Understandably tired from his previous outing, Link slept in to the unholy hour of ... 7:00. When he woke, he reached for the ceiling in a stretch. With a yawn, he sat up and looked around the room, starting at Twilight's bed, which was empty of all occupants. Must have gone downstairs to make breakfast, he thought. Link reached for his hat with his left ...

He paused, retracted his limb and looked at it carefully. Link held up his right one, and between them. A growing sense of dread crept into his expression as he looked at his legs. Hastily, and breathing in a panicked manner, he removed his shield and looked at his clear as day reflection.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"

Link tossed his shield to the floor and felt his face. Navi sprang up from her bed and shouted, "What?! What's wrong!?" before actually looking at him speechless.

Twilight teleported into the room, and found herself standing atop his discarded shield. "I heard the scream. What's-"

Emmy also appeared, just before Rainbow flew into the room. Epona, being the slowest mover of them, jogged into the room after throwing wide the door. They all looked at him, without any words to say.

"Tell me! Did what I think happen, happen?"

Twilight looked at Rainbow, who shared a glance with Emmy, while Epona was fixated on him. "Link?"

"Of course it's me! Who else wears a full golden outfit like this?" Link hit the mattress at his sides in frustration.

"Agreed, your clothes do seem to resemble what his were..." Twilight stepped off his shield and picked it up in magic. "Strange, though. It's built for a left hoofed pony. To be worn over the right foreleg... And your weapon is easily drawn by your left. Well, if anything, your ears remain pointy as they once were. Show me your pouches."

Easily, Link pulled out his money pouch from his larger one. "Satisfied? Only I can do this. Aside from Navi." Link stowed them and sighed.

Emerald hovered by him, and held up one of his extremities. "Look at the pair you've got on you!" The others coughed a little. "Wings, girls. Pair of wings." She looked at the wing. "Perfectly preened. You do it yourself?"

"I just woke up."

"Ah, that'd be a 'no' then. Which means..." She let it down and landed in slight surprise as the wing snapped to his side before relaxing. "Which means that you've only just been turned into one. Like, really recently."

"I'm a pony. A pegasus pony..." Link complained.

"Oh no, what a nightmare," Emmy joked.

Twilight lifted him off the bed and set him down beside her. "You're really Link. I believe that. But... How did this happen?"

The others listened as Link sat and recounted his journey into the woods. Of his finding young Scootaloo, the creatures of bone, and of the strange black alicorn that stood a bit taller than himself and his strange power of phasing through objects.

They listened carefully, or at least Twilight did, and tried to think about a cause.

Emmy was the first to offer one. "I bet it's the woods itself." Everypony looked at her. "Well, back in the village, I was drawn back to Ponyville. Or in its direction. I didn't know what it was, or why. It wasn't a song, though, that I know." She took a breath. "Kinda why I stayed here for as long as I did."

"When I went into the woods for distracting Link, I was originally against the idea. Twilight convinced me, sure, but..." Epona shuffled her hooves. "But... I did hear it call out to me. Telling me where to go, and what to do. It had a soothing voice, so I felt I could trust it."

Twilight looked at the others. "That's it! It's got to be the stallion!" Link tilted his head. "Think about it: Epona heard a voice, so did Emmy. This 'Scootaloo' heard one too."

"What would he want with any of them?" Link asked. "Why call those three?" He attempted, and succeeded, to stand.

"Because of you." Everypony looked at her, Link and Navi included. "Every time one of them went into the woods, you came in after them and retrieved them."

"Both, not each. I haven't gone in yet," Emmy argued.

"Both, then," Link admitted. "Still not sure why he's trying to get at me though."

"You're not normal," Epona said plainly.

"Neither are you. I called you with a special melody and you were carried here." Link pointed at Twilight. "She has unmatched magical prowess." Then to Emmy. "She can teleport. Teleport..."

"Yeah? So what?" Emmy asked.

She looked at Rainbow, who turned to her, narrowing her eyes. "You... you can what?"

Emmy panicked in her answer. "Uhmmm," she began. "Can we talk about something else? Please?"

Rainbow landed heavily in front of her and glared. "You. Can. What?!"

"Disappear here, and reappear there," Twilight summarized. "Teleport. Seen it myself, too."

Angrily, Rainbow quick-turned to Twilight. "I know what it means!" Turning again, she faced Emmy.

"Me too. Seen it, I mean," Link admitted.

"Same here," Epona added. "In that hotel room. I thought something was off, but now I know what it was." Emmy looked at Epona. "What? I'm not stupid. I know a trick when I see it."

"And you all knew this?" Dash asked, looking hurt at her friends. She noticed their expressions before turning back to Emmy.

"In my defense, they all found out the hard way; even Link found out before I confirmed it."

Rainbow was quiet, as were the others. "So... in our race, you..."

"Yes," Emmy interrupted. "I cheated." hung her head and closed her eyes. "I knew back then, I could never beat you in a fair race."

"'Back then?!'" Rainbow advanced on Emmy, who backed up. "'Back then?!' What, you think you can take me on now?!" Emmy's back hit the bedroom wall as the others gathered around. "You think you can keep pace with me?!" Rainbow clenched her jaw in anger. Calmly, but with traces of hate, she said, "Meet me out front in 5 minutes..." With that warning, she bolted out the window, leaving little cracks in the wood floor in her wake.

Emerald Storm sat down, wings pressed against the wall. The others approached her and sat around. She looked at them, then hung her head. Link spoke first. "My fault, huh?"

"No no, we were going to tell her anyway. What happened, happened, and couldn't have happened any other way." Emerald looked at him and drew a breath. "The fault is mine. She just found out I lied to her in the worst way possible."

Link turned to the door. "Is something... burning?"

Immediately, Twilight freaked and teleported to the kitchen.

The others walked with Emerald outside. Rainbow Dash stood in wait with her back to the door. She turned once she heard the door close and looked straight at Emmy, who was standing ahead of the others in line at Emmy's side. "For years, I believed you suddenly got faster. It was a speed I had only achieved once at the time. So when you left on your journey, I had hoped to go with. To continue racing against somepony who challenged me and won. But what did you say to me?"

"'I need to do this on my own'," Emmy replied.

"And now, after all this time, after so many years, you tell me you teleported to the finish line. You cheated." Rainbow turned and looked emotionally torn. "There's nothing in this world I hate more than wasted effort. I have trained endlessly to match and conquer the speed you displayed." She flared her wings and straightened up. "Emerald Storm!" she nearly shouted. "I challenge you to a race through the sky!"

"Alright, calm down Rainbow," Link tried.

"I accept. What is your wager?" Emmy continued, stepping in front of Link.

"There isn't one. Just a race. If I win, then I win. If you win, then you win, and I'll accept it." Rainbow folded her wings and waited.

"What's the course?"

Twilight emerged from the library and looked straight at Rainbow. "What is going on out here?"

"Twilight! Dash challenged Emmy to a race and Emmy agreed, and now they're deciding on a course."

She walked over and stood between Emmy and Rainbow. "Emmy. Get back." Emmy did as she was told. "You want a course? Fine. I'll make you one. Expect it to be done by this evening. Say... 6 tonight."

Rainbow advanced on Twilight, who lowered her horn. Dash stopped, and threatened. "Get out of my way, Twilight. This is between me and her."

"Think carefully your next words and actions, Rainbow Dash. I agreed to make you a course because we're friends. But I do not approve of your method. You and Emmy will not interact in any way, shape, or form, until your race today. And rest assured: she will not cheat. This I promise you."

Slowly, Twilight lit up her horn. Rainbow opened her eyes a little wider. "Tch. Fine." She unfurled her wings and took to the skies once more.

Twilight took a slow breath and came down from attack mode. Link looked at her and asked, "What would you have done if she called your bluff?"

"I wasn't bluffing." Twilight walked past them and inside the library.

Emmy sat and took a few breaths. "You really didn't know she was serious?" Link shook his head.

"So, what do you think your chances of winning are?" Epona asked.

"Hard to say. I haven't needed to fly anywhere since I got my cutie mark. Before that though, everypony else had to wait up for me. I was always slow."

Epona listened and sat down, as did Link. Even Navi came out and sat. "So, you were always the slowest... But your magic kept up with you." She paused. "How fast are you now?"

"Never clocked myself. I- huh?" Emmy looked at the open library door and saw Twilight exit with a mess of equipment.

"Emerald. Rainbow Dash is not one to pull any punches. If she wants to challenge you, we'll make sure you're more than a punching bag."

"Where... are we going...?" she hesitated.

Before Twilight offered an answer, she held up a map, pointed her horn at it, then vanished in a puff of magic. Emmy also vanished, as it was Twilight's teleportation spell.

Link, Epona and Navi were left alone before the library. "Well, that happened," Link said. "Hey Epona. Feel like teaching me how to maneuver with twice as many legs as before?"

Epona chuckled. "Alright. First, we'll teach you the mid-speed trot."

"Why not walk?"

"Walk's a four-step. Trot is a two-step, like your usual walk. You even swing your arms when you walk. So it's basically that. Left arm hits the ground with your right hind leg, and you just alternate, pushing off the ground so only two are connected if at all." Epona started trotting around Link, while he sat and watched. "Now you try."

The day continued as Link learned all forms of terrestrial movement a pony uses with their legs. He learned how to trot circles around Epona, gallop toward her, and walk through town with her. When they finally returned to the library, he sat on the step and looked at his forelegs.

"You know? This isn't so bad. Being a pony, I mean."

"Good to hear your view on the subject has changed since this morning." Epona was surprised when Emerald and Twilight reappeared near them. Dehydrated, Emerald sauntered inside and got some water, tossing her bags to the side. "Oh. You're back. How was training?"

"It went well, I suppose. At least I know she can fly." Twilight did her best not to sound impressed or disappointed. "I got results, to say the least." She lifted her things and walked calmly inside.

Link looked at her and knew. "She got some positive results. I can tell."

"Last time you thought something about her, you ended up being wrong." Navi sat atop his head and looked down at him.

"Was I though? Think about it: would Twilight really turn on her most loyal of friends for somepony she barely knows? Twilight knows what Rainbow is capable of; she's seen firsthoof Dash's skills in both flight and combat. If you ask me, it was a bluff. Denying it or not. And, I'm willing to bet she got between them more for Emmy's protection than a display of power."

"There you go again," Twilight said, walking out with a green feather behind her ear. "Telling the world my secrets."

"Do better to hide them, and I won't figure them out." Link smiled and turned to face his sister. "You're a bit taller than I remember."

"And you're shorter. Yeah, it was a bluff. But if Rainbow saw through it, nopony could have stopped her and you know that." Twilight stood in front of them and asked, "Where is Rainbow anyway?"

Link stood and measured himself against Twilight's own height. I am shorter... "Not sure. She flew off before you left and hasn't so much as tried to come back."

"At least she's keeping to the rule." Twilight took out the quill and wrote something on hovering parchment. "'Dear Princess Celestia. Today I learned how important it is to stand up to your friend when the path they've chosen is a destructive one. When Rainbow decided to get angry at her friend for something, I stood between them, and helped to diffuse the situation.' Sound good?"

"About time you sent a letter. Her mailbox has grown new residents." Link received a bop on the head for his snark. Navi evaded it and landed atop Epona's head. "Heh."

As Spike sent the letter on its way, he asked, "So you're a pony now. With wings. Since we all know Emerald can use other magic, can you still do what you do?"

"That..." Link started. "That is a good question." He walked away for a bit and held his left forehoof in front of him. Just as if he were using a hand, the shield erected to protect him. When he dropped it, he turned his "palm" upward and produced a spherical flame. "So it appears I can." The ball extinguished as Link set his hoof on the ground. "Good to know nothing is lost."

"That being said, there's still several hours to kill before the course is complete. I will need the town's help, so you're free to see if they have any missions for you in the meantime." Twilight gave a wink and headed into town herself.

Link watched her walk away into town. "She really thinks I'm mission-capable? Alright..."

He and Epona, along with their passenger Navi, walked into town toward his mission board.

Twilight lit up her horn in defense at Rainbow, who opened her eyes a little wider. "Tch. Fine." The latter opened her wings and soared skyward.

Who does she think she is, standing between me and Emmy like that? What gives her the right? Rainbow flew to a cloud and looked down at the town. Still... it gives me time to think.

She sat down and made little figures of the situation that transpired. "Twilight was building magic in her horn, to take me on. But .. We're friends. She can't possibly know Emmy better than me, so why defend her? Why take her side?" She crumpled Emmy's figure and looked at it. "It would be that easy... oh... maybe that's it."

Rainbow began thinking of other situations where she displayed her ability. She remembered that Twilight is very smart, and probably kept track of every little detail. "You're talking to a soon-to-be-black belt." The memory of their meeting in the library when they returned from the castle entered her mind. Rainbow had openly told Twilight her training level. "So she knew what I could do to her, and protected her. She's my friend enough to build this course for us, and enough of a friend to tell me what's on her mind.

"Twilight is going out of her way to set this up for us. And I threatened her for it." Rainbow shook herself out of it. "Fine. I did that. And now I have to race my oldest friend. Nothing to do but to do it." She took off for her house in the clouds.

Over those few hours, she exercised both mind and body for her race against Emerald. When she finished, she decided to fly through town, avoiding the library. When she came over Link and Epona staring at a board on the ground, she descended. "Heya kid. Whatcha doing?"

"There are two quests before me. One wants me to be an escort for some sweets. Most likely Pinkie Pie hiring security for her goods. The other is far more interesting. It's asking me to deliver a package for somepony. The client is here in Ponyville, so I don't have to go far for that. The problem, is the recipient. I have to go up to Cloudsdale."

"Seeing as he's got wings now," Navi said, "What are the odds of him being able to fly?"

Dash sat and looked at him. "You already have magic, right?" He nodded. "How hard would it be to focus it into a new body part?" She waved her hoof. "Don't answer that. You want to fly? I'll teach ya."

She led him away from his board and saw Epona sit down beside it. Rainbow began, "So, I've seen you make a shield. That's magic. What we want is to make it go to your wings instead of your hooves. Close your eyes."

He obeyed and waited. "Alright, what next?"

"I'm gonna hold your wings out at your sides." She flew up and grabbed his wings. Easily, he relaxed and let his wings follow her wishes. "Alright, good. Feel where I'm holding, and try and see it in your head."

Link took a breath and felt her touch on his wings. Just under the bone in them. Rainbow immediately felt a strong build-up of magic. "Anything?" he asked. She let go, causing him to open is eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just... You're already doing it right."

"Just doing what I'm told."

"Fair enough. Alright. So from what I could tell, you split your focus between each wing pretty evenly. That's good. Good start." Rainbow retreated and sat down. "Next, we get you hovering. Though, you may want to take out some magic. What's there could send you too far to handle right now."

Link eased up on his focus and calmed down. "Okay..."

"Better. So when you fly, you disperse magic from the relay in your wing, to the whole wing." She pointed to the spot on her wing. "That spot right there is the relay." Rainbow watched him attempt it. "And don't forget to flap. You're not at any point close enough to fly without it."

Slowly, Link started to get airborne. His eyes opened in surprise. He began to flap. The magic is flowing freely out of my wings. "Alright, so I'm airborne. How do I move?"

"That, is all in how you move the body. Imagine it like you're running. The farther you move your head forward, the easier it is to go faster. When you really fly, you're going to feel the need to return your wings to your sides. Don't do that unless you want to freefall. Instead, press them down and back." She hovered in place, before slowly flying around him. "I've got a ton of energy, so I can output it like it's child's play. The more you release, the faster you go. It's a harmony between mind and body, just like the other two races."

Link started flying with Rainbow, and to his surprise, it was easy. He was able to keep up. Rainbow picked up the pace. "Hey, so... is this a test?" Link sped up and got at her side again.

"I wanna see what you can do. Come on, open the gates." She flew on ahead of him, and turned back at him. Link leaned forward and tried. She stayed ahead of him for a while before she slowed down and landed. "Okay, so you're really good at adapting. Let's see... That alone was about 6 wing power."

"Wing power?"

"Measure of one's wing strength compared to their speed. Mine, on average, is closer to 15. And that's more when I'm 'jogging', so to speak." Rainbow folded her wings at her sides. "So, feel up to making that delivery?"

"More than ever. Thanks for all your help, Rainbow. You're a great friend." He flew back to the board and took down the request.

Rainbow stood there, with a weakening smile. "'Great friend, huh..."

When the time to race drew near, Twilight sent for her friends. In her efforts, Twilight, with the aid of some volunteers of Ponyville, she had constructed the course's three parts. Completed, she stood in front of the library. Together with Rainbow Dash, Emerald Storm stood before their judge. The other ponies formed a line behind Rainbow and Emmy. "Alright," Twilight began. "Your race is divided into three parts." She pointed to a hill just outside of town. "Up there is the starting line. You'll fly down the hill through a slalom course. I'll assume you both know what that is." The two nodded quietly. "Good. When you get to the end of it, you will plunge straight down and leave an indent in the ground at the bottom. Proof you were there. Part two is a cylinder cloud and a funnel cloud. Cylinder going up, and funnel going down. That section is marked by two really long pieces of cloud to mark the track. The end of that part is on the ground where you will once again leave your hoofprint." Twilight held up a map. "And part three will have you fly as fast as you can to the finish line."

"You're holding up an Equestria map. Just where are we going?" Rainbow asked. "Get on with it."

"The shores of North Luna Ocean."

Emmy chuckled a little. "I know where that is."

"And that's part of why this race is fair. Rainbow, you are determined to win this race fairly, right?" She nodded. "Between the two of you, Emmy is more familiar with its location." Twilight pointed to a body of water on the upper left corner of the map. "It's right here."

"'At least a thousand miles away', right Twilight?" Emmy asked, having teleported there before.

"Easily. Rainbow, at your fastest speed, flying a flat 1000 miles would take you close to ten minutes provided there were no changes to your endurance or speed. However, since you don't know exactly where it is, you might just find yourself following Emmy as she flies there herself."

Rainbow smiled a little and walked beside Twilight, who looked a little confused. "Twilight, buddy..." She placed a foreleg on her back and patted a couple times. "Friend. Pal o' mine-o." After a glance, she took her hoof off. "You're real great of a friend to have made us a course on such short notice." Dash walked around to stand in front of her. "But why, in the name of Celestia, would you put the finish line...-" For emphasis, she pointed to the northwest. "- a thousand miles away?!"

Twilight kept her look on Rainbow, who tried to fit herself in line with Emmy. Everypony else looked on at Twilight in shock. "What?" she said. "It's a valid question." She eased up her look and smiled. "The slalom section is a test of mobility. The closer to the end of the section you get, the sooner you hit the next slalom, and the wider you have to turn to go through them. At the end of it, it's a free fall. That's there to test your stopping power. Part two is to see how you handle revolving around a point and whether or not you can hold it for long periods of time. And when you're as fast as you are, a moment is a thousand. The last part is one of endurance. Through the course, you will expend a lot of energy. You'd be lucky to even make it that far. That said, the key is to pace yourself."

"And you cooked this up in one afternoon?" Twilight nodded. Emerald looked surprised. "I'm impressed."

"It's what I do."

"Say, you thinking of testing your own mettle?" Emmy asked.

"How so?" Twilight tilted her head.

"There's a Spellcaster's Tournament coming up real soon. Like, next week I think." Twilight adopted a look of panic. "What?"

Twilight dropped her map and approached her. "Really?! It's already so soon?! I thought I had more time. Uhh, you both go to the top of the hill and wait for me there. I'll be along in a moment." She turned and ran inside the library.

"Take your time!" Emmy shouted as the door closed. "Hey, where's Link and Navi?"

"Flying back from Cloudsdale by now, I'm sure." Dash turned toward the hill and opened her wings. "Hey Emmy..."

Emerald looked at Rainbow and half smiled. "Yeah...?"

"Don't hold back. I want to beat you at your best." Rainbow took off toward the hill.

The group that remained looked at Emerald. "Don't worry. I'll give it my all. You deserve it."

Twilight dropped her map and approached Emerald quickly. "Really?! It's already so soon?! I thought I had more time. Uhh, you both go to the top of the hill and wait for me there. I'll be along in a moment." She turned and ran inside the library, closing the door behind her. She managed to barely hear anything else they might have said outside. "Spike!"

Quickly, Spike came out from under some books and asked, "Yeah?"

"I need a flier for the Spellcaster's Tournament. Do you know where I put mine?"

He pointed at the stairs. "I put it in your drawer in your room some time ago. Should still be there."

"Thanks!" Twilight ran up the stairs, got in her drawer and took out the sheet. "Let's see... Prelims are... Oh good. This whole weekend. I can go after this race." She looked at the sheet of paper, then at the fine print. 17 and up. Just barely then. "So when is the actual event?" Twilight flipped the sheet over, and found nothing but a blank page. Again, she turned it over. "Doesn't say. Guess they want serious ponies only."

Spike came in at that time and asked, "You talking to yourself again?"

"Yes. So what?"

"Emerald and Rainbow already took off for the hillside. You may want-"

Link landed safely on the balcony outside the room and knocked on the window. "Hey Twilight." She opened the window and let him in. "What are you up to in here?"

"Looking over the flier for the Spellcaster's Tournament. Signups are this weekend, so I'm going after the race. Which is starting real soon."

"I see." Link ruffled his wings a little. "Remind me later to look at my wings. I got some wing care tips from the client today and I want to try them out. But for now, it's time for a race."

Just outside, the group waved goodbye to Emerald as she flew off toward the hill. Pinkie asked, "So, who wants to bet on the winner?"

"Are you serious?" Aj asked. "Why in creation would we gamble on this?"

"For funsies! Why else?" she replied. "But if you're aren't confident, you should sit this one out."

Aj walked up beside Pinkie. "Ten bits says Dash wins."

Epona countered. "Ten for Emerald to win. While Aj doesn't know much about her, I don't know much about Rainbow. So those are even odds."

"Alright." Pinkie took the bits from Aj and Epona. "Anypony else?"

Fluttershy looked at the hillside, then at Pinkie. "I have faith in Rainbow's ability, but I also don't want to gamble. I'll just say I want Rainbow to win." Pinkie shrugged.

"Well, I do. 5 for Rainbow." Rarity levitated over 5 bits to Pinkie.

"So we've got 15 that says Dashie wins, and ten that says Emmy wins. Any last bets before I lock it up?"

Link walked outside with Twilight and Spike. Navi sat on Link's sword handle. Twilight stepped around him and said, "You're figuring out who will win, right? Well, while I'm probably the only pony here besides Link who has seen both of their skill and speed and all that, it's safe to bet on..."

"Before you answer, think about your track. If it's truly fair, then you'd have to bet on who you think's personality will win out. Dash's ego, or Emmy's trickery." Link flew off toward the hillside.

Twilight and the others watched him go. Rarity said, "He makes a good point. Is it too late to retract my wager?"

Pinkie nodded. "Of course. Your bids are in already. Twilight?"

After a few moment's thought, she replied. "I will wager on ... Emerald. 5 bits." Twilight gave Pinkie 5 bits. "Even odds."

Pinkie chuckled. "Alright. Since we have the same bits on each side, the payout is 2 times what you put in. Twilight and Rarity, you each put in 5 bits, so you'd get ten back if you win, while Aj and Epona get twenty. Good?"

A collective "Good" resounded.

Twilight looked at the hillside. "Alright everypony. Gather close." They huddled around her and waited. Twilight fired a beam at the hilltop and waited as well. When it hit, she and the others appeared on the hillside looking down at the town.

"Time to get started?" Dash asked. "I'm getting restless."

"Link is on his way, and I want him here when we start this." She looked off toward Ponyville, and saw him close in. "You may want to get in position." Emmy and Rainbow lined up on the green line between a pair of poles. Link landed with the others and watched with them. "Oh, one more thing: I'll be waiting for you at the finish zone. Best of luck to you both."

"This time, we do this right." Emmy got low and opened her wings.

"On your marks..."

"No holding back. A fair race," Rainbow added. She bent her knees and unfurled her wings.

"Get set..." Twilight held up a checker flag with her magic and stood between the two of them.

In unison, Rainbow Dash and Emerald Storm declared, "And I'm going to win!"

"Fly!" Twilight forced the flag downward. Both Emerald and Rainbow took off down the course.

The author is not sorry for any puns inserted into the chapter.
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Question time!

Who do you think is going to win? Rainbow and her desire to beat her friend in a grudge match? Or Emerald, who wants to prove she can win without cheating?

Let me know in the comments below.