Trouble At The Canterlot Race

It’s a peaceful day, Saturday in fact, the weather being predictably cloudy, with small showers until tomorrow morning. Rainbow Dash has just placed the last of the cloud patches on the morning sky. She flies down at high speed, and lands just outside a large tree with a red door cut into the outside of it. Her friend Twilight steps outside just in time to be surprised by Rainbows appearance.

It’s a peaceful day, Saturday in fact, the weather being predictably cloudy. No clear skies expected until tomorrow morning. Rainbow Dash has just placed the last of the cloud patches on the morning sky. She flies down at high speed, and lands just outside a large tree with a red door cut into the outside of it. Her friend Twilight steps outside just in time to be surprised by Rainbows appearance.

“Wahh!”  Twilight yells, ducking her head.

“What’s wrong Twi? Did I startle you?” Dash says, grinning at her friend.

“Yes” she replied while dusting herself off with her hoof.“So why does the forecast call for rain?” Twilight says while gazing at the sky.

“Well, you see ,Cloudsdale"s pegasi are a bit occupied with the whole changeling fiasco.”

She looks at Twilight in deep thought. Twilight looks back with concern.

“Ever since that event with the queen of changelings, and the invasion of Canterlot, Cloudsdale has kept me in charge entirely, of Ponyvilles weather.”

“Wow! Really?”

“Yeah, I just thought it wouldn't hurt to have a small change from clear skies.”

A faint voice is heard, coming from away .

“Dash, Dash! Aren’t ya coming?”

Dash turns around to the familiar voice. Applejack is in the middle of town waving a hoof toward Rainbow.

“Sorry Twi. Apple Jack and I are practicing for the upcoming race at Canterlot.”

“It’s ok, I was going to get Spike from Rarity’s anyways.” Twilight says looking toward Rarity’s house.

Rainbow flew toward Applejack, landing just at the side of her; the two started talking among themselves. Twilight loses sight of her friends as they leave in the opposite direction.

Twilight is slowly trotting her way toward Rarity’s. She looks side to side as ponies start to open up shop. The door opens, revealing spike. He holds the door, while Rarity trots her way out, holding a pink umbrella with her magic.

“Oh, hey Twilight, what brings you here?”

She stops in front of the door, signaling Spike to close it.

“I’m here to pick up Spike. Are you two busy?”

“We’re off to get more sapphires for an order with Fancy Pants.”

Twilight then looks at Spike who is now heading inside. He disappears; noises of four rolling wheels were heard, then the door is pushed open again by spike. He starts pulling out a polished steel mine cart, from a small bronze handle with obvious effort.

“Here, let me help you Spike.” Twilight says in a calm voice.

She trots toward spike, and then a purple glow flows around the handle of the cart. Spike steps aside, with a small frown, crossing his arms.

“Did you prepare everything darling?” Rarity tells Spike, pulling out a small glass of orange juice containing a straw.

Spike stands up at attention like some kind of soldier.

“Yes, I brought four bottles, the cart, and, the list of supplies.”

“Wonderful.” She turns toward Twilight, while sipping at the orange juice with the straw.

“So, are you still going to the Canterlot race?” Twilight says, looking at Rarity with a partial smile.

“I can’t, darling I wish I could, but this order has to be done by tomorrow morning, and delivered the same day.”

She nods, then looks at Spike.

“Spike, you want to stay and help Rarity.”

Spike's mouth opens up in awe. Spike's eyes open up like dinner plates.

“Can I?”

She gives a quick nod to her number one assistant. Spike runs toward the cart, while gazing at Rarity with astonishment. He grabs the cart's handle giving it a quick tug.

“Sorry Twilight, I have to go. It’s good seeing you again.”

“Don’t worry,” Twilight says looking at Rarity leaving with spike “I’ll tell you all the details!”

“Get set!” Pinkie pie says while on top of a pile of hay. “Go!”

Apple Jack And Rainbow Dash are off! Starting off with a small trot but quickly speed up as they catch each other's gaze. In front of them was the familiar forest dirt road from their first competitive land race. Applejack starts creeping in front of Rainbow to caching her by surprise.

“Enough of this here warm up, time to make tracks!”

Rainbow Dash crosses her eyes

"IT,IS, ON!"

She sprint as fast as she can, leaving Applejack in the dust. Apple puts on her A-game crossing her eyes as well. Rainbow looks behind her and sees Apple catching up. She quickly comes up with an idea. She steers left, going directly in front of her, blocking her way.

“Rainbow! I thought we agreed, no cheatin.”

Rainbow rolls her eyes.

“Oh, fine.”

Rainbow steers to the right giving her friend the opportunity to catch up. The two are running out of breath, trying to get some air. The finish line finally came to sight. It's a white wooden arch, painted in black, with the word FINISH. Their eyes open wide with relief to the sight of the end.

Over a small distance are the two familiar figures, creating giant clouds of dust behind them.

“Oh, they’re coming.” Fluttershy starts to lead some lost ducks toward some of the trees covering the forest. She leads

them toward a small pond no bigger than the one back at her cottage.

“Now, don’t wander off to far, ok?”

The ducks waddle off to the pond and paddle toward the middle of it. One pokes his head in the water and springs up holding a meal. Fluttershy smiles then heads toward the finish line, before she could arrive at her sitting place, the two brake on the dirt road with high speed.

“Ahhh!” Fluttershy jumps backward landing back first.

The two are still breathless, but try to calm down. They start to head toward their friend.

“Umm? Are you ok, Fluttershy?” Dash says, confused.

Fluttershy starts to get back up on her hooves.

“Um, yeah, just fine. You two just startled me, that’s all.”

The two looked at each other smiling in relief.

An unexpected voice was heard.

“That was super-duper close!” Pinkie says, receiving a lot of strange looks from Apple and Rainbow.

“How in the hay did you get here so fast?” Says Applejack.

“Umm, short…..cut?”

“Yeah, sure,” Rainbow says with sarcasm.

“So which one of us won sugar cube?”

“Well, …um.”

“Yeah, did I win?” Dash says, interrupting Fluttershy.

“I, didn’t see it.”

The two sigh, until they looked at Pinkie Pie. Rainbow falls toward Pinkie’s hooves.

“Please, tell me you saw.”

Pinkie appears to be in deep thought.

“I have no idea!”

Dash hits her head on the floor.

“Aww.”