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Post by Spike on Oct 26, 2011 3:40:49 GMT -5
"Huh?" Spike asked dumbly, actually responding to the demeaning nickname. When Gilda requested the countdown, he shrugged nonchalantly with an 'eh' and slid from Twilight's back before standing slightly to the side and in front of Gilda, waiting for Rainbow Dash to get into position, "I'll start the count once we got you both in position and ready to go!" he exclaimed, getting his announcer voice back.
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Post by Rarity on Oct 26, 2011 12:31:32 GMT -5
Rarity looked at Twilight, then over to Fluttershy, and finally to Spike who seemed to have little qualms in listening to that instigating gryphon. Her expression was that of surprise, they were really going to let her through with this? Perhaps had she been there when the race was first set up earlier, she'd understand why Rainbow Dash would even agree to such a thing, but these win/lose conditions seemed far too harsh. It wasn't that she doubted her rainbow pelted friend; she'd seen her several times in action before, it was Gilda she was unsure of. Putting so much on the table over a little race was quite a bold gesture from the feathered fiend, one she was nearly sure would not even be brought up unless they had a trick or two up their sleeve. And in her opinion? Gilda's loss seemed a little weak in comparison to Rainbow Dash's.
The marshmallow unicorn stared awry at the gryphon as she took her position. She was ready and waiting, raring to go. Rainbow Dash would no doubt be ready like her; she didn't have much time to give her last blessing before the two of them would zoom off into the gloomy canyons before them. "Rainbow Dash...!" She'd call to her friend, hoping to stop her before Spike would start the countdown. "Dearie, I know you are one to act upon impulse, but is this really wise? To risk this all? Over some petty argument with a friend long lost?" She knew her friend though. These warnings and pleas from the voice reason would be undermined by the spirit of competition....or perhaps something deeper. "Well, I know you Rainbow Dash, I can't talk you out of this, so here..." The unicorn closed her eyes, soon after her horn began shining, enveloped in a small white aura, and soon to follow her scarf would also be bathed in the same color of luster. Magically, it began to unravel around her, slip off, and float upward at the pegasus to gently mirror itself as it had been around Rarity's neck. "A token from me for good luck! I know you won't need that though right? So how about you keep it on so you appear even more grandeur, when you blaze past the finish line, leaving this feathered braggart in your colorful wake!" She opened her eyes again and fluttered her lashes once, head high in the air.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Oct 26, 2011 14:46:34 GMT -5
Twilight waited nervously for the competition to start. she wished that she could use her magic to help her friend, but she knew that Rainbow Dash would want it to be a fair race. She hoped this wouldn't be the last time she had to see her rainbow maned friend.
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Rainbow Dash
New Pony
I'd never leave Ponyville hangin'
Posts: 39
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Post by Rainbow Dash on Oct 27, 2011 17:31:19 GMT -5
The vigorous shake of her hoof threw Dash off a little at first, but she quickly regained a firm hold on her own movements. Gilda wasn't going to knock her confidence now. Her hoof having been dropped as suddenly as it had been picked up by the gryphon, the pegasus trotted over towards their apparent starting position. She needed to save all her strength for a full-boost head start. Come on, focus, focus!
Her attention was torn away, however, at the sight of a dark blue scarf attaching itself to her neck out of seemingly nowhere!
"What the-?" Questioned the mare, before glancing over her shoulder only to spy Rarity staring straight back at her. Dash's attempt at concentrating on the race had blocked out most of the unicorn's encouragements, save for the last little segment. Blaze past the finish line, leaving this feathered braggart in your colourful wake... Yeah, she could do this! Even without AJ and Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash had all the support she needed - heck, she could beat Gilda alone; the fact that most of her friends had shown up anyway was just proof of their belief in her. The only difference between this match and any other was the stakes, but she wouldn't have to worry about those, so long as she kept one hoof in front of her former companion.
Tightening the scarf with a quick tug of a hoof - it would need to be tight to stay on the filly at speed - Dash began to refocus her attention again. Show time - no backing out, no squirming away, no curling up in the foetal position and hiding in a corner from stage fright. Wings flared, haunches raised slightly, she braced herself for the count down that Gilda had called for. Dropping the insult ping-pong for now, all Dash thought to utter was an almost inaudible murmur. "Thanks Rarity."
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Post by Spike on Oct 29, 2011 2:31:43 GMT -5
Spike was just about to start the count, when he noticed Rarity try to coax Rainbow out of it. Far be it from him to stop her, but, they kinda shook on it already didn't they? So.... Was he going to do the count for the race or not? When Rainbow Dash resteeled herself, he nodded and rose his arms.
"Alright then! On 'go'!" he declared, "Three!" a look left, and a look right, "Two!" a sharp inhale of breath, "One!" a slightly strained look, as if watching a cart barreling towards you from atop a hill, "GO!"
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Post by Gilda Gryphon on Nov 4, 2011 20:24:52 GMT -5
On Spike's mark, Gilda was off like a bullet.
The gryphon made a note to have her jump off point be as abrasive as possible. Her wider wingspan granted her the ability to catch a significant amount of thermals beneath her mahogany wings, and with an initiative flap of those feathered appendages she sent a coiling plume of dust and debris around the starting line. She intended to blind Rainbow Dash from the start! When the billowing nebula of dirt eventually dispersed, Gilda had already taken an early lead.
Her tricks weren't about to stop there. Rainbow Dash should have known better than to agree to race in an area of Gilda's choice. She had already scoped out the terrain earlier, intending to use every available advantage she could think of to make the azure pegasus pay, bodily and mentally.
" Better kick in those afterburners, Dashie!" The gryphon boasted insolently to the pony in the scant distance behind her. " It's the only way you're gonna catch me!"
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Nov 7, 2011 10:05:33 GMT -5
Twilight Sparkle looked nervous at Fluttershy and Rarity, and sighed, sadly the trio wasn’t exactly the best cheerleaders for their pegasus friend, but at least they had come here! Where on earth were Pinkie and Applejack?! The unicorn shook her head and trotted over to Rainbow Dash and glared at the griffon, ears twitched and pointed towards the colorful mare and the purple unicorn nodded “Okay. You can do this Rainbow! Remember, pace yourself when you can! You shouldn’t kick it into fifth gear too soon; you could burn yourself out too fast!”
She did her best to sound upbeat; the condition set by the griffon was hard and Twilight didn’t want to think about if Rainbow lost... No, never! Not Rainbow Dash, the best young flier of Cloudsdale! A confident smile was given, and she puffed her chest out “Show that overgrown pidgeon who the fastest flyer is!” She cheered on as she watched Spike with his count down.
“Go!”
Twilight shuddered and reared up “GO RAINBOW DASH!” She squeaked out as loud as she could while nickering. As she landed with a thud, she looked at Fluttershy and Rarity “Come on girls! Let’s find somewhere higher up so we can get a better view of the race!” She said, wishing she had brought the hot air balloon with her as planned, that’s what happened when she didn’t follow her lists! “Spike, could you stay here, just in case Pinkie Pie or AppleJack comes around?” She asked gently, before the violet mare turned and started to follow the two racers in their general direction.
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Rainbow Dash
New Pony
I'd never leave Ponyville hangin'
Posts: 39
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Post by Rainbow Dash on Nov 8, 2011 9:43:32 GMT -5
"GO!"
Despite her focus, Dash was almost caught off guard by Spike's cry. Instinctively, she kicked off hard, only to be met with an expansive dust cloud! Heaving up specks from her lungs, the mare glared forwards - Gilda was already way ahead! Using her wings, she propelled her sleek frame after her feathered opponent, Twilight's cheer melting away into the background hum. Wind whistling past her azure ears, the pegasus barely heard the gryphon's taunt - but a smirk grew across her face when she did. Hah, she had a lot more to show, yet! And even after the little stunt she had pulled at the starting line, Rainbow Dash was gaining speed - and closing the gap!
"Hey birdbrain! Cheat all ya like but it won't change a thing when I beat you!" Heckled the pegasus, throwing her body weight in a quick bash as she just about picked up enough speed, aiming for the gryphon's side. She couldn't really concentrate on it, though, as she found herself dodging some of the smaller rocky obstacles of the landscape. Whoa!
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Post by Fluttershy on Nov 8, 2011 17:30:46 GMT -5
As the sounds of the race faded into the distance, Fluttershy peeked out from behind the rock she had been hiding behind. "Ah...oh dear..." she said, watching the two racers grow smaller and smaller. Perhaps she should have cheered a little bit louder. But she was still remembering what had happened the day before. Why was Gilda always so cranky...but more importantly, was there something Fluttershy could do about it? It was worth a thought, for the Element of Kindness.
Right now, though, her friend needed her support. She spotted Twilight Sparkle heading down the path, following Rainbow Dash, and scurried over to follow her. "You go, Rainbow Dash..." she said softly. Even if the pegasus couldn't hear her, it encouraged Fluttershy. Once they all caught up with the race, Fluttershy was going to cheer her heart out.
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Post by Rarity on Nov 8, 2011 18:45:32 GMT -5
Rarity stood firm on her hooves, anxious to hear Spike give the starting call. But it was all so fast, you could hear the chunks of stone ripped out from the ground bounce up and back several times from the take off of the two fliers; one of them skipping past the unicorn, who had raised her hoof to avoid damaging her precious ponypedi. Two blurs, one of gunmetal and one of a rainbow pallet were swiftly disappearing around a turn, and the fashionista felt she could finally take a breath. Twilight was already ready to follow them through that gloomy passage full of dirt, dust, and an assortment of pointy tipped rocks...but following them on foot seemed like a bad idea, unless the two fliers were doing it in laps. But Fluttershy and Twilight had already began to move and Rarity was not going to be left alone in this scary place...or left alone with Spike for that matter. Cantering to catch up the, the unicorn mare took up the rear of the walking trio, trying to look confident, but keeping her head low; this place was intimidating.
"Normally I wouldn't be so worried if this was a race on a conventional track in the air above. Clouds and vapor aren't solid...injury-inducing stone. I'm not saying that Rainbow Dash will lose, I just...the possibility we might never be able to see her again is...so very real now." The thought did upset her just slightly, but still trying to put on a smile for the other two girls. "Oh look at me...being so nervous for her...when we know she'll emerge victorious. Ahehe...right, I suppose we should be looking for a spire or a rise we can perch on to perhaps see over the canyon?"
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Post by Spike on Nov 10, 2011 12:06:24 GMT -5
"Oh, uh... I wasn't planning on going anywhere. I gotta make sure I'm here for when they cross the finish line after all!" Spike said, waving to everypony as they wandered off to catch up and follow Rainbow, "Yeah! Rainboom the feathers off of her flanks, Rainbow Dash!" Spike called, throwing a fist into the air in victory and even adding a little hop to emphasize his cheering.
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Post by Gilda Gryphon on Nov 18, 2011 12:51:23 GMT -5
It was easy for her to underestimate Rainbow Dash. She had always considered herself an ace flyer, above and beyond what the blue pegasus could ever be, even when the two had been on speaking terms. Unfortunately for the gryphon, a fair portion of her pride was veiling common sense and peripheral wisdom.
Regardless of preset traps and Gilda's unfair scouting, no amount of cheating could stave off a more physical approach. She grunted deeply in her chest when the pegasus barreled into her side, the rainbow blur dismantling the hybrid's unwavering flight path. It took her a moment to regain her proverbial footing, cusping her wings against the wind to impede her forward trajectory and stabilize her posture...allowing Rainbow Dash just enough time to jet forward.
Lingering within a moment's happenstance, the tawny beast balled her talons into fists of trembling rage-- and then was off again, this time flapping her wings desperately to get above the annoying pony. All she needed was to gain enough momentum and high ground, and she could make the environment work further to her advantage.
" You wanna be a spoil sport? Fine, then! " Gilda barked, not at all realizing the irony of her offended statement. " I've got no qualms about CRUSHING you, Rainbow Dash!"
She skimmed over a higher, loosened rockface running parallel with their race track. Her natural gryphon strength came into play, lean musculature beneath her coat drawing flexed and taut as she locked her hindpaws back, then furiously kicked one stone after another in a sort of loping hop along the mountain's spine. Each precise strike sent boulders rumbling down the curve of the cliff, creating a spontaneous gauntlet of death for the pegasus to overcome.
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Rainbow Dash
New Pony
I'd never leave Ponyville hangin'
Posts: 39
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Post by Rainbow Dash on Nov 21, 2011 19:38:09 GMT -5
The speeding pegasus was about to make some kind of witty retort when a boulder whizzed past her tail, almost catching it. That could have pulled her to the ground! Fuchsia line of sight darting upwards, the filly just about spied her rival amidst the torrent of falling rocks. What the hay was she playing at?!
"GILDA WHAT--" Shrieked Rainbow Dash, now having to focus on the oncoming threat over her speed. Carefully timing her bursts of thrust, the pegasus weaved her way through the larger boulders, her side taking a barrage of abrasions off the smaller pebbles and stones as they kicked each other into the air. With a growl, Dash tried to pull away from the avalanche, gaining a little more altitude as she tried to escape it. A quick glance back to the gryphon stirred a thought - take this back to her, or get the head start? Eh - she'd started this.
Twisting back around, the multicoloured blur of a trail showed the pegasus' path as she intentionally charged towards her former friend. Race or no, speed couldn't account for outright cheating and the feathered braggart had begun a war that Dash just couldn't resist! "Gonna need better aim than that to take me out!" She hollered, a fierce expression plastered across her face as she tore across the scene.
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