Night had begun to fall once again over Wing City. Lightning's BMW M3 was flying down the streets of the downtown area. Her destination was a race on the northern area of Westside near Bayview Park. She has grown confident in her new ride, but she was anything but unprepared. She had her head on a swivel looking for any signs of Rogue or his crew. He wasn't making any attempts of hiding his tactics anymore and so she had to always watch herself out on the streets. This wasn't any less true now that night had befallen the city.

She turned left onto a residential area. The race marker was on the end of a dead end roundabout. When she arrived she expected to see 7 cars. She only found one, coincidentally it was another M3, a matte black M3 to be exact. The driver of the vehicle motioned Lightning over with a extended hoof out the driver window. The license plate on the M3 read...

"The Run"

As Lightning pulled alongside the other BMW she finally got a look at this racer. An orange earth pony stallion with a jet black mane cut unnecessarily short.

"So, looking to race?" The stallion's voice was very raspy, he also had visible scars on his face. He looked like he had been through Tartarus and back.

"Why else would I be here?"

"Good point, name's Rourke. Word is you've been conjuring up a storm around here. I've got some company that needs a good challenge. They're set up just west of here. Follow me, and try not to gather too much attention. We attract enough heat as it is."

"What kind of heat are we talking about?"

"Sometimes cops, sometimes worse. I'm the one who usually brings along the latter."

Judging by the scars on his face, Lightning assumed he had been on the wrong side of a gang. She had never seen the stallion in the City before, he was most likely from out of town.

Rourke cut the conversation short, and he led Lightning out of the residential street and to their intended destination. several minutes later Lightning found herself in Cloudbank. She and Rourke lined up their respective M3's behind the group of cars in front of them. Lightning checked the car list as every pony prepared for the start.

"Kamikaze" Mercedes CLK 500
"Earl" Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
"Baron" Porsche Cayman S
"Jewels" Ford Mustang GT '05
"Payback" Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34)
"Showdown" Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
"Rourke" BMW M3 '10
"Superstorm" BMW M3 '10

Lightning was able to get a good look at most of the cars in front of her. Rourke's M3 was obvious enough, in front of her was "Showdown" driving a Lancer Evo X. This specific lancer was mostly red and black, but bore a series of sponsor stickers and large decal on both doors. The Skyline driven by "Payback" was red with carbon fiber parts and also has several stickers adorning the hood and various places. "Jewels" had a white and rose red Mustang, on the side of the Mustang was the name Jade. "Baron" had a pure black Porsche with flame decals, pure old school. "Earl" had a silver, red, and blue Evo VIII. Vinyl's covered the entire frame of the car. Finally, "Kamikaze" with a silver CLK 500 that had a snake climbing the branch of a tree, ready to strike any that crosses its path.

Lightning could easily tell every single driver in this race was experienced. In fact, she was likely no match for any of the cars in front of her. That wouldn't stop her from trying. 3...2...1...

The entire pack shot off like a bullet. Kamikaze taking an early lead followed by Earl and Baron. Payback picked up 4th from Jewels while Rourke and Lightning split Showdown, each taking their respective positions. The pack continued west, Earl and Baron fighting among themselves as Kamikaze began to increase her lead. This allowed Payback to catch up, he was followed closely by Lightning who had pulled away from Rourke and passed Jewels. They entered Rockville and took a sharp right turn. It was followed by wide winding s-curves. Most of the packs rear-wheeled vehicles made through the corners swiftly. Payback made a double move on Earl and Baron, Lightning soon followed on Earl but was blocked by Baron's Cayman S. Rourke passed Jewels to take 5th.

They took a left onto the highway, heading straight for Fort Callahan. Kamikaze blasted through the gates and the pack followed. She held left, opting to go straight through the holding area. She honked the horn of her CLK 500 as if she knew an occupant in the fort. Payback went by, Lightning followed in third. Baron and Earl Honked as well, Rourke did not but behind him Jewels did. Showdown at this point was too far behind to mater. This move of property damage and blatant harassment was responded to in kind by sirens blaring off in the distance.

The pack of racers was intercepted by a series of Charger patrol units. Most of the units took control of the leader Kamikaze while other units converged on various racers in the pack. They pack raced through Frontera Hills. As they did so, Showdown backed off from the race. He was not in the mood for cop trouble, and so the ex-professional ditched and fled. Kamikaze was doing the opposite, fighting off the units with precision only a long standing racer could have. Payback caught up and passed her cleanly. Lightning soon caught up as well, and Rourke managed by get by Baron.

They continued further east, towards Edgewood Valley. Payback now held most of the heat in the lead, Lightning forced her way into second as a very aggressive Kamikaze was hard to pass, and Rourke began to catch up to them both with the remaining racers fought for a top five. They passed by the south side of an abandoned mall and hung a left around it. Then they turned right onto the freeway. Rourke Passed Kamikaze, and Lightning began to fight for top spot with Payback. He was no slouch, and ferociously defended the lead as if racing for a bet. Ahead of them a armored Rhino unit approached, bearing the full weight of a SWAT van. A head on collision meant serious injury, perhaps certain death.

Lightning pulled along the left side of Payback just in time to see the van cresting the hill. Payback shifted to the right and went off the road as they went under an overpass. Lightning however was in full blown panic with no where to go. Except one place.

A makeshift ramp on the far side of the embankment. It was her only option. She pulled hard left to avoid the rampaging van and took flight. Time began to crawl as the M3 became a makeshift aircraft for several seconds. She came crashing down, but maintained control. With no injuries other than a sore hindquarters she continued on. Rourke had passed Payback for second and was closing fast.

Lightning was stuck in oncoming traffic. While it was night, traffic was still moderate on a freeway and she needed to keep her eyes on the road while dodging oncoming cars. As they entered Wing City's Raceway area she cut back into the correct lane, cutting off Rourke in the process. With cops still chasing she, Rourke, and Payback made haste through the tunnel to Eden Shores. At the end was the finish line. They crossed almost simultaneously with Lightning taking the win Rourke in second and Payback in third. The rest of the pack nowhere to be seen.

Now it was a matter of escaping.

Rourke immediately pulled off towards Downtown. Lightning and her temporary companion continued north. A roadblock was waiting and they pulled off towards Westside. Another roadblock was waiting, they had to double back. As they did so they played chicken with head on units. No collisions were made and Lightning let the Skyline ahead of her.

Suddenly a blue M5 punched a vehicle sized gap in the previous roadblock. Payback took his Skyline straight through the new opening as did Lightning. The three cars proceeded into Bayview, with no further resistance from units Lightning pulled off onto an access road and split away from the Skyline and M5. Not too far away sat a hideout, she parked her M3 there and began to lie down.

"What a night." She proclaimed, exhausted from the effort she put in to win the race.

Author's Note

Sorry for the wait guys, lockdown has me in shambles.

This chapter was in the works for two weeks, but I hope it does well. Can you recognize every character and easter egg mentioned in this chapter, subtle or otherwise? Have a good day and please stay well.