Equestria Rodeo Competition: Day 2!

[Derpy]

Day 2? Is hurdle race! Enjoy!

#=#=#=#=#=# PONYVILLE SQUARE #=#=#=#=#=#

It's clear that something's going down in town square today! The normally bucolic heart of Ponyville is a lot dustier than normal, for one thing. Did they import dust from Appleoosa? There's a big arena taking up most of the formerly grassy space between the Town Hall and the surrounding buildings. It's walled off with wooden plank fences, with big corner posts and ropes adding magnitude and various waving banners and pennants adding decoration. Rows of bleachers six levels high surround the arena.
Meanwhile, vendors nopony in town remembers ever seeing before have taken up the circuit in the marketplace and all the way to the stream. The atmosphere is more rollicking than usual by far, and there seem to be an inordinate number of big, broad-rimmed hats and immaculate white vests, not to mention the occasional lapel flower. And the arena itself is scattered with crates, barrels, coiled ropes, metal trappings, reins, signboards, and other dusty miscellany.
Do you know what this is? The Equestria Rodeo Competition is being held in Ponyville this year--that's what it is! Are -you- on the roster?

]
[ Players: Screenplay(#748PB), Pinkie_Pie(#209PBC), Stronghold(#667PB), ]
[ Scope(#265PBC), Chance(#503PBC), Plain_Sight(#867PB), ]
[ Marble_Memory(#688PBC), Fluttershy(#208PBC), ]
[ Skyheart(#795PBC) ]


"I s-suppose I could do the first run." Marble says, walking nervously up to the barrels. "Okay. This should be easy. No catastrophes whatsoever. Just... run through the barrels." This will be easier than the forks!

Screenplay looks as she sees ponies getting redy for the second event. "Derpy.. Derpy.." she calls out. "Has any pony seen Derpy?

Luna has arrived.

Pinkie_Pie rummages in her cart of pies, and pulls out Derpy.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie, are you running for Mare? Good luck!" Fluttershy squeezes her eyes shut and throws in a (yay) for good measure. Save some for the competition, Flutters! "Um...s-so this event is about, um...barrels."

Derpy was asleep in there. "Oooop?" she asks, looking up with one pupil still apparently asleep.

<OOC> Luna says, "Does that mean one is an x?"
<OOC> You say, "No! That would undead."
<OOC> Pinkie_Pie o.x
<OOC> You say, "o.-"
<OOC> Marble_Memory o.taxform
<OOC> Luna hands both of them monocles.
<OOC> Derpy ties the monocles together and gives one end to Pinkie.
<OOC> Fluttershy says, "o.yay"

Stronghold turns and trots over to the railing around the event area. He glances back at the two mares and then directs his gaze towards the competing stallions before chuckling to himself in a whisper, "Lovestruck ponies...." Then he shakes his head and calls out, "Competitiors on your marks! Get set! GO!" he bellows in his best drill instructor voice.

Skyheart looks at the trail of barrels in front of him. He used to weave through crowds all the time on the streets in Manehatten. This should be cake. He darts into his line of barrels and starts to move back and forth through them. He seems to get a good start.

Marble runs forward, and one can already tell what he thinks of this contest with the quiet "eeps" and "oh dears" emitting from him as he slaloms his way through the first few barrels. Also not a bad start. Are the two ponies truly more athletic than the others think they are?

While the private grudge match continues, ponies start to gather for the second day's events. Already, vendors are selling hats, lapel flowers, belts, vests, kerchiefs...and ushers are handing out programs. On the far side of the stream, some training is going on. And the staff is starting to set up hurdles, eying Marble and Skyheart suspiciously.

Screenplay hovers over the crowd looking for the mail pony, "Derpy, Derpy.." she then come to ponies asking of they seen the mail pony'

Pinkie_Pie starts pulling out tables from an unidentified area just offscreen. She lines them up carefully, then rolls in her party cannon and pushes the fuse. BOOM! Tablecloths shoot out and neatly cover the surfaces.

Derpy is delighted by all this. She tries to straighten the tablecloths, but they mostly end up with the corners halfway along each edge. Maybe that's how countryfolk do it now.

Ooooooh. Fluttershy watches the party shell soar through the air and dispense its candiful joy. Wait, she's supposed to be watching the race. "Go Marble! Go Skyheart! Be careful!"

Swan_Song has arrived.

Plain_Sight is walking towards the big Stronghold, who nicely didn't fight her the other day. But she is sidetracked by the new pink pony. Especially as she sets of the cannon and she watches the effect. She goes over to look at what she is doing. "Hello!"

Derpy is about to notice Screenplay searching for her when she gets distracted and runs off, a new thought in her head.

Plain_Sight is still waiting around listening to Fluttershy. She is getting a better look though seeing what that is about. She nods to Fluttershy. "Oh it isn't?" She looks back to the two who seem to have stopped their race. "Well I guess just more to learn!"

The Mayor appears again, leading a crowd of hangers-on, politicos, and groupies--presumably for the athletes, not for her. "And now," she says through her bullhorn, "the Hurdle Course will begin! Racers to their places, please!!"

PUB >> Derpy says, "The Mayor appears again, leading a crowd of hangers-on, politicos, and groupies--presumably for the athletes, not for her. "And now," she says through her bullhorn, "the Hurdle Course will begin! Racers to their places, please!!""

Stronghold blinks and drops the stopwatch he had been holding while helping Marble and Skyheart. He was entered in this event! He rushed to get himself in position for the beginning of his own race. "I'm coming!" He calls, he had been training for this just forty minutes ago, so he was already limbered up and ready to go.

Luna has two methods of making an entrance - silent as a cloud or earth-shaking. She opts for the former this time. With a downright modest and unassuming blink of blue light she appears in the press stand next to Firefly, then proceeds to blast her loyal and badly injured squire with giddy questions. "WE ARE ARRIVED! HAVE WE MISSED THE RODENTS? HOW DOES ONE SCORE THE MUD WALLOW? WHAT SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT?"

Berry Punch is totally in the hurdle race! She's pretty speedy when she needs to be! And she's great at startled jumping! She just needs to harness that into something that resembles control. She confidently heads for the starting line. And...leaps in surprise when she hears the voice of Nightmare Moon bellowing incoherently.

Fluttershy looks up with a start and a shriek as Luna starts to give the Royal Canterlot Social Questionaire. "Um," she offers helpfully, "P-Princess? The chipmunk roundup show was yesterday."

Skyheart looks around as the new event is announced. "Oh shoot..." He had to get out of there. He sees a bunch of hurdles put before him. His ears flatten and his eyes widen. "Uh oh..." The princess was here? Ah shoot... This was not the time to get stuck in this. He quietly tries his best to duck out and sneak back into the crowd. He was still panting from the exercise. "I'm still amazed I won..." he takes a seat by himself in the back, hoping not to be noticed by anypony.

Firefly ACKS! at being taken off guard but recovers quickly, not that she could leap or jump presently to begin with. "AYE MY....." then shakes her head. "I mean, Welcome to the Rodeo my Princess. Tonight is the earth pony hoof racing, which I think thee Keeper of Records has lost, thus discracing the Royal name....but were not Palace employees bade not to enter for reasons of conflicted interest?"

Swan_Song hasn't been in a race in a long time, and wasn't sure what special rules they may have for this, but she decides to enter anyway just to have a little fun participating in the rodeo. So she flutters over to land with the others near the starting line, waving to Skyheart as she sees him moving away. "Congrats on winning!" She calls to him and smiles.

And not one to be shown up by a princess, Gunstar plods slowly into the field, his hat slung low over his eyes. It's actually remarkably understated...until a pair of tight-beam firefly lamps sweep around and focus, allowing his grinning teeth to gleam a perfect gleam. "Howdy, y'all."

Screenplay flys over to the drinks as she smiles seeing over ponies. "Hey had any pony seen Derpy I must speak with her

Ace, master of the arena, wanders down the line, inspecting all the racers. He swings a tennis racket with a pen built into it casually, making checks on a clipboard. "Two minutes to start! Any other contestants present?"

Marble is dropped face-first in the mud. And he's still in the middle of the arena he had done the barrel run in. After a few minutes, the bureaucrat starts pulling his way back toward what he thought was the drink stand, but is insteam crawling more into the ring.

Rarity has connected.

Derpy is in her announcer booth, of course. A spectator who happens to hear Screenplay points that way over his shoulder.

Luna treats Firefly to the air cannon some more. "HOOF RACING? GREAT IS OUR APPROVAL! IN OUR DAY, SUCH SPORTS WERE PERFORMED NUDE, THAT ALL MAY APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE PONY FORM IN MOTION!" She pauses, looking around, and adds, "AND FOR ONCE, NOTHING HAS CHANGE!" Her horn flashes twice. The first time teleports Fluttershy up next to her. The second time teleports bags of popcorn in front of all three ponies. "WERE THE CHIPMUNKS DELICIOUS, ELEMENT OF KINDNESS? ARE THEE HERE TO ADMIRE THE LIQUID FLEXING OF AN EARTH PONY'S MUSCLES AS WELL?"

Plain_Sight makes her way over to the table with the pies and sniffs at them. Seeing as they seem to be offered for everypony she tries one of for herself. She woners if these are common here in Ponyville. She hears the load voice too, looking up to see Luna. He seems a bit surpised, but makes her way off to find a place to watch the race.

Thinking quickly, Fluttershy has already jammed a big puff of popcorn in each ear, reducing Luna's volume to only earth-tearing levels. "Um...I-I didn't see the finish," she mumbles, deflecting any accusations about eating chipmunks. "A-and I guess you could say that."

Firefly cups her ears to her head and waits until the air blast subsides, then grins. "This my lady is the Iron Pony, a series of events to see who has the greatest endurance, as I understand it." then perks her ears as Fluttershy and popcorn appear. She promptly shoves her nose into her popcorn, crunching away.

Ace is about to blow the starting whistle when Mayor Mare taps his shoulder and whispers in his ear. She points in Luna's direction. Ace stands down, and the mayor announces: "Fillies and gentlecolts! We have a surprise guest of honor in attendance at our rodeo! Everypony please give a hearty round of applause for...Princess Luna! ...And her squire, uh...Firefright. Er...Firefly. Right. How do you turn this thing off?"

Stronghold smiles when he notices Berry punch in the line of races and he waves to her, they -had- trained together after all and it was she who had coaxed the Royal Guard into joining the rodeo. He frowns upon seeing Gunstar there, simply because he knew he was raising against not just professionals, but one of the top professionals in the circuit. He would have to bring his A-game as well as all his guard training to this. He glances up at the stands, oh great. Luna was here. He would have to be sure not to disgrace his armor now! He trotted in place a moment and muttered to himself, "Control your breathing, stay loose, this isn't about strength this time it's speed and agility...you can do this, you can do this..." He lowers himself into the ready position and begins trying to slow his breathing before the race even starts.

Skyheart perks his ears up at the announcement. He immeidately turns to the mentioned balcony and bows, spreading out his wings and letting his snout almost hit the floor. D-Did she watch his race? It must have been pathetic. He shrinks down and keeps to himself in the back.

Luna agrees bouyantly, "A PERFECT CONTEST FOR EARTH PONIES! AS PEGASI ARE GIFTED WITH FLIGHT, SO EARTH PONIES ARE GIVEN ENDLESS VITALITY. A TEST OF THEIR STAMINA IS A TEST OF THEIR TRUE EARTH PONY ESSENCE! WERE WE NOT EARTH PONY AS WELL AS PEGASUS AND UNICORN, WE WOULD BE FRAIL INDEED." Shoving her face into her own popcorn bag, she chews with a blood-curdling series of crunches and grunts and growls. The official recognition from the announcer is met with a friendly wing wave of acknowledgment, without her head lifting from the bag.

Well, well. So the Princess really IS here. Gunstar'll have to try extra-hard to be extra-impressive. The big, showy stallion turns toward Luna's box and grins that same smug grin, then spits a blast of Prickly Pear as one of his groupies appears with a spitoon and vanishes just as quickly.

Derpy notices! She takes to her microphone prematurely, interrupting the cheers and assorted other noises for Luna. "In raceway? Is poor Marble. Driven to madness by sixtyfourklift. What is next ahead for most Iron Pony?" she babbles.

Firefly ahhs and sits up. Popcorn. It has been....a while since she had any. She tilts her head. "Keeper of records! Please remove yourself from these ponies equipment area! There are no artifacts in the mud!"

Stronghold grits his teeth and paws the ground, extremely anxious to get the race going, then he hears Derpy and blinks, looking out at the track he sees Marble wallowing about in the mud. He considers running out and getting the unfortunate pony, but...does he have time?
In a page-pose to you, Pinkie_Pie giggles! It is a mystery!

The mayor frowns at Luna's cursory acknowledgement, but the crowd gives a passable round of clomping, though not without murmurs. Mayor Mare stands back and Ace again stands behind the lined-up racers! The course begins with a wide curve and a low hurdle, and then it straigthens out for a while, and three more hurdles lie ahead, followed by a ditch! Then it wobbles back and forth, with several more hurdles, the last two of which one must not jump over, but through--under the top bar and over the bottom one. To make it more challenging, the bars are wavy as well. The official blows the whistle--the racers are off!!

Luna misses Firefly's response. She misses Gunstar's flashing smile. She misses all the nervous looks. Her head is completely buried in a bag of popcorn. A few kernels spill out as her head rears back, and finally the bag itself is sucked backwards into her mouth, chewed, and swallowed. She peers around eagerly to see what she's missed, while asking Fluttershy, "IS THY EYE SET UPON A PARTICULAR RACER? ARE THEE THE PRIZE? DO THEY STILL CHOP THE HEADS OFF OF THE LOSERS? WE HAVE NOT ATTENDED ONE OF THESE EVENTS SINCE BEFORE WE WERE BANISHED FOR BETRAYING ALL OF PONYKIND AND ATTEMPTING TO DESTROY THE WORLD!"

Stronghold clearly does not! He grimaces and leaps forward with a snarl of determination. Lowering his head he attempts to get out ahead of the other racers right away, now his attention is split however. He intends on running the race but he won't let Marble be trampled! He plans on snatching him up, and this is why he desperately pounds out along the course as fast as his well muscled legs can carry him!

Derpy flies upward and bonks her head on the ceiling of her booth. "THHEEEYYYY'RE OFF! OwW!" She shakes her head and looks out again, recovering, her eyes juggling about. "But where to? Maybe toward midpoint? Maybe fiinnish?" She grins, then frowns.

Berry Punch leaps into action at the surprise of the whistle and lets the momentum carry her. She angles a liiittle toward the center, trying to cut Stronghold and Swan Song off so that they have to take the first, low hurdle at an awkward angle.

Marble pauses in his wallowing toward the drink stand when he hears something, a sound? Then he sees ponies running. Running straight toward him. "OHCOGSOFGREATAPPLESYRUP!" He shouts in shock and turns and starts to run, run in the mud away from the racers, screaming.

Firefly looks to Luna. "Did you hollow some gears and cogs and fill them with syrup?" making a face. "You DO know we have bottles now?"

Skyheart watches the racers take off. He blinks as he looks around for where Marble went. It was then he sees the squirming form trying to get out of the mud. "They're not stopping..." He isn't sure about the others but he KNEW Gunstar wasn't going to stop for anything and could even hurt him. Doing was was likely the stupidest thing he's ever thought up, he flaps his wings and rushes the arena, aiming to help Marble get out before he got trampled.

Swan_Song takes off running, but instead of running as fast as she can, she holds back a bit, conserving her stamina for the rest of the race. As she sees Berry Punch trying to drive her and Stronghold to an awkward position, she stays just enough behind her that she can still make the hurdle however she wishes. She too now sees Marble up ahead, and tries to plan ahead to avoid him if he doesn't get out of the way of the racers in time.

Gunstar doesn't notice that Luna missed his smile; he's too busy flying off the starting line. He can't take his hooves off the ground, so his hat's fastened to his head with a piece of elastic string. He likes Berry's style, too; now that's a filly with ambition! He's a bit too far back to fall for her trick, though. WHen he hits the first hurdle, Gunstar leaves the ground...and practically floats over it, his jump is so graceful. Actually, he puts a bit *too* much power into it and stumbles when he hits the ground again.

Stronghold grimly tries to keep his position while not bumping into Berry Punch. But he's not planning on giving an inch, he grins at her while keeping the brutal pace going, He can't get away from Marble's position, so he tries to leap over the other pony AND the hurtle, bellowing, "DUCK MARBLE!!" He just hopes the other stallion doesn't think he is trying to issue a warning about wild water foul.

Berry Punch is happy enough being a clear length in front of Swan Song! She saaails over the first hurdle. Now time for the curve. The purple mare lowers her stance and digs in, putting effort into making this turn as accurately as she can. She scowls when Gunstar appears in front of her as though he leapt there. Aha! He's stumbled! She zips ahead and in front of him--now she's in third place!

Luna chortles, "HO HO HO! THIS IS SOME GRAND AND MERRY QUIP BASED ON METHODS OF MODERN SPEECH, IS IT NOT? WE ARE CERTAIN IT MUST BE CLEVER!" LEaning forward out of the box, she points a hoof at Marble and asks, "THE WEEDY AND PATHETIC PEGASUS COVERED IN FILTH - IS HE THE RITUAL SACRIFICE? ARE THE EARTH PONIES PROVING THEIR WARRIOR SPIRIT BY CRUSHING HIS SKULL AS THEY PASS? HOW WAS HE CHOSEN? MAY WE HAVE HIS HIDE AS A MEMORIAL OF THIS DAY AND TO HONOR HIS FALLING?"

[Derpy]

Marble is in full-on panic mode! But astonishingly enough, his frantic running on the mud... is actually getting faster? The splutsplutsplutsplutsplutsplut of the wimpy one can only really be heard by those close by. And soon, the panicking bureaucrat is... keeping pace?

"Um. U-um- Princess - n-no, it-" It's no good. Fluttershy can't get a word in edgewise. It might be for the best, seeing as how she *is* the prize as far as one specific pony is concerned...

Derpy flies out over the track. "In winningspot? Is Cloud Quicker. In less winning? Is all else. But more pointful? Is Carrot Top, Berry Plunch, Gutstar, Sparkler, Stronghol...oops." Her face wears a bunched up expression.

Plain_Sight is working her way through the once more growing crowd of ponies, watching and listening to the exciting event. Especially as she clearly hears Luna over the others decribing the event. It is much as she suspected too as she watched them! She finally pokes her head through some of the slightly bigger ponies and gets a view of the race.

Pinkie_Pie's head pops out of a bag of popcorn. "Skinning your subjects is a good way to lose them forever! ForEVVVVVerrrr...." she murmurs in a sinsiter tone, as her head slooowly sinks back down beneath the kernels.

Swan_Song comes up to the hurdle right behind Berry Punch and gracefully leaps up and over, seeming to almost glide down to a smooth landing, and she's off again, picking up the pace a bit and starting to gain on Berry Punch, determined not to let the agressive mare pull another stunt like she had just done. She glances over at Stronghold and gives him a nod and smiles, glad to see that the trick hadn't tripped him up any.

Skyheart sees Marble running in a full on panic mode running sprint. He ignores the pleading of his heavy breath and tries to stay level above the racers, wings beat running in terms of speed any day, even for a relatively poor flyer like Skyheart. Operating almost purely on adrenaline and a need to help a friend, he swoops in and attempts to pick Marble up, using his wings to gain air and carry him just over the heads of the racers as they passed by. He drops both Marble and himself and the two collapse in the dust of the rodeo participants, busting a hurdle on the way down. "You okay...?" He asks.

Stronghold has all the fluid grace and subtly of an anvil fired from a catapult, and he is going at about the same clip too. His hooves pound the earth along the track. He has Royal Guard training, hes not going to get winded easily. But will his heavier build in the end take away from his stamina? Most likely. His eyes start from his head and his mane whips wildly back and forth as he tries to stay ahead of the pack, then he sees out of the corner of his eye...was that Marble? Beside him?!" He gapes and can't quite process this, "Wh-What is this?!"

Luna stomps her hoof on the railing of the pressbox, splintering it. "WE MUST HAVE HIS HIDE, FIREFLY, AND YEA, WE SHALL DRINK FROM A GOBLET MADE OF HIS SKULL! BEHOLD, THE GLORY OF PONY SPIRIT! SEE THE TWITCHES OF HIS MUSCLES, THE SPASMING OF HIS CHEST! THIS PEGASUS, WEAK AS STRAW, TEARS HIS OWN BODY APART WITH EVERY STEP THAT HE MAY GIVE THE SPORTSPONIES WHO SLAY HIM GREAT-" At this point, Skyheart swoops down and grabs Marble, and Luna starts jumping up and down on her hind hooves, yelling, "HEY! HEY! CAN HE DO THAT? DISHONOR NOT THE NOBILITY OF THE SACRIFICE'S CHOICE TO GIVE ALL FOR HONOR AND EQUESTRIA!" She's a bit worked up about it. The whole press box pounds and shakes as she jumps around.

Marble ooofs and then coughs as he's dropped behind the race. He rolls over, then looks at Skyheart who *probably* just saved his bacon. "Whew... Thank you..." Marble then hars Luna's bellowing and he shrinks back. "O-oh dear. I might have just angered the princess."

Gunstar growls. If his hat weren't attach to his head with elastic, he'd throw it down! The big brute charges off again, determined to catch up with that fuschia filly. He glides over one hurdle after another, running full bore...

Firefly says "My Princess....." waiting until the stomping lets up slightly. "Sacrifices were done away with nearly a thousand years ago....unless it is a cheeze idol or a cupcake." smiling a bit. "Losers in the modern times merely get less-shiny medals. Silvery ones and not gold ones. And only winners get a scrap of blue cloth to denote their superior selves."

Berry is coming around the bend toward the second hurdle and...wow. There's another pony ahead of her. A very...dirty...pitiful-looking pony. She tries to edge him off...And he's fallen away. Huh! Weird things happen! Still keeping up a good pace, she takes the second hurdle, and keeps her balance...she's still ahead of Stronghold, but losing ground.

Luna stops jumping up and down at Firefly's explanation, which is good, because the press box is starting to crack. "Oh," she answers, settling back down onto all fours. "In truth, there were no sacrifices when we were banished either, but we thought they might have been revived. Some things ponies keep coming back to." Then she blinks, and rears up, putting her hooves on the badly damaged railing. "AND YET THY WORDS GIVE US PAUSE. WHY DOES THE RACE CONTINUE? IF THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL SACRIFICE, SURELY THE COMPETITION MATTERS NOT. THIS WRETCHED PONY BUILT OF TWIGS AND SPITTLE SHALL SURELY BE IN THE HOSPITAL TOMORROW, SO GREAT WAS HIS DETERMINATION AND COURAGE TO MATCH PONIES GREATER THAN HIMSELF." And then, somehow, she finds *more* volume. With a flap of her wings she rises several feet off the stand, and levels one foreleg at the track. Wind whips around Ponyville as she booms, "HEAR THY PRINCESS, RACERS! A FEEBLE SCARECROW OF A PONY HAS SHAMED THEE. PROVE THYSELVES! RUN NOW, AS HE DID! DEFY PAIN
PAIN, DEFY THY LIMITS, BREAK THY BODY APART! RUN, NAY, FLY AS THEE HAVE NEVER FLOWN BEFORE! RECLAIM THY HONOR, AND MAKE ALL PONIES PROUD MERELY TO HAVE SEEN THEE IN ACTION!"

Gunstar may be big, and brash, and rubbing a lot of ponies the wrong way, but apparently he can sprint pretty quick. And this stallion doesn't need Luna telling him to run faster; as he takes the next hurdle, he catches up with the back of the back again, and starts to catch up. During his next jump, he pulls his hat down low and tilts it back again...

Firefly smiles to Luna. "I think now they put great honor in claming the little blue scrap of cloth with a '1' on it. It carries some prestige among the ponies as it is a thing of modern honor."

Berry Punch is actually terrified of the sudden verbal and physical tempest. This kind of surprise is %not% good for her. She gets blown off course and trips over the next hurdle. Why is Nightmare Moon yelling at them? Wasn't she supposed to be good now?

The Mayor takes up her bullhorn. "Uh...sorry, Princess. I just checked our treaty with Canterlot...you're not allowed to demand...um...ownership of random ponies. And that...um, that wasn't a sacrifice." She stares at Skyheart and Marble as someone whispers into her ear. "Right! Never mind, Princess! You can have that one. I'm told he already belongs to you."

Where most of the other racers would likely either be disturbed by Luna's demands, or at best confused by them. Stonghold seems to take the command seriously. He ROARS, "YES PRINCESS! FOR THE HONOR OF THE CANTERLOT GUARD!!" the earthstallion can't use the Royal Canterlot voice, but he makes his best effort before pouring on the speed. He puts everything he has into it now, his mouth open as he bellows a battlecry throughout the run. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" His ears are laid flat and his entire frame quivers as he employs every ounce of muscle in his body to try and pull ahead, to WIN!

Derpy flaps there, at a bit of a loss. "Princeless Luma has...now storm...now wind...now flyyYYYY!" She sails off in a random arc as if blown that way all of a sudden, even though the wind has largely died down.

Luna drops back down next to Firefly, the living embodiment of why you don't take your boss to social occasions. "Badges are badges, we suppose," she concedes. Looking around, she asks baffledly, "Where did our popcorn go? Oh, well. Would thee like a cupcake?" Her horn glows, and cupcakes, whole cakes and pies, and every sort of pastry and desert start teleporting off the tables below and onto and around herself, Firefly, and Fluttershy.

Marble breathes a sigh of relief as Skyheart helps him out of the arena. "I'm in charge of a great deal of paperwork for the government... and I take care of very important artifacts." Nothing really requiring him to be in any good shape.

The staff running the snack tables below start to panic.

Skyheart nods. "Well we'll talk about that later. Think you could use a wash. Maybe you could get up on that balcony where it's safe, but I'm heading over to my little spot right in the corner. Your princess is waiting, you know." He gives a playful nudge. Whether he means Luna or Fluttershy is up in the air.

Firefly says "I ate my popcorn." she musses. "And you ate yours as well Milady, as well as the fibrous paper container it was in so we....." pausing as cupcakes and treats start popping up. "Uhm...yes. Cupcakes. A lovley idea." and starts munching on one while watching the guard thunder onward. "That one is focused methinks."

Swan_Song isn't really sure why Luna is yelling at them to prove themselves more worthy than Marble, but she tries her best to keep her focus on making it through the hurdles without tripping up, and just as she's thinking that, she sees Berry Punch trip, and then blinks as Stronghold goes off like a rocket, picking up lots of speed and looking like he would certainly win, if only the race was about over, she has no idea how he could manage to keep that up till the end. She does pick up her pace just a bit though, seeing more hurdles up ahead, and the ditch beyond.

Berry Punch has no desire to break her body apart just to make others proud to see her. She takes her sweet time lining herself up for the jump over the ditch. Mwaah! There. Made it nice and safely. Privately, she thinks: Well, I won't be winning this one, but at least I'll be nice and intact at the finish line! That'll show Nightmare Moon!

Gunstar's already more worthy than any paper-pusher in Equestria! Don't you see his hat? He springs forward again like the ground were made of rubber, landing squarely next to Berry Punch. Astoundingly, he actually takes the time to tip his Stetson to her as he speeds up. How many fanmares does one pony need? Looks like Stronghold's the new pony to beat...

Fluttershy has become Flutterpie, with glob after glob of filling being splattered on her sunny coat as Luna continues her telekinetic feast. "Um...t-thank you, Princess." Now she *really* doesn't have the heart to tell her nopony ate the chipmunks.

<OOC> Luna is sitting up in the balcony next to your lady fair, if 'lady fair' is defined as 'filly who is sure you look familiar and wonders if she should know your name as she bandages you up for the fifteenth time.'
<OOC> Skyheart says, "At least I'm not too badly. *CRACK* .......Ow... ;_;"

Marble looks up to the balcony, then back over to Skyheart. "I thank you. I'll go up there now. We'll meet for the next challenge soon. I hope." Luna has a tendency to teleport Marble back to Canterlot. HE climbs up the stairs to the balcony. He is unaware his love interest is up there.

Skyheart heads over to a small bench below the balcony. He sits by himself again, cursing his need to wash and is seemingly looking for a way to do just that. He HATED getting dirty.

Luna leans over and grabs a whole pie off of Fluttershy's back with her teeth, lifting it up and engulfing the entire thing in her mouth. She swallows it without chewing, and leans over the side of the box. As Marble climbs up the stairs her wing extends, wrapping about his midsection and yanking him up next to her. "HARK! WE BID THEE WELCOME, PEGASUS WHOSE BODY IS STRAW BUT WHOSE HEART IS BURNING STEEL! BEHOLD, THY DISPLAY OF TRUE SPIRIT HAS MADE ONE OF THESE RACER PONIES REMEMBER THAT HE IS A STALLION!" She jabs a hoof over the railing to point at Stronghold, then passes Marble an entire cake... since, you know, now he's in the magically catered box.

Derpy reappears over her booth. "Now runners less run! And more run! Is mystery! In lead? CARROT TOP! Once former roommate!! Is nice pony! But always very touchy about icebox. Must never ever empty." Babble babble babble.

Swan_Song takes a big leap, soaring over the last hurdle and the ditch on the other side. She does land a tiny bit short and ends up splashing herself with a little mud, but she keeps running just the same, heading down the winding path as she can now clearly see the flags in the distance marking the finish line, and those wavy double hurdles just before the end, like a set of gates barring entrance. For now she focuses on the next few regular hurdles, leaping over them easily.

Stronghold is focused, is determined, is from head to hoof a royal guard. But he's also a bit of a card, maybe he doesn't showboat as much as Gunstar, but he is enjoying the race, perhaps flexing his muscles a bit more then is needed as he runs. He risks a backward glance, and quickly surmises that the race seems almost to have divided. The mares running the race their way, while Gunstar speeds past Berry Punch and begins to close the distance between the two of them. Stronghold actually snarls, eyes narrowed at the other stallion.

Berry Punch smiles slyly at Gunstar as he overtakes her, chuckling a little. He's always such an inexplicable charmer.

Cloud Kicker falls behind as the path wobbles and she tries taking things too straight. She curses as Stronghold surpasses her. Now only Carrot Top is ahead of the proud guard.

Fluttershy blinks. "H-hello, Marble. Um." Hopefully this won't be 'everypony eats snacks off Fluttershy's body' day, because...because that would be really awkward.

Pumpkin_Pie is standing about a number of other foals in a smallish field where the junior competitions are on display. A number of adults, parents, neighbors and Well Wishers are piled on a little venue of bleachers surrounding the foals. Pie, of course is amoungst them, wearing a yoke and hopping up and down and in place. "Feel good! Feel the burn! Gonna win this thing! Gonna..."He trails off, frowning when something in the dirt catches his eye? A glint of something shiny? No, it's nothing ignore it. Focus on the pulling competition! Win a ribbon for Bloom!

Fortunately for Fluttershy, Marble is not a pony who appreciates sweets all that well. He delicately declines the cake. "Oh... n-no thank you y-your highness. I'm w-watching m-my health." Marble says. That is perhaps a true thing. He doesn't wish to have another heart attack. "And the lovel-- Oh dear... Fluttershy." Marble looks around for a towel, any towel, something to help clean her off. "Oh... dear Fluttershy, what happened to you?" Marble is very obviously enamored with the filly.

Alula is next to Pumpkin in the junior pull, strapped to an icebox glistening with melting ice. She giggles. "You sure seem set on this," she says to the farmer.

Pumpkin_Pie Puff puff puffs! "Gonna win! Gonna do it up real good! Can't lose focus! RIDE THE SNAKE!" Pie utters to Alula. He's uh...well he's reciting mantra's he read in a magazine. The other contestants are hitched up. Tex, Haywire, Ruffstuff, and the dreaded Machopony. Who's machoness holds no bounds! Filly's left and right shudder at his presence, and he has stolen, and broken many a heart- but not today.

Luna barks, "HA! THY HEALTH? THY HEALTH INDEED. IF THEE COULD HEAR THE RASPING IN THY BREATH. THY LUNGS ARE TORN LIKE RIBBONS, AND THOU SHALL BE UNABLE TO WALK TOMORROW. YET THINK NOT OF THE MORN. *FLUTTERSHY*!" After that last particularly loud bellow, she turns her head to see the pink and yellow and cake covered filly is still next to her. "SOME TRADITIONS NEVER GROW TOO OLD. HE IS THE HERO OF THESE GAMES, SO TAKE HIM HOME AND BATHE HIM. THOU ARE THE MOST DEMURE AND MAIDENLY FILLY WE ARE LIKELY TO FIND. ALSO, THOU LIVE NEXT TO NETTLEGLUM, AND HE MAY NEED A GRAVEDIGGER ERE THE SUN RISES."

Alula looks stunned, and then flaps her wings and rolls her eyes. "You're so weird, Pumpkin." The whistle is blown and the foals begin tugging!

Pumpkin_Pie's ears perk at the sudden whistle. He wasn't prepared, but he leans forward, immediately pressing his weight into his yoke. Slow, steady strides. Thats what Big Mac and Seed had said. Slow, Steady strides. One step, two, step, three step, four step.

Gunstar growls back deep and low, charging forward toward the finish line. He edges over and actually bumps against Stronghold a little, taunting the other stallion on. For a moment it looks like he might just pull out in front, and then - he trips? It's like the ground just falls out from under him.

Apple Bloom calls out to Pumpkin Pie at that moment. "You kin do it, Paw!" She is rooting for him. If he was around earlier in the rodeo he may have seen her... well... lose the tug of war with her family. -- Marble eeps, and looks over at Fluttershy and gives her an "if that's okay with you" look. Then he looks at Luna. "Perhaps a potation... instead?" Marble offers to Luna. A drink would be just fine.

Stronghold still runs full tilt, his coat is lathered and foam flecked, his muscles howling with the effort he puts into every stride. But the finishline is closing, just that last trick hurdle to go, then one he must pass between. His breath comes in steaming pants, sucking in great lung fulls of air. His vision narrows and becomes red rimmed and slightly darkened around the edges. He leaps! Slipping between the curved beams and gasping as his hooves hit the ground on the other side. He doesn't miss a stride, still angling for the finish line at top speed.

Berry Punch clears the last ordinary hurdle on the wobbling track. Now the double hurdles await--!

Plain_Sight has slowly worked her way over to where the other interesting stuff is going on. She sees one of the strange ponies from earlier is now being looked after. So was not a battle to the finish. Today at least. She watches them and the rest of the race.

Alula strains her muscles hard, and folds her wings back, but tries hard not to flap them, or she'll be disqualified. She takes a slow step...but Machopony is a lot more steady in his progress. He grins wickedly.

Swan_Song finally picks up the pace, running as fast as she can and folding her wings tightly against her sides to cut down on wind resistance, but is it too late? She leaps over the last few normal hurdles while focusing on keeping her footing on the wobbly path. She comes up to the trick hurdles and leaps for the first one, soaring through the air, but her aim is a little off with the wavy edges of the hurdle, and one of the waves scrape against her left wing. She winces a bit in pain and a few of her sky blue feathers flutter down to the ground in her wake, but she keeps going through the pain, leaping again for the second hurdle, passing through cleanly this time. She then pours on everything she has, trying to catch Stronghold and Gunstar if she can with the finish line fast approaching.

[Derpy]

Derpy flutters left and right, now excited. "Carrot Top coming to second double hurdle!! Does she double? ...no. No, she is hurtle." Indeed, Carrot Top, who was doing so perfectly up until now, managed to get herself wedged into the weird twisty part of the first double hurdle. Oomph!

Fluttershy's face goes...blank. Utterly and completely blank. Blanker than Nettleglum's. "...e-excuse me, Princess?"

Stronghold doesn't notice that the other stallion has gone down, hes neck and neck with Carrot top, and they leap through the second of the trick hurtles, then hes pulling ahead not noticing the mare has gotten caught in the second double hurtle. Both he and the mares that remain are pouring their hearts and souls into it.

Pumpkin_Pie does not like Machopony. They've hardly spoken two words to one and other, but there's just something about the way Macho carries himself, handles himself, walks and talks and breathes with that overall sense of superiority to him that makes Pie want to bludgion him with a lead pipe. Still, the little earth pony marches forward, spurred on by Apple Bloom's cheers. He's gonna win for Bloom! Do it for Bloom! Yeah! Go go go, catch up with Macho!

Luna explains to Fluttershy impatiently, "He is covered in the sweat and grime of his heroism. As the lovely maiden, thou must take him back to thy home and bathe his sore muscles, assuming thou may find any, with... well, soap and water and such. Care for his every, EVERY need. Are thee..." She sighs, rears up, and bangs the railing of the box again. This time a large stretch of it gets knocked right off. Pointing straight at Stronghold, she yells, "THEE! STALLION! ONLY THINE SPIRIT DESERVES TO WIN THIS RACE! THOU THEE DIE FOR THIS GLORY, SEIZE IT!" Then she drops back onto her haunches in her seat, and mutters, "Equestria is bereft of standards in these modern days."

Derpy throws her forelegs up and beams! "Now is Stronghollld! In leead! And Carrot Wedge blocking way. Royal guard ~sure~ to win!" She pauses, dumbfounded by Luna. "...annnnd...and now is Royal Decreed! Maybe is cheat."

Machopony sticks his tongue out and Pumpkin and swishes his tail in Pumpkin Pie's face, snickering.

Berry Punch comes up to the second hurdle...and pauses, puzzled. How is she supposed to get through with Caroot Top wiggling pitifully in the way? Not that it matters anyway, with Stronghold on the verge of victory.

Pumpkin_Pie narrows his eyes, breathing out hot snorts of determination. Wait, there's that shiny thing in the grass again! Well, it's not actually in the grass, but it seems to be glinting near the grass. Is that a coin? A gem? A bright rock? No, no no! Focus on the pull! Machopony isn't so macho! Pie is gonna prove it! He's already left Haywire, Tex and Ruffstuff in the dust. He has no idea where Alula is, but it doesn't matter. All that matters is impressing Applebloom!

Stronghold bursts across the finishline, completely used up, he's got nothing left, it's on sheer willpower alone that he is even managing standing now. He turns to find he's left most of his competition far behind. The stallion's chest heaves like a giant bellows in a blacksmith's forge as he tries to catch his breath. Turning to the box he Salutes Princess Luna and he brokenly shouts, "Princess Luna! I dedicate this race to you! And To all my brothers and sisters in both the Royal Guard and the Honor Guard!" He is spaghetti-legged as he somehow manages to rear up and toss his mane in victory.

Alula is well back. In the dust, sure, that works. Machopony's icebox is ahead of Pumpkin, but his barely wavering determination wins him half a length. But the shiny thing seems to being glinting EXTRA-bright!

"Iiiiiiit's Strong-gooolllllllllllld!!" shouts an exuberant Derpy, her face turned up to the sun.

The Element of Kindness cringes; her sunny face turns pale; the popcorn in her ears, um, pops, exploding into tiny shreds of fluffy white shrapnel. "Y-yes, Princess." Oh dear.

Luna watches Stronghold finish, and then he turns and salutes her. She rears up out of her seat again, standing on all four hooves. Wings unfurl, her eyes turn shining white and blue fire curls all around her body. "WE ACCEPT THY TRIBUTE, STALLION! LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HONOR IS NOT DEAD IN EQUESTRIA, AND A STRONG PONY HEART IS STILL GREATER THAN THE STRONGEST BODY! SOMEONE FIND HIM A MAIDEN! MAYBE RARITY? WE ARE TOLD SHE IS QUITE COMELY AND KNOWS EVERY INCH OF THE SPA. HER COUCH IS ALSO QUITE COMFORTABLE."

Pumpkin_Pie's not even sure he 'sees' that shiny thing anymore, he just knows it's there. In the dirt, somewhere. But it's not important. It just...its just so shiny! He squeezes his eyes shut, and puts it into over drive. The pull must be close to over now- so he gives it all he's got! Every last scrap of muscle that he's gained from hard labor pulling, pushing, and toting pumpkins around go into this final stretch. Screw you Machopony!!

Machopony falls ever so slightly behind...pulling and snorting and stomping with embrassment and frustration...

Swan_Song keeps going with every drop of speed she can muster without using her wings, trying her best to catch up with Stronghold, but he was just too far ahead at this point, and she wasn't fast enough. She leaps over the finish line and slows to a stop upon landing, making her way up to Stronghold and smiling up at him. "I really don't know how you kept that pace up for as long as you did. Very impressive, you will do the Royal Guard proud with strength and stamina like that!"

Marble notices Fluttershy's discomfort. And it doesn't take a lot of thought to realize what's wrong. "Oh, Fluttershy..." He says, no small amount of admiration in his voice. Then he catches himself. "D'ah... I mean... Your highness, I would prefer bathing myself, perhaps instead you could ask dear Ms. Fluttershy to decide how and if she wishes to aid me some other way." That's better. Right?

Gunstar pushes back to his hooves; he's practically frothing at the mouth now. Jumping the last four hurdles, he finally crosses the finish line...dead last, except maybe for a straggler or two (what happened to Carrot Top?). As he skids to a stop, he turns and glares at - no, past Stronghold...and then seems to remember where he is, his anger melting into an uneasy grin. "Heh, heh. Congraulations, partner," he says to the guard, and then trots off the field...

Derpy announces, as if an afterthought: "Second place to Cloud Kicker, third place Swan Song. Carrot Top wiiigggles into fourth. Then Berry Punch and Sparkler and...where is Applejack?? Why not in race??" She looks everywhich way for the orange farmer.

Pumpkin_Pie stumbles forward suddenly, tripping over his own hooves. That glint from the shiny thing dancing in his eyes. He can't seem to think of anything else all of a sudden and is pulled- assulted by curiosity. He lays there, face first in the dirt and grass, not that he has much energy left other than emergency reserves to keep his heart beating and breath. Kind of. But that's when the whistle blows. Perfect timing. Machopony has of course, taken the oppertunity to race forward when Pumpkin's legs kind of collapsed underneath him, but they seem preeeetty even. Neck and neck. Judges call here...

[ Derpy rolls a D20 here and gets an 8 for Pumpkin and a 17 for Macho Pony. Awww! ]

Stronghold turns as Swan Song finishes, and he pulls her into a hug for a moment, then he meet both Berry Punch and Carrot top as they cross, then Cloud Kicker and Sparkler too , giving each a hug and a pat on the back along with a breathless, "Good race...everypony." He even nods to Gunstar when the other stallion crosses the finishline and as he walks away gives him a light pat on the back as well. He then smiles up at his Princess of the night as she speaks well of him in front of the entire crowd. His chest swells with considerable pride. "It was a privilege racing with all of you." He slowly plods out of the arena ring and takes a seat looking up to the royal box again and bowing his head to the Princess and her entourage.

Berry Punch dashes in in fifth place, just enough for a ribbon. The worst ribbon. A puce ribbon. Oh, well! She plays it up for the crowd anyway!

Swan_Song smiles as Stronghold gives her, and then everyone else that raced a hug and then a pat on the back, except for Gunstar, whom receives just the pat on the back. "It was a lot of fun! Maybe I should have raced with my friends more when I was younger. Oh well, there is always the future." She says in response to Stronghold's statement about it being a privilege to race with everyone here. She then takes her leave, heading into the stands to look for Skyheart and Marble Memory, figuring they would probably still be around somewhere.

Luna nods approvingly at Stronghold's acceptance, then retakes her seat. She looks from side to side at Fluttershy and Marble.

Skyheart is still sitting in the back corner. There aren't a lot of ponies nearby and he's overcast by the balcony where the princess and her entourage are currently seated. He's a bit filthy from trying to get Marble out of the mud earlier.

Luna nods approvingly at Stronghold's acceptance, then retakes her seat. She looks from side to side at Fluttershy and Marble. "Oh, very well. Somepony at least take him to the hospital. His performance deserves the honor that he be taken care of BEFORE he realizes that he may well have crippled himself permanently." Peering out over the field, she yells again, "MOST TRULY, WE HAVE BORROWED IT MANY TIMES. RARITY HAS A SPLENDID COUCH." Finally, she looks down at Fluttercake Mountain and asks, "Think thee we should just take him back to the palace medics now?"

Pumpkin_Pie is laying there. In the dirt, grass and mud, watching as Machopony recieves the blue ribbon for the junior pull event. Well. That sucks. He directs his gaze over towards Apple Bloom, in shame, and gives a sad little youthful sigh, and promises himself, when he regains conciousness, he is going to make it up to her! Wait! That's it!! "Uh...Hey...Apple Bloom..."The colt says, trotting meekly over to the girl. "I reckon I didn't get first place...like I promised...but - "He tapers off, and reaches into his bandana to pull free the First Blue Ribbon Pumpkin_Seed had ever won- and gave to Pie for good luck. "I still gotcha a Ribbon...if, Iffn' yall want it..."He mumbles sheepishly.

Fluttershy shakes her head. "N-no, Princess. I, um, I-I've been tending to Marble's medical needs for a while anyway, and...s-so has Nettleglum. I don't mind helping out again," she says as a cupcake leaves a trail of pink icing down her face.

Derpy echoes: "Rarity? Very splendid couch. Is truth-full! In fact, one time? I had five mails for three places. But spill! Had to sort, read label. All empty. But Rare-Tea? Allow rest. Nice teeea...nice suuggaaar...~very~ nice couch. Also next to window for easy dumping. Sometimes overstay welcome. But at least maail!!"

It takes a bit of searching, which would be easier if Swan Song took flight to look for Skyheart and his friend Marble, but having just banged/scraped up her wing during the race, she doesn't want to try flying just yet, in case it did more damage than she thinks. For now, she stays grounded, and will go get checked up at the hospital in the morning just to be safe. Eventually, she does spot Skyheart way in the back, and breaks into a trot as she makes her way over to him, coming to a stop once she gets close. "Wow, I got a little muddy, but I think you've got me beat after that daring rescue you made." She says with a laugh. "Maybe we should go get a bath, or a shower?"

Stronghold huffs and puffs and arches his back looking up to the sky and popping his shoulders and neck back and forth, oh he felt wrecked. But elated at the same time. He knew he would be feeling this for a few days, but he'd gotten first place! Maybe he'd have the ribbon framed and hung above his bed in the guard barracks back in Canterlot. Yeah, thats what he'd do...

Skyheart blinks a few times, his canary yellow face turning a shade of strawberry red. Somepony heard that wrong. "I...ah... wh-... B-But... Um..." He withdraws and almost hides his face behind a wing draping out in front of his face. "Wh-What d-d-d-did you just... s-s-say?" He had to ask again to make sure. Why was every pegasus he meets here so... forward? Or at least that's how the poor stallion percieves it. A few unwanted advances from some a few weeks ago didn't help his perspective.

Apple Bloom snerks, but whaps a hoof to her face. She fights back the laugh. No, it wouldn't be very nice to laugh at Pumpkin Pie. She means it innocently. "Ah mean, ya did a really good traw, Paw. Ah didn't mean t'laugh. Ah'm sorry." She hugs Pumpkin snugly. -- Marble fidgets. And he looks around for something, anything, but finds nothing to help Fluttershy get the icng off her. "I-I'm sorry, Ms. Fluttershy."
Solar_Eclipse has arrived.

Ace blows his whistle and the crew start preparing the arena for the next event! The mayor goes forward and gives a nice long blue ribbon to Stronghold. And distributes the other ribbons in due course.

Swan_Song blushes to a nice cherry red herself as Skyheart's reaction makes it pretty clear that what she just said came across all wrong. "I was just saying we both could use a good cleanup. I didn't mean we should share a stall or a tub..." Unless he wanted to, she wouldn't object, but his reaction made it pretty clear. "Sorry if I didn't make myself clear. But, um, shall we go?"

Luna nods solemnly to Fluttershy. "Very well. Have some breathing remedy ready. We suspect in less than an hour his lungs will seize up, and he may have rent the sinews in his thews. If there is no blood in his coughing, most likely he will live. We are certain thou are a better medic than we, but at this stage he seems hale because the thrill of the chase and thy beauty still keeps the pain cut off."

Pumpkin_Pie stomps off, sure to defeat Machopony next year! Next time Macho Pony! Next time!!!
"I-it's okay," whimpers Flutterpie in the squeakiest fashion possible. Wwwait, maybe she can plug her ears with cupcakes. It's worth a try. "I-I'm honored to serve the Princess, and - and I like to help my friends." Her speech is a little slurred because her ears are ringing. Wait. "Beauty?"

<OOC> Luna says, "Alas, there will be no 'next time'. Macho Pony will be found the next morning stiff and white, drained of all color except his cutie mark. True, he will still be alive, but from that moment on he will refuse to be in any but the most brightly lit rooms, and will still cower as far away from any shadows as possible."
<OOC> Derpy uhh?
<OOC> Pumpkin_Pie says, "...OK!"
<OOC> Derpy not so comfort. n.u
<OOC> Luna cracks up.

Stronghold leans heavily on a post and grins looking down at the ribbon the mayor had given him. And he begins to muse to himself, Might not be so bad to have some pretty filly give me a shoulder rub actually...I wonder if this Rarity would do something like that if I showed up on her doorstep and told her it was a command from the Princess?" He cuckled to himself and lay his cheek on the post he leaned against, "Probably not..." He slurred sounding amused at the thought.

Skyheart shuffles a bit. "It's... It's okay. We can head to my house if you want... I mean... If you're okay with that." Practically doing his best Fluttershy impersonation, he keeps himself withdrawn. "It's a... over this way." He begins to turn around very slowly. "One sec." He looks up at the balcony and his voice picks up. "Hey, Marble! Next contest is tomorrow! Be ready!" He shouts up before looking back at Swan. "Sh-Shall we...?" He gently extends a hoof toward the residential district.

The mayor announces that the solo break-away roping competition is about to begin! Nice, humane fun for the whoel family! She strenuously avoids making eye contact with Princess Luna until she can leave the field.

"W-well... y-yes.... y-you are beautiful. E-even under all that... um... f... f-frosting?" Marble is glowing bright red. Luna's not helping things. Maybe he should try to be a little more assertive, but not too assertive. He remembers Rainbow Dash's advice. "F... F-Fluttershy.... um... How a-about dinner tonight?" BIG BLUSH. Marble clops his hooves to his face, and says, "I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! That was too much! Oh Celestia!"

PUB >> Derpy thanking to all who race-d. Also to all who watch-ed. Now if you like! Breakaway roping!! You can spoof if choose. I? Will bed.

Swan_Song smiles warmly at Skyheart's offer, and nods. "Sure, maybe we can have that tea that I had to run out on the night we first met." She offers and starts following Skyheart's hoof pointing and begins heading off toward his house, happy to be going somewhere where she could relax and unwind for a while.

Luna sighs, shaking her head. Noblesse oblige, and she stands up long enough to declare, "KNOW THEE PONYVILLE, THY PRINCESS IS PLEASED WITH WHAT SHE HAS SEEN TONIGHT. VERY PLEASED!" And with that and a blue flash, she's gone.

Derpy blinks in midair. She thought they had no standards in modern days? She flies off to rotate her eyes for a couple of hours.