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Prologue4,950 words
Foggy Junkyard Morning3,148 words
A New Dawn2,035 words

Foggy Junkyard Morning

Saturday:

The junkyard was shrouded in a thick layer of fog, making it difficult to see more than a few yards ahead. The dew from the previous night still clung to every surface, glistening like diamonds in the weak sunlight that managed to peek through the mist. The distant chirps and trills of waking birds could be heard if one listened closely enough.

In the first bay of the garage, Christine sat atop a lift, her rims and tires removed and neatly stacked nearby. Nearby, the bead breaker waited patiently for its next task. Across from her, an organized pile of rusted chrome pieces lay by the sand blasting area, waiting to be restored to their former glory. Sunset worked tirelessly on removing the stubborn drum brakes that had rusted solid onto the axle of Christine's front driver's side wheel. Frustrated curses escaped her lips as she wrestled with the uncooperative brakes.

Taking a step back to catch her breath, Sunset closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring the smell of oil and gasoline that permeated the air. Slowly exhaling, she opened her eyes and marched determinedly to the back wall of the garage. There, she grabbed her most trusted tools - the acetylene and oxygen torches, along with a hefty five pound sledgehammer and sturdy crowbar. With these trusty companions by her side, she was ready to take on any mechanical challenge that came her way.

As Sunset spoke aloud, the words were muffled by her protective welding helmet. She adjusted the valves on the tanks until a soft hiss of gas could be heard. With a flick of the striker, a small blue flame erupted from the gases, casting an eerie glow in the dim workshop. The smell of heated metal filled the air as she carefully directed the flame onto the rusted drum break housing. Slowly, it started to glow a soft red, signaling that it was hot enough for Sunset's next move.

She set down the helmet and picked up a heavy sledgehammer, its weight feeling comfortable in her grip. With each strike, the sound of metal meeting metal reverberated through the air. Even the birds perched nearby took flight at the loud noises.

After seven strong swings, Sunset switched to a crowbar. Carefully wedging it into a small crease, she applied pressure until with a shriek, the rusty housing broke free and fell to the ground with a resounding clang. Wiping sweat off her forehead with her sleeve, Sunset took a deep breath before starting on the next step.

With skilled hands, she removed all of the old parts from Christine's drum brake system, placing them carefully in a barrel outside the shop. It was hard work but Sunset was determined to get Christine back in top shape. As she worked on removing the other three drum brakes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment with each successfully freed piece.

A determined Sunset had spent the last three hours immersed in the arduous task of removing the old brakes. Her hands were now sore and scraped, but a proud smile graced her lips as she surveyed her accomplishment. She had set out into the junkyard with one goal - to find disc brake systems or at least replacement drum brakes. Now, armed with a small tool box filled with a hammer and crowbar, she made her way through the yard.

The wind howled through the metal structures and sparse trees, carrying with it a chill that spoke of winter's approach. Despite the cold, Sunset persevered and searched through newer cars that had been brought into the junkyard. The rusted holes of junker's whistled in protest as the breeze grew stronger, and shattered windows rattled in their frames.

But amidst all this chaos, there was a ray of fiery red hair walking confidently through the yard with a box of parts in hand. As she made her way back to the garage, Sunset couldn't help but smile at how smoothly her task had gone. What she thought would take all day had only taken two hours and a few bloody knuckles. With satisfaction in her heart, she placed the box of drum brake parts on the cool cement floor of the garage.

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Sunset wiped the sweat from her brow and began the final step - putting all the parts back where they belong. Piece by piece, she carefully fitted everything into place until the last drum brake cover was secured. Standing back to admire her handiwork, Sunset felt a sense of pride wash over her.

But there was still one more task to be done. Walking over to the bead breaker, Sunset hefted the first tire into place, making sure to line up the wheel stud holes perfectly. With practiced ease, she slid the rim and tire onto its axle and started screwing on lug nuts to secure it in place. In the back corner of the garage, the powerful hum of the air compressor kicked on, providing Sunset with the necessary tools to finish her job.

With a determined expression, Sunset carefully maneuvered the tire onto the machine, pressing down on the pedal to begin the process of breaking the bead around the rubber. The arm moved slowly as the tire rotated, inch by inch. As she stopped the tire from moving and moved the arm out of her way, she deftly removed the lug nuts and lifted the tire onto the top of the machine to remove the rubber from the rim.

Fifteen minutes later, Sunset had four clean rims in front of her, but her smile faded as she examined the tires. Three of them were weather-cracked and useless, while the fourth was barely hanging on with its worn tread. With a sigh, she grabbed a bite pad and a piece of paper to start checking the sizes of each tire. She knew it would be a challenge to find four matching tires that could hold up for Christine's needs.

"205 R 15's," Sunset muttered as she wrote down the numbers. "Shouldn't be too hard to find." But her optimism was tinged with a hint of doubt. She knew all too well how difficult it could be to find good tires in this small town.

Turning off her work light, Sunset looked over at Christine, parked in the corner with her headlights dimmed. "Don't worry, Christine," she said softly. "I'll find you some new tires tomorrow." Walking up to her beloved car, Sunset patted Christine's roof affectionately. "Good night, my dear. I'll see you tomorrow."

As she walked away from Christine and into the fading light of dusk, Sunset didn't notice Christine's headlights glowing softly or hear the faint sound of a radio station cutting in and out through her buzzing speakers. For now, all that mattered was finding new tires for her beloved car before hitting the road again tomorrow morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sunday~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The rising sun illuminated the junkyard in a warm glow, casting delicate shades of pink and yellow into the sky. The fading moon hung low in the sky, surrounded by wispy clouds that now glowed with a hint of color. At this early hour, the junkyard was quiet and deserted, a place where most people wouldn't dare to venture. But today was different. Today, Sunset appeared through the entrance, her black jacket standing out against the dull surroundings. Her fiery red hair seemed to catch fire in the rays of the morning sun, creating an almost otherworldly halo around her.

As she walked past the old garage, Sunset couldn't help but stop and admire Christine, her pride and joy. The worn red paint seemed to come alive in the sunlight, its vibrant hue more evident than ever before. With her trusty notebook in hand, Sunset made her way to the back of the garage where stacked rows of tires stood tall. She knew Grogar only kept good tires and sent the old ones off for recycling, so her hopes weren't high.

However, as she walked along the rows, a determined smile on her face, Sunset refused to let negativity take over. She knew Christine was counting on her to find the perfect set of white wall tires. Just when she was about to give up hope and turn back to the garage, Sunset's eyes caught sight of something tucked behind a row of tires.

A sun-bleached blue tarp lay haphazardly on top of whatever it was hiding from the world. Without hesitation, Sunset carefully removed the rocks holding it down and unveiled what lay underneath with a gasp escaping her lips at what she found in the early morning light.

After hours of searching, Sunset finally found the perfect set of tires hidden beneath a tarp in the corner of the garage. As she pulled back the tarp, a beam of sunlight burst through the clouds and shone down upon the tires, illuminating them in a warm golden light. "205 R 15's and white walls," Sunset exclaimed with pure joy. She ran her hand along the outer wall of the tire, feeling the smooth rubber beneath her fingertips.

With newfound energy, Sunset hoisted the first tire onto her shoulder and trekked back to the bead breaker. As she returned with the second tire, her eyes fell upon the rusted rims that had long since lost their shiny chrome finish. Frowning at her oversight, Sunset set down the last two tires next to the others and made a mental note to fix the rims before installing the new tires.

Determined to rectify her mistake, Sunset donned a protective cover suit and mask before entering the sandblasting area. With precision and focus, she methodically blasted away at the rust on each rim and piece of chrome from Christine, her beloved car. The sound of the air compressor filled her ears as she worked, and soon she was lost in the rhythmic motions of blasting away rust. Hours passed by unnoticed until Sunset finally shut off the compressor and removed her protective gear.

Examining her work with satisfaction, Sunset double-checked each rim to ensure all traces of rust were gone. Finally satisfied with her efforts, she couldn't wait to see how Christine would look with her new set of white wall tires and freshly restored rims.

"Don't worry Christine," Sunset reassured, her voice calm and confident as she approached the lift controls. She expertly lowered the car to a comfortable height and proceeded to check its engine. "Your rims and tires should be back on before nightfall." Sunset continued, her attention focused on the task at hand. "But first, I'll need to change your oil, antifreeze, and check your spark plugs to make sure they're all firing correctly."

As she spoke, Sunset's eyes scanned over Christine's engine with precision. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm orange glow over the garage. She could hear the faint sound of crickets chirping in the distance.

Walking away from Christine for a moment, Sunset grabbed the necessary tools to complete her tasks. But as she turned her back, she caught a glimpse of movement from Christine's windshield wipers. To anyone else, it may have seemed like a malfunction, but Sunset knew better. It was Christine's way of communicating with her - a silent wink.

Returning to the car with a ratchet, sockets, and a drain pan in hand, Sunset carefully removed each spark plug cap and tested them for a snug fit. After finding the right socket and attaching it to the ratchet, she began the process of removing all eight spark plugs. With each one she pulled out, she inspected them closely and found that they were all covered in carbon buildup.

Shaking her head disapprovingly, Sunset made her way to where she kept new spark plugs. With precise movements, she reinstalled eight new spark plugs into their designated spots. The sun had almost completely set by the time she finished, but Sunset didn't mind. Working on cars was her passion and there was no place she'd rather be than in this garage with Christine by her side.

Reattaching the spark plug caps in the correct order, Sunset once more raised the lift until she was able to walk under Christine. Placing the drain pan underneath the oil pan bolt, she began to once more test each socket until she found the one that fit snuggly. Unattaching the spark plug socket, she attached the socket that would remove the oil pan nut and slowly started to loosen it, as it got looser, Sunset set the ratchet aside and started to lessen the bolt by hand. As the bolt left the oil pan thick black oil started to drain into the drain pan at a relative pace, and as thick globs of black gunk started to clog the hole slowing the rate of leaving oil Sunset grabbed a screwdriver to remove the blockages that came and quickly went until all the oil had been removed.

Grabbing the oil pan bolt Sunset reinserted it and tightened it up until it was snug and tightened just a bit more. Grabbing the oil filter wrench she unscrewed the oil filter and let it drop into the drain pan, pulling the drain pan from underneath Christine, Sunset opened the box holding a new oil filter and set it beside the old one to make sure they were the same size. Happy that the new one was a match Sunset reattached the oil filter and once more lowered Christine so she could put the new oil in. Grabbing the glug free six quart box of SAE 5w-30 she removed the oil cap and began refilling Christine's engine with new oil. As the box emptied Sunset reattached the oil cover and pulled the oil dipstick out, she wiped it clean of any oil in it and reinserted it and pulled it out once more, seeing that it was on the full line she again reinserted it and smiled to herself.

"Well Christine let me see if your rims have dried so I can put the new tires on them and then you'll be wearing all new tires" Sunset said happily. As she turned around to go back into the paint bay she heard the buzzing of a radio station that wasn't quite coming in correctly "and maybe I'll fix your antenna as well."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Monday~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Grogar ambled into the garage of his junkyard, taking in the familiar sight of rusted metal and broken parts scattered haphazardly. But something caught his eye and made him stop in his tracks. His high school employee, Sunset, was asleep in one of his rolling chairs, her head resting on the hood of the car she had been tirelessly repairing. A small smile tugged at Grogar's lips as he shook his head in amusement. He walked to his office, navigating through the maze of clutter with ease, and retrieved a blanket he kept for situations like this - though it hadn't been used in years.

As he walked back towards Sunset, his gaze fell upon the car she was working on - a beat-up old clunker that she had somehow managed to bring back to its former glory. The sun glinted off the pristine red paint and newly repaired chrome, bringing a sense of pride to Grogar's chest.

He heard a groan and turned around to see Sunset stretching out, still half asleep. With a chuckle, Grogar quipped, "Good morning sleeping beauty, stay up late did ya?"

"Mmmhmmm," came the drowsy reply from Sunset.

Grogar couldn't help but laugh before asking, "Want some coffee?"

"If you don't mind, Grogar. I think Christine will be finished today, but honestly I'm not sure," Sunset responded as she slowly stood up.

With another amused chuckle, Grogar made his way to his office to start a pot of coffee for himself and Sunset. Placing a filter into the coffee maker and filling the reservoir with water, he patiently waited for the machine to work its magic. Meanwhile, out in the garage, Sunset rested comfortably behind the wheel of Christine - a satisfied smile on her face as she ran her hand along the smooth surface of the car's steering wheel.

As Grogar made his way back into the garage, he carefully balanced two steaming cups of hot coffee in his hands. The smell of freshly brewed java filled the air and mingled with the familiar scent of gasoline and motor oil. As he walked through the rows of cars and tools, a faint sound caught his attention and grew louder with each step. He realized it had been ages since he last heard that song.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Grogar's mouth as he approached the car his employee had been working on. Christine, a sleek red fury, was almost unrecognizable after the extensive repairs. But Sunset, her head resting on the steering wheel with closed eyes, seemed to blend in perfectly with the vintage vehicle.

As the song came to an end and Sunset's head lifted slightly, she saw Grogar standing there with two cups of coffee in hand. A grateful smile spread across her face as she reached out to take one of the cups. "Thanks, Grogar," she said.

"Don't mention it, Sunset," Grogar replied with a warm smile. "So how are the repairs coming along?"

"They'll be finished today," Sunset said confidently. "And tomorrow, I'm going back to school."

Grogar raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're going back so soon? I thought you wanted some time off."

"I did," Sunset admitted. "But I think it's important for me to prove my innocence by working towards it and showing everyone that I'm not a horrible person."

Grogar nodded understandingly. "If you believe that's what you should do, then I won't stop you," he said with a supportive smile

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Meanwhile~~~~~~~~~~~

Huddled together in the crowded cafeteria of Canterlot High School, five teens sat in a tense silence. Each one was seething with their own anger and frustration. Applejack's fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, while Rainbow Dash's eyes burned with a fierceness that none had ever seen before. Rarity, usually known for her impeccable fashion sense, looked pale and sickly under the fluorescent lights. Fluttershy, normally timid and shy, seemed to blend into the background even more than usual under her oversized sweatshirt. And Pinkie Pie's normally wild and poofy hair hung straight and lifeless around her face. The atmosphere was heavy with tension and secrets, as Anon-A-Miss continued to post incriminating information about them. Sunset, their friend who they suspected was behind it all, had been absent since Friday without any explanation. As Anon-A-Miss continued to wreak havoc on their lives, the five girls at the table hatched a plan - they had discovered a book that could contact Twilight and were anxiously awaiting her response.

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sonicbeta4

sonicbeta4 #1 · Dec 30th, 2023 · · ·

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Don’t worry, I’m just messing with ya. Personally, I think the Belvederes actually deserve the title of “Fury” more than the actual Furies. I have 3 other things to ask though.
1: In the part where Sunset finds Christine, it still has the original text next to the newer version.
2: Was Christine’s first owner (The one that takes the role of Roland Lebay) this universe’s version of Tirek? I do know for a fact that he also had a brother.
3: This “CreationStation#0086” (The Discord fella who made art for the thumbnail before you switched it back to the original), did they make anything else for you?

Moonlight Tome