*Lillian’s POV*
It was another normal day in Ponyville, Danyelle was teaching Bluestar to fly. Clarity was at Sweet Apple Acres since she had challenged Rainbow and Applejack to a series of contests. The mare-bitch bested both in tug of war.
"Who knew Clarity was that strong?" Applejack asks.
Rainbow spoke “Certainly not me!”
Clarity spoke "I'm stronger than most mares because of my demon blood."
"That's cool." Applejack says.
Clarity spoke "I can best you in anything!”
"Oh really?" Applejack scoffs.
Clarity spoke "Prove it! Try to beat this mare-bitch in a strength contest!"
"Oh you’re on!" Applejack exclaims.
Clarity spoke "No wings, no magic. Just pure strength! Though I doubt Skittles can handle it!"
"Alright then, what will this challenge be called?" I asked.
"How about the iron pony competition winner will be Ponyville’s strongest athlete." Replied Rainbow.
Clarity scoffs "Which will be me since I'm stronger than both of you."
"You’re on!" Me, Applejack and Rainbow say in unison.
Clarity scoffs "Seriously Lillian? It's an Iron Pony competition..."
I use the phantom ruby to turn myself into a Pegasus. "You were saying?"
Clarity laughs "You look silly!"
"Hey, no I don't, you jerk." I scoff.
Tempest spoke "Hey Lillian, you look amazing as a Pegasus pony."
"Thanks so shall we get this competition on?" I ask.
Clarity spoke "Oh it is ON!”
Later that day, the girls and I were stretching when Twilight arrived; she asked what we were doing.
Clarity was exercising for the competition. She had her vest on to hide her wings and an anti-magic brace on her neck. Li was holding onto the mare-bitch's sword.
"So, your four are doing what, now?" Asked Twilight.
"An iron--." Applejack says before being cut off by Rainbow. "Iron pony competition."
Clarity spoke "Dash and AJ think they're stronger than me."
"Heh don't forget about me too." I added.
"See, we've set up a bunch of events to decide which one of us is --." Applejack says only to be cut off by Rainbow again. "The most athletic pony ever!"
Clarity spoke “Uh AJ; you do realize that I was able to push that snowplow with only my dog demon strength right? This is nothing!"
"That doesn't really mean nothing Clarity you need to be strong in order to pull the snowplow where as a competition anything can happen." I replied while Twilight asks.
"And I'm here to."
"Uh...I don't know, why is she here?" Asked Rainbow.
"To be our judge and keep score." I replied.
Clarity spoke "Fair enough, I won't remove the vest or brace then."
"Yeah and somepony's got to record my awesomeness for the history books." Replied Rainbow.
"Yeah, yeah we get it Rainbow, you’re awesome." I say.
Sonic spoke "We'll see about that...."
"Sonic, where did you come from?" I asked.
Sonic spoke "From the marketplace, Blaze wanted fish for supper."
"Oh?" I ask.
Sonic spoke "Yeah but I won't be taking part in the race later on. I'm not as young as I used to be."
"Okay well anyways, shall we get to the competition to see who the greatest athlete is?" I asked.
Clarity spoke "Yeah."
We all headed to the field where Applejack set up the competition at before getting ready while Spike was acting as a commentator.
"Hello, everypony!" He called out. "And welcome to the first annual iron pony competition!"
"Uh, Spike, who are you talking to?" Twilight asked the young dragon.
"Um...them!" Spike says pointing to the rest of my friends that arrived at the farm. "Let the games begin!"
Clarity dug her claws into the soil.
Clarity spoke "This is going to be an easy one."
"Ready, set, go!" Twilight called out.
Clarity swerves around a barrel before skidding to a stop.
Clarity asks “Time?”
"18 seconds." Spike replied.
Clarity spoke "Not bad, that was with my wings bound too."
Next up was Applejack and she passed with 17 seconds.
"You’re kidding?" Asked Applejack. "That breaks my record from last year’s rodeo."
"But you got a 5-second penalty for nudging the barrel." Says Spike.
"Nuts and Chews!" Applejack says upset. "But, that's 22 seconds, not too shabby."
Clarity spoke "You give it a shot Skittles."
Rainbow was sweating but she walked up to the starting line and when Twilight said go, she started running with 18 seconds as her time.
Sonic spoke "Not bad Dash, you tied with Clarity in that event."
"Hey you guys forgetting about me over here?" I asked. "Like come on, am I chop liver or something?"
Tempest spoke "You got this Lilli!"
"Thanks Tempest." I called back as I get to the starting line.
Clarity thinks "Lucky hawk... She's got a boyfriend already and I'm STILL single..."
When Twilight says go, I started running not hitting a single barrel and when I finished my time was 15 seconds.
Clarity was slack jawed in surprise.
"Wow I guess doing track back home paid off." I say.
Danyelle spoke "Let me have a crack at it!"
"Dany you do realize it's just me, Clarity, Applejack and Rainbow competing in this competition right?" I asked before adding. "Plus all four of our names are on the board."
Danyelle spoke "Tch... I do not like being left out of things like this... However, I will be in the Running of the Leaves race... As will someone from my world, you'll see hir soon anyway."
"Um okay anyways, who won this Twilight?" I asked Twilight.
Twilight spoke "Given the time length, you won this event Lillian."
"Wow really?" I say surprised.
Tempest spoke "You were quite fast there Lilli."
"[Chuckles] Thanks Tempest." I say with a blush.
The next competition was the strength test as Rainbow kicked the meter making the wait hit the bell.
Relying only her strength, Clarity sends the bell flying off the strength meter with a powerful kick to the wait. Clarity taunts "Beat that Applesmack."
"Hold on, let’s fix it." I say using the phantom ruby to fix the meter before letting Applejack try it and when she hit it, she made the bell fly even higher than Clarity.
"How's that little doggy." Replied Applejack.
Clarity growls in annoyance.
After I fixed the meter again, I kicked it making the wait go up half way making Applejack the winner.
Tempest spoke "You were really good Lilli."
"Thanks, but Applejack was the one who won."
The next competition was a rodeo where Spike had to stay on our backs while we try to knock him off, as Applejack was the first one to start.
Clarity scoffs "I could knock him off in five seconds."
It took Applejack a while but she was able to knock him off and Rainbow’s turn came she knocked him off in 4 seconds.
Clarity thrashed hard, knocking Spike off in three seconds.
"Ready Spike because I'm not gonna go easy on you." I said to Spike.
"[Gulps] no." He says gulping before I started bucking trying to get him off and when I get him off Clarity and Rainbow were tied since they got Spike off their backs the quickest.
Clarity spoke "Hey, I got him off my back in three seconds."
"Clarity just accept it you still won either way." I say as I walked up to her.
Clarity's tail was wagging happily though.
The next competition was a hog-tying competition, which Rainbow failed at but with Applejack being a cow pony she faced the competition while Clarity and I were struggling like Rainbow.
Clarity's back legs were tangled in the rope thus she was flat on her stomach.
"Applejack’s the winner!" Announced Twilight.
The next competition was a ball bouncing competition where we had to bounce the bell without letting it hit the floor which Applejack failed at while me, Rainbow and Clarity were doing good not letting the bell hit the ground.
"I can do this all day." I say with a smug look.
Clarity was using her tail to keep the ball bouncing.
Twilight announced it was a tree way tie with the three of us.
While balancing the ball on her nose, Clarity spoke “There’s got to be a way to break the tie.”
The next challenge was hay tossing.
Clarity groans “Applejack will win that for sure….”
Clarity throws a bale of hay 25 feet from her.
I threw mine just behind Clarity while Rainbow threw hers at the end. “Wow impressive.”
Clarity spoke “Oh it is on!”
However Applejack threw hers the furthest winning her another point.
Clarity scoffs “Tch, what next?”
“Arm wrestling.” Replied Twilight.
Clarity spoke “I’ll arm wrestle Applejack then! Earth pony strength versus dog demon strength.”
“I’ll go against Rainbow then.” I say as we both wrestled with our opponents.
Clarity held her own against Applejack, not giving up easy.
“You’re quite strong Clarity.” Applejack says, not budging.
Clarity chuckles “Same to you AJ, I haven’t arm wrestled in 200 years.”
Twilight announced Rainbow the winner for our match.
Clarity chuckles “Sorry AJ but I’m going to win this match.”
With a flick of the wrist, Clarity beats Applejack in the match.
Clarity spoke “I’m stronger than I look… However, I had broken my cousin’s leg one time… My mother was so mad at me because of it… I went easy on you because I see you as a friend.”
We did a few more competition from football, to push ups, to farthest jumps, to bringing chicks to their mothers making all our scores a tie until we arrived at the final event, which was tug of war.
Clarity spoke “This’ll be easy for me.”
I was up against Clarity while Applejack was up against Rainbow.
Clarity removed her vest thus revealing her wings to everyone that had gathered.
A random mare spoke “How can there be another alicorn? I thought Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were the only two….”
Various murmurs echo through the crowd.
Clarity spoke “Well Lillian, It seems like we’re against each other…”
“Yeah but hold on for a sec.” I say before turning to the crowd. “She’s not an alicorn folks, she’s just wearing a fake horn.”
Clarity spoke “Uh, yeah! It’s just a decoration!”
“Oh!” The crowd says in unison.
Clarity spoke “I’m not a demon so you don’t have to worry about it either.”
“Um no one asked that Clarity.” I say.
Clarity mutters “Oh… My bad… Uh Twi… Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Let’s just get this last challenge over and done with.” Twilight says.
Clarity chuckles “Yeah, I agree.”
The challenge starts, the four of us pull on ropes.
Clarity playfully growls as she pulled on the rope.
I was pulling on the rope as hard as I could while Rainbow decided to fly up on hopes of getting Applejack to let go.
Clarity playfully pulls the rope.
“Ahh!” I lose my grip, falling into the mud.
Clarity drops the rope before help me back up.
Clarity spoke “Sorry Lillian, I should have warned you that I like rope toys…”
“It’s fine but you did great Clarity.” I say before hearing Applejack falling in the mud as she accuses Rainbow of cheating by using her wings.
Clarity spoke “Seriously Dash? Even I never took flight to win.”
"Hey there wasn't any rules about me not using my wings." Replied Rainbow.
Clarity asks "You okay Applejack?"
"Yeah I'm okay, but we didn't need to tell you to play fair Rainbow." Replied Applejack.
"I still would've won even without my wings." Says Rainbow.
Clarity had put her vest back on, thus hiding the wings once again.
Clarity asks “What’s next Twilight?”
"That was all the events Clarity." I say while Applejack challenged Rainbow at the annual running of the leaves.
"Ha! Easy-smeasly." Rainbow replied only for her to be brought down by Applejack.
"Hold on!" Applejack says. "There is one condition. The point is to run, so no wings allowed."
Clarity spoke "Hey Applejack, you could bind Rainbow's wings with a vest instead of rope. It would stop her from trying to cheat again."
A brown ponykat with blue eyes was talking with Pinkie about the Running of the Leaves race.
The ponykat asks “Can anyone sign up for the race?”
"Of course." Replied Pinkie.
"That ain't a bad idea Clarity." Applejack replied in agreement.
Crosswind spoke "I'm Crosswind, Cross to my friends."
Clarity puts her spare vest on Rainbow to restrain the wings.
Clarity spoke "There, that should be fairer for the other competitors."
"Clarity, wouldn't it be better to put it on her tomorrow before the race will start?" I asked.
Clarity spoke "Oh right, sorry..."
"It's fine, come on lets head to sugarcube corner all these events made me hungry." I say as I used the phantom ruby to change back to my normal self.
Clarity spoke "I'm so hungry, I need some fish...."
Crosswind spoke "I haven't had lunch yet so count me in."
"Follow me guys, I'll cook you guys something." I say.
The two follow me to Sugarcube Corner despite the amount of staring Crosswind was getting.
Crosswind spoke "Everyone's staring at me...."
"You'll get used to it." I say.
Clarity spoke "the others haven't seen a chakat before... And didn't Twilight adopt Silverstorm?"
"Yeah she did why you ask." I say.
Crosswind spoke "Rosewood was my cousin..."
"Oh so that would make Silverstorm your little cousin?" I asked as we made it to Sugarcube Corner.
Crosswind spoke "Once removed but yes. Plus I'm glad shi found a new family that cares for hir."
After we ate at Sugarcube Corner, we all went home to rest up for the race tomorrow.
Crosswind stayed at Applejack's place for the night since shi didn't have a place.
*The next morning,*
Danyelle was wearing shorts and tank top while stretching her legs since she was taking part in the race.
Danyelle spoke "Sonic's not taking part since he's too fast compared to the rest of us."
Crosswind was wearing a tight fitting sports bra since hir upper body required one as well as custom made shorts to cover hir rear. Silverstorm was with the other Crusaders since Twilight was also taking part in the race. Nyx was carrying Bluestar on her back.
When morning came everyone who wanted to sign up for the race headed to Whitetail forest to sign up.
Crosswind had signed up since shi was the only ponykat in the race. Danyelle had also signed up.
"I see you guys signed up huh?" I asked as I walked up to the two with a number taped to my chest.
Danyelle spoke "Yeah, we did."
Crosswind spoke "Yeah, plus my mother's watching the race from heaven."
To the surprise of a few ponies, Crosswind was wearing goggles on hir head, which were from Golden Gear.
"That's great to hear." I say before hearing Pinkie calls out from a hot air balloon about how the race was going to start in 5 minutes.
Clarity had put her spare vest on Rainbow to stop the mare from flying.
Crosswind spoke "Good thing I got my good luck charm with me."
As everyone was stretching, we saw Twilight walking up to us with a number on her flank.
"You joining the race Twilight?" I ask.
Danyelle spoke "No offense Twi but you're not that good at running."
Twily was up in the hot air balloon with Pinkie and Spike.
"But I do know a lot about running." Says Twilight.
"And you know this how?" Asked Rainbow.
"Books." Replied Twilight. "I've read several on the subject." She says as all started laughing.
Danyelle was now wearing an anti-magic brace on her neck.
Clarity spoke "There's nothing wrong with being well-read."
"Yeah." Agreed Twilight before Pinkie asked if we are ready.
Clarity yips "Ready!"
Crosswind puts the goggles over hir eyes to keep the dirt out.
Crosswind spoke "Ready!"
Danyelle spoke "Ready!"
"Get set..." Spike says.
Twily spoke "GO!"
And with that, the group was off running. Crosswind was at the head of the pack with Clarity behind hir.
As we ran, the trio in the hot air balloon were commentating on the race while Applejack and Rainbow passed Clarity and Crosswind before Applejack tripped on a rock thinking Rainbow tripped her.
Crosswind gallops faster, passing Applejack.
"Applejack if you looked you would see you tripped over a rock." I say before passing her.
"Lillian’s right, if you looked where you’re going, you wouldn't have tripped on the rock." Twilight added as she stops in front of Applejack before she gets back up catching up to Rainbow.
Danyelle leaps over me as she ran.
Once Applejack caught up to Rainbow, she passed her only for her to trip over a stump thinking Applejack tripped her but when Twilight tried telling her she tripped over a stump but she didn't believe her and still blamed Applejack.
I was catching up with Danyelle, Clarity and Crosswind. The four of us were neck and neck before Rainbow and Applejack passed us again as Rainbow grabbed a branch using it knock Applejack to the floor.
Danyelle yowls as she ran faster and she was close to breaking the sound barrier.
"Danyelle don't even think about it, that'll be cheating." I say as the four of us passed Rainbow and Applejack as they fought against each other two get the lead.
Clarity spoke "Case in point...."
Danyelle slowed down a bit but kept the speed. Crosswind passes Danyelle as the ponykat gallops past.
"You know those two should really stop fighting, they do realize this is a race right?" I asked as the four of us were trying to pass one another.
Crosswind spoke "Stupid is as stupid does..."
The four of us laughed before paying attention to what's ahead.
“Just letting you three know, I'm not going to lose." I say.
Crosswind spoke "EAT MY DUST!"
The brown ponykat gallops ahead.
"[Coughs] hey!"
Once we make it to the finishing line, Crosswind came in first then Danyelle came in second then I came in third and Clarity came in fourth while Twilight came in fifth place.
Crosswind spoke "I've never felt so alive! I never ran like this back home though. But it was fun."
Clarity spoke "If only a pair of featherbrains could learn that..."
"Speaking of which, here they come." I say as Rainbow and Applejack fought their way to the finish line.
Danyelle spoke "Eyup..."
When they crossed the finish line they were both arguing about who finished first until Pinkie told them they tied for last place.
"Then who won?" Applejack asked before noticing Twilight walking up to them with a 5th place medal.
"You." they both say in unison.
Crosswind spoke "I came in first though but I know better than to brag about it."
Silverstorm runs over to Twilight and hugs the mare.
"But how is that even possible?" Asked Applejack.
"She ran so slow and looked at the scenery!" Added Rainbow.
"Because she paced herself and when everyone was worn out she ran passed them." I say as Twilight nodded.
"I don't believe it, our friends beat us!" Rainbow says in disbelief.
Clarity's ears twitch before she picked up on the smell of cake. Danyelle and the others bow when Celestia arrived. Even Crosswind bows in respect.
"Sound to me like an important lesson was learned." Celestia says walking up to us.
"Princess Celestia!" Rainbow and Applejack say when they see Celestia walking up to us.
"What are you doing here?" Asked Applejack.
Crosswind spoke "Being competitive is one thing but having fun is important too."
“Exactly, but unfortunately the two of you were busy tricking each other instead of shaking down leaves, many of the lovely trees in Equestria are still covered.” Princess Celestia says.
"Why, princess, I bet we can knock those leaves down for you lickety-split." Replied Applejack. "What do you say friend? Want to go for another run?" She asks Rainbow.
"I'd love to stretch my legs." Answered Rainbow before running.
Crosswind spoke "Hey girls, I'll run with you."
With that, the trio enjoy a friendly race.
Clarity asks "Princess, do you know a unicorn mare named Golden Gear?"
"Why yes I do but she's been missing for quite some time why do you ask?" She asks.
Clarity spoke "Her child showed up with her goggles. But I fear that she is dead."
"I see it's a shame to hear that." Celestia says saddened by the news.
As Crosswind, Applejack and Rainbow ran, the leaves started to fall.
End