Lightning was having a bit too much fun with Emerald's Nissan. Yes the suspension, tires, transmission, and differential had all been completed gutted to make the car race ready....but it was still a rear wheel drive sports car. So as she cruised up into Downtown she didn't let the new interior take her mind off what was really at stake.

One, this was a one time deal. If she didn't qualify, then she was done. That, and she would be giving back the car. The last time she drove in a qualifier her Supra had been trashed.

She followed the lights all the way into the northmost part of Downtown, about where it met Westside. It didn't take her long to find that the starting line had been set up on the bridge right where a Gas Station was located. How they managed to set up a spot here without gathering attention was any pony's guess.

However, as she pulled up further all attention suddenly found it's way to her. Conversations stopped, and heads began to turn. Lightning couldn't tell what did it more, the car, or the pony driving it. But all who saw the plate knew, it was unmistakable.

Despite the new ride being completely foreign to ponies that recognized her, a quick check over confirmed that the Nissan was in fact hers. As she was cleared to the start line, a crowd began to form around.

Once again, 8 cars including her. But this was a qualifier, and us such she would only move on if she finished third or better. As always, she would aim to win anyway. It was a diverse field for sure. An Alfa Romeo 8C Spyder led the grid alongside a Jaguar XKR. Behind that pair was a rose Porsche Targa 4S and an orange Dodge Challenger SRT8. In front of Lightning was a fellow Nissan, a blue Skyline R-34 and next to it a white M1 Model BMW. Then alongside her was a jet black Chevy Camaro SS with green stripes.

Despite the beautiful cloudless night sky, Lightning had no time to admire the rare occurrence of no rain in the city as the engines around her began to rev up in anticipation.

Her launch was not the best, she had yet to find the sweet spot for the redline in the car. She would need to play catch-up as the mess of cars cruised down the bridge picking up speed.

As she finally caught up to the pack they turned right and quickly made a mad dash through Eden Shores. Lightning got alongside the BMW M1 and made a clean move around it's left. Ahead, the Jaguar darted right and crossed the nose of the Alfa and caused it to turn much farther into the corner. They collided with the light post of the intersection and knocked it over. A few cars cut through the parking lot on the corner to avoid the falling post, but the BMW held its line and went further around sending Dust up onto the curb and nearly into the highly flammable gas pumps.

She gave the BMW a love tap, causing it to back off her. Crossing the bridge gave her a little bump, however she needed to pick up her pace. The Camaro and Challenger were side by side as well ahead of her. They tore through a section of downtown, the muscle cars ahead barely keeping ahead with the straight line power they possessed. The two cars split the Skyline ahead of Lightning passing it on either side.

The Camaro dodged into the incoming lane as some traffic came along in the busy streets. Up ahead, the Porsche caught up to the two lead cars. It looked to the right of the Alfa but was forced back in by some traffic. It took another look but then the Alfa moved right to dodge traffic in its lane. The resulting bump pushed the Porsche onto the curb as it ran over several palm trees and lost control. As it went to regain pace it cut out in front of the Challenger and forced it and the Skyline off into the grass on the left side of the road. The Camaro got away clean and with some expert judgment Lightning navigated the mess that took place with a couple touches of the brake.

The Jaguar began to pull away onto the freeway and head north, the Alfa giving chase with the Camaro catching up. Lightning used up one of her Nitrous tanks to close the gap on the three cars ahead. She needed at least one of those spots. They passed over the river and some wind turbines down a fast section of road leading into the forest. The Camaro's top speed advantage allowed it to take the spot from the Alfa and close the gap on the lead car.

Lightning sat in wait however, as she knew that the corners in Sandpiper Forest were wide and long. Perfect for drifting. It was a long uphill climb to the first right turn which was followed quickly by a set of S-Curves.

The Alfa struggled to maintain speed in the turns, but Lightning's car did just fine as she kicked in the clutch and took the corner sideways. Emerald had left on her smoke effect and as such the poor Italian sports car was coated in a shade of green as it was literally left in the dust.

The Jaguar and Camaro ahead of her were battling for the lead, but it was not much of a fight between them. The race was closing in on the finish line and after what happened in downtown with the other racers there was not much of a doubt, but Lightning still had some cards to play. She took a peak around the left side of the Jaguar, but it moved over to block. Just as it did, some oncoming traffic pulled along. The driver of the Jag panicked and immediately jerked the wheel back right and unintentionally clobbered the Camaro hard, though both kept going. Lightning moved into the shoulder, and managed to keep out of the ditch and keep most of her speed.

She once again pulled ahead, confidence rising. She had grown some experience, noting that the Jaguar had been aggressive the entire race, and using it to her advantage like she had been taught by Neon. It was a good race, and with another win to her name she was beginning to make a case for her rise to stardom.

As the cars around her began to pull away in their own directions she continued on into the tunnel, only to have panic set in quickly. The exit was barricade off...by Dodge Chargers. She attempted to back up, only to have her progress impeded by a Dodge Viper, Audi R8, and Lamborghini Huracan. The Lamborghini and Audi blocked the road behind as the Viper pulled in front and spun around so that her drivers door faced it. In the tunnel, there was nowhere to run.

Rogue stayed in his car, then again it wasn't as if Lightning could go anywhere.

"Well look here, we have a dead mare walking. What do I have to do to get you to learn? This is my city now, and nothing you have done or will do can change that. So I'm only going to say this one more time, you cross me again and I'll make you regret it. You have no idea what's coming, only that it...will...hurt."

He pulled away quickly, the Audi and Huracan making way for him as he did so. Soon enough, the barricade cleared out and Lightning was free to go. She simply continued on ahead, completely unaware that instead of turning around and following Rogue, the Audi and Lamborghini began to follow her back to her garage.

Even though she was oblivious to them, she would soon find that it was good that they had found her.

Author's Note

Back again, here's that race I promised but never got to. Hope this settles things for what is happening next. Time to hit the next level of competition.