Author's Note

No Content Warnings Apply.

You'll recognize this chapter as a one-shot I uploaded to the actual Marjoram story on Christmas. You'll notice that that chapter has been removed.

Fun for the Author

Twilight got the numbers from the sign-in desk near the starting line. Attaching hers to her flanks, Twilight trotted over to where Marjoram waited, and offered the signs with her magic. He took them in his, and attached them to his own flanks.

Adjusting the harness strapped around his barrel, Marjoram double-checked the oxygen tank and tubing that would help him breathe during the Running of the Leaves.

“Are you excited?” Twilight asked cautiously, “I’m nervous, even though I know so much about running-”

“It’s your first race. It’s understandable,” Marjoram cut her off, “This is my first ‘official’ one. Carnation and I used to race quite a bit when we were younger.”

Twilight helped Marjoram string the tubing over his back, and to his nose, making sure the lines were secure with an enchantment that would ensure the nubs would stay in his nostrils no matter what happened, “There. Now they won’t get tangled, and you can’t step on them.”

Marjoram tested the weight on his back, and breathed deeply a few times, “I feel good about this. I’m aiming for halfway down the trail. Are you going to complete it?”

“If I can,” Twilight replied, “You could make it too, you know. It’s been a very good year, and you barely look sick at all.”

“Twilight, I’m attached to an oxygen tank. I look sick.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, “Not compared to last year, you don’t. C’mon, let’s get going. I want to see if I can get at least fifth place again, I trained a little this year, and I know the trail.”

“I’m sure you can make it. Just remember, Shores is at the finish line with cold drinks and baked goods.”

“Croissants?”

“And nanaimo bars. Shores knows how to tempt me. The thought of one of her nanaimo bars will get me through just about anything.”

Twilight giggled, triple-checking to make sure Marjoram’s harness was on correctly, “You have the water?”

“It’s strapped to the harness. Can’t you see the bottle?”

“I know, I just-”

“Get ready! Race starts in two minutes!” A voice called out from the sign-in desk.

Twilight stepped closer to Marjoram as they took their places, keeping an eye on him as unfamiliar ponies pressed in close, getting ready to start.

“Twilight?”

“Marjoram?”

Twilight looked to her left, and found Applejack and Rainbow Dash standing side-by-side, trying to hold back laughter.

“Why are you two here?”

“We’re going to run,” Marjoram stated dryly, “I thought it was obvious.”

“You two, really?!” Rainbow laughed, leaning against Applejack, “have you ever done anything like this before?”

“No,” Twilight replied, “I never have.”

“I haven’t in a long time,” Marjoram replied stiffly, turning his attention to the trail in front of him.

“I think this is a great thing you two are doin’!” Applejack said, hiding a giggle, “runnin’, I mean.”

“Thank you!” Twilight replied cheerfully, ignoring their rudeness, “Good luck you two!”

“Thanks,” Applejack smiled, “You too, you two!”

Twilight focused her attention on the trail in front of her, trying desperately to ignore the giggling of her friends. Peering over at Marjoram, she saw the familiar look of shame, and slight humiliation. Her heart sank, knowing that Marjoram hated the fact he couldn’t be physically strong like the others. She offered a comforting smile just before the whistle to go went off.

The vast majority of ponies took off in a dead sprint, including Rainbow and Applejack. This left Marjoram, Twilight, and a few stragglers behind. Taking off nice and steady, Marjoram and Twilight began at a trot.

Soon enough, it became obvious the pair was the back of the pack, trotting slowly while everypony raced ahead, seeing who would win.

“You can...go ahead,” Marjoram breathed, trying to save as much air for his body as possible, “Don’t worry...about me.”

“I’ll stay with you,” Twilight smiled, “I don’t mind taking my time. The scenery is beautiful; we’ll have to see if we can bring Spike here before Autumn Wrap Up. I think he’d like it.”

Marjoram nodded in agreement, breathing as best he could.

Twilight kept a careful eye on Marjoram, though was pleased to note that Marjoram was holding up well. While he was breathing hard, he wasn’t coughing, and he didn’t look ill at all. This is good. Twilight told herself. Maybe he’ll be able to gallop a little near the end if this keeps up.

After a few minutes, Twilight and Marjoram entered the forest, and Twilight slowed her pace a little, allowing Marjoram to do the same. The ponies ahead of them had done an excellent job shaking the leaves loose, leaving Twilight and Marjoram to trot through the last of the falling ones.

Sunlight shone through the high branches of the many trees overhanging the trail, dappling the gold, brown, and red leaves on the ground with shafts of sunlight. The trees around them were barren, or mostly barren, of their leaves, making the trail feel a little creepy, despite the lovely scenery.

“You okay?” Twilight asked.

Marjoram nodded, “Yeah. Wanna go...a bit quicker?”

“Sure,” Twilight increased their pace a little, and she was startled to notice that she could see the tail-end of the mob of ponies who had taken off at a sprint from the beginning, “Look!”

Marjoram let out a strangled snort, “Creators...how angry will they...be if we...overtake?”

“Probably pretty mad. Feel up to it?”

Marjoram nodded once, blowing a loose strand of hair away from his face. He looked incredibly determined, and sped up before Twilight had a chance to. She matched his pace, and saw the glint in his eye.

Usually it spelled doom to whomever had angered him, but Twilight knew that Marjoram was going to do as best as he could during this race. Probably out of spite rather than actual desire, but Twilight knew she couldn’t change his mind without at least a week’s notice, a new book, and lots of stern lecturing. This wasn’t an option, and Twilight just had to make sure Marjoram didn’t die of suffocation in the middle of the trail. Shores could kill him once she saw how tired Marjoram had made himself just because of Rainbow and Applejack’s insensitivity.

Keeping half an eye on him, Twilight kept up easily, breathing smoothly as her legs began to burn because of the extended use. After only a few more strides, Marjoram and Twilight had passed the ponies in front of them, revealing the pack of ponies ahead, running together in a cloud of dust.

“Just through...here,” Twilight panted, “to...the right.”

Marjoram nodded, his golden eyes alight with a swirl of emotion. They kept at this pace until the woods thinned, then disappeared, revealing the flat field that made up the home stretch.

“Ready to...gallop?” Twilight asked.

Marjoram nodded once more, clearly saving whatever air he had left for the sprint ahead. Marjoram’s strides lengthened, and he picked up speed. Twilight, though she had shorter legs, was more conditioned to sprint. She kept up with Marjoram with relative ease, and with a nod, surpassed him.

After a few more seconds, Twilight noted with surprise that Marjoram was keeping up with her, and that they were surpassing many of the ponies who had worn themselves out in the earlier stages of the race. It seemed the ponies were just as surprised as Twilight felt, judging from the looks of shock that appeared as the unicorns passed them.

Twilight hated to admit it, but this was more fun than the last years Running of the Leaves had been. She was running with a member of her family and, though the worry that he was going to make himself sick doing so, they seemed to be catching up to the leaders of the race, including Applejack and Rainbow.

Marjoram seemed to ramp up his speed once he laid eyes on the pair, and full-out sprinted. He ran like something was chasing him for food, or like Twilight herself was in trouble. Twilight nearly lost her balance with the shock, but she urged her legs to keep up. She failed, and in her effort to try to keep up, Twilight lost sight of her mentor.

When she went under the banner marking the finish line, Twilight was certain she was going to collapse from the build-up of lactic acid in her muscles. She stumbled and collapsed, panting for breath. After the burning in her legs had diminished a little, Twilight got to her hooves, and looked around. Mayor Mare, who handed out medals trotted over, a smile plastered onto her face, “Good job once again, Twilight! Fifth place again!”

Twilight bowed her head so Mayor Mare could put the medal around her neck, “Have you seen Marjoram?”

“Yes I did, dear. He’s over there, beside the caterer. He won third technically, but second officially.”

“Applejack and Rainbow tied again?” Twilight felt incredulous, but the meaning of Mayor Mare’s words struck home, “He got second!?”

“Yes he did,” Mayor Mare smiled, “It was rather surprising.”

“I’m going to go find him,” Twilight mumbled, “Thanks.”

Marjoram was sitting on a blanket, his air-tank and harness off of his back and resting beside him. A gleaming gold medal was around his neck, and as Twilight neared, that didn’t seem to stop Shores from lecturing Marjoram on his health.

Despite his heaving chest, and flushed face, Marjoram seemed rather pleased with himself. Twilight trotted over, beaming, “Second, huh?”

“You were...fifth?”

“Yeah. You did really well,” Twilight laid down on the blanket beside him, “How are you feeling?”

“He’ll be feeling this stupid stunt of his for weeks!” Shores called from the food table, handing a pony a packet of apple fries.

Marjoram let out a rasping chuckle, “Most likely.”

“Idiot stallion,” Shores scolded, “I swear, I’m taking you to the hospital once this is all done to make sure you haven’t done any damage.”

“It’s not like...I’m coughing blood.”

“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend the night in a hyperbaric chamber!”

Marjoram rolled his eyes, “I’ll be...okay.”

Shores snorted, “That’s what you always say, and with winter almost here I’m not taking any chances!”

“Really...Shores, I’m...fine.”