Pegasi by Aileen Rose

Show 'Em What you got

  There was energy in the air, excitement as the three friends made their way into the city of Filly Delphia. Today was the day of the Wings Around Equestria try outs.

"GOOD MORNING FILLY!" Chug shouted as he brought a cart behind him, Dottie resting in it, looking a little less enthusiastic about the event, but was keeping quiet for now.

Dusty flew overhead doing a turn here and there before coming in for a landing as they made it.

"I don't know how you talked me into coming to this." Dottie said, shaking her head as she hopped out of the cart.

"Now come on Dottie..." Dusty started as they made their way into the event area.

Chug gasped. "Oh! Oh! Dusty look!"

Dusty looked and gasped with him. "Wow! There's a Wonderbolt trying out?!"

"Not just any! That's Soarin'!"

A Wonderbolt... wow.

Dusty and Chug looked around, finding themselves awestruck at all the kinds of racers they were seeing. It was heaven.

"Ladies and gentlecolts! May we have your attention please!"

The group turned their attention to the sound to see two Pegasi standing before a stage with microphones. The two were twins, albeit their coat colors were different from each other, one being white and the other being green.

"May you kindly direct your eyes to the heavens above and give a warm welcome to our special guest." the green one said.

Dusty did so, seeing a green Pegasus with a black mane soaring through the air, a trail of green smoke behind coming from an attachment on the stallion's back. He made patterns in the air as he dove through the sky. Dusty's eyes got a little wide as he recognized the Pegasus.

No way... Is that who I think it is?

"The prince of the skies! When he's speeding he's a leading! When he's grinning he's winning!" the two Pegasi shouted. "The one, the only-!"

The stallion came in from a landing, skidding to a halt as he emerged from the green cloud of smoke.

"RIPSLINGER!" The stallion shouted, striking a pose.

Ponies applauded as he stepped forward into the crowds.

Dusty couldn't believe it.

Ripslinger... THEE RIPSLINGER! One of the greatest racers of our time in the flesh!

The stallion was immediately greeted by ponies wanting autographs and pictures with him. Ripslinger chuckled as he went through each of them. "Now, now, one at a time, there's plenty of me to go around."

Dottie shook her head as Ripslinger passed by with his entourage.

"Heh, with all that self promotion at least he's modest." she said, heavy sarcasm in her voice.

Dusty looked at her shocked. "Dottie! That's Ripslinger!"

Yeah, I know Dusty, the guy just said it.

"He's captain of Team RPX." Chug added. "They call him-"

"THE GREEN TORNADO!" Dusty and Chug said in unision, jumping a little bit in excitement.

Dottie rolled her eyes. And here they go geeking out again about this guy... I already hear enough about it at home, it's just in stereo now.

"Oh he's so good he's prequalified, oh and those two over there-" Dusty pointed to the two Pegasi they had heard announcing Riplinger's arrival. "Ned and Zed."

"The Twin Turbos!" Chug exclaimed.

"They're Equestria class racers."

Dottie chuckled, as she thought of something to say. "You know, I hear they used to be one Pegasus and were separated at birth."

Chug's eyes went wide. "Wow... I wish I was seperated at birth."

Dottie shook her head. He's so gullible sometimes...

Dusty saw the racers heading for the course and followed right after them, with Chug and Dottie close behind. There, all the racers were gathered around the runway, looking to the announcer, whose name was Roper according to the name plate on the table next to him.

"Okay ponies, this is the last of the four time trials being held Equestria wide." Roper started. "Today's qualifying round is one lap around the pylons, the top five finishers will qualify for the Wings Around Equestria Rally!"

The crowds cheered as Roper went on. Dusty looked around at the other competitors. A lot of them he had seen in various air races. Some, he had never even seen before. He started to feel a little nervous but let the feeling pass as one of the first competitors took off. Fonzarelli was the name he heard.

He watched as Fonzarelli gave the example of how the course was done. Going through the start gate and through the pylons in the assigned fashion. He was quick and smooth as he soared through each part of the course.

That guy is good... Dusty thought as Fonzarelli neared the end, finishing at a good time.

"And his time is 01:24:16, a very good time for the other racers to try and beat." Roper said.

Dusty nodded as he watched the next competitor take off. Time seemed to fly as each competitor took their turn. Some making it past Fonzarelli's time, others not making it, or possibly crashing due to complications. (Usually strained wing.)

Finally... it was Dusty's turn.

The nervous feeling that he had let pass earlier was now back. It felt worse than before. Chug had given him some water to help calm him down as Dottie did one last check on his wings

"Alright, you're good to go." Dottie said as she hooked on his wings.

Dusty nodded, taking a deep breath as he started to walk forward.

This is it...

"And now for our last competitor, from Propwash Junction, Strut Jetstream!"

Dottie gave a questioning look at what she heard Roper say. "Strut... Jetstream?"

"Yep! Awesomest callsign ever." Chug said with pride. "It was my idea."

That explains it.

Dusty started making his way down the runway before he heard Roper calling out to him.

"Hey! Earth Pony! Landscaping was yesterday! Get off the runway, we're racing here!"
Dusty got a startled look on his face. "H-Hey!"

"Second call for Stut Jetstream!"

"No no! Wait! I'm Strut Jetstream!" Dusty shouted.

Roper looked at Dusty, bewildered. "You're... Strut Jetstream?"

"Yep!"

"An Artificial Pegasus?!" Roper scoffed. "What's going on here? Is everypony getting a fly today?"

Dusty shook his head as he continued down the runway, ignoring what ever else Roper was saying about him, Dottie and Chug tailing behind him. He could hear others mocking him as well.

Just ignore them... he kept telling himself. You can fly just like anypony else. Don't let the whole Artificial Pegasus comments drag you down...

"That FARMER is going to race?"

Dusty looked to see it was Ripslinger who had said that. He shook it off, ignoring whatever Ned and Zed were adding on... even if it did sting a little.

Focus...

He felt a hoof on his shoulder. He looked to see it was Dottie's.

"Show 'em what you got Dusty." she whispered.

Dusty nodded, parting from his friends as he galloped down the runway, taking to the skies. He had a tall order ahead of him if he wanted to place 5th. He had to knock Fonzarelli out of that position... and he was determined to do so.

He soared through the pylons, very much like what all the other Pegasi had done. It was shocking to Roper and the spectators as they watched him fly. He could hear Roper saying he was getting closer to the time, that it was gonna be close.

Finally, the end was near. Dusty flew high into the sky before diving down through the finish line, skidding to halt.

Dusty grinned as he was greeted by his friends. He felt exhausted from the run, but at the same time he felt great. Chug and Dottie gave him a proud look before looking to the screen as they announced Dusty's time. Dusty followed their gaze, a hopeful look in his eyes

"Jetstream, official time is 01:24:26, 6th place! But what a close one ponies!"

Dusty's hopeful look... faded to disappointment. Dottie and Chug looked to him, giving a sympathetic look. Dottie put a hoof on his shoulder. She knew that look in his eyes. She rarely ever saw it, but she knew he was doing his best not to show how he was feeling.

6th... I only placed 6th...

"Hey pal."

Dusty looked up to see Fonzarelli in front of him. He had a sympathetic look in his eyes.

"6th place is nothing to be ashamed of, that was a heck of a run." he said, giving a gentle smile.

Dusty smiled a little, nodding. "Thanks..."

Chug and Dottie took Dusty aside, leading him away from the crowds.

"Let's get on home..." Dottie suggested. "Got a long trip ahead of us."

Chug nodded. "Yeah... Hey, Dusty... if it makes you feel any better, we thought you did amazing out there, you really gave it your all."

Dusty put on his best smile. "Thanks guys... Thanks... for being here..."

Both nodded as they went to get the wagon ready to go.

He mentally sighed as he got ready to take off with them.

I did give it my all... it just wasn't enough...