Dash Challenges Sparkle! A Race for the Ages!

"What we're gonna do is work on your strength and stamina." Applejack tightened the harness on Twilight. It wasn't heavy, but it was something she was definitely unfamiliar with. She watched as as Applejack tied some rope to a couple large rocks. "This here will cause you to slow down, but I want you to go as quick as you can for as long as you can. Once you've pushed yourself to the limit, we'll take the rocks off and run the rest out of ya!"

"Are you crazy? You want me to run around pulling those? I know I'm a little stronger than when I was an unicorn, but come on!" Twilight was ready to say this was insane and curl up with a book for the rest of the month.

"Darling," interjected Rarity, "she's making you work under stress. Think of it this way: If you were to practice magic in an area that suppressed magic, you would learn how to push through. After that, casting spells would be easier without that suppression."

"Ugh! No kidding! I hated when Celestia made me do that." She was oblivious to Rarity's sudden wide-eyed stare. "It was a valuable lesson though. It taught me how to make use of even minor results."

"Well, this should give you more than 'minor' results. As we train, you'll go faster with them rocks for longer. Depending on how things go, we'll have to get bigger rocks. Come to think of it, there was a land slide about a year ago that blocked off an old passage through the hills." Applejack thought for a moment. "Nobody uses it so nobody cleared it. Mac 'n' I could get some larger ones from there case someone needs that path again!"

"I'm surprised you don't have me just clear it," Twilight said before she realized what she said.

"Twilight, I like the way you think."

Rarity would have stuck around, but she had chocolates (apparently) to buy for the Crusaders. Pinkie isn't usually serious like that, so she took it to heart. As she marched to Bon Bon's shop, she noticed that a couple Pegasi that she normally would see around town were absent. Why that stuck out to her, she wasn't sure. She did know that she didn't like it.

As she walked in the shop, she heard a little bell overhead. "Welcome to Sweetie Drops' Candies! I'll be right with you." Rarity looked at the chocolates on display. She would come in once in a while for some of the truffles she made. They were so good, but today, she was here for Sweetie Belle and her Crusaders. "Sorry to keep you waiting... Um... Oh dear."

Rarity looked at her curiously. "Whatever is the matter, dear? Something wrong?"

"She forgot your name. Again." Lyra was suddenly next to her. "She can remember pretty much every pony who's come in here and their favorite candy. You, for some reason, she keeps forgetting. Bon Bon, this is Rarity. You know, famous fashionista, one of the Elements of Harmony, brought down that bugbear during the wedding? Ring a bell?"

"Thanks, Lyra." Bon Bon was giving Lyra a dirty look like she just offered her to a pack of Diamond Dogs for digging. She put a hoof to her forehead and shook it. "I'm sorry. I don't know why I keep forgetting your name."

"Darling, trust me, you can't remember every pony you meet, no matter how nice they are." Rarity smiled and said, "Now, if I may, to business?"

"Oh, sure! What can I get for you?"

"Well, a friend told me that I should pick up something called the Silver Rose Special."

As soon as she said that, Bon Bon and Lyra both suddenly seemed sad. Lyra hugged her and said, "Oh you poor thing!" Bon Bon went right to work, getting a box and putting chocolates in it.

Rarity, confused by this, asked, "Why am I a poor thing all of a sudden?"

Lyra just looked at her sympathetically. "There's only one reason someone gets a Silver Rose. I remember that day. Silver Rose came in, crying and bawling. It was like she lost a loved one. Close enough, she had lost her best friend. Worst part was, she didn't know why! She just told her she couldn't be her friend anymore."

Rarity put a hoof to her mouth in shock. "Oh dear, I remember that now. It was quite the gossip for a while. Nopony knew what had happened!"

Lyra suddenly gasped. "Oh no! No no no, you didn't have a falling out with one of the other Elements, did you? Oh no, will the Elements still work? Is Equestria without it defenders? What if there's--" She was suddenly silenced as a chocolate, carefully aimed by Bon Bon, landed right in her mouth. "Mmm! Peanut butter!"

"Sorry about that, she tends to get a little excitable at times. Are you going to be okay?" Bon Bon brought over a ribbon-tied box and set it on the counter.

Rarity paid for it and put the box in her saddle bags. "Thank you for your concern, both of you, but these aren't for me. I was going to pick up some cookies for my sister and her friends, but Pinkie said I'd be better off getting this Sil..." Rarity eyes went wide all of a sudden. "Oh dear. These are supposed to be... I have to go!"

Fluttershy was buying vegetables in the market. She thought it was a bit emptier than normal, but that meant she didn't have to worry about the crowds as much. That suited her just fine.

Of course, that meant that when something happened, it would be easier to notice. Which is why she noticed two things she might not have otherwise. First, she noticed Scootlaoo, zipping down at the end of the road. This wouldn't be unusual, but she would usually be with her friends. They were... how did Discord put it? Thick as thieves? It sounded mean, but Discord said it just meant it would take a lot to end their friendship.

She didn't pay much more attention as she noticed Rarity galloping by and heading towards the school. She was in a rush. Ponies in a rush was nothing new, which was one of the reason she was glad the market was emptier. Rarity, however? 'A lady never rushes.' Or at least that sounded like her. Given her worried look, she was clearly upset.

Fluttershy didn't hesitate and flew after Rarity as quickly as she could.