//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12: The Applewood Derby 
// Story: A Sparkle's Little Dusk IV: A Family Eternal 
// by Mister E-Nonymous 
//------------------------------//


Chaptee 12: The Applewood Derby






Dusk, Nyx and Daylight arrived home from school, and they headed straight into the library. They started looking up everything about the Applewood Derby.

"Okay, here are some books on Pinewood Derbies in the past," Nyx said, levitating some books to the table, one at a time. "This is gonna be interesting."

"Yeah," Dusk said. He then opened one book and saw pictures of the Applewood Derby vehicles. "Whoa. I guess these wood cars are bigger than the ones back on Earth."

"I know, right," Daylight said. "Back on earth, the carts were this big." Daylight motioned her hooves to show the length of what wood car lengths were back on Earth, at least 7 inches.

"Wow," Nyx said. "They were that small?"

"Yeah," Dusk said.

"And there wasn't anypony driving them?" Nyx asked.

"Nope," Daylight said. "They usually go down a ramp."

"Cool," Nyx said. She then started sniffling.

Dusk noticed this and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Nyx said. "I'm just... Ah... Ah..."

"She's gonna blow!" Dusk said, jumping towards Daylight right before Nyx sneezed. A blue blast came from Nyx's horn, hitting the chair in the room. The chair then started dancing around with disco music playing in the background, the music being "You Should Be Dancing" by the Bee Gees.

"Whoa!" Daylight said. "Our magic can do that?"

"I did that when I was sick," Dusk said. "And that was when I was just a normal unicorn." Just then, Twilight came into the library.

"What is going on here?" Twilight asked. She then saw the dancing chair. "Oh, no. Not again!" She then fired a blast towards the chair, having it turn back to normal. Twilight looked towards the three foals and asked, "Okay, who was it that...?"

"Sorry, Twilight," Nyx said, sniffling. "I think I might be coming down with something." Then Daylight started sniffling as well.

"Uh... I think I'm getting something too," Daylight said. "Ah... Ah..." She then sneezed and magic shot out of her horn. Twilight quickly fired a magic blast to come in contact with Daylight's magical blast.

"Oh, boy," Twilight said. "Looks like you're gonna have to call in sick tomorrow."

"But... tomorrow's the Applewood Derby!" Daylight said. "What are we gonna do?"

Night Light came in and asked, "Did I hear somepony say something about the Pinewood Derby?" He was giving off a big grin. "Oh, man. I haven't seen a Pinewood Derby since Shining Armor was a colt."

"You haven't done one, Mom?" Dusk asked, looking at Twilight.

"I was too focused on my studies during the time," Twilight said. "Plus, I really wasn't so interested in it." Just then, both Nyx and Daylight were about to sneeze. Twilight noticed and used her magic to fire two blasts at the same time right as they sneezed and fired magic from their horns. "Okay. That was tiring."

"Well, I guess we're not gonna participate in the derby, are we?" Nyx asked, her nose stuffed.

"I'm afraid not," Twilight said, putting a hoof on Nyx's forehead. "Yeah, you're warm up there. Let's get you two to bed."

"Well, Dusk, I'd be happy to help you with attending this Applewood Derby," Night Light said. "We're gonna have to leave early if we're gonna get ready in time."

"Really?" Dusk asked. "Do we have to be there early?"

"It'll take hours for the participants to get their carts ready," Velvet said. "So, you might as well get an early rest for an early rise. I'm gonna be helping out with the Applewood Derby here this year."

"Well, I gotta stay here tomorrow and take care of Nyx and Daylight," Twilight said. "Dusk, you just have fun. Make your sisters proud."

"Yeah, Dusk," Nyx said, her nose stuffed up. "Make us proud." She was then about to sneeze. She turned her head away, making sure not to sneeze all over anypony, and let it out, along with a magical blast. Twilight fired a blast to intercept the blast that came from Nyx's horn.

"It's a good thing that Princess Celestia has sent these in," Twilight said, levitating a couple rings. "In the case of unicorns, or alicorns, catching a cold, it's best if we disable their magic until they're feeling better." She then put a ring each on Nyx and Daylight's horns.

"I kinda wish we had those a lot sooner," Dusk said, Twilight nodding in agreement.





Early the next morning, Dusk, Velvet, Night Light, Spike and Silverstream were walking towards Sweet Apple Acres. Night Light was pulling a cart full of tools.

Silverstream yawned and said, "I still can't believe you ponies have to get up early for this event."

"Oh, we got up early just to prepare the carts in time," Night Light said. "It's better to do it early and get it done before the race starts than to come in later and after the race starts."

"I'm actually going to be strolling around the built up construction areas where the other students will be building their carts," Velvet said. "I'm also going to make sure that they're going to be building their carts to see what the fillies or colts are wanting them to be."

"So, what kind of cart are you wanting to do, Dusk?" Spike asked.

"I've been thinking about it all night, actually," Dusk said. "Sometimes, Pinewood Derby competitors always want to go for the fastest, or some want to go for the most cool looking. I actually want to try something that's fast, and cool looking."

"Fast and cool looking, huh?" Night Light asked. "Well, we can probably have the main part of the cart nearly shaped like a fast car, and design the outside like something cool. What do you humans find cool?"

Dusk then thought about it. He then gave a smirking look, and turned his head to look at Spike. Spike raised an eyebrow at that, and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Ah, I see," Night Light said. "Make the cart look like a dragon. Well then, you tell me how you want it to look, and we'll get started on it."

"So, are your friends competing in this race as well?" Velvet asked.

"Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are," Dusk said. "The Tri-Pies and Pinkie Pie are at Sugarcube Corner, working the shop and watching the Cake Twins while Mr. and Mrs. Cake are out of town."

"Aw, that's too bad," Velvet said. "So, did your friends say what they're going for?"

"I think so," Dusk said, thinking. "I think Apple Bloom is wanting to go for the fastest, Sweetie Belle for traditional, and Scootaloo for most creative."

"Well then, I'm gonna go to Cheerilee, and then make the rounds," Velvet said. "I'll check on you boys later. Silverstream, you want to come along?"

"Do I?!" Silverstream asked excitedly. She then started flying and followed Velvet as she was leaving.





Dusk and Night Light were finishing up the shaping of the cart while Spike was standing on all fours, leaning forward, like he was standing like a dog, which we all know he's done in the other dimension.

"Uh, Dusk, Night Light?" Spike asked. "How long do I have to keep standing like this?"

"We're almost done, Spike," Dusk said, sanding the last of the edge with sandpaper. "And... done. Okay, now you can stand up right." Spike then stood up on two legs, and pushed the bottom of his backside forward, the sound of bones cracking coming out.

"Good," Spike said. "I was almost starting to cramp. I just hope I don't end up walking on all fours the rest of my life."

"Okay, now for the color," Night Light said. "Oh, and I almost forgot." Night Light then levitated side wings that go on the sides of the cart like doors. "Dragon wing doors."

"Oh, now that's cool!" Dusk said.

"Oh, man!" Spike said. "Now that's gonna give you some extra creativity points."

"Let's do this!" Dusk said.

"Hold on, we have to paint it, first," Night Light said. "What colors are you wanting to go for?"

"I was thinking the same colors as Spike," Dusk said. "Purple, green spines, and we'll use the same color as Spike's belly for the inner wings."

"Good call," Spike said. He then cracked his knuckles. "Let's get to painting." They then headed for the paint cans they had. They then mixed the cans to exactly the same colors as Spike, and they started painting the cart.





When they finished painting the cart, Night Light was using a heat spell to carefully dry the paint on the cart. As Night Light was finishing up, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were walking up to them.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo said. "Now that's cool!"

"Oh, hey, girls," Dusk said. "What brings you over here?"

Apple Bloom sighed and said, "We were tryin' ta tell out sisters that we wanted ta go for fastest..."

"...Creative..." Scootaloo said.

"...And traditional," Sweetie Belle said. "But our sisters wouldn't listen, and started making the carts their own way."

"Isn't that against the rules?" Dusk asked.

"It actually is," Night Light said. "The choice of how the cart is supposed to be goes to the young pony, not the older one. If the cart is not made from the choice of the young pony, the cart is disqualified. It's in the rules of the Applewood Derby."

"No doubt they're too stubborn to listen," Spike said. He then chuckled and started getting goo-goo eyes. "Especially Rarity."

"Okay, Spike," Dusk said. "Anyway, we gotta tell Grandma Velvet and Miss Cheerilee about this."

"Tell us what?" came Velvet's voice. They all looked towards the voice and saw her, Cheerilee and Silverstream coming up to them.

Apple Bloom sighed and said, "Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash are building our carts in the way that they want and not listening to what we were wanting our carts to be."

"What?!" Cheerilee asked. She then sighed. "Here we go again."

"Has this happened before?" Dusk asked.

"You have no idea," Night Light said. "Even longer than I was born." Cheerilee, Velvet and Spike, the dragon being levitated in Velvet's magic, walked over towards where Applejack was building the cart.

Applejack noticed them coming up and said, "Howdy, Cheerilee. Velvet. Spike. What can Ah do ya fer?"

"Applejack, have you been building the cart the way you want and not listening to your sister?" Cheerilee asked as Velvet was putting Spike down.

"C'mon, Cheerilee," Applejack said. "The Apples have been doin' the Applewood Derby in traditional carts for as long as this tradition started. No doubt our cart's gonna lose that tradition."

"True, true," Velvet said. "Except..." She then looked down at Spike and nodded. Spike started inhaling, and then he blew out a burst of fire towards the cart. Applejack noticed, jumped out of the way, and the cart got burnt to a crisp.

"Sweet Celestia!" Applejack said. She then got angry and looked towards the three of them. "Why did ya do that?! Apple Bloom and Ah were gonna win the traditional ribbon in the race."

"Apple Bloom wanted to go for the fastest cart, and you knew it, didn't you?" Velvet asked, angrily. "You just built the cart your way and completely ignored your sister. You have two options. Build a fast car, or be disqualified from the Applewood Derby."

Applejack gasped at that and said, "Disqualified?! But Ah..." She then saw the rules of the Applewood Derby. Mostly the rule that the cart has to be made from the filly or colt's decision. "Ah, shoot. Guess Ah was too focused on what Ah wanted, Ah overlooked and ignored what Apple Bloom wanted."

"You're lucky that your family always has spares in case of this particular reason," Cheerilee said. She then looked towards Velvet and Spike. "On with the other two." Velvet and Spike nodded as the three of them headed for Rainbow Dash's area. She was finishing up on the polishing.

"There," Rainbow Dash said. "No way we're gonna lose the race. After all, we got the fastest." Just then, Spike's flames came in and burnt the cart to a crisp, Rainbow Dash leaning away from the cart as it was set ablaze. Rainbow Dash looked towards where the flames came from and saw Spike, Velvet and Cheerilee standing there. All of them were giving angry expressions. Rainbow Dash got angry herself and said, "Hey, what's the big idea?! I just finished polishing the fastest cart here!"

"We could see that," Cheerilee said. "But there's a problem." She then pointed at the rules of the Applewood Derby. "The most important rule is that the cart has to be made from the choice of the filly or colt, and not their deciding partner. Scootaloo chose you to be her partner, but you weren't listening to what she wanted. She chose to compete for the most creative cart, not the fastest."

"WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash asked. "No, that's not what I heard."

"That's the thing," Cheerilee said. "You did hear what Scootaloo wanted. You just weren't listening. Build a creative cart, or you're disqualified. Like how you were disqualified from the Sisterhooves Social for not eating the pie in that one portion of the race."

"Ouch," Rainbow Dash said. "Okay, I deserve that." She then sighed as Spike, Cheerilee and Velvet were walking away. "Guess I was too busy with what I wanted, I never got to hear what Scootaloo wanted. Guess I'm just too stubborn like a mule." Just then, the sound of a mule came from behind Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash then turned her head to face the mule that was behind her. "No offense."



"None taken," the mule, known as Cletus, said.

At the area where Rarity had her cart made, she was finishing up on polishing the cart. She then said, "Fabulous. Absolutely fabulous. No way I'm gonna lose the most creative cart ribbon... this time." Spike, Velvet and Cheerilee walked up to the cart. Velvet and Cheerilee looked towards Spike, nodded, and Spike nodded as well. He then inhaled. Just before Spike was about to breathe fire, Rarity turned towards the three and said, "Oh, hello there." Spike then swallowed the inhale, and gave off goo-goo eyes.

"H-hi... Rarity," Spike said, giving a goofy smile.

"So, what brings you over here?" Rarity asked.

"Rarity, you have a bit of a problem," Cheerilee said.

"A problem?" Rarity asked. "What is it? Is my cart not creative enough? Because I can make some quick changes."

"That's the problem right there," Velvet said. "It's not your cart." Rarity raised an eyebrow in confusion. "It's supposed to be Sweetie Belle's, and she was going to compete for the traditional cart ribbon. And since you haven't listened to your sister's decision, you have two decisions, build a traditional cart, or be disqualified."

"WHAT?!" Rarity asked. "Tra... traditional? But I..."

"Spike," Cheerilee said. "Burn it."

"I... I-I..." Spike said, still dazed by Rarity's beauty.

"Looks like we're doing this the hard way," Velvet said. She then used her magic to grab something. The sound of Silverstream yelping in pain came in. Velvet had actually pulled out one of Silverstream's feathers, and she used it to tickle Spike's belly, making him laugh. That caused him to let out some fire, hitting the cart built by Rarity.

Rarity whimpered and said, "I... guess I have no choice than." She then sighed.





Since Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash had to rebuild the carts to the Crusaders's standards, the Applewood Derby race was delayed until all the carts were prepared. Which was good because Velvet noticed something about the track.

"Um, Cheerilee," Velvet said. "Don't you think that the track looping around on the same exact point might be a little too dangerous for the foals?"

"What do you mean?" Cheerilee asked.

"You see this point here?" Velvet said, pointing at a part of the track on the map. More specifically, the intersection at the center of the track. "If multiple racers collide at that same point at the same time, it could end up blocking the track, and nopony will be able to finish the race."

"Oh, yes, I see," Cheerilee said. "Well, it's a good thing we've delayed the race until Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash finish the carts the way that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo wanted them to be."

Silverstream came in, looked at the map and said, "Ooh, that could be a problem."

"Yes, it could," Cheerilee said. "Well then, we got time."





It was almost sunset. Twilight was bringing in some soup for both Nyx and Daylight. She levitated soup up to Nyx's bed on top and Daylight's on the bottom.

"There we go," Twilight said. She then saw the clock in the room. "I wonder what's taking your brothers, grandparents and Silverstream so long." Just then, the sound of an engine roaring came in. "That must be them."

Twilight then headed out of the room. When she came outside, she saw the cart that Dusk was driving with Spike in the passenger seat. Velvet, Night Light and Silverstream were walking up to Twilight.

"Whoa, is that Dusk's cart?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Spike said. "Even I'm impressed by it."

"Especially since Dusk not only won the ribbons for fastest cart, but most creative," Night Light said.

"I actually see it," Twilight said. "Okay, so we're gonna have to place that in one of the unoccupied rooms. Dusk, if you decide to drive it around Ponyville, make sure you're accompanied by me, your grandfather or your grandmother."

"Sure, Mom," Dusk said as Twilight was using her magic to lift the cart, which was a little heavy for her.

"Wow," Twilight said. "This is... really... heavy."

"Didn't Nyx say you lifted an Ursa Minor and a water tower full of milk through Ponyville and back to the cave it came from?" Dusk asked. "As a unicorn?"

"Touché," Twilight said. "Okay, so you won both the fastest and most creative ribbons. Who won the traditional ribbon?"

"Sweetie Belle," Dusk, Spike, Night Light, Velvet and Silverstream said in unison.

"Really?" Twilight asked. "I thought it'd be Apple Bloom."

"Originally, that's what Applejack thought," Velvet said. "Apparently, those three fillies wanted to try something. Apple Bloom wanted to go for the fastest cart, but Applejack was trying to build a traditional cart without listening to her sister. The same thing happened with Rarity and Rainbow Dash."

"Rarity was building a creative cart when Sweetie Belle wanted traditional," Spike said. "And we all know what Rainbow Dash was wanting to go for."

"Fastest over Scootaloo's creativity?" Twilight asked.

"Bingo," Velvet said. They walked into the castle doors, and closed them right as they passed through.