//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: The Running of the Leaves // Story: Rainbow is Magic S2: Apple Family Feud // by aceotaku //------------------------------// Mayor Filthy rich sighed as he heard the sounds of explosion and noise coming from the middle of the town. It was a sure sign the ‘guests’ had arrived in town, and he was dreading it. While he never met the minotaur, he had heard the same stories everypony else did about Iron Will, and the crazy things he and his company did. For one thing, The Princess is rumoured to have to permanently banned him from attending the Grand Galloping Gala after blowing a large portion of the castle during the festivities. The idea of having a man like that appear in his town was incredibly worrying, and it would be especially hard for a newly elected mayor like him to keep things in order. He sighed as he steeled himself and got up. Regardless of his concerns and the person he’d have to deal with, he had to lead the town and keep his citizens safe, or at least feeling safe. This was his job. Filthy rich got up from his desk and trotted out of his office to go speak with Iron Will personally. As he stepped out of the town hall and into the town square, his eyes were greeted by a crowd of ponies with a large, sunglasses clad minotaur standing the centre of town, gesticulating and hollering animatedly as a zebra mare rubbed the bridge of her snout with her hoof. Several other minotaurs were running around town, intruding into homes while carrying large square objects in their strong arms. “What the hay is going on here?” Filthy Rich exclaimed as calmly as he could manage, which he probably didn’t sell too well admittedly. The zebra mare turned to the stallion as he walked over. “Who might you be, sir?” “I am Filthy Rich, currently acting as this town’s mayor.” Flithy Rich replied. The mare nodded. “I am Zecora, I act as a representative of Iron Will Industries.” “HEY WHAT ABOUT ME!?” Iron Will cried out as he walked over. “THE COMPANY’S BLEEPING NAMED AFTER ME!” “Yes sir but your..presence does not go over well in public relations. Hence, why I must always act in your place or accompany you. We do not want another disaster like what happened at the Grand Galloping Gala, remember?” The minotaur nodded. “THAT’S FAIR!” Filthy Rich frowned, unamused. “Your company was merely supposed to be sponsoring this race, why are you two here, and having these...minotaurs barging into people’s homes? I assume they’re working for your company.” “Mayor Filthy Rich,” Zecora began, her eyes shifting to gaze at her clipboard, “that is a potentially libellous remark with potentially negative connotations. Yes they are our employees, but you must not assume such merely because they share the same race as our company’s CEO and founder. You’d be liable to be labelled a Hurricanist.” Filthy Rich sputtered in shame. “M-my apologies I didn’t mean...a-anyway that’s beside the point!” Zecora nodded. “Indeed, those men are merely giving every home in this town a free prototype of our company’s newest invention. Through this invention ponies everywhere will be able to watch the race from the comfort of their homes. Right now, all the other major cities, towns and villages in Ponyville should have their own sets to watch the race from.” Rarity blinked, grinned wide as she stood nearby still. “Whoah! You mean EVERYPONY is gonna see us!?” “Yes, only if by ‘everypony’ you mean ‘a large majority of Equestria’s major population centers’.” “Awesome!” The unicorn cheered. “That means even the Wonderbolts will be watching us!” “The probability is high yes.” Zecora noted as she looked over her clipboard. Rarity beamed. “ooohhh i can’t wwait for the race to begin!” She skittered in place excitedly. “WHY WAIT!?” Iron Will shouted out. “EVERYONE GET TO THE STARTING LINE! LET’S GET THIS RACE STARTED WITH!” “Sir, you can’t just decide that.” Zecora reprimanded. “That’s right!” Filthy Rich added. “As Mayor I’m in charge of the order around here, you can’t just go off making such decisions on your own!” Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh come on! Everypony’s here anyway, we might as well!” A mare trotted over from the IWI caravans parked nearby in the square, smirking cockily, her white hair styled in a short pageboy style, wearing rose coloured sunglasses and a black and white racing body suit. “I concur. Many ponies are going to be vaiting for zis historic event, and it would do us no good to keep zem vaiting. Besides, we’d only be early by a few minutes anyvay.” Rarity stared, wide eyed, stammering as she spoke. “Ph-ph-Photo Finish!” The pro-racer chuckled, striking a confident pose. “Zat’s my name, and who might you be?” “R-Rarity ma’am!” The unicorn saluted. “I’m gonna compete!” “Oh? I look forward to seeing your mettle, your eagerness is quite promising.” Photo Finish grinned. “Zis town is so very interesting, and if it’s ponies are anyzing like you, zen zey are even more interesting.” “Hey wait a second!” Macinotsh called out as she trotted over. “You can’t just start things off, not all of us are ready, at least give us time to prepare!” Photo Finish frowned. “What is zere to prepare?” “Well a lot of us still need some time to train our bodies, and get everyone together, and...” “Und give yourselves an unfair advantage? Some sort of method to CHEAT!?” Photo Finish declared, her gaze accusatory and angry. “wh-wha?” Macintosh blinked, taken aback. “Cheat? Why would anypony...?” “Oh trust me, it doesn’t matter how prestigious ze event or vhat its purpose is, if a pony vants to make a name for zemselves and zinks the event in question vill get zem zat, zey vill do anyzing to get it!” PHot Finish said, looking angry. “I have had much experience viz such ponies, and I doubt it vill be the last! The Running of ze Leaves is an important event for Equestria, but knowing that almost all of Equestria vill be vatching? Who knows what some ponies vill do knowing zat.” “N-nopony here would do that!” Macintosh retorted. “Hear, hear!” Filthy Rich added. “Ponyville and its citizens are fine examples of how Equestrians should act! Many ponies here are upstanding citizens and would never think of doing anything untoward or otherwise ruin the good name of the town!” “Maybe some yes, but you can’t guarantee ezeryone vill.” Photo Finish said. “After all, did not Grand Heist herself come from zis town? Who’s to say zhere isn’t anypony else here who is like that, if not as...notorious or dangerous.” Macintosh growled as several other ponies in the crowd glared. “H-how dare you accuse our town of...of being a hive of scum and villainy!” Photo Finish moved in closer to the mare’s face. “I am not. I am merely pointing out how you can’t guarantee nopony here vould cheat. You cannot possibly know everypony here, and neither I or ze people of IWI know zem. Forgive me if we cannot risk such a historic moment of Equestrian history for ze sake of you getting ‘prepared’. I doubt anypony competing need much prep time anyvay.” “That’s not the point you...!” “I’VE HAD IT WITH THIS SHOUTING AND ARGUING!” Iron Wil shouted. “WE’RE STARTING THIS THING! EVERYPONY, TO THE STARTING POSITION!” A large explosion burst in front of him, causing almost everyon aside from zecora and Photo Finish to wince and cover their eyes. “WHOO! TELEPORTATIOOOOOOOON!” Zecora trotted towards Photo Finish as she lead the mare to where the starting line would be. As she rubbed her eyes, Macintosh growled. “Razzafrazzin high and mighty jerk...show her...” Rarity grinned and trotted eagerly towards Sweet Apple Acres along with the other racers. “This is gonna be a blast!” --------------------- Granny Smith,Hard Cider and Juicy Apple sat in their home with the estranged Rotten Bad Apple, Granny and Rotten sitting on a couch together as the husband and wife sat opposite them on a machine couch, as they did so a minotaur barged into the room suddenly. “W-what the hay!?” Hard Cider exclaimed, his wife leaping to his side in surprise. Rotten and Granny Smith simply calmly drank some tea together, barely paying the Minotaur any mind. The Minotaur set down a large, square device housing a large, round crystal in front of them and pressed a button, the crystal activating and showing a shot of the starting line for the Running of the Leaves, the picture quality as clear and sharp as if they were right there in person (or at least, that’s how they perceived it in that brief moment with the new technology). “W-what in tarnation!?” Juicy Apple asked in bewilderment. “Prototype testing on the orders of Iron Will Industries, ma’am.” The Minotaur said with a slight accent. “You will be able to watch the race from the comfort of your own home. No extra charge.” He saluted and pranced out of the building as suddenly as he had entered. “W-wha...?” Hard Cider sputtered, still trying to make sense of it all, before gasping. “Aw, horseapples, they’re startin’ the race...!” He got up to leave and watch the race personally, only for a cane to quickly slap him back down. “Now Cider, the race is important, but we still got yer brother-in-law here in who knows how long! It’s rude to our guest ta just go gallavantin’ off all willy nilly” Granny scolded. “You or mah daughter bein’ there ain’t gonna change much, an’ this doohickie seems ta be lettin’ us be able to watch anyway, so it’ll be fine.” “But Ma...” “Besides,” Rotten added, “yer just gonna unduly distract Macintosh if ya get there. Ya didn’t exactly put her in a good mood today, as Ah recall.” “Noone asked your opinion, Rotten!” Hard Cider declared, pointing a hoof, only to get another slap from Granny’s cane. “Settle down, Cider! Ah ain’t havin’ a negative attitude here!” Granny said. “Just sit quietly with yer wife an’ we can all discuss things as a family while we watch th’ race. Fair?” “Ah...” Hard Cider slumped. “Yes, Granny.” “Yes Ma...” Juicy added. Granny smiled. “Good. Now, who wants more tea?” “Oh Ah’d be delighted to have a bit more tea, Ma.” Rotten replied, smiling warmly. “An’ maybe some of yer apple fritters, from back when Ah was a young’un.” Granny grinned wide. “That does take me back....sure, anythin’ fer mah son.” Rotten smiled and sat back as granny got up to prepare the treats, Rotten’s eyes falling on the box before him. The plan was working out even better in his favour than he had thought, and it was all thanks to the surprise left for them by IWI. ------------------------------ The starting line for the Running of Leaves was situated not too far from the Apple Farm, set up near one of their oldest apple tree groves. As the racers approached, several Ponyvillians stood at the sidelines to watch. Among the racers were Photo finish, standing confidently in her trademark racing suit; Rarity, who grinned excitedly, wearing a bicycle helmet atop her head; Macintosh, who glanced balefully at Photo Finish before turning to the track ahead of her; the young buffalo Little Strongheart, who waved at her girlfriend Apple Bloom who was standing among the spectators; Twilight Sparkle smiled at her family from afar as she stood at the farthest end of the grouping flanked by numerous other ponies, most of them earth ponies, stood ready to run with everyone else. Spike nudged Rainbow’s side as the pair of them watched from the sidelines. “You sure you don’t wanna join in too, Rainbow?” “Pass.” The Pegasus replied. “My interest in racing has long ago subsided, and they have plenty of ponies ready for it anyway. I’m fine just watching and cheering our friends on.” “Ah do agree, darling.” Applejack said, trotting closer to the Pegasus. “Ah’m just not one built for such laborious endeavours, and Ah don’t have much interest in it myself. Ah’m just here to cheer on mah sister and one of my helpful assistants.” She looked aside nervously. “And...Apple Bloom needed a chaperone.” She pointed a hoof to the filly in question, who was leaning over a fence that separated the crowd from the race track, the filly cheering and yelling encouragement towards Strongheart. Rarity blinked and called out to Applejack. “Hey AJ! I almost forgot to tell you! Your uncle’s visiting! He’s at your family’s farm talking to your parents and grandma!” “Wait, WHAT!?” Applejack blinked with a sharp gasp, before giving Apple Bloom a quick look. “Apple Bloom you’ll be fine here, right?” Apple Bloom looked to her older sister, having been paying too much attention to her girlfriend to have heard Rarity’s shout. “Huh? Yeah big sis, AH ain’t goin’ nowhere.” “Good.” The earth pony turned to Rainbow Dash. “You keep an eye her, make sure she doesn’t get in trouble or do anything foolish. I need to head off and find out what that rapscallion’s up to...” Rainbow nodded. “Hey, I know that feeling AJ, whatever’s going on, we’ll back you up if something happens. And we got the Royal Guard around too.” “Ah know, thank you, but even so Ah do feel Ah need to see to this personally first.” Applejack steeled herself as she trotted off, leaving the sidelines to head to the farm. Just to the side nearest the starting line, a large purple podium was set up with numerous microphones placed on its countertop. Standing behind it were Iron Will, Zecora and Filthy Rich, the last of whom began to speak, his voice broadcasted by the microphones for everyone to hear clearly. “The Running of the Leaves is perhaps one of Equestria’s most popular events, and one of its more important.” The Ponyville Mayor said, his voice calm, solemn and serious. “In our world as time passes things change. Before winter comes there comes fall, and that time is marked by the leaves of trees changing from bright green to soft browns and vibrants oranges, symbolising a time of quietness, rest and preparation for the winter. The Running of the Leaves is how this change is implemented: a great many ponies running at once across a specific route will generate magic that spreads throughout Equestria, causing the leaves to change colour. Each year the race rotates to a different place to be held in, but it began here in Ponyville, and this year shall it happen again. This race holds no prize, no reward for doing well, so please remember that as you run across Equestria and herald the season of change, and remember that regardless you should put your all into it. Let your drive fuel the magic you generate with your opponents, and remember that on this one day all of Equestria will be watching. Good luck, my fellow Ponyvillians, and those visiting from outside.” Zecora stood, opening her mouth to speak...only for Iron Will to jump up and GET RAAAAACIIIIING!” With that, a loud explosion.....exploded from behind him and the various racers yelped and started running off, a few tripping over themselves from the suddenness and the noise. At the lead were Photo Finish and Macintosh, neck and neck, while Rarity ran over to them, Twilight following not too far behind, Strongheart following Twiligth and several ponies behind them grunting and trading positions as they ran, many of thm not nearly as coordinated. Zecora groaned and spoke into a microphone. “Using our experimental technology, we have set up several birds equipped with viewing crystals so our viewers at home can watch the race, and we the judges shall watch alongside you so we can fairly judge a winner, as well as keep an eye out for any potential problems that may occur, what with our racers being worryingly close to the Everfree Forest.” Upon seeing a question glance from the Mayor Zecora added, “It’s always best to be ready for everything, especially the things we don’t like to think about.” Out on the track, Photo Finish admired the scenery as she ran, smiling to herself while muttering under her breath. “Ponyville is so interesting...I need to visit zese country towns more often.” Macintosh grunted, pulling in close to the pro racer. “Y-you are not going to win!” The Pegasus declared, panting. “I-I’ll show you the pride of Ponyville!” Photo Finish grinned at her. “Good! You are showing a lot of promise!” Rarity soon dashed past in between the pair of them, grinning widely. “Yeah! I overtook Photo Finish! I’m gonna beat her and show the Wonderbolts how awesome I am!” Photo Finish smirked. “Oh-hohoho~ another challenger! Excellent! I’ll really have to up my game!” Suddenly with a burst of speed the racer ran fast enough to cause what seemed to the casual observer to be a sonic boom, running past Rarity and then some, leaving several metres between them. “Oh no you don’t!” Macintosh grunted and dashed after her, while Rarity grinned and followed along, the pair running neck and neck as they steadily tried to catch up to the pro racer. Twilight panted and slowed her pace, shaking her head. “Those girls need to learn to pace themselves or they’ll wear themselves out before the race is over.” She levitated a water bottle that was secured to her side from its holster to her lips, taking a swig before setting back in place. Eventually the racers in the lead were the first to clear the boundaries of the city limits, greeted by a large mountain far in the distance and closer around stood many hills and small valleys. As Photo marvelled and smiled at the sights she easily ran ahead, Macintosh and Rarity panting as they struggled to keep up, already wearing themselves out just from the effort, all three spying a large sign ahead that pointed them to turn right, pointing directly to the massive mountain, and the three obediently followed it, leading the direction the rest of the racers followed. As they ran past one of the larger hills and entered what seemed to be quickly becoming a large quarry, green grass giving way to harsh stone and hard earth, something charged out from its hiding place in the shadows, swerving to stick itself to the side before moving behind Little Strongheart, who had caught up to Twilight. The racers running from behind gasped in confusion at the sight, only to grow more surprises as several larger wagons pulled in from the sides, surrounding them all and stopping them from attempting to escape, with Strongheart, Macintosh, Twilight, Rarity and Photo Finish cut off from the rest. Twilight looked behind herself, gasping at the sight. The lead caravan was a large affair, made of jet black oak and lacking wheels, causing it to grind nosily into the earth and create large gashes as it was pulled along via thick, long chains that were tied to a pair of absolutely massive alligators half the size of an Ursa Minor. Sitting atop the caravan was the sneering Worm-Eaten Bad Apple, who looked over the ponies (and buffalo) before him while he played on a banjo, not holding the chains holding the alligators at all. “Howdy there!” He called out. “’member me!?” The ponies looked up at him, their attention drawn from his explanation, and Rarity called out to him. “Actually, no not really!” “Never seen you before today.” Photo Finish added. Macitosh gasped. “Worm-Eaten!? Don’t tell me you got bail too!? What are you doign here!? You’re ruining everything!” “That’s kinda the point, Cuz.” Worm-Eaten responded, spitting to his side as he played a harsher tune on his banjo. At that, the alligators charged forward, snapping at the ponies. Twilight frowned, looking behind herself as she kicked at an alligator’s snout as it came close, making it yelp in pain and back away from her, however the mare had to leap out of the way as the second creature snapped at her a second later. Macintosh snarled at her cousin. “Will you Bad Apples go away!? We’re busy with an important race here, you jerks!” Worm-Eaten chuckled as he and the other bad apples corralled the racers towards the large mountain looming ever closer and closer ahead. “But ain’t this perfect? Sure, some folks not involved are gettin’ pushed into this, which sucks, but we got all Equestria watchin’ and so many of our hated enemies in one basket! It’d be a SHAME if we didn’t took advantage of this opportunity!” “And just vhere are you taking us!?” Photo Finished called out venomously. “I svear you lot shall pay for interrupting ze sanctity of zis race!” “Yap yap yap!” Worm-Eaten gestured his hoof in a ‘talking’ motion. “Less talkin’ more runnin’! We got a ron-day-voo to uphold!” -------------------------------- Granny gaped in shock at the screen as she entered the room, seeing several caravans leading the racers off the track. “What in tarnation is goin’ on...?” The elderly mare muttered. Rotten Bad Apple smirked as he got up and trotted to his mother. “Ma...Ah think it’s time we had a little...discussion.”