//------------------------------// // Part 2 // Story: Changing Lanes - Fun With The Sun // by AutoPony //------------------------------// Six hours. You managed to go on and on about cars for six hours, and Celestia didn't even bat an eye. Hell, even Twilight Sparkle had heard enough for one day within half that time. But Celestia was not lying; her curiosity seemed endless, as question after question rattled off for you to answer. You didn't really accomplish anything as far as getting the car road-ready again, as much of what needs to be repaired such as the oil cooler, radiator support, and bodywork will require replacement or expertise attention. You have some spare parts back at your old home near Ponyville; the rest Luna has already vowed to either help with her magical prowess or see to it a proper part is fabricated. The perks of dating a princess - she's got connections, and her connections have connections. "Anonymous, where are you?" Speak of the alicorn. Garage right now, giving your sister a lecture, you tell her. In reality, you have finished up your rambling, taking a seat on a rolling stool you brought from your garage. Celestia has taken refuge from sitting on the concrete by commandeering your shop creeper, finding the wheeled contraption amusing. You sense the confusion stirred up within Luna's mind by your short reply, but she does not admit it. Instead, her presence dissipates, returning in a split second as the space in front of you is obscured by a blinding flash, quickly fading as she appears in all her glory. "Good afternoon," Luna announces, her head swiveling between you and her sister. You lean forward from your seat and caress her mane, surprised by the positive energy she exudes. "Hi Luna, what are you doing here in the middle of the afternoon?" you ask her. You note Celestia is looking at her little sister with a queer expression as well. "Today went much better than I expected - better than I could have hoped for, in fact," she gushes. "I thought it odd I hadn't heard your Canterlot Voice echoing across the landscape," Celestia jokes. "Yes, everypony seemed willing to listen to reason for once," Luna replies with a smirk, eyeing Celestia. "There was no need to raise my voice due to others attempting to speak out of turn." "To be fair, nopony can talk over you, sis," Celestia responds, her face growing mischievous. "You do have a big mouth, always have." Luna doesn't respond to Celestia jab initially, as if she had not heard it at all. But you see something flash in her eyes. "I find it quite odd you would say such a thing, Tia. Considering your almost supernatural ability to funnel whole cakes into your mouth." Celestia opens her mouth to speak, but is caught dead in her tracks by the last part of Luna's response, her eyes widened in surprise. Instead, a bout of gut-busting laughter erupts from Celestia, only magnified as she leans back and almost tips off your shop creeper as it shifts with her movement. "Oh, I am never going to live that down, am I?" Celestia says as her composure returns. Her eyes dart over to you, evidently sensing you aren't privy to her comment. "It's been a while ago, but I was caught by a paparazzi eating a slice of cake, and the papers embellished it with a headline of cake addiction." "Really? That's all there is to it?" Luna asks, tilting her head as her expression grows rather smug. "Perhaps our bakers here in the castle have something they could add to this discussion." "No, I see no reason to bother them. I'm sure they're busy," Celestia replies, averting her eyes to the floor. The response elicits a short chuckle from Luna, while you stop just shy of breaking into laughter as well. "I thought you might say such a thing. But what are you both up to this afternoon?" "She decided today was a good day to learn about my ride," you respond, pointing to Celestia, who beams proudly. "So she got the lesson you and Twilight have gotten in the past, but more in-depth." "More in-depth? How is such a thing even possible?" Luna asks, mouth agape. "I kept asking questions," Celestia speaks up. "He kept answering them." The explanation causes Luna to shake her head. "I don't know whether Twilight Sparkle's drive for knowledge rubbed off on you, or vice versa," she muses quietly. "My guess would be a two-way street, feeding off of each other," you chime in. "I can't say I've ever gotten so involved in research that I've gone without sleep for two whole days," Celestia speaks up in defense of herself. "No, I suppose not," Luna admits. "We will both have to keep an eye on you to ensure you do not get to that level of... there is a word Rainbow Dash uses in reference to Twilight Sparkle, but I cannot recollect the term." "Egghead," you interject. "Why that's a term, I dunno. But there you go." "Yes, that term," Luna replies cautiously, her eyes darting from me over to Celestia. "But, with your sudden expressed interest in his car, perhaps you should get a first-hoof experience in a ride-along?" "I am not opposed to such an idea, sister" Celestia cheerfully replies. "In due time, of course." "Why not now?" came Luna's rebuttal. "Uh, hello?" you interject, motioning over to the pile of parts sitting somewhat haphazard in the corner. "The Superbird isn't really in shape to be ripping around the countryside today." "Yes, but I recall you also downplaying much of the issues as 'merely cosmetic.' After all, you did drive it as is all the way from Ponyville in one night, did you not?" "Yeah, and I lucked out, considering the busted oil cooler leaking all the way here," you protest. You aren't really sure why she is so adamant on her sister riding shotgun with you today, especially considering the weather. "Also, it's raining out, you know I don't like driving my baby in inclement weather." "That can be amended," Luna replies quickly. "Both issues can be solved in a matter of moments. Where is this oil cooler device?" You know you aren't going to dissuade Luna, as she has already made up her mind. In reality, driving in the rain is not that big of a deal, and she is more than capable of repairing the hole with her magic. It's just fun watching her protest. You walk over to your parts pile, retrieving the damaged part. The twisted mass of aluminum only vaguely resembles the cooling radiator it once was, and as you watch it levitate from your grasp in a haze of blue, it already begins to morph back into shape. "How in the hell do you even know what it looks like, Luna?" you ask. "I don't know what it's original appearance was, to be honest," she replies, her face showing the slight strain of a concentrated mind. "Every bit of matter has a certain... it has a form ingrained within it, once it retains that shape for a long period of time. I am merely following that blueprint with my magic." "That's pretty neat," you note, watching as her power slowly brings the part back to its normal, undamaged state. "It is something that takes a while to master, I must admit Luna is quite gifted at sensing the 'blueprint,' as she describes it. Much more accomplished in the skill than I," Celestia comments, looking onward. Her voice - and indeed, her expression - exudes an air of pride in her little sister's abilities. "There, it should be as good as new, Anon," Luna triumphantly announces. The oil cooler floats back over to you, resting gently in your open palms as her magic releases the part. True to her word, it looks like the day you pulled it out of its packaging; even the minor bit of corrosion between some of the fins has reversed. "Alright, I guess I'll put this on, if you insist," you tease. "I suppose I can forgo the rest of the body panels in order to give your sister a ride-along. But what about the weather?" "What about it, Anon?" Celestia abruptly asks. The garage doors creak open with a gentle push from her golden aura, basking the interior in the light of a sunny afternoon. "How the hell did you do that so quickly?" you ask in awe, taking a few steps away from the pair of alicorns and toward the entrance. While the puddles remain in various areas of cobblestone, the sky itself retains not a single cloud, allowing the sun to take center stage. "Well, alicorns do have much of the abilities of pegasi," Celestia says. "Combined with my immense reserves of magic, it is quite simple." "The pegasi weather teams tend to frown upon our interference, so we very rarely manipulate the weather," Luna clarifies. "Though that still doesn't stop somepony from making cold winter days just a bit warmer on a routine basis." "Hey, it benefits everypony," Celestia protests as you turn around. Luna is mildly amused by her sister's response. Her bright teal eyes dance upon her sister's form, silently accusing her. "So it's not just because you don't like the cold? It's for everypony else in Canterlot?" she asks. "At least I'm not permanently interfering with the day and night cycle," Celestia shoots back. Luna's smirk disappears, warping into irritation. "That was a low blow, sister," she grumbles. "Sorry, but it was the best way to win this argument. And I know you know I don't mean it sincerely." "Anyways," Luna says, turning from her elder sibling to you, "once you install that part, will you be able to terrorize my sister in a ride-along?" As Celestia steps over to your car to peer through the driver's side window, another issue arises within your mind. Her sheer size, particularly with her horn. "I don't mean to be offensive in any way, but I don't know if she's going to fit in the passenger seat. Not comfortably, at least." "Don't worry about that, Anon," Celestia says. "Magic makes almost anything possible." You resist the urge to slap yourself upside the head. After everything you have seen and been through, you should know better, even before Celestia's horn glows, the raw magic flaring out and wrapping around her form. Soon, only her silhouette is visible from the nearly blinding light surrounding her, as her body rapidly condenses in upon itself. "I see you could not resist the urge to put on a show," Luna quips. "I recall you have quite a fondness for a touch of the dramatic. Remember the first time I entered the dream realm?" you ask. "The whole night sky suddenly rushed down to greet me." "Indeed, we both have a habit of flaunting our powers from time to time, even if it is a bit wasteful of our energy," Luna admits with a grin. "Everypony enjoys a good show from time to time," echoes Celestia's voice from the expansive ward of magic surrounding her. It finally begins to dissipate, and as you see her silhouette through the fading light, you find her stature is near identical to that of her little sister. But that isn't all that's changed, as your eyes finally feast upon her form's details. Not only has she dropped a good foot or two in height, but her mane has also drastically shifted. No longer does it reflect the wondrous sights of an aurora borealis; it is now a single light pink hue, quite similar to the sky at dawn when the sun begins its ascension over the horizon. Her coat, while always retaining a hint of pink, is more obvious now, especially upon her face as she blushes. Beside you, Luna can't help but let out a burst of laughter. "Oh, it has been so long since I have seen such a sight, dear Tia," she says. "I thought it only fair I take this form after embarrassing you earlier today," Celestia says, her voice a touch higher-pitched than you're used to. "Anon, you've seen how my sister looked in her younger years as well as her... less powerful form. Now you see what I used to look like." "You're both too critical of your looks, to be quite honest," you blurt without a thought. Both sister's exchange glances, before erupting into a fit of giggles more fitting for schoolgirls. "I suppose you are quite right in some regard," Celestia replies. "But you still flatter us too much," Luna finishes, leaning herself up against you. You put an arm around her as you stroke her mane affectionately. "I'm not trying to be a flatterer, it's just the truth, Lulu," you reply. "Even so, I have to agree with my little sister, our younger forms do not possess much regalia," Celestia admits. "But enough of our self-consciousness, I'm looking forward to this ride. How long will it take to install that part?" "Five minutes tops," you tell her, heading back to your car with Luna in tow. With the oil lines on the car still in good working order, it is truly a matter of tightening up the hose clamps and two bolts to mount it securely. It actually takes you more time to find the socket you need than it does to put it on. As you stand up with the job completed, you find Celestia excitedly waving at you from the passenger seat in the car. You can't help but shake your head and laugh, even as you hear hoofsteps come closer to your side. "Do not take it easy on her. Remember your drive with Blueblood?" Luna quietly asks. "How could I forget that prick?" you shoot back, turning to look at Luna. "Drive like that, at the very least," she says, her face growing mischievous as a grin spreads across her lips. "Well, I don't want her peeing on the seat. I'll see what I can do." With that, you stroll around the front of your car to the driver's door, opening it up and climbing inside. Celestia let's out a quiet hum of anticipation and delight as you buckle in. "I don't know how comfortable it's going to be, but you should buckle up, too," you tell her. Celestia cocks her head, her eyes narrowed but her demeanor still positive. "Oh, Luna wants you to really go all out, doesn't she? I should have expected such," she muses. Her attention turns to the seat belt, looking over the straps and buckles before quickly deducing its operation and strapping into her seat. "Yeah, she said something like that," you admit. With the keys already in the ignition, all you have to do is push in the clutch and crank the engine. Despite having sat without running almost two weeks, the old girl rumbles to life in short order, albeit just a bit choppy at idle. Outside the Superbird, Luna scoots over a few steps, giving you a clear launch as her smug expression only seems to expand. "You all set then?" you ask, turning to Celestia. Her anticipation is still palpable, yet you do see just a hit of uncertainty upon her face. She's quick to mask it as her smile becomes quite daring. "As I told you earlier today, do your worst." "Suit yourself," you tell her, goosing the throttle and dumping the clutch. The rear tires squeal on the relatively smooth concrete floor as the Superbird lurches forward and out into the sunny afternoon. Once you feel the front tires hit the cobblestone trail outside, you let off the gas and take it easy, turning and heading to the right, out towards the garden. Yes, you want to show Celestia what this car can do, but cobblestone is far from an ideal surface, being naturally more rough and uneven. All it takes is one slip up or loss of contact from a tire to spin out and hit something. You already have enough work to do. As you glance around, you spy Luna in the rearview mirror, flapping her wings lazily as she hovers in the air. She makes a motion with one of her hooves, urging you to put your foot to the floor. With a smile, you straighten the wheel out and oblige her. First gear evaporates quickly as the speedometer needle rockets toward the right, the rumble of the engine turning into a roar. It's even louder than normal with the absence of the crumpled hood. Yet above it all, even as you row through the gearbox, you hear Celestia. Not screaming in sheer terror, but delight mixed with a touch of anxiety. Holy crap, is she an adrenaline junkie? You would have never taken her for that. "Ahahaha, it really throws you back in the seat!" she shouts as you hit fourth gear. "That it does. And to think, if this were a smoother surface and I had gotten a good launch, it would have been even more dramatic," you reply. Foliage on either side blurs past even as you focus on the path ahead. Preparing for the sharp right-hander that you know lies ahead somewhere, you get on the brakes and slow your charge. Sure enough, it's basically blind as you crank the wheel, the rear tires putting up a fuss and moaning as you round the bend, before punching the accelerator. Just through that jolt ahead, you feel the grip starting to disappear as the rear tires begin to hop over the uneven path. You have no choice but to tone it down, slowly taking your foot out of the throttle to prevent upsetting the suspension. "You two should really pave this garden path, or at least smooth it out a bit better," you comment. "Perhaps in time, I won't say no," Celestia says. The fountain lies up ahead as you hit the top of third gear. Once again mindful of the bumps, you use the brakes as much as possible while downshifting, minding the throttle to prevent wheel hop. Or at least, you try to do that. Instead, you feel the rear tires starting to chatter, the back end of the car quickly becoming uneasy. Your heart starts to race as you release the brakes and try pushing in the clutch to let the chassis straighten itself out. But you quickly realize the Superbird is past the point of no return, and bail with a whip of the wheel in the opposite direction. The back of the car whips around quickly, making your stomach light as you feel momentum press you into your seat. The sound of squealing rubber shrieks in unison with your passenger, as the unexpected spin catches Celestia off-guard. Fortunately, you come to a stop after a complete one-eighty, rolling backward just a bit before you hit the brake pedal. The car idles with a low rumble, as you realize you've been holding your breath. You let it out with a deep sigh, letting the peak of stress evaporate with it. "That... that wasn't the plan, was it?" Celestia asks sheepishly, her own breath coming out a bit more rapid. "No, that was a little embarrassing," you admit. "At least we didn't hit anything." Luna flutters ahead of you, her face lined with worry as she scans you and her sister. "What happened?" she asks, her voice just audible over the engine and the glass situated between the two of you. You roll down the driver's window and poke your head out. "The garden path isn't exactly ideal for hooning, I pushed it too hard. I think we're okay," you explain. You turn your head toward Celestia, who nods in confirmation. Her anxiety has dissipated, her smile returned. "Yes, I am fine. Perhaps we should call it a day, I would hate to cause you more repair work," she says. Luna looks a bit disappointed, but is also in agreement as she nods. With much less excitement than mere moments ago, you get rolling again. It's a relaxing cruise back to the garage, where you park the Superbird and kill the ignition. "Aside from the inadvertent spin, that was quite fun," Celestia cheers, taking off her seat belt and opening her door. "Actually, even that minor incident was exciting." "Yeah, that was a bit more of a heart-stopper than I wanted," you tell her, undoing your own belt and climbing out of the car. Both doors close in unison with a resounding thump, before Celestia strides around to your side, with Luna already beside you. "So which of us was a better passenger in her first ride?" Luna asks, ruffling her wings in excited impatience. "I wasn't aware this was a competition," you tease her, knowing full well this had been her end game all along. "I would say I get extra marks for going through that spin," Celestia muses, her eyes darting over to her younger sister to watch her reaction. "My first ride lasted longer, and we went faster," Luna quickly protests. Despite her serious tone, she can't help but crack a smile that matches Celestia's. "You were both good passengers, I really don't think either of you has an edge over the other," you say. But with both sets of eyes locked upon you, you note Celestia's wing silently spreading out, the tip pointing to Luna. Her smile grows just a bit more as she closes her eyes, ever so slightly nodding. "Luna, I gotta admit, you were just a hair braver than your sis," you announce after a short pause. You barely have time to finish your sentence before Luna explodes with glee. She skips around her sister while Celestia, surprised at first, can only shake her head and allow her smile to grow wider. "I was braver than you, I was the better passenger!" Luna taunts. She stops after a couple of circuits, rapidly closing in on you before practically leaping into your arms. It's funny how she doesn't like to be referred to as adorable, considering she's so good at acting as such. You give her a big hug as Celestia hums with delight, her form glowing in a golden aura before she returns to her normal appearance. But the joyous atmosphere is suddenly interrupted by a low rumble, making both you and Luna look around uncomfortably. Celestia looks unsure as well, before a hoof goes to her stomach. "Sorry, it just occurred to me I haven't had anything to eat since breakfast," she sheepishly admits. "Huh, come to think of it, I haven't either. I'm feeling a bit hungry myself," you chime in. "That makes three of us," Luna says. "Perhaps a visit to the dining room is in order." "Indeed," Celestia agrees quickly. "Luna, why don't you go on ahead and tell the kitchen we will be taking dinner early. I'd like to have a word with Anonymous." Caught off-guard by her sister's request, Luna initially turns around, standing up on her hind legs as she spreads her wings to shield you. "No, he's mine, sister," she says. Celestia can't help but laugh at the response she garners. "Oh Luna, I wouldn't dream of taking him from you," she says. "You know we can check to be sure of that," Luna says, unable to keep her defensive charade going as she chuckles. "And we will do that," you add jokingly. "That might be a bit abusive of your duties, you know," Celestia replies, narrowing her eyes. "I consider it open to interpretation," Luna retorts playfully, dropping back to all four hooves as her wings fold back in. "But I'll leave you two and notify the chefs. Don't dawdle for too long." With that, Luna gracefully trots out of the garage and toward the castle as Celestia chuckles again. "Anon, I want to thank you for spending time with me today, I have really enjoyed it," she says, turning her attention solely upon you. "Not a problem, today was a great day," you reply, much to her delight. "Though I gotta ask, did you think I was going to choose you over her in who was braver?" "Yes, but I wanted her to own that victory. Being the older sister, it was always my duty to be more bold and steadfast, watching over my little sis. Consider it an unfair advantage." "Duly noted," you say, somewhat surprised. Wordlessly, Celestia opens her wings, beckoning you in for a friendly hug, which you oblige. Her wings embrace your form as you wrap your arms around her neck. "Don't ever be afraid to talk to me, or even spend some time together like today, Anon," she says. "For sure, we'll have to do this again sometime," you agree. Your response is greeted with the embrace tightening ever so slightly, before she releases you. "Now then, I suppose we ought to get going, knowing my sister she's already seated at the dining room table, with as fast as she moves." With a day full of thoughtful conversation and excitement for the first time in a while, you actually feel fatigue hit you tonight. After a good meal and some time spent with both Royal Sisters by a crackling fireplace, bed is a welcome sight. Luna feels the same after her final day of a two-week stint watching over Equestria, as she snuggles up next to you. "So, I can only assume my sister helped you in some regard today concerning your thoughts and worries of the future?" she asks quietly. You turn your head to catch sight of Luna's beautiful teal eyes, almost glowing in the slivers of moonlight poking through the clouds in the sky and the balcony window. You pull her tighter next to you, soaking in her presence. "Yeah, she really gave me a lot to think about, in a good way. I suppose she's had a lot of time to consider such philosophical conundrums, so her explanation was crystal clear." "It was her idea to spend some time with you," Luna replies. "I'm glad she did, she really enjoyed your company." "Yeah, but tomorrow I get to spend a whole day with the best mare in Equestria, I've been waiting two whole weeks for the opportunity again," you gush. Even in the faint light, you can see the blush upon her face. She sighs, content with the thought you've given her just now. "I too have been eager for these weeks to be over. Today went surprisingly well for all the events it entailed, but it still felt as if it lasted far too long." As you caress one of her ears, another thought from the day comes to the forefront of your mind. "Hey, Luna?" "Hm?" "You aren't really that bothered by your size, are you?" You feel her tense up just a bit in your arms, hesitating on a response. You continue your caresses, trying to coax out her thoughts. "It's... I am not as bothered by it as I used to be. But I suppose it is a bit of a nagging frustration, yes," she admits, albeit at a slow pace. "It's just - yes, I am the younger sister, but only by a few years. Yet, here I am, over a head shorter than Tia. It just feels... it feels somewhat demeaning." "You feel like you garner less respect, is what your sis said," you tell her. Luna nods, sighing deeply. "Yes, there are times I feel that way." "You shouldn't. I mean, it's understandable, but look what you do, what you've done the past two weeks. You've had a busy schedule, I guarantee just as busy as if Celestia were the one sitting on the throne." "I know, I know," she replies, rendered into a state of bashfulness by your comment. You roll over to your side to properly tace her, pulling her body closer to you. "I'm going to be completely honest, Luna. I'm glad you are this size," you tell her. "Why?" "It makes you the perfect size for cuddling." "That's... that's really cheesy Anon," she says with a giggle. "What if I'm being honest?" "I never said it was bad, did I?" She leans in, giving you a quick succession of pecks upon your lips. "I suppose you didn't. But I do mean it. Don't change, Luna," you whisper. "I won't. Good night, Anon." "Good night, Lulu."