Run That Race

17TH FEBRUARY 2024

------B-202, SUNNY HEIGHTS, CANTERLOT CITY------

It was now 11:00am here in Canterlot City. Originally, the season was due to start on 16th March, a Saturday, but due to a scheduling issue, all races had been shifted to Sundays, so it would start on the 17th instead, exactly a month from now. In fact, the hype about the new racing series, the Road Car World Championship, had increased, so much that multiple people were willing to travel all the way across the globe to watch the first race. Even in Canterlot City, the hype was high, especially considering that one of the teams competing was based there, and one of the drivers for that team was also from Canterlot City.

Sunset Shimmer was inside her apartment building, which was now surrounded by police officers for protection, since paparazzi kept being extremely intrusive to try and get pictures of her. That was quite annoying, but Sunset rather liked the attention, especially considering that it was of the good kind, and not the bad kind. Her friends were going to come over today, for a sleepover, since it was a Saturday. She just hoped the paparazzi wouldn't mob her friends when they came to her house.

As Sunset waited for her friends, suddenly, she could hear honking, and looked out of her window, peeking out of the curtains so that the paparazzi didn't see her. As she looked out, she saw what she feared. Rarity's purple Maserati GranCabrio, instantly recognisable by the three stripes of the Italian flag painted down the length of the car, was being surrounded by paparazzi, who had found that the girls were her friends by stalking her at school.

She could tell that Rarity, who was driving the car, was trying to get into the building's parking lot, but the paparazzi were blocking the route to get some information about Sunset from her, and the police, despite their attempts, were unable to get them away from Rarity's car.

As one of the photographers attempted to shove a camera in the open drivers' side window for pictures, Sunset saw a white-skinned fist come out of the window and punch the photographer in the face, catching him by surprise. As the stunned man fell to the ground, blood streaming from his nose, all of his fellow paparazzi came out to help him. The police used this opportunity to move some of the paparazzi aside. This let Rarity drive the Maserati in quickly, and the police quickly closed the entry gate to the parking lot, blocking off the paparazzi.

Sunset watched in relief. The paparazzi definitely deserved that punch, for being so intrusive and disrespecting the privacy of her friends like that, just to get information on her. Soon, Sunset heard her doorbell ring, as her friends arrived. "Hey girls!" said Sunset, happy to see her friends.

"Hey! How was the Middle East?" asked Twilight.

"It was amazing. Quite hot, but I'm surprised there was so much stuff to see in a desert country like the Middle East. I got to see the Ferrari World theme park, which is actually run by Ferrari themselves." said Sunset.

"I've heard that Ferrari World has the world's fastest rollercoaster. Did you get to ride it?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Yeah, that rollercoaster's capable of a top speed of 150 miles per hour. We did get to ride it, and oh, wow, Dash, you would love it." said Sunset.

"Did you see get to see some traditional Arabic fashion? The fashion studio I work for wants to target the Muslim countries in the Middle East, and I want to present them some designs that don't really offend any Muslims, due to hijabs and what not." said Rarity.

"I did, I visited a few shops in Abu Dhabi, and I even took some pictures. I just sent them to you." said Sunset, as a notification popped up on Rarity's phone. As Rarity opened the pictures, her eyes went wide, as she saw the pictures that Sunset had sent her. She let off a squee, and began remarking how well the dresses had been stitched, and other fashion-related things, as she pulled about a sketchbook, and began drawing her own ideas, inspired by these pictures.

"Hey, Sunset, where's the first race gonna be held? I know it's not gonna be in America, but at least let us know tha' country, as the whole school wants to hold a large watchin' party for every race." said Applejack.

"Well, the first race will be in the land down under, Australia, in Melbourne, to precise. Melbourne is 14 hours ahead of Canterlot City, so you gotta be ready for a rather late night watching party, as all the races will be held at around 4:00pm in the local time of the host country." said Sunset.

"That's fine. Quite a few people will be willing to watch, since everyone wants to see a student from our school out on a racetrack! I can hold a MIDNIGHT WATCHING PARTYYY!" shouted Pinkie Pie, and Twilight had to quickly conjure up a soundproof bubble, so that the paparazzi didn't go crazy outside. Thankfully, Sunset had closed the curtains and closed the windows, so no one could see what was going on inside.

"Those paparazzi are super annoying. Rarity had to give one of them a bleeding nose so we could get inside here." said Twilight.

"I know. I saw that from the window, and don't worry, I don't think any of the paparazzi saw me. They were too busy helping their comrade. The papers are probably going to accuse you of recklessly assaulting a journalist." said Sunset.

"I know that, darling, but once the footage comes out, the public will be supporting us, and not that idiot of a journalist. You'll see. People don't support paparazzi, especially not in these cases, where they become too intrusive." said Rarity nonchalantly.

"I know, but we'll have to be a little bit more careful around the media. We can't let my reputation get smeared already." said Sunset.

"Darling, don't worry. Considering the amount of people who are supporting you, you'll always have fans behind your back. Also, have you talked to that cute boyfriend of yours?"

"Whom, Powerslide? He's not my boyfriend, for Faust's sake! He's just a good friend, that's all! Also, he's busy with his own racing career. He's gotten into a team in WRC3, and he's doing rally racing! The season started in January, and he's in Sweden right now for his second race, so he's quite busy right now!"

"And what about Sonata Dusk, your former enemy, as the papers say?"

"She's also working on her own racing career, alright? She's gotten a spot as a reserve driver in Formula 3, and as an active Formula 4 driver! Also, we've become friends, alright!"

"Okay. But about Powerslide, he's quite a cute and nice guy, from what we've heard about him from you. He's definitely a keeper, okay, darling? We have to meet him once, when he's not busy racing." said Rarity.

"First of all, he's not my boyfriend, he's just a good friend of mine, and I'm not in the dating scene right now, girls!"

"Don' worry, we'll keep your secret. I can tell, there's something up between you two." said Applejack.

"Fine. We just shared one kiss, alright, at RaceWorld Academy, and he likes me too, okay? We aren't going into a relationship, yet, not until I'm 18."

At that, everyone in the room went "Oooooooh!"

"Why didn't you tell us? We should do a double date sometime, you and Powerslide, me and Timber Spruce!" said Twilight.

"Fine, we'll have to do that sometime." said Sunset, as the other girls began asking her questions about what racing was like, and how she was going to manage her school and racing career. As the sleepover progressed, Sunset knew that soon, she was not going to get much time for stuff like this, as the first race of the season neared.