Prologue: Dawn at Mareaco
The cool of the early morning ran a brush through her mane and coat, sending a hint of the sea into her nose and onto her tongue. The first rays of the sun painted the sky shades of pink and blue, while rogue stars twinkled in defiance of the coming day. Below, city lights glimmered, a few showing signs of losing the battle against the morning. Her eyes scanned the horizon, caught sight of the harbor, and wound their way toward the streets below.
She ignored all else at that point, the layout of the track flashing through her mind.
So many buildings. So many chances for a crash, one that would be the last for the unfortunate pegasus caught in the mess.
This course ate ponies—took their souls and their hearts and anything else it could. This was no stadium full of cheering fans, no circular track where all that mattered was staying in another racer's jet stream. Hairpins and chicanes threatened to tear wings off. Elevation changes demanded utmost focus. The tunnel, nearly a mile long, signaled a drastic change in lighting.
Mareaco dwarfed the Wonderbolt Derby.
Rainbow Dash had never been to Prance. She'd never been to Bitaly, or Manehattan, or Fillydelphia. Ponyville was all she knew, and Canterlot was all she dreamed of. The City of the Diarchy was home to Wonderbolt Stadium, the training ground and base of operations for the stunt team. She'd been inside once for the graduation ceremony of the Academy, where she was named one of the Top Five.
Not too many of her class made it inside. Several washed out, or were kicked out.
She did, and that put her and everypony else with her that day one step closer to having their name on the flight roster, or even just the reserves. Rainbow should have been proud.
She wasn't.
Rainbow shut the memory out, closed her eyes and took in a breath of the morning air. No time for that, focus. Nothing else mattered but the track, the wind, the sky. She felt herself disconnect, tuning everything else out. Soon, buildings and asphalt rushed past in her mind's eye, the rush of the first straight immediately checked by the opening turns. She cut through wide, sloping turns, forced herself to slice the hairpin, dove into the tunnel.
Her wings twitched. Her heart raced and her breathing picked up.
Out the other side, blinding light for a brief flash. Chicane incoming, slow down. Barely miss the building. Keep going.
The line in front of her did not matter, not until the end. Speed didn't matter. Style didn't matter. The crowd didn't matter. Precision, technique, cunning and grit. Pure skill. Danger at every corner, every turn, because one wrong move sent her spinning into a building, into the harbor, or into the street.
She ran the track through her head again, planned out her line. Rainbow planned for nothing, she just felt and moved. She thought with her body, not with her brain, and learned best by doing. But here, that wouldn't work. This was no straight-line race, no set of check points. It wasn't a stunt routine or one of her experiments in making a new trick. Her sponsor stressed that she'd have to run this race perfect, without errors in judgment or timing. Rainbow couldn't run anyone else's race but hers.
"Out at the track again?"
Her eyes opened as the radio clipped to her right ear buzzed. Rainbow tried for the hundredth time to flick it off, a reflex and nothing more. Damn thing never budged, and she'd never get used to it. "Yeah. Can't sleep, figured I'd take in the view." She glanced up at the sky again, the sun having broken the horizon. From the rooftop where she stood, Rainbow had a view of the harbor and most of the city. Her eyes narrowed as the sun's glare washed over her, and put on a pair of mirror-coated shades to block it out.
It was then that she could appreciate the view, and a smile came to her muzzle. "I gotta admit, I was never one for sightseeing, but I'd like to come back here after this is over."
"I must agree with you darling, I've never been to Prance before now. It's absolutely gorgeous! And the shops here are marvelous, just think of the inspiration I could bring back home!"
Rainbow chuckled. "Yeah sure. You go do that. I'll be out here doing my job."
The sound of somepony clearing their throat came from the other end. "Terribly sorry. I should be up there with you, not in the hotel gushing over Prance. Are you quite sure you're all right?"
Her smile shifted into a frown. "Honestly?" She took in another breath. "I don't know."
"Whatever do you mean?"
She looked back down at the streets. "I've run through this track a million times on the way here. I've been through all the angles and the ups and downs, and I know practically every turn. Hay, last night I dreamed about running the race!" She chuckled. "You remember how much of a wreck I was at Best Young Fliers?"
"Yes. That was partly my fault, of course."
Rainbow shook her head. "I've already forgiven you for that." She sighed. "Take those nerves and ramp 'em up by eleven. I'm... scared of this course. Hearing about it is one thing, I can imagine how awesome I can be. But seeing it for myself, being out here, walking around the whole length of it at least once..." She shook her head. "The stories about crashes are real. I can see exactly where they'd happen, too. The hairpin, the chicane, just out of the tunnel, out near the harbor..."
"Rainbow, I understand what you're going through. You're afraid something bad will happen to you." A pause. "To be honest, so are we. But we have faith that you'll make it anyway. All you have to do is..."
"...Run my race." She grinned as they said the mantra at the same time. "I've had that beaten into my head more times than I'd like to count."
"Well it bears repeating." Another pause. "I suppose I'm due for some fresh air. Wait just a moment, I'll be up there soon."
Rainbow's eyes widened. "How soon?"
The air just to her right sucked in, formed a pocket, and gave a pop and a flash of color. A white-coated mare with a coiffed purple mane and clear blue eyes appeared just next to Rainbow. The red and white silk dress on her figure, enchanted to ward off the cold, glistened in the first rays of the sun, and the wide-brimmed hat on her head did well to shade her eyes from the morning light. "This soon!"
Rainbow nearly shrieked, her hooves a foot off the ground from her shock. After a few wing beats to steady herself, she groaned as heat rushed to her cheeks. "I hate her for teaching you how to do that."
"Well it isn't easy, darling. Takes more focus than I'm usually up for, and it makes me terribly dizzy afterward. It'll take some time to get used to." She glanced up at Rainbow. "I'm just glad I can get the jump on you like she does now. Nothing surprises you these days!"
Rainbow set herself down with a huff. "Well don't expect me to fall for it again." She turned her attention back to the sunrise. "Hey... you think after this, you could... y'know..." She cleared her throat. "I feel like I should be wearing something a bit nicer when I'm out here. I mean, this place is just so different."
The other pony turned to face Dash. "You mean... a dress?" Her eyes sparkled. "You actually want a dress from me?"
Rainbow nodded, her features resolute. "Yeah. Y'know that one thing you made for the big day? Something like that, but different. I'm not sure what I want really... so I'll leave it up to you again."
Her companion fought not to dance on the tips of her hooves, but couldn't hold back her grin. "I'll get on it right away! You'll be the talk of Prance when I'm finished with you!"
Another chuckle from Dash. "That's what I'm afraid of, but go ahead anyway." She glanced to her right, toward the pony. "Thanks for being here, Rarity. For some reason, I feel better now."
"I'll be at the Hotel Hairpin waving you on today." She lifted her right front hoof to stop Rainbow from speaking. "No arguments, I must watch your race, and a television will not do it justice. I wish I could be in the pit with Applejack and Fluttershy, but there's not much I can do there besides fix tears in your flight suit. I'm sure there will be many after this, with all those ruffians out there trying to muscle you out."
Rainbow smirked. "It's held up so far. I'm surprised there hasn't been a scratch on it before now, to be honest!"
Rarity hissed. "Don't you jinx it now, Rainbow Dash! I worked hard on that." She took in a breath of the sea air, and it seemed to calm her. "Just be careful out there. None of us want to see you get hurt."
"I'll be fine, go work on that dress." The pegasus gazed out at the harbor. "I'm gonna stay here a little while longer."
She barely heard Rarity vanish again before she was alone on the rooftop. The sun was on its way through its ecliptic now, and the morning brought with it the sounds of gulls and the city's awakening. Her ears took these sounds in, a breath brought a fresh sample of sea air to her senses, and Rainbow smiled. Whether she won or lost this didn't matter so much, nor whether she crashed.
She just had to finish. Run her race. Maybe her first time in Prance wouldn't be such a disaster, who knew for sure?
"Today is gonna be awesome."
Rainbow spread her wings, felt the wind tug at them. It'd be doing more than that during the race, and in far more brutal fashion, but right now it played with her. Maybe it was time to relax a bit, spend some time away from the track. Dash turned away from the harbor, set herself, and launched from the rooftop in a single wing burst.
She did her best relaxing on the move, after all.
Rainbow dove toward the valley between the buildings, toward the freshly-set track, and made her way toward the starting positions. Her starting position. Close enough to the front that she could get a good start, yet far enough away that she could borrow someone's resistance if she had to. She'd have loved to be at pole position, but her sponsor told her the best position to pick, and since the top three in points could put themselves anywhere they wanted, there was no reason to argue.
She glanced up at the signal lights, licked her lips as they lit up in her mind's eye, and as they turned green... she shot forward with a burst of air and adrenaline, the wind kicking up in her wake.
No one else's race but hers.
First straight, right out the box, full tilt. Right hand turn, nearly ninety degrees. Rainbow sliced around, gritting her teeth as the g-forces tore at her. Uphill toward the long left-hander, curve around, push ahead, sharp right. Rainbow grimaced as the hotel approached. She'd have to slow down for this one. The pegasus went nearly sideways as she took the hairpin, followed by the right-hand turn immediately after. Slice another right... and dive into the tunnel.
The air in there changed, turning from open sky into a pipeline. This was where things went strange, and Rainbow could feel it. Something about this tunnel made flying difficult, maybe it was how the wind shot through it. Maybe it was her nerves, the anticipation of the tunnel's exit, the bright light that would overtake her senses.
Rainbow ignored the warnings and pushed on. This was the place where she could pick up speed, and she took all she could get.
Flash in her eyes, glasses helped, but she wouldn't have those in the race. Pretend you're disoriented, adjust. Chicane incoming, potential for disaster, slow down again. Shoot left, shoot right, keep moving.
Twist, turn, jostle for position. Ghosts appeared in her head now, other racers, trying to navigate the course just like her. She ignored them, focused on what lay ahead. Soon, that was the line, and she poured on the speed again, crossing it in what could have been a record for the track. No one was around to keep time, but she was sure if they did, she just set a new standard.
Rainbow didn't care. She pushed on.
"Never enough," she said through her teeth. "It's never enough."
It never would be. Not for her.
The certificate hung on the wall just above her bed, to the right of the autographed Wonderbolts poster. Framed in gold and encased in glass, the sunlight hit it at such an angle where the eye would be drawn to it first before anything else. If being around Rarity taught her anything, it was that location mattered, and maybe she had a point as she looked at it from the entrance to her bedroom. The paper, the writing, what it meant for her dreams... it was all she could think about, even after the coronation of one of her best friends.
This certificate hereby marks the recipient, Rainbow Dash, as having graduated the Wonderbolt Basic Training Course with high marks and with the full confidence of her instructors and peers. Her fortitude and never-say-die spirit are inspirations to all pegasi, and will be remembered as examples to other hopefuls who enter the Academy.
Spitfire and Soarin's signatures were on it, as well as the seals of the Wonderbolts and the Royal Air Force.
Rainbow's grin nearly split her face, her heart filling her chest until she felt she'd pop from any more excitement.
Top Five. So many flight runs, simulations, sprints, races, team exercises, and she stuck it out. Not only that, but she graduated with top honors, one of only five selected! Week after week, she watched as ponies washed out, retired, got booted because of their attitudes. The herd thinned, and it only made things harder. A hundred pegasi entered, and a fourth of that made it to the final two weeks. Rainbow shuddered as the memory of that last stint, that final push, broke into her thoughts uninvited.
Whatever it takes. That was the Wonderbolt motto, and those last challenges demanded everything of her and those left of her class. They'd all made it, some half dead, others still on their feet, ready for more. Only the best of the best could stand at the front of the pack, and she ended up in that very spot.
Her eyes narrowed at the thought of one particular mare... Reckless. Headstrong. Threw caution to the wind.
Almost killed her friends.
They let her stay, but after some time in the brig. Rainbow wanted more than that for Lightning Dust and her lack of control, but she couldn't bring herself to demand it. She reminded her too much of how she used to be. Mare Do Well, the Running of the Leaves with Applejack, her behavior at the Crystal Empire... it all came back to her in a single flash. They were mirror images, Lightning and herself.
It was why she'd asked for the unruly pegasus to be her wing pony. She promised to take responsibility for any mistakes her partner made, and though they were many, she reminded herself that it was only Lightning's attempts to prove herself worthy, maybe even get the gold wing pin that marked a candidate as a lead pony again. They fought against each other more than they worked together, and as days turned to a week, Rainbow started to regret her decision.
Something happened near the beginning of the second week of the course that made Rainbow stay the course, though.
Rainbow noticed Lightning Dust sitting off on a cloud at mess hour, just after they'd gone through an obstacle course run. Every time she asked something, Dust replied with a clipped tone, her answers brusque and to the point. The back and forth eventually irritated the wing pony and she resorted to name calling in an effort to force Rainbow away. Teacher's Pony was the one she'd picked. Spitfire's Mare was another. Rainbow took it all in stride, let wave after wave slam into her. Then she asked, with a calm that would make Fluttershy jealous, why Lightning hated everyone so much.
"Not everyone," she'd replied. "Just you."
Rainbow shook her head. It was everyone else she hated, not just her. Things like the antics she pulled hurt the team, and would hurt anyone watching a show if she managed to make it on the roster. She was better than that, and they both knew it. There was no need to prove herself here, just being here was enough.
Lightning glared at her and demanded to know what made Rainbow so special, so different from everyone else. She'd heard about her feats, her record, but took it as being above every pony else. What gave her the right to talk down to her, when she'd worked just as hard?
Rainbow explained herself in as few words as possible... "Because you're just like I was, before all this."
Before Dust could interject, Rainbow went into everything she'd done wrong, everything she had to learn and make up for. She remembered every mistake she made and told her about the friends that helped her through them, to realize what being competitive really was. She once thought she was the best flier in Equestria until she saw Lightning. Though she resented it at first, now Rainbow saw the use of a wing pony: to remind her that there was always someone better, always someone that could inspire her to greater things. "Right now," she said, "That pony isn't here."
The next morning, Lightning Dust made a formal apology to the entire class, including Spitfire.
They were a near-perfect team through the rest of Basic Training. Lightning Dust, despite her rough start, made it to Top Five. Rainbow even caught a tear running down her face as she accepted the diploma and gold pin.
The memory faded as Rainbow turned toward the picture of her and Lightning, side by side in a picture just next to the ones of her and her friends. Her wing pony sported a smile that would make Pinkie proud, without a trace of insincerity or ego. It made Rainbow grin again just to see it.
She turned her eyes to the Wonderbolts poster just above the headboard of her bed, eyes narrowed in focus. That Basic Training, it wasn't enough. She wanted more of it, more of everything they could give her. Spitfire said she and the other graduates would be considered for the Reserves, but the Reserves were like being named an honorary member... and that was only a consideration.
"What's it gonna take?" she muttered as she scowled at the poster. "What's it gonna take, Spitfire? I've done everything I can..."
Rainbow Dash shook her head. Some fresh air would do her good right about now. After all, she did her best thinking while flying.
She headed for the exit to her house, grabbed a pair of saddlebags with her cutie mark on the clasps, and made her way out to the launch pad, as she called it. Just at the top of her house, she'd built a platform of clouds with just the right amount of give to use as a springboard, a booster for a vertical takeoff. All she had to do was point herself in a direction, bounce a few times, and give her wings a good flap when she felt she was ready.
The first time she'd tried this, it took her all day just to stop screaming about how awesome it was. Over time she'd made adjustments to it, fine tuned the cloud density and pressure, until she could get to the same height all the time. From that vertical takeoff, she could get anywhere from her house from a matter of minutes to a few hours, depending on where her destination was.
Ponyville. Today, she'd head for Ponyville and check in on... She paused on her way up the stairs leading from the living room. Who wouldn't be busy this time of hour? Rarity was probably on some fashion trip... Fluttershy had her critters... Applejack was busy with the farm just about every time she went over... That left...
Her muzzle broke into a grin. Perfect.
She finished her climb and took the last few steps up to the launch pad. Her hooves pressed into the clouds, and the pad responded by sending her bouncing a few inches. Rainbow nodded, bent her legs, and jumped... jumped again... a third time, each jump sending her higher. The fifth one sent her fifty feet into the air, and as she came down, Rainbow let out a war cry.
"Banzai!"
She gave her wings a hard flap once she touched down and shot a mile upward, punching through any cloud in her way as she climbed. With a jubilant shout, she reached her apex, and using the momentum from the leap, burned her way to Ponyville with a contrail of colors in her wake. Seconds later, a sharp crack from air and sound giving way made the snow atop the mountains tremble, and a vibrant halo of light spread from the point of her Rainboom.
Rainbow touched down in the middle of town square, a few feet in front of the fountain of Celestia. She cast her gaze about the area, taking note of the stalls and tents, ponies selling their produce at every turn. She smiled as she headed for one particular cart, instinct leading her hooves where they needed to go. Maybe she'd be able to see AJ after all.
A different sight greeted her as she got closer to the Apple Family's stall though. A blond stallion with green eyes and a red coat stood there instead of the pony she expected, handling the usual line of customers with all the pace of a snail on his lunch break. Behind him, the cart of apples loomed, baskets piled to the sky. Rainbow headed to the back of the stall, only to be stopped by a filly with a yellow coat, red mane and tail, and a determined expression on her features.
"No customers allowed past this poi-" She blinked for a moment, seemed to realize who was in front of her, and grinned. "Hey, Rainbow Dash!"
Rainbow smiled and put a hoof in Apple Bloom's hair. "Hey, squirt. Mac working you hard enough?"
The filly tried to squirm away from Rainbow's hoof. "Quit that, I ain't a baby! And no, he's just having me watch out for the line!"
Rainbow chuckled as she put her hoof down. "Well you're doing a fine job! Don't let me stop you for anything, I just came to see Applejack. Where's she at anyway?"
Apple Bloom shook her head to try and clear out the tangles Dash put in it. "She's over at Pinkie Pie's, something about bein' invited to a party. I wanted to go, but Mac had stuff for me t'do here, so here I am!" She glanced over her right shoulder. "I needed some extra muscle though, so-"
"Hey! I'm almost done moving this stuff around!"
Apple Bloom grinned. "Thanks, Babs!"
Rainbow grinned. "Looks like you two are getting along just fine, huh? So she's not bullying anypony?"
"Nope! Gotta hand it to her, she's had it rough back in Manehattan. I figured I'd show her how we do things down here in Ponyville for a bit, and she's taken to it pretty well! After the family reunion, she's been writin' to me non stop about how she's trying to start up the Cutie Mark Crusaders in Manehattan!" Bloom's grin stretched a mile wide. "I never thought we'd be in more than one city, but looks like we might have a new chapter!"
Rainbow's eyes widened. "Wow, you guys are coming up big time!" She ruffled the filly's hair again. "I'm gonna head for Pinkie's, see if I can find out what's up with AJ. Don't get into too much trouble, and tell me if Babs gives you a hard time again. I wouldn't mind a little re-educating..."
Apple Bloom frowned. "Hey now, if anyone's gonna be doing that, it'll be me!" She smiled and lifted her chin. "But you can relax, we're best friends now. Anyways, I gotta get back to work!"
Dash nodded and made toward Sugar Cube Corner. "Sure thing, I'll let you get to it!" Cute kid.
It took her ten minutes to head to the sweets shop and bakery, waving at ponies that called out to her in greeting.
A muffled house track graced her ears as she approached the front door, and she ended up nodding her head to the rhythm just before she raised a hoof to open it. Before she could move another inch, the door opened for her, making her take a few steps back. A pair of blue eyes shone out from behind a cotton candy mane and bubblegum coat, along with the biggest grin a pony could possibly manage. "Hi, Dashie! Come on in, the party's just gotten started!"
Rainbow Dash stared wide-eyed into the pastry shop, packed full of customers and a DJ booth. "Sure, Pinkie... just gotten started."
"Yup! Now come on, you're missing out!" Pinkie Pie reached out, hooked a leg around Rainbow's neck, and pulled her into the sound and noise of celebrating ponies. "Food's over there, music's over there, games are over there, and I'm everywhere if you need me!"
Rainbow glanced up at the decorations, streamers of purple, lavender and gold hanging from the ceiling and balloons with a familiar six-pointed star for a cutie mark bumping up against the walls. She chuckled. "I'm gonna assume you weren't kidding about the whole Alicorn Party thing, huh?"
Pinkie stopped and turned to face Dash, a grim expression on her features. "I never kid around when it comes to parties, Dashie. It's serious business." After a few seconds, she couldn't help herself anymore and giggled as she led Rainbow through the throng of revelers. "I wanted to deliver your invitation personally, but I didn't have time, with all the planning and decorations and the food. Especially the food! We got cupcakes, eclairs, bear claws, jelly doughnuts, mixed berry pie, all kinds of candy-"
Rainbow's stomach growled, making her cheeks flush. "I get the point, Pinkie! Just lemme find AJ first, and we'll get to the chow!"
"Okie-dokie-lokie! She's right this way!"
They found Applejack surrounded by several ponies, fielding questions and being congratulated for the latest apple crop. When she saw Rainbow approach, the farm pony cleared her throat. "Sorry y'all, duty calls! Mighty nice chattin' with you ponies, but this ain't my show, so I gotta act lively." The small crowd made way for her as she moved toward her friends, raising her right foreleg for a hoof bump. "Thought you'd never show up, sugar cube!"
"And miss a Pinkie Pie party?" Dash met one hoof with another. "Not for all the bits in Canterlot!" She glanced around at the ponies having a good time. "I'd love to get to the festivities, but I don't see a specific combination. Y'know, purple, horn, wings?"
Applejack sported a frown for a moment, her eyes slanting upward. "And she'd have love to come, darn tootin'. But she couldn't." She made her way upstairs, with Pinkie and Dash trailing behind. "She's got all this princess-y stuff to take care of, or at least learn herself how to do it. With all those lessons, she doesn't have time for stuff like this anymore." She looked over her right shoulder. "Before you go sayin' anything, I was there when she told us. Never seen a filly cry so much."
"See that's why I wanted to have a 'sorry you couldn't come so here's a party to make up for it' party in the castle! A lot of ponies could fit in the ballroom, we could have a ton more food, a whole live band, and a buncha cider to boot!" Her eyes widened. "Ooh, maybe we could even drink cider from boots! Gotta find a way to do that!"
Rainbow blinked at Pinkie before laughing. Okay, that was why she'd come over. "I dunno if ponies would go for that, Pinkers. I mean, I'd be all for it, but would anyone else?"
They entered into Pinkie's bedroom, which was... all pink. From the candy-coated wallpaper to the bed sheets and comforter, to the closed curtains at the window. The only offsetting feature was the sand-toned carpet, but it seemed to add to the look instead of distract. The whitewashed ceiling seemed to have been left alone, making a good contrast to the room's otherwise garish scheme.
On the lamp stand next to the bed sat something that all six of them had a copy of: the first picture the six of them had ever taken, in a frame decorated with assorted designs of candy.
"What I am for," Rainbow continued as Pinkie closed the door behind her with one of her back legs, "Is heading over there and checking in on her. All five of us. We gotta do it sometime this weekend. That way, we're all free to spend a whole day in Canterlot."
Applejack smiled. "Well that sounds like a mighty fine idea, Rainbow! 'S not like I have anything planned, we won't have another crop like this for a while. Figure it'd do me some good to see what she's up to. Shoot, I'll even bring Apple Bloom with me! But what I'm concerned about is getting Rarity and Fluttershy to come with us..."
Pinkie cleared her throat. "Let me take care of that. I have ways to... convince them."
The other ponies in the room stared at her for a moment.
"What? I do!"
Rainbow shook her head with a smile. She never wanted Pinkie to change, not even the creepy bits. "So it's set then. We need to get the other two in on this before Saturday. Then we take the train all the way to Canterlot, go right up to Twilight's room or tower or whatever, knock on her door, and drag her out for a good time!"
Applejack snickered. "I'm surprised you even thought of knocking."
Rainbow snorted. "And why wouldn't I?"
"Just saying."
"So!" Pinkie Pie burst in before it went any further, "Let's get our own little party started in here!" She walked over to the radio next to the picture frame and pressed in the on switch with one of her front hooves.
Instead of music, a stallion's lively voice boomed from the speakers, probably the station's DJ. "Before we go into our next mix, I wanna let you fillies and colts know something about Sky Racing."
Rainbow's ears perked.
"It's not your usual obstacle course or a straight line sprint. Oh no, this is the big time, the professional, high-grade level of flying that every pegasi aspires to. The bad-flank side of flying that demands attention and respect! Obviously I'm a shameless fan of it, and you should be too... so I'm gonna give you a chance to experience it!"
Dash's eyes widened, and Applejack took a few steps toward her. "Hey, you okay? You're gettin' that look in your eye again..."
Pinkie giggled. "We already lost her, AJ. Might as well let her hear all of it!"
"I have just received, for your information, a ton of preseason tickets to the Pegasus Grand Prix, the biggest racing series to ever hit the sport. You heard me, I got a whole mess of ticket sheets, prime seating, for those who call in next hour! Taking the first twenty-five callers, the rest are gonna have to pay for 'em at the booth!"
Rainbow's wings nearly popped out of their sockets. "Omigosh."
Applejack cleared her throat. "Now that sounds like a fine thing to do this weekend, but don't go overboard, sugar cube. We don't wanna do anything too rash."
"No, I know exactly what I'm doing." Rainbow turned toward Applejack and Pinkie, a wild grin on her face. "We're not gonna watch on the sidelines. We're gonna be right in the middle of it!"
The farm pony sighed. "And how d'you propose we do that? I haven't seen a race per se, but I know the particulars. You need a crew, a sponsor, the right gear, and to pass the qualifying time trial for each race. The last one, I got no doubt you can nip in the bud, but the others..."
"...Are already taken care of." Rainbow chuckled, the grin turning into a confident smile. "You guys are gonna be my crew. All of you."
Applejack huffed. "Beg pardon, but we don't know the first thing about it. Maybe one of the Princesses would, but..." She stopped there, her eyes wide. "Oh, horseapples."
Rainbow nodded. "You get where I'm going now?"
"Yeah, I do. Doesn't mean I like the idea, but I get it. So you got us for the crew, plus one more which you don't have a real idea who it might be. You plan on getting either Rarity or one of the Princesses to sponsor you, then you're planning on getting us trained in the next few months to be a top-notch pit crew for ya. Am I missing anything?"
Dash's grin threatened to split her features in half. "Nope!"
Applejack glanced at the carpet for a few moments, her brows furrowed and one hoof dragging at the floor. Then she looked up at Rainbow and nodded. "Mac can handle himself and Apple Bloom's turnin' into a fine farmhand. I think I can spare a while to help you out." She put her right foreleg up for a hoof-bump. "Let's kick some flank."
Rainbow touched a hoof to AJ's. "And have fun doing it!"
Pinkie Pie squealed, bouncing on her hooves. "This is gonna be the best race ever! I already have an idea for the party we'll have!"
Dash chuckled. "What, you mean if we win, or if we lose?"
Pinkie giggled. "Silly Dashie, I got one for both!"
Every pony laughed, and made their way back downstairs to the music. Visions of winning the whole thing danced in Rainbow's head. Just the fame from winning one race would be enough, but she wanted the whole thing, needed it. This'd make her into more than just a Reserve member, it'd get her on the list, the team itself! And then, the possibilities were endless...
Rainbow couldn't help but grin again. "Best. Idea. Ever!"
