As the air grew cooler, the competition grew warmer. The Mayor had not needed to campaign so hard in years. The last time she'd been this worried about an election was when that upstart pegasus Bold Dare had come through with his cheesy “Dare to vote for Mayor Dare” slogan. She'd proven he was all big words and no substance during the debates that year when he couldn't find Manehattan on a map.
That wasn't going to work on Twilight. The bookworm was absurdly well-read, and the Mayor wasn't sure even a pony with her own vast political experience could hold her own if she forced it to a debate on cold hard facts. No, if the tan mare was going to keep her job, she was going to have to make this year's election about the hearts and minds of Ponyville's citizens.
The Mayor of Ponyville stretched her legs, letting out a steady breath as she eyed the long trail in front of her. Ponies gathered between the rows of red- and orange-leafed trees, getting ready to start the annual Running of the Leaves.
Twilight Sparkle approached, eyeing the number taped to the Mayor's flank curiously. “Miss Mayor, you're running today? Who's going to officiate the race?”
The Mayor put on a very professional smile. Twilight was a sweet young mare, but right now she was the enemy and the Mayor couldn't allow herself to get too friendly. “My intern is handling the official duties for today's race,” she said, nodding toward a red-maned pegasus with braces. The intern smiled broadly and waved her hooves. “I need to be seen getting my hooves dirty, doing my part with all the rest of Ponyville.”
Twilight waved back at the intern. “That's great! I just hope she's up to the challenge. It's a lot of responsibility.”
“She's a bright filly,” the Mayor said. “She'll do fine. Now I hope you'll excuse me, but I think the race is going to begin soon.” With that the tan pony trotted off, taking her position at the starting line.
Her legs began aching preemptively as she peered down the dirt road. Running had never really been her special talent, but a few more years than she cared to admit had passed since the last time she could have expected to make a run like this relatively painless. She sucked in a deep breath. This was for her constituents' benefit.
“Everypony to your marks,” called the Mayor's intern. The crowd of runners grew still with anticipation. Despite herself, the Mayor pawed at the ground eagerly.
“...Let the Running of the Leaves begin!” shouted the pegasus excitedly.
Everything burst into motion as the ponies took off down the trail. The ground rumbled with the passing of hooves, shaking the autumn leaves from the trees.
The Mayor found she had to fight her adrenaline down, backing away from the front of the pack so she could find a comfortable pace. “Easy now,” the Mayor said to herself, “I need to pace myself.”
“Did you say something, Miss Mayor?”
The Mayor reared in surprise as Twilight Sparkle trotted past her. Putting her head down, the tan mare built some speed until she caught up with the purple unicorn. “No, nothing at all,” she said, noting with some dismay that she was already starting to get winded.
Twilight continued jogging. “Oh, okay.”
A short distance of trail passed beneath the two of them before the Mayor spoke up again. “I hope you don't take any of my behavior this election season the wrong way, Twilight,” she said, a bit of panting leaking into her voice. “I was simply caught by surprise when I learned you would be running. I would hate for you to think I'm some power-hungry tyrant.”
Twilight shook her head. “Of course I don't think that. I've spent the last week reading up on your previous campaigns, and I can tell you have a deep love of democracy.”
“Thank you, Twilight. I--” The Mayor nearly stumbled. A lump rose in her throat. “You've been reading up on me?”
“Yes, and I've been learning a lot. The way you beat Wispy Billows in the runoff election was impressive. And then the way you turned the Great Hay Crisis into the centerpiece of your campaign?” Twilight took a breath. “Pure brilliance. It's given me lots of ideas for my own campaign.”
The Mayor gulped. “I thought you didn't want to run,” she said.
“I didn't at first,” Twilight said, “but reading about your career has really inspired me! I doubt I can beat somepony as experienced as you, but that's no reason not to give it my all.” Twilight and the Mayor passed a handful of ponies that had spent too much on the first half of the course and run out of steam. “I think it'll be a valuable learning experience!”
The Mayor smiled weakly as she struggled to keep up with the younger mare. If only it wasn't her own job on the line, she might have beamed with pride. However, as Twilight continued talking all she could hear were her own things in the office down at Town Hall putting themselves into boxes. She wondered if they would let her keep the chair.
With a start the Mayor realized that she recognized the layout of the course. They were nearing the finish line. She looked over at Twilight Sparkle, who had kept the same steady pace for the whole race. The Mayor, by contrast, felt like she could barely go on. Her lungs burned and her legs felt like they were full of sand.
No, she thought, forcing her hooves to keep moving. If the press got a picture of Twilight crossing the finish line just ahead of a ragged and bedraggled Mayor, it would be like throwing chum in a pool full of sharks. Squeezing every last bit that she had left, the Mayor took off at a mad gallop for the finish line.
She didn't dare turn to look, but the tan pony was certain she heard Twilight keeping perfect step with her, just beyond her vision. The Mayor grit her teeth; the checkered banner loomed just ahead. It was now or never. Closing her eyes, the Mayor dove for the finish line.
The Mayor found herself in a heap on the ground. She coughed as the dust clouds swirled around her. A blurry purple shape loomed over her.
“Wow, that was a great finish,” Twilight's voice came from the shape. “You took off so fast, I didn't even see you cross the line!” The purple shape walked off. “See you tomorrow at the debate!”
The tan earth pony felt something jab at her back from beneath her. She used her hooves to examine what it was. The Mayor of Ponyville whimpered as she beheld her now quite broken pair of eyeglasses.