“Jeez! I’m really loving the total vote of confidence right now!“

Fluttershy felt like she was saying everything wrong that morning. It might have been the twenty-third time she’d asked Rainbow Dash if she was okay but could anypony blame her?

“But I do have full confidence in you! I swear!“ Fluttershy shrieked defensively, fluttering her wings as she trotted alongside Dash. “I know you are very capable of closing that gap! I mean, it’s not pole position but hey, at least you aren’t dead last! Just… eighth“ Fluttershy trailed off, realising that her words were certainly not helping. The pale face of Dash only confirmed Fluttershy’s concern.

Rainbow Dash was competing in a critical flight competition, a competition that could skyrocket her career - and she was doing abysmally.

In the last qualifying round, Rainbow Dash had dropped from second place down to eighth. Starting off so cocky, she had barely made it into the finals, now having the added pressure of the need to push herself twice as hard. She’d never admit to anyone how she sobbed when back in her hotel room, how her throat was raw from vomiting any contents of her stomach in the morning, how petrified she really was.

Dash’s body suddenly felt warm, being hugged tightly by Fluttershy. It was almost instinctively that Dash tried to push her away. Yet when attempted her arms just fell weak; instead, she buried her face into Fluttershy, the warmth and tight embrace giving just a moment of calm and safety. Her eyes burned with such intensity, another onslaught of tears knocking at the door.

Fluttershy nuzzled her face onto Dash’s head, gently rocking the pair. “No matter what happens today, I am so proud of you, but I know you’ll do incredible.“

“Pssh! Course I’m going to be amazing!“ Dash slipped out of Fluttershy’s grip, beating her wings into a light hover as a smug grin strode across her face. “I am the Rainbow Dash after all! Awe-inspiring, totally radical, grand champion who will smash this!“

Fluttershy fluttered her wings in excitement, her smile beaming like the sun at her friend; no matter how cocky and standoffish she could be, Fluttershy adored her nevertheless.

“But still…“ Dash hesitated for a moment, flying to eye level with Fluttershy. She rubbed her head against Fluttershy, the other mare reciprocating, her smirk fading into more of a genuine smile. “I couldn’t have done this without you, you’ve always been there for me… And I… I don’t think I tell you that near enough”

“Oh, Dash…“

“Everything can feel so heavy but with you, I just feel light as a feather“ Dash looked deep into Fluttershy’s eyes. The pair paused for a moment before laughing.

For a moment, in that back room, Dash felt invincible for the first time at that competition. The weightless feeling, a moment of relief for Dash. It was short lived, an intense pressure now suddenly clinging onto her; she could feel someone watching her, someone she’d rather have been thousands of miles away.

“Ayo, Last Place!“

And just like that, the moment was gone.

Dash felt the hairs of her neck stand on end. That strained, raspy voice burrowed into her brain like the parasite it was. The weight of everything came crashing back down, a new weight of something deep within her past crawling back out.

“Lightning Dust… How long’s it been again?“ Dash spun around to the toothy grinning teal Pegasus, dressed in black and green, that’d been passing and just had to make her presence known. Fluttershy’s eyes darted from Dash and Lightning, her face twisted with confusion. Dash had smiled as if she was a friend but her voice dripped with venom, that strain, it screamed something much different. Much worse.

“Not long enough, Dashie, not long enough,“ Lightning cackled, “Just made it through, by tha’ skin of ya teeth, aye? Ya know they don’t give participatin’ trophies. But ya always been a little dreamer haven’t you? Always been better at making promises than keeping them.“

Dash winced at the nickname, a name from years long gone by. Dash refocused herself, fluffing up, trying to grin and bear it. “Well, we all have to move on from the past, some of us grow up.”

“Grow up?” A flicker of pain flashed in Lightning Dust’s eyes.

“You don’t need to go worrying for me, Dust, I’ll be happily leaving with gold today-“

She was cut off by the rapturous laughter. She was quickly remembering why she hated this mare. She still had that cocky, know-it-all, laugh that just did something foul to Dash’s chest - Had she always looked this kickable?

“Oh, Dashie, you are too funny! I always loved that about you, such a comedian!“ She chortled, fanning herself down with her wings. “You should have been a stand-up comedian and left the flying to us professionals“

“… And you are?“ Fluttershy finally spoke up, giving as sweet a smile as she could. Rainbow snorted. Lightning’s smile faulted.

“Better question for ya“ Lightning snipped, a snarl forming on her face.

“This is my best friend and the smartest doctor I know, Fluttershy“ Dash managed to get out, still fending off her laughter. Fluttershy could feel her cheeks flush red, the new heat fighting with the cold Lightning’s glaring eyes made her feel. “Fluttershy, this is Lightning Dust. We used to- “ Dash paused, thinking about her words for the first time, “… be on the same team”

“Oh we were much more than teammates, Dashie-”

“We really weren’t...“ Dash was quick to correct.

A long breath of silence fell between the two. Lightning Dust’s eyes flicked from Dash to Fluttershy. It was as if a lightbulb went off in her head when that sickly toothy grin swept across her face again. Somehow those amber eyes seemed to turn a shade of green.

“Oooohohoho, I see, gotcha.“ Lightning Dust narrowed her eyes at Rainbow, slowly growing closer. “Don’t want to embarrass yer’self in front of tha’ new missus and here I thought you was flying solo now“

“Dust.“

“No, no, I think it’s cute ya with little birdy over here, she’s really yer’ speed“ Lightning Dust’s jaw clenched, her wings stiffened slightly- just enough to betray her irritation. “ How long is this play-thing gonna last ya? “

Fluttershy just wanted to leave now but her eyes couldn’t leave Dash as the mare began to approach Dust as well.

“Dust, you are stepping on dangerous grounds… I’d suggest you, for once, shut up or you’ll be picking up your teeth in t-minus ten seconds“

“Temper, temper“ Lighting shook her head, tutting. Dash could feel all fur on end now, Dust being so close that she could feel her breath. “That’s always been yer crutch, Dashie. Such a shame too… Should I tell birdy how nasty ya can really be? From one lover to another-“

“Dust.“ Dash snarled, staring down the mare. Lightning saw that rage building and how she loved it so.

“How loyal are ya really, Dashie?“

The temper rose and rose. Years of work to keep the rage in was cracking at the seams, Dash had no control anymore. The past and all the memories swirled like a hurricane in her head. Rainbow Dash couldn’t let Lightning Dust have the last laugh. Not this time. Rainbow Dash’s heart pounded in her chest; she knew she was crossing a line, but Lightning had pushed her one step too far.

“Why don’t I tell her about your dad, Dusty?“ Dash sharply snapped in. Fluttershy had heard nothing like it before. So dark and filled with a bitter taste.

Again, that silence. So thick and venomous. Lightning Dust wasn’t laughing anymore.

“How about you keep my family outta ya’ mouth, Dashie?“ Lighting seemed to be mirroring Dash now, her face scrunching up.

“As you with mine.“

“Heh heh, this is gonna be a fun race.“ Lightning swished her tail, exiting, leaving her destruction behind her.

Fluttershy stared at the door and back at Dash. There was such an intensity on her face. A look Fluttershy hadn’t seen in years. In her heart she knew that Dash wasn’t flying to win that day but to beat Lightning Dust. To defend herself. To defend Fluttershy.

And Fluttershy’s heart began to pound a new beat.

If you were to ask a typical Pegasi chick what their dream was, chances are they’d say to race in the Equestrian Bolt League. The ECL is the most prestigious and widely recognised racing organisation in all of Equestria, a brutal battle ground for the fastest, most skilled fliers in the land. The league hosts elite teams such as the world famous Wonderbolts and their fierce rivals, the Shadowbolts, along with a number of high-calibre flight teams. Just qualifying for the EBL is an accomplishment in itself, but competing in it? That is a whole other level entirely.

You aren’t just racing against some fast fliers - you are racing against the very best.

Rainbow Dash had always dreamed of, not just competing but, winning the ECL and is one of the lucky few that was able to step into this top-tier competition. Getting there though was no easy feat. Dash started out flying for Ponyville’s team, Rainboom, a relatively small, hometown team that she joined after moving to Ponyville and failing to secure a spot with her hometown’s team, Cloudsdale’s Jetstreams. Rainbow Dash quickly began to dominate in local circuits, earning first place after first place, making her name known throughout the region. She seemed unbeatable, racking up wins with sheer raw talent and speed. Back then, she was younger, more impulsive, and eager to prove herself to the world.

But all that success came with a cost. With each victory, her confidence swelled into arrogance. She felt invincible, like nothing could stop her. She picked up sponsorships from local names like Sweet Apple Acres and Barnyard Bargains, further boosting her ego. In her mind, she was on a direct path to EBC stardom.

But once Rainbow Dash actually qualified for the EBC, reality hit her hard. The competition wasn’t just tough—it was brutal. The fliers in the EBC weren’t just fast; they were disciplined, strategic, and seasoned in ways Rainbow wasn’t prepared for. She had entered the league with all the swagger and confidence of a champion, only to find out that her raw speed wasn’t enough. There were cracks in her technique that other racers exploited, and her cocky attitude left her vulnerable to competitors who’d been racing at this level for years.

Now Dash had the added pressure of a former rival racing alongside her. Old wounds were being opened which is the last thing Dash needs - the last thing her temper needs. She knew she couldn’t let Lightning get in her head, but that was easier said than done.

Despite the harsh wake-up call, Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to quit. She had too much pride, too much to prove. She needed to tighten up her skills, drop the attitude, and start treating this competition like the serious challenge it was. Her career, her reputation, her self-worth was now tied to her performance in the EBC. She had to win. She just had to.