“...And Giselle leaves the competition in the clouds, crossing the finish line and securing victory for Team Griffon Kingdom!”
The announcement flowed over the stadium as Giselle crossed the finish line. At this, quite a large amount of spectators began to mutter among themselves even as a respectably-sized crowd still cheered for the underdogs.
Giselle swept across her destination, the blue cloud in claw as she whooped and embraced her waiting teammates. As she grinned broadly, holding her blue prize, the royal sisters descended onto the centre of the track. Celestia bore a podium in her magic while Luna brought forth three Equestria Games gold medals.
As the griffons bowed to the audience in all different directions, the stadium’s noise level increased tenfold. Perplexed, Giselle looked to the skies where everypony pointed, seemingly in awe at the sight they beheld. What she saw and heard made her pupils contract:
The fabled Sonic Rainboom, never before witnessed by a griffon.
Every colour of the rainbow diffused throughout the sky, leaving a lasting, circular, prismatic display. Yet it was the other sight that made her feathers stand on end; the single trail of rainbow colours left behind by a supersonic Rainbow Dash. She reached the surface in next to no time, rocketing across the finish line and banking into the air once more.
A few seconds later, the Cloudsdale captain followed, her flaming mane billowing in the rainbow’s wake as she, too, blazed across the finish line. Cloud Kicker finished next, followed closely by Rainbow Swoop.
“Coming in second is Rainbow Dash, complete with her signature Sonic Rainboom!” Shining announced as the stallion completed his run. “Hot on her hooves, we have Spitfire of Team Cloudsdale claiming third position. Cloud Kicker of Las Pegasus and Rainbow Swoop of Fillydelphia bring home the final clouds. Well done everypony… and griffon, pardon me.”
While the elated griffons continued to celebrate their victory, a hush fell over the stadium. Gisellepeered skyward again, suddenly feeling bile rise in her throat as she did so. Two cylinders of light descended from the sky in the Rainboom’s fading trail, supported by Princess Twilight and Princess Cadance. Trapped within the light crystals were—
“Uh, I think we might be in trouble, guys.”
Gaston and Natalya both gulped as the snarling form of Gilda became visible, along with their hired mercenary. Twilight and Cadance landed lightly in front of the ruling princesses, depositing their bundles at their hooves.
“Princess Celestia, the griffon team has some explaining to do,” Twilight declared.
“We’re just lucky we were able to get up to the competitors in time,” Cadance added. “Thank goodness that Pinkie Pie and Applejack returned to us with that mare when they did.”
“What’s going on over here?”
Miss Harshwhinny and Shining Armor had galloped out onto the field, joining the befuddling scene. “Who are these two? Explain their presence, somepony!”
“With pleasure.” Twilight trotted up to the purple cylinder. “This here is a griffon named Gilda, who used to be one of Rainbow Dash’s friends. The other is a pegasus that Rainbow trained with at the Wonderbolt’s Academy, named Lightning Dust.” Twilight inclined her head towards each in turn, invoking scowls from both.
“Pinkie and Applejack went looking for a lead in regards to our friend’s stolen cart full of bits. The mare they found and brought back to us so happens to be Golden Glory, the real coach of the Las Pegasus Team. She overheard the griffons talking about sabotaging the competition and got caught as she tried to sneak away. Lightning Dust capitalised on this when she saw what had happened and offered the griffons a deal: her aid with the griffon’s victory, in return for bits. A lot of bits.”
“So that’s why your friend’s cart was stolen?” Shining Amor gasped.
“Such outlandish behaviour!” Miss Harshwhinny brought a hoof to her mouth.
“Well, we do come from outland,” Gilda piped up, silencing herself as everypony glared daggers at her. “What? I’m just sayin’.”
“Big deal.” The princesses all turned to Giselle. “In the end, my team still won. Look, this cloud proves it right here!” She held up the trophy as if presenting it to her own pryde.
“Oh, Giselle, did you not understand the rules of the third leg at all?” Twilight sighed. “I know for a fact that that’s not your puff of cloud there. The rules specifically stated that—well, how about you tell her, big brother best friend forever?”
She grinned at Shining Armor, who returned the expression and brought his megaphone to his mouth.
“As per the event rules, each team member must return with a tuft of rainbow cloud that they themselves have picked. The torn-off tuft will immediate vibrate and match the coat colour of the participant who removed it from the main body.”
“You see, Giselle? That isn’t your cloud at all. Going by the colour, it could only possibly belong to Rainbow Dash!”
“I… er… ah…” Giselle stammered, glancing left and right.
"I thought it was just an accident when Gaston crashed into Bulk Biceps in phase one," Twilight continued. "That could have easily been regarded as such. But when Natalya was the only one in phase two to leave the others to the dragon's mercy, I started to have my doubts. Golden Glory's testament was the final piece of circumstantial evidence that I needed to investigate." She glared at the griffon team, who slumped to the floor in shame.
“Team Griffon Kingdom is disqualified for attempted subversion of event rules.” Shining Armor's judgment reverberated around the stadium as the ponies booed their cheating “winners.” “By competition default, the team that placed second will now ascend to victory. Everypony, please stamp your hooves for our true winners: Bulk Biceps, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash of Team Ponyville!”
As the dejected griffons flew off with their heads hung low, Rainbow Dash rocketed up to the podium, bearing a newly rested Fluttershy in her forehooves. Bulk Biceps and Derpy flew out onto the field and took their place on top of the podium next to their teammates. The ground shook from everypony’s collective stamping and ecstatic celebrations.
As Rainbow gazed around at the crowd, she felt a tap on her shoulder. With a warm, affectionate smile, her idol Spitfire held out her hoof once more. When Rainbow moved to bump it, though, Spitfire unexpectedly pulled her in close and wrapped her in a grateful hug.
“Thank you for saving us all, Dash. You could have totally bailed and won the race without sending Cloud Kicker to help us. Instead, you stayed behind and made sure we all got out okay. You’re the best mare I’ve ever met, one I’d be proud to call a Wonderbolt.” She broke off, flashing a smirk at her own hero. “You want in?”
“Really? An official invite?” Rainbow gasped. At Spitfire’s nod, she shot high into the sky with a colossal “Awww yeah!” When she returned, she found that Rarity, Spike, Applejack, Pinkie and the Cutie Mark Crusaders had joined in the celebratory friend-pile around the podium. Everypony hugged Rainbow Dash tightly, taking special care to be gentle with Fluttershy.
“Yeeeaahhhh!” Bulk bellowed his trademark cry, generating a laugh from everypony. As Rainbow cheered on her teammate, she was knocked to the ground by a squealing orange filly.
“Rainbow Dash! You really are the most super-ultra-extreme-awesome-mazing pony ever!” a tear-struck Scootaloo yelled in her ear. With the flag-bearer’s voice resonating in her ear, Rainbow smiled and hugged her adoptive little sister as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom caught up.
“And you three are the most incredible flag-bearers that Ponyville could ever have!”
While Miss Harshwhinny prepared to give out the medals, Twilight waltzed up to Princess Celestia with a curious question on her lips.
“What about Gilda and Lightning Dust? What will become of them?”
Celestia thought for a moment, then smiled. “I think a bit of community service is in order, don’t you agree?”
* * * * *
Dear Diary,
Winning the Equestria Games Aerial Relay was always a dream for me. But there’s no way it could have ever come true without my friends. The determination, perseverance and loyalty they showed me was undeniably the best thing I could have ever hoped to see. Unfortunately, the relay also showed me how some of us can act the complete opposite, betraying even their own species for the promise of gold.
This only makes me more determined than ever to always remain faithful to my friends and even my rivals if they really need help. There’s no greater gift than the magic of friendship. Someday, I hope that Gilda and Lightning Dust will embrace those values. For now, they’re learning the hard way how messy a stadium can get in the wake of a few thousand ponies stuffing themselves with my friends AJ and Carrot Top’s awesome cooking.
To crown it all, Spitfire has officially welcomed me into the Wonderbolts. I’ll treasure this day for the rest of my life.
Yours loyally,
Rainbow “Danger Professionalism” Dash.