For a split second, Lightning Dust was tempted to try something new. It wouldn’t really be cheating, but at the same time, she figured Rainbow Dash wouldn't really approve of it. She was already disappointed with Lightning Dust, so what would've been the point of progressing that emotional frustration even further? She wanted to see if Rainbow would be willing to cooperate long enough so the two might pass by Thunderlane, but the idea was abandoned. She knew it wouldn't succeed.
Instead, Lighting decided her best shot at this point would’ve been to keep Rainbow Dash within close quarters. That way, when the two finally did get caught up to Thunderlane, wherever he might be, they could both fly by him in a heartbeat. He’d probably not even realize they were gaining on him, so long as Lightning Dust did everything correctly. This was her plan, and there could be no errors. One wing out of beat, and it would be very likely she’d fall into last place the same way Raindrop did.
At the rounding corner, the two mares locked position. Lightning Dust rode directly next to Rainbow Dash, almost pushing her up against the beam. However, she wanted Rainbow to stay with her. It wasn't so much that she needed things to turn out like that, but rather, would enjoy the experience more if the final lap was spent with Rainbow. Something about that alternative seemed like a better way to go for reasons unexplained. Not right then, that is.
In order to ensure Rainbow wouldn’t hurt herself along the edges, Lightning had to fight the winds, pulling her side partner away. Then, the next sharp turn came at them faster than ever. Picking up on Lightning’s actions, Rainbow mimicked her step by step, yanking against the currents and guiding Dust well away from the walls. At that time, they reached the peak where their descent would inevitably lead them to Thunderlane. While accelerating, Rainbow yelled over to Lightning Dust, “Follow my lead! I’ll pull you along!”
Shocked by Rainbow’s decision to work together, Lightning fell behind, stayed aligned with the wind patterns, and shouted up front, “Ready!”
Just when she gained the signal, Rainbow shot herself forth with extreme velocity, roaring through the atmosphere and keeping Lightning Dust close by. The ponies to the right that inhabited the stands and clouds seemed like one big blur thanks to how quickly they were speeding through. Rocketing down quicker, and quicker, unable to stop, the two mares could see Thunderlane by then. He was just up ahead, but unfortunately, their trick had one small problem. It made more noise than all the ponies in the stands screaming and hollering combined with Soarin’s announcement mic set at full volume.
From where most ponies sat, what they saw could easily be describes as a bright streak of white-hot rays shooting downwards, headed right for a tiny, black speck of a pony. Just before coming up to the wall and jolting straight upwards, Thunderlane checked behind him to see his pursuers gaining, and picked up the tempo, throwing himself up the asphalt wall almost as fast as the two mares that were hot on his tail. He huffed and pushed forward as hard as he could, but was no match for the others.
They came up right beside him, and then reared backwards at the end of the ascension. He did the same, and the rest was the weightless experience of free falling. Lightning Dust gave way to join the two, neck and neck. All three ponies could be seen dropping right down and curving with the twisted terrain. It was fairly easy to adjust their bodies so accommodations could be achieved, but Thunderlane was on the off angled portion, so he had to do much more than a few, simple strains and stretches. To his dissatisfaction, he just couldn't keep it together.
A hoof bumped along the road, and then his wing. Just like that, he was tossed out of perfect sync. the stallion fell further back than even he anticipated, and was left behind by the other racers. He wouldn't receive a second chance to catch up for the rest of the match, and was disqualified because of that one, minor mess up. That was the third pegasus out of five. All that was left now was Rainbow Dash and the only thing standing in her way of becoming an honorary Wonderbolt. Likewise for Lightning Dust.
Near the end of the penultimate lap, both Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust glanced back to see Thunderlane utterly gone; out of sight. Once they returned their eyes to the road, Lighting beamed, “Oh, yeah! We did it!”
Looking Dash’s way, Lightning was taken back, seeing the stern face Rainbow kept. She thought they’d made a pretty good team, but forgot this was no collaborative mission. It was still a total free-for-all. Rainbow, however, nodded, and chanted, “Eyes on the road!”
She took off, almost faster than when the two were working together on the slope. Lightning Dust panted, wiped some sweat away, and sped up as well. For little more than ten minutes, she and Rainbow kept switching spots on the place holder. First, it was Rainbow Dash in front, and then Lightning dust. No, it’s Dash, and now Dust. It went on like this for at least twenty times, every moment of the course consisting of them interchanging the lead.
By the middle segment, right before the spiral towards the top, Lightning Dust turned her body so that her stomach would face the wall. She’d wanted to try this, to see if it’d give her an edge, and it did. That is, until Rainbow revealed some hidden potential she’d been reluctant on showing just yet. Around the second turn, Lightning’s challenger was nowhere to be found. She could be anywhere within the twister. In between, or already at the top, way up ahead.
Once she arrived at the summit for the fourth time, Lightning quickly became relieved to see Rainbow wasn't all that far off. In fact, if she just kept thrusting long enough, she could catch up and fly right on by. It wasn't like she had any other options, too. So, in a flash, Rainbow’s rival advanced down the flight way, coming closer, gaining speed. But, to Lightning’s immediate amazement, they’d already converged at the height turn.
She and Rainbow nearly slammed right into the barrier, but luckily for both of them, they’d become familiar enough to instinctively raise themselves, and coast along. Rainbow’s tail was inches away now, just barely tickling Lightning Dust’s nose. She jerked out of the way and huffed. Bending backwards for the plunge, the mare groaned along with Rainbow Dash. It was a straight declination, and if she wanted to, Lightning Dust had her chance at ramming into Rainbow’s side, throwing her balance off.
She was every bit enticed to do so, knowing good and well this would secure her victory. Though, that’s not what she learned to do from Spitfire. Cheating her way through anything had always backfired on her, and though she wouldn't openly admit it, Lightning Dust grew some respect for Rainbow not just over the years, but during this event, too. With a clear conscience, she backed away slightly to give Rainbow some breathing room. Naturally, this didn't go unnoticed by Rainbow one bit.
Two spectrum thunderbolts changed directions in the blink of an eye, riveting and curling through the remaining obstacles. The final stretch, the last ride towards the finish line was so close, nopony was able to tell who crossed first. Once the two had made their grand finish, the loudest of streaking noises echoed throughout the stadium, four black lines left from their skidding dragged on.
A thick fog cleared the way to show Rainbow and Lightning Dust glaring at each other, rage in both their eyes. Immediately, and at the same time, they shouted up at the podium where Spitfire and Soarin’ watched with open mouths, “Who won?!”
Everything fell quiet. Not a single pony wished to miss the announcement. Spitfire had to nudge her partner so he’d snap out of the suspense-induced trance. “Oh, umm,” He began. “Uh, the winner… is…” But, he hesitated, looking over the pictures a few times. “Spits, look at this. You really can’t tell.”
Grabbing the mic, Spitfire announced, “We apologize, but we need a moment to analyze the results. We’ll be back in only five minutes, we promise.”
Almost everypony in the whole stadium pitched a fit, hardly unable to cope with the wait. In a situation like that, five minutes could easily feel like five years to those who enjoyed some exaggeration… And while they had the time, the two racers sat, Lightning Dust glancing over at Rainbow curiously. After they caught their breaths from what they’d been through, Lightning arrived at a conclusion. Now might be a fine chance to try this again. So, the mare stood back up and slowly but cautiously began trotting towards Rainbow, asking, “Can we talk?”
Rainbow stared down at the ground, almost as if she didn't hear her competition say anything at all. Lightning was about to walk back to her spot when Rainbow voiced, “You did good.”
Taking a chance, she thanked Rainbow for the compliment. “I still think you won, though.”
“I think not.” She finally turned her head to face Lightning Dust. “I remember, at the last second, thinking about how much I wouldn't mind spending another year’s worth of training with Spitfire, and seeing you where either of us could be by tomorrow.”
Lightning frowned and avoided eye contact. “You’d… be happy to see me get what you wanted?”
A chuckle. “Heck no! But, well, I’d be proud. For now, though, I’m mostly sorry.”
Lightning shook her head, and countered, “No, I’m the one who should be apologizing! I nearly…”
Rainbow was looking up at one of the stands, the front row seats on the other side of the stadium. Tracing her line of view, Lightning Dust could just barely see about five mares, all ranging in color. Those were definitely the same group of ponies she’d placed in danger two years ago. They’d been watching them race this whole time. “Of course they’re here,” Lightning Dust mumbled.
When she looked back down, Rainbow was staring at her for once, a serious expression on her face. “Meet me by the docks, down along side Lake Sunny. We’ll talk there. For now, I think some of the audience members are getting a little suspicious. I mean, you are supposed to be my enemy in this, after all.”
Finally, a faint glimmer of hope, something Lightning Dust had been dying for ever since she left that locker room. She hardly realized it, but all throughout the instance taking place, she’d wanted nothing more but to simply sit down and discuss their relationship with Rainbow Dash; to forgive and forget. She was willing to do so by then, but was bewildered if Rainbow felt the same way. As it would seem, considering the race went well, she appeared to hold the same interest.
A loud feedback screeching through the whole establishment, nearly loud enough to break glass was followed by Soarin’s voice. “Sorry, sorry. We’ve got the end results. Now, before we declare the winner, Spitfire and I just want to say we’re overwhelmed with this years competition. Neither of us has ever, ever had such a close call. For a moment, we literally thought about rescheduling the whole thing for a rematch, but that would-”
Spitfire grabbed hold of the mic, groaning, “Give me that! You’re wasting time! If you don’t say it, then I will!”
It was evident enough by the mere sounds of Soarin’s voice that he'd yanked the thing out of her hooves, saying, Okay! Alright… Where was I? Oh, yeah! The winner of this year’s grand, annual race…” Everypony leaned in on their seats. “Is…” This was it. Who would come out on top? Rainbow Dash, or Lightning Dust?