It's a late afternoon as the sunlight begins to settle down across the sky. All of the students of ponies in Slivershore's middle school are emptying out, the grounds abuzz with energy. Students of all pony kinds of Pegasus,Unicorns and Earth ponies alike,are excitedly clustered in groups of three. This isn't normal school dismissal. This is the day where everypony will be participating in a derby race at Zephyr heights!

The CMC,aka the Cuite Mark Crusaders named Apple Bloom,Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo stand near the school entrance,observing the chaos.

Apple Bloom:Can you believe it, ladies? The annual Zephyr Heights Derby! We just gotta get our team name sorted out.

Sweetie Belle:And I've designed our carts! They're going to be the most stylish ones on the track!

Suddenly,a shiver goes through the crowd. The general buzzing sound dips into murmurs.

Scootaloo:Whoa. What's with everypony?

A group of three older ponies look pale and distressed. They aren't chatting. They are whispering urgently.

Lily Cheese:...It wasn't right. The practice track...it felt cold.

Twivine Sparkle:And that shadow... it moved on its own!

The group suddenly bolts, running past the CMC as if pursued by something unseen. They ignore the three young ponies completely.

Apple Bloom:Hey! Wait a minute! What shadow?

Sweetie Belle:They didn't even look at us. That's not right.

Scootaloo looks up at the perfectly clear, blue sky. A single,dark,jagged cloud has begun to form rapidly, spreading across the horizon.

Scootaloo:And neither is that. The weather forecast said sunshine all week for the race.

Two weeks later,The arena is massive, filled with intricate, colorful race tracks that wind through the floating city. The atmosphere is tense.

The princess of Zephyr heights named Zipp Storm is at her official Detective Station,standing at the edge of the royal viewing platform, using a pair of detective binoculars to scan the crowd.

Zipp Storm:The vibe is off. My sources say the racers have been acting stranger than usual during practice heats.

Zipp notices three familiar, small ponies sneaking past a security checkpoint below. Apple Bloom,Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.

Zipp:Those three again. Always looking for the action.

Zipp flies down to the arena floor and intercepts the fillies as they try to approach one of the frightened racers.

Zipp Storm:Halt,everypony! Royal Detective business. What are you three doing down here?

Apple Bloom:We're investigating, Princess Zipp! The ponies are all acting weird!

Scootaloo:There's something wrong with the race! They're scared of something!

Sweetie Belle:We just want to help!

The racers nearby shrink away from the CMC,ignoring Zipp's authority and running off in panic.

Zipp Storm:See? They're terrified. And you three aren't helping the situation by causing a commotion. Go back to the stands.

Zipp flies away but she's made a decision. Zipp secretly places three metallic objects in distinct locations: one near a wrench set in the middle school shop class,one hidden under a ramp at the skate park, and one nestled inside a sewing kit at Carousel Boutique.

Zipp Storm:If I can't trust the officials, I'll trust the eagerness. The Heart,the Courage and the Creativity.

Zipp activates the morphers remotely. They glow faintly.

Zipp Storm:Let's see if you can pass the test.