The Element of Empathy

Eleanor's POV.
"So you two are doing what, now?" Twilight asked as she, Spike and I arrived to Sweet Apple Acres and Rainbow Dash was stretching on the ground.

It's been a few days since Diamond Tiara's Cute-ceanera, Filthy Rich's daughter, and her bullying Apple Bloom because of not having a Cutie Mark. Apple Bloom asked Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle to help her earn a Cutie Mark, but no luck. Thankfully, Apple Bloom was able to find some friends, who didn't have their Cutie Marks, and formed their own group.

They were Rarity's younger sister, named Sweetie Belle. And a young Pegasus filly named Scootaloo.

Where was I during all that? I was in the Everfree Forest, helping Zecora with collecting herbs and flowers safely. The Everfree and I are very well acquainted.

Anywho, today, Applejack called us over for a favor, and Twilight Sparkle needed something to do, due to having a free day.

"An Iron-" "Iron Pony competition." Rainbow cut Applejack off with a smile.

"See, we've set up a bunch of events to decide which one of us is--" Applejack explained, but Rainbow Dash cut her off again, "The most athletic pony ever!"

"And Ellie and I are here to...?" Twilight asked in confusion

Applejack took a breath, then Rainbow spoke up with a shrug, "I don' know." She turned to my cousin, "Why are they here?"

"To be our judge and keep score." Applejack answered, in a deadpan tone.

Rainbow smiled, "Right, heh. Somepony's gotta record my awesomeness for the history books." She resumed stretching.

Twilight, Applejack and I looked at each other. Does Rainbow truly think she was gonna win this event?

"I don't think this is a good idea." I spoke up, "A Pegasus and an Earth Pony in an Iron Pony contest?"

Twilight looked at me, "Did you have something similar in your world?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Sort of. Humans don't have wings or horns, so it's fair game." I rubbed my arm in discomfort, "I'm just worried about cheating. Rainbow Dash could use her wings anytime..."

"Come on, Elle." Twilight waved her hand at me, "You're being paranoid."

I gave my friend a small glare, but stayed quiet.

*Later that day...*
"Hello everypony, and welcome to the first annual Iron Pony competition!" Spike welcomed, as the events of the competition were just finished.

"Uh, Spike, who are you talking to?" Twilight asked. Spike was holding a stick, like a microphone.

Spike looked around, "Um... Uh..." Then he pointed to our friends arriving, "Them!" Then he cheered, "Let the games begin!"

Everypony cheered, and we started with the first sport.

"Ready. Set. Go!" Twilight called Applejack.

Applejack dashed down the path at great speed. She ran past the barrels in a wave like motion. She narrowly missed one, as she hit it with her tail, "Dagnabbit." She made it to the finish line.

Twilight Sparkle turned to Spike, "Time, Spike?"

Spike looked at his stopwatch, "17 seconds."

Applejack smiled, as she jogged over, "Yer kiddin'! That breaks mah record from last year's rodeo."

I shook my head, "But you got a five second penalty for nudging the barrel. Even if it was your tail, AJ."

Applejack sighed and kicked a stone, "Nuts and chews! Still, that's 22 seconds." She regained her smile, "Not too shabby."

Rainbow Dash looked uncertain. Applejack noticed and assured her friend, "Hey, don't be nervous. Remember, it's all in good fun. Now git on up there."

Rainbow hovered over to the start of the race.

"Ready. Set. Go!" Twilight announced.

Rainbow Dash took off and repeated Applejack's pattern. She perfectly missed every barrel and crossed the finished line.

Applejack cheered, "Woo! That was some fancy hoofwork there, Rainbow!"

Rainbow Dash smiled, as she panted out of breath, "Thanks, but I... Couldn't have been as fast as you."

Applejack turned to Spike, "What was the time on that, Spike?"

Spike looked his stopwatch and gasped, "18 seconds!"

Rainbow smiled. Applejack gasped, "18 seconds." She turned the cyan Pegasus, "Rainbow, are yah sure yer not secretly a rodeo pony?"

"Rainbow Dash wins the Barrel Lead!" Twilight announced, raising Rainbow Dash's arm. Fluttershy put one point on Rainbow Dash's score on the scoreboard.

A cheerful smile grew on Rainbow's muzzle, "Oh, I can't believe I won."

Applejack pulled her down to the ground, "Yeah, well, don't yah go gettin' used to it."

Next event was a back-leg power test. Rainbow Dash went first. She leaned down on all-fours and kicked the target. The cork hit the bell on point. Everypony cheered for Dash, as she soaked it in with a smile.

Applejack smiled, "Mighty respectable..." She spat a piece of wheat out of her mouth and walked toward the new target, "But let me show yah how it's really done."

Applejack leaned on all-fours and kicked the target. The cork shot the bell and the bell flew off the meter. The Ponies cheered. Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped.

I raised Applejack's arm, "Applejack wins the Strength Test!"

"Years of apple buckin'." Applejack smiled, as she walked over and kicked the tree Rainbow was sitting under. Golden delicious apples fell on top of Rainbow's head, but the cyan Pegasus was too shocked to react.

That's one point to Applejack.

"Waa-hoo!" "Go Applejack!" "Woohoo!" "Go get her, girl!" "Eeyup!" My family cheered, as they did The Wave for AJ.

Next game was the Bronco-Bunk. This game is basically whoever can get their rider off their backs the quickest wins the game. I guess these games were during the time Ponies were quadrupeds. They need to change the games to best suit bipeds.

"Why me?" Spike asked.

"Go!" Twilight called.

Applejack leaned on all-fours and started kicking. Spike was able to hang on for a few seconds, by hanging on to her tail, until Applejack gave a powerful kick and knocked the baby Dragon into a nearby hay stack.

Next, it was Rainbow Dash's turn, 'Ready for another pony ride?"

Spike shook his head, "No."

"Go!" Twilight called.

Rainbow Dash started kicking at great speed. With a strong kick, Spike flew off and landed on top of the scoreboard.

"Rainbow Dash wins the Bronco-Buck." Twilight announced, raising Rainbow's arm.

"And I lose." Spike groaned.

Next event is the Lasso Rodeo. Applejack was performing amazingly, while Rainbow Dash was having trouble. AJ caught Spike with her rope and tied him immobile.

"How do I get roped into these things?" Spike asked, as he tried to get himself free.

We looked at Rainbow Dash's progress and she got herself tied up to the nearby tree, "Does this count?"

Applejack earned a point.

As the games continued, Applejack and Rainbow Dash have proven to be tied at every game. Rainbow won the head-ball competition. Applejack scored a victory on the haybale toss. Rainbow scored a point at the arm-wrestle. Applejack gained a point during the hoofball kick.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, at the halfway point our competitors are tied at 5 and 5." Spike announced to everypony, as we reached halfway through the games.

Twilight raised a brow, "Who are you talking to?"

"Them!" Spike answered, as he pointed to the townsfolk of Ponyville. Everypony started gathering and watched while the events were happening. Gotta say, I'm mighty surprised. I gave Twilight a small chuckle, as I adjusted my glasses.

The next event was a push-up contest. First one to 100, or closest wins.

"95, 96, 97, 98, 99..." Twilight counted. Applejack and Rainbow Dash started to look tired. Until Rainbow used her wings to reach the last push-up, "A hundred!"

Rainbow Dash smiled and cheered, "Yes!"

Applejack collapsed to the ground. My smile fell to a worried frown. And so it starts...

"Be a good sport, Applejack." AJ muttered to herself.

The next event was a Long-Jump. Applejack was doing well. However, Rainbow Dash used her wings again to win. Next was the Dirt Cross. The objective was simple; the competitors must reunite the chicks with their mother, by crossing a muddy path. Get the chicks too muddy and you loose.

Once again, Applejack was doing fine, until the chicks flew off her back and joined Rainbow Dash. Rainbow was using her wings as a foothold for the chicks.

Now for the final round, The Tug-Of-War.

"All right, you two. This is the final event." Twilight told the two competitors, "Give it all you've got."

Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash grabbed the ends of the rope and started pulling. Applejack had the lead so far.

Spike smiled, "Looks like the workhorse might come out ahead in this one."

Rainbow Dash was about to fall into the pit of mud, but used her wings to save her life. She flew up and lifted Applejack over the pit. AJ kept a good grip on the rope. Now, it was a contest on who can hold on the longest.

Knowing where this was gonna go, I grabbed the whistle around my neck and blew loudly into it. Everyone stopped cheering and looked at me. Even Twilight, Spike, Rainbow and AJ turned to me.

"Since both competitors are over the mud pit, I'm calling the Tug-Of-War a tie!" I announced.

Everypony gasped. Rainbow Dash let go of the rope, causing Applejack to fall into the pit of mud, and flew toward me with a glare and muzzle touching my nose.

"What do you mean a tie? I was gonna be declared the Iron Pony!" She shouted at me.

"Applejack was at a disadvantage, so I acted accordingly." I answered calmly, pushing the rainbow-themed Pegasus five feet back, "And I'm not comfortable how close we were to me."

Applejack nodded, as she cleaned herself off, "Ah agree with Ellie. You're cheatin'."

Rainbow Dash glared at Applejack, "What?"

Applejack folded her arms, "Yah used yer wingpower to help yah win over half those contests."

"Sounds like sour apples to me." Rainbow spat back.

I scratched my head, "No. Sour Apples is our cousin that lives in Fillydelphia."

Applejack ignored me and asked Rainbow Dash, "Are yah sayin' yah didn't use yer wings?"

Rainbow Dash thought for a second, "Well... No." The pointed out, "But you never said I couldn't use my wings."

"Ah didn't think Ah needed to tell yah to play fair." Applejack replied.

Rainbow Dash folded her arms, "I still would have won even without my wings."

Applejack laughed, "Hah! Prove it."

Rainbow Dash nodded, "Gladly. How?"

I thought for a second, "Well... Tomorrow is the annual Runnin' of the Leaves."

Applejack smiled, "I challenge yah to race me in it."

Rainbow Dash smiled back, "Heh! Easy shmeasy."

"Hold on!" Applejack pulled Rainbow to the ground, "There is one condition: the point is to run, so no wings allowed."

Rainbow nodded, "No wings? No problem."

The two ponies spat into their hands and shook them. Rainbow blew a raspberry and the two smiled competitively at each other.

*The Next Day, at the Running of the Leaves...*
"Twilight, hurry up, we're gonna be late for the race." Spike moaned, as Twilight stopped to admire the butterflies.

"Why are you so excited about the race? It's only for ponies." Twilight asked.

Spike nodded, "Yeah, but I'm hoping I can be the announcer again." He grabbed his twig and cleared his throat, "Just listen: Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the annual Running of the--"

But he was cut off by Pinkie Pie's voice, "Welcome to the annual Running of the Leaves!" We looked up to find Pinkie in a hot air balloon and speaking into a megaphone, "This is Pinkie Pie, your official p-eye-in-the-sky announcer."

Spike threw his stick into the ground and pouted.

"Sorry, Spike. I guess that job's already taken." Twilight apologised with a sad frown.

"As everypony knows, the running is a very important tradition, for without it, the autumn leaves of Equestria would never fall." Pinkie explained, as her balloon floated her over the amber-brown trees in the forests, "So get ready, Ponies. The Running of the Leaves will begin in five minutes."

With that, everypony participating made their way to the starting line and began their stretches. Applejack was already at the starting line, wearing her sports attire, which consisted was a sports bra and denim shorts.

I rolled up my sleeves, "Well, I think I'm gonna reorganize the books in the library."

Twilight stopped me from turning around, "Aw, come on, Ellie. Join us in the Running of the Leaves. It'll be fun."

I shook my head, "You said so yourself, Twi. The Running of the Leaves is a pony tradition." I rubbed my arm, "And last time I checked, I don't have hooves... Or a tail..." I frowned, "Or a horn... Or wings..." I lowered my head, "Or a muzzle..."

Twilight lifted my head to look at her, "Ellie. You may look like a human on the outside, but on the inside, you're more Pony than any human I've ever met."

I smiled and threw my arms around my friend. With that, Twilight and I returned to the library to change into our sports attires.

My sports attire consisted of a black tank top, red elbow-pads, a pair of charcoal grey cargo pants and dark green sneakers.

Twilight's was a lavender sleeveless hoodie over a white shirt and olive green 3/4 length cargo pants.

Once we were both ready, Twilight and I left the library, signed into the race and got our numbers. Twilight's was 42 and mine was 13. We both made our way to the starting line. Rainbow Dash had her wings tied up. This will keep things fair.

Applejack looked at me and Twilight, "Twilight? Ellie? What in tarnation are you two doin' up here?"

"We're racing." Twilight answered.

Rainbow Dash burst into laughter and nudge Twilight, "Good one, Twilight."

Twilight shook her head, "I'm not joking."

Rainbow stopped laughing and looked at the studious Unicorn, "What? You're not an athlete, you're a... Well... You're an egghead."

Twilight glared at the cyan Pegasus, "I am not an egghead, I am well read."

"Egghead." Rainbow whispered to AJ with a snicker.

I nudged her in the arm, "I heard that."

"And what are yah doin' here, Ellie?" Applejack asked, "Yer human."

"I'm Pony on the inside, AJ." I answered.

Applejack nodded, then turned to Twilight, "But have you ever run a race?"

Twilight thought for a second, "Well, no." Then she smiled, "But I do know a lot about running."

"And you know this from..." Rainbow started.

Twilight smiled, "Books. I've read several on the subject."

Rainbow fell on her back in laughter. Twilight and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes at the cyan Pegasus.

"What'd you read, 'The Egghead's Guide to Running'?" Rainbow asked between laughs, "Did you stretch out your eye muscles to warm up? Get it? Eye muscles."

Twilight rolled her eyes, "Scoff if you must, Rainbow. But the running of the leaves is a Ponyville tradition, and since I'm here to learn, I've decided I should experience it myself."

I smiled at Twilight's dedication. It's almost like Sunset Shimmer's dedication to learn with her hands.

Applejack smiled, "Well, I think that's just dandy, Twilight. Good luck." Then she snickered, which earned her a glare from me.

Rainbow Dash snickered, "Yeah. See you at the finish line... Tomorrow."

Then Pinkie Pie spoke up, "All right, Ponies, are you ready?"

We all went of all-fours.

"Get set." Spike announced, as we got into sprinting position.

Spike rang the bell and the participants dashed off into the forest.

"And they're off!" Pinkie cheered, as Twilight and I started jogging down the path.

"I don't believe it." Applejack sighed, as Twilight and I caught up with her in the forest. She was laying on the ground, covered in leaves.

"I know, it's beautiful, isn't it?" Twilight smiled, looking at the scenery.

Applejack shook her head, "Not the scenery, Twilight." She picked herself up, "Rainbow Dash just tripped me."

"She did not." Twilight shook her head.

"She did too!: AJ argued.

"She did not, and if you slowed down and looked where you're going, like Twilight and I, you'd see that you tripped over a rock." I spoke up, pointing to a rock behind her.

"What?" AJ looked behind her and saw the rock, "Oh, hayseed!" She sighed, "Now I got a lot of ground to make up to catch Rainbow."

With that, she ran off as fast as her hooves could carry her.

"Just be careful!" Twilight and I called after her, as we continued our jog.

"I don't believe it, Applejack tripped me." Rainbow growled, as she recovered from her fall and getting covered in the fall leaves.

"Don't you ponies ever look where you're going?" Twilight asked, as we caught up with her, "You tripped on a stump." She pointed to a stump in the road, "See?"

Rainbow picked herself up and looked at the stump, "Oh, I see." Then she glared, "A big cheater is what I see."

"Rainbow, Applejack would never cheat." I told her, "It was just an accident."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes sourly, "Sure it was." I glared at her. Rainbow recollected herself, "I mean, yeah, I'm sure it was."

"Remember, Rainbow, this is just a game." Twilight told her, as she and I continued our jog through the woods.

"Oh my, Whitetail Wood is just lovely." Twilight smiled, as we reached the fork of the road.

I nodded, then saw Rainbow Dash up ahead, "Hey there, Rainbow." Then I raised a brow, "Um... Shouldn't you be up ahead?"

Rainbow laughed and smiled at us, "I'm sure I'll win now."

"Except that the other racers just passed you." Twilight pointed out.

Realization hit the cyan Pegasus, "Oh horse apples..." Then she dashed off, "See ya!"

"Forgive me, girls." Twilight spoke up, as we passed Applejack and Rainbow Dash, who were sitting on a rock, "I know I'm not an athlete, but shouldn't the Running of the Leaves actually involve running?"

"You know, I think Twilight's right." I heard Rainbow Dash reconsidered.

Applejack raised a brow, "You do?"

Rainbow nodded, "Yeah! If you wanna beat me, you better..." Then she dashed past us, "RUUUN!"

Applejack growled and charged after her.

I received my gold medal, as Rainbow Dash and Applejack arrived and started arguing. Both Ponies looked tired and their fur was matted up with sweat. Manes and tails were knotted and mangled from their fighting.

"I won!" Rainbow Dash smiled.

Applejack shook her head, "No, Ah won!

Rainbow glared at my cousin, "I won!"

"You tied!" Spike told them, from the hot air balloon with Pinkie Pie.

"Tied?!" AJ and Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

"For first?" AJ asked.

Pinkie Pie shook her head and smiled, "For last."

"Last?" Applejack repeated in shock.

"Then who won?" Rainbow asked.

Everypony turned to me and Twilight, who were wearing our medals in humble pride.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked and gasped in shock, "You?!"

Twilight shook her head, "Oh no, but I did get fifth place, which is rather good considering that I've never run a race before."

"Then who won?" Rainbow asked again.

Timidly, I raised my hand. Applejack and Rainbow stared at me in shock.

"What? How's that even possible?" Applejack asked.

"You were jogging, and looked at the scenery." Rainbow pointed out, "And you're a human!"

I shook my head, "Being human had nothing to do with it. I just paced myself. Nice and easy. Then at the end, when all the other ponies were worn out, I sprinted to the finish."

Rainbow still couldn't fathom the truth before her, "I don't believe it. Twilight and Ellie beat us."

Twilight smiled, "Well, with all your horsing around, it was quite easy."

I chuckled, "You two were so centered on beating each other, you never noticed us."

Applejack sighed and frowned regrettably, "You're right. Our behavior was just terrible."

Rainbow nodded in agreement, "We weren't very good sports."

Then a familiar voice spoke from behind us, "Sounds to me that an important lesson was learned."

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and I turned to see a tall, regal Alicorn walking toward us.

"Princess Celestia?!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash gasped, as we bowed when she approached us.

"W... What are yah doin' here?" Applejack asked.

"Fall is one of my favorite seasons, so I came to celebrate the Running of the Leaves." Princess Celestia answered with a smile.

Applejack frowned apologetically, "Ah'm sorry yah had to see us being such poor sport, Princess."

"That's all right, Applejack." Princess Celestia assured, "Anypony can get swept up in the excitement of competition."

Twilight nodded, then added, "It's important to remember that the friendship is always more important than the competition."

Applejack and Rainbow looked each other in surprise.

Princess Celestia nodded, "Exactly, Twilight." Then turned to AJ and Rainbow, "Now, unfortunately, because the two of you were busy tricking each other instead of shaking down leaves, many of the lovely trees of Equestria are still covered."

"Why, Princess, Ah bet we can knock those leaves down for yah lickety-split." Applejack assured with a smile, then turned to Rainbow, "Whaddya say, friend? Wanna go for another run?"

Rainbow Dash smiled, "I'd love to stretch my legs."

With that, the two athletic Ponies ran down the road of Whitetail Wood and worked together to finished the Running of Leaves.