site event 🍃The Running of the Leaves (2025) Race Event!

[PrincessPriscillaPT 551]

*After the racers had exited the foggy forest, they encountered another swamp, but it was luck-based. Priscilla was not sure where to go or take the long route*
Alright. Shall we do it the easy way or the hard way?

[Samurai Equine]

 

On 2025-10-13 at 7:03 PM, Shiny Silvermoon said:

*As @Samurai Equine was trying to figure out a solution to lead the participants of the race to safety, Socrate landed onto Shiny's shoulder and began to scribble something onto his small notepad. Hearing the sound of a pencil roaming over paper, she knew that her pet was trying to tell her something.*

*Despite the uncanny darkness that seemed to enable any source of light to exist within this part of the forest, unicorn was able to make her horn glow just enough to read the note. It was one single word.* "Echolocation? You mean the noises that other bat species with lesser eyesight use to find their way in the darkness?"

"How is this supposed to help- ooooh! I see what you mean! Pun intended!" *Shiny realized what the fruit bat was trying to tell her.*

"Samurai, Socrate had an idea! Instead of using a rope to guide them, they could find their way by following the sound of our voices! By yelling loudly enough, we can get everypony to find their way to us!" *The mare explained to her friend, although she could barely see him because of the obscurity.*

On 2025-10-13 at 7:41 PM, Dynamo Pad said:

As the Mysterious Figure continues to watch from afar, they notice some of the participants making their way out of the forest. "Most impressive. So, not even the darkness could keep them from finding their way. That still doesn't change the fact that this race is still on. There are still a few obstacles waiting in the wings. I think it's time to see who has the courage to cross the bog. Not only that, I think it's time to step in after taking note of that interference." The mysterious figure spoke, recalling the two ponies in the balloon, who looked to have been helping the racer's. 

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Obstacle Number 6

You leave the darkest part of the woods behind, but the path doesn't get much easier. On the horizon, you see the richest part of the forest, still covered in many leaves ready to be knocked down, however it is on the other side of a huge, muddy bog. Several ponies are choosing the long way around, others are already testing muddy depths. It looks shallow enough to cross on hoof, but not without issues. Some contestants are struggling, getting stuck or losing boots in the mire, but looks like nopony is in any serious danger, and participants are having fun trying to guess which spots are shallow, and laughing at their friends who guessed wrong.

Find your way through the muddy bog to get to the richest part of the forest.

Next obstacle on October 20th.

 

Samurai listens to @Shiny Silvermoon Shiny explain and nods. "Oh, I see. That makes sense, but that also sounds like a lot of yelling. Would you be willing to yell with me?" Samurai asks.

However, before he can get an answer, Samurai looks over and notices something. "...Wait, the exit out of this darkness is really close! Have we really been sitting right next to exit this entire time?" Samurai says, confused.

...Looks like he is about to get his answer!

 

On 2025-10-14 at 6:28 AM, PrincessPriscillaPT said:

*After the racers had exited the foggy forest, they encountered another swamp, but it was luck-based. Priscilla was not sure where to go or take the long route*
Alright. Shall we do it the easy way or the hard way?

 

Samurai sees a friend. "@PrincessPriscillaPT Priscilla! You caught up!" He runs beside her as they exit the darkness together, making sure not to collide into Shiny this time.
But as he notices the many muddy paths ahead, he once again magically lights up the ends of his hooves with gentle flames. "Hmm... It may cost me some time, but I'm gonna take the long way around. I'm not concerned about the easy way; I doubt anypony will have a problem with that path. But if any pony gets trapped going the long way, then I have to be there to help save them. Good luck, Priscilla-hime!"

With his path decided, Samurai takes the long way through the muddy bog. His flaming hooves can only save him from so much; they can't dry up extra deep pools of mud. So Samurai switches gears; leaps across stones, pads, and anything solid enough to support his weight. He'll even grab a vine and swing from it; if he can find one!

[Shiny Silvermoon]

8 hours ago, Samurai Equine said:

 

 

Samurai listens to @Shiny Silvermoon Shiny explain and nods. "Oh, I see. That makes sense, but that also sounds like a lot of yelling. Would you be willing to yell with me?" Samurai asks.

However, before he can get an answer, Samurai looks over and notices something. "...Wait, the exit out of this darkness is really close! Have we really been sitting right next to exit this entire time?" Samurai says, confused.

...Looks like he is about to get his answer!

 

 

Samurai sees a friend. "@PrincessPriscillaPT Priscilla! You caught up!" He runs beside her as they exit the darkness together, making sure not to collide into Shiny this time.
But as he notices the many muddy paths ahead, he once again magically lights up the ends of his hooves with gentle flames. "Hmm... It may cost me some time, but I'm gonna take the long way around. I'm not concerned about the easy way; I doubt anypony will have a problem with that path. But if any pony gets trapped going the long way, then I have to be there to help save them. Good luck, Priscilla-hime!"

With his path decided, Samurai takes the long way through the muddy bog. His flaming hooves can only save him from so much; they can't dry up extra deep pools of mud. So Samurai switches gears; leaps across stones, pads, and anything solid enough to support his weight. He'll even grab a vine and swing from it; if he can find one!

*Once outside of the obscure part of the forest, Shiny Silvermoon realizes that there is a bog separating the racers from the path. She's not really participating to the race, she's just there to help knock some leaves and aid those who are in need of it. Since she's not bothered by the speed at which she crosses to the other side, she decides to follow @Samurai Equine and go around the muddy pool. While the mare leaps, she takes the opportunity to knock some leaves off the trees.*

[Starlight Glimmer 161]

With the numerous rope puns, Starlight rolled her eyes as she had a playful smirk on her face. "Sounds to me that everyone that's finding the rope is a little tied up at the moment. If only that rope can stay strong for everyone to knot get lost along the forest! They're almost there!" Starlight commentated, adding a few more rope puns to work alongside Pinkie as she gave the pink earth pony a wink. "It looks like Dusk Haven is trying to follow the rope to catch up to Samurai and the others." She started, taking notice of Socrate, who had dropped what looked to be a croissant down into the forest. Perking her ears up, she heard what sounded like Shiny, who seemed to have woken up from her previous falling unconscious. "It sounds to me that Shiny is back and better than ever! Just in time to catch up with the others as Samurai helped carry her along with him to be kept safe!" Starlight smiled, before leaning over slightly to oversee the race. "Roswell is following the rope after maneuvering more through the forest-like maze, while Samurai looks to be carving arrows on the trees to help guide anyone that might be lost!" She started, gasping slightly in surprise as the rope suddenly vanished. 

"Uh oh! It looks like the rope is gone with the effects of the berries wearing off! Without the rope, the others contestants won't be able to catch up in the off chance they are trying to not get lost!" Starlight commentated, before a sudden thought came to mind. "Wait a moment, didn't Shiny mention night vision? I seem to recall that Moonlight is a bat pony. Perhaps Moonlight can be the beacon of hope that the racer's need to navigate through the forest and escape this darkness, fog-like maze!"

[Pinkie Pie 698]

"Ooooooh~! Sounds like Moonlight will be able to light up the competition!" Pinkie giggled, gasping from the earlier situation, before grinning at the great idea the group had discussed. "Look at that, Starlight! Priscilla managed to catch up to the others, before the rope disappeared! Once everyone can catch up and escape the forest, then we can have a search and rescue party!" She clapped her forehooves together in preparation of a future party that was in store. As she was busy planning the party, her eyes turned towards Socrate, who dropped down to the forest. "Huh. I wonder what Socrate has in mind. Sounds like he wanted to tell everyone of the party?"

[Starlight Glimmer 161]

"I'm not entirely sure, myself. It does seem that Socrate wants to try and help the other racer's who might be lost. Given that Socrate is a bat himself, it must be easy for them to navigate through this dark forest." Starlight theorized, looking at the path ahead of the forest. "For those that have reached this far, it seems that there are two different ways to cross. One can go the long way and lose valuable time, or they can go straight through. However, if they do, then they run the risk of getting stuck in the treacherous bog! Not that they would get stuck, of course. Although, I'd hate to lose anything of value if you've lost something in this bog." She shuddered, fearing the idea of that happening. 

As Samurai, Priscilla and Shiny had reached through the forest, Starlight took note of who was going which way with a look of interest. "Interesting! It seems as though Samurai and Shiny are going the long way. Even though it would cost them valuable time, they'll still try and be safe than sorry with the bog." Keeping track of who went where, Starlight looked at her notes to tally up the scores. "While all of this is happening, I'd like to announce the top three for this race, so far! In third place, we have @Nitobit Moonlight with 187 leaves knocked down! In second place, we have @Dusk Haven who is slightly ahead of Moonlight with 188 leaves! In first place, just trailing ahead by just a little bit is @Samurai Equine with 200 leaves! It's still anypony's race at this point!" Starlight exclaimed, feeling ecstatic at how close the race had become.

[Pinkie Pie 698]

44 minutes ago, Starlight Glimmer said:

"I'm not entirely sure, myself. It does seem that Socrate wants to try and help the other racer's who might be lost. Given that Socrate is a bat himself, it must be easy for them to navigate through this dark forest." Starlight theorized, looking at the path ahead of the forest. "For those that have reached this far, it seems that there are two different ways to cross. One can go the long way and lose valuable time, or they can go straight through. However, if they do, then they run the risk of getting stuck in the treacherous bog! Not that they would get stuck, of course. Although, I'd hate to lose anything of value if you've lost something in this bog." She shuddered, fearing the idea of that happening. 

As Samurai, Priscilla and Shiny had reached through the forest, Starlight took note of who was going which way with a look of interest. "Interesting! It seems as though Samurai and Shiny are going the long way. Even though it would cost them valuable time, they'll still try and be safe than sorry with the bog." Keeping track of who went where, Starlight looked at her notes to tally up the scores. "While all of this is happening, I'd like to announce the top three for this race, so far! In third place, we have @Nitobit Moonlight with 187 leaves knocked down! In second place, we have @Dusk Haven who is slightly ahead of Moonlight with 188 leaves! In first place, just trailing ahead by just a little bit is @Samurai Equine with 200 leaves! It's still anypony's race at this point!" Starlight exclaimed, feeling ecstatic at how close the race had become.

"You've got that right, Starlight! There's still plenty of racing left and it's coming down to the wire! Who will overtake the lead!? Who will win!? How many leaves will fall this Fall!? Nopony knows, but only time will tell!" Pinkie says, trying to add some suspense and dramatic effect to the commentary. "It also seems like @PrincessPriscillaPT Pricilla is debating on which way she should go. Nopony has chosen the bog yet, but now I wonder who will. I remember going through Froggy Bottom Bog once with Twilight and the others. Making sure that Fluttershy was safe after I learned a doozy was going to happen from my Pinkie Sense. I remember a bunch of us were getting slightly stuck in that bog. Thankfully, we didn't lose anything, but that would have added to the already huge doozy that had occurred with Twilight believing in my Pinkie Sense." She giggled, recalling the fun memory of them trying to escape the hydra.

As Starlight kept watch of the action, Pinkie had been leaning against the corner of the balloon basket. Holding onto the Cupcake-inator Cannon, while inspecting it on how to fix the cannon. Looking over every angle possible, Pinkie blinked in surprise from a sudden gust of wind hitting their hot air balloon. Even though Starlight casted a magic spell to keep the balloon from being drenched in rain, it still didn't keep it safe from any of the winds. With the rocking of the basket back and forth, the Cupcake-inator suddenly fell out of Pinkie's grasp, before dropping down in the middle of the muddy bog below. "Noooooooooo! My Cupcake-inator Cannon! I was trying to get that working for more cupcake fun! Someone needs to try and get it back!" Pinkie exclaimed, her mane deflating slightly as she hoped her cannon would be kept safe. "Whoever gives it back to me gets bonus points!" She shouted as she prepared to bring the balloon closer to the ground.

Obstacle Number 6.5

Bonus obstacle! Help Pinkie get her cupcake cannon back! The first runner who comments can grab the cannon. Afterwards, anyone can take the cannon from the previous participant by any means necessary! At a random time, Pinkie Pie will take her cannon from the participant who holds it. That one participant will get bonus points, so you always want to be the last poster in the thread. The less leaves you currently have - the higher the bonus will be!

[Moonlight Wane]

Moonlight looks up just as the cannon falls relatively close to him, and he immediately makes his way towards it. He has to take boots off his forelegs to grab it and yank it out of the mud, almost losing his balance in the process. "Got it!" He says, before noticing ponies around him slowly approaching, some holding mud balls, or preparing to pounce, ready to take his treasure away, to score some points for themselves. "Back off!" He says, aiming the empty cupcake cannon at them. "I won't go down without a fight!"

[Samurai Equine 56,864]

When a strong gust of wind hits the basket, Moushley holds on for dear life. Such a tiny mouse is all ready having a hard time hanging on. But when she sees Pinkie's cupcake cannon getting caught in the wind, she makes a mad dash to grab it as if it were a piece of cheese!

Spoiler

... Just one problem...

The cannon is bigger than Moushley! So instead of saving it, she just ends up getting dragged down with the cannon! As she plummets to the world below while clinging to the Cupcake-inator, she gives a mousey scream. Could this be the end for Moushley?

...

NO!
Because @Nitobit Moonlight caught it! Blinking in surprise, Moushley looks around and notices that she is alive!
Running around the cannon, she makes a lot of startled and confused squeaks. But as soon as she sees the racer that saved her, Moonlight, she offers him a happy wave.

Spoiler

...Now they just need to make it out of this situation safely.

[Moonlight Wane]

35 minutes ago, Samurai Equine said:

When a strong gust of wind hits the basket, Moushley holds on for dear life. Such a tiny mouse is all ready having a hard time hanging on. But when she sees Pinkie's cupcake cannon getting caught in the wind, she makes a mad dash to grab it as if it were a piece of cheese!

... Just one problem...

The cannon is bigger than Moushley! So instead of saving it, she just ends up getting dragged down with the cannon! As she plummets to the world below while clinging to the Cupcake-inator, she gives a mousey scream. Could this be the end for Moushley?

...

NO!
Because @Nitobit Moonlight caught it! Blinking in surprise, Moushley looks around and notices that she is alive!
Running around the cannon, she makes a lot of startled and confused squeaks. But as soon as she sees the racer that saved her, Moonlight, she offers him a happy wave.

...Now they just need to make it out of this situation safely.

"Huh? Hi, who are you?" Moonlight waves back at the mouse and looks up, to where she fell from. "Did you fall from the balloon? Better stay close, otherwise somepony can step on you." He stretches his wing down, so Moushley can climb onto his back.

The ponies around are closing in. One of them tries to pounce on Moonlight, trying to take the cannon. Splat! Moonlight instinctively pulls the trigger, and blasts the pony with mud that found its way into the cannon when it fell. The pony lands further away, with cartoon stars circling around his head, his fall cushioned by the bog. More importantly, it creates a gap in the wall of ponies. "This way! Hold onto something!" Moonlight takes the cannon in his wings and rushes through the gap. "Ah! Dang it!" His forehooves plunge into mud, and he remembers that he took off his rain boots when pulling the cannon out of the mud. "No time to retrieve them now." Moonlight thinks as he continues running.

[Dusk Haven]

On 2025-10-13 at 1:06 AM, Samurai Equine said:

Moushley stands on the edge of the balloon basket, fearless! Pulling out a toy microphone that is just the right size for her, she begins to narrate the events of the race. ...In cute little squeaks... She points to Dusk and Moonlight, delivering some biting words of commentary. She points at Priscilla and Iridescent, making note of some very important details. She even turns to @Pinkie Pie and @Starlight Glimmer as if to ask them some important questions. Good luck translating her mouse speech, though.

But her commentary switches gears when she notices Socrate flying away. She commentates on his heroic acts as well.

 

 

By now, Samurai had slowed down by a lot so that he could carve arrows into the pathway. No doubt the other racers would soon catch up him; but it was a worthwhile sacrifice if it meant giving them some markers to follow in this darkness.

However, he is interrupted when Shiny wakes up and leaps off his shoulder. "AH! Shiny! You're awake. Thank Celestia.... I was so worried!" As he welcomes her back to the waking world....
The rope disappears.
Samurai notices his hooves feel light. He looks down and notices. "Uah! Taihen da!! The rope, it's gone! The racers will be so lost now. They are all relying on it, and I ran out of--" Samurai stops when Shiny's words register. "--Eh? Moonlight can see in the dark?"

Samurai looks around for Shiny, even though he can barely see anything. "Well, maybe it would be better if we all get through this darkness together."

I froze as the rope slipped from my grasp, vanishing into the dark as if it had never existed. The air around me thickened, soundless, still, pressing close. I exhaled slowly and steadily. “Lovely. All right, then,” I whispered into the quiet. “We do this the old way.”

The ground beneath my hooves was soft, tangled with roots slick from condensation. I crouched low, feeling with the edge of one hoof, tracing how the roots curved. They all bent slightly in one direction, drawn toward something. Water, maybe, or open air. I turned that way.

Each step I took was deliberate. The primaries on my wings brushed the vines to my left and right, using touch to measure space. I began to hum under my breath, a low, steady tone that rippled softly through the dark. When it came back to me dull and quick, I knew the walls were close; when it echoed faintly and slow, I followed.

A stray vine snagged my foreleg. I froze, then twisted, letting it slip away. My horn sparked once, just enough frost to slick the vine with harmless ice so it couldn’t coil again. I considered this a trip hazard, so, defensive magic.

Minutes, or maybe an hour, passed in that manner. The darkness didn’t end, but it changed. The air grew lighter, fresher. A whisper of wind brushed through my aurora-hued mane, faint but real. I lifted my head, eyes narrowing, and kept moving toward it.

Finally, the vines thinned enough that a single shaft of moonlight pierced the canopy, silvering my periwinkle fur and feathers. I stopped beneath it, took a breath, and smiled faintly.

“You always find a way through,” I murmured. “You just have to listen.” And with that, I stepped forward and cleared the obstacle. As luck would have it, I saw @Nitobit Moonlight Wane running with impressive speed, holding that remarkable canon. I smiled with mischief in mind. "Here I come, my little bat pony."

[Moonlight Wane]

Moonlight makes his way through the mud, getting tired quickly from having to pull his legs out with every step. He briefly makes eye contact with @Dusk Haven, but doesn't notice her mischievous smile, as at that moment a ball of mud hits him in the flank. "Hey! Who did that?!" He turns around to fire mud projectiles blindly at ponies behind him, before moving on.

[Shiny Silvermoon]

3 hours ago, Moonlight Wane said:

Moonlight makes his way through the mud, getting tired quickly from having to pull his legs out with every step. He briefly makes eye contact with @Dusk Haven, but doesn't notice her mischievous smile, as at that moment a ball of mud hits him in the flank. "Hey! Who did that?!" He turns around to fire mud projectiles blindly at ponies behind him, before moving on.

*When Moushley jumped off the balloon to land onto the cannon, Socrate's heart skipped a beat. The fruit bat immediately flew toward Moonlight Wane ( @Nitobit ) who held the Cupcake-inator 3000 with his wings. A sigh of relief escaped from his throat, as he saw the mouse safe on the bat pony's back.*

*Socrate landed next to Moushley to give her a tight hug. He was reassured that she was safe and sound.*

*Meanwhile, Shiny watched Moonlight Wane run mindlessly in the mud, while protecting Pinkie Pie's cannon from others. With her icy blue magic, she created a dome-shaped forcefield around him. The mare needed to stay focused onto the spell to keep the shield up, since it was a very hard one to cast.*

"Stay back, everypony! He saw it first so it's his!" *Shiny yelled to the greedy participants trying to rob the cannon.* 

[Samurai Equine 56,864]

22 hours ago, Moonlight Wane said:

"Huh? Hi, who are you?" Moonlight waves back at the mouse and looks up, to where she fell from. "Did you fall from the balloon? Better stay close, otherwise somepony can step on you." He stretches his wing down, so Moushley can climb onto his back.

The ponies around are closing in. One of them tries to pounce on Moonlight, trying to take the cannon. Splat! Moonlight instinctively pulls the trigger, and blasts the pony with mud that found its way into the cannon when it fell. The pony lands further away, with cartoon stars circling around his head, his fall cushioned by the bog. More importantly, it creates a gap in the wall of ponies. "This way! Hold onto something!" Moonlight takes the cannon in his wings and rushes through the gap. "Ah! Dang it!" His forehooves plunge into mud, and he remembers that he took off his rain boots when pulling the cannon out of the mud. "No time to retrieve them now." Moonlight thinks as he continues running.

 

Moushley agrees and gets on Moonlight's back, but is quickly startled from some pony playing mudball fight! She practically hides in Moonlight's mane, but then shakes her paw at whoever threw the mud, squeaking angrilly.

 

20 hours ago, Dusk Haven said:

I froze as the rope slipped from my grasp, vanishing into the dark as if it had never existed. The air around me thickened, soundless, still, pressing close. I exhaled slowly and steadily. “Lovely. All right, then,” I whispered into the quiet. “We do this the old way.”

The ground beneath my hooves was soft, tangled with roots slick from condensation. I crouched low, feeling with the edge of one hoof, tracing how the roots curved. They all bent slightly in one direction, drawn toward something. Water, maybe, or open air. I turned that way.

Each step I took was deliberate. The primaries on my wings brushed the vines to my left and right, using touch to measure space. I began to hum under my breath, a low, steady tone that rippled softly through the dark. When it came back to me dull and quick, I knew the walls were close; when it echoed faintly and slow, I followed.

A stray vine snagged my foreleg. I froze, then twisted, letting it slip away. My horn sparked once, just enough frost to slick the vine with harmless ice so it couldn’t coil again. I considered this a trip hazard, so, defensive magic.

Minutes, or maybe an hour, passed in that manner. The darkness didn’t end, but it changed. The air grew lighter, fresher. A whisper of wind brushed through my aurora-hued mane, faint but real. I lifted my head, eyes narrowing, and kept moving toward it.

Finally, the vines thinned enough that a single shaft of moonlight pierced the canopy, silvering my periwinkle fur and feathers. I stopped beneath it, took a breath, and smiled faintly.

“You always find a way through,” I murmured. “You just have to listen.” And with that, I stepped forward and cleared the obstacle. As luck would have it, I saw @Nitobit Moonlight Wane running with impressive speed, holding that remarkable canon. I smiled with mischief in mind. "Here I come, my little bat pony."

 

Moushley sees Dusk approaching. She points and starts to squeak, until she noticed that she lost her plastic microphone. No more commentating from her, for now.

 

10 hours ago, Shiny Silvermoon said:

*When Moushley jumped off the balloon to land onto the cannon, Socrate's heart skipped a beat. The fruit bat immediately flew toward Moonlight Wane ( @Nitobit ) who held the Cupcake-inator 3000 with his wings. A sigh of relief escaped from his throat, as he saw the mouse safe on the bat pony's back.*

*Socrate landed next to Moushley to give her a tight hug. He was reassured that she was safe and sound.*

*Meanwhile, Shiny watched Moonlight Wane run mindlessly in the mud, while protecting Pinkie Pie's cannon from others. With her icy blue magic, she created a dome-shaped forcefield around him. The mare needed to stay focused onto the spell to keep the shield up, since it was a very hard one to cast.*

"Stay back, everypony! He saw it first so it's his!" *Shiny yelled to the greedy participants trying to rob the cannon.* 

 

The sudden hug makes Moushley's head inflate like a balloon. But she hugs Socrate back as soon as she realize who is hugging her.

But seeing Shiny's magic dome, she points forward and bravely squeaks. To infinity, & beyond!
Then she pulls out a D20 from her coat and rolls it.
...It lands and sinks in the mud, getting left behind...
She looks back at Shiny and Socrate, squeaking to them. I think it landed on a 16.

[Dusk Haven 260]

8 hours ago, Moonlight Wane said:

Moonlight makes his way through the mud, getting tired quickly from having to pull his legs out with every step. He briefly makes eye contact with @Dusk Haven, but doesn't notice her mischievous smile, as at that moment a ball of mud hits him in the flank. "Hey! Who did that?!" He turns around to fire mud projectiles blindly at ponies behind him, before moving on.

Dusk slipped into motion, her steps near soundless as she circled toward @Nitobit Moonlight Wane. When their eyes met briefly and broke, she understood — he was having trouble.

A faint shimmer rippled over her hooves as she cast a thin layer of frost for traction, as she had earlier. The mud hardened just enough beneath each step to keep her light and silent. She noticed @Shiny Silvermoon ShinySilvermoon cast a large shield. She stopped, thought for a moment, and proceeded toward Moonlight.

Ahead, the bat pony struggled through the sucking mud, weighed down and moving far too slowly. The other ponies moving closer and closer with their eyes looking hungry for the cannon.

Dusk angled to the side, timing her steps between shouts, her breath steady and measured. She wondered if shielding magic was allowed or not. It was being used for defense, but was also being used to prevent the achievement of a goal. She shrugged and decided to go ahead with her plan. Then, with a soft crunch of frozen earth, she teleported right beside him — as if conjured from the mist itself, teleporting past the shield.

“Hi!” she chirped, voice unexpectedly bright against the tense air. “That's a nice cannon you have there!”

Her tone was playful, but her eyes held that steady focus, ready for her next move.

[Moonlight Wane]

12 hours ago, Shiny Silvermoon said:

*Meanwhile, Shiny watched Moonlight Wane run mindlessly in the mud, while protecting Pinkie Pie's cannon from others. With her icy blue magic, she created a dome-shaped forcefield around him. The mare needed to stay focused onto the spell to keep the shield up, since it was a very hard one to cast.*

"Stay back, everypony! He saw it first so it's his!" *Shiny yelled to the greedy participants trying to rob the cannon.* 

Moonlight and his pursuers look confused at the sudden bubble. "Hey, what is it?" "That's cheating!" The ponies start shouting with indignation. Some of them noticed Shiny's shining horn, and started going towards her.

It takes Moonlight a moment to realize what's happening. "Umm, Shiny? I appreciate the thought, but that most definitely counts as cheating. I'm not in any serious danger. It's not like any of them can actually catch me." "Hey!" Background pony number 324 shouts, but gets promptly ignored.

"You can lower the shield. No need to make it easier than it already is." Having said that, Moonlight wants to pass through the bubble, when suddenly...

1 hour ago, Dusk Haven said:

Dusk slipped into motion, her steps near soundless as she circled toward @Nitobit Moonlight Wane. When their eyes met briefly and broke, she understood — he was having trouble.

A faint shimmer rippled over her hooves as she cast a thin layer of frost for traction, as she had earlier. The mud hardened just enough beneath each step to keep her light and silent. She noticed @Shiny Silvermoon ShinySilvermoon cast a large shield. She stopped, thought for a moment, and proceeded toward Moonlight.

Ahead, the bat pony struggled through the sucking mud, weighed down and moving far too slowly. The other ponies moving closer and closer with their eyes looking hungry for the cannon.

Dusk angled to the side, timing her steps between shouts, her breath steady and measured. She wondered if shielding magic was allowed or not. It was being used for defense, but was also being used to prevent the achievement of a goal. She shrugged and decided to go ahead with her plan. Then, with a soft crunch of frozen earth, she teleported right beside him — as if conjured from the mist itself, teleporting past the shield.

“Hi!” she chirped, voice unexpectedly bright against the tense air. “That's a nice cannon you have there!”

Her tone was playful, but her eyes held that steady focus, ready for her next move.

"Aha! Dusk Haven! Finally a real opponent!" He stands on his back hooves, and points at @Dusk Haven, accidentally splashing some mud at her. "Oops. Sorry for that. And sorry, but that cannon is not for you." He says, hiding it behind his back.