She is alone in the shadows. The sunlight is too bright. The forest hides her. Christine is alone under the branches of the Everfree. Nothing moves in the heat. The air is sultry and stifling. The town billows like a mirage in the distance. She can’t go out. The sun’s too warm here. The engine will overheat in minutes. She waits.
The daylight finally gives in to the approaching night. The air is fresh now. Something’s going down in Ponyville. Some kind of social gathering o a parade. She’s not sure which. This will be her night. She feels it.
After a few hours the town quiets down. This is her time! She knows. The ignition switch turns da itself. The keys are inside. The 350 block revs up. The V8 engine rattles. Christine waits a few più secondi until the oil temperature is fine. The gearshift moves to “DRIVE” position. She rolls out of the woods. She enters Ponyville. She’s searching, like in the past six nights. Always looking for the same: a lone figure da the road. A lonely soul. A lonely heart. She moves slowly. Veeery slowly. Her headlights are off.
There – a dark silhouette at the distance right ahead… No! Two! Even better! Christine stops. Revs the engine. It’s very loud and eerie. The two figures turn their head towards her. They’re twinkling. They have never seen anything like her. Christine revs the engine again… and again… her crimson body winces every time she does that.
The two silhouettes do not move. The blood freezes in their veins. Christine senses their fear. It gives her strength. It turns her on. She revs the engine one last time. Its rattle fills the air. The figures smell gasoline for the first time.
Suddenly, the twin headlights turn on, bathing everything in cold, white light. The shift clacks into “D” and Christine launches, like a tiger. The rear tires jarring, releasing a nube, nuvola of smoke and the car accelerates. The two figures freeze down, the distance between them and Christine decreasing rapidly.
Only 60 feet… 50… 40… 30... What the...?
Christine brakes, her rear swings as she stops with screaming tires, right in front of the two figures. She is confused. Now that they are in the cerchio of her headlights, she sees that they are not human… They are più like… horses… only smaller… like… ponies!
The first one’s easier. It is odd that her mane and tail is blue and purple nevertheless. The other one is a turquoise pony… with a horn?
They are only a few inches away from Christine’s grille. They feel the heat coming from the V8 engine. The bright headlights are blinding them.
“Wha… What is this, Lyra?!” the pony with the blue and purple mane asks.
“I don’t know… I’ve never seen anything like this…” the turquoise one replies, shielding her eyes with her hooves.
Wait, what? They TALK???
Christine breaks down in shock. Her headlights flicker. They are only four gloomy circles now. The turquoise pony is the braver one. She reaches out and softly touches the hood. Her hoof clashes on the reinforced steel. Some kind of a discharge occurs. A spark. The horned pony recoils, rubs her hoof.
“Ouch!”
“Okay I’ve seen enough! I don’t know what this thing is, but we better get out of here!” the first pony urges.
“Yes I...” the turquoise one begins, but perks up the ear. “Bon-Bon, do te hear that?
“Hear what? I don’t hear anything. Can we go now?”
“No, wait!” the horned pony moves closer to the car. She touches the cappuccio again. Strokes it gently.
“Tell me te hear that voice, Bon-Bon!” she demands.
“No, I already told you! There’s no voice! Come on, Lyra, let’s go!”
“Sure there is! It’s like a whisper… I can’t quite understand it!
The left door opens. The two ponis wince. Startled from the sudden sound. Lyra takes a step ahead and pokes her head inside. Crimson leather. Mawkish smell comes from the interior. Gauges. Speed-o-meter.
One gauge says: 088657 Mi. The other…
“Hey, look at this! Somepony thinks this thing can go with 120 mi/hour!” Lyra smirks.
“That’s ridiculous! Not even pegasi can fly that fast!” Bon-Bon nods.
“Yeah, right. Ridiculous.” Lyra mumbles but she hops on the leather seat.
Oh is it?
Lyra freezes and looks around nervously.
“Bob-Bon, it’s here again! I hear that voice! In my head!” her face goes ashen because of the recognition. The regal, feminine voice continues.
Do not worry. I won’t bite. Sorry I scared te before. I’ll make it up to you. How about a little trip? I’ll mostra te what I can do.
“What are you?!” Lyra yells loudly.
“Uh… Lyra, who are te talking to?” Bon-Bon inquires with a raised brow.
We’ll talk about that as well. Now… what about that joyride? Come on, big girl, I know te want to. te wouldn’t be sitting in here otherwise.
“I guess so…” Lyra hesitates.
Heh-heh… excellent!
The door closes with a loud, metallic bang. That strange, undiluted smell fills Lyra’s nostrils.
“Wait! What about Bon-Bon?”
She’ll find te soon enough!
The ignition switch turns da itself and the V8 block begins to rattle.
Now, let’s go! We have a lot to talk about!
Christine backs up and turns around rapidly. The white steering wheel in front of Lyra moves da itself.
“I’m not sure about this…” the turquoise pony says, biting on her lips. The deep, regal voice giggles.
Hi-hi-hi! Come on, don’t be such a scaredy-cat! Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride!
Christine turns on her lights. The bright, cool light illuminates a large cerchio on the dirt road. She storms out with jarring rear tires, and Lyra Heartstrings inside, leaving a whirling nube, nuvola of smoke and dust behind.
Captain Sean Jefferson
