//------------------------------//
// S6 E15: The Cart Before The Ponies (What If?) (Bonus Chapter) 
// Story: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic What If?: Volume 4 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

It was a typical Spring day in Ponyville, and inside Ponyville Elementary all the children were talking amongst themselves about various subjects of importance. They all stopped when they saw their teacher enter, they made sure to give her their full attention and smile as they all said. "Good morning, Miss Cheerilee!"

Cheerilee smiled back at the children and said to them. "Good morning, everypony! I hope you brought your thinking caps, because today we're going to learn about physics!"

"Wait, physics?" Scootaloo asked.

Cheerilee nodded. "In an interesting way no less, and trust me it's going to be very important. The knowledge about the use of force in energy conversions! In this case, using mechanical work to convert potential energy into kinetic energy, and without it you probably won't fare well tomorrow!"

"Beg your pardon, the what now?" Diamond Tiara asked. "Not that I mean to question you, Miss. Cheerilee, but this stuff sounds like it's gonna be way over our heads."

Cheerilee only smiled, as she presented a rotating chalkboard and said to her students. "You'll need to have at least a basic knowledge of force if you want to participate in the..." She kicked the chalkboard and it rotated to show a picture of a cart. "Applewood Derby!" She proudly exclaimed, prompting a chorus of cheers from her students.

Silver Spoon breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. For a moment there, I was actually thinking we were going to learn all about physics." She commented to herself, but everypony in the classroom seemed to share her statement.



"So we get to race in the Applewood Derby tomorrow?! That is so cool!" Scootaloo happily exclaimed, once the students had settled down a little.

"My family's talked about it for years, and now I'm finally old enough to take part!" Apple Bloom cheered. "This will be so much fun!"

"Yeah, I'll bet it'll be just like those racing games down at the arcade," Diamond Tiara commented, before she added. "Uh... that I most certainly never play." Despite having turned over a new leaf at school, the pink coated filly was still somewhat reluctant to let others know about what she was doing, least she give her mother reason to be suspicious (or worse yell at her for not behaving like a proper rich pony).

Cheerilee knocked one of her hooves against the rotating chalkboard as she announced. "Now hold on to your horseshoes, everypony. You've got a lot of work to do before you're ready to race."

"Yeah, but... not schoolwork, right?" Snips asked Cheerilee. "I mean, not that we'd have a problem with that. It's just, cart racing sounds more exciting is all."

Cheerilee smiled. "You're quite right, Snips. Which is why you all need to listen carefully to these instructions," She then explained. "There'll be a block of applewood just like this one waiting for you at Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow, and you've got one day to turn it into a race-ready cart to enter in the derby."

All the students groaned. "Oh, yeah... That is a lot of work." Silver Spoon commented.

Cheerilee nodded. "Which is why you'll each get to pick one older pony to help you with your cart. But choose wisely, because they'll also have to ride in the cart with you during the race," She then trotted over to her desk and added. "Oh, and one more thing. Your cart has to cross the finish line if you want to win one of the three awards from the derby," She opened up a case displaying three glistening silver colored ribbons with gold trim, each one styled to look a bit differently to represent what their award signified. "Fastest – for winning the race, naturally. Most traditional – for the best working replica of an original Applewood cart. And most creative – for the cart with the best overall design."

"Hoo-wee! Those ribbons are the bees' knees." Apple Bloom spoke up in a dreamy tone of voice, and all her fellow students agreed with her.

Cheerilee snapped her students out of their dream like states as she declared in a kind but serious tone. "All right then, class! You've got a lot to learn if you want to build a race cart."

"Aww... I knew there was gonna be a catch!" Snails complained. "I just hope this physics stuff isn't too boring."





When class had let out for the day, each and everypony went home to start on their plans for their derby carts and think of who they wanted to ask to race with them. Everypony that is, except for Diamond Tiara and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Ever since she'd told off her mother in front of all her classmates, Diamond was much too fearful of what her mother might say or do to risk walking home alone (though she tried to keep her friends out of range of the Rich family estate, least Spoiled Rich have any reason to suspect more than she already did). "So, you three probably already know who you're gonna ask to race with you, aren't you?" Tiara asked.

Not surprisingly the three Crusaders nodded and each said. "Yup."

"I'm actually kind of interested in those old fashioned carts they used for the derby back in the old days," Sweetie Belle commented. "So hopefully Rarity won't mind if I try to go for most traditional instead of most creative."

"Funny you should mention those old carts," Apple Bloom replied to Sweetie Belle. "When Ponyville started the Derby, they decided to use the wood from our apple trees for the carts. The race has been a part of Sweet Apple Acres ever since. And honestly, every Apple who's ever raced has always gotten most traditional, I'd rather try my luck with fastest cart! Just 'cause it's Apple themed doesn't mean it has to go slow, and I hope either Applejack or Big Macintosh will understand that."

"Well, you won't have to worry about trying to beat me," Scootaloo said to Apple Bloom. "I zoom around on my scooter so much that winning fastest cart doesn't really feel like a big deal, I could probably win that easily. I want to truly stand out and finally shed that annoying chicken label I keep seem to get stuck with. I was thinking about asking my mom, but Rainbow Dash and I haven't really done anything together since the Sisterhooves Social, and I kind of owe her for keeping quiet about her crash landing during her big Wonderbolts debut."

Diamond coughed. "For the record I didn't hear it from you, in case anypony asks."

"Sounds like we're all gonna try somethin' a little different this time around." Apple Bloom commented, changing the subject. 

"Yeah, it'll be a nice break from looking for cutie mark problems," Scootaloo added. "Plus we can probably talk with some of the derby participants and see if they're having any kind of cutie mark problems."

"So, what about you, Diamond Tiara?" Sweetie Belle asked, noticing that the pink coated filly had not mentioned any sort of plans for the derby yet. "You gonna join in or just sit on the sidelines?"

Tiara sighed. "Well, everypony else is getting involved, so I might as well do so too. I just hope I can get either Father or Randolph to work on the cart with me," She shuddered as she added. "Getting stuck with Mother would be the worst possible thing that could happen."

"How have things been going with her ever since, well you know?" Scootaloo inquired.

Tiara hung her head. "We haven't really talked, lately Mother and I have just kind of ignored each other unless we absolute can't pretend  the other one doesn't exist. At least I'm glad when she takes those monthly spa trips and leaves me alone in the house for the day, even though I'd probably love to go with her and be pampered, if only so I could say we have something in common."

"Wow, I thought for sure she'd have learned her lesson by now," Apple Bloom commented. "If I had a mother like that, I'd have probably run away from home by now."

"Oh believe me, the thought has crossed my mind more times than you'd think," Diamond replied. "Were it not for the fact that Mother would surely hunt me down and drag me back, I'd probably do it," She reluctantly added. "I can imagine she'll probably be pretty furious no matter what award I try to go for, but hopefully bringing home one will be enough to shut her up for a while. Maybe most traditional would be best, I wouldn't have a lot of competition. Though maybe fastest cart would be easier, since all I have to do is cross the finish line first. Then again, maybe most creative would be more worthwhile, then if I lose I can say I had a lot of tough competition."

"Well, whatever award you decide to shoot for, we wish you all the best of luck," Sweetie Belle said to Diamond Tiara. "And if you need to talk to us, just let us know."

"Thanks for the offer, and hopefully I won't need it anytime soon," Tiara replied to the Crusaders. "So, guess I'll see you all the derby tomorrow. May the best fillies win."

"You mean, may the best Crusaders win, you're one of us now!" Scootaloo proudly proclaimed. "Sure, you're technically an honorary member like Babs, but if we can keep calling ourselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders now that we have our cutie marks, there's no reason why you can't be a part of our group too!"

Diamond smiled, but on the inside she was still very nervous as she bid her friends goodbye, and parted ways as she approached the path leading up to her family mansion.





Diamond Tiara was quite relieved when she managed to slip inside her home without detecting even a hint of her mother's presence. With any luck, her mom was either at the spa or out doing Celestia knows what. Either way, as long as she wasn't likely to be home anytime soon, Tiara could rest easy and hopefully get either her dad or Randolph to start helping her on her cart (and maybe figure out which award to try for).

"Today's my lucky day!" Tiara thought, as she approached the hallway leading to her father's study. "No sign of Mother anyway! Maybe Dad's finally wisened up and told her off for being such a brat, and now she's off blowing off steam somewhere far away!" She nearly leaped into the air in celebration, even feeling tempted to burst into song at this wonderful fact. But her happy mood turned out to be premature, for all of a sudden as she rounded a corner, there was the familiar raised snout and stern glare of her mother. "Shouldn't have looked that gift horse in the mouth!" She thought, as she realized there was no way she could just avoid her mother now.

Spoiled Rich seemed to be just as surprised to see Diamond Tiara, as Diamond Tiara was surprised to see Spoiled. But that didn't seem to stop her from casting that harsh glare that seemed to penetrate deep in Tiara's soul. "Oh, it's you," Spoiled commented, not even bothering to hide how much she didn't like seeing her daughter. "What do you want from me?! Come to beg for another advance in your allowance perhaps, or maybe you're hoping I'll help you with your homework? Whatever it is, you can forget it! After spitting in the face of everything I taught you and befriending those 'Cutie Mark Losers', you're hardly even worthy of being a rich pony! Were it not for the simple fact that it would ruin my reputation, I'd throw you out on the streets!"

"Nice to see you too, mother. Glad to know the feeling's not mutual." Diamond sarcastically mumbled under her breath.

"I heard that!" Spoiled hissed. "How stupid do you have to be to think that even though I'm in the same room as you, I somehow can't hear you?!"

Diamond just sighed. "Look, you don't like me, I get that. And I really don't like you. So can we just agree to stay out of each other's way for the rest of today?" She asked her mother. "There's something I'd like to discuss with Father, alone."

But Spoiled immediately blocked the path in front of her daughter. "And just what is so important that you can't talk to me about? I am still your mother whether you like it or not."

"It's nothing that would interest you, it's not a trip to the spa or even a luxury cruise. It would involve mingling with common ponies." Diamond replied, hoping that would persuade her mother to leave her alone.

"Oh, don't tell me you're actually thinking of participating in something so silly as the Applewood Derby." Spoiled remarked.

"Wait, how did you know I was going to take part in the derby?" Tiara asked, before she realized what she'd just done and put her hooves to her mouth. "Wait, I mean-" She protested.

Spoiled chuckled (though to Diamond it sounded like a super villain laugh). "Because you just told me, silly filly. You're still my daughter, and I can read you like an open book," But her moment of joy was soon replaced by disgust. "You really want to waste your time with that stupid derby, getting your hooves all greasy and dirty?"

"All the more reason why I think you wouldn't care about it," Diamond remarked. "I still don't even know what my cart's gonna be, or what award I want to have it possibly win."

Spoiled's ears perked up upon the mentioning of an award. "Award huh?" Suddenly she appeared to sound much more interested in the derby than she had been just a few minutes ago.

"I've really gotta learn to keep my big mouth shut!" Diamond mentally cursed, before she reluctantly explained. "Yeah, there are three different awards given out by Miss. Cheerilee. Fastest Cart for the cart that wins the race, Most Creative for the cart with the best overall design, and Most Traditional for the cart which is the best replica of the original slot cars used to race the first derby. Miss. Cheerilee also said I could have an older pony help me with my cart, and I'm pretty sure she meant an older pony who actually cares about racing with me, like Father or Randolph."

But suddenly, Spoiled threw back her head and began to laugh. "Oh Diamond, you should've mentioned those awards from the get go. You're going to enter that derby, and I'm going to race with you! Together, we'll design the best cart anypony's ever seen!" She boasted.

"What?! Are you out of your mind?!" Diamond exclaimed. "On second thought, don't answer that."

Spoiled continued to laugh and boast. "Come now, Diamond, haven't you wished we could do something together as mother and daughter?"

"Yeah, but not something like this. You just care about the awards!" Diamond complained. "I don't care if I win or not, I just want to have some actual fun for a change! You know, instead of constantly being forced to attend these 'etiquette culture' lessons that last for hours!"

"And whoever said I only cared about the awards?" Spoiled lied, not even trying to hide it. "Besides, is it really so wrong to want my daughter to be the best at everything? And don't you dare answer that, because the only acceptable answer is 'Yes'."

Tiara sighed and face hoofed, her mother was being incredibly persistent. "You're going to help me whether I want you to or not, aren't you?" She asked.

"Of course, and with my help you'll become the first pony in derby history to take home all three awards!" Spoiled boasted with a smirk. "I have a foolproof plan that's so simple and straightforward, even an ungrateful brat like you won't be able to mess it up. And for your sake I hope you won't try."

Tiara gulped hard, it seemed her mind had been made up for her. "So, what did you have in mind, Mother?" She reluctantly asked.

"Well, first we need to get our hooves on that block of applewood and come up with an acceptable entry that's also fitting of rich ponies such as myself," Spoiled said, leading her daughter away from the study. "And then we can work on ensuring you get all three awards."

"Okay, now I know I'm hearing things," Diamond replied, eyeing her motherly suspiciously. "You do know that a cart can't both win Most Creative and Most Traditional, right? To say nothing of the chances a traditional cart has of winning Fastest Cart. I think they specifically intended for each of the awards to be won by different ponies, Mother."

Spoiled only laughed at the statement. "Well, some rules were meant to be broken. Once you've made some 'adjustments' to the other carts, your cart will be the only one left on the track that can qualify for them."

"You're not actually suggesting cheating, are you? Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised." Diamond commented.

Spoiled just laughed again, as she practically pushed Diamond Tiara out the front door of the Rich family mansion. "All's fair in love, war, and cart racing. As long as you're taking home all three awards tomorrow, I don't particularly care what happens to the other racers, though I promise they'll be unharmed," She then added. "And if you try to tell anypony, well in their right mind is going to believe you over me?"





And so it was that a VERY reluctant Tiara snuck out to the derby track that night, per her mother's instructions. With the cart they were going to enter completed (and Spoiled insisted on driving it to ensure her daughter didn't try to throw the race and prevent them from winning any of the awards), now it was time to "Eliminate The Competition" as Spoiled had not so subtely put it.

"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," Tiara thought to herself, wondering if perhaps this was all just a really bad dream or something. "I'd say 'The things I do for my mother's love' but if she truly loved me even half decently, she wouldn't be making me do this. She probably would do it herself if she wasn't so lazy. And just when I thought she couldn't sink any lower."

The sabotaging mostly revolved around subtle tweeks to the cart that you'd have to look closely to notice, or more often just removing some of the air pressure in the tires. A couple of carts required more obvious changes, including attaching special devices for Spoiled to activate at will.

At last, Diamond came upon the carts of the three ponies responsible for her change in personality and behavior (though it seems the hope of a better mother had been too much to ask for), and the ones who had risked everything to help her when nopony else would. Was she really about to possibly ruin it all again, just by listening to her mother? The carts all looked beautiful to the pink coated filly, Apple Bloom's cart appeared to have been model out of a barrel but it had apple themed wheels and looked like a typical race cart, Sweetie Belle's cart supported a beautiful yellow fringe around the roof but otherwise it seemed like an almost exact recreation of the first Applewood Derby carts, and Scootaloo's cart had an amazing falcon theme to it with its blazing red wings and orange neck. All three carts seemed poised to win the award their respective owners wanted.

"Whatcha doin' out here so late, Diamond Tiara?" Apple Bloom asked, spotting the filly from a distance. "The girls and I just came down to put some finishin' touches on our carts before tomorrow's big race."

"Where's your cart? Don't tell me you're backing out, racing with you was going to be so much fun!" Sweetie Belle claimed.

"And why are you eyeing our carts?" Scootaloo inquired of her friend. "You thinking of copying them or something?"

Just then, Apple Bloom noticed something sticking out of Diamond's saddle bag. "Hey, whatcha ya got there?" She asked, as Sweetie Belle used her magic to pull the mysterious object out.

"Wait, please, don't!" Diamond shouted, but it was too late.

"Hey, wait a second!" Scootaloo commented, upon noticing how strange the object looked. "You're trying to sabotage our carts, aren't you?! And to think we actually thought you'd turned over a new leaf!"

"It's not like that, I swear!" Tiara pleaded. "Don't you girls trust me?"

"You have to admit, this is pretty suspicious," Sweetie commented to Tiara. "Even if you're somehow NOT trying to cheat, what reason could you have for needing a dohickey like this?"

"You'd better have a darn good reason for us not to revoke your honorary crusader title right here and now!" Apple Bloom said seriously. "Friends don't do this to other friends!"

Tiara leaped up, grabbed the device (freeing it from Sweetie Belle's magical grip) and threw it as hard as she could on the ground! The device broke into pieces! "If you must know," She reluctantly confessed. "Mother's dead set on racing with me, or rather she's intent on making sure that I win all three awards tomorrow, and by extention she'll have something to brag about. I was hoping to race with Father or Randolph instead, but alas Mother found out and I guess the awards were enough to make her overcome her distaste for dirtying her own hooves," She then sighed. "I'm sorry, girls. Looks like this derby's not gonna be an honorable one, Mother seems intent on taking over this whole thing and unfortunately there's little I can do to stop her. You'd think being told off by her own daughter, her own fur and blood, would snap some sense into her, but no!"

"How do we know for sure you're not lying?" Scootaloo asked. "I mean, no offense but I haven't exactly gotten over the lie you told me during the flag carrying tryouts. Those words cut pretty deep you know."

Diamond didn't bother to open her mouth to speak, Scootaloo brought up a good point. "You don't have to believe me, and quite frankly I don't blame you if you decide to do so," She said to her friends. "If you want to kick me out of the club you can, I don't really know if I can call myself a true Cutie Mark Crusader after this. And if your carts somehow malfunction or something, you'll probably know who's to blame." Rather than linger any longer at what would likely end up becoming the scene of investigation once somepony learned the derby carts had been tampered with, the pink coated filly turned and left.

But just before she was out of hearing range, Sweetie Belle called out to the pink coated filly. "Diamond, if your mom's making you do something you don't want to do, you can just say 'No'. If you know this is wrong, then you don't have to do it."

"I thought standing up to her and telling her off would put an end to her bad behavior," Diamond sighed, not bothering to turn to face her friend. "And well, look how well that's turned out."

"Look, crusader or not, we ain't just gonna turn our backs on you without a good reason," Apple Bloom replied. "And this ain't one of 'em. If somethin''s botherin' you, we want to help. But we can't do that if you're not willin' to trust us. Don't you get it, you have friends now, and friends look out for each other."

Tiara really didn't know how to respond to that. Should she tell them everything? Would they even believe her? But on the other hoof, was there really any point trying to please her mother when the mare had appeared to fixated on winning at all costs? Reluctantly, after several minutes of silence, she simply said. "Well, I'll tell you. But it's your choice if you want to believe me or not."





The day of the derby attracted a significant crowd to the site of the race track, which weaved all around Ponyville with only hay bales to truly block off areas the carts could pass through. Cheerilee herself had a big bow tied to the back of her head, that was purple and yellow in color, and she had on a white cheerleader outfit with yellow trim, and yellow and purple stripes, as well a yellow skirt with purple lines to it. She also had two yellow pom-poms currently in her hooves, and it was obvious she was even more cheerful and upbeat than she normally was.

From high above, the familiar presence of the hot air balloon carried Pinkie Pie and Spike, as they looked down at the racers below. As well as at Twilight and Starlight, who were standing off to the side and uniting their horns to generate a powerful magical projection screen.

"Hellllllllloooooooooo Equestria!" Spike greeted from up in the balloon, using a microphone! "It's time once again for the annual Applewood Derby! I'm Spike!"

"And I'm Pinkie Pie." Pinkie announced.

"And together we're gonna be bringing you all the non-stop action and excitement that this derby race has to offer," Spike eagerly commented. "And with a little help from Princess Twilight and her student Starlight Glimmer, both of whom happen to be my family by the way, we've got a live broadcast being played all over Equestria! So even those of you who can't be here to see the race, won't have to miss the memorable moments!"

Pinkie beamed, as she looked down and noticed a huge cloud of dust. "Ooh, and here come our young wacky racers. The most daring little dare devils ever to rev their wheels on this all out cart showdown!" She commented. "We now take you live, as all the racers and their carts take their position at the starting line!"

Spike and Pinkie looked down at the carts as they approached, and announced each one as it arrived. "First up we have Apple Bloom and Applejack driving the Apple Turbine," Spike called out. "Apple Bloom's looking to take home the award for Fastest Cart today, and with a cart like that I think it's safe to say she's going to be a blur out on the track. But will speed alone be enough to cut it?"

"Well, time will tell, and speaking of time, we've got a cart that looks like it came right out of the past!" Pinkie happily exclaimed. "It's Sweetie Belle and Rarity, and they're driving the Fashionable Old School Cart. It seems they're more interested in endurance than speed, perhaps that will prove useful today?"

"Useful, maybe, but it's definitely not going to win any beauty contests," Spike commented. "Now this next vehicle is another story. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash will be driving the Falcon Racer, a true majestic swan of the track. Will the fat lady singing be the sound of a swan song carrying these two to victory?"

"Maybe, but this next cart probably begs to differ," Pinkie announced. "It's Snips and his father Ed, driving the Barber's Pole. I guess the two have decided to promote the family business with their cart, but it's too bad this race doesn't have sponsorships or commercial breaks. It's gonna be non-stop racing and cart action until the last of them is across the finish line or has dropped out of competition."

"Speaking of competition, I think we've got our underdog cart to watch out for!" Spike declared! "Snails and his father Tailer are driving what looks like to be the Snail Mobile. You've heard the old saying 'Slow and steady wins the race'? Well it seems that's what these two are betting on to carry them to victory."

"But they'll have to watch out, because this next cart is a true delight. Not just to the eyes, but the nostrils!" Pinkie commented, licking her lips. "We've got Twist and her Aunt Bon-Bon driving the Candy Cart, and already you can see Lyra and her friends rooting on Bon-Bon's cart to win!"

"Well now it seems we have a cart that is truly without equal," Spike commented. "Button Mash and his brother Gibson are driving what looks like a pipe framed cart with big wheels. They're calling it the All Star."

"Definitely a cart worth keeping an eye on," Pinkie declared. "And up next is the Cloud Cruiser driven by Rumble and Thunderlane, seems like someponies took inspiration from the derbies Cloudsdale used to host every year."

"Perhaps, but this next card doesn't have its head in the clouds, it's worth its weight in silver!" Spike replied. "It's the Silver Roadster, driven by Silver Spoon and Octavia, no doubt adding a touch of class to the derby."

"And last but most certainly not least, we have a cart that's not even trying to hide the family that made it! It's the Diamond Mobile," Pinkie announced. "Driven by Diamond Tiara and Spoiled Rich," But she suddenly gasped and shook her head when she noticed something. "I mean, Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara?"

"What?!" Spike exclaimed, eyeing the cart. He noticed that Spoiled Rich was in the driver's seat, the only older pony currently doing so. "Spoiled must be crazy! Doesn't she know the entire point of this race is for the colts and fillies to do the driving themselves?!" He asked.

"I don't know, but it looks like Cheerilee's not thrilled with this rules violation even before the race begins," Pinkie declared. "It seems the Diamond Mobile's racing career could be over, before it even began."

Meanwhile, down below, Cheerilee was eyeing Spoiled Rich with suspicion. "Just what is the meaning of this, Spoiled?" She asked. "I hate to be Captain Obvious, but usually the younger ponies drive the carts."

Spoiled just laughed. "Cheerilee, I assure you, this is far from your usual cart. Which is why a well oiled machine like this should be driven an expert, like me!" She then smirked as she added. "I know what you're thinking, you're thinking: 'That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard! Does Spoiled Rich think I'm stupid or something?!'."

"Not how I would've put it, but however you look at it, it's a violation of the rules," Cheerilee said sternly. "So unless you're willing to get in the back seat and allow Diamond Tiara to take over driving duty, I'm afraid I'll have to scratch you both from the race. It's a shame, to think I'd actually have to do such a thing."

Spoiled threw back her head and laughed hard! "Come now, Cheerilee! Surely you realize who you're talking to! The very mare who, at great personal expense I might add, so generously allowed for all that new playground equipment to be donated, when your Student President couldn't scrape together the bits to pay for it. And don't forget who served as president of the school board until just recently."

"My only regret was not kicking you off sooner," Cheerilee said as she rolled her eyes. "I can't just ignore this violation of the rules. Rules are rules, and if I didn't enforce them then what would be the point of having them?"

"Cheerilee, after all I did for your measly little school, this is how you repay me?" Spoiled commented. "Besides, do you really want to ruin my daughter's first derby simply because I'm looking out for her safety."

"Somehow I doubt that's your real reason for doing this," Cheerilee commented. "But you just won't take no for an answer, will you?"

Surprisingly, it was Diamond Tiara who spoke up and said. "It's okay, let Mother drive, just this once. If she really thinks she knows this cart better than I do, who am I to question her?"

"See?" Spoiled smirked at Cheerilee. "Even my own daughter agrees with me, so surely you could let this slide, just this once."

"They're not paying me enough to deal with the horseapples coming out of your mouth, Spoiled!" Cheerilee thought, but she knew better than to say such a crude remark out loud. She just rolled her eyes and said. "Fine, but I'm warning you, Spoiled. You give me one good reason to think you're up to no good, and I'll have you yanked from the race along with your daughter and the cart you rode in on. So don't try any funny business."

"Oh believe me, Cheerilee, if I try anything it won't be funny." Spoiled insisted.

Cheerilee only sighed, as she reluctantly trotted away from the cart and made her way over to the starting line. "Derby racers to the starting line. Derby racers to the starting line!" The carts all lined up in a row, as Cheerilee said. "Racers: On your marks, get set, go!" And she blew a horn, signaling the start of the race!

"And they're off!" Pinkie announced. "And while they weave their around this track of crazy twists and tight turns that leads them from Sweet Apple Acres through the center of town, past Sugarcube Corner and Barnyard Bargains, zooms around town hall, and then comes back to Sweet Apple Acres, we'll be covering all three laps worth of this derby racing action!"

"I just hope that whatever Spoiled's probably got planned won't work," Spike replied nervously. "I'd hate to see something as fun and exciting as this turn into a disaster."





The race started off uneventfully, through the first turn Spoiled was perfectly content to just focus on driving and passing as many of the other carts as she could. As for Diamond, she could only sigh and hope that by the time this was all over, she wouldn't be banned from the Applewood Derby for the rest of her life.

As the carts started to move away from Sweet Apple Acres and towards the center of Ponyville, Spoiled decided it was time to put her secret plans into action. "Alright, Diamond Tiara!" She grumbled, tossing a device similar to the one from last night to her daughter. "Time to start thining the ranks a bit. You know what to do."

"Is this really necessary?" Tiara asked her mother, even though she knew such a question was in vain.

"Absolutely, you're going to win those three ribbons whether you want to or not! My family will be the talk of the town for years to come!" Spoiled proclaimed. "Now press a button and unleash havoc on the other racers. Why don't you start with slowpoke Snails and his father? They don't seem to know speed is necessary to win a derby."

Diamond hesitated for a brief moment, as she looked at how much fun Snails and his dad were having. It was the kind of fun she wished she could be having right about now. But alas, the pink coated filly knew if she wasn't the one to press the button, her mother certainly would be. It was time to see if her secret plan was a success.

Tiara pressed a red button on the square like device. Snails and his father were suddenly surprised to see a change in their tire pressure, but not for the reason they might have thought! Somehow, their tires had inflated a little, and as a result their cart was starting to pick up speed.

"Hey, look at that!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It seems like the Snail Mobile just got a speed boost! It's starting to move up on the racers in the center!"

"Could we possibly be seeing a come from behind victory from the slowest cart in the race?!" Spike pondered.

"I don't know, but something tells me we haven't seen the last of surprises like that," Pinkie replied. "One thing's for sure though, this is gonna be a derby to remember!"

Down below, Spoiled was surprised and furious to see that rather having grounded to a screeching halt with flat tires, Snails and his father were cruising along just fine. "You pressed the wrong button!" Spoiled shouted at Diamond.

But Diamond protested. "I did exactly as you told me, something must've happened on their end to cause the deflation to fail."

"Whatever," Spoiled scoffed. "Let them enjoy their brief taste of glory, we'll deal with them soon enough," She then eyed Twist and Bon-Bon and added. "But for now, I think it's time we show those candy delighters that revenge is sweet!"

"You're still mad about Twist being friends with the Cutie Mark Crusaders during my cute-ceañera?" Tiara asked, even though she knew she shouldn't be surprised. Her mother's middle name may not be Grudge, but that didn't mean her mother was the kind of pony who just forgave and forgot.

"Nopony upstages my daughter and gets away with it!" Spoiled firmly replied. "This time, make sure you press the right button! I want to see that Candy Cruiser spin out of control like it hit an oil slick!"

Diamond once again hesitated, before she pressed a button on the device (this time the blue one). But just like before, the opposite affect of what Spoiled had intended occurred. Rather than spin like crazy, Twist and Bon Bon's cart spun around in a full circle, then it did a 180 so that the back of the cart was facing forward, but it lasted only for a little while until Twist was able to get everything straightened out again.

"Did you see that?! For a moment there it looked like the Candy Cruiser was going to suffer a spin out!" Spike exclaimed, as both he and Pinkie's mouths dropped open in shock. "I feel dizzy just watching that thing from up here!"

"Well, that little spin show has cost the Candy Mobile precious time," Pinkie explained. "Ooh, I sure hope they can recover, I was really counting on it to win! Then again, I wish all the carts could win something!"

Spoiled was once again furious! "What is going on here?!" She exclaimed. "Why isn't anything I'm telling you to do working?!"

"I have no idea, Mother," Tiara replied, trying to sound as innocent as possible. "Maybe we should take this as a sign to just play fair and square."

"Absolutely not! We didn't come all this way just to go home empty hoofed!" Spoiled remarked, as the carts started to weave past Sugarcube Corner. "Well, this time I know everything will go according to plan! It's time we clipped the Falcon Racer's wings and knocked it out of the race! And I know just the surprise to do the job!"

"Mother, please, you know Scootaloo can't fly yet! She could get hurt, or worse!" Diamond protested.

"Relax, I'm merely trying to help her achieve her dream," Spoiled fiendishly smiled. "Now do as I say and press the yellow button!"

"The yellow button?" Tiara asked.

"Yes, the yellow button. Do I make myself clear?!" Spoiled shouted at her daughter.

Diamond gulped and pressed the yellow button. "I hope that plan of ours works, Crusaders!" She thought, hoping for the best.

A seat in the Falcon Racer suddenly ejected itself into the air! But it wasn't Scootaloo's seat, it was Rainbow Dash's! "Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo cried.

"I'll be okay, squirt!" Rainbow shouted back, as she unbuckled herself and took to the air. "Just go on without me, I know you can do it! Make me proud, kid!"

"I will!" Scootaloo vowed. "I'll do it for you, Rainbow Dash!" And she pressed down on the gas pedal, her cart began to go faster!

"Scootaloo's cruising along on her own!" Spike exclaimed. "But it looks like Rainbow Dash is monitoring her from the air!"

"Hey, I thought we were the only eyes in the sky in this race!" Pinkie protested.

Spoiled yanked the device from Diamond's hooves! "You must've tampered with it somehow!" She exclaimed in fury! "Well, too bad your little counter sabotage efforts end here! It's time to end this and leave them all in the dust! Then I'll make sure none of those other racers can reach the finish line!" She eyed the green button and prepared to press it.

"DON'T!" Tiara screamed, for she knew what would happen if the button was pressed! But it was too late!

All of a sudden, Spoiled and Diamond's cart began to accelerate rapidly and out of control! Spoiled attempted to press on the brake pedal as hard as she could, but the cart only continued to gain speed! Worse was to come, ahead was a sharp turn leading to the back half of the track (from here on it was a race back to Sweet Apple Acres to complete the first lap)! Spoiled yanked the steering wheel as far to the right as she could, hoping to make a sharp turn and stay on the track! The cart began to turn, but not in time, the back end of it struck some haybales and began to spin around like no tomorrow! At last, it had turned so that it was completely blocking the track, and that was when it finally stopped!

Some of the carts that were neck and neck with the Diamond Limousine had been forced to make a hasty stop, but had still bumped into the cart, and the rest of the carts were forced to break hard to avoid the huge pile-up blocking the road! Everypony was very angry and annoyed, mostly with Spoiled since she was the driver!





"Well, folks, it looks like our little derby has been brought to a screeching halt," Spike nervously commented. "We're still awaiting word from race officials as to when things will resume."

"In the meantime, we apologize for any inconvenience this delay has caused," Pinkie added. "Cheerilee is currently checking with the derby officials and should be over shortly to assess the damage."

Meanwhile, down on the race track, Spoiled was trying in vain to defend herself from the heckles and jeers from the angry racers of the other carts. All of whom were mad with Spoiled for cloging up the roadway.

Turning her attention away from the other racers for a moment, Spoiled noticed her daughter trying to slip away without being noticed. It didn't take long for her to conclude just why every sabotage attempt had backfired. "And just where do you think you're going, Diamond Tiara?!" She exclaimed.

"Anywhere, as long as it's away from you!" Diamond replied. "You've ruined the derby for everypony, and likely gotten me banned for life! I hope you're happy with yourself!"

Spoiled only glared at Diamond Tiara as she commented. "It may be a first but it's far from a pleasure. You've made me look like quite the fool, and yet all you can do now is just stand here and yell at me. Well, go on, say whatever you want, I don't care! If this is how you repay me for trying to do something nice for you, I suppose I should never bother to do anything for you ever again!"

Tiara growled. "First of all, that cart you just crashed isn't even supposed to be your cart! I was supposed to be the one to drive it!" She then remarked. "Second, even if this plan of yours worked, there is no way I've could've won all three ribbons! What part of "Most Creative and Most Traditional are two different things" didn't you understand?! Heck, could you even be sure that my cart would've qualified for Most Creative?! The reason the ribbons were created and titled the way they were, is because they wanted different ponies to win each one!"

"So you decided to sabotage our cart, while allowing the other carts to perform even better than they already were!" Spoiled realized. "I should've known you'd find some way to screw this up for the both of us!"

"And I should've known better than to trust the likes of you to play by the rules, Spoiled Rich." Cheerilee said with a glare, as she approached Spoiled and Diamond.

"I'm really sorry about all of this, Miss. Cheerilee," Diamond apologized. "I know nothing I say or do can make up for this. So if you're here to tell me I've been banned from ever participating in the Applewood Derby again, I already know and I understand."

Cheerilee shook her head. "While I would've appreciated it if you'd just come to me and told me what your mother was planning, in the end you managed to thwart her sabotage attempts. So I'm not going to ban you, Diamond Tiara. You and the rest of the young racers shall have a second chance," But she then added. "However, in the wake of what Spoiled Rich has done, I think nopony will mind if all the grown-ups stay on the sidelines this time around. You can help fix up the carts, but after that you're to either spectate or leave. And Spoiled Rich, if you try to interfere with the race at all, I won't hesitate to have you banned from the Applewood Derby permantely. As it stands, you will not be allowed to help Diamond Tiara if she enters the next one, and I think she'd much rather prefer having somepony she trusts to help her."

That was when Randolph walked up. "Greetings, Mistress Diamond," He politely greeted. "I wish you had simply come to me sooner, I would've delighted in helping you prepare for the derby," He and his young charge than walked off together, carrying the damaged cart with them as he added. "Now then, let us what can be done to get this cart back up and running."





"I sure am glad Miss. Cheerilee decided to run the race again," Apple Bloom said to Diamond Tiara. "Now we can finally have an honorable race between crusaders with no strings attached."

Diamond Tiara smiled. "And this time it truly will be 'May the best crusader win!', but don't think I'll go easy on you girls just because of that."

"We wouldn't have it any other way." Sweetie Belle happily replied.

"Come on, let's get going! The race is about to start!" Scootaloo said eagerly, as the four fillies rolled their carts to the starting line.

Cheerilee smiled as she said. "Well, it isn't every year I get to say this twice but... Derby Racers to the starting line! Derby Racers to the starting line!" Once all the carts and their racers had lined up, she said. "Racers: On your marks, get set, go!"

"And they're off for the second time in a day!" Spike announced. "And this time there should hopefully be no sudden surprises."

"Yup, just three whole laps worth of derby racing goodness," Pinkie commented. "And once again, Spike and I will be bringing you every minute of it."

Spoiled just stood behind the hay bales blocking access to the derby track, and scowled. "All I ever want is for my daughter to be the best at everything, but between this and the Student President election, I'm starting to wonder if she actually cares about being a rich pony at all." She thought to herself.





The race lasted nearly the entire day, but at last the checkered flag was waved and the carts zoomed across the finish line one by one! Then it was time for the awards, Apple Bloom took home the award for Fastest Cart, Sweetie Belle the award for Most Traditional, and after a very close contest between many of the racers, Scootaloo was given the award for Most Creative (though Diamond Tiara took home third place for both Most Creative and Fastest Cart).

Twilight and Starlight were quite relieved when they were told they could end the broadcast, for the both of them it had been a long and taxing day. "Don't know about you, Twilight, but I'm bushed," Starlight yawned. "You can wait for Spike and Pinkie Pie if you want, I'm just gonna go back to the castle and get some rest."

Twilight nodded. "Okay, but I hope you won't be too tired to accompany Spike and I to the Crystal Empire in a few days. I hear Sunburst is really looking forward to seeing you again." She said with a wink.

A faint blush formed on Starlight's cheeks. "Well, I suppose I can probably get my strength back by then. It'll be nice to see how Sunburst's managing with his royal crystaller duties." She replied, and walked off.

Meanwhile, the Cutie Mark Crusader and Diamond Tiara were marveling at their ribbons. "That was a great race, it was truly an honor racing against you, Diamond Tiara," Scootaloo commented. "And that was pretty cool how you outsmarted your own mom like that, I know I couldn't have hopped to do something like that. My mom knows me way too well."

"You know, we really should hang out more often, now that you're an honorary crusader and all," Apple Bloom suggested. "It would be a nice break from havin' to hunt for cutie mark problems all the time."

"Do you think maybe the three of us could come over to your place tomorrow?" Sweetie Belle offered. "I mean, I've heard rumors from Button Mash that you have games just like the ones at the arcade."

"Well, that would mean having to get permission from Mother, unfortunately," Diamond frowned. "And after what happened today, I doubt she's just going to say yes."

"Can't hurt to ask," Scootaloo encouraged. "If she says no, we can just hang out in the clubhouse. Maybe play some truth or dare, or even spin the bottle."

"That would be nice, better start making plans now," Diamond replied, as she trotted over to her mother, who still looked unhappy. Clearing her throat, Diamond asked. "Um, Mother?"

"What?! What could you possibly want from me now?!" Spoiled demanded.

"Uh.... is it.... is it okay if I let my friends come over to my house tomorrow for a little while?" Tiara reluctantly asked. "I mean, it would be nice if they could see the kind of luxuries a rich pony can afford."

Spoiled frowned as she reluctantly said. "I have a feeling you're not going to take no for an answer," She then sighed and added. "Fine, you can bring them over, just this once. But I'm not feeding them, or neither are any of the butlers or maids! And they're certainly not raiding my fridge and pantry! If they want snacks, they'll have to bring their own! And they'd better not leave any messes behind for their sakes!"

Diamond nearly felt tempted to reach out and hug her mother right then and there. "Thank you, Mother. Nice to see you can actually be kind of tolerable sometimes." She commented, and went to tell her friends the good news.