Rainbow Dash stared straight ahead at the wall as she sat at one of the counters in the kitchen. Her first week at the academy was almost over and it had been crazy! She'd started off as friends with a whole bunch of ponies and now she'd lost two of them.

Spring Song hadn't spoken to Rainbow Dash since the race, no matter how much Rainbow Das tried to apologise. Paradise didn't seem mad at Rainbow Dash at all, but when she had tried to get Paradise to pass a message on to Spring Song she'd said "I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, Spring Song will be mad at me if I talk to you."

This was ridiculous!

Rainbow Dash had this terrible feeling that Spring Song was planning something to get back at her. She could feel it coming at her like an approaching thunderstorm. So for the last couple of days she'd hung out with Lullaby and Sugar Swoop and she'd even spent some time with Free Fall, Bumble and Butternut.

Of course, the best time of day was after drills when she would head to the post office then go hang out with Soarin. He'd been helping her with one of the Wonderbolt's classic moves, when they created a firework like explosion.

Lunch was almost over and she was dreading heading back outside to face Spring Song again. Fast Clip was back on the job, so Braeburn was back to cooking. Right now, he was making some more of those nice muffins of his. She wished he'd hurry up and finihsh them because she could use something sugary to snack on.

"Rainbow Dash, are you in there?"

Rainbow Dash turned her head to the side and looked out the corner of her eye, seeing Stargazer standing at the door.

"You okay?" She asked in that elegant almost hippie-like voice of hers. Rainbow Dash erased the worry from her face and stood up.

"Of course I'm fine," She insisted, heading out the door with her. Stargazer eyed her cautiously before flapping a few feet into the air and waving her hooves above Rainbow Dash's head.

"What the- what are ya doing?" Rainbow Dash, confused and, to be honest, a little freaked out at the mare.

"I'm just cleansing your aura," She replied. "You seem a little stressed."

"Leave my aura alone!" Rainbow Dash snapped, stepping back. Stargazer shrugged and fluttered to the door with Dash following. She stepped outside and immediately got whipped by warm wind. As usual, she joined the end of the line and turned to her side, where Spring Song was standing, talking to Paradise.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Rainbow Dash asked. Spring Song just ignored her.

"Did you hear something, Paradise?" She asked her friend, who nodded.

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash just said-" the green mare stopped talking as Spring Song gave her a menacing glare. "I mean…nope, I didn't hear a thing."

"UGH! Spring Song, for the thousandth time, I'm sorry about the race. I didn't mean to make you mad!" Rainbow Dash attempted once again to apologise. Spring Song nonchalantly looked around.

"Wow, I just can't believe how quiet everything is, today," She said, and Paradise giggled. Stargazer, who was beside Rainbow Dash stayed silent, saying nothing in Rainbow Dash's defence.

"Oh, I get it," Rainbow Dash thought of something else. "Is this about the pairs? If that's it, then you've got nothing to worry about. I don't like Ray," She tried again; though Spring Song ignored her entirely this time. Rainbow just turned away. For a while she just imagined herself hanging out with Soarin all day. What would happen if she just left now, leaving behind the other cadets? She could find Soarin and the two of them would fly all day together.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash, come over here!"

Rainbow looked over to the speaker. Sugar Swoop, Ray and Tempest were waving he rover to them. She hesitant approached them, wondering what they wanted.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" The cyan mare greeted the three stallions. Tempest was the first to speak.

"Just wanted to let you know, we thought you were AWESOME in the race yesterday," He complimented her. Rainbow Dash was about to agree when Sugar Swoop cut her off.

"Just before curfew, me, Tempest and Ray were gonna have a race out here and we were wondering if you wanted to join us," He proposed. Rainbow Dash thought it over. She'd have time to race with them after her lesson with Soarin.

"You've got yourself a deal!" Rainbow Dash agreed putting on her most determined face. She couldn't wait to leave those three in the dust.

"Sweet!" Ray exclaimed, jumping for joy.

"See ya later, Dash," Sugar Swoop said as she hoof-bumped each of them. She returned to her spot in line, feeling satisfied.

"Hey!"

Rainbow Dash looked left to see Spring Song, looking both curious and irritated at the same time.

"What did they say to you?" The moody pink pegasus asked Rainbow. "What were you talking about?"

Rainbow Dash smirked and poked Stargazer's shoulder. The charcoal coloured mare turned around to face her friend.

"Yes, Rainbow Dash?" She asked.

"Can you believe how quiet it is, today? It's like there's nopony here at all," Rainbow Dash grinned. Stargazer put a hoof to her mouth and giggled. Spring Song's jaw dropped open while Paradise looked at the scene, obviously having no idea what was happening. Spring Song marched to the other end of the line.

"Hey, wait for me!" Paradise followed Spring Song in the same way a dog would follow its owner.

"So, what were you talking about?" Stargazer asked Dash, still giggling a little.

"I was just invited to a race before curfew," Rainbow Dash shrugged. Stargazer looked excited at this.

"That sounds like fun. Maybe I could come and watch?" She suggested, brushing a lock of her mane from her eyes. Rainbow Dash noticed that her white mane fell into her eyes a lot.

"Yeah, every race needs an audience," Rainbow agreed, liking the sound of this idea.

"Excellent!" Stargazer chirped. Rainbow Dash gave a little smile. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

---

Soarin lounged on the couch in the staff room, a cup of coffee in one hoof, a new issue of 'SUP in the other hoof. The staff room was surprisingly empty. Fire Streak and Lightning Streak were the only other ponies there. They were talking about something on the other side of the room. It was rare that Soarin had enough room on the couch to fully stretch out and rest his head on one of the arms and his back hooves on the other.

This was the life.

"SOARIN!"

The Wonderbolt stallion jolted up, his coffee flying into the air. He quickly held out his cup and caught the brown drink in it. Phew.

Rainbow Dash stood at the door, looking a little sheepish. Soarin sighed and put his coffee down.

"Haven't you heard of knocking?" He asked her, putting his magazine back down on the table beside the couch

"Sorry Soarin, but this is important!" Rainbow Dash insisted, hopping from hoof to hoof.

"It'd better be," Soarin thought grumpily, getting up and walking to the door. "What is it, Dash?"

"There's this race before curfew and I really, really, REALLY want you to come see it!" She smiled widely at Soarin. This was a bit of a problem.

"I wish I could, Rainbow, but there's a Wonderbolts airshow tonight. I've gotta be there," He explained, a little disappointed in himself for not telling her.

"Wait, so does this mean…" Rainbow trailed off.

"Sorry, Dash. No training today," Soarin felt ashamed of himself, allowing his head to droop a little.

"But I promised the others that you'd be there. If you don't come they'll think I'm a liar!" Rainbow Dash pleaded, making puppy dog eyes. Soarin tried not to fall victim to those adorable, pleading eyes, but it was becoming harder and harder to as the moments past.

"Rainbow, the other cadets aren't gonna hold anything against you just because I couldn't make it to your race," He tried to sway her. She was a determined mare, he'd give her that.

"Some of them will," Rainbow Dash muttered, so quietly that Soarin barely heard her.

"Dash, is something wrong. Is there somepony bothering you? If there is, I'll knock 'em into next week," He told her, trying to make a fierce pose but failing miserably. Rainbow let out a chuckle.

"Nothing's wrong! The others are all being really nice to me…" She trailed off after that but resumed her speech with more determination than ever. "But you HAVE to come and watch me! I promise I'll never ask you to do anything for me ever again!"

Soarin raised an eyebrow.

"Well…I was gonna ask you If you could teach me a Double Buccaneer Blaze…and a Thunder Clap Flip, but apart from THAT I'll never ask you for anything again!" She got down on her hooves and stuck out her bottom lip. Soarin rolled his eyes and grunted, knowing that he had to give in.

"Alright, I'll ask Wave Chill to go to the air show instead of me. I'll come."

"YESYESYESYESYES!" Rainbow Dash cheered bouncing around Soarin so many times that he became pretty dizzy. "Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!" She wrapped her hooves around his neck and squeezed him tightly, before rocketing out of the room repeating: 'ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!'

"Heh…is that a blush, Soarin?" Fire Streak suddenly asked Soarin, making the stallion jump with surprise. He put a hoof to his cheek

"No, of course not, it's just allergies," He lied, heading out the door to find Wave Chill, still able to hear the twins laughing at him as he retreated.

---

Rainbow Dash was surprised to see that all of the cadets had come to see the race. She had only expected a quarter of them to show up; she must be even more awesome that she thought. It was pretty windy out here and she grumbled as a lock of her mane blew into her eyes, again. This must be how Stargazer felt permanently.

"Where in Celestia's name is Spring Song?" Sugar Swoop grunted, becoming increasingly impatient. Rainbow Dash's ear pricked up at this.

"Wait? Why are we waiting for her?" Rainbow Dash asked the stallions. Tempest flapped over to explain.

"She wants to race, too. Who are we to turn down the two fastest cadets?"

Rainbow Dash felt her stomach lurch. Spring song was going to be there, too. Great…just great.

As the last syllable escaped Tempest's mouth, Spring Song appeared, striding coolly over to them, Paradise at her side, blow-drying her pink friend's wings.

"Remember, Paradise, if one feather is out of place, you're dead," Spring Song said to the green mare, who shook a little.

"Yes, Spring Song," Paradise murmured. Rainbow Dash looked over her shoulder to see Soarin standing with the watching cadets with Braeburn standing beside him, waving at her. Rainbow Dash eagerly waved back at them, feeling her spirits lift.

"Can we get started, now?" She asked the others.

"Hold up!" The five racing pegasi looked over to see Stargazer, Beau, Smart Set and Stains approaching them.

"We wanna race, too!" Beau chirped enthusiastically. Rainbow saw Spring Song nudge Paradise.

"More ponies to see me win," She whispered to her friend, who nodded. Rainbow Dash wondered how Paradise could stay so loyal to Spring Song.

"Yeah, you guys can race. The more the merrier!" Sugar Swoop agreed. Tempest began explaining the route.

"You start here. Then you fly straight until you get to the cloud pillars," The orange stallion pointed a hoof at the tall pillars of cloud that were used to improve turning techniques. "You weave around them and then fly past the Dizzitron. You then fly through the hoops and go through those storm clouds…" Rainbow Dash looked up warily at the large thunderclouds that had gathered in the sky just beyond the hoops. It didn't look safe. "…then you'll fly down to the path and after that it's a straight shoot to the end. Got that?" Tempest finished explaining.

"Yep," Rainbow Dash replied, sure that she'd remembered everything.

"The let's race!" Tempest declared, unfolding his wings and heading to the start line, which was just a line of sticky string that Lullaby had loaned Sugar Swoop. The other racers joined him at the start, while the others cadets stood at the side-lines cheering for their favourite. Rainbow smiled when she heard several ponies, including Soarin and Braeburn calling her name. Spring Song stood beside Rainbow Dash.

"Get ready to eat my dust," She hissed out the corner of her mouth. Rainbow tried to ignore her. She had to be the better pony here. She wasn't gonna let Spring Song distract her from racing. She looked over to the pink mare.

"Good luck, Spring Song," She smiled, making Spring Song's jaw drop. She obviously hadn't been expecting Dash to say that. Lullaby stood at the side of the 'racetrack' holding a flag.

"Ready…" the purple mare began raising the flag.

Rainbow Dash locked eyes with Spring Song, each of them glaring daggers at each other.

"Set…"

Dash looked straight ahead, unfolding her wings and leaning forward, ready to begin the race.

"GO!"

The nine cadets zoomed along the track, weaving in and out of each other, fighting to get into first place. Rainbow Dash reckoned that they were flying faster since they weren't under as much pressure as they were in the race the other day.

Rainbow Dash was in second place, thanks to Stains bumping into her and breaking her focus. Tempest was in front and Spring Song was close behind Rainbow. They were approaching the cloud pillars and Rainbow Dash braced herself to begin weaving her way around them. She got through them without much trouble, though her wing brushed the last one, making her swerve a little. Thankfully, she recovered pretty smoothly. She looked behind her to see Smart Set crash into one of the pillars and plummet to the ground. Luckily, he landed in a pretty soft patch of cloud and got up again, deciding to quit the race.

Rainbow Dash took first place as they flew around the Dizzitron. Stains was unfortunate enough to crash into it while waving to the observing cadets. Rainbow cringed as she heard the mare make contact with the machine.

Before she knew it, Rainbow Dash had successfully made her way through the hoops, cheering and whooping for herself. Spring Song, who was neck and neck with Stargazer, let out a groan, seeing Rainbow Dash so pleased with herself. The pink mare leaned left, knocking into Stargazer and bending her wing at a painful angle. The black mare let out a shriek and tumbled out of the sky. Rainbow Dash wanted to slap Spring Song so badly. Stargazer recovered from her fall and re-joined the race, though she was now several spots behind.

"Sorry!" Spring Song grinned back at Stargazer sweetly, making Rainbow Dash even angrier. She only got more irritated when the pink mare picked up speed to fly beside her. They crashed against each other, both not wanting their opponent to take first place.

"Just give up, already!" Spring Song snapped at Dash, who slitted her eyes to look threatening.

"No way!" Rainbow declared flapping her wings even harder, flying into the storm clouds. Flying through it was even harder than she imagined. She'd never flown through such strong wind. The cadets struggled as they were blown this way and that, upside down and twirled around. Rainbow felt relief rush through her as she saw that she was almost out of the clouds.

"Horseapples!" Sugar Swoop cursed as he was flung out of the storm clouds. Spring Song pushed herself past Rainbow Dash and took first place, blowing a raspberry at Dash as she past her. With one final burst of effort, Rainbow burst from the storm clouds and began flying right behind Spring Song. They rocketed downwards together; Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth as she noticed that Spring Song wasn't budging.

They began flying straight, Rainbow Dash feeling the stone path brush her hooves. Unfortunately for Beau, she flew down to fast and pulled up to late, going out of control and tumbling off the track. Rainbow Dash felt her blood boil as she heard Spring Song laugh at Beau's mistake.

Rainbow's heart was thumping so fast with determination that she thought it would run out of power and stop. She had to win, she just HAD to, otherwise Spring Song would never stop teasing her for it.

The two of them were getting closer to the finish line. Rainbow Dash put the last of her energy into the final stretch. The cheers of the audience got louder and louder until the volume was almost unbearable. And then- they crossed the finish line.

Together.

"It's a draw!" Lullaby announced. The cadets all rushed forward to congratulate the two winners.

"Rainbow Dash! Spring Song!" They cheered for them, jumping around them like they were celebrities

"Huh!? But…I'm sure I beat her!" Spring Song babbled, looking appalled at herself. Rainbow Dash was a little ticked, too. Even though she hadn't lost, it didn't feel like she'd won either. She had to share first place with somepony else, and that didn't feel as good as having all the glory to herself.

"Nice job!" Ray congratulated the two mares, hoof bumping both of them. Spring Song still wasn't satisfied.

"Can't we have a rematch?" She asked, putting on a pouty face that made Rainbow Dash a little sick.

"No can do, Spring Song. It's almost curfew. Maybe some other day?" Tempest replied.

"Ugh!" Spring Song turned to Paradise. "Why did it have to be a draw? And why with Rainbow Dash?" She complained.

"Spring Song, it's just a race, and joint first is better than last," Rainbow Dash tried to perk up the pink mare.

"Whatever," Spring Song grumbled, looking away. "This is war!" She hissed, making Rainbow Dash's blood chill. She didn't like the sound of that. Smart Set came up to Rainbow and put a hoof on her shoulder.

"Ignore her, Rainbow, you both did great," He smiled at her. Rainbow Dash cheered up a little at that. She was about to say thanks but before she could all the cadets began swarming around Rainbow and Spring Song and babbling about all kinds of things. Rainbow Dash shrugged and relaxed, enjoying the attention she was getting.

Such is the life of a celebrity cadet.

---

Soarin chuckled as he saw the attention that Rainbow Dash was getting. She'd be a popular Wonderbolt, that's for sure. He'd go and congratulate her once the crowd had gone. He'd brought a carrot cola with him to the race and took a large gulp of it, loving the feel of the fizzy drink going down his throat.

"Well, that looked fun," Braeburn commented, looking at the crowd of cadets. Soarin nodded.

"I'm glad Wave Chill agreed to go to the air show in my place," He agreed. Wave Chill had eagerly agreed since he'd wanted to go to the race in the first place. He turned to his friend, suddenly curious.

"So, how are enjoying the academy, Brae?" he asked as he watching Rainbow Dash laughing at something one of the other cadets said.

"Oh…it's been great…really great," Braeburn replied, sighing happily. Soarin examined his buddy closely, catching sight of a light blush on his face. The pegasus stallion raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, what's going on?" he interrogated the Earth pony, who looked a little baffled.

"Nothin's goin' on, why d'ya ask?" Braeburn shifted his eyes left and right. Soarin chuckled. Braeburn was a terrible liar.

"I'm asking because your face is redder than your cutie mark."

Braeburn put a hoof to his cheek, his eyes widening. He was obviously trying to keep a straight face but he was smiling widely anyway.

"Brae…remember how I used to get you to answer me in high school?" Soarin plucked a feather from one of his wings and waved it threateningly in front of Braeburn's face, recalling the many times he'd tickled answers out of the Appaloosan Earth pony.

"Okay, okay, Ah'll talk!" Braeburn put his front hooves in the air, surrendering. "Ah…met a mare…that's all," He confessed, blushing impossibly brighter. Soarin was surprised. He couldn't remember Braeburn ever having feelings for anypony before.

"Well, congratulations, Brae. Do I know her?" Soarin asked. Braeburn nodded, looking away. "Well…who is she?"

"Um…she's…" Braeburn stopped talking after that, making Soarin face-hoof.

"You can't say it, can you?" he asked. Braeburn shook his head. "Maybe I could guess?"

"Yeah, guess," Braeburn looked relieved. Soarin put a hoof to his chin and picked the most obvious pony.

"Fleetfoot?"

"Nope."

"Huh?" Soarin looked bewildered. Pretty much everypony knew that Fleetfoot liked Braeburn…except Braeburn.

"Surprise?" Soarin guessed again, naming one of the only other mares he'd seen Braeburn with.

"Wrong again," Braeburn shook his head. Soarin couldn't think of anypony else, but began naming mares anyway.

"High Winds?"

"Not her."

"Blaze?"

"Nnnope."

"Is it one of the cadets?"

"None of the cadets."

"UGH! I'm terrible at this game. Can you give me a hint?" Soarin asked, giving in. Braeburn shrugged and nodded.

"Well…" He began before being stopped by Soarin.

"But make it an obvious hint because I'm terrible at guessing," He added, taking a large mouthful of his carrot cola. Soarin sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Okay. Well…she's the captain of the Wonderbolts and-"

Some kind of loud alarm began going off in Soarin's head and he sprayed out his cola like a volcano and began choking. Braeburn slapped Soarin on the back to get him to stop coughing. Once the pale blue stallion had got his breath back and wiped the cola from around his mouth, he addressed his friend in the calmest way he could manage:

"YOU LIKE-"

Braeburn suddenly covered Soarin's mouth, looking around to make sure nopony had heard the beginning of his sentence.

"Keep it down, Soar!" he ordered his friend. Soarin took a moment to take all this in before speaking again.

"Okay, so…how?" Was all he could manage to say. Braeburn told the story.

"Well…Ah met her the other day when Ah replaced Fast Clip and…Ah just kinda fell for her," He explained. "Ah've literally thought of nothin' else," he confessed, staring off into the distance.

That explained a lot.

"Ya don't say?" Soarin chuckled. Braeburn nodded, not understanding that Soarin was being sarcastic. "I can tell you really like Spitfire," He suddenly became a little serious. Braeburn looked over at Soarin, looking a little flustered now.

"Soarin, you've gotta help me. Ah dunno what to do. Ah'm not good with mares!" The Earth Pony panicked. "…especially pretty ones," He added, taking off his cowboy had a fiddling with it, like he always did when he was nervous or stressed. Soarin snorted at this.

"Why are you asking me? I'm not exactly a ladies stallion, myself," He reminded his friend. This didn't improve Braeburn's state.

"Well, you've gotta give me some advice, even a little would help 'cause Ah just can't do this alone, Soarin. Ah act like a goofball ev'rytime Ah see her. Just yesterday, she came into the staff room to get coffee and asked me where the sugar had been moved to and Ah froze. Ah just couldn't answer her and eventually Misty Fly had to tell her where the sugar was!" Braeburn ranted before putting his hat back on and pulling it over his eyes.

"Wow…" Soarin thought. He hated to see Braeburn upset, he had to help him, no matter how lame his advice was.

"Brae…I think you should just take baby steps with this. Why don't ya just start by being nice to her? Like…" Soarin paused, thinking of some examples to continue his pep-talk with. "Help her out with work or…ask her about her day."

"That'll work?" Braeburn peered out from under his hat. Soarin wasn't about to tell Braeburn that he thought his advice was dumb.

"I guess," He said simply. Braeburn smiled again, looking much happier.

"Thanks Soar. Ah'm gonna try," He said determinedly, putting on his bravest face. Soarin hoof bumped his friend before beginning to head over to Rainbow Dash, who was now surrounded by a smaller crowd. He stopped halfway and looked over his shoulder at Braeburn.

"Brae?" He called, making sure he had the stallions attention.

"What?" Braeburn asked, pricking up his ears. Soarin wanted to make sure this got inside Braeburn's head. It was important.

"Just…go easy on Spitfire, won't ya? She has a few trust issues and…let's just say she's had a rough past."

---

Rainbow Dash flopped down on her bed, humming 'We are the champions'. She wanted to tell her friends about the race super badly. She quickly got out some paper and a quill and wrote as fast as she could because she was all hopped up on excitement.

HIYA, GUYS!

I won ANOTHER race, guys! Hopefully Soarin will tell the other Wonderbolts how awesome I was in it. But…I can't take all the glory. It pains me to say this but…I've met somepony as fast as me.

Spring Song pretty much matches me in speed and it drives me CRAZY! We drew in the race and she's pretty sore over it. I want to be friends with her again but now I'm seeing a darker side of her. I hope she doesn't turn out like Lightning Dust…or worse.

On the bright side, now that she's rooming with a couple of the other cadets, I have an entire room to myself.

I'll write tomorrow, as usual. I really miss you guys.

Yours gloriously,

Rainbow Dash.

Once the letter was tucked in her saddlebag, Rainbow Dash lay sprawled on her bed in a starfish position. Spring Song was sleeping on the floor in Lullaby and Paradise's room, which was absolutely fine by Rainbow.

She enjoyed the alone time…sort of.

Maybe Spring Song secretly wanted to make amends. Rainbow Dash hated losing friends, and thought that it would be the same for everypony. But after witnessing Spring Song's behaviour in the race, she had no idea what thoughts were running through the pink mares head.

She'd probably never know.

Rainbow didn't even bother crawling under the covers that night; she just lay curled in the middle of the bed, still humming as she drifted into the land of dreams.

…..

Endnote: WHOA! I've never had so much fun writing a chapter before. Writing the race scene was awesome and it really challenges your writing skills.

The saga will continue in chapter 8!