The next morning, a soft drizzle was falling. As Twilight walked to Sweet Apple Acres with Rarity and Pinkie, Rainbow Dash went zooming overhead in a blur. Twilight frowned after her, then addressed her companions. "Rainbow seems to be taking her defeat rather badly."
"Of course she is, dear," said Rarity, taking a break from moaning about the havoc the rain would wreak on her mane. "Flying is her special talent, after all- I suppose she feels the same as you did after Trixie defeated you at magic that time. I can't imagine how I'd feel if somepony I knew made a better dress than I could..." Rarity shuddered.
"Yeah! And I'd feel awful if somepony I knew threw a better party than mine!" chimed Pinkie Pie.
"And flying isn't even Applejack's talent." mused Rarity. "I was far behind, so I never saw what actually happened."
"I think, judging by the bruise on Rainbow's muzzle, that she crashed into the finishing pole. Then Applejack swept by her." said Twilight thoughtfully.
"Anyway, this competition today is going to be lots of fun!" chanted Pinkie. "I like applebucking!"
"I thought you hated working at the Acres." said Twilight, surprised.
"Why on earth would you think that, silly?"
"Um... never mind, we're here."
The gates of Sweet Apple Acres reared ahead of them. Rainbow was flying back and forth, pacing in the air. There was no sign of either Fluttershy or Applejack.
"Where is she?" growled Rainbow. "I swear, if she's doing this on purpose I'll..."
Before Rainbow could finish, there was a loud cry of, "Yee-haw!" from amongst the trees and Applejack came galloping over, her trademark Stetson hat perched on top of her mane. At her side raced Winona, Applejack's trusty pet dog.
Applejack leaped the fence in one bound, while Winona squeezed under it and, tail wagging, went to sniff at their visitors, growling at Rarity as she caught the scent of Opalescence.
Now the five friends stood patiently waiting for Fluttershy; though there was an almost visible tension in the air between Applejack and Rainbow Dash.
Finally, Fluttershy appeared over the trees. When she landed, she was full of apologies, but as soon as she mentioned the name Angel, her friends all rolled their eyes and exchanged meaningful glances.
"So, let's get this contest started!" cried Pinkie.
"Hold on a second there, Rainbow, yer've got summat on yer nose..." smirked Applejack. Rainbow scowled, wincing as her bruise twinged with pain.
"Yes, Pinkie. Let's get this thing going so I can knock the smirk off Applejack's face," the blue pegasus snarled.
"We'll see about that," said Applejack breezily. "Now, the contest's all set up, so if y'all follow me..."
Applejack led them through the orchard into a field full of Golden Delicious trees. Succulent yellow apples hung from every branch, just ready for picking. Applejack stopped and turned to the others.
"Big Mac an' Applebloom are harvesting over the other side of the orchard so they won't disturb the contest. Now, each of us has twelve buckets." Applejack waved a hoof at a tree at the other end of the field; six stacks of twelve buckets stood at the base of the trunk.
"Every one needs to be filled up with apples. Quickest to fill their buckets wins. First rule is ya're only allowed ter carry two buckets at a time. Once they're full, take 'em over there and grab two more! But this is a test o' strength, so, Rainbow and Fluttershy, no flyin',and Rarity and Twilight, no magic! Just good ol' applebuckin'."
To demonstrate, Applejack gave the tree behind her a hefty kick with her hind legs; all of the apples fell out into a spare bucket which Applejack quickly pushed beneath them.
Applejack smiled. "Ter give y'all a chance, I'll give yer a thirty-second head start. Now, let's go!"
Rainbow had been poising herself throughout Applejack's speech, and was off and running towards the buckets before the others could even put one hoof forward. A split-second later, Pinkie and Rarity were vying to get ahead of each other as they galloped for the buckets, while Twilight and Fluttershy were a little further behind. Applejack leaned on the fence, slowly counting down the time.
Rainbow reached the buckets seconds before the others, and slung one over each wing. She wasn't flying, she reasoned, so she wasn't breaking the rules. As she turned, Rarity and Pinkie arrived and with ease Rarity slung two buckets onto her back. They balanced perfectly as she wheeled around.
For a moment, Rainbow stared, wondering if Rarity was keeping them there with magic. But there was no pale blue aura, so there was no cheating going on.
Just then, Pinkie barged past Rainbow, out into the trees, and Twilight and Fluttershy reached the buckets.
Snapping back to reality, Rainbow tore out into the field, the buckets clanking on her wings. She arrived at the first tree and quickly spun, raising her haunches for a powerful kick.
Applejack still watched calmly from the start point, munching on an apple. Winona whined at her hooves.
"Oh, you're right, girl. Time for me ter win." Applejack put down the apple core and with a loud whinny, kicked up her hooves and went galloping to where Twilight and Fluttershy were just departing with their buckets.
Rainbow was on her way back, straining under the weight of two buckets of apples, when she saw Applejack fast approaching. She sped up and dropped the full buckets, scooping up two more empty ones just as Applejack skidded to a halt. Applejack shot her rival a smirk before flipping two buckets onto her back and racing away.
From then on, Applejack and Rainbow were almost neck and neck. Applejack quickly made up for her handicapped start and seemed tireless. The other four competitors didn't matter to the two rivals, and as the number of filled buckets mounted so did the ferocity of the competition.
Finally, Rainbow slammed her hooves into the last tree and felt the apples fall into the bucket. But then she saw Applejack with two filled buckets on her back, racing towards the drop-off point. Panicked, Rainbow leaped out, pulling her legs on long strides. She closed the gap slowly, until they were level.
Applejack looked over at the pegasus. "Still think ya can beat me, pardner?"
"I know so." growled Rainbow determinedly.
Their hooves thudded the ground at a rate equal to their heartbeats, and just as they neared the finish, a voice cried delightedly, "I win!"
"Huh?" Rainbow tried to stop, as did Applejack, but they were going too fast. They skidded, tripped and went hurtling into the rows of apple-filled buckets.
"All my hard work, ruined!" said the voice indignantly. Rainbow shook her head and looked up. Rarity glared down at her crossly.
"Rarity?" asked Applejack, getting to her hooves. "You won?"
The glamorous unicorn huffed. "No need to sound so surprised, darling. I'll have you know that since Spikey-Wikey captured me that one time I've been taking martial arts lessons, only for the purpose of self-defence, you understand. I'm not just a pretty face you know! Or should that be beautiful face..."
Leaving Rarity to muse, Applejack and Rainbow turned simultaneously to Twilight and the other two, who were watching quietly. "She really beat us?" asked Rainbow in a small voice.
Fluttershy nodded. "Oh, yes. I saw her a few times, and she knew exactly where to hit the tree to make enough apples to fill two buckets fall."
"While you two were charging up and down like rabid minotaurs, Rarity took the strategic approach." Twilight looked slightly annoyed. "She even beat me with her strategy."
"It was super-duper-looper!" interjected Pinkie with a grin.
"But as it is, I think we can award you two joint second." Twilight manifested a clipboard and quill and began noting things down.
"You're keeping score?" asked Rainbow.
"Absolutely. We've four more competitions to go yet." said Twilight, still scribbling.
"Four more?" echoed Applejack. "What are the other four?"
"Party hosting, dressmaking, caring for animals, and magic." said Twilight matter-of-factly.
"What? But those are you three and Rarity's talents! You'd win!" protested Rainbow.
"I think that the theory which involves us all winning at our own talent has been proven wrong by Applejack and Rarity." said Twilight flatly. "And since we've competed at you two's talents, it seems only fair that we compete at our talents too."
"But this contest was meant to be only me and Applejack competing! You four just joined in for the fun of it."
"OK. Go and tell Rarity that since she was never really in the competition in the first place, that she can't have won this round and that she can't get the 'grand prize.' See how she takes it." said Twilight, her eyes still on the clipboard.
Rainbow cringed. "Well, there's no need for that,I don't think..."
"Wait just a minute!" Applejack stepped forwards. "How exactly do ya expect me, Rainbow, Fluttershy and Pinkie to compete at magic? Ya might have some spell to give us horns, but you always said magic took lots of practice. And as well as that, you're the Element of Magic. How in the hay are we ever supposed to beat you?"
Twilight frowned. "Good point. I suppose..."
There was a flash of light. When it cleared, Rainbow, Applejack, Fluttershy and Pinkie were all sporting unicorn horns.
Rarity trotted over. "What was that flash of light just n- Huh?" She looked around at all of them, then stamped her hoof. "Why do Rainbow and Fluttershy get to be alicorns too? It's just not fair!" She stomped away to one of the buckets of apples she had collected and moodily began to crunch on one.
"Um..." Applejack prodded the orange horn on her head. "Why've ya given us these now?"
"So that you can practice with them. The magic competition will be last, so you have the rest of today and three more days to practice." Twilight dotted something on her clipboard, and then it vanished in a burst of magic. "So, what competition shall we do tomorrow?"
Pinkie opened her mouth wide, but before she could speak Rainbow butted in. "Not partying, I think. I'm exhausted. Why don't we try something quiet, I don't know, caring for animals maybe?"
Fluttershy nodded, looking enthusiastic. Twilight smiled, though Pinkie looked a little disappointed. "Okay then!" the alicorn proclaimed. "We'll meet at Fluttershy's cottage tomorrow morning."
Content, the friends dispersed, until only Rarity remained, crunching solemnly but daintily on her 16th apple.