The Midnight Zone

Applejack was mighty confident going into the Long Jump, and with good reason. She quickly lined up, and jumped farther than Rainbow could have ever expected, setting a new world record; the fifteenth marker.

“Ha! I just set a new world record! Beat that!”

“I can and I will!”

Rainbow sprinted towards the edge, and leapt into the air, making it to the eleventh marker–a respectable distance–but before falling caught herself with her wings, and casually flew over Applejack’s record.

“Wow!” Spike commented. “Rainbow’s just set a new world record, by beating Applejack’s world record!”

“I’m awesome!” squeaked Rainbow.

“No, you're not!” countered Applejack. “You–”

Applejack’s voice was suddenly drowned out by the sound of hooves, and a moment later, what appeared to be all of Ponyville gathered in the bleachers, excited to see who would become the first ever Iron Pony in Ponyville. Spike’s voice was distinct over the crowd, because of his microphone. “And it's now 2-0! But with the next challenge being the High Striker, you have to assume Applejack’s gonna have an advantage in this one.”

Sure enough Applejack did, and a pattern quickly emerged: Applejack would win the strength games, like the Tractor Pull, arm wrestling, and High Striker; Rainbow would win all the other games she could cheese with her wings, like push ups, bringing baby chicks across a pit of mud, and the very controversial Long Jump. with only two games left, the score was 14-4.

“And up next, the Hay Bale Toss!” exclaimed Spike.

Rainbow threw her hay bale, and it flew all the way to the end of the markers. “Pfthfth. No wings no–” Applejack’s bale suddenly fell out of the sky, and flattened Rainbow.

Applejack stared at her from across the field. “Heh heh,”

“And just like that,” said Spike. “We are down to the last challenge– Tug-o’-war! Or Tug-of-war. Or–uh, it doesn’t matter!”

“Alll-right,” said Twilight. “This is the last challenge, so give it all you’ve got! Ready, set, go! ”

Rainbow immediately felt herself getting pulled towards the mud pit, and despite locking her feet in the best she could, the edge was less than a hoof away. Seeing her opportunity, Applejack gave a yank, and Rainbow was on the precipice of the pit.

“And It looks like the workhorse is gonna come out ahead!” said Spike eagerly.

Applejack yanked back again and Rainbow fell into the pit.

Almost.

“Not gonna get me that easy!” said Rainbow, flying up into the air, and pulling Applejack up with her.

“Wow!” said Spike. “And just like that Rainbow’s turned the tables!”

“Dgor treadin’!” Applejack said.

“What was that?”

“Yeor trhdein’!”

“I can’t understand you!”

Applejack spat the rope out. “I said–uh oh.” Applejack fell into the mud pit. Fluttershy set the score to: 15-5.

“Yes!” exclaimed Rainbow. “I win by a landslide! Or a mudslide in your case.” she laughed. Two pegasi ponies flew behind Rainbow, and held up a banner saying: “THE IRON PONY!” Rainbow looked at it, then struck a mid-air pose. “I am the Iron Pony!”

The crowd cheered.

“Only ‘cause you cheated!” yelled Applejack!

The crowd gasped. “What?” said Rainbow innocently.

“You used your wingpower to win most of the contests!”

“It just looks like sour apples to me.”

“Are you sayin’ you didn’t use your wings?”

“Well… no, but you never said I couldn’t!”

“I didn’t think I’d have to tell you to play fair!”

“I still would have won without my wings!”

“Hah. Prove it!”

“Gladly. How?”

“Tomorrow’s the annual Runnin’ of the Leaves. I challenge you to beat me at it.”

“Easy shmeasy.” Rainbow started flying away.

Applejack caught her tail, and slammed her to the ground. “There’s one condition: the point is to run so NO WINGS ALLOWED.”

“No wings? No problem.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Applejack, and walked off.