The Cutie Mark Crusaders:
5 Minutes to race time:
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Sweetie Belle asked for the millionth time. The three fillies were putting the finishing touches on their 'racer' making sure everything was secure and all their food and supplies were accounted for. They were currently standing in a shed just off the track, since they hadn't had a berth in the sky wagon pit under the stadium.
“YES!” Scootaloo replied for the millionth time. “I asked Princess Celestia at the pre-race party last night!”
“Applejack is gunna KILL us,” Apple-bloom said, “but if the PRINCESS said it was okay, who're we t'say no?”
“She said we would be the youngest racers EVER.” Scootaloo squeaked excitedly. “Besides Sweetie Belle, you practised that balloon spell for WEEKS, when are you going to get a chance THIS exciting to use a spell like that every again?”
“That's true...” Sweetie Belle said, getting into the wagon and rearranging their things.
“Perfect! Then it's agreed, we're ready to rock!” Scootaloo said, pulling on her goggles.
“Yeah!” Apple-bloom nodded, getting into the wagon too.
“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SKY WAGON RACERS!” They all cheered, launching out of the gate as they heard Spike announcing them.
They burst onto the track to thunderous applause from the massive crowd as they tore across the ground.
“Wow! There's so many fans for us!” Scootaloo laughed as they came to a stop along the other racers. Sweetie Belle's horn lit up and the balloons started to fill magically, lifting the wagon into the air.
“NO! NO! NO!” Applejack was bellowing, trying to unhook from the harness of her sky wagon. “They ain't racing! It's too dangerous!”
“Applejack come on!” Twilight said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “If Princess Celestia said it was okay then it will be fine! Besides, if you leave the sky wagon now we're disqualified.”
Apple-bloom let out a deep sigh of relief. “Oh good, ah was worried it she'd make a scene in front of everypony...”
“Don't think for a second this is over young lady!” Applejack yelled at them. “We're gonna be having a long talk about this later!”
Apple-bloom just nodded and turned back to her friends. “Just a scene at home later...” She sighed.
“Come on Apple-bloom, you can't worry about it right now.” Sweetie Belle said. “We have a race to win!”
“Right!” She nodded, shaking off her look of disappointment. “Applejack can't yell at us later if we're at the victors party later!” She grinned.
“EXACTLY!” Scootaloo laughed.
“Alright, lets do it.” Sweetie Belle said, putting on a determined face as Princess Celestia stood up.
“Racers!” She called lifting her head, the sun rising above the horizon, light slowly starting to fill the stadium again.. “ON YOUR MARKS...GET SET...”
Everyone tensed as the starting line was hit with the first ray of sunshine.
“GO!”
In a burst of magical energy and speed all the racers took off. The 700th RACES was officially under way.