mayfield_logs | It's not just a race...

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It's not just a race...

Who: Shadow the Hedgehog and Rainbow Dash
What: A hedgehog and a pony in puppy love.
Where: John Doe Park
When: Valentine's Day, 195X
Warnings: Excessive amounts of tsundere.

[Valentine's Day.

What a waste of time. As if the humans in Mayfield needed an actual holiday to excuse them for idiotic behavior like this. But while everyone's busy prancin' and romancin' around town, Shadow the Hedgehog is perfectly content just walking through John Doe Park.

Alone.

He pauses next to a discarded bouquet of white daisies on a nearby park bench. As if shoving these things into everyone's faces wasn't bad enough, this was practically littering.]

Tch. Pathetic.

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[Rainbow Dash was having a similar problem herself. Hearts and Hooves Day just wasn't really her thing, she was way too cool for that lovely-dovey mushy stuff.

Bleh, just thinking about it made her sick to her stomach. And now everypony she came across was busy confessing feelings of love or smooching in front of her and Rainbow Dash was fed up with it all. At least the flowers that kept mysteriously popping up were pretty tasty but that was about it.

She's also carrying a bouquet of white daises with her. You know, just to show that she doesn't care that much.

As she walks through the park, she spots Shadow. Awesome, finally someone she can rile up without having to deal with all this - ugh, romantic business. So she quickly approaches him, setting down the flowers and opens her mouth to give some kind of sarcastic comment and-

Her mind goes blank.

She can't think of a single sarcastic comment to make, or anything that could really rile up or annoy the hedgehog. Wait. Seriously? Come on Rainbow Dash, you can think of something here.

...When did Shadow get more handsome?]

H-hi there, Shadow.

[He tosses a scoff over his shoulder before turning to face her.]

If it isn't Rainbow Dash. How... How...

[Yes, Shadow. How? How come you're suddenly at a loss for words right now? How come there's a strange, almost floaty feeling in your chest that's just risen at her arrival alone?

Well, now you're just staring at her with your mouth hanging open like an idiot. Say something.]

...unexpected.

...Y-yeah, I was just...passing through. Heh.

[Right now her mind is screaming at her. How could she not think of the right words to say? She normally had no problems talking to Shadow before, but now it just felt like the words weren't coming out right and it was almost like she actually cared what he thought about her.

No, no, no, that rise in temperature she felt in her face was probably her just getting the flu or something, right?]

Uh, so...how's it hanging?

[She mentally smacks herself for that. Really? That was the best she could come up with?]

Fine. I'm fine.

[It sounds almost as if he's trying to convince himself of that more than Dash. What the hell is wrong with you, Shadow? You're the Ultimate Life Form. You can talk to a damned pony. ...a pony who just so happens to be a girl.]

Yourself?

[He's really not doing that much better on the whole smalltalk thing either, if it's any comfort.]

Cool. Everything's cool.

[No, it's not cool. Nothing about this situation is cool. It's the opposite of cool and if Rainbow Dash had any sense she'd turn around and go back the other directions before she-]

Wanna find someplace to sit down?

[DRAT.]

...All right.

[Ordinarily, Shadow much prefers standing over sitting down. But these are less than ordinary circumstances. He clears his throat, crossing his arms over his chest as if to hold himself together.]

Let's go, then.

[Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, he's actually going to spend some time with her this is awesome-

Rainbow Dash quickly shakes her head. What is getting into her? It's just Shadow it's not like she likes him in that way. Right? Right? Okay calm down hnnng he's looking at me.

Rainbow Dash picks up the pace a little more, finding the nearest bench and taking a seat. She grins awkwardly at Shadow and trying her best to ignore that strange flushed feeling.]

[Shadow hops onto the bench next to her, folding his hands into his lap and staring at them awkwardly, if only to avoid looking at her directly. ...No, who is he kidding, he'll sneak a sidelong peek at her before returning his gaze to his hands, ignoring the patches of red that are surely shining through his orange muzzle.

Go ahead, then. Talk to her. About what, though? Come on, Shadow, you've seen Rouge flirt with that echidna all the time. What would she do?

...Did you seriously ask yourself what Rouge would do? God, you're hopeless.]

Your mane looks... nice.

[What the hell was that?!]

[This would be the part where Rainbow Dash would say something along the lines of "yeah I know it's cool huh" but all she can do is blush further. In the deeper, more rational part of Rainbow Dash's brain this next part would be considered the most humiliating thing ever.

...And her muzzle seems to be turning a deeper shade of red.]

T-thanks. You...uh...

[Ugh this is so not her thing. Rarity was always better at that gushy cutesy stuff they way she went on about it.

Wait. Is she seriously thinking about how to be cute? That does it, she's getting herself checked into a hospital the moment this conversation is over. Again. I-if she can just stop thinking about Shadow, that is.]

...you look pretty handsome yourself, there.

Handsome...?

[If he ever got called handsome back home---usually by Rouge, whenever she needed a favor of some kind---he'd scoff and roll his eyes. But the moment Dash says as much, it feels like his heart's floating about as high as the ARK.

Tentatively, he slides a bit closer along the bench in her direction.]

...You really think so?

[As soon as he scoots closer she looks the other way, because if she keeps staring at him she's pretty sure her heart is going to find a way to pound right out of her chest.]

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I-I mean it. 100 percent. I mean I've never really noticed before but...

Heh. Sorry, this must be pretty awkward, huh?

[You're damn right it's awkward. And all of this should be far more concerning to Shadow than it actually is, but... Instead the hedgehog finds himself wanting to see her face again. Wants to look into Dash's eyes, which are so much larger and... brighter than he remembers.

Oh god what is he doing he's reaching up to catch her just under her muzzle and gently tilt her back to look at him.]

It's not that bad.

[You're not that bad.]

[Her eyes widen, and she's silent. Her heart's racing, her mind's racing, and every irrational, flower-effected part of her brain is screaming at her to indulge in her feelings.

And so, she will.]

S-Shadow, you really think...?

[She swallows nervously, before trying to lean in for a kiss.]

I...

[Shadow can't tell if she initiated or if he pulled forward the rest of the way, but whatever the hedgehog was about to say, it's cut off when his lips meet hers. He's initially horrified, as an Ultimate Life Form like himself should be. He's gotten hugs and sometimes kisses from Maria in the past, but there's a difference between kisses and kissing.

...Well. There's a first time for everything.]

[Pony kisses are a bit awkward, especially when done by an equally awkward pony.

Her first kiss by a hedgehog. She'll be horrified when the effects where off, but for now?

This was nice.

This was very, very nice.]

[Shadow, himself, will be just as aghast. But for now? He'll agree. This was all very nice indeed.

When he pulls away, he doesn't say a word at first. Instead, Shadow does something else he'd never expected to do around Rainbow Dash. He smiles at her. A warm smile.]

What would you say if I were to challenge you to a race right now?

[She pulls away, the rational Rainbow Dash screaming and kicking the whole time. But as far as Rainbow Dash is concerned, the rational Dash can just get the hell out for a while.

If her face wasn't bright red before, it is now. Shadow's words snap her out of her lovesick daze. A race? Hm.]

Heh, I'm always up for a race.

I had a feeling you would say as much.

[And off the bench he hops, glancing back and forth before smirking over his shoulder at Dash.]

To the end of town and back.

To the end of town and back? No prob.

[And for a few seconds, it actually sounds like the old Rainbow Dash. However this time, the usual cocky grin has been replaced by a warm, friendly smile.]

Try to keep up.

[Sounds like something Shadow might ordinarily say, right? But his tone is coy. Almost as if he wants her to keep up with him. Rouge would be impressed---this flirting business isn't that difficult after all.]

[Normally she'd have a snappy comeback for that, but she just chuckles playfully at that.]

See ya at the finish line.

[And she ducks down, spreading out her wings.]

[Shadow crouches as well, getting into the proper stance.]

Ready?

Sure am! Let's start this thing!

[One simple word...]

Go.

[...And Shadow's dashing forward through the snow, the jets beneath his Air Shoes humming with life. It's a little loud, but not quite loud enough to drown out the sound of his own heartbeat.]

[And within seconds Rainbow Dash takes to the air, bolting forward to keep up with Shadow's pace. If there was one thing she loved, it was flying. And in any other case, she'd soar as high as she could to feel the wind through her wings and hair.

But this time? She's actually racing at Shadow's level, keeping near him as opposed to putting effort into actually winning.]

[Shadow glances over at Dash as she edges closer. There's still that competitive spark in his eyes---no amount of love potions or what have you could ever get rid of that. But the ego, the arrogance that's almost always present? It's given way to something warmer.

The hedgehog chuckles to himself. He's having fun.]

[They make it to the edge of town and Rainbow Dash turns to head back. If they weren't so blinded by flowers right now, she'd grudgingly admit that Shadow was pretty good at this (not that this would be something she'd mention to his face). But she gives Shadow a quick glance, winking at him as she does.

Yeah, she's having fun too.]

[That wink practically encourages him to pick up his pace, and that's exactly what he does as they make their way back to the park. With any luck, he'll edge out in front of her and win. Give him something to tease her about once they get back.]

[Rainbow Dash continues to charge forward, putting even more effort into this race. Romantic or not, she really does want to win. And the park is coming up pretty quickly.]

[That it is. Within seconds, Shadow's made his way into the park, skidding to a halt at the bench where the two of them had started. And now that he's come to a stop, he glances around to try and catch sight of Rainbow Dash. Those final moments of the race really were something. He had to have won, but it wasn't entirely clear. Was he the victor? Did Dash manage to beat him at the last second? Or was it a draw?]

[Rainbow Dash lands right beside him, the race ending in a draw. The adrenaline is still pumping through her as she stops and glances over at Shadow.]

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It's not just a race...

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