//------------------------------// // 150. Flight to the Finish - Part 2 // Story: Blaze the Pony Tale // by Wolven5 //------------------------------// Twinken had set up the starting line and Sweetie Belle and button Mash had explained the rules, especially the one of no cheating. That one got a reaction from Silver Spoon, “‘No cheating’?! That’s not fair!” Everypony ignored her as Sweetie Belle called, “Racers! On your marks!” Scootaloo and Hotshot both started buzzing their little wings but each kept a hoof on the ground to stay in place as Sweetie Belle reared up… and slammed her forehooves onto the ground! *SHOOM/ZOOM* Sweetie Belle had no idea in which direction she’d been sent for a whirl, it might have been both, but Button Mash helped her steady herself as Rumble yelled, “And they’re off!” Rumble fluttered up onto a birdbath took get a better look and started doing commentary. “And… it’s Hotshot who takes the initial lead. But Scootaloo is close on his tail!” “Go Scootaloo!” “Take him down!” “You can do it” “Both racers have passed the big tree stump and are closing in on the first turn! It’s gonna be close…! Yes! Scootaloo squeezes on through and takes the lead!” “Boo!” “C’mon Hotshot!” “Scootaloo is beating those wings furiously and doing her best to bar Hotshot from shooting past her!” Scootloo gritted her teeth as she forced herself to maintain her speed but the divided concentration on that and barring Hotshot was distracting that she didn’t see the upcoming crack in the sidewalk. “Whoa!” Scootaloo almost tipped and crashed but managed to keep her balance though Hotshot laughed mockingly as he sped her by, “So long, Scoota-loser!” Laughing nasty, Hotshot looked on ahead and saw the finish line coming up – This race was in the bag! And seeing the admiring looks of Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, Hotshot couldn’t resist. If he was gonna win, he’d do it in style! And I know just the trick…! As they came to the home-stretch, Hotshot beat his wings and kicked off the ground, grasping the front of his board while his other hoof was outstretched as he spun `round in the air, hearing the oohs and ahs in admiration of his awesomeness! He got so caught up in it that… “And it’s Scootaloo by a landslide!!!” “WHAT?!” Hotshot lost his concentration and stumbled his landing, thankfully falling onto some grass while his board zipped out from under him and crashed into a bush. He groaned as he got up and then growled to see the CMC cheer and throw Scootaloo into the air as she smiled a big smile. “2 – 4 – 6 – 8! Who’s a skater really great?!” the CMC cheered as they let Scootaloo down, “Scootaloo, Scootaloo, YAY!!” “Thanks guys, but it was pretty close,” Scootaloo smiled with a shrug. “That’s what makes it even sweeter!” Scootaloo gasped and smiled as she looked up and saw, “Rainbow Dash!” “Heya squirt,” Rainbow landed on the ground and pulled Scootaloo in for a noogie, “awesome racing, way to stick it to that little showoff!” Then Rainbow muttered to herself, “That’s my job…” “Thanks Rainbow, and now if you’ll excuse us we got a flag carrying routine to prepare!” Scootaloo declared, making Rainbow gasp. “You’re all gonna compete to be the team to carry the Ponyville flag?! Aw, Scoots, I couldn’t be prouder!” “Why do you say that?” Rumble asked. “Guess who carried the Cloudsdale flag in the Games when she was your guys’ age,” Rainbow said in a cocky way and answered they had a chance to say anything, “ME!” “You carried the Cloudsdale flag in the Games?!” Scootaloo’s eyes widened well-past dinner plate-width. “I’ll never forget it.” Rainbow flew up as she posed and reminisced, “I burst into the stadium, spreading my wings, the flag flapping in the breeze! I did tricks with that flag the likes of which nopony saw before or since!” “Whoa…!” the Crusaders all gazed up at Rainbow reverently. “So I’ll be rootin’ for ya, Crusaders!” Rainbow encouraged as she flew up again, “I’d say good luck, but I have a feeling you won’t need it!” And with that, Rainbow zipped off, leaving the Crusaders to talk excitably, not noticing Hotshot seething from behind a tree nearby as Diamond Tiara rubbed his sore shoulder and ego while Silver Spoon brought him his skateboard. “You so should’ve won, Hotshot!” “That- That…. Blank flank just got lucky!” Hotshot growled as he snatched his board back before throwing another glare towards Scootaloo. “What’s so special about her?! What’s she to that poser Rainbow Crash!” “She’s just a dumb blank flank that Rainbow Dash took an interest in,” Diamond Tiara explained as they walked away. “Treats her like a sister, it’s sad really. Why do you ask?” “Cuz’ that technicolored freak got my big sister kicked out of the Wonderbolts Academy!” Hotshot growled. “My big sister was the best cadet in her class and Rainbow Crash made her look bad! So I’m gonna return the favor by beating Scoota-loser for the flag-carrying routine…” The next day after school, all the little ponies competing to carry the Ponyville flag met up at a stage set up in the field in front of the schoolhouse. Midnight wore his cap and with his whistle around his neck and levitated a clipboard listing all the auditions. Next up… Midnight said aloud, “Let’s see what ya got for me, Cutie-Mark Crusaders! I’m looking forward to this…!” “We won’t disappoint!” Scootaloo assured before pulling her head back behind the curtains. Midnight then heard his little brother call out, “This is routine isn’t quite finished yet, so y’know!” Watching from some nearby bushes, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Hotshot narrowed their eyes as Diamond Tiara sneered, “Let’s watch the Cutie-Mark GOOF-saders do their sad little routine.” “They’re gonna be a hot mess!” Silver Spoon added, the three of them laughing nastily. “Since the beginning of recorded history, in a town totally amazing…” announced Rumble in a dramatic voice as the curtains were pulled back. “Three types of ponies co-exist!” It revealed a hastily-done background of cardboard props made to look like a mountain, a hillside house and apple tree, and three clouds hanging overhead. Apple Bloom and Button Mash walked in from each side with green ribbons trailing from their front hooves as they declared, “We are Earth Ponies…” *FLASH/FLASH* Twinken teleported himself and Sweetie Belle on-stage, purple ribbons flowing from their horns as they announced, “We are Unicorns…” From the main cloud Scootaloo popped up while Rumble hovered down above her, blue ribbons attached to their flapping wings, “We are Pegasi!” Then a scene dropped down in front of them, showing an impressive-enough scene of Ponyville all-drawn in crayon with a few homes surrounded by apple tree cutouts with a glorifying cardboard sun above. “And the town where friendship reigns is our home!” Then a spotlight shined in the middle of the scene as Rumble brown down a hoop covered with paper, held in place by the rest of the Crusaders. “Now welcome to the stadium the flag of the place we love best…” Tearing through the papered hood did launch Scootaloo astride her scooter, the Ponyville Flag attached to it as she 360’d back to her friends, where Apple Bloom, Rumble, and Button Mash had Twinken and Sweetie Belle on their shoulders and they caught a jumping Scootaloo, the flag in her teeth, the six of them forming a pyramid as they cheered, “PONYVILLE FOREVER!” They YAY'd as set-up firecrackers blew confetti around them to give it just the right touch. Midnight’s jaw dropped, as did the jaws of Hotshot, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon. The Crusaders ran up to the still-stunned midnight as Scootaloo admitted, “It’s kind of a work in progress, whattya think?” “That… was…!” Midnight stopped himself, No! Professionalism, can’t let them think I’m playing favorites, especially with my little brother and sister on their team. But they whipped that together just yesterday-?! No! Calm, cool, collected… Having regained his composure, Midnight cleared his throat, and said with a raised brow, “Overall, I would say… that you’ve… got something that’s working for you. Keep up the good work and who knows? Gotta-go-thank-you!” Midnight teleported away, Apple Bloom looking to her friends with a troubled look, “Y’all think he liked it?” “I dunno…” Button fretted. “No sweat, everypony!” Rumble assured, “He just said if we keep at it we’ve got a shot!” “Rumble’s right!” Scootaloo said as she got her game face on, “Hop to it, ponies!” Hotshot watched them hurry off before throwing a stink eye at Silver Spoon, “A hot mess, huh?” “Well…” Silver Spoon bit her lip, finding herself flummoxed. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but… they could win!” Diamond Tiara was reluctant to admit. “But how do we stop them?” worried Silver Spoon, “We already called them blank flanks!” “Then we gotta find a new way to get under their skin,” Hotshot growled as he hovered angrily which made Diamond Tiara raise her brow in query that shew looked towards the Crusaders, seeing them put their props away. Then she noticed Rumble hovering as he pulled down the prop-clouds and she looked to Scootaloo, her wings specifically. Then she got an idea. An awful idea. Diamond Tiara got a wonderful – awful – idea. “Or maybe… get under her wings!” As the Crusaders were finishing up packing their props… “Crusaders?” They looked to see Diamond Tiara, Hotshot, and Silver Spoon walk up to them with oddly friendly smiles as Diamond Tiara said, “We just wanted to say, your act is quite impressive!” Twinken was stumped with a confused 'Huh' while his sister Apple Bloom said, “Uh, thanks?” “Oh but of course,” Silver Spoon said as she and her friends passed the rest of the Crusaders, particularly Scootaloo, “As a matter of fact, we think you’re very brave.” “Brave? Why?” Scootaloo asked. “Ain’t it obvious?” Hotshot flapped his wings, rising a few hooves off the stage floor as he pulled a smarmy smirk. “It is to everypony, it’s right in front of you!” “Yeah, you’re showing all three types of Ponyville's ponies yet you have a pegasus pony…” Diamond Tiara pointed out as Silver Spoon and Hotshot all mocked, “Who can’t even fly!!” “What’s that got to do with anything?” Button demanded as he and the rest of the Crusaders sans Scootaloo threw stink eyes at the bullies. “Well duh, it should have everything to do with it,” Hotshot exemplified his claim by flapping about in a leisurely way over Scootaloo. “A pegasus pony at your age?!” “Yeah, you should’ve been flying long ago,” Diamond Tiara added. “So what if Scootaloo can’t get off the ground just yet?!” protested Rumble as Scootaloo looked self-consciously at her wings. “Her career as a flag carrier isn’t getting off the ground either,” Diamond Tiara answered snootily. “Ms. Harshwhinny will never pick a team that has a pegasus pony that can’t fly to represent Ponyville in front of all of Equestria!” Silver Spoon added as she ruffled Scootaloo’s feathers. “Ms. Harshwhinny never said anything about that!” argued Sweetie Belle. “I would’ve thought that was obvious,” Silver Spoon countered in a ‘I told you so’ tone. “C’mon girls, let’s go work on our routine,” Hotshot stated as he led the two hussies with their noses in the air. “It’s obvious their sad little routine’s never gonna…take off?” The bullies laughed mockingly as they walked away, and when they were far enough away they dove into the same bushes from before and watched as the seeds of doubt they’d sown took root. Snickering, they shared a victorious sneer as Hotshot said, “Objective reached, girls!” Then the bullies did their own little bit, “Bump – Bump – Sugarlump Rump!” “C’mon, boys, keep at it,” Midnight was coaching Snips n’ Snails as the two unicorn colts struggled with their routine. “How’re all the little ponies doing, coach?” Midnight smiled to see Rainbow Dash land next to him as he shrugged, “Some, like these two, need work, others like… the Crusaders, for example, are really coming along great!” “Awesome, and I think I gave the squirts just the encouragement they needed,” Rainbow boasted, Midnight giving her a raised brow and smirk. “By telling them of a certain filly who carried the flag for Cloudsdale?” “Hey! Whatever works, right?” Rainbow and Midnight shared a chuckle. “Can I tell you a little secret?” Midnight asked, Rainbow nodding. “As coach, I’m supposed to be impartial and not show favorites, but… Honestly? I think the Crusaders have the best shot at winning this!” “Well duh! They’re all our little brothers and sisters, right?” Rainbow waved off the ‘maybe' implication in Midnight’s words. “Except…” Rainbow looked to see Midnight was gazing towards the Crusaders, and noticed them working on something. “They seem to be doing something else now.” “Well, they’re probably still roughing out the edges for their routine,” Rainbow shrugged. “I bet that, before we all head for the Empire, they’ll have made something awesome!” “We?” Midnight echoed. “You didn’t think I’d miss out on this, did you?” Rainbow flapped up, “Gotta go, or Thundy’ll chew off my tail for being late again for work at the weather office.” “Later,” Midnight waved her off but noticed the Crusaders’ practicing didn’t seem as… exuberant as he’d seen them when they’d first shown off their routine. When finally came the morning of departure, Midnight was onboard the Ponyville Express, checking in the little ponies going with him and Cheerilee to the Crystal Empire. “…Dinky Doo, check, Lickety-Split, check, Truffle, check, Pińa Colada, check, Cotton Cloudy, check, Chip Mint, check, Cutie-mark Crusaders…” He looked at the seats the Crusaders had been assigned and noticed their lack of Crusaders. “Uh-oh…” Yesterday, at their final showing, Midnight was disappointed by the changes the Crusaders had made to their routine, where it seemed Scootaloo was trying to show off flying she wasn’t quite yet capable of. He’d encouraged them to go back to their original routine without showing any favoritism but it seemed his words hadn’t quite gotten through. “Hey Midnight?” He turned to see, “Rainbow Dash!” “Where are the Cutie-Mark Crusaders?” she asked. “The train’s gonna leave any minute!” “ALL ABOARD!” called the conductor and they felt the train lurch before it started chugging out of the station. “Oh great, I hope they made it aboard!” Rainbow fretted. “They’re… they’re…” Midnight’s eyes shifted nervously when they noticed the Crusaders at the end of the car. Sighing, he hurried over, Rainbow in tow, and said to them, “And how’s the winning routine today?” “Winning routine?” Twinken echoed. Sighing with a smile, Midnight gushed, “I can’t hide it anymore- You guys have the best routine out of everypony here! I can only imagine the roar of the crowd once they see Scootaloo zoom through the hoop on her scooter and… where… is Scootaloo?” He’d finally noticed – The Cutie-Mark Crusaders were short one Scootaloo, and all of them looked troubled. “She stayed home,” Sweetie Belle informed sadly, getting quite the reaction from Rainbow Dash. “She what?!” “Those bullies Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Hotshot got it into Scootaloo’s head that the only way to represent Ponyville was if the both of us were flying in our routine,” Rumble explained sadly. “When she couldn’t do it, she told us at the station that she quit.” “And then you tried to talk her out of it, right?” Rainbow pressed. “Well, actually… we kinda told her…” Twinken hesitated. “We told her we didn’t want a quitter…” sighed a guilty Button Mash. “Hang on- Are you nuts?!” Rainbow snapped, Midnight pulling her back so he could do the admonishing. “Crusaders, you’re a team,” Midnight reminded them, “and a good team never leaves a teammate behind.” Now the Crusaders felt bad as they shared troubled looks. Rainbow pulled the ‘stop’ chord, prompting the train to halt. Rainbow and Midnight flew out, both saying, “C’mon!” As the Crusaders hopped out, they heard a nasty voice, “Sorry you can’t make it!” They looked to see the bullies sneering at them from a window in the car as Hotshot mocked, “Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to send Scoota-loser my autograph once we get our picture in the winner’s circle!” The Bullies all laughed mockingly as the Crusaders looked on after them with stink eyes, Sweetie Belle saying, “I do not like them one bit.” “Mm-hmm!” the rest agreed. “C’mon, Crusaders!” Midnight called to them and the Crusaders hurried to catch up with their coach and Rainbow. In her home, Scootaloo was tearing down her posters for the Equestria Games, rolled them up, and threw them into her wastebasket. Along with her scooter. As she teared up at the sight of it… “Throwing away your scooter?!” She gasped and turned to see, “Rainbow Dash?” “And not just me,” Rainbow entered and kicked the door wide open to reveal the rest of the Crusaders, with Midnight behind them. Seeing her friends, Scootaloo brightened up for a brief moment before remembering what happened on the station platform. She turned away, pouting, “I don’t wanna see `em… What’re they doing here anyway? They’re supposed to be on the train.” “Wer’ not goin’!” Apple Bloom declared. “Not without you, Scoots,” amended Rumble. Tearing up at their loyalty, Scootaloo couldn’t bring herself to face them, Rainbow asking, “What’s gotten into you, Scootaloo?” “I didn’t wanna ruin their chance to win just because I couldn’t fly,” she answered. “And who said you had to?” Rainbow asked. “But flying’s what pegasus ponies are supposed to do!” Scootaloo protested as she turned to face her surrogate big sister. “You flew when you carried the flag in the Games” “But that was me,” Rainbow clarified, “You’re you!” “And it doesn’t matter if you can fly or not,” Midnight assured, “because your routine was perfect, in that it represented exactly what makes Ponyville special.” “You do still know what that is, right?” Rainbow asked as the Crusaders walked up to their friend. “Friendship!” Sweetie Belle reminded. “Three kinds of ponies living together as friends!” added Button. “Just like us, Scoots!” Rumble came over and playfully bumped his rump to Scootaloo’s. “Earth ponies…” Apple Bloom said. “Unicorns…” added Twinken. “And Pegasi,” Scootaloo was starting to get it but doubt lingered. “But Rainbow Dash… What if… what if my wings never grow? What if I never fly?” Seeing her biggest fan tear up, Rainbow gave more pep talk, “Listen Scootaloo – Maybe you’ll fly someday or maybe you won’t. You’re all kinds of awesome anyway!” She gave Scootaloo little noogie, “Who’s the toughest little pony in town?” Got the moves, got the mojo… No harder working pony around You’re not alone now... …Work as a team! [CMC] We’ll be the first ponies out on the flag-waving scene! “Then let’s get to the Crystal Empire!” Scootaloo proposed boldly, “and we’ll do the routine as it was! AND LET’S WIN THIS THING!!” Scootaloo grabbed her scooter, pulled out some extra helmets, Twinken cast the ‘light as a feather’ spell he learned on himself, Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle, and Button Mash, and they held onto some ropes pulled by Scootaloo and Rumble. Following after Rainbow and Midnight, with their two pegasus friends pulling, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders rode all the way to the Crystal Empire, with a fire in their hearts! [CMC] We got hearts as strong as horses We got hearts as strong as horses We got hearts as strong as horses And we’re playing to win as we gallop to glory We can conquer any challenge we’re in We got hea-a-a-arts as strong as horses Hearts strong as horses….! Bursting through the hoop, her friends formed the pyramid as Scootaloo zoomed to the top with a perfect two-point landing, the Ponyville Flag billowing behind them! “PONYVILLE FOREVER! YAY!!!!” The crowd erupted in cheer as the Cutie-Mark Crusaders took it all in, gazing proudly around the stadium. When the competition came to a close, the teams all formed up before a platform as Ms. Harshwhinny approached the podium, testing the mike before making the announcement. “In the Equestria Games, the Ponyville Flag will be carried by…the Cutie-Mark Crusaders!” The Crusaders cheered happily as they soaked in the applause while Hotshot angrily threw his helmet onto the ground and stomped off, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon following as they harrumphed. On the platform, Ms. Harshwhinny placed flower wreaths around each Crusader’s neck, all of them smiling as Midnight came over. “Job well done, Crusaders.” “Job well done?” They all looked to Ms. Harshwhinny who was incredulous at Midnight’s words. “Job well done?! Why it was totally, stupendously the single most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!” Midnight shook his head at Harshwhinny’s giddly-ness, “Contain your excitement, Ms. Harshwhinny. Remember… Professionalism?” Seeing the tables had been turned, Harshwhinny struggled to regain her composure with a sheepish look, “Yes, yes, well, I…” She hopped off-stage, Midnight, Rainbow, and the Crusaders all laughing when Scootaloo realized something. “You know what this means, right?” “What?” Apple Bloom asked, the rest of them looking at Scootaloo. “We are totally gonna get cutie-marks in flag carrying!” While the Crusaders laughed, Rainbow slumped as once again the enlightenment of the Crusaders flew out the window, Midnight saying to Rainbow with a chuckle, “One day, Dash, One day…”