Applejack tore around another corner, and heard the sound of a pony catching up to her. She wasn’t sure if Rainbow had caught her; after all, Rainbow just had a tough crash.

“Look cowgirl, no wings!”

Rainbow blitzed past Applejack to regain the lead.

“Applejack’s trying to catch up!” called Spike.

“What’s ketchup have to do with this?” asked Pinkie.

“Uh–that’s not quite what I meant…”

“Personally I prefer mustard on my hot dog. What about you Spike?”

“Uhm–pickles?”

“Speaking of pickles, Rainbow’s in a really big one! Applejack is right behind her, and closing!”

“Hey Rainbow, miss me?”

Applejack pulled up right besides Rainbow.

Rainbow thought quickly, and forced herself to re-take the lead, before catching a branch in her mouth, and then letting it go. It sprang back, and nailed Applejack, sending her stumbling into a bush.

“See ya later alligator!”

“Why, that little cheater did that on purpose!” said Applejack. “It’s on!”

Rainbow shot down a long straightaway, and looked back for Applejack… and saw her zooming past. Evidently Applejack had turned the springy branch into a catapult.

Applejack’s trick had gained her some ground, but she’d been almost out of momentum by the time she passed Rainbow, and so resorted to a different trick: syrup. Applejack had often gone out to get syrup in White Tail Woods, and therefore she knew where the syrup was. She thundered down the straightaway, and turned around the bend, before knocking one of the buckets of fresh maple syrup onto the road.

Rainbow zoomed around the bend, and got caught in the syrup. “Hey!”

The other racers blew by Rainbow. Twilight probably would have stopped, but Rainbow had gotten far away from her. She slowly inched forwards, before the syrup shot her back. That gave her an idea. Rainbow went back as far as possible, before lunging forwards. The syrup shot her forwards then let go, and even without her wings, Rainbow was flying. She whizzed past Applejack, before landing back on the ground. “Look who’s back!”

“Nuts and Chews! How on Equestria are you here?”

“Sorry, but the question should be: how in Equestria are you gonna survive these oranges?”

Rainbow hit a tree, sending oranges rolling. Applejack slipped on them, and crashed to the ground again.

“And what a trick by Rainbow Dash, putting Applejack into a spin–literally!” Spike said.

“But here comes Applejack, trying to get back into her frontrunner position!”

“AND SHE DOES!!!”

It only took a few seconds for a few things to happen. #1: Applejack put on a rush of speed and retook the lead. #2: Rainbow rammed into Applejack. #3: The bridge that they’d thundered over became covered in oranges, effectively making it impossible for anypony else to finish the race. #4: Rainbow and Applejack arrived on the final stretch, and saw the finish line.

“Cut it out!” yelled Applejack, slamming into Rainbow, who slowed a little, before regaining her balance.

“No you cut it out!” Rainbow blindsided Applejack, sending her into a barrel, which spun away crazily.

Applejack hit Rainbow, pushing her into a stack of spare wagon wheels, sending them flying. “You started it!” Applejack yelled.

Rainbow saw the finish line drawing ever closer. “And now I’m gonna finish it!” she rammed into Applejack, sending her over to the edge, where Applejack sent small rocks flying into the rocky ditch at the shoulder of the path. Rainbow could literally see Princess Celestia watching as the race was about to draw to a close.

“On, no you don’t!” yelled Applejack, biting Rainbow’s tail, and pulling her back. Rainbow did the same thing. Applejack managed to catch Rainbow and yank her back, but caught the rope that was binding Rainbow’s wings in the process… and then suddenly they were free. Despite this, Rainbow didn’t even notice, as she could now see the Wonderbolts, cheering in the stands. That was the boost Rainbow needed. She gave the final stretch everything she had, just in time to blitz past Applejack and win.

“I WIN!!” yelled Rainbow, and the crowd erupted in cheers. To Rainbow’s surprise, Applejack didn’t seem upset at all. “Good race,” she said cheerfully.

“Thanks,” said Rainbow, before realizing her wings were free. “Hey! My wings were tied!”

“They came undone on the final stretch,” said Applejack. “And you didn’t use ‘em!”

Rainbow decided not to mention that she hadn’t used them because she hadn’t noticed they were free.

“Congratulations Rainbow!” said Twilight, coming over to her. She had a medal around her neck.

“What, you got a medal for being the slowest pony ever?”

“Nope,” said Twilight. “It's a third place medal. Not bad for my first ever race.”

Rainbow tipped over, and her legs were sticking straight up.

“Congrats Twilight,” said Applejack.

“Thanks,” she replied, glancing down at Rainbow, whose legs were still sticking straight up. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” siad Applejack. “Though I’m beat. I think gettin’ my medal, then going right back on home, and taking a five hour long nap sounds dandy to me.”

“I’m tired too,” said Twilight.

“Speaking’ of which, how’d you finish third?” asked Applejack. “You were, no offense, not even running for most of the race.”

Twilight laughed. “I paced myself. And then, when all the other ponies were all worn out, I blitzed past them and got third–or at least that's what thought would happen. Instead, all the other ponies were blocked by oranges.”

Applejack chuckled. “That was Rainbow’s doin’”

Twilight and Applejack looked at Rainbow, who’d fallen asleep, upside down.

Author's Note

So, yes, Rainbow Dash does win the race in this AU. I have to say though, this chapter and the one right before it, are easily my favorite chapters.