Best Young Flyer [Rainbow Dash Short]

>Wow, just look at this crowd
>The Best Young Flyer's Competition always draws a lot of spectators, but this year it's bigger than ever.
>The whole stadium buzzes with building anticipation with Princess Celestia and the Wonderbolts here to award the laurel to the winner.
>You spend the last of your patiently saved allowance on a big tuft of cloud candy and make your way to your seat.
>It's up in the higher sections, but that's not necessarily a disadvantage here.
>You clutch a notebook tightly in your hooves as you flap up to your tier.
>You've wanted to be a Wonderbolt ever since you saw them perform at the Summer Sun Celebration one year.
>Everypony says that this competition is a young pegasus' first step toward that goal.
>You're keyed up to see the performances, but you'll be ready to write down everything you see for practice later.
>The competition will be starting soon.
>You ready your book and quill and catch a snippet of conversation while you eat your candy.
>"...Dash managed to get in before the deadline."
>"Oh, really? That should be worth watching."
>"But didn't you hear? There's supposed to be some unicorn too..."
>You snort and hold in a laugh.
>A unicorn competing for Best Young Flyer? Now THAT you'd pay to see.
>But did they say 'Dash'?
>As in Rainbow Dash?
>Everypony in your flight camp's heard THAT name.
>She's the filly who's supposed to have done the Sonic Rainboom.
>But she left Cloudsdayle years ago. She can't really be back.
>Can she?
>You fidget in your seat as you look around and try to hear any other mention of the urban legend.
>Before you had your sights set on Meadow Song to win. She's been training really hard for this, but...
>You take a deep breath to calm yourself.
>It's probably just a rumor.
>Most of the foals in your camp don't even believe that story to begin with.
>You've caught some flack for saying you wished you could've seen it.
>You want to believe it, but what the others say makes sense too.
>Anypony who could perform a Sonic Rainboom would be a once in a generation flyer.
>No way they'd be allowed to leave Cloudsdayle and just disappear.
>They'd probably ask her to join the Wonderbolts on the spot.
>You chuckle to yourself.
>It's cool to think about, but you've outgrown such silly stories.
>Trumpets announce the start of the competition and you go rigid in your seat.
>You dip your quill and focus your attention like a laser on the obstacle course.
>Everypony gets to make a freestyle routine based on the layout.
>They get points for speed, style, and accuracy.
>Here comes the first pony, looks like Orange Swirl.
>If that Rainbow Dash were here you're sure she'd be the first flyer.
>So much for the legend.
...
>You take copious notes over the next hour.
>Cloud kicker did well, but Meadow Song lived up to your expectations by delivering the best performance yet.
>It was far from flawless, but she did a great job.
>You got some really good pointers.
>Number Four never showed.
>The ponies next to you kept talking about that Unicorn when they skipped whoever it was.
>You watch Number Fourteen finish her routine with a bit of a flourish.
>Not bad, but the rest of it was only mediocre.
>She flies down and walks back into the prep area.
>There should only be one more contestant. It might be a close call with what you've seen today.
>Everypony's been flying fairly well for the most part.
>You stuff the last of your cloud candy in your mouth as you watch one of the promoters head inside.
>Wonder what the hold up is...
>You twiddle your quill impatiently as you look around the stadium.
>The event is pretty much over.
>Some ponies have already started to leave to steal a march on the crowds.
>The announcer starts calling out Number Fifteen. Meh.
>Maybe you should go ahead and...
>Your body goes rigid with shock as you look back toward the participants' entrance.
>A VERY nervous looking but utterly UNMISTAKABLE cerulean pony had just emerged from behind the curtain.
>You can't believe it! It's really her! You jump up onto your rear hooves to crane for a better look.
"IT'S RAINBO-WHAT THE HAY IS THAT?!"
>Your uncontrolled shout of joy changes to complete disbelief as "Contestant Four" follows the first mare out of the curtains.
>Your mouth hangs open at the sight of the strangely beautiful and obviously magical wings on her back.
>And your eyes nearly bleed at their contrast to the hideous costume she's wearing.
>It's like she got hit by a traveling circus.
>Your stunned disbelief is cut short as the music cuts in and both ponies move off to begin their routines.
>Huh, two for one? You look up at the Sun. Yeah, they only have time for one more performance.
>You watch Rainbow Dash hungrily, but her performance is off.
>She collides with a cloud pillar, WHOA and nearly hits the Princess with a cloud! Yikes!
>Now what is she...?
"Whoa..."
>Both she and the unicorn flew high into the sky to begin their finales.
>The sunlight through those big colorful wings...it's amazing!
>You watch as tendrils of smoke start to rise off the magical wingtips and gasp as they suddenly conflagrate sending the poor unicorn flailing into freefall.
>You leap to the edge of your platform as she goes screaming past and see three Wonderbolts shoot down after her.
"Whew."
>That should take care of...THE FLAILING PONY KNOCKED THEM ALL OUT COLD!
>You bite your hoof in terror as a multi-colored streak screams down after them.
"Holy Canterlot! But, she'll never reach them in time!"
>The mares next to you shut their eyes and hug each other but you can't take your gaze away.
>The sky blue dark-horse competitor rockets toward the endangered ponies, but there's no way...
>A gasp rolls through the crowd as you see sheets of crackling energy start to cascade away from her front hooves.
>You hold your breath as your eyes widen in complete disbelief.
>An explosion of prismatic energy tears away from her sudden exponential acceleration and rocks the whole stadium.
>Your quill snaps in half in your teeth as your eyes water from not blinking.
>She caught them all!
>"A SONIC RAINBOOM! SHE DID IT! SHE DID IT, WHOOOOOOOOOO!"
>The screaming cheer from the other side of the stadium breaks the stunned silence and the whole place erupts with sound.
>The legendary mare hauls all of the rescued ponies over the stadium leaving a bright rainbow behind her and then brings them to safety.
>You friends will never believe this.
>Princess Celestia is awarding her the laurels. No doubt who the winner is.
>Wait, maybe they WILL believe you...
>You jump up with your notebook and start flying from platform to platform up the stadium.
>Rainbow Dash is flying off with a couple of the Wonderbolts, you've gotta be quick.
>You reach the last platform and rush through a couple of factory workers with a quick apology and jump out in front of her.
"WAIT! Um...Ms. Dash..."
>Why do you have to be shy NOW?
>"Whoa! Hey, squirt! Where'd you come from?"
"I, um, just saw you...you know..."
>"Wasn't it EPIC? I pulled it off! I finally did it again!"
>She pumps her hoof into the air and gives her wry looking escorts a hoofbump.
>"I mean, I knew I'd get it off, but who knew I'd save my friend and THE WONDERBOLTS!"
>You blush a bit at her uninhibited celebration. You have to admit you'd be ecstatic too.
"Well, I, um , I was wondering if you would...y'know..."
>You hold out your notebook and quill.
>Your heart drops into your stomach as you notice your quill is snapped in several places and mangled from your excitement earlier.
"Ah, um nevermind...um well done thoughAAACK!"
>You had tried to turn to go, but you were grabbed into a headlock from behind as a hoof roughly mussed up your mane.
>"Oh no you don't! You're the first pony to ask for my autograph as the new Best Young Flyer! You're not getting out of it that easy."
>She spins you around and grabs the notebook from your hoof.
>You watch in awe as she plucks a primary feather from her wing with her teeth and dips the quill in the ink vial just inside the cover.
>She flips past your notes on the event and takes a whole page to sign a big loopy signiature with a stick horse picture of a Wonderbolt underneath.
>You accept the tome with reverence as she tosses it back to you.
>"See ya, kid. I saw your notes. You'll be a great flyer someday soon."
>She flies off with her Wonderbolt compadres. You never even thought to ask for their autographs as well.
>You flip open the notebook to look at her signiture again and nearly drop it through the clouds.
>Tucked into the book on that page is the long cerulean feather she used to sign it. It's tip still wet with ink.
>You carefully wipe the tip and close it back into the volume.
>Yeah, you'll be old enough to start competing next year.
>You're gonna win it for Her.

[End]