Big Sis Scootaloo

by Never2muchpinkie


Chapter 16: Rose Blossom vs. Rock Climber

I felt like a nervous wreck. My heart was hammering in my chest. It was my first race, my first chance to really put my training to the test. Rock Climber was next to me. When I looked over at him he looked over at me too. That was all it took to settle my nerves. There was no way I was going to lose to him! Scootieloo was an excellent teacher, and I was going to prove she was better than Rainbow Dash through my efforts today.

We didn’t have a big crowd there. Since we were still so inexperienced the two of us decided to only have our teachers and friends there. We were anxious enough about things already. We didn’t want to mess up because we got scared of too many watchers.

****

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were watching the two restless children, eager to begin. “Don’t take it too hard,” said Rainbow Dash.

“Take what too hard?” responded Scootaloo.

“Her defeat, of course.”

“Rosie isn’t going to lose.”

“Rock Climber isn’t either. I mean, it must be painful, to know you only won by blind luck, and now my student is going to trounce yours.”

Scootaloo’s eyes narrowed. “Rose is your student too, just like Rock Climber is mine.”

“Oh, of course, but it’s obvious the two of them both have different interests and goals. After all, do you see Rock Climber riding his scooter? That shows where his mind is at. So a second victory for me.”

“A second victory?”

“Yep! I really won our race because I held back for you, and Rock Climber is going to beat Rose. This is going to be awesome. Don’t cry too hard when you’re exposed as inferior to me again.”

Scootaloo knew Rainbow was only trash talking but it still got on her nerves. She would show her cocky sister! Walking over to the two children she said a little roughly, “Rose Blossom! Come over here!”

Rose said quickly, “Coming, sis!” She ran over, and the two of them walked away from the rest of the group. “What’s up?”

“I think it’s time to put Rainbow Dash in her place. You’re a hard worker, and I fully believe you can win this!”

“Thanks!”

“However, I want to give you an edge. I’m going to give you the secret that will ensure your victory. That’ll wipe that smirk right off her smug face.”

Rose’s grin faded as she looked suspiciously at her sister. “No!” she responded forcefully.

“No?”

“You said yourself that cheating is bad! I don’t want to cheat. I wouldn’t feel like I really won.”

“Oh!” Scootaloo replied, realizing. “I’m not asking you to cheat. I would never urge you to do that. It has nothing to do with an unfair advantage. All you’re doing is employing strategy. That’s not against the rules. Race smart and victory will be yours. And what I’m going to teach you is a basic racing strategy anyway. Nothing improper or dishonest in it. In fact, just like your breathing exercises and wing stretches are the most basic pre-athletic moves, this strategy is the most basic racing move. And if Rainbow didn’t teach Rock Climber about it then it’s his loss.”

As she told Rose Blossom what to do she began giggling, loving it. “That’s great! He won’t know what hit him! Just when he thinks he’s won than BOOM! I’ll come from behind and win!”

Scootaloo felt really pleased as Rose returned to the starting line. She couldn’t suppress her grin as she went to stand right next to Rainbow. Her arrogant sister was about to get a nice wake-up call.

“So what were you up, Scootaloo?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Advising her to give up now to avoid being humiliated?”

“Something like that,” Scootaloo responded with a nasty giggle. She couldn’t wait to see Rainbow’s look of despair when Rock Climber lost. It was going to be so satisfying.

“Alright, then. Let’s get this thing started already! I’m tired of waiting for the trouncing.”

Scootaloo clenched her mouth shut, trying to avoid bursting out in gales of laughter. The triumph was further away than her sister thought. Just when it seemed victory was in her grasp it would be yanked out from under her.

When she got her emotions under control she said, “Come on, Rose! You can do it!”

Rose looked over to her and waved. “I know! Because of your advice I can’t lose!”

“Don’t listen to these deluded fools,” said Rainbow Dash confidently. “You’ve got this!”

“I won’t let you down!” Rock Climber said loudly, unfurling his wings and doing a quick backflip.

Sun Glimmer and Honey Drop were off on the other side of the track. “Wow, things are getting really intense here,” said Honey Drop.

“I know,” said Sun Glimmer. “Who do you think is gonna win?”

“I don’t know. I’m kinda hoping it’s a tie, that way neither of them has to feel upset they lost.”

“I still think neither of them would be happy with that. OH! I don’t know who to root foooor. I want them both to win.”

Rose Blossom closed her eyes, going back to her most basic lesson of preparing for exercise. When Rock Climber saw her begin her breathing exercises he followed suit, and the rest of them became quiet to let them prepare.

After a few minutes they were suitably focused. The two of them looked at each other again, feeling the spirit of competition rapidly building inside of them. Rock Climber put his hoof out to her, saying, “Do your best, even if there’s no way you’re gonna win.”

“Right back at you!” responded Rose Blossom, meeting his hoof.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo each got on either side of the path in front of them. “Ready!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Set!” said Scootaloo.

Together they said, “GO!”

*****

The two of us took off, Rock Climber flying forward and me scootering.

After a few hundred feet the two of us looked at each other again. A feeling flared up in my tummy, of excitement and wonder, but also a strong desire to win! I wanted to win! With my sisters strategy I was sure the victory was in the bag already. Even so, I didn’t forget that we were also supposed to be showing how far we had grown. I couldn’t just focus on getting to the finish line. I had to also show off what I had learned so far.

I turned off towards a hill, jumping it and doing five front flips before landing. Up ahead I saw Rock Climber twisting and spinning like a top.

I pushed on ahead to get the lead, searching for a bigger hill. I jumped over a small fenced area with flowers growing, flapping my wings hard for more air. My heart was going hard in my chest. I was so excited. This was great. Now I know how Scootieloo felt when she was racing Rainbow Dash. For the pride of my sister I was going to triumph!

I headed for the hill in the distance. When I reached the top I pushed my scooter forward, rolling with it until I got in a position to throw it forward. I jumped into the air, flapping my wings as I raced toward it until I landed on it again.

Next I headed towards a tree. I was more confident this time around. Just like I had seen Scootieloo do hundreds of times I grabbed a branch and rotated until I could throw my scooter upwards. With another rotation I let go. With careful timing I managed to do the same for the tree in front of me, grabbing my scooter by the handlebars with my back hooves, thrusting my hooves forward to get it even higher, managing to do the same thing for the third tree in the path. After that though there were no trees to head for so I simply threw it upward one more time, flying towards it and landing on it as I did diagonal spins until I was near the ground. I nearly missed the timing and almost landed on the edge of the scooter. The impact jarred my teeth and made my hooves ache a bit. I wasn’t used to going that high. But at least I could do it.

Just like with my two mentors, me and Rock Climber went back and forth, each showing off. Rock Climber got into cloud manipulation and complex aerial acrobatics. Well, complex for his age, anyway. Rainbow Dash had done more impressive stunts.

When we were on the last third of the race I slowed down my speed and focused less on tricks, taking things easy. When Rock Climber saw me falling behind he looked really satisfied. He let out a big laugh and seemed to ignore stunts too to simply go full blast towards the finish line.

That was okay with me. I expected him to do that. I continued at my relaxed pace, not too slow but not too fast. I took a quick look towards Scootieloo and Rainbow Dash. Both of them looked so smug.

As I come upon the last part of the race I could see I was catching up to Rock Climber. His pace had slowed considerably. It was time to put the plan into action for real. I began going full blast and holding nothing back. As I came near Rock Climber I could see he looked shocked.

I heard Rainbow Dash yell, “Speed it up, kid! She’s gaining on you too fast.”

I rocketed past him, and I could see him trying to rush, but he was much slower than before. He was panting and looked like he was about to fall out of the sky. At that point it was no contest. Just as she said I breezed past him and crossed the finish line before him to a thunderous cheer by Scootieloo!

She looked so happy as she raced over to me, pulling me out of the scooter and flying into the air as she let out a happy yell. “You did it! Way to go, girl!”

As she set me down I could see a downtrodden looking Rock Climber feebly cross the finish line. As soon as he was across he landed on the ground and folded his wings. “Sorry, Rainbow Dash… I lost.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it!” I said, patting him on the back. “I just got some good advice that gave me an edge.”

“And what was that?” asked Rainbow Dash, an edge in her voice.

“She told me to just relax and slow down near the end before speeding up again so that way I’d have enough energy.”

Rainbow’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, really?” She turned to Scootieloo and said angrily, “Is that what that was all about? Using a cheap trick to win?”

“Cheap trick?” responded Scootieloo with an innocent tone that sounded so sarcastic I almost laughed. “I believe it’s called 'pacing yourself.' As a great racer I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

With a quick growl she said, “Of course I have!”

“I mean, if you didn’t teach Rock Climber about conserving his energy for the end then I guess maybe we know now for sure who the better coach was. So that makes yet another win for me. Don’t take it too hard. Everyone can’t be as good as I am.”

“Oh, so THAT’S what this is about? You dirty cheater! You deliberately set it up so Rock Climber would fail! I’d expect better of you, Scootaloo!”

“Oh, so now it’s my fault he got all cocky and arrogant when he saw Rose falling behind? He was the one who burned himself out by going all out. Rose was just doing what any intelligent racer would do… when instructed properly.”

I started to get a cold feeling in my chest. This was starting to get personal. Before when they had been trash talking they had sounded serious but there was a joking look on their faces. Now they both looked mad. They had both said they wouldn’t get upset no matter who won.

I gasped as Rainbow shoved Scootieloo and called her a bad name, and then again when Scootieloo did the same thing. They started yelling at each other and I didn’t know what to do. How could I stop them? I don’t know!