For the next two hours, Maria does laps in batches of six with Carol following. After every batch, Carol gives Maria advice on how to improve her technique and how to correct when the bike starts to slide. And by the time Sash returns with lunches, Maria has improved her times to within two seconds of Carol's best.

As the girls settle down to lunch in the trackside garage, Sash cannot help but satiate her curiosity about the events of the previous day. "So, what was that ruckus between Hanna and Rob yesterday?" she asks Maria. "Heard it caused quite a stir."

"They've been at each other for a while now," Maria sighs. "They haven't had a successful mission together for weeks."

"Why do they keep gettin' paired together then?" Carol asks.

"That's the silliest thing: they choose to be paired," Maria explains.

"That makes no sense," Sash agrees. "Why work with someone you can't work with?"

"They used to work together amazingly well though," Maria laments. "They pulled off some amazing heists, including stuff more experienced Scarves failed at."

"I heard about some of them during training," Sash reveals. "Some of the seniors wanted to see someone take Hanna down a few pegs. I think they were jealous of her successes."

"Don't tell the meanie I said this, but you are a better fighter than her," Maria compliments. "And she did need taking down a few pegs. She's my best friend, and I owe her more than I'll ever repay, but she's also arrogant to the point of silliness."

"Thanks, but I wouldn't say I'm a better fighter," Sash admits. "Being a dragon means I have abilities others will never have."

"Like that thing where you spin into a ball and shoot forward as if fired out of a cannon?" Maria asks.

"I call it the 'Dragon Boost'," Sash reveals. "I think the only way anyone could match it if they're not a dragon is if they have some sort of magic crystal that gives them superpowers."

"Like that'll happen!" Maria giggles, Sash and Carol joining in a moment later.

Ten minutes later, with lunch finished, the two felines elect to nap for an hour before hitting the track again.


After a couple more hours of practice, Maria is now within half a second of Carol's best. Unable to offer any more advice, Carol decides to monitor Maria's performance from the track's timing station.

"Afraid she might beat your lap record?" Sash teases, joining Carol with a couple of drinks as Maria begins another run.

A little. "Nah," Carol dismisses.

"She's getting pretty close though," Sash reminds.

Carol doesn't respond.

The girls watch in silence as Maria consistently puts in laps within half a second of Carol's best. Then, on the fifth lap, Maria finds some more time.

"Huh," Sash comments. "That's interesting."

"So she beat me by a few hundredths," Carol shrugs. "She won't maintain it."

But Maria does maintain it. In fact, she gets even faster, maxing out at six-tenths quicker than Carol's best.

"Darn it!" Carol comments as Maria ends her run. "She really is faster than me!"

A minute later, a weary yet excited Maria joins Sash and Carol in at timing station. "How did I do? How did I do?" she asks eagerly.

"Pretty good," Carol states. "Your lines were spot on, your apexes clean, and you were consistent."

"You were also faster than her," Sash adds.

"Really?" Maria gasps in disbelief.

"…yeah," Carol reluctantly admits.

"Woo!" Maria cheers, hugging Carol. "Thank you thank you thank you!"

"Easy there!" Carol chuckles, accepting her fate. "Of course, now I have to go out there and beat your time," she adds playfully.

"And then I'll go out and beat that," Maria retorts cheekily, breaking the hug.

"If you can," Carol teases in reply.

"Sounds to me like a rivalry brewing!" Sash observes, smiling in amusement.

"Oh poo," Maria sighs.

"What's wrong?" Sash asks.

"I don't want this to turn nasty," Maria admits.

"It won't turn nasty," Carol assures. "I promise."

"Pinkie swear?" Maria asks.

"Pinkie swear," Carol agrees.