PolarShift galloped down the streets of Canterlot the jingle of metallic parts easily heard in his saddle bags. The black and white pegasus yelled apologies behind him to street vendors and passerby as he bonded over carts and, literally, bounced off walls around the crowds, using his wings only to aid in his decent back onto the street, never breaking into full flight. Rounding a corner and he was met with a face full of blue, cyan to be specific. The two pegasi tumbled a bit before the Rainbow haired mare pushed Polar off.
“Watch it you creep” she said as Polar slowly got up, the mare’s friends trotting up around them.
“RainbowDash! You shouldn't be so quick to judge one’s character” stated a white unicorn with a rather curly purple mane.
“He ran into me” RainbowDash quickly retorted. The two descended into a heated argument as Polar rubbed his head. Looking around he decided he didn't need to be here and turned trotting off.
“HEY!!!” RainbowDash yelled again, running up behind him.
“ Isn't there something you need to say to me” she growled, Polar tilted his head his eyes looking up.
“Mmm… nope” he said continuing on his way. RainbowDash stopped her mouth hitting the ground; she flew up in front of him so their noses we’re almost touching. Polar didn't break his stride.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Don’t know, don’t care”
Polar ducked under RainbowDash as she stopped, her mouth hitting the ground again. She growled and got back in the stallion’s face.
“I’m RainbowDash, bearer of the element of loyalty, best friend of princess TwilightSparkle.” Polar still didn't show any sign of recognition. She growled.
“For Celestia’s sake I’m the fastest thing in Equestria” she shouted turning more than a few heads. Polar stopped; Rainbow smiled smugly knowing she had him. Polar smiled putting a hoof over his mouth, RainbowDash’s face fell as she noticed he was holding back from laughing.
“What?...WHAT?” she said, finally Polar couldn't hold it in. He burst out in laughter.
“You? The fastest? Please” he laughed unable to stop.
“I am.”
“No you’re not.”
“YES I AM”
Polar shook his head, his laughter subsiding.
“Well if you were, you’re not anymore” he informed her, rather proudly. RainbowDash looked at him tilting her head as her friends look at each other.
“Listen mister y’all obviously don’t know, but Dash here is the fastest thing in Equestria”
“Was” Polar said putting a hoof up to the orange earth pony.
“Fastest implies all arts of Pegasian flying, this includes of course low ground, which as of this morning I have beaten”
“So you can fly faster than me when it comes to low-”
“Oh, I didn't say just me” Polar interrupted, the ponies around him looked at each other in confusion.
“Pardon?” the earth pony said
“Well you see, I didn't fly faster than RainbowDash did, in fact I didn't use my wings at all” Polar said stepping around RainbowDash.
“I wanted to wait to show this off, but oh well, if you want to know how, follow me” the group of mares looked at each other before their curiosity got the best of them and followed the black and white pegasus. RainbowDash dropped to the ground grumbling as she followed her friends. The group walked down the streets of Canterlot the amount of ponies and the condition of buildings slowly beginning to decrease. After a while PolarShift stopped at a larger building with a garage, a sign on the door read ‘Keep out: Testing in Progress’ in large block letters.
“Oh my, is this where you live” the white unicorn exclaimed a hoof over her chest, obviously shocked.
“Yep, this is home” he turned the nob and stepped into the building.
“I’ll be right back” he said shutting the door. A few crashes sounded from within the structure followed by muffled curses. The garage doors opened with a rattle and a white and black pegasus head popped out from behind it.
“well come on then” Polar said disappearing back into the garage as the group trotted over to the opening. PolarShift’s saddle bags were gone replaced by a beat up red cloak with the word ‘shift’ in black ink on the front. The ends of the cloak were torn and cut a large hole on the right side displaying his cutie mark, an orb bisected half white half black. A pair of dark goggles rested on his head pushing his spiky black mane up a bit. Even with this what the group of friends was most interested in was what was next to him, it looked like a scooter but instead of standing it had more of a seat with hoof groves near the bottom of it. At the top was the same steering mechanism as a scooter, but the biggest difference was a distinct lack of wheels. The contraption was very low to the ground, the bottom hoof groves mere inches away from the garage floor.
“So, you gals like it?”
“What exactly is it?” a yellow pegasus spoke up her voice barely over a whisper.
“It’s an H.S.H.C.” Polar said, sighing at the mares’ blank expressions.
“High Speed Hover Craft” still nothing.
“It’s a lot easier to show you” he said climbing onto the HSHC he put his hooves in the groves and pulled a necklace with a black and white crystal from his cloak. Polar put the crystal in a hole in the machine and turned it, the HSHC roared to life the craft flying up to hover only four inches off the ground. The group including RainbowDash, though she would deny it for years to come, stared on in awe.
“RainbowDash, RainbowDash, RainbowDash!!!” Polar yelled before finally getting the blue pegasus’s attention.
“Wanna race?” he smiled and flashed a cocky grin.
“Let’s put that record to the test” she said looking equally as cocky. Polar pushed the goggles over his eyes and revved the engine.
“You must continuously fly four feet of the ground until we reach the edge of the market district, got it?” he said, RainbowDash nodded.
“Also, be careful the market district is extremely dangerous when it comes to low flying” he cautioned, his voice was strained with held back feelings and he wore an expression of fear, not for himself but for her. She looked up but the feeling faded as quickly as it came and polar was looking forward again.
“Ready?” he asked, RainbowDash almost didn't hear him.
“y-yeah” she said still slightly confused. Polar nodded.
“Then let’s go”