My Little Pony Multiverse Magic

It was a crisp autumn morning in Ponyville, the leaves beginning to turn shades of gold and red as the gentle breeze carried the scent of ripe apples from Sweet Apple Acres. The perfect weather for a friendly competition.

In an open field just outside the farm, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were engaged in a heated game of horseshoes. A small crowd of their friends had gathered to watch, lounging on the grass while the two competitive mares took their turns.

Rainbow Dash stood a few feet from the wooden stake, eyeing her target with laser focus. She grunted, winding up her throw before letting the horseshoe fly. It landed just a few inches short of the stake.

“Whoo-hoo!” Rainbow cheered, pumping her hoof.

Applejack chuckled. “Hoo-wee! Not a bad pitch for a pony who works with her head in the clouds.”

“Oh yeah?” Rainbow smirked, hovering slightly off the ground. “Think you can do better, cowgirl?”

“I know I can,” Applejack replied with a confident grin. She grabbed her horseshoe, adjusted her aim, and tossed it with practiced precision.

Clank!

The horseshoe landed… just behind Rainbow’s.

Applejack’s ears drooped. “Oh, for Pete’s sake!” she huffed.

Rainbow Dash burst into laughter. “Ha! Looks like this Pegasus can pitch better than the workhorse,” she teased, tapping the brim of Applejack’s hat so that it tipped over her eyes. “The object of the game is to get the closest to the stake, remember?”

Applejack pushed her hat back into place and gave Rainbow a playfully narrowed look. “All right, all right,” she grumbled. “You got another throw, hotshot.”

Rainbow smirked, picking up her last horseshoe. With a cocky grin, she threw it harder… too hard.

CLANG!

Somewhere far in the distance, a loud crashing sound echoed, followed by a yelp of surprise.

“Wow, Rainbow,” Applejack deadpanned. “You couldn’t hit a barn door with that kind of throw.”

Rainbow scoffed. “Yeah, yeah. I still have the closest throw, Applesmack. Just try and beat it.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes in determination, then grabbed her last horseshoe. Taking a steady breath, she reeled back and launched it.

CLINK!

The horseshoe landed perfectly around the stake, ringing it like a bell.

“YEE-HAW! That’s how ya do it on the farm!” Applejack whooped, tipping her hat back with a smug grin.

Rainbow’s mouth fell open. “I lost?!”

Applejack patted her on the back. “Ah, don’t feel bad, Rainbow. It’s all in good fun.”

Rainbow, however, crossed her hooves, pouting. “I hate losing…”

Applejack shook her head with a chuckle. “Aw, come on now. Yer a mighty good athlete. No shame in losin’ a little friendly competition.”

Rainbow narrowed her eyes. That was twice now Applejack had beaten her in a test of skill. First horseshoes… what’s next? A race? A hoof-wrestling match? The thought made her feathers ruffle.

No way am I lettin’ her have this one.

“Alright, Applejack,” Rainbow said, standing tall. “You think you’re the best athlete in Ponyville?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “I know I am,” she said with a smirk. “At least, that’s what everypony says.”

Rainbow snorted. “Well, I think I’m the top athlete. So let’s prove it.”

Applejack tilted her head. “Prove what?”

“I challenge you,” Rainbow declared, flaring her wings dramatically, “to an Iron Pony Competition!”

Applejack blinked. “A what now?”

“A series of athletic contests!” Rainbow said excitedly. “We’ll compete in a bunch of challenges to see who’s really the best. Unless…” She grinned mischievously. “…you’re chicken?”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. She never backed down from a challenge.

“You know what, Rainbow?” Applejack spat on her hoof and held it out. “You’re on.”

Rainbow smirked, spitting on her own hoof before bumping it against Applejack’s.

From the sidelines, Omi approached, having overheard their conversation. “What is this Iron Pony Competition you speak of?” he asked curiously.

“It’s simple, partner,” Applejack explained, stretching her legs. “We’ve set up a bunch of events to decide which one of us is—”

“The most athletic pony ever!” Rainbow interrupted, cracking her neck as she hovered in place.

Omi raised an eyebrow. “I see. And you require a fair and impartial judge to ensure this remains honorable?”

Applejack blinked. “Uh… well, yeah. That’d probably be a good idea.”

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Sure, whatever.”

Omi smiled. “Then I shall take on this responsibility! I will oversee your competition and ensure it remains just and fair!”

Applejack chuckled. “Well, ain’t that mighty kind of ya, Omi.”

The young monk nodded. “However,” he added, his expression turning serious, “I have seen friendly rivalries turn bitter. Be mindful that your competition does not spiral into reckless pride.”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. We’ll be fine.”

Applejack, however, hesitated for a moment. She knew how competitive Rainbow could get, and if she was being honest, she wasn’t exactly one to back down either.

Still, it was all in good fun… right?

“Well,” Applejack said with a grin, “may the best pony win.”

Rainbow smirked. “Oh, I intend to.”

As the two mares locked eyes, the friendly challenge was officially on.

The Iron Pony Competition was officially underway, and excitement buzzed in the air as the crowd gathered around Sweet Apple Acres to watch the showdown between Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

Omi stood at the starting line with a stopwatch in hoof, his face serious as he took his role as referee with utmost dedication. “The first challenge is the Barrel Weave!” he announced. “Each competitor must weave through the barrels and reach the finish line as quickly as possible. Any barrels knocked over will result in a time penalty.”

Applejack was up first. She cracked her neck, adjusted her hat, and took her position at the starting line.

Omi raised his whistle and blew sharply. FWEEEE!

Applejack took off like a shot, skillfully weaving between the barrels with the precision of a well-trained rodeo pony. She was fast, hooves kicking up dirt as she pushed herself harder. But as she approached the final stretch, her flank barely bumped a barrel, making it wobble slightly.

“Applejack’s final time is… 17 seconds,” Omi declared. “However, due to the penalty, her adjusted time is 22 seconds.”

Applejack huffed, but nodded. “Alright, let’s see what ya got, Dash.”

Rainbow Dash stretched her wings but kept them firmly tucked against her sides—this was an earth pony competition, after all. She grinned, stepping up to the line. “Get ready to eat my dust, AJ.”

FWEEEE!

Rainbow shot forward like a rocket, weaving through the barrels at breakneck speed. Unlike Applejack, she barely missed a single one, her movements quick and precise. The crowd gasped as she reached the finish line in record time.

Omi glanced at the stopwatch. “Rainbow Dash’s time is 18 seconds!”

The pegasus pumped her hoof in victory. “Yes! First win goes to me!”

Applejack frowned but nodded. “Alright, sugarcube. Ya got me there. But it ain’t over yet.”

The second event was the classic Strength Test—the game where a pony stomps on a lever to send a marker soaring to hit the bell at the top.

Rainbow stepped up first. She shook out her hooves, took a deep breath, and with a powerful slam, she sent the marker soaring all the way up. DING! The bell rang out, and the crowd cheered.

Rainbow smirked. “Let’s see you top that, AJ.”

Applejack simply rolled her shoulders. “Stand back, everypony.”

With a mighty grunt, she slammed her hooves down hard—so hard that the marker not only shot up in record time but smashed straight through the bell, sending it flying clean off its post.

The crowd gasped.

Rainbow’s jaw dropped. “…Okay, that was awesome.”

Omi nodded. “Applejack wins this round!”

Applejack tipped her hat. “One to one, sugarcube.”

The next event was… less conventional. Omi stood between the competitors with King sitting on his head, looking thoroughly unimpressed.

“For this event,” Omi explained, “each competitor must attempt to buck King off their backs as quickly as possible. However! Any intentional harm to make him fall faster will result in instant disqualification.”

“Why do I have to be the one getting tossed around?!” King snapped, crossing his tiny arms.

Omi gave a polite nod. “Because you are the lightest among us.”

King groaned. “I hate this.”

“Eh, you’ll be fine,” Sonic smirked, leaning against a fence post. “Think of it as a rodeo for demons.”

King glared. “Oh, har har.”

Applejack went first, and King gritted his teeth as he clung to her mane. “Alright, partner,” Applejack muttered, “let’s see if ya got what it takes to ride with the best.”

With that, she bucked. Hard.

King held on for dear life, his tiny claws gripping her fur. “Not today, cowgirl!”

Applejack smirked, picking up the pace. She kicked, twisted, and twirled, trying to shake the little demon off. Finally, after a solid ten seconds, King went flying into a haystack.

Omi checked the timer. “Ten seconds exactly!”

King groaned. “I think I saw my life flash before my eyes…”

Next up was Rainbow Dash. King, still dizzy, was plopped onto her back.

Rainbow grinned. “Hope you’re ready for a real ride, Kingy.”

King barely had time to protest before Rainbow took off—not into the air, but bouncing wildly on the ground, spinning in tight circles, and throwing her weight side to side in a way that would make any rodeo bull jealous.

“AHHHH! I HATE THIIIIIS!” King wailed.

After only seven seconds, King went flying off like a rocket, landing upside-down in the haystack again.

Omi checked the stopwatch. “Rainbow Dash wins this round by three seconds!”

Rainbow Dash pumped her hoof. “Ha! Two to one!”

Applejack narrowed her eyes. “We’ll see about that, sugarcube. We’re just gettin’ started.”

The competition was heating up. The score was two to one, and the tension between Applejack and Rainbow Dash was growing.

The crowd at Sweet Apple Acres was electric with excitement. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had gone head-to-head in twenty different events, each mare proving to be just as skilled as the other. Omi, acting as the official referee, checked the scoreboard once more, his eyes widening in surprise.

"It seems we are still tied! 20 to 20!" Omi declared.

Both Applejack and Rainbow groaned in frustration. "You gotta be kidding me!" Rainbow exclaimed.

"All that competin' an' we're still even?" Applejack grumbled, adjusting her hat.

Pinkie Pie, who had been enthusiastically documenting the competition with streamers and cheers, suddenly gasped and pulled out a large, colorful book labeled The Official Iron Pony Rule Book. "Omi! Omi! Look at this!" she said, bouncing over and pointing to a specific page.

Omi raised an eyebrow and read aloud, "Rule number 17: In the case of a tie, the final tiebreaker shall be determined by… a good old-fashioned tug-of-war!"

The crowd cheered, stomping their hooves in excitement.

Applejack smirked. "Now this I can get behind."

Rainbow stretched her legs. "Pfft, please. This is gonna be easy."

Omi led the two mares to the final event: a large, thick rope stretched across a deep mud pit. A red flag was tied in the center, and the goal was simple—pull the flag to their side to claim victory.

"Ponies, on your mark…" Omi raised his whistle.

Applejack and Rainbow grabbed their ends of the rope, determination blazing in their eyes.

"Get set…"

The crowd leaned in, waiting in anticipation.

FWEEEE!

The match was on!

Both mares dug their hooves into the ground, pulling with all their strength. The rope tensed as they pulled back and forth, neither gaining the upper hoof. Sweat dripped from their brows as they grunted in effort, the flag jerking slightly in one direction before getting yanked back the other way.

Applejack clenched her teeth, her powerful legs digging into the dirt. "Ain't gonna let ya win this easy, Dash!"

Rainbow smirked, flapping her wings slightly as she pulled. "Oh, I think I got this in the bag!"

Applejack’s eyes widened as she noticed Rainbow hovering just slightly above the ground. "Hey! That ain't fair! You can't fly to help ya win!"

"Huh?" Rainbow mumbled around the rope.

Applejack tried to yell again but quickly realized her mistake—by opening her mouth, she let go of the rope!

"Uh-oh."

With nothing holding her back, Applejack yelped as she tumbled backward, landing with a SPLAT right into the mud pit. The crowd gasped, then cheered as the bell rang to signal the event’s end.

Rainbow Dash whooped, dropping the rope in victory. "Ha! Told ya! I won!"

Applejack, still sitting in the mud, wiped it off her face with an unimpressed glare. "What I was tryin’ to say before I got a mouthful of mud was that ya cheated through half these events!"

"Cheated?!" Rainbow scoffed. "You never said I couldn’t use my wings!"

Omi calmly walked forward and cleared his throat. "Actually, I stated at the start that the goal was to get the flag to your side. I never said anything about who ended up in the mud."

Rainbow blinked. "Wait… so what does that mean?"

"As a fair referee," Omi continued, "I am deducting five points from Rainbow Dash’s score for unsportsmanlike conduct and awarding them to Applejack." He raised his hoof. "Therefore, Applejack is the official winner of the Iron Pony Competition!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. Applejack smirked triumphantly while Rainbow’s wings drooped in disbelief.

"Oof, that hurts," Luz winced.

"HA! Justice!" Eda laughed.

"I still would’ve won even without my wings!" Rainbow huffed.

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? Then prove it."

Rainbow’s ears perked up. "How?"

Applejack smirked. "Tomorrow’s the annual Running of the Leaves. It’s a long-distance race through the White Tail Woods. I challenge you—first one to the finish line wins."

Rainbow’s competitive spirit flared up instantly. "Easy schmeasy!" She grinned. "What’s the catch?"

"No wings allowed," Applejack said firmly. "This is a race—not a flying contest."

Rainbow hesitated for only a second before spitting on her hoof. "You’re on, cowgirl!"

Applejack spat on her hoof too, and the two locked hooves in a firm shake. Their eyes locked in fierce determination.

Then Rainbow, always the showboat, leaned in and blew a raspberry at Applejack.

Applejack chuckled before leaning in closer… and suddenly, a splash of cold water hit both of their faces.

"ACK! What the hay?!" Rainbow sputtered as Omi splashed them with his waterpower clearing not impressed.

"Not everything has to be a competition," he said. "The two of you are behaving like bratty children."

Applejack and Rainbow shared an awkward glance.

"Now, if you will excuse me," Omi huffed. "I am going to prepare for tomorrow’s race properly. Without ridiculous rivalry nonsense."

With that, he turned and walked off, leaving the rest of the crowd chuckling as the sun began to set on Sweet Apple Acres.

Tomorrow’s race was going to be very interesting.

The sun shone brightly over White Tail Woods, its golden light streaming through the vibrant trees, painting the landscape in dazzling shades of red, orange, and yellow. The annual Running of the Leaves was about to begin, and ponies from all across Ponyville had gathered at the starting line, eager to participate in the autumn tradition.

Sonic stretched his legs, casually leaning against a tree. "So, Eda, why do they call it the Running of the Leaves anyway?" he asked, adjusting his gloves.

Eda yawned, stretching her arms lazily. "The Running of the Leaves is a very important tradition," she explained. "Without it, the autumn leaves in Equestria wouldn’t fall. It’s the runners’ job to shake them loose by stomping across the trails."

"Seriously?" Sonic smirked. "Back in my world, leaves just fall off on their own. This place really does have magic for everything, huh?"

"You’re just figuring that out?" Eda teased.

Meanwhile, at the starting line, Applejack was doing some warm-up stretches, her hat tilted forward with determination. Suddenly, a familiar, cocky voice cut through the air.

"Make way, make way!" Rainbow Dash announced dramatically, shoving past a few other runners. She stopped right next to Applejack, flashing a smug grin. "So, Applejack, you ready to win second place?"

Applejack smirked, not taking the bait. "I’m ready to run a good, clean race, Rainbow."

"Yeah, yeah, suuure you are…" Rainbow waved her off dismissively.

Applejack narrowed her eyes. "And just so we’re clear—"no wings.*"

Rainbow scoffed. "Pfft, I could win this race with both wings tied behind my back!"

Before she could react, King suddenly jumped up and literally tied her wings together with a sturdy knot.

"What the hay, dude?!" Rainbow squawked, flailing.

King dusted his tiny hands off. "She said no wings. I’m just makin’ sure you don’t ‘accidentally’ forget." He smirked and strutted away.

Applejack chuckled. "What he said."

As Pinkie Pie took her place as announcer, the runners began lining up.

"Racers! Please take your positions!" Pinkie’s cheerful voice echoed through the woods. "And remember, everypony, this is a friendly race! No pushing, shoving, or unsportsmanlike behavior!"

Rainbow and Applejack were just about to settle in when something—or rather, two someponies—caught their attention.

"Wait a sec… Twilight? Luz?!" Rainbow stared in disbelief. "Are you two actually running?"

"That’s the plan," Luz said, adjusting her ponytail.

Rainbow snorted, trying to hold back her laughter. "Oh, wow! Twilight, you know this is a race, right? As in, running? With your hooves?"

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Yes, Rainbow, I know what a race is."

"But have you ever actually run a race before?" Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well… no," Twilight admitted. "But I have studied running extensively. I’ve read multiple books on pacing, breathing techniques, and endurance strategies—"

Rainbow burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh, you read about running? That’s adorable!"

Luz smirked, nudging Twilight playfully. "Ignore her. We’re here to enjoy the nice scenery, not get caught up in their nonsense."

Twilight nodded. "Exactly! It’s not like there’s a shiny trophy at the end for whoever comes in first place or anything."

Applejack and Rainbow Dash both pointed simultaneously toward a large, golden trophy sitting on a podium near the finish line.

Luz turned her head to look at it. "Oh. Well. Never mind," she said flatly. "Point still stands."

Twilight sighed. "Luz is right. This is about the experience, not the competition. We’re here to participate, not to win."

Rainbow snickered. "Yeah, suuure. You two keep telling yourselves that while we leave you in the dust!"

Twilight shook her head as the runners made their final preparations. She wasn’t here to win—but she was here to learn.

And so, with the crisp autumn wind in the air and the anticipation building, the race was about to begin…

The Running of the Leaves had begun, and the competitors stormed down the dusty path, hooves pounding against the ground as golden and crimson leaves rained down from the trees above.

From the peanut gallery, Eda leaned against a fence post with her arms crossed, watching Applejack and Rainbow Dash battle for the lead.

"Five bits says one of them takes this way too far," she smirked.

Sonic chuckled, stretching his arms. "Please, both of them are definitely taking this too far. I mean, it’s Applejack and Rainbow. These two don’t know how to not turn everything into a competition."

Omi stood nearby, his arms folded thoughtfully. "I sense… much pride in this race," he mused. "And much stubbornness. It is only a matter of time before things escalate."

Meanwhile, back on the race track…

Pinkie Pie stood atop her hot-air balloon, acting as the enthusiastic announcer. "All right, everypony! The race is officially underway!" she called into her megaphone. "And leading the charge we have—oh! It’s Applejack in first place, followed closely by Rainbow Dash! Wow! Look at them go!"

Applejack grinned as she pushed ahead, feeling the wind rush past her mane.

"Not so easy without wings, is it?" she teased, glancing at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow snorted, narrowing her eyes. "Come on, Rainbow," she muttered to herself. "Show ‘em a little Dash!"

With a burst of speed, Rainbow closed the gap, coming right up alongside Applejack.

"You didn’t think I was just gonna let you win, did you?" Rainbow taunted with a cocky grin.

Applejack was about to fire back with a witty remark—when suddenly, her front hoof caught on a loose rock.

"Whoa!"

She tumbled forward, landing hard against the dirt. A huge cloud of dust kicked up as the other runners rushed past her.

Applejack coughed, shaking the dirt from her face. "I don’t believe it!" she muttered angrily.

A few seconds later, Luz trotted up behind her, taking a moment to appreciate the scenery.

"Wow," Luz breathed, eyes sparkling as she looked around. "The colors, the leaves—this is so beautiful!"

"Not the scenery!" Applejack snapped, brushing dust off her hat. "Rainbow Dash tripped me!"

Luz blinked. "Uh… Applejack?" She pointed at the rock Applejack had stumbled over. "You tripped over that."

Applejack paused, her eyes darting from Luz to the rock. She frowned. "What? Oh, hayseed!" She let out a frustrated sigh before looking ahead at the racers speeding away. "Now I got a lot of ground to make up if I’m gonna catch Rainbow!"

"Just be careful!" Luz called after her.

But Applejack wasn’t listening. She charged forward, determination blazing in her eyes.

And just like that, the friendly competition… was not so friendly anymore.

The Running of the Leaves was heating up as Applejack charged ahead, dust kicking up beneath her hooves.

"See you at the finish line, Dash!" she called out smugly.

But Rainbow Dash wasn’t about to let Applejack win so easily. "Not so fast, Applejack!" she shot back, flaring her nostrils as she picked up speed. "This race isn’t over yet!"

"It is for you," Applejack said with a smirk.

Then—WHAM!

Rainbow Dash suddenly stumbled forward as her hoof caught on something, sending her crashing to the ground.

"Whoa!" she yelped as a stampede of runners barreled past her, burying her beneath a pile of leaves.

Rainbow poked her head out, spitting out a stray leaf. Her eyes narrowed as she glared after Applejack. "I don't believe it… Applejack tripped me!"

Just then, Twilight and Luz jogged past, taking in the scene.

"Don’t you ponies ever look where you’re going?" Twilight sighed, rolling her eyes. "You tripped on a stump. See?" She pointed at the innocent-looking tree root sticking out of the ground.

Rainbow Dash refused to accept it. "Oh, I see," she muttered, dusting herself off. "A big cheater is what I see."

Twilight frowned. "Rainbow, Applejack would never cheat. It was just an accident! Remember, it's only a race."

"Yeah, well… the rules have changed." Rainbow gritted her teeth, determination burning in her magenta eyes. "And two can play at that game…"

With that, she took off at full speed, determined to make up for lost ground.

Meanwhile, at the Peanut Gallery…

Eda and King sat atop a comfortable perch, cheering as they watched the race unfold on a giant crystal screen, enchanted to display live updates.

"Come on, Luz!" King hollered, waving tiny flags with Luz’s face on them. "You're making the Demon Realm proud!"

"I don’t think she can hear you," Eda smirked, sipping from a mug labeled #1 Owl Mom as the screen showing the standings. Rainbow Dash was first, Applejack was second, Luz was thirtieth, and Twilight was sixteenth.

"Not bad, kid," Eda mused, watching Luz’s icon slowly climb the ranks. "But let’s see if she can keep it up through Whitetail Woods…"

As the runners raced forward, they entered the second leg of the race—Equestria’s Whitetail Woods, a dense yet stunning autumn forest. The leaves shimmered in brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange, creating a mesmerizing backdrop.

But not everyone was here to enjoy the scenery.

Because for Applejack and Rainbow Dash, this race was no longer about friendly competition.

This was war.

The Running of the Leaves continued as the racers charged through the golden-hued Whitetail Woods, the crisp autumn air filled with the sound of pounding hooves.

But for Applejack and Rainbow Dash, this was no longer just a friendly race. It was war. Rainbow Dash’s eyes darted toward a low-hanging tree branch. A devious grin spread across her face.

"Perfect…"

She grabbed the branch, pulled it back, and waited until Applejack was right behind her.

SNAP!

Rainbow let go, sending the branch smacking right into Applejack’s face.

"Gah!" Applejack stumbled, nearly losing her balance as Rainbow Dash zoomed ahead, cackling like a maniac.

"Hey, Rainbow!" Applejack growled, shaking leaves from her hat. Then she caught sight of Rainbow’s smug expression.

The blue pegasus blew her a raspberry before taking off.

Applejack’s green eyes narrowed.

"Why, that little cheater did that on purpose," she muttered. "It's on!"

Her gaze shifted to a sturdy branch just behind her.

With a determined smirk, she yanked it back as far as it could go.

"Let's see how you like it, Dash!"

Applejack let go, but instead of hitting Rainbow Dash, she used the momentum to slingshot herself forward at high speed, overtaking her rival.

Rainbow’s jaw dropped.

"What?!"

"Later!" Applejack hollered over her shoulder as she zipped ahead, landing in front of Rainbow. Rainbow gritted her teeth and charged after her, determined to take back the lead.

But before she could close the distance—

CRACK!

Applejack bucked a tree as she passed, causing a massive beehive to drop directly into Rainbow’s path.

Rainbow’s eyes widened in horror.

"Oh, come on—!"

BUZZZZZ!

A storm of angry bees erupted from the hive, chasing after Rainbow Dash with murderous intent.

"AAAAH!" she shrieked, running for her life.

Applejack laughed to herself as Rainbow sprinted ahead, the fear-fueled speed boost propelling her forward.

Rainbow finally dove into some bushes, holding her breath as the bees hovered in mid-air, forming a confused ‘!?’ shape before zipping away in search of a new target.

She let out a relieved sigh before spotting something that made her grin wickedly.

Rainbow spotted a wooden race marker, pointing the way forward.

Her smirk widened.

"Two can play at this game…"

She snuck up to the sign and spun it around, reversing the direction.

Moments later, Applejack came galloping up behind her, huffing slightly.

She barely glanced at the tampered sign before veering onto the wrong path without a second thought.

Rainbow bit her lip, trying to hold back her laughter.

"Oh, this is too good!" she snickered.

She leaned against the sign, casually whistling, blocking it from the view of the other racers.

Unfortunately for her…

The rest of the competitors ran right past, following the actual trail while Applejack unknowingly galloped deeper into the wrong path.

"Pfft—!" Rainbow burst out laughing. "See you at the finish line, Applejack—wait."

She blinked.

"Why is everypony else still going the right way…?"

Her eyes widened as she realized she had only tricked Applejack and herself.

"Oh, horse apples."

With a groan, she took off running, hoping to catch back up.

Meanwhile, in the Middle of the Pack…

Further back, Twilight and Luz jogged at a steady pace, admiring the scenery.

"This is nice," Luz commented, taking in the brilliant autumn leaves. "Why were Applejack and Rainbow stressing about this again?"

"Because they turn everything into a competition," Twilight sighed. "They’re probably miles ahead by now."

That’s when Rainbow Dash suddenly sprinted past them, giggling mischievously to herself.

Luz raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… she’s definitely up to something."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Let’s just enjoy the race and let them act like foals."

Back at the Peanut Gallery…

Fluttershy and Rarity arrived at the viewing platform, where Eda, King, and Sonic were already enjoying the show.

"What did we miss?" Fluttershy asked, tilting her head then Eda pointed to the
t the giant crystal scoreboard that displayed the current standings.

The two mares gasped.

Current Race Standings:

1️⃣ Lyra Heartstrings
2️⃣ Octavia Melody
3️⃣ Gus Porter
4️⃣ Mint Berry
🔟 Luz Noceda
1️⃣3️⃣ Twilight Sparkle
2️⃣1️⃣ Rainbow Dash
2️⃣2️⃣ Applejack

"Oh my stars!" Rarity gasped. "*Rainbow Dash and Applejack are *losing?!**"

King snickered. "I told you those two would sabotage themselves. It was only a matter of time."

Eda chuckled. "I love it when I’m right."

Fluttershy just shook her head, sighing softly. "I hope they don’t do anything too reckless…"

Sonic leaned back with a smirk. "Oh, Fluttershy… you know they will."*

And sure enough, back in the woods, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were both realizing just how badly they had messed up.

The Running of the Leaves had finally come to an end. The crowd at the finish line erupted in cheers as the racers crossed, one by one.

As the dust settled, the results were announced:

🥇 1st Place: Lyra Heartstrings
🥈 2nd Place: Octavia Melody
🥉 3rd Place: Luz Noceda
🏅 4th Place: Gus Porter
🏅 5th Place: Twilight Sparkle

The rest of the competitors streamed in after them, but the real question on everyone’s minds was—

"Where are Applejack and Rainbow Dash?"

The Final Sprint

At that moment, Rainbow Dash and Applejack appeared in the distance, neck and neck, both covered in dirt and leaves but determined to finish strong.

The crowd gasped, watching the two push themselves to the limit.

Applejack grit her teeth. "Not this time, Dash!"

"We’ll see about that, AJ!" Rainbow shot back.

The finish line was just feet away.

With a final burst of speed, they both lunged forward—

WHOOSH!

The race was over.

The results?

🏅 8th Place: Rainbow Dash
🏅 9th Place: Applejack

As both ponies gasped for air, Rainbow looked around wildly. "Wait—who won?!"

Luz grinned, pointing toward Lyra Heartstrings, who was now hoisting the grand trophy above her head.

"While you two were too busy sabotaging each other," Twilight explained, "Lyra was focused, steady, and paced herself the whole way."

Rainbow and Applejack blinked in shock.

"So… neither of us won?" Applejack asked.

"Nope," Luz smirked. "And guess what? You also didn’t get last place."*

She pointed behind them, where Old Man Jefferson, a very elderly pony, slowly trotted across the finish line.

"Took me a little longer this year," Jefferson muttered. "Dang knees ain’t what they used to be…"

Rainbow groaned, facehoofing. "I can’t believe we lost to Lyra."*

"Hey!" Lyra called from the podium. "I heard that!"

Twilight rolled her eyes before looking at Rainbow and Applejack seriously. "We didn’t trick you two. You tricked yourselves. Instead of running the race fairly, you made it all about proving who was better, and in the end, it cost you."

Applejack and Rainbow exchanged guilty glances.

"You're right, Twilight," Applejack sighed. "Our behavior was just terrible."*

"Yeah… we weren’t exactly good sports," Rainbow admitted, rubbing the back of her neck.

Before they could say more, the crowd suddenly fell silent.

Ponies began to bow, parting to reveal none other than—

Princess Celestia.

"Sounds to me like an important lesson was learned today," she said warmly, approaching the group.

"Princess Celestia?!" Applejack and Rainbow gasped, quickly bowing.

"What are you doing here?" Applejack asked as they stood.

Celestia chuckled. "Fall is one of my favorite seasons, so I came to celebrate the Running of the Leaves."*

Applejack looked down, ears flattening. "We’re sorry you had to see us being such poor sports, Princess."*

Celestia gave a kind smile. "That’s all right, Applejack. Anypony can get caught up in the heat of competition. Isn’t that right, Omi?"

Omi nodded sagely. "Yes, I could not have said it better myself."*

Celestia’s expression turned playful. "However… since the two of you were more focused on tricking each other instead of running the race properly, many of the trees are still covered in leaves."*

Applejack and Rainbow’s eyes widened as they glanced around. Sure enough, the trees were still full of autumn leaves—far more than usual.

They turned back to each other, their competitive spirits rekindled.

"Princess," Applejack said with a grin. "I bet we can shake down those leaves for you lickety-split."*

She turned to Rainbow Dash. "What do you say, friend? Wanna go for another run?"

Rainbow smirked. "You’re on."*

With that, the two took off running, racing through the trees side by side—not as rivals, but as friends.

The others watched them go, chuckling to themselves.

"Some ponies never change," Sonic muttered.

"True," Luz grinned. "But at least they’re having fun now."*

"And this time," Twilight added, "maybe they’ll actually finish the job instead of messing around."*

The group shared a laugh as leaves began to swirl in the crisp autumn breeze, marking the true end of the Running of the Leaves.