This Bright Blazing Future

by Dynasty-Kaine


Chapter 38: The Time Between

The first thing Signature Sandwich got to experience was Ace punching him full force when he showed up to propose an idea to the vocalist. It was great to see Ace was as furious with him as his daughter. Although, the white pegasus beat him up just like an like enemy. So that took some of the formalities out rather rapidly.

"So now that you know how I feel about this, what in the blood soaked hell do you want?" he asked as he sat down in a recliner in his living room.

"Well, you sure are taking this well aren't you?" Sig said rubbing his now swelling jaw.

"Like hell I am you ass, but I presume Rainbow got you first so I went easy on you." he answered turning away.

"I won't be here much longer Ace, so it's a good thing you've already grieved." he answered grimly ignoring Ace's comment.

"What, you're pulling my hoof! You just came back and gotta die again?" Ace said incredulous. "Who's sick idea of a joke is this?"

"Mine, I can't give you any details." He answered calmly. "But I do need to get the band back together for one final recording. I've been writing songs while I've been gone... Now I just need you guys to help me leave my last mark on the world."

"Dude you act like yer on deaths doorstep." the white pegasus said with an odd tone of care.

"Well I guess I am in one of her jars, as she is the reason I'm back..." the green stallion answered with a shrug.

"Wait, Death is a mare?" Ace jumped at this revelation. "Is she hot?"

"Dude... Are you serious right now?" Sig said utterly lost for words almost. "Your wife will kill you, you know that right?"

"Hey, a stallion has a right to know where the pretty mares are at." He answered nonchalantly. "Plus, if she kills me all the more reason to hit death up for some, quality time."

"Beautiful Ace... Just beautiful." Sig answered exasperated. "Can we talk about the here and now, not that you wanna try to seduce death?"

"Yeah sure man... So you got some good material?" the white pegasus asked in a much nicer mood now. "Throw it at me man, is any of it good?"

"Hey man don't sell me short just cause I'm blind."

"Wait, you're blind too?" Ace exclaimed in shock. "Dude, how did you write any of this?"

"I had a friend help me... Look Ace, this will be the ultimate album, and no pony will hear the last of it."

"Okay, okay man, how many tracks you think we can lay down?"

"About fifteen total with a few remastered oldies joining the lineup."

"Hmm, sounds like a decent set... A little tough to pull off knowing our methods, but doable I suppose." Ace said unphased and in business mode. "You got a written set list... You know the one your friend wrote? I wanna pitch it to the guys."

"Here..." Sig said pulling a simple sheet of paper out. "... It's nothing amazing but... I think we will hit chart topping success with it."

Ace took the paper and looked it over:

Kirin Hoof

Last Trip to Paradise

Setlist:
1. Are You Ready?.....(4:12)
2.Right Now.....(5:22)
3.Equestrian Made.....(4:07)
4.I Wanna Rock.....(3:00)
5.And That's The Way.....(3:44)
6.Burn.....(6:04)
7.Rock the Night.....(4:02)
8.Coast to Coast.....(4:40)
9.Fear.....(4:05)
10.See You on The Other Side.....(6:10)
11.Miles From Nowhere.....(3:33)
12.Live For The Music.....(4:00)
13.Through These Eyes.....(3:15)
14.Killed by Death.....(4:39)
15.Wheels of Steel.....(4:07)

"What the heck is this, all of them have a run time written in?" Ace uttered in confusion. "How can you predict how long some of these new songs are going to be off the bat man?"

"Just call it a good feeling I'd say." Sig said whimsically. "I mean I may or may not know the future after dying once."

"Dude stop lying, its so terrible it hurts!" Ace said in mock pain. "Also, what is this scribble at the bottom of the set list?"

There had indeed been something there the forest green stallion knew, and he had expected Ace would be able to read it. It seemed though that the magic at the end was for only Rainbow's ears some day in the future. A hidden track meant only for those closest to the stallion to hear or be able to see. He just hoped his daughter would be able to see and hear it. It wasn't easy to get the musical enchantment on there.

"Its nothing bro, just something I erased cause a last minute choice." Sig answered rather plainly.

He was glad that the white pegasus dropped the subject and headed off to find his phone and pitch the idea to Redd and Brim. Album recording had always been an extremely difficult procedure for the band. Yet, Signature had a good feeling about this, and when he had those kinds of feelings... They succeeded.

In fact, they would go on to finish it in mere months. with the release date to land before his daughters wedding by a week. Somehow, everything that the stallion believed this album would be was not enough. Popularity would strike the whole populace with awe it seemed, there was a demand for a live tour for the album. Every pony was saddened to hear he was suffering from a magical illness that would be terminal, and thus a tour would never happen. Though he had his own idea for that problem, even if it wasn't really an official concert.

Sig figured that was the proper way to send the message that his time left in Equestria was short. It was the week of release that Sig and Rainbow were at the sandwich shop cleaning up their mess from that evenings work rush quietly as the radio played. It was then the sound stopped for a moment before the DJ pony came back on the air.

"Hey all you ponies listening far an wide, we've got a real treat for you tonight!"

"What's going on on the radio dad?" Dash asked.

Sig just turned up the volume and listened in as the DJ went on, "Fresh off the release rack, and straight from the hands of lead vocalist Ace from Kirin Hoof. We have a brand new single sliding your way that promises to be the talk of Equestria for decades to come! Right off their new album Last Trip to Paradise, with Sig rocking both guitar and vocals... Here's Equestrain Made!"

"I'm gonna kill Ace, I said no pre-releases!" Sig growled through gritted teeth with ill temper. "The dang thing releases tomorrow, and he couldn't wait?"

"I dunno dad, always wanted to hear you at the helm of the band!" Dash said to mess with him. "Let's just listen to it alright?"

"Fine kiddo, have it your way." he submitted.

He went back to when they recorded the song... This was a song where he bled out his soul for the whole world. His voice had genuinely hurt after singing it though as he had sung with a loud, deep, rasping voice that roared out through the microphone. Listening to it now, it was quite hard to believe it was his voice coming through.

It's a desert sky, full of broken dreams,
But it ain't as bad, as it really seems,
All those miles and miles, on this lonesome road,
I got a heavy heart, but I never ask no one to carry my load,

Equestrian house, Equestrian shoes,
Gimme that thing called Equestrian blues,
Equestrian work, Equestrian pay,
Gimme little love I'm Equestrian made,

"Wow, damn Dad, this is extremely good!" Dash commented with pride in her voice. "This song is gonna top the charts easy! Is that Ace on Sax?"

"Yeah, he finally got to be solely instrumental." He smiled and continued to listen to the song he created.

Spitfire walked into the shop at this point and noticed they were listening intently to the music. She just sat down in a chair and listened with them, patiently waiting for the song to end.

I was lyin down, on a bed of sand,
I saw a crazy horse, holding out his hand,
He said, Lift me up, to where the eagles fly,
Because I feel SO good,
I Swear to God I Ain't Never Gonna Die!

Equestrian house, Equestrian shoes,
Gimme that thing called Equestrian blues,
Equestrian work, Equestrian pay,
Gimme little love I'm Equestrian made, YEAH!

WOO-HOO
Equestrian house, Equestrian shoes,
Gimme that thing called Equestrian blues,
Equestrian work, Equestrian pay,
Celesta Almighty, I'm Equestrian made

Equestrian Dream, Equestrian Pie,
Everypony getting that Equestrian High,
Equestrian Life, Equestrian Made,
Guarunteed certified Equestrian Made,
Guarunteed certified Equestrian Made,
Guarunteed certified EQA,
Made in Equestria, EQA
Made in Equestria, EQA!

The DJ came back on the air as the song faded and Sig was surprised again.

"Wow these phones are lighting up in the studio. Sig should be proud, that had to have been the finest song I have ever heard bleed out of his mind! Now this, this is rock chart topping material right here!"

"Wow, another fine song written by Equestria's greatest guitarist!" Spitfire announced with a warm smile. "It's good to see that even though you're blind you can still kick out the music, but I came here more on business than to congratulate your hard work Sig. Sorry!"

"It's okay Spitfire, what's going on?" he replied.

"Well I just thought you and Rainbow would like to know Fleetfoot has reapplied to the Wonderbolts." the golden mare said casually. "Nydus outright denied her on the grounds that she ignored a direct summons... On top of many other charges. She isn't giving up though, and has made a very public challenge in order to prove to Nydus and the whole team that she is back. This time at one hundred percent."

"Oh, and what challenge could she possibly make that could turn enough opinions toward her?" Dash replied rather uninterested. "I mean there isn't much she could do to garner enough attention for Nydus to take her seriously."

"She challenged you to a race of speed, and declared she would be the winner." Spitfire stated boldly. "She said the only way to prove herself is to outshine the very mare that replaced her in the first place."

"She didn't..." Dash said flabbergasted.

"She did Dashie, and it's all over the news." the golden mare said throwing a newspaper down on the table that read:

Fleetfoot Challenges Rainbow Dash to Race for Pride and Glory, Will the Young Wonderbolt Accept?

The cyan mare picked it up and looked at the headline, "Well, I guess she did... But did she really have to go this far? I mean not like I don't enjoy the prospect of a challenge, but dragging in all this media..."

Sig answered this, "To get your attention and everyone else's... Yes, she did. She has to have everyone watch as she is reborn."

"Yeah, point taken dad." She answered nonchalantly. "Spits, make the announccement that I'll accept her challenge. Even if Nydus doesn't like it, this is my pride on the line here not his."

"Easily done Hun." the golden mare replied with a smile. "I'll arrange the press conference personally."

It had always surprised Sig that there had been very little public problem with Dash and Spitfire being together when the cyan mare became a Wonderbolt. The stallion could only assume Dash's own image to the public had been good enough to easily overlook the fact that she and Spitfire were together. Nydus had been equally surprised from what Sig had learned, and that the public had fully embraced and even supported the coupling. Even though the rules said No, the overwhelming outcry from the public prompted Nydus to courteously look the other way on that rule of the Wonderbolts.

Now, how would Fleetfoot fare against Rainbow Sig wondered. She had been training for almost two years, but was she really ready for this?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Fleetfoot sat motionless leaning on a wall of the stadium entryway, Her headphones in her ears music blaring as she focused on what laid ahead of her. She was going to be the best speed stunt flier ever, this was her mother's dream and now it was hers entirely. Dash was the number one opponent to test how far she had come since she fell apart two years ago.

"I've got this, and even if I lose... I will give Rainbow ALL that I've got!" She promised herself aloud.

The music she had been listening to rang loudly in her mind as she took her headphones off and marched into the pegasus arena. As she glided over to the starting point she saw Dash there smiling at her. The crowd was cheering out all around them on clouds floating all about the racing course. Not a single moment would be missed as camera crews were positioned near and far.

"Never thought I'd get to race you like this!" the younger mare called out enthusiastically.

As Fleetfoot landed she smiled and replied, "I was always hoping I'd find a good challenge one day when I was in the Wonderbolts. Now, my reputation depends on that. Either way, I'm just gonna give it my all! So, I expect no less from you Dash!"

"You don't have to worry about that, I always give it my all!" She replied extending her hand.

Fleetfoot took her hand in a friendly gesture and shook it. They both then took their positions as the announcer came over. He laid out the basic rules of the race, all of which were fine. Dash and her tensed their bodies up as they both rose into the ready stance. The countdown began.

3!....All of the lights...
2!...Here we go...
1!...My everything...My world...
GO!...It's ALL MINE!

The two mares shot into the sky at so great a velocity the starting cloud was instantly obliterated into mere molecules. Dash had the lead by just barely a tail length, but Fleet was keeping up and steadily increasing her pace. Each turn must have looked like lightning bolts blurred across the sky. The course was a complex one with twists, turns, obstacles, and eventually a dead straight drop to the finish line. Fleet knew this was Dash's strongest point during the race, but it was hers just as well. She couldn't afford to lose the rainbow maned mare at any point.

They kept trading off on who was in the lead, and they were so close it was scary. Neither pegasus could pull away significantly at all. Fleet smiled, and she knew Dash was too even if she couldn't see her. Then it came at last the dead drop, and Dash pulled away into a Sonic Rainboom almost instantly as she dove. Her speed was unbelievable! She had definitely gotten better at executing the move, but Fleetfoot had a trick up her sleeve as well! Something that could equal a Rainboom!

She hit the top of the rise and shot downward, and a loud cracking sound emanated from the spot she bolted from. In fact, a bright white beam of light broke through Dash's rainbow wave. The flash was as bright as the sun, a white hot star blazing through the sky. To Fleetfoot's amazement she caught up to Dash in mere seconds and even surpassed the mare by a good distance. As she hit the finish line she leveled out her wings a bit to put a bit of drag on her speed, but she bolted back up into the sky in a bright flash as well.

She was above all the clouds of the world, it was harder to breathe up here but it was beautiful. She finally felt free from her past, from her pain, and her suffering. She had owned up to everything she was. She had actually come back from the brink of death for one last chance at the world and all of it's treasures!

"I did it mom, our dream..." She whispered before hollering to the vastness before her, "...IT'S REAL!"

She then felt strange, like she was being held by her mother again. Just like when she was just a little filly.

"Congratulations sweetie... I love you so... So much..." She heard her mother's voice call out through the air as just a whisper.

Tears welled up in her eyes and streamed down her face as she began to glide down she called out one last time, "Thank you mom, I love you too... And everything you sacrificed for me..."

As she came back down to land back in the stadium the crowd was cheering loudly. Roaring, stomping, whistling, and shouting her name. Dash greeted her first, amazement in her eyes.

"How did you do that, what was it called, when did you figure it out?" Dash bombarded her with questions.

"I dunno, I just sort of... Did it?" She answered bashfully. "Maybe I'll call it the Arclight Flash or something?"

"Yeah, that sounds pretty cool actually!" Rainbow said with a bright smile. "You are undoubtedly the fastest flier in Equestria, but just you wait Fleetfoot! I'm gonna beat you someday!"

"Rainbow Dash, Fleetfoot!" Nydus roared somehow above the crowd.

They both turned to face him, both saluting him. Afraid his voice would shatter them if they ignored him.

"You just don't know when to quit, do you Fleetfoot?" he growled sticking his face right up in hers staring into her eyes.

"No, sir!" She answered routinely, with steady conviction. "I never have known what limits are. No respectable speed flier does sir!"

"Your fire is back." Nydus said to her alone with a smile. "When Rapidfire finalizes his retirement, consider yourself reinstated Fleetfoot. You still need to keep up on that event happening though, got it recruit?"

Fleetfoot could barely contain her excitement as she smiled and responded dutifully, "Yes, Sir!"

She felt like a young fresh Wonderbolt all over again, like she did the day Spitfire recognized her talent and spirit. Big sister Spitfire. And that was what had truly made her strongest. The crowd was great, but to feel like you have a family again is better. She would go on to keep up with Rapidfire's retirement, and would indirectly become a part of the fire family. She would have a real family.