Chapter Text
Many years ago...
"Alright, everyone gather 'round! The 175th annual Running of the Leaves Festival has officially begun! Make sure to thank some of our sponsors: Sweet Apple Acres, Canterlot Boutique, and Wonderbolts Academy! I’m your MC, Cheerilee, let’s get this event started!”
The announcement booms through speakers and reverbs around the entire venue. People from all over Equestria had come to celebrate the ten-day event. Naturally, it was a big deal as it boosted the economy through local tourism.
It started as a small fair in some “horsetown” (according to journalists) approximately 170 years ago. Gaining enough traction to become a national exhibition in the capital, Canterlot, the festival marked the official commencement of Autumn.
Specifically, it started as a marathon on an apple farm. It began as a contest among all the Apple family members to determine who could run through the acres and shake the leaves off all the trees. It was a contest created from a dreaded chore. That’s how the origin story goes.
Of course, over the years, the marathon then turned into a local, regional, and eventually national celebration. Most people don’t know, or can't be bothered to know the origins of the festival.
The Apples capitalized on the profit, becoming one of the largest produce vendors throughout Equestria.
Inspired by attending the festival during its 6th annual run, was Glider Dash. A man who was so impressed and infatuated with the sport of racing, he founded his own company in aerial flight racing.
Within a decade of being founded, the business garnered global attention for hosting the Equestria Games in Cloudsdale. Wonderbolts Academy began to train the most elite and prodigious athletes who would someday go on to perform in future Games.
The rivalry between Sweet Apple Acres and Wonderbolt Academy then began between them, as to which family business contributed more to the economy and gained infamy more. The Apples will say they started it as “tradition,” and the Dashes will of course, boast that they were the ones to get it off the ground (literally) and put it on the map.
It’s a passed-down generational family feud that both Applejack and Rainbow Dash have heard (a retelling with conflicting narratives from their respective families) since the day they both learned to form coherent words.
Everything was a competition with those two. Even before they were born. Their families had competed to have a child first. The Apples won that bet. The Dashes shortly after.
Applejack was born March 27th. Rainbow Dash, April 3rd. One week apart, same year. As a result, the girls shared the same zodiac sign, Aries.
The girls met the year they turned six years old during the 175th Running of the Leaves.
Six years old is the age at which anyone could formally participate in the marathon.
Technically, the girls knew the other existed but had never been introduced until now. Beforehand, it was always in hushed whispers and obvious glares from family members:
“Stay away from that girl and her family.”
“That’s the enemy, the competition.”
“They’re always trying to undermine our success.”
“Don’t get involved with them.”
And most importantly, always said emphatically:
“NEVER SPEAK TO THEM!”
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“Hi, I’m Applejack.”
A small girl with freckles dappling her cheeks and forest green eyes extends her hand. She is abnormally tall for her age, tan, sporting a low-tied ponytail under a cowgirl hat.
“Oh, I know who you are.”
Another voice speaks. It's naturally raspy. Not in a sick way, but in a lower-register-or-pitch kind of way. She has smooth sky-blue skin and a scar on her right eyebrow above her piercing magenta eyes.
“You’re ‘the enemy.’” She teases, swooping Applejack’s hat off and running around her so fast, her feet could lift off the ground any second.
Applejack bristles at this, she’s playfully infuriated. She grabs the girl’s hand and stops her whirlwind midway to snatch what’s rightfully hers.
“And I’m just trying to be courteous… Rainbow Dash.” Applejack yanks her hat back and places it on her hair just so.
“Ah, so you know my name too.” Rainbow Dash circles her, studying her like a hawk observes its prey.
“So formal, Applejack. Call me Dash.”
“I’m not supposed to call you anything.”
“Then why’d you come over here and say hi?” Rainbow Dash pauses for a moment. “ You broke Rule One of the unspoken contract between our families.” She continues to taunt, playfully.
“Because the dumb lottery paired us up for the marathon. We have to be partners. I’m just being courteous as a formality.”
Applejack, even from a young age, has a no-nonsense personality. She values honesty, respect, and tradition above all else. Her grandmother instilled those values to her and she would maintain them to a fault.
“Wait, seriously?” Rainbow Dash stops her vulturing and raises her unscarred eyebrow. “Don’t they know who we are?”
Coming from a child, it sounds very entitled, but coming from a child like Rainbow Dash, it just sounds skeptical.
“Probably just a coincidence. Come on then, partner. Race is starting soon.” Applejack sighs exasperated.
She tugs at Rainbow Dash’s hand. To an outside observer, it looks like Applejack is dragging Rainbow Dash.
“I’m not losing this race because I’m fraternizing with the enemy. Especially when she can’t seem to be punctual about my family’s traditions.”
Applejack rolls her eyes like the precocious child she is but won't admit.
“What is punctual?” Rainbow Dash asks, sounding the foreign word on her tongue.
“It means to be on time.” Applejack quips back. She’s almost annoyed that of all the contestants in the race, she just had to be paired with her.
Almost annoyed. Mostly relieved, although she wouldn’t admit it out loud. Maybe, in fact, grateful. Fate would force these two together to clash, just like their families.
If Applejack believed in fate, which she doesn’t.
“We are on time, AJ.”
Rainbow Dash pulls her hand away from Applejack’s unusual-for-a-child firm grip.
Applejack whips around as they line up at the starting line.
“What did you call me?” She raises a brow. Her eyes shine, a pine color.
“AJ, chill. I’m not calling you your full name. That’s too much. AJ is easier.” Rainbow Dash grins, almost with a winning smirk.
“You don’t get to call me that.” Applejack is on the defense.
“Whatcha gonna do about it?” Rainbow Dash challenges.
“I-” Applejack is at a loss for words. Her ire is bubbling and she’s barely containing it.
“What?” Rainbow Dash pushes.
“You- you’re-” Applejack sputters.
There’s a heavy tension between the two girls as the announcer starts to rile up the crowd for the marathon.
“I’m what?” Rainbow Dash puts a hand to her ear, acting as if she can’t hear. She gets too close to Applejack and Applejack steps back, her knees weak. She’s not good at insults but at six years old, she does the next best thing: an embarrassing nickname.
“Back off, Dashie. ” Applejack regains her posture and composure. She watches as Rainbow tries to cover up a fluster.
“Don’t call me that.” Rainbow Dash’s tone is cautious. A warning.
“Don’t call me AJ.” Applejack fires back.
They stare at each other momentarily, their heated gazes so intense they almost don’t hear Cheerlilee announce the race will start in thirty seconds.
The girls both sigh in agreement to continue this conversation after winning the race. Presumably, of course.
Fifteen seconds.
Rainbow Dash extends a hand. Applejack shakes on it.
“Truce.” They say at the same time.
They steady their heels at the starting line.
Five seconds.
“Ready…set…” Cheerilee paces her words building up the anticipation of 60,000 people who’ve traveled from all over the country to watch the race.
“GO!”
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