A/N: The rope swing didn't look possible to actually get across, especially since they have to jump to the rope. Instead of trying to explain cartoon physics from a cartoon character's perspective, I changed it to something realistic.

AJ and I take our places at the start of the archery course next to Twilight and Olivia.

...

Wait... "Olivia? You're running this course?"

She sighs. "Like I said, Principal Cinch is forcing me to compete."

"Didn't you tell her you can't do this?"

"Of course I did! She said, and I quote, 'If you can handle taking the stairs, you can handle a little running and jumping'."

Really?! "What the hell is her problem?"

"It's because I'm an ex-CHS student."

"Why not transfer back? At least here, the principals don't make you run a marathon."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea right about now..."

Dean Cadance gets on the PA system. "Welcome, everyone, to the Friendship Games Tri-Cross Relay!"

The crowd cheers.

"In this event, our qualifying competitors will face off in archery, speed skating, and finally, motocross."

"Good luck," I tell Olivia.

"Thanks. I'm gonna need it just to get over the first bale."

"So, if the competitors are ready..."

The two of us get into a ready-to-run position.

Dean Cadance blows the air horn, and I take off as the crowd cheers.

I approach the first hay bale, and it's much wider than I thought. No way am I gonna leap over it.

I put my hands on the bale, then lift my left leg while I push off the ground with my right. I swing my legs around to the front, then slide off.

I wonder...

At the second bale, I push off with both feet and tumble across it. The Canterlot side cheers louder.

"CHS trying to win some style points!"

I grab an arrow holder and get onto the platform. Three gaps, each look to be a meter apart, with landing platforms short enough to make stopping not an option unless I want a mud bath.

I run at it, then make the leaps. Right... Left... Right... Made it! That was easy.

Now for the archery part. I pick up the bow. I load an arrow and look at the targets. Two are moving in a circle, and two are moving back and forth.

I'll try for the upper one.

"What the heck is this?!"

Sounds like she got to the gaps. I hope she doesn't hurt herself.

"Do I have to jump?!"

"Yes, you have to jump," Dean Cadance says over the PA system.

Not the answer she was looking for.

I draw the string back. From what I remember, I need to aim slightly above the target. Don't remember how fast the arrows travel, though.

Let's see... How about... Now!

I release the string. The arrow hits the outer ring of the target. Okay, got the timing down.

I load another arrow. Try to aim at the same spot.

I release it, and it hits above the target.

I sigh. "It wasn't difficult enough to hit the center of a stationary target?"

I load another. A little lower this time...

I release it, and it hits the right side of the inner ring. Getting closer.

I grab another. I hope I don't run out.

When I draw it back, I see an arrow in the center of the bottom target. One try? Really?!

Okay, I've got this. Wait for it... Wait for it...

...

Now!

...

Or not. That one hit the left side of the inner ring.

I hope this doesn't end up being lucky number seven.

I load another. Do the exact same thing as last time...

...

Now!

...

Dead center.

"Yes!" I turn around and give AJ a thumbs-up, and she starts running.

Twilight is at the gaps.

"S***..."

I look at Olivia. She's sitting on the edge of the platform.

I walk over to her. "You okay?"

"My stump hurts a little." She sighs. "I told her I couldn't do this..."

"You have your cream, right?"

"Not with me. She said I had to leave it at the school."

"You've gotta be kidding me..." Why did she let her enroll in the first place?

Twilight and AJ make it to our platforms. AJ's first shot hits the outer ring, and Twilight's misses completely. AJ's second shot hits the center, and Rarity and Pinkie begin their part.

"And Canterlot's off to an early lead."

"How did you get it first try?" I ask Olivia.

"We're required to learn archery at Crystal Prep. I've had time to practice."

Twilight's second shot hits the upper left of the wall, and the third hits the bottom right. Her fourth shot barely misses the target.

"Was Twilight exempt from the lessons?"

"She keeps her head buried in books. It doesn't surprise me that she's crap at this."

"Whee!" Nice to see Pinkie's having fun.

"If CPA can't hit another bulls-eye soon, they'll be out of this race."

Twilight drops one of her arrows. She's shaking as she draws the string.

"You're really bad at this!"

"Really?" I yell back. "'Cause I think she's doing great!"

"Of course you'd think that! She's not on your team!"

Not sure if she couldn't figure out that was sarcasm or if she was being sarcastic herself.

AJ walks onto Twilight's platform. "Ya have to stop aimin' at the target," she tells Twilight.

"Don't aim at the target?" Olivia says. "What do you want her to aim at, my leg? Actually, go right ahead. I probably need a new one, anyway."

"Don't you have a spare?" I ask.

"Yes, but I need another spare to replace this one."

"Ya have to stop aimin' at where the target is and aim at where it's gonna be. Just trust me. Take a deep breath..."

Twilight does so.

"Let the arrow go... Right..."

...

"Now!"

...

Bulls-eye.

Well, at least she finally got it.

"Yeah! That's my girl!" Her dog jumps into her arms.

Twilight stands up and hugs AJ.

"See? I was tellin' ya the truth."

AJ glows orange and her pony ears appear.

"I'd say I didn't see that coming, but I'd be lying."

"See what coming?" Olivia looks behind her. "She's glowing, too? What's the deal with that, anyway?"

"Long story. I'll explain later." Twilight's device starts hovering again.

"Crap!" I forgot about that! I quickly climb onto the platform.

"What... are... you... doing?!"

"I don't know!"

The device is draining AJ's magic. I try forcing it shut, but it won't budge. My hand slides off the top and into the magic, and I quickly pull it out.

Okay, it still looks normal, and I don't feel any different. No second thumb or anything like that. Has that mark always been there...?

Twilight closes the device, but loses her balance and falls back. When she hits the ground, the device flies out of her hand and onto the skating track, then opens again. It unleashes a purple shockwave, and a portal opens in front of Twilight. A green vine creeps out from it.

Wait, those types of vines actually exist? Even with magic, they shouldn't be possible!

"Canterlot only has two laps to go, but it looks like Crystal Prep is making up for lost time!"

One of the Shadowbolts skates into the device and kicks it to the other side of the track.

Olivia taps my shoulder. "How about explaining now?"

I sigh, then turn around. "The girls on my team have magic from a world of colorful, talking ponies, and Twilight has some sort of device that steals magic."

"Magic? Colorful, talking ponies? Are you nuts?! What the hell kind of explanation is that?!"

"It's the truth!"

"No it's not! Magic isn't real!"

"Then how do you explain the holes and vines?"

She pauses. "Uh... Time and space being ripped apart?"

"And what about Applejack's pony ears?"

"Well... Um..."

Someone screams. I look behind me.

"Twilight!" She's getting dragged toward a portal by one of the vines. The end of one has a pair of mouth-like leaves.

I jump off the platform and run toward her.

What do I do, what do I do... Think think think...

...

Sure, why not?

I grab the vine around her leg and bite down on it. It releases her, but another grabs my right ankle.

Crap! Well, no biting my way out of this one. I try to pull it off, but it has a firm grip. I can't slip my fingers under it, either.

Olivia's just standing there. "I could use a little help here!"

"No way! I'm not losing my leg to that thing!"

"Who cares about that?! You have a spare!"

"At my house, yeah! And you remember my history with this school! Crystal Prep students will be even worse!"

"You'd let your ex-boyfriend become plant food because you're afraid of the CPA students?! They only care about winning! How would making fun of you benefit them in any way?!"

"I'm not taking that chance!"

"I tried saving Twilight, a girl I don't even know, and you won't even try to save your only friend from CHS?!" She's still as stubborn as ever...

Maybe I can slide it off.

I remove my shoe and try pushing the vine down while pulling my leg back. It's not budging, but it's still my best option.

I kick it with my other foot a few times, then start pushing with it.

...

Why does Equestria have killer plants in the first place?! What purpose would these serve, home protection? Are non-unicorns that defenseless?

"Canterlot wins!"

Great, we won. Now can somebody call off these weeds?!

"Attention students. Please proceed to the gym."

The plants disappear back into the portals, which close.

Glad that's over. I hope everyone else is okay.

I put my shoe back on, then run over to the finish line.

"The magic is going haywire," Sunset is saying to the others, "and I have no idea how to fix it!"

"I might have an idea," I say. I look at Rainbow, who's already ponied up. "Plant went after Sunset, you went back and got her, and then you ponied up?"

"Yup."

"Thought so." Element of Loyalty.

"Um, excuse me..." Twilight? "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to learn about the strange energy coming from your school. I didn't know that it was magic or... how it works."

She took that much better than Olivia did.

Rainbow walks toward her. "That's okay. Neither do we."

"Dash, stop!" I yell.

Too late.

"Oh no! No no no! Not again!"

The device starts draining her magic.

"I'm sorry! It just started absorbing energy on its own! But I'm not sure how!"

"What do you mean you don't know how?!" Sunset sounds irritated. She goes to close the device, but something shoots into the air. A portal opens, and there's a night sky on the other end.

"It also causes these corresponding rifts to appear, and I don't know how that works either!"

"Is there anything you do know? Like how to get our magic back? Or how to fix the portal to Equestria?!"

"Equestria?"

Wait... That tone...

"You're supposed to be so smart, but did you ever think that you shouldn't mess around with things you don't understand?!" She closes the device, causing the rift to close.

No...

"But I wanna understand!"

"But you don't! And worst of all, you put the lives of my friends in danger!"

Was I...

"I'm sorry... I... I didn't mean to..." Twilight runs away crying.

"Twilight! Wait!" Her dog chases after her.

...

I was played... Again...

She's still the same.

I can feel the tears forming.

I turn around and run away.

"Cloudflare!"

It feels like my heart's been ripped from my chest.

...

Should I stay for the final round? It's not like I'll contribute anything. No one's gonna care if I leave.

...

Then again, I'm still technically on the team. Besides, I'd just go right to bed if I went home.

...