//------------------------------// // Cheering- Flutterguy89 // Story: The FlutterDash Group Collab // by Dalek Saxon //------------------------------// Lots of control? Check. Screaming and hollering? Check. Passion? Triple check. After all, Rainbow Dash was nothing if not passionate. Heck, she’d invented the elements of the perfect cheer. Why then was she so nervous? Rainbow raised her eyes towards the empty sky of the arena. Any minute now the competitors would be filling the sky with show-stopping acrobatics. Talented twists, death-defying dives, and graceful aerial gallops performed by Equestria’s best flyers. Each was fighting for the coveted title currently held by the cyan mare, who would be observing this year’s competition from the sidelines. Rainbow felt her wings twitch irritably; however, the action was accompanied by a twinge of pain. It had been a stupid mistake. She had pushed herself too hard during a training session and her reward was a medical grade case of wing-sprain. She’d known the injury would keep her from competing, that had been a given. It was hard to accept, sure, but nearly putting her hoof through the doctor’s skull when he delivered the news, maybe that had been an overreaction. A voice came over the PA system announcing the first flyer, some tan pegasus from Trottingham. Dash was unimpressed. His technique may have been executed well, but his overall performance lacked heart and determination. It was like watching a wind-up toy. More flyers followed, each flawed in their own way. At least that was the opinion of the reigning champ. There was only one flyer she was here to see. Only one for whom she’d cheer. Finally she heard it. “Contestant number sixty-nine.” Dash sniggered. She’d have to remember to lob a few jokes Fluttershy’s way after the competition. Into the sky flew a blur of pink and yellow. Fluttershy glided through the air, and while she lacked the powerful speed of the other competitors she managed to make up for it with clean precision flying. After a few more twists and turns, she ended her repertoire with an impossibly graceful pirouette in front of the judge’s booth. Somehow it seemed if, for just a moment, time stood still. Her flowing pink mane fanned out around her head. Her eyes locking with each judge in turn, attempting to convey the impossible mixture of emotion that bubbled within her. As her performance concluded a thousand voices rose up from the stadium. But Fluttershy only heard one voice. One cheer. “Woooooo!!!! You go Flutters!!!!!!!” -------------------- “Third place!” Rainbow grinned from ear to ear as she gave the buttery yellow pegasus a bone-crushing hug. Unfortunately Fluttershy’s eyes were trained only upon her own hooves. “…I’m sorry… I couldn’t defend your title…” Fluttershy’s voice was barely audible, grief filling every inflection. “Come off it!” Rainbow gave her oldest friend a playful nudge. “I still can’t believe you even offered to try and defend my title for me! And you placed!” Rainbow leaned in and gave Fluttershy a soft kiss. “Now how’s about we celebrate. What do you say, contestant sixty nine?”