Nova Ch 20: END
AN: And we’re finally onto our grand conclusion! Thanks to everyone who read this story over the past two years! This fandom is really inspiring for the writing muse!
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Ch 20: Supernova
“This is Nina Lopez, reporting to you live from the ruins of Lamont Tower. In recent developments, controversial billionaire Joseph Lamont was caught on video threatening the livelihoods of countless Californian citizens. Shocking footage captured from cell phone cameras have shown that he has made threatening statements towards retail workers, police officers, and even his own employees. The footage, which even includes an admission of possessing an extremely dangerous military weapon, has gone viral on social media, with many calling for legal action and justice against the Gold Baron.”
“Serves that Lameany right! Narf!” Pinky declared as he filed his toenails in front of the television. It had been so long since he’d done his own nails, having been so busy with the nearly dying stuff and all.
A red Skittle smacked him on the head. “Quiet, Pinky! I’m trying to listen!” Brain said, his eyes glued to the screen.
Ooh, the red Skittles were his favorite! How did Brain know?
He took a break from his pedicure to nibble on the Skittle, and the rainbow had never been more delicious.
The screen displayed pictures of tweets from various users, each of them deriding Lamont in some way.
"In return, Lamont has accused both the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security of planting the weapon in his mansion and sending an agent to steal it in an attempt to discredit him. Spokesmen for the federal government have denied Lamont's allegations, in addition to their knowledge of the weapon's existence. This is a developing story, and we will continue to update you as more information becomes available. Back to you, Sam."
Pinky wondered if he or Brain were going to be shown somewhere, but the story changed to another Hollywood divorce scandal before their names were ever mentioned. Even Snowball’s involvement went unacknowledged.
“Aww, I wanted to see myself on the big screen, Brain,” Pinky admitted.
“One day, you and I will be on the television for all to see once we rule the world,” Brain promised. “It’s just not that time yet.”
Pinky grinned. In that case, he couldn’t wait for that day to come.
It was now five in the afternoon, which would’ve been the normal closing time for ACME Labs for the scientists if Brain hadn’t assigned them to other locations. At Pinky’s request, he’d also called in rescue groups to take and rehome the other lab animals. It had been so fun playing the aged couple, Mr. and Mrs. Feldman, who wished to find new homes for their many, many animals.
No scientist, Selenian or Terran, shall humiliate or degrade us ever again. No more itching powder, or nearly dying because of an experiment, or getting trapped in mazes overnight. From now on, we’re the masters of our own destiny, Brain had declared when he’d first revealed his plan to seize control of ACME Labs.
The deed to the property was now in a certain Mr. Brian Feldman’s name, signed in a neat, loopy handwriting. Brain had even allowed Pinky to put his own name on the deed too, provided he signed it under his alias, Mrs. Pinknelope Feldman. Pinky happily signed the deed with a purple sparkly gel pen, complete with hearts and smiley faces of varying sizes. Brain had raised an eyebrow at it, but he let the ink dry off and placed the deed into a safe that only he knew the combination to.
"And now for a story from the world of horse racing-"
"Horse racing?" Pinky gasped. He wrapped his arms around the TV screen as far as they would go, his fur sticking up from the static. "Egad, are you okay, Pharfignewton? I missed you so much! I'm sorry I couldn't send you that postcard! I just couldn't figure out what state the Kentucky Derby was in!"
"You're going to ruin your vision that way, Pinky," Brain grumbled.
With a sudden yank on his tail, Pinky was pulled away from the television. There was a yelp behind him, and Pinky laughed at just how fluffy Brain's fur had gotten.
"Floofy," Pinky giggled, unable to resist touching it. It was like petting a very soft, very grumpy marshmallow.
Brain only sighed and accepted his fate, though his cheeks were somewhat red.
Pinky rested his head over Brain's as the news rolled a clip from the Preakness Stakes competition, which showed Pharfignewton living her dream.
Her hooves beat the ground rhythmically, the wind tousled her gorgeous mane, and her ocean blue eyes sparkled with determination.
"C'mon, Fig! You can do it!" Pinky shouted, and Brain winced from the volume of his shout. "Oops. Sorry, Brain."
"By all means, continue to deafen me."
Oh, he couldn't do that! How else was Brain going to listen to music?
Pharfignewton triumphantly crossed the finish line, leagues ahead of her fellow horses. It wasn't even close!
Pinky cheered at Pharfignewton's victory, unable to stop himself from dancing and twirling around with Brain in his arms.
She'd done it! She'd actually done it! Now there was only one more race left! That Triple Crown was sure to be hers!
“Narf! Isn’t this wonderful, Brain?” Pinky cheered. “I’m so happy for her!”
Brain’s words were muffled, and Pinky realized he was squishing him against his chest so hard that he couldn’t talk. Brain could only make a funny squeaky toy noise.
“Sorry, Brain,” Pinky apologized, quickly releasing his friend, who gasped for breath and rubbed his cheeks to get some feeling back into his face.
Brain quickly regained his composure. “While it’s a cause for celebration, try to refrain from squeezing me to death in the future.”
“Okay,” Pinky agreed, though privately, he thought Brain was rather squeezable and squashable. It was hard to resist.
“Will Pharfignewton gallop to victory and join the Triple Crown gallery? If she does, she’ll be the first mare in the history of horse racing to take home the crown! Don’t forget to tune in for the Belmont Stakes tomorrow night!”
Tomorrow night?
The last race was tomorrow night? Has time really flown that quickly?
He hurried over to his Mickey Mouse calendar, which now had a pretty picture of Mickey and Minnie at the beach in cute swimsuits with June scrawled across the bottom. The 14th had been circled in red, blue, and green.
Egad, that was tomorrow!
How could he have forgotten?
Oh, but Brain would surely be enacting his latest plan to take over the world. They’ve already tried three weeks’ worth of plans since Snowball’s defeat, but none of them were successful yet.
Still, they didn’t let defeat get them down. Neither of them knew Snowball’s whereabouts, but they assumed he wasn’t successful at any attempted takeovers either.
Brain shut the TV off and stood up, then retrieved a matchbox on tiny wheels. He piled several sets of clothes he’d collected over the past few weeks into his matchbox.
“I suggest you start packing your essentials, Pinky,” Brain said. “The plane will be departing in just a few hours.”
“Plane?” Pinky echoed. “Where are we going, Brain?”
None of Brain’s plans had taken them out of state before. This was brand new and exciting, Pinky had never been able to travel before!
“New York,” Brain replied. “But I can’t reveal the specifics until we arrive. This particular plan requires an element of surprise. We shall spend tonight traveling to the location, and spend tomorrow night enacting the plan.”
A surprise plan that only Brain knew the details to? Now he was more curious than ever!
But where in New York were they going? Broadway? He’d always wanted to see a Broadway show live! Or maybe Niagara Falls? Central Park? Buffalo?
The possibilities were endless!
"I can't wait, Brain! This is gonna be so much fu-oh, wait a minute…what about the Belmont? I don't wanna miss it."
Brain waved his hand dismissively. "Not to worry, Pinky. You won't miss the race."
Upon hearing that, Pinky began packing straight away, excited to see whatever Brain had in store for them.
o-o-o-o-o
First class! They had first class tickets to New York! Brain really knew how to travel in style! The seats were bouncier, there was more leg room (well, not that mice needed much leg room but the sentiment was nice), and Pinky had introduced Brain to the wonders of airline food. The peanuts had been super yummy, and Brain said it heavily reminded him of Selenian cuisine.
As they disembarked from the plane and were immediately showered with all sorts of magnets, T-shirts, and plushies with New York emblazoned upon them, Pinky reminded himself to buy a souvenir for Olivia while they were here. After the ordeal with Lamont, Olivia had taken them aside and thanked them for helping dissolve Lamont's monopoly over the city.
It wasn't really what they'd meant to do since Snowball had been their main worry, but they just accepted her gratitude in the end. Anything to help Olivia finally beat Lamont in Monopoly!
She offered to help them out whenever they needed, and Brain had immediately jumped at the prospect of having her money behind them. Pinky was a little wary at first, not wanting to use his friend for her money, but she assured him that she was happy to help.
She was the reason they had the lab to themselves, and after Brain had revealed the tickets, he explained that he'd emailed Olivia asking if she would provide a means to send them to New York, since neither of them had been there and were highly interested in visiting. It didn't take long for her to email Brain back with a pair of first class tickets.
Though she'd bought two tickets, the mice had shared their seat for most of the flight. Brain had clung to Pinky during the entirety of takeoff and anytime there was turbulence, demanding to know who'd committed the grave oversight of not installing g-force stabilizers into their planes all the while.
Pinky marveled at the New York airport, turning round and round so much that he made himself dizzy. The first thing he noticed was the time, which was many, many hours past when they left California. They'd time traveled into the future! How awesome was that?
"Brain, can I ride the merry-go-round? Please? It looks fun-fun silly-willy! Narf!" Pinky begged as they passed an area labeled baggage claim.
It was super crowded, with lots of people pushing and shoving their way to the front, but the more the merrier! And that paneling was just begging to be ridden on!
"It's just a conveyor belt, Pinky," Brain said as he grabbed Pinky's wrist and hauled him outside the airport. Their matchbox suitcases were able to be stored under their seats, so they could skip baggage claim entirely. "Besides, there'll be time for your fun fun silly-willy later. Right now, we need to acquire a vehicle to transport us to the hotel.”
Brain was being very vague about what kind of fun Pinky was going to have, but it must’ve been something that was going to be super extra fun!
The mice headed to the crosswalk, where dozens of travelers stood waiting for their rides. Unfortunately, the area was so busy that the mice had to dodge shoes, sandals, and luggage, and any vehicles that were available were quickly snatched up.
“This isn’t working! We need higher ground!” Brain growled as a family of four stole the taxi they’d tried to get. Then he spotted a tall, flat post and ran over to it. He had a little trouble scaling the smooth metal, so Pinky grabbed his waist and boosted him to the top. Once Brain was on top, he gave Pinky a grateful look and reached for Pinky’s hand. Pinky happily took it, and Brain hauled him over the edge.
Once Pinky found his footing, Brain whistled and shouted for a taxi. But it seemed that above all the noise, nobody could hear him.
Then Pinky had an idea.
“Here Brain, let me try,” Pinky said, pulling Brain back so he’d have enough room for what he was about to do.
“I doubt you’ll have more luck than me,” Brain said.
Pinky winked at him. “Troz! Don’t worry, Brain! This trick always works in movies!”
Brain still looked doubtful though.
“Yoo-hoo! Taxi!” Pinky called as he stuck his leg out, deliberately pointing his toes downward. Then he placed his arms behind his head and waited.
Brain frowned. “Now how is that supposed to-”
He suddenly trailed off, his face turning red as he stared at Pinky’s leg. He barely noticed the taxi that had suddenly pulled up on the curb in front of them, its tires screeching to a halt.
“Told you it would work, Brain!” Pinky cheered as he grabbed his and Brain’s luggage and hopped off the post. The taxi driver had scrambled out of the driver’s side, nearly tripping over his shoelaces as he hurried to open the door for Pinky.
“Please, let me get that for you,” he said to Pinky with a polite bow.
Oh, he was definitely telling Brain to give this driver an extra tip for hospitality. Pinky handed the matchbox luggage to the driver, who looked a little confused at how tiny the suitcases were, but slid them onto the backseat.
Brain was still standing on the post, blushing like mad.
“Brain! Let’s go!” Pinky shouted.
Pinky’s shout seemed to bring Brain back to his senses…at least until he stepped off the post. Pinky quickly positioned himself underneath Brain and caught him before he could land flat on his face.
“Thanks,” Brain mumbled, his antennae sparking erratically.
Pinky grinned back. “You’re welcome.”
o-o-o-o-o
They’d spent the rest of the night at the hotel, recovering from their long trip. The accommodations were wonderful. There had been excellent room service, a balcony that overlooked the pool, and soft bouncy beds.
The only thing that had given them a bit of trouble was the sheer size of the bed. They’d started on separate sides at Brain’s insistence, but Pinky found himself crawling over to Brain multiple times. Brain kept tossing and turning in his sleep, only awakening to tell Pinky to stay on the other side.
But in unfamiliar surroundings, Brain eventually gave in and let Pinky snuggle against him. Pinky was extra careful not to squish his antennae, and they both had a difficult time getting up in the morning because they’d been so comfortable.
Now they were on a bus to their destination, and Pinky was bouncing on his seat in anticipation. Brain had insisted on Pinky wearing a blindfold during the bus ride, just so the destination would be a surprise.
Though Pinky couldn’t wait that long! He’d tried to beg and plead and coax where they were going out of Brain, but the alien refused to budge or give anything away. All he said on the matter was that he hoped Pinky would find it enjoyable.
Brain was on the seat next to him, and though they weren’t quite touching, Pinky could feel every movement he made through the vibrations of the cushion.
"Are we there yet?" Pinky asked, waving his tail in Brain's face. He felt Brain whack it away. Giggling, Pinky teased him once again.
With an annoyed grunt, Brain moved away from Pinky, the vibrations along the cushion becoming smaller.
A minute later, Pinky was hauled off the seat and led to the front of the bus. Brain kept careful hold of Pinky's hands as he led him down the steps of the bus.
He trusted Brain to tell him when to walk, which direction to turn, and when to stop.
After a few minutes of walking, and a brief scare when a car barreled through a crosswalk without noticing them in the middle of the road, Brain gave Pinky's wrist a sharp tug, signaling him to stop.
"We're here," Brain announced. "Take off your blindfold, Pinky."
This was gonna be good! Pinky just knew it!
Light flooded in as Pinky ripped off the blindfold. He squinted, shielding his eyes against the bright summer sun.
There was a dirt racetrack in front of them, horses, jockeys, and trainers milling around within the fence. Visitors chatted with staff, gossiping about the horses. Members of the media hauled in microphones and cameras, slipping through an entrance specifically designated for them.
And above his head, the words 'Belmont Racetrack' were emblazoned on a wooden sign.
Belmont…
Pinky's eyes widened in realization.
Brain's taken me to the Belmont!
Next to him, Brain was looking down at his feet, a slight blush coloring his cheeks. He met Pinky’s gaze briefly, only to suddenly shake his head and develop a sudden interest in a pebble.
So all that secrecy…was just because Brain wanted to surprise him!
A warmth blossomed in Pinky’s chest. Now Brain’s words made total sense! He’d said Pinky wouldn’t have to fear missing the race because he would actually see it for himself!
“Keep in mind that this outing also doubles as a scouting mission,” Brain said hastily. “From what I’ve learned from Terran history, horses are revered creatures and owning one can be beneficial when displaying my power over the popu-ACK!"
Pinky scooped Brain up in an enormous hug. Brain's feet pummeled Pinky's side to try and get free, but quickly lost speed and power as Pinky relaxed his hold. Brain's orbs glowed a bright red, the telltale sign for happiness, even though he was trying hard not to show it.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Narf!" Pinky exclaimed, and Brain was extra cute when his face was all tomato red! "This is the best gift anyone has ever given me! You were right, Brain! We're gonna have so much fun together, you and me and Pharfignew-hey! You've never met Pharfignewton! You're gonna love her! And you can make her your royal steed once you rule the world!"
Brain said something, but his voice was muffled against Pinky's fur.
Tucking Brain under his arm, Pinky quickly ran to the entrance, only pausing to hand the confused worker one of his One Free Hug coupons to gain entry, which were valid forever. Brain protested and wiggled free from Pinky's hold, just in time to yank Pinky back before some lady's high heel squashed him.
Pinky quickly recovered from nearly becoming a mouse pancake, turning in every direction until he spotted the one that led straight to the track.
Off to their right, there was an enormous archway that allowed daylight to flood into the rest of the sheltered building.
And there was a jockey leading their horse straight to that archway!
Oh, Pharfignewton was gonna be so surprised when she saw him! He couldn't wait to see the look on her face!
“This way, Brain!” Pinky shouted. He grabbed Brain’s hand and pulled him along so fast that Brain’s feet left the ground. Brain was yelling something about slowing down, but why would Pinky slow down when he was so close to Pharfignewton?
He’d missed her so much over the past few months. It would be good to catch up after the race was over!
Once they’d reached the track, Pinky scanned the crowd of participants for any sign of Pharfignewton. There were many chestnut colored horses, a few black horses, and a speckled gray one, all decked out in their saddles and reins, but he didn’t see Pharfignewton’s beautiful ivory pelt here.
He recognized the large, intimidating black horse known as Daddy’s Little Angel standing a short distance away from everyone, seeming disinterested in the pre-race procedures. His jockey was chatting with a journalist while trying unsuccessfully to move him, but the horse wasn’t budging.
Brain stuck close to Pinky as he observed each horse, giving their hooves a wide berth. This was his first time around horses, and he just hadn’t realized how enormous they were.
Then Daddy’s Little Angel’s gaze was on them. His ears flicked. It was the only movement from his stocky body.
“Hello! Narf! My name’s Pinky and this is my friend, the Brain, and we’re looking for another friend of mine!” Pinky called to Daddy’s Little Angel. “Have you seen Pharfignewton around here?”
Upon hearing Pharfignewton’s name, Daddy’s Little Angel finally moved, his reins slipping out of his jockey’s grip. The jockey protested, but Daddy’s Little Angel’s head whipped around, fixing him with a glare.
The jockey backed away, holding his hands up in defeat.
Daddy’s Little Angel trotted over to Pinky, his large hooves shaking the ground with every step. Brain brushed up against Pinky, trying not to flinch but still quite nervous at the intimidating horse.
He stopped inches away from them and neighed loudly. Pinky and Brain covered their ears from the sheer volume, and the other horses shied away around them.
Then he stomped his hoof twice and turned away, walking towards a secluded area that was separated from the rest of the track.
That was…strange. Pinky glanced at Brain, who only shrugged, not understanding what the horse was trying to do.
Then Daddy’s Little Angel stopped. His head turned, one eye on the mice as his tail flicked impatiently.
Realizing that the horse wanted them to follow, Pinky and Brain tried to catch up, though one stride for Daddy’s Little Angel was about twenty steps for their smaller feet.
“Mind if I call you Angel?” Pinky asked the horse, who only snorted dismissively.
He took it as a yes.
Once it was clear that Angel wasn’t going to trample them, Brain relaxed, though he still kept a good distance away from his hooves.
There was a curtain separating the back area from the public, and some noises of celebration behind it, alongside a slew of questions from journalists who wanted the entire scoop. Among the voices was a familiar, happy whinny.
Pinky’s heart fluttered. Angel had led them straight to Pharfignewton!
“Just wait ‘til you meet her, Brain!” Pinky grinned, unable to contain his excitement. “She’s the coolest, fastest, bestest horse in the whole world! She’s noble steed material for sure!”
Brain rolled his eyes. “‘Bestest’ isn’t a word. And I’ll be the judge of that, Pinky.”
Angel stuck his head through the curtain, causing a stir from the humans inside. They shouted for some trainer to come and control Angel, though nobody came running since they were so far away from the others.
Then there was a jolly laugh from inside. “Well, go on, girl. We have some time before the race starts.”
Suddenly, Angel reared up in panic, his front hooves flailing as he stumbled back. Pinky pulled Brain out of the way before his hind hooves crashed on top of him. Angel quickly galloped away from the curtain and towards a wall that was covered in advertisements. The fur on his muzzle was glistening wet, and he wiped it against the wall to get rid of it, indignantly neighing at Pharfignewton, who poked her head out from the curtain.
She tossed her beautiful silver mane up and down as she laughed, her tongue sticking out playfully at Angel. Though Pinky hadn’t seen her face-to-face for several months now, she was still as gorgeous as ever. Her hooves were polished, fur shining, blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Pharfignewton!” Pinky exclaimed. “Down here! It’s me, Pinky!”
Pharfignewton glanced down, and once she laid eyes on Pinky, she pranced in circles around him, cantering in every direction so fast that Pinky couldn’t track her. But he tried anyway, though he made himself so dizzy until he was too wibbly-wobbly to keep balance.
Just when Pinky thought he would faceplant into the ground, a white muzzle suddenly came into view beneath him. He ran his hands through her soft fur, and then he was tossed high, high into the air!
“Whoo!” Pinky shouted, the wind ruffling his fur. Brain looked really small from up here! Well, he was always small, but even smaller than usual! Laughing, he waved to Brain as gravity caught up to him and he fell back onto Pharfignewton’s muzzle.
He pressed his forehead against hers, and she closed her eyes contentedly.
“ I watched you race online! You were amazing! A-and I missed you so much…” Pinky whispered. Happy tears fell from his eyes, splashing onto her fur. Pharfignewton turned her head, nickering softly as she showed Pinky a pocket on her riding gear that was tightly sealed with a zipper. Realizing that she wanted him to open it, Pinky perched on the end of her muzzle and unzipped the pocket.
He was expecting carrots or some other kind of healthy snack, but instead he pulled out a slightly weathered photo of himself. He was smiling and waving to the camera in the photo, and there was a pink lip-shaped smudge in the corner from where he’d kissed the corner. He’d given this photo to Pharfignewton as a keepsake for the road just before she left.
To think she’d been racing with a photo of himself this entire time….
It was nice to know that Pharfignewton had never forgotten him, even though she was so close to achieving her dream and meeting new friends along the way.
“You told Angel about me, didn’t you?” Pinky asked as he climbed off Pharfignewton’s face. She nodded vigorously. “And he showed us where you were! And…oh, I almost forgot! I made a new friend too! Pharfignewton, meet Brain! Brain, this is Pharfignewton.”
“So I’ve heard,” Brain replied. Pharfignewton lowered her head to get a better look at him, her nostrils flaring as she inhaled his scent. Brain leaned back, pink eyes wide as he tried to keep her at arms’ length. “Hello, Pharfignewton. Pinky wouldn’t shut up about you. But I have to admit that your racing ability is admirable. Perhaps you’d be interested in becoming a royal steed for the future ruler of the world?”
Pharfignewton stared at Brain. With a nervous smile, Brain offered his hand to see if she’d shake on it.
Then she planted a wet, slobbery lick on Brain’s cheek, lifting him a foot off the ground as her tongue trailed up his face. Brain squirmed and protested, quickly separating himself from Pharfignewton. He wiped the saliva off his face in disgust.
“Aww, she likes you!” Pinky giggled, and Brain pouted, his antennae sparking erratically.
“Is that how she greets everybody?” Brain complained to Angel as he came back to the group. Angel huffed, not too happy with Pharfignewton’s way of greeting new faces.
But Pinky didn’t see an issue with it. Pharfignewton was just being friendly, that’s all.
Angel stood proud and tall as he kept an ear pointed to the announcer’s box, seemingly disinterested in his surroundings unless it had to do with the race. But he kept sneaking glances at Pharfignewton, who pranced about in anticipation for the race to begin.
“So…” Pinky grinned at Angel. “Is she your girlfriend?”
Angel angrily tossed his head and bolted back to the other horses, not even sparing a backwards glance at Pinky.
Pinky’s tail drooped. He was just teasing. He didn’t mean to offend.
“You just had to scare him off,” Brain sighed, rubbing his temple.
Pharfignewton stopped prancing. She whinnied in Angel’s direction, though the other horse simply went back to his jockey, who scolded him for running off.
She turned back to Pinky while doing her best scary imitation of Angel. Then she nuzzled Pinky in apology.
“Don’t worry about it, Fig,” Pinky assured her. “Believe me, I know someone who acts exactly like Angel. Poit.”
He glanced at Brain, who just frowned. “You do?” he said.
“Well, she says Angel acts all scary but he’s also a bit shy too,” Pinky said as he stroked Pharfignewton’s muzzle. “And she’ll talk to him later.”
A bell rang from somewhere above their heads.
“We are now ready to begin the Belmont Stakes! All horses and jockeys, please head to the stalls immediately. All nonparticipants, if you would kindly clear the track and head to the stands.”
Pinky reached for Brain, who immediately grabbed his hand. Pinky clung to Pharfignewton’s fur with his other hand as she walked over to a section of the stands with an excellent view, right next to the finish line. Then she deposited them onto the railing.
Pinky planted a kiss on her muzzle. “Now what are you waiting for? Go win that Triple Crown!” he cheered.
Pharfignewton galloped away to meet up with her jockey and trainer. She was shut in a stall in the middle, just to the left of Angel, who pointedly refused to look in her direction. He ignored her attempts to get his attention, focusing on the track ahead of them.
“Was that saccharine display necessary?” Brain grumbled as he surveyed the track.
“It was just a little kiss,” Pinky defended.
Angel and Brain sure were acting funny today. It was strange.
Well, regardless of how strange his friends were being, Pinky was just happy to be here.
“Brain…I just wanted to say thanks for bringing me here today. It means a lot to me,” Pinky smiled as he scooted closer to Brain on the railing. He reached for Brain’s hand, his tail intertwining around Brain’s until the tip resting on the orb at the very end.
Brain blushed, his orbs lighting up at the close contact. The light illuminated his face, bringing out the pinkness of his eyes.
“O-of course,” he coughed, quickly turning his attention to the track. “You’re well-acquainted with these creatures. It’s only right that we select our royal steed together.”
Pinky’s legs hung over the edge of the railing. He kicked his feet, enjoying the pleasant breeze against his fur.
“Y’know,” Pinky whispered in Brain’s ear with a huge grin on his face. “We should have another.”
Brain’s lovely eyes were so round, almost owl-like as his head whipped toward Pinky in shock.
“A-another?” he squeaked, his voice rising an entire octave. “What do you mean, another?”
“Another royal horse, of course!” Pinky couldn’t resist the rhyme, it was truly a lovely one!
And since Pharfignewton was such good friends with Angel, maybe they could take him into their royal stables too!
“Oh,” Brain looked down at their intertwined hands, embarrassed from whatever he thought Pinky meant. “That’s…a surprisingly good idea from you, Pinky. We shall have our signature horse, backed up by an entire team of equines. Then everyone will have to bow before our might!”
Brain punched the air triumphantly, and Pinky put his own fist up alongside him in solidarity. They laughed until they nearly overbalanced and fell onto the track, and the brief shock quickly brought them back to reality just as an opening fanfare began to play.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Belmont Stakes! We have a very special competitor here today! The newcomer Pharfignewton has been taking the world of horse racing by storm! If she wins this race, she’ll be the first mare to ever be awarded the Triple Crown! But her competition is fierce! Every one of these horses, including one who’s placed in the Top Three of the Kentucky Derby this year, is very accomplished in their own right. Can she rise to the challenge? Only time will tell!”
“OF COURSE SHE CAN!” Pinky bellowed, hoping Pharfignewton could hear him. Brain winced and clung to the railing, the ear closest to Pinky folding down. “Oh…poit. Sorry, Brain.”
“Remind me to you hurt you after we get out of this position,” Brain muttered.
“Riders in position! Three…two…one…AND THEY’RE OFF!”
The stalls opened with a loud bang, and the horses bolted. Pinky’s breath was stolen away from him. The roar of thundering hooves, the manes flying in the wind, the agility and grace…
A TV broadcast couldn’t compare.
Pharfignewton quickly established her lead, while Angel was swiftly approaching her left. The others weren’t even close, all left far behind in the dust storm the pair created.
Brain broke their contact and scooted several inches away as Pinky leapt up, whistling and cheering for Pharfignewton.
“YOU CAN DO IT, FIG!” he yowled at the top of his lungs. “GO, GO, GO!”
If only he’d packed his pom-poms!
Angel caught up with Pharfignewton as they rounded the first bend on the track, and soon the pair were neck-and-neck. From the close-up on the monitor, they were having the time of their lives trying to outdo each other in a friendly rivalry.
Angel’s jockey shouted something to the horse underneath him, practically standing up in the stirrups. But Angel only lost speed, enabling Pharfignewton to pull ahead. Though it wasn’t much of a lead, and Angel still had plenty of time to catch up.
And just as they reached the halfway point of the track, Pharfignewton slowed down due to a large mud puddle. The mud and water clung to her legs and bogged her down, but she wasn’t about to give up her dream because of a little mud!
“You show that mud who’s boss, Fig!” Pinky shouted.
Angel finally caught up to Pharfignewton, and he wasn’t struggling as much in the mud puddle. But as he passed her, his jockey raised his riding crop, and struck Pharfignewton just behind her saddle.
The audience gasped, and even the announcer had no words as Pharfignewton lost her balance from the unexpected blow and tumbled to the ground, the underside of her jaw smashing painfully into the mud.
“Pharfignewton!” Pinky cried in horror, his hands flying up to his mouth in shock.
Brain’s antennae sparked with anger. “That’s a foul!” he snarled as he leapt to his feet, appalled by the jockey’s unsportsmanlike behavior.
“And in a disgusting move, an unscrupulous jockey has struck Pharfignewton on her flank and knocked her into the mud!” the announcer declared, and even he couldn’t keep the disappointment out of his voice as all the other racehorses ran past her, spurred forward by their jockeys. “This appears to be a tragic end for the aspiring Triple Crown nominee…”
“No!” Pinky screamed at the announcer’s box. “It’s not the end! It can’t be!”
She’d trained so hard, for so long, just for this moment! She’d dreamed about it her whole life, since fillyhood! Pinky had encouraged her to run faster than the wind, to soar like an eagle, to clear every obstacle in her path on the road to victory. He’d given her snacks to keep up her energy, brushed out her mane, and told her night after night that she was his favorite horse in the world and she was sure to win if she just believed she could.
And he wasn’t about to let her dreams go to waste!
Bunching his muscles together, Pinky leapt down from the railing and onto the track. He’d only made it a short distance when he suddenly felt a tug on his tail.
“Pinky, just what do you think you’re doing?” Brain scolded, trying to pull Pinky back. “You’re going to get yourself trampled!”
“But she can’t give up now! She’s so close!” Pinky protested. He was stronger than Brain, but Brain was digging his heels in and slowing him down. “Let me go, Brain!”
“Pinky! Would you listen to me for one second?” Brain snapped. With one sharp yank to the tail, he managed to completely turn Pinky around to face him. He looked into Pinky’s eyes…and suddenly his grip slackened, his ears falling, anger melting into concern. “Sometimes…some dreams just aren’t meant to be. No matter how hard you try.”
Pinky knew Brain was speaking from experience. He knew he was just trying to help.
But still…
“Wait…something’s going on with Daddy’s Little Angel! His jockey can’t keep him under control!”
The camera had pulled away from the other horses to focus on Angel, who adamantly refused to obey his jockey’s commands. With one final, powerful kick, Angel bucked his jockey into the mud. Then he turned his back on the disoriented jockey, throwing more mud on him with his back hooves.
He approached Pharfignewton as she struggled to stand, her jaw and underside completely covered with mud. Her jockey gently stroked her mane, and though his words were lost on camera, he was trying to smile to reassure her that she was alright.
Pharfignewton’s head hung low, her eyes closed in mourning for her lost dream. Angel stoically stood by her, ears pinned back. He tried to lean in to nuzzle Pharfignewton, but she trudged away and barely noticed him. Angel awkwardly padded after her.
“Don’t worry, folks. The medical personnel will be evaluating Daddy’s Little Angel’s jockey soon enough,” the announcer said, though it didn’t sound like he cared either way. “Moving along, the remaining horses are approaching the final turn! Who will win is now anyone’s guess! And…hmm, what’s this? The camera crew is taking interest in a different kind of animal!”
The jumbo screen wasn’t focusing on the horses anymore. In fact, almost nobody was taking interest in the horses anymore, now that the victory had been snatched away from Pharfignewton.
Rather, the cameras had swiped to focus on…them.
“Looks like a couple of rodents got lost on their way to the rat race!” the announcer chuckled, and so did the audience.
“We’re not rats! We’re mice!” Pinky corrected. “Well, a mouse and an alien, but it’s still rude to mispecie us!”
As Pinky and Brain’s image came into view, an idea suddenly came to mind.
“Pharfignewton! Look up at the screen!” Pinky shouted. Brain said nothing, too focused on trying to drag Pinky out of view. “You can’t give up now! You’ve made it this far! Just a little farther!”
“Pinky…” Brain said nervously.
“Not now, Brain,” Pinky said, shushing him. “Come on Fig, I’ve seen you jump logs that must’ve been, what, thirty-seven feet high! You can run way faster than…way faster than…um, what’s something that’s fast, Brain?”
Brain froze, his pink eyes wide with fear as he looked over Pinky’s shoulder. “A stampede of twenty racehorses that are about to come down on top of us if we don’t move right now?”
“Oh, that’s a good one, Brain! Thanks!” Pinky said. A bit long-winded, but still a clever bit of improv. “A stampede of twenty racehorses that are about to-AHHH!”
On the far side of the track, the horses had completed their final turn and were in the home stretch! They’d kicked up a huge dust cloud behind them, all of them vying for first place.
“RUN, PINKY!” Brain screamed.
And Pinky bolted. All those workouts he did on the wheel did wonders for his leg muscles, but Brain wasn’t nearly as fast. He’d never cared much for routine exercise, and Pinky knew he’d probably be regretting that decision after today.
Pinky made a quick u-turn and scooped Brain up, tucking him under his arm and returning to his original direction.
“Veer left! Get on the grass!” Brain yelled.
“My left or your left?” Pinky asked.
“THEY’RE THE SAME LEFT!”
And Pinky tried, but a horse rushed past him before could obey Brain’s instructions. He tried again, only for another horse to block his way.
It didn’t take in before they were boxed in by a wall of legs.
Soon Pinky didn’t even know which direction was which anymore. Everything was just a blur. Despite this, he refused to let go of Brain.
Then Pinky tripped over himself as he dodged yet another hoof, landing on top of Brain. This time, there was no avoiding the horse hoof that was about to crash over them!
They screamed and braced themselves against each other, but the blow never came.
Instead, it felt like he was…flying?
Something was grasping his tail, letting him dangle as they weaved between racehorses at high speed. Brain was clinging to Pinky’s neck for dear life, and since both of Pinky’s hands were free, he made sure he secured Brain against him so he didn’t get caught underhoof.
Then Pinky craned his neck to see who had his tail, and he was met with a large white muzzle and a pair of ocean blue eyes-
“PHARFIGNEWTON!” Pinky squealed with delight. Pharfignewton winked, expertly dodging every horse in her path.
She was still in the race, and the announcer and an adoring crowd chanted her name with renewed vigor as she caught up to the front of the pack. Her jockey was bouncing up and down in his seat, overcome with excitement.
It was just like old times! The wind in his face, the thundering, rhythmic beat of her hooves!
She hadn’t given up after all!
“I told you she could do it, Brain! I told you!” Pinky exclaimed.
Brain recovered from his shock, and a determined look came over his face. “That’s it, Pharfignewton! To victory!” he shouted.
Pinky grinned. Brain was finally getting into that horse racing spirit!
It wasn’t even close! The nearest horse was several lengths back!
The finish line was straight ahead!
Fifteen yards…ten yards…five yards…then Pharfignewton’s front hooves crossed the finish line at last!
“And in another surprising turn of events, Pharfignewton has defied the odds and emerged victorious! And you know what that means, everyone! Please congratulate the latest winner of the coveted Triple Crown, Pharfignewton!”
Pharfignewton’s gallop slowed to a canter, then into a happy prance as her jockey steered her over to the cameras for more photo ops. A trumpet fanfare played, heralding her newfound fame as the first mare to ever win the Triple Crown. She dropped Pinky and Brain onto a fencepost so they could wait for her as she finished her photoshoots.
A woman in a fancy lavender dress coronated Pharfignewton with a beautiful golden crown, then tossed a necklace of colorful flowers over her neck. Her jockey hugged Pharfignewton as the cameras flashed. Her owner and trainer ran up to congratulate her, whooping with joy and popping bottles of champagne to celebrate.
Pharfignewton reveled in the attention, never getting tired of all the photos and poses they demanded of her.
“Narf! Look at her, Brain.” Pinky wiped a tear away from his eye. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
Brain just gave him an odd look. “Well…she’s earned this celebration,” he admitted, skillfully deflecting the question. “Do they make Terran crowns out of real gold, or do they use an alloy?”
“I don’t know any Roy who makes crowns, but if you give me a whole lotta mashed potatoes I can definitely fashion one for you later,” Pinky promised him.
“Never mind. I can figure it out myself,” Brain wrinkled his nose. Though Pinky knew Brain disliked it when he put food anywhere that wasn’t on a plate or in his mouth, he figured Brain would change his tune once he’d experienced the wonders of being the king of Fairyland and surveying his kingdom from the top of Mashed Potato Mountain.
The humans shouted in surprise as a large, riderless black horse stormed into their midst. He glared at anyone who tried to grab hold of his reins, only stopping once he was next to Pinky and Brain’s shared fencepost.
Contrary to what everyone else seemed to think, Angel wasn’t there to disrupt the proceedings. Though he didn’t show it, Pinky knew he just wanted to make sure she was happy.
“Thanks for taking care of her, Angel,” Pinky said gratefully. He would have to ask Pharfignewton for the details later, and also tell Pharfignewton about all his adventures with Brain so far, but all that could wait.
One of Angel’s ears flicked towards Pinky, but his eyes were still fixed on Pharfignewton.
Angel didn’t seem to like him very much. How was he supposed to befriend one of Pharfignewton’s friends?
“Step aside, Pinky. Let me try,” Brain said, and Pinky gave him room. Then Brain turned to Angel. “I know we didn’t have much time for proper introductions before, but my name is the Brain, soon-to-be supreme leader of the world, and I’ve been seeking candidates for the position of royal steed. Your intimidating aura and powerful stride puts you miles ahead of the competition, my friend. If you were fitted with titanium-based armor, your daunting stance could be multipled by a hundredfold! And once everyone sees us, they’ll bow down before our power! Any chance you’d be interested?”
This got Angel’s full attention. He faced Brain and raised his front hoof.
“You did it, Brain! Why, you’re a bona fide horse whisperer!” Pinky exclaimed as Brain shook Angel’s offered hoof. “You’ve got to show me how to speak horse someday!”
“I will, Pinky,” Brain promised. “It’s simple enough for you to understand. All you have to do is-NYAH!”
Angel suddenly pulled his hoof away from Brain, who lost his balance and fell onto his stomach.
Pinky quickly jotted Brain’s suggestion into his notepad. “All I have to do is nyah. Got it! Troz!”
Angel’s attention had gone back to Pharfignewton, whose photoshoot was finally winding down enough for her to rejoin her friends. Well, Angel was trying to look anywhere else but Pharfignewton, except he wasn’t fooling anybody.
The newest Triple Crown winner was positively radiant. She hadn’t gotten the chance to wash the mud from her coat yet, but the mud made her look even more beautiful in Pinky’s eyes.
“Hey, Fig,” Pinky smiled at her, and she lowered her head so she was level with the fencepost. “Guess what? Nyah!”
Pharfignewton whinnied softly, and Pinky hugged her muzzle. Then she planted a huge, horsey kiss on Pinky’s cheek. Pinky had to keep hold of her fur so he didn’t get sucked into her mouth, and he returned the gesture with one of his own.
“You’re a genius, Brain!” Pinky exclaimed as he broke off the kiss. “That nyah was everything! Thanks for letting me know!”
Brain’s mouth hung open in shock, but he quickly tried to compose himself as he stood up. “O-of course I am, Pinky. But…you just…I can’t believe you kissed a horse!”
Next to him, Angel looked away while sticking his tongue out.
Pinky put his hands on his hips, while Pharfignewton stamped her hoof. “Don’t be intolerant, you two!” Pinky scolded.
Angel scuffed the ground with a front hoof, and Brain’s face turned bright red again.
So maybe the problem wasn’t intolerance…
Pinky and Pharfignewton gave each other a knowing glance, pondering exactly the same thing. Pharfignewton went first, sidling up to Angel and resting her body against his as she kissed his muzzle.
Though he hid his appreciation well, he couldn’t stop his ears from fluttering like crazy.
“Awww, don’t you think they’re adorable together, Brain?” Pinky cooed, intertwining his tail around Brain’s.
“They’d…certainly make an excellent pair of royal steeds for us,” Brain murmured, his stern demeanor slipping away as he reached for Pinky’s hands. “Overall, objective complete.”
Gosh, his rose-pink eyes were so pretty.
Pinky cupped Brain’s soft, squishy cheeks, leaning in for the kiss. He kept it soft and gentle, since Brain was very new to the ultimate form of Terran affection.
Brain didn’t apply much pressure with his lips, but Pinky felt an electric current run through his body, lighting him up with so many tingly, wonderful sensations he’d never felt before. A bright pink glow enveloped his vision, electricity dancing around his fur.
And when they stopped to breathe, Pinky opened his eyes to find that his and Brain’s fur now glowed pink, with tiny bolts of electric stars sparkling around them.
“Look at us, Brain! We’re making new stars!” Pinky exclaimed.
“Well, the starmaking process would require a ton of energy and atoms that cannot be produced on any regular planet,” Brain said, leaning in for a second round. “But close enough, Pinky. Close enough.”
And the stars were absolutely beautiful tonight.
AN: And with that supernova explosion of a kiss, Nova is now complete!
Pinky is doing the hitchhiker’s leg pose cause I wanted to include a little sexy Pinky.
I always wanted the story to wrap up with Pharfignewton getting the Triple Crown she dreamed of. Also, I thought it would be cute if she made a friend while she was away, like Pinky had done.
Pinky falling onto the track and being saved by Pharfignewton is another callback to Jockey for Position, and also Brain gets his own horse friend. While Brain does ride the horse named Daddy’s Little Angel in that ep, he isn’t much of a character on his own so I thought it would be funny to make him Brain’s horse counterpart (and turning him into a sap around Pharfignewton). Plus there’s something objectively funny about shortening his name to Angel.
So now that Nova is complete, be prepared for some absolute monsters of stories in the future!