Pegasus Rhapsody pt. I
By the time her sister's birthday had come and gone, Starlight Sonata had just about enough of her, as she'd put it “overbearing” family. Aside from her mother now being home practically all the time and her father being more busy at work than normal, she hasn't really had much time for herself. If she wanted to go to the store and get something, it’d turn into a ‘mother-daughter’ outing. Once, Starlight Sonata insisted that she had to go to the skate park with her friends and low and behold, it turns into Moondance cartpooling 8 annoyed colts and fillies (save one extra ticked off Starlight Sonata due to the “extra precautions” her mother forced her to wear while skateboarding). It's with these situations that made Starlight Sonata start to act differently. It was little things at first like, purposely not picking up her room when asked multiple times. Sometimes she’d even just not shower for a day or two on occasion. Though if any of those things bothered either of her parents, the didn't say anything about it. It was with this newfound sense of rebellion that Starlight found herself sneaking out at night.
Now at first, the sneaking out didn't seem like much and she’d still be within the neighborhood. Though eventually she ventured out past that boundary line and crossed into other neighborhoods. Occasionally she’d meet other ponies too. It was one of these chance encounters with her friend, Cosmos that she ended up discovering a place that would unknowingly change her life.
“Hey Cosmos! How's it?”, Starlight Sonata asked one night as she met up with her best colt friend.
“Awesome as usual! But check this, I got invited to some underground cart park. The colt who told me about it says that there's some prime drag races down there. Now the invite is a plus one, but I had originally said ‘nah’ to that. In fact….it's pretty good me finding you here tonight Starry. Care to join me? Besides, I feel like you’d be more help to me as a cart expert than anything else.”, Cosmos said/signed with an excited vibe as they walked towards a corner store. Going in at 10pm on a Thursday wasn't unusual for either of them and they went and picked up their usual stuff: Candy, Chips, Bread, 2 cases of soda and Candy Cigarettes...the kind that produced candy vapor “smoke” (Starlight only).
“Okay, from here, we need some wheels. Think you can hotwire this puppy?”, Cosmos said/signed as he gestured to the slick-looking cherry red cart he was leaning against as he popped the locks with magic.
“Foal’s play. Lemme at it mate!”, Starlight signed as she worked her own magic with a screwdriver, jumper cables (that she had on her in case of emergencies) and her friend's actual magic. Within 4 minutes, she had the cart hotwired and was in the passenger seat while Cosmos drove. Heating up a cigarette in the process.
“Don’t you think you should ease up on those things?”, Cosmos asked as turned onto another road.
“Ya know what? I probably should...but...nah! Besides, gives me more of an edge!”, Starlight signed/spoke as she blew out a puff of vapor that tasted like bananas.
(20 minutes later...)
They arrived at an underground cart park and pulled into a toll booth. A lanky, grey colt of about 13 stood at the booth.
“Password and recommendation please?”, The colt squeaked out in a cracking voice.
“‘Zeppelin’. Crisscross sent me and my plus one.”, Cosmos said and indicated towards Starlight.
“Alright. Enjoy the show and a precaution. All bets must be submitted to the designated ticket master no sooner than 15 minutes before racetime. Have a good evening.”, the colt noted the pre-set rules as the pair drove on and parked. Walking over with the cooler that Cosmos picked up from his place to the “stands” (an honest-to-Faust mismatched assortment of half broken bleachers and stools/crates/cushions and chairs) and found some good seats high enough to see and hear (with Starlight Sonata turning up her hearing aids to the highest they’d go). Popping the cooler open, Cosmos passed Starlight a grape soda and a bag of potato crisps.
“Alright, so tonight's racers are apparently two fillies called Soprano and Crash Test. Soprano will be in the yellow ‘68 Feldhoof Action. Crash Test will be in the silver ‘96 Torota Silver Bullet. I already got my bets in and I’m for the Silver Bullet. You got any suggestions?”, Cosmos asked Starlight as she took another drag of her 2nd cigarette.
“Well...personally I think you were right to bet on the Bullet. Later model year and judging by my knowledge of that particular cart, they can go fast with the right amount of care. If she punches the gas, then she's sure to lose. Keep it steady and make strategies and that's a recipe for success! But that's just my prediction.”, Starlight signed/spoke as the race started.
As the night went on, races were won and bets went 50/50 with ponies cheering for victories or swearing in defeat. Throughout the night, Cosmos placed bets and to his luck, he won every single one! Cheering as the last race wrapped up with a slightly disappointing loss for him, Cosmos dragged Starlight to the far end of the parking structure where they stored the racing vehicles and introduced her to a pony he knew was racing that night.
“Starlight Sonata. This is the chap who told me about these races weeks ago! Crisscross, this is my best friend, Starlight Sonata. ”, Cosmos introduced the pair as they shook hooves with smiles.
“A pleasure to meet you Crisscross and might I say, that was some kick-ass driving you did tonight! I paid close attention to your race with the Torota Canary. Smooth turns and I know how you orchestrated that Hoofkaido drift. Simple flick into reverse before tapping the gas as you drifted. Impressive really.”, Starlight said with an amused grin.
“Ooohh! I like her! Cosmos, where’d ya been hiding her all this time?!”, Crisscross chuckled loudly as he clapped Star on the back. Making her spill a little of her soda and drop her candy cigarette at the jostling.
“Aye, don't be getting any ideas. She's got a fillyfriend.”, Cosmos laughed.
“Do not! We're just...really close friends!”, Starlight defended herself as she turned a bright pink. Absentmindedly twiddling with the bracelet that Spirit Chaser had bought her for her birthday the year prior, on her wrist.
Chuckling, the duo lead the lone filly towards some of the winning carts. Pausing at the turquoise Canary, Crisscross introduced them to his grandmare’s cart.
“This beast belongs to your grandmare? Damn I’m impressed!”, Starlight Sonata said in awe.
“Damn right it does and she'd skin me alive if I wrecked it! So, she never knows. That and the 5-0 never catch wind of a 14-year-old, who could pass for 17 speeding in a Canary. I swear, messing with them is fun!”, Crisscross said as Cosmos signed for Starlight's benefit.
“Hahaha! I had a feeling I’d like you! You cool with me dude. Anyway, lemme see...” She paused as she took close inspection of the cart. “...guessing it runs on liquid coal fuel still? Yeah not the best for a cart of this quality. Try switching to a corn oil/flint oil mix for better performance. Otherwise I feel this beauty will be done for in maybe 8 years.”, Starlight finished as she closed the hood and trotted back over to the two boys.
“Amazing! You got that from just one look over? Are you sure your special talent isn't in carts?”, Crisscross gasped as he made note of the music note on her flanks that was partially hidden by a leather jacket.
“I’m just an observant pony. I learned all I know about carts and the likes from one of my older cousins and of course my plethora of random male friends.”, Starlight responded with a bashful smile.
The response from the colts was a hearty laugh as they carried on with the night.