//------------------------------// // Forgotten Memories // Story: Something is Missing // by Charles Spratt //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash rushed past the third checkpoint. The wind whipped through her mane as she sped through the course, passing through the rock path of the course with ease. The only noise she could hear was Pinkie Pie’s voice over the megaphone on her hot air balloon, which was the only way she could figure out how the other racers were doing without looking. Thankfully for her, Pinkie had been giving constant updates, meaning Rainbow could focus exclusively on the course and still have constant info on her lead. Right after she passed through the rocky part of the track, she heard Pinkie’s update: “Rainbow has cleared the rock path, making it look easy as pie! Coming in behind her is… ooh, ouch, it looks like the other racers are having trouble on these rocks. They’re slipping and sliding everywhere! Boy, it really looks like Rainbow has this race licked, everypony!” Yelled Pinkie. Once Rainbow heard that, her grin spread wider than it had been in some time. She decided that, since the other racers were having trouble, she could momentarily slow down from a sprint to more of a gallop for a bit, in order to get some energy back. However, right after she started to slow down, she heard Pinkie’s voice again: “Whoa, hold the phone, everypony! It looks like AppleJack has just cleared the rocks! I can’t believe how fast she pulled that off! She’s catching up to Rainbow Dash, fast!” Yelled Pinkie. Rainbow gawked. She was with Pinkie in that she couldn’t believe how fast AppleJack had passed the rock course. She took a look over her shoulder and saw the brim of AppleJack’s hat over the hill, and it was coming in fast. Rainbow immediately shifted gears and started sprinting again to try to keep her lead. Despite her efforts, however, AppleJack quickly caught up to Rainbow Dash. As they sprinted neck and neck, AppleJack turned her head toward Rainbow Dash and said one thing to her: “Nothin’ personal, Sugarcube, but this Iron Pony has a race to win.” Once AppleJack said that, she turned her eyes back toward the finish line that was now in sight, and started to inch ahead of Rainbow. “Not on my watch.” Rainbow thought to herself, as she put all of her energy into her legs, focusing every fiber of her being on crossing that finish line first. Her legs were aching like mad and her face was beginning to turn purple as she slowly caught back up to AppleJack, but she didn’t care. She just had to win this race, and she wasn’t about to let some achy body parts stop her. Right as they were about to cross, Rainbow gave herself one final push, allowing her to just barely cross the finish line ahead of AppleJack. The second she crossed, Rainbow collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. As her eyes slowly closed, only one thought ran through her mind: “I… did it…” After a few minutes, Rainbow finally got her breath back. She reopened her eyes, got back up, and looked around her. She was standing on a pedestal, in front of several hundred ponies. To her right, on a much smaller pedestal, was a cyan colored pegasus with a blonde and blue striped mane and tail that Rainbow had never seen before. To her left, on a slightly lower pedestal than her own, was AppleJack, who seemed to be happy for Rainbow, if a bit bummed out. She then looked out at the crowd, who were screaming her name to the heavens in absolute adoration. She let off a smile as her medal was placed around her neck and the announcer called out that Rainbow was the winner of the Running of the Leaves. However, the best part of the day was when AppleJack talked with her after the crowds had dispersed. “Well, blow me down, Rainbow Dash. I guess ya really are the Iron Pony after all. Congratulations on the race!” AppleJack said. “Thanks AppleJack. Although really, there was never any question that I’m the fastest!” Rainbow said with a laugh. AppleJack rolled her eyes and said, “Maybe this time, but just wait till next year, Rainbow Dash.” Both Rainbow and AppleJack let off a quick nod, and went their separate ways. “… And that is how I won the Iron Pony competition today, squirt!” said Rainbow Dash to Scootaloo, who was looking up at her in pure fascination. “Rainbow, that’s… that’s fantastic! Congratulations!” said Scootaloo as she rushed to hug Rainbow Dash. She threw her arms around Rainbow, but recoiled a bit once her arms touched Rainbow’s sides. Rainbow raised an eyebrow at Scootaloo’s recoil, but quickly shrugged it off and started staring out the window. Scootaloo looked out the window Rainbow was staring out of, but was unable to see anything of interest. She then looked up at Rainbow, who looked… off. She didn’t seem to be very excited, which was odd, considering that she had won that medal just today, and yet it didn’t seem like it was the main thing on her mind. That was definitely weird, no doubt about it. After a bit, Scootaloo decided she had to press this matter further. “Rainbow, are you alright? You seem… off.” Scootaloo asked. “Yeah, well… I just really felt a weird sense in that race. It felt like the last one AJ and I had competed in, only… fair.” Rainbow replied. “Umm, yeah? What’s your point?” asked Scootaloo in a confused tone. “The thing is, it felt like… something was missing from this race. I feel like there was something in the last race that wasn’t in this one, aside from the multiple occasions of cheating.” Rainbow explained “What was missing? The rope around your waist?” Scootaloo asked. “The what around my what now?” Rainbow asked back. Scootaloo’s eyes widened for a second before quickly going back to normal. “Nothing, Rainbow.” Rainbow gave Scootaloo a confused look, then continued talking. “I don’t know if I can explain it, squirt. It just… it really feels like my life is missing something. It’s like there’s something that I used to have in my life, but don’t have anymore, but I just can’t for the life of me remember what that something is. It’s just really weird. Any ideas on what that something could be, squirt?” Rainbow asked. Scootaloo’s eyes widened to the size of saucers for a moment. However, they quickly dilated back to normal as Scootaloo quickly said, “No idea, nope, none whatsoever!” Rainbow looked at her with a confused glance, then sighed and said, “Yeah, I guess there’s no way you could know, huh Scoot?” Scootaloo let off a nervous nod. “Maybe I’m just really tired. It was a really long day for me, Y’know? I’m sure a good night sleep will make me feel all better!” Rainbow said with a small laugh. Scootaloo also let off a small laugh and said, “Alrighty, then. Goodnight, Rainbow!” “Night, Scoot.” Rainbow said as she headed off to bed. As Rainbow headed up the stairs, Scootaloo only had one thing going through her mind: “…What if she finds out?”