//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic--One Last Race. 
// by Godzilla313 
//------------------------------//

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic—One Last Race.

By

John O Smith.

PREFACE

I have recently come into contact with this modern version of the ponies, and I felt awkward to know that I seem to have become a Brony without even trying. The show is so much better and well-written than what first existed. I would say that this show was far more than for young girls, and is really good enough for anyone to enjoy. I have been getting up to speed on the episodes and I think I am getting the feel for this. If I have not quite, please forgive me, but I will attempt to stay true to the characters and make an enjoyable tale. For this story, I wanted to examine this by telling a story very loosely based on the life of the legendary racehorse named Secretariat, and what his story would have been like if it had taken place in the MLP universe. Though I will change his name, this story will be set with him in retirement and seclusion, looking to settle in Ponyville under his true name and looking to become the school's local track and field coach, and what happens when he is discovered by the central ponies for who he is. I hope you enjoy the story.

Chapter 1

It was now early May, and Winter Wrap-Up was now a memory for the year. Though Princess Twilight had her own kingdom and castle now, a part of her heart still rested in Ponyville, considering her best years had been spent there. Indeed, now that her friends were a part of her royal court, they still maintained their hometown ties, and Twilight decided to transfer the library at the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters to her new home. Just because she was a princess and proper now, she still wanted to keep something going for Ponyville. This then made her library huge, and there would be many books to read and learn from available to her. She came in with her ever faithful friend and companion, Spike, and her pet owl Owlowicious, ready to get to work on setting up the place and readying it for public use. Spike moaned a touch and said, "Honestly, I don't see why we should have to be the ones to clean up. I mean, you're a princess and all now; why not just send some servants to clean up?"

"Spike, we went over this already," she said, rolling her eyes, "I may be a princess, but I am still perfectly capable of taking care of something like the library. Besides, a filly sometimes needs a place to retreat to and call her own; a place of quiet and solitude when she needs it."

She had just finished saying this as she opened the door to the library, expecting to see an empty place ready for patrons. However, when she swung the door open, she was assaulted by confetti, silly string, and streamers. Loud music was playing from the phonograph, and a hearty, "SURPRISE!" followed. Twilight was shocked as Spike and Owl nearly crawled out of their skins to the sudden surprise. The place had been decorated for a party, with everything clean and put in its place. Pinkie Pie, of course, was bouncing off the walls, yelling, "Welcome to your new library…well, this really isn't new, though it kind of is, since you'll be staying here, but really it's your castle already, but that doesn't mean you can't have a housewarming away from home…warming…thingy…you know what I mean. Anyway, welcome!"

She started breaking into a welcome song, dealing with how it is a special new home and what it meant to her, her friends, the whole town, and other such things. She finally calmed down and said, "We all agreed that it would be nice to have a party to welcome home our friend, since we were able to get here ahead of you and all."

Twilight was a touch annoyed at first that her plans for the day had been thrown askew, but then she just sighed and smiled, saying, "Thank you so much for the greeting, but I figured that…"

"…that you would have to clean and tidy?" finished Rarity as a question, "Oh, of course not, darling! After all, you are a princess now, and we are your court, so it was only right for us to come here and tend to the needs of our liege-mare and…"

"Rarity," mildly scolded Twilight, "You also happen to be my close friends. I would have never insisted on you becoming my servants. I would never want to think of you that way. Please, I know there is certain decorum when we have an official court, but like this, it's okay just to be ourselves and casual."

"Yeah," said a smiling and confident Rainbow Dash, "That's the way everything should be."

She started to strut about in mock formality, saying in an exaggerated air, "Besides, the whole pomp and circumstance thing is so stuffy and stiff."

She went back to herself and then said, "They all seem to be putting on a show, trying to kiss up to you and get close to you."

"Believe me," said Twilight, "After the time I spent with Princess Celestia, I learned a long time ago what that was all about. Trust me, because of her, I can spot a phony a mile away."

Yet, Rainbow Dash sighed and said, "But why do WE have to act like that? Who made up all those dumb rules, anyway? Best to be yourself, I say."

"Well, y'all have to admit," added Applejack, "It does get a bit boring and irritating, but there is sumpthin' to be said about good manners and all. It's jus' what they call polite, I guess, and Granny Smith always taught me to try to play by the local rules and such."

She had remembered how all that went during her time in Mane-hattan, and though she was not all that comfortable for her, she knew how to keep her mouth shut and play the game. Fluttershy then dared to add in a quiet voice, "Well, sometimes, they can be a bit scary. I always feel like somepony is running a ruler up and down me."

"Well, at least here, you don't have to worry about that," assured Twilight. "But, hey, you went through the trouble, and I think it would be okay to let our manes down a bit!"

Pinkie Pie cheered and said, "Then let's kick it up a notch!" putting on some faster music and starting the refreshments. It was going to be an interesting summer.

As the party progressed, Pinkie then said, "I just hope the welcome I hope to give tomorrow is going to be just as fun, if not funner."

Rarity rolled her eyes and said, "Honestly, dear, I do not think 'funner' is a real word. I am sure it is not in the dictionary."

"Oh, well, it's in this one!" said Pinkie, grinning, and holding up a book which was entitled, "The Pinkie Pie Dictionary of Party Lingo."

"Um…well…I guess…." Said Rarity, not sure what to say, but that caught Twilight's attention, and she said, "There's a new pony coming to town?"

"Oh, yes," she said gleefully, "Apple Bloom mentioned it. She said there was going to be a new physical education teacher in her school, and that he was going to coach the track and field team for the school, and the local club in town! He is a stallion named Clark O'Leary, and he comes from the east, from Mareginia! I bet he has all kinds of good stories to tell!"

Everyone had a different picture of who this could be. Rarity envisioned a good country gentlecolt, while Applejack imagined a good ol' country pony with whom she could connect. Rainbow Dash imagined a handsome and well-built stallion, while Fluttershy, hearing the word "coach" imagined a strict regimental type more along the lines of a drill instructor. Twilight, however, said, "Well, just don't overwhelm him," (which was like telling a fish that he shouldn't swim so much,) "Give him a chance to get to know the place before you flood him with your hospitality."

"Well, duh!" Pinkie responded, "I would never want to drown a new friend! I think a wading pool would be a good start!"

Everyone just sighed, thinking they would have to do some damage control the next day when this new pony came in.

The next day, not but an hour after the sun had arisen to a cobalt blue sky, a humble wagon came into town, being pulled by a reddish-chestnut pony who cut quite a handsome profile. He had a shaggy mane that had a touch of length, but nothing too long, along with a confident face, and a mark on his flank of what looked like a race muzzle covered with goggles. If his mark was any indication, he indeed had a racing past. Considering what Pinkie Pie said, this had to be the pony that was expected by the school and local track and field club. He looked around, taking in all the sights, trying to remember faces, shops and landmarks, and so forth, trying to get as familiar with his new surroundings as quickly as possible. He saw the police department, fire department, the open air market, the supply shop, the town square, the party streamers, balloons, refreshments, large banner saying, "Welcome to Ponyville, Clark O'Leary… He stopped, shook his head, did a double-take, and heard the sounds of a marching band start up. "Confused" would not be an adequate description of the look on his face. He followed the sound of the music to see Pinkie Pie at the center of her one-pony band, playing "Dixie" with all her might. She then started her welcome song, singing:

"Welcome, welcome, welcome, to our town; we're here to make you happy and take away a frown! We hear you are a track coach and that you like to run; but we also hope you're comfy and you like to have some fun. The students in the school await your smiling face; you'll make them healthy, happy, and bring joy all o'er the place! You'll make the local track team all happy and all cheery; so, welcome now to Ponyville Mister Clark—O—Learyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

She was now on her knees in a nice Broadway pose, panting for air and a huge toothy smile on her face. After a few moments of silence where Clark was trying to figure out just how to react to this, he finally smiled and said, "Well, I say: I'm familiar with southern hospitality, but I'd say we'd have sumpthin to learn from y'all!"

She was up close to him a second and said, "Oh, that's nothing. You should see what I do when someone real important comes to town…oh, not that YOU'RE not important, I mean, I hope you don't think you're not special…"

He put a hoof on her mouth and said, "I think I get it, little filly, and I'm not offended. It'd take a might bit more to get me there."

"Oh, great!" she said, "So, where are you staying? I can get a housewarming party started there."

He smirked and said, "You must be the local caterer."

"Weeeeell," she pondered, "I work for one, or used to. Well, I do and I don't. I now split my time between that and working for Princess Twilight Sparkle."

"Shucks," he answered, "You work for someone like that? You must really be able to put on a good hootenanny!"

"Um…what's a hootenanny," responded Pinkie Pie, saying "hootenanny" real slow.

"Well, it's a real fun party," he said, "A right lively shindig."

"Oh, okey, dokey, chockey!" she said, as lively as ever, and then said, "I can get my friends to help you set up your house!"

He chuckled and said, "Well, since I'm going to be coaching the local track team and all, they gave me a house right on the grounds."

"Great!" she said, quite gleefully, "Then I'll go…" but he put a hoof on her and said, "Nah, that's okay. I'd just like to relax after my long journey and ease into it. I'll just set up, and then enjoy a quiet moment with a good mint julep out on the veranda."

"Hmm… Okay, then maybe another time!" she then said, and followed that with, "Well, are we at least friends then?"

He gave another chuckle and said, "Darlin', how could I resist a smile like that?" giving a good southern gentlepony bow, saying, "I am honored to make your acquaintance."

He started on his way as she said, "Well, have a great day! Let me know when you want to have a good nootehanny!"

He laughed and said, "That's 'hootenanny'!"

After he left, she then stopped, thought, and then said, "Wait, he never told me what a shindig was…."

Once at the track, he set down the wagon, thinking to unload it later, and went straight through the house and onto the track. He stood there for a good few minutes, staring at it and taking some deep breaths, taking in the whole scene. He seemed to be in deep thought as he did, as if he was remembering some things. With a good smile, he said, "Yes, this will be a good place to stay, and a good life. Maybe I can just have a quiet life for once."

With that, he went back in and began to set up housekeeping.

At the library, Twilight was beginning to sort out some books, and adding some new ones that came in over the months she had been away. At this, Rarity came in with Sweetie Belle, Applejack and Apple Bloom in tow. "Oh, hi everypony!" Twilight greeted brightly. The fillies began to bow, but Twilight said, "Oh, that's okay. You don't have to do that right now. We're all alone."

"See?" said Bloom to Belle, "I told you she was not all stuffy!"

"But she's a princess now!" protested Sweetie Belle.

"But, what I am doesn't change who I am," said Twilight, "I'm still me—more or less—and I'm still you're friend."

They both smiled as Rarity then cut in and said, "Well, I've been able to see and meet the new pony in town."

"Yeah," said Apple Bloom, "And I thought Big Macintosh had muscle. He doesn't look like he has any fat on him, and yet he's so streamline."

Rarity sighed and then said, "And I would say that he is quite the southern gentlepony. He is well mannered, and knows how to speak properly to the ladies."

Applejack looked a touch aggravated at that and said, "And you make it sound like us country folk ain't got no culture."

"Oh, I don't mean it like that," said Rarity in protest, "I just mean that it seems he had some good upbringing, like you, darling. How did Fancy Pants put it? Ah, yes: he called us 'curiously rustic', and I know for certain he did not mean that in a bad way. Though this Mr. O'Leary is where he is from, he seems he would be just as comfortable in a barn dance as he would the gala."

"He seems real nice," added Sweetie Bell, "I bet he has all kinds of fun games for us to play. It's too bad he won't be starting until next school year. It's too late in the year for him to start now."

"Well, the good thing is that you'll get the whole summer to get to know him," said Twilight, "I'm sure he's going to do a fine job for you foals."

As if having summoned him, in walked Clark, saying, "Howdy, y'all. Well, small town, ain't it?"

"Oh, we are a tight community," said Rarity, "It makes it such a pleasant place to live."

Twilight smiled and said, "What can I do for you today?"

He gave a gentlepony bow and said, "Ah, and you must be the charming princess I've been told so much about."

He took her hoof and gave it a quick peck as he would for any nice mare he would meet, knowing his mother would have whacked his flank for not treating a mare right had he not greeting her properly, and said, "Well, I have some old periodicals and books to donate to the library, if that's okay."

"Oh, sure!" she said, "I'm always glad to have more for people to read."

"It's just I don't have room for them in the new place," he added, "And I really don't read them anymore. I have them in the box."

A lavender glow overcame the box and it floated onto a table, as she said, "Spike, I have some things for you to sort out and order."

He dutifully came out and opened it, pulling things out and making some piles, getting ready to sort them out, as she said, "Well, I hope you do find a home with us. Come back anytime you need help."

"Well, I would like to see if you have any book on the history of this track team in Ponyville," he said, "I'd kind of like to know the history and the kind of reputation the team has had in the past. I know that they've had a hard time as of late, and I want to do what I can to see about fixin' all that."

"Oh sure," she said, "Just let me look in the reference guide on the town's history…"

A draw floated out of the catalogue, and she was able to locate it, and that floated back as another floated to the checkout desk. She stamped it, and then floated it into his pouch. She then noticed the flank and said, "Interesting mark you have. You must have done some racing at one time."

"Well, t'ain't really nuthin' t'write home about," he shrugged off, "but that's all behind me now. Figured it would be a good time t'give back to others the learnin' I got. Well, I'm off to read this and then get a good look at what the team has to offer me in some practice. If you please, I'll take my leave of you and bid you good day. Princess, fine gentlemares…"

He gave a nod to them and he was out the door. Twilight said, "Wow, he really was a nice pony. He'll fit right in with the rest of the ponies in town."

However, as Spike sorted out the magazines, he said, "I don't think he was being quite honest about all of his past."

"Whatever gives you that notion?" questioned Rarity.

Spike held up a copy of "The Sporting Weekly," with a big headline on the front saying, "Athlete of the Year," and a very familiar pony. However, who he was, was not certain, in that he was covered with a racing headdress and goggles, as well as blue and white checkered racing silks that covered him from his neck to his tail, somewhat similar to what a Thunderbolt would wear. He had a big smile, and the underline said, "First triple crown winner in 25 years, and, wow, how he did it! Inside: Clerkalariet's story."

"Clerkalariet?" said Applejack, "What kinda name is that?"

"It's a racing name, dear heart," said Rarity, "All track stars have them."

"Well, he did say he was in the business," said Twilight, "I'm sure he just followed the scene like anyone else. I'm curious, though: I wonder what kind of pony this was. Anyway, Spike, set that one aside, if you could. I want a chance to read it later, if I can."

He smiled and nodded as he set it aside and started sorting the others by date and title. With that, everyone took their lead, as Twilight pondered, "Clerkalariet… I think I've heard of him. I wonder if Clark knew him. I guess I'll find out soon enough."

There was no reason to suspect anything bad about O'Leary, but this did seem to add a slight air of mystery to him. Yet, for Twilight, she thought nothing bad of it, and figured he had a good story to tell them nonetheless. With that, she took up the magazine and went to the reading lounge to read it.