//------------------------------// // Act 20: To control the Sun and Moon // Story: The Eight-Six Duo // by Fujimi200SX //------------------------------// Later... Takumi and Luna sat at a table outside the castle, both eating a three-foot Sub Sandwich. One each. Takumi watched as Luna very politely ate a piece of her sandwich, holding it with her magic. He proceeded to look around at the surrounding garden. It was... surprising. Every single flower was in bloom despite the time of year, everything was extraordinarily lush, it was perfect. A perfect garden. It greatly surpassed the gardens back home. "My sister tends to these gardens herself, you know," Luna stated. "...I guess that would explain why everything is so..." "Perfect?" Takumi nodded before taking a bite out of his sandwich. He swallowed. "You know, It's kind of weird. Not seeing any pink trees anywhere." "Do you mean those trees we encountered in Shibukawa?" "Yeah. Those. Just..." Takumi snickered. "The fact that we- no, you brushed us just appearing back in Equestria off like it was nothing is just... I just... wow." Luna chuckled. "Well, it is not like we were in any danger. It was a simple anomaly." "Simple?" "Yes. Simple." Takumi put a hoof on his forehead. "If anomaly's like that are simple..." "Ok, ok. It is not exactly simple. In fact, it is confusing. Because when I watched you sleep the last time you went to your house in Japan, you stayed in your spot on the bed. Never having disappeared." "Well... I dunno." Luna sighed. "I will have to talk with my sister about it." Takumi said nothing as he continued to eat his sandwich. Having never eaten a Sub Sandwich before, it was quite tasty. Sub Sandwich-... "Pfft," Takumi chuckled as he ate his piece. "What is it?" Takumi swallowed. "Nothing. Just something I thought of is all." "Oh come on Takumi. What is it?" Takumi took in a breath. "Sub Sandwich Shotgun." That got a laugh out of Luna. A short laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. Takumi continued to eat, balancing his piece on a hoof and moving it to his mouth. Luna noticed this but decided to not say anything. She simply finished her food and patiently waited for Takumi to do the same. Soon, Takumi finished eating his sandwich and looked up at Luna. He was surprised to see her staring right at him. He didn't say anything. He just looked at Luna, remaining neutral as her cheeks slowly reddened. "Ahem." Luna yelped at the sudden sound. "Um, what?" "What is it with you staring at me?" Luna looked away. "I am just... I do not know." Takumi sighed as he stood up. "Well, I'm done. Wanna head back out to the Turnpike?" "Yes. Of course I do." Takumi said nothing as he unfurled his wings, giving them a quick stretch before taking off. krrr-chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka-brooooOOOOOooooommmmmm-br-br-br-br-br-br "It definitely... sounds different," Takumi noted. "Of course. It is not a piston engine," a Juvenile Luna replied. "No, I don't mean that. I've heard what a Rotary sounds like. It's just that this one sounds... just... different is all." "Have you ever heard a Three Rotor?" Takumi looked at Luna. "A Three Rotor?" "My car has a Mazda 20B engine. You may be used to hearing the 13B." "...Yeah. I guess I am. I have-... had two friends with rotaries. I'm pretty sure they were 13B's." "Takumi, do not say that. They are still your friends." Takumi sighed. "Still..." broooommmmmm-broooOOOOOmmmmmmm "Huh... it revs differently too." "How so?" "It just revs... faster. Is all." "...Interesting." Takumi put the Mazda Cosmo into gear and pulled out onto the road. He slowly accelerated. "So, is there any special move you want me to show you first?" Takumi asked as they cruised past the parking lot. "Um..." Luna tapped her chin. She smiled. "How about a braking drift?" "...Ok." brooOOOOOM! Za-Za - Love and Money starts playing. (LUNA YOU IDIOT!) Luna was surprised at the sudden acceleration. Her smile quickly disappeared. "Uhh... what are you doing?" The JC continued to accelerate. Faster and Faster. "W-Wait, now? On the first corner?!" Takumi remained silent. Luna's pupils began to shrink as she saw the speedometer quickly rising. "Mm. Um, think we are going a little too fast? Y-You could slow down!" The corner came closer and closer. Luna braced herself. Takumi had never driven her car! How was HE supposed to know when to brake?! She grew especially frightened as he missed her braking point, going at a much higher speed. "TAKUMI!" EEEEEEEEEEEEEEe The JC slowed and broke into a drift. Takumi skillfully managed the steering and throttle inputs to guide the JC through the inside of the first left corner, taking an impressive line before exiting and speeding down the next straightaway. "Tah... Takumi?" Luna whimpered as the next right corner approached. "Uh... ah! Ahhh-AHHHHHH!" [EUROBEAT INTENSIFIES] She yelled in terror as they took yet another impressive line through the corner, clearing it as quickly as the first. "Takumi! Come on! Slow down! AH!" EEEEEEEEEEEEE! The Cosmo smoothly slowed and drifted into a right hairpin, Takumi using only the accelerator to turn while holding the steering in place. They ballooned to the outside towards the guardrail, but before they could hit it, Takumi brought the Cosmo out of the drift and accelerated. Is this really my Mazda Cosmo? Luna wondered as they accelerated around a left curve. Takumi has never even driven this car before yet he is drifting so effortlessly! "It feels heavier than my 86, that's for sure. But I think I've worked out all the kinks." Luna looked at him as they accelerated down a straightaway. "Wha... did I pass out or have we only gone through three corners?" "Ok, I think I'm ready to try for a drift. Hold on." NOW Luna was confused! Drift? What were we doing before?!! A left-right chicane quickly approached. Takumi went into them faster than before, using precise use of the throttle and steering. His pace remained the same as he exited that and went into a left hairpin, clearing that faster than the previous hairpin. A small straightaway and quick left corner followed, Takumi never letting off the accelerator through either of them. He continued to not let off even through a quick right corner and down another straightaway. Luna began to relax as the run went on. Is this really my Mazda Cosmo? I never thought it could attain this speed! If he is able to drive a car this fast, with this little practice, who knows what other cars he can find the limit of! She looked over at Takumi, expecting his calm and neutral face. To ask him about how the car felt. She did not see that look. Instead, Takumi looked shocked. Luna's curiosity about the kid was at an all-time high. "Takumi? Is something the matter?" Takumi said nothing. Luna grew slightly frightened as Takumi continued to drive, gently bending the car to his will and making it his own. Soon, they were on a long straightaway. This is wild, Takumi thought. Everything about this car is so much different from my 86. The way the engine, the suspension, the transmission, even the freaking steering. Everything responds so much differently from my 86. "Takumi?" Luna asked. "AH!" She yelped as they braked and entered a high-speed left curve. Takumi skillfully tightened the line as the curve tightened into a corner, clearing it quickly and easily. The car rocked from side to side as they made it through a series of curves and corner, finally braking when a HARD left corner approached. Luna bit her lip and smiled as Takumi drifted through the inside of the corner, braking and switching directions to drift towards the inside of a right hairpin. As they exited, Luna looked over at Takumi's bewildered face. "Do you like how it drives?" she asked. "Is that why you are surprised?" BROOOOM! kr-brooOOOOOOOM! She looked back forward, slowly shaking her head with a smile. "I love it..." Luna looked at him. "What was that?" "I... I love it. This car. It's amazing." "How... really?" "Yeah. The suspension, the way the gearbox is set up, even the body's rigidity, my only problem is how heavy it feels." The JC accelerated down the Turnpike's longest straightaway. EEEEEEEEEEEEE! Takumi braked and steered into a left-right chicane, taking the most impressive line Luna had ever seen her Cosmo take. "These tires... the way they grip..." Takumi slowly said. The JC slowed and drifted into a left hairpin, taking an inside line the led it less than an inch from the guardrail. Is this why Ryosuke and Keisuke used Rotaries? Takumi wondered. Because I can see the appeal. The way the entire drivetrain responds because of the Rotary is amazing. This might actually be better than my 86. "Luna?" "Yes?" "Mind if we switch sides every time we go for a run in your Cosmo?" "What? Why?" The JC drifted through a right 90-degree curve, then a left 90-degree curve. "Because I... because I actually love driving this. And I don't want to mess with you and your practicing." "Um... sure. Of course we can switch sides." Luna chuckled. "I am sure we will have to pay for plenty of gasoline and tires." "We will." EEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Music Ends. Celestia smacked her forehead as she and Cadance walked down a hallway. "Takumi is a street racer." Cadance was surprised. "Yeah? And? What's wrong with that? I've done my fair share of having fun in the twisties or on the highways." Celestia looked at Cadance. "Oh come on. You know this!" Cadance defended. "You gave me a LAMBORGHINI MIURA as my FIRST CAR. What did you expect me to do?" "It's not that. You were younger, and yes, it was a small mistake on my part in giving you a Miura. But you need to remember, Takumi has genuine skill in street racing. He isn't somepony who goes out and drifts on the weekends. He is a real street racer with real skill." "...Ok?" "What if my sister gets into street racing because of him? Real street racing where she practices every single night?" "You sound like you know what you're talking about." "I am speaking off of what I know about racing." Celestia sighed. "My sister... a street racer..." Cadance returned the sigh. "Well, what do you want to do? I doubt Takumi would purposefully get Luna into street racing." "Yes, yes. I know that. Which is why I'm not going to accuse him of it. It's just that if my sister were to get into street racing, and ponies were to find out, what would they think of it? Street Racing would likely skyrocket. What's worse it that she already owns a Skyline R33 GTR. A car already belonging to a lineage of famous racecars." "A-About that, why did Luna GET an R33 of all things? I don't think I've ever asked." "Because it was 'Practical and Easy to Drive'. I shouldn't have let her keep it. It is NOT that." Cadance's jaw dropped. "What about an R33 GTR is unpractical? It's got all wheel drive, traction control, good power. a rigid chassis and body for protection against a crash, a spacious trunk, sure it's a coupe but what about that doesn't say practicality?" Celestia sighed. "Fair. I know there are likely ponies that actually use even R33 GTR's as family cars. But you cannot ignore its racing lineage. Illegal and Sanctioned." "Yeah. So? I doubt Luna would be THAT much of an idiot. She wouldn't use her daily as a racecar." "And there is no way she would be able to buy and own a second car without me knowing. So..." The two paused, staring at each other. "Did paranoia suddenly hit you like a truck?" Cadance asked. "Paranoia in which Luna might have actually gotten a second car without me knowing? Yes..." Celestia shook her head. "No. I shouldn't accuse her so soon. Maybe... maybe she isn't into it... yet..." Cadance shook her head. Suddenly, she had a thought. "How... soft, was Takumi?" Celestia chuckled. "Believe it or not, softer than my sister and I." Cadance stopped and stared with wide eyes. "Ok. Where is he. I HAVE to see this for myself." "Cadance, no! He is sleeping right now. Let him rest." Cadance groaned as she continued walking alongside Celestia. "Of course..." Celestia opened a set of doors that lead outside. Right into the Royal Parking Lot. Cadance was confused. "Wait, why are we here? I thought we were just walking together through the castle." "Because I wanted to... look at something," Celestia stated, eyes trained on a certain White and Black Liftback with Retractable Headlights. Cadance watched as Celestia stepped forward towards Takumi's 86. It was a slow, gentle pace, as if she were approaching a lost and scared filly. Celestia stopped in front of the 86 Trueno, slowly sitting down to simply gaze at it. Cadance stopped next to Celestia, looking between her and the 86. "Is something wrong?" Cadance asked. Celestia said nothing. Cadance silently sat down next to Celestia, looking at the 86, seeing if there was something Celestia was seeing that she couldn't. "Everything has a limit." Cadance looked at Celestia. "Huh?" Celestia kept her eyes on the 86. "I was thinking of what Takumi brought up during our conversation. His question of what would happen if somepony had one thousand years of driving experience." "He asked that?" "Yes, he did. While somepony, if they had that experience, would be the most experienced driver ever, and therefore be able to push a car faster than anypony, there is a limit. Not in their driving, but in their car." "...I'm... not following." "All cars, performance or not, have a Physical Limitation to how fast they can possibly go. While this limit is usually very high in the case of performance cars, it is there." "Like how you can divide a number in half forever, and it will never reach zero?" "An interesting comparison, but yes. In the case of Takumi's Sprinter Trueno, despite its rather outdated suspension, its lightweight chassis and 50/50 weight distribution extends even its stock limit to great heights. And Takumi seems to have modified it greatly, further extending the limit." When did she become a car guru? Cadance was confused. "How? All I see are the stock wheels, a carbon hood, custom suspen...sion... oh. Internal modifications." "It doesn't matter how much your car is modified on the outside. It will not be truly fast unless you have skill, or internal modifications." "Oh yeah! All Show, No Go! I freaking hate that, you know? Ponies that modify everything on the outside but don't touch the inside. I HATE that." Celestia nodded in agreement. "We digress." "Yeah, we do. So... what about the Physical Limit of cars is interesting?" Celestia sighed. "Something to think about is all. Something that doesn't make me sad or annoyed." "Oh. Yeah, I guess. So... what do you think this Trueno's limit is?" "...I don't know... Takumi himself would have to figure that out. He is the only one more in sync with his Sprinter than anypony else." "Okayyy..." Celestia smiled at Cadance. "Why don't you head inside and get some rest for your journey back to the Empire?" "Heh, you say that like I'd have to walk or fly." Cadance sighed as she stood up. "Yeah, alright. What are you gonna do?" "I'm going to stay out here. Take in the fresh air. Perhaps I'll take a flight around Canterlot." "Alright. Well." she yawned. "Good night." "Good night, Cadance." Celestia watched Cadance reenter the castle. She silently looked back at the Trueno, staring at it intently. She peered around the side to look at the Japanese Kanji. Fujiwara Tofu Shop (Private Use) She tilted her head. The license plates, the carbon hood, the polyurethane windows... are you really the same one? Two engines echoed through her mind. A 1.6 Liter Formula Atlantic 4A-GE Silvertop resonating with an Air-Cooled 3.0 Liter Flat Six Turbo. The engines revved high and loud, decreasing in pitch when they shifted gears. The sounds of screeching tires appeared, sounding in tune with the engines. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! The engine sounds melded into a different engine entirely, a Mazda 20B-REW 3 Rotor, just as a Mazda Cosmo JC drifted around a high-speed curve, accelerating. "How was that?" Luna excitedly asked as she accelerated down a straightaway. "Not bad at all. Faster than your last run. Were you watching me or something?" "After I got over my initial shock, how could I not?" "I'm just surprised you're being so fearless all of a sudden." "Takumi, you have revealed the true potential of my Mazda Cosmo. Now I no longer have to live in fear of exceeding its limits." "Hm." Luna braked and steered into a corner, drifting through the middle of the road before exiting with minimal fishtailing. "That was pretty good," Takumi noted. This made Luna beam with pride. Over the next few hours, Takumi and Luna did downhill run after downhill run, alternating between driving every run. At first, Takumi used his time to learn the Mazda Cosmo more and more, but after several runs, he found himself instead slowing down, showing Luna how she could improve her cornering. Impressing Luna more than ever, Takumi copied her driving lines to a T, showing her how the line she took was disadvantageous. In the next corner, he showed her how she could improve it. "See, if you decrease throttle here, then increase it," he explained as he drifted through a corner. "you can save a half a second." On her next run, Luna did just that, saving half a second just like Takumi said. "Yes!" Throughout the night, Luna and Takumi practiced. Takumi learned the JC more and more, working out even the so-called "trivial" details, while Luna learned the course more and more, with Takumi guiding her along the way. The two had fun together. So much so they completely forgot the passage of time despite there being a digital clock situated on the Dashboard. Takumi had fun learning the car, but also had fun teaching Luna how to drive. Teaching her how to properly shift the weight of the car was especially fun. To see Luna smile and beam with pride brought a sense of warmness to his heart. That being said, there was something Takumi found rather surprising about Luna. Luna was very adaptable. No, really. The way she was able to easily do what Takumi told her to do was nothing short of amazing. If he told her to let off the accelerator a small bit to exit a corner faster, she would do it exactly how he did it. Instinctively. It was kind of frightening how easily she was able to adapt to new techniques. Reason being that he was able to do the same. They were both Natural Drivers. She was unskilled, while he was skilled, but they were still Natural Drivers. EEEEEEEE! Much later, Luna drifted around a corner uphill, planting the throttle and accelerating down a straightaway. She stopped in the parking lot, unbuckling and getting out. Takumi did the same. They switched seats, closing the doors and buckling up. Takumi looked at the digital clock on the dashboard. 7:07AM He frowned. "The sun's gonna come up soon." Luna chuckled. "My sister is the one who dictates when the sun rises. Her schedule says it was rise at 7:30, which gives us time for one more run." Takumi stared at the steering wheel. "I mean... I have been wanting to see how fast this car could go..." "You want to run at 100%?" "Well, yeah. This car is amazing." "Would you like me to time you?" Takumi looked at Luna, seeing a stopwatch in her magical grasp. "Really?" Luna tilted her head. "What? Do you not want to be timed?" "I just..." He looked forward. "I don't know..." Dejo and Bon - Wheelpower and Go! starts playing. (I spent half an hour picking the track for this bit) broooooooOOOOOOM- KSHH! brooooooooo- Both Alicorns looked left as the undeniable sound of a Rotary sounded off in the distance. Beams of light came closer and closer before a car rocketed out from behind a guardrail, racing past the parking lot as a bright blue blur. Despite thinking it was going to continue on without paying them any mind, the blur of blue slowed down and stopped in the road, revealing that it was an Innocent Blue Mica Mazda RX-7 FD3S Spirit R. It looked stock aside from a set of chrome ADV5 Track Function CS Rims. Luna tilted her head. "Wait, is that..? it is!" "What?" Takumi asked. "That is the same car whose driver recommended me this Mazda Cosmo!" Takumi smiled. "Really?" broooommmmmm-brooOOOoooommmm The FD revved its 13B-REW engine, turbochargers fluttering every time it did so. Like it was egging the two on. Luna smiled. "I believe he would like to race you." "You want me to race someone in your car?" "It is not like you are going to crash." "...Okay. So you really wanted me to go after him?" brooOOOoommmm-broOOOooommmmmm Takumi's hooves pressed harder against the steering wheel. Dammit. The way he revs his engine, now I actually want to race him! "Ahem?" Luna cleared her throat. "Takumi?" "We're going." [EUROBEAT INTENSIFIES] ker-CHUNK! EEEEEEEEEEEE! Luna yelped at the sudden acceleration as Takumi floored it in first gear. broOOOOOOM- KSHH! BROOOOOO- The FD accelerated just as the JC entered the road. Two Rotary-Powered Machines sped down the mountain pass, one formerly a luxury car while the other was a thoroughbred sports car. Takumi quickly caught up to the FD, accelerator flat on the floor as they quickly approached the first corner. Luna took in a deep breath, then let it out. I will not allow myself to fear Takumi's driving. The corner came closer and closer. Takumi braked, but was surprised to see the FD not brake until much later. "What is he doing?!" Luna yelled. The FD suddenly dropped its left tires into a drainage gutter situated on the inside of the corner. The tires pressed into the concrete, canceling the outward inertia and allowing it to corner faster than ever. Takumi took an impressive line through the inside of the corner, exiting less than a second after the FD. If that's how he's gonna play, I'm all for it! Takumi internally yelled. The JC accelerated towards the rear of the FD, getting within a few feet before both cars braked and drifted into the next right corner, performing a perfect Parallel Drift mere inches from the inside guardrail, centimeters in the case of the JC. The FD was visibly surprised at the JC's impressive driving coming out of the corner, even more so as they braked and drifted through the inside of the first right hairpin, nearly touching doors. Luna excitedly squeed as she herself was brought inches from the FD before both cars exited the hairpin and sped around a left curve. The speedometer went up and up and up before suddenly dropping as both cars entered a left-right chicane. Takumi was done holding back. Following the FD, he dropped the inner tires of the JC into the gutter on the inside. Luna yelped in surprise as the G-Forces thrashed her against the door despite her attempts at bracing herself. "I really need to get bucket seats..." she mumbled. "Yeah, you should," Takumi unexpectedly replied. Before Luna could react, both cars did full parallel drifts through a left hairpin, Takumi cutting so far inward that the front left tire was riding on the dirt, decreasing grip. He used this to his advantage, increasing throttle and shifting weight to the rear to decrease the wear on the tire while also increasing speed. Upon exiting the corner, the JC pressed up against the FD's bumper, leaving less than an inch between the two even when they rocketed around a quick lift corner, down a straightaway, then a quick right corner. Their speeds increased exponentially down a decently long straightaway. Luna bit her lip as they braked hard into a right corner, seatbelt straining to hold her and Takumi in place as the JC drifted centimeters behind the FD around the inside of the hairpin. Surprisingly, the FD pulled away from them on the exit of the corner. This didn't phase Takumi in the slightest as he quickly shifted gears to accelerate after the FD. Down a straightaway they went, followed by a left hairpin. Takumi went in at a higher rate of speed than the FD to catch up, drifting and guiding the front left tire over the dirt, forcing the weight onto the outside tires. He nailed the accelerator using the newfound grip to his advantage, accelerating around the hairpin. The moment the hairpin ended, a combined 600 Turbocharged Horses were put into the tarmac as the Rotary-Powered Monsters opened their throttles as wide as they could go. Speeds increased to over 100-OMPH (Outrageous Miles Per Hour) down the second-longest straightaway the Canterlot Turnpike had. The JC didn't let up. Even as a small and quick right curve came and went, causing the JC and FD to balloon outwards towards the wall. Both cars recovered at the same time, coming inches from the wall, centimeters for the JC. Both sped towards an approaching curve. Up ahead, two cars sat in the parking lot next to the curve. One was a black Ferrari 365 GT4 BB while the other was, interestingly enough, an Azure Blue Mark 1 Ford Capri GT 2.0. Between the two sat two men. Both in their early twenties. "Sounds like the SpeedStars are duking it out," the man next to the Ferrari noted. "Pretty early, don't you think?" "Can't be them. None of them have an RX-7," the other stated. Two sets of headlights approached from around the curve. "Looks like they're moving pretty fast," the Ferrari driver said. "... Too fast to be normal racers," the Capri driver stated. The cars came closer. The one in front was a blue FD, while the car behind looked like an S13. "TOO FAST!" the Ferrari driver yelled. "RUN!" EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Both men ducked behind their cars as the two cars tore around the curve at high speed, slowing down mid-drift and sticking to the inside before disappearing around another right corner. Both men got out from behind their cars, staring at each other with wide eyes. "Was that a Eunos Cosmo?!" EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Luna looked over at Takumi, watching as he braced himself against the door and center console much harder than herself. "Does that not hurt?" she asked. "No." They entered a left curve. The FD drifted while the JC dropped into a gutter mostly hidden by bushes, threatening to pass the FD as they exited. He's fast, Takumi thought. Right corner. The JC moved so fast and so close to the inside it cut outstretched bushes. It skillfully changed directions into a left curve, once again using the inner gutter to gain a faster line and stay superglued to the FD's bumper. Exiting the curve and gutter, the JC followed the FD into another right curve, coming centimeters from the guardrail. Without breaking, the JC switched directions once again and dropped into the inside gutter of a long left sweeping curve. The FD easily blocked the attack, but the JC kept inside the gutter. "Takumi? What are you doing?!" Luna asked. Takumi didn't reply. The JC continued within the gutter as the FD instinctively turned outwards for the best racing line. What neither it nor Luna were expecting, was for Takumi to suddenly accelerate and stick within the gutter for longer than normal, practically jumping out of the gutter and bringing both cars side by side. "Takumi?! We cannot pass here! There is a hairpin!" The JC quickly outpaced the FD, bringing itself half a car length ahead of the FD as a right hairpin quickly approached. Luna gave up on trying to understand Takumi's way of driving as both cars dove into the hairpin, braking and drifting at speed. Takumi gave the corner his all, trying to hold the lead. Even with this, the FD's superior line brought it and the JC neck and neck towards the middle of the hairpin. Luna watched the outer guardrail come closer and closer. The FD was now pulling ahead, but forced to slow because of the JC blocking its line. The hairpin ended, and the two cars floored it. BANG! All three of the participating ponies were startled as the JC smacked into the guardrail, momentarily offsetting it. "Dammit! I am so sorry!" Takumi yelled as he instantly stabilized the car, pushing harder on the accelerator to keep the cars neck and neck down the Turnpike's longest straightaway. The Rotary Racers sped down the straightaway, neck-and-neck, tires lightly squealing as they raced around gentle ultra-high-speed curves. The JC began to pull ahead, getting half a car length in front. Suddenly, the FD let off, slowing down and flicking on its hazard lights. Both Alicorns were confused at the sudden motion, especially when the FD began flashing its headlights. "Oh. I know what he's doing," Takumi stated, letting off the throttle. Music Ends. Both cars slowed down and stopped on the right side of the road, directly in the lane with their hazards on. "Are you going to speak with him?" Luna asked. "I might as well see what he wants." Takumi unbuckled and got out, looking at the FD to see an Innocent Blue Mica pony getting out. He looked like a pegasus. "You know Luna, when I told you to get a Mazda Cosmo, I didn't say become the fastest thing on the-" The pony stopped short when he made he made eye contact with Takumi. "Oh," he said with a disappointed tone. "Did you want something?" Takumi asked. The pegasus-lookalike shook his head. "No, sorry. I thought you were someone else. Nice racing, but still." Without another word, the pegasus got back in the FD and closed its door, shifting into gear and accelerating away, down the mountain. Luna stepped out of the JC. "What was that about?" Takumi asked before she could say anything. "That I do not know. Perhaps I should have stepped out with you." Takumi just shook his head and sat down in the drivers seat and buckled his seatbelt, closing his door just as Luna did the same. The former put the JC into first gear and turned around to accelerate uphill. Takumi shifted gears. "So who was he?" "Kansai Dorifto." "Inertia Drift?" "No. Kansai Dorifto. Where did you get Inertia Drift?" "Kansai Dorifto is Japanese for Inertia Drift." "Really? I did not know that." "Hm." Takumi picked up the pace as the JC rounded a hairpin. "So is he a friend? Kansai?" "Not quite. From what I gather, he is a Thestral. One that supposedly saved Princess Cadance and Prince Shining Armor's wedding three years ago." "Hm. So did you two happen to meet up two weeks ago?' "Yes. He was in that same FD. The same one he used even three years ago at the wedding." "Mm. Oh, hey, sorry about hitting the guardrail back there. Guess I misjudged the line a little." "Oh it is nothing, really. I am sure it is a simple paint scratch. I am changing the paint soon, remember?" "I guess. Wait- how are you gonna change the paint without anyone knowing it's you?" "Takumi, look at me." Takumi only glanced. "What?" "Only my sister knows of this form. Nopony else knows of it. I would need to drape a simple cloak over my wings so that ponies do not see my cutie mark or wings." "Oh. Okay. Makes sense I guess. But can't you just, I dunno. Make your wings invisible? Actually nevermind. Ponies would see your mark." "Hmm... make my wings invisible... now that is an idea." Soon, the two were walking through the castle. Luna was back in her mature form. "I cannot say it enough how much fun it was to ride with you while you raced," Luna happily stated. "Mm." Luna glanced at Takumi. "Is something the matter?" "No. Just thinking about some stuff." "Hm." They made their way past Takumi's room. It was at this moment that Takumi began to wonder where they were going. "I must raise the moon," Luna replied after Takumi inquired. Takumi said nothing as he followed Luna into her room, continuing to say nothing. He barely registered Luna's room and its contents. The two stepped out onto the balcony and stopped. "Now, we wait," Luna stated. Takumi stared ahead at the moon. The gigantic, somewhat-creepy moon. Creepy in the sense that it was not supposed to be that big. As Luna got ready to begin lowering the Moon, he had a thought. "Hey, you think I could lower the moon?" Luna looked at him, surprised. "You would like to lower the moon?" "No. I mean, if I tried, could I lower the moon?" Luna looked at her moon. For the past three years, since a week after her arrival, she had been the one to raise and lower the moon. Always her. It never crossed her mind whether or not Cadance and Twilight could do it. And now, here was another Alicorn, one who might as well have been a colt in the magic world, wondering if he could do. "Well... there would not be any harm if you tried now." Takumi's eyes slightly widened. "Wait, really?" "I am next to you. If anything goes awry, I can fix it." Takumi looked at the moon. "You... actually want me to try and move the moon... the moon..." "Come on. Try it. Now that it is in my head, I must see if you can do it." Takumi felt his heart flutter. "But..." He took in a deep breath. "How do I do it?" Luna bit her lip. "Focus your magic on the moon like you would a fork, then gently pull it below the horizon." Takumi took in another breath. "Okay." His horn lit up emerald green as he tried to grasp the moon. "You must point your horn at the moon and keep it pointed as you lower it," Luna explained. "Oh." Takumi focused entirely on the moon, pushing away the shock of actually doing such a thing and focusing on actually doing it. Nearby, Celestia stood out on her own balcony, patiently waiting for Luna to lower the moon so she could raise the sun. What she did not expect was for the aura of light around the moon to turn a shade of emerald green as it was very slowly lowered. She quickly looked down at Luna's balcony, spying both her and Takumi, the former of which wore the same look of surprise while the latter seemed to be focusing down on the-... "He couldn't be doing what I think he's doing... is he?" Celestia asked. Luna was astonished. Though his body looked like it was straining, Takumi himself didn't seem to take notice of it. She looked back at the moon, seeing it slowly being lowered with the emerald green aura stuck around it. "Oh my gosh," she silently mouthed. Within the better part of a minute, the moon had disappeared from view, behind the landscape in the distance. Takumi looked up, seeing the sky and surrounding area completely dark. "Did I really just..." "Takumi," a regal voice suddenly said. Luna and Takumi looked up to see Celestia flying in, landing in front of them. "Was that really you?" "If you mean the sun- er, moon, then... yeah, I guess." Celestia looked at Takumi's near-speechless face. She glanced at Luna. "And, sister, you did not help him?" "N-Not in the slightest," Luna replied. "He did that all by himself." "Holy shit..." Takumi mumbled. "I just lowered the moon..." "Takumi... do you feel any pain?" Celestia asked. "No. I don't." Celestia looked towards the west where her sun normally rose. "Do you think you could raise the sun?" "You want me to do what?" "You want him to do what?!" Luna shouted. "We might as well," Celestia calmly replied. Takumi took in a breath. "Okay... so how do I do it?" Both princesses took in a breath, surprised that Takumi was willing to do it. Celestia bent down. "Do you see those hills over there?" she asked, pointing to a mountain range in the west. "Yeah." "Reach out your magic to behind those hills, find the sun." Takumi stood still, pointing his horn at the mountain range, doing as Celestia said. "Ok, I got it." "Are you sure?" Luna asked. "Yeah." "Now slowly do what you did with Luna's moon, but this time raise it," Celestia said. "Mm." To the sisters' astonishment, slowly but surely, the sun began to rise over the mountains. Neither were able to hold their regal statures or expressions as this teenager did the very thing Celestia had done for over a millennia. And the most insane part was that the same thing that happened to the moon, with its aura turning a dim shade of emerald green. Within twenty seconds, the sun was up. Takumi stopped his magic and looked up, a look of absolute shock and wonder on his face. None of the three Alicorns could take their eyes off the sun. Its aura turned back to normal after a few seconds, prompting the sisters to let out a breath. "Takumi, what is wrong with your horn?" a new voice asked. Luna and Celestia looked over to see Cadance there. "Cadance?! What is it with you popping up out of nowhere?" Celestia asked. "Considering the first thing I see when waking up is the moon glowing GREEN, I had a pretty good reason to come up here especially after seeing TAKUMI do it. But seriously, what is wrong with his horn?" The three looked at Takumi's horn, the sisters drawing in a breath. Though it was cooling down, Takumi's horn was RED HOT and producing as much smoke as a steam locomotive under full load. The teen himself was looking down at the balcony floor, slowly breathing. He didn't pay any mind to his horn. "Takumi? Are you alright?" Luna asked, stepping forward and putting a hoof in the teen's wing. "I just moved the sun and moon..." Takumi mumbled. "Yes, that you did." Luna took off her hoof shoe and gently caressed Takumi's wing. So soft... she thought. "I actually moved... the sun and moon..." "But, Takumi, have you paid any mind to your horn?" Celestia asked. Takumi looked at Celestia. "No. Is something wrong with it?" "You mean you haven't felt how hot it is?" Takumi tried to look up at his horn. "No, I guess not. I felt it warm up a little but I thought that was normal." "Uh..." Celestia used her magic to grab Luna's hoofheld mirror, bringing it over and letting Takumi see his horn. Takumi's eyes slightly widened. "Oh. That's... hm." "Takumi, this is serious," Cadance stated. "The fact that you were able to raise and lower the sun and moon is amazing and all, but your horn was frying itself." Takumi took in a breath. "Well, I'm fine. Listen, I'm gonna head to my room. I need to process this." "No, Takumi. One cannot simply not feel their horn burn out like that," Celestia sternly told him. "You need to be checked over." Luna decided to stop caressing Takumi's oh so soft wing. Takumi looked down. "Well..." He took in a breath. "Fine. I feel alright, but if you say it's bad then... hm. Wait, who's gonna be up at this time? The sun just rose." Celestia tapped her chin. "True... Well, I can find somepony. It will take time. I estimate fifteen minutes." "Can I sit in my room until then?" Celestia sighed. "Fine. You can until then. If I may, why do you want to be in your room?" "Because... I... I just lowered and raised the moon and sun. I need to take some time off to think. This is just..." Takumi, without warning, walked past the princesses. "Let me know when the doctor is ready." Cadance tilted her head. "Um, ok?" thunk The princesses looked at each other, confused about what just happened in the past five minutes. "Is he always like this?" Cadance asked. click Takumi firmly locked the door to his room. He walked over to the window and firmly shuddered it, pulling a curtain over it to shield the room. Grabbing a small mirror, he sat down on his bed, staring at the horn through the mirror. By now, it had cooled down into a charred black. Did it really carry over? He wondered. I never even thought about it till now. If it really carried over... He set the mirror down, releasing it from his magical grasp. He magically grabbed a knife from a table, nice and sharp for cutting things. He stared at it for a moment before placing the business end on his right foreleg, making sure to stay away from the joint. He began moving it back and forth, breaking the skin and going deeper and deeper, drawing more and more blood. It did, He thought. It did carry over. It even feels amplified.