Dash Challenges Sparkle! A Race for the Ages!

"Rarity, I ain't no trainer!" Applejack wasn't mad so much as surprised. "I got a workout that works well for the rodeo, but that won't help in a flying race!"

"Now now, dear, it isn't your rodeo expertise I'm hoping to tap into," Rarity replied, rather casually.

"I have to agree, Rarity. If Applejack was a Pegasus racer, this would make sense but--"

"Ah, but she is!"

Applejack and Twilight looked at her like she was crazy. They both looked at Applejack's back, and sure enough, no wings. "Rarity, you ain't been eating any strange mushrooms, have you?"

Rarity managed to look rather insulted. "Well! It appears you lack the subtleties of my observation. What I mean is you, Applejack, race a Pegasus on a regular basis. Not only that, you race a specific Pegasus on a regular basis. Do you understand now?"

"So you want me to train her because I race against Rainbow Dash?" Applejack scratched her head. "Huh. I never thought of it like that."

Twilight asked, "What do you mean? You can train me to race because you race against Rainbow?"

"No, darling," said Rarity with a knowing smile. "She's going to train you to race against Rainbow Dash. Think of it like a chess tournament. A sanctioned tournament will have ranked players. You practice ahead of time, certainly, but you focus your strategies against your most likely opponents. Say, for example, the top-ranked player. If Ivory Tower is playing, most of your practice would be focused on his playstyle."

"I git what your saying. Train her so she can race against Rainbow Dash, not just any pony. It's smart."

"Why, thank you."

"I don't want to do it."

Rarity looked at her aghast. "But darling! You must! You're the best pony to teach her!"

"I know, but I'm not choosing between friends. I mean, if I help Twilight, I'd have to help Rainbow, and I ain't getting between the two of them."

Rarity looked down. "I see. I guess there's no way around it then."

Applejack shook her head. "I'm sorry girls, but--"

"You leave me no choice! I'm calling in my favor!"

Applejack reared back. "You WHAT? You're gonna use that now?!"

Twilight stepped back. "Girls, please, I don't want to fight over this."

Applejack held out a hoof. "No, Twilight. I honor my word. If Rarity wants to use her favor for this... I... Dang it! Fine! On my honor as an Apple, I'll train Twilight to race against Rainbow Dash."

Twilight just stood there at a loss for words. What just happened?

"It's like this, Miss Rarity, " a younger Applejack explained. "My great aunt wants a picture of all of us for Hearth's Warming. We want to dress nice for this, but we don't have nice clothes like you sell. My little sister Apple Bloom doesn't have a dress, Granny Smith's dress needs mending, and Big Mac and I need ours refitted. The photographer said he's busy, but he could fit us in some time next Monday. But with all the fixin' we have to do at the farm, we don't have time to do it all ourselves."

The likewise younger Rarity replied, "So four outfits in less than a week's time. I should be able to swing that."

"Right, so we just need to talk payment. Uh... well, that's the other problem. During the winter, we don't get much money in. Once we wrap up winter and the trees start giving fruit again, we could pay you back. We just--"

"Don't worry so much, dear. Other than your sister, it sounds like most of the work is patching or refitting. How big is your sister?"

Applejack pointed to a nearby cradle and said, "'Bout the same size as your little filly there."

"My lit... Oh, that's my sister. Sweetie Belle, say hello to the young lady!" The tiny nub of a horn barely peeked over the edge. "My parents are out of town for the week, so I'm watching her."

"Oh, uh, didn't mean--"

"Tut tut! Not important darling! Now if your Apple Bloom is about the same size as my Sweetie Belle... Hmm. I have the last of my fall stock, I could give her a dress that should fit her."

"Oh no, Miss Rarity, I couldn't just take--"

"Again, tut tut! Listen, my shop is doing rather well. This would not be a heavy burden on my workload. I understand your situation. So! Tell you what I'll do. Consider this a favor. Someday, down the road, I'll simply ask you to do one for me."

"Really? You mean it? I'll do anythin' on my honor as an Apple!"

Rarity smiled in a way that said she didn't need Applejack's honor to back up her statement. If she said she'd return the favor, Rarity knew she would. "Now, let's plan to get your family in for fitting."

Rarity recounted the tale as she and Twilight walked down the road back to the castle. "To be honest, I never intended to ask for anything in return from Applejack or her family. I figured if ever I was to use it, it would be something worthwhile. Now, you can be trained by Applejack and Applejack doesn't have to feel like she's coming between friends. Rainbow Dash will get the best race she can get."

Twilight smiled and said, "When the Elements chose their wielders, Generosity really made the right choice. A favor from AJ? That's got to be worth quite a bit. But what I don't get is why are you going through all this trouble? I mean, you and Rainbow... well..."

Rarity nodded. "It's true, we're not the closest. But that doesn't mean I don't know a lot about her. For example, answer me this: How many times has Rainbow Dash challenged another pony?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Probably more times than there are ponies in Ponyville."

"Thrice."

Twilight stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait, what? You're kidding me! I see her racing somepony at least every week."

"Yes, but how many of those ponies does she actually challenge? None of them. They challenge her. She has only challenged 3 times in her life."

Twilight dashed a bit to catch up. "Really? Who?"

Rarity stopped and looked at her. "Well, we all know of her first challenge. The ponies who were teasing Fluttershy? Ring a bell?"

"Oh yeah, when she got her Cutie Mark! And Applejack was the second? Or was she the third?"

"Second. Oh, I remember that too. Applejack refused at first. Honestly, Rainbow Dash went a bit far in her bothering Applejack. I am glad it worked out amicably in the end."

"I'm going to ask for details later. So, who's the third?"

"Don't you remember? It happened this afternoon."

"Wait wait wait. The bullies I get. Applejack I understand. Why me?"

"Who knows, darling? Maybe that's why she was training you to begin with. Perhaps she heard about your Canterlot run with Pinkie and thought you had it in you. Maybe she was slightly insulted." Rarity thought for a moment. "She did seem a bit bothered when Pinkie said you didn't need her anymore. But, we can worry about that later. Right now, I have to go to Fluttershy's. I'm going to ask for her help as well."

"Wait, have her train me?"

Rarity chuckled and replied, "No darling. I'm going to have her design your diet regimen. If all goes well, your breakfast will be one ripe for training." And with a quick goodbye, Rarity walked to Fluttershy's cottage.

Twilight headed home. There wasn't much else she could do. However, her walk was one where she noticed ponies looking at her. They were whispering and talking in hushed tones. On some, there was a look of excitement. Others looked surprised. Though she couldn't hear them, she knew what they were talking about.

In one month, there was going to be a race.