Burning Rubber

A new sport is spreading across the underground scene. Fast paced and thrilling, it is spoken of highly in some circles as the world's next big event.

It all began a year after the incident the world now knows as the She-Demon Effect. After that, the world came to know what magic was.

Luckily, it was found and made use of before the government could get their grubby mitts on it. And those who found it, were none other than us.

Teenagers. The bringers of the next generation. We had our own ideas for how this magic should be used, and we were gonna make them a reality. Soon, the world would know of what we created.

And that, was exactly what happened.

There was a report on the news of a teenager, like us, finding and using, some sort of crystal as a power source for his new motorcycle.

The adults believed it to be a hoax, a painted gem used to fool us into thinking that he wasn't actually just using the engine like normal.

But us kids, we knew it was real, and even if we didn't, we didn't care, because we believed. That news report sparked the single most enormous treasure hunt in history, all for the sake of something that, before then, would've been considered a mere fairy tale, complete fiction.

Fast forward a year, and the world of Magi-Cycle racing is born and booming. Kids are utilizing magical gems to enhance their riding experience and test their skills on the track.

Racing teams are popping up in every school in the nation, and tournaments are held every year to see just who the best of the best is.

And one particular bacon-haired individual is about to get a taste of that world.

Sunset shimmer sat curled up against the wall. Her body was shaking despite it being well past winter, and soft whimpering sounds could be heard if you listened closely enough. She was crying.

They had done it again. Another game of torture the She-Demon, it seemed. She had those words plastered all across the school, everywhere she went. On her locker, on her notebook, on all her desks in all her classes, on her table at lunch. Heck, even on her laptop, and that one was done in permanent marker!

Trixie and her lackeys had done it again.

Sunset looked up slightly, allowing her to see just above her arms, which she wrapped around her knees when she had first started crying. 'It's been a whole year. It's not like I haven't been trying to change. Could those three leave me alone for once and actually look at what i'm doing?' She sighed.

'What's it matter? The only reason i'm still here is because Vice Principal Luna made me swear to change my ways. And not even that's been working. I don't even belong here. I might as well leave and never come back.'

Sunset stood up slowly, sniffling as she did so. She struggled visibly, her whole body shaking from weakness and exhaustion.

When she finally managed to get to her feet proper, she waddle-walked her way to the door before pushing it open...

and getting shoved back inside of it.

She landed on her back with such force that she actually bounced up a bit before finally settling on the ground, coughing from the impact.

She barely had the opportunity to open her eyes and see who it was that pushed her, when she felt a foot stomp her further into the ground.

"Going somewhere, Sunny?"

She knew that voice anywhere. She struggled against the force a bit, only getting further pushed as a result. When she finally opened her eyes she could see...

"Tri-xie" She managed to say through a small catch in her throat from the dust that had been kicked up at her fall. There the showboat stood over her, a wicked smile on her face as she pressed her foot down onto Sunset's stomach.

"That's right, sunny. I've come to play with you again! Oh you must be so happy, seeing as no one else wants to be your friend after what you did!"

"I said I was...sorry. I've apologized already." Sunset managed to get out as she resumed struggling against Trixie's weight.

"Oh, yeah? Well sorry doesn't cut it, sugar!" Trixie said as she pressed hard down on Sunset's stomach, making her scream out in agony.

"Aaaaaaghhhh!" With a cry of pain Sunset let go of Trixie's foot, opting to let her finish tormenting her rather than fight back. After a few moments, the tears started again.

"Aww, she's crying!" Trixie mocked. "Now do you understand?

Sunset looked up at Trixie, her eyes filled with tears that slowly began to fall down her cheeks. "But I...I'm trying. I'm trying to change. I promised Vice Principal Luna I would."

"Aww, you hear that, girls? She promised. YOU IDIOT!" Trixie pushed down even more, and Sunset could swear she heard a rib break.

"No amount of 'I'm sorry' is ever gonna make what you did alright. And no amount of good deeds will make us forgive you. Ever. You are a she-demon, and that's all you'll ever be. You'll never change. Just like a leopard can't change it's spots, you'll stay the same. you'll always be a walking pile of-"

"Trixie!" A voice called out suddenly. Trixie looked away for only a moment, not removing her foot from Sunset's stomach.

"What is it? I'm busy teaching this bacon-haired bitch a lesson."

"It's...It's Principal Celestia, she's coming this way!" The voice called again. In her now hazy vision, Sunset could barely see who the girl was.

"You dummy!" Trixie called. back to her. "You were supposed to be keeping a look out!"

"I was, I promise!" The voice whined.

"Ugh...whatever!" Trixie took her foot off of Sunset, and walked away. When she spoke, she didn't turn around. "Let's go. We'll leave her to Celestia to deal with."

Before they left, Trixie turned around and looked at Sunset one last time. "Goodbye, demon girl." They all giggled as they walked away, leaving Sunset to lay splayed out on the floor.

The last thing Sunset saw before passing out, was a blurry outline of white. Andthe last thing she heard, was a familiar, soft, kind voice in her ear saying,

"Stay with me, Sunset!"