//------------------------------//
// The Art of Awesome 
// Story: Appledashery 
// by Just Essay 
//------------------------------//

	"Pretty crazy stuff, eh, Rainbow?"  I asked, smirking aside at the rest of the assembled denizens of Ponyville.  "Well..."  I winced slightly as the stallion's nasally voice continued to read grating numbers off a sheet of paper.  "...as far as crazy goes.  Eheheh..."

"What brings you out to such a bore-fest, kiddo?" Rainbow asked.

"Bore-fest?!"  I spun to gawk at her.  "Are you kidding?!  It's the Equestrian Marathon!  It only happens twice a year... and this is the first time it's happening in Ponyville!"

"Uh huh."  Rainbow Dash brushed a few prismatic bangs back as she gazed at the stage and the tables erected beyond.  "I'm all for competitions n'all... but when it gets this organized..."  She blew out the side of her muzzle.  "I dunno.  Something gets lost in all the eggheaded pretense, y'know?"

"No."  I blinked.  "I don't."

"Erm..."  Rainbow Dash fidgeted.

"Hello, Scootaloo," Caramel said.

I smiled.  "Hiya, Caramel!  Done with hauling vegetables for the day?"

"Heehee... and how."

Rainbow Dash did a double-take.  "Scoots?  You and Caramel... know each other?"

Caramel smiled at Rainbow Dash.  "My supply route takes me by Cheerilee's school every morning."

"Yeah!"  I hopped up and down.  "Caramel's super cool!  She's always got silly stories to tell about the local farms—"  I locked in place, wincing.  "Whoops.  I-I didn't mean to say 'she.'  Just... the way you wear your mane—"

"No no..."  Caramel chuckled breathily.  "Please... nothing to be sorry for."  A soft grin.  "Really."

"Hey, are Golden Harvest's older brothers still tipping over Mooella and the other cattle at night?"

"Yup!"  Caramel winked.  "But they stopped the moment that Green Hoof got a sharp horn in the butt."

"Hahahaha..."  I giggled.  "How's he going to lie down in bed?"

"He can't!  Golden Harvest says he sleeps on his face!"

"Heeheehee!"

Rainbow Dash glanced between us.  "So... uh... cow tipping, huh?"

"Yeah.  In this day and age."  Caramel coughed.  "And to think we've come so far since the wheel."

"Yeah."  I stifled a yawn, glancing over my shoulder at the proceedings.  "I hope that—one of these days—they hold an Equestrian Scooterthon."

"Why don't you join this Marathon?" Caramel asked.

"Caramel..."  Rainbow muttered.

Caramel blinked aside.  "What?"

"I... uh... I tried..."  I said, kicking at a few flakes of dirt on the ground.  "They said I'm too young to compete.  Then somepony patted me on the head."  I rolled my eyes.  "I hate being patted on the head."

"It's 'cuz they're all scared of ya, kid."  Rainbow Dash smiled.  "The moment you join?  That prize money is yours."

"Heh... thanks, but I really doubt anypony can beat this Brick Lesneigh guy."

"Pffft.  Says who?"  Rainbow Dash pointed.  "Look at him.  The guy's a friggin' mountain.  Mountains can't run.  Trust me.  I've been inside tons of 'em."

"But he's Brick Lesneigh!"  I exclaimed.  "You seriously haven't heard of Brick Lesneigh?!  Equestria's most consecutive award-winning marathon galloper?"

"Should I have?"  Rainbow snorted.  "A chump's a chump... especially if he has a mega-chump representing him."

"They've got a pretty intense winning-streak beneath their belts, Rainbow," Caramel said.  "At least... they're kind enough to share the extra winnings with the runner-ups."

"Kind?!"  Rainbow grimaced.  "Take it from a pony who's been best friends with Fluttershy for years.  There's nothing 'kind' about these upstart melon fudges.  There's being a sore winner... and then there's rubbing it in other ponies' faces."  Rainbow's muzzle scrunched.  "Most uncool..."

"What these guys need is somepony to knock 'em down a peg," I said with a smirk, glaring at the stage.  "Real Ponyvillean grit!"

"Mmmmmm..."  Rainbow Dash dug at the ground.  "Yeah..."

Caramel looked at her... then at me.  He cleared his throat.  "But... y'know... a race is just a race.  So long as there's lots of money going to charity, then who cares if—"

"But it's more than just a race!" I exclaimed, ears twitching.  "It's about representing Ponyville and what it means to be a good... y'know... a good, awesome pony!  Brick Lesneigh is pretty impressive and all, but he and this Vinnyglump guy are gonna rub Ponyville's nose in the mud at this rate!"  I sighed, staring off past the stage.  "I guess it's just par for the course as the Equestrian Marathon is concerned."

"Yeah..."  Rainbow Dash muttered, nodding.  "But... Ponyville ain't a town full of pushovers.  They won't be fazed by these idiots.  I'm... I'm sure of it."

Raising an eyebrow, I glanced at Rainbow Dash.  My eyes fell on her thick saddlebags—noticing them for the first time.

Her eyes twitched.  And that's how I realized that she noticed me noticing them.

My gaze met hers.  "We... we have a chance of winning, don't we, Rainbow Dash?"

She looked past me.  I spotted a slight tremor running up her legs.  "Some days, kid... you... uh..."  She cleared her throat.  "You gotta sit things out."

Caramel bit his lip, glancing between us.

I stared at her.  I fought a lump in my throat.  Eventually—after much fumbling—I produced the raspy words:  "Well... I'm glad that you and I never sat things out."  A tender smile.  "I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for you being there for me."

Rainbow's eyes rested on my wings.  "You got to where you are on your own, squirt."  Her head shook.  "You don't have to thank me."

"I can't help it."  My feathers fluttered slightly.  The image of Rainbow blurred slightly, but I maintained a faithful smile.  "Everypony around here... should be thanking you.  Especially the ones who don't know it."

Rainbow bit her lip.  Her ears drooped.  "It's not easy being awesome... and it doesn't ever get easier."

"Well... even still..."  I sniffled and rubbed my cheek.  "You'll always be m-my hero, Rainbow Dash."  I clenched my teeth to maintain my smile.  "I... only hope the rest of Ponyville gets to know... someday... just how awesome you are... and continue to be."

She stared at me in silence.  I'm not sure exactly when it all melted.  She hasn't told me since, either.  But I knew something had changed the moment her ears rose back up... and she was frowning and smirking at the same time.  A devilish thing that only Rainbow Dash could do.

And then...