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

[Samurai Equine 57,104]

14 hours ago, Roswell said:

Roswell turns his head back to look at Samurai and he gives him a look before answering…… ‘you can come along if you want but we do things my way’.

 

Samurai joyously chuckles. "I can't make any promises. After all, I am a samurai, which means I am honor bound to follow my code of honor! But one way or another, I will earn your friendship!" Samurai declares as they both enter the next leg of the race.

With no more rain nor mud to worry about, Samurai is now back on solid ground and surrounded by rich forestation! No longer does he need to ignite gentle flames on his hoof tips. No longer does he need to be in the lead. He can focus only on knocking down as many leaves as he pleases! "Nihonbare!!" Those leaves don't stand a chance any more!

 

1 hour ago, Pinkie Pie said:

"I hear you, Starlight! I've seen my fair share of tackle hugs. A number of them were from me, after all!" Pinkie giggled, nodding in agreement as she looked down at the competitors. "However, it's reassuring to see that feelings were mended and that everypony is together again!" Pinkie grinned as she looked down to take notice of Moushley, who was brought back up to the hot air balloon with Socrate. Seeing the sorrowful expression on Moushley's face caused Pinkie to frown in worry. "Oh, please don't be sad, Moushley. I really appreciated your assistance in getting my Cupcake-inator. I think it's time we take a little bit of matters into our own hooves." Smiling at the offered strawberry lollipop, the pink party mare took the treat without hesitation. Moving over to another side of the balloon, she made the vehicle float downwards towards the other racers. More specifically, towards Moonlight as leaned over and reached out towards him. "Thank you for all of your help, everypony! It would have been against the rules to go down and grab the Cupcake-inator possibly. However, seeing everyone all working together again has gotten me super duper motivated! I think a friendship making up party is on the horizons! Until that time comes, keep up the great work, everypony! You're almost there!" Pinkie grinned with glee from eat to ear just as the balloon took to the skies once more. 

Event Number 7

After running through mud and water, cold and darkness, you finally reach the leafiest part of the entire forest! This is your time to knock down leaves in peace, without anything to stop you.

Posts and replies in this part are worth double points!

Last obstacle on October 27th.

 

Moushley cheers up when Pinkie Pie accepts her gift. She runs over and hugs Pinkie's hoof.
Then she runs over and hugs Socrate.
...Then she finds her plastic microphone! It was in the basket! Oh what joy!

And finally, Moushley watches the race and begins commentating with @Pinkie Pie and @Starlight Glimmer, hyping up this race with her cute little squeaks.

[PrincessPriscillaPT 608]

*After Priscilla decided to go to the easy way, while Samurai @Samurai Equinetaking the hard way along with Roswell, they soon met each other at the end of the obstacle. Once they come out on the river, they soon met with a road covered with leaves and we can knock down as much as we want* "Hey, you're finally here! I decided to go to the easy route cuz I don't know where the safe ones are *lol*. Is this the final one or is there one more obstacle?"

[Roswell]

21 minutes ago, Samurai Equine said:

 

Samurai joyously chuckles. "I can't make any promises. After all, I am a samurai, which means I am honor bound to follow my code of honor! But one way or another, I will earn your friendship!" Samurai declares as they both enter the next leg of the race.

With no more rain nor mud to worry about, Samurai is now back on solid ground and surrounded by rich forestation! No longer does he need to ignite gentle flames on his hoof tips. No longer does he need to be in the lead. He can focus only on knocking down as many leaves as he pleases! "Nihonbare!!" Those leaves don't stand a chance any more!

 

 

Moushley cheers up when Pinkie Pie accepts her gift. She runs over and hugs Pinkie's hoof.
Then she runs over and hugs Socrate.
...Then she finds her plastic microphone! It was in the basket! Oh what joy!

And finally, Moushley watches the race and begins commentating with @Pinkie Pie and @Starlight Glimmer, hyping up this race with her cute little squeaks.

Well, we can work together like you said, any way at all.

[PrincessPriscillaPT 608]

*While she was running, @Samurai Equine Samurai and Roswell is having a little chit-chat. She'd love to meet them but she felt it so satisfying after listening to the crumbling leaves.* "Now this is the place where we just take a rest BUT I need to keep on running and make it to the last obstacle of this entire race. I hope it wasn't too hard and make me stand here."

[Samurai Equine]

@TheRockARockster @PrincessPriscillaPT

Samurai nods at Roswell's words, happy to work together.

He then sees Priscilla and waves happily. "Priscilla! It's good to see you again. I guess you managed to get ahead of us this whole time. Thankfully, I didn't see any ponies in need of rescue. So let's leave these trees as barren as possible!"

[Dusk Haven 322]

4 hours ago, Pinkie Pie said:

After running through mud and water, cold and darkness, you finally reach the leafiest part of the entire forest! This is your time to knock down leaves in peace, without anything to stop you.

The ground changed before she even saw it. The mud thinned. The cold softened. And the trees — oh, the trees — they were full.

Towering maples and thick-boughed oaks stretched overhead, their leaves still clinging to branches in brilliant swaths of gold, rust-red, and dusky orange. The wind here was gentler. The air carried the scent of dry bark, old sunlight, and something that felt like memory.

Dusk slowed to a trot, then a walk, then finally stopped altogether.

“Now this is more like it.”

She looked up, eyes half-lidded as the wind stirred the canopy. Not a obsticle in sight — just the rustle of the forest settling in for its long sleep. She stepped toward the nearest tree and placed a hoof gently against its bark.

“Let’s make this count.”

With a twist of her body and a solid kick, she struck. Leaves fell in a burst, swirling around her like starlight shaken loose from the sky. Some caught in her mane. One landed gently on her nose. She didn’t shake it off.

“You waited for this,” she said quietly. “All of you.”

She walked through the falling colors like a dream moving through its own memory, and as she moved from tree to tree, her kicks grew more fluid — deliberate, not rushed. This wasn’t about winning. Not for her.

It was about ending well.

Not far off, she heard the other ponies closing in. That was alright, there were plenty to go around. Though, it was still a compitition. She may not win, but the other ponies deserved a challenge. She picked up her pace, but only slightly.

[Shiny Silvermoon]

On 2025-10-20 at 9:04 PM, Dusk Haven said:

The ground changed before she even saw it. The mud thinned. The cold softened. And the trees — oh, the trees — they were full.

Towering maples and thick-boughed oaks stretched overhead, their leaves still clinging to branches in brilliant swaths of gold, rust-red, and dusky orange. The wind here was gentler. The air carried the scent of dry bark, old sunlight, and something that felt like memory.

Dusk slowed to a trot, then a walk, then finally stopped altogether.

“Now this is more like it.”

She looked up, eyes half-lidded as the wind stirred the canopy. Not a obsticle in sight — just the rustle of the forest settling in for its long sleep. She stepped toward the nearest tree and placed a hoof gently against its bark.

“Let’s make this count.”

With a twist of her body and a solid kick, she struck. Leaves fell in a burst, swirling around her like starlight shaken loose from the sky. Some caught in her mane. One landed gently on her nose. She didn’t shake it off.

“You waited for this,” she said quietly. “All of you.”

She walked through the falling colors like a dream moving through its own memory, and as she moved from tree to tree, her kicks grew more fluid — deliberate, not rushed. This wasn’t about winning. Not for her.

It was about ending well.

Not far off, she heard the other ponies closing in. That was alright, there were plenty to go around. Though, it was still a compitition. She may not win, but the other ponies deserved a challenge. She picked up her pace, but only slightly.

*Once Moonlight Wane ( @Nitobit ) had given back the Cupcake-inator 3000 to Pinkie Pie, Shiny gave him a cheerful smile. Then, she began to leap forward, while kicking some trees on her way to make the leaves fall. The mare was mostly focused on helping the nature by participating to make the leaves fall.*

*Eventually, Shiny caught up with Dusk ( @Dusk Haven ) which gave her the opportunity to chat with her.*

"I've met several alicorns, since my arrival in Ponyville, but I can't recall one giving us such a show! For a second, I thought that you were about to use the Royal Canterlot Voice on Moonlight!" *The unicorn beamed, as she joyfully leaped next to the alicorn.*

"By the way, I'm sorry for your mane! If you want, I know the owner of a spa that could fix it for you, once the race is over! Her name is Silky and she's the coolest pink pegasus I know!"

[Dusk Haven]

4 minutes ago, Shiny Silvermoon said:

*Once Moonlight Wane ( @Nitobit ) had given back the Cupcake-inator 3000 to Pinkie Pie, Shiny gave him a cheerful smile. Then, she began to leap forward, while kicking some trees on her way to make the leaves fall. The mare was mostly focused on helping the nature by participating to make the leaves fall.*

*Eventually, Shiny caught up with Dusk ( @Dusk Haven ) which gave her the opportunity to chat with her.*

"I've met several alicorns, since my arrival in Ponyville, but I can't recall one giving us such a show! For a second, I thought that you were about to use the Royal Canterlot Voice on Moonlight!" *The unicorn beamed, as she joyfully leaped next to the alicorn.*

"By the way, I'm sorry for your mane! If you want, I know the owner of a spa that could fix it for you, once the race is over! Her name is Silky and she's the coolest pink pegasus I know!"

Dusk welcomed Silvermoon with a small, knowing smile, her voice soft as twilight.

“Have you now?” she said, a trace of amusement in her tone. “Alicorns have become far more open with the world of late—though some of us have walked among ponies for quite some time. I’m glad to see it. No one should ever have to hide who they are. And the more of us who step into the light, the less we seem like distant myths, you know?”

She paused just long enough to turn and buck a tall maple tree. The branches shivered, sending a rain of leaves down around them—along with a small splatter of sap that tangled itself in her mane. Dusk blinked, then laughed under her breath.

“As for my mane,” she continued, brushing at the sticky strands with a hint of mock exasperation, “I was never truly upset about it. Like Luna, I sometimes... overproject. I come off sterner than I intend—especially with your friend, Moonlight.” Her expression softened. “When his ears fell and that look of ‘Am I in trouble?’ crossed his face, my heart just sank. At most, Luna will tease me for it later—and make me let her pay for my mane treatment. She insists it must smell nice for cuddles.”

Her eyes gleamed with quiet humor as she added, “Perhaps your pink pegasus friend, Silky, would approve of that, hm?”

[Roswell]

Roswell looks at a really leafy tree and yells out a war cry.

 

‘LEAVES ARE COMING DOWWWWWWNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’

 

He then runs towards the tree and leaps as high as he can while striking the tree so hard that he was able to push himself into a backflip before landing on his feet as the leaves came pouring down.

[Roswell]

On 2025-10-21 at 9:51 AM, PrincessPriscillaPT said:

*After Priscilla decided to go to the easy way, while Samurai @Samurai Equinetaking the hard way along with Roswell, they soon met each other at the end of the obstacle. Once they come out on the river, they soon met with a road covered with leaves and we can knock down as much as we want* "Hey, you're finally here! I decided to go to the easy route cuz I don't know where the safe ones are *lol*. Is this the final one or is there one more obstacle?"

Nice to meet you, Priscilla.

[Samurai Equine]

"Kaiketsu shiyo! AKI MATSURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Samurai also gives his own war cry, just like @TheRockARockster Roswell, before speeding up into a big jump to bounce off of various trees and knock as many leaves down. Somewhere in the middle of it, he strikes a flashy pose while in midair.

Spoiler

 

[Moonlight Wane]

Moonlight chooses the tree with most leaves still attached, and climbs on top, where he shakes it until there are almost no leaves left. He then glides onto the next tree and repeats. He hopes he can be more effective by focusing on one tree at a time.

[PrincessPriscillaPT 608]

"Hey! Whatcha doing up in the tree?" *Priscilla saw Moonlight climbs up the trees and shakes them.* "Don't you let them fall by themselves?"

[Starlight Glimmer 175]

"With everyone out of the muddy bog, it looks like it's a free for all on leaves for our contestants, Pinkie!" Starlight exclaimed, smiling and watching as everyone was together and back in the race. "Do you see that, Pinkie? With a kick to the trees by Dusk Haven, more and more leaves are beginning to fall! It's like poetry in motion as the cascading leaves are gracing the ground with their presence." Starlight smiled, watching and marveling at how effortlessly the leaves were falling one by one. As she looking down at the edge of the basket, Starlight smiled fondly at how Moushley squeaked as if she were helping in the commentary of the race.

[Moonlight Wane]

5 hours ago, PrincessPriscillaPT said:

"Hey! Whatcha doing up in the tree?" *Priscilla saw Moonlight climbs up the trees and shakes them.* "Don't you let them fall by themselves?"

Moonlight looks down at Priscilla and hangs down from a branch with his tail. "I can knock down more leaves this way." He then proceeds to swing on his tail, shaking the tree.

[Pinkie Pie 712]

9 hours ago, Starlight Glimmer said:

"With everyone out of the muddy bog, it looks like it's a free for all on leaves for our contestants, Pinkie!" Starlight exclaimed, smiling and watching as everyone was together and back in the race. "Do you see that, Pinkie? With a kick to the trees by Dusk Haven, more and more leaves are beginning to fall! It's like poetry in motion as the cascading leaves are gracing the ground with their presence." Starlight smiled, watching and marveling at how effortlessly the leaves were falling one by one. As she looking down at the edge of the basket, Starlight smiled fondly at how Moushley squeaked as if she were helping in the commentary of the race.

While Pinkie was eating bing the race unfold alongside Starlight, Moushley and Socrate, the pink party mare had taken a deep breath, before exhaling softly and smiling widely. “I just love the sight and smell of leaves falling in the morning. It’s not just the one swift kick from Dusk Haven, but so many others are adding their own flare! Roswell just gave a powerful kick, following it up with a very impressive acrobatic aerial maneuver! I have to give that a ten out of ten! WOOHOO!!!” Pinkie exclaimed, holding up a card with the number ten on it. After a moment, the card was plated back in the balloon basket as Pinkie jumped back into the commentary. “Even Samurai is bouncing from tree to tree in what looks like a pinball! Talk about a super, ultimate combo! Not only that, but Moonlight is jumping on the branches and shaking the leaves down, while also using his tail to shake the branches and hang upside down! A creative and effective strategy! Keep it up everypony!” 

[Dynamo Pad 11,890]

While the race was still going on, Dynamo took his time making his way off of the stage. Given that the rain had lessened, he didn't want to trip and fall and thought to be safe rather than sorry. Making his way over towards his desk, the gaming unicorn found a giant roll of finish line tape. "Here we go! Everypony should be back soon, so I should make sure to get this set up." He says, making his way over towards the starting line to prepare setting up. Unrolling the tape, he wrapped it around one pole, before making his way over towards the pole on the other side. As he made sure that everything was secure and set, Dynamo stepped back to marvel at his work. "Thankfully, the rain had cleared up a little earlier, so it should be smooth sailing from here on out." He started, before his ear perked from the sound of thunder. Just before he had a chance to continue, a bolt of lightning had struck the poles. Causing the two poles to go on fire as the finish line tape started to crinkle from the flames. "Uh, oh! I guess I spoke too soon! Quick, we need some water!"

The final event

As you continue making your way down the path, you can see what used to be a ribbon between two poles up ahead. It’s the finish line! Only, it looks like the poles have been struck by the last lightning from the waning storm. You arrive just as Dynamo and Rainbow Dash finish putting out the fire. Thankfully, nobody is in any danger, but the iconic way to finish the race is gone, and the photographers are already here, hoping to capture the moment. 

The time has come to close the Running of the Leaves 2025 in style! Finish the race in the most spectacular way you possibly can! You can fully use your wings, horn, and anything you can find around the area!

Stay tuned for the reveal of the winner, around the 30th of October.

[Rainbow Dash 334]

10 minutes ago, Dynamo Pad said:

While the race was still going on, Dynamo took his time making his way off of the stage. Given that the rain had lessened, he didn't want to trip and fall and thought to be safe rather than sorry. Making his way over towards his desk, the gaming unicorn found a giant roll of finish line tape. "Here we go! Everypony should be back soon, so I should make sure to get this set up." He says, making his way over towards the starting line to prepare setting up. Unrolling the tape, he wrapped it around one pole, before making his way over towards the pole on the other side. As he made sure that everything was secure and set, Dynamo stepped back to marvel at his work. "Thankfully, the rain had cleared up a little earlier, so it should be smooth sailing from here on out." He started, before his ear perked from the sound of thunder. Just before he had a chance to continue, a bolt of lightning had struck the poles. Causing the two poles to go on fire as the finish line tape started to crinkle from the flames. "Uh, oh! I guess I spoke too soon! Quick, we need some water!"

The final event

As you continue making your way down the path, you can see what used to be a ribbon between two poles up ahead. It’s the finish line! Only, it looks like the poles have been struck by the last lightning from the waning storm. You arrive just as Dynamo and Rainbow Dash finish putting out the fire. Thankfully, nobody is in any danger, but the iconic way to finish the race is gone, and the photographers are already here, hoping to capture the moment. 

The time has come to close the Running of the Leaves 2025 in style! Finish the race in the most spectacular way you possibly can! You can fully use your wings, horn, and anything you can find around the area!

Stay tuned for the reveal of the winner, around the 30th of October.

While the storm from earlier in the race had been going back and forth from progressively worse to clearing up. Rainbow Dash made sure to do everything she could to try and get the weather under control. It looked as if the change in weather had no end in sight, but thankfully things were starting to slowly look up. "We'll need to get some more Pegasi and the weather team to get the clouds cleared up, but this is a solid start, so far." Rainbow says, quickly turning in the air as she heard the sound of thunder and lightning. Hearing Dynamo's cry for help, the rainbow maned mare had made sure to act quickly. "Hang on, D-Pad! I'm on my way!" Grabbing a piece of a rain cloud in the sky, Rainbow blitzed her way over towards the finish line. Flying into position, Rainbow jumped onto the cloud, before hopping on said cloud repeatedly. Effectively allowing rain to pour upon the poles and put out the flames. While the finish line tape was destroyed from the flames, the potential disaster was avoided. "That was too close. Are you okay, Dynamo? What happened?"

[Dusk Haven 322]

22 minutes ago, Dynamo Pad said:

While the race was still going on, Dynamo took his time making his way off of the stage. Given that the rain had lessened, he didn't want to trip and fall and thought to be safe rather than sorry. Making his way over towards his desk, the gaming unicorn found a giant roll of finish line tape. "Here we go! Everypony should be back soon, so I should make sure to get this set up." He says, making his way over towards the starting line to prepare setting up. Unrolling the tape, he wrapped it around one pole, before making his way over towards the pole on the other side. As he made sure that everything was secure and set, Dynamo stepped back to marvel at his work. "Thankfully, the rain had cleared up a little earlier, so it should be smooth sailing from here on out." He started, before his ear perked from the sound of thunder. Just before he had a chance to continue, a bolt of lightning had struck the poles. Causing the two poles to go on fire as the finish line tape started to crinkle from the flames. "Uh, oh! I guess I spoke too soon! Quick, we need some water!"

The final event

As you continue making your way down the path, you can see what used to be a ribbon between two poles up ahead. It’s the finish line! Only, it looks like the poles have been struck by the last lightning from the waning storm. You arrive just as Dynamo and Rainbow Dash finish putting out the fire. Thankfully, nobody is in any danger, but the iconic way to finish the race is gone, and the photographers are already here, hoping to capture the moment. 

The time has come to close the Running of the Leaves 2025 in style! Finish the race in the most spectacular way you possibly can! You can fully use your wings, horn, and anything you can find around the area!

Stay tuned for the reveal of the winner, around the 30th of October.

The storm’s last echo faded into the treetops as Dusk slowed to a steady canter, the air still sharp with rain and ozone. Where the finish line should have stood, only two blackened poles leaned, smoke curling into the twilight. Dusk only smiled — that small, knowing smile that comes when the world offers imperfection and calls it opportunity.

“Every ending,” she murmured, “deserves a little beauty.”

She stepped forward, horn igniting with a soft violet glow that shimmered like dusk light through mist. Her magic swept across the clearing — coaxing, not commanding — gathering fallen leaves from the soaked path. They lifted gently, spiraling into the air around her, hundreds of them, swirling like a living aurora of red, gold, and amber.

Then, with a deep breath, she darted into a gallop.

The leaves followed her, forming a luminous ribbon of color in her wake. Her wings flared — not for speed, but for grace — sending ripples of twilight magic through the storm’s fading clouds. Where lightning had scorched, now light bloomed: glowing threads of pink and violet tracing a new line between the poles.

When she crossed it, the leaves burst outward in a final cascade — a rain of fire and frost, sunlit and moonlit all at once. The photographers caught the moment as her mane streamed in the wind, the world behind her glowing like sunset caught in motion.

She laughed softly as she slowed, her breath fogging in the cool air. “There,” she said, looking back at the floating leaves. “The race ends — and autumn remembers.”

[Dynamo Pad 11,890]

Moments ago, Rainbow Dash said:

While the storm from earlier in the race had been going back and forth from progressively worse to clearing up. Rainbow Dash made sure to do everything she could to try and get the weather under control. It looked as if the change in weather had no end in sight, but thankfully things were starting to slowly look up. "We'll need to get some more Pegasi and the weather team to get the clouds cleared up, but this is a solid start, so far." Rainbow says, quickly turning in the air as she heard the sound of thunder and lightning. Hearing Dynamo's cry for help, the rainbow maned mare had made sure to act quickly. "Hang on, D-Pad! I'm on my way!" Grabbing a piece of a rain cloud in the sky, Rainbow blitzed her way over towards the finish line. Flying into position, Rainbow jumped onto the cloud, before hopping on said cloud repeatedly. Effectively allowing rain to pour upon the poles and put out the flames. While the finish line tape was destroyed from the flames, the potential disaster was avoided. "That was too close. Are you okay, Dynamo? What happened?"

Not long after his call for help, did Rainbow arrive with a raincloud in hoof. Both poles of fire were put out by the concentrated water from the cloud as the potential crisis was averted. "Thank you for the help, Rainbow. To be honest, I'm not even sure how that happened. I was setting up and was going to keep an eye on the racer's, but it looks like weather had other plans." He wondered if another stray lightning bolt had appeared like the earlier bolt of lightning. However, he honestly couldn't tell for sure. Looking over to the side, he had seen photographers were making their way onto the scene and. Getting their camera's ready as they got into position to take multitude of photos. "I guess you can argue bad timing, but we don't have another finish line tape. So, I guess crossing the finish line really will be a photo finish of sorts. Hopefully, everything will be okay." Dynamo says, hoping that the other racer's were okay, safe and enjoying the race.

[PrincessPriscillaPT 608]

"We're getting closer and closer! Keep it up, everypony!" *Priscilla then saw the finish line ahead, along with @Samurai Equine Samurai and Roswell*

[Shiny Silvermoon]

*Shiny Silvermoon continued to leap, carefree, while kicking some trunks on her way. She was surprisingly fast for somepony who was simply leaping, as if she had leaped through an entire race once (). However, there was no real hurry for her, since she wasn't a real participant of the race. The unicorn was only there for the fun of it.*

*Before crossing the ashes of the finish line, she made one big jump. Mid air, the mare left a "Yiiipie!" escape from her mouth. She then landed on the other side of the burned finish line.*

"That was an adventure I won't soon forget! However, I still wonder who tricked us so many times, during the race! At some extent, it was even dangerous!" *Shiny wondered out loud, while caressing her chin thoughtfully.*

[Dusk Haven 322]

3 minutes ago, Shiny Silvermoon said:

"That was an adventure I won't soon forget! However, I still wonder who tricked us so many times, during the race! At some extent, it was even dangerous!" *Shiny wondered out loud, while caressing her chin thoughtfully.*

Dusk heard the sharp "Yippie" carried on the autumn breeze and turned toward its source. Seeing Shiny unharmed brought a smile to her lips, though her ears remained tilted toward the still-bustling woods.

“I think that’s an important question, Shiny,” she said as she approached, her tone calm but edged with concern. “Somepony caused all that chaos—and it could have gone far worse than it did.” She brushed a few stray leaves from her mane, eyes scanning the treeline as if reading the air itself. “We should ask around once everypony returns from the race. Perhaps Pinkie or Starlight saw something… or sensed it, if it wasn’t natural.”

She paused, her expression softening. “Whatever it was, somepony should find the truth. Nopony stirs a storm like that without reason.”

[Samurai Equine 57,104]

Moushley nods and squeaks as she adds her own commentary, agreeing with @Pinkie Pie and @Starlight Glimmer. She points at @Rainbow Dash and cheers, clearly commentating on her athletic skills and her weather control duties. What a show! She occasionally puts on wigs to make herself look like the different racers, clearly having something to say about each one. But when the racers start crossing the finish line, she cheers and gladly points out each one.

She also looks around, wondering where Socrate went.

 

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Meanwhile, Samurai is gladly racing with everyone. However, he sees the finish line up ahead! He is amazed Rainbow Dash saved the day, but also surprised that @Dusk Haven Dusk managed to cross the finish line first. "Huh. Well, what do you know? She really surprised me."

Samurai smirks and runs up ahead as fast as he can, however...
He ultimately stops just shy of the finish line.
Instead, he lets @TheRockARockster Roswell, @PrincessPriscillaPT Priscilla, and @Nitobit Moonlight (in any particular order) cross first before following after them. "It's better this way. Besides, #5 is totally my kind of number."

[Moonlight Wane]

While the photographers are busy photographing Dusk Haven's stunning display, Moonlight notices fireworks hidden in a barrel behind the podium. "I hope I can borrow some." He carefully chooses a couple that would give the best effect, and approaches the finish line, just as Dusk finishes her show. He gives photographers some time to aim at him, before standing on his hind legs and opening his arms and wings. The fireworks drop on the ground and activate, flying and exploding around Moonlight as he holds the pose long enough to let them get some good shots.