Hello once again, Everypony! I WAS stuck on this trial, but I figured I'd go for a event based on something Graham's not good at: SPEED. Yep, a race with another self of his. Who wins? Come and read!
And to those of my fans with Love (and Tolerance)...
Keep On Rockin!'~
Chapter 12: The trial of Generosity and Fairness...
Graham soon found himself out of the portal, noticing a dirt road in a wide open field. He saw a town sign which read "Welcome to the Town of Storm Valley". He started trekking the path until he saw what looked the city and what looked like an event being set up. He saw all sorts of people like him. One in particular was another clone of his. He was a bit smaller, and had light blue hair. He was ordering the others around him.
"Uh...hello?"
"THERE YOU ARE!"
Graham jumped at the instant the other Graham screamed.
"W-What the hay, man!"
"Aren't you ready for the big race?"
"What race? I was never told I was gonna race..."
"Well, congrats! You know now! We were waiting for you all this time! You'll be racing me and three others today through the valley. Each checkpoint has been marked. Hope you've worked up your cardio, because I'm the fastest there is around here! Whoever wins, get a BIG trophy and the Title Ultimate Champion of Storm Valley!"
Rainbow Dash only scoffed. "Fastest there is, huh? I bet I could show that pipsqueak who really IS the fastest!" She said as her wings flapped.
Back to the two Grahams, The real one gulped. "B-But I'm not Built for speed!"
Rainbow noticed the nervousness in Graham's Eyes, and nudged Twilight. She knew what she wanted to do, so she made her horn glow once more.
"Graham, this is Rainbow Dash. You better step up your game here, because the guy might just beat you if you don't!"
"That's not very helpful..."
Fluttershy gently flew towards the two ponies and spoke up.
"Just try your best, Graham. Go at your own pace that you can handle. Don't try to overexert yourself..."
"That's a bit better...I think...But what if I don't beat him?"
Rainbow Dash felt annoyed she wasn't getting noticed, so she spoke louder.
"I wanna hear you say you're better than him."
"What?"
"You heard me. Say it."
"Um...I'm better...?"
"Louder."
"I'm better."
"Louder!"
"I'm Better!"
"LOUDER!"
Graham then screamed at the top of his lungs.
"I AM BETTER THAN YOU! YOU ARE WEAK! YOU ARE A BLEEDER! I WONT STOP UNTIL YOU'RE JUST A MESS ON THE FLOOR AFTER I STOMP YOU INTO THE COLD HARD GROUND! YOU ARE SCUM AND I AM KING!"
Rainbow jumped, obviously used to how Fluttershy's cries. "Woooow! That was Great! Now get out there and win it for me!"
"Aye!"
Graham then saw the others place themselves at the starting line. Graham did the same. With a flame in his eyes, he was pumped up and ready to win it.
Fluttershy quietly wished him luck, as did the others.
"Please...be careful...take it easy..."
"I'll do my best, Fluttershy. I'm not letting a half-pint like my clone here show me up!"
The race was about to start as a person held a gun in the air.
"Ready!"
"Set..."
"GO!"
The contestants shot of like the bullet fired from the gun as they started running at full speed. The Light blue Clone was in first, as Graham was right on his tail. The group ran over a mile and was starting to enter the valley.
The clone looked behind him as Graham kept up. The clone growled. He saw a opportune place to trip him, as he ran faster. He got behind a rock and waited until he was in the perfect position. He tripped up Graham and laughed as he past him.
"Later, you sack of shame!"
Graham got up and snorted. "That guy CHEATED! I'm gonna-no...no. I'm not stooping so low as to cheat myself...no way."
He got up and started running again. He soon found himself caught up with the crowd. He was soon starting to pant and slow down.
Rainbow Dash started to notice this and spoke up.
"Get moving! You're falling behind!"
Graham heard this and started to move a bit faster, but for nothing. He started coming to a full stop as the others raced onward.
"Come on...I'm no wimp..." Graham said to himself as he heard laughter from the clone in his brain. He grew furious and snorted once more.
"I...am...NOT...A...WIIIMP!"
After a few minutes he started running again, but quicker than he ever ran before. The flames on his shirt flashed all sorts of colors, as if confused about what feelings he had at the moment.
He soon started to pick up the pace as he caught up once again to the group, passing them all and even the clone. The clone was wide eyed as he passed him. The race started getting closer to the finish line...
Graham and the clone were neck and neck as they saw the finish line.
the others couldn't keep up, so they stopped to see who would win.
Both of them crossed the finish line as a picture was taken by a person with a camera. He looked at the evidence and gasped.
The two contestants panted close to exhaustion and Graham fell onto his back. He felt like his ribs were tearing in twain.
"I...Never...wanna...run...AGAIN..."
"I...won...you...never...have...to...slow...poke..."
The two caught their breath as they moved over to the camera guy.
"The Winner is...Me!" Graham threw his arms into the air and shouted with all his might. The ponies outside cheered as Graham ran around the clone, which looked completely depressed.
"I beat you! I didn't cheat, and I STILL...Beat...you...?"
Graham looked at the clone as it sighed.
He saw the trophy put into his arms as he shook hands with a man. "Congrats, Champ! What are you gonna do now?" The man asked him as he stopped shaking his hand.
"I'm gonna give the title and trophy away...to the light blue man up front."
The crowd gasped as the light blue one looked up, confused. Outside, Rainbow was asking why over and over.
"I don't really think I need this stuff. The title's nice, but it's not me, and I wasn't really in it for the trophy." Graham said as he walked down and placed the trophy down beside the clone.
"But...why would you give it away...?"
"I already told you. I didn't want it in the first place. You can have it, you wanted it."
The clone smiled. "Thanks, buddy, I guess I wanted to win so bad, that I cheated...but you didn't cheat at all...I could learn a few pointers from you, man."
"Eh, no problem. I'm just being nice. Besides, What am I gonna do with a trophy anyways, look at it all day?"
The crowd cheered as Graham started walking away. The clone ran over.
"I just wanted to let you know...that you're the most generous guy I know. I cheated and you still let me have it...thanks again."
"You're welcome...next time, try not to cheat." He said with a smile.
"Hey, why don't we race again? This time, I wont cheat, Pinkie promise!"
Pinkie overheard her first name and giggled at it. "Pinkie...promise!" She said laughing.
The two smiled at each other as they ran back towards the starting line. after another race, Graham panted as he lost this time. The two laughed as Graham sighed.
"I should get going. I got a lover back up in Celestia's Throne Room."
"Well, get going! Don't make her wait!" The clone said as he pushed Graham towards the newly opened portal.
"I guess Generosity really does go a long way..." Graham chuckled to himself as his new little friend pushed him in.
"Your last trials will be the hardest you've done yet, I wish you luck!"
"Thank you! And I hope you've learned a lesson like I have!"
Graham landed back in the lobby as the portal behind him closed. The ponies back in the throne room only watched.
Graham grabbed another apple from the tree that grew in the corner of the room when he heard a sinister laugh. He dropped the apple to see the portal was the source.
"W-What was that...?" He asked himself as he slowly peered inside. Suddenly he was dragged right inside as the Ponies gasped.
"What's going on! I cant see a thing!" Spike said in shock. The hole was showing total darkness.
Soon, they could see him, but nothing else. What was in store for him? What was the laughing coming from? We can only find out in the next chapter...