Chapter 1: Ponies Start Your Engines
Princess Celestia's sun shined over the small town of Ponyville as its citizens awoke and began their day. There was nothing in the bright blue sky and the cotton white clouds that suggested that excitement would soon fill the air in the small pony town. The pegasus ponies did their work in the skies while the earth ponies worked the fields on the farms. Fillies and colts spent their days in school while their teachers educated them about the day's subjects. Meanwhile the mayor had a very important announcement to make but she decided to wait until the entire town would be available to hear it. The elderly mare knew that the townsponies would be very excited by what she had to say to them.
During the afternoon, Twilight Sparkle went off into the Everfree Forest to have some tea with her friend Zecora. The purple alicorn was quite happy today. One of the reasons for her happiness was that her marefriend Trixie Lulamoon had returned from her job as a traveling showmare. The blue unicorn had surprised Twilight Sparkle with a breakfast in bed and they had spent a little bit of time together. Unfortunately Trixie was not with the purple pony at the moment. Instead she was busy hanging out with Twilight Sparkle's friend Rainbow Dash. This made the alicorn both very happy and extremely nervous.
Twilight Sparkle was happy that Trixie was spending time with her friends. It really pleased her to see the unicorn get along so well with the others especially since her first two visits to Ponyville hadn't exactly been very pleasant. It was a relief for Twilight Sparkle when her friends had forgiven Trixie for the things she had done during her time as the small town's dictator. Trixie had enjoyed spending time with the other ponies and she had started to become very close to Rainbow Dash. This was what was causing Twilight Sparkle to worry.
Despite being pleased to see Trixie getting along with Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle knew that the pegasus wasn't the most careful of ponies. While Rainbow Dash would never try to hurt Trixie, she was a very reckless pony that enjoyed performing dangerous stunts. Reluctantly, Twilight Sparkle had put a cloudwalk spell on the blue unicorn but she had reminded Rainbow Dash that Trixie wasn't a pegasus like her. After being told that Rainbow Dash's middle name was 'Responsibility', Twilight Sparkle allowed the duo to spend some time at Rainbow Dash's cloud castle in the sky above Ponyville. The purple alicorn left the zebra's hut and prayed that Trixie would still be in one piece after her day with Rainbow Dash.
Meanwhile Rainbow Dash and Trixie were in the skies above Ponyville. Trixie had been incredibly nervous about stepping onto clouds for the first time in her life but she put her trust in Twilight Sparkle's spell and she was positive that Rainbow Dash would be there in case the spell ran out too soon. Rainbow Dash had shown Trixie around her house and then the showmare offered to use her magic to make Rainbow Dash's stunts even more astounding.
"So you're sure this is gonna work?" Rainbow Dash asked eagerly.
"Trixie is positive." Trixie replied as she cast her spell. "Trixie's magic shall transform your rainbow trail into something far more impressive. Trixie assures you that you shall be pleased by what this spell shall do."
"All right I'll give it a shot." Rainbow Dash said. She bent her legs and took to the skies. Trixie watched the rainbow maned pegasus fly through the skies doing loops, rolls, and other things to increase her speed. Soon enough a mach cone had formed around the light blue winged pony and then something incredible happened. Instead of her usual rainbow trail following behind her, Rainbow Dash's moves were mirrored by multicolored afterimages of herself. The pegasus pony was stunned and impressed by what she was seeing. Trixie's magic had really made her stunts more impressive than they usually were. Rainbow Dash flew high and fast as her afterimages shined in every color of the rainbow behind her. Finally the rainbow maned pegasus landed on the cloud and gave Trixie a hoof bump to show her appreciation.
"That was awesome Trix!" she shouted.
"Trix?" Trixie repeated in a rather confused tone as she looked at the light blue pony curiously.
"Just a nickname." Rainbow Dash told her. "Do ya like it?"
"It is better than any nicknames that Trixie could have come up with." Trixie admitted. "Though she would prefer to be called Trixie instead."
"All my friends get nicknames." Rainbow Dash told her. "It's just what I do."
Trixie smiled a little as she heard this. Rainbow Dash had had the biggest grudge against her so she was glad that the two of them could be friends. The rainbow maned pegasus had treated Trixie almost like a sister in a way. She also told Trixie to call her Dash since they were friends. The two ponies knew that Trixie's cloudwalk spell was almost out of time so they'd need to get back down to the ground quickly.
"So Dash." Trixie said. "Just how is Trixie supposed to get down from here?"
"Well, you could always open up that cape of yours and use it like a parachute." Rainbow Dash suggested jokingly.
Trixie looked at Rainbow Dash and then she glanced at her purple starry cape. She had worn her stage outfit because it took away her nervousness about being on clouds for the first time. The cape and hat she wore provided Trixie with a sense of protection as if her parents were watching over her and keeping her safe. A thoughtful expression formed on the showmare's face as she looked down towards the ground below her. Rainbow Dash's smile quickly turned into a worried look as she noticed that Trixie was taking her joke much more seriously than she would have liked.
"Uhhh Trix you know that was just a joke right?" Rainbow Dash asked her unicorn friend nervously. "You're not really gonna try it are ya?"
"Why not?" Trixie asked as an enthusiastic smile grew on her face. "It could make for a dramatic entrance at Trixie's next performance."
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and grinned. She took to the skies and was ready to catch Trixie at any moment. The showmare took off her cape, adjusted her hat so that it wouldn't slip, stood on her hind legs, and then she jumped off of the cloud and descended towards the ground. She held her cape in her hooves and it caught the wind perfectly. The purple cloak slowed Trixie's descent to a very relaxed pace. Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of what seemed very much like relief as she saw that Trixie was perfectly fine.
Meanwhile Twilight Sparkle was sitting at an outdoor table reading a new book. This newly acquired book detailed the history of ponies who had lived a successful career of performing like Trixie did. Twilight Sparkle had enjoyed the time that she had spent as Trixie's apprentice and she really liked performing on stage. Unfortunately for the purple alicorn, her princess duties kept her from starting even a part time career as a showmare. Twilight Sparkle's few performances had been limited to very small shows that she put on for her friends. All of them really enjoyed watching the smalltime showmare perform as The Great and Powerful Twilight. Twilight Sparkle was now waiting for Trixie to hang out with her. She had bought this book because she thought that both of them could find it interesting. Twilight Sparkle brought a glass of cider to her lips as she glanced at the sky. What she saw almost made her spit out her drink on a picture of the world renowned showpony Harry Hoofini. Twilight Sparkle rose from her seat and rubbed her eyes as if to confirm that what she was seeing was actually existing.
Trixie Lulamoon was gliding down towards her with her purple starry cape held above her. Rainbow Dash was flying next to her and it seemed like she was trying hard not to laugh. The blue unicorn was using her cape like a parachute as she moved gracefully through the air, descending slowly all the while. Trixie grinned as she spotted Twilight Sparkle and within a few moments, she landed perfectly into the purple alicorn's outstretched forelegs. Smiling from ear to ear, Trixie put her cape back on and looked upwards at the disapproving face of Twilight Sparkle.
"Trixie what were you thinking?" Twilight Sparkle asked angrily. "You could have been hurt!"
"Trixie assures you that she was careful." Trixie replied. Her smile had faltered a little bit but it remained on her face. "Besides Dash was there to catch Trixie if she fell."
"That's not the point!" Twilight Sparkle snapped as her gaze turned towards Rainbow Dash. "I thought your name was 'Rainbow Responsibility Dash'." she continued as her voice dripped sarcasm on the last three words.
"Jeez Twi." Rainbow Dash replied. "Trixie's fine. I wasn't gonna let her get hurt."
"Trixie why did you have to scare me like that?" Twilight Sparkle said as she looked towards the showmare that she was still holding in her forelegs.
Trixie's smile had gone but she was grinning mentally. As mad as Twilight Sparkle was, she should have dropped Trixie right onto the ground. However she was still holding the showmare in her forelegs so Trixie knew that she could still win this battle.
"Trixie was foolish." she said as her smile was replaced by a small pout. "She thought that this would make for a grand entrance for her performances. You can forgive Trixie. Can't you?"
As she asked this, Trixie looked up at Twilight Sparkle with a small pout on her face as her eyes pretended to water with tears. Trixie gazed at Twilight Sparkle and kept her facial expression the same. She could see the purple alicorn's disapproving glance begin to fade and she barely resisted the urge to grin. Trixie knew that Twilight Sparkle was just unable to resist her when she acted cute. The purple alicorn glanced at the showmare and sighed.
She's lucky she's so cute. Twilight Sparkle thought to herself.
"Sure Trixie." she said. "I forgive you."
Trixie smiled and then she gave Twilight Sparkle a peck on the cheek. Twilight Sparkle had a blush on her face as she looked at her marefriend. She returned Trixie's kiss with one of her own. The purple alicorn smiled at the blush that was showing on the showmare's face.
"And that's my cue to get outta here." Rainbow Dash mumbled as she soared into the sky. Neither of the two ponies noticed that she had left since they were too busy staring at each other. Rainbow Dash may have had a marefriend of her own but she still wasn't much of a fan of romance. The rainbow maned pegasus never truly cared much for the mushy actions and words that were associated with romance.
"You're still holding Trixie." the blue unicorn said slyly. Trixie grinned upwards at her marefriend as she relaxed in her the warm comfort of her forelegs. Trixie felt comfortable when she was around Twilight Sparkle. The showmare cared deeply for her alicorn marefriend.
"You know I think I like holding you like this." Twilight Sparkle said in a similar tone with a smile on her face. Twilight Sparkle did like holding Trixie in her forelegs. To her it felt sort of like cuddling. She smiled down at the showmare that was grinning upwards at her.
"Well, if you like holding Trixie so much then perhaps you can carry her." Trixie said. She quickly clambered onto the purple pony's back and wrapped her forelegs around her neck. Twilight Sparkle smiled, shook her head, and walked off into the town square. Trixie held onto her with a rather cute smile on her face. Once the duo arrived they noticed that a huge crowd of ponies had already formed inside of the town square. Twilight Sparkle and Trixie met up with the rest of their friends who had gotten together near the front of the crowd. All of them were curious to find out what was going on. The mayor of Ponyville stepped up to a podium and spoke to the crowd of ponies. All the others knew was that the mayor had called a town meeting to discuss something. Nopony knew what the mayor wanted to say.
"Good afternoon everypony." the mayor greeted with a grin on her face. "I am sure that you all want to know why I have asked you here. I have an announcement to make and I am certain that all of you will be as excited as I am. Today I have the honor to announce that Ponyville shall be hosting the first annual PonyKart Derby!"
This statement was received with thunderous cheers from the whole crowd of ponies. Each and every single pony was excited to compete in this race. Sensing their excitement, the mayor continued her speech.
"Anypony who wishes to race must know that you shall be racing in teams of two." the mayor said. "Several teams from all across Equestria shall be arriving to Ponyville in a few week's time. Once all the teams have arrived, several races shall be held to decide which twelve teams will qualify for the derby. The winning team shall receive a grand prize of twenty-thousand bits. I want to wish each and every one of you the best of luck."
With that, the mayor stepped away from the podium and walked away. Instantly a babble broke out as many ponies started to get excited about the race and were quickly forming teams. The Mane Six and their friends got together and they were just as excited as the rest of the town.
"This is gonna be awesome!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Are you guys as excited as I am?"
All of her friends nodded in agreement. Quickly they decided who would team up. Twilight Sparkle decided to work with Trixie while Spike nervously asked Rarity to be his teammate. With a warm smile on her face, Rarity gratefully accepted Spike's offer and more teams were formed. Meanwhile two stallions were excited about the race but it wasn't just winning that was on their mind.
"Did you hear that dear brother?" one of them asked.
"I sure did my brother." the other answered.
"This race should be fun eh Flam?" the first asked.
"That it will be dear Flim." Flam responded.
Both of the stallions grinned as they remembered why they were racing. They noticed that the purple alicorn Twilight Sparkle had decided to join the race which made them grin. Their plan involved her and even if they lost the race they would earn a large sum of money should they be successful. The fast talking brothers walked off and decided to prepare their kart for the big race.