//------------------------------//
// Round 2 
// Story: Battle of the Ballgowns 
// by The Blue EM2 
//------------------------------//

After a short pause to rest, recuparate, charge one's batteries, and a myriad of other cliches that one can think of relating to the process of getting ready to do something again, the two competing girls were at last ready to get on the move again. Sure enough, with the weather thankfully holding above them, although the grey sky did look a little threatening to them, they moved off. Initially, at the start of that journey, the only sound they maintained was mostly silence, with only the occassional rustle of fabric audible as they went along. As you can probably guess, that was the fabric of skirts dragging along the ground.

As has been previously discussed, Scootaloo had the easier time walking, or so it seemed. She observed that Diamond Tiara seemed to be having a fairly easy time shifting the hoop she was wearing, whereas some difficulty was to be expected given the weight. The lighter breaths she was wearing may have had something to do with it.

"So, how long have you been wearing this stuff?" Scootaloo probed, naturally interested in hearing what Diamond Tiara's response to the question would be.

"Since I was eight, so I'm pretty used to it," the other girl replied, still with her skirt partially lifted to avoid it catching on any obstacles. "The weight isn't too bad when you know what you're doing, and besides, the width can be negotiated by knowing which doorways to use. The widest ones, in case you're wondering."

"It's a miracle you don't get stuck in doors!" Scootaloo joked.

"This one's only four feet. You should see mother's one. It's huge!"

Scootaloo made a mental note of the thought of Spoiled Rich wearing something like that, and dismissed it with a look of horror on her face. That woman could make any clothing look ghastly. "OK then, I just might. Apart from that, how are you walking so easily? I thought those skirts were pretty heavy."

Diamond Tiara laughed. "I'm doing what any sensible lady wearing one of these things does. I've got a corset on, which helps redistribute the weight and pressure, making it easier to walk. And before you ask, it's not on that tight, so I'm not having any breathing difficulties."

Scootaloo had no idea why she found this all so interesting, as she was a tomboy. But hey, maybe this was an alternate side to her personality that she could explore a little if she wanted to. Her mind was quickly turned to the upcoming struggle that the two would have in order to complete the next challenge. The Rich Estate incorporated a giant series of gardens into them, and these gardens had, landscaped into their structure, a long artificial trench. This was a leftover of construction work, and the trench had been landscaped to create a nice valley with two sides, with a river running through the middle that ran down to the sea. It was hear that the next challenge was revealed.

Or was it here?

I have reason to believe that, somehow, it was both. Oh well. It was time for the next challenge to go ahead, and what a challenge it was.

"So, I assume you know the rules?" Diamond Tiara said. "The rules of play, if you will?"

"No, actually," Scootaloo replied, looking along and desperately trying to stop her hat slipping off her head. "I assumed you were making this up as you went along, to be honest. It sometimes feels that way."

"Ha ha, very funny," Diamond Tiara replied. "So, anyway, a quick explanation. This trench runs for approximately 500 feet from end to end, which is probably a longer distance than anything in town. What we are to do is to run from one end of it to the other and see who gets their first. Who does wins the round, and then we shall move onto stage three, which will be the most challenging bit yet."

"What are we looking at in terms of terrain?" Scootaloo asked.

"Well, the ground is mostly flat, but we have had some rain so it might be slightly squelchy here and there." Diamond Tiara looked down at the hem of her skirt and sighed. "Good thing this cleans relatively easily. So, anyways, first to the other end wins. Sounds good?"

Scootaloo grinned, looking forwards as she did so. "Bring it on."

"Competitive, huh?" Diamond Tiara said. "That's the spirit I like to see. And... GO!"

With that single word, precision timed for the purpose, both girls started moving forward. Owing to the weight and nature of her dress, it took Diamond Tiara slightly longer to get going. However, she was soon up to speed, albeit not as fast as somebody unencumbered as she was, the frame of her skirt swinging back and forth as she kept up speed. Interestingly, the weight was starting to pull her along somewhat.

Scootaloo, on the other hand, had a secret weapon up her sleeve. As you will probably recall from previous chapters, Scootaloo had elected to wear boots on her feet instead of heels. Not only was this because she was physically unable to walk in heels, constantly falling over the only time she had tried, but because she had anticipated a dirty trick like this. These boots allowed her to effortlessly grip the terrain, and she quickly made her way up the path and over muddy ground, the whole place suddenly being easy to navigate whilst Diamond Tiara had to dodge around unwanted things that could slow her down.

Scootaloo suddenly went off to the left, sliding down a pathway and sprinting along a crevice. This, however, brought her out at the other end of the trench, and she soon cleared the climb and exited out on top, before quickly hopping in the air. "Yes! I did it! Eat that, Diamond Tiara!"

"Excuse me?!" said an extremely shrill voice. Scootaloo turned around to see Diamond Tiara emerging from the climb, her face red, puffing and panting, and mud on her clothes.