//------------------------------// // Round three is a tricky one // Story: priceless // by Derec mc coy //------------------------------// “So…” What would be next?” Rainbow Dash asked. They already had their sleep, and now, they were waiting for the third round to begin. “Ah don’t know I can’t see anything. Someone planted a bush or somethin’ in front of our window.” All of a sudden, Roban entered the room. “Congratulations young mares. You made it to the third round. But be careful. This is a tricky one.” He warned. “How tricky?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Tricky enough to send everypony home.” Roban said. Applejack cocked her eyebrow. “So, what’s the test this time?” “I can’t tell you.” Roban said. “You know that it must be a secret.” “Oh, come on.” Rainbow Dash said. “Can’t you give us a hint?” “I said it was tricky. And even that was too much information.” He said. “Fine.” Dash mumbled. she watched around, and looked for a chair. “Why aren’t there any chairs in this room? or other furniture?” “Low budget, and it’s not like you’re here for a long time. right?” Roban said. “Low budget? Have you seen this stadium? It’s big!” Applejack said. “Yeah, but this building was also for the Equestria Games, a couple of years ago. Filthy just hired it.” Roban explained. “That makes sense.” Rainbow Dash said. “Now, it’s time to get ready. They will call you out a few minutes.” Roban said. “May Ah ask you. Who’s yelling the names?” Applejack asked. “The sheriff does that.” Roban answered. And he opened the door. “Why?” “Just askin’” Applejack said. The three walked to the stairs and walked up, until they were in the tiny hall with the door to the stage. “And where are the other competitors? Why don’t we see them around after the rounds?” Applejack asked. “They are in different waiting rooms. And the judge wants to keep every duo separated. All rules to keep this ‘fair’. If you want to have the exact reason, you must ask the princess.” Roban answered. He listened carefully and heard the name of the two mares. “Your turn. Now go and beat the others.” He opened the door, and let Rainbow Dash and Applejack pass. “Thanks Roban.” Applejack said. After they walked on the stage, and stood together with the remaining participators, Filthy Rich started his monologue about the next round. “Dear competitors. You have all proven your strength and speed. But now, it won’t be that easy. You will have to prove that you’re smart as well. With a good memory, and some insight, you can pass the next test. Twilight…” Filthy turned to the princess “Explain for us.” “In the middle, you can see a maze now. And, to be honest. It’s probably the biggest ever made. Every duo gets twenty minutes to observe the labyrinth. After that, they will have to enter the maze, and find the exit, as soon as possible. This time, every duo goes separately. The other three groups will wait in their room.” Twilight explained. “And again. No magic, no wings. Play fair, and have fun.” Filthy Rich took the megaphone back. The first duo who can start are Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Shucks. We have to go first.” Applejack said. “So? What’s the big deal? If we go first, we can show the other teams that they don’t have to try anymore.” Rainbow Dash said. “Sometimes Dash…” Applejack said. “your ego is just too big.” “May I ask Rainbow Dash and Applejack to go to the start position?” Filthy Rich said. “And to the other competitors, please leave the stage.” The start position was on a little platform on the edge of the stage. So they would have a better view of the maze. “And your observation time starts… now!” Filthy said. “Okay… so, the entrance is right in front of us, and the exit is over her.” Applejack said. “so, if we go in here, and then… to the left…” Rainbow Dash started to giggle. “What’s so funny?” Applejack asked. “You don’t solve many mazes, do you?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Oh, like you do them everyday.” Applejack said. “No, but I know how to solve them. See, the secret is that you have to start from the exit.” Rainbow Dash said. “it may sounds weird, but if you start looking from the exit, it’s easier to find your way to the entrance.” “And how do you know it?” Applejack asked. “Daring Do, book two.” Rainbow Dash said excited. “Daring do has to find her way in a maze with two broken wings. But the maze is filled with traps, fire and enemies. But there is no other way. She must find her way before the moon shines on the temple of seas, and summons the demons of…” “Dash!” Applejack yelled. “Focus.” “Oh, right… Sorry.” Rainbow Dash said. “So, starting from the exit…” Applejack mumbled. After a little while, they found a way through the maze. “Heck, it’s true. It is easier if you start from the exit.” “Told you.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “But now, we have to remember that.” Applejack turned back to Rainbow Dash. “Did you read something in the daring do books about that too?” Rainbow Dash thought for a little while. “Daring Do watched special marks. Like a broken wall, or cracks in the floor. But since this is a dirt path, with bushes… no… I don’t have anything.” “Shucks.” Applejack said. “Then we’ll have to remember it like… the best we can do.” Applejack and Rainbow Dash tried to do there best to remember the exact path, but it was no use. It was just to long. “This is nuts. We will get lost, like back when we first fought Discord.” Applejack said. “But now, I won’t leave you.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Your time is over.” Filthy Rich yelled. “Get to the entrance please.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack did what Filthy asked them. “This is it.” Applejack sighed. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this round.” “Trust me. We will get through this.” Rainbow Dash assured. “On your marks.” Filthy yelled “Set… GO!” The first part was easy to remember. They ran straight ahead, and after a few moments, they had to turn right. And then left. “And now… right.” Applejack said. “You’re sure? I thought we had to go to the left.” Rainbow Dash said. Applejack closed her eyes and tried to remember the way. “No, first… to the right… then… left… no wait… First left. Right?” “Great. We forgot the road.” Rainbow Dash said. “Hey, you’re not even trying.” Applejack said. “I say nothing, so we won’t confuse each other.” Rainbow Dash said. “Well, You failed” Applejack said. “Stop arguing. Or else we will forget the right road for sure.” Rainbow Dash said. “Right! That was it. first, to the right.” Applejack said. Rainbow Dash rolled with her eyes. “Let me navigate us through this. I’m used to reorienting myself after a bad trick makes me spin out.” She looked at the sun. and then, she turned herself, so the sun was now on the left side of her. Then she looked at the path which laid in front of her. “That way.” Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “And… you see that…?” “With help of the sun. The exit is on the southern side of this maze. And it’s still morning, so the sun is standing in the east. So… keep the sun on our left, and we’ll be fine. That’s one of the thing I learned in flight camp.” “What? That you have to keep the sun on your left?” Applejack asked. “No. navigating with the sun.” Rainbow Dash smiled. and she walked in. on every crossroad, she stopped, and pondered for a while, what the best route could be. After a little while, they found the exit. “See. That wasn’t that hard. Was it?” Rainbow Dash said proudly. Applejack was too amazed to say something. “Who said that this round would be tricky?”