DLwaLF Book 2 - Never Stop Driving

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.