Just Have Faith

Faith and Twilight walked out to Sweet Apple Acres, where Applejack was having trouble hauling a particularly large carriage full of apples. Faith went over and pushed from behind, allowing Applejack to pull the carriage into the barn, where she unhooked herself and turned to see Faith leaning against the door, catching her breath while Twilight was walking up.

Applejack trotted up to Faith and asked "Excuse me, but were ya'll the one who helped me pull that there cart?"

Faith looked over and said "Yeah, I'm Faith. Twilight brought me here."

Applejack smiled and grabbed Faith's hand with her hoof and shook vigorously. "Well, howdy do, Miss Faith. Any friend o' Twilight's is a friend o' mine. Ahm Applejack. "

Applejack let go, and Faith had to catch her arm from swinging any further. "Quite a grip you've got, Applejack. I guess it comes from working all day."

Applejack stated "Sure does. I work day and night to keep this farm in line, and nopony ever gonna make me do otherwise."

Twilight spoke up. "Applejack, we were hoping to join you for lunch. You are stopping for lunch, aren't you?"

Applejack's stomach rumbled. "All right, Twi. Let's go to the café. Sound good?"

Twilight nodded, and the three friends walked back to Ponyville.

When they reached the café, they sat down at an outside table. The waiter swung by, and gave Faith an odd look, before asking "What will you be having today?"

Twilight stated "A daisy burger and hay fries."

Applejack said "I'll have the same."

Faith did not find the idea of grilled daisies or fried hay appealing, so she said "Just a salad for me, thanks."

The waiter wrote down the orders and walked off to the kitchen. That's when a rainbow-colored blur flew by, then about-faced and stopped at the table.

"Say, who and what are you? Why are you wearing those sleek clothes? I mean, other than the fact that you're near hairless?" Rainbow asked consecutively.

"I'm Faith, I am a human, and I am wearing this kind of clothing because I am a Runner, and I need to have tight clothing so it doesn't get caught on anything." Faith answered.

All three ponies looked at Faith oddly. Twilight asked "What exactly do you do as a Runner?"

Faith answered "Where I come from, the government is very oppressive. They monitor all types of communication, so Runners get paid to transfer information and goods without the government knowing. Of course, if the police force catches us, Runners nickname them Blues, they open fire and try to capture us dead or alive."

Rainbow grinned and stated "So, Faith, you live dangerously? I like that. I think we are gonna get along fine."

Faith smiled back and continued "Of course, here in Ponyville, the buildings are too short, and thus other ponies would be in the way. Where I come from, the buildings are tall enough to touch the clouds, and not many people are up there. It is across those buildings I run."

The waiter showed up with their meals, and Faith grabbed a fork and began eating. The salad was very good, and all three finished their meals within a few minutes.

Rainbow Dash asked "Hey, Faith. Wanna race?" She pointed at the town square, bustling with ponies.

Faith shook her head. "I can't risk running into and hurting someone, sorry."

Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight. "What if you use her cloud walking spell on Faith?"

Twilight nodded, and began casting the spell. Faith felt the magic wrap around her, and then… Nothing.

Faith said "Okay, so how am I going to get up onto the clouds?"

Twilight said "We could use Pinkie's balloon. She wouldn't mind."

Everyone nodded. Twilight left the payment for the meal, and all four walked to Sugarcube Corner. Twilight knocked, and a pink pony answered the door.

"Hey, guys! Welcome to the *GASP*" Pinkie caught sight of Faith. "Hi, what's your name? I'm Pinkie Pie, and I know EVERYpony in Ponyville! But I don't know you! That means you're new, and- Oh my, gosh, I have to get it set up!"

Pinkie was about to run off, but Twilight stopped her and asked "Can we use your balloon?"

"Of course you can! Now, I gotta get it set up!" She zipped off, and Faith looked back at the three ponies.

"What's with her?" Faith asked. They all giggled, and Faith decided not to push. They went upstairs and climbed in the balloon, and once they were in the air, Rainbow Dash put together a cloud course for the race, a simple straight track with hurdles.

Faith got out and landed at the starting line. Rainbow Dash landed next to her, and got into a running position, as did Faith. Twilight raised her hoof, silently counted to three, and swung it down. The two runners bolted, and Dash was surprised at Faith's speed out of the starting line. Rainbow Dash leapt hurdles and kept momentum, but Faith vaulted them and actually gained momentum. Rainbow Dash inched ahead, but Faith was not giving up so easily.

She put on one final push, and with a couple of well-timed speed vaults, got a two-inch lead on Rainbow Dash. The finish line was coming up, and the two runners were neck and neck. Twilight moved into position to judge the winner, and with a keen eye, saw Faith's sneaker break the line a literal split second before Rainbow's nose. Both runners stopped and panted.

"And the winner is Faith by a foot!" Twilight announced.

Rainbow looked up and stuttered "W-what? I lost?" She seemed to almost lose it right there, but she composed herself and walked over to Faith. "Nice job." She said with a smile.

"You're fast. I haven't had a good run like that in a while." She stated with a happy, tired smile. Faith put her hand on her