Unicorn destiny: equestria is magcal

Hello, how are you?

Sorry for not making a new chapter in a while.

I have been very occupied with university and with work that I haven't had enough time for writing and editing.

I had this chapter ready for a time but I had to still edit it and I was just too lazy to do it.

Sorry for making you wait, my final exams are coming soon and then I will have a little more time to write some more.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

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This fanfiction was created by a fan for fans with the purpose of improving in the art of writing.

This story can and most likely will have spelling errors.

Any criticism (constructive or not) will be read and appreciated.

This story is not going to be an HIE or G5, it will be tinged to the story of G4, MLP: FIM.

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"Alright... test number 123 was a resounding failure." I said as I looked at the broken prop bone in front of me as I jotted down the results in a notebook that was floating in front of me as was the pen I was writing with, all around me were books and sheets lying around.

What am I doing, you may ask? Simple, I am doing certain tests with experimental healing magic in order to find a way to repair my father's broken horn.

It's been a while since the previous chapter's filler episode and I recently decided to put aside the development of my Glyphs and runes in favor of studying medical magic.

Just like technological and cultural advancements, medical advancements do not make sense, or in a way they do. You see, there are cures to many infections that exist in the equestrian community, just as there are spells to knit and repair bones.

In fact, there is a section dedicated only to healing spells, but the bad thing about that section is that it is small. About 5% of that section is taken up by healing spells.

And the treatments are mostly meaningless, as doctors are used to dealing with minor injuries, such as a some scratch's or a broken bone, but don't know how to treat the loss of a limb.

While it is understandable that magic has not been developed to be able to treat the loss of a limb, what I find interesting is that in order to cure the most dangerous diseases, some kind of special plant is needed to be able to manufacture the medicine in question.

One would think that with the magic in question there would no longer be a need for that sort of thing, more so considering that alchemy is practically a dead branch since few ponies practice it.

In fact, the only ponies (other than Zecora) who are alive in the current era and practicing it are Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, plus a few other old ponies within the daytime court since alchemy has been mostly replaced by the profession of a doctor, as being a doctor in Equestria requires a minimum knowledge in alchemy to be able to make the medicines for rare diseases.

While it is somewhat annoying that alchemy is practically dead, it is also (kinda) understandable because the ponies with magical and technological advances have managed to almost replace it or rather turn it into another profession.

But I can't help but wonder why they haven't managed to create spells to replace alchemy entirely, since they have practically killed it. I guess they can't kill completely since they can't replace the plants for the remedies.

Well, know that is not the reason for why I'm studying healing this branch. My purpose is to create the possibility of regrowing the horn of a unicorn and/or the wing of a Pegasus since we are passing through.

That's my only problem with medical or healing magic, whatever you want to call it, nowadays. Healing magic itself is meant to be able to heal simple wounds, but also to repair bones, but, for the most part, it is nothing more than a support for complicated surgeries such as organ transplants.

In general, this is mainly because of the ridiculous amount of magic it takes to use healing magic for more complicated things. Using magic to heal wounds, close holes made for stabbing or regulate the temperature of a body? Piece of cake. Repairing bones? That'll take a lot longer.

And it also doesn't help that medical magic and modern medicine has shifted more to treating poisons and superficial wounds than deep wounds.

And this is due to another absurd thing that happens in this world, blood does not leave our bodies.

My father, due to his former profession as a royal guard, received many injuries related to his line of duty. And when I say many, I mean many.

My father is the type of pony who prefers to put his health before the health of others, sacrificing his own body to make sure another individual is healthy. He is that selfless and in fact, I'm pretty sure that's how he lost his horn.

I have no proof but I have no doubts either.

Anyway, what I was getting at is that my father has suffered many injuries, including once when a pony used his spear against him and stuck him but they didn't seem to be anything more than scratches and superficial wounds.

Sure, he had internal injuries too but magic could treat him relatively easily and that got me thinking about how in the world that is a children's cartoon it affects a lot on how the world works.

There has been no need to have to close wounds or anything like that in this world because you never have open wounds, and there has also been no need to create a magic focused on superficial healing, and it is also due to the fact that it wastes less magic.

And there is also the fact that being a doctor is not centralized in healing magic, thanks to the fact that the profession is not only for unicorns but also for Pegasus and earth ponies, is also the reason why medical magic has not been developed in depth.

But it also doesn't make sense that they decided to not use Alchemy more, since it is magic that everypony can use, so they wouldn't need an Unicorn to do most, if not all, of the important surgeries.

Do ponies not thing about this?

Maybe it's the reason why in Ponyville they doesn't let the unicorn use their magic.

This may generate some problems in the future if it continue like this.

I will bring this issue to Luna.

Anyway, the testing I'm doing is basically growing body parts back.

Regenerate completely a part of the body.

Yep, I'm basically skipping a whole bunch of steps to see if I can create a perfect spell for it.

And as you can see, I'm not having much success.

"Hmm." I said as I scratched my head with my hoof in frustration.

If I could get the spell right, it would be useful not only for the medical side but also to be able to repair broken equipment and not waste things.

Maybe, I mean, if I do correctly It may be able to regenerate things to their original state. Not only bones but also objects.

In theory is possible.

And sure, there is already one or two spells to repair things, but usually it's like gluing things back together. It doesn't exactly repair them but it's very close to it.

The thing is, it's obviously not a simple task. I'm basically creating a spell that uses different types of magic at the same time. And it's not simple magic for obvious sake.

If I do the spell wrong, you could accidentally grow a new limb on the pony in question or make its wound worse. The worst would be to grow a new limb because it wouldn't be a pretty thing.

It's like programming, if they code is wrong, it do a thing that it's not supposed to do.

It is also the reason why I am using a broken prop, don't ask how I got it, since it is a broken prop no one would miss it and since it looks like a bone it is easier in a way.

I levitate one of the books lying towards me, containing a spell to repair things, and then levitate some of the sheets containing notes and read them for a few minutes until I dropped them in frustration.

"Ugh, this doesn't make sense." I said as I just collapsed on the floor. I had been creating this spell for days, testing it, erring, correcting it, and testing it again and so far, I hadn't made any significant progress.

Sure, I'm not an expert in medical magic or anything like that, but I still studied quite a bit and also practiced quite a bit of medical/healing/healing magic, so I find it quite frustrating to run into these difficulties and even more so considering the fact that I'm pretty good at creating spells.

Ah~, I guess with the ease I had been given with creating spells, I thought it was going to be easier for me.

Creating spells has never been an easy thing to do, but it has become easier for me since I want to create spells. Unlike Twilight who wants to learn all the spells that exist, I am interested in creating more.

It is simply frustrating to have difficulties.

Ah, I wish I was a Gary Stu, I'm sure these would have no difficulty doing this as I do in doing this sort of thing.

On the other hand, being a Gary Stu also brings with it certain problems, such as the fact that there is always a problem that only they can solve, for some reason, and they also make the characters dumber around them.

And then there is the fact that powerful artifacts like, say, the elements of harmony for some reason are useless against the threats they face.

But that's not the worst thing, no, the worst thing is that all women, or mares in this case, fall in love with you just for existing.

Yeah... no thanks, I'd rather not be a Gary Stu, it's more trouble than it's worth.

Wait a second... technically I'm a Gary Stu?

I mean, if you think about it I might fall into that category a bit. I can create spells better than anyone else, I'm very good at magic (with some saying I'm a prodigy), I manage to use ambient magic that almost no one in the world is able to use due to the very nature of it and if you count the forgotten and unexplored way I used my magic in chapter 6 or 7 of this story for that scream against Gilda, then you can say I have some kind of hidden power.

Oh god, or Celestia, please don't tell me I'm one of those Gary Stu archetypes...even if it's to a lesser extent.

...

You know what, thinking about so much nonsense and blatantly breaking the fourth wall gives me an appetite for something sweet.

I'm going to go downstairs and make myself something to eat, maybe some muffins.

Uh, come to think of it cooking muffins every day has become pretty much a daily occurrence for me lately, mainly due to the fact that I cook it every time I go out.

If I continue like this, I might become some sort of muffin whisperer, or something like that.

I laugh quietly as I open the door to my lab (bedroom) and suddenly I hear somepony knocking on the door. Curious, I started walking down the stairs to see who it was.

Uh, I hear voices. So, Twilight and/or Spike must have already received our guest.

And make no mistake, on my way down to the main room, I found both Twilight and Spike chatting with our surprise guest, who turned out to be Applejack. She seemed excited about something and Spike seemed curious.

"Well, howdy there, Platinum!" Applejack greeted me as she saw me coming down.

"Heya Applejack." I said hello once I got off the stairs and walked over to see what her visit was all about today.

Applejack flashed a wide smile. "I was just headin' over to invite you and Twilight to the farm. There's somethin' special I wanna show y'all."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Something special? What is it?"

Applejack nodded with a grin. "Yep, somethin' special, but it's a surprise, Twilight, so I can't spill the beans just yet. But I promise, you're gonna love it."

Hearing her words, I closed my eyes considering it for a few seconds and then opened them with my decision already made. "Sorry Applejack, I'd love to but I'm in the middle of an important experiment. I need to focus on that for now."

Applejack frowned; a bit disappointed but understanding. "Aw, horse apples. Don't fret, Platinum. I get it. Sometimes work just piles up, and it ain't always possible to drop everything and spend time with your friends. We'll catch up when you can."

I nodded, appreciating that Applejack understood me. Must have something to do with her having gone through some family situation in the past from having to help her family regarding the farm.

But Twilight didn't seem to agree, as she walked up to me and gently placed a hoof on my shoulder. "Platinum, sometimes it's important to take a break. Maybe you should think about it."

At that, I smiled a little, grateful for the purple unicorn's unnecessary concern. "I know, Twilight. But this is something I've been working on for the past few days, weeks even, and so far, I haven't made any significant progress. I can't afford to waste any time."

Spike jumped in before Twilight could say anything. "What kind of work are you up to, Platinum?"

Hearing the young dragon's words, I sighed as it was a difficult thing to explain. "It's a new spell." At my words, Twilight's eyes widen with excitement, as everything related to magic enchanted that mare. "And no Twilight, this time I can't tell you the details of this new spell." And there goes the excitement.

"But Platinum-" Before Twilight could continue, I stopped her, "No, Twilight. This isn't exactly a secret but I know how you get when I talk about spells and this is something I don't even have breakthroughs on yet, so it's better if I don't mention it."

Twilight frowned, clearly frustrated that I wouldn't share what I was working on, but eventually nodded in understanding. "Alright, Platinum, I get it. But you'll have to tell me about that spell you're working on later." she said, though it sounded more like a demand than a request.

I just smiled wider. "Whatever you say, Princess."

Twilight just frowned even more, and Spike and Applejack couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll tag along with Twilight. I'm pretty curious about this thing Applejack wants to show us," Spike said with a grin.

I nodded and after that both Spike and Twilight left the library along with Applejack to Sweet Apple Acres and I waved goodbye from the door.

I entered the house closing the door behind me and heading back to the kitchen to do the original purpose I came downstairs for, to eat. Once I entered the kitchen, I started preparing my chocolate muffins.

Honestly, preparing the muffins has also become quite relaxing and something that helps de-stress my body. I can already feel calmer while getting things ready to make the muffins, getting out the flour, sugar, eggs, etc.

You know, sometimes I find it quite funny that we ponies use milk and eggs considering that we are a species herbivores and these foods are of animal origin. But I also understand it a little bit, since actually chickens and cows don't mind and in fact, they give it in exchange for being properly cared for.

More so to chickens than to cows, since chickens do not have exactly good vocal cords and bodies to be able to perform well in a thriving community.

In fact, come to think of it, all the species in this world are rare. The animals themselves are either smart enough to talk but can't or don't want to build a society for themselves and prefer to be with the ponies or they are not smart enough to take care of themselves and need help considering the dangers that exist in this world.

I mean, look at cows and sheep, they are smart enough to have a society of their own like ponies, but they are so comfortable being around and cared for by ponies that they prefer that to creating their own civilization, at least in Equestria.

Then there are the small animals such as rabbits, birds, squirrels, etc. that are not developed enough and need to be cared for.

Although to say that they need to be taken care of is an exaggeration, as there are still several animals in Equestria that live in the forest and several towns that do not have a Fluttershy to take care of their animals.

A sound wakes me up from my ramblings and I see that my horn is sounding, this being an alarm spell to tell me that the oven has finished heating the batter, so I take them out and leave them outside to wait for the muffins to cool and then put them in their proper containers.

Anyway, while I wait, I'm going to go back to my ramblings, because I have nothing better than that at the moment.

What I was going on about... ah yes, how strange this world is.

Hmm, nah I get too lazy already thinking about how weird this world is. When you've been living here for so long, you get used to those things and become more like "meh, things work like that."

It's a [Beep], but you get used to being in a world that literally makes no sense or well, makes its own sense.

Sometimes, it is better not to use the logic you knew, but to adapt to the logic of that world.

Okay ending my internal monologue, it's been a few minutes, time to move the muffins to their special dishes to wait for them to finish cooling.

And so, after half an hour of monologue and automatic cooking, you have your muffins ready.

Now, I pack them up and leave the kitchen to go upstairs, but instead of going upstairs I just stare at them for a few moments.

I... don't know if I want to go up there right now to continue my own work.

I know, it sounds stupid and it's the reason I stayed in first place but it's not like I'm making much progress with days of hard work and no success. It's discouraging to spend so much time with little or no progress.

But I don't want to go out either, I would just feel like a hypocrite if I just went out to do something different than usual.

Hmmm.

I think the best thing for me right now would be to go back to studying about medical magic, that way I can deepen my knowledge again and I don't have to be stressing the rest of the day about something that I have not yet made any progress on.

Yes, I will do that.

Besides, I don't think it will take that long for Twilight and Spike to return.

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Huh, earth ponies have 205 bones, Pegasus have 235 bones and unicorns have 207 bones. It's kind of funny how even though we are the same species, for certain small or big differences we have different bones in our bodies.

But still earth ponies tend to be heavier than other ponies, I guess it must be their muscles.

I took a sip of water but suddenly I hear the door suddenly open, I turn to see who it was at the door and it was Spike and Twilight only Spike looked quite tired even being on Twilight's back while said purple unicorn looked thoughtful.

I dropped the book I had in my hooves and lifted the glass of water to a nearby table and walked over to say hello.

"Hey guys, how did it go with Applejack on the special thing that one?" I said once I got close enough and Twilight looked like she was about to answer me, but Spike beat her to it.

"Ugh, painful. If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go take a shower," Spike muttered as he climbed off Twilight's back and trudged away slowly.

I turned my attention back to Twilight about to ask the unicorn what happened to our young lizard but stopped as I saw her deep in thought. "What's wrong, Twilight?" I ask with a bit of concern.

"It's about the race tomorrow-" she began, her tone tinged with frustration.

Tomorrow's race? What do you mean... oh, right, The Running of the Leaves, the famous race where we all run to make the leaves fall off the trees so the trees can feed themselves better.

And this is another one of the things I tell you that doesn't make sense and that I stopped thinking about it a long time ago. Using my old-world logic, this should be impossible for the simple fact that trees do it by themselves.

But here nature depends on us to intervene to help them, I don't know if it's because of the magic itself or because some pony in the past has [Beep] her pretty hard, but that's the way things are in Equestria.

Anyway, the race also exists in Canterlot, it's just different. Unlike here in Ponyville, where anyone who wants can participate, in Canterlot it became quite an important sport, where only a few very capable ponies are expected to clear all the leaves from the woods around Canterlot.

It sounds impossible but they actually manage to do it, because they can use their special characteristics to run.

Yes, they use magic and their wings so that the race can fulfill its purpose of clearing the wings and in this case, actually, I'm in favor that they shouldn't use it. I mean, it's a race, what's the point of flying or using magic if you're not running? It's like in a race you're flying a plane or helicopter while other runners are just using their feet.

In fact, the effectiveness of the race has been discussed several times among the highest circles of nobility, but they have never taken it up with Princess Celestia for some reason.

"-And I don't know how to run properly and need help getting better for tomorrow's competition." I snap back to reality after Twilight finished telling me about her reasons for entering the race and seeing her looking at me with puppy dog eyes. "Could you help me?"

I frowned, not knowing how exactly to help her. "Twilight, I know you know this, but I've never run in a race before, so I don't know how much I can help you in that regard."

Twilight sighed at my words, clearly discouraged. "I know but I was hoping that maybe you might have some knowledge or technique that would help me. I want to participate in this race but I want to do it right."

I paused to think for a moment. While it was true that I hadn't run in a race before, that didn't mean I had no knowledge of physical activities, after all, Luna's training had not only been magical but also physical.

Besides, turning to look at the books lying on the couch will give me an excuse to stop studying for the time being and there's no better excuse to stop doing something than helping a friend. "It's okay, Twilight. I can try."

I moved to where I was sitting and with my magic levitate the books I was reading to their respective shelves, and then proceeded to look for certain books that might be useful.

Now, while the best way to help someone would be with advice and training, we don't have the time for that, considering the race is tomorrow, and it's not the best way to help Twilight understand things if there aren't some help books.

After a few minutes of searching, I found the books that seemed right for me; one titled "Running Like a Pony: A Beginner's Technical Guide" and another, more technical, called "Physiology of Physical Exertion."

"Let's start with these," I said as I placed the books on the table where Twilight had sat. "First, let's talk about posture and rhythm."

Twilight looked at the books closely with interest as I opened the Physiology of Physical Effort. "According to this book," I began, "maintaining correct posture is essential. You must keep your head erect, your back straight, and your legs at a proper angle, preferably between 10 and 15 degrees, in order to maximize the efficiency of movement."

Twilight nodded, taking notes in a notebook she pulled out of who knows where, as I continued. "She also says it's important to find a steady pace. You can't start too fast or you'll get tired before your time. You must conserve your energy for longer stretches."

I picked up the other book and opened it to a page containing illustrations of exercises. "This book suggests some exercises you can do to improve your endurance and speed during running. For example, interval jogging and short sprints."

Twilight frowned. "Intervals? Sprints?"

I nodded, "Yes, interval jogging means alternating between running at a comfortable speed and running at a higher speed for short periods. This will help you increase your endurance and speed without exhausting yourself too quickly."

Twilight nodded, quite immersed in my teaching. "What about the sprints?"

"Sprints are short sprints at maximum speed. They help improve your speed and power. Although they are very demanding, they can be very beneficial if used in moderation." Explain by showing the images on the book.

Twilight nodded and after a few minutes of conversation and questions, we decided to put into practice what I had taught her. Thanks to the books and a bit of my knowledge, I was able to help her find a comfortable posture so that she could run long paths without getting tired and could run faster if necessary.

We spent some time arguing, mainly because Twilight realized that I was actually setting her up so that she could win the race but that's not what she wanted. She didn't want to win the race, she wanted to enjoy it while watching the scenery, which caused us to have to rethink everything again to adjust to a new style of racing that would accommodate what she was looking for and still have a chance of her winning if the other racers didn't get their act together.

"You know, Twilight," I said as I watched her practice some exercises I had provided. "This reminds me of the training sessions I usually have with Luna. She always pushes me beyond my limits, which has helped me improve not only in my magic but also in my fitness."

Twilight paused for a moment and looked at me curiously. "Actually, I had noticed that. You used to be in the same physical condition as me but now you're closer to the physical skills that Applejack and Rainbow Dash have." She said which made me nod.

Among the mane 6 plus me, each is certainly better at certain things than others. Twilight is best at magic in general, me at more practical knowledge while Rarity is more accurate, Fluttershy is a good caretaker while Rainbow is a better flyer, Pinkie is an endless bundle of energy while Applejack is physically stronger.

And in physical skills it would be as follows: Fluttershy since she generally doesn't exercise, followed by Rarity, Twilight, me, Pinkie with Applejack and Rainbow tied. Overall although I am physically better than Twilight, I still can't compare it to the ball of energy that is Pinkie Pie.

Anyway, I said to Twilight. "Yes, I haven't been her student for very long but she has helped me a lot. We trained in dreams and she has taught me a lot of things. I honestly expected us to focus only on magic, but she realized that my physical condition wasn't the best. Her methods can also be a bit harsh, but they are effective."

"That sounds amazing." Twilight said with a smile. "It must be an honor to train with her."

"It is." I answered truthfully. "But it's also very challenging. She always pushes me to push my limits." And I mean it, Luna doesn't have to, but she does anyway. I feel grateful to her. "Anyway, this is not the time for us to discuss this, we can do it after the race. I don't want you to get too agitated today."

Twilight nodded, showing an expression of determination. "You're right. Let's focus on tomorrow's race."

Suddenly, Spike appeared again coming down the stairs, now a little fresher after his shower. "Wow, that was a nice shower." He said to then look at us curiously. "What are you guys doing?"

"I'm learning to run better thanks to Platinum," Twilight explained enthusiastically. "She's teaching me some useful techniques."

Spike blinked for a few moments then understood what the mare was referring to. "Oh, here's tomorrow's race - I can't wait for it!" he said excitedly as he walked over. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked as he sat down on the couch we had pushed over to make room.

"You could help me practice the rhythm." Twilight suggested. "If it's okay with you, you could time my times and give me some feedback."

As Twilight continued her training, now with Spike's help, I decided to share some additional tips. "In addition to specific exercises, it is also important to maintain good hydration and nutrition. It's important to make sure you drink enough water and eat enough food to have enough energy for the race."

Twilight nodded, making a mental note. "Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to follow it."

"By the way." I added as I handed him yet another book. "This book has some additional tips on how to handle pre-race nerves as well as other things. It might be useful for you as well."

"Perfect." Twilight said gratefully. "I'll check it out tonight."

After another while of practice, we finally stopped to rest. Twilight and Spike settled on the couch eating the muffins I had cooked earlier and I sat in a nearby chair, sipping a cup of coffee.

"So, how do you feel about tomorrow's race?" I asked Twilight.

"A little nervous." Twilight admitted. "I want to do well, especially for the help you provided me with thought the afternoon today. I know you were busy with your spell and I appreciate you helping me."

I smiled at her, as her words reminded me a little of our past as children. "Don't worry about it, I've always helped you with the things I could help you with, I'm not going to stop just because I'm a just a little busy because of a little spell. You don't have to worry about the race either, I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Thank you, Platinum." Twilight said smiling brightly. "I'm glad you're here to help me. I feel so much safer with your advice."

"I'm glad to hear that." I replied with a smile. "It's not bad to ask for help, it's always good to know you have someone else's back."

After that, we continued our break in comfortable silence. When the break was over, Twilight went back to practicing with renewed energy while Spike was calculating his time. I stayed on the sidelines as I headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Today was supposed to be Spike's turn, but I'll save him the trouble, for today at least.

Finally, after a long training session, the training was over. Twilight let out a tired sigh as she sat down in the dining room. "Thank you for this, Platinum. This has been very helpful."

I smiled as I poured, happy that I was able to help. "You're welcome, Twilight. I'm sure you'll do great in the race tomorrow."

After that, we ate and chatted for a while about our days. After dinner, Twilight came over and gave me a hug. "Thanks again. Now, I think it's time for bed. It's been a long day."

I nodded, as I stretched my body. "Yes, definitely. Good night, Twilight."

Just as we were about to go up to our respective rooms, I remembered something. "Oh, and Twilight, I've decided that I'm going to participate in the race as well. Sounds like fun and a good chance to put what we did today into practice."

Twilight paused at the news, then turned to look at me with a smile. "That's great, Platinum. It'll be fun to race together."

I nodded and then the two of us finally headed to our own rooms to rest up for tomorrow's race.

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In the morning, I find myself leaving the library accompanied by Twilight with Spike on my back. Twilight stops briefly for one of the butterflies passing in front of her, which makes me stop out of curiosity as well.

Spike, seeing that we had stopped, was getting impatient.

"Twilight, Platinum, hurry up." Spike complained. "We're going to be late for the race."

"Easy Spike, the race won't budge from the spot." I joked as I waited for Twilight to move forward.

"Why are you so excited about the race?" asked Twilight curiously. "It's for ponies only." She said to then start walking, which made me follow her.

"Yeah, but I'm hoping I can be the announcer again." Spike said enthusiastically then proceeded to stand on my back holding a twig as if it were a microphone. "Just listen: Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to-"

But before he could continue with his voiceover, we heard Pinkie's voice suddenly sound very loud.

"Welcome to the annual Running of the Leaves!" as we turned our gazes to where the sound was coming from, which was Pinkie flying in a balloon with a megaphone. "I'm Pinkie Pie, you eye-in-the-sky announcing officer."

Spike, seeing that the speaker had already been taken care of, gets angry and throws his twig on the ground as he sulkily sits down.

"Sorry, buddy. Looks like the job's already been taken." I said with a small smile as we headed towards the area where the race would be held while Pinkie kept saying a bunch of stuff from her balloon.

We finally arrived in the area and went to register to get some numbers so we could participate in the race.

Twilight ended up going ahead, as she was given her number first while I waited a few seconds for mine to be given to me. Spike went with her so he could talk to Pinkie Pie.

When I finally approached the entrance line, as I approached, I heard laughter and familiar voices.

"Well, I reckon that's great, Twilight," came a voice that I recognized as Applejack's. "Good luck with the race!" I then heard more laughter in the background.

"Yep. See you at the finish line...tomorrow." Rainbow's voice added as she chuckled to herself.

I felt my left eye twitch the closer I got but before I could say anything, Twilight responded.

"You know girls." Twilight said smugly. "I may have learned a lot about running from books, but I had a very good teacher to teach me how to run a race properly."

"Like whom?" asked Applejack interested.

"That would be me." I said once I was next to Twilight with him number 43 on my back. Upon seeing me, both Rainbow Dash and Applejack were surprised.

"Platinum?!" they exclaimed at the same time.

"Are you competing in this race!" asked Rainbow Dash then burst out laughing again.

"You two know this is a friendly race, don't you?" I said as I raised an eyebrow ignoring the blue mare's giggles.

Rainbow stood up with a smirk. "Forget it Platinum, you're not as athletic as us." She said as she and Applejack shared a laugh.

I just smiled, not caring about anything they said because in the end, their worst enemies were themselves.

"All right, ponies! Are you ready?" announced Pinkie from her balloon.

"Get ready!" said Spike, which made me slightly surprised. Uh, it looks like Spike is finally going to get to be the announcer he wanted to be.

Then the bell rang and we all started running. As we ran, leaves fell from the trees as we all ran.

As Pinkie kept commenting, it immediately became apparent that there was a difference in the pace at which we were running, and that both Twilight and I were starting to fall behind the crowd of ponies running.

We weren't far behind, but we could see the ponies moving away as we ran.

And although a part of me felt desperate, wanting to run at my best to show my athletic side, my rational side kicked in and made me remember the things I read in the books and I kept up my pace.

"Oh, this is beautiful." Twilight said lightly behind me, to which I nodded.

"I can't believe it." Said a voice in front of us, which was Applejack who for some reason wasn't running.

"I know, it's beautiful, isn't it?" said Twilight once we stood next to her as she looked around us.

"Not the stage, Twilight. Rainbow Dash just tripped me." Said Applejack annoyed at Rainbow's supposed trickery.

Which made me roll my eyes, here we go.

"She didn't." Twilight said with a frown.

"She did too!" said Applejack with a frown as well.

"She didn't." I interrupted the discussion firmly causing Applejack to look at me. "And if you watched where you were running, you might have noticed that you tripped over a rock." I said as I pointed to the rock on the ground.

"What? Oh, hayseed!" said Applejack turning her gaze back to the competition. "Now I have plenty of ground to catch up to Rainbow." She finished then started running again.

"Just be careful!" said Twilight with a smile as she started running again.

I just shook my head while sighing as I went back to running.

That's one of the reasons I wasn't worried and that's because I knew what Rainbow and Applejack were like. They are both can be very competitive and if what Twilight told me as Spike from yesterday's competition was a sign, then there were hints of cheating beforehand.

In the end, there was no need to do anything against an enemy that was going to end up destroying itself.

And so, we continued on our way, following our rhythm while observing the surroundings.

We also got a little closer to the competitors again and I could tell that there were already several deep breaths. Signs that they were starting to get tired from giving their maximum in the race.

"I can't believe it! Applejack tripped me!" Rainbow Dash's voice commented this time as we approached her.

"Not this again" I mumbled while we got closed to Rainbow Dash.

"Don't you ponies ever look where you're going?" said Twilight, which made me laugh slightly. Rainbow turns to look at us, to see Twilight pointing at a stump. "You tripped over a stump. see?"

"Oh, I see it. A big cheater is what I see." Rainbow Dash said annoyed.

"Rainbow, Applejack would never cheat. It was just an accident." Twilight said approaching her colorful friend.

"It sure was." Rainbow Dash said annoyed, to which both Twilight and I gave her stern looks, causing her expression to change to a nervous one. "I mean... Yes! I'm sure it was."

"Remember, Rainbow, this is a friendly competition." I said as I ran back, followed by Twilight.

We kept running, eventually Rainbow joined back into the race and overtook us again but we didn't care and kept our pace.

As we were running, I noticed that Twilight looked a little tired, so I approached her and said, "Hey, Twilight. Remember to keep proper breathing so you can better save your energy like this." I said as I inhaled for about 3 steps and exhaled for the next three, to which Twilight followed my lead and now looked a little better.

Twilight nodded gratefully and I just smiled as we continued the race, eventually we came to a signpost where we found Rainbow Dash next to him for some reason.

"Hey, Rainbow! Shouldn't you be up ahead?" asked Twilight once we got closer.

Rainbow let out a chuckle. "I'm sure I'll win now." She said arrogantly.

"Except all the other runners just passed you." I said pointing to where the other runners went.

Rainbow realizing this, panicked. "Oh, horse apples...! See ya!" she said to then run off, to which we followed her.

We carried on like that, ignoring how the lead was going and how both Spike and Pinkie's comments were going, although I could have sworn I saw an Applejack Tarzan swinging on the balloon, but it must have been my imagination.

As we moved forward, we noticed that both Rainbow and Applejack came down a mountain on a piece of rock as the other runners overtook them.

I motioned for Twilight to look at our friends, which she did and the sight caused her to smirk.

Once we got close enough, Twilight said. "Excuse me, girls. I know I'm not an athlete..." she began as we passed them with me making a 'bye-bye' hoof-sign "but shouldn't the Running of the Leaves actually involve running?" she finished as we passed them.

Finally, I noticed that we were approaching the finish line, I gave Twilight a little push on her side and she nodded, then the two of us finally ran at full speed to the finish line. As we ran, I noticed several ponies falling behind us with surprised looks at our sudden sprint.

I kept running with a determined gaze, positioning myself correctly so that I could gain momentum with the force of the wind and.

"-and in an unexpected twist of events, folks, Platinum Breeze takes third place! Closely followed by Berry Bunch, with Twilight Sparkle not far behind!" exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

I smiled once I passed the finish line, happy to have taken the bronze medal.

"Phew, not bad for my first race. What do you think about Twilight?" I said once I saw Twilight approach me as I ducked my head for a pony to give me a medal and a bow for my third place.

"That was fun, Platinum!" she said with a smile as a pony pinned her medal on her for making it into the top 10. "Thanks for helping me out, Platinum. I probably couldn't have done it without you."

I shook my head. "Don't underestimate yourself, Twilight. You would have made it on your own and without my help. I just provided the tools; you did the rest."

Before Twilight could say anything else, we noticed a fight nearby. Curious, we approached to see what both Applejack and Rainbow were.

"So, who won?" said Rainbow towards Pinkie to then notice us approaching.

"You?!" they both asked very surprised.

"Oh no. But I got fifth place and Platinum got third place. Which is pretty good, considering we've never been in a race before." Twilight said proudly as Spike came over to give us a congratulatory hug.

"What! How is that even possible?" asked Applejack puzzled.

"You were running so slow. And you were looking at the stage." Rainbow Dash said in confusion.

"Exactly! I followed my rhythm, just like Platinum taught me." She said and I blushed slightly, since I actually taught her through a book more than anything. "Then when we were approaching the mint, just when all the other ponies were tired, we sped towards the finish line!" she said as she looked at other runners who were exhausted.

"I can't believe it; Twilight and Platinum beat us!" she said emphasizing our names to add to the shock.

At which I gave them an arrogant smile and a little chuckle. "Well, with all your antics, it was pretty easy." I said as a pony approached offering water, which I gladly accepted.

Hearing my words, both Applejack and Rainbow Dash seemed to pause, their expressions thoughtful as they considered what I'd said. After a few moments, Applejack finally spoke up. "Y'all are right, Twilight, Platinum. The way we acted was just plain awful."

"We weren't good sports." Rainbow Dash said, at which I snorted.

"That's putting it mildly." I said ignoring the look and the nudge I got from twilight

"Sounds to me like an important lesson has been learned." Said a familiar voice approaching, I turned to see all the ponies around kneeling at the timely arrival of one of the ruler of Equestria.

"Princess Celestia!" said the 3 girls next to me. Meanwhile, I, up to seeing who the pony in question was, took a sip from my glass of water and then spit it out in surprise, close to a pony who looked at me with disgust.

"(Princess Celestia? What in the hay is she doing here?)" I thought as I gave a slight bow.

"W-what are you doing here?" the million-dollar Applejack asked, honestly I'd like to know too.

"Autumn is one of my favorite seasons, so I came to celebrate the Running of the Leaves." Princess Celestia said as she approached us, to which I simply blinked in confusion. That...doesn't make sense, or at least not entirely. I understand that this season of the year is her favorite but leaving behind her kingdom and all the political things she has to do just to watch a race just doesn't seem logical to me.

Sure, I understand if I also had to do the insufferable paperwork I would also do anything just to quit, but it's not something you can do and more so when you are the ruler of an entire nation.

Besides, Canterlot also had their running of the leaves, so she could just watch it there.

Also, why Ponyville, simply because Twilight is here, or because the elements of harmony are here?

I shook my head to leave my inner reflection only to see Rainbow and Applejack run off for some reason.

Oh, I hadn't noticed but due to their cheating race, they didn't throw all the leaves off the trees and there are still several left.

How do those two expect to shake all those leaves by themselves? Can they create enough kinetic energy to do that?

...you know what, I'm just going to turn my brain off for the rest of the day today.

Sometimes it is better to stop overthinking things.

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So much for today's chapter.

I'm sorry for taking my time but I hope you understand.

Happy new year and a very late Christmas!

I hope you enjoyed it.