"You know what? Not bad for a pony who mostly works with his head in the clouds." Said Braeburn. The pegasus standing next to him grinned.

"Oh yeah? Think you can do better? Asked Soarin. Both of them stood in front of a short pole with one horseshoe laying roughly a hoof from it.

"I don't think. I know I can do better." The earth pony replied nonchalantly.

He took another horseshoe and swinged in the direction of the rod. This time the metal object landed 3 hoof lengths from the destined target. The apple farmer groaned.

"You remember, you have to throw it as close to the pole as possible, right?" Asked Soarin Snidely.

"Alright, alright." Replied Braeburn, irritated. "It's time for you to shine again. Take it away."

The pegasus took the horseshoe in his teeth and threw it. This time if flew over the stick and hit something with a thud.

"Ow!" A male voice rang out.

Braeburn's blood ran cold as he recognized it. Soon enough his older cousin emerged from the bushes. The red stallion was massaging the side of his head.

"That was him." Soarin said immediately pointing hoof to his earth pony companion.

"W-what? You lying piece of-"

"Ah don't care who threw it." Big Mac interrupted his cousin. "What ah care about is why there are unbucked trees in the west wing?"

Braeburn scratched the back of his head.

"I don't know, I agreed with Aj that she will be doing that part today, so go ask her."

The red stallion nodded his head unconvinced. "Alright, I also came here to tell you that the dinner will be in half an hour. Your friend is free to stay as well.

Soarin waved his hoof. "Naah. Thanks for the offer but ma is already cooking something up. Wouldn't want to upset her."

Big Mac nodded his head understandingly.

"As you wish. Have fun, you two whatever you are doing."

And with that he left.

Braeburn frowned at his pegasus friend.

"What was that all about?"

"Sorry man but I had to. If I hadn't done that your cousin might have given me a black eye. You're his family so you'll be fine."

"He is not that kind of pony. He wouldn't have done anything to you."

"I think you might be biased, let's end on that."

Soarin looked at the rest of the horseshoes cockily. "I think it's your turn to humiliate yourself now."

Braeburn took the u-shaped piece of metal and closed his eyes taking a deep breath.

He tried his hardest to visualize the horseshoe landing on a rod. He had this.

The earth stallion opened his eyes and threw the metal object. For Braeburn it was eternity before it landed.

The horseshoe fell directly on the pole.

"Yee-haw! That's how you do it here on the apple farm!"

The pegasus growled something under his breath and kicked the ground with hir right foreleg.

"What was that?" Asked Braeburn with pride in his voice

"I hate losing." Grumbled Soarin.

"Don't worry you're quite an athlete. It just happens that I'm better than you." The earth pony said boastfully.

Soarin furrowed his eyebrows. "And just who do you think you are? The best athlete in Ponyville?"

"I was going to say Equestria but then I remembered about AJ so…" Replied Braeburn.

Soarin chuckled slightly. "I fancy myself the top athlete, so let's solve it."

"Solve what?"

"I challenge you to an Iron Pony competition. A series of athletic contests to decide who's the best, once and for all."

Braeburn smirked. "You know what Soar? You're on."

With that both of them spit on their hooves and bumped them to seal the deal.

"So why am I here exactly?" Comet asked confused

"To be our judge and keep score." Replied Braeburn

"Wouldn't want this guy over here to cheat and get away with it." Soarin said snidely but the earth pony just rolled his eyes.

Both of them and their judge made their way to the first competition, the barrel lead.

"Hello everypony, and welcome to the first annual Iron Pony competition!" Said the young drake, standing on Comet's back.

The unicorn cocked his eyebrow "Uh, Spike, who are you talking to?"

"Uh…uh… Them of course!"

Comet turned his head to see Time Turner, Cheese Sandwich and Thunderlane. They were accompanied by Rumble and the rest of the apple family.

"I take it you guys came here to spectate?"

"You could say that." Replied Thunderlane. "I was tipped off about the contest and couldn't resist."

"Similar thing with us." Said Applejack. "We have all the chores done for the day and Braeburn is a family so we had to come and cheer him on."

"Then you better strap in because I have a feeling this will take a while."

And so the games went on. With every new competition the amount of spectators seemed to be growing. Finally they reached the last competition, the tug of war.

"Alright you two this is the final event, give it all you got." Said Comet. With that Spike waved the checkered flag and the match began.

Both stallions pulled with all their might which rendered them stationary for a few seconds. That was until Soarin started slightly move in Braeburn's direction. After some time five inches turned into ten.

The pegasus started to panic. He had to do something.

Soarin spread his wings and flapped them which caused both him and his rival to be airborne. The earth stallion was dangling while giving the pegasus a dirty stare. Unbeknownst to him, his orange cousin was also looking angrily at the display.

"You're breaking the rules! You can't use your wings!" Muffled Braeburn.

"Huh?" Asked Soarin also unclearly.

"You're cheatin!" Growled the apple farmer

"I can't understand you with rope in your mouth!" Said Soarin almost mockingly.

"I said-" But before Braeburn could finish he landed snout first in the mud as he had opened his mouth to respond.

Ponies started cheering on with bright smiles on their faces. That was of course excluding the members of the apple family.

"Wohoo! Looks like it's already clear who's the Iron Pony." Said Soarin boastfully.

"Only because you've cheated!" Everypony turned their heads in the direction of the voice to see a very agitated Applejack.

"What ?" Asked the pegasus barely believing his ears.

"I don't think she stuttered." Said Braeburn bitterly after spitting out mud out of his mouth.

"You used your wingpower to cheat your way out of the competition!" The orange mare said accusingly.

"Sounds like both of you are really salty about the score." Scoffed Soarin.

"Are you saying you didn't use your wings?" Asked Braeburn.

"Well… no… But none of the rules stated that you can't use them!" The pegasus defended himself.

Both of the apple farmers looked at the Comet. Unicorn experienced the weight of their stares intensely.

"Uhmm… Technically he didn't break any of the rules." Said Comet.

"It doesn't matter!" Said Soarin. "Even without the wings I would've beaten him!"

"Prove it!" Braeburn raised his voice. "Tomorrow is the annual Running of the Leaves. I challenge you to race me in it!"

Soarin smirked. "Gladly."

"Hold on!" Applejack interrupted him. "There is one condition, the point is to run so no wings allowed!"

"No wings. No problem." Replied The pegasus feeling more than sure of himself.

"Good Faust Comet, hurry up!" Spike said impatiently. "With your pace the race will end before we even get there!"

"What are you so excited about? Only ponies can partake in the race."

"Well yes… but I hoped that I could be the announcer again." Said Spike.

"I'll save you the disappointment, Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie have already been chosen for that position."

The dragon deflated slightly.

"Oh… ok then."

"Look at it from the brighter side, now that you can't announce you will be able to sit next to Rarity."

"Really?!" Spike asked, immediately perking up.

"Yup, she will watch over you while I partake in the race.

The duo left the library and trotted towards where the race took place. Before getting his number tag Comet dropped Spike off to Rarity.

At the starting line Comet saw a face that he did not expect.

"Rainbow Dash?" He asked The mare with rainbow-colored mane only to earn a smile from her.

"The one and only."

"I didn't expect somepony like you here. Do the wonderbolts need to pass a running test now or something?"

"Nope. I'm doing it out of my own free will. I feel kind of connected to this town. Besides…"

She looked at something in the crowd. Comet's eyes took the same route to see an orange pegasus filly with purple mane. She was grinning from ear to ear and holding a sign that said 'Rainbow Dash, the number one Wonderbolt.' Comet recognized the filly as Scootaloo, the friend of Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle's friend.

"...I have ponies who count on me here." The mare finished the sentence smiling.

Comet felt there was some kind of history between the two of them but decided not to dig in now.

Apart from the wonderbolt two other ponies approached him.

"I see you're making friends with some influential ponies here, Comet." Said Braeburn grinning.

Soarin just silently looked at both of them.

"I would say that he's the most influential here." Replied the pegasus mare. "Him being the royal protege and all."

Braeburn shrugged his arms. "Whatever you say, miss dash."

"Please just Dash, these formalities make me feel old."

Both of them laughed, while Soarin looked at Braeburn unflatteringly. Comet wondered what was that all about but before he could think any further the announcers' voices rang out.

"Good morning Ponyville my name's Cheese Sandwich…"

"And I am Pinkie Pie." Replied the pink mare with a puffy mane."

Both of them were sitting in a hot air balloon with megaphones.

"We will be covering today's race for you live!" They both said in unison.

Despite being two different part organizers in the same town, there wasn't any animosity between them. Playful banter from time to time but that's it.

Comet would go as far as saying that both of them liked each other.

"Alright you silly fillies!" Exclaimed Pinkie Pie. "Go to the starting line!"

All of the contestants did As they were told. Cheese Sandwich started counting.

"Three!"

Braeburn dug his hoof in and Soarin started stretching his neck.

"Two!"

"You still have time to withdraw." Soarin whispered to Braeburn.

"One!"

"You wish." The earth pony growled back.

"START!"

With that all of them lunged forward and turned into multi-color blur.

For a good couple of minutes both stallions were going neck and neck. That was until Braeburn started to get ahead of Soarin.

"What's the matter, Iron Pony? Are you running out of breath?" Braeburn said tauntingly.

Soarin growled in response.

"So, Braeburn and Soarin. What's the matter with these two, Cheese?" Asked Pinkie

"Good question. Many ponies may not know but these two have a grudge to settle. They're trying to prove who's more athletic. " Replied her male co-announcer.

"Grudge is a fun word, it rhymes with fudge you know?"

"I sure do know! Do you like fudge, Pinkie?"

"I do but if I eat too much fudge I get a pudge and then I can't budge."

"So… no pudge?"

"Oh, no, thanks. I had a big breakfast."

Both of them started laughing at the exchange.

Comet noted to himself mentally that next year they should probably get somepony else for that position.

Meanwhile Braeburn started slowing down as he had not seen Soarin for a while.

His gallop turned into a trot and his trot turned into a walk. He started taking deep breaths in order to help the oxygen circulation. He was safe for a while.

"See ya, sucker!"

Before he could comprehend what happened a blue blur ran past him. After a moment the earth pony realized it was nopony else but Soarin himself.

Braeburn stepped up the pace. Now he was only a few hoof lengths away from the pegasus.

The following events happened at the break neck speed.

Soarin pushed the branch to give it momentum. It swinged back, hitting Braeburn with enough force to make air leave his lungs.

He groaned and helped himself up. The pegasus was already out of his sight.

The earth pony could feel anger rise within him until he looked at the branch and an idea entered his head.

"Two can play that game, bastard."

Soarin grinned, congratulating himself in his own mind. Now there was no way the apple farmer could outrace him.

As soon as these thoughts left his mind something flew next to him.

"Nice try."

It was Braeburn. Soarin thought that he probably used a branch to give himself some momentum.

But before the pegasus could grit his teeth, something unexpected happened.

Braeburn's glide was stopped by a tree. The force of which made it swing violently.

Finally the giant beehive broke away from the top branch and flew towards Soarin.

Stallion didn't have the time to react as the hive crashed on his head.

Infuriated bees started stinging him everywhere. Under his armpits, on the neck, between his ears.

"Aaargh!" Pegasus shouted painfully and started running as fast as he could to leave the insects behind.

Almost instantly he was gone from this part of the forest. Braeburn still layed under the tree, not fully awake.

Had he awoken earlier he would have seen a rainbow-maned mare running past him.

That was it. Braeburn has officially crossed the line. Soarin wouldn't let this little stunt go.

He had to find a way to get back at the apple farmer.

He noticed something in front of him. It was a road fork with an arrow sign pointing to the right.

A devious idea formed inside of Soarin's head. With a swing of a hoof he made the wooden board point in the left direction.

Pegasus heard another pony coming. He hid in the bush as to not rise any suspicions.

If he had looked he would have seen that it was not the apple farmer but a familiar pegasus mare.

When he was sure nopony was around he turned sign back to it's original direction.

Sweet revenge was at last his.

Rainbow Dash progressively started noticing that the landscape started changing. From amber forests to dried up rocks. Not a lot of trees that need help with getting rid of their leaves

The path started narrowing. Maybe it was all part of the plan. They wanted to make it more challenging perhaps?

Before she could think of anything else she saw that the road came to an abrupt turned to the cliff's edge to be more precise.

She tried to stop herself which had an unforeseen outcome. She tripped on a rock and started falling down, moreover while falling she hit the edge of the cliff and felt a huge pain in her right wing.

Finally she landed on one of the seastucks with a thud.

The mare groaned and tried standing up. When sight returned to her eyes she started assessing the situation.

She was alive so that was a pro. Now the cons. There were no other platforms beneath her, just a steep slope. She couldn't fly.

And worst of them all, the more she moved the more the edge crumbled.

"HELLO?! ANYPONY OUT THERE?!" She cried but it all felt on deaf ears

He had to try his hardest. Otherwise this self-centered jerk would get all the glory.

And that was something Braeburn couldn't allow. He gradually overtook other competitors, but all of this meant nothing. What mattered the most was finding him. And he just did.

There he was, galloping with that smile. Unaware of the earth pony approaching him.

Suddenly Soarin felt a great force landing on him. Strength of which left him breathless.

He turned his head to see very angry Breaburn.

"Now you're gonna-" Before he could finish Soarin kicked him off himself. The eart pony landed on his back but quickly regained his footing.

"Wait…" Soarin said. "If you're here then that means…"

Pegasus's muzzle went player than usual. "Oh no."

"What is it?" Braeburn asked not expecting this kind of answer from his rival.

"I gotta go." Soarin spread his wings.

"Where are you going? The race isn't finished!" The earth pony asked as he was angry and confused.

"You've won the race." The pegasus said and took to flight.

" WHAT?!"

But before Braeburn could ask any more questions the pegasus was already gone

Minute by minute her hopes of getting found were getting smaller and smaller.

Rainbow sighed.

Is that it? That's how she's gonna go?

No bang just a quiet whimper.

"Hello?!"

She turned her head upwards to see a pegasus stallion hovering above her. He had a pale blue coat and green eyes. Rainbow recognized him instantly.

"You're one of the Elements of Harmony! Soren, is it?"

"Soarin and yeah, that's me. The element of loyalty to be precise."

Ground shifted slightly under their hooves.

"The soil keeps crumbling the more we move." Rainbow explained briefly.

Soarin took a deep breath.

"Okay here's what we're gonna do-"

But before he could explain the plan, the platform gave up completely, plunging both of them down the cliff.

For the first time in many years Rainbow Dash shouted out in genuine fear.

The ground was getting closer and closer until… it stopped.

A sudden force stopped her about twenty hooves above the soil. The sound of flapping wings echoed in the air.

Rainbow Dash slowly opened her eyes. It was Soarin. He was holding her in a bridal

Blood instantly ran up to her muzzle.

"You alright there?" He asked concerned.

"Yeah, uhh…" She cleared her throat. "Can we fly up to the other side of the canyon?"

"Sure." He replied and soon enough both of them were standing on a grassy field.

"Thank you." Rainbow Dash said. "I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't found me."

Soarin lowered his head. "You shouldn't thank me."

She cocked her eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I-"

"There you are!"

Both of them turned their heads to the direction of the sound. It was Braeburn standing there and smiling.

The pegasus stallion felt confused. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be celebrating now? I've lost to you."

The earth pony grinned

"Actually you didn't lose to me. As soon as I saw you flying away I run after you. Luckily for me you were flying rather low."

Soarin thought for a moment.

"Did you… see everything?"

Braeburn nodded his head.

"I saw everything. I fancy myself a good judge of character but I've been proven wrong today. I took you for an arrogant and self-centered and yet you've chosen to help a pony in trouble instead of having the satisfaction of beating me."

The earth pony's muzzle turned to a more serious expression. "There is of course still a question of how did you know about Ms. Dash's predicament.

Soarin looked at both of them. They clearly expected answers. He had nowhere to run now.

The pegasus took a deep breath.

"Truth be told all of this wouldn't happen if it wasn't for me." He gulped.

"When Braeburn hit that tree and made the bees go after me I was… angry. So angry in fact that I changed the sign as a form of revenge. I was foolish enough as not to look and automatically assumed that the next running pony will be him. I think the rest is pretty self explanatory."

He took another breath.

" What I did was reckless and juvenile, and for that I am sorry, for both of you."

Silence hung in the air. He expected them to shout, he expected them to curse and yet none of this came.

Soarin felt a touch on his right arm. He raised his head to see Rainbow, putting a hoof on his arm comfortingly.

"You're right what you did was pretty messed up."

Just as he thought.

"...But you also came here to save my life. On top of that you seem to genuinely regret your actions. I would say the positives here outweigh the negatives."

She turned her head to the earth pony. "What do you think Braeburn?"

He chuckled. "I reciprocate the thoughts." Braeburn cocked his hat. "For a Running of the Leaves we haven't knocked down many. Are you keen on fixing this?"

Soarin grinned. "I am."

After all that day of running Soarin felt as though he should give himself some rest. He allowed his thoughts to run freely while laying on a hill. Was there anything else he should do to repent for his actions?

Rainbow looked fine but how would he know how she really felt about this. Maybe she quietly resented him. That was probable. His actions caused her a broken wing. That's a huge issue for somepony like her. She was a wonderbolt after all.

"Whatcha doing there dude?"

He turned his head to see a grinning Rainbow Dash "Cloud gazing by any chance."

"Umm… yeah."

"Would you mind if I sat down next to you."

The thoughts started running rampant in his head.

"S-sure. Be my guest."

She did just that.

Soarin's heart started beating faster as he didn't expect the mare to be so close to him.

"You know what? I still have a feeling I've seen you somewhere before. And I'm not talking about that whole elements business."

He decided that this was the best time to tell her.

"We actually went to the same High School. Remember the athlete's club?"

She gasped "I knew it!"

Soarin chuckled "I assisted you once with wing lifting."

"Well now that I have my wing broke We can't really compete in that discipline."

His muzzle saddened at the words. "Sorry."

"Pfft! Don't be!" She said. "Instead of moping around how about you repay me?"

Soaring got curious "In what way?"

"Do you see that rock?" She asked him while pointing in the direction of the object.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Race me to it. If I win you'll have to buy me a hayburger later. If you win, you'll have a ticket to the next wonderbolts show for free."

"Hmm… I think I like that idea."

"Cool." She smiled and nudged him playfully "See you at the finish."

And with that she darted away instantly. Soarin soon followed with a wide grin on his muzzle.