MAFIA: Manticore Prime City

The Next Day - Barb's House

Spike put on his suit and was about to walk out before Barb came up behind him, still in her pajamas. She wrapped her arms around her twin brother as she rests her head on his back. "Brother...Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Barb you know I have to go to the café today...the big car race is today," Spike answered, holding her hand. "Also ever since I told you I'm working with the mafia...you're even clingier than normal..."

"I'm just afraid Spike...."

"Afraid?"

"Of course I'm afraid!" Barb practically yelled. "Every time you walk out of that door...my heart just pumps like crazy with worry, afraid that I'll get a call from Rainbow saying you got your head blown off..."

Spike turned around to look at her sister, his hand cupping her cheek. "Barb...I'm sorry I make you worry...but this is my life now..."

The purple dragoness places her hand onto his. "It doesn't have to be...I know you want to quit too...please...for me?"

"I'm sorry...but it's just something I have to do...but I promise you I will always come home safe and sound." Spike kissed Barb's forehead and walked out of the door.

The purple dragoness stared at the door and sighed, praying that her brother's words would stay true.

Sugarcube Café - 10 minutes later

Spike walked into the café and sees Carrot Cake cleaning the bar counter with a rag, the yellow stallion looking up at him. "Ah, Morning Spike."

"Morning, Carrot." Spike looks around and sees the cafe was empty. "Where is everyone?"

"They're already at the race Spike, you're late." Carrot puts the rag away and pours the dragon a glass of bourbon. Spike sitting down on a barstool and taking a drink.

"Well I was up since 2 AM doing the job and I needed a goodnight sleep...you can't blame me." As Spike continued to drink, the phone on the wall started to ring.

Cup Cake came out from the kitchen approaching the phone. "I got it hon." She picked it up and put it near her ear. "Hello, Sugarcube Café...Oh..." She looked in Spike's direction. "Yes, ma'am he's right here....OK..." She walked over to Spike and handed the phone to him. "The boss mare wants a word..."

Spike grabbed the phone and put it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Spike...it's Twilight, get your ass over to the race track right this second."

"Is something wrong?"

"Oh no, nothing is wrong...unless you count Cloudy Flash getting his legs broken in half by some thug and now we need a new racer otherwise the entire gang will lose their money as being 'nothing wrong' then we're all fine."

Spike crossed his eyebrows. "OK, that hurts..."

Twilight sighed. "Look Spike...the point is that Cloudy is out...probably no coincidence...you need to race for us."

"Why me?"

"Because you're away better driver than any of us...I don't have the time nor the patience to teach somepony else to drive fast with steady hands...you're our only hope, Spike, now as I said....Get your ass over here!" Twilight hung up before Spike got to respond, making the dragon sigh and give the phone back to Cup Cake, who took it back to the stand.

"What's wrong?" asked Carrot Cake, taking Spike's empty glass and cleaning it. "You don't look too happy..."

"That's 'cause I'm not..." The purple drake got up and walked to the door. "Cloudy's not racing cause of some thug and I'm his replacement..."

"Oh Jeez...that must be awful..." Cup Cake replied. "Wish you luck, dear."

Spike opened the door and without looking back, he replied. "Thanks...I know I'll need it..." He proceeded out the door as both Cakes looked at each other.

The Manticore Racing Curcuit - 10 minutes later

Spike arrived at the race track by his Microcar and skid to a stop. He walked over to Twilight who was standing near Rainbow and Applejack after turning off the car and getting out. "Twi..."

The purple alicorn looked at Spike and turned to him. "Took ya long enough, we only got 20 minutes till the race."

"Stop busting my balls and just tell me what I have to do..." Spike slightly snapped, Twilight puts her hand on his back.

"There are 3 laps in the race...by the final lap I better see you drive like Rainbow Dash's flying." She made Spike turn towards her and she puts a finger on his chest. "Cuz if you come in any other place besides first...the money is all gone and you lose every kind of respect you gotten from the gang. This means we kick you out and you're on your own and since Sombra's after you...you won't last 5 seconds when he finds you out of our family."

Luna heard what she said and intervened. "Now now Twilight...there's no need to frighten thine dragon...he'll do amazing." She looks at Spike with a cute smile. "You'll do amazing young one, my sister and I wish you the best of luck...and so does Ms. Sparkle...don't you?"

Twilight sighed a bit annoyed. "Yeah...regardless Spike good luck...and remember what happens when you fuck up."

Spike sightly shivered at the tone Twilight was speaking in and nodded. "Got it...but would it kill you to be nice to me for once?"

"Me being nice would get all of us killed...now if you don't want that...I suggest you suck it up and grow some balls you pansy..." The alicorn sneered, walking away with Luna to Celestia, leaving Spike to just sigh and get ready for his first race.

Spike got into his racing outfit which was a red and black one-piece along with a few badges and a logo at the back that read: Manticore Race Circuit on it.

He grabbed his helmet from Rainbow Dash who was holding it for him. "Spike remember...when you're going that fast the other racers are likely to bump into you...so watch out for those other bastards. Also, don't worry about that new racer...since you already fucked up her car...everything should go smoothly. Best of luck to ya bud."

Spike nodded and put on his helmet, which was red with a mirrored shade of black covering his face. He walked onto the track and looked at the car he was assigned with, a black Koenigsegg Agera R.

His heart was pumping blood into his body very fast like he was going to experience a heart attack when he saw the track and the car that would probably cause his death if he goes too fast. "I need to pick better life choices..."

He opened the door and got into the car, and he was immediately met with so many gear shifts and firepower whenever he touched the accelerator pedal with his foot. "Okay...shouldn't be hard...think of it like when you first met AJ and RD, Spike...you'll do just fine."

There were 4 other racers not counting Spike on the track, of course, the cat was one of them. The stoplight shined red and as they waited, it quickly changed to yellow then green soon after.

The loud sound of clutches and gear shifts can almost be heard by everyone as the racers hit their gas pedals almost at the same time. Spike sped away along with the four other racers, the female cat smiled as her car went passed everyone else and she went in the lead.

Spike gave a small smirk from other his helmet as he mentally counted down from 5 in his head, once he reached 1, right on cue, the cat's car broke down with a small puff of black smoke coming out of her engine.

The cat gasped as she swerved around on the race track, her hands turning the wheel left and right trying to gain control of her car before she hit the barrier and went right over the banister and landing in a nearby field, her car finally stopped moving as she breathed heavily, getting out and coughing as she took off her helmet and landed onto the grass.

The crowd all gasped at the accident but of course, the ponies involved with the mob all gave sly smirks, Celestia having the slyest smirk of them all.

Spike saw the whole thing and shifted the gear shift and the clutch, going around a sharp left and speeding up, he was next to one of the cars and he hit the side of it sending the car into a spiral. Sure he was racing a little dirty but he had to win the race by any means necessary except killing them.

He swerved around the next corner and finished the first lap, everyone cheering as Spike went passed another car, being in second place.

As time went by, Spike was at the final stretch all he had to do was pass the final car who was speeding very fast, the dragon growled and went behind the car, the wind stopped hitting him and he went faster and faster, closing into the car in front of him.

Spike turned the car to the right and hit the corner of the car, doing a P.I.T maneuver and spinning the car out of his way. And just like that, Spike crossed the finish line first and won the race.

There he was, on top of the pedestal holding the trophy in his hand as he held it up high. Two other racers stood on either side of him for second and third place. Spike won the race and The Solaris Sisters got a major payday from creatures who didn't bet on Spike.

All of Spike's friends cheered and clapped for him on winning. Celestia and Luna, in particular, were happy that their reputation won't be shattered to a million pieces if Spike lost the race.

Spike smiled brightly as he got off the pedestal and was met with 4 mares coming his way and hugging him (Celestia, Luna, Rainbow, and Applejack). He looked forward and saw Twilight looking at him with her arms crossed, but then she gave a small smile and gave the dragon a thumbs up.

The purple dragon then looked around at all the ponies clapping and cheering for him, but then he saw someone in the back row that got his attention in particular. It was a pony wearing a brown cloak and clapping away with a bit of a sly smile on his face. He looked at him with squinted eyes before the pony dispersed from the crowd and disappeared with a quick flash.

The dragon was still surrounded by the mares and didn't notice his distressed look as Celestia spoke to him. "Spike amazing job, we are so proud of you...if you didn't show up everyone would've lost their money. Thank you, you're truly one of us now."

Spike looked at her and smiled back. "It's no problem boss...I'm happy to help." He then felt something hook around his arms and saw it was Rainbow Dash and Applejack on either side of him.

Applejack spoke to him. "Hey, Spike. Whaddaya say we celebrate back at the cafe, eh?"

Rainbow nodded. "Yeah, you kicked major ass, today man, you earned it bud."

"Yeah, that sounds like fun." Spike smiled and was led to a limo by Applejack and Rainbow with Luna and Celestia following them with smiles on their faces.

Spike was happy that he won even more respect from Celestia and Luna from winning that race and now he's off to celebrate at the cafe...but something about that hooded pony made the purple dragon gave him an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

Who was that guy?