//------------------------------//
// The Matterhoof Mountain Peanut Race 
// Story: The Matterhoof Mountain Peanut Race (poem) 
// by Palm Palette 
//------------------------------//

Did you know that there was a man who pushed a peanut all the to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado with nothing but his nose? Ponies, it's your turn.





The Matterhoof Mountain Peanut Race


Six mares stood tall. Six mares stood proud. Six mares would race today.
A peanut for each one to push, to push up all the way.
Only muzzles, only noses, only sniffers were allowed.
They would abide by this rule; they had to please the crowd.

The stakes were set; a cash prize would, go to number one.
Just one winner there would be when all was said and done.
Other prizes there were too, but they knew not of those.
All six mares bent down right now. They waited in that pose.

The mountain was tall, sharp, and steep.
The river was quite fast and deep.
The trail was only three pones wide.
No peanut should fall off the side.

Six mares bent down. Six mares held ground. Six mares would race today.
They were ready. Nostrils flared. “Now go,” the ref did say.
They all got off to their start. They had quite far to go.
They bent their heads and pushed their nuts; their nuts did move quite slow.

Rainbow Dash took the lead. She boinked that peanut quickly.
Fluttershy was far behind; her bumps were small and sickly.
Rarity was next to last; her nose was fragile glass.
Twilight came up next, she did. She pushed and tried to pass.
Pinkie Pie was third place now. She'd have fun as her goal.
Applejack was second place. Her peanut did quite roll.

They came upon the bridge of rope.
The river raged to dash their hope.
Should any nut fall off the side.
The water'd steal it for a ride.

Rainbow Dash did trudge along; her peanut rolled askew.
The bridge did sway; she was too rash; her peanut fell and flew.
“What, no way!” she cried aloud. This set her back for sure.
A hundred hoofsteps penalty – this rustled down her fur.

Applejack now took the lead and Pinkie pushed up strong.
They were neck and neck it seemed and moving quite along.
The bridge was mean. It rocked and swayed. Would their nuts fall down?
Applejack's went safely through but Pinkie's made her frown.
Twilight Sparkle tried her best but balance failed her too.
Two more nuts went down the drain; they'd have to start anew.
Rarity and Fluttershy, they moved so slow it seemed.
They didn't rock the bridge at all. They made it past and beamed.

Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie Pie, now had to try again.
Rainbow nudged hers carefully; she's a proud Equestrian.
Her peanut wobbled past the bridge. She made it by this time.
Pinkie Pie pushed hers again, but her nut failed to align.
It didn't fall, she caught it square, but out of bounds it was.
She was set back once again; she ate it just because.
Twilight Sparkle nudged hers true; the bridge did let her by.
Pinkie's third one was the charm. This peanut did stay dry.

The trail twists up. It's steep, steep, steep,
enough to make a grown mare weep.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Six mares shall race up to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Applejack is far ahead but her nut is damaged.
The next two were going slow but they still quite managed.
Rainbow Dash still pushed quite hard she went and passed them by.
“Oh no. My nut.” It rolled downhill; alas poor Fluttershy.
Twilight Sparkle bumped on by. She passed up Flutter too.
Pinkie ate her nut again. Just why no one quite knew.

The bright pink mare was far behind. She was in last place.
Pinkie pushed and pushed again. She'd get back in this race.
Applejack's nut did break. This pushed her back to second.
“Aw heck, yeah. I'm winning now,” Rainbow Dash she reckoned.
Rarity was slow but true; her peanut was quite whole.
Of all the mares that raced today she had the best control.
Twilight did still pass her though for Rarity was slow.
Twilight was determined still to come back from below.
Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie tied up for last place now.
Applejack's old broken nut became the pink mare's chow.

And thus they raced upon the slope.
Six mares were watched by telescope.
The mountain's base was gentile still.
It wasn't yet a test of skill.

They'd cross the river just once more.
For now they would have to explore
beneath a waterfall's vapor.
Smooth rock did line the cavern floor.

The path was damp but lovely here.
A rainbow arc did just appear.
The crowd was far but they did cheer.
The race was young, no winner clear.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash did gain a strong lead now.
Twilight moved as quickly as her peanut would allow.
Coming in fourth place here is the mare called Pinkie Pie.
Rarity was quite careful to keep her peanut dry.
Fluttershy stopped right here to admire scenery.
Racing didn't stress that mare; she plodded leisurely.

The trail twists up. It's steep, steep, steep,
enough to make a grown mare weep.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Six mares shall race up to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Applejack's nut did break. She crunched it through and through.
Rainbow laughed but hers broke too, just why she never knew.
Both mares lost their great big lead but they were still ahead.
“The rocks right here were magma once,” Twilight Sparkle said.
“The Matterhoof is not active. It's now quite extinct.”
The igneous rock she saw; its hues were quite distinct.
While Twilight spoke of science stuff, Pinkie rolled on by.
The broken nuts did tempt her though that she could not deny.
She ate those nuts and hers too. She goofed that up again.
Hundred hoofsteps penalty was the rule they'd spoken.
Rarity now passed Pinkie. Her pace was slow but true.
Fluttershy was so alone that her resolve now grew.
“I won't make it up to first, but I'll still try my best.”
Flutter tried, her nose was sore, but strength she now expressed.

On the mountain side right here
was a drop that was severe.
The path did narrow now as well.
One mistake would spell farewell.

Rainbow's eyes were sharp and pink; the edge she saw ahead.
Her peanut did not falter; it hugged the trail instead.
Applejack had no such luck; her peanut went goodbye.
She had to take her penalty but she could not fly.
Too narrow for a passing mare, Twilight blocked her rear.
Rainbow Dash did eat her nut. She came to interfere.
She lent her wing; they flew back; that ended her strong lead.
It was a big sacrifice for her to make indeed.
Twilight lost her peanut too; her lead was sadly short.
Though Rarity did block her rear, she could teleport.

Six mares now walked the narrow trail; they walked one by one.
Rarity did set the pace. Now none of them could run.
Pinkie's second, Rainbow's third, Applejack's in fourth.
Fluttershy took fifth place here. A breeze came from the north.
Then Fluttershy's peanut broke. She had to go back now.
But Flutter did catch back up; their slow pace did allow.

The crowd still watched them from afar.
This sight they deemed a bit bizarre.
Though nearly to the halfway spot,
they all grouped up in one big lot!

The path did widen here once more.
The steepness they could not ignore.
For they were on the mountain's side.
The wind did seep into their hide.

The trail twists up. It's steep, steep, steep,
enough to make a grown mare weep.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Six mares shall race up to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Six mares now had a fresh start here on the mountain slope.
They could claim the prize up top. They each still had that hope.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash came out up front once more.
Their noses bumped their peanuts, pushed. They enjoyed this chore.
Twilight pushed next to Pinkie. Both mares saw eye-to-eye.
A friendly nod, a quick bump, and Twilight passed her by.

Another peanut missed her nose. Flutter felt a chill.
Though not lost, it stayed in play. Her nut did roll downhill.
Rarity did dodge that nut. She had to let it be.
She can't touch Fluttershy's or she'd face a penalty.
Fluttershy did stop that nut. She did it with her nose.
The wind did now get to her. She wished she had more clothes.
Pegasus should not feel cold but Flutter's out of shape.
Six nuts bumped up the steep, steep slope. No more did escape.

The path went dark inside a cave.
The ponies will have to be brave.
The wind won't touch them anymore.
But water will be on the floor.

A soggy nut will break real fast.
It must stay dry to make it past.
A bioluminescent mold
is all that guides them in the cold.

Applejack was first to enter – halfway champ was she,
but her eyes did not adjust and she could barely see.
Rainbow Dash had troubles too; both nuts now got all wet.
Though it didn't hurt them now, it's something they'd regret.
Twilight was the smarter mare; she'd closed her eyes before.
Eyes adjusted she could see the liquid on the floor.

Pinkie Pie got her nut wet too and she did recoil.
Pinkie eyed her soggy nut. “I can't let this spoil.”
Pinkie ate another nut. Her mouth's a peanut grave.
She had to take her penalty and left that dark cave.

Rarity did plod on here. That mare was careful still.
Her peanut was still pristine. She nudged it with great skill.
Fluttershy is used to caves some animals live there.
She pushed her nut in the dark. She passed the Pinkie mare.

Her nut was wet and failing but Applejack pushed strong.
She came out of that cave; she was moving quite along.
Rainbow Dash did come through too and she was not a slouch,
Twilight Sparkle bumped her head here and she cried out, “Yeouch!”
She wasn't hurt all that bad and went trough just the same.
Flutter sneezed a dainty bit. This shook her tiny frame.
“Flutter, dear, please take my scarf. You'll feel a bit warmer.”
Rarity gave this to Shy, which now helped adorn her.
Shy smiled as she nudged on by, “Thank you, my dear friend.”
Pinkie made it through now too; the cave was at its end.

The cavern path was dark but short.
Through this tunnel they did transport
their peanuts to the next upslope,
in the cold they'd have to cope.

The trail twists up. It's steep, steep, steep,
enough to make a grown mare weep.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Six mares shall race up to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Though her peanut was quite soggy, Applejack pushed strong.
But alas it gave up here; it didn't last that long.
Rainbow Dash came to the lead but suffered the same fate.
Pushing hard is not something wet peanuts tolerate.

Twilight Sparkle's now upfront. She looked up at the sky.
The clouds looked close; she felt the wind. They were up real high.
But the peak was out of sight; they still had far to go.
She pushed her peanut up the path as the wind did blow.

Fluttershy did shiver here, but that scarf felt fluffy.
Pushing hard in second place made her breath all huffy.
Rarity was in third place but Applejack passed by. 
Rainbow Dash nudged up to her. She wants to clarify:
“How can you hope to win this race while you're going slow?”
Rarity did raise an eyebrow. “Weren't you just below?”
Rainbow shrugged and pushed ahead. She had a race to win.
Pinkie finally caught back up. She wore a goofy grin.

A great big gap a bridge did span.
Though much unlike where they began,
this bridge holds firm for pony kind.
Here gaps and cracks peanuts can find.

The wind is not so gentle here
inside this thinning atmosphere.
Far down below the crowd still cheered.
They each could win it still appeared.

Twilight's lead was growing short. She slowed to watch the ground.
In the end it did no good. A hole her peanut found.
Fluttershy now came up next. This trail she did review,
but the wind caught her peanut and it went bye-bye too.
Applejack came up ahead but in a gap hers stuck.
She broke her peanut sitting there. She did curse her luck.
Rainbow Dash tried to take first but her peanut faltered.
Then Pinkie Pie made it by. Her path was unaltered.
Pinkie ate her peanut there. She'd clearly have her fun.
She went back across the bridge to show them how its done.
Rarity stayed slow but true. She guided hers with skill.
Four others did try again but had no luck until-
Pinkie Pie rolled up again. She turned around and bowed.
“It's not so hard as you shall see,” Pinkie spoke aloud.

“Bump it up and catch it down.
Don't let the wind make you frown.
A steady pace is what it takes.
Keep that up for no mistakes.

“Hup peanut – hup, hup, hup-
You'll make it past, just don't give up.
The gaps look wide but they're not bad.
You'll make it past, and you'll be glad.

“So watch as I do pass this gap.
You'll make it past. This is a snap.
My nose protects it from the wind.
You'll make it past; nuts underpinned.

“For I have shown you how it's done.
Let's come on now, everyone!
Tread with me; we'll walk across.
A steady pace for no more loss.”

Guided by Pinkie's song, those four now did move along.
All six mares now passed the bridge. The race was going strong.
Six mares bumped their peanuts still upon the mountain path.
Twilight knew they'd more to go. She thought so with her math.

The trail twists up. It's steep, steep, steep,
enough to make a grown mare weep.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Six mares shall race up to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Rarity had a nice lead, but Pinkie now caught up.
As she pushed her peanut by, she nodded to say, “Sup.”
Pinkie then ate her nut, and gave herself a facehoof.
Rarity did laugh with mirth. She laughed at Pinkie's goof.
Twilight was the next to come. This mare did stop and stare.
She swung her head and hoofed the ground. “That is snow right there.”
Rarity stopped to adorn her cleated climber boots.
“Careful, dear. Watch out for ice.” They boinked their peanut fruits.
Fluttershy did sneeze again. She sniffed her runny nose.
Her peanut rolled downhill again when this chance arose.
She flew downhill to stop it as others passed her by.
This put her back in last place; she gave a hefty sigh.
Applejack did pass to first. She bumped up quite a storm.
Rainbow Dash passed to second. Sweat glistened on her form.

Now nearly up upon the peak
a crevasse here did howl and shriek.
The wind was channeled through this place.
It cut through fur in cold embrace.

No peanut could withstand this wind.
Against the noses they'd be pinned.
A small mistake would let them fly.
This wind was fierce; none could deny.

Applejack was first to enter; she did slow her pace.
Wind howled by and tried to steal the peanut from her face.
Rainbow Dash came in next. She moved with less restraint.
While the wind did tear at her, she suffered no complaint.
The path was slick and icy and Rainbow Dash did slip.
Her peanut bounced and blew away on its frigid trip.
Apple's nut tried to leave, but she caught it with her lips.
Walls did line the path here and the view was blocked by hips.
After all the help she got, she couldn't bear to cheat.
Applejack did crush that nut beneath her horseshoed feet.
Rainbow Dash spoke up, “You crushed your nut. You could have won.”
“It wouldn't be fair – not after what y'all have done.”

Twilight Sparkle came up next. She knew that this was hard.
The wind did blast at her mane, but she would not be barred.
Inching closely step-by-step, Rarity did join her.
Pinkie got in line right here. A shiver twitched her fur.
Rainbow Dash returned again and got in line as well.
Applejack now lined up too. She followed for a spell.
Fluttershy was moving slow. She shuddered and she sneezed.
The wind stole her nut away. The poor girl was displeased.
The other five did make it by. They were nearly done.
Each of them would try their best to be the one who won.

The trail twists up. It's cold, cold, cold,
enough to freeze a mare all told.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but they have made their commitment.
Five mares are nearly to the top.
Six peanuts pushed. Six mares won't stop.

Now upon the final leg the ice and snow did show.
The peanut race would end on this mountaintop plateau.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash now did start to canter.
Their breath was far too short for any witty banter.
Rainbow Dash did push real hard. She tossed her peanut high.
The wicked wind did catch it and blew it from the sky.
Applejack did push too hard and broke her nut once more.
Twilight Sparkle pushed ahead. This race did make her sore.
She forgot about the ice and slipped and fell down. “Ouch.”
Her peanut did slip away into an icy pouch.

Pinkie's nut got caught in snow. She pushed a snowball now.
She rolled along as best she could: Pinkie the snowplow.
She passed the others, Pinkie did. She was doing fine.
Her snowball rolled all the way and crossed the finish line.
Pinkie had thought she'd won but in her snowball was a rock!
Her peanut? She shrugged and chewed. They sent her back a block.

While those four did hurry back, the snow did blind their sight.
In the glare they failed to see the unicorn who's white.

The wind did block poor Fluttershy in a cold impasse.
Through the crevasse she did try, but a cough now shook her mass.
The wind took her peanut and she hobbled back once more.
Something new she'd have to try or she'd be stuck for sure.

Now at last the race could end. Five mares were almost there.
The crowd exploded into cheers. Their cheers were everywhere.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were very closely tied.
Twilight Sparkle bumped up too, her fervor undenied.
All three mares did cross the line; each thought she would prevail.
But when they got there all they saw, was a purple tail.
Rainbow Dash with wide eyes cried, “Rarity you won!?”
The unicorn did smile. “Sorry, dear. You've been outdone.”
Pinkie Pie now nosed in fifth. She had a nut this time.
“Come on now, let's have a hug. This race was quite a climb.”
Five mares stood tall. Five mares stood proud. Five mares were not six.
Twilight startled, “Wait, where's Fluttershy?” Oh, candlesticks.

The trail twists up. It's cold, cold, cold,
enough to freeze a mare all told.
The Matterhoof is indifferent,
but she had made her commitment.
One mare still has to reach the top.
One peanut pushed. One mare won't stop.

Fluttershy coughed hard. Her nose was red. Her face was blue.
“I think I can. I think I can.” She could do this too.
She reached the crevasse once again; third time is the charm.
She turned around and backed up to block her nut from harm.
She rolled her nut with her nose. 'Twas very very slow.
The wind did try to catch her wings in its wicked flow.
She wanted to give up here. She wasn't feeling well.
Her head was sore, her legs were weak, she paused for a spell.

The scarf she wore brushed around and tickled at her face.
“Rarity, I can't give up.” She set a renewed pace.
Through this crevasse she did inch. She made it through this time.
It was a minor victory. There's still more to climb.

The path was lined with ice and snow.
The frigid cold wind still did blow.
The end up here was less inclined,
but still no place for ponykind.

And while the winner was quite known,
and Fluttershy was quite alone,
she knew here friends were waiting there.
She would not falter in despair.

Feeble, Feeble, wobbly bumps, her peanut crept along.
She hacked and coughed and wheezed once more. She felt ugly wrong.
Her runny nose now did freeze upon her facial fur.
She was not a pretty sight; of this she was quite sure.
Cold chills now cut through her frame. She rattled through and through.
Her teeth chattered in the cold. She sneezed again, “Achoo.”
Laying down she just felt like, but then she heard a sound.
Cries and cheers from everyone. This gave her hope newfound.
She limped closer and she saw, their looks of deep concern.
Teeth chattered, legs wobbled, but to finish she did yearn.
She pushed up close to the finish, but her body jarred.
And with the last of her strength, she boinked that peanut hard.
Her peanut rolled...                                        ...all the way.
She collapsed upon the ground and gasped out one last, “Yay.”

And thus the race was at its end.
They all flocked in to help their friend.
The crowd did roar with full support.
They all did love to watch this sport.

The Mountain named Matterhoof was humbled here this day.
Six peanuts were pushed up its slope, pushed up all the way.
Five mares stood tall. Five mares stood proud. Six mares did race today.
While the last one hugged the ground, they loved her anyway.