At the starting line, Shining Armor was performing a last minute check on the pair of competing ponies. His horn glowed with energy as he was putting on the finishing touches.
"Is this really necessary?" Rainbow Dash grumbled, head low and ears pulled back with a bright pinkness to her cheeks. She looked back at the rope wrapped around her barrel, tying her wings to her side.
"This here is a race," Applejack said. "You may 'a' gotten away with usin' your wings yesterday, but this time you ain't flyin'. Win or lose, you're runnin' the race."
"Like it matters," Rainbow huffed, turning to glare at Applejack. "I could beat you even if you hobbled me."
"Okay," Shining said calmly, stepping between the pair. "Let's all keep calm here. Don't want to say anything too boastful or over the top, do we?"
The two mares shifted, looking past the stallion to glare at each other a moment longer. It made Shining Armor more than a little uncomfortable. He felt like he was caught between two predators (like a hawk and a lion), and anything he did very well might set off one or the other. At best, he would get shoved out of the way. At worst, he would be caught in the middle and end up getting it from both sides.
Since his horn was already glowing and he had his magic active, Shining started to get a shield spell ready. If something happened, he could just put it up around the pair. That way, no other ponies would get caught in it.
"Fine," Rainbow snapped, turning away. "Actions speak louder than words anyway." She started for the line. "I'll show you that I'm the fastest pony in Ponyville, with or without my wings."
"We'll just see about that," Applejack snapped back. She then turned away from Dash and started walking off in the opposite direction.
"Uhm... Applejack," Shining said gently. "The starting line is over there."
"Oh, right." Blushing, Applejack turned around and started in the right direction.
With a slight chuckle, Shining Armor started to walk away. While he did want to join the race, he had to keep track of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. A task that would be easier if he did not have to try and keep running along the track. Well... technically it would be easier on the track if he could keep up with them and they both kept close to each other, but that was unlikely.
As he walked away, Sonata Dusk appeared in front of him, causing Shining Armor to bump into her.
"Oh, sorry," Shining Armor said as he moved to walk past the mare.
"It's fine," Sonata said as she stepped in front of him again. "In fact, I was looking for you." Getting closer, she pressed against his chest. "I was thinking that maybe after the race we could get something to eat. Just you and me. The two of us. Alone. Together." She smiled and fluttered her eyelids.
"Uhm," Shining said as he stepped away. "As tempting as that is, I'm not entirely sure I'll be free after the race. I may have to go over the results to see who won first. Plus there's the matter of how my little sister is feeling after this since she's running as well. She may not be too happy with how she did or something."
"Well there's no need to do anything right after the race," Sonata replied. "I'm pretty much free all day today." Moving closer, she pressed her nose to his.
Shining Armor froze, not really sure what to do. This mare was invading his personal space, and touching him. The second part was the more confusing part. Not so much that she was, but how she was. Her nose was touching his. It felt weirdly intimate. He could feel himself blushing very hard.
"I'll keep that in mind," Shining Armor blurted out as he pulled away and started walking. There was something kind of odd about Sonata. He could not quite place his hoof on it, but something about her made him uncomfortable.
"Hello cutie."
Speaking of uncomfortable.
Crystal Heart stepped into view, smiling up at Shining Armor.
"How good to see you again," she said as she moved around him. "Are you entering the race as well?"
"No," Shining Armor replied, feeling himself get tense. "I'm... I'm... here more to watch. Two of my friends are competing against each other. Plus my sister is running as well."
"Aww," Crystal Heart whimpered out, sticking out her lower lip. "What a shame." She turned around, her back to him, then looked over her shoulder and smirked.
"I actually entered it myself," she said, "and it's my .... first time." She stretched out her back, lowering her front end and raising her backside, which she then gave a little wiggle before straightening up again. "I was sooo hoping for a little company on the run. Maybe a big, strong, smart stallion I can trust to... watch my back." She then gave a flick of her tail, the tip brushing against Shining Armor's nose.
"Ye-yes," Shining Armor managed to stutter out. "Well it's a nice back."
As soon as he realized what he had said, Shining Armor's eyes went wide as he slammed a hoof over his mouth. He could not believe that he had just said that. It had just slipped out. Why? Why would he say something like that?
"Well thank you for noticing," Crystal said with a smile. "Yours is quite nice as well."
Shining Armor was unsure how to respond to that.
"Thank you?"
"Just imagine," Crystal continued, stretching out one leg. "It's going to be shifting, and flexing as I run. Glistening with a light sweat and the warm autumn sun. Swaying back and... forth with each step. By the end, my entire body would be... hard and tense. Heart pounding, blood pumping, exhausted, but soooo... satisfied." She licked her lips.
The description created a very vivid and... interesting image in Shining Armor's mind. One that a different part of his anatomy was expressing quite a strong approval of. The thought of Crystal, stretched out... eyes closed... moaning...
"Well I have to get going," Crystal said, breaking Shining Armor's fantasy. "Need to get ready for the race and all. I will see you around after... Shining."
Something about the way that she had said his name sent a shiver down Shining Armor's spine. He watched her as she went, his eyes on her backside as he continued to think about what she had said earlier. There was also something about the way that she left that was bothering him. It was like she had suddenly gotten nervous and needed to get away.
"Hello, Shining Armor," a familiar voice said softly from behind him. Turning around, he found Princess Celestia, standing there with that subtle hint of a smile she normally had on her face.
That explained it. Shining Armor had spent most of his life around Celestia, so he was pretty used to her. However, most ponies were still very nervous around the princess, as he had witnessed himself. As such, it made sense that a pony would wish to keep from getting to close to one of the rulers of Equestria.
"Princess," Shining said, giving a slight bow. "You came to watch The Running of The Leaves?"
"Indeed," Princess Celestia answered with a smile. "I have attended a few before, but not as often as I would prefer. It is always nice to watch the ponies doing something they enjoy. Plus, from what I have heard, two of your friends are going to make it extra entertaining this year."
"Everypony seems interested in watching Applejack and Rainbow Dash race," Shining noted, looking around.
"Well something new is always exciting," Celestia stated. "Also, I have gathered that both are quite competitive and stubborn. As such, neither would be very willing to relent."
Shining Armor nodded. In the few months he had lived in Ponyville, he had seen how both of them could get when it came to doing something. Now that he thought about it, that seemed to be part of the problem. The two of them could be similar in such a way that neither wanted to back down, which led to situations like this.
"The race should be starting soon," Princess Celestia said. "Would you care to join us and watch?" She turned and motioned toward the crowd of spectators.
"Thank you," Shining Armor replied with a vow, "but I can't stay and watch from there. I need to keep an eye on Applejack and Rainbow Dash just in case."
"Understandable," Celestia said with a nod. "Best of luck, my student."
With that, the princess and stallion parted ways. Celestia made her way to an area where several guards were waiting, keeping a space open for her. Shining Armor made his way toward a different spot: a hill that was just before the first turn. That way he would at least be able to see the beginning for a while. Plus, it was high enough to let him look for another spot further along.
At the starting line, the ponies that were racing shifted, many of them looking ready to begin. A few were already running in place (which -- from what he had been told -- was a bad idea since they would wear themselves out sooner).
"Ponies!" the mayor shouted, raising a flag. "On your marks!" The ponies stopped running in place. "Get set!" Several lowered their heads, ears back and bodies tense.
Mayor Mare dropped the flag.
The race had begun.