It had been only a week since Lightning had assisted McClare deliver the beat up automobile back to his garage in the outskirts of Wing City. For her time was almost always at a stand still and without flying to pass the time what was only a week felt like a decade to her. She was aware that it would likely take the blackish grey earth pony up to two weeks, but she was internally hoping that he had finished early. In her spare time over the week she had been looking up information on the vehicle she had discovered the week prior and was met with interesting photos and other descriptions about the car. Such as it's engine type, top speed, horsepower (which she thought was funny), and how fast it could reach 60 mph. It wasn't the only car she looked up as many others were present including names such as BMW, McClaren (Probably where McClare got his name from), and Audi. She was surprised to see how many cars could go even faster than 200 mph.

Upon arriving at the stallions garage she went behind the counter and out the door to the back as he had reminded her to do. It wasn't long before she spotted the Toyota Supra, freshly painted with a gloss white. It looked like it had never been touched before, the question was, where was McClare?"

"McClare, you in here?" Lightning called out, hoping to get a response.

"Under here!" He called back, from underneath the Supra that had been lifted from level floor. It appeared that he had been working on the underside of the car when she had arrived.

"I'm just finishing up the underside, adjusting a few things that were not responding properly."

"I thought you said this would take upwards to two weeks." Lightning responded.

"I had a good amount of spare time, no pony really came by this week. I was able to get most of the important work done in four days, I just got the paint done yesterday and now i'm just finishing up. Should be ready to test drive in no more than two hours." He explained.

The explanation was concrete enough for Lightning so she decided to wait around. His time was more accurate to his estimate and within two hours the two of them had the newly repaired Toyota Supra back on McClare's flatbed and on their way to his testing area down the road from his garage. They arrived at an long abandoned race track and once again unloaded the vehicle.

"So McClare, how much do you know about this vehcle?" Lightning asked, to which McClare smirked.

"The Toyota Supra, at least this model, has a top speed of 155 mph, with 320 horsepower at 5600 rpm. It can go from zero to sixty in..."

"4.6 seconds and will do the quarter mile in 13.1." Lightning finished.

"So you did your homework, i'm impressed. you want to drive it to?"

"You expect a pegasus to know how to drive one of these?"

"Fair enough, but your still going to ride with me then."

"That is fine by me"

"Good, there is an oval track not that far from here, i'll meet you over there if just want to walk."

"Sounds good."

McClare had been honest about the track. If anything it was in his backyard. Lightning admired the size of the oval, it had once played host to many autosport races. Now it had long since abandoned as ponies moved racing out into the streets. The low roar of the Supra came to life behind her as she opened the entrance gate allowing the stallion access to the track. Walking over to the car Lightning jumped in, silently thanking the fact that McClare installed hoof friendly door handles so she could actually open the door. As McClare instructed, Lightning Dust fastened her seat belt in place as he coasted the car onto the track. It was a simple oval track, no surprises were needed in order to see if the car worked. He just needed to see if the mechanics were functioning properly.

"I'm going to expect this feeling to be somewhat familiar to you, since pegasi are no stranger to g-forces."

Lightning was not sure whether that was a warning or not but nonetheless when McClare put his hoof on the petal she expected less than what she received. By the time they reached the first turn they were approaching 85 miles per hour and with how wide the corner seemed he didn't appear to slow down in the slightest going through and out towards the back stretch. Lightning could feel the g's, the only difference from flying being she was on the ground, technically, and she didn't feel any wind resistance since the car's windshield was doing the job. They topped 130 going down the back stretch and McClare only tapped the brake to make sure he didn't go up the track in turn 3 and 4. They crossed the line within seconds of exiting and McClare brought the Supra to a halt just past it. He glance at Lightning's expression with amusement.

"Liked the ride?" He asked, to which Lightning met his eyes and said

"Why didn't I ever learn about this before?"

"I hate to be blunt, but it's likely because your a pegasus." was his flat faced response.

"True, i'll give you that. I did expect you to be slower though, I mean from what I know you repair these things more than you drive them."

"My father did track racing back when that was still a thing many years ago. He mostly drove vehicles owned by Mclaren, which is where I got my name from. My friend Neon and I would always go to watch him race, well, we did until they stopped performing races because ponies were becoming uninterested in it. I'll admit, going in a literal circle for hours can be pretty weird to watch. Not for Neon though, that mare was always wanting to grow up and be like them. So when street racing became a thing she just couldn't resist the temptation, even if it mean't she had to be against the law."

With every sentence that McClare said as he continued Lightning could notice an increase in his regret, it was as if something was bothering him. She remembered him mentioning his friend as they were returning from picking up the Supra. Something about her was poking her interest.

"She seemed really close to you."

"She still is, she doesn't even know how to manage her car so whenever something comes up she asks me to do the work. I know she still cares, but I just wish I didn't have to do the dirty work for her own benefit..."

The pairs conversation is interrupted by a beeping noise emanating from inside the truck.

"Speaking of, that's probably her calling me from the garage since i'm not there. We better get going, besides I think you two will get along since she has a taste for thrills that would put most pegasi to shame."

They made their way back to the garage, with the Supra attached to the back. As they were pulling in Lightning spotted a vehicle she did not recognize. From her previous knowledge she believed it to be Nissan GT-R Nismo, a modern super car capable of nearly 200 mph. She deduced that this was McClare's friend Neon's choice of vehicle, taking notice of the body kit and custom white paint job with bright blue and green highlights.

'Good choice, but those things are expensive. How did she manage to get one?' She thought.

The two ponies exited the flatbed just as a third exited the garage to greet them. It was a white unicorn mare with a green and blue mane/tail with bright green eyes. Her cutie mark showed a wheel with two sparks, one green and one blue. Lightning deduced that this was McClare's friend Neon, if her coat, mane, and tail colors matching the paint work on the Nissan were anything to go by. She met them in the center of the parking lot and was the first to speak up.

"I guess I see why you weren't here, judging by the fact that you have something new on the truck today. I'm going to assume that you just received that recently and decided to test it."

Lightning could feel the confidence resonating of of her voice, it was like she was a unicorn version of Lightning herself. Maybe she could get along with this mare, but she would be cautious about it. She remembered the last time she put her trust in another pony, it didn't end well for her at least.

"Mostly true, I actually repaired it myself. Got a tip from some pony and they helped me bring it back to the garage. Just finished it this morning." McClare responded to Neon. Neon took a glance at Lightning which got Lightning's attention off of her own thoughts, giving her a quick look over, then faced McClare once again.

"New blood?"

"Pretty much, she was the one who showed me where it was."

"And she's still here? She's a pegasus, she can fly just like all other pegasi. what makes her different from the ones that don't care to drive a car like us?

The Supra could have fallen on Lightning at that moment and it would not have hurt as much physically as Neon's words did emotionally. She had been trying her hardest to get over the fact that she couldn't fly anymore for the past week and everything she had been fighting back was coming again all at once. She didn't wan't to have to explain it to every pony she came across, she would be able to handle it. It seemed that McClare either remembered what Lightning felt like before or just had a side ability of being a mind reader but he answered her prayers for her.

"Touchy subject Neon, let's just make the comparison of her wings being as useful as a car with no engine."

Neon's mode changed dramatically from that sentence alone, empathy written all over her face.

"Sorry about that, I... didn't realize. I'm Neon Shock, but I guess you can call me Spark. That's what i'm known by on the Street Racing community which i'm going to assume that McClare already told you i'm a part of?"

"Yeah, he did. Name's Lightning Dust." She responded, giving a nod. McClare spoke up interrupting their greetings.

"Well I'm sure you need me to do something Neon? You don't usually come by just to talk."

"Right, I got off track there. I'll get it inside and have you take a look once you take care of your new prize." She responded while gesturing towards the Toyota still resting on the flatbed truck behind them.

Once they had the Supra parked inside the garage Neon brought in the GT-R and parked in an available working area immediately exiting so McClare could get to work while Lightning sat in the corner observing.

"So what is it today girl? Is it the transmission again?" He asked, trying to get an idea of what to start with.

"I just wanted to make sure everything was taken care of for that big event coming up tomorrow remember? The Perfect Shift League? It's that thing that I told you about last month that Vitality was setting up."

If Lightning Dust wasn't paying attention to the conversation she was now.

"Oh right, the so called "Princess of Street Racing's biggest event in its history" seriously what has got you so obsessed over that?" McClare confirmed, then asked. Lightning's curiosity was peeking, but she remained silent.

"McClare they don't give her that title for nothing. No pony knows what she looks like, she's never been beaten either. She disappears for nearly 6 months and then shows up out of nowhere announcing that she is starting a new league that any pony, experienced in street racing or not, regardless of their reputation, is allowed to compete. As long as you have a car that can be considered race worthy your good, and if i'm going to do this i need to be sure my GT-R is running correctly!" Neon was basically shouting to McClare at this point and Lightning couldn't hold her questions anymore.

"Excuse me but, i'm at a loss of info here. What exactly are you talking about Neon?" She questioned. Neon gave her a look, but then likely remembered that Lightning was a pegasus and sighed.

"Never thought I would be explaining this to a pegasus but, i'm talking about this big event that is coming up tomorrow night that I'm planning on entering into. It's my big chance to get noticed by Vitality, the biggest street racer in Equestria today, and I'm planning on going all the way."

Lightning Dust noticed something in those emerald eyes that seemed very familiar to her. It was determination, something she felt many years ago back when her life mean't something. Neon's situation wasn't the same as Lightning's was, but the same feeling of purpose was still there. Lightning had been debating internally all week since learning about street racing while riding with McClare. This was her deciding factor and the final push towards her choice.

"Didn't you say any pony experienced or not can enter?"

"Your not implying this seriously right Lightning?" McClare questioned her.

"McClare, you know as much as I do that if i'm not feeling adrenaline, i'm not living my life right. If I have the chance to live a life of thrills the i'm taking the chance."

"The more the merrier I guess, but don't expect me to be easy on you girl. That is, if you make it far enough to even compete with my GT-R." An ever cocky Neon replied.

"Lightning, there's two problems with that. Number one, you don't even know how to drive and two, you don't even have a car! you can't expect to even attempt to try street racing." McClare at this point was using anything he had against her choice, in the end to no avail.

"I'm pretty sure between Neon and yourself I can figure it out, as for the car.." Lightning glanced at the Toyota Supra behind them. "I'm certain that's already taken care of."

"I think me and McClare can manage, as long as your a fast learner. Like I said it starts tomorrow night so we better get started soon. Get to working buddy, I need to show this rookie the ropes."

"Maybe I am the only sane pony here." McClare noted and set to work on the GT-R, leaving Neon and Lightning to themselves.

"Just saying though Lightning, I didn't start winning races in my first week. Don't expect to come out on top when you get there."

"I wasn't actually. After all no pony expects a filly to fly as fast as the Wonderbolts."

"Is that something that pegasi say a lot?"

"No, I actually came up with that just now."

Author's Note

Yes, I did look up the performance statistics of a 1998 Toyota Supra. I don't think that's a problem though is it? Anyway one more chapter before this get's into the main arc in the story. Time for Lightning to learn how to drive.