All is fair in love
In Ponyville, there were very few ponies that loved both work and a tender and clueless gray pegasus with disparate eyes, blond mane, and one of the biggest hearts that any pony could know: Derpy Hooves. Unlike many other ponies, it was not that she was a very skilled mare in a specific job. In fact, one could argue that she was one of the least skilled ponies to do her job. Still though, she loved to work, whatever the job. The act of working made her feel useful and valuable, in order to make up for the innate clumsiness with which fate had endowed her at birth.
Since Derpy had no mail to deliver today, she decided to meet with 'the weather patrol,' the team that was responsible for controlling the climate of Ponyville and driving away the rebel clouds that occasionally drifted in from the Everfree Forest.
It took Derpy a bit to find her pegasus friends, four mares and a colt. For some reason, they were standing on a cloud on the outskirts of town, all peeking at the edge of the cloud and looking to the ground.
"Hi, everyone!" Derpy cheerfully greeted when she reached the cloud where the other pegasi were.
"Hi Derpy!" greeted Cloud Kicker, a pegasus with pale purple fur and a blond mane. "Don't you have another piano to throw away?" Cloud Kicker scoffed, remembering the disaster that had occurred when Derpy almost dropped a piano on Dusk Shine when they both helped in a move.
"Nope!" Derpy replied with a smile, knowing that a smile was the best way to respond to a mockery. "What’cha guys looking at?" She added, peering in the cloud to see what everyone was watching.
Seeing where everyone was looking, Derpy saw that under them was Rainbow Dash, flying at ground level at full speed between some trees that already had their brown leaves due to the season.
"What’s Rainbow Dash doing?" Derpy asked curiously.
"Don't you remember? Tomorrow is the annual Running of the Leaves, that's why she's training." Sprinkle Medley answered, another mare of the weather patrol, with aquamarine green fur and green mane. "But we still don't know why she’s training so hard."
"I say she’s trying to break her own personal record. Typical of her." Thunderlane added, the only colt in the group.
"It has to be something else... I say she’s learning the course by heart so that she could close her eyes and make the race more interesting for her." Sassaflash replied, a pegasus with cyan fur and a purple mane.
"Surely, someone promised her some prize if she won again." Cloud Chaser added, another pegasus present.
"Maybe her crush will see her compete and wants to make sure she'll win!" Derpy added with a big smile.
At Derpy's comment, everyone stared at her for a second and then burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! As if that would happen! Haha!" Cloud Kicker laughed.
"Can you imagine Rainbow Dash in love!? Haha! That's really just Derpy's imagination!" Sassaflash laughed next to the others, while Derpy only put on a pouty face.
"I think it's time to stop speculating and just ask her.” Thunderlane added, jumping from the cloud to descend, followed by the other mares.
Seeing the pegasi descending down, Rainbow Dash halted from her practice and landed on the ground.
"What are you guys doing here?" Rainbow Dash asked, a little annoyed at being surprised.
"We just wanted to know what our captain was doing out here." Cloud Chaser said with a smile, using the 'captain' with Rainbow Dash as a form of affection and respect since she was the fastest of all and the undisputed leader of the pegasi when something had to be organized.
"Just... stretching my wings for a while..." Rainbow Dash replied, scratching her head and looking away, not wanting to say what she was really doing.
"You sure? It seemed as if you were training for the annual Running of the Leaves." Sassaflash said, looking at Rainbow Dash with a questioning look.
"Of course not! W-Why would I be training for that silly race? Hehe..." Rainbow Dash replied nervously.
"Who knows, maybe you're training to win a date with your crush, huh? Hahaha!" Cloud Kicker said, laughing and punching Derpy's elbow, remembering the absurd words that the clueless gray pegasus had said a few seconds ago, making the other pegasus laugh too.
"Who told you!?" Rainbow Dash shouted, scared that she had been discovered.
The pegasi stared at her in silence, their eyes wide open and amazed at what Rainbow Dash had just said. It was then that Rainbow Dash realized that she had reacted without thinking and that, in reality, her companions did not seem to know the truth.
"You... Are you going to have a date if you win the race?" Thunderlane asked, looking shocked and confused.
"O-Of course not... It's... it's just... that my friends are going to compete for that." Rainbow Dash replied, totally nervous while coming up with a lie. "You know, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy. Dusk said he had some extra money and would invite the one who wins the race to dinner... But that's not why I'm going to compete! Not me, I'm interested in that silly bet! "
"Oh, I see." Thunderlane said with a slight sigh of relief as the other pegasi smiled at each other at the thought of how dumb they had been to misunderstand Rainbow Dash's words.
While her fellow weather patrol swallowed her lie, Rainbow Dash smiled proudly to keep her secret hidden.
"Then why are you practicing so much?" Derpy asked suddenly, with her classic innocence.
"Uh!? I... This... Uh..." Rainbow Dash replied nervously again, cursing Derpy for continuingly asking questions. "It's... It's because the others made fun of the pegasi!" It was the first lie off the top of her head that Rainbow Dash said to quickly get out of the mess she was in.
"They made fun of the pegasi?" The other pegasus asked in unison, all with confused looks.
"Yeah! That's it! My friends made fun of the pegasi." Rainbow Dash replied as his mind worked a thousand per second to keep his lie credible. "They said that they only fly, fooling around all day, don't do their jobs well, and that they shouldn't compete in the annual Running of the Leaves!"
"Did they say that?" Cloud Chaser asked with a doubtful look. "Even Fluttershy?"
"Especially Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash responded quickly with a look of total security.
"But she's a pegasus too." Cloud Chaser added.
"Uh?" Rainbow Dash said, opening her eyes wide and realizing her mistake. "Oh! N-No, it's not that. It's just what... The weather patrol! I didn't mean all the pegasi, they meant only the weather patrol!" Rainbow Dash quickly added nervous.
"They said we don't do our job well?" Sprinkle Medley asked, looking disgusted.
"Yeah! They said a lot of bad things about the weather patrol. That's why I was practicing so that I could win in the race and rub it in their faces." Rainbow Dash responded quickly, proud of her little lie. "I know that with my speed, I can easily win the race, but I don't want to leave anything to chance, I can't fail! I gotta win at all costs!" Rainbow Dash added with a determined look.
After Rainbow Dash finished speaking, the other pegasus looked at each other, huddled, and began to whisper among themselves, until suddenly everyone stopped muttering and turned to look at Rainbow Dash.
"Maybe we could help you with that..." Cloud Kicker said as she and the other weather patrol pegasus smiled mischievously.
The annual Running of the Leaves was a traditional race that took place in the main rural villages of Equestria. It’s said that without the race, the leaves on the trees would not fall, which obviously was something that had to be done before unpacking the winter. In the case of Ponyville, a town with many forests around it, the race consisted of an extensive circuit around the entire town, going up and down hills, starting from the town's fountain, and ending in the same place.
Because her house was far from the center of town, Applejack was the last to reach the meeting point where the race would begin. She consciously came walking very slowly, deciding not to spend a bit of extra energy before starting the great race. After all, there was a lot at stake.
Applejack participated every year in the annual Running of the Leaves because as a good farmer, she felt responsible for helping to take care of the trees of her town. However, this was not so for most of the other ponies of the town, who attended her most more for considering it a civic duty than for pleasure. That was why Applejack was so surprised to get to the center of town and see that unlike the previous years, there was a huge turnout this time, almost all with their respective competitor numbers stuck on their flanks. In addition to that large number of participants, the other thing that drew Applejack’s attention was that almost all of them were mares.
"You never participated in this race before, but it wasn’t hard to guess that you would attend it." Applejack said as she approached Rarity and Fluttershy, who were already at the starting line. "Still, I'm surprised that there are so many other ponies in addition to you two."
"I don't know why this is so full of ponies." Rarity responded by greeting her friend. "And as for us, well, having a date with Dusk is an opportunity we can't waste.” Rarity added as Fluttershy looked down with a smile and blushed.
"And where are Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie?" Applejack asked, looking everywhere.
"Looks like Pinkie Pie won't compete.” Fluttershy replied, pointing to the side of the runway, where there was a hot air balloon at ground level.
Applejack narrowed her eyes to see better, and there she noticed that Pinkie Pie was above the basket of the balloon, playing with a megaphone while Spike was beside her, unleashing sandbags to prepare the balloon flight.
"More ponies came than I expected. It'll be fun to be the official announcer of the event!" Pinkie Pie said, turning and speaking through the megaphone next to Spike's ear. "Hurrah Team Balloon!"
"Hng! I still think we should have a better name." Spike muttered after being stunned by the noise of the megaphone and moving it away from his ear.
"Hmm... What do you think about Team Pink Cloud!?" Pinkie Pie said animatedly.
"Nah… how about Team Dragon?" Spike said, unleashing the last bag of sand, causing the balloon to begin to rise next to him and Pinkie Pie.
"And how about Team Blizzard?" Pinkie Pie said.
And so the hot air balloon went up while Pinkie Pie and Spike kept arguing about the perfect name for their team of announcer of the event.
"And what about Rainbow Dash?" Applejack asked after losing sight of Pinkie Pie.
"I'm here." Rainbow Dash replied from behind Applejack, making the latter turn to see her.
Rainbow Dash came flying very slowly at floor level, flying on her back, with her front legs crossed under her head, her eyes closed and a smile on her face. Her entire presence indicated that she was totally relaxed. She then landed in front of her friends and slowly stretched her legs and wings.
"Why so relaxed?" Applejack asked a little annoyed at the arrogant attitude of her friend.
"Well, let's just say I already know who’ll win." Rainbow Dash replied, smiling full of confidence.
"Why so sure? I've arrived before you in previous years." Applejack said, squinting.
"I’ve never flown the race at full speed before, I always just threw away the leaves on the trees. But today it'll be different. Nobody beats me at speed, and you know it!" Rainbow Dash said with a smug smile as she looked at her friends. "Don't feel bad, it's not the worst thing in the world to be the second."
Faced with Rainbow Dash's mockery, Applejack only pursed her lips in annoyance, not wanting to admit that what her friend was saying was very true, after all, Rainbow Dash was extremely fast. But still, they were all competing, all with the secret hope of the miracle that they could defeat their fast friend.
Suddenly the crowd began to turn and shut up. The mayor of Ponyville, Mayor Mare, had gone up to a small stage next to the starting line, ready to start the race.
"Fillies and gentlecolts! It is a joy to welcome everyone to a new edition of our traditional annual Running of the Leaves!" The mayor said, greeting everyone with a big smile, causing the public's joyful uproar. "It is a pleasant surprise for me to see the large number of ponies that will participate this year. I think thanks to that, we can finally make a change as our traditions dictate!"
Hearing the latter, many ponies made a face of doubt and confusion, especially the younger ones.
"Excuse me, Mayor, what do you mean by making a change according to traditions?" A mare asked from the audience.
"Well, as you know, the true objective of the race is to shake the leaves from the trees with the rumble of the hooves of the ponies that gallop around them. However, given the low turnout of the last few years, we have needed the help of the flight of the pegasi to finish shaking away all the last of autumn leaves." The Mayor explained. "But given a large number of ponies participating this year, we'll return to the traditional race of the leaves and give the honor of the change of season to the earth ponies. It'll be they who will run and shake the leaves on their way with the gallop on their strong hooves!"
As soon as the mayor finished speaking, there was chaos among the public. The pegasi and unicorns, who were a minority among the participants, began to claim that this was not fair, while the ground ponies began using the mayor's argument as an excuse to get some competitors out of the competition, saying that they must respect the traditions. The effect of the latter couldn’t be better reflected than in the group of friends present, where Rarity, Fluttershy, and mainly Rainbow Dash, had their faces distorted by the disappointment of not being able to participate, while Applejack kept a huge smile.
"No, no! It's not fair! IT'S NOT FAIR!" Rainbow Dash shouted, clenching her teeth, with a look of helplessness and frustration. After having planned so much for that race, everything was now going to waste by a silly tradition.
"I don't think it's very fair either." Suddenly said a voice, soft, elegant and of great volume, a voice that gave respect to just listen to it.
Hearing that voice, all the ponies fell silent and turned again, then they all opened their eyes wide as they recognized who that voice belonged to.
"Princess Celestia!" They said, all the ponies surprised to see the haughty alicorn walking where they were. Then one by one, they bowed as the princess passed by them.
The princess came to the platform where the mayor was and looked at her, smiling.
"Sorry for interrupting you, but could I say a few words?" The princess asked kindly, waiting for the mayor to give her permission before going on stage.
"O-Of course!" The mayor said immediately, stepping aside and feeling honored that the princess asked her permission.
"Princess! What are you doing here!?" Dusk Shine asked suddenly, being the only one who seemed to move freely in the face of the imposing presence of the Princess of the Sun. Then he ran to where the princess was just before she took the stage.
"Fall is one of my favorite seasons, so I decided to observe the beautiful landscape and also take advantage of greeting my dear student.” Celestia responded with a sweet smile, then looking sideways at the friends of Dusk Shine present among the audience. "Besides, I was very interested to see how this race will end.” Celestia added with a mischievous smile, remembering how Dusk had written to him in detail that he and his friends would have a little competition, and what would be the prize for the mare that won.
At that moment, Dusk looked towards the place from where the princess had appeared and then made a doubtful face when he saw that the princess had arrived alone, without the escort of any guard, as was the custom.
"Is it really okay that you’ve escaped all this way from your work?" Dusk asked, raising an eyebrow, guessing that the princess had sneaked away from the castle since he knew how much it bored the princess to do all her tedious work in the castle.
"Don't worry, I left a good replacement.” Celestia responded with a small smile.
"I CURSE YOU, SISTER!" Luna was heard shouting throughout Canterlot, after being deceived again by her sister to do her boring tasks of reading and signing real documents and edicts.
"Hehe, it's ever so easy to fool Lulu.” Celestia whispered to herself, having fun thinking about how angry her little sister must be. Then she looked at Dusk and turned to him again. "Luna would have loved to come, but she insists on not being seen in public until she regains all her power and attains her true form. Although I honestly don't think it'll be long before that happens, I have already noticed how my darling ponies’ dreams are calmer... She still can't get in, but she can already influence them. By the way, that reminds me, you should thank Luna for that. "
"Uh? What are you talking about?" Dusk asked without understanding what the princess was talking about.
"Oh! It's true, I don’t think you know." Celestia replied, remembering. "You see, Luna has the incredible ability to project on-"
"Umm… E-Excuse me, princess." Suddenly said a pony from the audience, the only mare with enough courage to interrupt the princess while she spoke: Fluttershy.
"Yes, Dear?" The princess replied kindly, only then realizing that she had been carried away by the excitement of being able to talk again with her beloved student and that she had completely forgotten that she had a multitude of ponies waiting for her.
"I... wanted to know if you could do something so that I and the other pegasi could compete in the race." Fluttershy said shyly, arming herself with the courage to make that request. After all, she wanted, no, even more, she needed to compete in the race.
As soon as Fluttershy spoke, the uproar returned to the crowd, the pegasi and unicorns supporting Fluttershy's request and the earth ponies arguing that the tradition should be maintained now that there was an opportunity to do so.
Celestia looked a few seconds at all the ponies arguing, then finally took the stage and stood next to the mayor.
"I believe that traditions must be maintained. But it is also true that Ponyville is characterized as a kind town where the brotherhood that exists between the three original tribes prevails as nowhere else." Princess Celestia said, speaking at a normal volume, but with a voice so imposing that it made everyone immediately shut up and pay attention. "That is why I think the fairest thing would be that both unicorns and pegasus can also compete, as long as they don’t use magic or use their wings to fly. That way it'll be fair to everyone. What do you think, Madam Mayor?"
"Yes! Great idea!" The mayor smiled, feeling flattered again when asked by the princess.
At the idea of the princess, everyone in the audience burst into shouts of joy, all accepting the magnificent and fair idea of the princess.
"Yes! I can participate!" Rainbow Dash shouted happily until she realized the reality and made a panicked face. "Wait... I can't fly!?"
"That's the fairest thing." Rarity said at her side, with a smile.
"Definitely! And to be sure..." Applejack also added smiling as she pulled out a rope that she wore under her hat and tied Rainbow Dash on her torso so she couldn't even open her wings, all while Rainbow Dash was still paralyzed with a scared look.
"Without my wings, I’m nothing... Without my wings, I’m nothing!" Rainbow Dash began to think while hyperventilating and panicking. But then she shook her head to try to calm down. "Calm down! You can do it! It's not all lost, you still have many cards up your sleeve! But... Without my wings, I’m nothing! I... No! I gotta do this!" Rainbow Dash thought, finally managing to calm herself down enough to regain her sanity.
"Very good! Everyone in the position! The race is about to begin!" The mayor shouted excitedly, making all the ponies begin to gather behind the starting line.
Rainbow Dash immediately stopped in the front row, touching the starting line, right next to Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy, all with determined looks.
"I know it'll be difficult, but I hope I still win!" A mare said behind the girls in the second row.
"Yeah! I want to have a real date with 'Dusk Sempai,' just like his date with Clarity in volume 2!" Another mare commented that he also expected to leave.
"Well, you'll have to beat me and everyone here, because we all want the same." Another mare said near the previous one.
Hearing the comments around them, the four friends froze at what they had just heard.
"How does everyone know about the date!?" Applejack whispered, scared, looking at her friends.
"I don't know! But now I understand why the race is so busy this year!" Rarity whispered in response. "With how famous Lyra comics have become, now all of his fans seem to believe that the true Dusk behaves just like the character that he’s based on in the comics!"
"Do they think they can have a romantic date like it happened in Lyra’s comics!?" Fluttershy also added scared. "Now we have to not only compete with each other but against almost all the mares of the town!? How did this happen!?"
While her friends whispered for explanations, Rainbow Dash only bit her nervous lip. Only one explanation could come up with all that. She told the weather patrol about the bet and the date. They must have told their acquaintances, and thus the news had spread like fire in the grass! Now things got even more complicated. What else could go wrong!?
"Could you guys move over a little? I also want to start in the front." Dusk Shine suddenly said as he appeared in front of his friends and positioned himself in front of the starting line, leaving everyone surprised.
"Are you going to participate too!?" Rainbow Dash asked, scared.
"Sure! I've never participated in a leaf race before, so I thought it would be fun." Dusk replied, smiling. "I doubt I can win, but I'll do my best!"
"Wait for a second! What if you win? What about our little bet!?" Rainbow Dash asked nervously.
"As I said, I don't think I win, but even if it were, don't worry, I won't participate in the bet." Dusk replied innocently. "Although with so many participants, perhaps none of you win and I’ll end up inviting someone else to dinner, Hahahaha!" Dusk jokingly added, hoping to laugh with his friends; however, none of his friends laughed with him. They just turned around and put a tense look forward, thinking that Dusk's joke was more real than he thought.
Finally, everyone got into position, ready to start the race.
"Here reporting from Team Comet, who do you think is the favorite to win this year's race, Spike?" Pinkie Pie asked from her balloon, positioned high above the finish line, speaking through the megaphone and thus beginning her work as a race announcer.
"I don't know, everyone looks very lively, I think everyone has the same possibilities!" Spike answered enthusiastically, using the same megaphone as Pinkie Pie. "And by the way, we agreed that we would call ourselves as Team Announcer-Balloon!"
"I don't know, the bets gave Rainbow Dash as the favorite, but after the princess forbade the use of wings, the bets have split, and it seems that there’s no longer a favorite. Although the least favorite in the bets is still Dusk Shine." Pinkie Pie commented loudly through the megaphone.
"Not even I would bet on Dusk, after all, everyone knows he is an egghead, not a racing pony! Hahaha!" Spike laughed, commenting next to Pinkie Pie.
"Hey! Everyone can hear you guys!" Dusk shouted from below, annoyed after knowing he was the least favorite to win the race.
"Sorry! Team Lightning will be more careful with our comments!" Pinkie Pie replied, smiling.
"You changed the name of the team again!" Spike shouted, annoyed.
After the self-proclaimed announcers of the race began to argue among themselves, Dusk again focused his eyes on the road in front of him, motivated by Pinkie Pie's comment, ready to show everyone that he was not just an egghead. On the other hand, the comments had also affected Rainbow Dash, but with the opposite effect. Just hearing that no one considered her a favorite for not using her wings, made her nervous again, thinking that she was really useless without her precious wings.
"Ready… Set… Go!" The mayor finally shouted, starting the race.
After giving the starting signal, all the ponies began to run, being so many that they soon began to crowd and push themselves ahead, all trying to take the lead quickly among a large number of competitors.
Rainbow Dash already suspected that it would be difficult to break through so many ponies, even if she started in the front row. But once the race started, it was that she truly took the weight of the situation and knew that it wouldn’t be easy to gain the lead with so many competitiors. This is how the first obstacle appeared: too many participants. But to her luck, she already had something planned that would be perfect to avoid that problem.
"I have to get some ponies out of the competition... It's time to use the 'Weapon D'! " Rainbow Dash thought looking sideways as she ran until she could locate the 'Weapon D,' who was already doing her job: getting ponies out of the race.
A few ponies away from Rainbow Dash was Derpy, the “Weapon D”, who before the race had met with Rainbow Dash. Derpy was rather surprised when she asked her to compete in the race with her. However, what surprised her most was when Rainbow Dash gave her only one instruction: 'Help everyone but me.' Derpy, of course, did not understand why her friend asked her that, but she didn't hesitate to do so.
"Hello! Do you need help?" Derpy asked as she ran beside a unicorn mare that passed by her.
As soon as the unicorn was distracted by Derpy's words, it crashed into a tree branch and was spinning, totally dizzy.
"Oops, sorry!" Derpy shouted worriedly but continued running as Rainbow Dash had told her. Then Derpy approached another mare, and she was also distracted to see Derpy so suddenly at her side and stumbled upon a stone that was in the way. "Oops, sorry!" Derpy said again as she ran to another mare to innocently ask if they needed her help.
"Well done, Derpy! Today your clumsiness will be a blessing!" Rainbow Dash thought smiling as her kind and clumsy friend made many ponies stumble inadvertently and out of the competition.
With a few less in the race, finally, the platoon of ponies began to disarm little by little to give way to the leaders of the race, where Rainbow Dash was, who smiled when she realized she was at the head of the group.
"Huff! Sorry!" Applejack suddenly crashed into Rainbow Dash, overcoming her and causing her to almost stumble.
"She… She pushed me on purpose!" Rainbow Dash thought furiously when she realized that her friend had almost made her fall.
What Rainbow Dash didn't realize was that Applejack had had a hard time taking off from the group they were all huddled in, so she tried hard to break through, and another pony almost made her lose her balance, that's why she crashed slightly with Rainbow Dash unintentionally.
"If that's how you want to play..." Rainbow Dash shouted angrily, struggling to reach Applejack, and shoving one of her hind legs, which caused Applejack to stumble heavily and fall after a couple of missteps. Applejack was left behind, even being overtaken by the multitude of ponies that followed behind them, all while Rainbow Dash remained as an exclusive lead and totally lost sight of her country friend.
As soon as Rainbow Dash saw Applejack fall, all her fury vanished. She wasn't like that, she had to go back and apologize to her friend. But there was something in her mind that prevented her from doing so. Apologies could wait, now she had to win. She needed to win at all costs!
"Watch out next to you!" A voice shouted at Rainbow Dash's side, causing her to get out of her conflicting thoughts.
Then Rainbow Dash was surprised to see that at her side was both Fluttershy and Rarity sharing the lead with her, both very tired but doing their best to win that race.
"How did you guys reach me!?" Rainbow Dash shouted, surprised, running faster so as not to lose the lead.
"The power of love!" Fluttershy shouted, her legs burning with fatigue but determined not to give up a date with her love.
"As long as you don't fly, we have a chance!" Rarity shouted, also giving her all so as not to lose her place in the race.
Rainbow Dash looked nervous as she noticed how fast her friends were. It was obvious that they were more tired than her, but since she was not flying now, Rainbow Dash was not sure how much road was left to finish. If those two kept that pace until the end of the race, there really was a possibility that they could win!
"That won't happen..." Rainbow Dash whispered determinedly, putting her tongue between her teeth and lips, and giving a great whistle.
The whistle was the signal to execute Rainbow Dash’s true secret plan because she had not only talked to Derpy before the race...
As soon as they heard the whistle of their captain, the weather patrol appeared from the cloud they had hidden themselves in waiting for the signal.
"Here we go. We'll teach Rainbow Dash's friends not to make fun of the weather patrol!" Cloud Kicker said, raising her hoof. All of her teammates let out a cheer in agreement.
Following Rainbow Dash's instructions, the weather patrol plummeted forward of the road, carrying a small cloud with them. Before the first participants reached that point in the race, the weather patrol positioned the cloud just above the road and kicked it several times until it started to rain.
"What's that? Is it raining?" Rarity asked strangely, noticing the particular cloud that was on the road, and it was raining alone. "There was no rain forecast for today!" Rarity added looking suspiciously at Rainbow Dash.
"Who knows, maybe a lonely cloud escaped the weather patrol." Rainbow Dash said, looking away.
"A little rain won’t stop us!" Fluttershy shouted as they got closer and closer under the cloud, ready to go through the water.
"It is true!" Rarity added to her side, full of conviction, almost about to arrive under the cloud.
"Well, I would be a little worried. After all, Dusk is a few steps behind us." Rainbow Dash said with a mischievous smile. "What will he think when he sees us with our wet and muddy manes?"
At that moment, only two of the mares in the lead kept running, getting wet in the rain of that lonely cloud, while the third mare stopped braking before doing so. Fluttershy kept running with a determined look, while Rainbow Dash smiled triumphantly and turned briefly to see Rarity, who stayed behind in the dry zone, with a fierce look in her eyes.
"Two less..." Rainbow Dash thought, determined to win and apologize to her friends, but only once she finished the race.
As they emerged from the rainy cloud and returned to the dry path, Rainbow Dash glanced sideways at Fluttershy, who gave everything to keep up with Rainbow Dash.
For a second Rainbow Dash thought that maybe she could let her kind friend win, after all, she owed her. But then Rainbow Dash remembered the great kiss that Fluttershy had given Dusk on the mountain, and then that idea vanished from her head.
Rainbow Dash whistled again, and the weather patrol mobilized again.
"Oh! What’s that over there? Does it look like an animal in danger?" Rainbow Dash said next to Fluttershy, causing Fluttershy to turn to see where Rainbow Dash was looking.
Seeing towards the edge of the road, Fluttershy saw that in the branches of a tree, there was what appeared to be an animal. A strange animal that Fluttershy had never seen before: small, with a lot of hair, and huge eyes.
"I think it's trapped on top of that tree." Rainbow Dash said, faking chance.
Fluttershy didn't answer, she just kept running, her lips tight and a look of much concern. Rainbow Dash realized that her friend was trying her best to try to ignore that little animal.
"I-I won't fall into your trap..." Fluttershy whispered, determined to keep running and win the prize. "Surely it's not an animal, it's just-"
"Meow ~!" A sweet meow was heard from the tree where the little animal was.
"I'm coming!" Fluttershy shouted immediately, her heart being melted by that cute meow. Then she opened her wings and flew off the side of the road to the branches where that little animal was. "Shh... easy, now, calm down, everything will be fine." Fluttershy said sweetly as she took the little animal between her hooves to lower it.
As soon as Fluttershy took the little animal, her heart almost exploded with tenderness when she saw how soft and cute that little animal was until her smile faded when she saw that it was too soft and that it also didn't move or blink.
"It's... it's a plush toy." Fluttershy finally whispered when she realized the truth. "B-But… and that meow...?"
Then Fluttershy looked at the treetop and saw that there were Sprinkle Medley and Cloud Chaser, who smiled and flew away from there.
"Fluttershy used her wings in the race! So she's disqualified!" Pinkie Pie shouted from the balloon using her megaphone, while the balloon continued its progress following the leaders and left behind a very distressed Fluttershy.
"Do you think that was fair?" Spike asked next to Pinkie Pie, who had noticed how the weather patrol had tricked Rarity and Fluttershy.
"There was nothing in the rules that said you couldn't get distracted. As long as you don't break the rules, you can look for some trick to win." Pinkie Pie replied, smiling. "For example, the princess said that wings couldn’t be used in the race, but she never said that we couldn’t fly any other way. So as I signed up for the race without anyone knowing. As soon as we are close to the line of goal, I'll accelerate with the hot air balloon, I'll arrive before all, and I'll win! Bwahaha!" Pinkie Pie added while faking a villain's laugh.
"Um… Pinkie?" Spike muttered.
"Yes?"
"You had the megaphone on." Spike indicated, pointing to the megaphone.
"Uh?" Pinkie Pie said silly, realizing her mistake.
"CHEATER!" All the ponies shouted from below, who were still running in the race.
Rainbow Dash whistled again, and the weather patrol flew to position itself in front of the news balloon, then all the pegasus began to quickly flap their wings, forming a small swirl that spun the balloon from side to side and flew it out of place at full speed.
"Team Rocket blasting off again...!" Pinkie Pie shouted as she flew off.
"I liked that name...!" Spike shouted as she flew off the globe with his friend until they both got lost in the sky with a twinkle.
Despite that crazy interruption in the sky, the race below continued as it was, with Rainbow Dash in the lead, but with several ponies slowly approaching. Then Rainbow Dash turned a corner and recognized the town not far away, they had already surrounded the town! There was only one last stretch of road before the end of the race.
Rainbow Dash hastened her pace, giving all of herself despite her fatigue, with the assurance that if she maintained such a pace, she would win. And so it was until she heard a gallop approaching quickly behind her. She turned and was surprised to see that it was none other than Dusk Shine, who accelerated more and more the step until finally reaching her side.
"’Save your energy and use it in the last stretch of the race...’ That’s what the book I read said!" Dusk said, smiling, also tired but with more energy than Rainbow Dash. "I'm sorry... But I think I'll pass by you..."
Then Dusk squeezed the gallop a little more and began to slowly overtake Rainbow Dash while she did her best so he wouldn't leave her behind. The desperation in Rainbow Dash began to grow, knowing that she couldn't leave anything to chance and that she had to make sure she won.
"Hey, Dusk..." Rainbow Dash shouted with her head bowed as she gathered all his strength to talk and keep running at the same time.
"You won't distract me. When I passed Rarity and Fluttershy, they told me that you distracted them to pass them." Dusk responded with a security smile without taking his eyes off the road. "Nothing you say will distract me."
"Dusk... I... I love you."
"Uh!?" Dusk said, surprised, looking back, just as a stone crossed his path, which caused him to stumble and fall heavily while Rainbow Dash passed him.
Rainbow Dash could barely run anymore, so she kept her head down, and only her blushed ears could be seen. She knew that she couldn't make the same mistake as Dusk and lose sight of the road. So, she took a deep breath and tried to keep her eyes straight ahead and keep running at the same pace. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw that she was already on the last straight line, the finish line was right there! Only one last effort was missing.
"You won't beat me so easy!" Shouted from behind the voice that Rainbow Dash least wanted to hear at that moment, the voice of Applejack.
Applejack had firm and strong legs, which made it one of the favorites. In fact, if it had not been for Rainbow Dash pushing her earlier, the country mare probably would have stayed in the lead for the entirety of the race. And the strength of her legs was reflected at that moment, in spite of falling and being overtaken by most of the ponies, Applejack had managed to slowly return to the race until finally reaching the point, just when the race was about to end.
"No…!" Rainbow Dash shouted, giving it all that she had only to see that the goal was only a few meters away.
"You won the Iron-Pony competition yesterday." Applejack said as she ran with all her strength and positioned herself next to Rainbow Dash. "That means that if I beat you now, I'll be the true Iron Pony!"
Then Applejack gave her all and managed to pass Rainbow Dash shortly after the end. Then, before her imminent victory, Applejack turned to see Rainbow Dash with an arrogant smile. However, her smile faded when she saw that Rainbow Dash did not even see her, her friend only kept her eyes fixed on the goal while running. But the most shocking was her look of despair, a look that Applejack had never seen before from Rainbow Dash.
"... Dusk..." Rainbow Dash whispered exhausted, her eyes wet with tears and perspiration, with a look as if the world was going to end, knowing that losing that race lost her last chance... Her friends had said it themselves. She didn't want to accept it, but it was a reality: Dusk apparently didn't have a place for her in his heart. This was her last chance to have an excuse to be alone with him, and now... it was disappearing.
"She didn't even listen to me... She isn't interested in competing and winning me... She just thinks about..." Applejack thought while running, just a few steps away from winning.
While Applejack looked back, she suddenly tripped, falling face down, leaving her body lying just a step away from crossing the finish line. She tried to stand up, but Rainbow Dash was faster and crossed the finish line just then.
"Huff... Huff... Huff..." Rainbow Dash was breathing agitatedly, so physically and mentally exhausted that she hardly heard the screams and magic flashes announcing that she had been the grand winner of the race.
The public went out to celebrate the winner and took Rainbow Dash between their hooves and began to throw her again and again into the air, all while the rainbow-mane pegasus began to recover her breath, and her eyes came alive again. Then Rainbow Dash's mouth began to smile slowly, and her eyes dropped small tears as she began to notice what was happening.
"I did it… I DID IT!" Rainbow Dash shouted in ecstasy, feeling happier than she had ever felt when winning a race.
Slowly the rest of the participants also began to reach the goal while the Mayor took the stage with Princess Celestia. "I can say with certainty that this has been the most irregular and exciting race we have had in years!" The Mayor said with a big smile as the whole audience cheered in support of what she had said. "So, it is an honor for me to reward this year's big winner: Rainbow Dash!"
Then Rainbow Dash took the stage, and the mayor gave her a great trophy, while the princess hung the first-place medal around her neck. Then, everyone, both public and participants began to applaud her in congratulation, including her friends. At first, they all gave her a look of retaliation to their friend, but then they simply sighed and applauded her with smiles of resignation, all thinking that they would take revenge someday. But for this time, they would let Rainbow Dash enjoy her great moment.
After the first-place award, the Mayor continued to reward the next five first places, giving the second-place prize to Applejack, who came up with a small smile while the audience, especially her family, applauded her among cheers.
While the Mayor continued with the other awards, Rainbow Dash approached her country friend. She needed to know if what she suspected was true.
"Applejack, you... Did you let me win?" Rainbow Dash asked shyly.
"Hm? I don't know what you're talking about." Applejack answered from behind.
Since she only saw the back of her head, Rainbow Dash couldn’t see her friend's face or know if she was telling the truth or not.
"Thank you." Rainbow Dash whispered, not knowing the truth, but feeling in her heart that saying that was the right thing to do.
Applejack didn't answer, just turned around, and gave a kind and affectionate smile to her great friend and eternal rival.
At that moment, they delivered the last medal to the fifth place, which was won by Dusk Shine, who proudly took the stage to receive his medal among the applause of the public.
"Congratulations, Dusk, very good race for your first time." The princess said with a kind smile as she handed the medal to Dusk, and without anyone else noticing, she handed him a small note in his hoof.
"Thanks, Princess!" Dusk responded proudly.
Then Dusk opened the note delivered by the princess and read it: ‘Haha! A girl beat you!’
Dusk's smile disappeared, and he looked up to see his teacher, who kept her poker face in front of everyone but at the bottom was about to burst into laughter, missing with great happiness to bother her beloved Dusk Shine again.
After all the awards, the public began to leave little by little while the most exalted remained in the place, happy to have participated in such an exciting race and swearing that they would participate again in the coming years.
While that happened, Rainbow Dash took her trophy and began to make funny faces while reflecting on it, enjoying her beautiful trophy. Although in reality that was a bonus, because she had not competed to win only a trophy.
"Hey, Rainbow Dash!" Dusk Shine said, approaching her friend, taking advantage that she was alone.
"Y-YES!" Rainbow Dash responded instantly, blushing and staying completely still like a statue.
"I think you won the bet.” Dusk said with a smile, showing Rainbow Dash a small sack with several coins. "Tell me, where would you like to go to dinner?"
At Dusk's question, Rainbow Dash blushed more as she began to mentally review a list of the most expensive and romantic Canterlot Restaurants, far from Ponyville, so that both could have absolute privacy.
"Excuse me, but I think this is mine." Suddenly Princess Celestia commented, suddenly appearing and removing with her magic the bag of coins that Dusk levitated.
"What!? What are you talking about? That's mine." Dusk said, surprised and upset.
"I just remembered that there are still several things that you owe me and that I must charge you." The princess indicated with a thoughtful look.
"What things?" Dusk asked, confused.
"Well, like the train ride with which I sent you to Ponyville. Neither you nor Spike ever paid me that trip." Princess Celestia said with a smile.
"You sent us in a bag of cargo!" Dusk claimed annoying.
"Still count, bye-bye!" Princess Celestia said playfully, using her magic to teleport back to the castle.
"Hng...! Princess Trollestia... You'll pay for this..." Dusk murmured with a hoof on his face, knowing how his teacher enjoyed bothering him in secret. Although he really couldn't get mad at her, after all, deep down, he missed that dynamic and was glad he could enjoy his beloved teacher for a while.
"S-So... I-Is it all over?" Rainbow Dash stammered with a look of hopelessness when she saw the princess disappear with Dusk's money.
"Hm? What are you talking about?" Dusk answered, confused, looking to Rainbow Dash with a smile. "I said we would have a date, didn’t I? We don’t need money to have fun, I'll think of something to do just you and me."
Hearing that, Rainbow Dash's wings and ears rose in joy.
"What's up? Do you want a date with me so badly? Hahaha!" Dusk laughed, joking with Rainbow Dash.
"O-Of course not! I was only interested in eating for free, that's all!" Rainbow Dash said quickly with a false look of annoyance, with her cheeks blushed.
Seeing Rainbow Dash blush, Dusk looked away and blushed as he remembered something. "You know, it wasn't just what you told me to distract me, if it weren't for that, I would have won.” Dusk said, slightly blushing, scratching his head.
It took Rainbow Dash a couple of seconds to realize what Dusk was referring to, so she turned quickly to turn her back on Dusk. "All is fair in war and love." Rainbow Dash whispered with her head down, totally blushed.
"Hm? What did you say?" Dusk asked, unable to hear Rainbow Dash's murmur.
"I said all is fair in war!" Rainbow Dash responded loudly, turning and smiling, with her cheeks still a little blushed "I'll see you tomorrow!"
Then Rainbow Dash opened her wings and flew away from there with a big smile on her face.
"It won't be a romantic date for dinner, but that doesn't matter!" Rainbow Dash said to herself as she flew. "Money doesn't matter, I just want to be with you!" She said while she felt her heart explode with happiness for having achieved her first great step in this war called love.
# End of chapter 38