Secrets of the Everfree

"This is it, Cobalt"

A dark gray stallion, with a darker brown mane, said to his companion, a night-blue stallion with blue hair, streaked with different shades. The scenery was nice, clumps of rocky mountains gathered everywhere as the hot sun baked them like cookies in an oven. A starting line was placed in the middle, ponies gathered around it, stretching their muscles to get ready for the race. A large hot-air balloon stood beside the line, a certain pink pony and purple dragon tying it off, getting ready to hop in when the race started.

"This is the year we finally win." the gray pony sighed.

"Win?! SoundSpeed, last time we came in last, the time before that we came in last, the time before that we came in-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it!" snapped SoundSpeed, "What are you trying to prove here, CobaltSky?"

"Well, if the other times you came in last, how in Equestria do you plan on winning this?"

"Because, the other times we ran. We didn't use our wings. So this time we'll fly!" SoundSpeed explained

"Ohhh. Yeah, that make lots more sense." CobaltSky said, "So this year we'll cross first!"

"I don't think so, boys." a voice called behind them. They both turned around to see a white mare, covered with blotches of black, brown, orange, and grey. A long, dark blue mane hung down her ears, but what was most unusual about her was her tail. It was a whip, with a black tuft of fur on the end of it. She had one blue eye and one green, and then there was her claws. A black tip at the end of her hooves made it seem like another spot, but when she outstretched them the ponies thought otherwise.

"Hey, Ruffian!" chirped Cobalt.

Ruffian nodded in reply, then turned to SoundSpeed, "So, you plan on winning the race this year? Ha! No offense, but last time you competed you came in last, the time before that you came in last, and the time before that you came in-"

"Yeah! Sheesh, I get it!" growled SoundSpeed, "Make your point already!"

"Oh, so what I'm saying is, if you came in last every time, why do you think you'll win this year? You're probably the slowest runners in all of Equestria!" scoffed Ruffian.

"As a matter a fact-" began SoundSpeed, but was cut off by Cobalt.

"You think so, huh? Well, guess what? We could run faster than you any minute!" challenged Cobalt.

"Cobalt-"

"Really? Let's bet on it!" Ruffian said.

"Fine! What do you suggest?"

"If I win, all of your extra bits go to me! If you win, you can have my extra money! Deal?" Ruffian asked.

"Deal!" agreed Cobalt.

"Cobalt, you idiot-"

"Fine! I'll be right back." Ruffian said as she ran away.

"Cobalt! You stupid retard!" SoundSpeed hissed after Ruffian went away, "You ruined our chances to win!"]

"Sorry dude." Cobalt shrugged, "She called me slow."

"Sh-she called you slow?!" SoundSpeed fumed, "That is the reason you decided on this worthless bet?!"

"Yeah, pretty much" Cobalt rubbed the back of his head. SoundSpeed was about to lose it when Ruffian came back, with a certain light purple alicorn with a navy-blue pink striped mane.

"Hey Princess Twilight." SoundSpeed nodded to her.

"Why hello. You're having a delightful day, I presume?" Twilight greeted back.

"Yeah, but Twi, all due respect but, why are you here?" Cobalt asked.

"I was just waiting for the race to begin when Ruffian here came up to me and said you needed help with a..." Twilight clicked her tongue at the roof of her mouth as she looked for the right word, "a bet?"

"Stupid-ass bet." SoundSpeed muttered under his breath.

"Yes. I want you to take their wings away, so they won't cheat." Ruffian explained.

Silence.

"You want me to what?" Twilight finally said.

"I want you to do a spell to make them earth ponies." Ruffian huffed.

"Why?" CobaltSky asked.

"Because Cobalt said you could win without wings, so I'm gonna make sure you don't cheat." Ruffian said.

"He did say that, didn't he?" SoundSpeed growled through clenched teeth as he glared at CobaltSky.

"Yep! So Twi, can you do it?" Ruffian questioned the purple princess.

"I-I think I can."

"Great! You guys'll get your wings back when the race ends." Ruffian said. SoundSpeed's hooves itched to slap Cobalt in the back of his head.

Without warning, Twilight shot a magical beam towards the two pegasi.

SoundSpeed uncovered his eyes and looked behind his back.

No wings. Same as Cobalt.

Cobalt, you are the hugest jackass. SoundSpeed thought.

'IF YOU ARE COMPETING IN THE MT.IMPOSSIBLE RACE, PLEASE GATHER AROUND THE STARTING LINE!'

"Well, I'd better go." Twilight said as she trotted away, Ruffian nodded as she followed behind her.

"Coablt, she's getting your extra bits." SoundSpeed growled as he galloped away, his muzzle in the air.

Ruffian sighed. She knew this race was going to be the hardest race out of all races. Because they were competing in Marizona (You see what I did there XD) in the hottest of weathers.

The spotted pony scrunched her nose, she did well in any kinds of weather, but what she was worried about was water supply. The Mt. Impossible race changed tracks every year. This year was a little more difficult, because there were only four or five rivers in the track.

"Ready!" a certain pink pony from a hot-air balloon screamed into her microphone. Pinkie Pie and Spike always hosted the race every year. Each racer had a chip stuck somewhere in their coats, so the audience could keep track of every racer.

Ruffian scrambled unto the starting line.

"Set!"

Cobalt pressed his ears against his head. The cobalt-blue stallion knew that SoundSpeed was furious with him, and that he was mad at himself, too.

CobaltSky drew out a long breath as he walked to the starting line.

The way Mt. Impossible worked was that you need to survive at the way to the finish line, which usually takes about four days or so. That's how long this race is. When somepony gets in a situation they can't get out of or *ahem* doesn't make it a search-and-rescue team of ponies go and find them in the wild and bring them back.

"GOOO!"

Ruffian took off, her legs running in speed. The other racers galloped away as well. In lead was a cyan mare with a rainbow mane. Yep. Rainbow Dash.

Cobalt and SoundSpeed were behind.

"I...told...you....we...could have used....our.....wings...." wheezed SoundSpeed as he ran.

"Well buck it...." panted Cobalt.

SoundSpeed stopped to a screeching halt. Cobalt, behind him, crashed into the gray stallion.

"Hey! What gives?" Cobalt asked.

"We could climb that mountain to get a better view of everything." SoundSpeed nosed his muzzle to a large clutter of rocks.

"If that's a mountain, I'm Sapphire Shores." CobaltSky muttered under his breath as he draped his hooves over a jagged peak that stuck out and lifted his hindquarters up to grip the rocks. It was very hard, if only they were pegasi instead of stupid earth ponies...

No! Bad Cobalt! That's racist!/i] Cobalt shook his head to jumble up his thoughts.

"Come on, you fat ass!" SoundSpeed growled as he rested his hooves on the base of the boulder.

"Who are you callin' fat ass?"  puffed Cobalt, "I've never climbed before!"

"Really?* I thought you were an excellent climber! You're practically a monkey!" SoundSpeed snapped, the amount of sarcasm heavy in his voice.*

"Shut the buck up!" snarled Cobalt.

---

Ruffian stretched out her legs to grip the ground in front her. She had been running for hours, and she was starting to get a little tired...

Okay, a *lot tired.*

Ruffian stopped and flicked her tail on the ground, making a loud whipping noise. The spotted mare collapsed to the ground, her lungs sucking in air.

"I....should have....just....jogged..." Ruffian murmured to herself as she stumbled up.

Once she was rested, Ruffian started trotting.

----

"Ow...OW...OWW!"

SoundSpeed was now shoving Cobalt's butt up the mountain, his patience was running out with his friend, and he could not keep in his frustration.

"Ow! Did you hear me?!" Cobalt moaned as he turned his head around to face SoundSpeed.

"I said stop! You're pushing was too hard." Cobalt continued, SoundSpeed bit back a sharp response and tried to keep his anger tamed.

"Maybe it wouldn't hurt if you climbed the rocks yourself!" snarled SoundSpeed. CobaltSky huffed, "Well...stop complaining and I will!"

"Why you-" anger bubbled up inside the gray stallion. Cobalt was making it seem as if it were *his fault!*

"Maybe I wouldn't have been complaining if my stupid companion didn't to go off and make a stupid bet with a stupid-" SoundSpeed began but was cut off with Cobalt sticking a hoof in the stallion's mouth.

"Shh! You hear that?" Cobalt hissed.

SoundSpeed strained his ears to listen carefully. He heard something indeed. Rumbling noises...like an-

"AVALANCHE!"

SoundSpeed didn't hesitate to dash away. Cobalt trailed after him, his face wore and expression of fear.