//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: The Race 
// Story: Aria's Story 
// by Ariathina 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 5: The Race


It was around two in the afternoon. Aria and Rainbow had just finished putting the last books back on Twilight's shelves.
“I can't believe how mad Twilight was.” Aria said with a groan.
“Yea, she doesn't like it much when somepony knocks all her books off her shelves.” Rainbow giggled.
A large smile crept onto Aria's face, “Can you believe how fast I was going though?”
“Yea! That was lightning fast! No-pony has ever been able to keep up with me like that before!” Rainbow said in astonishment. “We should have a real race though. See who's really the fastest!”
“You're on!” Aria said with an air of confidence.
“Well then lets do this where you two aren't going to crash into anyponys house.” Twilight retorted as she came up the stairs.
“What did you have in mind?” Aria asked.
“Well...” Twilight's horn began to glow with magic. A book floated down off a shelf and spun open to a map. “Remember that Iron Pony Competition you had with Applejack last year, Rainbow Dash?”
“Yea? What about it?” Rainbow asked not sure where Twilight was going with this.
“Well, we can use the path for the Running of the Leaves for your race!” Twilight exclaimed.
“Good idea!” Rainbow cried out.
Spike overheard the whole conversation and ran off to tell Pinkie Pie.


The three departed the library and headed for where the race was to be held. They were astounded to see everypony in town had gathered to see the race.
“Spike! Why is the whole town here!?” Twilight shouted.
“Well, I heard you were doing a race so me and Pinkie Pie were going to be announcers.” Spike explained.
“All these ponies came to see us?” Aria and Rainbow just stood in amazement.
They gave each other a competitive grin and headed right for the starting line.
“Alright, Now you both know the rules, I shouldn't have to reiterate them.” Twilight nodded.
“On your mark!”
“Get set!”
“GO!”
Aria and Rainbow shot off down the Path. Aria kept right up with Rainbow. It was neck and neck.
“And its Aria! Now its Rainbow Dash! And its Aria again!” Pinkie was commentating from a hot air balloon.
“Yes folks, it looks like a fantastic race here today!” Spike added.
Rainbow increased her speed, but Aria was keeping right up.
“Gonna have to go all out.” Rainbow thought to herself.
She blasted off even faster, leaving her signature rainbow trail behind her. It didn't seem Aria could keep up.
“Wow. She's fast.” Aria said astonished. “Come on wings, we gotta go faster.” She wasn't out of this yet. Aria pushed as hard as she could. She was closing in on Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was amazed to see Aria begin to keep up with her. A purple trail followed behind Aria. They were closing in on the finish line.
Rainbow has only one last trick up her sleeve: The Sonic Rainboom. She sped herself up and she rocketed ahead, breaking through the air and setting off the legendary Sonic Rainboom. This looked like a decisive end to the race.
Aria didn't give up. She pushed herself even harder. She felt the wind around her bend. With a final thrust of her wings she blasted forward with a crack of lightning! Sparks ran and danced around the purple trail she left in her wake. The crowd looked on in awe. Pinkie Pie and Spike were speechless. Aria and Rainbow Dash were neck and neck once again!
A flash went off as the two sped over the finish line. After they were able to come to a stop, they rushed over to Twilight.
“Who won!? Who won!?” The two shouted in unison.
Twilight held up the photo, “Well... It was a tie.”
“A TIE?!” The two said with confused stares.
“Well, not exactly. Aria can call it a victory. Look!” cried Spike.
He was pointing at Aria's flank. On it was a marking. A purple lightning bolt woven around a trail of clouds. Aria's eyes lit up. She had gotten her cutie mark!
“So what are you gonna call it?” Rainbow asked.
“Call what?” Aria was still gawking are her new cutie mark.
“That totally awesome move you just did there!” Rainbow said with no concealed excitement.
“Oh...Um...How about...” Aria began to think.
“That was a Sonic Stormbolt!” They turned around to see an golden colored pegasus with a fire-colored mane walking toward them. Aria and Rainbow's eyes began to glimmer.
“ohmygosh! You're...” Rainbow said in a squeaky fangirl voice.
“... Spitfire, Captain of the Wonderbolts!!” Aria finished in an equally squeaky fangirl voice.
Twilight covered her face with her hoof. Aria and Rainbow just stood there, ogling Spitfire. “Excuse me, but how do you know about this move? I've never heard of it before now.”
“Well, just like its counterpart, The Sonic Rainboom, The Sonic Stormbolt is legendary. It hasn't been performed successfully in generations! Not since it was done by the creators of the two moves.” Spitfire said in amazement. “It would appear Ponyville has two legendary fliers living in it now.”
Aria and Rainbow only looked at each other and giggled. They still couldn't believe they were standing with Spitfire and now she was praising them? They almost fainted.
“You two make quite the team. I'll be keeping an eye out. You're going places kids.” Spitfire said before she flew off.
Aria and Rainbow passed out at this point. Fainted from the sheer awesomeness. The crowds returned to town and Twilight began levitating a bucket of cold water. She tipped it over right above the two pegasi.
“Waa!”
“That's-s-s-s C-c-c-c-cold!”
“Are you two finished? It's getting late.” Twilight said jokingly.
Aria and Rainbow didn't stop talking about the race. They went back to Rainbow's house and spent the better part of the night talking about moves and the wonderbolts and Spitfire. Twilight was more interested in the origins of the two moves and began scouring the shelves of her library in search of answers.