Chapter Text
"Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the 1st annual race of Ebott city derby of the year! The race's will begin in an hour; so get your bets in and take your seats!"
It was a cool day, sun was shinning down on the open track and stands. People from different classes showed up; some dressed in expensive looking dresses and suits, while other's showed up in jeans and jackets.
Frisk and Blue were walking around the food stands and bidding boxes with the names of the racers and lines of people, handing over an amount of cash in exchange for a ticket.
Blue stuck by close by her most of the time, but every now and then would get distracted by merchandise lined up in small shops.
Stretch had teleported both him and Nikey down to the locker room, letting her get changed and prepped before the race.
After getting a cloud of cotten candy for Frisk, Blue, and stretch. (which may have been a mistake on Frisks part) Afterwards the two found their seats that were the closest to the track.
There was still time before the race begun, so Frisk pulled out her cracked phone and looked through the latest news while blue ate happily at his cotten candy.
"Nikey your gonna be fine, calm down." Stretch said the millionth time. Watching as she paced an actual circle into the hard floor.
"W-what if i mess up?! What if i get so scared that i freeze up in the stalls!?"
Stretch groaned and rubbed his temples. His body was begging for a smoke. But remembered that he had left them in his room and the distance from the farm to the city would be exhausting.
"Ya made it this far, why would ya mess up now?" Nikey turned to him and pulled at her tightly braided hair,
"because this is an actual race! People from around the state are gonne be watching me and are putting they're money on me!"
He raised a brow, "But yer new, not many people are willin ta risk losen wit a newbie."
That... Actually gave her some relief. Rubbing her gloved hands over her face she let out a sigh. "Your right, your right. I'm sorry for freaking out so much."
"Here, drink some water." He handed her a bottled water and watched as she proceeded to chug it down. "Feel better?"
"No, not really, but thanks." She plopped down on the couch but had to readjust so her braided tail wouldn't get messed up. Feeling too anxious to sit still, she reached down and tightened her ankle braces, which helped with preventing her from twisting her ankle on the track.
The track was four corners with an incline on the third turn. A lot of big time racers competed here and were noticed by the public, which was a big factor to their fame and successful careers.
Suddenly, the overhead in the room cackled to life with a static noise thay made both her and Stretch shiver.
"Racers, please make your ways to the track. The race will begin soon."
Stretch stood and scratched behind his ear. "Guess that's you darlin."
Nikey gulped, feeling her body starting to shake once again. "Yea.." Before she could follow the other's, stretch laid his hand upon her shoulder, making her face him.
The gentle smile that she had grew accustomed to, graced his features.
Bump-bump
"Yer gonna do great. I believe in ya." He gave her a thumbs up, stepping away and teleported before her.
Nikey stared at the spot he stood at and rubbed at her chest.
'What was that?'
Her thoughts surrounded the sudden small attack of her chest. After checking off any possible health reasons to why her heart skipped a beat, she concluded that it was just her nerves.
"Come on Nikey, get a grip." Slapping her cheeks, she made her way out onto the track and towards the starting gates.
"And we have number 13 on the far end. The new commer, Nikey. She's the last before the gates."
The doors finally closed and she was finally able to look out before the crowd. After she had left the break room, she guessed stretch had teleported back to where Frisk and Blue sat.
She scanned across the bodies, trying to find her friend's. A group of large fuzzy sun dress hats that stuck out like a sore thumb. (That she secretly liked.) Right before she was about to give up, she could see Blue jumping up and down on the ground level of the stands.
His tail was wagging a mile a minute and his blue eye lights were huge stars... And what looked to be a DIY shirt that read in permanent marker, 'GO NIKEY!!!' with a bunch of stars, hearts, and a chibi drawing of him and Nikey.
Stretch stood next to him with what looked like a lollipop in between his teeth and hands deep in his pockets, wearing something similar to Blue. His regular orange hoodie now had black permanent marker across his chest spelling out 'N-I-K-E-Y' and he was shaking pom-poms..? Was that a black tu-tu??
Nikey couldn't help the snort that escaped her mouth. He just looked so calm while shaking those ridculously huge pom-poms! Getting out her giggles, she slapped her hands against her cheeks and shook her head.
'Focus, focus! I need to challenge myself. I need to do what i can.'
Letting out a slow breath, she foucused on the track.
"The most popular girl here, angelic queen, is standing before the gate!"
Nikey glanced over a few stalls and seen a beautiful red head standing over with confidence emitting from her.
"I'll show everyone how a queen runs." Queen spoke with confidence a few stalls away from Nikey. Grinning like she had already won.
For just a moment, everything was quite. She couldn't hear the excited crowd's cheers and the racing (heh) of her heart was silenced.
The doors whipped opened, and everything moved in slow motion.
"Aaand their off!"
The volume in the crowd's grew and all 13 racers took off.
"This is the start of Ebotts national races. All the girl's here are running 2,000 meters!"
Nikey was taken back from how fast a blue haired runner and a platinum blonde passed her right at the beginning of the race.
"Cloud nine is pulling ahead! She's about three horse lengths ahead, and Sun Dancer follows in second."
Nikey stayed closed to the railing as they turned the corner, allowing her to easily pass the other's to the front of the pack.
"Number 13, Nikey, has come out front in the corner. It's a straight shot out of the 4th turn."
Steadily, she was gaining distance away from the pack and was now in between the two up ahead and the other runner's.
But she still had alot of ground to cover if she wanted to catch up.
"Cloud Nine is in the lead. Sun Dancer is in second, but she looks like she's getting tired!"
The incline that had Nikey worrying about before the race was quickly coming up. She watched as the two run up the hill in long strides.
'This is it!'
With a sudden burst of speed from digging in her hoove at the base of the incline, she was able to swiftly pass Sun Dancer who looked absolutely exhausted and was losing speed by the second.
With one less thing to worry about, Nikey was now facing her biggest challenge. Cloud Nine wasn't that far from her, yet Nikey was struggling to catch up.
'I'm not catching up.. But i still have a chance after the hill.'
"Less than 1000 meters left now! Cloud nine is in the lead."
The speeding wind was cool against Nikeys face as sweat glistend on her forehead. Giving her a slight energy boost.
"Nikey is now closing in at a ferocious pace from behind!"
She passed over the hill and the wind practically whistled in her ears, her hooves were moving as fast as possible against gravity.
Slowly but surely she was gaining up on Cloud Nine, and she was able to see the pained expression the blue haired girl had upon her face.
'If i can just get a but further ahead..!'
"Nikey is closing in!"
At this point, Nikey could see the sweat dripping off of Cloud Nines chin.
"They're neck and neck!"
Grunting, Nikey dug her hoove into the ground one last time and pushed herself foward.
"Nikey is now in the lead!"
'One more push..!'
"Nikey finishes in first place!"
The crowd went in up roar with cheers. After she was finally able to come to a stop, she turned and looked around for Stretch, Blue, and Frisk.
The faces in the crowds were a mix of suprise, happiness, and anger. Finally she found her dear friends and gave a breathy laugh. Both Blue and Stretch had a set of pom-poms and ti-tu's and were spelling out her name with their bodies and what looked to be singing out a chant as well.
Stars above she loved them.
Frisk was standing next to them with a large smile on her face and was clapping.
All the racers soon made their ways back down into the break room to relax for a bit before the top 3 get rewarded.
Nikey expected Stretch to meet her in the room but was suprised when she didn't see him or feel the gravity shift. Shrugging, she grabbed a towel and wiped off any remaining droplets.
"Your the new kid right? Nikey, is it?" She moved the towel away from her face and met eye's with Cloud Nine.
"Oh, yea that's me. Good job out there Cloud Nine, you really are fast." Nikey offered her hand to her and a smiled.
Cloud Nine was slightly taken back from the compliment, she took Nikeys hand and shook.
"Thanks, call me Julie, that's my real name. I don't see many horses like you that start out strong on their very first run. You must be from a line of fast horses."
'Quite the opposite actually.'
"Nah not really, just practised a lot back home. You use a fake name?" Julie giggled, "of course, all of the racers have a racing name and their real names. It just makes things easier in case two horses share the same name."
"Huh, guess i should come up with one." Julie thought for a moment, then shook her head. "Maybe. But I think Nikey is good, or winged goddesses. Since you have the name of the goddess Nikey who was the goddess of victory, and offened depicted as having wings."
"Ohh i like that!"
"Top 3, please make your ways to the middle of the Stadium for awards."
Julie rolled her eye's, "ready to head back out?" Niket nodded and walked next to her newfound friend.
"Yea, let's go." The two walked together back out to the track with Sun Dancer ahead.
The crowds cheered as each girl mounted her place. Sun Dancer was on the lowest mount on 3rd. Julie was on 2nd, and Nikey was on the highest of the two for 1st place. Nikey moved on her feet anxiously as all eyes we're on them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you the Champions of today's race!" The crowd cheers grew ten fold as the three stood.
Each of the girls had different expressions, such as Angelic Queen, who held the look of disappointment and pout, Julie smiled and waved out to the stands, and Nikey waved with enthusiasm and a smile full of mirth.
An older man came up to her, holding a large band of flowers and wrapped it around the back of her neck. With all of the pollen that fell onto her outfit, she sneezed and gave a violent shake.
"'Scuse me sir," The old man chuckled, "it's fine deary, you're not the first, nor the last to do that." He backed away from her and gave Julie her, her silver medal and a bouquet of flowers, then handed Angelic Queen her bronze medal.
As Nikey looked around she watched as a towering skeleton dog with amber ears and tail, dragging a familiar blue furred skeleton behind him by the jacket.
'Sans!'
She jumped off her pedistol and jigged over to him. As she got closer, sans opened an eye and waved to her.
He must've said something to the other skeleton because they suddenly stopped and turned to face her.
"OH MISS NIKEY! CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESSFUL WIN TODAY,"
She was slighty taken back from how similar he talked liked Blue and Edge. The volume he spoke at didn't even phase her since she's constantly hearing blue and edge bicker all through out the day.
"Hello! You must be Sans brother?" The tall skeleton gasped and promptly dropped Sans onto the ground. Earning a 'oof' from him.
"YES! HAVE YOU HEAR OF ME? GAH, OF COURSE YOU HAVE! FOR I AM THE GREAT PAPYRUS, KNOWN ACROSS THE STATE FOR MY AMAZING SPAGHETTI."
Uh.. With a quick glance to sans, (who was now asleep.) She decides to play along to not hurt Papyrus feelings.
"O-oh yes! I have! And I've just been dying to get a taste. You must have lots of people lining up to try a bite of your spaghetti!"
He puffed out his chest in pride, "NYEHEH OF COURSE... BUT SADLY, EVERYONE IS TOO SHY TO TELL ME, SO I DO NOT GET MANY FANS LIKE YOU."
Aw..
"Don't worry about it Papyrus, im sure they'll start popping up." She encouraged. Suddenly felt her back pocket vibrate against her skin, she pulled out a phone.
"Oh Papyrus, do you have a phone? Maybe we can hangout sometime and you can make me some of your famous spaghetti."
"GASP!! YOU WANT TO BECOME MY PHONE BUDDY?? AND TRY MY SPAGHETTI??? IS THIS WHAT FRIENDS DO?"
"Yes! If i have to I'll run everyday to see you, because your my new friend!"
Whoosh!
In an instant Papyrus had scooped up Nikey into his arms and rocked her roughly in his hug. His once black eyesockets were now blown out of his head with orange tears rushing down his cheekbones.
"I CAN'T LET YOU DO THAT DEAR FRIEND! FOR YOU HAVE MOVED THE GREAT PAPYRUS TO TEARS WITH YOUR CLEVER WORDS, I WILL GLADLY EXCHANGE MY NUMBER WITH YOURS." After Papyrus finally let go of her, and exchanged numbers. Frisk informed her that they'll be leaving soon and for her to go ahead and change out of her racing clothes, which stunk with sweat.
She gave the towering skeleton one last hug and said goodbye to Sans (who was still laying on the ground,) and raced of to the shower rooms.
"The next race will start in two hours!"
"Nikey.. Wake up darlin.... We're back home."
"Nnrgh.." Nikey attempted to roll away from the smooth voice but struggled against the rough surface she laid upon.
"C'mon darlin, ya gotta wake up."
'Okay okay..'
She yawned and struggled to sit up. Feeling a hand push her up, she stretched out. She stiffened for a moment when she felt something poking at her throat, but realized it was the large bouquet of flowers that hung around her neck.
Right below the flowers, hung the large golden medal with a blue ribbon.
'Oh right, the races!'
The events of that day came back to her. Hopping out the red truck, she gazed at the sunset that peaked over the frosted tips of the mountains.
The air was much more fresher than the city, thanks to all the tree's. Stretched stood a bit far off with a sleeping Blue on his back.
"He looks more tired than me," Nikey commented quietly, earning a small grin from Stretch.
"Heh, yea. All that cheeren he must've done tired him out. Not to mention all that candy he ate too."
As the two walked pass the main house, the door to the dog's house's opened with bang. Red stepped out while lighting a dog treat, puffing out a few dark grey clouds before taking a hit. When the smoke finally cleared, he seen the two walking past.
"Hey sweetheart," he called out before teleporting in front of her. Causing her to run into his chest.
Nikey looked up and smiled, while Stretch rolled his eyes, "hiya Red, didja see my race?" He let out a chuckle, "course i did. Ya should've seen Edge though, we watched ya on tha TV, his face was right at the screen and justa screamin. At one point he started shaking tha TV so hard that i had ta pull him away."
He pulled at the leaves from her bouquet. "Seen ya put thr petal ta the metal out there. I knew ya could beat them suckas, i was 'rootin' for ya." His laid-back, slighty intimidating grin grew as she began to giggle.
"Thanks 'bud' WINK!"
...
"Pffft!" Both Red and Stretch doubled over in laughter, clutching at their sides. "Y-you've been around B-blue too much Darlin!" Stretch choked out. Red was taking in sharp breaths of air until he snorted, which caused him to suddenly stop and look at Stretch and Nikey. Then stretch letted out his own snort and evolved into full on laughter again.
Both of them had a light glow of Red (heh) and orange to their cheek bones. Their laughs were deep and smooth, full of warmth and happiness.
BU-BUMP
"I-i-I'm gonna head to bed, night guys!" She took off around the house, leaving a cloud of dust behind her.
After making it up the flight of stairs and slipping into her room, she sat on her eell used bed. The springs slightly creaked under her weight but she paid no mind.
'I must be coming down with something.. Yea, yea that's it.'
But no matter how many times she tried to persuade herself as she changed and slipped into her covers, it didn't calm her beating heart.