It's not just a race...

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

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.

Comments

[loyalrainbow]

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 However this time, the usual cocky grin has been replaced by a warm, friendly smile.]

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

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.]

[loyalrainbow]

[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.]

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

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

Ready?

[20percentcooler]

Sure am! Let's start this thing!

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

[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.]

[20percentcooler]

[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.]

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

[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.]

[20percentcooler]

[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.]

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

[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.]

[20percentcooler]

[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.]

[thegoddamnhedgehog]

[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?]

[20percentcooler]

[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.]