That evening, Rainbow Dash and Applejack sat in there room of the hotel. They expected a letter from the judges to know their time, and if they made it.
Applejack laid on her bed, while Rainbow Dash was stressing out. “Calm down, please.” Applejack said. “Where is that confident daredevil now?”
Rainbow Dash trotted circles, right in front of Applejack’s bed. “You’re not going to tell me that you are all relaxed.”
“Of course I’m a bit curious.” Applejack said. “But I’m not gonna run circles like you.”
*knock knock*
“The door.” Rainbow Dash yelled. And she flew as fast as she could to the door and opened it.
“Oh, it’s you” Rainbow Dash said.
A lavender alicorn stood in the doorway. “Not happy to see me?” and she cocked an eyebrow.
Applejack trotted over. “don’t mind her. She’s waiting for Roban. So she finally knows whether we pass or not.”
“But then I’ve got sad news for you Rainbow” Twilight teased
“We failed?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Nope.” Twilight smiled. “I’m bringing the news. Roban is reporting another duo.”
Rainbow Dash’ eyes widened. “So, we’re still in?”
“Yep.” Twilight smiled. “You were almost the fastest. You were second.”
“YES!” Rainbow Dash yelled. She hugged Applejack in her joy. “This is amazing! We’re almost halfway.”
“Hmpffff.” Applejack could barely breathe “Rainbow… let… me…” She broke out Rainbow Dash’ grasp. “GO!”
“Oops…sorry.” Rainbow Dash blushed.
“So…” Applejack started. “We can go to the next round?”
“Yes,” Twilight said. “But you won’t have to go to the stadium.”
“What?” Applejack asked. “How?”
Twilight smiled mysteriously. “You will see.” She turned to the door, to leave the room. “You should better get some sleep. You will need it.” and she left.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared at each other. “What does she mean with that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Ah don’t know. But Ah do know it’s late. So, we should better hit the hay.” Applejack yawned.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “I guess we just have to wait.”
Applejack trotted to the door of her room. “Good night Rainbow.” She said.
“Good night.” Rainbow Dash said. And she walked to her bedroom too. “One day, I’ve got to tell her.” She thought by herself.
*****
The rays of bright sunlight, shone on Dash’s muzzle and eyes. Which irritated her sensitive eyes. “Applejack…” She mumbled. “Close the curtains please.” After she started to think a little more, she realised something. “Wait a sec… I closed the curtains yesterday evening” She opened her eyes, and found herself in the middle of the forest.
“What the hay is going on here?” it seems like she was teleported with her bed to this open space in the woods. She wondered around and started to think of something important. “Applejack!” she jelled. “Applejack! Are you here?”
“Over here!” Applejack hang upside down in a tree. She was wrapped in her blanket, but she was tight to a branch with a thick wire.
“Applejack? How do you get there?” Rainbow Dash giggled.
“Stop laughin’ and get me out of this thing!” Applejack said annoyed.
“Sorry, I’ll fly over there, and get you out.” Rainbow Dash smiled. Just as she wanted to spread her wings, a magical, purple aura, forced the wings to get back against her body. “What the…”
“What’s wrong?” Applejack asked.
“My wings!” She said anxious “They’re cursed! I can’t spread my wings!” Rainbow Dash started to panic. “This is bad! How is this possible?!?”
“Calm down Dash…” Applejack comforted.
“Calm down?” Rainbow Dash jelled. “How can I calm down? My wings are blocked!”
“And Ah’m stuck in this tree! So get yourself up here, and let me go!” Applejack said.
“Oh, Yeah… sure.” Rainbow Dash said. “Right after I found a way to spread my wings…”
“Dash!” Applejack jelled. “All my blood is pumpin’ to mah head! So please, put that problem aside, and help me. Please…”
Rainbow Dash calmed herself down “You’re right. Sorry.” Rainbow Dash walked to the tree and looked for the easiest way to climb. She did a few steps back and jumped on a low hanging branch. Then to a higher one. And so on, until she stood on the branch with Applejack.
“Okay. Now Be careful now, will ya?” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash grabbed the end of the wire between her teeth.
“Whatever you do, don’t jangle the rope in one piece. Or else Ah’ll…” But it was too late. Rainbow Dash loosened the rope in one quick pull, which caused Applejack to fall.
“Darn it Rainbow.” Applejack cursed. “Ah tried to warn ya.”
“Sorry.” Rainbow Dash said. And she jumped out of the tree. “But hey, you’re free. And my wings are still blocked.
Applejack broke out of her blanket, and the remaining rope. “There. NOW Ah’m free.”
A little envelope flew out of the blanket. “What’s that?” Applejack asked.
Rainbow Dash grabbed the envelope and opened it. “It’s a letter.” She said.
“And what’s in the letter?” Applejack took her Stetson hat from the ground and placed it back on her head.
Rainbow Dash opened the letter, and started to read. “Dear competitors. You proved your strength, speed, and memory. But are you also brave and creative? You’re dropped in the west side of the Hayseed Swamps. Your task is to find the stadium back as the first duo.”
“That’s all?” Applejack asked.
“No, there is a map included. And also the rules.” Rainbow Dash said. “Oh, and the letter says that we don’t have to freak out. They will watch us. So, when We’re in real trouble, we will be teleported to the stadium.”
“Who is they?” Applejack asked.
“Probably Twilight and Filthy rich.” Rainbow Dash said.
“And how do they watch us?” Applejack.
Rainbow Dash rolled with her eyes. “I don’t know. Magic? I’m not the smart one. And we should better focus on the task.”
“Sorry. You’re right.” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash observed the map. “Isn’t this task similar to the maze from yesterday?”
Applejack pondered about that. “In a way, Yes. But we have to find our way, in the woods. And it’s filled with wild animals here.”
Rainbow Dash looked to the sun. “Do you have any idea how late it is?”
“Ah guess it’s still mornin’.” Applejack said. “you want to navigate with the sun again?”
“Yeah, but I can’t find the sun. All the leafs and branches blocks the sight. And it’s kind of cloudy right now.” Rainbow Dash sighed.
“So, No sun navigation?” Applejack asked. “How do we find our way back now?”
“I’ll climb up a high tree, and I’ll try to find something that could help us.” Rainbow Dash said. And she did what she said. A few minutes later, she was standing on a high branch looking for a clue.
“Do you see anythin’?” Applejack asked.
“No, only trees.” Rainbow Dash yelled back. And she climbed downward.
“The only thing I can say is that we have to go west.” Rainbow Dash said when she was back on the ground.
“Is there Anything from a Daring Do book you remember?” Applejack asked.
“Hey, Daring Do is awesome enough, to not lose her way.” Rainbow Dash said. And she sighed. “So, no… I’ve got nothing.”
Applejack pondered for a little more. “Ah’ve got it!” Applejack said.
“What?” Rainbow Dash asked excited. “You know a way to get out?”
“Yup. Just, give me a sec.” Applejack walked to the bed which was still there. She kicked the wooden frame as hard as she could, so it’d break into pieces.
“My bed!” Rainbow Dash said shocked
“Don’t worry about it.” Applejack looked through the broken parts, until she found something. “That’s what Ah need.” And she grabbed an iron nail from the pile.
“A nail?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah, here, hold it.” Applejack passed the nail to Rainbow. Then she walked to a puddle, and took her hat of. She filled her hat with water.
“What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash asked confused.
Applejack ignored the comment, and walked back to Rainbow Dash. She placed the hat in front of her and took the nail back.
“An energy source…” She mumbled. “Dash, spread your wings, will ya?”
“I’d love to, but they are blocked with magic. Remember?” Rainbow Dash said.
“Ah know, but that’s the meaning. Ah need that magical aura.” Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash completely lost track of Applejack’s thoughts. But she did what Applejack asked.
Applejack rubbed the nail against the purple aura of Rainbows blocked wings. Then, she placed the nail in the water.
“For Celestia's sake. What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Ah made a compass.” Applejack said proudly. “See, with Equestria’s magic field, all magical object which can move free, will point at the Crystal Empire. The source of the strongest magic.”
“Since when do you know that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Twilight’s slumber parties are okay, but you’ve got to be prepared for some science.” Applejack giggled.
“So, this part of the nail is pointing at the Crystal Empire?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yup.” Applejack smiled.
“Awesome!” now it’s easy to find our way.” Rainbow Dash smiled.
Rainbow Dash laid the map next to the hat, and looked for the way they had to go. “Okay, I know enough.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She turned herself in the right position and trotted straight ahead. “You’re following?”
“Ah’m right behind ya.”
So, they walked on for a pretty long time. they stopped every now and then to set up the compass again, so they could check out the rout. But, like Applejack predicted, there were a lot of animals in the woods, but they weren’t a real problem. It was mostly birds, squirrels and such. Until …
“Hey Applejack!” Rainbow Dash said. “Do you think that it’s still far away?” Rainbow Dash turned her head to her friend behind, so she wasn’t watching her steps.
“Ah don’t know.” Applejack said. “Ah guess it’s not that far anymore.”
Rainbow Dash turned her head back, Right before she bumped into a big brown hairy, and flabby substance. “Eww. Hair in my mouth.” She tried to get rid of all the hair. but then Applejack tapped on her shoulder. “What?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“You know what you bumped into?” Applejack startled.
Rainbow Dash turned around to face the hairy substance again. She spread her eyes wide when she realised that there was a sleeping bear in front of her. “I… Euh…”
The bear Spread his eyes filled with anger. He got up on his hind legs, and rose far above the two little mares. He growled and showed his white and sharp teeth in his deadly mouth. His claws shimmered in the shades of the tree. And his big muscles were clear to see under his short fur.
“Run!” Rainbow Dash yelled. But on that moment, A magical orb appeared and opened a portal. Princess Twilight stood on the other side. “Come in. Quick.” She said.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack doubted for no moment, and jumped into the portal.
The bear wanted to jump behind, but grabbed thin air, when the portal disappeared, right before he touched it.
*****
Rainbow Dash laid on the ground and slowly opened her eyes. Applejack was right next to her. She was shaking as well. “Applejack.” Rainbow Dash whispered. “The bear is gone. We’re safe now.”
Applejack slowly opened her eyes and sighed relieved. “Celestia thanks.” She said. “where are we?”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked around and found themselves on the stage of the stadium. Together with the other two duos.
“And now, here you all are.” Twilight started. She was sitting on her special tribune. “We all teleported you here, because you were in great danger, or completely lost.”
Filthy Rich stepped to the megaphone and interrupted Twilight. “So, in a way, you all lost.”
“But, we can’t send you all back home. We all observed you, and we selected the two best duos.” Twilight continued. “One of you, will have to go home. The others, will go to the finally.”
“Wait…” Rainbow Dash said. “I thought there were five rounds and a finale.”
“True,” Twilight admitted. “But some technical errors occurred. So, Round five will also be the finally.”
“So, the two duos, who goes to the next, and final round are…” Filthy Rich started. “The team of Cloud Kicker and Thunder Rush.”
“And the team of Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Congratulations.” Twilight cheered.
*****
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were back in their room in the hotel. “I can’t believe it. We’re in the finale. So awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed
“Yeah, we’ve got a good chance now.” Applejack said. “Just one more round.”
“Yeah, This will be awesome.” Rainbow Dash said. And she fell on Applejack’s bed. “Wait a second…where am I gonna sleep tonight? My bed was destroyed. Remember?”
Applejack looked around. “You can sleep with me if you want.”
Rainbow Dash’ cheeks heated up. “With you? In one bed?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah, why not?” Applejack asked.
“I…nothing. Thanks anyway.” They both laid down, and Applejack switched off the lamp.
“Good Night Rainbow.” Applejack said.
“Good…Night.” Rainbow Dash said.
Rainbow Dash was snoozing away, but right before she fell asleep, she shot up, still awake. “That’s it!” She thought by herself. She pondered a bit about her new theory in her head. “It…” she looked at the sleeping Applejack next to her, and couldn’t do else then let out a little “D’aww.” Then she nodded, and laid herself down again. “Finally, I know why…”