Fall Weather Friends

Fall Weather Friends is the thirteenth episode of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic, season one. In this episode, Applejack and Rainbow Dash's sportsmareship are put to the test as they face off in an Iron Pony Competition to see who is the better athlete.

Episode summary
During a routine game of horseshoes, Applejack had bested Rainbow Dash by a ringer (when the inside of a horseshoe spins around the pin). While the farm pony assures her that it was all in good fun, the pegasus was rarely used to losing. She decided to challenge her friend to an Iron Pony competition, a set of events where their athletic skills are put to the test. Twilight Sparkle was picked as the judge of the casual competition while Spike played announcer and Fluttershy with score tally.

In the first event, a short Barrel Run, Applejack made it through by 22 seconds (including a 5-second penalty for bumping into one of the barrels); Rainbow Dash was able to brush through flawlessly by 18 seconds, earning one point. In the Strength Test, Rainbow Dash hit the bell at the top; however, Applejack completely destroyed it thanks to her years of applebucking, earning her the victory point. Spike ended up being a "volunteer" for Bronco Buck and Calf Roping, in which Dash and Applejack respectively won each. Halfway through the competition, both ponies were tied 5-5, and most of Ponyville eventually joined in spectating the two mares.

Applejack was willing to remain a good sport, but that didn't last long. Refusing to lose, Dash started winning more events using her pegasus wings to her advantage. In the decisive event, Tug-o-War, Dash flew up and tricked a persistent Applejack into letting go of the rope, falling into the mud below. With a staggering 15-5, Rainbow Dash "won" the competition. Applejack wasn't impressed, and she called out her friend for cheating via flying. Rainbow Dash brought up the fact that she never said not to use her wings, but Applejack responded that she shouldn't have to. It was at this point that the farm pony challenged her to take part in the annual Running of the Leaves, under the condition that she does not use her wings at anytime; No flying, no hovering, no gliding! Just an old fashioned race to the finish would decide the true winner. Eager to taste victory again, the pegasus accepted the terms, and a rivalry was formed.

The aforementioned event featured a select group of ponies to run in a marathon race across certain parts of Equestria that, according to Pinkie Pie as the announcer, helps the Autumn leaves to fall. Pinkie Pie invited Spike to join her in commentating for the event. As all the racers gathered, AJ made sure Dash kept good on her promise... by tying her wings up like a "trussed turkey".

To their surprise and amusement, Twilight decided to join in the festivities, giving them the opportunity to mock their "egghead" friend, especially considering she had never been in a race before, but instead read on the subject.

The marathon was soon underway and Rainbow Dash and Applejack were already out in front, determine to win once and for all. Although she struggled,Rainbow Dash began to pick up the pace. They were neck and neck before Applejack tripped over a rock, accusing her rival of doing the tripping. With the exception of Twilight, who was casually strolling behind and enjoying the scenery, the rest of the ponies rushed past her. The farm pony managed to make it back in front later, eventually passing Rainbow Dash once more. This time, the grounded pegasus tripped over a stump and fell second-to-last next to the unicorn. Too stubborn to believe her apple-rustling friend would never stoop to such acts, she decided to play dirty.

Catching up to Applejack, the two used the environment of Whitetail Wood to their advantage, from branches, to bees, to tree syrup. Along the way, Rainbow Dash flipped a sign, redirecting the path, and causing Applejack to dead-end up a nearby mountain. She asked Pinkie and Spike to carry her back into the race.

As they approached the home stretch, the farm pony and pegasus fought harder than before to finish first. Applejack accidentally undid Dash's ropes, allowing her to break her promise at the last second and fly towards the end. Applejack intercepted her before they both crossed the finish line at the same time. To their shock however, their constant clash had caused them to fall behind and tie for last place. Even more shocking was Twilight Sparkle, who had only paced herself throughout the race, before going all-out when most of the racers were worn out. She only finished in 5th place, but she did technically beat the two rivals who had made fun of her at the start. Overall, it was a good effort for a first-time racer.

As Rainbow Dash and Applejack felt sorry for their own embarrassingly poor sportsmareship, they met with Princess Celestia, who was watching the entire event as Fall was one of her favorite seasons. She forgave them for their antics, justifying the fact that anypony can get swept up in the competitive spirit, but also pointed out that they missed some of the leaf-laden trees because of it. Realizing that friendship is more important than any competition, the two last place racers ran off together to finish with the rest of the trees.

Quotes
Applejack : You're a mighty good athlete... I'm just better.

Rainbow Dash: What?! You're not an athlete, you're a... well... you're an egghead.

Twilight Sparkle: I am not an egghead! I am well-read.

Rainbow Dash : Egghead...

Applejack: But... have you ever run a race?

Twilight Sparkle: Well, no. But I do know a lot about running.

Rainbow Dash: And you know this from...

Twilight Sparkle: Books. I read several on the subject.

Rainbow Dash: What did you read... the Egghead's Guide to Running? Did you stretch up your... eye muscles to warm up? HA HA HA HA! Get it? "Eye muscles"!

Pinkie Pie: Welcome to the official coverage of the Running of the Leaves! You know, Spike, despite its name, the leaves don't do any of the actual running. No, that's left to my little ponies.

Spike: Why... yes, Pinkie! It's the running of the ponies that causes the leaves to fall.

Pinkie Pie: Urgh... Those lazy, lazy leaves.

Spike: You know Pinkie, these two ponies have a bit of a grudge match they're trying to settle, trying to prove who's the most athletic.

Pinkie Pie: Yes, and "grudge" rhymes with "fudge".

Spike: Yes it... does? Wha?

Pinkie Pie: And I like fudge, but if I eat too much fudge I get a pudge and then I can't budge.

Spike: So, no fudge?

Pinkie Pie: No thanks, I had a big breakfast.

Applejack: Not so easy without wings, is it?

Rainbow Dash : Come on, Rainbow. Show 'em a little "dash"!

Spike: I don't believe it! After a huge setback, Applejack is back at the front of the pack!

Pinkie Pie: She's the head of the pack, all right. The pick of the litter! The CAT'S PAJAMAS! Oh, wait! Why would Applejack take some poor kitty's PJs? That's not very sporting of her.

Spike: Oookay... Let's get back to the race.

Twilight Sparkle: Remember, Rainbow. This is just a game.

Rainbow Dash : Yes. But the rules have changed. And two can play at that game.

Spike: And Spike. Looks like Rainbow is doing her best to catch up.

Pinkie Pie: I'm not sure how ketchup is going to help at this contest. Now, in a hot dog eating contest it can make them dogs nice and slippery. But personally, I prefer mustard. How about you, Spike?

Spike: Uh... I like... pickles?

Pinkie Pie: Aaand it looks like Applejack has found herself in quite a 'pickle' as Rainbow overtakes her.

Twilight Sparkle: Oh my! Wildtale Wood is just lovely! Hey, Rainbow! Shouldn't you be up ahead?

Rainbow Dash: Heh heh heh. I'm sure I'll win now.

Twilight Sparkle: Except that the other racers just passed you.

Rainbow Dash: Oh, horse apples. See ya!

Pinkie Pie: I must say, Spike, that this has been the most interesting Running of the Leaves in Equestria history!

Spike : With the most interesting announcing...

Twilight Sparkle: Forgive me, girls. I know I'm not an athlete, but shouldn't the Running of the Leaves actually involve running?

Rainbow Dash: You know, I think Twilight's right.

Applejack: You do?

Rainbow Dash: Yeah! If you wanna beat me, you better... RUUUN!

Rainbow Dash: Look Ma, no wings!

Gallery



 * Fall Weather Friends image gallery

Trivia

 * The episode title is a pun on the phrase fair weather friends, which references people who are only your friend when it is convenient (when weather is 'fair') and will abandon you at times of strife.
 * During the first scene, when Applejack and Rainbow Dash are playing horseshoes, Applejack's first horseshoe is thrown farther away from the peg than Rainbow Dash's. However, for a brief moment at about 0:47, the positions of the first horseshoes are switched when Applejack's second toss is a ringer.
 * The ball-bouncing competition (seen at about 5:24) was shown at the beginning and end of Dragonshy, when Rainbow Dash was counting her bounces.
 * This episode took place before "Winter Wrap Up" as fall comes before winter.
 * The term "horse apples" used by Rainbow Dash is similar to "road apples", which means dung.
 * This is the fourth episode in which Fluttershy has no speaking role. The three others were Boast Busters, Look Before You Sleep, and Call of the Cutie.
 * While commenting on the Running of the Leaves|race]] with Spike, Pinkie Pie mentions hot-dog eating contests, and alludes to enjoying hot-dogs with mustard herself; despite the fact that pony diets are You Got to Share, You Got to Care|completely vegetarian]].
 * In the scene where Rainbow Dash trips and is trampled, one of the ponies in the back of the stampede is actually another Rainbow Dash.
 * During the Running of the Leaves Twilight Sparkle's number is 42, the same number said to be the meaning of life in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.