The Speed Of The Stars

As Night Fell at Tatrasuna Pass. The chill of the mountain air was heavy with the scent of pine and the distant hum of engines echoing through the valley. Tatrasuna Pass, with its labyrinth of sharp corners and steep inclines, was no stranger to the roar of cars pushing their limits. Tonight, however, carried a different weight—a sense of anticipation that set the local team on edge.

Kaedehara Kazuha, the calm and composed leader of the team, stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sweeping over the empty road that wound down the mountain like a silver ribbon under the moonlight. He turned to his teammates, Sangonomiya Kokomi and Firefly, who were nearby, each preparing in their own way.

"So, Kokomi," Kazuha began, his voice even but tinged with excitement, "did you hear? Team Speed Stars is on their way up here. They should be arriving in just a couple of minutes."

Kokomi, her demeanor as serene as always, nodded with a small smile. "Yes, I did. It's pretty exciting, isn't it? This is an opportunity to show what Tatrasuna is made of."

Kazuha returned her smile, a glint of pride in his crimson eyes. "No kidding. Racing with them on our home turf will be an honor—a privilege, really. But let's not forget what's at stake. We have to defend our pride. This is our pass, after all."

He shifted his attention to Firefly, who stood a few feet away, staring at her gleaming RX-7 FD as if lost in a dream. The car's golden paint shimmered under the flickering light of the streetlamp, a testament to her meticulous care.

"Firefly," Kazuha called, snapping his fingers when she didn't respond.

She blinked, snapping out of her trance. "Oh, uh, yeah?"

Kazuha chuckled softly. "I said, Team Speed Stars is almost here. Did you catch that?"

Firefly nodded, her confidence returning as she crossed her arms. "Yeah, I heard."

Kazuha's smile grew. "Good. Just remember—you're our uphill ace. No one knows this stretch of the pass like you do."

Firefly's lips curled into a smirk. "Don't worry about me, Kazuha. Leave it to me. I'll handle this!"

Kazuha tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Do you want to know who you're racing against?"

Firefly waved a dismissive hand. "Not a chance, Kazuha. That kind of stuff just messes with my head."

She turned back to her car, running her hand lovingly along the hood's smooth surface. The RX-7 practically purred under her touch, a bond forged through countless nights of practice and tuning. "All I need to do is get out there and drive my damndest."

Right on cue, the sharp growl of a supercharged engine pierced the night air, followed by the distinct bark of individual throttle bodies. The noise grew louder, and moments later, the headlights of two cars illuminated the parking area—a sleek Lancia 037 in its iconic Martini livery and a humble yet fearsome Eight-Six. They pulled in gracefully, flanked by a pair of HiAce support vans.

Firefly turned to look, her expression shifting from curiosity to shock. Her eyes widened as she took in the Lancia.

Kazuha stepped beside her, his tone shifting to one of quiet reverence. "Do you see that car in the Martini scheme? That's Clorinde. And that, Firefly, is no ordinary opponent."

Firefly tried to respond, but her words faltered, leaving her staring in disbelief.

"That's the championship-winning Lancia 037 Group B rally car," Kazuha explained, his voice tinged with awe. "It's powered by a 2.1-liter Lampredi twin-cam inline-four engine, supercharged to perfection. For a pass like Tatrasuna, it's a weapon—almost tailor-made for these roads. Think of Snezhnaya or Monte Carlo; that's the kind of terrain it dominates."

Firefly's hands clenched into fists, her body trembling slightly. "Clorinde… and a Lancia 037!?" she stammered.

Kazuha chuckled softly, nudging her shoulder. "Don't tell me you're intimidated. You've got to show her that cars like ours can still outshine those Italian legends."

Firefly gritted her teeth, her mind racing. "Of all the cars I had to face... why did it have to be this one? A legendary Group B rally car, of all things!"

As Firefly wrestled with her nerves, Kazuha stepped forward to greet their rivals. Keqing, Team Speed Stars' composed leader, met him halfway.

"Is it okay if we start our practice runs tonight?" Keqing asked, her tone polite but firm.

Kazuha nodded, offering a slight bow. "Of course. The pass is all yours."

Keqing mirrored his nod. "Thank you."

Meanwhile, Ningguang, Team Speed Stars' strategist, approached Clorinde and Collei, her expression calm but commanding. "All right, as usual, I need five runs at 80% pace," she instructed, her sharp eyes flicking between the two drivers.

She turned her focus to Clorinde. "This course is your stage to shine. The Lancia will feel right at home here—it's practically Snezhnaya or Monte Carlo all over again."

Clorinde chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "It almost feels nostalgic, Reminds me of that time my dad showed onboard footage of his run in Monte Carlo and Snezhnaya." she mused.

Ningguang nodded approvingly. "Then go make it yours. Both of you, get out there and give me those runs."

Clorinde and Collei exchanged brief nods before heading to their respective cars. The Eight-Six's engine purred to life, followed by the throaty growl of the Lancia. One after another, the two cars disappeared into the darkness of Tatrasuna's lower section, their taillights glowing like embers as they tackled the tight bends and corners.

Back in the parking area, Firefly stood by her RX-7, watching them vanish into the night. Her grip on the hood of her car tightened, determination slowly replacing her initial fear.

Kazuha's eyes shone as he watched the cars zoom through the tight corners of Tatrasuna Pass.

"Those two cars are amazing," he said, his voice filled with quiet admiration.

Kokomi, her serene expression never wavering, nodded in agreement. "I couldn't agree more. Especially that Lancia 037—it's a beauty."

Kazuha chuckled softly, glancing at Kokomi. "No kidding. The last rear-wheel-drive rally championship car, if you can believe it. The fact that it managed to compete against a grid full of AWD machines like the Audi Quattro is a testament to its pedigree."

The two cars roared through the pass, their engines a symphony of power and precision. Collei was completely at ease, her familiarity with the course from a previous race against Kamisato Ayaka giving her a sense of confidence. The Lancia, meanwhile, seemed to come alive in the twisty hairpins and narrow bends, feeling right at home. For Clorinde, this was the perfect playground. The tight corners and shifting elevation were reminiscent of the rally stages in Monte Carlo or Snezhnaya, and she was enjoying every second of it.

"This feels great!" Clorinde shouted over the growl of her engine. "Never driven in Snezhnaya or Monte Carlo, but this—this is something my dad would've enjoyed! Reminds him Of Snezhnaya or Monte Carlo!"

The Lancia raced down the bumpy straightaway, its underside scraping across the uneven asphalt. Sparks erupted from beneath the car as it bottomed out, the suspension groaning in protest. Despite the rough ride, the car seemed to thrive in its element.

As time passed, Clorinde found herself chatting with Navia, her mechanic, about the track's conditions.

"This track is amazing, but we need to make some adjustments," Clorinde said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "We should raise the suspension to gravel spec. The underside's bottoming out too much, and the sparks flying are starting to remind me of those Formula One cars from the '80s."

Navia nodded thoughtfully. "Don't worry, I've got the gravel setup datasheet in my tablet. I'll increase the ride height and see if that works. But looking over at Collei's Eight-Six..."

She glanced over at the other car, where Albedo was busy working underneath, the vehicle lifted on jack stands.

"It looks like Collei's Eight-Six is having its own issues. It seems like no one tonight is safe from this pass," Navia observed with a wry smile.

Clorinde's eyes narrowed as she turned her attention to Firefly's FD. "Come to think of it, my opponent drives an FD, just like Keqing's."

Navia raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, no kidding. Same bumper, same everything. The only real difference is the wheels."

The following night, Kazuha gathered his team in front of his Toyota Altezza, after completing his recon of the rival cars.

"Alright," Kazuha began, his voice low but resolute. "I've gotta say—these cars are no joke. That Eight-Six is flying up the course like its been driving it her whole life. And that Lancia? It's a monster. They even had to raise its ride height so much that it's practically racing on dirt instead of asphalt."

He paused for a moment, letting the information sink in, before continuing. "On the downhill, that Eight-Six has the advantage. Despite the rough, bumpy asphalt, Collei is making it look like a breeze. I've got to admit, the odds aren't in our favor. But on the uphill? We've got a chance, thanks to Firefly's FD and its power advantage."

Firefly, who had been standing by the car with her arms crossed, nodded firmly. "Right. I've got this one. I won't let you guys down!"

Kazuha smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "That's the spirit."

Moments later, Firefly was on her last practice run before the big race. She accelerated smoothly, the roar of the rotary engine filling the night air as she raced down the longest straightaway on the lower half of the course. The wind howled past her as she steadily pressed the throttle, feeling the car's power surge beneath her. As her boost gauge reached 1.5 psi, a loud hissing noise suddenly erupted from the engine bay. The car jerked, and the power instantly dropped.

Firefly's heart skipped a beat as she looked down at the gauges. "Oh... oh no!" she exclaimed, her voice panicked.

She pulled over to the side of the road, switching on her hazard lights in frustration. She opened the hood, peering into the engine bay with growing concern. "What the hell is wrong with you? You were fine just yesterday!"

As she scanned the engine, the unmistakable sound of a supercharged four-cylinder engine roared through one of the course's tight corners. Clorinde's Lancia came into view, its headlights cutting through the dark. Upon noticing Firefly's car pulled over, Clorinde slowed, eventually coming to a stop beside her.

She unbuckled her harness and stepped out, walking over to Firefly. "What's going on? The car gave out on you?"

Firefly, startled by Clorinde's sudden appearance, nodded sheepishly. "Uh, yeah. I was doing a run when I suddenly lost all the boost... and then all the power."

Clorinde walked around to the front of the car, inspecting the engine with a sharp eye. "Just out of nowhere, huh?"

Firefly, still tense, nodded. "Y-Yeah..."

Clorinde leaned in, squinting at the engine. "I can already see the problem."

Firefly raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Huh?"

Clorinde pointed at a turbo pipe. "See that? Your intercooler hosing came undone. Looks like the bolt corroded."

Firefly let out a sigh of relief. "I thought it was worse than that."

Clorinde smiled slightly, her confidence never wavering. "Don't worry about it. I'll check if I've got a spare bolt."

She walked over to her Lancia, unlatching the front end with ease. The two latches popped open, revealing the spare tire and tubular space frame beneath. She dug around for a moment, pulling out her tool pouch before re-latching the Lancia's front end and heading back to Firefly's FD.

Opening the tool kit, Clorinde found a bolt that looked like it might fit. "What do you know? I've got one," she said with a smirk. "Let's get this installed."

She leaned into Firefly's engine bay, removing the corroded bolt and sliding the intercooler pipe back into place. She tightened the new bolt with a ratchet, her movements swift and efficient. Straightening up, she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "That should do it. Go ahead and start it up. Give it some revs and see if the turbo boost builds up."

Firefly nodded gratefully, sliding into the driver's seat and firing up the engine. The rotary roared to life, its idle steady. Firefly pressed the gas pedal, and the turbo spooled up as the engine hummed back to full power.

Firefly hopped out of the car, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Thank you so much, Clorinde!"

Clorinde smirked, her eyes glinting with a mixture of mischief and respect. "Don't mention it. I'll see you at the starting line."

She climbed into her Lancia, securing her harness with practiced ease, and drove off with a wave. The night was still young, and the uphill battle was about to begin.

Firefly, now back on track, gave her car a final check before heading toward the starting line. The challenge ahead was daunting, but with the support of her team and the power of her FD, she was ready to face whatever came next.