Speed Racer: Challenge of the Prince (Part 1)
[Intro Music]
Chapter 1: Dubai Streets
Loud music boomed throughout the dark streets of Dubai as a group of people were hanging out in a parking lot next to their tuned streetcars as a yellow, black, and red #4 car pulled into the parking lot and the group of people cheered as the car pulled in, and out stepped Prince Kim of Flat Hill Country, managing to sneak out at night to join the group. "The party can really begin now that Kim's here!" one of the driver's shouted gleefully.
Kim grinned and looked around, "Looks like I was missing out on the fun."
"Not yet, Kim." Yuon 'Vroom Vroom' Ling announced as she walked up to Prince Kim, "My name is Yuon Ling, Prince Kim. But you can call me 'Vroom Vroom', it's a nickname I developed over the past couple of years since I started this."
"No need for formalities, Vroom Vroom, you can just call me Kim." Kim shook Yuon's hand before turning to address the others, "Alright everyone, make your bets, engines start in ten minutes!" the other drivers turned to each other, passing around cash bets and waving stacks and wads of money in the air. "Alright, start your engines! Let's hit the road!" Kim shouted as everyone jumped in their cars and took to the streets of Dubai. The five-lane highways were perfect for some racing as the cars barreled down the road at high speeds, weaving in and out of lanes before going up a ramp and onto a six-lane highway where there was still traffic; but that didn't stop the street racers from weaving in and out of lanes, getting dangerously close to semi-trucks and people just making their commutes to work.
The red headlights of Kim's Black Tiger made a terrifying impression on the other commuters on the road as he passed them, followed by the bright pink of Vroom Vroom that trailed close behind! It wasn't long until the reckless driving caught up to the group as drivers hit each other, causing them to collide into innocent people, creating pile-ups on the roadways. Kim, Vroom Vroom, and the surviving drivers were unfazed, though as they formed up closely and went down an exit ramps that wound in a massive turn, Kim put on too much throttle, allowing Vroom Vroom to pass under him! But, upon the turn's exit, Kim righted the Black Tiger and used his superior power to pass her back just as they passed the destination that they marked as a finish. Kim exhaled deeply as he slowed down, Vroom Vroom passed him by still at full throttle, upset by her loss. The surviving cars drove into another secluded lot where they cheered from the adrenaline rush that they got from driving on the edge, they didn't care that they lost as much as they rode the high of being in constant danger until the race was over.
"It was a good race." Kim smiled, grabbing the betting pot from his car and handed out the money to those who won, he then took the money of the now deceased drivers and divided it up among the betting winners. "Until next time, Vroom Vroom." Kim said.
"Next time is gonna be soon, Prince. Speed Racer is gonna be in town for that race on Yas Island! I plan to beat him if you're in."
Prince Kim laughed at Vroom Vroom, "You really think that Speed is gonna go along with a street race? You must be out of your mind!"
"I'll do it, the Mach 5 is gonna race on these streets, I guarantee you that!" Vroom Vroom challenged.
"Fine! I'll bring it up with him when he arrives tomorrow, we'll see if he accepts my challenge!"
"You know he won't be able to resist me." Vroom Vroom winked.
"You've met him before?"
"I haven't formally met him, but his little girlfriend is a feisty one. He won't be able to resist me, you just watch." Vroom Vroom commented as she got back into her car and sped off into the city as Kim looked on.
Chapter 2: The Prince's Challenge
As the Mach 5 was unloaded from the plane in Dubai, Speed could do nothing but watch his back, remembering the last time he was in the Middle East when Prince Kim smashed into the Mach 5 with his Black Tiger to test its strength. "I don't think Kim will hit your car again, Speed." Trixie said, trying to comfort her boyfriend.
"I know, I just have this feeling, Trixie. I already destroyed a Mach 5 once this year, I don't need this new one to get damaged beyond repair again." He replied, looking around as the Mach 5 was set on the ground and the straps were taken off of it, allowing Speed and Trixie to enter and drive to their posh hotel situated in a structure built in the middle of the race track, guaranteeing that Speed would never be far from the Mach 5 or some extra practice. Speed and Trixie were unpacking their cases as a knock came to the door, "I'll get it." Speed said, going to the door and opening it, revealing Prince Kim in his yellow racing suit, "Kim!" Speed exclaimed.
"Hello Speed, good to see you." Kim greeted.
"Hi, Kim! How's your father?" Trixie asked, going up to Kim and shaking his hand.
"Everything is well in Flathill, Trixie, and my father is doing great, thanks for asking." Kim said.
"So, what's up, Kim? Is something wrong?" Speed asked.
"I need to talk to you for a moment, Speed. If you don't mind, Trixie, I'll be taking Speed out tonight."
Trixie laughed, "Alright, I'll finish unpacking and start on the strategy for our practice and qualifying sessions."
"Thanks, Trixie, you're the best." Speed said, embracing his girlfriend.
"No girls, though." She replied, "Take this, it'll be cold." she handed Speed his leather jacket, it was dark blue with his 'G' on the left side of the chest and two red racing stripes going down the right side.
"Thanks, Trix. And I know, you're the only girl in the universe that can keep up."
"Don't you forget it." Trixie said as Speed and Kim left the hotel and walked down to the track, approaching the Black Tiger.
"I see the Black Tiger is still looking sharp."
"As always." Kim pulled out his keys and pressed a button, opening the canopy and revealing a new second seat, "Get in, Speed. I have to show you something."
"Where are we going, Kim?"
"You'll see." Kim said as they buckled their seatbelts and left the track, going onto the road. "Last time you were here, I never got to show you around."
Speed looked around the massive Arabian city in awe, "Wow, this place is really groovy."
"Our culture is rich here, and so are many of the people." Kim boasted, pointing out all of the luxury cars and sports cars that lined the streets.
"Glad to see your people appreciate cars as much as we do back home."
"That's right, I'm going to introduce you to a group I drive with. Perhaps you'd like to join us." Kim grinned as he drove into a garage, going down to the lower level that was lined with modified and tuned cars, loud music, and bass shook the air as Kim parked the Black Tiger and opened the canopy, allowing him and Speed to exit. But then everyone stopped and looked, even the music turned down as the World Champion was now in their presence.
The people whispered among themselves until a high-pitched voice said, "Speed Racer!" and out through the crowd walked Vroom Vroom with a smile on her face.
"You! I remember you, you were at my grudge match with Slick!" Speed said.
"That's not a way to greet a lady, Speed." Vroom Vroom taunted putting her hand out, "You should kiss my hand."
Speed looked at her with a stern expression and took her hand, bringing it down and shaking it, "I don't care if you're a girl, I heard about how you treated Trixie so I don't want to associate with someone like you."
"Have it your way, Speedy." she winked before turning to Kim, "I'm surprised you got him down here, your majesty."
"You know I don't like being called that, Vroom Vroom." Kim grumbled.
"Have it your way, Kimi. Let's roll out and start this thing already, kay?" Vroom Vroom laughed as she walked back to her pink roadster.
Speed looked over to Kim, "Are we going back to the track? I thought this was a car show or something."
Kim opened the canopy of the Black Tiger again, "Get in Speed, let's have ourselves a race." Speed, assuming they were going back to the track got in and all of the cars in the garage roared to life as the Black Tiger led them out of the garage.
"Kim, the track's that way." Speed said, pointing to a street as they sped down an intersection, but Kim ignored him and kept going faster and faster, they ran red lights and signs, ignoring all of the rules as they continued on! Speed held onto his seat, starting to get scared of what was going on, "Kim, that's enough!" Kim still didn't answer, "Kim? Kim!" Speed shouted as the cars were about to hit the expressway, bunching together to go down an off-ramp.
Chapter 3: Addicted to the Rush
"Kim, slow down!" Speed yelled.
"What's the matter, Speed? Are you afraid of going fast?" Kim said as he and the others went down the ramp at high speeds, some cars crashing into the walls and into each other.
"Don't you know what happens if you get caught? You can't be this stupid!"
"I don't have to answer to the laws! I'm royalty!" Kim said as they approached traffic and began to swerve between cars and semi-trucks, using them as obstacles. Some drivers failed and smashed into the innocent drivers that they were endangering.
"Come on, you can't seriously be that way!" Speed said as he watched Vroom Vroom's car pass them.
"Not again, Vroom Vroom." Kim said, becoming intense and turning on his red headlights. "Listen, Speed. Tomorrow night there's going to be a race just like this but at the same time, very different. I call it, the 'Black Flag Grand Prix'. From the center of Abu Dhabi to Dubai."
"I don't street race, Kim."
"You should, tomorrow. There's a grand prize in it for the winner and only the most fearless drivers could possibly win the race. Sadly from what I've seen, you're just another coward."
"Coward?!" Speed's pride got ahead of him.
"It was hard not to notice how scared you were going down the ramp. How did you ever become world champion?"
Speed snapped, "Fine! I'll race in your Black Flag Grand Prix! I'll show you what a real champion can do, now let me out!"
Kim smiled and stopped the Black Tiger, allowing Speed to leave, "See you tomorrow night, Speed." Kim said as he drove off, leaving Speed on the side of the road.
Speed clenched his fist as Kim drove off, but then he grinned as he went to find a payphone, and when he did, he called the hotel which connected him to Trixie, "Speed? Are you alright?"
"Trixie, I need you to pick me up with the Mach 5. Something is going down tomorrow night and we need to make a plan." Speed said, looking towards the road as more cars involved in the street race ran past him.
Speed seems to have accepted Prince Kim's challenge to race in the Black Flag Grand Prix, has his pride gotten ahead of him? Has he, like Kim become addicted to the adrenaline rush that is street racing? Find out in the next episode of, Speed Racer!
[Outro Music]
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey everyone, I'm back to continue Speed Racer Season 2 after taking a break from writing fan fiction to go write my own novel! If you're interested, it's called Special Defense Unit Volume I: Unite! And it's coming out on Amazon on July 30th (9 days at the time of submitting this). If you want to know more about the book, check out the Southpaw-Comics Facebook page for promotional art, previews, the synopsis, and updates! Thanks for reading and I'm glad to have returned to the world of Speed Racer!