//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: Race for 1st Place // Story: Equestria Girls 3: The Friendship Games // by EmeraldSkies //------------------------------// Rarity sat down in the crowded stands, trying to make room for her three friends who would be watching with her. The motocross event was set to start in ten minutes, and Sunset and Rainbow Dash were competing together in it. She was considerably nervous for the two of them, it was one of the first events of the entire games. Plus, she hadn't exactly talked to either of them before the event. Not her fault of course! She was just swept up in all the madness. Okay, maybe it was a little bit her fault, but they would be fine. "Ya nervous too sugarcube?" Applejack said, choosing her seat next to Rarity. "Yes, quite so," she looked down at the seats, frowning. "These are not helping either. Could they not invest in some cushions, or at least proper chairs?" Applejack chuckled at her high-maintenance friend, quite the opposite of her. "It's fine Rarity. Ah'm sure that you'll survive the little while we'll be here. Oh, there they are!" She said, glancing over to the side. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were walking up to the stands, but Fluttershy was more wobbling than walking. She was carrying Rarity's purse, which was full of junk, and a ton of candy, probably Pinkie's. Pinkie waved, and Fluttershy made the mistake of waving too, her stuff almost falling all over the place. "Thank you very much dear, do have a seat please." Rarity said, taking her purse from Fluttershy. She had left it when she was looking at the gift stand. "Oh, it was absolutely no problem Rarity. It was something to get my mind off this race," she looked at the motocross course, and shivered a little bit. It was just like her to be nervous at these types of things. Pinkie suddenly jumped from her seat in excitement. "Oh, I just can't take it anymore! I'm soooo excited!" she smiled extra brightly, exaggerating with her hands. "You're not just a tad bit nervous about this?" Applejack looked at her skeptically. "Um, noo!" Pinkie said, as if it was that obvious. "Well then ah guess you're the only one there," Applejack looked at Rarity and Fluttershy, who nodded in return. "Lets just hope that they do a good job." Everyone hummed in agreement. "You ready?" Rainbow Dash asked, standing with Sunset at the start of the motocross track. They were set to start in a few minutes, and the girls were all putting their helmets on. Sunset rolled her eyes and chuckled. "For the fifth time, yes, I am ready." She buckled her helmet on, and traced her hands over the motorcycle. It was red, yellow and orange, all of her favorite colors. Rainbow Dash's was of course rainbow colored, and had gotten all of her friends to sign it, for good luck. Rainbow buckled her helmet on too, and leaned against her motorcycle. "So, just wondering since you might know and all, do you think we might, I dunno, get that pony stuff again?" Sunset stopped her tracing, and looked at Rainbow Dash, intrigued. "I really have no idea, but it might be possible. You'll just have to see." A whistle blew near where they were, and holding it was Mrs. Harshwhinny. "Quiet! Girls, we start in two minutes. Please get ready, and remember, do your best!" "I guess it's time then," Sunset said, hopping on to her motorcycle. "Good luck Rainbow. I still think I'll win the bet though," she added on at the end, smiling. "Yes. good luck," a voice appeared next to Sunset. It belonged to the girl on the motorcycle beside her, Indigo Zap. She exchanged glances with another girl, then looked back at the two, grinning. "Just who do you think you are?" Rainbow said defensively, turning to the girl. "Indigo Zap," she pointed to her friend, "that's Sugarcoat. You can also call us the winners, right Sugar?" She looked at Sugar, who was barely paying attention to the conversation. She looked up, and realized she was supposed to be talking. "Oh yeah, she's right." Indigo Zap rolled her eyes, annoyed at her friend. "Are you still looking at that emblem on her motorcycle?" She gestured towards the star on the side of a girl's bike. "I'm sorry, but it still looks really cool!" Sugar said this a bit too loud, and she lowered her volume down. "I just want one so badly! Do you think I could get one?" "Ugh," Indigo crossed her arms. "What I want so badly is for you to shut up." She looked over to Rainbow and Sunset, plastering on a wide grin again. "Good luck! You'll need it!" She said in a singsong voice. The whistle blew again, and an announcement blared over the system. "Welcome to the motocross event in this year's Friendship Games. We hope you all have fun spectating, and participating. Are you all ready?" A loud chorus of 'yes' was yelled. "Well then, let the games begin!" Everyone revved up their engines. On your marks. They all leaned forwards. Get ready. The suspense lingered in the air, for both the girls and the viewers. "Go!" Sunset Shimmer throttled forward, feeling the sudden rush of cool wind in her face. This particular event was simple enough; do five laps on the course, and get one of the three fastest times in your heat. You would then move on to the finals, something she was confident of either her or Rainbow Dash achieving. She turned the corner, keeping a good stance at the front of the pack along with Rainbow and the two other girls. There was a small jump ahead, and she sped up, flying over it and landing perfectly back on the ground. "Nice!" Rainbow Dash's voice was distorted by the rushing air, but she swore that she had said something else with it. All of a sudden, she felt a bump to her left side. It was Indigo Zap, trying to avert her off of the course. She sped up, trying to get ahead of her, and out of dodge. Rainbow saw this as a challenge, and she too sped ahead. "I'll get you next time!" The girl warned, fading back a few meters behind. To be honest, she thought that this was quite dangerous for a school event. It would only take a small bump, and they could go spiraling out of control. Sunset had her own motorcycle, she was used to this. But she couldn't say the same for anyone else. She took advantage of this, and pulled ahead of all the other girls. She was reaching where the stands were again, and swore she could make out her friends rooting them on. Pinkie Pie had a bright pink sign, adorned with doodles of Rainbow and Sunset, and what she assumed to be a badly drawn motorcycle beside them. Rarity's sign was more reserved and elegant, with pretty flowers, and the Wondercolts symbol in the center. Sunset was on the second last lap now, nearing the rough ragged terrain part of the track. She bounced over roughly, giving Rainbow time to catch up to her, as they were now neck and neck. For a second, Sunset could only pay attention to wining the bet with Rainbow. Yes, winning. That would be great. Sunset saw a blue blur fly past, and all she noticed for a second was a noise in her vehicle. The engine was wearing out, right in the middle of the race. She looked over frantically to Rainbow, who seemed to have the same problem. "We'll see you at the loser's party!" Sugarcoat and Indigo chorused, riding off far past them. They had done something. Either in advance, or during the race, they had done something to their motorcycles. Cheated. Her motorcycle declined down to slower and slower speeds, along with Rainbow's. This was it, she was going to lose. She was going to disappoint everyone, and they would all be mad at her again. There had to be at least some way that they could still win. She was smart, she had to try to think for a second. "Rainbow Dash?!" She yelled over to her struggling friend, still trying to find a way to push forwards, as they were reaching the end of the pack. "What now? We're done for," Rainbow admitted, feeling defeated. "You know our pony transformations?" Rainbow nodded back. "Well, I've been studying them, and it seems that there might still be another way. We need to pony up." "How?" They were passing the four girls again, still cheering them on as always, not caring what place they got. They were the reason that they were racing, their friends, who stuck with her no matter what. "Because, they care about us. To them, it doesn't matter what place we get, but that we tried. And we need to at the least try," Sunset started faintly glowing in a familiar way. "For them!" She felt a sudden burst of speed, and of power. Rainbow and her started to zoom past the other competitors, receiving a wave of applause from the audience. The tingling sensation started in her head, as she felt ears start to grow. It moulded into her helmet, giving her quite the look, along with her growing ponytail. They weaved in and out of the racers, nearing the front once again, close to Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap. It was the final stretch, and the world seemed to slow. With one last energy bust, they shot ahead, still neck and neck. The two quickly passed an extremely shocked Sugarcoat, heading up to Indigo. The three were so close to each other, and so close to the finish line. Zoom.