Burning Rubber

After the race with Trixie, it seemed that everything was okay. Sunset had gotten out of the infirmary some ten minutes later, and was now walking back to the room she shared with Twilight.

The race was in twenty minutes, and needless to say, Sunset was feeling rather proud of her first win.

"Now, now, Sunset. Calm down. We don't want your head to get as big as Trixie's, now do we?" Twilight smirked at her joke, her hands on her hips.

"Aw, Come on, Twilight! Let me keep racing! I know I can do it!" Sunset begged

"And I believe you, Sunset. But just because you beat Trixie doesn't mean you're ready to face other racers. There are racers much better than Trixie out there. Are you really saying you're ready to face them after just one win?"

Sunset opened her mouth as if to say something but was cut off by Twilight.

"Besides, I only arranged for one duel." Twilight crossed her arms and sat down.

Sunset opened her mouth as if to say something, only to close it and sigh in defeat. "Fine. You're right. I got ahead of myself. Sorry."

"It's fine, Sunset. Just remember to never bite off more than you can chew." Twilight said with a raised finger.

"Okay." For a moment, Sunset stood there in contemplative silence. Only to burst out into Pinkie-esque excitement.

"Did you see me out there! I was on fire. Literally! I've never felt anything like it! It was like power was just coursing through my body! Radiating out of every pore!"

Suddenly Twilight's expression changed to one of deep thought. "That reminds me...what was that light we saw up there? It was as if you had just spontaneously combusted. We didn't know what to think."

When Sunset finally managed to calm down, she spoke. "I don't know. I thought you guys would."

"Try and explain it." Twilight said, still deep in thought. "What exactly happened to you up there?"

"Like I said I don't know." Sunset shrugged. "I remember wanting desperately to win, and then...and then nothing."

"Nothing?" Twilight gave Sunset a look. "As in you don't remember anything?"

"Nothing as in...nothing. I couldn't even see the track anymore, it was all a black void. And then she showed up."

"She who?" Twilight was standing by now, and was now directly in front of Sunset, her hand on her shoulder.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Sunset looked down at her feet.

"Try me." Twilight said.

"I...it was..." Sunset stuttered, she didn't know if she could really say it out loud. What she saw was just... she was sure no one would believe her.

"Come on, Sunset. Tell me what happened." Twilight insisted, placing her other hand on her protege's other shoulder.

"It was Maple." Sunset finally said. "I saw Maple in the void. She's real. Just as real as you or me. She's the one who gave me the power to win the race. Well, that and my own confidence, according to her."

The two stood there like that for a moment before Twilight thought to herself, 'That's odd. How could Maple, AJ's magi-cycle, be a conscious being. It's just a vehicle.'

"Hmm...how strange..." Twilight suddenly said, catching Sunset's attention. She had been almost too busy looking down at her feet to notice that words had been spoken.

"What's strange, Twilight?" She asked.

"Say, Sunset? Did you ever..." Twilight was immediately cut off.

"No! I didn't press it, I swear!" Sunset screamed, knowing what her mentor was thinking before she even said it.

Twilight smiled. "Relax, Sunset. No one's in any trouble." Twilight turned away from Sunset and began pacing, her mind racing with possible scenarios as to what could have happened up there.

'Interesting. So, if she didn't activate the magic manually, then how could she have done it? The only way I can see that happening is if...' Twilight suddenly mentally gasped. 'Could the magic be stronger than I thought? So strong that it's managing to leak through the confines of the cycle and affect the world around it? No, that doesn't seem possible. The Cycles are made specifically to contain and regulate that power. As far fetched as it may sound, it would make more sense if Sunset was somehow connecting to the magic in the cycle, and allowing it to manifest itself in some way. For her to say she saw Maple... And then there's the matter of Maple sharing her power with Sunset. In order for that to happen... Does Maple perhaps have a will of her own? Do all Magi-Cycles have a will of their own? If so then, this could be a huge discovery! I have to run some tests!'

"-wilight? Twilight? Twilight!"

Suddenly, Twilight was shocked out of her thoughts by a voice yelling her name. "Oh! Uh...yes, Sunset?"

"What happened to you? It was like you were in a trance or something?" Sunset said, one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, that? It was nothing. Just got lost in thought is all. Nothing to worry about." Twilight had spoken a little too fast for Sunset's liking. Nevertheless she decided to let it go.

"If you say so. Come on, the others are waiting for us." With that, Sunset turned around and began walking away, Twilight catching up to her and walking by her side.

Once Sunset and Twilight had caught up with the rest of their friends, Sunset was surprised to find them all smiling at her.

"Hey, girls. We're here. Sorry to keep you waiting. Twilight got a little distracted." Sunset looked over to Twilight to see her smiling sheepishly at the comment.

"Sorry..." Twilight said, a blush on her cheeks.

"Nonsesne, darling! It was no trouble at all!" Rarity said as she ushered the two of them over.

"Speak for yourself. I thought they would never come out of there." Rainbow said, a bored expression on her face.

"Rainbow Dash! You simply must learn to be more considerate of others!" Rarity admonished her friend.

Rainbow sighed in defeat. "Fine. I'm sorry."

Sunset chuckled at the display of the two friend's small back and forth. It was comforting to know that she was now apart of a group of such good friends.

"No worries, Rainbow. I completely understand."

"Uh, not to rain on anyone's parade, but I think it's time we left." Aj said, her arms crossed.

"Apple Jack is right!" Rarity said in her usual fancy tone. "Come, everyone. We must make our way to the exit!"

And so, the group left the Racers building behind, saying their goodbyes and heading back to their respective homes.

There were two of the group that stayed behind, however.

Twilight and Sunset stood facing each other as the Sun slowly fell below the horizon.

"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Sunset?" Twilight asked as she looked at her friend.

For a moment, Sunset didn't say anything, but after a while, she turned around. Twilight was surprised to see a hint of a blush lining her cheeks.

"I...I just wanted to say..."

Twilight said nothing, simply allowing the silence to give Sunset the strength to say what was one her mind.

"I just wanted to say thank you. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have won that race."

Twilight stood for a moment, thinking. Sunset looked up at her, expectantly, as if waiting for an answer.

Then Twilight spoke, her voice filled with compassion. "No need to thank me, Sunset. I'm your mentor, and you're my student. It's only natural. Besides, if what you said is true, Maple helped you more than I did."

"That not true!" The words were out of Sunset's mouth before she could stop them, and they were so loud that Twilight was taken aback by the volume alone.

Sunset seemed to realize her mistake, and quickly covered her mouth, only to lower her hands and avert her eyes away from Twilight's gaze as she kept speaking.

"That's not true. Sure, Maple helped me win the race, but if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would've had the courage to even participate in it. Your words of encouragement, and your belief in me gave me the confidence to step up to that starting line. If it wasn't for you, I would still be on that couch at AJ's, wallowing in my own failure and self pity. If it wasn't for you, i'd...i'd..."

Twilight noticed that Sunset had begun to cry, and so she went over to her and wrapped her arms around her, laying her head gently on her shoulder. "It's okay, Sunset. Let it all out. Besides, if anyone deserves credit, it's Celestia. She's the one who set you on this path in the first place."

Sunset pushed away from Twilight, her mentor's hands still resting on her shoulders as she gave her reply. "That may be true, but it was you who kept me on it. Your story about your ascension to leader of the Elements of Harmony gave me the strength I needed to never give up on myself."

This time it was Twilight's turn to start sobbing. She could feel her eyes watering as they blurred up with tears of joy. "Oh, Sunset!" She brought her in for another hug.

Sunset rested her head on Twilight's shoulder, silently breathing in her mentor's natural lavender scent. Her calming smell, combined with the warmth of her embrace were the only things keeping her from breaking out into tears all over again. "I was bullied by Trixie for a long time, and one day it got so bad that I had to go to the hospital. Celestia gave me a chance to show the world that I had changed for the better, and not for worse. She sent me to you knowing that you could help me get my act together. And she was right. You gave me the courage to stand up to her after all this time. So thank you, Twilight. Thank you so much."

Twilight couldn't help the smile on her face as she said, " You're welcome, Sunset. You really are."