//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Racers 
// Story: Equestria Girls: Racers 
// by Gapeagle 
//------------------------------//

	"Wow, she's coming along nicely. Hard to believe this is the same car we found out there."

"Yup. It's somethin' special to bring this baby back to her original glory. If only I had a driver."

"You do. She's standing right next to you."

"You still wanna be a racer? Ya a stubborn one, I'll give you that."

Billy shook his head and returned to the car. It had been two days since they found the Mazda RX-7 in the junkyard. Billy had been working hard to restore it, putting on new tires, rims, windshield, and windows. The car was still not in prime condition as the paint was peeling and the inside was still as trashy as before. Sunset did not mind that though and she ran a hand along the new hood while she leaned over the mechanic.

"What makes you think I can't race?" She asked sincerely.

"You got no experience. Besides that, you don't even seem to know the first thing about racing. I've met younger kids that knew more!" Billy huffed.

He does have a point, Sunset agreed. But that shouldn't stop me. This wouldn't be the first time I started at level zero. She leaned closer to Billy who noticed and gave her a both confused and annoyed look. 

"Maybe I could use a teacher? Someone who knows the game well?"

She was going to continue when Billy stood up, his large muscles flexed in frustration. He pointed a rude finger at her chest and pressed it hard enough to make her take a step back.

"You even know what you're saying? Huh? Girl, you get into racing, ya ain't get out. Some die on the track or die on their last drink in the bar after losing it all. It ain't safe for a girl like you. Ya better get on with your life as something else than risk it all for RD. She isn't worth the trouble."

Twilight, who had been listening from the couch, stood up at Billy's words and stomped over to him.

"Rainbow Dash is worth it! Sunset and I are her friends. We'll race for her. Unless there is another way to meet her."

Billy sighed and rubbed his face with his greasy towel. "I'm not gonna change your minds on this, am I? Well, if my words won't work, maybe your eyes will."

He continued. "There is a race going on tonight at the Dazzle Club. High ranking racing mind you, kinda racing that Rainbow deals with. I'll take ya two there to watch what you're up against. You won't like it." He paused. "And not a word of this until we go, alright?"





"Impressed yet?"

Sunset replied to the mechanic with only a scared gulp as she and Twilight took their seats in the bleachers that overlooked the high track that rivaled some of the buildings in height above the concrete ground far below. The track was hardly more than a road built along the walls of the skyscrapers with tall concrete barriers which were suppose to keep the racers from flying off to their deaths. The darkness of the night had no effect on the track as it was illuminated by dark emerald green lights and appeared above the track every 50 feet or so. 

On the other side of the track was a large station where the racers prepped for the event. There were eight cars in the station, each one elegant and superior in its own way. Sunset could not tell what kind of car some of them were as they appeared much more advanced than anything she had scene before. Images flashed on the inside of the windshields when the drivers or mechanics touched them. Each car glowed with its own color of neon lights that went fashionably well with the main color schemes.

The whole place was lively and energetic. People around the trio chatted as they placed bets or innocently predicted who the winner was going to be. The air was filled with the constant electronic house music that blared from massive speakers. Nothing was calm or quiet except the princess that simply listened to it all. Twilight heard the words "Dazzlings" and "Sirens" among the fans. She rubbed her chin at this.

"Why would the Dazzlings be here? They were sent to CHS by Starswirl..."

"What was that?" Sunset yelled back.

"I asked why are the Dazzlings here."

"You're frazzled?" Sunset raised a brow. "C'mon, it ain't that intimidating."

"What? No. I said-"

"Ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready for a race?!"

The two stopped and looked at the burly man who screamed at them through a microphone. They recognized him instantly. It was Bulk Biceps, the coach of every team at CHS and the whatever he was in Equestria. He flexed his massive muscles at the crowd who cheered him on in return. 

"We are gathered here tonight for only one reason: to get pumped up about this race! We got the best here at the Dazzle Club where all shots are half-priced 'til checker! Aren't ya excited fo' that?!"

"Sounds like he could use one for his throat." Sunset commented.

The crowed cheered even louder. Bulk grinned and flashed his hideously yellow teeth before continuing his screaming into the mic. 

"The racers tonight are as follows. First, we got the Pride of the North, the Rock and the Pie, the Sisters of the Cheer. Give it up for the Alligator Squad! Give it up for Pinkie and Maud Pie!"

"What?" Sunset and Twilight gasped in unison.

There was no doubt who the two were. Pinkie, in a bright blue and pink race outfit, jumped up and down joyfully while Maud simply waved at the crowd in her usual manner. The car next to Pinkie was just as pink as her. Sunset had seen a car like it before. It was a Dodge Viper, the dream car of Flash Sentry back at CHS. With all of its bright neon green lights and dark green windshield, she knew this was no ordinary Viper.

"Next up, we got the Terror of the Catacombs, the One Who Never Dies, give it up for The Legend!"

"What a creep." Twilight uttered.

"Hey, he's a giant around here. Ya don't disrespect a guy like him." Billy told her.

The Legend was received with as many cheers as there were boos. The man was in a bulky suit and had a Greek play mask over his face. Both Twilight and Sunset were taken aback by his unusual appearance. His car was just as mismatched as him.

"Next we got the lightning fast, two-time winner of the Torque Circuit, and voted for Sexiest Man in the World. Let's hear it for Thunderlane and his girls!"

The women in the crowd gave a deafening cheer for the racer in a blue and black race suit. it was hard for him to wave as he had a giggling girl with matching hair under each arm. The girls looked familiar to Twilight but she shook her head and did not want to think about it any further. Thunderlane's car was no doubt a sleek black Corvette with blue lights.

Bulk went through four more racers which were both unknown to Twilight and uninteresting. It was not until Bulk introduced the final team that the two girls paid attention.

"And finally, the moment you've been waiting for. I am proud to introduce to you, the hosts of this race, the three-time winner of the Torque Challenge, the two-time winner of the Torque Circuit, the five-time winner of the Celestia Fund Race, the Champion of the South Tracks, the owners of the Dazzle Club, the Dazzlings, the mighty Sirens!"

The crowd roared with the introduction. Three girls waved at the crowd as camera drones flew around them, projecting their smirking faces on a jumbo tron that looked down upon the track. Only Adagio was in a race suit as the other two were in less-elaborate fireproof suits. They each had a headset on that the other racers lacked. Sonata and Aria were holding large tablets. It was clear that they were the most advanced of the competition.

"Ya see them?" Billy asked. "They the ones I'm talking about. If ya want to be there with RD and the Wonderbolts, ya gotta beat teams like the Sirens and on their own tracks. High ranking teams that get enough money can buy themselves race tracks, with Torque's permission of course. Just owning a track gives ya recognition. Owning one like this is also profitable."

The racers climbed into their cars for final checkups. Adagio typed on the windshield and messed with a HUD that appeared on it. She then paused with her finger right under a bright green circle on the HUD. With her other hand, she placed her helmet on which glowed with the same technology.

"Most of that stuff is just for show." Billy whispered to the girls.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Bulk paused dramatically. "Start your [redacted] engines!!!"

Adagio tapped the green button and the engine of her sleek car roared into life. Sonata clapped her hands enthusiastically  while Aria rolled her eyes. The Sirens' engine sounded much cleaner than the rest of the growling cars. Pinkie's engine sounded the strangest by far.

Each car crawled to its starting position on the track right,  behind the black and white checkered line that appeared as a pale green in the lights. The cars were placed in two-by-two rows, having Adagio in the front row. As the cars sat there, vibrating hysterically from the raw power within their hoods, the crowd grew eerily quiet.

A single drone flew around the racers before hovering in front of them. The drone had a large screen on its front and it projected a big green "5" to the racers. This image was followed by a "bing" sound that was much louder with the silence. The sound emitted again as the "5" went down to "4" and then to "3," "2," and finally "1."

Adagio's car jumped ahead almost instantaneously. The other racers' tires screeched before chasing after the host. The crowd stood up on their feet as the racers flew over the track like it was nothing. The trackway was much longer than the one the girls had watched previously, and these cars went much faster. 

"And there they go! We already have the Sirens in the lead! But don't give them the bucks yet! We got plenty of laps still to come!"

The jumbo-tron on the other side of the track displayed the drones' footage of the racers as they swerved and sped through the surprisingly winding track. All eyes were upon this hulking television screen. Twilight had to forcibly separate her eyes from its mesmerizing grasp. 

"Sunset, do you think Pinkie can win?"

"I have no idea, I mean, she's Pinkie. I just hope she doesn't drive like my Pinkie." Sunset muttered back.

"What, you know Pinkie too huh?" Billy asked in clear sarcasm.

"Yes, we do." Twilight replied quickly. "I bet you she knows us as well."

"Hmph." Was his only remark.

"Here they come for the first lap!" Bulk yelled. "Get ready to stand up folks!"

Billy reluctantly forced his large body up with the rising crowd. The bright green headlights of Adagio's car came into view after rounding a skyscraper. Pinkie's bright pink headlights followed immediately followed with Thunderlane's dark blue right behind. They were far away from the crowd and in mere seconds flew by them with pitch changing screams of metal fury. The rowdy crowd cheered their racer on and sat down after they left them.

"That didn't even take them a minute to complete one lap!" Twilight exclaimed. "This is a 3-mile track right? That means they're going 200 miles per hour!"

"Yeah, they are." Billy chuckled. "Each one of these racers is rigged to perfection. The stock versions can't keep up with them. With today's tech, all high-ranking drivers really care about is looks now. That or some fancy new stuff that will edge 1% off of air resistance or something."

"Adagio is extending her lead! She ain't gonna let no freakin' challengers come in and wreck her club! She's protecting home!"

"Heh, I kinda like Bulk as a commentator. I should tell Principal Celestia that he should commentate over the soccer games." Sunset giggled at the thought.

"Now let's go into the com of the Sirens!"

"Adagio, you came too close to the wall that last turn." A mellow and dry voice rang through the speakers.

"Be quiet Aria, I'm trying to drive here! Tell me something useful next time." Adagio replied angrily. 

Another chirpy voice chimed in. "You know they'll having a sale at the bakery tomorrow? It's like, half off or something. We should all go and-"

"Ugh, you always think with your stomach, Sonata. Can't you see we're racing? Let me talk with Adagio. You go and....stay over there."

"Oh yeah, sorry I said anything. I'll be going...over there." The cute voice grumbled in defeat.

Sunset blinked in confusion. "Well, they haven't changed at all."

The jumbo-tron showed Adagio leaving the pack. However, it did not take an expert to see Pinkie's Viper creeping up to the leader with every turn. Some of the crowd hollered in excitement at the knowledge that their favorite racer could win, or simply wanted Pinkie to win so that they themselves win money. Twilight wanted her friend to win and clapped her hands ecstatically. 

"You can do it Pinkie!"

"What's this? Pinkie Pie has caught up to Adagio! This may be a close one in the next few laps!"

"Huh, didn't expect that." Billy nodded, obviously impressed.

The cars were side-by-side as they raced on. The six other racers were soon forgotten as Pinkie and Adagio left them far behind. The pink Viper was dangerously close the black and greenish Jaguar XJ220-C. They went faster and faster as they left the rest.

"O. M. G! Could this be any [redacted] closer?!"

Another lap was done with neither car separating from the other. There were still battles for third, but no one cared about that. Bulk only focused on the two leaders. 

Pinkie started to edge in front of Adagio, but at the next turn the Siren cut her off and regained the lead. Half of the crowd cheered at this while the other cursed or moaned. The camera drones chased after the racers to keep them in sight.

"This is anyone's race folks! It's so [redacted] close! I can't even handle this [redacted]!"

"Why does he bleep whenever he cusses?" Sunset asked when she noticed the commentator's words.

"Cause these broadcasted races are all family-friendly and they wired his mic to do that when he cusses like a stubbed-toed sailor." Billy informed her casually.

"Can you believe this [redacted]?"

Pinkie and Adagio flew by again with the intensity of the previous laps. Twilight was biting her nails in anticipation to the final lap. The two mechanical beasts soared around the last corner as if they were chasing lightning. With half a mile left, the crowd stood up and cheered loudly. The pink and green lights of the racers approached quickly, but time seemed to slow down. Every second became a minute for everyone there. 

Adagio kept the lead as they rounded the last turn. Pinkie started to shift from side to side in a desperate attempt to pass the Siren. The green racer expertly denied every opportunity. With only a quarter mile left, many fans sank to their seats in aggravation or disappointment.

"And the Sirens win!"

Adagio sailed over the finish line with Pinkie at her bumper. Thunderlane flew across 1.5 seconds later for third place. Twilight reeled back with both hands over her face in shear frustration. Sunset shrugged nonchalantly.

"Well, she did her best." Sunset told Twilight.

"The Sirens are hard to beat." Billy nodded. "So ya two now know what ya need to face if ya want to hang with RD?"

"Yes. Yes." Twilight grunted before pausing. "Uh, do you think we could go and see the racers?"

"Not the Sirens cause they won. Maybe the losers. Ya usually need a pass to go down there." Billy told her. "But it doesn't hurt to try. The worst they can do is just deny ya entrance."





"Sorry girls, authorized personnel only." A guard pushed the two girls away from the entrance.

Twilight and Sunset sighed in disappointment. The drivers were not 100 feet away from them as they packed up their cars. Pinkie was talking to Maud with such a cheerful voice that it seemed she had won the race. The Sirens were off in Victory Lane celebrated the win with booze and money. Thunderlane was talking with his girls quietly in a dark corner.

"But we know Pinkie." Twilight told the guard.

"That's what they all say." He chuckled.

"Told ya girls." Billy huffed. "We should get back to my place."

"Is that Twilight I hear?!" A high-pitched voice screamed in joy.

Suddenly the guard was pushed aside and Pinkie tackled both Twilight and Sunset in a big sweeping hug. The girls fell to the concrete with the pink racer on top of them. Billy jumped back in shock by the chaotic moment.

"Oh my gosh!" Pinkie squealed. "It's you Twilight! You and Sunset! Eep! I'm so happy to see you!"

"It's nice to see you two." Twilight croaked as Pinkie accidentally kneed her lungs.

"Where have you been?" Pinkie questioned in a more serious tone and her face darkened. "It's been years! Years! You haven't said anything. Nothing at all."

"Uhh...Can we talk later?" Twilight asked innocently.

"I want to talk now..." The racer growled menacingly.

"Later. I promise."

"Pinkie promise?"

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Both girls exclaimed.

"Good enough for me." Pinkie jumped off them. 

The two then sighed in relief as Pinkie helped them up. Billy grumbled as they did so. Twilight dusted herself off and then grinned at the mechanic.

"See? We do know Pinkie." She boasted playfully.

"Yeah, whatever..." He waved at her dismissively.



(~~~*~~~)