding with impeccable speeds over the Everfree Lake, Rainbow and the dragon tussled with each other for quite a distance. Rainbow sensed her challenger twist its body in a circle, so she did her best to followed the patterns. The pegasus forced her wings to flap harder than ever before. Just then, she looked down to see her reflection in the water, and sensed not only her mane slapping the liquids below, but her tail as well. Finally, right when the ripples were an inch away from her muzzle, the beast began to return to its regular flying style. Rainbow groaned through her teeth as they roared through the sky. Pulling back on the ropes to bring her thoroughly burnt out nemesis up to the clouds, she elevated it to ensure she could hit pitch perfect on its neck. With her hooves forming the shape of a sharp pen tip, and her eyes locked dead onto what she was certain to be its pressure point, Rainbow slashed right into the very bone and heard the creature shriek in paralyzing agony. “Yeah, you like that? Huh?!” Rainbow taunted. “You like being beat by a girl?!” With a grip of the dragon’s neck and its fangs sustaining the rope, Rainbow was then literally wrestling with the horror in midair. He bucked back and forth, almost knocking its rider off, but Rainbow wasn’t letting go. She recalled the book, how its author died like this and told herself that wouldn’t be her. She drilled in and almost punctured the scales of her enemy. Soon, they flew far enough away from the shores to rest upon solid ground. The dragon flailed its heavy body from side to side and almost rolling completely over, but Rainbow made she it didn’t get that chance. She yanked the rope to the right just before it was able to squish her, and finally, after much fighting with the abomination, it gave in. Collapsing its head down on the dirt and grunting a bit from the stinging sensation that ravaged its body, the thing looked over at Rainbow, almost giving her these eyes that told her she’d bested it in sheer flight combat. Loosening her stance on the dragon’s pressure points, she beamed at its gaze. “I... did it... I won! Heha!” She hopped down and tied the rope to some trees while looking her new pet over. “You’re not humiliated, are you boy?” Giving an offended growl at that last word and showing Rainbow a displeased stare, the beast let her know it wasn’t male. “Whoa... You’re a chick?” Rainbow asked. “Cool! I thought you were a guy... Sorry about what I said earlier then. My bad.” She shifted her head over and closed her eyes. “Hey, hey, don’t worry. I only need one small thing from you. Do you think you could help me?” The dragon looked back, waited a moment, then nodded slightly while offering an unsure expression. “Look, I made this bet with one of the princess, that if I ride you into Canterlot Central Station, I’ll win. After that, you’re free to go! I promise, you won’t be hurt or captured.” The dragon’s eyes widened at the reason Rainbow had given her such a rough experience. After some blinks and a chortle of smoke was exhaled, the dragon ndded once more and lowered its head for her temporary owner. Rainbow hopped on and grabbed the rope with her hooves, but just before taking off, she warned the dragon, “Try any funny business like burning down the castle, and you’ll never be flying again.” The dragon boomed her voice and spread her wings, telling Rainbow she had her word. As rainbow experienced the divine feeling of sailing on a dragon again, this time in complete control, she relished at how amazing it truly was. For the first time ever, Rainbow was sailing with the guidance of a dragon. It almost felt like her second choice destiny. With calm winds whirling her mane in a majestic fashion, Rainbow stared out at the nearly setting sun. Upon reaching Canterlot, the day’s end would make for an excellent setting. Not only that, but right at those hours, she and Twilight would get a gloriously large audience. Meanwhile, Twilight brushed her mane and looked out the balcony to see hundreds of familiar faces returning home. She wondered how Rainbow was doing, and was even tempted to use a locating spell to see where that pegasus was. Despite her worries, she tried her best to keep absolute faith in her friend. Just before turning around and head for the Grand Hall to dine with her fellow alicorns, she heard something. Once one hears the shout of a dragon, it’s hard to forget it. Slowly and timidly, she turned her head around to look back outside. Just passed the misty peaks of the distant mountains, she saw the beast that made its way towards the city. There was no doubt about it. Either Rainbow Dash succeeded, or a dragon coming to attack then of all times was the most absurd coincidence of her life. Instantly, the alarms were sounded, and every unicorn guard in all of Canterlot was summoned to bring up the magical shields. Pegasi scattered at the edges of the walls with spears adjusted on their shoulders. Earth Ponies prepared the catapults with flaming balls of intense fires. All of this was done in little more than an hour. Just as the flying fiend reached the force field, Twilight looked up to see the shadow of a spectrum mane, and rope wrapped tightly around the edges of the dragon’s mouth. Twilight commanded the unicorns to drop the shield and allow the two entrance. Right when the guards did as they were told, Rainbow guided her pet down and landed before everypony, right in Canterlot Central Station. She smugly hopped off while confidently saying, “It’s alright citizens, just me and my friend here.” Twilight jogged up to her. “What in the world do you think you’re doing Rainbow?!” Twilight looked at the two with anger in her eyes. “I know we had a deal, but seriously; I can’t even fathom how you were able to carry out this ludicrous stunt.” Rainbow laughed at her friend, then looked her in the eyes. “You have a bet to own up to...” Twilight backed away and peered around. All the citizens of Canterlot were watching, now curious about what Rainbow were talking about. “Attention everypony,” Rainbow hollered. “Twilight and I had an agreement. I was to ride... Yes, that’s right, you heard me. I was to literally ride a dragon into Canterlot Central Station to win this little deal we’ve got going. I’ve done my part, as you can plainly see.” She gestured to the bowing beast and continued, “Now, Twilight has to keep her part of the arrangement!” Twilight gulped sheepishly and begged her friend, “Rainbow... Please don’t do this to me.” She looked up at the high towers and finished, “The princesses are watching... Even Shining Armor is there, and Cadence...” “Oh, what’s that?” Rainbow refused to let Twilight escape this situation she stuck her in. “You’re not going to remain loyal to our deal...?” Twilight bit her quivering lip, and approached. “Alright,” she whispered. “Let’s just get this over with, then...” Rainbow chuckled, “You think it’s just gonna be a quick five second thing? No Twilight. It’s gotta be good, and you’ve gotta mean it. I didn’t go through all this for nothing you know.” Twilight sunk her brow and nodded. “Fine... I’ll make it count.” She looked back up while clearing her throat. Passionately, their lips began to lock. Nudging each other’s noses a bit, the two began to make out in front of the whole city. Princess Celestia and Luna up above both stood dumbfounded and open mouthed while Twilight’s brother and his wife just watched with bulging eyes. Discord showed up right on time from behind the two princesses and asked, “What’s going on?” As he looked down to see the two kissing, he chuckled a bit before shattering the silence that fell upon the town with his bellows of laughter. After a moment, his voice died down from him leaving into the castle once again, still enjoying the image that remained fresh in his head. Rainbow curled her hoof around Twilight’s neck and deepened the pecks which soon turned into full tongue swaps. Twilight, who at first didn’t wish to proceed found it much more enjoyable with closed eyes. Feeling Rainbow’s personal taste was more fun than she originally thought it’d be, and likewise for the pegasus. Twilight couldn’t help but to pant a little in between gasps of air, and even started to moan from the pleasurable feeling. Her friend just kept giggling at how she was able to catch Twilight in such a predicament. The alicorn felt Rainbow’s tongue begin to exit, so to Rainbow’s surprise, Twilight sucked on it a bit, almost not wanting her to exit. With a serine pop, Rainbow ended their kiss. Twilight found it impossible to frown, so instead, she cheekily grinned. “That was... more amazing than I thought,” Twilight confessed. “I know, right? I’ve never done something like that... I just, you know... always wondered.” Rainbow peered around at the ponies that surrounded them. Every single individual was either looking the other direction, or had their mouths wide open. As for the dragon, she sealed her sights with a wing. “Uh, I’d better go,” Rainbow mumbled. “You’ve got some explaining to do, too.” Twilight heard Princess Celestia and her sister land right behind her, but didn’t even dare to turn and face them. As for Rainbow, she hopped onto her dragon friend and started to take off, but before leaving Twilight with the issues she’d justly caused, Rainbow chanted to her friend, “Next time, Twilight, it won’t be a mere kiss!” The alicorns watched the very first dragon rider sail off into the sunset that Celestia herself made. Twilight took a deep breath and turned towards the two with a worried look. All Princess Celestia could do at the time was lead the aroused mare into the castle. Even she found it utterly embarrassing to be in front of her subjects, let alone thinking of making Twilight explain herself in front of all her friend. In time, the two princesses, Shining Armor, Cadence and even Discord would learn of the story behind all this. They would even come to understand why Princess Twilight agreed to such a deal in the first place; because in truth, she knew Rainbow Dash would succeed so long as she had such a powerful driving force.