Chapter One - Cops, Weddings, and Hangovers
Author's Note
IT'S FINALLY DONE!!!! And almost 6000 words too! Hope you guys like it! Stay posted on DLwaLF for more!
Chapter One - Cops, Weddings, and Hangovers
Skyline looked at the sky. Big, blue and beautiful. He sighed. Then he looked down. There before him laid the vast city of Tokyo. He reluctantly pulled out his phone and called Twilight. On the first ring, she picked up.
“Skyline, where are you? The wedding is tonight! We’re all worried!”
Skyline leaned on a wall near him on top of the skyscraper. “Twi, I don’t think the wedding’s gonna happen.”
“What. Do. You. Mean?”
“We, uh…. we lost Spike.”
“What happened?!”
“Well, uh….” Skyline paused. This might take awhile, he thought.
____________
Four days earlier
____________
“-Make sure that no one gets in, alright?” Skyline was saying.
“Yessir!” AJ said with a laugh.
“I’m serious.” Skyline raised an eyebrow.
“Okay! Okay! I’m being totally serious.” she said.
Skyline sighed. “Alright.”
He and AJ were sitting on the hood of Skyline’s 1990 Nissan R32 GTR in a parking garage. Since it was the third thursday of the month, there was a street racing scene tonight. There were cars of all types, parked, and even racing. Skyline was hoping he could trust her with watching his garage while he, Spike, Sketchy and Rainbow went to one of Skyline’s favorite dimensions for a weekend. Its was basically a bachelor's party, but Rainbow insisted she was a “Tomboy” and she claimed it counted.
AJ crossed her arms and smiled. “You worried ‘bout the weddin’?”
Skyline put his hands in his pockets. “By now, you’d know that i’m worried about almost everything. So, yeah, i kinda am.”
She chuckled. “Well, everythin’ has already been dealt with, now it's just waitin’. You need to chill out.”
Skyline stood up and opened the driver’s door. “Well, a race might not hurt. It’s rear wheel now, so it’ll drift.” He said. He dug into his pocket. “I got five hundred bits. That’ll work.”
AJ just smiled as he pulled to the race start.
Skyline went to the organizer and put down the money. They went to go get the other driver. Skyline drove his car up to the line and turned on some Pompeii Kat Krazy remix. He put his sunglasses on and sat back in his seat.
Soon, he saw a car figure move in the mirror, and he laughed.
A yellow and pink 2003 Mazda RX-8.
Fluttershy pulled up and rolled down her window. “Skyline, are you wasting wedding money?”
He smiled. “It isn’t wasting if you get it back.”
“That’s a little cocky, Sky.”
“Hey, you may have beaten me once, but it won’t happen again.”
“Hush now, quiet now.” She said with a laugh.
Skyline laughed and rolled up his window. He pushed in the clutch and revved the car up, blowing fire out the tailpipe. A man walked to the front and pointed to Fluttershy’s side.
“Ready?” He said.
The girls standing next to the car yelled “Ready!”
The man pointed to Skyline. Skyline started a burnout, smoke billowing from his rear. The girls next to his car yelled “Good to go!”
The man looked at both the cars and smiled. he pointed to both cars and yelled “Go!”
Fluttershy and Skyline both launched from the line, following the cones.
____________________
They arrived at Fluttershy’s home late that night. After they parked their cars, Skyline laid back on Fluttershy’s hood alongside her.
“So, you alright with me and the guys, and Rainbow, going to that other dimension for the weekend?”
“Of course. You need some fun. You’re always so tense.”
“Well, if you lived my life, you would be too.”
She shrugged and smiled. They lay for a few more moments before getting up and walking inside Fluttershy’s cottage. Upon opening the door, they were surprised to find the girls, sitting on the couch and floor, playing cards. they immediately got up and started hugging them. Skyline chuckled.
“So, Sky, ya ready to go to wherever-the-heck-istan?” Said Rainbow.
Skyline smiled. “Meet me at the garage in a few. I gotta bring the right car.”
RD pumped her fist and ran outside. Twilight stood before Skyline.
“Getting married, huh? Never would have thought you coming to Ponyville would change so much.” She said.
“Yeah, well, I go where i’m needed, I suppose?”
They both laughed. “I hope ya have fun, wherever you’re going.”
“Me too. See you in a few days. And you should be able to call me, i set up our phones to connect inter-dimensionally.”
“Good. I need to make sure you guys don’t get in too much trouble.”
Skyline said goodbye to the other girls, and jogged out to his car. He jumped into the seat, and started the engine. A low, emanating rumble followed, and Skyline floored it, spinning the car around in a smoky flurry, and raced off into town.
___________________
Skyline, Rainbow, Spike, and Sketchy were all seated inside his High End Performance G37, modified with back seats, and Skyline started the engine. The high powered engine spit fire out the tailpipe, and he started the dimension spell. Soon, the car seemed to glow a transparent pinkish-purple color, and in the blink of an eye, the car shifted from the garage to a side street of some sort. Skyline shook off some dizziness, and shifted into first gear. he pulled ahead and turned onto another road. In a few seconds, they all were taken agasp.
Tokyo.
They all stared at all the lights in people in amazement and wonder. Being used to Equestria, this was very different. Skyline laughed and kicked it up a gear. I pressed the throttle and the car sped ahead, making the scenery blur. He clutch kicked and the car slid sideways, barely missing pedestrians. He revved the car loudly and slowed. He stopped in front of the hotel where they were going to stay.
They got out and Skyline locked the car. They walked up to the entrance. After Skyline told someone inside something in Japanese, they were lead to a two-bedroom room. Spike and Rainbow decided to bunk together, and Skyline was to sleep with Sketchy.
They took a few moments to dress, and Skyline put on a suit, leaving it unbuttoned. After everyone was ready, Rainbow said that she wanted to run an get something. Reluctantly, Skyline and the others agreed, and thirty minutes later, she came back. She was dressed in a simple dress, with her usual rainbow coloring.
They got up and followed Skyline out the door. Skyline found a ladder, and they all climbed to the roof. Twenty floors up, the city was beautiful. As far as the eye could see, buildings, lights, people.
They stood in a circle and Skyline brought out some Vodka. He poured shots for everyone.
“Well, this might be the only day we get to do something like this, so we’d better enjoy it.”
Sketchy chuckled. “Well, maybe just you.”
“Whatever.” Skyline said with a laugh.
They all raised their glasses. “Vegas rules. Whatever happens tonight, it’ll stay between us. No matter what.” Skyline said.
Everyone nodded. Everyone drank their shot. After a moment, Skyline exhaled, laughing. “I’ll be wasted within five minutes, so you guys are responsible for me and my car.
“Let’s do this!” Yelled Spike.
They all jogged to the access door, not knowing what the night would bring.
__________________
Skyline opened his eyes.
He took a moment to collect his thoughts, and got up.
He looked around. He was in their room, yes, but there was trash absolutely everywhere. He also was apparently sleeping on the floor, he noticed. He rubbed his eyes and got up.
“Rainbow? Sketch? Spike?”
Rainbow then proceeded to fall off of the ceiling fan, and Skyline jumped back, surprised he didn’t notice her. She got to her feet quickly and looked ready to bust heads. “Skyline? What happened?”
Skyline rubbed his eyes again. How did that thing hold her weight?
The fan fan fell to the floor with a loud crash. “I have no idea” said Skyline. “Let's find the others.”
After a few moments, Skyline found Sketchy curled up behind the toilet.
“Bro! Get up!”
Sketchy hit his head on the toilet as he attempted to get up. “Ow! Ugh… what happened last night?”
“No idea. We gotta find Spike.”
Just then, Rainbow called from the next room. “Sky? Spike isn’t here.”
Skyline bolted out of the bathroom “WHAT?”
“He’s gone. I-I have no idea where he is!”
“Dammit, we’re hungover.” Said Skyline. “Are you sure that the alcohol you bought was any good?”
“I’m sure! Honestly!” She smiled nervously.
Skyline sighed and rested his head on the wall. “Okay, well, we need to think. What happened last night?”
“The only thing I remember was drinking on the roof.” Said Sketchy.
“I think we all remember at least THAT much.” Said Rainbow.
“Hey! Enough! Here’s what we know: We drank on the roof and now we can’t remember shit afterwards. Now we wake up and Spike’s gone. I am having total Deja Vu right now….. everyone, search for a clue, anything.” Said Skyline
After a few moments, this attempt turned up nothing.
Skyline sat on the floor. After putting his head down, he popped it back up.
“Okay”, he said. “I think I may know someone.”
Skyline’s car, thank Celestia, was parked in front of the hotel. He got in and turned the key. The G37 roared to life. Sketchy and Rainbow got in.
“Before we go”, Skyline said, “Where, exactly, did you get the vodka?”
At this, she rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, the place looked like a bar, I… I think. I just asked for their strongest stuff and they handed me that bottle”
“Rainbow, there are a lot of weird-ass places around here, if you haven’t noticed yet. You could’ve asked me where you could go.”
“Yeah, well, Hindsight’s always 20/20, eh?” Rainbow laughed nervously.
“For all we know, there could have been some serious drugs in that alcohol. Stuff that you couldn’t even fathom.”
“Relax, okay? What's done is done! Let's go find Spike.” she said.
Skyline sighed, and Shifted into first. He pressed the accelerator, and off they went.
After Rainbow showed Skyline the place she got the alcohol from, followed by a shootout with the Japanese drug ring, It had turned nighttime. Skyline drove down a narrow back road, and soon approached a parking garage. He turned in and stopped at the barrier. A less-than-professional looking man approached the driver’s door.
“Turn sharp…” The attendant said.
“And drift wide.” Skyline replied.
The attendant grinned and raised the bar. Skyline drove in. After going up a few floors, there were cars as far as the eye could see. Hondas, Nissans, Subies*, and even Beamers** were everywhere. The cars were hot, and the women came just as hot. Skyline drove slowly through the crowd and found a parking space.
*Subaru Nickname
**BMW Nickname
“Dude!” Said Sketchy. “This place is off the hook! Seems like a cool place to have a bachelor party!”
“That’s what I was thinking…” Said Skyline.
They got out and followed Skyline up a couple more floors and soon found what Skyline called “Mona’s Revenge” - A Silver ‘02 Silvia. Skyline approached the man standing beside it, but they were stopped by a shorter dark-skinned man.
“Hey man, where you think you’re goin’?” the man said.
“Twink, lemmie see Sean.” Skyline said.
Twinkie laughed. “Oh, hey Sky. Took me a sec to realize it was you.”
Skyline walked to the man named Sean. “Hey, Sean, I need to ask ya some things..”
“Neela, you owe me five bucks. Told ya he’d come to us, hungover.” Said Sean.
“Whatever.” The woman beside him said with a laugh.
“Anyway…” Skyline interjected. “I was here last night, wasn’t I?”
“Yep. It was all you guys, and one other.”
“Bingo. This extra man, he had green hair, right?”
“Yeah. You all left together though. I eavesdropped a bit on you guys, knowing you’d want to know what happened the next day. You guys mentioned Mine’s***.”
***Japanese car tuning company, the mostly work with Skylines.
“Thanks Man. I’ll see you later,” said Skyline.
They jogged back to the car and Skyline put it into drive.
They arrived at Mine’s Tuning and hour later. As he drove up, he choked on his his own breath and stopped the car.
Police tape surrounded the building, with broken glass everywhere.
“Holy shit…” Said Skyline. “I trashed Mine’s. I fucking trashed it. Oh my Celestia…” Skyline put his head on the steering wheel. After a moment, he bolted upright. He put his hand in his pocket, and pulled out a valet ticket.
“DO NOT tell me I stole one of their cars too!” Skyline yelled. He floored the gas and sped to the valet.
Skyline stared incredulously at the white Mine’s R34 that was parked in front of him. Rainbow and Sketchy exchanged nervous looks.
“So we went to some street races…” Said Rainbow.
“And stole a car from Mine’s?” asked Sketchy.
Skyline, after a moment, whistled nervously as he approached the car. When he touched it, Skyline’s horn appeared and glowed blue, and a moment later, he and the car were gone. A few moments later, he reappeared, without the car.
“Sky…” Said Rainbow. “Where’d you take the car?”
“Uh, to a certain warehouse behind a certain garage, why?”
“Really Skyline? Really?” Sketchy said.
“Hey, it’s a beautiful car. I poofed up a duplicate back at Mine’s. I get to keep the original.”
Rainbow and Sketchy sighed in unison. “You never change,” said Rainbow.
Skyline approached them. “I left for another reason. I have a way we could find Spike.”
“Let’s hear your brilliant plan,” Sketchy sarcastically replied.
“I won’t be telling you. Alex will.”
“Who?”
At that, Skyline pulled out a silver disk the size of a coaster and pressed a button. A holographic image of a woman appeared standing on the disk, with her hand on her hip.
“Everyone, this is Alexis, but I call her Alex. She’s my AI, and she’s going to help us find Spike. Hopefully,” Skyline said.
“You do realize the wedding is in, like, a few hours, right?” said Rainbow.
“What?” said Alex. “I don’t think I can work THAT fast.You should’ve mentioned that, Sky.”
Skyline sighed. “Crap.”
“What Happened?!” said Twilight.
“Well, uh… I mean that we lost him. I’m sorry! We drank some drugged alcohol, and when we came to, Spike was gone,” Skyline said.
Meanwhile, rainbow leaned over the railing of the skyscraper. Sketchy sat on the concrete floor nearby.
“Well this sucks,” said Sketchy.
“Are you kidding? Spike is way too important to be lost like this,” said Rainbow.
“Well i’m not the one who got the alcohol that caused this,” said Sketchy.
“I can’t read japanese! I’m not as diverse as Sky, you know.”
While they argued, Alex’s disk sat on the wall. She looked at the city.
“It’s been a long time since Skyline’s need my help like this. It’s amusing, how instead of getting more answers, I end up asking more questions.”
She sighed, and her gaze fell upon the road below. After a few moments, she found herself looking at a japanese Nissan R34 police car.
“There are a lot of R34s around here…” she said. After a moment, it hit her.
“Skyline! Hang up the phone!”
“What? No, I’m busy apologising!”
Alex rolled her eyes and tapped into his phone, forcing the call to hang up.
“What the hell, Alex? This better be good,” exclaimed Skyline.
“Look down there,” said Alex. “See that R34 police car? It has a police database computer inside. If you can get to it, I can find Spike before the wedding!”
“Well, you’d better be fast, because the wedding…” He checked his phone, “Is in 45 minutes.”
Alex smiled. “You’d better get me to that computer then, huh?”
Skyline hurried over to RD and Sketchy. “Come on guys, we have to piss off the Japanese.”
Rainbow and Sketchy looked at him with disappointed looks.
“Do you want Spike back or not?”
Skyline put on his suit after pulling his backpack out of the trunk of his G37. He pulled the catch on his Vector K10 and took a deep breath.
“35 minutes,” Alex said.
Skyline bolted toward the cop car and took aim. He turned on his voice modifier.
“Get out of the car! I have no interest in shooting you.”
The cops scrambled out of the car and ran away. Skyline hopped into the police car and started the engine. He shifted from park to 1st gear and set Alex’s disk on the police laptop.
“Those cops are calling for backup, Sky. We need to be on the move,” Alex said.
“Finally,” Skyline said, “Some fun i’ll remember…”
Skyline floored it and sped off. Sketchy and RD followed in the G37. Skyline slid into an alleyway and shifted to 3rd. When he hit the main road, he was greeted by two more R34 police vehicles. Skyline took a sharp left and hoped those cops were amateurs.
“How much longer?” asked Skyline.
“I need 20 more minutes,” replied Alex
“We only have 30, so get to it!”
Skyline reached the Wangan Highway, and he shifted into 6th gear. Just before they entered the tunnel, he swore he heard a helicopter. This sent a shiver down his spine.
“Almost… There…” said Alex.
Just as they exited the tunnel, a helicopter swooped in to block the road. Skyline slammed the brakes and slid the car, and men in the helicopter shot a metal claw at the side of his car, near the driver’s door.
The dash blew a fuse and the electronic screen blurred. Skyline, knowing what this was, peeled off back into the tunnel. As he reached about 90 MPH, the car refused to go faster. It was, in fact, slowing down.
“Sky, it’s shutting off! Locking me out! Do something!” screamed Alex.
“Hold on…” Skyline said. He grabbed his gun and pinned it to the gas pedal. He rolled down the window, and began to carefully climb out. Using his insulated armored gloves, he grabbed the claw and pulled. When it wouldn’t come out, Skyline began to worry.
Sketchy, in the G37 with RD, pulled the car up behind Skyline and pushed the R34 to keep it from stopping. Skyline activated his suit’s enhanced strength and pulled as hard as he could. With a loud metallic SHINK, the claw came out. The car's electronics beamed with life, and it began to accelerate again. Skyline laughed.
He got back into the driver’s seat and drove out the tunnel. When he did, lo and behold, the chopper was waiting. Skyline flung the claw at it, embedding it into the side. The helicopter sparked, lost throttle, and spun violently. It met the road, and fell sideways. The occupants escaped before it exploded.
“Found him!” yelled Alex.
“Great, where is he?” Skyline asked.
Alex sighed and shook her head.
5 minutes later, Skyline was running into his warehouse. He let in Sketchy and Rainbow, and ran to the Mine’s R34 he had taken earlier that day. With a single swift motion, he popped the trunk. There lay Spike, curled up, his face bruised.
“Spike! Spike! We gotta go!” Said Rainbow. “The wedding’s in 10!”
“Wha-huh?” Spike groaned, sitting up. “What happened last night?”
“You don’t wanna know,” said Skyline. “Now let’s go!”
They ran to the G37 and climbed in, Sketchy and Skyline using magic to get everyone's wedding clothes on. Once they finished, Skyline floored it, with 5 minutes till the wedding.
Skyline gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. He used magic the push the motor harder, and they hit 200MPH. His passengers held on for dear life.
One minute left. Canterlot was in sight. Sky’s eyebrows furrowed. “Everyone buckle up!”
“Sky, you're scaring us. What are you thinking?” Asked Spike.
Skyline saw a large pile of dirt on the side of the road, and came to the conclusion that it’d be enough. He turned the car, aiming for it.
“Skyline, what the hell are you doing?!” yelled Sketchy.
“I am NOT going to be late to my wedding!” Skyline answered.
“The car hit the ramp and was airborne instantly. The car seemed to soar almost in slow motion. The car headed forward he royal garden, next to the wedding. Skyline assured himself that the car was level, and he braced for impact.
(Twilight’s POV)
Twilight saw in a lawn chair, trying to call Skyline for the 124th time. After a few moments, he didn't pick up.
“Has he answered yet?” asked AJ.
“Nope,” said Twilight. “I’m pretty worried.”
“Twi, it’s not even your weddin’! Plus, we’ve seen Sky do the impossible! Like, all the time! I have a feeling he’ll make it.”
Twilight looked over at Fluttershy. She was fiddling with her hair. Again. At least she was careful enough to not mess it up, thankfully. She looked concerned. Twilight sighed.
She picked up her phone to try calling Skyline again, but as she grabbed it, she heard a loud ca-CHUNK sound. She looked up and saw a black car flying into the garden. She stood and dashed to the side with AJ, and the car landed flat in the grass, sliding into a tree.
Twilight carefully approached the car. The driver threw the door wide open with a loud CREAK, and it collapsed onto the grass. Then a dark blue figure fell out.
“For the record,” said Skyline, “I’m on time…”
Skyline’s POV
Twilight dashed over to help Skyline up. Once he was standing, she grabbed his ear and dragged him toward the building.
“Hey! Ow!” complained Skyline.
“If you can take a bullet and a car crash, you’ll survive this. You look like hell, and you worried us sick,” said Twilight. “And you found Spike, I presume?”
“Yeah! Ow! Will you quit it?”
“YOU CRASHED INTO THE ROYAL GARDEN! This is not an argument!” said Twilight.
Five minutes later, Skyline stepped back outside, his hair cleaned and his usual style. His suit was no longer misshapen and wrinkled, and his converse sneakers were swapped for some more formal shoes.
“Come on!” yelled Rainbow. “It’s starting!”
Skyline stood in front of the crowd, holding his hands behind his back. Beside him stood Sketchy, Fastback, and Spike. On the other side stood the girls and even Afterburner. In the crowd, Skyline took notice of a few particular faces. Morning Dew stood out a little, especially when she pulled up in her bright red Ferrari 458 Italia. SuperNova stood in the back, her arms crossed. An old friend, who went by the name of Koi Fish, sat in the crowd, giving Skyline a thumbs up. In the front row sat Princess Luna and Princess Cadance, who was accompanied by Shining Armor. Celestia stood at the stage, to give the vows.
“Why are there so many people?” Skyline asked Twilight.
“They made it a royal wedding, given the Elements of Harmony’s status, and you being an alicorn.”
Soon, the music started. Skyline could see Fluttershy walking slowly down the aisle. Skyline stood up straight. He’s about to have a wife, and he has a home, a career, and all of his favorite cars. Pieces were falling into place.
Celestia began the vows. Skyline chuckled silently to himself. In his heart, he knew he’d miss the bullets. The action. But a nagging thought prodded the back of his head… He still needed to look into that red and black mustang Discord found...
If the time came, Celestia would call upon his help once again.
Skyline looked over at Fluttershy. Her soft pink hair was quite elegant, styled to accompany her wedding dress. She’d always been a shy character, to everything and everyone, besides animals. But once she got behind a steering wheel, Skyline discovered, she’s as smooth as Tak Fujiwara.
Celestia continued the vows. Fluttershy looked at Skyline. She looked as beautiful as ever. Skyline wasn’t sure if he’d ever have a better day.
Skyline, we have a serious problem, a voice said in Skyline’s head.
Skyline raised his eyebrow. Alex usually never contacts him like this.
Alex, what’s wrong? Skyline asked her, in his head.
Skyline, be very careful of what you do next. You have at least twenty men with eyes on you, and they aren’t here for the cake. There are also two snipers, I might add.
Can you locate my bag? said Skyline.
It’s just inside, beyond the people. Once you get the suit on, I can help tactically. I’m gonna stop talking now. Good Luck.
I make my own luck, Skyline replied.
Skyline looked around, careful to be subtle. He noticed a handful of men seeming to keep an eye on him. He couldn’t put eyes on the sniper, however. Just then his heart faltered, his ears perking up. He heard the all too familiar metallic spring-loaded click-click of a Ballista Sniper Rifle. In that instant, Skyline dove, protecting Fluttershy.
“Get down!” He yelled.
The gunshot rang out the moment Skyline moved. The bullet hit him in his left shoulder. Skyline fell off the platform into the grass and he clutched the wound. The bullet had gone straight through. At least he wouldn't have to fish it out later.
Fluttershy leaned over him, on her knees. Security moved to protect them.
“Skyline, are you alright? Oh Celestia, you’re bleeding!” She cried.
Skyline moved to get up. He by accident used his left arm for support, and collapsed from the pain.
“Get… the… Suit…” He groaned.
Some security were already way ahead of him, as a couple guards ran over with it. One got shot in the arm and went down. The other made it to Skyline.
Skyline put his palm on the front of the bag and the black metal turned seemingly fluid, and surged up his arm. It turned itself white as it finished securing itself. Skyline got up slowly, fully suited up. Alex applied medical support to the gunshot wound.
“Skyline, I can help you have enough strength to deal with this, but you won’t really be able to use that arm,” Alex told him.
“Don’t need it,” Skyline replied.
Sky punched a few things into his datapad on the inside of his left arm. The Katana on his back changed into a black one-handed sword with a sheath. He pulled it out swiftly, metal ringing against metal.
The sword, named Aerodynamic Escape, was made of a smooth obsidian material, with fluorescent blue trim. A little keychain hung from the hilt, his cutie mark.
He turned to Fluttershy. “Stay down and hide. I’ll deal with them.”
She nodded. Skyline ran forward. He took one enemy by surprise and drove his sword into his back. He pulled it out, and whipped it to the side, cutting another’s throat. Skyline’s eyes flickered red for a moment.
He sheathed the sword and pulled out his hidden blades, protruding from his wrists. He slid toward two enemies, and cut the backs of their knees. As they went down, Skyline plunged his knife into their necks, snuffing the last their life out of them.
Skyline enabled his EXO suit function, and thrust jumped onto a nearby section of roof. Jumping from roof to roof, he made his way to the base of a tower, way above the ground.
“They’re above you,” Alex was saying, “So be careful. Don’t get shot by one while dealing with the other.”
“Got it.”
The outer layer of armor on Sky’s left arm seemingly melted and re-fused, morphing into a long black chain. With the flick of his wrist, the chain was set ablaze.
“Thank youuu, Ghost Rider…” He said.
Skyline ran against the wall, climbing up the first tower. When he reached the window, he swung the chain in, wrapping it around the barrel of the rifle, and yanking it away. Skyline caught the sniper rifle in the air, and pulled the bolt. Skyline jumped in and fired, hitting point blank into the man’s chest. After killing him, Skyline threw the gun aside.
After a moment of reflection, Sky shook it off and turned. He ran to the window, and backflipped out. After reaching the base of the other tower, he climbed once again to the window. He readied his chain, but when he popped up, the target grabbed his neck, pulling him in. Skyline was caught a bit off guard.
“Damn shoulder…” He groaned.
The man pulled out a large pistol and put it to Sky’s helmet, right in the crack that was inflicted so long ago. Skyline closed his eyes, and heard a gunshot.
His eyes flew open.
The man was on the ground, and beyond him stood a familiar face: Twilight.
She held a Five-Seven pistol in her hands, like he’d taught the girls awhile back. Just in case he put them in any position that they needed it. Flutters didn’t do too well.
She dropped the gun and helped Skyline up.
“When you first taught us to shoot, I thought you were crazy,” she said.
“Don’t doubt me. I know I always say that, but it’s true.”
Skyline picked up Twilight, wincing a little, and flew her out the window, to the ground below.
The injured were getting medical help, thankfully, and the men sent to kill him weren’t too good at their jobs, because there wasn’t any deaths. Skyline pondered this. He jogged over to where he left Fluttershy.
“Flutters, you okay?”
Fluttershy poked her head out of a bush. She ran toward Skyline, throwing her arms around him.
“You had me so worried!”
“Yeah,” Sky replied. “I figured.”
Skyline collapsed the suit back into a backpack. Right after, he winced in pain and fell to his knees.
“I’ll go get the paramedics,” Fluttershy said.
“I’m fine, really,” He protested.
She called them over anyway, and the got to work patching up his shoulder. The girls soon walked up.
“Well,” said Rainbow Dash, “That was one hell of a wedding. I think I got a bullet in my slice of cake…”
“Quiet Rainbow,” AJ interjected,
“The car gonna be okay?” Rainbow asked.
“I’m gonna have to replace the whole suspension, and most of the body panels, but it should be fine,” Skyline replied. “Hey, can I have a sec with Rainbow?”
They all nodded and stepped away. Sky turned to her.
“Rainbow, after today, I realize that I can’t keep doing this alone. Not entirely, anyway…”
Rainbow kicked at the dirt with her hoof.
Skyline took a deep breath. “Rainbow, in a couple of days, meet me at my garage. There’s something I need to show you… Tell the girls the can come back over now.”
Rainbow looked up at him. “Skyline, before you went off to that dimension for a coupla months…. That kiss, I mean. I want to apologise.”
Skyline raised his eyebrow, slightly grinning. Rainbow Dash, apologising?
“Water under the bridge. It’s fine.”
“Well, not really… Partially because, you know, being married now and all that”
Skyline tilted his head in curiosity. “Partially?”
“Um…” Rainbow paused, her hand rubbing the back of her neck. “I’m with Spitfire now…”
Skyline chuckled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, nothing. I remember working on her car once though. A 2017 Ford GT. I gotta say, It really gets the job done with only a V-6 Ecoboost…”
Rainbow crossed her arms. “You’re going on a tangent again.”
“Right, sorry.”
The girls came back and eventually left one by one, having thing to do and places to go. Soon Sky was left with just Flutters and and Twilight. They started to walk.
Skyline pulled out his phone. “Let me take a call real quick.”
He dialed the ten digits and the phone rung. It picked up.
“Hello?” said Discord.
“We need to talk soon,” Skyline said.
“Why not now?”
Skyline felt the air in front of him displace, and in that instance, Skyline found Discord standing there. The Draconequus grinned. Skyline hung up the phone.
“Why is he here?” asked Twilight.
Discord gave Fluttershy a quick hug. “Hush, dear Twilight. Let the big boys talk,” Discord sarcastically replied. He then handed Skyline a yellow document package.
“Everything you needed is in there. I’d love to stay and chat, but parting is such sweet sorrow. Goodbye!” With that, he snapped his fingers, disappearing.
Skyline placed the folder in a pocket dimension of his. They walked toward the main castle. They walked inside, reaching the main hall. To the side, tucked into the corner, was the remains of of Sky’s Supra from the parking garage collapse. Skyline approached the car-turned-modern-art hesitantly, running his hand along the crumpled hood.
“You know, you never told me what exactly happened that day, after the collapse,” Fluttershy said.
Skyline pulled a crowbar out of his pocket dimension, walking toward the rear of the car. “That day, I was prepared to sacrifice myself for everyone else. I took them by surprise, they were too distracted to use their powerful magic instead. But afterwards, I realized something more.”
Twilight and Fluttershy raised their eyebrows in curiosity.
Skyline put the edge or the crowbar under the ledge of the trunk. “After being trapped under the rubble, I blacked out. I opened my eyes to see myself falling through darkness, like I was dead. I’m sorry if this sounds really weird, but I swear this happened.
“After a moment, something spoke. Apparently a spirit of some sort… They told me they’ve been watching me, that they knew my fate, that they had set it. They told me I could now live the life I wanted, with the ones I loved.” Skyline glanced at Fluttershy.
“When I think more about it, it felt like they said it like this was a… game. A deadly game where I am the victim. A victim to fate.”
Skyline thrust the crowbar downwards, forcing the trunk upwards. Inside he grabbed what appeared to be a necklace, from which hung a large metal pendant shaped like a treble clef entwined with a bass clef.
“Now I think that all the people I watched die, the good, the bad, and the innocent…. it was another part of the game. I’m not going to play this game anymore. All I need to do is cover all my bases, and tie up loose ends. Then I can cheat death the only way I know how.”
Fluttershy pulled Sky into a hug. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. But i’ll make sure you don’t become another variable. I promise.”
Twilight stared at the car, obviously deep in thought. “Skyline…” she said. “What exactly is in the folder discord gave you?”
Skyline jammed the trunk closed. “Confirmation.”
“Of what?”
“That the Guardian Angel still has a list. While crossing out three names, he got the attention of a more powerful one.”
Skyline retrieved the folder and handed it to Twilight, and walked out the doors. She hesitantly opened it, and gasped.
Tyrek.
Chapter Two - Terminal Velocities
Skyline had finished the final touches on the new Midnight Purple II paint for his BNR34, and grinned wide in satisfaction. Paired with the carbon fiber hood, not to mention the full Nismo body kit, it looked beastly. The car’s curves were smooth to the touch, and was begging for a run on the Canterlot mountain pass. When the clutch drops, the BS stops, Sky always thought.
Skyline found himself looking at rims on the internet. He was looking at a set of KoNIGs when he heard the deep rumble of an engine outside. Skyline detected ‘Muscle Car’ right away. Skyline got up from his seat on an old couch and ran to the large garage doors, grabbing the chain to hoist it open.
Rainbow Dash waved at him through the windshield of a 2015 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack. She pulled forward carefully, stopping and putting the cap in park inside, shutting off the engine. The vehicle sputtered and fell silent, the door opening with a loud pop, and she closed it behind her after she got out.
“New ride?” Skyline asked casually.
“More like a test drive. I’m really liking it though,” She replied.
“Always welcome to bring it by.”
“I’m counting on it,” Rainbow said with an amused grin. “So, what did you want to show me?”
Skyline motioned for her to follow him. He strode to the back door, into the rear alley that lead to the front of his warehouse. He opened the door, and walked out, continuing to walk until they reached a big tree on top of a hill, a short walk to the expanse of grass behind the lot. He flew up into the mess of branches and leaves, and pulled down a long, odd shaped black bag.
“Remember when I taught you how to shoot a handgun?”
“Yeah, why?”
“Because I’m gonna teach you how to use a bigger toy.”
Sky unzipped the length of the bag, and inside was a number of metal parts of various sizes. One thing for sure: It was a gun alright. Skyline grabbed the pieces and began to assemble them, twisting this and clicking that. Soon he held a DSR 50 sniper rifle in his hands, spray painted coyote tan. He racked the bolt with a sharp metallic ring, and got onto one knee. He pressed the stock to his shoulder and took aim. He pulled the trigger after a short breath, and the kick jammed the gun toward him. The bullet shot a branch clean off of a distant tree.
“Jeez. I’m sorry, but I gotta ask: How the hay do you get this stuff? Maybe a better question would be how you learned to shoot it…” Rainbow said.
Skyline stood back up, and straightened. He put the stock of the weapon to the ground, almost like a walking stick.
“There’s a proverb I learned once: ‘For want of a nail, the horseshoe was lost. For want of a horseshoe, the steed was lost. For want of a steed, the message was not delivered. For want of an undelivered message, the war was lost.’ This, among other quotes and proverbs I’ve picked up over the years, explains a lot of life lessons I’ve learned thus far. Lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way. Rainbow, I’ve seen people die in front of me,” Skyline explained. “People I loved… But I like to believe I’m different now. And I thought I should look into some, er, insurance.”
Rainbow nodded slightly. “Okay then, teach me.”
Sky chuckled at this. “Your skills need refining first. Reaction time, patience, etcetera. You’d dislocate your shoulder, not account any drop, or something of the sort.”
“Sounds perfect for a training montage…” Rainbow replied sarcastically.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Go get your car, and I’ll see you at the Ponyville Motor Speedway.” Skyline said.
“That’s kinda far, Sky. That’s north of the main town.”
“Not at speed it isn’t.”
Rainbow stuck her tongue out, and suddenly bolted to the garage. “Race ya there!” She called back.
Skyline smiled and broke into a sprint.
“Counting on it.”
Rainbow’s Dodge rolled up to the starting line of the drag strip. Skyline stood near the lights, holding the switch. He pulled out a walkie talkie.
“Alright Dashie, here’s a tried-and-true reaction time test. On green you go, alright?”
“Got it,” She replied back.
Skyline flicked the switch. The light flashed green, but Rainbow hadn’t shifted into first gear. The time it took her to fix her mistake cost her time to be a full second.
“Back it up!” Sky shouted. “Let’s run it again.”
They went at it again and again. Eventually RD’s time was well within a tenth of a second. Skyline wrapped it up, satisfied. Rainbow made a comment about going to see Scootaloo, and whipped her ride out onto the main road as she left. She was going to meet him again tomorrow. Soon Skyline heard a familiar growl, an approaching rotary engine.
He turned and was welcomed by the rev of a yellow and pink ‘08 RX-8. The engine sputtered and fell silent, and out stepped Fluttershy. She got out, running to him and they hugged, sharing a brief kiss.
“What were you up to with Dashie?” She asked, curious.
“Just improving my chances of not getting shot, if that makes any sense.”
They held their embrace for a couple more moments, and they strode to the RX-8. Skyline climbed into the passenger seat, and clicked together the four-point seatbelt. I’ll go back for the GTR later, he thought. Fluttershy climbed into the Driver’s seat, and did the same. She put the key into the slot and turned it, making the car roar to life. Music to my ears. She then shifted from neutral to first, and pulled away. As she drove, Fluttershy tapped the steering wheel lightly.
“Where to?” She asked.
“Nowhere in particular. Maybe the mountain pass?”
She smiled in response, and slid the shift knob into 3rd. After a few moments passed, Skyline spoke up.
“You seem different from when I first met you. Not a bad thing, though, but you seem less shy. Around me, at least. Almost a different person.” Skyline said.
Fluttershy remained silent as she heel-toed through a corner.
“I’ve taught you everything I can put into words,” Sky continued. “Your car is almost like an extension of your very being when you drive.”
Fluttershy exhaled quietly. “It just feels natural. It really is nice to get outside once and awhile, not being holed up in my cottage…”
They approached a switchback, and Fluttershy downshifted, and clutch-kicked through the first bend. She used the momentum and reversed it, sliding back and forth through the quick hairpins.
“I dunno…” Sky said, grabbing the handle above his door. “I’m scared, Flutters. I’ve seen everything around me get screwed up but this. And my luck only seems to get more and more rotten.”
“Well, maybe you’ve found the luck you need.”
Skyline sat back in the bucket seat, pondering that, A variable in a game of fate, he thought.
Just then, Skyline’s phone started ringing in his pocket. He pulled it out and hit answer.
“Hey, what’s up?” He said, his usual answer. A couple moments later his face grew deadly pale. Fluttershy glanced over and saw Skyline begin to sweat some.
“Everything alright?” She asked.
“No…” Sky spoke into the phone. “This has gotta be some prank call.” After a few moments, his face remained pale.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Skyline asked. His eyebrows furrowed in worry. Fluttershy decelerated and stopped the car. She pulled the handbrake and looked over to Sky.
“Alright, if that’s what you wish… We can settle this without bullets,” Skyline said, and he hung up the phone. He punched an address into his phone. “Flutters, go to this address,” He said as he showed her the phone. “Whatever you do, please be careful.”
“Skyline, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?”
“My rotten luck,” He simply replied.
-
Forty-five minutes later, they reached the address. They drove through a mildly wooded area a few miles out from Manehatttan, and soon came to a stop. Fluttershy cut the engine, looking over at Sky. When Skyline got out, Fluttershy began to as well, but Skyline shut her door before she could get out. “Let me deal with this. If you don’t hear from me within twenty-four hours, then notify Twilight. Understand?”
She silently nodded.
Skyline approached a large house among a couple trees. He had a bad feeling that something here was wrong. He walked up to the large front door and rang the doorbell. The tone echoed inside the house, and then he heard heavy steps coming toward the door. Then the knob turned and the door swung open, revealing the man within. He shut the door behind him and stepped outside.
Back on the road, Fluttershy’s car sat quietly, and she gasped as she saw the figure now standing on the doorstep. It was none other than Tyrek.
Fluttershy fumbled for her phone to call Twilight.
Skyline stood straight. “I assume this meeting is in good faith?”
Tyrek smirked. Sky bit his tongue.
“I’ve heard quite a lot about you. A shame that you gave up being a mercenary.”
“I’ve realized where I’m needed most,” Skyline replied calmly.
“Hm. Formalities aside, you are a problem with my return to power. Like Johnny Gat to Zinyak, as you may understand it. I decided you need to be put aside, one way or another. I hope you’ll respect my more… Diplomatic solution.”
“This solution being?” Sky asked.
“We race. The only right way I can beat you.”
“And the stakes?”
“Whoever loses leaves Equestria. That’s the windup and the pitch,” Tyrek replied cooly. Skyline could sense that there was a detail off about this, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
Sky took a deep breath. “I accept, and trust that you’ll honor the deal.”
“Of course.”
“So what are we racing in? Hopes and dreams?”
Tyrek strode over to the garage close by, with Sky in cautious tow. When they reached the large doors, Tyrek pressed a button and the doors rose.
“Two identical Lamborghini Huracans,” Tyrek said. “Take your pick.”
Skyline walked over to the yellow one, and Tyrek took the remaining black one. “I had a feeling you’d pick that one,” Tyrek commented under his breath. Skyline’s ears twitched. A massive red flag.
Skyline turned the key and started his engine. The engine sputtered for a brief moment and growled to life. Skyline inspected the car. Gas was full, Fluids topped off. Brakes firm. Tyrek pulled his car forward a little, and Skyline buckled up, following. The drove along the driveway to the road, and lined up. Skyline noticed that Fluttershy’s car was missing. That’s not good…
After they lined up, Sky pumped the gas pedal. The engine whined viciously in response. Skyline flicked his paddle shifter into first gear.
The race was to go from here, the outskirts of Manehattan, to Las Pegasus. They had to go through The Crystal Empire, Canterlot, Ponyville, and Appleoosa along the way. Skyline gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles. Tyrek took the liberty of using some magic to manifest a drag strip light. The first light turned yellow.
Skyline revved the engine repeatedly, the car protesting loudly when the RPMs went into the red. The second light turned yellow.
Sky’s foot was firm on the clutch, the other on the gas. The third light went yellow. In the moments that followed, the air stood still.
Green.
Sky let off the clutch and the wheels screamed for a split second before the car rocketed forward. Skyline flicked the upshift paddle as the car accelerated. His head was pressed firm to the headrest, and his eyes were set firm on the gauges. Second, Third, Fourth… The G-forces were reluctant to let him move at all. Skyline looked at the dash and found himself going one fifty before he knew it. He glanced briefly at his rear-view mirror. Tyrek was tailgating, keeping up smoothly. He was much too close for comfort. Sky flicked the paddle into fifth, hitting the gas and powersliding through a wide bend, maintaining a smooth forty-five degree angle. As he straightened the vehicle out, the revs resumed their build up, and Skyline’s eyes darted again to the mirror. Tyrek hadn’t done a slide like Skyline had, and was climbing into Sky’s left blind spot. Skyline cursed under his breath. No more showboating. Focus on the apex, he told himself. Use the racing line.
They reached a freeway on-ramp, and Sky hit the brakes early, turning wide. He slipped smoothly into the turn, with Tyrek on his tail. As they accelerated, Sky felt the car shift slightly as he got a slight amount of airtime. He floored it once he hit the main straight, and he carefully fished his silver disk out of his pocket. He flicked open its USB, and put it into the center console. He pressed its button and quickly held both hands to the wheel again, approaching one-ninety.
Alex appeared on the console screen. “Skyline, you okay?” She asked straight away. “I tapped the call.”
“Dammit Alex, this isn’t the time. I’m sure you heard the route. Lay it out for me please,” Skyline replied.
“On it.”
Skyline glanced at the tachometer. The car was running at 8000 RPM at the moment, in sixth gear. The cars flew down the highway toward the Crystal Empire at breakneck speeds. Skyline turned off the Anti-lock Brakes, as well as Traction Control, in hopes of more top-end power. Onward he hurdled, virtually unassisted, with his wits and strength as his playing cards. Skyline glanced at the rear view. Tyrek was following about a yard behind him, off to his left. Two terminal Velocities, fighting an endless battle of competition and loyalty.
“Take the next off-ramp, Sky,” Alex said.
Skyline obliged, turning into the corresponding lane. The castle was in sight, a beautiful expanse of scenery on the horizon, surrounded by a city of crystal. He found the straightest route to the castle, and made the turn. He accelerated smoothly, as to not upset the car’s traction. He reached third gear and wove cleanly through the traffic on his approach. Left, right, left, left, the car went. Ahead laid the main campus, and there spun a Crystal Heart. Skyline slid into the path, drifting around the artifact, of which prevented this area being wiped off the map and left to an endless onslaught of snow. Skyline straighten out and controlled his speed. “Get me a route to Canterlot. This battle is far from over,” Sky said, glancing to his side. Tyrek managed to crawl into his right blind spot.
Sky shifted up, and soared to the interstate, determined to win the battle before it would lead to war.
