As Onyx was working on his runic engine, he was surprised when Pinkie broke into his lab and pulled him out of it. As he was dragged along by Pinkie, he could not help but ask what was so essential to yank him out of his lab. "What is going on, Pinkie?"
"Applejack and Rainbow are having an Iron pony competition to get themselves ready for the running of the leaves." Pinkie explained, excited about the whole competition, quickly explaining the various events. Onyx remembers this episode because it was the episode right after the Winter wrap-up. It was strange how out of order they were. Winter wrap-up had not happened yet before he smiled because it looked like the writers might have been releasing it out of order.
"So, what sparked this competition between them both?" Onyx followed behind Pinkie while asking her various questions.
"They want to find out who is the better athlete between them both." Pinkie explained, sounding extremely excited about the competition.
Onyx saw Big Mac, Astral Stepper, and Comet Colt as he walked over to them as Pinkie ran over to her friends. They slowly walked up the dirt path to where it was taking place. "How is the engine going, mac?"
Big mac smiled. "Almost done."
Astral and Comet both rolled their eyes at Onyx. "Do you ever worry about anything else, Onyx?"
"What, of course, I do? I am currently working on an airship for the next generation, and the runic engine is my ticket to completing it." Onyx went on to explain all of what he was doing and what he was creating. The guys teased him happily, laughing at his reactions.
As they were reaching the clearing, they heard Spike speak up. "Hello, Everyone! And welcome to the first annual Iron Pony competition!"
Twilight peered at Spike standing on the stump. "Who are you talking to, Spike?"
Spike quickly pointed in the group's direction. "Them, of course."
Twilight looked surprised before asking everyone a question. "What are you all doing up here?"
"We never miss a chance to have fun with our friends." Pinkie singsong and looked at what Spike was doing in interest.
Onyx sighed and moved over to the sitting area with the other guys. "Who do you think is going to win?"
Big Mac speaks an obvious. "Applejack."
Astral Stepper looks up in thought. "Not sure."
Comet looks at Rainbow for a few seconds. "I am going with Rainbow."
Onyx looked at Comet in thought before noticing something about his gaze. "You guys had your first date."
"What? No, we did not have our first date." Comet denied as best he could, but Onyx looked at his terrible lying and snorted.
Big Mac and Astral snickered when they saw Comet's reaction to Onyxs words because that told them all they needed to know. Twilight was quick to get everyone's attention when she and Applejack were standing on the race's front line. "Ready, Set, Go."
Applejack was quick of the line and was weaving through the barrels with little to no trouble before reaching about two-thirds, and she bumped one lightly. She looked back and let out some words that the rest could not hear. After she had crossed the finish line, she asked Spike for her time. "You crossed in 17 seconds, but you bumped a barrel and gave yourself an extra 5 on top based on the rules we set up ahead of time."
"That is a new personal best for me if not for the extra time!" Applejack celebrated happily, "Even with the nudge that puts me at 22 seconds."
Rainbow looked extremely nervous about her go while the people watched on, wondering why she was so nervous. Onyx could not help but ask the rest. "Does she look really nervous to you guys?"
Comet was confused on why Rainbow would be so nervous before they saw Applejack comfort her friend. Comet let out a low sigh. "Looks like Applejack was able to calm her down."
As Rainbow got on the line and did a light stretch, she got into a runner's position. Twilight was quick to call out for her to go. As Rainbow was running, the watchers could tell that she was moving the air just a little bit, but it was not really a problem as she was running. Onyx let out a hum. "She is moving the air to make it easier on her."
The other let out hums at that before Comet commented. "I do it all the time when I am flying. It is pretty much instinct."
Spike was called out the time of. "18 seconds."
Onyx hummed in thought. "Applejack would have won that if she did not bump the barrel, but Rainbow might have won if she flew."
The others nodded in agreement; they watched as Fluttershy put a point on the board for Rainbow.
As they got the next event ready, some more Ponies were quick to arrive, looking at the fun events and exploring and asking about the event that already happened. When they brought out a strongman device, Onyx wondered how it would work with anthro Ponies. "I wonder how they will use it."
Spike was quick to announce that this strongman device was unique. "It will test the leg strength of the apple kicking Pony and The leg strength of the pony of speed."
"This event seems it will be a little one-sided." Onyx hummed allowed and watched as the episode went just like canon, which was not that terrible, just not terribly impressive in Onyxs mind. Fluttershy was quick to put the point where it was supposed to be and when she did, a bell dinged.
As the next events happened quickly with only slight differences from what was shown except for the one where they would get Spike off their back instead, it was a jumping sprint. Spike was quick to take on the announcer position again with the points being tied just like in the show. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, as we have reached the halfway points, the competitors are currently all tied up."
Twilight blinked as she was reading the event roster and looked at Spike. "Who are you talking to, Spike?"
"All of them." Spike waved his hand at the massive crowd, and Twilight let out a surprised gasp.
"When did they all get here, Spike?" Twilight asked nervously.
"When you were busy with the events and around event 5, they started pouring in," Spike answered happily.
"I see." Twilight let out nervously.
Onyx looked at the guys and saw that Big Mac was getting a little upset with Rainbow using her wings and that Comet was looking about ready to defend her. "Guys, it is just a game."
Big Mac was surprised at Onyxs word before looking at the other two and seeing Comet was about to defend Rainbow from him most likely. Big Mac let out a sigh allowing himself to calm down. "Yup."
Comet seeing Mac calming down, allowed himself to calm down as well. Comet let out an apology "Sorry Mac, but I really like Rainbow, and if she found I did not defend her from bad-mouthing, she would think I was breaking trust."
Big Mac snorted out, "It is fine, Comet. I get it."
As the final event came up and it happened precisely as Canon with Rainbow tricking Applejack into letting go, Big Mac let out an explosive sigh in annoyance. As the group watched them argue, they realized that a bet was made about tomorrow's race.
---Ethereal Realm---
Harmony laughed at the competition before sighing in happiness that her Elements are not really feuding. Harmony floated around in thought while looking at the sky. 'I wonder why my Elements get into arguments so often.'
Discord looked at the statue of his lower self in thought, 'I do not have a big enough favor yet to get you out, but I am working on it.'
---day of the running of the leave Onyx POV---
I spotted Princess Celestia sitting in a secluded corner and moved over to her because if anyone could answer my question, it would be her. She nodded her head, allowing me to approach. "What can I do for you, Rune Maker Onyx?"
I sighed because of the worry I was feeling. "Princess Celestia, I am thinking about returning the box because of how long it is taking for me to complete the Volumes."
"Oh, keep it, young Onyx. I am in no rush." Princess Celestia admitted, "The fact you have already completed three of the Volumes this fast is a thing to be celebrated."
I looked confused about what she was talking about, and she must have seen the question on my face. "Onyx, you are pioneering a new path that takes time. The fact that in a single year, you were able to get more than halfway done is much more impressive than you could imagine."
"It is like I am struggling, and I cannot figure out why?" I admitted because I was confused about why I was struggling.
---Princess Celestia POV---
I was not surprised that young Onyx is having trouble because anyone who taps in the god magic like we two sisters did will struggle. God magic is already entirely made, but it wants to be the best it can be from the start, and now that I know Onyx was tapping into god magic from the beginning. I was not surprised that he was having problems putting it on paper, but now he needs a hint. "Onyx, while you indeed having a struggle that so few others had and figured out on their own. I can give you a hint."
Onyx looked at me with interest because this is something Luna and I had figured out on our own. "Go Slow."
I could tell Onyx was confused because it surprised me as well when we had figured it out. God magic can not be dealt with speed. It is instead a marathon instead of a sprint. Yes, you want to make progress, but you need to move slow. "This is a marathon that you have entered into Onyx, not a sprint."
I watched my student run with her friends but at a pace that kept her with the pack but near the back with pride. I pointed at my student for Onyx to see. "Take Twilight; she might not win, but she will easily be in the top ten."
"They have used up all of their energy and can no longer go on." I pointed to a couple of ponies that dropped out midway. "It is the same thing when you are making a new path."
Onyx looked at Twilight and the others before he asked me a question that confused me. "Do you think Twilight and I are similar?"
I let out a confused hum at his question but decided to just answer honestly. "A little bit, I mean, there are differences, but I can see similarities."
Onyx bowed and walked off after my answer. "Thank you, Princess Celestia."
I watched him confused because I could tell my answer meant something more for him than it did me.
---Onyx POV---
I am an Alicorn Potential, and I might be making something more than a Runic language. I quickly pulled out my rune volumes that are completed. I could see a little bit of a difference compared to the other Runic languages. I looked up in thought, 'I am making a God Language. I am becoming like Thungni for Equestria.'
'Wait a minute… I know what those noises might be in my head. The original Onyx might still be there, and he is most likely becoming a nightmare or my opposite. Those moments that I am seeing different rune craft means that he is making his own language.' I quickly wrote out the discoveries I had made before burning the paper once my thoughts were in order. 'Based on what I am seeing, he uses an elven rune base along with the Irish Celtic runes.'