//------------------------------// // Chapter 30 - Ideal Loyalty! // Story: The normal life of Nitpick Bittersweet // by Ryusun //------------------------------// It was the third day now since this event started. I spent all night thinking about the proposal Wind Rider gave me yesterday, but I still didn't have an answer for him. I want to be the best! But I didn't want get rid of Twilight! I promised her that I would help her become better than before! What should I do? “Rainbow!” “Eh, where? What?” “Wind Rider’s speech is over!” Twilight said with an enthusiastic tone “We must start our training now.” “Ah, yeah! Let’s go!” “You seem to be troubled with something? Everything ok?” “Of course everything is ok, Twilight! Why it shouldn't? Let’s go to the training grounds!” I just have to reject the deal. I can’t possibly leave her behind. Today Wind Rider will teach us how to use properly all the gym equipment. He kept sharing us his pro tips and making everyone train hard. But there are people who always mess up everything. “Still refusing to apply my teachings?” “I want to be a long-distance athlete, not a sprinter.” Gilda! “You can’t become a long-runner if you don’t start as a sprinter first. Now you are using the treadmill equipment wrong!” “Who says that? And I believe I’m using this pretty good, thank you.” “As a professional, I say that! You can hurt yourself!” “I've done this too many times before in my local gym so I know what I am doing!” “As you wish. And you youngster, you seem to be doing the same routine as her.” He was panting horribly. “Yeah! You seem busy with all the premium players so she will have to do. Besides, it’s easier with her.” “Is that so? Well, if you want to be with the winners, I’ll be right over there!” Sooooo aweeesooome! “Ah, Rainbow Dash! Twilight! Once again, seems you are working hard with great enthusiasm!” Oh my gosh! “Of course, Mr. Rider. I won’t let my friend down during training!” “Oh, it’s that so? I’m glad to hear that! But I have something else in mind for both of you. Lighting Dust! Please come over here!” Is the girl from yesterday! “Did you call for me, Sir?” “Good, you brought Suri with you! Rainbow Dash, meet Lighting Dust! Suri Polamare, meet Twilight Sparkle!” “We already know each other, Mr. Rider! Twilight and I were from the same school some time ago!” Suri happily said. “Indeed!? This will be easy, then! I want you to exchange partners for today. I believe that you can work better if you train with someone of the same physical constitution. Is this agreeable to all of you!?” “You betcha’! Hi, Rainbow Dash! I am Lighting Dust and it will be a pleasure to work with you from now on! Zap told me about you, so believe me when I say we are gonna make a great team the two of us!” “N-nice to meet you, but I’m already working with Twilight!” “Oh, Rainbow Dash!” Wind Rider said with a tender tone “Don’t tell me you will reject a partnership with Lighting Dust? Consider this a way to improve yourself with someone who is at your level! I believe Miss Twilight Sparkle can agree with that!” “B-but...” He walked straight to Twilight and put his hands on her shoulders. “Twilight, you also believe that your friend should be able to train at her full potential, don’t you? You don’t want her to waste this opportunity! This one in a lifetime chance to better herself with the aid of a professional trainer like me, or I am wrong?” “…No, I don’t want to be in her way.” I must say something! “Great, Twilight! We can talk and have fun during training! Lighting Dust can be too pushy for my own good!” “Suri, it’s you who is below my skills, you simply suck!” That wasn't nice. Suri didn't glance at her happily. “You see? Don’t worry! We’ll take our time, together! We’ll have so much fun!” “Sounds nice… if that’s ok with you, Rainbow Dash.” “Uh, of course… it’s only for today so let’s see what is this all about. Right, Twilight?” “PERFECT!” Wind Rider shouted in agreement “Dash and Dust, come with me! I’ll take you with other people I want you to work with!” I followed him beside Lighting Dust. As gave a quick glimpse to Twilight, I noticed something that makes me feel with a sense of regret. She was smiling…but having being friend with Pinkie Pie for so long, I could notice that her smile…was devoid of her usual warm. “Alright! Is everything ready, my good sir?” “Yes, Mr. Rider!” One of the staff members said assertively. “Good! Now! Indigo Zap, Lighting Dust, Rainbow Dash, Power Shoes, Thunderwind, Shadowsteps, Windymare and Solar Sky, you have been selected by me to perform as the poster athletes for this particular event! You will be filmed while being trained by me during the remaining days! This will give you a great edge in your curriculum to reach the professional level you deserve with ease!” “WOW!” Many of the guys said with amazement. Everyone shared their enthusiasm! I believe this is going to be amazing! “All you need to do is follow my lead so let’s start right now!” We started to do different kinds of trainings while being filmed. Lighting Dust was amazing! She was fast! She was cool! She could keep up at my pace in the sprint training! “You are amazing, Rainbow Dash! I had a good feeling when I saw you back there! Once again, Cousin Zap was right about someone cool!” “You are cousins!?” “If you look very closely, you can see that we share some similar traits even if we definitely have some differences like my height, my strength and skin color! But I love her and I consider her my equal! We have been together since kids! No offense but if I had being in the games as her partner, you would have lost, no contest!” “Oh yeah?” “Do you want to find out right here and right now if I’m lying in another sprint race?” “Bring it on!” “COUS’! Come here and be our referee! Someone wants to find out who’s the best!” We got in position! My engines were on! The adrenaline was flowing rapidly through my body! “Are you ready!?” Zap announced. I could feel the exhilaration! And more importantly! “Set!” The drive to win! “GO!” A mighty soar was heard from our legs! Dust and I were running with all our might around the gym! She was good! Really good! She was keeping up with me while not taking a sweat in doing so! “Is that all you got, Dash!?” Dust said tauntingly. She suddenly made a gearbox change! She was leaving me behind! “OH NO, YOU WON’T!” I quickly closed the gap while maintaining her overall speed! It was hard but I could see she was struggling as well! You won’t beat me! The finish line was near! Almost there! “It’s over!” Zap announced “Both of you are tied!” Tied!? “Ohoho! Dash, you are amazing after all!” “You too, Dust! But I could've won if I weren't playing around!” “Hahaha! I like your attitude! Way cooler than the wimp I was teamed up with!” “You mean Suri?” “Yeah! She is useless! Listen, Dash! You want to be the best? You must train with the best! If you only work with pushovers, then you’ll never reach far!” “But I always have worked with my friends just fine!” “How many times you have won an important tournament before?” “I, well…“ “You don’t have to tell me anything. Once someone takes his sweet time to answer, it means a rotund ‘NO’! Listen, Dash! Stick with us, with me! And I assure you that in the future we’ll be in a winning team! You may be CHS, but I know when to acknowledge potential!” “That’s sounds great! I’ll tell Twilight and the others to-” “Uh-Uh, no. They’re not part of this group!” “But this event is for the people to improve themselves!” “They will hold us back, Dash! Look at them!” The rest of the students were training, but at a very slow pace! They were mostly talking and exchanging laughs. In others words, having fun! The only ones who were training like there was no tomorrow was Gilda and surprisingly, Nitpick was giving his all. Poor fellow, he must being pressured by her… “They’re not taking this seriously. But we do! All eight of us want to be the best! You want to obtain glory for your team in school, no?” “Yes.” “Then get rid of Twilight and be my partner from now on! She’ll be fine! Look at her! She is having fun with Polamare!” It’s true! She looked like she was having a good time with Pinkie, Suri and Zest. “Ok! You convinced me! I’ll talk with Twilight about this!” “Excellent!” “AAAAAAAHHHH!” Screams of pain were heard from afar! It was Gilda and Nitpick! What happened!? “What is going on?” Wind Rider quickly went to her side. All of us got near the point of interest. The machines that they were using now lay broken and the smell of burnt metal can be sensed. You fool! You should have listened to Wind Rider instead of her! “What happened you two?” “The machine broke all of the sudden!” “You forced the engine of the treadmill! I told you that you were doing it wrong!” “How the hell could someone force the engine of a professional treadmill that easily!? You should know that better than anyone that this is impossible!” “Now! Now! No need to be angry! We can come to an agreement with the gym staff for you to pay for the repairing.” “WHAT!? But we didn’t break them! These things were working perfectly yesterday!” “You should learn to make for your mistakes. This is what it means to be an adult. But don’t worry. We’ll discuss this next Friday with more calm!” “I DIDN’T BREAK IT! YOU PIECE OF-” “GILDA! Stand down!” Nitpick said while head locking her with all his might. “LET ME GO!” She shouted with a frightening voice. Nitpick, are you crazy? Do you want to die!? “Calm… down…!” AND SHE DID! HOW!? He whispered something to her ear and she immediately lowered her fists. He looked…different. “I am sorry, Mr. Rider. She won’t cause any more trouble! We… will take responsibility.” “Good job in giving her a sense of reason, kiddo! Let this be a teaching to all of us to tread carefully in how we use all the equipment of this place! Now, let’s forget about this as we continue our training, shall we?” “WOW!” I said with surprise “I didn't think he could stop her” “It’s Nitpick we are talking about, Dash.” “What do you mean, Zap?” “He was the former Champion leader of the lower class of my school! And that demands respect! Even if he isn't a student anymore, well, some people will miss him! But tread carefully with that guy! He is a clever bastard when he is cornered like a stray dog!” “I think he is a jerk!” “Agreed. He is an ass!” Dust said. “And I am glad to see that Gilda received what she deserved! Always thinking she is high and mighty! Thinking that she can teach people when clearly we have a professional with us! Now people will see how incompetent she’s in reality!” “ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE! IS OVER FOR TODAY! SEE YOU AGAIN TOMORROW AT THE SAME HOUR!” The staff member said, marking the end of today’s training. “What a bummer! Anyway, see you tomorrow Dash! We’ll have a great time training together again! Cousin! Let’s go home! Mom made dinner for us!” I reunited with my schoolmates. All of them seemed somewhat relaxed and happy. They must have passed a great time like me. We didn't spoke too much after the class, though. Twilight told me if I wanted a ride home again…but for some reason, I couldn't accept it and I went my way home by my own. This certain feeling was with me all night, all time in school in the next day and just a few moments before the fourth class started. I felt that something was terribly wrong. “Today we will do something different, my students! Today’s weather is absolutely marvelous to simply pass by so we will run around the suburbs in a straight line! You’ll be filmed to make a testament of your experiences with me! Team up with your designated partners and follow my good assistants to the outside! Don’t worry! Your belongings will be safe! I assure you this!” “ALL RIGHT EVERYONE!! FOLLOW MY LEAD!” One of the assistants commanded. As we prepared to run and follow him, someone grabbed my arm and stopped me. “Not you, Dash!” It was Dust! “We eight will receive special training!” “What’s wrong, Rainbow Dash!” Twilight spoke from afar “We must follow the lead!” “Dash felt sick! Go ahead and we’ll catch you in a bit!” What!? “That’s a-“ “YOU! THE PURPLE ONE! KEEP RUNNING!” She didn't have time to talk back as she was pulled by one of my teammates from school. I don’t like this… “All right!” Wind Rider walked toward us. “Know that you are the best of the best of this group! While the others are away with menial training, you will experience a new world of possibilities for your athletic career!” “What about the others!? I want my team to improve their skills with me! That’s why we came here in the first place!” “Oh, Rainbow Dash.” Lighting Dust walked straight to me. Her big smile gave an air of arrogance. “Do you really believe these kinds of events are for public benefit?” “Yes! That’s the point of being here, no!?” “No, Rainbow Dash.” Wind Raider said. “This is called ‘Talent-Hunting’! Principal Cinch told me that there were incredible students whose skills I could forge so I could form the ultimate winning team for the Olympian World Games! All of you are destined to become someone recognized! With my help of course! The only thing I need to do is separate the trash from the diamonds!” “That… is wrong!” “Dash! Don’t let your feelings get in the way!” Dust said. “Remember what I told you yesterday? Those guys are worthless! They’ll hold us back! This is a change to claim what is rightfully ours! Don’t the rest of you agree? We deserved to be paired with the best, trained by the best and become stars in our own right!” All of the guys chosen by Wind Rider were exchanging glances. And all of them were agreeing with what she said! “I can’t believe you are ok with what is happening! We came here to improve for our schools! For our teammates! For our friends!” “WHAT!? Don’t be a fool, Dash! This is our change to be the best of the best! Don’t tell me that you were infected by Sparkle’s incompetence and your mind is being clouded with fear and doubt!?” “HEY! THAT IS MY FRIEND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT!” “Now! Now! Don’t need to fight, girls!” Wind Rider calmly said. “Dash, I’m sure you have dreams to be the best you can be! I have seen you! I have seen all of you! Why stick with mediocre teammates at best when you can be paired with world-class sportsmen!? All of you have a great future ahead of you! I can offer you that opportunity! I mean, it's not your fault you are so much better than those other students! Not everyone is destined to become a star!” “NO! I won’t accept that! I believe in my friends and I won’t betray them like this!” “I stand by her!” ZAP! I knew you would understand! “WHAT!? Cousin, are you crazy!? This is our big shot! Become a professional athlete was always your dream! OUR DREAM!” “I want to become a Pro! But I’ll never leave behind my friends to get it! Zest and the others are part of my team! We belong to the same school! We’re Shadowbolts, Cous’ Dust! You and I must be proud to wear the school’s shield!” “That’s the spirit, Zap!” I praised her guts to stand to her beliefs! “Dash can go to hell for all I care but for you to say this, I won’t allow it! Forget about the school pride! This is how real reputation works in this age, Cousin! Remember! Our reputation is what matters!” “I used to believe in that! But after the Friendship Games…I won’t leave Zest and the others out of the loop like this!” “Don’t be stupid, Cous’! You are making a big mistake!” “I agree with her! You should listen to your cousin!” “Same here! She speaks the truth” “Our friends would never understand our real drive to achieve victory!” “HOW CAN YOU REPLACE YOUR FRIENDS LIKE THAT!?” My anger was building up. “Rainbow Dash!” Wind Rider spoke. His voice was now stern and angered “Don’t disappoint me like this! Winners should always do what’s necessary to achieve victory! There is always a price to pay for the elite to reach fame” “Abandoning my friends is not something I would do!” “Don’t be naive and stubborn like that Gilda girl! Bad things can happen if you don’t choose carefully your next step!” “What do you mean by that!?” “Accidents…can happen.” No way! “You! You rigged the treadmills!” “Guilty as charged!” “WHY!? You are supposed to be cool! You are one of my heroes! You are one of the best! Why did you do that!?” “To keep people in line! How do you think I look when someone is disobeying my instructions?” “B-but you were so considerate, that made you look awesome! What you did was not cool!” “So?” No way… “That’s not the way I want to be the best!” Indigo Zap spoke her mind. “Cousin! What happened to you!? Ever since you came back from those games you became more, ugh, nicer and helpful with the lower class and incompetent people. That’s not you! You belong with me and the winners!” “I know if I talk with my friends they would have supported me to join this great chance! But replacing the like trash, rigging equipment, hurting people and making them pay for something they didn’t broke is awful! I don’t want to be a part of this, Cousin!” “ZAP!” “I won’t either! I don’t like Nitpick and Gilda, but I won’t allow this to happen to them! And more importantly…I can't deny it. I love to win! I want to be the best! But if I ever gotta choose between winning and being loyal to my friends, I'm always gonna choose my friends. 'Cause as much as I love winning, I love them waaaaay more. I refuse to be part of this shameless team!” “Very well! But don’t believe this will end well for both of you! You are making a great mistake! My influence can make things happen in the world of sports, and also can impede the ones I don’t consider worthy to reach the peak of success!” This guy! He is evil! “At least we can help Nitpick and Gilda if we say what happened here, Dash! It’s the right thing to do!” “Zap! Don’t you remember what Gilda did to me!?” “I am still mad at her! But I want you to beat her fair and square! I don't want you to use cheap tactics like this! This is too lame for you!” “Don’t do this to me, Cousin! I care about you! I want us to be better than the rest!” “So do I! But It’s final for me! I won’t back down in my choice! Will you help me in doing the right thing, Rainbow Dash!?” “Anytime!” “Then mark my words, young ladies!” The jerk said “If you dare to say a single word of what transpired here, I will crush your any change you have in the future! You will never achieve fame and glory! All your hopes and dreams will die the moment you speak a single word! Understand!?” This is not fair! “And there is nothing you can do about it!” “You sound so sure about that, Old Man!” That voice! “YOU! What are you doing here!?” Nitpick! He was sitting in the terraces of the gym. He looked…scary. That small but vicious smile of his was giving me the wrong vibe! “I got stuck in the bathroom and when I saw that everybody was gone but all of you, I got curious why you were here all alone and decided to watch from afar since you looked so cute as a dysfunctional and unhappy team.” “The bathrooms were closed since the beginning! You are lying, youngster!” “Oh, really?” He said sarcastically “My bad, but fuck the reason how I got here. I expect you to pay for all the equipment you broke by tomorrow, She and I won’t pay a single cent for something we didn't mess with… Sir! Or else!” “Ha! Else what? Do you think I will take seriously the threat of a scoundrel like you!? What could you possibly do to me?” “I don’t know! Perhaps this can help you smooth your thoughts! Dust, catch it!” He threw away his cellphone to Dust’s directions and she caught it effortlessly. Why did he do that!? “This is-!” “What is it!?” “A video of what happened here!” “Then erase it and problem solved! You are such a stupid kid for doing that, you know!?” “Oh, Dust! Would you kindly explain to this poor, old man what is really going on!” He said…menacingly! As he walked to her, slowly, each step echoing on all the gym. This guy in front of me was someone else! “You bastard! You send the video to them!” “And you know that they won’t doubt for a second to crush you, Wind Rider and the rest of your lousy, backstabbers assholes to the ground if you don’t comply to my demands! Specially her! You know how she hates cheaters and liars with a passion!” “I don’t know to who you send it to, but my word has more weight than any video! I have been defamed before by rivals I crushed in the past! I will survive this with no trouble at all!” “Oh!” Such horribly and cold voice. He took back his phone from Dust and started to walk slowly and heavy around Wind Rider “Really!?...Umm, you may be right! I mean, how could possibly this damage your image?” He said in a cynical and almost hypocrite manner “You only are blackmailing one of the best athletes that Principal Cinch, Headmaster of the greatest and most important school of the nation, has at her disposal! How she will take the news that one of her star pupils is being threatened by an old legend whose time has passed already when she can protect someone who will bring honor to Crystal Prep in the future? How the professional community will take the news of one of his most beloved and praised athletes was setting up two innocents students just to satisfy his ego and pettiness because he was ignored by them? Do you desire take up the challenge in finding out? Do you believe your skills will save you against these odds, ‘Five times Champ of the Extreme Ten kilometers Marathon’ Wind Rider!?” He was frozen in fear. All of the students were in shock! I was in shock! But I noticed that Zap and Dust weren't as amazed as the rest of us. They looked as if they were used to it! “I’ll think about it, youngster.” “Perfect.” He patted his shoulder with great care. “I know you will choose the right decision by tomorrow. I mean, it just a button away for us to find out the result, no? Oh! I believe the rest of our teammates are coming back from their beautiful and reinvigorating run!” I turned my attention to the door and he was right! They are back! Wind Rider went away with the other ones, clearly frustrated of what just happened. Dust at least stayed with Zap. That means she is not that bad, after all. “I hate you, Bittersweet!” “The feeling is mutual, Dust! But with this, I saved some lives in the long run. Specially my ass! I won't pay for what I didn't break!” “Thanks for helping us, Nitpick. You clever bastard!” “I didn't do this for you, Zap! Candie Sugarcoat would kill me if I let you die here! Anyway, I'm out of here!” This is a letdown… I didn't think that my hero could be like this! But thanks to that! I reinforced what I believe from the bottom of my heart! “Rainbow Dash! Are you ok now? I was worried that… what’s wrong?” “I have something to tell you..." I said with all my humility. "I am soooo sorry, Twilight. I unconsciously tried to replace you for someone that seemed better for my training. But not anymore… I want to ask you a something... Would you like to be my partner again?” In that moment, in that instant, I was sure I would never forget a face like that in my life. Sparkling eyes, a wide and welcoming smile and an aura of cozy acceptance were part of the Twilight in front of me. I couldn't resist hugging her anymore and she just answered my regret with a tender forgiveness from her arms, telling me that there was nothing to feel bad about. “What about Suri!?” I got back to reality when she spoke “I don’t want her to be alone!” “Then she will team with us! No sweat!” “Thank you!” “Hey, Dash!” It was Zap. “Yeah, friend!?” “Thank you… for standing with me against impossible odds. I am glad to have known you during the games. I still can’t believe my Cous’ could think like that. No, perhaps my old ways made her being like that…” “Then I know that those feelings will reach her! Just as my friends and me saved Twilight back then! You trust in what I say, right!?” “Of course! I will do my best to put her in the right path like me!” And we made an extreme handshake of awesomeness! “KEEP RUNNING, YOU FUCKING BASTARD! STOP BEING AN USELESS ASS!” “SHUT UP! I’M DOING MY BEST TO KEEP WITH YOUR PACE, YOU STUPID BITCH!” It was Gilda! She was pressuring Nitpick again! I…I won’t stand this anymore! “Rainbow, Nitpick-“ “I know, Twilight! I’ll go right away!” “Rainbow!” Twilight said happily. When I told to Zap that Dust can be saved, I remembered that one of my best friends was someone horrible once. Nitpick…I treated him bad since day one. He may be a great jerk, but I had some fault in his actions. If I had treated him nicer since the beginning…But I will change that now! I will save him from her! “Rainbow, where are you going?” “To save Nitpick from Gilda, Zap! I won’t allow that bully to keep pushing my schoolmate any longer!” “Gilda Heavensbane bullying Nitpick Bittersweet!? Dash! Wait!” “Don’t worry! I’ll be fine!” “NO! You are mistaking things! In reality those two are-“ “DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OUTSIDE!?” “BRING IT ON!” “ENOUGH! STOP ATTACKING HIM, GILDA! IF YOU REALLY WANT TO FIGHT SOMEONE! THEN DO IT WITH ME!” And then, a silent moment was before me… Gilda was in shock. “Ah, Rainbow Dash… What are you doing?” “Helping you, Nitpick! So stay back!” “In what-“ “Wait! I know that I told you before that I wouldn't help you, that you are a jerk and other things. But after what happened a while ago, if I leave you alone, I would be betraying what I treasure the most! My ideal of loyalty to the school, my friends, my schoolmates! And you are part of CHS now! And the first thing I will do to fix my deeds is by defending you from her!” …More silence. What is going on? She started to look less serious. Suddenly, a small but perceivable laugh could be heard from behind me! Both of them started to laugh with a roaring noise! “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA RAINBOW DASH! Such heroism from your part!” “What are you laughing at, Nitpick? I'm helping you out! And you, Gilda! Don’t mock me with your laughs! I can beat you any day! Besides, did you know that he just saved your butt recently?” “Ah, Dash! I expected nothing less of him.” She said with an affirmative way. “I mean…forget it. Nit, let’s get out of this dump. That old fucker was way overrated in the end.” “Yeah, fucking asshole. He wasted our time!” They grabbed their belongings and walked away to the exit. “Oh! And Rainbow Dash!” He stopped for a moment and turned his sight to me “You truly are a great girl! I don’t like you, but damn! How I love the guts you showed me a while ago! No wonder the school loves you, and I mean it.” And with that, he left the place with Gilda. What just happened? “You look surprised, Dash!” Indigo Zap said with a calmed expression. “Can you explain to me what’s going on!?” “Remember when yesterday I told you about the Champion leaders of the school? Well, Nitpick was the lower class leader, and every Champion has a second in command. I am the right-hand of the middle class leader and Sugarcoat is the Champion. And as you may know, Sugarcoat and I are great friends… so a short answer to what you saw is!” “Don’t tell me what I think you are gonna say!” “Nitpick Bittersweet and Gilda Heavensbane are good friends!” “WHAAAAAAAT!?” “I thought you have noticed by now on how they bicker in a friendly manner with each other! Look at them!” I did not believe what my eyes were seeing! Those two, before they left the place…were smiling! “I…I give up. I have a headache now."