Burning Rubber

"So what was wrong with it?" Sunset asked, as she, Twilight and AJ ate their lunch.

"What was wrong with what, Sunset?" Twilight asked as she took a bite of apple pie.

"I think she means her ridin' Sugar Cube." AJ explained, clearing up the confusion for them.

"Oh, that's right! Well, about that..." Twilight trailed off.

"You don't even have to tell me. I was bad, wasn't i?" Sunset asked as her gaze fell to her knees.

"No! No! Sunset, that's not what I meant!" Twilight frantcially yelled. This caused Sunset to look up at her, her eyes hopeful.

"That's the thing, Sunset. I've never seen someone take so well to a magi-cycle before. Your riding was top notch, almost near perfect even. Well, that is until..." Twilight blushed and looked away.

"Don't remind me..." Sunset rolled her eyes.

"However, I did just so happen to notice a slight imbalance when it came to the turns. Every time you'd make a turn, you'd shift your weight almost to the point where the thing tipped over. I consider it a miracle you didn't get thrown off the Cycle."

"Was it that obvious?" Sunset blushed herself, scratchign her head nervously.

"What do you mean, Sunset?" Twilight asked.

"Every time I made a turn, the danger of falling always made me tense up. I would lock my legs onto the cycle and pull upward as best I could. But apparently, gravity had other plans."

"Sounds like a handling issue. I'll see if I can make it a little easier to maneuver in the future." AJ said, smiling at her.

"I couldn't ask you to do that just for me." Sunset said.

"Uh, Sunset? It's my magi-cycle?" AJ gave here a quizzical look. "And the thing's been sittin' in the barn for years, its bound to need a tune up sooner or later. This isn't just a favor, you know?. Think of it as a...precaution, for future trainin' sessions."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. I tend to grow attached to things I like." Sunset said.

"Don't worry about it. Just don't go gettin' attached so soon." AJ smiled. "Granny'll tan my hide if she founds out I let ya go and wreck it."

Sunset blushed and looked away, playing with her hair. "Rub it in my face why don't you?"

"Oops! Sorry, Sunset. Hey, look on the bright side. Big Mac and I are buildin' ya yer own Magi-cycle. Soon you'll be able to join the rest of us on the track!"

"Really?" Sunset exclaimed excitedly. "Can I go see it?"

"Sorry, Sugar Cube. 'Fraid it wouldn't be much of a sight as it is now. We've still got quite a few things to do before we can debut this baby. And you still need your training.

"Aww..." Sunset sighed and looked down at her feet, disappointed that she couldn't see her future vehicle.

"Speaking of training..." Twilight suddenly said, rejoining the conversation after a whole two minutes of not speaking.

"What is it, Twilight?" Aj asked as she turned her attention to her.

"Yeah, Twi. What was that about my training?" Sunset asked, eager to know what her mentor was about to say.

"I was thinking...Perhaps we should let Sunset race a Duel."

"A Duel? Twi, I don't think Sunset's ready for a duel just yet." Aj cautioned.

"Not ready? Did you see her out there, AJ? She was dominating the track!" Twilight exclaimed, pride oozing from her words to the point where Sunset was blushing like mad.

"But what about the handling? I still have to fix that, ya know?" Aj tried to reason with her, but she was too far gone.

"You can still fix it. It's not like it's going to happen right away, you know? Plus, we can set up a meeting time in advance so that Sunset can practice. It's perfect!"

AJ thought hard about it, but she couldn't find any reason to argue with her logic. "Alright, fine. You win, Twi." She smiled. "I suppose if Big Mac and I work together, we can fix my Cycle, and have it up and ready before the date of the duel."

Twilight clapped her hands and danced in place. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes ,yes, yes ,yes! This is wonderful!"

"BUT!" AJ suddenly said, prompting Twilight to calm down. "On one condition. You," She pointed to Twilight. "train her," She pointed to Sunset. "every day until the duel."

"Okay, AJ, i'll do it!" Twilight said.

"Then ya got yerself a deal, Sugar Cube." She put out her hand.

Twilight did the same, and they shook on it.

Sunset, having been swept along for the ride, could only stare in confusion as the two sealed the deal. "Um...do I get a say in this?"

The next day, at 3:00 after school, Sunset and Twilight were outside AJ's barn, Sunset riding Hyperia, Twilight's Magi-Cycle.

"So, what exactly is this 'duel' thing you two were talking about, and why was AJ so against me doing it?" Sunset asked as she sat atop the vehicle.

"A Duel is just a race between two Magic-Cyclists. There's a tiny bit more involved in it, considering, but all in all its just a race."

"So AJ was right. I'm not ready." Sunset said, holding her head down.

"Don't listen to AJ. She's just being a worrywart. You have the skills, Sunset. I know you do."

"But that's just it! I don't have the skills! I just started! I can't hope to compete against others yet! Especially not if i'm crashing on my first go!"

"You're still worried about that?" Twilight asked, giving her a quizzical look.

"Why wouldn't I be? I was doing so well, and then all of a sudden i'm landing on my face in a bale of hay! I still have strands of it on my tongue Twilight! My tongue! Not to mention I wiped out in front of the both of you..."

'So that's what this is about...' Twilight thought to herself before walking over to Sunset.

"Sunset, listen-"

"No! You girls didn't even give me a vote in whether or not I was ready for this! You just went along with it like you know what's best!"

Twilight was cowed. Sunset was right. They had made a decision about her without her input, and now she was paying the price for it.

"I'm sorry Sunset, I...I didn't mean to disregard you, it's just, I've seen your talent. I know you have it in you. You just need to be willing to take a risk."

"You're just saying that. And what if that risk doesn't pay off, huh? What if, this time, I race, and I don't get lucky enough to just pass out? Did you think about that?"

She hadn't. But there was still one thing she could do. She went over to Sunset, and hugged her.

"Sunset, that wasn't your fault. AJ herself said it was a handling issue."

"So what?! It still happened!" Sunset screamed.

She was right. It did still happen. Nothing would change that.

"Sunset, I'm sorry. I made a mistake. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I didn't consider that you might really not be ready. Or that even if you are ready skill-wise, that didn't mean that you were ready mentally. It takes a lot more than skill or talent to be a magic rider. You have to have the confidence to face challenges, the fortitude to adapt to changes in the situation and the strength of will to never give up. I let myself be blinded by your skill, and my own enthusiasm to have a new member, and forgot that. Not to mention I could teach you by myself? I was over the moon. I guess I let that get in the way of your true feelings. I didn't see the fear you felt, deep in your heart. you're still new, and you don't know much about this sport. And now here I am just throwing you out of the nest and expecting you to learn how to fly on your own. I'm so so sorry."

Sunset stood there for a moment, shocked by her mentor's words, and left in silence after her own outburst. Twilight stopped hugging her, and pulled back, putting her hands on Sunset's shoulders.

"But you have to understand, Sunset. You have more raw talent than you know. I've seen it. You have more skill than most others at your level. You have what it takes. You just have to believe in yourself. Trust in your skills, have faith in your cycle. And don't you dare think that something as small as a loss is gonna make me, my friends, or Principal Celestia, any less proud of you. You're making progress Sunset. It may be slow, but it's there, and that's all that matters. Understand?"

Twilight smiled, and Sunset smiled back.

"Good. Now, lets get to training. You're good, but you still need to sharpen your skills. A good Magi-Cycle Racer never stops trying to improve their skills!"

"Right! Just...two questions first." Sunset said.

"Shoot." Twilight said.

"When's the duel gonna start?"

"In three days."

"And, why are we using your Magi-Cycle?"

"We can't use AJ's because she needs to tune it up, and we can't use yours because it's not done yet."

"Right. I get it." Was all Sunset said before she straightened up, settled herself on Hyperia, and revved the engine.

'Alright, Sunset.' she thought to herself. 'Let's show the world who you really are.'