//------------------------------//
// A Dream Fulfilled 
// Story: Dreams of a Pegasus 
// by StormLuna 
//------------------------------//

The day of the race arrived.  Rainbow Dash was already up in Canterlot, having flown there from Cloudsdale.  Rarity headed over to Fluttershy's cottage knocking on her door shouting, "Fluttershy, it is time to go!  We don't want to miss Rainbow win the race!"

Rarity used her magic to open Fluttershy's door only to discover that she was not home.  She thought to herself, "Oh Fluttershy, she is probably hiding in the forest so she won't have to go.  Well I know Rainbow will not be pleased but oh well, we have to go."

Rarity returned to the library and told Twilight that she could not find Fluttershy.

"Well we better get going." said Twilight "The train to Canterlot leaves in ten minutes."

They get on the train and head up to Canterlot discussing what they think might have happened to Fluttershy.

Applejack suggested, "Ah am just wondering, you don't think she was doing all that flying for the past month because she has been training to be in the race do you?"

Twilight laughed, "Applejack, I doubt it.  She can't fly very fast.  Don't tell her I said anything but she just doesn't have the muscle in her wings to fly that fast."

Rarity replied, "Twilight is right.  She was probably just hiding in the forest, putting her woodland friends ahead of Rainbow Dash."

"I don't think she would do that," replied Pinkie "she'll show up before the race."

They finally arrive in Canterlot and head over towards where the race will be held.  Rainbow Dash sees them and said, "You guys made it!  Wait a minute, where is Fluttershy?"

Rarity replied, "Oh I don't know.  I went over to her cottage this morning to get her and she wasn't home.  I don't know what is up with her but she has been acting strangely for the past month."

"Well, I am hoping she will show up.  If she doesn't, I'm not going to make a big deal out of it, but I will be disappointed." said Rainbow

"We better get over to the seats," said Twilight "I want us to have the best seats to see Rainbow win this race."

They headed off to the seats and arrived in time to have front row seats at the start/finish line.  The odd thing is, most of the race will not be seen by the spectators, just the start and the finish as it is a huge oval track.

The competitors finally arrived to the track and headed towards the start line.  Rainbow was closest to her friends so she walked over to them and said, "I see you got the best seats to see me being awesome!"

"Of course we did dahling!  We wouldn't miss this for the world!" replied Rarity

Fluttershy was on the far end of the line of contestants and she was not seen by her friends.  She knew they were there but wanted her being part of this race to be as big of a surprise for them as it will be for Rainbow.

Princess Celestia finally arrived and addressed the crowd.  "Welcome to the Canterlot Speed Competition.  This race will determine who is this year's fastest flyer in Equestria!  All the ponies in this race have trained hard for this so I would like you to give them a warm welcome."

The crowd cheers for the contestants.  Rainbow's friends cheer and shout, "Let's go Rainbow Dash, we know you can win this!"

Celestia continues, "In lane 1, we have Rainbow Dash, in lane 2 we have Hoops, in lane 3 we have Lightning Dust, in lane 4 we have Flitter, in lane 5 we have Raindrops and in lane 6 we have Fluttershy!"

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped open as she said, "Fluttershy?  Did I hear that right?"

Rarity said, "She lied to me!  She said she was not training for this race.  Why would she lie to me?"

Twilight replied, "Probably because she knew you would try to talk her out of taking part in it.  That is why she hid this from all of us."

Rainbow walked over to Fluttershy and said, "What the hay are you doing in this race?  You're just going to make a fool out of yourself.  You'll be lagging so far behind the rest of us.  Why don't you just drop out of the race so you won't embarrass yourself?"

This did not set well with Fluttershy.  "You know what Rainbow?  I just want to feel like a normal pegasus once, just once.  I feel like I am the only one who has any confidence in myself.  It is sad when a friend doesn't even have confidence in you." shouted Fluttershy

"Fine." said Rainbow Dash "Go make a fool out of yourself.  You will just get taunted like you did in summer flight camp."

Fluttershy grunted and rolled her eyes as Rainbow headed back to her lane.

Celestia spoke into the microphone again, "It looks like our competitors are ready to start.  On your marks, get set, GO!"

The competitors took off.  Rainbow Dash started out early leading the pack with Lightning Dust on her tail.  Hoops was not far behind, further back was Raindrops and Flitter and Fluttershy was lagging way behind.

Fluttershy just could not get focused after she got belittled by Rainbow Dash.  She kept hearing those same words in her head.  She kept saying to herself, "Come on Fluttershy, focus, power up those wings!"

When they hit the first turn Rainbow Dash already had a sizeable lead as Lightning Dust had fallen further back.  Hoops was catching up with her threatening to pass her.  Flitter and Raindrops were further back and Fluttershy was still lagging way behind.

Rainbow Dash was cruising and increasing her lead more and more.  She thought to herself, "Just like I said, I'm gonna win this baby!"

The competitors hit the second turn and Rainbow Dash had a huge lead, followed by Hoops who had passed Lightning Dust. Flitter passed Raindrops for fourth and Fluttershy was still lagging behind the rest of the field. 

Fluttershy was trying as hard as she could but she just couldn't fly any faster.  She was saying to herself, "Come on Fluttershy, don't give up, never say die!"

Rainbow Dash hit the third turn well before any of the other competitors did.  She looked back and her competition looked just like a bunch of dots.  She did not slow down any though because she was on a pace that would shatter the old record, which she had set just the year before.

When Fluttershy finally got to the third turn, Rainbow was already half way to the fourth turn.  Two of Hoops' friends, Dumb Bell and Score were waiting there to taunt her.  Dumb Bell said, "What business do you even have in this race.  Typical Klutzershy, can't fly good and definitely can't race good."

Score added, "Uh yeah, can't fly. You're a loser!"

This caused Fluttershy to go into a rage.  She started flapping her wings with a lot more force, causing her to gain speed and gain it quickly.  She soared past Raindrops and Flitter advancing to fourth place.  Rainbow Dash hit the fourth turn and then BOOM!  Rainbow broke the sound barrier and was cruising towards a record finish.

Fluttershy was gaining more and more speed, then BOOM!  Fluttershy broke the sound barrier as well, soaring past Hoops, knocking him off the track completely. Then she passed LIghtning Dust, knocking her off the track as well.  Rainbow Dash was within her sights.  Rainbow heard the boom and thought to herself, "Who in the hay just broke the sound barrier?  Oh well, I'm still going to win and shatter the record!"

Rainbow Dash could see the finish line but Fluttershy was gaining on her quickly.  Suddenly, BOOM! An even louder boom accompanied with a blinding flash of pink light shook Canterlot as Fluttershy reached Mach 2.  Fluttershy was racing towards Rainbow Dash and gaining more and more on her.  Rainbow Dash was fifty feet away from the finish line when she saw a pink blur speed fast her.  Fluttershy came to a grinding halt once she got a couple hundred feet past the finish line.  Rainbow very shortly crossed the finish line, breaking her old record but not setting a new overall record.

"I lost?" said Rainbow Dash  "Who was that pink blur that soared past me and how did they reach Mach 2?"

Rainbow stopped to see the pony who had surged past her and defeated her.  It was Fluttershy.

"What?" said Rainbow "I lost to FLUTTERSHY?  How is that even possible?"

Rainbow flew over to where Fluttershy and said, "Fluttershy, how in Equestria did you reach Mach 2?"

Fluttershy replied, "Well when two ponies taunt you in the middle of the race, it is easy to get angry and when I'm angry, I'm not the normal Fluttershy."

"I know." replied Rainbow "You know I'm not a good loser but congratulations Fluttershy.  I am sorry for doubting you. You should be in inspiration to every young pegasus.  You did something that even I've never done, you hit Mach 2."

Fluttershy replied, "Thanks Rainbow.  I have been training hard working my wing muscles and doing a lot of flying during the past month, but in the end it takes my rage to do what was once thought impossible."

Celestia flew down to the track to announce the winner.  "This year's winner of the Canterlot Speed Competition did something special.  She not only set a new record time but she also hit Mach 2, which until now has never been done before.  This year's winner and fastest flyer in all of Equestria is Fluttershy!"

The crowd started to chant, "FLUTTERSHY, FLUTTERSHY, FLUTTERSHY!"

Fluttershy was floating next to Celestia, blushing as she has never experienced this before.

Celestia presented a golden trophy to Fluttershy that was almost as big as she was.  Celestia said, "Congratulations Fluttershy, you are in inspiration to everypony.  You go from being a shy pony who doubted her flying abilities to being the fastest flyer in all Equestria."

"Thank you princess!" said Fluttershy "I am happy you even let me compete, but I never expected this!"

Celestia handed the microphone to Fluttershy and said, "Address the crowd Fluttershy."

"Well, um, I never imagined that I would ever be in this situation, much less set a new record and hit Mach 2.  I would like to thank my friends for always being there for me.  I would also like to thank Princess Celestia for allowing me to enter the race even though she knows that I was a weak flyer as a filly and I would especially like to thank DUMB BELL AND SCORE for taunting me at the third turn.  That made me focused and brought out a part of me that I never knew existed!"

Hoops walked over to Dumb Bell and Score and shouted at them, "You idiots!  Thanks to you now Fluttershy has not only broke the time record, but reached Mach 2 and will forever be remembered as the first pegasus to do that."

"Well we were only speaking the truth when we were taunting her." said Dumb Bell

Hoops shouted, "Well it isn't anymore.  Losing to Rainbow Dash bad enough, but for Fluttershy to not only beat me but cement a place in history, is horribly embarrassing."

Fluttershy's friends ran up to her and congratulated her and celebrated with her.

"Wow sugar cube, ah never knew you could fly like that!" said Applejack

"I didn't either." said Fluttershy "I guess when you get angry a whole new pony comes out."

Rainbow said, "Fluttershy, I'm thinking you should start racing.  Just replay them saying that in your mind before every race, get angry and you will be a great racer."

"Seriously?" asked Fluttershy

"Yeah!" said Rainbow "You and I could start doing team relays.  You and I would make an unstoppable team as long as you are angry going into and throughout the race.  What do you say?  Shall we form a relay team together?"

"Yes!" replied Fluttershy  "Just think of all the trophies we will be bringing home!"

"Oh yeah!" said Rainbow "You look awesome with that trophy and just think how good the two of us will look when we win trophies together!"

"We will look amazing, not to mention that all the record books will have our names all over them!" said Fluttershy

Twilight was standing there thinking to herself, "Oh great, now Fluttershy is going to be just like Rainbow Dash.  If those two start winning relays left and right, they will never shut up."

After that race Fluttershy was not quite the same pony.  She had confidence and plenty of it and was no longer the shy, timid pony she once was.  Her and Rainbow Dash did indeed form a relay team and set numerous new records.  They still did individual races as well but no matter how hard Rainbow Dash tried, she could never beat Fluttershy.