Blaze the Pony Tale

by Wolven5


247. The Equestria Games - Part 3

"I can't believe that guy!"

A rose pink stallion with a dark scarlet mane and tail done up in a suave cut, his cutie-mark a volume symbol surrounded by sapphire sparkles, was pacing back and forth in front of the announcers box. The games had just started and in just a few minutes he had to step into the announcer's box to announce the first event.

"Except... I can't do my job without a co-commentator!" he reached up and mussed his mane in exasperation... right as Spike walked around the counter, on his way to go sit with Rarity and the CMC to watch the games. But due to a small accident with a spilled soda and a cotton candy machine the normal way was cut off while the staff cleaned up the mess. Ms. Harshwhinny had already left the young drake to see to her other duties.

"Are you alright?" Spike asked, noticing the stallion looking rather distressed.

"Oh I'm perfectly fine, I'm just worried that I may blow the biggest chance in my whole career because my ex-partner decided to take a job in Manehatten last minute and not tell me till a few minutes ago by letter!" The stallion had moved one from worried to full on panic-mode.

"What do you do, mister...?" Spike asked, eyeing the stallion much like he would Twilight when she was worried about something, like a missed letter to Celestia.

"Flare, Vibrant Flare," he answered, stopping to give his hoof a flourish wave. Spike eyed the stallion a bit more, suddenly seeing a semblance in his behavior to Rarity's.
"I have to handle the announcements and commentary in the announcer's box, which I was supposed to do with Loud, but he decided to abandon me!"

"I bet it could be a bit stressful having so many ponies listening to what you say. I mean, during the Iron Pony competition it was a little worrying to do but-" was all Spike said before Flare's grabbed the little drake with a smile. A smile that Spike would say rivaled the look on Eris's face before doing something chaotic.

"You'll do!" Flare cheered before rushing off with the drake in tow. Going a speed that could rival Pinkie Pie in her pre-party-planning inspiration. Before he knew it, Spike found himself in a make-up artist's chair with a large mirror in front of him that was surrounded with lights.

"Ladies, we need this one done up as of two minutes ago." Flare declared before disappearing from the room, and a few mares appeared almost out of nowhere with brushes and spritzers that made Spike gulp with worry.

They came down upon the hapless dragon like a school of sharks eager to feed, and set to work upon him with their powderpuffs and makeup brushes with fury. A cloud of makeup and perfume was soon dispersed from the area by Spike's coughing, and he was left regaining his composure after the sudden burst of cosmetic chaos. Now that his eyes and sinuses were no longer being violated by makeup particles, he could clearly see a magical recording screen being pointed in his and Flare's direction. The stallion had gathered a stack of papers, eager to receive help from Spike to get them all summarized.

"Dude, I didn't agree to this!" Spike protested with an annoyed edge in his tone.

"I know, but I'm a bit desperate, and I need your help now so I don't screw up my big chance!" Flare apologized before a mare behind them spoke up

"We come back in three, two..." She signaled with a movement of her hoof while counting down, following by mouthing one and pointing to Flare and Spike.

"Welcome back to the Equestrian Games!" Flare said with excitement that if Spike didn't see the stallion before, would have sworn that it was real. "I, Vibrant Flare have been joined by Spike the Dragon, as we cover the live broadcast of the Equestria Games! Do you have anything to say to our energetic viewers out there, Spike?"

"Uh-" Spike hesitated, being put on the spot before he could really 'ready' himself for this.

"Speechless, I know. I'm just the same as we all look forward to an amazing week of competition, sportsmanship, and glory!" Flare exclaimed, interrupting Spike before he could a word in edgewise.

And yet you keep on talking... Spike thought rolling his eyes as he sighed from being roped into another thing. In for a bit, in for a pound

"That's... right, Vibrant! But we should tell the spectators out there what the first event is going to be," Spike finally spoke up, mustering as much of an energetic tone as Vibrant Flare.

"That would be the Air Sprinting event. For those of you who don't know, the Equestria Games Air Sprint event is where each participating team has three racers each partake in one of three races back to back, and how well each teammate does in each race determines who wins the medals of this event," Flare explained as they watched as the first set of competitors began to take their assigned positions for the first race on the jumbotron, a recently developed invention relating to television, so that the spectators could have a better look of the racers before the event began.
"Personally, my bits are on the racers from Team Manehatten, particularly because of their teammate Mighty Boon. With the years of professional training under his build, he's a shoe-in for first place in his race."

"Well, my bits are on the racers of Ponyville." Spike countered with a smirk. "I've seen Thunderlane personally fly with Rainbow Dash and even outlast her with his natural stamina, Helia's sense of timing and execution in her flight patterns are spot-on, and Ditzy Doo never fails to surprise you!"

"Ah, going for the old hometown favorites I see," Vibrant chuckled with a smirk. "But let's check in with Prince Shining Armor down to the field as things get underway."

"Air Sprinters! Take your positions!" Shining Armor called out, and dozens of pegasi, griffons, and even a winged drake took their places on the track.

"Good luck, Ditzy Doo!" Helia waved from the sidelines to her and Thunderlane's teammate, and Ditzy waved back with a smile.

"Participating are the fifteen fliers from the five teams that qualified for this event," announced the voice of Vibrant Flare over the PA system, his voice reaching every corner of the stadium.
"They are... Team Manehatten, Team Stratusburg, Team Mt. Eyrie, Team Fillydelphia, and Team Ponyville!"

"Aaaand remember, game fans," said Spike with a wave of his finger and a snarky tone, "The racers who come in last during the first two races will be eliminated, along with their teams, so that in the final race, the last three teams will be scored based on which of their final racers comes in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd!"

"Alright, Ditzy, you can do this..." Ditzy whispered to herself as she stood ready, "As long as you don't come in last..."

"On your marks!"

The Air Sprinters raised their wings, bent their knees, the itching to take flight all but overwhelming...

"Get set..."

Ditzy wished she could see her husband and little muffin out in the crowd, but knowing they were there, watching her, and no doubt shouting as much encouragement as they could, it gave her the will to fly her hardest. She refused to let them down. She refused to let her team down. But most of all, she refused to let herself down...

"GO!!!"

The Air Sprinters launched themselves off the ground with all their might and flapped their wings!

"AAAAANNNND THEY'RE OFF!!" announced Vibrant Flare, "And it's Manehatten in first, followed by Fillydelphia, followed by Mt. Eyrie, followed by Stratusburg, and bringing up the rear is Ponyville!"

"Uh-oh! The sprinter for Ponyville better flap on it if she wants her team to make it on the next race!" Spike worried.

"Well, if she intends to make that happen, she'd better do it soon, `cuz they're coming to the first bend," Vibrant commentated, "and it looks like the Ponyville Sprinter is hugging the turn, and... Oh, tough luck, she's slipping behind and Manehatten contests the lead with Mt. Eyrie!"

"Ho-hooold your horses, Flare!" Spike cheered as he went on to describe, "The Ponyville Sprinter! She's picking up, she's catching up, is she...? YES! Ditzy Doo catches up with the sprinter from Stratusburg as they both begin to ride up the tail of the drake from Fillydelphia!"

"The sprinters are making the second stretch!" Vibrant went on, "The finish line is just around the next bend, but none of these sprinters are making it easy for each other! Ponyville, Stratusburg, and Fillydelphia are all practically neck-in-neck, daring each other to bring up the rear!"

"And it looks like Manehatten and Mt. Eyrie are still giving it their all to take first place!" Spike added.

"They've begun the final bend- Wait! There's something wrong...!" Vibrant's alarm filled the whole stadium with unease, "The Fillydelphia Drake! He looks like he's in pain!"

"DITZY DOO! LOOK OUT!!!" Spike screamed over the PA.

Despite her bad eye and blind spots, Ditzy saw the threat immediately and angled her wings as the drake, suffering from a massive wing cramp, slowed suddenly from the pain. She narrowly avoided hitting him with a skillful roll to the left, but the drag brought on by the impressive aerial maneuver permitted the sprinter from Stratusburg to overtake her. Not thinking about how she had been passed, Ditzy focused on her objective and pumped her wings at full speed, the air draining from her lungs, her heart pounding in her ribcage... all with the finish line just in sight!

"AND IT'S MANEHATTEN IN 1ST!!!!" Vibrant Flare declared, as the sprinters' faces and the places they came in were displayed on the jumbotron. "The game officials have made the call and while he gave it his all, I am afraid the drake and Team Fillydelphia have struck out!"

"That leaves the teams from Manehatten, Mt. Eyrie, Stratusburg, and Ponyville still in the game!" Spike clarified.


On the field, Ditzy was helped by her teammates to a fold-up chair that had been kindly provided by the game officials for the sprinters who'd just taken their lap.

"Great going, Ditzy!" Helia gave Ditzy a hug.
"You really held your own out there," agreed Thunderlane as he winged over a water bottle, which Ditzy guzzled down greedily to soothe her throat and replenish all the H2O her body had just expended.
"Th-thanks, guys..." Ditzy panted, still sounding a little down, "but... I came in last! Wh-which means... you guys have to work extra h-ha-harder for-"

"Don't sweat it, Ditz," Thunderlane got down to gaze up at Ditzy, smiling warmly, "You did your part and you did it well! We're not here for fame but to do our best and have fun while we're at it.S you go find your family. I bet they want to tell you face to face just how proud they are."

The thought of her hubby and her little muffin was enough to spur Ditzy up and smile at her teammates, "Give it your all, guys."

"You betcha," Helia giggled as she and Thunderlane watched Ditzy leave-

"Sprinters! The second race will begin in five minutes! Prepare yourselves!" called Shining Armor.


"It's only the first race of the first event, and already I'm so excited to see more," Vibrant Flare's voice sounded over the PA. "How `bout you, Spike?"

"Are you kidding?! This has got my scales shivering, and I can't wait to see the rest of the Games!" Spike laughed.

"Well, we'll have to wait a bit, my friend, as will all of you, as we take a short break," Vibrant spoke into the camera, "but stay tuned and don't change that channel!"

"AND IT'S HELIA OF PONYVILLE BY A MIIIILLLLEE!!!" Spike cheered over the PA system, as the crowd went wild!

Helia came to a skiddy landing, barely able to stay on her hooves, panting after a well flown race, "I... I won! I can't believe I came in first!"

"And with the air sprinter from Stratusburg bringing up the rear," sounded Vibrant Flare's voice, "that leaves Ponyville, Manehatten, and Mt. Eyrie's sprinters for the final lap! We're gonna take another short break before the last Air Sprint race begins, so hold onto your hooves!"

"Great flying, Helia, you should've been a Wonderbolt!" laughed the voice of Thunderlane, as Helia turned to see him hurry over to her, with a water bottle and towel.

Helia gratefully accepted both, soaking the towel and sighing with a wet and cool relief as she dabbed her face with it.
"Thanks Thundy... whoo! I'm gonna be feeling these wing-aches tomorrow, but... it was worth it! Now it's all up to you."

"I know," Thunderlane wracked his brain over the scoring based on how each teams' racers had placed, "technically by coming in last, Ditzy put Ponyville on the bottom score, but you coming in first evened us out! Manehatten came in first with Ditzy's race, and second for yours, while Mt. Eyrie was second and then third, so..."

"It's anypony's race now!" Helia concluded, and Thunderlane realized she was right.

"Sprinters! The last race will begin in two minutes!" Shining Armor announced, "Take your positions!"

"Well, this is it!" Thunderlane got psyched up, his brows furrowing, "I'm gonna give it my all!"

"We could ask for nothing less, break a hoof, Thundy," Helia raised a wing, Thunderlane doing the same and they high-winged, Helia tagging out to step aside and making room for Thunderlane to carry on the torch.

To victory, he vowed to himself as he and the last two sprinters, Mighty Boon of Manehatten and Doran of Mt. Eyrie, took their places at the starting line.
He took his position at the right of Mighty Boon, a dark indigo stallion with a physical build comparable to Big Mac or the pegasi of the Royal Guard. His wings where much larger then most ponies and with the odd gradient that left his primaries a snow white. Around his neck was a silver pendant that had something carved into it that matched his silver eyes. Standing at Mighty Boon's left was Doran as the were taking a few moments to stretch their wings.

Alright Thunder, you just have to give it your best, Thunderlane thought to himself as he got himself ready. If he was to be honest with everyone there, he was worried that he's going to mess up during the race. He was picturing how many things could go wrong. His wing could cramp and cause him to go into a tail spin and much worse. Even going as far as to thinking that Ponyville would shun him.

"Don't think about the wills and won'ts" came a voice beside, and Thunderlane looked to see Mighty Boon looking at him.

"What?" Thunderlane asked, a little confused.

"Your worried about what could happen during the race," he said calmly.

"That obvious?" Thunderlane asked with a slightly nervous chuckle.

"It happens to everypony." Mighty Boon said holding out a hoof to him. "Name's Mighty Boon, but you can just call me Boon for short, and you're Thunderlane, right?"

"Yeah." Thunderlane replied shaking Boon's hoof.

"Mind if I give you a little advice?"

"Sure."

"Don't think about the race, just think about your lane and clear your mind. It's only you and the sky. Don't think about the ponies watching, don't think about what will or won't happen. Just think on the here and now," Boon instructed with a calming tone and expression

"That's easier said, then done," sighed Thunderlane.

"Then just find your center," Doran suggested all of a sudden. They turned to see the young griffon look at the both of them.

"Everyone has a moment that they fondly remember. That when things seem hectic or out of control that they can just think of to get them back on track. Focus on that feeling, let it fill you with that feeling so nothing else can creep into that space."

"What's your name, stranger?" Boon asked with a smile.

"My name is Galador, son of Godric of the Knighthood of the Sky," he replied with a respectful nod.

"I've heard of your father, Galador," Boon said with a friendly smile, "and of the Sky Knights! If you're even half the flier he is, I'm looking forward to a great race with both of you here."

"As do I, but please just call me Doran," Doran smiled with a gleam of eagerness hidden in his eyes.

"This race is going to be interesting..." Boon raised a competitive brow and smirk.

"If I may ask, why help your opponents?" Thunderlane asked, a little curious.

"Can't have a fair race when I'm facing off with ponies or griffons wound up too tight. Where's the fun in that?" Boon gave a hearty laugh.

"I agree with Boon. If we are to do our homes and our teams proud, then we have to make sure we give it our all." Doran added.

They all had a smile on there faces as they heard the the loud speakers turn back on.

"Alright everyone it's time for our final aerial sprint race of the day. Who's going to come out on top?" Vibrant said with charisma just oozing from his voice.

"My bits are still on Ponyville," Spike said with such excitement in his voice you could hear how much fun he was having. "But this is still anyones game."

"Right you are, but let's take it down to Prince Shining Armor to get this last race underway." Vibrant said as the racers turned to see Shining clearing his voice.

"On your mark!"

Clear your mind, just think of that one moment. Thunderlane thought as he focused on just his lane. The rest of the racers and colosseum faded away in his mind he began to fall into that zone.

"Get set..."

Time felt like it had stopped for a few moments as the Mighty Boon cracked his neck and focused.

"Don't wait for the right time. Doran mentally ran through a mantra as they waited for the signal. This was an all or nothing race for all of them and they were ready to give it their all.

"GO!!!"

*Kra-BOOM*

Boon and Doran were stunned for a moment until they realized Thunderlane had taken the lead and launched themselves skyward to catch up.

"WHOOOAAAA!!! Thunderlane takes an explosive lead right off the starting line and now he's got a good start ahead of Boon and Doran!!" Vibrant was clearly blown, "What the wide-wide world of Equestria was that?!"

"That, Vibrant, was the Sonic Blastoff!" Spike answered, and murmurs among the spectators as familiarity spread amongst them until Spike confirmed their suspicions, "It's the signature move of former Wonderbolt Soarin, a complicated series of moves done almost entirely at once to launch the flier with the controlled burst of a sonic boom, not unlike that of the Sonic Rainboom!

"I tell ya, Thunderlane trained under Soarin like crazy to master this technique! But... for a pegasus who hasn't had the years of body-training to completely master it, the Sonic Blastoff can be a real double-edged sword!"

"Oh, that's right...!" Vibrant responded in dawning realization, "Game fans and dedicated fans of the Wonderbolts, just a reminder - The Sonic Blastoff isn't just difficult to master, it's difficult to handle! Without the years of training and the right development of body buildup, the Sonic Blastoff can have real consequences on the body as well as the energy it takes to pull it off!

"In other words, I hope Thunderlane has enough energy leftover just to finish his race!"

Yeah, no kidding! Thunderlane gritted his teeth through the throbbing pain in his hind legs and wings, and he feared he'd also gotten some whiplash from that Sonic Blastoff. He was in no small amount of pain, but right now he had a race to win!

He ignored the crowd, he ignored the commentary, he focused on the race; there was nothing but the race. His forelegs were extended, he kept his hind legs as steady as he could, painful as it was, and he flapped to gain as much wing-power as he could. He knew his limits, and he knew how close he was to overextending himself, and as he started making the first turn, he caught Boon and Doran catching up out the corner of his eye.

Having picked up some good speed, he resorted to gliding for a few moments to save even a momentary smidgen of energy. This allowed him to hear the flaps of his rivals' wings as they were coming around the bend almost right behind him. They made the first turn, Thunderlane barely keeping the lead, but they were only halfway through the lap!

Thunderlane had an advantage of being lighter than both his rivals but his disadvantage was the pain. He'd put too much into the Sonic Blastoff and now he was paying for it. Oh why didn't he heed Soarin's constant warnings about the technique?! Too much effort would make him pay, not enough effort would make him fail. However this race turned out, Thunderlane had a feeling he wouldn't be flying for a while.

But now they were coming for the next turn, and around it was the finish line!

Boon and Doran had caught up and it was taking every effort in him for Thunderlane to keep pace with them, and now it was anypony's race right now! The finish line was in sight! He refused to lose!!!

"And it appears to be a draw!!"

Thunderlane gave out and barely managed to land on his hooves but his agonized wings and body caused him to stumble and trip over himself a few times, and some of the spectators gasped!

"Somepony get a medic out here!" called Shining Armor.

"So what happened?!" Spike fretted as he and Vibrant shared a confused look, "Who won the race?!"

"It looked like a draw between all three of them," Vibrant answered hesitantly before somepony came into the announcer's box to give him a note. "Oh, this just in; the judges have made the call and now we'll have a closer look via replay on the jumbotron!"

All eyes turned to the jumbotron as footage played back the moments just before the racers completed the lap together. Then it froze from an aerial point of view, and everypony watched as the replay went in slow-motion, the three racers neck in neck, side by side, and right as they came up and over the finish line together...!

"Well, fillies and gentlecolts, the camera doesn't lie and the judges have confirmed it," Vibrant declared, "the winner of this race and the Air Sprint event is... THUNDERLANE OF TEAM PONYVILLE!!!!"

"Winner by a hair, YES!!!" Spike cheered as the crowd went wild.

Thunderlane was being loaded onto a gurney and he was still conscious enough to notice, So... I won!

"Excuse us, may we have a quick word?"

Thunderlane noticed Boon and Doran talking with the medics, and one of them said, "A quick word, he needs to be looked at right away."

Boon and Doran both nodded and were allowed to approach Thunderlane, the older pegasus saying, "Congratulations, Thunderlane, that was a race I won't forget anytime soon."

"Nor I," agreed Doran, "and that technique you used, a feat and skill worthy of the Sky Knights."

"Well, thanks, Doran, but..." Thunderlane groaned, his wings aching something fierce, "it's not my technique and I wasn't ready for it."

"Be that as it may, you still won, and you deserve to win," chuckled Boon before he sighed, "as the older generations get left behind, it makes way for the generations new. Again, Thunderlane, congrats and get well soon, because I look forward to seeing you fly with the Wonderbolts."

"Sirs, it's time to go," the medic prodded.

Boon and Doran made way and Thunderlane gave them a wave as he was led inside.

"What a race, what a sport! And it's far from over, fillies and gentlecolts!" announced Vibrant Flare.

"That's right, everypony, join us again after a quick break for more awesome sports and competitions yet to come here in the Equestria Games!" added Spike.

"Welcome back, sports fans, and the Equestria Games are off to a kicking start!" Vibrant announced.

"That's right, Flare, the Air Sprints? The Hurdle Dash? Even an old favorite, the Tug o' War! Kudos to Appleloosa for winning that one!" Spike added excitably. "These games are awesome! But not as awesome as the ponies playing them!"

"Which brings us to our next event," Vibrant spoke up, "a charmingly rustic version of an old classic, everypony, this is... the Hay Bale Toss!"

The crowd cheered on as the game officials set everything up and a stallion pulled in a wagonful of hay bales.

"A nod to the time-honored rodeo event itself, the Hay Bale Toss is one of the special events being featured at the Equestria Games this year," Vibrant commented.

"And nopony can Hay Bale Toss like the participants of this event," Spike added as the competitors all made their way out onto the field.

There were a total of seven competitors and each of them would get only one chance to win, and Applejack intended for that to be her as she took her place in the lineup. She was sixth in the lineup and saw her rivals were all burly strong stallions, most of them earth ponies, but one of them was in fact a minotaur, the seventh competitor standing right next to her. Like the rest of his species, he stood tall on two legs with an ape-like torso, arms and hands, all impressively muscled, and he had a proud pair of longhorns over his bovine head, and his fur was dirty white dappled black.

He noticed her looking at him and tipped his head in a greeting kind of way, "Good day for a little friendly competition, eh miss?"

"Sure is, Ah'm Applejack, representin' Team Ponyville," Applejack offered her hoof for a friendly shake, and the minotaur obliged, grasping it and giving it a firm shake.

"Officer Strong Arm, representing Team Minox," he smiled kindly.

"Officer Strong Arm? You th' law in yer town?" Applejack asked, her curiosity piqued.

"That I am, ma'am," Strong Arm nodded with a strong smirk, "Well, I'm a cop, at least. But I do pride myself in serving and protecting my community. Which is why I aim to make my hometown proud by winning this event."

"Same here," Applejack held out her hoof again, "May the best hay tosser win."

"Right back at ya, ma'am," chuckled Strong Arm when the PA system sounded again.

"The rules of this event are simple," Spike explained, "each competitor will be given a hay bale and they have to toss it as far as they can down the designated zone! There will be a quick pause between each toss for the games official to measure the distance. The competitor who throws his or her bale the furthest wins!"

"And each competitor has to wait for the signal from Shining Armor before they toss their bale," Vibrant added, "Anyone who ignores this rule will be automatically disqualified. Furthermore, if your hay bale breaks before it lands, then you're out."

Ah've got this in th' bag, Applejack thought, smirking with confidence.

"Up first, we've got quite a celebrity! Put your hooves together for Buffalo Bull from Dodge Junction!" Vibrant announced and various spectators cheered especially loud, including Cherry Jubilee up in the exclusive box.

Buffalo Bull, an older earth pony stallion and the owner and performer in his own traveling Wild West Show, stepped up to his hay bale. He looked to Shining Armor who gave the signal, and Bull took a deep breath before hoisting his bale onto his back. With years of training and experience, he bucked it hard and everypony watched as it flew a considerable distance. A game official hurried out, levitating a magic measuring tape, checked, and then called out, "15 YARDS, 8 INCHES!!"

Bull's fans, especially Cherry Jubilee, all gave him a happy applause as the ol' bronco bowed and phewed, muttering, "Not as young as Ah once was..."

"Up next we got... Cruger from Sirius!" Spike announced after getting the all-clear signal.

Stepping up to his hay bale was a sapient husky dog, not nearly as fearsome-looking as the Diamond Dogs that once pony-napped Rarity. Cruger gave off a determined look as he seized his hay bale by the twine, hefted it onto his shoulder... and HEAVED!! It soared through the air and landed noticeably further than Bull's bale, and everypony waited patiently as the official ran out to measure the distance.

"17 YARDS, 2 INCHES!!"

"And just like that, Cruger takes the lead, sorry about that, Buffalo Bull," commented Vibrant Flare.

Applejack wasn't worried, so far, and as the competition wore on, the pressure built up a little. Three of the competitors before her managed to toss their bales impressively far, but thankfully the fourth's bale broke mid-toss and he was disqualified. The fifth competitor, the earth pony right before Applejack, he fumbled his toss and didn't throw his bale far enough, but still. Applejack knew in order to win this, she had to toss her bale so far that no one else would be able to compare.

"Now we come to my good friend from Team Ponyville, Applejack!" Spike announced, and AJ smiled at the cheers her friends, teammates, and siblings sent her way. "Mark my words, Flare, there's nopony more cowgirl than this girl - AJ's taken part in lots of competitions in the rodeo circuit and nopony works hard like she does!"

"Well, let's see Applejack put your words to the test, Spike, `cuz it looks like she's about to start..." Vibrant responded with a hushing tone and silence befell the stadium.

Taking a deep breath as she approached her bale, Applejack took a moment to focus and sized her bale up. She knew her bales, the soft spots, the firm spots, how to keep it all together...

"YAH!!!" Applejack bucked that bale like she'd bucked an ex in the family jewels, and the whole crowd gasped to see that bale fly!

Thankfully, it held together, despite some pieces of hay flying free, and landed in a barely-whole heap, and Applejack clenched her flanks as she waited for the official to run up to her bale and make the call.

"23 YARDS, 35 INCHES!!!"

"WOWZA!! That's the farthest distance yet!" Vibrant Flare laughed over the PA, "Applejack of Team Ponyville was just one inch short of making a toss at a professionally athletic level!"

"Way to go AJ!!" Spike cheered, as did the whole crowd, Applejack waving appreciatively while panting from aftermath of her the physical exertion.

"So now that leaves our final competitor in the Hay Bale Toss, Strong Arm from Team Minox," Vibrant Flare brought up, "and the only way he can win this event is by throwing his bale even an inch farther than Applejack's distance!"

"Well, Strong Arm certainly looks impressive, let's see what he's got!" Spike said in an almost challenging sort of way.

Applejack stood with all the other competitors of the event, the lot of them watching as Strong Arm stepped up to his bale, and picked it up by its twine. He rolled his shoulders, working a crick out, before taking a moment to focus... He stepped back, grasping the twine of his bale with both hands, and then span!

He span and span, faster, and faster, and roared as he let it go!

Instead of going for a high arc-sort of toss, Strong Arm had thrown his bale straight like an arrow, and the bale seemed to soar over the ground, passing all the other distance markers... until finally it touched the ground and rolled! The force of the throw kept it rolling, and everyony held their breath as the distance between it and Applejack's marker closed.

And it came to a stop.

Well past Applejack's marker, and she felt her heart sink. The official yelling out the distance ("26 YARDS, 21 INCHES!!!") just added insult to injury, and Vibrant Flare unknowingly rubbed salt into the wound, "And there it is! The winner of the Hay Bale Toss event is STRONG ARM OF TEAM MINOX!!"

"Congratulations, Strong Arm," Spike said graciously but not as exuberantly as Vibrant.

Applejack hanged her head, feeling like crawling under a rock, as the familiar weight of failure bared down on her withers. This felt just like that time she'd gone off to compete in Equestria Rodeo Competition to try and win prize money for Ponyville. She didn't win a blue ribbon in any event and had been too ashamed to go home for fear of letting Ponyville down. Her friends had to track her all the way to Dodge Junction and badger her for the truth until she finally came clean.

She heard hoofsteps and looked up to see Strong Arm, smiling kindly at her as he offered his hand, "Great competition out there, Applejack. To be honest, I was afraid I wouldn't beat you!"

"Y- Th- What?!" Applejack flabbergasted, not understanding.

"When you bucked your hay bale, I actually cringed! I thought 'Glad I'm not on the receiving end of those hooves'," chuckled Strong Arm while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"What I'm saying is... You've got some serious kick in those hind legs of yours, and when I saw that, I realized how much I had to bring my A-game. That's really the farthest I've ever thrown anything! And I wouldn't have been able to do it if you hadn't motivated me."

"Really?" Applejack was starting not feel so sorry for herself.

"How could I lie to the Element of Honesty?" chuckled Strong Arm and he held out his hand again, "It was an honor to test myself against you, Applejack."

Applejack was a little confused but then she felt honored in an odd way. She smiled and accepted Strong Arm's gesture, the two of them sharing a respectful hand/hoofshake.

"With the Hay Bale Toss over, we're gonna take another break before we move onto the next event, sports fans," Vibrant Flare commented, Spike butting in, "DON'T GO ANYWHERE!!"