Lightning Dust's family is, and always has been, poor. But when her family gets jailed for tax evasion, Lightning has to make the money to bail them out in a week. Only one event in Equestria can get you millions of bits in a week, and that's Adrenaline. A race across Equestria, many Pegasi enter for the grand prize; 17 million bits. There is, however, one condition; only one Pegasus can cross the finish line.

On the flip side, the bets put on Adrenaline are high stakes; most win more money than the winner of the race. Sunset Shimmer, recently back in Equestria, can't help but fall back into her criminal ways and bets on Adrenaline; she, along with fourteen others, bet on one pony to win the race. Shimmer bets on Lightning Dust, a firebrand expelled from the Wonderbolts Academy.

It's up to Lightning Dust to win the race for her family, and up to Susnet Shimmer to make sure that Lightning is the only one to cross the finish line.