//------------------------------//
// Act 7: Battle to the Limit! 
// Story: The Eight-Six Duo 
// by Fujimi200SX 
//------------------------------//

October 16th, 2:57AM, Mount Akina Pass.

Two young teenagers sat on the side of the road with two cars. A Black and White 1983 Toyota Corolla Trueno GT-APEX, and a Black and Red Toyota Corolla Levin GT-APEX of the same year. Both cars had carbon fiber hoods. On the right side of the Trueno, some Japanese symbols had been painted.

One man was wearing a light green shirt and jeans, along with black shoes. He had normal cream-colored skin and short black hair. He leaned against the Levin. The other was slightly taller and was wearing a white sweater, light blue jeans, and white shoes. He had the same skin tone but had slightly longer brown hair than the other man. He sat next to the Trueno, hands in pockets

"Takumi, are you sure you actually want to go through with this?" The man asked.

"Dude, yeah. I'm not scared of her. Nightmare Moon has been coming after me ever since I went to Fujimi. I want to take her on in a proper battle. You didn't have to come you know. I get that you were staying over at my house and all because of our dreams, but I didn't ask you."

The man sighed. "I guess you didn't. Technically I only came up because I wanted to see Heartbreaker again." He chuckled. "Remember when I beat her last Thursday?"

"Yeah, I do. You scared the crap out of me. I didn't know you'd actually improve like that."

"Mhm. I'll now be known as-" The man jumped forward and reached up with both arms, parting them like an Arch. -"Itsuki! Akina's Supercar Killer!"

Takumi snickered. "Yeah. Hey, maybe I'll bring you along on some of Project D's excursions. Would be fun to have someone to warm the courses up."

Itsuki pointed straight at Takumi. "You'd better! I'll make your life a living hell if you don't!"

Takumi rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you will. Remember that you have a job. You should check in with Yuichi if the excursion happens on a workday."

"I will."

The two sat in silence for a while. There wasn't even a cricket chirping or an owl hooting. It was rather quiet.



A bit too quiet...



Both their spines tingled, and paranoia crept in. It felt like something was out there. Something was watching them.

Takumi glanced behind him, which made Itsuki sigh.

"Forget it Takumi. She's not coming." Itsuki said.

Takumi sighed. "I guess your right. Let's head home."

They got in their cars, starting their 4A-GE engines and pulling out onto the road. Itsuki was in front.

"It's so dumb. The one night I dare her to come out, she doesn't." Takumi complained over a radio transceiver as they slowly accelerated.

"Like a video game that involves Random Chance. You can get screwed twenty times in a row when you don't want to, then when you try to get screwed on purpose, it never happens." Itsuki agreed.

"Looking for me?" A female voice asked suddenly, sounding right in their heads. Their gazes shot behind them, noting the headlights quickly approaching. Takumi's eyes widened.

The black BNR33... He thought.


Back On The Rocks (Soarer Cover) starts playing. (Shit's about to go down the mountain everyone!!)

The 2.6 Liter Straight Six whirred from under the R33's hood, It's Twin Turbo's hissing as it quickly closed the distance. Blue Mist emanated from the GT-R.

"Nightmare Moon!" Takumi yelled as Itsuki instinctively accelerated.

The Lunar Queen laughed. "To be fully honest, you two are rather stubborn. You especially Takumi. Do you really think you can take on my GT-R? After all those other times?"

Takumi grimaced, planting the throttle and tailgating Itsuki. "I've had about enough of you! You, me, and Itsuki are gonna have a proper battle!"

"Fine by me. I'm going to enjoy crushing you."

"Itsuki, are you a part of this or what?" Takumi asked as he pressed against Itsuki's bumper, tempted to pass the slower car.

"Uh-I don't know!" Itsuki noticed a pair of headlights appear around the corner ahead, a Naturally Aspirated V12 roaring as it sped by. It was a midnight purple 1970 Lamborghini P400 Jota. The car slammed on the brakes immediately, spinning around.

"I AM NOW!" Itsuki yelled, flooring it.

"Alright then." Nightmare Moon said. "I see that Heartbreaker is joining in on the fun. Anyways, Three. Two. One. GO!"

The Eight-Six Duo slammed on the brakes and tore into the first corner at high speed, drifting through the inside and accelerating out like raging bulls. Nightmare Moon surprisingly lost ground but caught back up through the next straight with her High Power and AWD.

Takumi followed Itsuki, not wanting to pass and leave him to deal with Nightmare Moon. Both cars hit the brakes and drifted into a right corner, streaking through the inside. Nightmare Moon's blue eyes narrowed as she lost ground.

Just because you can take corners better doesn't mean I can't power by you in the straights. She thought.

Itsuki and Takumi upshifted as they exited the corner. Their gauges rose in unison as Nightmare Moon's R33 closed in behind, pressing against Takumi's bumper. The Lamborghini Miura was further behind but slowly gaining.

The three cars approached a right hairpin. The brake rotors lit up brightly as they braked, Takumi and Itsuki gaining instant distance against the much heavier R33. Exiting the hairpin, the AE86's accelerated hard, leaving the R33 in smoke. Takumi glanced back at the R33 as it accelerated out from the hairpin.

You've been plaguing my dreams long enough, you insufferable demon. He thought. All those dreams, we've been on different mountain passes. Ones I am unfamiliar with. All those have ended with you crashing me. And while I haven't had those dreams for a week now, only weird pony dreams, It was only a matter of time before you and I met again.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Tires squealed as Itsuki and Takumi drifted into a left-right chicane. They drifted with ease and gained ground on Nightmare Moon, who gripped. Takumi's thoughts carried over as he and Itsuki drifted around a sudden left hairpin.

But now, we're on MY home turf. The only being able to outperform me on Akina is my own father. Takumi's eyes narrowed as he and Itsuki exited the hairpin. "Now let's see if you can keep up!"

vrrrrrrrOOOOOOmmm- vrrrrrrrr

Takumi shifted early at 8800RPM as to not accelerate into Itsuki's rear bumper. They accelerated around a left curve, Nightmare Moon's R33 catching up and tailgating in short order.

"Why do you choose to follow your friend, Takumi?" Nightmare Moon asked. Her voice was inside both the teenagers' heads. "He's clearly holding you back."

"Don't talk about him like that!" Takumi and Itsuki yelled in unison, Itsuki replacing 'him' with 'me'.

They entered a right corner and flew through the inside. Try as she did, Nightmare Moon was simply unable to match the 86 Duo's speed through corners. She growled.

Accelerating around a soft left curve, Itsuki saw a right hairpin approaching. Me and Takumi are the best drivers Akina has. He thought. I know we can do this!

Both Corolla's screeched through the inside of the hairpin before coming out the other end, once again gaining good distance on the R33. This distance however was quickly lost because of the R33's outright power and AWD advantage. It caught right back up as the cars accelerated down a straightaway, and braked well behind them. Nightmare Moon was most surprised at how late the 86's were braking.

"How are they braking like that?" Nightmare Moon asked as Takumi and Itsuki drifted around the hairpin. "I have the best Anti-Brake-System on the market yet they can still outperform me?!"

Gears locked into place as Takumi and Itsuki upshifted, accelerating down a long straight. Nightmare Moon smiled.

"This section is long and straight. The perfect place for my R33." She accelerated harder.



"Let's see how your underpowered relics handle the GT-R straight line specialty!" She yelled as she tailgated Takumi. She was just about to swerve into the left lane when she noticed out the corner of her eye... headlights.

Wait, what the heck is that? She looked left. Her eyes widened.

Driving parallel to her was the dark purple 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 Jota. It had tinted windows, and she couldn't see.

"Heartbreaker!? Get the hell out of my way!" Nightmare Moon yelled, tempted to push the Miura.

"No thanks. I'm comfortable where I'm at." A female voice replied.

Takumi and Itsuki couldn't hear the conversation, but they could see the Miura in their mirrors. It could easily blast by them. Although it was a thirty-something-year-old car, even the early Miura P400 made 345HP N/A, with the Jota making a little over 400 N/A. Naturally Aspirated.

"Come on you!" Itsuki yelled as a left curve approached ahead. He and Takumi braked. "I DARE you to pass!"

Brakelights stalled and Brake Rotors lit up as all cars braked for the curve doing over 100MPH. Takumi and Itsuki drifted into the curve at high speed, skillfully slowing mid-drift and tightening their lines as the curve tightened into a corner.

Nightmare Moon was forced to the outside of the same corner as Heartbreaker refused to move from the inside. She yelped as the corner tightened, braking and suffering severe understeer. Heartbreaker passed on the inside, putting Nightmare Moon in last place.

"Bastard!" Nightmare Moon yelled, accelerating.

Takumi and Itsuki were a couple seconds ahead, skillfully drifting side to side through a right curve, then a sharp left corner. Itsuki noticed a pair of taillights speeding ahead, and picked up the radio.

"Dude, watch out. There's a car ahead!" He said into the radio.

Takumi was surprised. How is he talking to me through the radio? Is he drifting with one hand?! He wondered.

Right Curve, Left Curve, they were gaining serious distance on Nightmare Moon and Heartbreaker through these high-speed curves and quickly gaining on whatever car was ahead. Probably another racer, considering the way it took the corners.

Another Right Curve. Takumi could see the taillights ahead disappear as he and Itsuki drifted through the inside of the curve at high speed. His RPM gauge revved at 9K RPM, while Itsuki's revved at 8K. As a sudden left sweeping curve approached, the Eight-Six Duo flicked left and dove into the inside.

Takumi found time to relax a bit as he saw how far ahead he and Itsuki were from Heartbreaker and Nightmare Moon. It had to be three seconds at least.

"Incoming!" Itsuki's voice yelled out of the radio as they exited the curve. Takumi understood the warning. The taillights from earlier were almost right in front of them. It was a wide red bar, going down a bit towards the ends.

They heard the unmistakable sound of a Rotary Engine whirring from the car as it accelerated, easily leaving them in the dust before braking suddenly for a right hairpin. Itsuki growled a little.

"Does this guy not realize what's happening?!" He yelled.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Three sets of tires squealed as the mystery car, Itsuki, and Takumi drifted through the inside of the hairpin, emerging towards the outside. As the three accelerated around a right curve, Takumi thought about what was ahead.

We're about to speed down Akina's longest straightaway. Nightmare Moon and Heartbreaker are sure to catch up. All I need to do is block them.

"Don't think you're getting away that easily." Nightmare Moon's voice rang through everyone's ears as the R33 suddenly appeared behind Takumi, having apparently passed Heartbreaker again.

"For fucks sakes Nightmare Moon, stop talking in our heads!" Takumi yelled.

"Yes, It's rather annoying." Heartbreaker surprisingly agreed. Takumi was surprised at the new voice.

"Alright! Fine!" Nightmare Moon pressed hard on the throttle. "This is what you get for talking to me like that!"

BANG!

Music Ends.



Takumi felt his car get shoved forward. Things moved in slow motion as the Trueno was thrown sideways, Nightmare Moon's R33 flying by. As the 86 turned a full 180 degrees, Takumi could see Heartbreaker's Miura heading straight for him. He could barely make out two panicked glowing magenta eyes staring at him.

He shifted gears and steered, feeling the 86 begin to turn back the other way. Suddenly, it flicked around. He luckily caught it and faced forward again, however he... didn't accelerate.

She bumped me. Just like all those other times. Were his thoughts as he watched the R33 accelerate away. She's out for blood. How am I supposed to compete with a supernatural cheater like that? At least Shingo was human. But she's... she's...

"Takumiii! What the hell happened!? Why is Nightmare Moon right behind me?!" Itsuki yelled through the radio. "SHE'S PUSHING ME!!!"

Takumi's eyes widened. She's pushing him? He gasped. "She's pushing him! NO! GET YOUR ASS AWAY FROM HIM!"

The 4A-GEU Silvertop Engine screamed up to 11K RPM as Takumi nailed the throttle, accelerating away from Heartbreaker and towards Nightmare Moon and Itsuki.

Itsuki's brake rotors heated up as Nightmare Moon pushed him faster and fast. All Itsuki could do was hold the brakes and hold on. Suddenly, he remembered what was at the end of this straightaway.

A hairpin. Itsuki thought. One that goes straight into trees and down the mountain if one were to overcook it! "No! Stop! Please!"

The hairpin came closer and closer. They had already caught up to the mystery car ahead and passed it. Itsuki squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that this was the end for him.

VROOOOOMM-BANG!


Fastway - Go Beat Crazy starts playing.

Everything seemed to slow down as Nightmare Moon's R33 was shoved sideways and off of Itsuki's bumper. Nightmare Moon's eyes looked over in horror as she regained control. To her left was a Mazda Cosmo JC. A dark blue Mazda Cosmo JC Mountain Spec, pushing her.

"What the-!?" Nightmare Moon yelled as the Mazda sped ahead, turning in front of her. Suddenly, it slammed on Its brakes!

"NO!" Nightmare Moon yelled again as she slammed into the rear of the Cosmo just as Takumi caught up. The Cosmo sped up and braked suddenly.

"SCREW YOU NIGHTMARE MOON!" Itsuki yelled as he braked hard for the left hairpin, throwing his 86 sideways as the Cosmo did the same, both of them doing a parallel drift.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Takumi couldn't believe what he had just seen. A Mazda Cosmo of all cars had just saved Itsuki from meeting a very gruesome death. He gritted his teeth as he braked and tore into the left hairpin with Nightmare Moon hot on the inside behind him.

Exiting, the three cars accelerated with Takumi quickly catching up to the Cosmo that was tailing Itsuki. He pressed against the bumper of the Cosmo that had dented in significantly, noting the non-japanese license plate, LUN1993.

Who the hell are you? Takumi wondered. Another supernatural being from some other world? Judging by your plate, it sure seems that way.

"I WILL END YOU ALL!" Nightmare Moon suddenly yelled, hurting Takumi and Itsuki's ears. "I WILL SEND ALL OF YOU DOWN THIS MOUNTAIN IF ITS THE LAST THING I DO!"

[EUROBEAT INTENSIFIES]

Itsuki lead the charge as he drifted through the inside of a right corner, the Cosmo attempting to do the same right behind him. However, it understeered and shot to the outside, allowing Takumi to swipe the inside away from it. As they exited, Takumi picked up the radio.

"Having fun up there Itsuki?" He asked. He was sweating.

"Y-Yeah! I am!" Itsuki replied. "Who's this guy in the Cosmo?"

"I don't know. But I'll have to buy them a beer when this is over."

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The 86 Duo screamed through a left curve and exited centimeters from the guardrail. The Cosmo did Its best to follow, and surprisingly, Heartbreaker was right behind the Cosmo.

BANG!

Takumi barely saw Nightmare Moon clip the guardrail as she exited that same corner behind Heartbreaker. That little tap sent her R33 across the road, almost spinning her out. She, unfortunately, regained control and accelerated next to Heartbreaker.

What did I say? Takumi mentally asked. See? You can't hold a candle to me on Akina. My home course. Only on the straightaways have you caught up to me and Itsuki.

He braked and steered around a right curve. Itsuki was flooring it ahead. Takumi couldn't help but smirk, knowing that Itsuki could keep his throttle floored longer than him. Less power generally means more speed after all.

Itsuki was focused on the hairpin ahead. Takumi and I are the masters of this pass! Nobody, man or machine, can beat us! We shall be known as one thing and one thing only!

Itsuki stared at the inside of the hairpin, not braking in the slightest. Takumi's eyes widened.

"WE ARE THE EIGHT-SIX DUO!"

BANG! BANG!

Itsuki's right tires dropped into a drainage gutter on the inside. The tires pressed into the sides of the gutter as Itsuki steered, and he launched around the hairpin-like a slingshot.

"Holy shit!" Takumi yelled, surprised as he drifted normally around the hairpin. As he exited, one voice filled his head.

"I will destroy you!" Nightmare Moon yelled. "I will destroy you all!"

Takumi accelerated in horror as Nightmare Moon's battered R33 gripped around the hairpin and pressed against his bumper. He felt the R33 pushing him as he watched Itsuki's Red Levin drop into the gutter of the next left hairpin. His jaw slightly dropped when he noticed the Cosmo spin out with Heartbreaker gripping around the inside.

"Fine," Takumi said, growing angry. "You leave me no choice! I'll just have to do it!"

BANG! BANG!

Takumi dropped into the gutter as Nightmare Moon helplessly braked. Her tires had been shredded so much that her Top-Notch ABS couldn't keep them from locking. She understeered hard.

"NO!" Nightmare Moon yelled.

SCEEEEEE!



Nightmare Moon's R33 ground against the guardrail. The pitch-black paint was scraped, and the front right fender buckled inwards, as did the suspension. The R33 continued scraping until just before the turn ended. That's when it happened.

BANG!

The R33's rear end was thrown outwards into the road, the taillights stalling before it stopped harshly. Right in the path of Heartbreaker.

"DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-ME-DON'T-HIT-MEEEE!" Nightmare Moon yelled as Heartbreaker swerved left.


(Yes I know that's an FC and not a Miura. SUE ME.)

Heartbreaker guided the Miura around the R33, arcing it around and dodging it with inches to spare. She corrected the drift and sped off, her carbureted V12 Engine revving high.

Takumi watched the event unfold in his rearview. "Alright Heartbreaker." He said, focusing on the hairpin ahead. "Are you gonna attack as well?"

EEEEEEEE!

Takumi's tires squealed as he Parallel Drifted right behind Itsuki through a right hairpin. As they exited, Takumi looked at the next left hairpin ahead.

"No actually. I'm done racing for tonight." Heartbreaker surprisingly replied. Her voice was calm and in their heads.

Music Ends.

Takumi and Itsuki's eyes widened. "You're done?" They asked in unison, not hearing each other but simultaneously letting off the throttle.

"After that, yeah. I am. I'm not a savage like Nightmare Moon. I prefer to be safe. And considering my choice of vehicle, I'd much rather not get it scratched and dented."

"Well yeah, you're kind of in a thirty-year-old car." Itsuki joked. He spoke through the radio so Takumi could hear as they slowly drove around the hairpin.

"Forty actually." Heartbreaker corrected as she accelerated around the same hairpin. The three exited and drove down a straight, Takumi and Itsuki in the left lane. "Anyways, I'm off. It was fun racing you and that Cosmo. Oh, and Itsuki? Next time we race, It'll be on a different pass. I'm getting a bit sick of you being faster because of your superior Course Knowledge."

Itsuki laughed. "Put me on ANY pass and I'll beat you."

Heartbreaker giggled. "I'd love to see you try. Anyways, see you two later." She passed Takumi and Itsuki in the right lane. As she accelerated around a right hairpin, she had one last thing to say. "Oh, and stop driving on the left. This isn't Eastern Ponyland."

With that, Heartbreaker's V12 revved loudly before suddenly vanishing into the night. Takumi and Itsuki pulled off onto the side of the road. Neither moved for a few moments. It was once again silent save for their idling engines. Itsuki broke the silence by speaking into the radio.

"What a night." He said.

Takumi picked his radio up. "Ya don't say. That was... wow."

"See? I TOLD you we would crush them!"

"You did not."

Itsuki yawned. "Still. We did that. Are you sure It's you that owes that Cosmo's driver a beer?"

Takumi chuckled. "Yeah. They saved me from having a panic attack and having to live with the guilt of watching you die for the read of my life."

"Oh. Alright." Itsuki yawned again. "Have you... do you feel tired all of a sudden?" He asked.

Takumi yawned. "Yeah. Must be because we were so focused on the race. That was just... insane. Nightmare Moon really suffered when she lost her cool." He began resting his chin on the steering wheel.

"Mhm. She was nowhere near skilled enough to become a speed demon like you." Itsuki also rested his head on his steering wheel.

"Yeah..." Takumi yawned. "She... wasn't..."

Everything went black.





I yawned every time I typed the word 'yawn'. Did any of you yawn when reading them?





Everypony opened their eyes to find themselves back in the dining room. They were all astonished at what they had just witnessed.

"Wow..." Celestia said, looking down. "Itsuki, what-... what happened after that?"

"Me and Takumi woke up as Alicorns. After that, we drove towards the only town we could see in the distance." Itsuki explained.

"Ponyville," Twilight assumed.

"Mhm. Then we ended up at your castle."

"That was a bit anticlimactic in a way," Luna admitted. "Nightmare Moon became much less of a threat towards the later parts of the road. And Heartbreaker wasn't a threat the entire time."

"Me and Takumi may have overexaggerated a bit." Itsuki chuckled. "I guess when you see it from a perspective like that... wow. Our battle was really, REALLY cool."

"Yes... it..." Luna trailed off.

"Is something wrong sister?" Celestia asked.

"I am just... I am at a loss for words..."

"Hm. Yes, that was the most interesting... 'battle' I have ever witnessed." There was a sense of recognition in Celestia's eyes.

"It was pretty sweet. Right Takumi?" Itsuki looked over at Takumi.

...

"Takumi?" Itsuki asked, looking around.

"You have gotta be kidding me." Starlight said as she stared at where Takumi was sitting.


Or at least, used to be sitting.


"GOD DAMMIT TAKUMIII!" Itsuki yelled.





About four minutes later.

Takumi sat on the hood of his Trueno, looking down at the tarmac.

"I don't need to be a part of that cursed battle again..." He slowly said.

After a moment, he sighed. "Why was it me and Itsuki? All we did was beat those two in a race on our home course. We had the advantage. It wasn't even the hardest battle I've had on Akina!"

He looked around and noticed a severe lack of guards. At least, he couldn't see any guards from his position. Must be on break. He assumed.

Looking around, the parking lot had a couple more cars than when he came in. Itsuki's Levin was next to his car, the Yellow DeLorean was gone, a light blue American van was in a corner, and that one 1957, or maybe a 56', Chevrolet Bel Air from Twilights castle was there.

He looked at the wall in front of his Trueno. Just a simple white concrete wall. "If me and Itsuki become actual princes, that's just... that's gonna be horrible. We don't know crap about managing even a city! Itsuki especially! And It's not like I ever went to any of my dad's Congress Meetings."

He sighed again. "Why was it me..." That one question had been floating around his head front and center ever since driving up the so-called 'Canterlot Turnpike'. And to think me AND Itsuki are gonna live over a thousand godforsaken years... Can our bodies even deal with that?

Takumi was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't hear the sound of a Carbureted V12 Engine revving a little nearby, along with a car door shutting.

Actually, I guess our bodies can deal with it if Celestia has shown anything. But still. Mentally? How is she able to deal with things like losing damn near every family member? Luna I guess is still here, so... technically she's also a thousand years old. But... still! "Fuck! I'll need to ask them how they coped with living a thousand years."

"BOO!"

Takumi screamed as he was suddenly shoved off his Trueno. He barely stopped his face from hitting the tarmac with his hooves. He could already hear someone laughing behind him.

Furious, he stood up on all fours and turned around. "What the hell was that for?!" He asked.

On the other side of his Trueno was a pink pony about the same size as Luna, laughing uncontrollably. She wore Golden Royal Attire, had a horn, and tri-color hair. The colors consisted of Purple, Magenta, and Light Yellow.

"You... you... oh gosh..." The mare could barely contain herself. "Your. Reaction. Was. Golden!" She opened her eyes and stared at him with a smile. Her eyes were light pink.

"Oh shu- seriously, what the heck was that for?" Takumi noticed that this pony that had just scared the crap out of him also had wings. Horn and Wings. "Oh god... let me guess." He deadpanned. "Princess Cadance?"

"Yep! My turn. Takumi Fujiwara?" Cadance asked.

Takumi was a bit surprised she knew his name already. "Yeah. How'd you know?"

"Celestia told me in a message. As soon as I was done, I hightailed it over here."

Takumi looked around and noticed a, no joke, bright pink 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400SV. It had golden wheels and finishings and side intakes. Takumi's jaw opened a bit.

"Gee. I wonder which car is yours." He joked.

"Mhm. Lamborghini Miura P400SVJ Spider. My first and only car." Cadance cheerfully said. "I take it this is your Corolla?"

"Celestia told you a lot of things in her message, didn't she?"

"Enough to make me average like 130 Miles Per Hour PLUS the whole way here."

Takumi was surprised, but then a bit confused at one thing Cadance had said about her Miura. "What... the heck is an SVJ Spider?"

"It's a Targa Top."

"Oh."

"Oh! By the way, did Celestia happen to put all of us Alicorns in a sort of flashback spell? To a street race between these two Corolla's, Nightmare Moon, and this other mare named Heartbreaker?"

"Yeah. I forced myself out of it and came out here to think."

"Hm. Well, I'll need to let Celestia know to not do that WHILE I AM DRIVING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD!"

Cadance's sudden outburst startled Takumi. "Uh... what?" He asked.

"I found myself on the side of the road literal centimeters from a tree. So uh, yeah. That was fun."

Takumi chuckled. "I'm sure it was."

"Ah! Takumi!" An all-too-familiar voice said. "There you are!"

Takumi and Cadance looked over and saw Luna trotting towards them. Who would have thought?

Takumi rolled his eyes. "Hi Luna."

"And I see Mi Amore Cadenza has arrived as well."

"Came as soon as I got Celestia's message." Cadance greeted.

Takumi did a double take. "Mi Amore... what?"

"Mi Amore Cadenza. That's my full name. Though everypony just calls me Cadance."

"I can see why."

"Now, Takumi, why did you run off like that?" Luna asked.

"Because I didn't want to relive that same battle twice." Was Takumi's plain and simple answer.

There was a moment of silence.

"Perhaps none of us see that battle the same way you do," Luna said. "Even Itsuki is unfazed by it. You on the other hoof seem to want nothing to do with it."

"Mm. So let me guess. You both want me to head inside so we can talk more about me?"

Luna nodded.

"I've barely heard much about you. All Celestia told me was what Twilight told her." Cadance said.

"So what I told Twilight is what you know..." Takumi sighed. "Well, you two can head inside. I'm gonna get going." Takumi opened the door by biting down on the handle and pulling it open. Both princesses were surprised.

"Wait, what? Why?" Cadance asked.

"Listen." There seemed to be a hint of anger in Takumi's voice.


Initial D First Stage Sound Files vol.1 - Anxiety starts playing.

"I don't want to be thrusted into this whole prince life. Not now. I have some things to think about and I'd rather do it in my car, driving around. It helps me stay calm."

"But... you're not going to be immediately thrust into Prince Life," Luna said. "It takes one several months to even begin to qualify to be a prince or princess."

"Take me for example." Cadance began. "It took me a full two years of learning to be a Princess. Technically I haven't even learned everything. Oh and let's remember how long it took me to adjust to being an Alicorn at all."

Luna said nothing.

"What were you before?" Takumi asked.

"Pegasus."

"Hm. Same here. Sort of." Takumi was just about to get in the Trueno. Luna noticed this.

"And then there's Twilight!" She quickly said. "Remember how long it took her to take to Princess life? For somepony who reads as much as her, even she couldn't take to it so easy for the first few months."

"Yeah. Nice. Whatever. Listen, I'm gonna go get gas. My 86 is about to start running on fumes."

He's definitely growing angrier. Luna thought. "You can just ask somepony to fill it up right here."

Takumi was in the driver's seat. "I can?" He asked, looking up at Luna.

"Yes."

He tilted his head. "Right. And let me guess, I can ask them for a full washdown and a complete tuneup?"

"Preferably not the tuneup, but the full washdown is available."

Takumi just stared as he levitated his keys into the ignition and held them there. Luna wondered where he got them but remembered that he had a sweater on.

Takumi scoffed before suddenly closing the door and keying the ignition. The I4 purred to life, making Luna panic. Takumi just stared ahead for several seconds, his hoof on the gear shift.

After several seconds, Luna saw Takumi sigh, and the engine was shut off. Takumi levitated the keys out of the ignition and back into one of his pockets before getting out, sighing.

"Just ask them to refuel it with high octane and clean it." That was all he said before closing the door, locking it, and walking off. "And DO NOT let them touch the engine or suspension settings."

Luna and Cadance looked at each other.

"Well he doesn't seem the best with ponies," Cadance said.

"I think he is just a bit irked is all, but yes. That does seem to be the case." Luna agreed.

Music Ends.





Takumi walked back through the halls, staring at the floor.

I know they mean well. He thought. They just want to help me and know things about me. I can't blame them. But I just... need more time to deal with this. I can barely think straight.

He heard a pair of hooves trotting behind him. At this point, he could bet money on who it was.

"Luna, if you're gonna keep following me like this, could you at least find me a room to stay in?" He asked.

"Sorry. I don't want you to get lost. Or hurt." Luna replied, slowing her pace and walking next to him.

"I am nineteen years old. I can handle myself."

"Nineteen Years Old in a different body than you are used to, and in a different world. And about that room, I can get it for you within the next hour if you want." Luna smirked. She couldn't help but realize the irony in that she, a goddess and princess, was almost acting like a maid to somepony who wasn't even a prince.

"I know. That's why I need... some time to myself." Takumi slowed his pace a small bit. Luna did the same.

"Time by yourself, or time to talk with somepony you know and trust?" Luna asked.

Takumi looked at her for a couple of seconds before looking back forward. "Maybe... I guess I've spent plenty of time by myself already."

"Mhm. You seem so distant all the time. Off in your own little world, barely listening to whatever is happening around you, if I didn't any better, I would think you were an introvert."

"I'm not an-..." Takumi sighed. "Whatever. About that room?"

"Already wrote a message out. One should be ready within the hour."

Takumi's eyes widened as he looked at her. "...HOW?"

That was the most genuine 'HOW?' Luna had ever heard. She giggled. "I was writing a message while we walked."

"All..." Takumi was at a loss for words as he looked forward. "You know what? I'm just going to assume that everything that happens is normal."

"Do not assume everything is normal. There will be abnormal things."

"I'm sure of it. And It's terrifying."

"Hehe. Yeah. It is at times. But, that is why we have things like the Royal Guard and the Police and the Military."

"Mm..."

There was silence as they walked down a hall, some guards bowing in respect to the princess. Most of them were a bit curious about who exactly Luna was walking with.

"Hey, Luna?"

"Yes Takumi?" Luna looked at Takumi.

The white Alicorn stared at the floor. "Why do you keep following me around? I know I'm from another world and all, plus I'm apparently one of two male Alicorns which is... disconcerting... but you seem a little more clingy to me than the other princesses." He looked at her.

"Uh-... well..." Luna trailed off, not knowing what to say. She looked at the floor.

On one hoof, Takumi was right. The whole 'being from another world and also being one of two MALE Alicorns' thing was a valid reason. It would be good to have a pony of her stature keeping watch of him to make sure nopony tried anything funny with him.

But she also wanted to follow him because he was by far the most enigmatic pony she'd ever met. Not because of the Alicorn thing, but because he was a Nineteen Year Old, with the driving skill of a professional. How could a nineteen-year-old achieve that level of skill? He would've had to have attacked that mountain road every single night for years, even in his sleep. And to her knowledge, the dream realm didn't even exist in his world!

Luna looked over at him for a second before looking back at the floor. He was doing the same. If she was being honest, Takumi looked pretty nice. He didn't have some flashy color scheme like literally every other Alicorn. His coat was white, and his hair was black. No magically wavy hair, no super important role in life, a passive-aggressive attitude, he was simple. Just another pony.

She liked that.

"Well... Takumi... I don't know-" Luna stopped herself as she looked around and noticed that Takumi was not with her. She had stopped in a T-Junction. Looking right, she saw Takumi silently walking away.

"Oh! Takumi? Wait up!" She said, running after him.





30 Minutes Later.

Itsuki had stayed in the dining room, talking about stuff he did back in Japan. Luna had popped in for a second to let everyone in the room know that she was going to get Takumi's room situated. That filled Itsuki with glee as his best friend was getting help from what seemed like a literal and physical goddess tp find a room in a castle. He was sure that if Takumi was getting that sort of treatment, he was gonna get it as well.

"So you worked a full time job in a gas station before you came here?" Twilight asked.

"Mhm. I used to work part time, but I worked up to full time. I hope Iketani is doing well without me." Itsuki replied.

"Huh."

"So uh... Itsuki?" Starlight asked with a rather sly look on her face.

"Yeah?"

"What about your relationships back in Japan? You've told us about Iketani and your other job buddies, but what about relationships outside of that?"

"Uh..."

"Perhaps relationships with a girl?"

Itsuki's face went red hot. Starlight also noticed almost everyone else's face slightly heat up.

"Are you seriously into him?" Trixie whispered in Starlight's ear.

"Nah, I'm just teasin' the kid." Starlight whispered back.

"Well... uh..." Itsuki couldn't help but now realize that he, besides Spike who was sitting next to Twilight, the only male in the room. It had been in the back of his head the whole time, but now the feeling was front and center.

He took a deep breath. "Alright. Well, first, my first relationship, actual relationship not just me talking with some chick during class, was this girl named Saori. He was Takumi's Girlfriend's friend, and me and her were... alright together."

"Takumi has a girlfriend?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Yeah. But he broke up with her a while back. Well, not 'broke up', but more like she just moved away."

"Oh."

"Then there was this other girl. Kazumi. Me and her got along way better. We both loved 86's, we loved racing, and we were basically the same age! We were like a match made in heaven."

"Oh. I'm sorry that you were pulled away from her." Celestia said. "You being in our world now."

"I wasn't pulled away from her. We..." Itsuki trailed off.

Images of a young girl with brown hair, brown eyes, who was wearing an orange shirt and butterscotch sweatpants flashed through his mind.

Listen don't worry about me. You do whatever you gotta do, I'm cool. His words echoed through his mind.

Just, be honest with yourself ok? The only thing you have to do now is jump into the arms of the one guy you really like! He remembered putting his fist to his chest. He had been wearing a yellow shirt and jeans at the time. It was night.

The girl gave a warm smile. You always say... the right thing. She said.

Hm. He remembered closing his eyes and taking a breath in, spreading his arms out. He was ready for a hug from the girl he loved.

However, the girl didn't run into his arms. She turned around and ran to another man that was there, one with black hair, a white shirt, and blue jeans.

The moment Itsuki had opened his eyes, it all went boom.

A minute later, a white and black AE86 Levin with a TRD Ducktail and Carbon Fiber Hood pulled out of the Gas Station Parking Lot they were in, leaving him alone with his own Levin. Not the Red and Black one, but an all-white one with plastic bumpers. An AE85.

Itsuki stood there, alone. His heart was shattered to pieces. He remembered whimpering and putting an arm up to his eyes.

He remembered turning around and running to the edge of the parking lot, trying to pull himself together.

He remembered looking to his right, behind the building, and seeing two men standing there against the wall. Two men that happened to be Iketani and Kenji.

"DAAHHHHHH!" Itsuki yelled, jumping out of his seat and running towards the doors.

"Uh- Itsuki!?" Celestia called after him in vain as the red Alicorn busted through the doors and ran down the hall crying.

Everyone was silent. Starlight took a breath in.

"Well... that wasn't the best topic to talk to him about..." She slowly said.

"It's alright Starlight." Celestia reassured. "None of us knew he'd break down like that."

"What the heck did I just miss?" A new voice asked, causing everyone to look at the door. It was Cadance walking in.

"Oh! Cadance!" Twilight greeted. "You missed a uh... well..."

"I just watched Itsuki, at least I think that was a Red Alicorn I just watched run by me sobbing, run by me. Sobbing. Yeah- seriously what happened?" Cadance stood there.

Twilight sighed. "Starlight asked Itsuki about his relationships. He mentioned this girl named... Kazumi? Yeah. He mentioned a girl from his world named Kazumi. He suddenly stopped talking, began staring off into space, and suddenly he screamed and ran out."

"He did? Oh... I'll need to talk to him. If It's a relationship problem, that is right up my alley."

"Indeed it is." Celestia said.

"Oh by the way, Celestia?" Cadance began.

"Yes Cada-" Celestia stopped herself as she began staring at a very,

VERY. Pissed off Princess of Love.