//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9: The Tricross Relay 
// Story: My Little Pony Equestria Girls The Friendship Games 
// by Pinkie Pie Sweets 
//------------------------------//

In the CHS hallways:

Fluttershy is explaining to her friends about what happened earlier with the other Sunset.

"I'll I did was handed your counterpart a bunny. then I pony up," Fluttershy explains.

Sunset starts to scratch her head thinking about what happened. She she says, "I don't understand, first it was when Rarity when she made us outfits, Pinkie fixing the party, and now Fluttershy."

"And then that other Sunset's pendent drain the magic right out of me. I couldn't even stand up," Fluttershy adds.

"Like me at the party," Pinkie replies with a smile.

"And me right before we met your human counterpart," Rarity adds with concern.

"So she's stealing magic!" Sunsets replies worriedly.

"I don't think she meant to. Apparently she had no idea why this happened including the portals that appeared," Fluttershy says adding what she remembered earlier.

Sunset eyes widens and asks, "Wait did you say, portals?"

"Yes, but she doesn't understand why?" Fluttershy explains.

"Make since. She doesn't seem like the magical stealing type," Applejack replies agreeing with Fluttershy

"Yeah, but she had something to do with closing the portal," "If her pendent can pull in magic, maybe it stole the portal too,"

"Sunet do you think…." Fluttershy starts to say something, but then changes her mind and quietly says, "Nevermind."

Applejack turns to Fluttershy and asks, "Fluttershy what is it?"

"It's nothing," Fluttershy whispers nervously, but enough for her friends to hear.

"It's okay Fluttershy you can tell us," Rarity says giving her confidence about her judgement.

Fluttershy decides to tell the other of what she thinks. She takes a deep breath and says, "What if that other Sunset was the one you saw at the portal the day before the Friendship Games?"

The others are staring at Fluttershy giving a plain look on their faces. Sunset starts to think about it and then realize what is going on. Then she happily screams,"Fluttershy! You're a genius!"

"Really!" Fluttershy says surprisingly.

Then Sunset explains, "That explains what she's doing and why. She trying to figure out the magical energy that is coming from Canterlot High and she must have created that device to collect the magic."

"And I'm willing to bet collecting the portal was an accident," Rainbow Dash adds.

"Oh dear," Rarity replies sadly and worried about the situation.

"I think so and now Princess Twilight is completely unreachable," Sunset says sadly knowing that they can't reach Twilight anymore.

She Pinkie says, "Which is to bad because Princess Twilight knows about magic,"

Then she appears to her other friends and says, "and portals."

Then comes from a locker and says, "and magical portals."

Then finally appearing in an air vent and screams happily with confettis, "and portable magic!"

"Right now let's just focus on beating the Shadowbolts and as long as this event puts me on a playing field, we got nothing to worry about," Rainbow replies and help get Pinkie back on her feet.

Then Applejack looks worried and says to the girls, "Oh it's puts you on a playing field alright."

When they see the field they all gasp in a shock. They can see three different kind of sport obstacles. There's an archery course, a roller skating track, and a motocross course with dirt hills and ramps.

Then Sunset plainly asks, "Am I the only one who thinks this is overkill?"

Applejack is at the one of the dirt hills. Ske kicks it to see how hard it is. Applejack to turns to Rarity and asks, "Don't suppose you made motocross outfits."

Rarity looks at Applejack with a little mad look on her face. Rarity says. "Oh don't be ridiculous," Then Rarity smiles with a grin on her face, shows two motocross outfits, and happily screams, "Of course I did!"

On the other side of the court:

Principal Cinch along with the Human Sunset and her friends are looking around the playing field and are very excited to be in the event.

Then Principal Cinch are instructing her students with the rules of the games.

"You all will be racing in pairs. Indigo Zap and Sugar Coat will handle the motocross," Principal Cinch informs.

"Yes!" Indigo says with excitement and very eager to be in the motocross.

Then Principal Cinch goes to Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare and says, "Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare require the speed skating."

Lemon and Sunny turns to each other with eager looks on their face and give each other a high five.

Then she goes to her Sunset Shimmer and Sour Sweet and says, "Since archery is a standard requirement of our school any of your should be able to do it, Sunset Shimmer and Sour Sweet will be starting us off." Sour and Sunset are happy they get to start the event.

"Well that's sounds marvelous,"Sour says sweetly. The she sourly says, "As long as Sunset is completely focus."

"Hey, at least I won't competing with 'her' for this event, like I did earlier," Sunset replies firmly.

"You mean your double?" Lemon asks.

"Yeah," Sunset answers nodding her head.

"Don't worry about it, she won't bother you," Sunny reassure her.

"Okay. Still is motocross really necessary?" Sunset replies a little concern about one of the courses for the event.

"It is to me," Indigo answers with pride.

"Indigo you're the number #1 athlete in school, of course it will be for you." Sugar Coat says.

"Yeah!" Indigo replies eagerly

Sour turns to Sunset and asks, "So what do you think about the archery event."

Sunset starts to think about the archery part of the event. Then she answers, "Since we need to take turns for that part of the relay, I think you should go first Sour, since you're faster than me."

"You got it," Sour replies happily giving her plain a thumbs up.

"Still, given that Sunset had single handedly win the first event, I am confident that she do well with the second event," Principal Cinch says as she is in front of Sunset.

"I'll do my best," Sunset replies.

See that you do," Principal Cinch says with a glare.

"Especially not to get too distracted by that other Sunset," Sunny adds.

Indigo looks a little angry and says, "Still think this is a prank."

"Let's just focus on the event," Sugar Coat says to the others.

"Okay," The girls says agreeing with Sugar Coats.

After an hour of getting their gears and uniforms on. The next event is about to begin.

Principal Cinch makes her way to her seat. After sitting down on the stands to see the even with Chrysalis, Celestia, and Luna, the games can begin.

Dean Chrysalis holds the microphone and says, "Welcome everyone to the Friendship Games Tricross Relay."

With that everyone from the two school starts to cheer happy that the games are starting.

Then Chrysalis announces, "In this event, our competitors will be competing in Archery…" At the archery course there's Applejack and Fluttershy from CHS. Along with Sunset Shimmer and Sour Sweet from Crystal Prep.

Then Chrysalis says, "Speed Skating…" At the speed track their Rarity and Pinkie Pie wearing skates and helmets and ready to start. Along with Lemon Zest and Sunny Flare from Crystal Prep and they are both ready to race.

Then Chrysalis adds, "And finally Motocross," On the ramp on the motorcycles Sunset Shimmer and Rainbow Dash are facing for CHS While Indigo Zap and Sugar Coat are racing for Crystal Prep. Indigo turns the handle which make the motor goes on high speed ready to race.

"So if the competitors are ready?" Chrysalis says while holding the blow horn. Then she push the horn making a loud noise to start the race. Celestia and Luna become excited that the race begins, but Principal Cinch covers her ears because of the blow horn being so close to her.

With that Fluttershy and Sour starts to run across the course. While Applejack and the Human Sunset get himself in position for their turn.

Chrysalis say through the microphone, "Each competitors must hit a bullseye before their teammates can start the next leg of the relay."

As Sour and Fluttershy jumping over the hurdles. Sour is moving very fast. She grabs the bow and arrows and swing over the mud on the rope very fast.

When she reaches the other side, she pull out three arrows and shoot them with the bows very fast. Just then the bow suddenly snaps after shooting the arrows and Soutice some strange slime on the bow. Then the arrows reach the target and one of them reach the bulls eyes.

The student of their school cheer the the she score the bullseye.

"Huh," Sour says confusedly. She then turns to Sunset hoping her bow doesn't do the same.

Sunset knows that's her cue to start making her way to the other side of the course.

Sour can see that Fluttershy is having a little trouble using her bow and arrows.

Sour then see that Sunset is at the other side of the course when she is at. Sunset asks, "What happen?"

I don't know the bow just broke,"

"That's strange," Sunset says with concern.

Then decides to use her bow and arrow to score a bullseye on the target that is making a circle. She has her timing is about to score. Just then the bow brooks hit Sunset on the forehead."Ow!" Causing her to fall on her bottom and holding her forehead with her hands. The arrow starts to fly, but make it to the white part of the target.

Principal Cinch and Crysalis along with the Crystal Prep students can see that Sunset not only miss the target, but mostly notice that Sunset got hit on the forehead by the bow pretty hard.

"Sunset are you okay," Sour asks with concern.

"Ow! I'm fine," Sunset says still feeling a bit of pain on her head.

Shine can see that her owner got hurt. So she grabs Sunset's backpack and runs toward the platform where her owner is at. When she gets to the platform Shine meows getting Sunset and Sour's attention. Sour asks, "Shine what are you doing here?"

Shine simply gets the first aid kit from her backpack and pass it to Sour. Sour simple smile at the cat saying, "Thank you."

Then Sour takes care of the bruise Sunset has on her forehead.

Fluttershy then hold her bow and arrow and closes her eyes and shoot the arrow causing it to fly and then her bow breaks as well. At that point FLuttershy made a bullseye as well. The CHS students are happy that they score, but Fluttershy is concern for the Human Sunset's injuries to be concern about her bow.

Applejack makes her way to make a bullseye as well. When she get there she starts to shoot arrows. The first one she got to the white zone. When she tries again and takes a little longer to get the timing right, she shoots the arrow, but notice her bow feels a bit soft and it starts to fall apart.

"What the hay is goin on," Applejack asks to herself confusedly.

Then a green light to where Pinkie and Rarity are light up and they start on the speed track.

Then Chrysalis announce, "Looks like CHS gets an early start."

After getting a bandage on Sunset's bruise. Sour and Sunset realize they are behind and need to figure something out.

"And this is a really bad time," Sour panicky says.

"Let me think," Sunset replies then starts to think of an idea to get the arrow to the target, even though their bows are broken.

Then Sunset get's an idea and says, "We can use some part from our old bows to make a new one and I think I have some strong glue and duct tape in my…" But before she can say anything else Since is using her head to rub against Sunset leg with the glue and tape in her mouth.

"Thanks girl," Sunset says happily petting her cat and taking the glue and tape from Shine.

Applejack and Fluttershy are glad that they are winning but knows that the competitors from Crystal Prep needs help. Applejack and Fluttershy comes up to her to see if there is anything they can do to help. Applejack says. "Here you can use some parts from our bows to make a new one."

"Oh right we use your parts," Sour says nicely in a sarcastic way.

Applejack tries to ignore her and says, "Listen our bows have broken off too and you need the parts to make a new one."

"You need it," Fluttershy replies to the situation.

"Oh yeah, getting help from the girls we're competing against," Sour replies and angrily at the ending of her sentence.

Applejack tries not to pay attention to her. Then turns to the Crystal Prep Sunset and says, "Do you want to keep playing or not?"

Sunset simply sighs and nods her head.

"Then trust me," Applejack says trying to get Sunset's trust.

Sunset notice that Applejack is honest with her world. She also realizes that she needs to continue playing or Sunny and Lemon can't go on. She turns to Applejack and says,"Yes I trust you."

Sour is surprised for what Sunset said. Then she simply sighs and says, "Well I guess I can trust her if Sunset's okay with it."

"Good, then let's put this thing together," Sunset says happy.

From the Stands the principals of the two schools can tell that something strange is going on.

Principal Cinch turns to Principal Celestia and asks, "What are they up to?"

"I have no idea," Principal Celestia answers confusedly.

After some hard work with glue, tape and a little teamwork that finish making a new arrow.

"Perfect," Sunset says happy to complete the arrow.

Now Sunset is getting another arrow and concentrating on the target.

"I hope this works," Sour says hoping the arrow will work well.

"It has to," Sunset whispers hoping it will.

Sunset looks at the target spinning in a circle and make her timing. Then she lets go of the string sending her arrow flying. After some suspense from the student and the faculty. Sunset from Crystal Prep made a bullseye on the target. The green light glows where LEmon and Sunny are and knows it time for them to race. So they speed skate as fast as they can to catch up with the competitors.

"It works, it really works," Sour says happily.

"That's my girl," Shine says happily.

Sour notice it and looks surprised by it. She turns to Sunset and asks, "Did your cat just talked?"

"Long story," Sunset plainly answers.

"You know that was quick thinking you had there making a new bow from scratch," Applejack complements the Human Sunset.

"Thanks," Sunset says feeling good about her quick thinking.

She looks at her bow for a second and then turns to Applejack and says, "You didn't sabotage these bows, didn't you."

"Of course not, we not cheaters," Applejack says.

"She's right," Fluttershy adds.

"Then who did and why sabotage your bows?" Sour asks confusedly.

"We have no idea," Fluttershy answers unsurely.

Then Sunset grabs her magnifying glass from her backpack and says, "Well the answer is very simple, I just found the culprits."

"You did," Sour says questionably.

"Yeah these bows have termites on them and that gooey stuff is what termites produce to soften the wood before they eat them," Sunset explains using her magnifying glass she show them the small bugs on the bow.

"So basically you were covered in termite germs," Shine adds.

"Yuck," Sour says in disgust looking at her hand.

"You see I was telling you the truth," Applejack says with a smile on her face.

Just then Applejack starts to glow orange and grows pony hair and a braided extended tail. Sour and Sunset are amazed by it and wonder how can she did that.

Just then Sunset's device been activated again, opens up and starts to absorb to magic from Applejack. Applejack can see what is going on and can't seem to move at all.

"What... are you... doing?" Applejack says struggling of her magic being taken into the device.

"I don't know," Sunset answers scaredly.

Sunset is getting scared by this. She turns to Sour Sweet and screams, "Sour help!"

"Right!" Sour says agreeing to help Sunset. Sunset and Sour tries to close it but the device is having trouble budging it.

"Come on stop," Sunset replies upset at her stubborn device.

"Close up already," Sour replies struggling to close the device.

After the struggles, Sour and Sunset manage to close the device. Sunset move back for a bit and tips over shine and falls off the platform.

"Sunset!" Sour screams with horror seeing her friend hall off the platform.

After Sunset hitting the ground, she drop sher device and it opens. The device releases a strange pulse and opens a portal on the ground.

Sunset can see all this and realize there is a big problem now,

Sunset gasps and says, "Uh oh." That is the only thing she can say seeing the portal open and a strange vine coming out of it.