Burning Rubber

"Aww, come on! Please?" Sunset begged, clasping her hands together, even getting on her knees in front of her mentor.

"For the last time, Sunset, the answer is no. I told you this back at the duel site and i'll tell you again. You're not ready. That victory against Trixie was too close for comfort and you know it. It was entirely a lucky win."

"That may be the case but, I truly think i'm ready this time. I can do it, I promise, just let me show you, please! Aren't we friends?" Sunset had tears in her eyes at this point. It was almost enough to make Twilight give her what she wanted. Almost.

Twilight sighed. "Nice try, Sunset, but no dice. I may be your friend, but right now i'm your mentor first, and no matter how much you beg, the answer's still the same. You're just not ready."

"But I did so good when I was riding Hyperia! You said I was ready for to duel!" Sunset argued back, desperate now.

"I said you were ready to face Trixie. I didn't say anything about any other riders. And hyperia is only one Magi-Cycle. Not to mention it's my Magi-Cycle. I can't just lend it to you whenever you need it. I'm sorry Sunset, but my answer won't change."

Sunset cried for a bit, but soon she was back on her feet, wiping her eyes. "Hmph! Fine, I get it." She turned around and walked away, mumbling under her breath, "And here I thought you believed in me."

Unknown to her however, Twilight had heard her, and her choice of words caught the girl's attention. She turned and reached a hand out to her student. "Sunset, wait!"

The flame-headed girl stopped in her tracks and turned to her mentor, looking back at her out of the corner of her eye. "What? Did you wanna tell me no to my face this time?"

Twilight walked over to Sunset and put a hand on her shoulder. "No, please. Please wait and listen."

Sunset turned around to Twilight, crossing her arms. "I'm listening."

"Sunset, I...I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. I know how much this means to you and I know how much you want to do this but-"

"But what? Why can't I go? What can I do to prove to you that i'm ready for this?" Sunset glared at Twilight, her eyes shining with genuine tears this time.

"You've already proven yourself Sunset-"

"Then why can't I take on another duelist? Twilight, I just want to make you proud of me."

"I'm already proud of you, Sunset! It's just that-"

"It's just what? You don't think i'm capable? You don't think I can handle it? Or is it because you never believed I could do it in the first place? That's it, isn't it? You never believed in me to begin with. You just spouted a bunch of pretty words to get me to join up with your group. Well, guess what? I don't need you anyway. I don't need any of you! I'll strike out on my own If I-"

"It's because I'm scared!" Twilight suddenly screamed, causing Sunset to calm down and stop crying all at once.

"W-what do you mean?" Sunset said, her voice trembling a bit from her previous crying fit.

"A long time ago, back when Celestia and Luna were the leaders of the Elements, I was in the same boat you are. It was my first win ever. I was excited. Absolutely over the moon about it, you know? Had a celebration party and everything." Twilight looked up at Sunset from her position on her knees-having fell there due to her sobbing as well- and stood up to look her in the eyes.

"Yeah sure, but what does this have to do with-"

"But soon after that, I started getting a little...too excited. I was so happy that I kept begging and pleading, even praying, to whatever god would listen, that Celestia would let me ride just one more time. And someone must've heard my prayers because the very next day, she let me duel again. I was so happy I could've died.

"She told me she had already set up my next opponent. A girl named Moon Dancer. When we got to the duel site that day, I was more than a little nervous. Was Moon Dancer better than me? Would she beat me in front of Celestia? Well, I couldn't let that happen.

"Well, we got our Cycles ready and stood at the starting line. I looked over to Moon Dancer and shot her a smile. She just blushed and looked away without saying anything. I chalked it up to her being shy and just went on ahead with the race.

"Everything was fine at first...until tragedy struck..." Twilight looked down again, obviously dreading the memory.

Sunset placed a hand on her shoulder this time. "What is it? What happened?"

"Well Sunset, the answer is simple. I did. We were on the track, blasting our way past trap after trap while suspended several feet in the air When...when...when it happened. I was on the side wall of the track, trying my absolute best to catch up with Moon Dancer-turns out we were both equally inexperienced and she was just there to try it out for the first time, much like I had been- when, out of nowhere, she turned up, and clipped her back wheel against my front one, spinning them both out of control. Moon Dancer managed to get her Cycle under control, but I...well, I wasn't so lucky. The cycle spun around so suddenly that I lost control and was thrown off. I hit my head on one of the wall traps and fell unconscious."

Sunset gasped in shock "Oh, Twilight i'm so sorry..."

"But that's not the end of it.When I finally woke up, I was in the hospital. Turns out, Celestia had to take me there. The doctors told me I had a concussion, not to mention a fractured skull.

"I was upset at the news, but it was nothing compared to how Celestia felt. When I looked over to her, I saw her crying her eyes out, sniffling and trying desperately to wipe away tears that just kept coming. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was a mess, and she looked like she hadn't eaten for hours. I was shocked. To reduce Celestia, our school's beloved Principal and my favorite mentor, the strongest woman I knew, to tears just because I wanted to ride in a stupid race? And what? So I could blow it all and spend the night in the hospital? And don't even get me started on Moon Dancer. She was a stranger to me, but she might as well have been my best friend with how much she cried when she saw that I had woken up from my impromptu nap. She thought it was her fault I was hurt. She believed that if she hadn't been so eager to step out of her comfort zone, then something like that wouldn't happened. She thought that if she wasn't so inexperienced, knew more about how the race worked, she never would've hit my wheel and this whole mess could've been avoided. I tried to tell her it was okay, and taht she didn't have to worry, but she just kept blaming herself. We haven't been in contact since. I think it was because she felt she couldn't face me. I swore to myself that day that I would do everything I could to prevent something like that from happening again. And when I took over as leader, I swore to never let that happen to any of my teammates. Ever."

Sunset simply rubbed her mentor's back, trying to soothe her pain.

"Because of my arrogance, because I wanted to prove myself, Because I wanted so badly to make Celestia proud of me that it blinded any other thoughts, I got hurt. I hurt myself, I hurt my teacher, and I lost a potential friendship before it could even happen." Twilight looks at Sunset now, directly in her eyes. "So, yes, Sunset. You did prove yourself, I am proud of you, and I do believe in you. I'm just...scared. I don't want you to get hurt like I was. But if you keep going like this, I don't think i'll be able to stop you in time."

By this point, both the girls were sobbing their hearts out, their bodies trembling with each shaky breath they took, their hands gripping each other's arms tight, as if afraid to let the other go, lest they break down in sobs all over again.

"So, please. Please, Sunset. Don't do this. We just had your celebration party two days ago. Don't let it be your last."

"Don't worry. I won't." Sunset said through her sobs as the two girls hugged each other tightly.

When the two finally let go of each other, they pulled away, their hands on each other's shoulders. They stood there for what felt like an eternity, just staring into each other's eyes. That is until...

"Oh, just kiss already."

Immediately the moment was broken by a voice to Twilight's right. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie were all standing there, watching them, holding each other...

They immediately pulled away from each other, turning away and blushing like mad. Twilight was the first to speak up.

"Oh...hi, girls! When did you get here?"

"We've been here ever since Sunset started yelling." Rainbow Dash said.

"You...you mean..." Sunset asked, not finishing the sentence.

A sentence Applejack was happy to finish for her. "Yep. We heard everythin'."

"I must say it was quite the emotional display. It even brought a tear to my eye." Rarity wiped away a tear from her eye, even as she chuckled lightly from behind a hand.

This only made the two girls blush harder.

"I'll say! Talk about Cheeeeeesy!" Pinkie said, earning glares from the girls for her antics.

"Ehehe. Sorry..." Pinkie shrunk under their gazes.

"You know, Sunset. If you really want to duel again how about dueling us?" Fluttershy asked.

Everything stopped at that question as Sunset fired back one of her own. "Dueling...you? As in...all of you?"

"Not all of us, silly. Just one at a time. We'll all race you, and if you can beat us, then you can start dueling on your own again."

Sunset visibly paled. "N-n-no way. That's...not possible. There's no way i'll beat you guys. You're pros!"

"It's either that or training. You did say you beat Trixie already, right?" Applejack said, a smirk on her face.

"aaargh...-"

"Wait, girls! It's okay, she's-" Twilight tried to step in, but was cut off by Sunset.

"Fine! If that's what you want, I'll do it."

Twilight's eyes widened as she rounded on her student. "WHAT?"

The others were honestly shocked as well. "We'll, I'll be..." said Applejack.

"I never thought she'd actually say yes..." Rarity whispered, her mouth agape.

"That's' what i'm talkin' about! You got guts, dont'cha newbie?" Rainbow Dash said, pointing to her.

"Wow! I never expected that! She said yes, she said yes!" Pinkie yelled as she bounced around the group in a circle, only to stopped by AJ.

"That's enough o' that now, Pinkie. Just calm down."

"Sorry."

"So...wait. You guys...don't...want me to race you? This was all...just a joke?" Sunset asked, looking confused.

"Oh, darling of course it was!" Rarity said in her signature over the top style. 'We would never be so brutish as to make you face us when we knew you weren't ready."

"Although you do need to face us eventually." Rainbow said.

"That's right. I for one would love to see what you're made of before the tournament starts." Applejack said, stretching her arms by crossing them over her chest one at a time.

"Tournament? What tournament?" Sunset asked, now more confused than ever.

Suddenly Twilight spoke up, her voice full of surprise. "Oh no! The tournament! We're not even close to ready!"

"Oh, darling, no! Don't tell me we never told you!"

"If you did I don't remember." Sunset said, shrugging her shoulders and giving Rarity a blank look.

"The Magi-Cycle tournament? The single most awesome event to ever grace the world of Racing? Are you sure we've never mentioned it to you? Like at all?"

"I'd be surprised if ya haven't heard it from Rainbow Dash. She loves the tournament. It's all she talks about this time o' year."

"Nope. Still have no idea what you're talking about." Sunset said simply.

"Huh? Well then." Rainbow said, her excitement dropping back down.

"It's like Rainbow Dash said, Sunset." Twilight's voice rang out once more. "The Tournament is the single most important thing for Magi-Cycle Racers everywhere. People come from all over to participate, not to mention watch, the races that go on there."

"And when and where is this tournament held?" Sunset asked.

"It's held every six months...at CHS, I believe."

"You mean I have to face the students of the very school I just destroyed? And In less than two months?" Sunset brought her hands to her face and sank to her knees in shame. "I am so doomed."

"Oh, nonsense, darling, it's alright. I'm sure everyone would love to see you out there!" Rarity said, placing a hand on Sunset's shoulder.

"Yeah. Love to see me fail." Sunset looked up from her hands, but didn't quite get up just yet.

"Hey, hey! Who cares what they think? Even if they don't accept you, we will." Rainbow Dash said, placing her hand on Sunset's other shoulder.

"Yeah, but there's a problem with that. The reason I started this whole thing was to get people to see that i've changed. If I come back so soon, all their gonna think is that I was planning another hostile takeover or something." Sunset crossed her arms and glared at nothing in particular.

"That's not true and you know it." Twilight said, placing her hand on Sunset's back. "You have changed. Look at what happened with Trixie? I'm sure she won't bully you anymore."

"Yeah, but someone else might. They might see that my usual tormentors gone and try to come and take her place."

"Let 'em try! I'll show 'em what for!" Rainbow Dash punched her palm with an angry look.

Sunset laughed at that. "Thanks, Rainbow Dash, that means a lot, but I don't want you guys to get labeled as 'The she-demon's pawns' or whatever."

"Rainbow Dash! You simply must learn to not be so violent! ...But, I do understand where she's coming from. If you're ever in any danger, or need any sort of help, don't hesitate to call us. We'll be sure to help you."

Sunset smiled this time. She had the most wonderful friends. "Thanks guys. It really means a lot to me to have friends like you. And don't worry. Should anything bad come around, i'll be sure to come get you. We're in this together, right?"

"Right!" They all said at once, raising their fists.

"Good. Now let's go inside. I need a bath and a nap."

At that, everyone laughed, including Sunset herself. Twilight spoke up in response,

"You got it, Sunset."