As you and your friends step outside the house, you hear a stern mare’s voice over the town’s loudspeakers.

Sapphire Kite: “Attention, everypony. This is the festival’s last announcement: the Enchanted Miniature Boat Race event will be starting soon at Mare’s Tail Lake, east of the town square. All boats stored at the mill are currently being transported there. I repeat: the Enchanted Miniature Boat Race is starting soon. Follow the signs east of the town square.”

Apple Basket: “Sounds like we’re right on time.”

Moonflower: “Eee! I got my trinket, let’s go!”

Before long, you arrive at Mare’s Tail Lake’s sandy beach, where hundreds of ponies are gathering. Among the crowd, you recognize dozens of familiar faces.

Crystal Charm prepares the launching docks with Lacuna’s assistance, while Windcaller stands next to Healing Spring with some medical supplies at the ready, just in case. Monsoon briefs Sea Swirl on her job, while Floral Grace chats with Sassaflash nearby. Dawnbreak, Moondancer and Princess Celestia gaze at the starry night sky alongside newly-arrived Twilight Sparkle and Spike. Marionette and Tattle Tail share some treats, Blossomforth and Sugar Twist do some stretches, and the Autumn family enjoy themselves in the company of friends old and new.

Stable Timber: “The boats are here! Come get yours. If you didn’t make one, you can grab a spare from the back — the ones with the numbers on them.”

Ponies clear a path as Stable Timber pulls a train of carts onto the beach. Then, one by one, the miniature boats are reunited with their owners or adopted, and eagerly boarded by glowing trinkets.

Crystal Charm: “Anypony else needs a trinket? I have some extra here! Once you’re ready to race, place your boats on these launching docks, right between the two boards here.”

Once your party’s boats are in place, little ribbons are added to them, each row matching the coloured finished lines not far behind. Along the shores and all around the lake, floating barriers delimit a wide race track in the calm waters, lit only by the waning quarter moon.

Stable Timber: “Looks like that’s everyone. And I mean everyone. I think the entire festival is here.”

Crystal Charm: “Perfect. Alright! The Enchanted Miniature Boat Race is about to begin. The first three boats to cross their respective finish lines will be awarded a surprise, courtesy of Stable Timber and I! Is everypony ready?”

As cheers resound from all around the lake, Crystal Charm gives a signal, and the town’s lakeside lights grow dim. Then, Stable Timber pulls a lever, and with a heavy wooden kachunk, every boat is released into the lake’s gentle currents at once.

Crystal Charm: “Let the race… begin!”

The air fills with shouts of encouragement as the miniature racers slowly drift along the track. You keep your eyes riveted on the Moonblazer, though as it sails off into the distance, it becomes little more than sparkling lights of blue and orange.

Then, as the floating crafts turn along the shoreline, the lake’s mirroring surface begins to paint a massive rainbow of reflected light. The crowd gasps and wows in admiration and wonder at the beautiful display, and quietly revels in this magical moment. As do you, pulled alongside Apple Basket into Moonflower’s affectionate winged hug.

After a few minutes, the first boat reaches the halfway point. The crowd progressively grows noisy again, cheering on their own boats from afar, and otherwise enjoying themselves.

Suddenly, every boat slows down to a stop… only to turn around and float in the opposite direction. Confusion quickly turns to amusement. The excitement redoubles as colourful lights swirl around each other, first place becoming last, and last place becoming first…

In the end, you and Moonflower placed near the middle, while Apple Basket made it into the top ten. The three winners — a young pegasus filly with her father, an adolescent colt, and a pair of bat ponies — were awarded masterfully crafted trophies of autumn trees made of wood and gemstones.

Crystal Charm: “Congratulations to our winners, and thanks again for coming, everypony! We couldn’t have done it without you all. Phew! Now, if you’ll excuse me, this mare needs her rest.”

You wait in line to retrieve your boats and trinkets from Stable Timber. Regardless of how you placed in the race, you figure that the experience won you memories to cherish forevermore.

Your pocket watch indicates five to eleven. The workshops and some other activities are set to close in about an hour.

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