The Storm's Challenge

Chapters

3 - Twilight's Mysterious Journey
4 - "Competition"
5 - Navigating the Strange City
6 - Dresses and Apples
7 - Day's End
8 - Training Begins!
9 - Day Trip to Canterlot
10 - The Arrival
11 - A Meeting of Old Friends
12 - The Tail Never Lies
14 - Pinkie's Friends
15 - Secret Spell
16 - Morning After
17 - Somepony Who Really Loves Hockey
18 - Pinkie Pie vs. Slapshot [Round 1]
19 - Prince Tsunami
20 - The Herb of Omnom-Sense
21 - Family Ties
22 - Reminiscing
23 - Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed
24 - Teammates
25 - The Three-Pony Relay
26 - Spitfire's Secret
27 - Accidents Happen!
29 - Where Everypony Was
30 - Verstandwechseln
31 - The Sonic Rainboom
32 - Twilight's Escape
33 - A Sorry and a Hug
34 - VeeVee and Boozebeard
35 - Brothers
1 - A Grand Entrance
2 - Fine Print
13 - The Star Flyer of the EFL
28 - The Orb of Omniscience
36 - The Drama Before The Race
37 - The Princess of Friendship Fights a Strange Cloud

3 - Twilight's Mysterious Journey

Chapter 3
-
Twilight’s Mysterious Journey

The gentle humming of a propeller filled Twilight Sparkle’s ears. She slowly opened her eyes as she woke from a brief nap. She looked around and saw that ponies were starting to gather up on the top deck of the airship.

We must be landing soon, Twilight reasoned.

She stood up from her lounger, got onto her hind legs and peeked out over the airship’s portside. A walled city, spread out as far as she could see along the horizon, was in front of her, with a vast forest filling out the landscape in any other direction Twilight looked. Here and there there were patches of empty land dotted with tents and contraptions, possibly forestry operations.

She turned her gaze from the ground far below to the sprawling metropolis about to devour her. Smoke billowed out from within its awe-inspiring walls, and airships by the dozen were seen leaving or entering the city in all directions.

While it was only noon, the mass of pollution rising from the city shaded the sky and produced a filter of orange over the land that made it seem like the day was ending. It took Twilight aback; in Equestria proper, nopony would ever let a city get so dirty. Even Manehatten or Trottingham were much cleaner, and they were the industrial capitals of the country.

She remembered just how much it worried everypony in Ponyville when one dragon’s smoke started to poison the air. Here, it was like ten snoring dragons were exhaling their black death.

The airship was full to the brim with passengers, its two-hundred pony capacity pushed to its limits. A colt rudely bumped into Twilight, and a second later so did a teenage filly. The pony of twelve or thirteen shouted some obscenity before continuing on her way. This caused Twilight to frown. Some ponies were just unforgivably rude.

The princess wondered how differently they’d all react if she thrust off her brown shawl and showed them she was actually an alicorn like Princess Celestia or Luna, but Twilight was strictly warned not to reveal her form. Apparently, it would only cause unnecessary trouble.

She moved briskly to the exit of the airship and for a few minutes waited patiently in line to leave. The airship passed an entrance port and was then inside the city. A short distance away, Twilight read the words on an imposing sign:

WELCOME TO CLOPSTANTINOPLE

THE WORLD’S GREATEST PONY CITY AND INDEPENDENT STATE FROM EQUESTRIA

The line of ponies waiting to exit the airship moved quickly and as Twilight read the last word of the sign, she hurriedly flashed her passport to the ticketpony. The ticketpony nodded as Twilight was carried along the stream of passengers, hoping to escape out a side passage and lose the crowd.

Twilight had also been warned by Celestia prior to leaving Equestria about the dangers of the leader of Clopstantinople, a certain "prince", but surely not all of the ponies in the city shared his sentiments? Why did she need to hide her appearance? It all seemed crazy to Twilight, though nonetheless business was business, and she reminded herself that not everypony in the world thought the same as her and the ponies of Equestria.

Contrary to what she had told her friends in Ponyville, Twilight was not just on a trip to perform routine “princess-related duties” and meet officials. Indeed, her real task was about as UNprincess-like as the average Equestrian might imagine...

Deciding to revisit her thoughts later, Twilight finally found an opportunity to get away from the crowd. She quickly trotted down a new path and found it led all the way down to the ground level of the multi-tiered city. She saw far fewer ponies ahead than behind.

According to what Twilight had heard while eavesdropping earlier in the day during her journey through Vanhoover to get to Clopstantinople, there was going to be a series of races for pegasi held in Canterlot over the next week. She was sure Rainbow Dash was going to join, and Twilight dreaded having to miss something she was sure was going to be very special to her friend. Hay — Twilight would have enjoyed such a series of games herself even if her friend wasn’t participating. But a duty is a duty, and Twilight’s was one of the country’s most important. She had become a princess, and unfortunately, Twilight was beginning to reason that that meant friends sometimes had to come second to her duties as one of Equestria's leaders.

“I just hope I can settle things here without having to use… that,” Twilight said solemnly, now at the top of the road that led into the city’s lower level. From her position she could see most of Clopstantinople, the furthest part of its surrounding wall so far away that flying pegasi looked like floating dots, and the vision took her breath away.

Tall buildings of brick and mortar filled nearly every inch of space all the way to the back wall, only being divided by streets where appropriate. Smog and soot cascaded upwards from innumerable smokestacks, and great clanking machines were no doubt being operated, hidden visually inside the buildings that housed them but all too obvious by the pounding and thunderous noise they generated. Busy pegasi were constantly lifting off or landing all throughout the city like sparks crackling out of a fire.

When Twilight squinted, she could see near the centre of the city an impossibly huge structure with spires coming out from it, and around it were nicer buildings of limestone or marble. No smoke came out from that area. Twilight shook her head and sighed.

"How the heck am I going to find my way around this city?!"

* * *

“Did you hear that, Dash? They’re almost here!”

Spitfire hadn't even needed to ask, because Rainbow's eyes were glued to the approaching steam engine in the distance.

A few minutes earlier, Rainbow and the Wonderbolts had started a conversation about some of the other contestants, and that eventually led to somepony mentioning that, on that very day, a few of the "competition" (as Soarin’ called them) were arriving in Ponyville via train.

“Do ya think Zephyr’s on that train, Soarin’?” asked Spitfire as the party of pegasi made its way to the platform where the "competition" train was set to stop.

“I doubt it," Soarin' replied, "Zephyr’s a pretty high profile fellow. He’ll definitely be coming in, like, a giant limousine carriage or something. I think the only ponies coming this early would be other no-namers like us.”

It was a good thing Rainbow wasn’t eating any food, because she’d have certainly spit it out all over the Wonderbolt beside her. She turned, wide-eyed, to Soarin’.

“‘No-namers like us’? Are you CRAZY? You guys are, like, the most famous pegasi in all of Equestria! You’re the flippin' Wonderbolts! I can understand you calling ME a no-namer, but, I mean—!”

Rainbow had to catch her breath. Spitfire and Soarin’ looked at each other and laughed.

“I’m flattered you think so highly of us Dash, but we’re really not all that popular outside the Canterlot area,” said Spitfire, “The Equestria Flyers League and its members get most of the attention in the rest of Equestria and in cities like Vanhoover, Manehatten, and Fillydelphia. Doesn't mean we're any less good, though." Spitfire finished with a fiery grin.

Rainbow opened her mouth, but was not able to be shocked for long, because a piercing whistle alerted everypony to the arrival of the train. A few of the other contestants were present to size up the new arrivals, but most of the crowd was comprised of fans seeing which of their favourite flyers had come, or paparazzi waiting to snap their next meal ticket.

“They’re coming out! They’re coming out!” yelled out somepony as cameras began to whir and blind the crowd. Ponies started cheering. Rainbow held her breath.

* * *

Sherclop Pones had come to Ponyville. At least, that’s what one would have thought if they had seen Pinkie.

Never one to take a situation too seriously, the super sleuth Pie was waving her magnifying glass in front of anything with as much as a clump of dust on it, and her deerstalker hat and corn-cob pipe did little to decrease the impact of the humor.

“Hmmm… elementary!” she proclaimed while staring a little too intensely at an ordinary wicker basket. The owner of said basket, a pony named Lyra, drew back.

“H-hey Pinkie, what, uh, what are you doing?”

“I’m looking for clues my dear pony! Clues to a mystery most purple flexing.”

“Err, I think you mean perplexing.”

“I know what I said, and I said what I know, which is not a lot, so I need to search for more clues!” With that Pinkie was off once again. Lyra just shook her head and rejoined her friend, Bon-Bon.

Pinkie slinked around Ponyville, magnifying glass pressed up against every thing and everypony she passed, until she found herself looking up at a sign that read "The Big Cheese" outside of a restaurant. It was a good place as any to start asking for the whereabouts of her nemesis, Pinkie surmised.

- - -

“W-would you mind repeating the name of the pony you were looking for, Miss… um?”

Pinkie performed a little flourish with her magnifying glass as she answered the head waiter of the restaurant.

“Pie, Pinkamena Sherclop Pie. Best detective this town has ever had — well, the only detective this town has ever had, which is really weird ‘cas a lot of weird stuff happens here — but that’s not important right now! What is important is that I need to find Morariarty!”

“More… Rari …Arty? That’s a rather peculiar name for a pony in these parts — in any case, no, I haven’t heard any pony of that name come here today. Sorry.”

Pinkie performed a one-hundred and eighty degree turn and, in true Pinkie Pie fashion, shot forwards with a puff of smoke behind her. She was a mare on a mission, and that waiter hadn’t helped her at all! Where was Morariarty — the dastard! The villain was most likely dining at a more regal establishment, and using stolen money to pay for it no less!

Pinkie snickered uncontrollably as she trotted along. It was just so much fun to play pretend! It was even better since she was actually looking for somepony. A high-class voice called to her.

“Yoowho! Pinkie Pie, over here! I have the may—BWHOA!” was all Rarity could utter before the genius detective was upon her.

There was a short wrestling session before Pinkie realized she had taken the game too far. She dismounted Rarity and helped her up. Rarity cleared her throat over-dramatically as she noticed ponies give weird stares and mumble to one another.

“Well, Pinkie, that was an awful way to greet me, you know. And you’ve gotten the mayor’s vest all dirty!”

“I’m super-duper sorry about that Rarity! I got carried away with my pretending that I pretended you were an evil mastermind professor bad mare and I pretended to tackle you except I didn’t pretend I actually did it and umphphphp!”

Rarity corked her friend’s mouth with her hoof and then used her magic to pick up the vest. She gave it a few good pats with her hoof to get rid of the dust while her magic cleared away any dirt and pebbles.

“Don’t worry about it, darling! I’m quite alright, after all, and so is the mayor’s MUCH desired vest. Here,” Rarity cheeped, as if the tackling hadn't occurred, and floated the vest in front of Pinkie, “you hurry now and give it to her! Sorry, I was busy with my… eating, before, but I'm all done now, and have to get back to work.”

“Well, at least stay for a ‘cake break’!” offered Pinkie, pulling a big cake out of seemingly nowhere and then depositing the mayor's vest inside her space-time-warping mane. Rarity looked at the cake, dripping with pink icing, and grimaced. She waved her hoof.

“Oh no dear, I couldn’t POSSIBLY eat… that... after my meal at the restaurant — I’m STUFFED! Thank you for the offer though, Pinkie Pie. I’ll see you later!”

"Okay! Bye Rarity!"

Rarity quickly escaped the confrontation, leaving a cake-inebriated pony in her wake. With one giant, unnatural lick Pinkie gobbled up the cake, and with one more she cleaned the residue around her mouth. She belched, excused herself, then took off once more.

Pinkie hummed one of her favorite tunes as she (literally) bounced down Ponyville's main street.

“Hopefully Mayor Mare will give me the rest of the day off, and then I can go see Applejack!” Pinkie thought out loud. She began to think of all the fun things her and Applejack could do on such a beautiful day: see who could buck the most apple trees with their eyes blind-folded; see who could balance the most apples on the tips of their noses; see who could get Big Macintosh to say something other than “Eeyup” first…

Pinkie's humming naturally evolved into full-blown, unabashed singing. The happiest pony alive was having a great day, and it stood to reason that it was only going to get even better with no interruptions to her happiness at all!

4 - "Competition"

Chapter 4

“Competition”

Back at Ponyville train station, Rainbow felt the last itches of anticipation leave her as the first group of competitors left the train. A nearby loudspeaker crackled to life and somepony's voice filtered through it.

“Well hellooo there, sportsfans! Tele-P here from Radio Canterlot, and if you don’t get the name, don’t ask — it’s an inside joke, folks! Anywho, I’m gonna be walking and talking all of you through all the prelims, and then when the good stuff’s underway my amazing co-host Kissie’s gonna join me for one Tartarus of a crazy radio cover of Maelstrom's EQUESTRIA-SHATTERING contest, the Storm's Challenge!"

The ponies around the train station took notice and looked up at the loudspeaker, excitedly whispering among themselves.

"Our job is simple, sportsfans: to give you fine ponies from all across Equestria just the right info, and to explain things just when ya need it, so you don’t have to pull your eyes away from all the action and the excitement — and boy if some ‘exciting’ individuals didn’t just arrive in Ponyville! My junior associates are there right now to give Radio Canterlot eyes on the scene!”

Spitfire chuckled. “Oh mane, it’s Tele-P! You remember that suite party we had last fall, eh Soarin’?”

Soarin’ broke into a nostalgic fit of laughter. “Do I? Has there ever been a unicorn who can smack back more ciders? I was afraid the guy was gonna woof his oats all over the place!”

Rainbow watched with wide eyes and a dropped jaw as the passengers got off the train. Most seemed to be normal athletes, with different colors or shades on their coats, different styles of manes, and in all kinds of shapes between short and skinny and large and muscular, but there were a few that were going to attract the most attention. One such flyer spoke to her audience as she stepped off the train.

“Vell, zis is quite za velkommen party — mmm, no?”

“First off the train is the always attractive Ms. VeeVee of the far north! Not the Frozen North — beyond it! Nopony really knows what’s up there in those far reaches of our land, but we can all be sure that they know how to entice a stallion! VeeVee has come with her weapon of choice in any race: a black, leather outfit that covers all the right places — and for us guys that means none of the wrong ones!”

Tele-P made a growling noise and continued.

“I think I speak for all of us when I say that’s one mare I wouldn’t mind sharing a train with! Never before seen in the Canterlot area but active in the flying scenes elsewhere in Equestria, VeeVee is a fan favorite of many a red-blooded stallion!”

Droves of paparazzi and fans (and even some flyers) — most of them stallions — flocked around VeeVee as the light grey, abnormally tall mare blew kisses and made amorous faces. The light from the cameras was blinding, and Rainbow had to cover her eyes on several occasions.

VeeVee was wearing an outfit that made even Rainbow blush. Tight black leather covered VeeVee's belly, worked its way up to the base of her wings, and spiraled half way up her neck. Her face was plastered with thick makeup: black eye shadow, painted eyebrows, blush, and her hair, an equally as sleek black that puffed up like a soufflé, reminded Rainbow of something she saw Rarity wear once to a fancy party. A black beauty mark pocked her left cheek.

What drew Rainbow’s attention the most were two shiny fangs that poked out of VeeVee's mouth, and the pair of wings that the mare sported. They were the leathery wings of a bat! Rainbow also noticed a strange object come out of the train among VeeVee's possessions: a long, blackened tree branch with a lightly-glowing stone on the end of it.

Spitfire was grinning ear to ear. “Heh, she should be interesting, eh Soarin’? I wonder if other batponies will join the race." Soarin' could only respond with a mumble. He, too, wore a grin, though it was a bumbling, goofy one. Rainbow swore she saw little hearts fly around his head. Spitfire scoffed.

While most of the male paparazzi followed VeeVee, the rest of the stallions and all of the mares (who were glad to see VeeVee depart) remained to witness a new arrival from another cabin. Rainbow heard his roaring voice before she saw him.

“Make way, wee ones! Boozebeard the — hic! — boooooozy has come!”

Soon enough a massive hunk of tan-colored fur and flesh that might have been a stallion careened at full speed out of the cabin, sending a wave of ponies backwards into the air. Some ponies close to the train screamed and each of the Wonderbolts and Rainbow took a step back. Tele-P commentated once more.

“Make way indeed, folks! Boozebeard, the unexplainable leader of Tall Tale’s Adventure Flyers, has made his appearance in Ponyville for the first time! For those of you who don’t know…”

An incredibly loud belch cut through the air. Boozebeard’s head rose above the crowd as he himself barely managed to get back onto four hooves, wobbling back and forth and looking positively out of his mind in cider inebriation.

“...he enjoys his fermented apple beverages just a little too much!”

Soarin’s eyes were wide, and Spitfire’s mouth nearly hit the ground. “N-No way.” Soarin’ proclaimed. “Just how much cider did he drink?! And here I thought Tele-P was a heavyweight!”

“But don’t let the drinking fool you — Boozebeard's not a pushover when it comes to flying!”

The huge, bushy tan wings of Boozebeard shot out, knocking back a few paparazzi as he positioned them outstretched to his sides. With one final belch, he shot up into the sky like a rocket. The force of the ascent was like a shockwave that blew ponies into the air and tumbling backwards. Rainbow and company, too, were carried away. The speed Boozebeard made his way high into the sky wasn’t even measurable.

“P-Pony smokes!” cried Soarin’ with a shaky voice as he gained his bearings. Rainbow was transfixed on Boozebeard, her sore jaw once again hanging in disbelief. His speed might have given the sonic rainboom a run for its money.

Before anypony had time to pull their eyes away from Boozebeard’s aerobatics, Tele-P announced another arrival, one of the last to get off the train.

“Here comes a big name for those of you from up north — that’s right, all you Vanhoovans, your boy is here! Slapshot, the stallion who completed a one day marathon from one end of the entire Frozen North Ridge to the other! More at home on the ice than in the sky, this flyer's here to attend his first major competition since joining the Equestria Flyers League!"

Slapshot stood at the doorway of the train and looked out at Ponyville. He nodded to himself for a few seconds, chewing on something brown that made Rainbow recoil in disgust, before announcing to nopony in particular, "Jeez, cameras and everything, eh? Quite the welcoming party."

He turned to a random pony and asked through a mouthful of whatever he was chewing, "Hey, do yoose ponies have a skating rink I can use or what?"

Nothing particularly odd or exciting about Slapshot caught Rainbow's eye, so she only gave the pony a once over. He was smoky white with a dark grey winter hat and a jersey with "VANHOOVER" printed on it. He was carrying huge bulging saddlebags and a hockey stick was strapped to his side. There was a silver medallion positioned snuggly on his neck, an image of two outstretched wings embossed on it.

“Though Slapshot is one of the newest members of the EFL, he's already one of their top flyers, sitting just behind Zephyr and Bushwhacker in terms of overall speed," Tele-P said, through the loudspeakers. "However, this competition is not just about speed — and even we, with all this information on the competitors, don’t even know what this guy’s capable of when the chips go down! How exciting!”

The train emptied the last of its passengers and the loudspeakers shut off after a goodbye from Tele-P. All of the big name arrivals had entered the station to be briefed on the situation, as Ponyville had been by Maelstrom earlier that day, leaving Rainbow and the Wonderbolts alone for the most part.

Spitfire was the first to voice her concerns. "We definitely need to keep our eyes and ears open about some of these flyers. I mean, that 'Boozebeard' fellow surprised me! I've never heard of Tall Tale or their 'Adventure Flyers'! I was expecting the EFL to make a showing, for sure, but these other characters shouldn't be ignored either."

Soarin' chimed up, his voice an octave higher than normal, "Yeahhh... and that VeeVee... I mean, just wow!" Spitfire's face became sour, and Rainbow heard the starting sounds of an argument before turning from the Wonderbolt duo and looking at the station. She narrowed her vision and frowned.

So, this isn’t just gonna be like the Best Young Flyer competition, is it? Ponies are gonna get hurt — some of 'em real bad. It’s scary as buck, but, for some reason…

She smiled wide.

I can’t stop shaking in excitement!

* * *

Pinkie hopped towards Sweet Apple Acres wearing the biggest, happiest smile she had conjured up in at least one whole minute. Her bouncing noises caused some passersby to exchange odd glances, though most just smiled alongside the pink mare — it was Pinkie, after all!

"So, now that I'm free from assistant-for-a-day duties,” Pinkie thought aloud, “I can go hang out with Applejack!" Pinkie came to a sudden stop. "Oh no! Wait!" She cried in dismay and threw her hooves up to her cheeks. "Applejack probably has farm work to do!" Pinkie let her hooves slowly pull the sides of her face down like it was putty and she plopped down onto her rump in defeat.

She sulked and whined like a sad puppy. All of a sudden, Pinkie leapt back into action. "But hold on!" She exclaimed, "Since I’ll be there, we can get all of her work done really, really fast! Like, in forty seconds — no, thirty!"

Pinkie looked up and squinted. The sun had passed the middle of the sky. "So that would give us precisely" — Pinkie stared at the sun for a long time, as if calculating its distance — "the whole rest of the day to play!"

After a few hundred more bounces, Pinkie was at Sweet Apple Acres. She spotted Granny Smith and Big Mac. The eldest pony in Ponyville rambled and sorted apples as her grandson loaded a bushel onto a cart.

"...and theeeen I said to my friend, errr, Banana Yeller, I think her name was, err, that we were gonna go down to the ol' swimmin' hole for a swim. Course in those days..."

Big Mac continued working and offered an occasional "Eeyup" as his contribution to the conversation. Pinkie trotted up to the two.

"Hey Big Mac, hey Granny Smith! Could you tell me where Applejack is? I was going to help her with her chores so we can play for the rest of the day!"

Granny Smith was facing a different direction and didn't hear Pinkie, so she just kept on talking, but Big Mac had and turned to Pinkie, wiping some sweat off his brow. He replied, nice and slow.

"Eeeeeeyup! Applejack's stacking haybales over at the barn."

Pinkie thanked him and went on her way.

I guess we don't have to play the Big Mac game because I already won!" she thought with a giggle.

The temperature was scorching and Pinkie hadn't realized just how thirsty she was until the barn came into view. She spotted a watering trough and made a beeline for it. She did not see Applejack in front of the open barn carrying a haybale.

"Heya, Pinkie," Applejack exclaimed, "What're you—"

Pinkie did an intricate dive into the watering trough and caused a huge tidal wave, which mostly targeted Applejack. The farmer pony spit out some water and glared at Pinkie, her stetson and hair completely drenched.

"—up to," Applejack finished, eyes burning a hole through Pinkie. The party pony raised her head, waterlogged mane leaking on all sides, and shot Applejack a sheepish smile.

"Hehe, oops! Sorry AJ! It's just sooooo hot today and I bounced all the way from town and I was so thirsty, so I saw this water here and just had to do a dive because, you know, it's much more fun that way!"

"Uh-huh..." replied Applejack as she sat on her behind and removed her stetson so she could wring it out. Afterward, she continued her work, speaking to Pinkie at the same time.

"What brings you to the farm, sugercube? Ah assume it wasn't just to get a drink, not that that'd be a problem."

Pinkie brought a hoof up to her muzzle. "Wellllll..." she began. Pinkie hurriedly listed off all the things she had planned for her and Applejack to do once all the farm work was finished. Applejack snickered by the time Pinkie finally ran out of breath.

"Shoot, sounds like a hoedown of a good time. But ah'm almost done all mah chores fer the day, if you just wanna, err..." Applejack paused to watch Pinkie put water in her mouth and spit it up like a fountain. "...cool off."

The whipping, booming sound of something slicing through the air, far above the clouds, made both ponies look up to the sky. An entourage of gleaming pegasi were flying past, the harsh sun causing a million reflections off of their gem-like armor. A beam hit Pinkie in the eye and she flopped over onto the side of the trough.

"Gahhh! I'm bliiiiiind, Applejack! Bliiiiind! Tell my mother I love her. Oh, and Daddy Pie, my sisters, Twilight, Rain—"

Suddenly, Pinkie stopped the dramatics and froze. Applejack was still looking up, with a hoof above her eyes to mitigate the sunlight.

"Whoa!" Pinkie cried. The water behind and underneath her in the trough began to bubble and shake. Her tail, somehow bushy again despite having been previously waterlogged, began to vibrate violently. "What the hay?"

She jumped out of the trough and turned around to watch her tail. Applejack noticed at that point and stepped closer.

"Yer tail, Pinkie! Don't it only do that when somethin' bad's supposed ta happen?"

Pinkie looked at Applejack. The party pony's expression completely contradicted her normal self, and she spoke with earnest concern to Applejack.

"AJ, my tail has NEVER done this before! This is, like, fifty times worse than a normal tail twitch!"

The sound of the flying pegasi overhead subsided and Pinkie's tail slowly returned to normal. Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Well, shoot, it's back ta normal now. What do you think's the bad thing that caused it, Pinkie?" Applejack looked around her and squinted out towards the orchard. "Heck, did all them pegasi flying by like that knock over one of the apple trees?"

A rumble from behind Applejack answered her concerns. She jumped out of the way just in time as haybales crashed down where she once stood. The commotion kicked up clouds of dust around both ponies and they spent the next few moments coughing. When the dust subsided, Pinkie and Applejack locked eyes.

"Ah guess that would answer it" — Applejack smiled — "Thanks Pinkie! Yer tail saved me from becoming an apple pancake!"

Pinkie looked back up to the sky and spoke solemnly.

"Yeah... I guess that's all it was..."

Author's Note

EDIT: (December 18, 2020) Added colored text to Tele-P's speech as per the format used in later chapters.

5 - Navigating the Strange City

Chapter 5

Navigating the Strange City

Fluttershy had carried two full buckets to the entrance of the Golden Oaks Library, excited to have brought the contents of the buckets, fresh water and gems, to Spike to assist him in his librarian duties. Once there, however, she was unsure how to open the door, given that just moving itself was a balancing act. It seemed less practical to put the buckets down first.

Fluttershy decided to use her teeth to turn the doorknob, and very delicately she was able to turn it enough to cause the door to open. She then gently nudged her way through the door and immediately noticed a shaking pile of books on the floor of the library. Other books had also been strewn about the library, as if somepony tried to blanket the entire floor but missed a few spots.

“Umm, Spike?” Fluttershy asked the pile. A weak voice could be heard underneath, speaking incoherently.

“…Bon-Bon, ‘History of Sweets’… Wonderheart, ‘How to Knit Gracefully’… D-Dooey Decimal system… c-coffee…”

Fluttershy stepped forward and noticed a few porcelain mugs on a table nearby. She smiled at the pile of books.

“Would you like some help, Spike?”

A little dragon hand sprang out of the pile and gave a vibrating thumbs up.

“D-don’t worry about me, Pinkie Pie! T-Twilight trusted me to h-handle things, and I can d-do it!”

“Umm, Spike, it’s Fluttershy, not Pinkie Pie,” the quiet mare corrected. She slowly lowered herself so that the buckets could slide off without spilling. Once that was done, she started to put books away based on their name. Everything seemed to be alphabetized, so Fluttershy saw no issue with what she did. The pile of books erupted. A purple and green blur whizzed right up to Fluttershy and she jumped with a yelp.

“FLUTTERSHY!” Spike cried, his eyes dark circles and his headcrest drooping. Fluttershy felt woozy trying to focus on his shaking form. “T-Those don’t go there! There’s a system, a system! P-please!”

Fluttershy blinked rapidly. She gingerly handed the book to Spike. “O-okay, well, I brought you some refreshments.” Spike seemed to teleport to a spot on a distant shelf and slid the book into its correct place, then returned to Fluttershy’s side just as fast.

Spike might have been shaking his head “no”, but it was hard to tell. He grabbed a cup off the table.

“Need c-coffee. Not water. Not gems. Coffee so good,” he said in a drone. Taking a long swig, Spike’s eye and mouth twitched. The library door opened and Spike ran right up to it. Fluttershy watched this energized Spike with awe.

“H-hello!” Spike stammered to the pony in the doorway, who jumped in place upon seeing the shaky dragon. “W-what can I do for y-you?”

The pony asked for a book on gardening. Spike became a blur once again, leaping up to grab a tome on a high shelf, then landing with a thud, as if he had just performed a slam dunk. He returned to the pony with some parchment and had the pony sign out the book. Spike then found another list and marked something on it as the pony left.

“Spike…” Fluttershy asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? You should at least drink something that’s not coffee.”

But the little dragon was muttering to himself and checking multiple lists at once. He ran over to the pile of books and began to rapidly stack them in his hands.

“T-these all go in section D… yes, and then, there’s section E—oh, and I need to r-reorganize section Z…”

Spike zipped to a shelf on the other side of the library and began to fire off books into their respective places like a party cannon shooting confetti. Fluttershy lifted a hoof and opened her mouth to speak, but lowered it and closed her mouth with a “Hmm.”

After a moment to think, Fluttershy spoke with a smile.

“You know what, Spike? I’m going to go ask some of my bird friends if they want to help you with the books on the higher shelves. And I think a few of the other animals can help organize the shelves. And I'll help with the ponies who come in looking for books.”

Fluttershy moved to the door as Spike protested.

“NO! I h-have to do this myself! Twilight trusts me, Fluttershy! T-Twilight! S-she believes I can do this!”

Fluttershy shook her head.

“I won’t take no for an answer,” she said firmly, “Twilight wouldn’t want you to be doing this all by yourself.”

* * *

Twilight rubbed her itchy nose. She sneezed. The air in Clopstantinople was dustier than the Castle of the Two Sisters the first time Twilight and her friends had been there.

She kept her head down as much as possible as she traversed the roads of the metropolis. Ponies, most of them earth ponies, were moving to and fro, completing their daily business with a regimented zeal.

Quite industrious, Twilight thought.

Clopstantinople’s ground level was covered in ash and soot. Muscular stallions, pickaxs strapped to their sides, were pulling carts full of rocks with hints of gem in them. Emerald, ruby, sapphire, onyx… Twilight recognized a few that looked familiar. Others were not.

It’s just like Celestia said… these ponies specialize in mining and working with gems.

Other ponies were pacing back and forth with magically floating lists in front of them. They would review the lists and give orders to pegasi, who would fly into the air and off into the sky. Twilight concluded that she would never be able to live in Clopstantinople — it was much too loud.

What kinds of machines are making these noises?

It sounded like great pistons and turbines were turning and spinning and moving huge objects. Steam whistles blew every couple of seconds, and eventually Twilight reached a spot with a wide opening where many ponies, clearly having just been inside some kind of mine, were seated eating various things. A tall stallion walked through the ranks and barked an order.

“Lunch break, five more minutes! Don’t be late! Remember — our prince is always watching!”

Twilight lifted her head to get a better look at her surroundings, revealing more of her face than she liked. Still, she had to see the ponies around her with more clarity. Something continued to bother her ever since she boarded the airship.

After scanning too many blank flanks to count, and not seeing one single image on one single pony behind, Twilight came to a startling conclusion.

None of the ponies here have Cutie Marks! How can so many adult ponies in one place not have their Cutie Marks yet?

Twilight noticed a colt staring right at her with wide eyes. The little pony’s face was dark from soot and his clothes were tatters. He bolted in the opposite direction.

That can’t be good, Twilight thought. The fur on the back of her neck felt fuzzy and she looked behind her tentatively. Three stallions glared from a few paces away.

That doesn't look like the welcoming committee...

Twilight looked around for somewhere to escape to, as best she could without raising her head too high. A path to a higher level of the city caught her eye and she trotted towards it, unconsciously going faster than before. She did not have to look back to know she was not the only pony heading that way.

Just remember what the princess said, Twilight, the bookish mare reasoned, these ponies don’t know any better! I need to find the leader of this city and find out what the heck is going on!

The road leading upwards was much steeper than Twilight had hoped for. She was tired and hungry, and the pollution of the city did not help her feel any better. Ponies looked at her as she ascended the path.

At the top of the path, Twilight paused for a moment to take in a big gulp of air, and anticipating that it was going to taste as tainted as the air from below, she made a disgusted noise and stuck out her tongue, but only briefly.

Hey, this isn't that bad! Shuffling noises behind Twilight brought her back to reality. Oh, right!

Twilight started to calm herself and attempt to blend in with the busy crowd. It was clear that where Twilight had climbed to a different area of the city. The sounds of machines had dissipated somewhat, and buildings that looked like shops were abundant. Signs outside the stores had mugs of cider on them, loaves of bread, or spools of thread and needles. The majority of the signs, however, had pictures of amulets, rings, earrings, or jewels on them. Unsurprisingly, then, Twilight noticed jewelry was abundant on the ponies of that part of the city.

The smell in the second tier of the city was a mix of different spices and baked goods. Ponies shouted out advertisements for their goods. “Best drinks in the city! The prince’s own scribe comes here once a week!” cried one.

“Looking for flowers for a special somepony? Buy one bouquet, get a second free!” cried another.

Twilight stopped herself once she realized she was moving at a much-too-fast canter. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.

I need to calm down. Don’t draw attention to yourself, Twilight.

A smaller shop caught Twilight’s eye. There were no descriptive features of what was inside except a wooden fold-out sign in front with a smiling mare and a glass of some liquid. She decided to enter, and moved towards the shop with a visible purpose.

Whoever runs that shop, they’re the first smiling face I have seen since I got here. That’s as good a place as any to start my search, though, things might get a little hairy if the ponies behind me follow me inside.

Twilight navigated through the streams of ponies on the road and entered the shop. It was indeed quite small, with only a bar right next to the entrance and a cozy seating area at the back. The walls were painted a soft green — the first vibrant colour, besides the gems earlier, that Twilight had seen in the city. Twilight hopped onto a bar stool and kept her head down. The barkeep gasped.

“Ohmigosh! A customer!” the barkeep said, clapping her hooves together in excitement. Twilight looked up. The barkeep didn’t have a single piece of dust or soot on her white fur, her poofy tangerine mane giving Twilight “Pinkie Pie vibes” with its devil-may-care structure. She was clearly the pony on the sign outside.

“Welcome to my milk bar! Care for a glass? Only 2 bits!”

Twilight looked to her right and saw through the door that ponies were still following her. A million thoughts ran through her mind. Her eyes pleaded with the barkeep.

“Listen,” Twilight began, “Are you a friend to Equestria? To the princesses?”

The barkeep’s face lit up.

“Totally! I even subscribe to ‘Princess Monthly!’” The barkeep grabbed under the bar and pulled out a magazine. The front cover was a picture of Celestia and Luna with clearly forced smiles holding up a product, headlines taking up most of the cover.

“The name’s Gossip Gab! I run this milk bar to pay the bills, but my REAL passion is—”

Twilight cut her off and threw 2 bits on the bar top, “If you’re really a friend to the princesses, then I need you to help me out! There’s no time to explain!” As soon as Twilight finished saying the words, the shop door opened with a clink of a bell.

To her credit, Gossip filled up a glass of milk and slid it Twilight’s way, scooping up the bits right after. She started to clean an empty glass with a towel.

“Hey guys!” she greeted the newcomers, who all sat close to Twilight. “What can I do ya for?”

A stallion leaned into Twilight, trying to see her face. Twilight instinctively grabbed the glass in front of her and raised it to her mouth. She reluctantly forced the milk into her cheeks and let it sit.

Yuck, milk!

“Who’s this, then?” the stallion asked with a snarl. Twilight knew there were two other stallions inside, but she couldn’t see them from behind her hood. She could hear them all, though, breathing with some struggle. Gossip poured each stallion a glass of milk.

“That’s just a friend of mine from the other side of the city! She’s deaf, dumb, blind, and she can’t smell a thing!”

Twilight cringed. There was barely any room in her mouth now for more milk.

That’s the best you could come up with?!

The stallion tried to get even closer to Twilight but she flinched and leaned the other direction, closer to another stallion, who she could smell even with a glass of milk in her face. He smelled of an earthy hole which probably meant he came from the mines.

“Is that so?” the stallion grumbled. Gossip hit the bar top with her hooves.

“Ohmigosh! Did you guys hear about that shop just down the street? Well, I heard from a friend that—”

Gossip buried the stallions in endless nonsense about the goings-on of the shops in the area. The high pitch and grating pep in her voice was even starting to drive Twilight a little bonkers. Finally, the stallion and his compatriots got up.

“Ugh, enough!” he cried. The company moved towards the exit. “If your friend isn’t who you say she is, then she better listen well: Prince Tsunami does not tolerate spies in this land. Keep that in mind if you don’t want to end up in a dungeon.”

With another ring of a bell, the company left. Twilight slammed her empty glass on the bar top and filled it with all of the milk in her mouth.

“Yuck!” she exclaimed with a throaty noise of displeasure, “I hate milk!” Twilight sighed and brought her hooves up to rub the sides of her head. She switched to the front of her face and let her hooves smoosh her features downward.

“Blahhh! And here I thought I was being careful not to stand out too much! What do I do now?”

Gossip cocked her head. She produced a glass of water for Twilight and slid it across the counter. Twilight eagerly thanked the barkeep and started to drink.

“Umm," Gossip began as Twilight finished the water in record time, "Do you mind if I ask who you are and what that was all about?”

Twilight almost threw back her hood, starting to feel claustrophobic within the fabric, but reasoned against it.

Gossip has a big mouth. I can’t risk it, even if she means well.

“All I can say is that I don’t mean you any harm,” said Twilight, “Those stallions are just being paranoid. I just want to speak with the leader of this city — I think that stallion called him Prince Tsunami. Do you know where I can find him?”

The sides of Gossip’s mouth drew up in a big grin and her snout wiggled with excitement.

“Prince Tsunami, you say?! I can tell you anything you want about him! He’s about two and a half feet tall when on his four hooves, he’s got this totally rad swirly sort of mane, it’s a deep blue, and his brother—”

“Gossip!” Twilight interrupted. She surprised herself with how she said it. Gossip frowned and sniffled. Twilight continued in a softer tone.

“I’m sorry, Gossip, I’m just worried. It’s dangerous for me to be here. I really, really just need to know where I can go to talk to Tsunami.”

Gossip started to put away some glasses. She rolled her eyes.

“Welllllll… okay! I’ll tell you what I know, because I like you! You’re not like the other ponies around here.”

Gossip cleared her throat and put away the last of the glasses.

“It’s impossible,” she said flatly.

Twilight replied, “W-what?”

Gossip shook her head. She scrunched her mouth into a sympathetic smile.

“You can go to the center of the city, Tsunami lives in the palace there. But he doesn’t take visitors and he almost never leaves. At least as far as anypony can tell.”

Twilight hummed thoughtfully and lowered her face to just above the bar top.

Then, what do I do? Do I break in and confront him in secret?

Twilight shook her head and looked back up. Gossip was watching carefully with a raised eyebrow.

No, thought Twilight, I can’t risk causing a conflict between Clopstantinople and Equestria. If I’m caught breaking in, it won’t look good! But if I—”

“You’re Twilight Sparkle, aren’t you?!”

Gossip’s words almost pushed Twilight off her chair. With a wobble Twilight steadied herself.

“W-what m-makes you think that, ha ha…?” Twilight stumbled over her words, trailing off at the end. Gossip brought her front hooves together.

“Wellll… you talk like how Twilight does, at least according to all the interviews I’ve read in ‘Princess Monthly’, and you were talking to me about the princesses, and it seems like ponies are looking for you, and Prince Tsunami doesn’t like the Equestrian princesses, and also…”

Gossip leaned over the bar top and pointed a hoof at something below Twilight. She turned to follow along.

“…your tail!”

Indeed, Twilight’s body and face might have been covered by her robes, but her tail was not. Anyone who had seen pictures of Twilight in a magazine, and especially anyone who read every tabloid, would be able to spot it. Twilight facehoofed.

Dang paparazzi!

With a sigh, Twilight threw back her hood. Her usual mane style fell into place and Gossip lit up.

“Ohmigosh! It is you! Twilight Sparkle, the protégé of Princess Celestia! I can’t wait to teumpfhfhfhfhfh—”

Twilight used her magic to zip Gossip’s mouth shut.

“Gossip, listen to me. Please, PLEASE don’t tell anypony that I’m here. I am here on the princess’s orders to find out more about your city and its leader, but I don’t think I have the time to just sit around and chit chat. I need to find Tsunami!”

Twilight closed her eyes tight, sighed in frustration, and made a decision.

“I need you to tell me how to get to the palace.”

6 - Dresses and Apples

Chapter 6

Dresses and Apples

Soarin’ and Spitfire stood muzzle to muzzle, their eyes aflame and their wings spread.

“What’s your problem?” cried Soarin’.

“My problem?!” Spitfire rebutted with a huff. “You’re the one who can’t keep his mind out of the gutter! Always thinking about the mares, huh? Maybe that’s why your training is suffering!”

Rainbow stood to the side awkwardly. She felt like a million eyes were watching the arguing pair with whom she was associated.

“MY training?” Soarin’ roared. “Oh, oh, okay, MY training is suffering? Isn’t that your fault, CAPTAIN?”

Rainbow looked around her for something, anything, to change the subject to. Pegasi were flying from the direction of the train station towards Canterlot. Reporters were running in all directions in firm belief that the next big story was somewhere nearby waiting to be revealed by them. There was a booth with a few ponies standing in front of it.

Sign up for the races? Rainbow thought.

But as she watched a pony behind the booth and somepony in line shake hooves, it was apparent that something else was happening. The pony in line was given a bronze medallion and he put it on immediately. He hoofpumped the air, turned to a friend, and the two high-hoofed.

An irritated growl brought Rainbow’s gaze back to the Wonderbolts. Steam shot out of Spitfire’s ears.

“You’re such a doughhead!” Spitfire all but spat at Soarin’ through gritted teeth. She turned to Rainbow.

“I’m leaving, Rainbow Dash. I hope to see you tomorrow morning at our training session. YOU are welcome to join.” Spitfire turned to Soarin’ as Rainbow just about exploded with happiness.

“YOU, on the other hoof, can go somewhere else and train! You’ll just ruin everypony’s motivation with your perversion!”

As Spitfire left, Soarin' shouted after her, but the captain of the Wonderbolts did not stop. Soarin' turned to Rainbow, who again was feeling like she’d rather be anywhere else.

“What the heck just happened?” Soarin’ asked, still upset. “One minute I was talking about how cute that Ms. VeeVee is, a-and the next thing you know Spitfire’s all over me! What’s her issue?”

Rainbow scratched the side of her head and smiled.

“Umm, I’m not really sure either, Soarin’, but uhh…” Rainbow slowly rolled her eyes. “Would it be cool if I went to go see my friends? I’m dying to tell them about today!”

Soarin' shook his head and blinked rapidly. “Oh, uhh, sure Rainbow, yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow. Despite what ‘Miss Bossy Mare’ said, I’ll be at training, bright and early. I don’t think I’ll be talking to ‘You Know Who’ though!”

Rainbow said goodbye and flew back towards town with a smile.

“Well… that was weird! I need to focus. Tomorrow I get to train with the Wonderbolts to prepare for the greatest races of, like, all time!”

The cyan pegasus forced all non-race-related thoughts out of her mind. She strained her face muscles into a determined frown.

A blanket of orange light covered Ponyville, and the wood-framed buildings of the equine hamlet cast long shadows on the ground as Rainbow made her way to Carousel Boutique.

Rarity's gonna be so stoked for me! Rainbow thought with a beaming smile. She imitated Rarity's voice out loud. "Oh darling that's just exquisite! Why, you're sure to win the title and receive a big, gold medal from Maelstrom himself!" Rainbow giggled at her silly display.

A stallion stood out to Rainbow as she flew by a group of ponies. He looked familiar. He was standing on a small stage, giving a speech in front of a small crowd.

“…an’ that’s the best way to pet your snakes, ponies!” said the speaker. He was a stallion of fair complexion, and Rainbow couldn’t help but notice that his wild blonde curls and nature-kissed grey olive fur were quite charming. His coat looked quite similar in color to Apple Bloom's. He was dressed in an outdoorspony’s wide-brimmed hat and a worn green trekking outfit.

The mares in front of the speaker were fawning and cooing. Rainbow got the feeling that they were more interested in the stallion's appearance, and not his words. She stopped flying and narrowed her eyes and spotted something familiar glimmering in the light.

The speaker was wearing a silver medallion with a design of outstretched wings.

That again… Rainbow thought, bringing a thoughtful hoof up to her chin. Where have I seen that before?

The speaker was allowing his snake to slither around his body, and he chuckled as it licked his face. The mares in the crowd all sighed in unison.

“Bushwhacker!” the lone stallion in the crowd cried, with all the bluster of a superfan. “W-What do we do if our snakes don’t respond to the petting technique you just described?”

Rainbow brought two hooves together like the wires connecting in her brain. “Bushwhacker! I remember him from a few flying meet-ups! Isn’t he the one Fluttershy has a crush on?”

Bushwhacker looked his snake in the eyes. The two exchanged a sort of spiritual meeting of the eyes. Bushwhacker chuckled again and looked at the stallion who asked the question.

“Well, mate, it’s all about trust. Don't go being a bludger. These relationships take work.”

Bushwhacker brought his head against his snake’s.

“Animals are just like us, dontcha think?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes as the mares around Bushwhacker melted.

Well, as much as I love to hear about taking care of snakes, I think I better head over to see Rarity and the girls.

She was off with a multi-colour flash. A smile overtook her face. Butterflies somersaulted in her stomach, electricity fizzled on the tips of her wings, and she saw visions of cheering pony fans in her eyes.

This is going to be so awesome! I can’t wait until the others hear about this!

* * *

Rarity stuck her tongue out as she carefully poked a needle through a piece of fabric. Another loop-de-loop between needle and fabric and she was one step closer to her finished dress. The magic glow of her horn overtook the entire garment-under-construction and she flipped it around, investigating every seam and fold.

“Hmm,” she hummed to herself. “I’m not so sure about this one — but, the crowds of ponies that will be coming to the area are sure to be filled with different tastes and preferences. Perhaps it may catch somepony’s eye…”

Rarity trailed off as she picked up another piece of fabric nearby with her magic and started to compare it with the other. One of her eyes caught her little sister descending the stairs.

“Hey sis,” Sweetie Belle asked, “What’s up? Did you have an idea for a new dress?”

Rarity flicked around a needle in her mouth. With a tightening of her eyes, she sewed some more pieces of fabric together and applied sequins.

“Something like that, Sweetie Belle.”

With a thoughtful hum, Rarity scanned every inch of the new dress with an expert’s scrutiny.

“With all the hubbub coming to the area, it’s only natural that I would try to impress with some new pieces. There’re sure to be a lot of rich ponies coming around, and where there are rich ponies there are, of course, ponies who understand and appreciate the beauty and necessity of high fashion.”

A colorful mass flew inside the boutique from the front door. It slammed into a wall next to Sweetie Belle and became a pile of blue pony feathers and limbs. Rarity’s head snapped up to see what was going on.

“Rainbow Dash?” she inquired. Sweetie Belle hopped up to the new arrival.

“I’m okay, I’m okay,” called out from the mass of blue feathers on the ground.

“Hey Rainbow!” Sweetie Belle asked, her voice going a higher pitch than normal, “Did you join the Storm’s Challenge? All of us fillies and colts were talking about it at school today!”

Rainbow picked herself up and began to dust herself off. She beamed with a hoof to her chest.

“Yes, yes, it’s true: I signed up for the races!” — Rainbow thrust her hoof out — “And I’m going to win too!”

Rarity continued working but did mutter a "Mhm".

“I am SO excited!” Rainbow said. “It’s like the Best Young Flyer competition times a hundred!”

“Darling, that’s lovely news,” Rarity said, still deep in focus, “I’ve been working on some outfits to showcase during the next week.” A stray idea entered Rarity’s mind and, going with it, she shrieked in jubilation.

“Actually, Rainbow! I just had an iiiideeeeeaaa!”

Rainbow raised a brow.

“Yeah? What’s that?”

Rarity did a little dance. She hummed a happy tune to herself.

“Well, I would bet bits to bridles that you’re one of the favorites to win the races. So, how would YOU like to sponsor my shop?”

Rarity threw one hoof around Rainbow and used her other to motion a line in front of them.

“Picture it, my friend: Your renown as the fastest pegasus in Equestria, and MY potential as the greatest dressmaker in Equestria. Why, it’s a match made in heaven! What do you say?”

Rainbow backed up with an uneasy smile.

“Umm, I appreciate the offer, Rarity, and it’s not like I don’t want to help you out, but I’m going to be too busy practicing for the races. I won’t have any time to help you, uhhh” — Rainbow threw up a hoof with a puzzled expression — “What is it that you’re trying to do?”

Rarity explained.

“My assumption was that you would be going to Canterlot at some point to scope out the competition, maybe partake in a few interviews, and get to know all of the important ponies that will be watching the races and coming from afar. At the same time, YOU could throw in a good word about my shop and I could, in turn, help you get more fans!”

Sweetie Belle interjected, flatly.

“Rarity wants to use your fame to sell dresses.”

Rarity glared at Sweetie Belle. A purple glow emanated from Rarity’s horn and engulfed Sweetie Belle, carrying her over to the other side of the room.

“Nonsense! It would be a mutual partnership, of course!”

Rainbow smiled.

“Thanks but no thanks, Rarity. I’m not going to Canterlot until the day of the races. I don’t need to run into more competition and lose my nerve.”

Rainbow stretched out her wings and struck a pose.

“Plus, I need to train nonstop and get into peak form so I’m ready for the races!”

Rarity frowned, but the cyan pegasus made a suggestion.

“Why don’t you see if somepony else is willing to sponsor your shop? There are still a few ponies in town who joined the race that are pretty famous” — Rainbow flipped the top of her mane out of her eyes — “Not as famous as me, but, you know.”

The rest of Rainbow’s friends entered the shop. Applejack was talking to Pinkie and Fluttershy floated in behind them.

“Ah’m telling you, Pinkie, it’s a great idea! Ah could sell so many apples for the farm — why, we'd probably be able to hire extra workers for the big harvests!”

Pinkie looked unsure and deep in thought. Applejack walked up to Rainbow.

“Say, Rainbow, yer going to them races, right? Pinkie was tellin’ me earlier. Ah've got a proposal for ya!”

Applejack threw a hoof around Rainbow.

“How’d ya like ta partner up and sell some apples with me in Canterlot? An’ ah’ll throw in a good word for you, too!”

Rainbow groaned and shook her head.

“Not you too, AJ. Listen, I’m going to be too busy. Rarity just asked me the same thing!”

Rarity pointed a hoof at Applejack.

“Sorry, darling, but are you saying you’re going to Canterlot to try and sell your apples to THAT crowd?”

Applejack puffed her chest up a little.

“Sure as shoot am! There’ll be ponies from all over Equestria there! And where there are ponies, there are ponies who love apples! And those ponies will have bits if they’re coming to Canterlot for the races!”

Rarity smiled sympathetically.

“But darling, THOSE ponies are classy and regal. They’re not going to be interested in” — Rarity snorted — “A few apples and some fritters.”

Applejack got close to Rarity’s face and lowered her brow.

“Ah reckon yer wrong, Rarity. Ah reckon those sportsfans will be mighty hungry for something tasty while they watch the races, an’ what’s better for snackin’ than apples?”

Applejack poked Rarity’s chest with her hoof. Rainbow and Fluttershy looked at each other and shifted nervously. Pinkie quietly hummed to herself and stared at the floor.

“Y’think all them ponies are going to be interested in some froo froo dresses?” Applejack said, “You might be able to sell a few dresses during the Grand Galloping Gala, let’s say, but ponies coming fer the races don’t want nothin’ to do with them fancy scarves an’ ballerina shoes!”

Rarity poked a hoof into Applejack’s chest.

“Well, I bet you that I can sell a hundred more outfits and accessories than you can apples!”

Applejack poked Rarity again, this time harder.

“An’ I bet I can sell a thousand more of my delicious apples than you can yer little dresses and what not!”

“Make it ten thousand!” Rarity cried, bringing her head against Applejack’s.

“Make it a hundred thousand!

“A MILLION!”

Fluttershy interjected.

“G-Girls, there’s no need to—”

But the fighting pair had already separated, Rarity moving towards her planning table and Applejack heading for the door. Sweetie Belle hopped up to her sister while the other ponies followed Applejack.

“Come on, guys,” Rainbow pleaded, “This isn’t about selling apples or dresses! It’s about the races. The only competing that should be going on should be between the, you know, racers!” Rainbow pointed a hoof at herself, but nopony noticed.

Applejack shook her head as she exited the shop.

“It was just about the farm at first, but after Rarity’s jibber jabber, now it’s personal! She thinks she knows them ponies better than me — shoot, race fans are my bread and butter!”

Fluttershy looked from side to side, then at Rarity.

“Umm, good night Rarity, Sweetie Belle. I’ll be at the library again tomorrow with my animals if you want to say hello. I’m sure Spike would appreciate it. He passed out an hour ago because he’s been working really hard.”

Rarity turned around briefly and flashed Fluttershy a smile.

“Yes, good night darling. I might be too busy tomorrow, but we’ll see.”

Rainbow and Pinkie said their goodbyes to Rarity and her sister, with gusto and without much emotion at all, respectively.

There’s no convincing AJ once she has her mind set, Rainbow thought. She turned to Pinkie.

“Pinkie, why have you been so quiet? It’s really weird.”

Applejack responded for her friend, her voice still sour with ire. The four ponies were now outside in the crisp, summer evening air.

“That one’s been like that ever since her Pinkie Sense went cuckoo this afternoon. Course right after, some haybales almost fell on me, but she thinks it’s something else.”

Pinkie looked up.

“I know it is, Applejack! It’s gotta be! My tail NEVER shakes like that. It almost launched me into the air like a plane, that’s how fast it was moving!”

Fluttershy trotted next to Rainbow as the gang walked down the street, the sun just about ready to sleep for the night.

“Umm, Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy lightly bumped into her friend. “You, umm, haven’t seen Bushwhacker around town, have you?"

Rainbow bonked herself on the top of the head.

“Oh right! Yeah, I did see him near city hall on my way here, actually.”

Rainbow nudged Fluttershy playfully with her elbow.

“You know, you have your own competition to worry about, too, Flutters. Lots of mares have goo-goo eyes for your stallion.”

Rainbow snickered as Fluttershy went red and retreated behind her mane more than usual.

“W-w-what do y-you mean, Rainbow? B-Bushwhacker’s j-just a… friend.” Fluttershy looked away for a few seconds, then turned back.

“He l-loves animals just as much as me. H-he’s also really, really nice, and he always smells good — oh, and he’s really athletic because of all the flying he does—”

Rainbow burst into laughter and rolled onto her back. Fluttershy covered her face with her wings. After a moment Rainbow regained her sanity and stood up, wiping away a tear.

"Woo, you're a real card, Fluttershy!" Rainbow said with a final chuckle. Fluttershy smiled meekly, still hot in the cheeks.

"You know, you should ask Bushwhacker to hang out with you tomorrow at the library. He would probably kill to meet a baby dragon. He's not the showy type of flyer at all and I've heard he doesn't like to train during the day. He should be free."

Rainbow suggestively raised her brows in quick succession. Fluttershy looked curious.

"Not a bad idea, right?" Rainbow asked.

Fluttershy kicked a hoof at the ground. "M-Maybe... I mean, you think he'd say yes?"

Applejack, who had been leading the pack, stopped and looked back at her friends. She interrupted.

“Right! It’s just about night fall and it sounds like we all have big plans for tomorrow — well, not you Pinkie, err, ah think. How’s about we all turn in?”

Pinkie smiled weakly as the girls all said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

“Hey Rainbow Dash?”

Pinkie looked up at Rainbow, who had taken to the air, and posed a question.

“Did you see any pegasi wearing armor made of gems earlier today? Weird question, I know, I know.”

The number one flyer in Ponyville replied.

“Of course, who didn’t see them? Those are Maelstrom’s guards. There were like a hundred of them at the center of town today when he gave his big speech. Why do you ask?”

Pinkie looked at the ground and brought a hoof to her chin.

“Then that means—”

Pinkie's head shot up and she returned somewhat to her usual self, albeit not quite as joyful.

“Rainbow! Do you know where they are staying?”

The last of the orange streaks of light engulfing Ponyville dissipated. Pegasi had just finished lighting lanterns along the pathways.

“I think they’re all camped outside Canterlot,” answered Rainbow. “Maelstrom was just here to give his speech. He’ll be in Canterlot all day tomorrow. Are you going to tell me why you’re asking all these questions?!”

Pinkie smiled at Rainbow and thanked her, then rushed a "goodnight" and sped off down the road. She was gone before Rainbow could get any more information, leaving her afloat with a hoof in the air and her mouth open.

Oooookay then.

Rainbow looked up. The first of the lights in the night sky twinkled. Wisps of clouds traveled to the east as ships through the sea. The only sounds now were the flutter of Rainbow’s wings as the city finally settled. She breathed out.

That wasn’t quite—

Rainbow flew in place with a frown.

My friends didn’t seem all that interested in me joining the races. I thought—

She shook her head until her eyes started to roll around.

“Nevermind that!” she said aloud, “I need to go home and sleep, and in the morning — the Wonderbolts!”

7 - Day's End

Chapter 7

Day’s End

Some time ago...

Twilight walked down the streets of Clopstantinople, finally having a decent idea of where she was headed. She struggled to maintain a collected outward appearance as her thoughts bounced around her mind.

Gossip said, “Follow the road outside my shop towards the barracks.”

Twilight passed a building with two pegasi standing guard beside its entrance. They were clad in emerald armor made of gems.

That’s got to be the barracks, then. So now…

The road continued into an area with noticeably less ponies than the market area she had just left. Here and there was a guard whose hawk-like gaze would follow Twilight. She swallowed hard.

I just need to get to the palace entrance without any trouble. Remember what Gossip recommended.

Twilight met eyes with the guard and made a grumpy face. She scrunched her features towards the middle of her face. The guard looked away.

When in Roam, do as the Roamans do!

The streets were beginning to become nicer the closer Twilight got to the center of the city. What used to be dirt paths and uncared-for lamp posts had become immaculate white stone roads and tall, black gas lanterns. The few ponies that were on the streets were clean and well-dressed.

On either side of Twilight were row on row of interconnected brick buildings. Some had little planters on the windowsills with off-colour roses and tulips in them. While the air did not seem as foul there, Twilight still noticed its effects on the “upper class” part of the city. The bricks of the homes were worn, not by time, but by pollution. The windows were dirty at their edges. A stallion on the road was sweeping away clouds of dust.

I’m not surprised at all. This really is worse than Manehatten!

Twilight continued until she found a left turn down another nice road. A sign on the corner had an arrow and a picture of a building with a domed roof on it.

“Turn left at the sign; you’ll know which one.” This has got to be the one.

It was more of the same as Twilight walked. Occasionally, an airship would whoosh by overhead. Whenever somepony gave her a dirty look, Twilight forced herself to return it. Even when the occasional pony tentatively smiled at her, Twilight glared in response. It broke her heart, but it was necessary.

Eventually the road opened into a huge plaza. Straight ahead, taking up most of Twilight’s vision, was a huge building with a domed roof. The setting sun behind it helped it cast a dark shadow on the plaza below, which was littered with ponies.

The harsh twang of metal pounding on metal drew Twilight’s gaze to her left. One portion of the plaza was dedicated to soot-covered stallions hammering unformed blobs and slates of colored metal into shape. The hiss of air being blown by great big blowers stoked intimidating fires. Stallions were constantly moving forms of metal from one stage of the operation to the next. Off to one corner were finished products: stacks and stacks of colorful armor, most of the pieces being a deep green.

It was then that Twilight realized the stallions were not hitting metal with their hammers, but big pieces of gem. Twilight’s mouth dropped.

That’s impossible! A normal stallion can’t just form gems into armor like that! There has to be some kind of magic at work here.

It was hard for Twilight to ignore such a mystery and move on, but her duty called. She shoved past the masses of ponies as she moved towards the palace. Minarets stood like elevators to the sky atop the imposing structure. Great big off-white columns held up the front façade of the palace, which was ornately sculpted and showed off various scenes of Clopstantinople’s history along the top.

As Twilight got to the other side of the plaza and could see in front of her better, she noticed that to the right of the palace was a fenced off area filled with stallions. Some wore gem armour, others did not. The ones that were not were copying the actions of ponies in amethyst armor. These ponies had big crests on their helmets.

A training camp for new soldiers, Twilight reasoned. Some of the ponies were shouting battle cries and others, pegasi, were practicing lifting huge sandbags while in flight, from one end of the enclosed area to the other. Several stallions were watching her as she broke free from the masses of pedestrians and began to ascend the vast stairs to the palace doors.

At the top of the steps, in front of two huge double doors, was a soldier dressed in the same amethyst armor Twilight had seen the stallions in the enclosed area wear. This soldier was a female, but wore the crested helmet of, what Twilight assumed was, a commanding officer.

“Halt!” the officer shouted, holding out a hoof as Twilight came to a stop. Two regular guards stepped beside the officer, glaring at Twilight.

“Who goes there?”

Twilight took a deep breath.

I really hope THIS works…

“I seek an audience with Prince Tsunami. It is urgent business.”

The officer scoffed, and the guards chuckled.

“That’s not happening,” the officer said. “Only those with appointments get to see the prince. And there are no appointments today. There are NEVER any appointments.”

Twilight frowned from beneath her hood.

Okay, what about THIS?

“But the prince’s life is in danger! Please, you must allow me to see him!”

The guards looked at each other with some worry, but the officer shook her head.

“Lies. His life would only be in danger if we let you in. Now move on!”

Ponies back in the plaza began to take notice of Twilight’s presence at the front doors and watched with awe as somepony attempted to gain entry into the palace. Twilight bit her lip.

Then… I guess there’s no choice!

Twilight sighed. Her horn began to glow violet and envelop her entire robe. The magical field lifted off her robe and revealed the alicorn underneath.

The ponies below, in the plaza, gasped and murmured among themselves. Some shouted at Twilight.

“One of the princesses from Equestria!”

“Look, that’s a Cutie Mark!”

The officer took a step back and the guards’ mouths dropped. They looked expectantly at their officer, who was speechless.

“Now,” Twilight began, with a firm tone. “Please take me to Prince Tsunami. I come on behalf of Equestria and I — ahh!”

Twilight was cut off as the two guards grabbed hold of her. The officer pointed a hoof at Twilight and took another step back.

“All guards on deck! Seize her!”

More guards streamed out of a smaller door to the left of the entrance and surrounded Twilight. She did not struggle as she was dragged off through yet another door further along the wall of the palace. As much as she wanted to use her magic to take control of the situation, she couldn't risk causing an incident that could ruin potential Clopstantinople-Equestria relations. Twilight heard more ponies below shouting.

“So it’s true! Equestria is trying to spy on us!”

“What’re you up to, witch?!”

A guard threw a burlap sack over Twilight’s head and tightened it with a draw string. Twilight started to panic. She threw her head from side to side and grunted with disdain.

“This isn’t necessary! I am not here to spy or cause any—”

“Quiet!” shouted the voice of the officer pony. “Prince Tsunami will be the judge of that—”

Then something hit the side of Twilight’s head so hard she saw stars. The noise around her became foggy and she was walking less and less on her own accord. Twilight heard the officer one more time before she lost consciousness.

“—when he gets to you, that is.”

8 - Training Begins!

Chapter 8

Training Begins!

COCKADOODLEDOOOOOO

The distant crowing of a rooster caused a jolt in Rainbow that launched her into the air above her bed. She looked at her bedside clock with fear gripping her. It was only 5:50. She released a calm sigh.

“Alllright! Ten minutes early! Let’s go, Tank!”

Rainbow sped out of her room in a flash and flew all around her house, becoming a multi-colored blur in the process. Her trusted tortoise companion leisurely followed. Rainbow was in and out of the bathroom in a hoofful of seconds, having styled her mane in the coolest way possible. She made sure every smidgeon of sleep was removed from her eyelids. Brushing her teeth was done extra-speedy. Rainbow flew downstairs.

Tank floated into the kitchen a minute after Rainbow. The cyan pegasus was gulping down a cup full of raw eggs. She retched after finishing the venerable breakfast of champions and cringed. After that, she flew to an open spot outside the kitchen and began doing warmups, putting her hair up in a ponytail and sweat bands on the ends of her hooves. Tank clicked a button on a cassette player with his nose and cheesy workout music started to play.

“Today’s… the day…” Rainbow said in between deep breaths. She was kicking and punching in front of her as she floated. “No distractions… from here on out…”

After a few minutes of sweatin’, Rainbow left her home and poised herself for lift of. She was stopped when a little arm poked her. She turned around to see Tank with a Wonderbolts outfit in his mouth. Rainbow beamed.

“Oh, right! What would I do without you, buddy?” Rainbow rubbed the top of Tank’s head and the tortoise glowed with pride. Rainbow squeezed into the outfit and the two were off. She had already grabbed a pair of goggles — she wasn’t completely forgetful that morning. Then the two of them were off just as the sun said its first hello over the horizon.

The flight to the Wonderbolt Academy, where the training took place, took close to half an hour, but Rainbow had accounted for that and had time to take it leisurely. At least, in terms of speed.

During the flight, Rainbow tested a few different twists and turns that she had been working on before the Storm’s Challenge. She had to hone each and every one of them before the races. She knew it would take more than mere speed to win. Tank kept pace beside his friend.

The two reached the Academy as the sun bathed the world below in earnest. Rainbow looked down at the clearing on the mountain peak which her favorite group of flyers used for training and as their headquarters. Many of the Wonderbolts were already in action, engaged in various drills or helping other members use the training equipment. In the middle of the Academy tarmac were three ponies: Spitfire, Soarin’, and Fleetfoot. The latter pony, the arctic blue third-in-command of the Wonderbolts, was smack dab in the middle of a disagreement, or at least that is what her face showed.

Rainbow and Tank came to a stop on the tarmac in front of the trio.

“Fleetfoot,” asked Spitfire, annoyed. “Could you tell Soarin’ that he should go and ask the Equestria Flyers League representatives in Canterlot if they want to take part in a training exercise with us?” Soarin’ frowned at Spitfire, then turned to Fleetfoot.

“Why don’t you tell Spitfire that she should go instead, so she can calm down from whatever it is this is.” Soarin’ motioned at Spitfire with a hoof. Fleetfoot looked at each of her companions and chewed her lip. She noticed Rainbow and lit up.

“Oh hey, you’re early! W-why don’t we do some laps together?” Rainbow was ecstatic at the prospect. She nodded so fast her irises ricocheted inside her eyeballs. Fleetfoot tried to pull Rainbow along with her into the sky but the cyan pegasus resisted. She turned to Tank.

“We’ll probably be going too fast for you to keep up, pal.” Tank smiled and nodded in his own little tortoise way. He took to the air with his magical propeller and pointed over to a small obstacle course off to one side of the clearing. It seemed to be designed for junior members of the Wonderbolts or even young foals, but it was just perfect for flying tortoises. Rainbow hoofbumped into the air.

“That’s the spirit, Tank! See you later then!” Fleetfoot had Soarin’ and Spitfire breathing down her neck and sighed with relief as Rainbow was finally ready to leave.

“Wait, Fleetfoot!” Spitfire and Soarin’ both called out in desperation. The called-for pegasus didn’t even look back.

Rainbow and Fleetfoot were high enough up in the sky for the Academy to be a small dot before either one spoke.

“Glad I’m out of that mess!” Fleetfoot cried. “Those two are crazy!” She sighed and shook her head. “I wish Spitfire would just spill the beans already, yeeeessh.”

Rainbow cocked her head.

“About what? Why is she so peeved with Soarin’ anyway?”

Fleetfoot looked at Rainbow and shot her a sly smile.

“Oh, no particular reason — but I heard Soarin’ was going all mushy over that Ms. VeeVee chick yesterday, and Spitfire HATES when Soarin’ talks about other mares like that.”

Rainbow did a somersault and began to fly upside down beside Fleetfoot.

“So that’s what made Spitfire so mad! I don’t get it, though. Why would Soarin’ bringing up whatsherface make Spitfire mad?”

Fleetfoot chuckled. “Nevermind, Rainbow. Let’s just focus on training.”

Rainbow shook away all her distractions.

“Right! Time’s a-wastin’!” She pointed to a cloud off in the distance.

“Race you to that cloud!”

“You’re on!” Fleetfoot shouted.

One race led to another, and before either pegasus knew it, they had used up an entire morning pinballing from cloud to cloud. Rainbow routinely won every race, but only by a feather. Sometimes her opponent would manage a victory. Fleetfoot was out of breath by the end of it all.

“Pony… smokes… kid…” she huffed. Rainbow beamed.

“Don’t… you… get… tired?”

Rainbow crossed her hooves and blew her mane out of her eyes.

“Well, y’know, maybe at the end of the day. But I’ve been practicing my endurance lately, and I could probably do an entire 100-lap race with my eyes closed and without missing a breath!”

Fleetfoot took one final breath and cleared her throat.

“I’m glad you’re representing the Wonderbolts in the Challenge, then” — Fleetfoot pointed her hoof at Rainbow — “wait, you ARE representing us, right?”

Rainbow’s eyes popped open. “C-Can I? Like, as one of you guys?!”

Fleetfoot replied, “I don’t see why Spitfire would say no. You’re better than most of our members, if I’m being honest. Just don’t tell any of them I said that. And this doesn’t mean you’re a full-fledged Wonderbolt but, well, we’ve all seen what you can do over the past two years since that time at the Best Young Flyer competition.”

A rainbow blur shot upwards from where Rainbow was once floating. A cheer resounded from the blur. Fleetfoot giggled.

“I guess that means you’ll do it,” she shouted. “I’ll talk to Spitfire about it a little later.”

Fleetfoot let Rainbow perform a few more aerial feats before shouting back up at her.

“Alright, we should probably head back! The other rookies and all of the members will be ready for the late morning drills now. We need to get ready for our spar with the Flyers League later!”

* * *

Chaos consumed Carousel Boutique. Rarity’s groans of pain made Sweetie Belle cringe. Hooves clattered down the stairs and back up again. Fabrics, accessories, and embellishments were flying in all directions thanks to a light blue magical glow.

“This is just terrible!”

Rarity whined.

“It’s a tragedy!”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes as her sister continued.

“Why, this could be the absolute single WORST thing that’s ever happened to me!”

Sweetie Belle jumped up. “What, Rarity? What the hay is it!?”

This stopped Rarity and she looked disapprovingly at her sister.

“Sweetie! Language!”

“Oop” — Sweetie Belle shoved a hoof in her mouth — “Sawwee, Werwehwee.”

Rarity shimmied her forehooves in a dainty display of displeasure.

“Oh, but it’s just horrible, Sweetie Belle! I’m not sure what to bring to Canterlot today on my trip to find a sponsor.” Rarity sat down on her flank and Sweetie Belle joined her. “If I don’t make a good first impression, Applejack” — Rarity said the name through gritted teeth — “will never let me forget it! And this lady does not lose when it comes to making remarkable first impressions.”

The entrance to the Boutique sounded off downstairs with a bell ring as somepony entered the store. Rarity shot Sweetie Belle a glare.

“So much for you locking the door last night, huh?” The littlest, sweetest little sister in the world just returned the glare with a big, foalish smile. Rarity was less than impressed. A female gasp from downstairs was followed by words spoken in a strange accent.

“Mmm, vhat beautiful dresses!”

The two sisters descended the stairs to greet whoever had entered. Rarity cleared her throat as she dismounted the last step.

“Ahem. So sorry, but we are actually supposed to be—”

Rarity’s mouth dropped. She took in a large gulp of air, as if she was trying to suck in the dazzlement she was seeing.

The pony who had entered her shop — why, this had to be a pony cut from the same fabric as Rarity herself. The would-be customer’s fur was a light grey — certainly not as luxurious as Rarity’s own — but it was in any case well cared for. And her mane was as black as ebony and styled into a coiffure that just HAD to be the work of a stylist from Canterlot, or someplace equally as regal. It looked like poofy cake from Sugercube Corner.

Most importantly, Rarity beheld the most becoming little fangs protruding from the pony’s mouth. And her wings — she had bat wings! And her outfit—

Something tugged at Rarity’s mane.

“Earth to Rarity!” Sweetie Belle said, ending at a higher volume. Rarity ran up and forced a hoofshake on her would-be customer.

“Darling, your look! Your look is just marvelous! Everything… your mane, your outfit” — Rarity raised a single eyebrow and made a cheeky face — “A tad risqué, mind you.” Rarity quickly turned her head back to her little sister and used her magic to cover the filly’s eyes with a cloth, eliciting a “Hey!” of disapproval. Rarity turned back around. “I’m the proprietor of this fine establishment — Rarity, you may call me! And to whom do I owe this pleasure?”

The would-be customer, taken aback at first, returned the hoofshake with a smile.

“You can call me VeeVee, und I came here because I heard from zhe ponies of Ponyville zhat zhis is a splendid Geschäft zhat sells zhe dresses und such — mmm, no?”

Rarity was lost in the piercing amber irises of her newest potential customer. The skillfully applied eyeshadow and blush of VeeVee made her penetrating gaze oh-so captivating. VeeVee inferred an answer and stepped forward to inspect more of the dresses.

“Ja, zeeze are perfect. Absolutely my thing, as you say.”

Out of nowhere, VeeVee shouted a foreign word in an aggressive tone and made both Rarity and Sweetie Belle jump. Another pony came inside the Boutique, carrying a long, gnarled branch in her mouth. There was a shiny stone on the end of the branch.

“Danke,” said VeeVee as she continued focusing on a dress in front of her. The pony at the doorway whipped her head back and threw the branch into the air. As it got closer to VeeVee, it eventually slowed and then stopped in mid-air, being kept afloat by a transparent yellow mist. Rarity and Sweetie Belle both looked at each other’s horn, saw there was no magic emanating from either, then looked back and blinked at the floating branch. The pony at the doorway left the shop as quickly as she had come.

The stone at the end of the floating branch produced an otherworldly bolt of black that surrounded the dress VeeVee was eyeing and brought it right against the chest of the spellbound bat pony mare. VeeVee looked at herself in a nearby mirror with the dress magically pressed against her.

“Ohhh — zhis one is beautiful! So many colors, like zhe rainbow!”

VeeVee posed a few more times for the mirror while Sweetie Belle tip-toed away towards the kitchen.

“I’m going to get ready for breakfast…” the diminutive filly murmured to her sister. “Don’t worry; I’m not going to cook anything.”

Rarity briefly looked back at her sister and smiled with a nod. She turned back to VeeVee, who spoke once more.

“You see, humble shopkeeper, I don’t always vear zeeze outfits.” She motioned to her leather ensemble. “Only for ze races, ja? So zhose stallions get all zhe flusters und lose zheir focus. Zhe design does not impede my fliegen one bit!”

Rarity’s eyes shot open and her mouth dropped. She quickly scooped it up into a wide grin.

“Wait, are you saying you’re one of the racers in the Storm’s Challenge? And you love my dresses? And high fashion?!”

VeeVee nodded. “Ja, zhis is correct.” She sighed. “I am not zhe biggest fan of zhe racing, but my wings are good for it, und it pays for my dresses und outfits.”

Rarity’s grin became even wider as she hatched the greatest idea ever. She began to work her magic on VeeVee and explained the proposal she had given Rainbow the night before, plus a new incentive she had just thought up. The lucrative offer made VeeVee spin around, and Rarity jumped a little as she saw a yellow glow in her new friend’s eyes.

“I can pick out any of zhe outfits I vant?!”

Rarity finally realized where the yellow mist from around the branch came from. The pulse of amber emanating from VeeVee's gaze was even more attractive than her usual stare.

Some different form of magic! Rarity surmised. She paid it little mind as she continued with her sales pitch. By the end of it, both ponies were smiling and holding hooves.

“Doesn’t it sound marvelous, VeeVee?” Rarity said with twinkles in her eyes.

“Ja, all zhe dresses, und I get to show them off und tell zhe ponies about zis wunderbar Geschäft!” VeeVee held the same twinkle in her glowing eyes. The two ponies separated. The black beam from the floating branch turned into many different beams, each one shooting off at a different dress. The beams were like outstretched limbs, carrying the dresses in their grasps.

“I vill load these in my wagon und let my little Schvester know about our agreement. You go und eat vith your own little Schvester! Take your time! Vee have many hours before vee need to be in Canterlot!”

Rarity jumped in place, hooves flailing in excitement.

“We won’t be long at all, VeeVee! We’ll be ready to leave in no time!”

After whipping up a tasty breakfast for her and Sweetie Belle, Rarity cleaned the kitchen in a flash with her magic. She all but floated out of the kitchen in elation, humming a tune the entire time. She spoke to Sweetie Belle in a sing-song tone.

“Ohhh little sister! Can you believe my luck? Here I thought I was going to have to go to Canterlot all alone and win over some big shot with my pizzazz when all I had to do was —absolutely nothing!” Rarity smiled devilishly. “Applejack will be seething!” She quickly turned back to her little sister with a softened expression. Sweetie Belle was frowning at her. “Oh, you don’t think I am taking the tiff with Applejack too seriously, do you?”

Sweetie Belle bounced in place and protested squeakily.

“Too serious? Oh no, not at all, Rarity! You’re not taking this too far at all — and hello! Nopony would have come if I hadn’t kept the door open last night! You might want to say thanks!”

Rarity chuckled nervously.

“Right… you have a point Sweetie Belle.” Rarity ruffled the top of Sweetie Belle’s head with a tender, sisterly hoof. “Thank you. Even if it was only because you didn’t do what I asked you to.”

Sweetie Belle’s “good little sister” smile almost blinded Rarity with its glow.

The two sisters left the Boutique. Rarity made sure she locked the door behind them as they stepped into a fine Ponyville day. The first thing catching both sets of eyes was VeeVee’s imposing, packed wagon towering towards the sky. The sheer amount of luggage stacked atop the wagon rivaled Rarity’s own wagon when her and Sweetie Belle had gone camping last year.

Strapped to the harness of the wagon was a large, bipedal creature made entirely of a black liquid-like mass. It resembled a minotaur without the horns and was almost as tall as the wagon and its load, which rose slightly above the Boutique. The creature seemed solid, but a sort of mirage-like effect made its form wavy and illusionary. It stood completely still and silent. Sweetie Belle retreated behind her sister, who was staring at the creature with mouth agape.

“Do not fear!” VeeVee chimed. “He is just my companion pet, Arnold!”

VeeVee continued, this time using her strange amber eye magic to float the branch with the stone right in front of Rarity and Sweetie Belle. “He comes from zhis — it is a magic stave, vhich my people entrusted to me.” Suddenly the stone on the end of the stave lit up, a black beam shot out, and at the end of the beam a small creature formed.

It looked like a rabbit, and unlike Arnold, the creature was formed solidly enough that it was just as cute as a rabbit. It hopped over to Sweetie Belle and began to cuddle up against her. Sweetie Belle relaxed.

“Aww, it’s so cute!” she squeaked. Rarity sighed happily.

“Right, of course!” Rarity watched as VeeVee moved the stave through the air and spun it a few times. “It’s really quite awe-inspiring. You should meet my friend —she would die to learn more about your magic.”

The hairs on the back of Rarity’s neck stood up. She suddenly realized a presence was right in front of her. It was the pony from before, VeeVee’s “little Schvester”, who had passed her the stave back inside the Boutique.

“Twilight… Sparkle…” the pony said slowly, looking Rarity right in the eyes. Rarity could not escape the pinprick gaze. “Yes… she certainly would… enjoy the stave of Dunkeleidenschaft.” Rarity felt her breathing grow shallow and her vision turn blurry. Those eyes…

“She would… also very much enjoy… our homeland. We have… so many books… that she would love… to study…”

Rarity blinked rapidly and shook her head, regaining her senses. She took a few steps back from the pony with the pinprick eyes and caught her breath.

The mare had a mane as black as VeeVee’s but it hung down, not up, and covered most of her face. Both eyes could barely be seen, not so much due to the hair, but because they were pinpricks. The whites of her eyes were enormous. Her coat was a shade of grey close to VeeVee's but lacking the sheen. She also did not have any bat pony wings or fangs.

“Enough, Velmeera,” VeeVee chastised, addressing her Schvester. “You are scaring Ms. Rarity — mmm, no?”

Sweetie Belle had been oblivious to the entire exchange as she galivanted around with three black rabbits, two more having joined their big sibling after the stave created them.

“Vee should go now,” VeeVee suggested.

Velmeera held Rarity’s gaze briefly before she turned and trotted back to her place by Arnold. Once back in place, Velmeera stared at Rarity once more. The fashionista started to walk down the road with her sister in tow.

9 - Day Trip to Canterlot

Chapter 9

Day Trip to Canterlot

Applejack had given her daily chores to Apple Bloom, Big McIntosh, and Granny Smith for the day. She successfully pitched her idea to go to Canterlot to earn a lot of money for the Apple family — this time for real, not like at the Grand Galloping Gala.

Shoot, can’t do any worse! These are race fans, Applejack! They’re gonna love yer apples!

She thought of Rarity and snorted.

And ah certainly can’t lose to Miss Prissy Pants. Although…

Applejack strained as the harness she was strapped into refused to yield to her trot all of a sudden. She looked down between her four hooves and saw that the wagon she was pulling had caught on a rock. She unhooked herself and cleared the obstacle. She looked up at her wares, piled high and shining in the late morning sun, and smiled.

The wagon was fitted with a huge, tiered wooden chest. On top were the apples, the next tier was baked goods, the one below that was filled with different sized barrels of cider, and the last tier had the necessary equipment to set up shop and take bits.

When she strapped herself back up, Applejack returned to her thoughts and frowned.

…I just hope I ain’t taking things too far with this whole rivalry thing me and Rarity got going on.

Applejack shook her head.

“No, no,” she said to herself, “It was Rarity who started this whole thing. She had to be miss” —Applejack batted her eyelashes and puckered her lips — “I’m so perfect!” Applejack smiled. “Plus, s’all in good fun.”

A stallion walking on the road had stopped to listen to Applejack talk to herself. She saw this and blushed, waving at the stallion with a goofy smile. He went on his way, looking back uneasily at Applejack.

The day after the announcement of The Storm’s Challenge saw Ponyville nearly deserted. Ponies were still out and about if they had business to attend to, but Applejack reasoned that ponies with any time off were in Canterlot to enjoy some pre-race festivities, which didn’t bother her since it made it easier to leave town with her cargo in tow.

Somepony cried out down the road and it drew Applejack’s attention.

“Come on! Wake up already!”

Applejack made her way down the street until she was standing in front of a restaurant with an outdoor seating area, where the source of the noise was. A stallion in an apron was prodding a big lump of tan fur and messy maroon hair, slumped over six outside dining tables that had been brought together to form a big make-shift one. The lump was snoring so loud it shook the chairs that surrounded the tables. Applejack sneered.

“What in tarnation…”

The stallion in the apron jabbed the lump again.

“Get up! I need to get the dining area ready for the day!” The stallion sent a rapid flurry of jabs into the lump. “And you shouldn’t have passed out here in the first place!”

Applejack began counting the empty mugs of cider surrounding the lump: ten, twenty — thirty?! Applejack’s mouth dropped.

“Not a chance he drank that all himself!”

BORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP!

A loud belch broke out from under the lump and shook the tables and caused a draft of air that blew Applejack’s hair. She covered her nose.

“Ewww…” she complained.

The stallion with the apron took a step back. Applejack realized he must have owned the restaurant.

“Finally! Could you please clear out of here?” The lump stirred as the restaurant owner continued, “Thank you for the business but you’re going to be driving away customers looking… like that.”

The lump was, evidently, a stallion, given that it stretched out four thick appendages with a yawn. The tables underneath him groaned as he shifted and got onto his own four legs. He wobbled, his shaggy mane swaying side to side like window curtains.

The newly awake stallion slowly rotated to see where he was. He eventually locked eyes with Applejack, then quickly tore them away when he saw the wagon behind her. His mouth dropped and his brown eyes opened wide.

“Cider!” he shouted, pointing a hoof at the various barrels and mugs on Applejack’s wagon. The cowpony turned to look at the wagon as well, and then looked back at the hefty stallion, who was drooling. Applejack raised a brow.

“Y-You like yer cider, huh?” The bushy maned stallion briskly nodded. Applejack took notice of the wings pressed against his sides. Each one had to be the size of three or four of Rainbow Dash’s! Then Applejack came to a realization.

“Now hold on — you’re a pegasus pony? You’re not flying in them bigshot races, are you?!”

She looked at the wobbly stallion, another burp escaping his lips. He groaned and held a hoof to his head.

“Aye… tha’ I am. No racin’ today, I hope? Got one Tartarus of a headache.”

Applejack thought that the stallion sounded like one of the weird ponies in kilts that sometimes came to the farm in search of cider by the barrel. She got onto her hind legs and grabbed an empty mug from the wagon and filled it with one of the kegs of cider. She held it out towards the wobbly stallion with a great big smile.

“Lookin’ for a hair of the dog? Have a mug of my Apple Family Cider — best cider in Equestria!”

Before she could even blink, the stallion shot over like a bullet and was gulping down the cider. When she finally did blink, Applejack saw that the stallion was already done with the beverage. He hiccupped and stretched out his wings. Applejack had to take a step back to avoid getting a wing tip in her eye.

“Tha’ was amazing!” The stallion roared, and Applejack saw that a small crowd was gathering around. Somepony in the mass held out a hoof and cheered.

“It’s Boozebeard! He’s going to do his signature Rocket Jump!”

Applejack held onto her hat as Boozebeard started to flap his wings, slowly at first, and then fast enough that they became tan-colored blurs. He bent at his knees. The crowd was all smiles or open mouths. Applejack hopped behind her wagon just as Boozebeard shot up.

The powerful force of his rise started an explosion of dust and dirt. Applejack turned at the last moment and avoided an eyeful, but some still entered her mouth, chalky and coarse. Boozebeard’s ascent caused a break in the sound barrier, creating a boom not unlike Rainbow at top speed. Cheering overtook the small crowd. Applejack coughed out some dirt and looked up to the sky, shifting her stetson to block the raging sun.

“Ah’ll be a donkey’s — this Boozebeard fella’s even faster than Rainbow!”

The sound of a cash register opening resounded in Applejack’s mind and she saw bits in front of her eyes.

Wait, he’s even faster than Rainbow? And he’s in the races?? AND HE LOVES CIDER?!

“Hot dog!” Applejack cheered, dancing around her wagon with a twirling lasso. “We’ll be rich! This guy’s gonna help me sell so much cider for the farm, we’ll need to hire farmhooves just to keep up with the demand! Might even need one of them super sleezy cider mcsqueezie thingamawhatsits!”

Applejack stopped and rubbed her forehooves together, wearing an evil grin.

“And ah’ll sell way more apples than Rarity will her fancy, shmancy dresses and what not! Why, it takes a hundred apples just to make one batch of cider!”

The stallion-cum-rocket eventually descended back to the mortal realm with a huge gust of wind from his wings to soften his landing, right at the same spot he took off from. Seemingly renewed after some cider and a flight, Boozebeard held up his head proudly with a crescent smile. He roared with laughter.

“Hello, wee ones!” he proclaimed. The crowd swarmed him with questions and cheering. Applejack and Boozebeard were trying to maintain eye contact but stallions and mares were getting in the stallion’s face. Finally, Applejack grew tired of waiting.

She pursed her lips around the end of a forehoof and blew. The shrill whistle caused the crowd of ponies to cringe and turn to her.

“Shucks, everypony!” Applejack complained. “Ah wanna have a few words with Mr. Boozebeard here. Mind toning it down for a spell?”

The crowd looked at Applejack in silence, then to Boozebeard, and back at Applejack. The momentary pause reverted to madness as the fans resumed their onslaught. Boozebeard raised a hoof as if to say, “What can you do?”

Applejack gritted her teeth. The crowd wasn’t getting any smaller. She grabbed another empty mug and shook it, gaining Boozebeard’s attention. She pointed at the mug and opened her eyes wide at Boozebeard. His mouth opened slightly and he shook his head, mouthing, “Wha’?”

Applejack made several more pointing gestures at the mug, then at the keg of cider, then at Boozebeard. She mouthed the words, “You want more? A LOT more?”

At that, Boozebeard’s face lit up and he flew at Applejack. He grasped her in his hooves and flapped his wings.

“If it’s about cider, why did ye not say so, wee one?” Applejack’s eyes grew wide as she realized what was about to happen.

With another rumble that defied nature itself, the two took to the sky. Applejack was screaming and holding onto her stetson with one hoof and had the other latched onto one of Boozebeard’s own.

“PUT ME DOWN!” Applejack screamed. “WE’RE TOO HIGH!” The force of the air being cut by Boozebeard’s form made her cheeks flap.

“Bah, it’s the only way to escape tha’ fans. What was tha’ about a lot more cider?”

Boozebeard slowed his speed to a gentle glide. Applejack was hyperventilating. She could see colorful specks on the ground below, whenever the poofy white clouds weren’t blocking her vision. The buildings of Ponyville looked like miniature models of a town. A bird flew right past her and Boozebeard, causing her to watch the flyer for a few moments in awe.

“Hullo? I’ve not got all day here,” Boozebeard said with impatience.

“R-Right!” Applejack said with a gulp. She tried to remember everything she had asked Rainbow the night before, and the made her pitch to Boozebeard, with modifications to entice his love of cider. It seemed to work because the hulking stallion erupted with laughter.

“Aye, that’s it then? You want me to endorse yer cider and yer apples an’ I can have all the cider I can drink?”

Boozerbeard turned Applejack around in his hooves so they were staring at eachother. Applejack hadn’t forgotten they were hundreds of feet above the ground and was shaking.

“Lass, you sure about this here arrangement? I can drink my weight in cider a hundred times ovah.”

Applejack smiled nervously.

“T-that’s fine. Ah’ll sell enough that it won’t matter. I mean, how much we talkin’ here? A barrel a day?”

Boozebeard made a spitting noise out of one side of his mouth.

“P’shaww! A barrel a day she says!” He chuckled. “Try five!”

Applejack’s eyes got wide. She swallowed hard.

“F-Five, huh? Well, ah s’pose it’s still a good arrangement.”

The farmer pony smiled and motioned to shake Boozebeard’s hoof but remembered the predicament and stopped.

“How’s about we get back onto land and shake on it?” she asked hopefully. Boozebeard grunted affirmatively and nodded. He brought the two back to the ground with surprising grace and sat Applejack back down where he left her. The crowd had not left and resumed their craziness when they saw Boozebeard had returned.

Boozebeard, however, paid them no mind and raised a hoof to shake Applejack’s. She smiled and the two locked hooves.

“NAME’S APPLEJACK.”

“CALL ME BOOZEBEARD!” Boozebeard shouted much louder than Applejack.

“SO,” Applejack shouted over the crowd, “I RECKON WE SHOULD LEAVE NOW BEFORE WE MISS ANYTHING IN CANTERLOT.”

Boozebeard nodded.

“WORKS FER ME. I WAS GONNA GO BY MESELF AT SOME POINT ANYWAY!”

Applejack walked back and began to hitch herself to her wagon, but Boozebeard stopped her with a hoof. He had a mad gleam in his eye as he hitched himself to the wagon instead. Applejack raised an eyebrow, then realized what the stallion intended and gasped.

“A-ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?” she shouted, “AH CAN TIE UP THE GOODS AND SUCH BU—”

“DO IT AND LET’S GO ALREADY! DUN WORRY ABOUT THE LOAD, WEE ONE, I’VE GOT ‘ER!”

Applejack exhaled and started to close the chest of the wagon to secure all her goods inside. She tied a special knot around the chest to keep it closed, then worked quickly to make sure nothing was loose. Lastly she took a long length of rope and tied the chest itself firmly to the wagon. With one final swallow of a lump in her throat, Applejack jumped onto the wagon just behind Boozebeard and held on tight to the wagon. The crowd surrounded the wagon and Boozebeard.

“ANYPONY GOT A PAIR O’ GOGGLES FER ME?”

Five ponies all stretched their hooves out towards Boozebeard, goggles being offered. The stallion took one that looked wide enough for his head and strapped them on. He shouted back at Applejack.

“ALRIGHTY, LASS, HOLD ON TIGH’!”

At the last minute, Applejack wrapped herself in rope and tied both ends to the wagon just in case. Without warning Boozebeard leapt into the air with his Rocket Jump.

* * *

“Let me go, Pinkie!”

Spike shouted and struggled against the ropes holding him tight against Pinkie, who was cheerfully bouncing down the street, her saddlebags jiggling, full of only-Pinkie-knew-what.

“No can do, Spikey! Fluttershy said you need to take the afternoon off, so you’re coming with me!”

The baby dragon grumbled and fussed. He tried to loosen the ropes with his claws, but it was no use. Bushwhacker, who had accompanied Fluttershy to the library, was an expert outdoorspony, and that meant his rope skills were second only to Applejack’s.

Pinkie giggled.

“Fluttershy and her pal Bushwallop have got that library under control! I mean, did you see how those animals worked? Wowza!” Pinkie snorted. “Twilight might make them full time employees! Anyway, don’t worry about letting her down, Spike. Fluttershy said you worked so hard yesterday that you passed out. Twilight will understand that you need a break!”

Spike resigned himself to his fate and sighed.

“Okay, sure, but do I have to be strapped to your back the whole way to Canterlot? And why’re we going there again?”

Pinkie explained how her tail had twitched like crazy the day before as the two (one more willingly than the other) made a steady pace down the road to Canterlot. Every so often, another pony or group of ponies passed by, usually carrying goods in saddlebags or on wagons.

“Alright I get that now, but why are we not taking the train?” Spike questioned once Pinkie finished her spiel.

“Oh, it would take WAY longer to get there by train. Have you seen how busy they are because of the races?”

At one point, a huge stallion strapped to a wagon flew by overhead. Pinkie had kept telling Spike to look, but the baby dragon complained that he had had no way to turn his head skyward, causing Pinkie to laugh when she remembered it was true.

About halfway to the capital city of Equestria, Spike chimed up.

“We’re going to see what’s up with this Maelstrom guy, right?”

“Mhm!” Pinkie hummed.

“Okay, so what’s your plan? He’s going to be surrounded by guards and busy talking to ponies or giving speeches, won’t he?”

Pinkie stopped bouncing and brought a hoof to her muzzle.

“Hmm, good point, Spikey.” She tapped her muzzle a few times before turning to face where she assumed Spike would be.

“Uhhh, Spike? Where’d you go?” She turned around again, then again. Spike coughed.

“I’m tied to your back… remember?”

Pinkie chortled.

“Oh, haha, right! That’s priceless!”

“Hilarious…” Spike lamented.

Pinkie continued down the road once more.

“I figured,” she finally answered Spike, “Once I get close to Magistross, if my Pinkie Sense goes crazy again, that’ll mean there really is something funny going on with him!”

“Maelstrom,” Spike corrected, twiddling his claws. “And if your Pinkie Sense does nothing? Can we at least buy some candy apples and play a game of horseshoe toss or something?” Pinkie nodded with a smile. Spike said nothing for a minute.

“Uhh, was that a yes? No?”

“Oh!” Pinkie Pie snickered. “I forgot again! Yep! If my tail doesn’t twitch, then we’ll just hang out for the day! I think Applejack and Rarity are going to be there, too!”

Spike went starry eyed.

“Rarity, huh?” he said, dreamily, “That doesn’t sound so bad at all, then…” Spike snapped out of it and spoke with some annoyance. “I’m still not super happy you guys forced me away from the library, you know.”

The two talked about other things for the next hour or so until they came over a hill and Pinkie beheld the great city of Canterlot, its spires glistening in the intense midday sun. A waterfall poured over the side of the mountain next to the city, itself also glimmering as sunlight hit it. Pegasi and flyers of all stripes could be seen, like dots, flying overhead. There was even the odd airship or hot air balloon landing or taking off.

Pinkie and Spike passed the great gates amidst dozens of other ponies and a few other creatures. There was a minotaur, some donkeys, and more than a hoofful of griffons. Once inside Canterlot, stalls of innumerable wares and games lined either side of the street, and restaurants and cafes with outdoor seating were packed, with all of them having long lines of ponies waiting to be seated.

“Get your candy apples here!” shouted one stallowner, who caught Spike’s eye. He waved the tasty morsel at the baby dragon, causing Spike to lick his lips. He pushed against the rope.

“Come on, Pinkie! Let me out of here already! It’s not like I’m going to run away now!”

Pinkie replied, “I would, but I don’t know how!”

Spike protested, “What! Find somepony who can then! I don’t want to be tied to you all day! I’m already getting sweaty where our bodies are touching!”

“That’s why I’m keeping an eye out for Applejack! Don’t worry, Spikey, she’ll get you off of my back!”

Spike pushed a claw against his face and said quietly, “Will she help me get you off my back?”

Another stallowner the pair passed held up a horseshoe to the passers-by. Several ponies of all ages were throwing horseshoes at pegs on a wall and winning prizes. Spike sighed longingly.

Pinkie stopped to ask a guard where Maygstrad was (Spike and the guard both corrected her) and was directed to the Royal Courtyard in front of Canterlot Castle.

“You got about an hour until Maelstrom speaks!” The guard cried as the pair went on their way. “Take it easy and play some games!”

Spike smiled. “You hear that, Pinkie? Let’s go find Applejack already!”

10 - The Arrival

Chapter 10

The Arrival

At the Royal Courtyard, Applejack and Rarity were staring each other down. On either side of them was a huge wagon, one stacked high with luggage and clothing, the other with apple products.

“So, Applejack,” Rarity said with an amused smile, “It looks like you found somepony to recommend your apples. He’s a real” — Rarity looked behind Applejack to watch Boozebeard guzzle down a huge mug of cider, onlookers either cheering or looking unsure of the situation — “draw.” Every so often a pony would deposit some bits in a bucket and grab an apple product. Rarity giggled smugly.

“Yeah, ah did. And it looks like you found yourself another Miss Priss to blabber on about yer dresses.” Applejack looked behind Rarity and watched VeeVee use her magic stave to float dresses around the crowd that gathered around. Sweetie Belle was off to one side, writing down orders from excited ponies. Applejack laughed.

“Might wanna git back there and make sure Sweetie Belle isn’t giving away all your dresses for free, Rarity.” Rarity flinched in realization and starting galloping back. She shouted back at Applejack.

“And you better keep an eye on all the cider your ‘little’ pal is drinking, Applejack!”

Boozebeard was drinking straight from a barrel as several stallions and colts edged him on.

“Drink, drink, drink!”

Applejack nervously smiled and galloped back to her wagon.

A pink pony squeezed through the thick swarm of eventgoers, a purple-scaled dragon tied to her back. Pinkie noticed her friends situated along the very edge of the courtyard, overlooking the rest of Canterlot.

“OOO, OOO, APPLEJACK!” the party pony proclaimed, loud enough that ponies close by had to cover their ears. Spike shifted excitedly.

“Oh thank Celestia!”

After exchanging pleasantries, which took longer than usual given how busy Applejack was, Spike was finally being freed from his prison atop Pinkie.

“Shoot, Spike,” Applejack complained as she worked away at the complicated knots, “Couldn’t you guys have played a game that didn’t require a Triple Helix Squirrel Tie?”

Spike fumed. “Game? Game! You think I wanted to be tied to Pinkie’s back? I was forced!” Spike moved his claws every which way as he explained with Pinkie levels of energy. “It was this Bushwhacker guy, they made him do it so I wouldn’t keep working at the library! I said, 'No, Twilight wouldn’t like that,' but they insisted, so—”

Spike stopped. He slumped over with a grumpy expression. Applejack and Pinkie had already begun talking about something else.

“Glad to see yer feeling better today, Pinkie,” Applejack said as she worked the cash register of her little operation, pouring in one bucket of bits and sorting out the pieces. The stream of customers was endless, which was why Applejack was glad she had brought a ton of apple products. She addressed her customers in a loud, professional tone.

“Don’t forget to root for Boozebeard in the races! One of the favorites to win and Sweet Apple Acres’s choice for winner!”

The crowd of customers cheered as Applejack turned her attention back to the party pony. Pinkie chimed up to her friend. “I slept on it and decided that it’s like a big mystery game!” She pulled a deerstalker hat and corn cob pipe out of nowhere and donned her investigator’s guise once more. “I’ll get to the bottom of this, or my name isn’t Pinkamena Sherclop Pie!”

Spike walked up and motioned at Pinkie to Applejack, shaking his head. Applejack chuckled.

“Ah still think yer off your rocker with this whole Maelstrom mumbo jumbo, but you’ll see when yer tail doesn’t shake that it was all a misunderstanding.”

“Hopefully, dear Applejack.” Pinkie took a puff of her pipe and bubbles came out of the end. “Hopefully…”

A loud burp cut through the air. Pinkie grimaced and turned to the source of the noise, being the huge, slovenly stallion she had spotted earlier named Boozebeard. "That's a bit... rude," Pinkie said. "Who is he, anyway, Applejack?"

Applejack managed a reply after dealing with a swath of customers. "He's flying in the races, didn't ya hear what Ah said earlier? Rainbow turned me down for an endorsement deal so Ah chose Boozebeard instead. He ain't so bad, just likes his cider a tad more than most, is all."

Pinkie stared wide-eyed at the behemoth stallion as he worked his way through yet another barrel of cider. "A lot of tads more, I'd say!"

Ponies invaded from all sides. Boozebeard as a draw was a huge success, even though all he did was drink cider and occasionally shoot up into the sky with a Rocket Jump. Applejack shot Pinkie a glance and motioned with her head towards all the customers.

“Why don’t you go see how Rarity’s doing, Pinkie? Ah’m a might busy at the moment, wouldn’t be good company, Ah’m afraid.”

"Ooo, Spike and I can give you a hoof — err, or claw!" Pinkie bounced up and down and Spike smiled with a nod.

Applejack closed her eyes and shook her head. "Ah appreciate the offer, but this here's a competition between Rarity and me. Ah don't want any of our other friends chipping in." She lightened her mood and smiled at her friends. "Go. It's fine!" With that Applejack had to turn her full attention to the growing mass of customers who were clamoring for more apples.

Pinkie shrugged. "Alright, AJ! If that's what you want!" She started sniffing the ground like a blood hound as she moved over to where Rarity was, some paces away. Spike brought his arms up and shook his head.

“Honestly, I really don’t get that pony sometimes.”

At Rarity's make-shift shop, finely-dressed ponies were perusing the dresses and accessories on display. One mare had her eyes glued to a scarf crafted out of shiny green silk. A stallion “ooed” and “awed” at a pitch-black suit ensemble that could easily outshine anything at the Grand Galloping Gala. Everything was being kept afloat by the magic of VeeVee, who was beside herself with glee.

“Vhat pleasure!” she cooed, seeing everypony enthralled with the wares. Rarity stood at her side, a blush on her cheeks, as the compliments continued to roll in. She made sure to have an eye on her sister as often as possible, and was within earshot, while Sweetie Belle took orders. Sweetie Belle looked up at her sister and grinned wide. Rarity nodded with approval.

Awkwardly present at the make-shift shop were stallions young and old. They all stared at VeeVee, her amber eyes aglow. Simply being within hoof’s reach was enough to keep them all placated yet eager for more. If any stepped out of line, the imposing shadow of Arnold looming over, like a massive hulk of black muscle, reminded them not to get too touchy.

“Ahh, Pinkie… Pie?” Rarity spotted her friend sniffing her way over to her. Rarity grimaced and looked to either side of her.

“Oh, Rarity!” Pinkie seemed to break out of a trance and started acting (relatively) normal again, trotting over to the fashionista. Spike pirouetted right in front of Rarity and bowed.

“The lady Rarity, exquisite as always!”

A pompous stallion, also bowed over, grumbled.

“You wouldn’t be making fun of me, would you?”

Spike stood up and brushed himself off.

“Who, me? No, no, not at all!” The stallion stood up as well and nodded to Rarity with a smile. He turned towards Spike and then threw his head up with a huff as he walked away. Rarity giggled as she beheld a bright red Spike. Pinkie struggled to keep still as the friends chatted.

“Quite the entrance, you two.” Rarity beamed. “I’m glad you could make it! Isn’t this just magical?” She motioned to all of the fashion-minded ponies around and sighed happily. “My adoring fans! Well, and Ms. VeeVee’s adoring fans!” She nudged her newest friend, who turned around.

“Pinkie, Spike, this is Ms. VeeVee, one of the ponies competing in the Storm’s Challenge. She’s helping me promote my wares in exchange for my own promotion of her as a top contender in the races. Ms. VeeVee, these are my friends, Pinkie Pie and Spike.”

The group made their greetings. Spike elbowed Pinkie and whispered to her, “She’s no Rarity, but she’s pretty easy on the eyes, huh?”

Pinkie nodded and whispered back, “Yeah!” She tilted her head and mused. “I wonder how she got all these stallions to come.”

Spike put his claws behind his head leisurely and glanced upwards for a second. “I wonder indeed…” he deadpanned.

Rarity had received a few offers for some of the items that were present, which were technically gifts to VeeVee, but the price given was so astronomical, the batpony agreed to part with them in exchange for even better threads tailor-made by Rarity herself.

After the purchase, Rarity stood on a box and made an announcement to her customers.

“Everypony please remember to cheer your loudest for the lovely Ms. VeeVee in the races in the coming days! I, Rarity, fashion designer extraordinaire, decree that she has the BEST chance of winning the races!”

All the fine-dressed ponies within earshot clapped their hooves against the ground. As the commotion continued, and the group talked amongst themselves, Spike noticed a pony standing off by herself and looking down off the edge of the courtyard. The grey-furred mare winced every now and again. Spike walked over to her.

“Hey there,” he asked once he had gotten away from the hubbub. The mare jumped into the air in fright. “Oops, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. Are you alright? It looked like you were in pain.”

The mare turned around slowly. Spike instinctively moved backwards as the pinprick eyes behind the color-absorbing black mane latched onto his own inquisitive dragon ones.

“Hmm…” the mare hummed. It was if she saw right past Spike’s eyes to his brain. “Ohh… a friend… of Rarity’s.” She turned away from Spike once more. “Yes… I am fine. I wish to be… alone, however…” She said no more. Spike raised a claw, starting to speak, then did a toe-heel turn and went back to the others.

“Hold on,” he said to himself, “Why did I walk away again?”

Suddenly, Pinkie yanked Spike away from where he was standing and tossed him up on her back.

“Come on, Spike! Let’s go have some fun and get our sugar rush on!”

Spike shook his head to eliminate his previous thoughts. He licked his lips with a long, hungry dragon tongue.

“L-Lets!” he agreed, his nose catching a whiff of something deep fried and buttery.

The duo blew from one stand or stall to the next. First, of course, were the candy apples. The apples used weren’t quite as good as Sweet Apple Acres apples, but the real treat of a candy apple was the candy, and even Pinkie remarked that the candy was scrumptious.

They then ran into Mr. Cake, who had Pound Cake with him. Both Cakes were behind a modest stall, baked goods all around. Pinkie had been given the rest of the day off after helping Mr. Cake load the products onto the train that morning. He remarked that he and Pound Cake had only just arrived, given how slow the trains were. Pound was sound asleep on a cushion.

Spike and Pinkie talked for a brief minute, then purchased a piece of cake each, and were on to the horseshoe-throwing stall. Both friends tried their best but didn’t manage to win any prizes. Spike had pouted, but Pinkie shook him out of his slump with laughter and reminded him that they had a lot more games to play and fair food to devour.

Forty-five minutes had passed. Spike, now twenty pounds larger, engorged on sweets and deep-fried surprises on sticks, was almost rolling towards the center of the courtyard. Pinkie, not fairing much better, groaned as she rolled herself next to him.

“M-Maybe that was a bit” — Pinkie burped and moaned in displeasure — “Overboard?”

Spike gurgled and spoke in an incoherent babble as he and Pinkie started to feel the pressure of the crowd. There was little room between one pony and another. Maelstrom was set to appear at any time. The sun was closer to setting than to its apex in the sky at that point, but the heat was still intense, more so for the pudgy pony and her plump dragon friend.

Trumpets began a brassy tune in the distance, stealing the attention of everypony in and near the courtyard. The sounds came from a golden chariot, gleaming in the sunlight, sailing through the air toward the center of the courtyard where a stage was set. Upon landing, it was clear who the newest guest was. The crowd roared with cheers.

Pinkie’s smile forced the rolls of chub on her face upwards. “Princess Celestia! Ohhh, I know her, I know her!”

From behind Pinkie and Spike, soaring just above the courtyard, came a group of Maelstrom’s guards and the flying champion himself. They took their positions on the stage, Maelstrom and Celestia side-by-side.

Pinkie squinted at Maelstrom, then looked at her tail. She waited, and waited, but it didn’t so much as twitch.

She breathed out a sigh of relief.

Guess I worried for nothing!

11 - A Meeting of Old Friends

Chapter 11

A Meeting of Old Friends

Some time ago…

Rainbow barely managed to keep her eyelids open, even with goggles on. Howling wind attacked her senses from the front, urging her to give up and give in. She flapped furiously against the gale and forced her tired body onward. In her gritted teeth was a tiny flag. She would not surrender it to the power of nature before her.

She could see her destination in front of her: one of the Wonderbolts. The next chain in the relay practice drill. It was only a bit further.

Keep… going… Rainbow’s eyes leaked like a broken faucet. She couldn’t hear anything except the shriek of the wind.

Finally, she reached her destination and the Wonderbolt snatched the flag from her maw. Rainbow did not simply submit to her situation, however, and continued to fight against the typhoon-like draft with the determination of a champion. Her wings flapped in overdrive and she broke free from her prison inside the whirlwind. She collected her breath then glanced over at the source of the whirlwind in the distance.

It was an imposing structure, the famed Wonderbolts Chinook Challenger 8000. A steel fan that took a dozen ponies to operate, it was blasting out such a tornado that being directly in front of it would probably rip one’s face clean off. At least, that’s what Rainbow had been told. She smiled to herself in the afterglow of her successful part in the relay.

She flew over to the cloud platform where the relay ended, at the weakest point of the Challenger’s great storm. Spitfire stood with a stopwatch in one hoof, seriously looking at it. Other Wonderbolts, who were finished their part in the relay, were catching their breath and stretching. Spitfire noticed Rainbow but quickly looked back down.

“Good work, rookie,” said Spitfire, nonchalantly, “That was the best time yet for a leg of the relay drill.” Rainbow beamed at the Wonderbolt captain. She knew how serious Spitfire took her role during practice and that deep down she was just as blown away as the other Wonderbolts, who were staring at Rainbow in surprise.

“Only by a little bit!” Spitfire shouted. “Don’t get too full of yourself, Race Representative Dash!” Rainbow turned serious and saluted the captain. She quickly turned away and giggled to herself excitedly.

By the end of the relay drill, seven Wonderbolts and Rainbow were lined up. Spitfire looked over each one of them as she walked down the line.

“Well well, not bad, flyers.” She stopped in front of Rainbow. “All of you could learn a thing or two about how you handle yourselves under extreme stress and in adverse weather conditions from Rainbow Dash here. Make sure to keep an eye on her in the next drill if you can!”

Rainbow received a few compliments after the debrief and then all the pegasi were off to the Academy. The cyan pegasus made sure to check up on her pal Tank, who gave a little reptilian thumbs up as he wiped some sweat from his bald head. She regrouped with the others in the center of the Academy tarmac, where almost every Wonderbolt and junior member were gathered. Spitfire stood to one side of the mass, and Soarin’ was off to another. Spitfire barked orders.

“Our next drill is going to be a team challenge! I’ll take half of you, and Soarin’” — Spitfire hissed the name, looking over at Soarin’ with fire in her eyes, the stallion flyer being equally as aflame with passion — “will take the other half!”

But as the captains started to divide the Wonderbolts, Fleetfoot landed, out of breath, next to Spitfire. The two talked quietly between themselves as Rainbow looked on, impatiently. She quickly remembered where Fleetfoot had come from.

Right! The training exercise with the EFL!

“Okay everypony!” Spitfire shouted, “Change of plans!” The Wonderbolt members and Rainbow stiffened up.

“The Equestria Flyers League is coming here to take part in a training exercise with us! Fleetfoot tells me they will be here in just a few minutes. Which means we need to be ready for when they arrive! We don’t want to appear disorganized and amateurish to them, do we?”

Everypony replied in unison, “No, ma’am, no!”

Soarin’ interjected. “Everypony, come form up in front of me so we can start the preparations!”

The Wonderbolts started to move to the right. Rainbow found herself following the crowd.

“I think not!” Spitfire commanded. “Everypony come over here and line up by ME!”

Spitfire and Soarin’ got muzzle to muzzle and started to bicker. The uncomfortable atmosphere made ponies shuffle in place and whistle to themselves. Rainbow locked eyes with Fleetfoot, who looked desperate for a solution to the arguing. Rainbow huffed and rolled her eyes, then flew over to Fleetfoot.

“Grab Spitfire and try to talk some sense into her, and I’ll go do the same for Soarin’!”

Fleetfoot and Rainbow flew over and grabbed their respective Wonderbolt captain and pushed them to separate sides. Soarin’ struggled against his prismatic captor.

“What — hey! Rainbow Dash! Let go!” — Rainbow shoved Soarin’ forward with her head until they were far enough away from the others that nopony could hear them — “I may not be as strict as Spitfire, but I’m still the second-in-command, and this is disrupting official Wonderbolts command business!”

Rainbow spread her wings out wide and stared at Soarin’ like a veteran flyer would a rookie. “Official command business, huh? I might be out of line doing and saying all this, but we’re all trying to do our best to get ready for the races! You two arguing and fighting is holding us back!” Soarin’ pouted. He whinnied with annoyance, but then his face lightened up and he sighed.

“I — you’re right, Rainbow Dash. I know you’re right.” He laid on his back and extended his limbs away from his body like he was making a flying snow pony. “It’s just that, the way Spitfire has been lately is really getting on my nerves, and I can’t take much more!” Rainbow sat down next to him as he explained.

“Ever since we were junior flyers, Spitfire and I have been best buds! It was like we had two bodies but, y’know, one mind or something?” Soarin’ looked at Rainbow then turned away with a “bah!” remark at his own expense. “Nevermind, it’s a stupid thing to say.” Rainbow looked over at the junior obstacle course and saw Tank flying about. She smiled and shook her head.

“I don’t think it’s a stupid thing at all, Soarin’. I totally know what you’re talking about! You two are best friends, right? So what changed recently?”

Soarin’ shot up. “That’s just it, Rainbow Dash! I have no idea! One day everything is normal, and the next she starts to get ticked off randomly, then the day after it happens again and before you know it it’s happening almost all the time!” He tightened his brow into a frown. “It’s getting to the point where she’s undermining my rank as second-in-command!”

“Fleetfoot told me,” Rainbow mentioned, “That Spitfire mostly gets mad because you start talking about female ponies. Like, the other day, when you were talking about miss, uhh — that batpony from the train station.” Soarin’ raised an eyebrow.

“Ms. VeeVee? What about her? I was just saying how cute she was, I think — but all the stallions do that! I mean, have you seen her? Spitfire probably thinks the same thing!”

Rainbow raised a hoof quizzically. “Listen, Soarin’, I don’t get it either, but right now you two need to just make up and figure out how to solve this some other time! I love the Wonderbolts, and it’s my dream to fly with you guys” — Rainbow paced back and forth — “but if this keeps up, I’ll have to go train somewhere else, and I don’t think I’ll be the only pony to decide that, either!”

Soarin’ smiled, looking a bit ashamed. “Jeez, you’re really something Rainbow Dash — you’re totally right.” He leapt to his hooves and became focused once more. “The EFL are going to be here soon! We need to get into formation!”

Hooves clip-clopping on the tarmac behind Rainbow and Soarin’ alerted both to the arrival of Spitfire and Fleetfoot. The ardent leader of the Wonderbolts was mostly looking down, though sometimes looked up, and always avoided Soarin’s gaze. She sighed deep and then spoke.

“Soarin’… I…” A hot tinge flecked her cheeks. “I’m sorry! I was being a big jerk, and the team has suffered because of it!”

Soarin’ shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Spitfire. It’s not like I was being a good friend by getting just as heated. I should have tried to understand your feelings — but, let’s talk about it later, alright? We need to —”

A bugle sounded from one side of the Academy. All three high-ranking Wonderbolts jerked their heads skyward, while Rainbow looked around in confusion. She took the lead of those around her and looked up.

“The EFL is here!” Fleetfoot lamented. “And we’re not even close to being ready!”

Rainbow counted ten flyers heading towards the Academy. They flew in a compact delta formation, with one pony in front and the ranks behind branching out until the last rank had four ponies in it, forming a triangle shape. Pink and magenta smoke billowed out from behind the pegasi aviators.

Everypony scrambled to their positions and into their roles. Spitfire and Soarin’ gathered their companions into proper columns, Rainbow stood beside Fleetfoot on her orders, and all waited for the landing of the EFL. At last the ten visitors landed, gracefully and at the same time, right in front of the Wonderbolts.

Rainbow noticed their uniforms were the same kind of skin-tight material as the Wonderbolts uniform; however, instead of being blue and yellow with a lightning bolt theme, the Equestria Flyers League uniform was dark green with a symbol of white, outstretched wings on the front chest area. Various jagged lines of white broke up the monotony of green throughout the uniform. Each pegasus also wore a medallion with a silver emblem, like Rainbow had seen on Slapshot and Bushwhacker.

I got it! It must be an EFL thing!

The pegasus at the lead of the EFL formation took off her googles and brushed a wavy lock of sparkling pink mane out of one eye. She ruffled her magenta feathers for a brief moment before sashaying up to Soarin’, throwing only a sidelong glance at Spitfire. Both Wonderbolt captains looked at the EFL lead pony as if at an old friend.

“Oh. My. Gosh!” the mare cried. She wrapped a hoof around Soarin’, bringing out a blush on his pale blue face. Spitfire’s eyes were nearly bulging outside of her skull. “Soary! It’s been too long!”

Soarin’ was tongue tied but managed to say a name. “L-Lovey Dovey!?”

“That’s me! I haven’t seen all of you in a few years now! How is my old team doing?”

Spitfire spat an answer. “Just great, Lovey Dovey! Have been since you abandoned us for the big city and the EFL.” Lovey ignored the words and gasped as she saw Fleetfoot.

“Hey it’s Fleetfoot!” She trotted right up to Fleetfoot and Rainbow and once again wrapped a hoof around a pony who looked more than a little uncomfortable. “I remember when you were just a junior member! And now you’re one of the big shots, aren’t you?”

Fleetfoot cleared her throat and slowly backed out of the hug. “G-Good to see you, Lovey Dovey. Didn’t realize you led a team in the EFL now.”

“Of course!” Lovey pointed at her crew and beamed. “They’re my little princes and princesses! We’re one of the best teams in the EFL, if I do say so myself!” Rainbow followed the hoof and saw that the entire team of flyers looked quite similar to Lovey herself, with similar mane and coat shades. Even the stallions had intricate, sparkly manes. Rainbow turned her head slightly and involuntarily flexed her top lip in disgust.

“And this” — It was Rainbow’s turn to receive an awkward hug — “Must be the famous Rainbow Dash! Even in Baltimare we hear the tales about your adventures with your friends… and of course, about your excellent flying!” Rainbow shoved Lovey away and fixed her uniform and mane.

“Yeah, hi — I’m sorry, but who is this, Spitfire?”

Lovey seemed to realize that Spitfire existed all of a sudden and turned around in surprise. Spitfire was fuming as she answered Rainbow’s question. “Oh, just an old member of the Wonderbolts who decided we weren’t good enough for her.” Lovey shrieked with joy and once again surrounded somepony in a big hug, this time being Spitfire, who looked as sickened as them all.

“Little Spitfire!” Lovey cried, “It’s been too long!”

“Are we going to fly or not, Lovey?” Spitfire asked with spite.

The mare in question clonked her hooves together. “Right! Of course! The joint exercise!” Lovey turned around and motioned a hoof at her team. They all lined up single file, facing the Wonderbolts.

“I’m thinking a ten-pony, high-altitude vector formation exercise will be best to prepare for the races.” Lovey proclaimed. Spitfire, Soarin’, and Fleetfoot exchanged glances, and all nodded in agreement.

“Fine.” Spitfire said with gritted teeth. “Have your team line up on the Cumulonimbus Launch Pad… I trust you remember where that is.”

Lovey nodded with a smile. “Mhm!” she hummed. Turning away to meet up with her team, Lovey’s tail floated around and tickled Soarin’s chin. She shot the stallion a half-lidded stare and winked. Soarin’ gulped and turned red. Spitfire’s body was throbbing with heat and she nearly broke her teeth by gnashing them together so hard.

Rainbow positioned herself in the crowd of Wonderbolts and stood on her tippy hooves, a big smile plastered on her face. Spitfire and Soarin’ picked seven members of the Wonderbolts to join them and Fleetfoot in the exercise. Rainbow hung her head.

“Rainbow Dash!” Fleetfoot called. She motioned the cyan mare over. Rainbow followed.

“Listen, we have an important job for you!” Fleetfoot whispered to Rainbow, “The most important job in a vector exercise.”

The third-in-command of the Wonderbolts explained Rainbow’s role in the exercise. Rainbow nodded in understanding as she was briefed. The other Wonderbolts not taking part in the exercise were led to another part of the Academy to participate in a different drill.

As Rainbow took to the skies to assume her position, she noticed a bluish blur among the clouds far off in the distance.

12 - The Tail Never Lies

Chapter 12

The Tail Never Lies

Present Time

Canterlot’s Royal Courtyard crackled with pony electricity, which was palpable for Pinkie and Spike. Young and old alike were talking to one another excitedly as the princess and “The Storm” were tended to by agents and make-up artists. A crew set up at the foot of the stage with machines and microphones. Loudspeakers around the courtyard turned on with an audible hiss.

“Helllllloooo sportsfans!”shouted a voice familiar to most in the crowd, “Tele-P right back atcha once again! I’m not gonna go off on a tangent here — let’s leave that to the celebrities, huh?” – He paused for anticipated laughter, which did come from some – “One of the princesses and leaders of our country, Princess Celestia, is going to address the massive crowd at Canterlot any moment now, in advance of the race announcement from Maelstrom!”

Princess Celestia looked uncomfortable surrounded by ponies trying to make her look her best. Maelstrom, beside her, turned to her and shrugged. They exchanged inaudible words then laughed. The princess approached a microphone, cleared her throat, and addressed the crowd.

“Citizens of Equestria, locals of Canterlot, and of course, our cherished guests from abroad! Welcome to my home! Welcome to Canterlot!”

Cheering and hoof clapping could be heard all the way to the gates of the city. Spike was trying to get onto Pinkie’s back, but his newly acquired girth made it impossible. He had to shout for Pinkie to hear him.

“I CAN’T SEE, WHAT’S GOING ON?”

“NOTHING SPIKE DON’T WORRY!” was the explosion of a reply. It made several ponies nearby flick their ears in displeasure. Princess Celestia continued when given a minute of near-silence and turned to Maelstrom. His ruby-red armor, in color and material, had a gold trim and made him look nearly as regal as the princess herself.

“I was asked by Maelstrom to give an opening speech before his announcement today, and while I think his own words will do much justice to the purpose of these great races coming to the nation’s capital, there is something I feel needs to be addressed by myself specifically.”

The princess turned back to the crowd.

“Let’s keep in mind as this week progresses that all of us are here for one thing: to enjoy the spectacle of the races! We do not all come from the same place, or even the same land, but we share a love for entertainment, and togetherness. Let’s keep that spirit well in our heads and never forget the power of unity!”

The crowd blew up once more and Maelstrom turned to the princess. There was a gleam in his eye, which Pinkie caught even through the shimmer from his armor. Something not quite right. He spoke when the noise dampened.

“Yes, well, princess, you of all ponies would appreciate unity and the necessity for it, being the ruling monarch and all!”

Pinkie felt a strange twinge overtake her haunches as everypony around her started to laugh. Even Spike took part in the fun, although he couldn’t see much of anything. Pinkie looked back at herself and noticed that her body was shuddering, almost imperceptibly.

“Hmm…” she mumbled with a sad inflection. Princess Celestia stuck out her tongue at Maelstrom and he humbly bowed before continuing.

“Let’s all give the princess a big round of applause!”

More cheering. Pinkie ignored her nagging thoughts of the twinge in her behind and focused on Maelstrom as he made his speech.

He spoke mostly the same words he had used the day before in Ponyville, not that Pinkie or any of her friends present in the courtyard knew that. It wasn’t altogether clear that it was a rehearsed speech, except to ponies who had been to other events where he had given it. The ending of the speech, however, was unique to Canterlot.

“My dear ponies and other flyers,” Maelstrom bellowed, moving away from the princess and closer to the edge of the stage. He walked along it and made eye contact with as many ponies as he could as he finished with theatrical flair. “I promise to each and every one of you that I shall put on a show you will never forget!”

With that he ended his speech with the same send off as in Ponyville, with fireworks and flying into the air with outstretched hooves. The crowd, of course, went berserk. Spike had jumped up and down so much to try and get a better view that he worked off most of his fat. Pinkie, however, stared wide eyed at Maelstrom. She was frozen, except for movement coming from the base of her spine.

Her tail was vibrating madly like a flag caught in a windstorm.

“That’s… not good.”

Rarity clapped and cheered.

“Oh my, what a performance!” She turned to VeeVee with praise in her azure eyes. “That Maelstrom fellow must be from the theatre! Excellent, wasn’t it? Really gets you pumped up!”

VeeVee nodded with a big smile. “Jes! He is a master of zhe words! He is a freund of mine, you know.”

Rarity nearly fainted. She maintained her composure, however, and gripped VeeVee’s shoulders.

“You’re kidding me, darling! Why didn’t you say so earlier? I could have used that in my praise of you!”

VeeVee waved a dismissive hoof in front of Rarity. "Nonsense, RarRar. Vee are just zhe freunds. Sometimes we meet at races and such. It's blah!"

Tele-P's voice once again reverberated out of the speakers.

"Alright, sportsfans! Keep your ears open for this announcement and tell your friends! The first race of the Storm's Challenge will take place at noon the day after tomorrow! Make sure to be back in Canterlot tomorrow afternoon when the Saddlebred Citadel moves into our airspace for the first time ever! This is Tele-P, signing off once again!"

The energy in the courtyard returned to normal and ponies brought their attention back to Rarity and her shop. The fashionista found herself swamped once again with customers, and Sweetie Belle looked absolutely overwhelmed. Rarity felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around.

“Rarity?” It was VeeVee, in mid-stride. “My Schwester und I have to go. Just for a few of zhe minutes.” Rarity looked crestfallen and VeeVee continued as she trotted away, her sister visible in the distance behind the crowds. “Have no fear! Vee shall return!”

Rarity protested. “But we had a deal! Where are you going?!”

VeeVee’s magic stave brought all of the articles of clothes and dresses it was connected with through its black beams onto mannequins. Customers followed VeeVee as she left. VeeVee called back to Rarity one last time, “I vill tell you vhen I return, sweet RarRar!”

The magic stave shot a black bolt at Arnold. The beam of black started to pulse and fluctuate as the form of Arnold slowly dissipated into thin air. With that, VeeVee met up with her sister and the two headed off towards Canterlot Castle. Rarity groaned.

“Well, okay then…” she had little time to lament as business did not dissipate, though a particularly large group of males had wandered off in the direction of VeeVee.

By now Princess Celestia and Maelstrom had left the stage in the middle of the courtyard, and on the opposite side of the part of the courtyard where Rarity was located, Applejack was juggling bits and payment stubs like a pro. She occasionally chomped down on one of the bits as if to test its authenticity, then dropped it into her register, which was quickly filling up. Boozebeard was off on a tangent in front of a crowd of excited race fans.

“…thar I was, surrounded by 200 dragons! Mean ones, too! Tall Tale dragons, they were!” Colts in the crowd covered their eyes. Stallions were enraptured and couldn’t tear their eyes away from the tank of a stallion, Boozebeard being a surprisingly good storyteller. “The dragons from my land are brutal savages! An’ they wanted one thing and one thing only — a taste of ol’ Boozebeard, if I had to make a reckoning of it!”

He rose his hooves and dangled them down. “Great big fangs like this they had! Breath tha’ could melt the gold off the princess’s chariot in a second! I’d one choice, ponies,” – Boozebeard rose a hoof to dozens of eyes hooked onto him – “I had to fly away, of course! But where would I go? I was surrounded!”

Applejack half-listened to Boozebeard as she worked away. Ponies munching on Sweet Apple Acres apples were now the norm in the courtyard.

Boozebeard pointed up, and his fans looked up in result. “Why, I figured out right then tha’ my only path was up! Sos I tightened” – Boozebeard pantomimed tightening something between his hooves – “my muscles and steeled myself. I breathed in deep and long, blew out in a great big gasp, stretched ou’ my wings, then shot into the air like never before!”

The whole performance had colts as well as stallions cheering and clapping. Boozebeard finished with a loud belch and a shout.

“Tha’ was the birth of my Rocket Jump!” He slammed back a barrel of cider and all of his fans cheered.

* * *

“Everypony will be flying at a high altitude, which means the weather might be a bit iffy.”

Rainbow flew through a fluffy cloud, feeling the refreshing mist travel through her feathers. She continued to play through the words of Fleetfoot as she scanned the skies for any adverse weather.

“You’re one of the best weather ponies around and being the vanguard for the exercise means you can go as slow or fast as you want!”

Rainbow flapped her wings furiously and blew the cloud apart. At her height above the ground, the land below could no longer be seen but the imposing sun sat in the sky appearing larger than normal. The bright light illuminated the kingdom of clouds that Rainbow was now alone in. She moved from cloud to cloud, dispelling the potential obstacle for the flyers far behind.

♫ Doo, doo, doo ♪

Rainbow started singing as she worked.

♫ I’m kicking the clouds awaayy. It’s not super excitinggggg but it’s practice. ♪

Something whizzed by in the corner of her eye and disappeared into a cloud. Rainbow raised an eyebrow and flew over to check it out.

“Helllooo? Did you get lost from the other flyers?”

Rainbow investigated behind a few different clouds and stuck her head into others. There was nothing, and nothing made a sound that high above the ground either. It was just her and silence. And clouds.

“Come on, I saw you already! Stop playing games! I’m the vanguard, I don’t have time for hide and go seek!”

Again a dark blue blur streaked away, just visible in Rainbow’s peripheral vision. She was less than pleased at that point and called out in a tone that made it obvious.

“Listen, bub, you’re not scaring me so just cut the theatrics! I’m going back to work!” And so she did. Rainbow found her bearings and resumed her cloud busting. At one point a tiny dark storm cloud got carried by a breeze and headed right for her. She rushed it with a grin and kicked it into oblivion.

“Not today, Mr. Storm Cloud!”

Like a lightning bolt a figure shot out of a nearby nimbus and flew right up to Rainbow’s face.

“BOO!”

Rainbow screamed and darted for the first thick cloud she laid eyes on. The figure howled with laughter. Holding her heaving chest, Rainbow went from scared to angry as she realized what had happened.

“Okay, okay, nice one, whoever you are, very funny! Happy now?”

Rainbow left the cloud and beheld the figure. He was a pegasus and had a darker shade of blue than her as his fur coat – more of a cornflower blue. His mane was long for a stallion’s, a bright, fluorescent pink that made Pinkie Pie look dull in comparison, and it was done in a ponytail. His face was full of mirth and he was as carefree as Rainbow looked on a sleepy Sunday morning.

“You should have seen your face when I scared you! What a sight! Now THAT was hilarious!”

The stallion adjusted his goggles. They were well-worn and of a style Rainbow hadn't seen before. They looked... old timey. She blinked rapidly a few times as she traced her eyes over a forest green race outfit complete with white wings in the front and white, accenting lines throughout. The stallion wore a silver EFL medallion. Rainbow tilted her head.

“No, seriously, who are you? You don’t look like one of Lovey Dovey’s gang.”

“How rude of me,” the stallion said, fluttering over and extending a hoof to Rainbow.

“Name’s Zephyr. Nice to finally meet you, Rainbow Dash.”

14 - Pinkie's Friends

Chapter 14

Pinkie’s Friends

Pinkie grabbed Spike’s shoulders and shook him.

“Don’t you get it!” Pinkie’s eyes were bulging as Spike stared in fear. “Something is seriously wrong, and Maelstrom is behind it! Or involved… or something!”

The sun hovered just above the horizon. The Royal Courtyard was all but deserted since most ponies had either returned home or stumbled to the other side of the city where the nightlife was just beginning. Spike had finished the last game at the throwing darts stall when Pinkie once again accosted him about her second tail twitching incident.

“We have to do something, Spike!” Pinkie’s eye twitched and Spike sighed, shaking his claws in front of his face.

“L-Listen, Pinkie, I get it, okay? Everypony knows about your Pinkie Sense and that it can predict the future.” Spike grabbed Pinkie’s hooves and lowered them to the ground. “But don’t you think this time is different?” Pinkie raised an eyebrow patiently. “You were saying that your tail twitched a different way that you’ve never felt before, during this really exciting event, and it involved Maelstrom saying some really exciting stuff.” Spike raised his own brow. “You don’t think it could have just been, y’know… excitement?”

Pinkie scrunched her features towards the middle of her face and pointed back at her tail.

“Are you calling my tail a liar, Spike? You know my tail can hear you right now!”

Spike looked back at Pinkie’s tail and raised a finger. He was about to apologize then rapidly shook his head.

“Ahjibawha — No! I’m not calling you or your tail a liar! I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t lose your cool!” Spike started walking back and forth, moving his claws as he spoke. “Let’s say your tail is shaking because Maelstrom is up to no good. We still need evidence to prove it beyond just your tail vibrating! We’d have to tell Celestia or Luna and neither one is going to have somepony arrested because of a Pinkie Sense!”

Spike looked at Pinkie just as seriously as she looked at him. “If you really, really think Maelstrom is bad news, I believe you. But we need to find some dirt on the guy so that we can do something about it!” Pinkie’s face muscles relaxed, and she looked at Spike plainly. He continued. “We don’t even know what he could possibly be up to.”

Pinkie managed a tiny smile. “You’re right, Spike. Sorry I got a little loopy there. Where should we start?”

Spike pointed a finger behind Pinkie and she swerved her head around. Applejack and Rarity were closing shop for the day. Both looked quite pleased with the results of their ventures.

“I think we should tell our friends and get their opinions.” Spike looked up at the sky with a huff. “Even though they were too busy today selling apples and dresses to have some fun with us.”

Spike and Pinkie walked to the edge of the courtyard and right into the middle of an Applejack and Rarity conversation.

“So, are ya done pretending you can outsell my apples there missy?” Applejack leaned against her wagon and took a big bite out of her apple, smacking a bucket filled with bits with her spare hoof. Two other buckets, just as engorged, were close by. Rarity blew some hair out of her eyes.

“Oh darling, those hooffuls of bits are fine and all, but take a look at this order list.” Rarity looked back at Sweetie Belle, who had a huge scroll in her mouth. Sweetie Belle dropped it and it unraveled, travelling all the way to Applejack’s hooves, several metres away. Applejack almost choked on the apple she was chewing.

“Blah – well, we’ll see who actually buys one of them fancy pants dresses and scarves and such once the races are over, and everypony comes back to their senses. Ah already got my bits AND sold my apples!”

Pinkie and Spike looked back and forth as the mares continued their tiff.

“Where’s your pal Boozebeard, Applejack?” Rarity said as Sweetie Belle scooped up the order list. “Passed out behind your wagon?” There was a smug look on Rarity’s face as Applejack stared her down.

“No ma’am! Boozebeard’s an honest early-riser so he’s gone back to Ponyville for the night. He’s got to be up with the sun for some training. Ah take it your little twin, the drama queen, had to catch her ‘beauty rest’?” Applejack teased.

Rarity looked away with a puff. “If you must know, Lady VeeVee was extra tired after her afternoon meeting with PRINCESS Celestia. Did you know she had an audience with her AND Maelstrom at the castle? She’s good friends with him, you know. She’s awfully well connected, unlike that ruffian you’ve been parading around.” Rarity stuck her tongue out at Applejack for a split second. It made Applejack grit her teeth and scrape at the ground with an irate hoof. Pinkie chimed up.

“Umm, guys, can I talk to you both for a minute?”

The two entrepreneurial mares seemed surprised to hear their friend’s voice. They jerked their heads in response.

“Pinkie! Spike!” Applejack cried. “How was your day?”

“Yes, tell us!” Rarity trotted up to Pinkie. “We’ve been so busy – oh, I do wish we had more time to have fun together.” Rarity shot Applejack a look through half-closed eyes. “But not too much fun together.” It was Applejack’s turn to stick out her cheeky tongue.

Pinkie was in serious mode.

“I don’t have a lot of time to go into detail because I have something super duper important to tell you both buuutttt” – Pinkie took a deep breath – “SpikeAndIGotSomeCandyApplesThenSawMrCakeAndPoundCakeWhoWasSuperCuteThenWeGotSomeCakeWeAteTheCakeThenPlayedAGameOfHorseShoesThen…”

Pinkie listed every last thing her and Spike had done that afternoon in one breath then gulped up another breath to fill her empty lungs. Rarity and Applejack stared blankly at Pinkie, then both turned to Spike.

“Uhhh,” Spike said, just as puzzled, “Yeah… that.”

“Anyway!” pleaded Pinkie, “The important part is about Maelstrom and my tail!”

Applejack smiled. “Tell you what, sugarcube, how’s about you give me a hoof packing up then we’ll talk at the hotel? Ah’m staying the night so Ah can be up bright and early and open shop. Even sent a letter back to Ponyville asking Big Mac to come with more apple goods as soon as he can.”

Pinkie pouted. “Okay... let's be quick though!” she said reluctantly. She bounced over to the apple wagon. Rarity batted her eyes at Spike and the purple dragon floated over to the fashion wagon.

“I suppose I will allow Big Mac to help you,” Rarity mentioned, loud enough so Applejack could hear, “Considering my cute little baby sister has been assisting me all day.” She ruffled Sweetie Belle’s mane with her hoof and the tiny white filly glowed and nearly purred from the praise. “We, too, are going to stay the night. Wouldn’t want to fall behind, would we, Sweetie?”

Sweetie Belle responded with a fluctuating pitch, “Nope! Plus, we get to have a sisters night in the fanciest city in Equestria! We can stay up late, paint each other’s hooves, eat popcorn, do our manes…” Sweetie Belle shrieked, “I don’t think we’ll have much time to sleep!”

Applejack smiled sinisterly at Rarity and the fashion-minded mare bit her lip. She looked down at her sister, who noticed a doubt in Rarity’s expression. Sweetie Belle whimpered with huge, wet eyes.

“R-Right, big sis?”

Applejack snickered as she and Pinkie loaded up the wagon. Rarity struggled to find the right words, stumbling over herself and becoming tongue-tied. She sighed.

“O-Of course, Sweetie – well, we’ll see.” Sweetie Belle cheered.

Everypony did their best and prepared both wagons for transport. Applejack pushed her own wagon, and with little convincing Rarity impressed Spike to push hers. It was a few blocks to the hotel, giving Pinkie ample time to explain everything to her friends. Spike gave his input, in between heavy panting as he kept pace with the group and towed the imposing vehicle of wood and suitcases.

When Pinkie was finished, as the group reached the hotel and secured their wagons with the staff, Applejack and Rarity shared a skeptical look. Applejack replied to Pinkie first.

“Ah think – well, this Maelstrom fella doesn’t seem bad at all, and everypony loves him. You sure you didn’t eat too much sugar – I mean, I know it’s you and all, but…”

Rarity nodded. “I agree with Applejack, our competition aside. There’s a lot at stake if you get this wrong, Pinkie, and you and Spike did eat a lot of fair food from what we’ve been told.”

Pinkie jumped up and down, her mane and tail sticking up like she’d been shot with lightning.

“My tail is not a liar! Stop being mean to my tail!”

She sat down and hugged the bushy, pink mass of hair behind her, the tail seemingly depressed as it hung limply in her grasp. “My tail and I know what we felt! It was a violent shake, and right when Maelstrom evilly said: Waaahahaha, I will show Canterlot a day it will NEVER forget!”

Applejack and Rarity looked at each other, then back at Pinkie.

“Not… plum sure if that’s quite the way he put it, Pinkie.”

“Darling, we are on your side, but without more to go on, there’s no way anypony would believe you” – Rarity smiled and placed a hoof on the incredulous Pinkie – “us, I should say.”

Applejack joined her friend and placed her own hoof on Pinkie’s shoulder. “You’re the expert when it comes to investigating, right, Sherclop Pie?” One side of Pinkie’s mouth drew up. “Do some searching around and find out more about Maelstrom. And Rarity and I will do our best to get some info on him, too, from Boozebeard and uhhh, Madam Bees Knees.”

“Ms. VeeVee,” Rarity corrected, looking at a sheepish Applejack. She turned back to Pinkie. “We’re on your side and will stop our competition if either of us finds out there’s something bigger going on here.”

Pinkie’s eyes filled with tears. “You guys…” she sniffed back sobs as she squeezed the life out of her friends. They gasped and choked as they fidgeted for air. Eventually Pinkie relented and the two caught their breath.

“Love ya too, girlie,” Applejack said, adjusting her stetson.

“Friends stick together, Pinkie, no matter what.” Rarity beamed. Heavy snoring drew the attention of all three ponies. Spike was curled up like a dog and Sweetie Belle was on her stomach with all four hooves splayed out. Both were sound asleep. The mares giggled quietly.

“Looks like that’s the cue to call this a night,” Applejack whispered. Indeed, crickets were chirping, fireflies were lighting up the streets, as were lamps, and up in the sky the orange glow of day was losing a battle against the purple cloak of early night. The summer air at twilight was muggy.

Pinkie delicately scooped up Spike and placed him on her back. Rarity motioned to do the same with her sister but as soon as she touched one piece of fur on Sweetie Belle’s side the filly jumped up, wide awake.

“Thank goodness for power naps!” she squeaked. “Ready for our sisters night, Rarity?” The named mare shushed her sister and stifled a groan. Applejack bit on her lip hard to stop from laughing. When the moment had passed, she turned to Pinkie.

“You gonna stay the night too? Best place to look would be here in Canterlot, I’d say.” Applejack asked. Pinkie motioned to her back with a jerk of her head.

“I would, but I should get Spike back to the library and see how Fluttershy’s day went. I feel bad we’ve been in Canterlot all day while she stayed back home! I should be able to catch the last train since it’s so quiet now.”

Everypony said their goodbyes and were on their respective ways. Rarity and Applejack spoke as soon as they entered the hotel lobby.

“You don’t really believe that this Maelstrom figure is dangerous, do you, Applejack?”

“Not likely,” Applejack said with a shake of her head, “But there’s no harm in Pinkie and us asking around and getting to the bottom of it, in any case.”

Rarity nodded. “Glad I’m not the only one thinking it.”

Both ponies checked in at the front desk. Before they parted, Rarity cleared her throat.

“Well, this would be good night.”

“Sure would be.” Applejack chewed her top lip. She threw her hoof out, grabbed Rarity’s, shook it, then sped off up the stairs. “Night!” she shouted midway up the stairs.

Rarity rolled her eyes with a grin.

“You two are weird,” Sweetie Belle said with all the grace of a young, immature pony.

* * *

Rainbow drew her covers up to her chin and snuggled up to Tank. The tortoise companion stared lovingly at his owner. It had been a long day for both.

“Good night buddy!” Rainbow said. She gave Tank an eskimo kiss and the two closed their eyes.

Rainbow replayed the events of the day in her head. At the end of the Wonderbolts exercise with the EFL, she had made sure to tell Spitfire that she was not going to be available the following afternoon. But she hadn’t mentioned Zephyr.

I don’t want her to think I’m a traitor or anything, but this is Zephyr we’re talking about! Fastest flyer in the east!

Rainbow stared hard at a spot on Tank’s shell, the little guy softly snoozing.

Still, I’m not even 100% sure I can trust him. This all happened pretty fast.

Her doubts started to melt away when she thought of flying as fast as Zephyr, keeping up with him neck and neck during the final race of the Storm’s Challenge. Then, at the last minute, she would wring out the last of her energy and burst forward to cross the finish line just ahead of him and win the races. A big smile etched its way onto Rainbow’s face.

Gah! I’m worrying too much!

Rainbow closed her eyes once more and let the night take over her senses. She drifted into a deep sleep, filled with clouds and races and gold trophies.

15 - Secret Spell

Chapter 15

Secret Spell

When Pinkie finally reached the Golden Oak Library, she was surprised to see light still shining through its windows. Spike was snoring peacefully on Pinkie’s back.

Pinkie noticed the door had a “CLOSED” sign on it as she went inside. Fluttershy was tucking in a deer with a thin, wispy sheet. Several animals, all of different shapes and sizes, like beavers, rabbits, and a great, big bear, were similarly covered in summer blankets and breathing in and out in a calm slumber, strewn about the library on make-shift beds. The library itself, otherwise, looked well-cared for and organized, just as if Twilight herself was at home. Fluttershy turned to the entrance and whispered to Pinkie.

“There you two are” –Fluttershy noticed Spike and smiled – “Aww, he fell asleep again? Long day?”

Pinkie nodded with her ears drawn back. “Really long. I’m sorry we were gone all day, Fluttershy.” She ascended the stairs to put Spike in his bed and Fluttershy whisper-shouted loud enough so she could hear.

“Oh, it’s no problem. Bushwhacker, the animals and I had a great day!”

Pinkie made sure Spike was comfortable and covered in his blanket. She felt compelled to watch his rhythmic breathing as he dozed, thinking of how tired she herself was. Fluttershy crept beside her.

“Isn’t he just the cutest little baby dragon ever?”

Pinkie agreed with a smile and nod. “Are you sure it’s not a big deal? I feel pretty bad. I just didn’t realize how late it was by the time Spike and I left.”

Fluttershy shook her head adamantly.

“Please, Pinkie, it was great! Any day I can spend with my animal friends and a fellow animal lover, helping my other friends, well, that’s a perfect day in my books.”

Fluttershy motioned at all the library books. “Get it? Books?” Pinkie snickered quietly. Fluttershy beamed and a light squee escaped her lips.

Fluttershy touched a hoof to her chin. “Oh, but, you don’t think Spike will mind if we stay the night, do you? The critters were just so tuckered out.” She grabbed Pinkie’s shoulders. “Oh and do you think Twilight would be mad if I slept in her bed? I’ll definitely wash the sheets tomorrow, and fluff the pillows before I go!” Pinkie smirked.

“I think you’ll be fine,” –Pinkie muffled a huge yawn –Fluttershy.” She felt her eyelids droop and her voice became even quieter than a whisper. “Actually, I have to,”– Another yawn – “Tell you something.”

Fluttershy didn't hear Pinkie and started to fly around the library, ensuring all the windows were shut and locked and that all the candles were blown out. Pinkie was swaying where she stood, halfway between the waking world and the dozing, snoring, drooling world. Fluttershy finished her tasks and came back upstairs, with one final candle to blow out remaining, when she noticed the state of her friend.

“Uhh, Pinkie?” Fluttershy waved a hoof in front of her friend’s face. Pinkie snapped out of her funk with a harsh rattle of her head.

“Who? What?” Pinkie half-shouted, which made Spike stir in his sleep with a groan. Fluttershy corked Pinkie’s mouth with a hoof.

“How about you, umm, just stay here for the night? You look pretty beat. I don’t mind sharing the bed.”

Pinkie had a happy, dopey look on her face as she nodded, slowly and rhythmically.

“Thanks, Flutterbutter… but first I have to tell you about–” Pinkie fell asleep standing up with a smile. Fluttershy gently led her friend to the bed, lifted back the covers and helped her flop inside.

“Whatever it is, Pinkie...” Fluttershy’s voice was a murmur. “You can tell me tomorrow.”

The yellow mare then blew out the last candle and carefully entered the bed on her side. She nestled into the crisp sheets and closed her eyes, feeling the cozy warmth wash over her. Spike’s snoring and Pinkie’s breathing reverberated throughout the room, and outside the window the creatures of a summer night were chirping and croaking with gusto.

Fluttershy felt her senses drain away as night took hold.

* * *

Twilight stared through faintly glowing cell bars at a snoring guard. His head hung back over the chair he was slouched in and his giant mouth was opening and closing with each snore. It was a good thing she had napped earlier, as there was no way to sleep now.

Not like I feel much like sleeping in this situation.

She blew her mane out of her face and rolled over. She rolled back the other way and sighed with annoyance. She looked up to the jail cell walls, slightly gleaming with a magenta glow, like the cell bars. Twilight studied them with intense focus.

There’s got to be some way out of here if my magic won’t work… She halfheartedly powered up yet another teleportation spell. It crackled with eldritch static when ready, but instead of being hoisted to magical safety, Twilight felt her body slam against the wall with a thud.

Okay, Twilight thought while holding her spinning, throbbing head, Twentieth time is NOT the charm…

Twilight’s grey, stone cell was dark, only illuminated partially by a candle blazing behind the guard, and not much to look at, but it was at least room temperature, and there were no rats or other strange, gross critters running about. Nothing like the stories where princesses were locked away in distant dungeons where they awaited the rescue of a dashing prince.

There’s not going to be any prince coming to my rescue, though.

Twilight frowned. She looked through her jail window up at the few stars she could see twinkling. Nopony except Celestia and probably Luna knew where she was, and neither would suspect she had been put into a cell. Twilight couldn’t have thought of anything else to do in her previous situation, though.

I’ll sort this out once I can talk face-to-face with Tsunami.

The only good thing about being imprisoned in the palace of a foreign country was, strangely enough, the food. So far Twilight had received three more-than-square meals, expertly crafted, hefty dishes presented on fine porcelain. It made Twilight hopeful that Prince Tsunami respected her position as one of Equestria’s princesses, and simply did not have time to see her. The whole jail thing might have been a necessary precaution, at least from the Clopstantinople point of view.

Twilight sat up and stared at the floor as she thought about her task.

I’ll figure out what Prince Tsunami’s up to without using THAT spell. That’s the diplomatic way of doing things. That’s the Equestrian way.

Celestia’s regal face and flowing, river-like mane of multi-colors entered Twilight’s thoughts. There was a soft, tender smile on Celestia’s face, and one of her long, ivory hooves rested on Twilight’s shoulder.

I’m sure the spell she taught me was just a last resort. As the Princess of Friendship, it’s my duty to share the magic of friendship, but that doesn’t mean I need to USE magic to do it!

Still, the day had been long and boring, and Twilight had far too much time earlier to mull over the possible courses of action in her current predicament. She had mused over the possibility of a more… aggressive approach to her task. She had even tried to etch out a diagram on the cell wall separating “good” ideas from “bad” ones but found that her magic did not take to the wall for more than a few moments.

The guard made a weird throaty noise and shifted in his chair before resuming his loud slumber. Twilight perked up out of her focus.

But I trust Princess Celestia. If she said to use the spell, isn’t that what I should do?

Twilight laid down on her side and stared at her hoof.

But then again, maybe this is just a test! To see if I truly see her as an equal and that I can follow my own judgment.

It was true that Twilight found the adjustment particularly difficult, as Celestia had always been the ruler of Equestria, and then a teacher, to Twilight. Being a fellow princess and alicorn did little over the last year to change those feelings Twilight had had ever since she was a filly.

She turned over to her other side.

Maybe it’s a test of loyalty! To see if I can follow the directives of a fellow princess! If I DON’T use the spell, then Celestia will take it as a sign that I am not loyal enough to be one of the princesses!

She chewed on the end of a hoof. Strands of her purple in her mane started to pop up. Twilight’s thoughts escaped through her lips.

“Most importantly, what can I do from inside this stupid cell with no way out!” Her own outburst knocked her out of it again and she swerved around to see if she woke the guard. He only mumbled and flopped his head to the other side. Twilight sighed and stood up.

I need to keep it together.

Twilight inhaled a deep breath, making sure to savor each passing instance of calm. The inflation of her lungs was invigorating. She pictured a relaxing shade of purple in her mind. Once her lungs were engorged with air, she slowly breathed out. The entire process was nearly intoxicating. She was glad she picked up the practice from Fluttershy.

Much better.

She sat back on her haunches and stared resolutely at the door to her cell. It, too, was magic-proof, as she had found out earlier. And staring back at the guard and the key hanging at his side, she remembered how much of a failure it was to try and use her magic to retrieve said key to escape. Whatever material was stopping her magic, it seemed to have an aura, so that Twilight’s magic couldn’t even snake through the gaps in the cell bars.

Escape isn’t an option at this point unless I do something REALLY drastic with my magic, and that will only guarantee the breakdown of any possible relations with Clopstantinople. All I can do is keep asking about Prince Tsunami and try to get an audience with him.

Twilight laid down on a hay bed off to one corner and closed her eyes. She began to meditate.

Calm. Focus. Patience.

16 - Morning After

Chapter 16

Morning After

Pinkie felt a gentle warmth settle on her face. Her eyes were closed and she wore a pleasant, peaceful smile. Comfy, crisp sheets covered her cocoon-like form. She sighed out contently. With a stretch of her limbs and a turn, she was ready to face the day.

“Good morning.”

Pinkie leapt out of Twilight’s bed and bounced off the wall. When she had opened her eyes, Fluttershy was standing right beside the bed, watching her doze with sincere interest.

“Oh, s-sorry Pinkie, didn’t mean to scare you. You just looked so comfortable.”

Pinkie flew through the air in the shape of a pink ball and right down the stairs, tumbling down them until she shot out of the opening at the bottom and collided with Spike and the many books he was carrying. An explosion of books ensued.

“Oof – P-Pinkie, what the hay?!” Spike cried, rubbing his head and looking around at the new mess. Pinkie’s head was spinning and her eyes vibrated like egg yolks on a hot skillet.

“Sssssssorry Sssssssspike…” she managed. It wasn’t long before a concerned Fluttershy raced down the stairs, looking as if she had harmed a single hair on a fly’s head.

“Pinkie, I’m so so so sorry!” Fluttershy was nearly in tears. All around her her animal friends came close to comfort her. Pinkie regained her senses and stood up.

“It’s okay, Fluttershy! It’s not your fault, it’s mine! I should never go into Defensive Ball Form indoors!” Spike grunted off to the side as he picked up his books.

“Oh?” he began, sarcastically, “And why would that be…”

Fluttershy accepted that it wasn’t the end of the world after several reassurances from Pinkie and after some of her animal friends shared in her sniffling. She went back upstairs to gather the sheets of Twilight’s bed and pack them with her things. Spike was organizing newly arrived books into their proper spots in the library as Pinkie spoke to him with her usual pep.

“Did you sleep well, Spikinator?”

The purple dragon walked with a jump in his step.

“Like a baby,” he said with gusto. Pinkie snickered.

“You don’t say!”

Spike continued.

“I feel super refreshed and ready to keep this library operational all day long, all by myself! Especially since it’s so organized and clean thanks to Fluttershy and her animals.”

“Don’t forget Bushwhacker,” Fluttershy added, coming back down the stairs with one full saddlebag, “He did a lot to help, too. That’s why I’m going to go watch him train this afternoon with the animals. He says it really helps motivate him when animal friends cheer for him, and well…” Fluttershy blushed. “I suppose, umm, my cheering could help too, umm, maybe just a bit…”

Pinkie cocked her head.

“Wait, Spike… if you’re going to be here all day, who will help me dig up the dirt on Maelstrom?”

Spike shuffled some books around on a shelf and half-turned to Pinkie. “S-sorry, Pinkie. Duty calls.” He lit up suddenly. “Oh, but, I’ll keep my ears open in case somepony mentions something!”

“What’s going on with Maelstrom?” asked a confused Fluttershy. Pinkie opened her mouth to reply, but Spike stepped forward instead.

“Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense went off around Maelstrom and now we all think he’s going to do something bad, so Pinkie’s going to find out more about him and see what’s going on.”

“Ohhh, umm, I see.” Fluttershy kicked the floor with her front hoof and her ears folded down.

“But, well, I was talking to Bushwhacker yesterday and he only said the nicest things about Maelstrom. How inspirational he is, and helpful. That sounds really unbelievable…”

Pinkie and Spike looked at each other.

“What was that, Fluttershy?”

The yellow pegasus responded a bit louder, “I said it sounds unbelievable…”

Pinkie was picking at her ears as if they were full of something and Spike raised his claws out and at shoulder height. “We still can’t hear you.”

Fluttershy took a step back and hid behind her mane. “Oh, umm, it’s nothing. Oh, well…” She looked at her animal friends, who all gave her a stern look. She turned back to her pony and dragon friends and inhaled before speaking loud and clear.

“I said I really don’t think Maelstrom could be up to anything bad at all and honestly I think that sounds kind of ridiculous.” Two sets of eyes blinked back at her. Fluttershy cleared her throat with a scarlet blush. “Umm, if you don’t mind me saying so, of course.” Pinkie frowned but maintained her composure.

“All I'm going to say is, once I find out what’s going on, nopony will doubt my tail again!”

Fluttershy’s animals surrounded her and began to make noises at her. She nodded.

“Anyway, umm, we’re going to get going now. I have to stop at Sugar Cube Corner first to get a treat for Angel for watching everyone at home while I was gone.”

As if snapped out of a trance, Pinkie burst into the air. She gasped, loud and shrill.

“Cheese and crackers! Sugar Cube Corner! The Cakes are probably wondering where I am!” Pinkie shot out the front door, leaving a trail of pink smoke in her wake, as well as two stunned friends. Fluttershy turned to Spike.

“Will we see you tomorrow at the first race, Spike?”

The purple dragon was gathering scrolls and pens.

“Of course! I know Twilight, and I'm pretty sure she wouldn’t mind if I closed up the library for just one day, but anyway, I don’t think anypony will be in town tomorrow when there’s gonna be a super awesome flying race going on in Canterlot!”

Fluttershy smiled and her ears perked up.

“Oh great! We can all cheer on Rainbow Dash together.” A deer nudged Fluttershy’s side and a few other animals protested. The bear pointed to his growling stomach and protested.

“Okay, okay, let’s go guys.” Fluttershy led her animals outside. “Bye Spike!” she called out as she left. Spike returned the gesture. He continued his hunt for supplies as the first library customer of the day came knocking.

* * *

Two ponies, one shuffling like a zombie and the other hip-hopping with gusto, made their way to Canterlot’s Royal Courtyard. The morning sun lit the way. Butterflies fluttered about, birds sang in the sky, passersby were engaged in the day’s early chores, and Rarity felt like dying right then and there.

“That was the best sisters night ever!” Sweetie Belle cheered beside her. Rarity’s ear closed downward in reaction.

“Oooo, not so loud, Sweetie Belle…” Rarity whined, eyelids feeling like they weighed a thousand pounds. Her makeup, her hair, everything was perfect, except for the horrid bags hanging down on her face. Behind the duo were another two ponies, VeeVee and Velmeera, who were accompanied by the magical creature Arnold, pulling the fashion wagon.

“She looks… worse than you… in the morning,” Velmeera deadpanned to her sister. VeeVee chuckled.

“Oh shtop, you little Komikerin you.”

As they made their way, Rarity started to notice a trend. On the corners of the streets, where there would usually be a Canterlot guard to guide ponies, was a stallion encased in thick, emerald armor.

One of Maelstrom’s guards? she thought.

Eventually the group reached the spot where they had been yesterday. The crowds were not out in full force just yet. Applejack and her wagon, however, were raring to go.

“Well howdy Rarity, Sweetie,” Applejack cried, “And… others.” She looked up, up to the giant, black creature pulling the fashion wagon. She could never get used to Arnold, or even VeeVee and her sister for that matter, but nonetheless was happy to see Rarity in less-than-stellar form.

“Shoot, rough night?” Applejack said, stifling a chuckle. Rarity yawned loudly and waved away her dejecter.

“I’m just fine” – another yawn – “darling.”

Sweetie Belle jumped up and down in front of Applejack as the others set up the fashion shop a few metres opposite.

“We were up most of the night doing sister things! It was the best!”

Applejack tussled Sweetie’s mane.

“That sounds awesome, sport! Good on you to be keeping your sister company like that!” Applejack openly chuckled and looked at Rarity, who glared back at her with a dangerous fire.

“Big McIntosh already came by while you folks were sleeping away. Restocked all my missing apple goods.” Applejack shot Rarity a smug sidelong look. “Course us country ponies are used to being up early and getting a start on things. Early bird catches the worm and all that.” Rarity shook her head to get rid of the double images when she noticed a distinct lack of a hairy, inebriated pegasus. A dastardly grin formed on Rarity’s face.

“I had almost forgotten that your friend Boozebeard decided to ditch you to train for the races.”

She started to lean too far in one direction as her body started to fall asleep, but Sweetie was there to prop her back up. Applejack looked vulnerable. Rarity continued.

“We’ll just see which one of us” – Rarity half-yawned before she stopped herself with a throat clearing – “wins the day in sales, now that I and VeeVee are here.”

Applejack was dealing with a customer and thinking over the words of Rarity.

She’s got a point… course, Boozebeard did say he’d be back later today. Still, it’s a lot of time to be without my sponsor. At least Rarity’s worst for ware, though.

Several hours passed. Rarity was half-lidded and glazed, staring blankly at a finely-dressed mare. All Rarity wanted to do was sleep. The mare was raving about a particular ebony piece, a long dress gilded and sequined. VeeVee came to the rescue and started talking to the mare instead. Sweetie poked Rarity with her hoof.

“Sis, you sure you’re okay to keep going? You could take a nap, or…”

“SweetieI’mFine!” Rarity blurted, looking around. “Say, how about being the best little sister ever and finding me some coffee, hmm?” Sweetie looked uneasy, but did start off in the opposite direction in search for some caffeine. From across the way, a whistle entered Rarity’s ears. It didn’t make her move at first, not until a second whistle rang through the air. Rarity turned in the direction of the high-pitched noise.

“Hey, Rarity!” It was Applejack. “Ah’ve got a question for ya.”

Rarity rolled her tired eyes.

“Oh, is this another joke, or something?”

“No, this time ah’m serious.” Applejack came right up to Rarity and whispered in her ear, all the customers behind waiting impatiently. “You notice all of the new guards this morning? They look like Maelstrom’s stallions, don’t they?”

Rarity erased the scowl on her face and looked plainly at her friend. “Well actually, yes, I did notice that. Odd, isn’t it?”

Applejack nodded. “Nopony has any clue why. Ah’ve been asking all morning. It’s the strangest thing.” Customers began to get grouchy on both sides and call out to the shopkeepers.

“Well, anyway,” Applejack said as she went back to her wagon, “You let me know if you find out, alright?” Rarity nodded. A concern entered her mind and she looked over at VeeVee, who was schmoozing with a group of Canterlot elite.

I wonder if VeeVee would know anything about why Maelstrom’s guards are all over Canterlot now…

Author's Note

A late release, I apologize... but it's still technically Thursday!

17 - Somepony Who Really Loves Hockey

Chapter 17

Somepony Who Really Loves Hockey

“I’m so proud of you, Angel.”

Fluttershy patted her bunny friend on the top of his head. His right foot jackhammered against the ground and he shook his tail.

“I can’t believe you were able to do all the chores by yourself! And this place looks wonderful.”

She looked around her cottage. The tree-cum-domicile had not one piece of bark or nut out of place. The windows were clean and shining. The pathway was swept. Heading to the backyard, Fluttershy saw that the chicken coop was well-maintained, and that her animals were happily eating their late morning snack. Angel pointed at a few other animals: a beaver, a porcupine, and a snake. They all looked at the dirt bashfully and pawed at it.

“You three helped too?” Fluttershy beamed. “That’s great! I’m glad everyone worked together!”

She embraced her animal friends in a great, big hug.

“And I hope you enjoyed your treats. You definitely deserved them! Good job!”

All the animals cheered. Nearby tree leaves waved in the gentle breeze, sunlight beating off their green hides. It looked like a million squirming leafbugs dancing on branches. Fluttershy took a deep breath and exhaled.

“What a beautiful day so far.” She turned to Angel and smiled sheepishly. She blinked rapidly. “Umm, Angel?” The called-for bunny stared with a pleasant smile on his face. “Would you like to go with us to watch Bushwhacker later?”

Angel’s expression changed to a snarl. He growled, then hopped over to a bush and started to punch and kick at it. Fluttershy brought a hoof to her gaping mouth.

“Oh my. Angel…” she trotted to Angel and rubbed the top of his head as he continued to protest. “He’s not that bad. He really likes you. Why don’t you give him a chance?” Angel crossed his arms and shook his head with closed eyes. He opened his mouth and made a gagging noise, pointing his paw down his throat.

“I don’t understand why you dislike him,” Fluttershy said with a frown, “He loves animals, just like me.”

Angel stared at Fluttershy with a creased brow. He held up a paw, then let it hang limp to one side. He pointed at it with his other paw and started to chirp in a mocking tone. Then he blew a raspberry.

Fluttershy gasped. “Angel Bunny! Bushwhacker is not a wimp!” Angel crossed his paws again and turned away, sticking out his tongue one last, defiant time. Fluttershy rolled her eyes with a huff.

“Okay, okay, fine. You can stay here.” Angel’s ears shot right up and he grinned from cheek to cheek. “But we’re going to have so much fun. I think you’ll get jealous.” Fluttershy smiled wide.
Angel just stared, not having it.

* * *

The sun sat high in its kingdom, noon in full force. It was another day of hot rays and humid air, though it did not seem to bother the intrepid members of the Equestria Flyers League one bit.

Fluttershy and her animal friends sat near the top of some bleachers affording a view over a vast clearing where the members of the EFL were practicing. “Roasted nuts, get yer roasted nuts here!” A stallion ambled in front of the bleachers with a tray of bags on his back.

“Wow, what a showing…” Fluttershy said aloud. Though it was just a training session, the EFL had brought quite a crowd. There were even superfans, decked out in forest green outfits with foam fingers, cheering and waving as the expert flyers soared above.

Training took place just outside Canterlot at Pepperheart Field, which was also where the EFL were staying during the races. At one end of the grassy area was an overlook, where several dark green tents were pitched, painted in the style of the EFL colors, the largest of which opened up towards the clearing. At the other end were the bleachers and a few concession stands set up for fans. In the middle was where the magic happened.

Several pegasi were flying through sets of rings, with each successive ring being higher up than the last, and slightly narrower, so that it was a challenge for any flyer to go from the start to the finish of the obstacle course. Others were jumping off an intricate platform that went high into the sky. As they fell towards a trampoline at the bottom, several high-powered fans built into the platform blew, and the trick, as Fluttershy gathered, seemed to be to maintain your composure as you fell, bounce back up, and escape the windstorm as it tried to blow you away. But the real crowd pleaser floated just above the field.

It was a huge (yet still rather miniature in comparison) replica of the Saddlebred Citadel. The thin cloud walls were see-through, so everypony in the stands could see the white and blue insides. EFL members were racing each other throughout the many hallways and shortcuts built into the Citadel copy. The entire structure was about as wide and long as four or five Carousel Boutiques, Fluttershy reasoned.

“The Saddlebred Citadel is an engineering and architectural marvel,” spat a nearby fellow fan. Fluttershy looked at him, bespectacled and carrying a notepad. “It took one hundred pegasi three years to build. It is primarily used to train special forces ponies who need to learn to traverse dangerous, narrow passages.” He adjusted his glasses and stared out at the field, talking to nopony in particular, though he did gain quite an audience. “But it is also used for racing events, notably by the EFL. That is why they had their own replica built. It is perfect, down to the last detail.”

Fluttershy looked back at the imposing cloud fortress, feeling her eyes grow large. She couldn’t believe it was only a small version of a much larger original. The Citadel had only two openings that Fluttershy could see, one on the left and another on the right, far to the other side of the structure. The inside looked so intricate that Fluttershy felt the onset of vertigo just trying to decipher the maze of paths. The pegasi inside, however, had just enough room (and skill) to maneuver without many problems, but not necessarily with speed.

Occasionally, a block of cloud would jut out from a narrow passage and form an obstacle. The EFL members were trained enough to dodge them at the last minute, but it made Fluttershy gulp.

Oh dear… I hope Rainbow Dash is going to be okay in the races…

The crowd of fans started to cheer as somepony arrived. It was mostly female shrieks and cries. Fluttershy turned to the source of the excitement and started to cry herself.

“Bushwhacker! Hi Bushwhacker!” As soon as she shouted, Fluttershy covered her mouth with her hooves, slunk back behind her mane, and blushed. But Bushwhacker, in the distance, had heard her in particular, and he waved with an open mouth smile. His blond locks bounced as he got into position in front of an obstacle course. The mares in the audience swooned.

Fluttershy smiled back at Bushwhacker and managed a tiny wave.

* * *

Pinkie tossed Pumpkin Cake in the air. The baby filly squealed, and Pinkie laughed too, as they played.

“Whooo, waahhhh, bleeehhhh.”

Pinkie made funny faces as she threw Pumpkin up again and again. Mr. Cake came into the front lobby of Sugar Cube Corner from the kitchen, carrying a small tray of cupcakes.

“Awww,” he cooed, setting down the tray and beginning to fill the empty spots in the display case. “You’re too good to us, Pinkie, you know that?” Pumpkin exploded into giggles as Pinkie started tickling her.

“I’m just having fun with the cutest baby unicorn in Equestria, Mr. Cake!”

Mr. Cake smiled warmly and closed the display case. He removed his baker’s hat and leaned again the counter.

“If Mrs. Cake and Pound do alright in Canterlot today, we might just close up the shop here in Ponyville and move there until the races are done.” Mr. Cake started moving back to the kitchen. “Pony Joe said we could use his kitchen if we bring our own supplies. Profits were insane yesterday!”

Pinkie stopped tickling Pumpkin and stared at the ceiling.

Yesterday… right…

She narrowed her vision.

Maelstrom!

Pumpkin started to shake Pinkie with her tiny hooves. She babbled in baby speak. Pinkie snapped out of it and eskimo kissed Pumpkin, who tittered with glee. Mr. Cake was calling out from the kitchen.

“I mean, we didn’t have a single customer all morning besides Fluttershy! I think Canterlot’s the way to go, if you ask me.”

Pinkie replied, “Sounds super duper Mr. Cake! Then I could see Rarity and Applejack every day, too!”

And also be at the best spot to learn more about Maelstrom!

The front door’s bell jingled. Pinkie turned with glee to see who the second customer of the day was.

It was a smoky white pegasus stallion. He had a narrow muzzle and bored, brown eyes. Sweat was at his brow, which he wiped away with a pant.

“Holey moley she’s a scorcher out, eh?”

He managed to squeeze through the front door despite the monstrous saddlebags to either side of him. There was a hockey stick, too, which kept getting stuck. Finally, he flopped inside with another heavy pant.

“Yoose guys sell… food, right?”

Pinkie put Pumpkin down and assumed her position behind the counter, smile wide and Pinkieish.

“Yes sir, we sure do! From out of town?” She looked at his blue and green “VANHOOVER” jersey. “Oooo, Vanhoover! I’ve never been. Is it nice up there? Do you ponies really live in igloos and eat snow?”

The stallion waved a hoof dismissively. “Uhh, yeah, sure, eh? Whatcha got for grub?”

Pinkie crinkled her nose as the scent of body odor attacked her nostrils. She took a step back. The stallion chuckled.

“Ah, sorreh, eh? Just got done training an’ haven’t had time for a shower or nothin’. But listen, why don’t you give me two of whatever ponies normally get, eh?”

Pinkie rattled her head back and forth.

“S-sure!” she stammered. She grabbed the stallion two cupcakes. “Fresh out of the oven!”

Pumpkin coughed and gagged on the floor. Pinkie smiled awkwardly handing the pastries over and covered her nose whenever the stallion wasn’t looking.

“Thanks, eh?” he said, popping one of the cupcakes in his mouth. He spoke as he chewed. “Da nabes Swaapshat.”

He held out a hoof to Pinkie, who took it. He shook her so hard her entire body moved up and down. She forced a grin.

“Nice to meet you, Swaapshat. My name’s Pinkie Pie!”

“Swaapshat” swallowed his food and corrected Pinkie.

“No, it’s ‘Slapshot’, eh? Jeez, Swaapshat – that’s ridiculous, bud.”

A pan dropped in the kitchen and everypony turned to the swivel doors behind Pinkie. Suddenly Mr. Cake ran out with a huge smile on his face.

“Slapshot?! The best hockey player in Equestria?” Mr. Cake looked like a young colt again. Slapshot shot him a cocky grin.

“That’d be me, pal. I’m here for those there flying races though, yeah? You a fan?”

Mr. Cake could barely breathe. He raced upstairs then came down with a big scrapbook.

“I – I have all your collector cards, tons of ticket stubs, official memorabilia of the Vanhoover hockey team – I might be your biggest fan, Mr. Slapshot, sir!”

Pinkie stared wide mouthed and eyed at Mr. Cake. Pumpkin climbed up onto her back and looked at her dad the same way. Mr. Cake fanboyed for a few more minutes while Slapshot ate another cupcake. They talked about hockey the entire time. Apparently Slapshot was a legend of the ice rink, though most ponies didn’t follow the sport, especially in Ponyville, so Pinkie had little idea what was even discussed.

“…so I had just gotten done hockey practice for the day, y’know, and who walks in but Maelstrom himself, eh? That’s how I got with the EFL and into this whole flying business.” Pinkie’s ears perked up and she returned to reality. “He thought my style on the ice could, like, be good for flying, too. Guess he was right ‘cuz I’m like their best flyer now, or something.”

“Wait,” Pinkie asked, “You know Maelstrom? And he knows you? You know EACH OTHER?”

Slapshot blew air out of the side of his mouth. “Well, jeez, ya, eh? He’s my boss, bud. We talk like, y’know, a lot, and stuff.”

Pinkie’s eyes nearly bulged right out. She threw her hooves up on the glass display and got close to Slapshot’s face.

“You gotta tell me all about him! Everything! Every little dirty secret!” Pinkie cocked her head. “Oh wait,” she said. She grabbed a deerstalker hat and corncob pipe seemingly from nowhere and donned them, then continued, “Okay – now spill the beans!”

Slapshot took a step back and cocked a brow. “Pshhh – yeah, no. Why would I do that, eh? You got something I want or something?”

Mr. Cake pulled Pinkie back and whispered to her, “Pinkie! Don’t scare away the celebrity! He might come back for more cupcakes – and I haven’t gotten an autograph yet!”

Pinkie whispered back, “But this is REALLY important, Mr. Cake! I’ll get him to write an autograph for you, don’t worry!”

Mr. Cake drew his mouth up to one side of his face. He looked unsure.

“Well, fine. But I want two autographs! In case I lose one.”

“I need to bake some cakes for tomorrow, anyway,” Mr. Cake said aloud, heading towards the kitchen. He turned back and fanboyed one last time for Slapshot. “It was a pleasure to meet you, sir. Good luck in the races!”

Slapshot half-heartedly nodded and smiled. He turned back to Pinkie.

“Well?” he asked, “I don’t got all day, y’know. Like, whatcha gonna trade for my information, eh?”

Pinkie raised a hoof and shook her head. Pumpkin was absent-mindedly chewing on her mane.

“What do you want?” Pinkie asked.

Slapshot opened his mouth to speak. “Uhhhhh…”

He looked up and to the side.

“Well, uhh, good question…”

Finally, his tail came to life with a jolt and starting flapping around. He hopped in place like a giddy foal.

“Okay, okay, so, like, you like fun, right?”

Pinkie beamed.

“Boy, do I!”

“And you like ice, yeah?”

“Sure do!”

“And games?”

“Games are my favorite thing ever!”

Slapshot was so visibly jubilant it was scary.

“C-cool! That’s awesome! Alright Pinkie Pie, here’s the deal: you know that lake just outside of town, eh?” He pointed his hoof towards his left.

Pinkie nodded. “Saddle Lake! Yep, my friends and I go there a lot when it’s super hot and we’re not busy!”

Slapshot looked impatient. “Yeah yeah yeah, anyway, meet me there as soon as you can! I’ll tell you all I know about Maelstrom, alright?”

Pinkie frowned.

“I don’t know, I can’t just leave. I work here…”

Slapshot was already out the door, leaving various hockey-related things behind that fell from his bags. Mr. Cake stuck his head through the swivel doors.

“Don’t worry about it, Pinkie! Today’s a write off! I’ve got the cakes in the oven. Just put Pumpkin to bed before you go!”

“Why are you whisp—” Pinkie looked back and saw a tiny filly peacefully snoozing on her back.

“Oh.”

18 - Pinkie Pie vs. Slapshot [Round 1]

Chapter 18

Pinkie Pie vs. Slapshot [Round 1]

“You want to… what?!”

Pinkie looked at Slapshot as if he was crazy. The stallion jumped up and down like a parasprite was squirming inside his jersey.

“I want you to play me in a game of hockey, eh!” He shouted the words and got right into Pinkie’s face. “You score three goals on me and I’ll tell you everything you wanna know about Maelstrom!”

The sun was almost melting the earth with its heat. Even Saddle Lake, where Pinkie had come to meet Slapshot, looked like a sauna as the mirage-like effect of the summer swelter hovered over it. Pinkie couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Like… hockey… on ice? That hockey?” Pinkie stepped back and raised a hoof. “Becauseeeee… it’s sort of, you know…” She motioned around her. A squirrel was panting at her feet and looking for shade. “… the middle of summer.”

There was a gleam in Slapshot’s eyes and a devious kind of smile spread onto his face. He reached into one of his saddlebags.

“Oh dontcha worry none about that, Missus Pinkie Pie. Hockey pro like me’s always prepared, least since the EFL came knockin’. Watch this, and don’t blink now, eh?”

Slapshot pulled out a little glass vial filled with a pale blue liquid. It glowed faintly. He held it between his forehooves and tore the cork off the opening with his teeth. Blue gas slowly started to float out.

“Get ready to have your mind blown, pal.”

Slapshot whipped the vial into Saddle Lake with an unceremonious plop! Nothing happened at first except the water bubbled a bit, but suddenly after a few moments a flash of bright light blinded Pinkie and she had to cover her eyes. When she dropped her hoof, she sucked in half the air in Ponyville with her gasp.

With a slight sparkle in the air, Saddle Lake had completely frozen over. It was as if, just in the lake, winter had arrived. And the ice was perfect for skating, or at least looked to be. Even the fringes of the ground where the lake and the grass met was icy in spots. Pinkie couldn’t even blink.

Slapshot leaned on a hockey stick next to Pinkie and pointed at the makeshift ice rink. “Yep, Maelstrom’s been paying half my salary with these here magic ice potion things. Says they’re called ‘Wonder Ice’ and they ain’t cheap. Of course, neither am I, eh? These puppies let me play hockey wherever I go for races, all year round, even if ponies don't got a rink in their town, yeah?”

After a moment Pinkie’s face slowly morphed into one of pure joy. Her grin was pulled up tight and her ears and tail were shooting straight up.

“That’s so awesome!” She turned to Slapshot and grabbed his shoulders. “What else do you have in your bags? Can you turn the trees into cotton candy – oh, and could you make the clouds rain chocolate milk? Oh right, only Discord can do that… but seriously, what else is there in there?”

Slapshot dropped his saddlebags and rummaged through them. He pulled out some contraptions, two hockey helmets, and a pair of ice skates. He looked at Pinkie with a nervous grin.

“Just hockey equipment, yeah? I got a helmet for you and a stick but, uhhh, shoulda told you to bring your own skates.” Pinkie shot away in a blink and returned with a pair of ice skates. Slapshot just stared at her. “Errr, where’d you get those, eh?”

Pinkie hopped over to the frozen lake and put her skates on. “Oh, I’m never too far away from a pair of ice skates! You never know when you might need them!” Slapshot shook his head. He grabbed the two contraptions he had pulled from his saddlebags and tossed them out onto the lake. Before they hit the ice they opened up into two hockey nets. Slapshot tied up his own skates, grabbed a hockey stick between his teeth, and flew over to put the nets into place, one on each side of the lake.

“Now here’s the catch, eh,” Slapshot called out from the other side of the lake, “Wonder Ice only lasts in this kind of heat for, like, 20 minutes, sos you only have that much time to score three times – and if I score 10 times, it’s over.” He pulled out a hockey puck from a pocket in his jersey and threw it towards the center of the lake. “Deal?”

Pinkie had thrown her helmet on, brandished a hockey stick in her mouth and put the strap over her neck, and was off like lightning down the lake towards Slapshot’s net. Slapshot couldn’t react fast enough and Pinkie was able to secure the puck, deke around her opponent, and pound a shot away into the net. The score was 1-0.

“Deal!” Pinkie cried, having let the stick hang from her neck by its strap so she could talk. She started to skate circles around Slapshot. “Boy, this won’t be hard at all! And it’s totally fun!” Slapshot’s eye twitched and his wings sunk. He raised a hoof and glared at Pinkie.

“H-Hey I wasn’t ready! And where’d you learn to play like that!”

Pinkie shrugged.

“Eh, never did. But I love skating, and this is soooo cool that I can do it in the summer! Rainbow Dash will be super jealous!”

Slapshot grinned evilly and snatched the puck up with his stick. It was Pinkie’s turn to be found off guard and Slapshot easily maneuvered his way to Pinkie’s side of the lake, scoring an easy goal.

“Hey! Okay, now we’re even!” Pinkie argued.

“Not quite, eh?” Slapshot’s brow creased and he brought his pearly whites into a sinister crescent. He started to flap his wings and the force of the flapping propelled him on the ice even faster. He grabbed the puck once more, tore down the ice to his side, and came back around to score another goal, all before Pinkie could even take a breath.

“That’s two!” he cheered. “Here comes three! Don’t blink!” Slapshot did the same thing again, only Pinkie put up some resistance. She chased after Slapshot as he made his way back to his own side, but couldn’t turn around fast enough when he 180’d back to her net, and he was able to make the score 3-1.

“Now we’re even, yeah?” Slapshot said, finishing with a laugh. Pinkie was already panting from the exercise, due moreso to the beating hot sun than anything. She narrowed her eyes at Slapshot.

“Alrighty then… it’s Pinkie Pie time!” With a whir she was off. Slapshot was prepared this time and took his stick between his teeth again. He secured the puck once more and used his wings to blaze down the ice. Pinkie honed in on the puck and made a mad dive right for it. Slapshot rotated it away and she slammed into the ice, turning around and around as she slid to the other side next to her net, head rattling. Slapshot glided across the ice, totally in his element, and doubled back once he reached his own side. Once he passed the middle of the lake he took aim, fired off a shot, and scored the fourth of his goals.

“I think it’s Slapshot time, eh?” He chuckled. “Boy, not looking too good for your chances right about now, pal.”

Pinkie stuck her tongue out and panted like a dog. She glared at the burning sun with equally-as-fiery anger. She shook her hoof at it.

“Stupid sun! Stop being so hot!”

Sweat poured out from under her helmet and dripped from her bushy, pink tail. Pinkie started to fan herself with her tail to counteract the heat. As she did, an idea lodged itself into her brain.

Hold on… I’m getting a crazy good idea!

Pinkie stared at Slapshot’s rapidly beating wings and then at her own tail. Slapshot started to do figure eights and mock her. “Hey don’t give up, eh? Even if you don’t win, this is fun, ain’t it?”

It was Pinkie’s turn to beam and lower her brows.

“Don’t get too cocky Mr. Slapshot. You might have some awesome wings to help you on the ice, but watch this!” Pinkie rotated her tail. It was slow to start and made a sound like an old engine as it kicked up steam, but was eventually going as fast as a propeller blade on a flying machine. Suddenly she was the one speeding down the ice. Slapshot’s mouth dropped to the rink.

“THIS IS CRAZY AHHHH!” Pinkie could barely control herself, but managed to steal the puck from Slapshot’s amazed form and bring it to his side of the lake. She shot it towards the net and it barely entered from the right side. Any further to the right, and it would have missed.

“WOOOOOPIE!” she cheered, before her tail’s propulsion took her all the way outside of the lake and over a hill, her skates tearing up the soil as she went. “AHHHHHHHHH—”

Slapshot collected himself with a brisk shake of his very confused head. He took possession of the puck and called out to the absent Pinkie.

“Hey, eh?! I’m still going to keep playing! You left the rink, not my fault, yeah?”

And so in the span of a few minutes he scored three more goals. Pinkie eventually came back over the hill, eyes spinning and a green tinge on her puffed out cheeks.

“Oh jeez I’m gonna hurl!”

The score was 7-2 as Pinkie took a break from the game to calm her queasy stomach. She stopped her tail and Slapshot took aim for another goal.

“You’re a weird one, eh, Pinkie Pie?” He said, making the goal and turning the score to 8-2. “But I have to say, first time anypony’s gotten two points on me. Time’s almost done, by the way.” Slapshot kicked at the ice with a bladed hoof. “Can tell by the hardness of the ice, yeah? Five more minutes or so.”

Pinkie took a deep breath then breathed out. Slapshot was heading back to his side with the puck.
“Come on, Pinkie,” she whispered to herself, “You just need to score one more goal. Everypony is relying on you to find out the truth, and Slapshot’s got it! You need to win!”

She scooped up some dirt and rubbed in two lines underneath her eyes. She gritted her teeth and put on a war face. Pinkie started to spin her tail again as Slapshot scored his ninth goal.

“GAAAAAAH!” she screamed, breaking onto the ice going as fast as Rainbow Dash could fly on a good day. She broke past Slapshot so fast he started spinning uncontrollably back to his side of the lake. Pinkie danced with the puck as she followed him towards his net.

Slapshot would not be beat so easily. He thrust a back hoof into the ice hard enough to stop him. He was furious with passion.

“Y’aint seen my defence yet, pal! I’ll wait you out! Four minutes left!”

Pinkie had more control over her tail by then and was able to maneuver better with the puck, but Slapshot kept himself always in front of her and blocked any attempts at a goal. With the lack of accuracy in her current form, there was no way to score with Slapshot in the way. Thus began three and a half minutes of Pinkie’s fruitless assault. She could get close to the net with the puck, but did not dare attempt a goal for fears of losing the game if Slapshot scored on the rebound, so she went back to the middle of the lake to start again.

Thirty seconds remained. Pinkie’s entire body poured sweat, as did Slapshot’s. All Pinkie could taste was sour, salty perspiration. Her lungs throbbed in pain. Her joints ached, like she had jumped on the world’s largest trampoline for five hours straight (although she had already done that last week). She made one last effort to attack Slapshot’s defence. Her tail was in overdrive.

“COME ONNNNNN!” she hollered like an insane windigo. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” She was close as she could get. Slapshot seemingly blocked every possible avenue for a successful shot. She belted the puck anyway, as hard as she could, hard enough to visciously crack the ice where she hit.

“Gah!” Slapshot grunted as he slashed his stick to deflect the brazen puck, but it soared past his technique. It flew and flew until it landed right in his net!

Saddle Lake broke apart at that moment, all of the ice splitting into variously sized chunks and both ponies falling into the lukewarm water below. The nets became submerged and the Wonder Ice completely dissipated after a few seconds. With a spurt and cough Pinkie and Slapshot came to the surface.

“Y-You…” Slapshot spat out a stream of water and stared at Pinkie with giant saucer eyes, “…you won… eh…”

Pinkie wore her big goofy smile like a gold medal.

* * *

A dark shadow engulfed Applejack and Rarity. Both of their necks were craned towards the sky, or where it would have been, if it were not completely blocked by what they were seeing. Applejack removed her stetson for a better look.

“Y’ever… see anything like that… before…?”

Rarity called in reply from her side of the courtyard.

“Only in my dreams, d-darling…”

The crowds around them, however, were cheering. Almost as loud as when Maelstrom had arrived the day before.

For the first time in Canterlot’s history, the Saddlebred Citadel hovered above its skies. The very top of the goliath was shrouded in mist, it was so high up and tall. If Fluttershy had been there, she could have told Rarity and Applejack that the Citadel had a near-twin miniature copy, as they both definitely looked the same, only the Citadel was large enough to make the entire city of Canterlot seem like a hamlet half the size of Ponyville.

The voice of Tele-P crackled over the courtyard speakers.

“Yes that’s what we’ve all been waiting for, sportsfans! The greatest floating cloud arena in the world – the Saddlebred Citadel!”

There was a pause as the crowds cheered and hollered. High above, countless numbers of pegasi, only visible as little dots of color, helped move the Citadel into place several hundred feet directly above Canterlot Castle.

“The Citadel is typically used to train ponies in the Equestrian Defence Force but when it’s not in use, flyers use it for races, competitions, and training of their own! Maelstrom and the EFL have been able to secure its use and transport for the next few days!”

Applejack felt her eyes spin. A customer waved a hoof in front of her eyes but, seeing no reaction, he shrugged, threw one bit into her bucket, and took two apples with a snicker.

“It can seat 10,000 ponies and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to show visual feeds of the action—and of us newscasters! You can find us on the Big Screen starting tomorrow, when I’m joined by my gorgeous co-host Kissie!”

Rarity, on the other side, was being prodded by her little sister, giddy with gusto.

“Rarity, look at that thing! Isn’t it awesome? Oh, can we all go watch the race tomorrow? Applebloom and Scootaloo too? Oh but…” Rarity heard her sister sigh. “No wings… and no Princess Twilight to give us any with magic…”

Tele-P chimed up again as if to answer Sweetie.

“Have no fear, all of you non-pegasi! EFL volunteers and personnel will be providing airship and balloon transport to designated non-flyer-friendly areas of the Citadel for each of the races!”

Sweetie leapt into the air.

“Yay! We can be Cutie Mark Crusader Superfans after all!”

* * *

Twilight stood in the middle of a dreary, purple landscape. Strange trees and plants dotted the area all around. The wind whistled with scorn. Three figures stood in front of her, facing away. Three regal figures.

“You failed me, Twilight Sparkle,” said the tallest of the three.

“Thou mightst not be fit for this task, after all,” lamented another.

“I’m so disappointed in you, Twilight. I always had high hopes, even as your foalsitter…” said the last with a sigh.

Twilight watched the beloved mares slowly float off into the distance as her vision became blurry. “No, wait!” she called out, but it was no use, as the figures grew more and more transparent. “I can do my princess duty! I swear! I won’t fail you all!”

A loud voice brought Twilight out of her dream.

“Hey, get up!”

Twilight wiped away some moisture from her chin and groaned. Cold sweat seeped from her pores. She was upside down on the bed of straw in her jail cell. A guard was at her open cell door, staring at her as if it might physically harm her if he glared hard enough

“The Prince will see you now.”

Twilight shot up straight and cleared her throat.

“Alright, lead the way.”

The guard was joined by four more behind him, outside the cell. One levitated a burlap sack over to Twilight and secured it around her head. She protested momentarily before submitting with a grunt.

“This again, huh? Fine.”

Twilight heard the guard scoff as she was led away.

“You’re lucky to have an audience with our Prince at all, Equestrian scum.”

Twilight bit her tongue. Minutes passed with no sounds except the occasional heavy, wooden door opening and closing or the clip-clop of hooves against cobblestone floors. Finally, Twilight heard a familiar sort of creak, like the door of the Royal Throne Room in Canterlot Castle opening. Then it shut behind her, and she heard somepony lock it with something.

Somepony removed her sack, and she had to squint as the room was so bright compared to what she had become accustomed to.

“Welcome, Twilight Sparkle,” called a firm, clear voice from the center of the room. “To the Sky Chamber.”

19 - Prince Tsunami

Chapter 19

Prince Tsunami

Twilight slowly adjusted to the new, bright surroundings. With blinking eyes, she took her first look at where she was.

Immediately she was drawn to the center of the room like it had a gravitational pull and she was a small planet. There, on a staired platform that appeared octagonal, a tall, golden throne sat, glowing with the reflections of torch fire. An emerald as big as any of Twilight’s encyclopedias was embedded at the top of the throne, with other, smaller gemstones inlaid at other points on the regal chair. Behind the throne a dark green flag hung, a white crown with white, outstretched wings embroidered on it.

“You look upon the Throne of Clopstantine,” the voice from before announced. Twilight shifted her vision just to the right and saw another throne, smaller and less ornate, which was occupied. “It is our most sacred treasure. Beautiful, no?”

The voice came from a stallion with a shiny, milky coat, covered in a deep purple cloak lined with snowy fur. His swirly, sapphire mane turned and turned upward, like the start of a funnel cloud, and surrounding it was a silver crown, like a fence enclosing some dark blue mountain. The crown was not as big as the one embroidered on the flag, and it had a much smaller emerald laid in its center than the golden throne did.

“Are you Prince Tsunami?” Twilight asked, looking into the stallion’s hard eyes. The rest of his face was old and tired, but his eyes shined with the same color and luster as all the emeralds she had seen so far in the city. Prince Tsunami shifted in his seat and answered.

“I am. Steward of Clopstantine and ruler of His city. And you are a long way from home, princess.”

Just like Luna had described… so it’s true…

Twilight looked around the room – the Sky Chamber, as Prince Tsunami called it. It was vast and circular, and the vaulted, domed ceiling seemed a mile away. Great murals of ancient times were painted on the domed ceiling. Looking downward, Twilight took in the faintly magenta-glowing walls, alabaster and coal-colored stone giving contrast to the various stain-glass windows, not unlike those in Canterlot castle, except showing different scenes.

Same as the jail cell. No magic, then.

In front of Twilight, leading up to the throne platform, was a path of red carpet and standing torches on either side. There were also many guards lining the path on either side of it, stoic, silent, and incredibly intimidating. It seemed only the biggest and meanest looking guards were chosen for guarding the throne room.

“Tell me, Twilight Sparkle: what are you doing here in Clopstantinople?”

Twilight refocused on Prince Tsunami. His brows were only slightly turned downward, and his mouth was a straight line. Twilight’s face felt similar. They were both scanning the other.

Twilight swallowed and began to move forward. At a certain point, two guards stepped forward and emotionlessly blocked her from trotting any further.

“I came here to establish formal relations between Equestria and your fine country,” Twilight glanced back down at the guards momentarily, then back up at Prince Tsunami. “I would like to exchange knowledge between our two nations, as the first step towards our friendship.”

Tsunami laughed and leaned forward. “Friendship, you say? Well, you would be the best princess for that, Princess of Friendship. That is your title, is it not?”

“It is.” Twilight smiled. “So, you’re right, I would be the best princess for the job. I would have come with my friends, too, only I have heard of your country’s reluctance to accept foreigners and I did not want to overwhelm you on this inaugural visit.”

Prince Tsunami sat back in his throne. “Right. You did not want to overwhelm us with your pastel colors and happy faces. Indeed.” Some of the guards fought back laughter. Twilight looked around. Ire took over her face for a brief moment. Prince Tsunami continued.

“And it is not that we are reluctant to accept all foreigners, just Equestrians. My ponies can spot an Equestrian easy, and we don’t treat well with Equestrians.” With a forced smile Twilight addressed the prince once more.

“Perhaps my word choice was wrong… I only meant—”

“I know precisely what you meant.” Prince Tsunami interrupted. “Equestrians have always been haughty with their bright-eyed, bushy-tailed dispositions. Running about with your Cutie Marks and your foalish smiles.” Twilight and Prince Tsunami both glared at each other.

“Let me ‘exchange’ some ‘knowledge’ with you about Clopstantinople, dear princess.” Prince Tsunami’s voice raised in volume as he continued. “Five-hundred years ago, our founder, Clopstantine the Great, came north from Equestria escaping the tyranny He described there. He desired to create a city and a country where ponies could be free from control, and He proceeded to do just that.”

“After He retired, old and esteemed, His Highest Majesty put a steward in charge of the country, one of my great ancestors, and ever since we have watched over and protected the freedom and security of His people.”

Prince Tsunami leaned forward once again. “We don’t need friends, and we don’t need to exchange anything more than that, least of all with Equestrians.” Twilight was at a loss for words at first. She searched her mind for some semblance of a reply.

This makes no sense… five-hundred years ago Princess Celestia was the only ruler of Equestria! She’s no tyrant!

Twilight looked at Prince Tsunami. It felt like each set of eyes was pushing against the other, trying to win some kind of silent battle.

“I am sorry, but it’s impossible for that story to be true, prince. Princess Celestia was the ruler of Equestria five-hundred years ago, and she has always been a kind, fair ruler. The role of a princess is to lead the country by example and protect it from danger, not to control ponies or create tyranny!”

Prince Tsunami scowled.

“Surely you’re not calling His Highest Majesty Clopstantine the Great a liar… Twilight Sparkle.”

He looked around the room as if seeing something Twilight couldn’t herself see.

“He is still with us, you know. He might even be able to hear you. He’s not a stallion you want to anger.”

Twilight followed Prince Tsunami’s glances but saw nothing aside from the dust floating in the air where the light from the windows illuminated it. She looked back at the prince.

I’m beginning to understand what Celestia was talking about now.

She narrowed her eyes at Prince Tsunami.

“I don’t understand. If Clopstantine lived five-hundred years ago… well, there’s no way he’s still—”

“Alive?” Prince Tsunami finished, smiling wryly. “But isn’t your Princess Celestia still alive after a thousand years?” He tapped his gauntlet on the throne. “Surely you’re aware that there are some among us with the fortitude to live longer than the average pony. The world works in mysterious ways beyond just the magic you are used to in Equestria.”

He rose a hoof, and Twilight got a better look at one of his gauntlets. It was emerald and inlaid with gold. Prince Tsunami cleared his throat.

“Anyway, that is the story of this great city. As I said, we are not looking for friends, certainly not with Equestrians, and so I believe your mission here has come to an end. If you have nothing else to say, my guards can escort you to an airship and you can be on your way home.”

Twilight tensed up and sighed.

“I do, actually, have something else to say.”

Prince Tsunami raised a brow.

“Oh?”

The Princess of Friendship locked eyes with the prince.

I need to do what I came here for, one way or another.

“What do you know of dream magic?”

The room became deathly quiet.

“Dream… magic?” Prince Tsunami scoffed. “Never heard of it. What does that have to do with anything?”

Twilight steeled herself. Her wings unfurled.

“It has a lot to do with everything. The princesses have become aware of some magical energy entering their dreams. Princess Luna has tracked its origin to here, the location of Clopstantinople. And…”

“Yes?” Prince Tsunami looked wary. Twilight continued.

“…and the princess reported seeing the figure of a white pony, with a dark blue mane that sticks up, in her dreams.”

Prince Tsunami crossed his hooves over his chest and snorted.

“Quite the accusation. And why is this Princess Luna not here before me instead of you, to make her case?

“I was the one sent to address the issue. Even if Princess Luna was here, she wouldn’t be able to show you what she saw. I believe her.” Twilight pressed on. “Do you deny that you were spying on the princesses with dream magic?”

Prince Tsunami stared at Twilight for a long time, his wizened features undecipherable. The silence and the tension started to gnaw at Twilight’s sanity. Finally, he replied quietly.

“I’ll not give credence to baseless accusations. We do not like Equestrians, but we also do not spy on them. I can’t even use magic; I’m an earth pony. Now, it is time to leave, Twilight Sparkle.” Prince Tsunami motioned his head towards the doors and his guards followed the silent command. They started to lead Twilight out of the room, against her will.

This is my last chance. I have to use it.

Twilight closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She let her wings become limp and relaxed. She recited some words in her head and mouthed them. Prince Tsunami cocked his head.

“What?” he uttered.

Twilight opened her eyes and grimaced. At the same time, an ivory beam shot out from the tip of her horn, straight at Prince Tsunami. The guards pounced on her.

“You…” Prince Tsunami gasped. At the last moment he seemed to remember his situation and deflected the beam with his armored hoof. The beam travelled until it hit one of the guard’s emerald armor shoulder plates, and again it deflected.

Their armor is magic-proof too! I didn’t account for that!

The beam continued to deflect off of the walls and the armor it came into contact with until finally it found its way through the helmet of a guard.

The magic colliding with the guard caused a loud, ear-rattlingly high pitch, disorienting everypony for a few moments. When everypony had come to, they looked over to the guard who the beam hit, Twilight most curious of all to see what had happened.

“Dauntless,” one of the other guards asked, hesitantly, “are… are you okay?”

Twilight watched as the guard shook his head, as if he had had a great fall and banged it, and then looked over to her. His gaze was empty, and his mouth was agape. He galloped to Twilight and dropped to his knees before her.

“Princess, what do you command?”

Twilight’s mouth dropped. She tried to speak but no words came out. She dared to look up at Prince Tsunami, who stared at her with a murderous countenance.

“So! Your real goal! A mind control spell!”

Twilight pleaded. “I had no idea what it would do, I was only—”

Prince Tsunami was livid. “Seize her! Throw her back in her cell where she belongs!”

The guard who the beam hit fought against the guards taking Twilight away.

“No! Princess! I won’t let them do it!”

The other guards grabbed their friend. Prince Tsunami bellowed as Twilight was dragged out of the room.

“Call the court mage and get that soldier some help!”

Twilight saw a guard gallop away like his life depended on it. She was being dragged through a hallway just outside the Sky Chamber, and this time she struggled and fought back with all her might to resist.

No use in playing nice now!

Eventually the guards were too much, and so Twilight lit up her horn and performed a teleportation spell. The walls were magic-proof, so the best she could do was pop up at the end of the hallway, and she took off as soon as she could, flying just above the floor.

“After her!” A guard screamed, “Call the garrison to arms! Capture Twilight Sparkle!”

Twilight was not as fast as the guard who took off before her, even if she was flying, and she watched him disappear through a narrow door. It didn’t look like the direction she wanted to go in so she took off down another hall. There was no wall on its right side but instead a lattice covering, glowing with magenta. Twilight glanced only momentarily through the lattice to see the hustle and bustle of Clopstantinople far below. A few guards came around the corner.

“What’s all this—hey!”

Twilight flew right over the guards. She had little time to think, or to catch her breath. She turned down yet another hallway, darker than the last, and kept on going until the sounds of her chasers started to dissipate. Twilight descended to the ground and sucked up as much air as she could.

I need to save up my magic. Once I’m outside, I can use my strongest teleportation spell and get far away from here. There’re going to be guards everywhere soon, I’m sure of it.

Two minutes passed before Twilight allowed herself no more time. She warmed up her wings then took off. Down several hallways she flew, then down a long set of spiral stairs, and down more hallways still. She would occasionally encounter more guards, who were easy enough to avoid as there were never more than one or two just happening to be there with no idea what was going on, and other times there would be palace staff, who would shriek when they saw her crazed form, and especially her cutie mark.

Finally, Twilight reached an open room with a large, bolted wooden door at one end. Her lungs were burning but she ignored it. She landed and charged towards the door with her horn glowing and pulsing red.

I can use this much magic to break through the door, then when I’m outside, I can…

Whispers. Something was whispering all around her. Twilight felt the world grow hazy and cloudy around her. She kept running towards the door until it, too, disappeared amid the haze. More whispers.

“Very far from home, little princess from the south.”

Twilight stopped and turned to the direction of the whisper. She started to flutter above the ground. The same voice spoke again behind her.

“Your magic is powerful. And scary. Good thing I don’t have to face you alone.”

She heard a unicorn horn power up near the entrance to the room she was in. She looked and saw an aquamarine glow through the haze.

“Who are you?” she called out. She powered her own horn up to defend herself.

There was a pompous chuckle coming from the unicorn magic.

“It matters not, evil one! Thou shallst be smitten, and that shallst be the end of it!”

Twilight glared at the aquamarine light.

“Not me, my lady. Him.”

Twilight leaned back and looked from left to right. A whoosh drew her gaze behind her. All she saw was a mass flying towards her face before the world turned dark.

Author's Note

Massive apologies for the late chapter (to the few of you who care, if anyone does). I plan on releasing a new chapter tomorrow as well to get back in line with the schedule.

20 - The Herb of Omnom-Sense

Chapter 20

The Herb of Omnom-Sense

“Come on, eh? Tell me the truth!”

Slapshot pleaded with Pinkie, who gleefully bounced to his left. The two were headed to the Big Cheese to discuss Maelstrom over a much-needed late lunch.

“You’ve had hockey training before, yeah? Like, that wasn’t your first time, right?”

“It wasn’t my first time!” Pinkie answered cheerfully. “It was my second! My first time was as a filly! I fell over so many times, it was hilarious!”

Slapshot nearly ripped his mane out.

“Ahh jeez, I really lost to a newbie? Seriously?” Slapshot stopped and rummaged with his saddle bags. Pinkie stopped too, and saw Slapshot pull out something that looked like a big gumball with a wrapper.

“Oo oo! Candy! Can I have some?” Pinkie asked. Slapshot scoffed.

“Yeah, like, not a chance, eh?” Pinkie’s bottom lip quivered, and she looked at Slapshot with puppy dog eyes. He rolled his eyes and sighed then popped the small object in his mouth. “This isn’t candy, yeah? It’s Seeptree Sap. I chew it to clear my thoughts, yeah? It tastes gross, you really wouldn’t like it.”

Slapshot started to walk again while chewing and Pinkie followed. “Thank goodness you didn’t give me any then,” Pinkie said, “I can’t stand icky food! If I eat something that’s gross it makes my tongue swell up and my eyes start to do this” – she leapt in front of Slapshot and started to bulge her eyes out and pointed them each in a different direction – “weird, googly thing!” She finished with a giggle.

“Real fascinating, eh?” Slapshot said, deadpan. The pair continued on their way.

The intense heat had dried both ponies off not long after they dragged their drenched forms out of Saddle Lake following their hockey match. Slapshot had collected all of his things in his saddle bags and the two had taken off. Several ponies along the way shot Slapshot odd glances, seeing him in attire that would be too much even for Vanhoover at that time of year, and others were happy to meet and greet the hockey star. Slapshot was pretty ticked about his loss and didn’t give out a single autograph.

Eventually the pair reached the Big Cheese and grabbed the last free table outside under an oak tree. Slapshot ordered one of everything – Pinkie ordered two of everything.

“Holy moley, I didn’t realize how hungry I was until you brought it up, Slapshot! I think I could eat a horse!” Pinkie tilted her head. “Is that… weird?”

Slapshot put his hooves on the table and leaned his head against one. “Yeah, I don’t know, eh? So, like, what do you want to know about Maelstrom? Once we’re done eating, I’m going for a nap back at my hotel, yeah?”

Waiters brought over the first of the dishes and the two hungry “stomachs with hooves” dug in.
Pinkie ate an entire dandelion sandwich in one bite. She licked her lips and hummed with satisfaction.

“Yummy! Well,” Pinkie looked at Slapshot seriously all of a sudden and pulled out her Sherclop Pie outfit. She donned the hat and pipe and started to blow bubbles. “What’s he like? Do you see him a lot?”

Slapshot spoke through a mouthful of hay fries. “Yweah, whell, loike, shometimes. Dwuring taining he’s pwetty noice, shmiles a lot, but dwoesn’t say mwuch, yweah?” He stopped eating and swallowed. “Honestly, I can’t say we’ve had, like, a conversation except when he hired me onto the team. And he was the same way, smiling, nice guy, can’t really say he came off as anything other than what everypony says he is. Though…”

Pinkie was drinking a hayshake and raised a brow. “Though…?” she repeated.

Slapshot took a bite out of half an oatburger, chewed five big chews with his mouth open, then swallowed. “Well, there was this one time, the day after he hired me, yeah? He had come to Vanhoover with that little minx VeeVee and her weird sister, eh? So that was weird, y’know, like now it is, when I think back, but at the time I thought she was his wife or something.”

More waiters brought more food. Pinkie licked her lips again and “ooo’d”.

“Anyway, they met me at the arena, where I was every day. It was near the end of the day, so by the time we were done, I went for a shower and to get my stuff, yeah? But the three of them stayed out on the ice and talked when everypony had already gone home. They must have thought I left too, because what they were talking about sounded sort of, like, secretive, or something.”

Pinkie pulled out a notepad and a pencil. “Yes, go on, my dear witness.” She blew some more bubbles with her pipe.

“It was weird, eh? What they were talking about.” Slapshot finished off his oatburger and continued. “I listened from just outside the locker room. Sounded like they were discussing a plan, and Maelstrom wanted to make sure VeeVee understood what was what. I guess even the sister was involved, but I’m not too sure. I barely remember this, yeah? But what I do remember for sure is something they were talking about.”

Slapshot leaned in towards the table, and Pinkie did the same. She looked at him with giant, eager eyes.

“Which was…?” Pinkie asked. Slapshot opened his mouth to speak then stopped. He got up.

“Oh jeez, can you hold that thought, eh? I gotta use the little colt’s room.” He galloped off into the restaurant. Pinkie’s eye twitched. She held her breath and counted the seconds. Eventually Slapshot emerged from the restaurant, happily sighing as he took his seat once more. Pinkie nearly exploded.

“What were we talking about there, pal? I forgot,” Slapshot asked, picking up a quinoasadilla. He was going to take a bite before Pinkie shouted and made him drop it with a start.

“GAHHHH! THE SUPER SECRET THING THAT MAELSTROM AND MS. VEEVEE WERE TALKING IN SECRET ABOUT!”

Other ponies sitting outside and eating turned towards the source of the outburst. Pinkie cupped her mouth with her hooves and started to melt into a pile of pink goo in her chair. Slapshot looked around awkwardly and lowered his head.

“Not so loud, jeez Louise!” He shushed Pinkie with his hoof. “The thing they were talking about was something called the Herb of Omnom-sense.”

Pinkie cocked her head and removed the pipe from her mouth.

“The Whosit of Whatnow?” she blustered. Slapshot shrugged.

“The Herb of Omnom-sense. That’s what Maelstrom called it. Said it was super important and that VeeVee better figure out how to use it properly. I have a theory,” Slapshot started to devour his quinoasadilla and spoke through his chews. “Shee, I shink BweeBwee an’ Mwaelstom are swecwetly loike dis” – Slapshot put his food down and tapped his hooves together – “Cwoltfriend and mwarefwend kwind of dweal, yweah?”

He finished off the last of the dish and spoke with an empty mouth once more. “So, Maelstrom was trying to see if his secret flame was able to cook his favorite food, and that required the Herb thingy.” Slapshot smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Not a bad theory, eh? I think you could make a killing if you sold that story to the paparazzis, yeah?”

Pinkie raised an eyebrow.

“So Maelstrom and that Ms. VeeVee lady that Rarity is with in Canterlot are secretly, you know” – she tapped her hooves together – “like that. But that doesn’t tell me what he could be—” Pinkie covered her mouth again.

Better not tell him. Maelstrom is his boss!

“I mean, is there anything else you can tell me about Maelstrom? Anything else that he wants to hide so nopony finds out?”

Slapshot shook his head and started to eat again. “Nwot dat I know of.” Pinkie frowned and picked up an oatburger. She ate it in one bite. Slapshot finished his last dish, a rice pudding, and sat back in his chair patting his stomach.

“But, if you’re really looking for some dirt that’ll get the ponies talking, yeah, you could sneak into his tent at Pepperheart Field, eh? His guards are always watching it, and nopony is allowed near. Even when Maelstrom wants to talk to somepony in private, he goes to their tent.”

Pinkie rubbed her chin and blew some more bubbles.

“You think he’s hiding the Herb in there, or something sinister, perhaps?”

Slapshot shrugged. He popped the previously chewed Seeptree Sap back into his mouth.

“No idea, pal. You got the meal covered, yeah?”

He pulled out the empty pockets of his jersey and smiled sheepishly. Pinkie’s mouth contorted into an upside-down smile. A waiter with a furrowed brow walked up, clearing his throat loudly.

“S-sure,” Pinkie managed. She pulled a purse out of her mane and started to count out the bits. Slapshot got up and walked away, chewing loudly as he went along.

“Thanks for the fun times and the food, eh? See you around.” Pinkie chased after him.

“Wait!” she grabbed at his jersey and Slapshot shoved her off lightly.

“What is it, yeah? I need my afternoon nap.”

Pinkie pulled out her notepad and pencil again and smiled wide.

“Can I get two autographs pretty, pretty please?”

* * *

Rainbow flew towards the sun, an enormous smile plastered on her face. She couldn’t help but sing as her and Tank headed for Sweet Apple Acres to meet with Zephyr.

“Are you as excited as I am, Tank? Because I am big E excited! Zephyr – THE Zephyr, and me, training! Together! Isn’t this super and totally awesome beyond anything else that has ever been awesome EVER?!”

Tank nodded slowly, a small smile on his face. Rainbow giggled and loop-de-looped forward. She loop-de-looped so fast that she generated a strong breeze which descended to the world below and collided with a nearby denizen of Ponyville.

“Oops, sorry Cranky!” Rainbow called down to the grumpy donkey, who was collecting his wig and mumbling to himself.

“Shoot, Rainbow Dash! Can’t you keep that stuff up in the sky where it belongs!”

Rainbow stuck her tongue out cheekily and Cranky shook his head. He smirked as he turned away. A stray thought invaded Rainbow's mind.

What if I can't teach Zephyr the Sonic Rainboom? And what if he asks to see one?

Rainbow gulped.

I don't even know if I can do one. Every other time just sort of happened. I've never done one on purpose before.

Rainbow and Tank reached the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres in no time flat. When the cyan pegasus had spotted Big McIntosh, stomping inside a container filled with apples, her and her tortoise companion flew down to greet him.

“Hey Mac! Having an awesome day?”

Big Mac looked up and nodded. “Eeyup!” he exclaimed. Rainbow hoofbumped the air.

“Right on! Listen, me and a friend were going to use Three Tree Hill for some flying training. You don’t mind, do you?”

Big Mac shook his head. “Eeenope!”

“Cool, thanks Mac!” Rainbow was about to take off again when an old, cantankerous voice stopped her.

“Now just hold on there one whip-crackin’ minute, Cranberry Smash!”

Rainbow turned around and saw Granny Smith, shaking and tonguing her dentures.

“It’s Rainbow Dash, Granny.” Rainbow corrected. Granny Smith snapped back.

“No matter, ehh, Blazerow Nash! I want to know what my Applejack’s been up to in Canterlot, skippin’ her chores what to go off galivantin’ with them big city ponies, talkin’ about making more bits than I’ve seen in a decade, that’s what she said. Foolish, if you ask me.”

Rainbow planted her hooves on the earth and raised a hoof and shook her head.

“Sorry, Granny, but I haven’t been to Canterlot at all. I’ve been busy training here in Ponyville.”

Rainbow talked out the side of her mouth quietly, “And if AJ was as good a friend as I thought, she’d be coming to cheer me on. So would the rest of my friends.”

“Wassat, girlie? Speak up!” Granny cried. Rainbow smiled and shook her head.

“It’s nothing, Granny. But I really don’t know what’s going on with Applejack except that her and Rarity went to Canterlot to sell apples and dresses. Apparently it’s a good time for sales, since there are so many ponies in Canterlot who came for the Storm’s Challenge.”

Granny spat on the ground.

“Well all I know’s is that Applejack better come back soon with all the bits in Canterlot. She had Big McIntosh go up there at the wee hours this morning, wagon full of apples and such. Whyyyy, nothing good ever comes selling to big city folk, no matter if they live there or came around for this event or that. I remember back when I was a young mare – this was before you kiddies were born—”

Rainbow rolled her eyes with a smile. Big Mac and Tank shared a look and a slow head shake.

“Alright, well, we have somewhere to be, Granny! See you later!” Rainbow interjected before taking off towards the meet up spot. Granny continued to go on and on as Big Mac crushed apples into cider.

Rainbow and Tank landed on Three Tree Hill, which, as Rainbow had told Zephyr the day before, was the highest point in all of Sweet Apple Acres and was accented by three big apple trees at its top.

Rainbow started to doubt herself again and stared at a random cloud for what seemed like a long time. At some point, a figure flying towards her and Tank entered her peripheral vision. It was Zephyr.

“Hey, you made it!” he called out as he made his approach. Rainbow waved and smiled awkwardly.

“Of course I did! Wasn’t going to miss this chance!” Rainbow jolted her head up so her mane moved out of her eyes. “So, you ready to be trained by the best flyer in Equestria, Zephyr?”

Zephyr grinned.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s just get to it!”

Tears streamed from the goggles on Zephyr’s face as he shot down towards the earth like a flying spear. He gritted his teeth so hard they were almost splitting. His wings were pressed tight against his body and a cone was forming around his front. The ground wasn’t far off.

“Arggggghhhh!” he cried as he was forced to pull back in time to avoid becoming a splat. His form twisted and twirled back as the sheer power of the almost-Rainboom knocked him upwards. Rainbow, on a cloud higher above in the sky, shouted down at him.

“You need to be more aerodynamic! Keep those wings tight! And were your hooves forward enough?”
Zephyr regained his momentum and stopped tumbling into the clouds. He huffed and puffed to refill his lungs.

“Rainbow… Dash… that was… the third try… I don’t think… it was any better… than the last two…”

He flew up until he was situated on the same cloud as Rainbow. Tank was flying from one cloud to the next all around Sweet Apple Acres, killing time as the ponies did their thing.

“There’s got to be something else we’re missing!” Zephyr cried, sweat dripping from his ponytail and down past his muzzle. He wiped the salty liquid from his lips. Rainbow shook her head.

“There isn’t, trust me. I remember the same thing both times: I was tight, hooves out, like a bullet. Heading right for the ground, totally a 90 degree angle, wings parallel with my hooves.” Rainbow thought of Twilight saying something similar and made a disgusted face as she realized she sounded like an egghead. “Anyway, there’s not really any trick to it. You just need the proper form and the proper speed. You definitely have the speed, so it’s got to be the form that’s holding you back.”

“Impossible,” Zephyr said. His tail was swishing back and forth and he eyed Rainbow with a determined gleam, “My form IS perfect! It was perfect the first time, at least based on how you described it!”

Rainbow demonstrated the correct form once again, lying down on the cloud with her hooves out. She even scrunched her face up as much as possible. Zephyr copied. Anypony flying by might have thought there was something wrong with the two pegasi, stretched out and making strange faces.

“Uww gwtta mwake ywer fwce lwike dwis,” Rainbow said through tight lips. Zephyr opened his eye just a bit and glanced over.

“Lwike dwis?” he mumbled. Rainbow peeked.

“Nwo, lwike DWIS!”

Zephyr jumped up, exasperated.

“Enough! This is ridiculous! Why can’t you just show me an example!”

Rainbow got onto her hooves as well. She took a step back.

“W-well, you see, it’s like this—”

“Yes?”

Rainbow’s ears folded down.

“The thing is…”

“I’m listening!” Zephyr tried to look at Rainbow’s eyes but she kept darting them around.

“I’m too tired! From training, yeah!” Rainbow walked back and forth as the words spewed out. “And when you’re too tired, you can’t do the Sonic Rainboom! E-Everypony knows that! You need full energy!”

Zephyr raised an eyebrow. “Full energy, huh?”

Rainbow nodded far too quickly. “That’s right, hehe. Gotta have a full stomach, too! A-and a good night’s rest – you know, it would be a lot better if we did this kind of training in the morning. Guess it will have to wait for another day! What a shame!”

“Why’d you have me even try if it was going to be impossible, then?” Zephyr looked annoyed, so Rainbow looked past him.

“W-well it’s good to learn the proper form! And practice makes perfect! And I thought, m-maybe if anypony could do it after a day of training, you c-could!”

Zephyr closed his eyes and sighed.

“Alright, understood.” Zephyr laid back down on the cloud and stretched his hooves out forward. “How’s this look?”

Rainbow blinked a few times before flashing a brazen smile and jumping into position next to Zephyr.

“More like this!” she said, stretching out herself.

21 - Family Ties

Chapter 21

Family Ties

Applejack spun a gold bit on the fold-out tabletop of her wagon. Next to her was a register, seldom used since the morning. She sighed and glared to her right.

There was Rarity and the “star” Ms. VeeVee, who wasn’t attracting any less attention than she had been since the day before. Rarity’s customers were giddy and plentiful. Applejack looked back at her side of the courtyard, and it was like a tumbleweed could have blown through. She looked up at the sky and grunted to herself.

“That Boozebeard’s gonna get an earful when he comes back – IF he does. If he thinks he’s gettin’ any more cider now, he’s got another thing—”

Rarity snuck away from the crowd and waved a hoof at Applejack, calling out to her. “Yoohoo!”

“Oh great,” Applejack whispered to herself, “Wonder what SHE wants…”

“Applejaaaack, how’s business going, hmm?” Rarity said in a sing-song voice. Applejack looked at her with half closed eyes.

“What do you think, Rarity?” she deadpanned. Rarity looked around the wagon and the immediate area. Only one customer, a colt, was taking a look at the wares on offer. Rarity brought a hoof up to her face.

“Oh… my. It’s positively BOOMING, isn’t it?” Applejack just stared at Rarity as the fashionista bit back a grin. “As for me, well, I had a moment to come say hello and, of course, I took advantage. I have some interesting news to share.”

Before she could continue, Rarity noticed something and glanced around, genuinely seeming confused. “Err, where’s that Boozebeard fellow of yours,” she asked Applejack. Applejack responded with a loud sigh. She took off her stetson and dusted it off.

“Ponyville, I reckon. Said he’d be back in the afternoon sometime, and now it’s close to supper, if the sun’s anything to go by.”

Rarity looked up with a hoof above her brow. The sun, hot and heavy as always, was well past halfway across the sky. It no longer helped the Saddlebred Citadel cast a giant shadow over the courtyard.

“Right…” Rarity said, quietly. “I’m sorry your sponsor isn’t here. I suppose that explains the, uhhh” – the colt from before dropped a bit in Applejack’s bucket and trotted off with an apple – “lack of enthusiasm for your wares today.”

Applejack donned her stetson and pointed a hoof towards the rest of the courtyard. “That,” she complained, “And one of them EFL bigshots is over there helping a local sell their apples and fruits and such.” Applejack snorted.

Rarity wrapped a hoof around her friend’s neck.

“Hey, it’s okay, Applejack.” She smiled at her wary friend. “We’ll just… say today doesn’t count. I wouldn’t want you to lose by an exorbitant amount – it wouldn’t be proper to give you that much of a thrashing!”

Applejack pushed Rarity away and tightened her brow.

“Ah don’t need no pity from nopony on account of a poor sales day! Don’t you be worrying none about me, anyway! This competition’s still mine to win!” She twirled her hoof around. “Now, what’s this news you gotta tell me?”

Rarity brushed off her chest, staring at the ground in front of Applejack as she answered,
“Yes, well, you always WERE the stubborn type…” She cleared her throat. “Ahem… VeeVee has informed me that when she and Maelstrom visited the princess yesterday, one of the reasons for their royal visit was to offer a vacation to the Canterlot guard. That’s why we haven’t seen any of the usual guards all day, and why Maelstrom’s bodyguards have been all around town.”

Applejack glanced around the courtyard. There were indeed more emerald armor-covered guards than there were in the days before, and there were none of the usual Canterlot guards to be seen. Applejack turned back to Rarity.

“Alright, good to know. Not that that helps me at all right now. Speaking of Maelstrom, have you heard anything about him from Ms. VeeVee or anypony else?”

Rarity shook her head. “Afraid not. At least, not anything to corroborate what Pinkie believes. VeeVee had only good things to say about Maelstrom – he’s a sweetheart, and all of that. Just the same as anypony has said. How about you? Anything on Maelstrom from your end?”

Applejack raised a brow and motioned towards the emptiness around her wagon. Rarity giggled awkwardly.

“Ah, yes,” she said, “Right.” She cleared her throat once more and looked around uncomfortably. “Well, Applejack, I should be getting back. The clients love VeeVee but, you know, I am the patron of the entire ensemble, after all.” Applejack nodded and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah yeah, you git on now. Ah’m too busy to keep up our oh-so-engaging chat anyhow, can’t you tell?” Applejack turned away and started to spin one of her bits again. Rarity held out a hoof and opened her mouth to speak but decided against it. Her ears turned downward, and she frowned. Finally, she started to trot away.

After a few minutes of staring at bits and the occasional rare customer who happened by, Applejack heard loud, deep-pitched singing. It was so loud that she could hear it over the noise of the crowd in the courtyard.

♫♪ Yo ho, hi ho, over the city we will go. T’ward the valley, through the snow, back to Tall Tale, forward ho!” ♪♫

Applejack looked up to see a swarm of pegasi flying right at her. In the center of the mass of beards and muscle was none other than Boozebeard.

“Ello wee one! I’ve returned! And with me lads, too!”

Applejack braced for impact as the swarm of pegasi stallions showed no signs of slowing down, flying dangerously close. She dove out of the way and turned back, biting her hoof, as she prepared for the worst for her wagon. Boozebeard noticed what was about to happen at the last second and broke his forward flying, instead bringing his massive wings back to break his landing and come to a halt. His entourage behind him all slammed into him, one after the other, and by the time everypony had stopped, Boozebeard’s snout was a tenth of an inch from the wagon. Applejack fell over from the stress.

“Good… golly… Boozebeard… nearly gave me… ah heart attack…” she managed, picking herself up. All the stallion pegasi were rubbing their heads and looking around, talking among themselves. Boozebeard shook his head and bit both his lips as he apologized.

“I’m right sorry for tha’, Applejack. We got a speck too rowdy, I imagine.”

“No kiddin’.” Applejack said plainly. She looked over at the newcomers and smiled. “These your teammates, then? Howdy, y’all!”

Boozebeard held his hoof out towards the lot as they lined up beside him. There were 10 in all.

“Aye! These are me mates! Won’t bother you with the names as you’ll just forget – not a memorable bunch, alone. But together, they’re all my trusted friends – through thick and thin we’ve flown and trained. We’re the premier flyers of Tall Tale and area, not to mention adventurers, to boot! The Adventure Flyers, at yer service!”

“Aye!” Boozebeard’s friends cried in unison, raising their hooves in cheer. The stallions all looked very similar to Boozebeard, with different shades for their coats and manes, but just-as-bushy beards and hair styles. Some were dressed in checkered kilts, and seeing this, Applejack suddenly remembered something.

“Hey! Y’all are the same folks who come around buying Sweet Apple Acres cider every year! I remember those weird getups!”

“Oi s’not weird ‘tall!” One of Boozebeard’s compatriots stepped forward, angry. Another stepped forward beside him.

“Ahh s’okay mate! Thas here’s the lass who owns that farm where we get the best cider we’ve ever had, ‘member what Boss said?”

All the stallions agreed. They gathered around Applejack and lifted her into the air.

“Three cheers for the best cidermaker around!”

Applejack beamed. She looked over at Boozebeard, who was equally as ecstatic. He saluted Applejack.

“I’m right sorry fer being later than I wanted ta be, wee one, bu’ I’ll make it up to you.” He turned to his teammates. “Lads, spread ou’ and spread tha’ word! Applejack’s Sweet Apple Acres cider is on sale, and Boozebeard and the Adventure Flyers are fully endorsing the best cider in Equestria, as well as all the other tasty treats on offer!” The stallions all cheered and made off in different directions. Meanwhile, a crowd had already formed around just from Boozebeard alone. He bellowed.

“GATHER ROUN’, GATHER ROUN’, THERE’S PLENTY FER EVERYPONY!”

* * *

A snake wrapped itself around Fluttershy’s neck. It tightened its muscles. Fluttershy was wide-eyed.

“Oh… wow…” Fluttershy managed through a constricted throat. She smiled uneasily at Bushwhacker, who was seated opposite her on a pillow, freshly showered and back into his normal attire. They were both inside his tent overlooking Pepperheart Field.

“That’s just Mindy’s way of saying g’day. I hope she’s bein’ gentle?” Bushwhacker looked concerned. Mindy the boa constrictor flicked her tongue across Fluttershy’s cheek, eliciting a giggle from the usually-shy pegasus. Bushwhacker relaxed.

“I’ve never… seen a boa before…” Fluttershy shifted as Mindy loosened herself and slithered back to Bushwhacker, who accepted the large snake happily. “Is she a new addition to your pet friends?”

Fluttershy’s own animal friends flocked back to her once Mindy was on the other side of the tent. They wore worried expressions, sweat gathering on their furry brows. Bushwhacker replied, “She is. Found this sheila in the Outback – remember I was telling you a few months ago that’s what my family calls the desert behind our estate?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, she’d injured her tail, could barely move a muscle, poor girl. So, I brought her in, nursed her to health and, well…” Mindy licked Bushwhacker’s muzzle and he laughed. “The rest is history, as you can see!”

Fluttershy beamed, flecks of pink dotting her cheeks.

“Wow, Bushwhacker! What a terrific story! Most stallions wouldn’t even get close to a big snake like Mindy, much less nurse one back to health.”

Bushwhacker was staring in Mindy’s eyes. They rubbed their noses together. “I’ve never been afraid of animals, ever since I was a little joey. Thought you’d know that about me by now, Flutters.”

Fluttershy brought a hoof up to her chin.

“Well, umm, yes, but…”

Just then a stallion stuck his head through the tent flaps.

“Bushwhacker!” the stallion called.

The called-for stallion yelped and leapt into the air and wrapped his hooves around Mindy. His eyes were wide. Fluttershy quietly cleared her throat. Bushwhacker collected himself.

“Y-yes, what is it, mate?”

The stallion looked over at Fluttershy, then back to Bushwhacker.

“Uhh, Maelstrom wants to see you. When you have a moment.”

Bushwhacker clutched his heaving chest. He waved away the stallion and swallowed hard.

“Crikey… some ponies, they just pop in and spook ya, y-yeah?”

Fluttershy smiled wide and nodded. “Oh… yes. Anypony could have been scared by… that.” She got up. “But, well, I guess you need to go now, so we’ll see ourselves out.”

“No way!” Bushwhacker cried. “Maelstrom can wait. I don’t know how much more time we’ll have to visit after today. There’s the first race tomorrow, then one more day after for training before the last two races the two days after that. And then I’ve gotta be back to the family on the other side of Equestria.”

Fluttershy sat back down. “Oh okay. Then in that case…” She leaned in closer and spoke quietly, “do you mind if I ask you about Maelstrom? Since, umm, we’re sort of talking about him, and all.”

Bushwhacker rose an eyebrow. “Sure Flutters, but I think I told you everything there was to say the other day. And why are you whispering?”

Fluttershy played with her hooves, looking at the rug on the tent floor with her ears pressed down. “Well, you see, my friend Pinkie Pie…” Fluttershy told him the truth. After explaining everything, she smiled awkwardly, waiting for a response with pink-tinted cheeks.

Bushwhacker shook his head and looked upset. Mindy was wrapped around his shoulders.

“That’s just not possible. Maelstrom’s a proper bloke. Always been looking out for me since I joined the League. My family never thought I could be a flyer, said I didn’t have the vigor, but Maelstrom always saw something they didn’t.” He looked at the floor. “I don’t doubt your friend has this weird ability with her tail, because I trust you, Flutters, really,” Bushwhacker held up his hooves incredulously, “but if you’re asking me how I feel about it, I think her tail made a mistake this time.”

He smiled at Fluttershy, and she felt he understood her. Bushwhacker continued, “Maelstrom’s never said one strange thing to me, or anything to make me doubt his intentions. He’s only ever been happy and excited about this Challenge of his for months, talking about how it would bring everypony together like never before. How it was what Equestria was waiting for. How it would deliver everypony from the despair of—” Bushwhacker stopped mid-sentence, his mouth open. He rubbed his EFL medallion. Fluttershy tilted her head.

“Umm, Bushwhacker?”

He snapped out of it and smiled.

“It’s nothing. Maelstrom just likes to be colorful with his speech sometimes. You have nothing to fear. I’d tell your friend that, so she doesn’t miss anymore of the fun chasing after a boogeypony that isn’t real. Nopony is going to see another event like this ever again!”

Fluttershy focused on the rug. “I… see,” she said slowly. Bushwhacker quickly changed the subject.

“Tell me about your pal, Rainbow Dash! Is it true she actually performed a Sonic Rainboom a few years ago? That must have been ace!”

Fluttershy hesitantly looked back up at her friend. Her face was partially behind her mane, and her lips were drawn into a small smile.

“Of course it’s true. Rainbow’s the best flyer in all of Equestria – oh, no offense. You’re all so good, too. But I know Rainbow. She’s going to win the Storm’s Challenge! She’s been training ever since the news came to Ponyville, with the Wonderbolts, no less.” Fluttershy came out of her shell and smiled wide. Bushwhacker chuckled to himself.

“You might yet be right, Flutters. Our own shining star, Zephyr, seems to have taken a liking to her. He doesn’t exchange small talk with most ponies usually, but he did tell me he was off to train with your Rainbow Dash after practice.” Bushwhacker crossed his hooves behind his golden locks. “Course, he wouldn’t tell Maelstrom that he was going to train with somepony affiliated with our rival flying group or he’d be furious.”

Fluttershy looked concerned. “But I thought you said he’s always been pleasant and happy?”

Bushwhacker continued.

“Well, sure, with most ponies. But Maelstrom and Zephyr are family, so it’s a bit different. You know how uncles can be with their nephews. Sometimes they treat them like their own foals – my own uncle likes to tell me—” Bushwhacker noticed the expression on Fluttershy’s face, one of confusion. Bushwhacker quickly covered his mouth.

“UHHH…” he looked all around the tent. Fluttershy rose to her own hooves.

“Wait, Maelstrom is Zephyr’s uncle? I’ve never heard anything about that.”

Bushwhacker flopped out of his seated position and avoided eye contact with Fluttershy. “SORRY FLUTTERSHY I’VE GOT TO BE GOING NOW. CAN’T KEEP THE BIG GUY WAITING, YEAH?” Bushwhacker walked to the tent entrance, stiff and uncomfortable. His pitch and volume was all over the place. “IT WAS NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE RACE TOMORROW!”

“Wait!” Fluttershy called out, but before she could stop Bushwhacker, he took off like he had just seen a ghost, leaving her and her animals alone. Fluttershy turned to her deer friend.

“Maelstrom and Zephyr are in magazines all the time, and I’ve never heard anypony say they were related. Why would that be a secret?”

One of Fluttershy’s squirrel friends jumped in front of her and rubbed his stomach, chirping in some indecipherable language. Fluttershy smiled warmly.

“Oh right. It’s getting late. Time to get home and get you all some supper and see how Angel’s been.”

Author's Note

Really sorry (for all two of you who follow this story) about missing the last Sunday release and also this Thursday's release. In exchange, there will be a release today and tomorrow, followed by at least three chapters next week.

22 - Reminiscing

Chapter 22

Reminiscing

The sky was fire, branching out from the horizon in layers of yellow, orange, and crisp red. It lorded over Sweet Apple Acres and the two ponies lounging on the orchard’s largest hill. There were no longer any clouds in the sky, not after Zephyr and Rainbow were finished sonic rainboom practice.

A wheezing Zephyr laid on his back with all four hooves stretched out on either side of him.
Rainbow sat against one of the trees on the hill and smiled softly at the heavily-breathing stallion nearby. Apple cores surrounded each pony, evidence of an impromptu supper (which Rainbow would thank the Apples for at some point).

“You really go at it, huh?” Rainbow asked, watching Zephyr’s chest rise and fall with each labored breath. He held up a hoof triumphantly.

“Go big… or go home… right?” Rainbow giggled and nodded, although Zephyr was looking up at the sky. He continued through his panting, “After all this… I don’t care if I… manage to do one. I just… want to… see you do it.”

He flipped over and leaned on his side so he could look at Rainbow.

“The day after… tomorrow. Show me… in the morning. We’ll meet back… here.”

Rainbow avoided the deep-green gaze of Zephyr and looked out over the orchard.

“S-sure, no problem!” she answered with as much phony confidence as she could muster. Zephyr flopped back down onto his back and exhaled deeply. His breathing returned to normal, although sweat still drenched his mane and his coat. He had removed his skin-tight EFL uniform earlier, revealing his toned athlete’s body underneath. He kept his shiny EFL medallion, however, the dusk glow beating off its silver etchings. Rainbow didn’t stare much, because that’d be totally weird, but she noticed his cutie mark was a pure-white cloud being carried by a breeze.

“So, I’m curious,” Zephyr asked, looking up at the fading sunlight with his hooves behind his head, “who’d you choose as your teammates for the relay tomorrow?”

Rainbow’s body jolted upright. She looked at Zephyr with searching eyes.

“W-what are you talking about? There’s a relay tomorrow? I thought it was just a normal race!”

Zephyr sat up and looked at Rainbow with one eyebrow drawn up.

“The Wonderbolts didn’t tell you…? Everypony should have been informed in the morning. You had to choose your teammates for the three-pony relay and register your team before 5PM.”

Rainbow shot up into the air, eyes ablaze with panic and tail erect with worry.

“WHAAAT? NOPONY TOLD ME THAT!” she screamed, holding her face with her hooves. She thought back to earlier and then realization struck. “Ahhh crud! I think Spitfire told us in the morning but I was so excited about training with you that I barely listened!”

Rainbow fell back down to the ground and sulked. “I’m… an idiot.” She buried her face in her hooves and cried dramatically. Zephyr chastised her.

“I’m flattered, Rainbow, but you shouldn’t have let anything break your training focus. I guess I’m partially to blame for that. In any case, you’re not disqualified or anything. You’ll just have to pick your teammates from the other teamless ponies tomorrow morning before the relay starts.”

Rainbow smeared her face down with her hooves.

“W-what kind of relay is it? I’ve never seen Saddlebred Citadel! I’m totally unprepared!”

Zephyr sighed with exasperation, making Rainbow blush and hide behind her mane, ears pulled tight against her head. He smiled reassuringly and then spoke as if reciting an ingrained lesson.

“The three-pony relay is a challenge that consists of a skills segment, a speed segment, and a reflexes segment. Basically, the first pony needs to be a skilled flyer to reach the end of his or her segment, able to perform essential tricks to navigate his or her leg of the race. Next, the second pony has to have the speed to finish before his or her opponents. It’s strictly a segment dedicated to being the fastest, so you should do fine as the second pony. Lastly, the third pony must have honed reflexes to dodge obstacles that staff will randomly place in front of him or her. The first 50 teams to finish advance to the next part of the Challenge the day after tomorrow. The teams that finish last are eliminated.”

Rainbow nodded with understanding, looking slightly overwhelmed. Zephyr flashed her a gleaming set of pearly whites.

“I’m the star of the EFL, so I got to choose the best flyers for the first and third segments, and of course, I’ll be flying the speed segment.” Rainbow groaned and threw her face into the ground.

“I’m gonna be stuck with the chumps. I’m doomed!” she cried, voice muffled. Rainbow picked her head up and stared at Zephyr with wide, blood-shot eyes.

“DOOOOOOOOMMEEEEEED!” she shouted. Zephyr rolled his own eyes and walked over to Rainbow. He helped her stand and locked eyes with her, placing a hoof on her back for support. She just stared at him with a slightly agape mouth.

“Rainbow, if you can’t find a way to win, even if you’re stuck with the worst flyers in Equestria, nopony can.” He smiled smugly. “Well, except me, of course.” Rainbow pushed him away playfully.

“You’re pretty full of yourself, you know that?” Zephyr looked at her with an open-mouthed grin, his brows turned up in mirth. Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Yeah yeah, I know, so am I.” She giggled and Zephyr laughed. After a moment, Zephyr flew into the sky and pointed towards the quickly disappearing sun on the horizon.

“Come on, let’s go for a fly before it gets too late! I hate standing around on the dirt!”

Rainbow got up and looked at Zephyr with determination.

“Alright!”

Dusk turned to night and the moon took its place in the sky, ushering a haunting glow on the world below as Rainbow and Zephyr soared through the wispy, white clouds above Ponyville. Rainbow ventured a glance over at Zephyr’s flank.

“So…” she began slowly, “I was wondering how you got your cutie mark.”

Zephyr smiled and stared at the moon, a nostalgic glimmer in his eyes.

“Nothing really amazing about my cutie mark story. I’ve heard yours is pretty interesting though.” Zephyr looked over at Rainbow, and in response she blew air out of her mouth dismissively.

“I asked you first, Zeph. Tell me!”

Zephyr laughed quietly. “Heh… Zeph, huh? Nopony’s given me a nickname before.”

Rainbow whizzed right in front of Zephyr and bumped her forehead against his. “Tell me!” she continued her verbal assault. Zephyr relented with a sigh.

“Alright, alright! Let’s keep flying and I’ll tell you!”

The two continued. Zephyr cleared his throat.

“Well, when I was a colt, I always loved flying, right from the first moment I could flap my wings.” Rainbow heard the smile in his voice. “I wasn’t really any good at it at first, but my uncle loved flying, too, so he tried his best and taught me all he knew. I loved spending time with him. My dad was always pretty busy, and we didn’t leave our place that much, so I didn’t have anypony else.”

Rainbow and Zephyr passed over city hall, the town below silent and peaceful. A few clouds passed in front of the moon, casting a shadow on Ponyville, covering the duo. Zephyr continued, sounding less and less happy as he went on.

“As I got older, I got better, but my uncle started to change. I became obsessed with outdoing myself to impress him, to get his attention. He got… wrapped up in family affairs. I come from a pretty well-off family in the north, you can say, and the drama got the better of him. But I was young, I didn’t understand any of that, I just thought, if I could pull off something really amazing, my uncle would snap out of his funk and things could go back to normal.”

Rainbow had been watching Zephyr as intensely as she could when she didn’t need to look ahead to see where she was flying. Zephyr swallowed and finished his story, with a shaky voice.

“I finally… managed to perform a feat. All the ponies around me that day were amazed. Somehow, even as a colt, I flew so fast it beat all the personal records of all the pegasi in Clo — w-where I’m from. It took me a long time to figure out how to bring that kind of speed out on purpose, but it was enough that day for me to earn my cutie mark. Only…”

Rainbow edged Zephyr on. “Only what?”

Zephyr closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Long story short, my uncle wasn’t impressed, even by that. And from that day on, I gave up on trying to please him. We haven’t ever been the same.”

Zephyr looked at Rainbow sidelong and smirked.

“Sorry RB, guess you were expecting a happy kind of story.”

Rainbow briefly looked at Zephyr upon hearing the new nickname, then hung her head and frowned.

“Well… yeah. I’m sorry that things with your uncle had to be that way. But you know, it’s never too late to repair a relationship!” Rainbow perked up and began to throw punches at the air. “And if your uncle doesn’t see that you’re an amazing flyer and an awesome pony, then it’s his loss, right? You’ve got a million fans and tons of teammates who love you, Zeph!” Zephyr cracked a smile as the two flew over the Golden Oak Library, the windows of which were all black.

“I know,” he said solemnly, “You’re right.” He forced a smile and looked at Rainbow. “It’s n-not like it bothers me that much. You just brought it up!” Zephyr bumped into Rainbow and knocked her into a cloud. He sped away with a grin as Rainbow collected herself.

“Bah – hey!” she called out as Zephyr tried to escape. She caught up, brazen smile cutting across her maw, and flew right into Zephyr, pushing him into a cloud. He emerged with a big afro and moustache made of cloud. Rainbow burst out laughing.

“You have no idea what you started!” Zephyr shot out of the cloud like a dart and tackled Rainbow. The two howled with laughter as they played their game of aerial tag, each speeding off from cloud to cloud to avoid the other when it was their turn to fly away. Many ponies had to shut their windows and cover their ears that night in order to drift off to sleep.

* * *

Pinkie wrapped her mane around her head and flattened it down, so it looked like a diver’s cap. Then, she made a “V” above her head with her hooves and performed an intricate dive into her bed. The pillows and sheets levitated off the mattress for a moment before crashing back down. Pinkie buried herself under her sheets and started to slink around like a shark under water. On one end of the bed was an absent-minded Gummy the alligator.

Pinkie’s cotton candy mane appeared from under the covers like a fin and Gummy just slowly blinked at it. It got closer and closer until finally the entire Pinkie leapt out and snatched Gummy, bringing him underneath the dangerous waves.

“Got you! Rawr!” she growled, tickling the alligator, who didn’t react in the slightest. Pinkie snortled uncontrollably.

“Oh Gummy, you’re a riot!” Gummy licked her cheek and she giggled some more. She squirmed up to her pillow and settled in to tuck herself in.

“Tomorrow’s a big day, Gumster!” Pinkie rose Gummy above her head and looked into his blank, reptilian eyes. “I’ll need you to hold down the fort while we’re away. Think you can handle it?” Gummy licked his eye and blinked again, one eye after the other. Pinkie beamed.

“I knew I could count on you! Come here!” Pinkie squeezed Gummy in a big, goodnight hug and placed him next to her on the other pillow. Then, Pinkie reached under her own pillow and pulled out a deerstalker hat and corn cob pipe, donning both.

“If I really want to become Sherclop Pie, I need to fall asleep like Sherclop Pie!”

She blew out some bubbles and clapped her hooves two times to shut off the lights. She then talked out loud in a deep, announcer’s voice.

“Tomorrow, the famous Sherclop Pie will infiltrate the secret base of the villain Maelstrom! And she will do it with the help of her faithful assistant, Watspike!”

No sooner were the words spoken did Pinkie fall asleep with a loud snore. Gummy stared at the ceiling, unblinking, wishing he could cover his ears.

* * *

Rarity pushed past the doors of the hotel lobby. Her coat was matted from a day’s worth of practically melting in the hot sun. Her mane was an absolute disaster, she’d need a pedicure ASAP, and it was definitely long past time for a cool bath and a glass of grape punch. Worst of all, she hadn’t realized how exhausted she had been until the hustle and bustle of another successful day of dress selling came to a close.

Just behind her, Applejack was grinning ear to ear.

“Whoa nelly, ah’d say that day turned out better than expected, huh? Ah must’ve made twice as much as the day before just from the sales once Boozebeard and his buddies arrived!”

She hopped up and clicked her back hooves together. Sweetie Belle bounced next to her.

“Yeah, Rarity and I did really well, too! I don’t know what it is, but stallions really like Ms. VeeVee. There were a lot of them ordering dresses and accessories for their special someponies.” Sweetie stopped and brought a hoof up to her chin. “But I’m pretty sure a lot of them didn’t even have a special somepony. I wonder why they were buying all that stuff…”

Rarity mumbled something incoherent ahead of the trio and yawned.

“Yes yes… that’s all good and well… I think it’s time for bed, Sweetie…”

Applejack blocked the path up the stairs, causing Rarity to groan and whine.

“Whaaaaat Applejack?”

“Ah wanna have a truce for tomorrow. No selling nothing to nopony for the whole day. We need to support Rainbow at the race.”

Rarity yawned.

“Yes, dear, of… course…” Rarity hung her head and started to snore. Sweetie Belle giggled.

“Uhh, Rarity? Why don’t we get in bed before you fall asleep.” She poked her big sister and the fashionista shook awake. Applejack moved out of the way.

“See yous tomorrow! Have a good sleep! And remember: no selling nothin’!”

Sweetie Belle said her good night and Rarity mumbled hers. Applejack went up the opposite stairs to her own room and quickly drifted off to sleep.

She was completely oblivious to the fact that far away, to the north, her friend was back in a jail cell for the second time that week.

23 - Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed

Chapter 23

Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed

Twilight stirred. She groaned and felt her pounding head with a limp hoof. Underneath her was stone and when she looked around she saw stone walls and iron bars. Light was streaming in a tiny window, and from the bright glow, it was morning light.

“Wha—” she began, but winced in pain before she could finish her thought. Sharp pain was reverberating beneath her skull. She moaned in agony.

“Quiet!” yelled a guard from outside the cell. Twilight saw that there were now two of them, and they definitely weren’t as lazy-looking as the last. The guards glared at her with a hatred she did not understand. She looked away and covered her head in her hooves.

This is bad… ouch, it even hurts to think.

Twilight laid, face smushed against the damp, hard floor, for a long time. She tried to remember what had happened after her encounter with the strange fog, but to no avail. How long had she been knocked out for? And what was going to happen now?

Tsunami thinks that I came here to use that mind control spell on him! Well… technically I did, but I didn’t know what it was!

Twilight sighed.

Why would Celestia teach me that kind of spell and not say what it was? Who knows what’s going to happen now… but one thing is for sure, I definitely need to get out of here. I still have a job to do.

Another throb of pain shot through Twilight’s mind and she cried out. She looked around the cell, trying to think of something, anything, that would aid in her escape, all the while suffering for her thoughts. She bit down on her lip and tears welled in her eyes.

The walls were magic-proof, the cell bars were magic-proof, and the window was magic-proof. She looked up and down.

But not the ceiling or the floor!

She had to be as subtle as possible, as the guards were eyeing her intensely. A loud grumble of Twilight’s stomach drew her gaze to her rumbling tummy, then up to the guards. She blushed.

“You’ll get food when Prince Tsunami commands it, evil one!” shouted a guard. Twilight struggled to stand up.

“It’s all a misunderstanding! If you’d just bring Tsunami here, I could—”

But it’s not really a misunderstanding at all, is it? Twilight thought, looking back down to the floor, getting used to the pain from thinking.

“Not another word, fiend, or you’ll regret it! Tsunami gave us permission to keep you quiet if need be!” said the other guard. This triggered an idea in Twilight’s head. She stared at the bars of her cell door.

I wonder… it might just work!

Twilight bided her time, lying and waiting.

But not while I’m on an empty stomach…

* * *

Ringing. Ringing in her ears is what Rainbow felt, heard, and suffered. Something was… poking her back?

What the heck is going on?

Rainbow was flying high in the sky, clouds kissing her wings and birds calling her name. On the ground below, millions of cheering fans waved at her. There was a red ribbon just ahead, stretched between two poles. She saw a black and white checkered flag on a cloud and knew at once that it must have been the finish line.

But the dang ringing wouldn’t stop, nor did the annoyance poking her back. She looked behind her and saw nothing yet continued to feel the poking. She ignored it as long as she could and flew right up to the finish line but had to stop. The sensations were too strong.

“Argghhh what is it!”

Rainbow felt the world around her drain away like water in an unplugged bathtub. Suddenly a different world came into view. The ceiling of her room. Light poured in through the window. To her left, Tank was poking her with his head. To her right, an angry alarm clock was vibrating and ringing.

Then it hit her like a freight train. She slammed her hooves against her face in horror.

“I OVERSLEPT!”

Rainbow was out of her door like a maniac, wings flapping close to the speed of sound and mouth drawn into a terrifying grimace.

“No no no no no, I can’t be late! Not today!”

She regretted staying out so late the night before. Rainbow ripped through the sky at a frightening speed. Houses and landmarks below faded behind her as quickly as they would appear. Any cloud unlucky enough to be in her path was torn to shreds. Then, off in the distance, Rainbow finally saw it.

“Whoa,” was all she could manage, but it was shocking enough to make her stop her flight. It was the Saddlebred Citadel, and it was truly remarkable to Rainbow, especially from a distance, just how large it truly was. It looked about the same size as all of Canterlot Castle. Rainbow realized she was no longer moving and started her mad flight once again.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Canterlot, it was clear that viewing the Citadel from a distance did it little justice. Rainbow was mesmerized by the sheer volume the structure took up in the sky. The sun was not visible from just about any place in Canterlot. Dozens of pegasi were flying every which way around the Citadel, either to enter it, to leave, or to check this or that outside its walls. Sometimes, one of the flyers would glow with sunlight as reflections bounced off their armor.

Maelstrom’s guards, Rainbow figured.

Meanwhile, balloons and the odd zeppelin were also docking and descending from one side of the Citadel. Rainbow watched the masses below in Canterlot as she made her own winged way to the Citadel. Soon enough she crested the titanic outer walls and was looking down at the main stadium with amazement.

Inside was carved out like a large bowl, with a field in the middle and thousands upon thousands of seats cascading from the ground level up to the top of the walls. It was like the stadium in the Crystal Empire, where Rainbow and her friends had gone to watch the Equestria Games, only much, much larger. Swaths of pegasi were already strewn about the field, talking among themselves or watching ponies who were shouting out orders.

Rainbow smiled and descended into the stadium. She scanned the masses until she saw Spitfire, Soarin’, and the rest of the Wonderbolts. She landed next to Spitfire, giddy and ready to go.

“Mornin’ sir! Sorry I’m late, sir!”

Spitfire looked surprised to see Rainbow at first, then quickly relief washed over her.

“Rainbow! You came after all! Soarin’ figured you forgot to register your teammates for the relay and decided not to show up.”

“Hey!” Soarin’ protested, “That’s not true! I only said she probably forgot. You said she wouldn’t show up!” He got into Spitfire’s face and the two stared each other down. Fleetfoot trotted up to the pair and waved her hooves worriedly.

“Guys, guys! Not now, please!” She then turned to Rainbow as the other two silently agreed to a temporary truce. “Rainbow, is it true that you didn’t register any teammates for today?” Rainbow crossed one hoof over the other and looked at her friends with a nervous face, ears hugging her head.

“Mhm,” Rainbow mumbled. “It was really stupid of me. I’m sorry guys! Where are the other teamless ponies?”

Fleetfoot and the rest pointed their hooves towards one side of the field. A group of perhaps thirty or so pegasi, plus a few dragons and griffons, were scoping out their fellows.

“If you had been listening yesterday,” Spitfire said, “You could have gotten two of our best flyers on your team. But nopony wanted to risk being stuck with lemons, so, all us Wonderbolts registered before the closing. Sorry, Dash. Good luck with what you get.”

Rainbow swallowed hard.

* * *

“Can you believe it? This is so exciting!” Sweetie Belle was staring up at her big sister with saucer eyes aglow with youth and jubilation. Rarity smiled down at the tiny filly and ruffled her mane.

“It certainly is, darling. I can’t say I’ve ever seen so many ponies gathering for one event like this.” She looked out over the city of Canterlot off the side of the balloon. Inside were her, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, and three other ponies. One of the volunteers for the event stood in the middle, controlling the balloon. She was a mare with a long, golden mane and a coat with a pale shade of green. Rarity noticed the medallion she was wearing, a fine accessory of bronze with an etching of outstretched wings.

“My, what a beautiful necklace! I’ve seen a few so far this morning. Wherever did you get it?”
Rarity asked. The EFL volunteer turned and smiled.

“This old thing? Oh, this is just what we get for being Equestria Flyers League volunteers! We’re supposed to wear them to show that we’re volunteers. But thank you anyway!”

“Well I think it’s splendid,” Rarity complimented, “I find such a fascination with simple jewelry. It makes your eyes pop!” The mare blushed, maroon eyes aglow, before replying.

“And I love your outfit and your hat! It’s, like, totally designer label!”

Rarity turned and struck a pose. “Oh, you think so? Why, you have a good eye. Because this IS designer label: mine!” Her fluffy white hat, wide brimmed and covered in swan down, bounced as she moved. Her flowing pearl-coloured dress, done in layers with streaks of feathers, attracted the attention of everyone on board once the EFL volunteer brought attention to it.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Ah mean, it’s a bit much if you ask me.” Nopony seemed to notice. Rarity addressed the EFL volunteer amidst the praise around her.

“Tell me, dear: what is your name?”

“Peony Breeze! And yourself?”

“I am Rarity! Purveyor of all things fashion and tres magnifique!”

One of the fellow riders of the balloon, a young stallion, gasped.

“I know you! You’re that fashion designer that’s making a name for herself with Ms. VeeVee! My friend just ordered a bunch of stuff from you the other day!” The crowd ooo’d and awe’d. Rarity shot a sidelong glance to Applejack and smiled. Applejack changed the subject by asking Peony a question.

“So, what made you want to volunteer for the EFL?”

Peony’s eyes were shining and her crescent smile gleamed. “I’ve always wanted to fly with the Flyers League, even though I’m not super great at flying. I came here from Baltimare to watch the Storm’s Challenge, and when I saw ponies asking for volunteers in the royal courtyard, well, I jumped at the chance! They said if I did a good enough job, I might be able to join as a junior flyer, full time!”

Applejack nodded. “Ah see. That’s super! Ah hope that works out for you, Peony.” She turned 180 degrees and leaned on the basket of the balloon. She nudged Rarity to get her attention, and both ponies watched the world below slowly drift by as Applejack whispered to her friend.

“Ah don’t know about you, sugarcube, but ah’m starting to think Pinkie’s tail was right after all. Lots of stuff happening lately has been awful weird and suspicious.”

Rarity quickly looked back at Peony, who waved with a goofy grin. She turned to Applejack and replied with a raised inflection.

“Because of Peony Breeze? Why, she just loves the EFL and wants to be a part of the team! I don’t quite understand your reasoning.”

Applejack shook her head.

“Not her, Rarity – at least, not exactly. It’s this business with Maelstrom’s guards replacing Canterlot’s, and now all of these volunteers. And then there’s Pinkie’s tail. Altogether it’s rubbing me the wrong way.”

Rarity lifted her chin and felt the breeze float through her coat.

“Oh Applejack, you’re being overly worried! I’ll tell you something I learned from Ms. VeeVee yesterday. Maelstrom is totally loaded! He’s got a lot of bits to throw around, and the League is his lifeblood. He’s just showing off, is all. Not to mention, he gets a lot of funding from this rich family in the south. That Bushwhacker fellow that Fluttershy seems smitten with, he’s one of the younger sons in that family.”

“Ya don’t say…” Applejack replied. “Well ah think you’re being underly worried! And ah think it’s on account of all the nice things ponies are sayin’ to ya lately.”

Rarity turned up her head in a huff. “Hmph! That’s preposterous! When have I ever let praise get the better of me?”

Applejack just stared at Rarity as if to say ‘seriously?’. Rarity smiled awkwardly.

“Okay, okay, fine, but what do you propose?”

“Ah ain’t proposing nothing. Just keep your eyes and ears open and be prepared for anything. Depending on how today goes, ah’m thinking it might be better to end our competition and help Pinkie.”

Rarity started to pout. “But, Applejack…!” Applejack shook her head.

“Rarity, some things are more important than silly competitions!”

“Well… fine then. But I want you to declare me the winner if we do that.”

Applejack was upset.

“And why in the hay would you get to be the winner?!”

Rarity closed her eyes and pushed up her mane.

“I think that’s obvious, dear. I sold more than you.”

“Who says that? We won’t know til we count the bits!”

Rarity looked smugly at Applejack, whose eyes were ablaze.

“Why Applejack, I thought this was just a ‘silly competition’.”

“It is but” – Applejack gritted her teeth – “Shoot, Rarity! Why you gotta be so—”

“Rarity! Applejack! Look!”

It was Sweetie Belle. Both mares were drawn to the light blue cloud wall now looming before them outside the balloon. In the wall was an opening, where another balloon was letting off passengers.

“We’re about to enter the Citadel!” Peony announced, “Get ready to disembark, everypony!”

Applejack gulped looking at the landing platform built into the wall. She watched tentatively as other ponies got out of the balloon in front of her and stand firm on the cloud.

“You, uhh, you sure we aren’t gonna fall through when we get off, Peony?”

“Not a chance!” Peony chimed, “EFL volunteers are using their magic to power a cloud walking spell that covers this half of the Citadel. There’s no risk of falling!”

Applejack felt a poke at her shoulder.

“Overly worrieeeeedd,” Rarity sang.

24 - Teammates

Chapter 24

Teammates

“15 minutes until registration ends!”

Rainbow’s hair stood on end upon hearing the announcement. She looked around frantically. It appeared most of the teamless flyers were no longer teamless. Rainbow spent way too much time looking around and being picky. She chewed the end of her hoof.

Gotta choose, gotta choose…!

She blurted out in frustration.

“That’s it! I need somepony who’s good at trick flying and somepony who’s got great reflexes!”

Everypony around Rainbow stopped and looked at her. A few in the crowd coughed. She looked around with a grumpy face and a blush. A figure stepped forward.

“Me. I’m good at trick flying.”

Rainbow looked up. He was a dragon, standing on two legs much taller than any pony at the Citadel. His scales were an onyx black and his snout was a straight, vertical triangle jutting out from his face. His amber eyes were fiery and full of life. He pointed behind him at a group of other dragons.

“Not like they’ll take me, so you’ll have to do. You fast?”

Rainbow struck a cocky pose and flashed a smile.

“Fastest pegasus in Equestria!” The dragon nodded.

“Alright, cool.” He bent down to shake Rainbow’s hoof. “Name’s Crackclaw.”

Just then, a pale yellow blur shot up right in front of Rainbow’s face. Rainbow blinked at the griffon now smiling far too wide at her.

“Rainbow Dash! My name’s Jerri! Ohmigosh, it’s really you!” Jerri the griffon put a vicegrip on Rainbow’s hoof and shook until Rainbow felt her brain rattle. Her eyes spun around and around once Jerri finished her ‘greeting’. “I can’t believe my dreams came true! You’re actually here AND you need a teammate!”

Rainbow took a step back and looked Jerri up and down. The griffon’s down was pale yellow, paler than Fluttershy’s coat, with tufts of almost-white feathers sticking up on her head. Her back end was going up and down rapidly in excitement. Rainbow returned the smile, albeit somewhat forced and awkward.

“Uhh… yeah! I need somepony – or, uhhh, griffon, I guess – who’s got the best reflexes!”

Jerri practically exploded into a mass of feathers out of pure joy.

“That’s me, Rainbow Dash! Go ahead and try to hit me, as fast as you can! You won’t be able to!”

Rainbow looked at Crackclaw, unsure, and he just shrugged. She turned back around.

“A-alright.” She flew into the air and dove at the griffon as fast as she could. Her hoof collided with a feathery face and knocked Jerri into the field.

“What the hay!” Rainbow called, noticing that others were whispering and pointing. “You said you could dodge!” Jerri got up, rubbed her sore face, and beamed.

“S-sorry, I was so excited! I sort of just stared at your without reacting!”

Rainbow facehoofed and groaned. The announcer called out once again.

“10 minutes until registration ends!”

Rainbow cried out in dismay and turned to Jerri.

“Fine, FINE! Could you please promise me that you won’t screw up in the relay?”

Jerri got serious and saluted Rainbow.

“Ma’am, yes ma’am! I would never, ever, let you down. Gilda told me all about you! And then when I learned you were a hero in Equestria, well — I sort of worship the ground you walk on, Rainbow Dash! I hoped against all hopes that if I came here, I would find you!”

Rainbow cocked her head.

“Wait, you know Gilda?”

Crackclaw tapped his foot impatiently as Jerri nodded super-fast.

“Sure! We were both runaways from Feather Peak who met outside the Griffonlands! There’s a town down there where lots of griffons who want to live with Equestrians stay! She told me everything there was about you, and I always thought it was just hot air, until I asked some travelling ponies from Equestria once and they told me you saved the country from some guy named Discord and some changeling queen and mwahahnd eagheab—” Crackclaw had his hand around Jerri’s beak.

“Right, great story. Totally got me hooked. Can we please just go register before we’re all disqualified?”

Rainbow shook herself. “G-good idea! We’ll talk after! Let’s go!”

Rainbow, Crackclaw and Jerri looked at the new racing bibs they received. The number “117” was painted on it in black.

“Okay, all set then!” Rainbow said, smiling at her new teammates. They both returned the smiles. “Now all we need to do is not be totally last and we advance to the next race, then we’re all on our own. So let’s work together until then!”

“Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow heard Fleetfoot call out to her and turned around.

“Are those your teammates? Spitfire and Soarin’ are about to explain the relay to the rest of the Wonderbolts, you should come too!” Rainbow nodded and team 117 walked over to the area on the field where all of the Wonderbolts were gathered. The captains of the Wonderbolts were positioned in front.

“Okay, soldiers, listen up!” Spitfire commanded. “We didn’t come here today to lose, any of us! So let’s make sure every last Wonderbolt crosses that finish line victorious!” She nodded at Soarin’ and he took over.

“The relay is going to be split into two races due to the amount of flyers. The Saddlebred Citadel is big but the course isn’t that wide so the organizers figured it’d be more interesting this way. Everypony in teams 1-59 will race first, then teams 60-117 will go.”

The Wonderbolts talked among themselves for a moment and Crackclaw spoke quietly to Rainbow.

“Means we can watch how it goes for the first teams. That’s good.”

“Mhm,” Rainbow replied. She noticed Jerri staring at her and did a double take. “Uhhh…”

“Hah, sorry Rainbow Dash!”

Spitfire shouted, “Alright, quiet now… QUIET!” She glared at the Wonderbolts until not a peep was heard. “The goal of the relay is to get a wooden necklace from the start of the race, which the first racer will carry, to the end of the relay. At a certain point, the first racer passes the necklace onto the second, and then at the last leg, the second racer passes it to the third and last racer. The last racer has to place the necklace onto a metal stake. The first 25 teams in each race to place their necklace on the stake will advance to the second round of races. The others will be out. Done. Goners. Losers! That won’t be any of you!”

“No ma’am!” cried the Wonderbolts.

Spitfire and Soarin’ took turns explaining how each leg of the race was to play out. As Rainbow had already known, thanks to Zephyr, each leg required a different type of ability to succeed: first trick skill, then speed, then finally reflex. She was sure she could leave the other flyers in the speed leg in the dust, but her teammates?

Rainbow forced the lump in her throat down.

* * *

Sweetie Belle rested her face on her hoof. She huffed with boredom as she looked out on the city of Canterlot from high above the ground on the landing platform of the Saddlebred Citadel.

“When are the others going to get here?” she asked. Rarity replied.

“Now now, let’s not be impatient, Sweetie Belle. The race doesn’t start until noon. Fluttershy and Pinkie will come, and if we don’t meet them here, they’ll never be able to find us in that giant stadium.” She brought a hoof up to her face and turned to a white-faced Applejack. “Could you just imagine Fluttershy trying to navigate around thousands of ponies if we weren’t there? She’d positively die! I mean sure, Pinkie Pie would be with her, but she’d be too busy trying to learn everypony’s name and what kind of party they like.”

Applejack was staring wide-eyed at the cloud floor. “Y-yeppers…” she said quietly. Sweat driblets streaked down the side of her head. Rarity flicked her with a hoof.

“Honestly, darling, you need to relax! Peony told us it was perfectly safe!”

Applejack slowly shook her head.

“S-sure she did, but it just ain’t natural. Last time we walked on clouds, Twilight cast the spell herself. This is something else entirely!”

“Look! They’re here!” Sweetie Belle cried. She started to jump up and down. “And Scootaloo and Apple Bloom are with them!” Indeed, the gang spotted a balloon carrying Fluttershy and two little fillies hanging onto the basket from the inside. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom waved frantically at their tiny friend, who waved back just as frantically.

Sweetie Belle squeakily cried out, “Hi girls! Hi Fluttershy! Hi… umm, where’s Pinkie Pie?”

Rarity and even Applejack looked over at the balloon as it started to dock. Fluttershy and 2/3rds of the Cutie Mark Crusaders got off. There was no Pinkie Pie, however.

“Morning everypony,” Fluttershy said. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom teleported over to Sweetie Belle.

“You made it! I wasn't sure I’d see you two here!” Sweetie Belle cried.

Scootaloo replied, “You kiddin’ me? We were planning this from the beginning! We caught up to Fluttershy early this morning before she left!”

Apple Bloom nodded. “Yeah, we wouldn’t miss this fer the world! Maybe we can get our Cutie Marks as superfans!”

All three fillies breathed in to stock up on air, then shouted in unison: “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER SUPERFANS! YAY!” One of the stallions who had gotten off the balloon spilled his coffee all over himself as the shrill screaming assaulted his ears.

Applejack ran up to her little sister. “Apple Bloom!” she cried, “Granny letcha leave? Or did you go without her permission?” She raised a brow and scrutinized her sister. Apple Bloom shook her head.

“Not a chance, big sis! Granny told me to come last night, said ah should make sure yer not foolin’ around up here when ya could be working the orchard!”

Applejack blew air out of the side of her mouth.

“That Granny. Her head’ll be spinning when she sees the bits ah’ve made. Anyway, where’s Pinkie Pie?” She turned to Fluttershy. The demure mare cleared her throat.

“Umm, her and Spike had to help the Cakes with an emergency. Apparently, they’re staying in Canterlot for the duration of the races, but something happened at Pony Joe’s place. They told me not to worry about it, but that they just had to help.”

Applejack frowned.

“Well, shoot. They’ll miss the first race then! Ah’m sure Spike was excited, and he must have taken the day off an’ everything!”

Rarity joined in.

“I almost forgot about little Spikey Wikey. He must be doing okay, then? Not too overwhelmed?” Fluttershy smiled and shook her head.

“Not from what I could tell. He was acting quiet, though, and he seemed a bit nervous. I guess it’s got to do with whatever is happening with the Cakes. But Pinkie seemed like her normal self.”

It was at that moment that Applejack turned and realized that three little fillies that were previously standing close by were nowhere to be seen.

“The girls!” she cried. Rarity and Fluttershy snapped to, and all three mares looked every which way around them. “Where the hay did they run off to now?”

* * *

Spike waved up at Saddlebred Citadel, far above Canterlot Castle in the distance. He sighed as Pinkie smiled and ruffled his head crest from his position on her back.

“I know, Spike. It’s a real bummer. But we’ve got an important job to do!”

Spike exhaled with sadness once more.

“Everypony says this is going to be a once in a century amazing race! Are you really sure we’re going to find something if we sneak inside Maelstrom’s tent? And what if we get caught?”

The two were once again on the road to Canterlot, this time dressed in detective attire. Pinkie had her usual duds on, of course, and Spike wore a bowler hat and his red bowtie. Big saddlebags hung over either side of Pinkie’s haunches.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out. Don’t you worry, Spike! I have a plan! And plan IMTAFSCETGHITASE can’t possibly fail!”

Spike raised his claws.

“Plan…what?!”

“Plan Infiltrate Maelstrom’s Tent And Find Super Crucial Evidence To Get Him In Trouble And Save Equestria! It’s… a title in progress.”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“Sure, fine. But did we need to hide the plan from Fluttershy? Why did you make up all that stuff about the Cakes?”

Pinkie responded as she trotted ever closer to Canterlot.

“Becauseeee, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy would just try to talk me out of it or come with me. If they try to talk me out of it, it will just make it harder to focus on the plan, and if they come with me, it’ll be harder to actually execute the plan. We can’t draw any suspicion to ourselves, Watspike!”

“Watspike? Really?”

Pinkie giggled.

“Just go with it.”

Spike laid down on Pinkie’s back and threw his claws behind his head as he looked up to the clear, blue sky.

“And I’m guessing I’m an important part of your plan, huh?”

“Sure are! You’re my faithful assistant!”

“Great, great. Now I’m two ponies’ faithful assistant…”

* * *

Apple Bloom stared at the center of the Citadel field. “Lookit this place, girls! It’s amazing!” she shouted.

The other CMCs joined her and all three breathed, “Wow…”. It wasn’t yet packed in the stadium, so they could see without any issues. They feared it might not be that way once the races start.

“We need to find good seats!” Scootaloo declared. Sweetie Belle nodded.

“We can’t leave it up to our sisters and Fluttershy, they’ll choose spots that are good for adult ponies.”

Speaking of the devilpony, the CMCs heard the shouting of Applejack and Rarity from the hallway leading to the landing platform. “Sweetie Belle! Apple Bloom! Scootaloo! Where are you?”

The CMCs looked around for the perfect seating area as the older ponies continued their own search. Rarity finally spotted her sister and called out to her.

“Sweetie Belle! You stay right there! We’re coming!”

Sweetie Belle sighed.

“Alright Rarity…”

Apple Bloom chimed up.

“Well this spot looks pretty good actually! Let’s just sit here!” The three little fillies sat down on a bench about halfway up between the top of the wall and the field. It provided a good vantage point of everything, and because one of the stadium entrances was directly below their spot, the CMCS wouldn’t have to deal with adult ponies blocking the view.

Rarity, Applejack and Fluttershy reached the fillies, somewhat out of breath from the chase. After the inevitable sisterly scolding, everypony got situated.

The stadium was slowly filling up with ponies of all shapes, sizes, and colors. The fillies even spotted a few griffons and the occasional dragon. Ponies, wearing the bronze medallions of EFL volunteers, were moving through the rows selling all types of concessions, like peanuts, popcorn, and nachos. Some even carried trays of cider mugs.

“Well ah’ll be gosh darned!” Applejack exclaimed, “They’re selling cider! Ah didn’t know that was a thing!” Rarity made a throat noise and Applejack turned to her.

“Now now, Applejack – don’t be getting any ideas. Remember, YOU were the one to suggest we not sell anything today.”

Applejack lowered her eyebrows. “Ah know, ah know! I was just saying is all!” One of the EFL volunteers walking by was selling foam fingers and other novelty sporting items. Applejack and Rarity bought one for each of their sisters, and Fluttershy bought one for Scootaloo, and two for herself. She bought a funny sky-blue hat with a set of white pegasus wings coming out from either side as well.

“My, Fluttershy,” Rarity began, “I didn’t realize you got into the sporting spirit like that!” Fluttershy nodded, more excited than usual.

“Oh yes! Rainbow Dash is expecting our support and I’m going to give it to her 100%, right from the start. This isn’t going to be like the Best Young Flyers competition!” Fluttershy jumped when a nearby stallion screamed something down to the field, right by her ear. “Umm… well, at least 80%.”

Scootaloo jumped onto her hooves and pointed down at the field. “Look!” she shouted, “It’s Rainbow Dash, guys!” Everypony turned, and sure enough, the cyan mare was standing among the Wonderbolts off to one side of the now-packed field.

“Woowee! Rainbow! Hey, Rainbow!” Applejack cried, hooves on either side of her mouth. The other ponies joined in. An embarrassed Rainbow Dash turned around and waved up at her friends, sunlight bouncing off her large, wavy smile.

“GO RAINBOW DASH WOOOOOOO! YOU CAN DO IT!” Fluttershy leapt into the air and waved her be-fingered hooves around. “RAINBOW RAINBOW RAINBOW!” Rarity, Applejack and the CMCs subconsciously leaned away from Fluttershy, taken aback by the display.

“T-the race hasn’t even started yet, sugarcube…” Applejack said.

Rarity smiled awkwardly at a nearby, grumpy-looking couple holding their foals’ ears as Fluttershy screamed.

“I can’t help it, girls!” Fluttershy exclaimed, “I’m just so… pumped! And I see Bushwhacker too! BUSHWHACKER! GO BUSHWHACKER!”

The ponies turned. Off to the other side of the field, the EFL was, like the Wonderbolts, being addressed by their captains. Fluttershy saw that Bushwhacker was one of them, and he waved with a smile. The other EFL members turned to see what it was about. Fluttershy noticed how many ponies were watching her now and she sat back down, red heat overtaking her cheeks.

Author's Note

Apologies for the late upload. I also didn't have the time to release the extra chapter I said I would. I will try to make the effort this week!

25 - The Three-Pony Relay

Chapter 25

The Three-Pony Relay

Rainbow stood, red-faced and smiling nervously. Most of the Wonderbolts were looking back at her and snickering. Crackclaw knelt beside her so he was at eye level.

“Some friends you got, huh? Must be nice to have that kind of support,” he said.

Rainbow spoke through her massive, forced smile.

“Ohhhh it’s something alright! Ha ha!”

Spitfire silenced the Wonderbolts, who stood between her and team 117, the members of which were standing at the back.

“Alright simmer down, it’s not funny anymore! Let’s go over the three courses one more
time—”

Rainbow tuned Spitfire out. She knew that her own leg of the race was a simple straight away with a few turns. She just had to fly super-fast and that was it, at least for that day. She looked over to the other side of the field, where Zephyr was standing beside Bushwhacker and another pony, a mare. She also caught a glimpse of Lovey Dovey and her team.

Zephyr locked eyes with Rainbow from across the field. He smiled knowingly. Somehow, Rainbow knew it was because of the display of support her friends had given her. Zephyr almost looked jealous.

Somepony nudged Rainbow and she turned away from Zephyr. It was Crackclaw.

“Hey. You got your course figured out?” he asked quietly

Rainbow replied, “Yeah, I mean, it’s not really complicated. Yours seems like more of a problem.” Crackclaw shrugged.

“I got the gist of it. I don’t like to overthink things. By the way, thanks.”

Rainbow blinked. “For what?”

Crackclaw leaned in so he could speak even quieter. “Letting me be your teammate. I honestly thought I’d be done for. Ponies tend to be weird around dragons, and my own kind don’t like me that much. And, well, there’s” – Crackclaw pointed to Jerri, who was standing absentmindedly, beaming at basically nothing – “There’s her.” Rainbow smiled.

“Hey, it’s nothing. You said you were good at trick flying so I believe you. What’s up with the other dragons?”

Crackclaw held out his claw and moved it as he spoke. “It’s… complicated. But there was a black dragon that did something truly despicable many years ago, and ever since, a lot of other dragons have been distrustful towards black dragons. Most of us aren’t even related to the one that did the bad thing, but we get heat, all the same.”

Crackclaw smiled.

“It doesn’t usually bother me, I have a few friends back at home. But it was going to be really disappointing if I couldn’t compete. So, again, thanks.” Rainbow smiled back but her brow was strained.

“I’m sorry to hear, Crackclaw. I couldn’t imagine anypony treating me differently just because I’m a pegasus or because of my rainbow mane or something.” Crackclaw shrugged. Rainbow flew up and punched his shoulder.

“But you’re with me now! I don’t care if you’re a black dragon, a purple dragon, or a dragon made out of cheese! We’re teammates and that means we stick together and kick flank!”

“Right!” Crackclaw agreed with a beaming face.

Jerri tiptoed over to the duo.

“Hey guys, what are we whispering about?!”

Rainbow and Crackclaw looked at eachother, then at Jerri. “Uhh, we’re not exactly whispering. We’re just going over the race,” Rainbow said, “How do you feel about the reflexes portion, by the way?”

Jerri took into the air and did a loop de loop.

“I feel like I’m gonna kill it, Rainbow Dash! Just you wait!” Spitfire cleared her throat purposefully loud from the front of the Wonderbolt entourage. All of team 117 looked over.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Spitfire screamed. Rainbow gulped. “WHAT ARE YOU THREE TALKING ABO—”

A loud buzzing, like a swarm of parasprites, saved Rainbow from a tongue thrashing. It tore away everypony’s attention to just above the stadium. The noise was coming from a large, metallic cube floating in mid-air, with a swirling pattern of grey and black on each of its four sides that faced the stands. Suddenly, the image of two ponies appeared on each side. A massive wave of gasps and similar sounds started to rise from the field and the stands.

“Hello, hello? Is this thing on?”

The voice was definitely Tele-P’s, Rainbow recognized. She assumed that the stallion on the cube, then, was him, as he was a unicorn pony, and Soarin' had mentioned that he was one. His mane was styled up and gelled into neon green spikes like many thick blades of grass. His bushy moustache was a similar color. His coat was a rich orange, so that he almost looked like a carrot in pony form. A professional, toothy smile took up most of his face as he sat next to his co-host with his hooves on a table.

“Ah there we are! Hellllooo sportsfans, Tele-P here, in the flesh! No, seriously! If you’re at the Citadel and you look up above the VIP section, you’ll see our temporary studio as we broadcast for the duration of the games! And as you can see, my gorgeous co-host has finally joined us! Say hello to Kissie, folks!”

The crowds in the stands replied, “Hello Kissie!” in jest. Kissie had a shiny, flowing blonde mane and a light raspberry coat. Her lips were big and bold, gently touched by a crimson lipstick. Kissie blew a smooch towards the crowds.

“Thanks, sweeties! I’m capital E EXCITED to finally be helping my good friend and co-worker Tele-P with this, like, super AMAZING commentating!”

Rainbow’s eyes turned back to the VIP section that Tele-P had pointed out. Near the middle of the stadium stands on the side opposite from the corner where the Wonderbolts were was a large portion of the stadium with more lavish (and comfortable-looking) stands occupied by important looking pony dignitaries. There were even a few stand-alone thrones where Rainbow saw Princess Celestia and a tired-looking Princess Luna sitting.

“Now I’m sure everypony is wondering what the HAY is up with this crazy, floating cube thing that has mine and Kissie’s faces on it! Let me tell you beautiful ponies that this thingawhoisit is called a ‘visual broadcast interface’, or VBI for those of you who HATE tongue twisters like me! This is the latest technology from those smart scientist ponies we all hear about but never see, and this is the first time it’s been revealed to the public at large! Aren’t you sportsfans lucky?”

“Is it magic or something?” Rainbow asked.

“Might as well be,” Crackclaw replied.

“I’ve never seen anything like it!” Jerri exclaimed.

“Before the first race begins, we’d like to review the rules with you lovely sweeties! There aren’t many, so don’t worry – these flyers knew what they were signing up for, trust me!”

Rainbow nodded with a grimace, remembering the sign-up process and the long waiver filled with scary possible injuries.

Kissie continued. She went over the same stuff that all the Wonderbolts already knew, regarding the three courses and the relay. The actual rules came at the end.

“Rule number one is always try your best! This is a deliberately challenging series of races designed to test every flyer on every aspect of flying! And some of you will be injured, but overcoming that fear and rising to the challenge is the purpose of these races!”

Ponies around Rainbow cheered and hollered. Crackclaw nodded with a wide grin on his face. Tele-P took over for Kissie.

“Rule number two: Do not injure any other flyers on purpose! Rule breakers will be disqualified! Play nice now, everypony!”

“And that’s it! Told ya it was short, he he. We’re going to hand over the show to the big guy himself, the Storm, Maelstrom!”

Rainbow saw two pegasi carrying some weird device, like a big, black briefcase, fly in front of the VIP section. To her amazement, it appeared that the device was showing the VIP section close up on the VBI screens. She watched the screen as Maelstrom appeared, flashing a quaint smile and waving towards the screen.

“Hello, everypony! I’m very happy to see all of you today! This is quite the showing!”

The stadium erupted with noise. It reminded Rainbow of the day Maelstrom came to Ponyville, only amplified by ten. She joined in on the cheering, as did her teammates.

“I just wanted to say very briefly, before the races start, that I’m deeply honored by all of the supporters and volunteers that stepped forward during this event to help pull everything together. Trust me when I say, your support is and will continue to be crucial to everything going exactly as I have planned… to put on the greatest show Equestria has ever seen!”

Shouting rattled the stands and the Equestrian flag pole that was standing off to one side of the field. Rainbow happened to look over again where Zephyr was. He was looking at the screen with a gloomy expression.

Huh? Rainbow thought, her face matching her thought. Crackclaw knocked her out of it with a nudge.

“Hey. Let’s get over to the waiting area. The first race is about to begin.”

Team 117 flew over to a section just beyond the field with seating for flyers who were waiting for their turn. Flyers were getting off the field and either joining Rainbow and her team in the waiting area, or getting to their positions on the racetrack. Many of the flyers were ushered down a path into the Citadel that was opening in the middle of the field. Rainbow watched as more of the field began to shift and move around, and structures rose up from beneath the short, green grass.

Spitfire called out from the field at Rainbow.

“Hey, good luck with your race later, Rainbow! Make sure to watch as I leave the competition in the dust during the speed leg!” Rainbow cheered back.

“I’ll be all eyes, sir!”

The flyers of the first leg of the race lined up at a starting line on the opposite side of the field. The structures that came from underneath were rising higher and higher into the air, and it became clear that the field and the space in the middle of the stadium were being turned into an obstacle course of sorts.

So this is the skills leg, eh? Rainbow thought. She turned to Crackclaw, who looked apprehensive, and provided words of encouragement.

“Hey, you got this! You’ve been training, right?”

Crackclaw slowly shook his head.

“Sure but… dragon training courses have nothing on… that.” Jerri ooo’d off to one side as she watched the moving structures. Tele-P’s voice announced.

“This is leg one of the Three-Pony Relay – well, it’s not the best name, since not all of our flyers are ponies, but that’s okay! I’m sure they don’t mind! We call it the Jungle Gym, and if it looks confusing to you outsiders, imagine how the flyers feel! This bad boy is kind of like a playground for adults! It consists of 1 kilometer of total flying area that leads into the heart of the Citadel, where the second leg and the second flyer awaits. But in order to get there, flyers are going to need to be able to pull out all kinds of flying tricks to navigate the winding, spinning, and / or narrow parts of the track! I hope you chose your smallest flyers for this one! The course is designed in such a way so that flyers who fail to perform the correct trick to traverse the course will be ejected from it and will have to start back at the beginning!”

Rainbow and Jerri both looked at Crackclaw, who was sweating with a nervous expression.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry, guys,” he said, not sounding totally sure of himself, and Rainbow didn’t blame him. The images on the screen changed to a new area, where a long path lined by cloud walls and balconies jutting out from them was shown. The cloud walls were transparent enough that light illuminated the track inside. Rainbow couldn’t even begin to guess how long the path shown was, but just thinking about it made her giddy with excitement.

“Leave it to me, guys!” she cried to her teammates, “By the time everypony realizes I started flying I’ll already be near the finish!” Kissie commentated.

“After that is leg two, and as you can see, many of you handsome, pretty sweeties are down there right now waiting to watch the fastest leg of today’s races! Sorry for you non-flyers, but you’d fall right through if you joined them down there! That’s right, it’s the Speed Course! 5 kilometers of straightaway cloud track, separated by 4 turns. Nothing special or secret here; the fastest win and the slowest lose!”

Rainbow watched as the ponies on screen waved and cheered from their balconies lining the track. The images on the screens changed again to an immense, cloud-lined clearing where blocks of cloud, of all sizes and shapes, were rapidly moving about.

“Finally,” Tele-P said, “We have the last leg – The Moving Maw! This huuuuuuuuge course is like the belly of the beast that is the Saddlebred Citadel! From one end to the other is only a kilometer, but in between? Well, look for yourself, sportsfans – it’s not called the Welcoming Maw for a reason! Flyers will require the utmost reflexes to even have a glimmer of hope of reaching the other side, where they’ll find the end of the course!”

The screens focused in on a clearing with a metal pole in the middle, illuminated by a light source above it so it was visible from the beginning of the last leg. Rainbow and Crackclaw turned to Jerri, who was hopping in place.

“I am SOOO excited that I get to help you win the race, Rainbow! I’m going to crush that Moving Maw!” She turned to Rainbow wearing a face of raw determination. “Count on it!”
The display from Jerri helped Rainbow become more confident in her new friend and she nodded, wearing a face of equal determination.

“Alright! This is getting me super pumped! When is the first race going to start already?!”

As if in answer, somepony fired a cannon off at some part of the Citadel and the flyers at the starting line were off. Rainbow watched in sheer awe as the mass of wings, fur, feathers and scales moved towards the start of the obstacle course. She spotted Soarin’ near the front. Everypony had to funnel inside, leaving the slower flyers or those with less confidence at the back of the pack. It was hard to see exactly what was going on inside the Jungle Gym, but images on the screen helped clear up any confusion.

The first flyers through the start, including Soarin’, had to perform a loop-de-loop, and when some failed to do it perfectly, they were shot out of the cloud structure and landed on the field, usually hard. At that stage, everypony picked himself or herself up and went back to the start. But as the race went on, Rainbow saw flyers get ejected and simply surrender to the fact that they would not progress.

Soarin’ continued to progress, however, near the front of the pack, effortlessly navigating through hard turns, twists, downward corkscrews, forty-five degree angles, narrow tunnels that required a pony like Soarin’ to compress themselves as much as possible, and more. Rainbow could barely keep up with it all. At one point, a large wheel fixed in place spun rapidly and flyers had to perform a complicated trick once inside to avoid being ejected. Rainbow held her breath as Soarin’ entered, then a moment later, emerged at the other side of the obstacle.

As the race steadily moved onward, Tele-P and Kissie would interject with commentary on certain flyers and happenings down on the Jungle Gym. Sometimes, a pony would get injured enough that it was newsworthy. Rainbow glanced over at a groaning pegasus being led away on a stretcher. She gulped. The crowds at the Citadel roared their appreciation. Rainbow looked up towards where her friends were supposed to be but she couldn’t see them due to the crowds and her position.

“Looks like we have our first flyers through to the second leg, folks!” Tele-P announced. “Now comes the Speed Course! And look who’s leading the charge: Zephyr!”Rainbow watched the VBI screens change to show Zephyr, well ahead of anypony else, zooming down the straightaway with such ferocity that she barely recognized the stallion.

He’s so focused, like he’s on another planet all by himself. Is that how I look during a race?

Right behind Zephyr, the screens showed an orangeish blur catching up. Rainbow gasped. It was Spitfire.

“Well, well, well! Talk about gumption, sweeties! Looks like Spitfire, leader of Canterlot’s own Wonderbolts, is trying to take on the EFL’s number one flyer, and might I say, number one HUNK!”

“Whoa, Kissie! You’re going to upset a lot of Bushwhacker fans saying something like that!”

Zephyr and Spitfire started to switch places as they both made the second turn flawlessly. Spitfire took the lead, then Zephyr, then Spitfire. Rainbow’s breath was completely halted, and she sat at the edge of her bench. Another image appeared on the left side of the screens, relegating the leading duo to the right side. Boozebeard was launching forward, past masses of flyers, who were all smart enough to swerve out of his hulking path.

“Pony smokes, sportsfans! Look at Boozebeard go! He’s a force to be reckoned with with that Rocket Jump of his! Who knew he could make it go straight like that?”

A streak of raspberry and cherry pinks was catching up to Boozebeard fast. When it got close enough, Rainbow recognized the mare as Lovey Dovey, who was grinning as she took up a place beside Boozebeard. The stallion looked over at his newest rival and frowned, bushy brow pointed straight down in anger.

“Talk about girl power, ladies and gentlecolts! Lovey Dovey is, like, totally showing up Boozebeard, and making it look easy – while she looks oh so good! Those mane sparkles – OH MY GOOOOSH!”

On the right side of the screen, Zephyr had finally gotten the lead on Spitfire for good and by the time of the last turn, Spitfire was well behind him, although both were still ahead of the other flyers. Rainbow couldn’t believe it, but while Spitfire looked totally beat, sweating and struggling as hard as she could, Zephyr still looked as focused and collected as he did earlier. His emerald eyes stared straight ahead through his old goggles.

In a flash, Zephyr and then Spitfire reached the end of their leg and tossed their necklaces to their final flyers. Fleetfoot quickly threw the necklace around her neck and was off into the Moving Maw, with Zephyr’s teammate right ahead of her.

“Onto the last leg for those in the front, and some ponies are STILL working on the first leg – that’s a big yikes for their teammates further ahead! Out in front is Fleetfoot of the Wonderbolts and Jitterbug of the EFL!”

Rainbow’s eyes were swimming around in her head as she tried to make sense of the insane maneuvering of Fleetfoot and Jitterbug. When a ball of hard cloud flew right into their path, they expertly swerved around it. When a wall suddenly appeared and blocked them, they’d stop on a dime and fly over or under it. If a swirling pole made of cloud spun into their trajectories, they’d effortlessly compress the wing closest to it to narrowly avoid the collision. And this was all happening faster than Rainbow could process.

Finally, after dodging a column of cloud smoke that shot up from underneath him, Jitterbug reached the finish. He threw his necklace onto the pole and landed with a triumphant grin. Fleetfoot came right after.

“And we have our first winning teams, everypony! Team 1, consisting of Fancy Free, Zephyr and Jitterbug, and Team 53, consisting of Spitfire, Soarin’, and Fleetfoot, have both advanced to the second race!”

Rainbow threw herself into the air and launched her hooves up.

“Go Wonderbolts! Awww yeah!!!” she screamed. Jerri joined her and copied her movements and cry. Crackclaw breathed out like he’d been holding it in for a while.

“That was intense,” he said, studying the Jungle Gym with obsessive focus. A shrill cry rose up from the crowds as the screen showed a pegasus collide with one of the objects in the Moving Maw. Rainbow’s head shot up.

“Ohhhh would you look at that, sportsfans. That’s NOT good! It’s Bushwhacker, one of the top three flyers of the EFL! And he’s in a freefall at the last leg of the race!”

“Holy moly, THAT guy bit the dust?!” Rainbow shouted, holding her hooves against her cheeks. She looked at Jerri, whose lower half of her beak was about to hit the ground. She started to turn a pale white.

“H-How far down… do ponies fall in there?” she said between heavy breathing.

26 - Spitfire's Secret

Chapter 26

Spitfire’s Secret

Rainbow, Crackclaw, and Jerri watched the VBI screens as Bushwhacker was recovered from the bottom of the Moving Maw. He appeared to be asleep. It also wasn’t clear if he was breathing. Rainbow looked up at the stands behind her.

I hope Fluttershy isn’t freaking out too much – I mean, he’ll be okay, right?

Rainbow swallowed deep. She bit her lip and felt a chill run through her. The calm on Bushwhacker’s face, through the screen, scared her.

“Hey.” Crackclaw poked Rainbow with a finger. “Let’s stay focused. The first race is about to end, most of the flyers are through.” Rainbow took her eyes off the screen and nodded at Crackclaw. Jerri was nervously biting on the ends of her claws beside the other two.

“That’s all for the first race, sportsfans. We had some injuries, but we also had some great triumphs and I for one am staying positive! After all, that’s what the Storm’s Challenge is all about, right Kissie?”

Tele-P’s glamorous co-host flashed a round-cheeked smile.

“Right you are, Tele-P! Once this race wraps up, the second race will begin in thirty minutes! The Citadel staff need to make sure everything is in working order! In the meantime, feel free to head outside the stadium for food, refreshments AND awesome merch!”

The Wonderbolts who had flown in the first race, which had been most of them, slowly returned to their side of the field. Team 117 went over to greet Spitfire, Soarin’, and Fleetfoot, who landed to cheers.

“That was amazing!” cried one Wonderbolt.

“All three of you were awesome!” cried another.

The triumphant Wonderbolt captains waved and thanked their fellows. Rainbow practically pounced on top of Spitfire and shouted.

“S-Spitfire! That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! You almost BEAT Zephyr!”

Spitfire turned away with an irritated noise.

“Yeah, almost. But I didn’t. Maybe if I could have started earlier…”

She turned and looked at Soarin’ as if to accuse him. He defended himself.

“What, are you going to blame it on me? I was right behind Fancy Free, in second place! Have you seen how good she is at flying acrobatics?”

Spitfire rolled her eyes.

“Oh, I’ve seen how good she is… good looking!” Spitfire stabbed a hoof at Soarin’. “You’re letting yourself get distracted again by all the pretty, flashy mares around! It’s typical Soarin’ lately!”

Soarin’ just about burned a hole right through his fellow Wonderbolt captain. Fleetfoot, exhausted from the race and from constantly dealing with her friends, just sighed and wandered off to get something to drink. Half of the Wonderbolts followed her and the others pretended not to hear or notice their arguing captains. Soarin’ exploded.

“Spitfire, you’ve been nothing but a huge jerk lately, you know that?! I’m starting to get really fed up with it! What the hay is up with you?”

A sing-songy voice called from behind the group, instantly releasing the tension.

“Soary!” It was Lovey Dovey. “Wow, you were amazing in the race! I was watching from the Speed Course! You looked great!” Soarin’ shook his anger away and smiled at his former teammate. Lovey Dovey pranced to right beside him, her teammates in tow.

“Thanks, Lovey! You did great too! I’m glad someone appreciates how I performed.” He turned back to Spitfire and returned the sour expression she was showing. Spitfire gritted her teeth, her tail swishing back and forth a mile a minute.

“You did great, Soarin’, but you didn’t try your best, did you? I was practically dead by the time I finished the second leg! I don’t recall you looking that tired when you exchanged the necklace with me,” Spitfire said. Lovey Dovey bore into Spitfire with venomous eyes. She pushed herself right next to Soarin’, cuddling up to him.

“Wow, that’s kind of, uhhh, rude of you, isn’t it?” Lovey Dovey said, blinking saucily, “You should show a stallion like Soary more respect.” She stepped back and turned to Soarin’. “I think you should come with me and the gang. We can introduce you to some ponies who’d be more than happy to give you the praise you deserve!”

Lovey Dovey and her team started to trot away. Soarin’ followed them before turnin back, regret present in his longing expression. Spitfire sneered and turned away. Soarin’ copied the gesture and resumed walking away. Another chunk of the Wonderbolts reluctantly followed him, leaving only a scant few. Rainbow and her team weren’t sure what to do or say.

“Rainbow!” Spitfire commanded, inadvertently throwing some of her ire Rainbow’s way. The cyan mare straightened up and saluted.

“Sir, what is it, sir?”

“I want to talk to you in private. Let’s go!” Spitfire was already in the air and flying away as she said the words. Rainbow looked at Crackclaw, then Jerri, then the other Wonderbolts, and set off after Spitfire.

Once the two were in a quiet area, one of the entrances to the field that wasn’t being used, Spitfire turned to Rainbow. Her eyes were harsh and defensive, and she looked rigid like a scared wolverine.

“You must have noticed how Zephyr looked when we were racing, right?”

Rainbow nodded.

“H-He looked totally fine the entire time.” Spitfire stared past Rainbow and sighed.

“Yeah. I’ve never seen anything like it. I KILLED myself to catch up with him, and I even got ahead a few times, but eventually I just couldn’t keep it up. The whole time he seemed like he was just going for a leisurely fly.” Rainbow understood how Spitfire felt. Just yesterday she had watched Zephyr beat himself up trying to do the sonic rainboom, and while he did break a sweat doing so, it was only after attempting the rainboom dozens of time. She was still surprised he hadn’t managed to pull it off.

“So, what are you saying?” Rainbow asked. Spitfire looked right at her.

“I’m saying, I don’t think I can beat him. That’s just the vibe I am getting. But I think you can, and I want to see you do it! It’ll be like the Wonderbolts beating the EFL! That means you absolutely have to pass the race today! You think your team has got what it takes?”

Rainbow stared at her hooves for a few moments, then looked up at Spitfire’s fiery expression.

“I do,” Rainbow said confidently. Spitfire smiled.

“Alright, that’s what I want to hear. Honestly, we might make a proper Wonderbolt out of you once this is all said and done.”

Rainbow lit up.

“R-really?!” Her wings shot out and she had a goofy smile taking up most of her face. Spitfire nodded, then frowned.

“Well, if there is a Wonderbolts team after all this.”

Spitfire walked away from Rainbow and quietly spoke. Rainbow tilted her head.

“I’ve… been burning a lot of bridges. I know that. Not just with Soarin’, but the rest of the team too, I think. I’ve been pretty crazy…”

Spitfire sounded sadder than Rainbow had ever heard. She had never actually heard Spitfire talk so personally before at all. It made Rainbow curious as to what was going on.

“I’ve noticed, sir. W-what’s the big deal? Soarin’ DID do pretty good in the Jungle Gym, he was—” Rainbow stopped. She regretted the words and slammed her hooves over her mouth as soon as she said them. She awaited the explosion from Spitfire, but all she heard was a sigh.

“I know.”

Spitfire practically whispered the words. She half-turned back to Rainbow, head hung low and ears pulled down.

“Can I… tell you a secret, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow blinked a few times, not believing the Spitfire she was seeing was real. One of her biggest heroes looked on the verge of tears. Rainbow replied.

“O-Of course, Spitfire! What is it?”

Spitfire played with the ground with an absent hoof. Her tail was like a metronome.

“Well, the reason I’ve been so… touchy lately, with Soarin’, is because I…” Spitfire looked at the cloud floor and sighed. “I really like him.” Rainbow didn’t understand.

Of course you like Soarin’, you guys are…

Then the realization hit. Rainbow’s eyes opened wide.

“Oh!” She flew into the air and smushed her face with her hooves. “Ohmigosh! You have a crush on Soarin’?! No way! This is, like, wow!” Rainbow was beaming, but Spitfire’s dour mood stayed the same. Rainbow felt silly and came back down, embarrassed.

“S-Sorry, Spitfire. My fangirl got the better of me. You—”

Spitfire interrupted, letting her thoughts flow out. “Soarin’ and I have been friends since we were little. We went to flight school together, we became junior Wonderbolts together, and then we rose through the Wonderbolts together.” She smiled as she reminisced. “My feelings just sort of… happened over the years. I always felt like we were, you know,” Spitfire sat on her rump and brought her hooves together, “Together, even if we weren’t really. I never told him how I felt, but in a sense, it was like I never had to.”

Rainbow sat down next to Spitfire, who continued after a paused. Her cheeks were burning up.
“Anyway, in the last month or so I noticed Soarin’ paying more attention to other mares. He’s never been like that before. And it’s been making me… jealous. I just can’t control myself when he looks at a mare or one of them talks to him with the goo-goo eyes like that Lovey Dovey.” Spitfire’s expression tensed up and became angry, then she sighed again and it loosened. She covered her face with her hooves.

“I don't want this to tear the Wonderbolts apart, and I don’t like hurting Soarin’, but I can’t tell him the truth. If I tell him and he doesn’t feel the same way, our friendship… everything… it’ll never be the same again. I don’t want to lose that.”

Rainbow thought quickly about how to respond. She scratched the side of her head.

“Y-know, I’m not really the best pony when it comes to this mushy, romance stuff,” Rainbow said, “But I have a really good friend, Applejack, and if she were here, she’d say you need to be honest to Soarin’ about how you feel, because if you just hold it inside, that just makes things worse, and even if Soarin’ feels differently, you’ll be able to get a huge load off your chest.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Trust me, I’ve been in enough situations to know that holding onto secrets just isn’t worth it.”

Rainbow punched Spitfire’s shoulder.

“Plus, you’re crazy if you think Soarin’ would ever stop being your friend! Things may change, but I’ve seen you two together! You’ll always be friends!”

Spitfire smiled softly.

“Yeah… that does sound like Soarin’.” Spitfire looked at Rainbow, her eyes slightly watery. "Jeez, I feel silly now. I really overacted out there. Yikes."

Rainbow giggled. "Nothing the Wonderbolts won't forgive if you apologize, which you might want to do sooner rather than later." Spitfire blushed.

“By the way, you’re the only pony I’ve told this to.”

“Why me?” Rainbow asked.

“I guess because I just had to tell somepony, and I know you’ll keep my secret. You have a reputation for loyalty.” Rainbow’s chest puffed out and she smiled as if to agree. Spitfire continued, “And because you’re a really great pony, Rainbow Dash.” The two exchanged smiles. Spitfire lowered her brows and frowned.

“But I’m still your boss when we’re out there so don’t be getting any funny ideas!” Rainbow saluted.

“No, sir, of course not, sir!”

The two mares laughed. Spitfire sniffled a bit, then spoke.

“Thanks. I mean that.”

“Anytime, sir.”

Spitfire got up and ruffled her feathers and cranked her neck from side to side.

“I’ll… tell Soarin’ tonight. Honestly, just the thought of getting it off my chest… I hadn’t even thought about it, but it feels like it’s worth it just for that.”

Rainbow got up as well.

“By the way, sir, I don’t like Lovey Dovey either, sir. She’s way too… you know, cutesy wootsy.”

Spitfire lit up.

“Right? Like blah! She’s totally phony, too.”

The two shared another bout of laughter before they returned to the field. Spitfire tracked down as many of her fellow Wonderbolts as she could while Rainbow looked up at the stands for her friends. Her heart sank when she saw an empty spot on the bleachers where her friends had been earlier. Crackclaw and Jerri came up to her.

“Why the long face, Rainbow Dash? Are you okay? Do you need a hug?” Jerri asked, worried.

“I… no, it’s just, my friends are all gone.”

Crackclaw spoke.

“Probably just went to get snacks during the break. Don’t let it worry you too much, the
race is—”

“Alrighty, folks! It’s time to start the second race! Flyers, get to your positions!”

* * *

Pinkie looked out from behind a tree, black cloth covering her mane, face and body like a ninja. Spike stood next to her from cover, dressed in the same manner.

“Is this completely necessary, Pinkie?” Spike whispered. “It’s not even nighttime… I mean, what’s the point?”

Just beyond the tree was a group of tents overlooking Pepperheart Field. The biggest tent, closest to the edge of the bluff, was Pinkie’s target. It was circular like the Carousel Boutique, although it was a deep emerald color with white lines zigzagging along its sides. There was clearly a lot of room inside to hide just about anything. Pinkie scanned the area with all the precision that Sherclop Pie could muster. There were a few guards posted at the tent entrance, other guards lounging around the EFL encampment, and just one who was actually patrolling. The skies seemed clear.

Looks like my hunch was right and Maelstrom’s security is slacking! This will be a cinch!

Author's Note

Alright! Finally got an extra chapter out this week. Normal Sunday chapter will come out tomorrow around the same time.

I almost forgot to mention but this marks the halfway point or just slightly past it for this story. Finally I can say I am AT LEAST 50% done this story which I started all the way back in 2012. Pretty crazy.

27 - Accidents Happen!

Chapter 27

Accidents Happen!

Rainbow turned to Crackclaw and Jerri. The sun was beating directly down on all three, now at the height of its strength.

“Okay, everybody!” Rainbow encouraged, “This is it! No flipflopping out there! We came here to win, right?!”

“Right!” was the cry she received in response.

Rainbow nodded with fire in her eyes and a glint in her jagged smile.

“Then let’s go!”

Team 117 shared one last cheer and then took off. Rainbow threw a hopeful glance at an empty spot in the stands and sighed.

“Hey.”

Rainbow turned to see Zephyr standing close by. They shared a warm smile. She called out to him.

“Hey Zeph – great race, by the way!”

Zephyr flipped his ponytail back.

“Ehh, it was pretty boring, but thanks. That Spitfire is something else. You’ll have to be pretty impressive to top that.”

He winked at her.

“Good luck, RB. Don’t lose.”

Rainbow held up a hoof and curled it into something like a fist.

“Not a chance!”

“Rainbow! Let’s go!” It was Jerri. Most of the other flyers had already gotten into position. Rainbow quickly remembered where she was and sped off.

“SEEYA LATER, ZEPH!”

Rainbow and Jerri flew down the center of the field and entered the passage to the second leg.

“I’m so excited to see you race, Rainbow! I hope there’s a VBI down at the Moving Maw so I can watch!”

Rainbow looked back, frustrated.

“Focus on winning your leg, Jerri! I’m counting on you, remember?”

Jerri was ecstatic. She gripped her face in her claws.

“R-Right! Sorry, Rainbow Dash! I won’t lose!”

The two followed a straight, narrow drop until they reached an area that opened considerably. It was the start of the Speed Course. A platform for the second leg flyers to wait at was just at the opening of the drop. Rainbow felt dizzy staring down the track, like looking down a deep, dark hole. Cheering rocked the walls.

Rainbow almost forgot about the fans that filled the balconies lining the Speed Course. As far as she dared to look down the tunnel, she saw hooves and wings waving towards her and the other flyers. It was loud, but invigorating. Rainbow felt new life take her over and distract her from the fear of failure.

“Hey, eh, you must be Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow turned to the source of the voice. It was Slapshot, dressed only in a dark grey winter hat. Because of that, Rainbow could actually see his cutie mark, a hockey stick with a puck. He wore a wide smile as his teeth chomped away at something like bubble gum.

“Guess we’re in the same race then, yeah?” Slapshot said, cockily. Rainbow tightened her brow and returned the same kind of smug grin.

“That’s right. I’ve heard you’re pretty fast, but you can’t beat me!”

Slapshot glared.

“Bah, big talk for a rookie, eh? That stuff doesn’t work on me, pal.”

A shrill gasp made both ponies snap their necks towards the sound. A bat pony mare was fluttering towards them.

“Mein Vort! Zis must be zhe Rainbow Dash zhat I’ve heard all zhe sings about!” Ms. VeeVee grabbed Rainbow’s face and moved it around as if she was studying the features closely. “Zis mane is utterly unglaublich! Your freund Miss Rarity did not lie!” Rainbow struggled and pushed VeeVee away. Slapshot was drooling as his eyes glued themselves to the lithe form that had appeared.

“Hey, knock that off! And since when does Rarity know a bat pony from who-knows-where who just came to town for the races?”

VeeVee’s amber eyes came alive and she opened her mouth to reveal a set of bat fangs amid a sharp-toothed grin.

“Ve are zhe partners! She did not tell you – mmm no?”

Rainbow turned away.

“Haven’t really seen her.” Rainbow turned back, still miffed. “Anyway, I know you’re one of the big shots around here, so don’t think you can butter me up and take my guard down!” Rainbow snorted and tensed up. VeeVee cackled like she’d just heard the most ridiculous thing ever.

“You are zhe riot, Rarity freund! Do you like zhis outfit? One of Miss Rarity’s, stylish und – how you say – flexible—” VeeVee struck a pose, moving her neck and head up and away while stretching out a back hoof, pushing out her chest and showing off the side of her body. The rich, violet silk clung to VeeVee’s curves like a wet shirt on a minotaur. Ribbons of gold and silver flecked the clothing from the toes of her hooves to the middle of her neck. Slapshot jumped up and hoof bumped the air.

“10 outta 10, babe!” Slapshot whistled, and it was then that Rainbow noticed that most of the male flyers had gathered around, acting similarly foolish. Rainbow shook her head rapidly.

“Uggh seriously? This silly horsehay is breaking my focus!”

Slapshot started to hoot and holler even louder, looking at Rainbow from time to time with a devious gleam. The male crowd showered VeeVee with praise, to which she simply giggled with a demure grace and struck a few more poses.

Yup, she’s definitely friends with Rarity… thought Rainbow, staring at the display with a deadpan.

“Okay sweeties! Everypony get ready! The race is about to being. Once you hear the cannon, it’s go time!”

Rainbow swallowed hard. She positioned herself ready to pounce. She kept her eyes glued to a VBI screen on one of the walls.

As soon as Crackclaw gets down here and hands me that necklace, I’m off like lightning!

A rumbling sound reverberated through the Speed Course from above. The pegasi on the balconies screamed and cheered in reply. Rainbow felt a bead of sweat streak down her face as she watched the mass of flyers on the screen fight for a spot at the entrance to the Jungle Gym.

“The second race is underway, sportsfans, and if you’re not back yet from getting chow and merch, you better hurry! We know this won’t take long! Already in front is—”

Rainbow drowned out the words. She scanned the screen desperately. She saw no hint of ebony scales or wings. It was harder to follow along when all she could see was the screen compared to being close to the field itself. She closed her eyes tight and began to talk quietly to herself in a drone.

“He’s gonna make it, he’s gonna make it…”

Moments that felt like hours dragged by. The cheering, the anxious talking of the other flyers, the commentating… it all hit Rainbow’s ears and fell like clouds hitting a mountainside. Rainbow moved her tail back and forth, making sure it was limber for steering. She flicked her ears so they were ready to move in any direction for optimal noise perception and spacial judging. She unfurled her wings and flapped them, slowly then faster, as a warm up. She took in a large gulp of air, then exhaled. The Wonderbolts outfit was starting to feel too tight. She needed to get airborne.

Alright…

The first of the trick flyers came through the tunnel. They all wore silver EFL medallioms. Her competition was leaving the platform and ripping air down the Speed Course. Rainbow gritted her teeth.

Come on, Crackclaw!

More flyers came, and more flyers went. Rainbow started to chew on her lip hard as sweat poured down from her forehead.

Then she saw him.

“Rainbow, here!” Crackclaw tossed the wooden necklace as he shot out of the tunnel, lost his balanced, then slammed down onto the platform. Rainbow craned her neck and the necklace slipped right around her. Then she kicked into gear 10.

Like a whip Rainbow tore off the platform and caused a small boom where she ascended. Her goggles kept the sting of the air from damaging her eyes. Everything around her was a blur except the end of the track. Blobs of colors, other flyers, left her vision as soon as they entered. Rainbow’s hooves were straight in front of her and her wings were vibrating with the speed of a hummingbird and the strength of an ox. Her teeth were gnashed together as her cheeks and lips flapped in the wind.

She had to be first at that point.

First turn!

Rainbow expertly tilted her body and made the turn without a hitch. No more colorful blobs were in front of her for the entire length of the track up to the following turn. She barely noticed the balconies filled with squirming, colorful masses, and she certainly didn’t hear the sounds they were generating. But then something did make her take notice. A roar from behind her. She risked a peek and looked back.

“Thought you were gonna win that easy, eh?”

It was Slapshot, looking just as wild as she did. There was one other flyer behind him, a mare.

What the hay?! I-Impossible!

Rainbow picked up the pace. If she had been able to feel the burning throbbing throughout her wings and her sides, numbed by copious amounts of adrenaline, she would have crumpled in a second. Slapshot appeared right next to her, and in another moment so too did the mare. Rainbow spotted the gleam of a medallion around her neck. Slapshot shouted.

“Sorry, but I plan on coming first today, yeah?”

Slapshot pulled ahead just slightly and puffed up his cheeks. Rainbow stared with total confusion. Then something shot out of his mouth, and she flew up to avoid it. The mare from the EFL to her right was not so lucky.

“Ahhh, what the hayyyyyyyy!”

Whatever Slapshot spit out of his mouth landed on the mare’s left wing and bounced partially to her right. The sticky substance connected bothand the mare was instantly stopped like she had been hogtied. She started to fall like a rock.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Rainbow screamed at Slapshot. She didn’t have to think about it twice. She changed course and shot straight down towards the falling mare. In just the nick of time she swooped up the falling flyer and gently laid her down on the floor of the Speed Course. Rainbow saw that staff were quickly approaching from a side door and took to the air again, tearing off after Slapshot.

“Thank you!” the mare called out to Rainbow, who was fuming. She’d never felt her brow crease so tight or her facial features pull into such a snarl. She managed to grit her teeth even harder than before the incident. Her wings became imperceptible to the naked eye.

“SLAPSHOT!!!”

Many flyers had managed to pass her during the incident. Two turns later, upon approach to the end of the leg, Rainbow found Slapshot. He looked back and blinked in surprise.

“Oh hey there, eh? That was some heroics back there, Rainbow Dash! I’m impressed, yeah?”

“YOU’RE SCUM! WHEN I GET MY HOOVES ON YOU—”

The end of the leg was fast approaching. Rainbow tried to force her wings to submit and go faster, but the tank was empty. The cascading waves of pain were beginning to lick away at her nerves. The adrenaline was wearing off.

“Sorry, eh? No such luck today!”

Rainbow watched Slapshot quickly take off his necklace and hand it to his teammate. He landed with oompf to cheering crowds from the balconies. Rainbow came to a sliding stop on the platform, completely forgetting her necklace and the race.

“R-Rainbo—”

Jerri’s pleading went unheeded. Rainbow stomped up to Slapshot, who had changed his demeanor and looked at her like she was from a different planet.

“WHAT THE BUCK WAS THAT? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HER, SOMEPONY FROM THE EFL LIKE YOU!”

Slapshot turned every which way, dumbfounded.

“W-wha? B-But I didn’t mean to! The sap just flew out of my mouth! It was an accident, I swear!” A referee dressed in white and black came out of a side door while Jerri shook Rainbow.

“Rainbow! RAINBOW! GIVE ME THE NECKLACE!”

Rainbow looked at Jerri and a harsh cry escaped her lips.

“CRUD! THE RACE!” She struggled to get the necklace off her neck and handed it to Jerri, who took off in an instant. Rainbow cradled her head in her shaky hooves. The pain was in full force now throughout her body.

“HOW COULD I… ARGGGH!” She turned back to Slapshot with murderous lust in her eyes. “YOU!” Rainbow smacked the referee and pointed at Slapshot. “He cheated! He spat something out at another flyer and almost got them killed!”

The referee rubbed the spot where Rainbow had smacked, glaring at her momentarily before turning to Slapshot. “Is that true, Mr. Slapshot?” The hockey star played dumb, waving his hooves in front of him.

“N-No sir, y-yeah? It’s a total misunderstanding, eh? I mean, accidents happen! Why don’t we talk about it with Maelstrom, he knows me! He’ll vouch for me!”

The referee turned back to Rainbow.
“I’ll discuss this incident with Maelstrom and we will see if anypony else can corroborate your story.”

Rainbow got into the face of the referee and shouted.

“My STORY!? But it just happened! Wasn’t everypony watching? When Spitfire and Zephyr were fighting for first place the VBI was on them the entire time! Are you saying nopony saw Slapshot and I?!”

The referee glared back.

“Yeah, that’s right. There are other flyers, too, so don’t get so full of yourself, kid. Like I said, I’ll talk it over with Maelstrom and see if anypony else will corroborate your story.”

Rainbow was steaming. She watched as Slapshot winked at her from behind the referee. She turned away from the two of them and went to a corner of the platform to stew in her anger.

I can’t believe this! Is he going to get away with it because he’s close to Maelstrom???

Rainbow remembered what was going on and started to hear the voice of Tele-P again.

“Ohhhhh that’s gotta hurt! That griffon is going down, folks!”

Rainbow’s eyes widened and she found the nearest VBI screen. Her worst fears had been realized. Jerri was falling within the Moving Maw.Rainbow looked out onto the Maw itself from behind the screen and saw a yellow-white form slowly falling as all manner of flyers were making their way through the course.

“JERRI! JERRI COME ON!”

Rainbow screamed as loud as her sore lungs and vocal cords could manage.

“COME ON, YOU CAN DO IT! DON’T LET THIS STOP YOU!”

Rainbow looked over to the screen again. Jerri was shaking her head and looked determined, albeit bruised and battered.

“Like, wow, everypony! Looks like the support from her teammate, the one and only Rainbow Dash of Cloudsdale, snapped Jerri out of it! She’s going to keep going!”

Jerri flapped wildly and got herself back into position in the Maw. She flew past the floating, rotating obstacles without grace, narrowly dodging most of the things that wandered her way. Still, she made progress, and while the flyers around her might be hit or collide with something and simply fall all the way to the bottom of the course, Jerri did not give up.

Right at the end of the course, a powerful column of cloud smoke came up like a freight train and blasted Jerri. It shot her all the way up to the ceiling, slamming her against the cloud wall, before gravity sent her plummeting downwards.

“Rats, folks! The new fan favorite, Jerri, got hit again! There’s no way she’ll make a comeback no—!”

Jerri started flying, slowly, back towards the finish line. She clutched onto the necklace around her for dear life. Her right eye was puffy and enflamed. One of her wings was missing feathers. Still she pushed on. Rainbow, back on the platform, fell to her knees.

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF THAT HARD, JERRI!” she screamed. But it was no use. Nothing was stopping Jerri. As she flapped her wings for the last time that day, she threw up a claw and grabbed the edge of the final platform. She pulled herself up with sheer willpower and dragged herself off to the metal platform. Many necklaces were already laid on it. She took hers and unceremoniously flopped it onto the pile, then collapsed.

Rainbow gasped. She didn’t care about the course or the race and took off through the Maw. She ignored all of her pain and deftly swerved around each and every cloud obstacle that appeared. In just a few minutes she reached the finish line. Staff were already preparing a stretcher for Jerri.

“What the heck were you thinking, Jerri?” Rainbow cried. “You didn’t have to go that far!”

Jerri just smiled at Rainbow weakly and produced a thumbs up.

“Heh…” she whispered. Rainbow got closer so she could hear, tears welling in her eyes. “I said… I wouldn’t let you down. And I didn’t.” Her beaky smile went from cheek to cheek as sleep overtook her and she passed out.

“Alright, alright,” called a referee,. “Clear out! Get back up to the waiting area while the last flyers finish up!”

Rainbow slowly flapped her wings and made it back to the field in the middle of the stadium. Crackclaw came flying towards her and landed.

“Rainbow Dash! Are you okay? I saw Jerri on the screen. I mean, wow, you ponies are crazy.”

Rainbow looked up at Crackclaw and forced a smile.

“Hey… good job, Crackclaw. I’m fine. It’s Jerri I’m worried about, but nopony will let me see her right now. They said to wait until the results were in and the injured flyers had been assessed.”

She realized she needed to see her friends at that moment. To hear Pinkie’s high-pitched voice say something silly, to hear Fluttershy’s concern and Rarity’s “proper” words, and even Applejack’s honest truth. She even missed Twilight’s over-analyzing and egghead talk. But there was nothing except empty spots in the stands when Rainbow looked. She fell to the grass and collapsed.

“Rainbow Dash!” Crackclaw cried. He picked her up and brought her to eye level. Rainbow’s gaze was solidly on the ground, regardless. “Rainbow Dash come on! Snap out of it!”

Tele-P’s voice called out from the speakers around the stadium.

“Alrighty, sportsfans! The results are in! Look up at the screen now to see who progressed and who didn’t!”

Rainbow’s head felt like a boulder, but she managed to turn it upwards and look at the screen. Her eyes latched onto one of the lines in the list and she stared until the words started to swirl around in her brain in a dark haze.

Position 26 – Team 117 – Crackclaw, Rainbow Dash, Jerri – NOT PROGRESSING

29 - Where Everypony Was

Chapter 29

Where Everypony Was

Just before the first race began…

“Whoa dog, this is lookin’ to be a crazy competition alright!” Applejack shouted so that she could be heard amidst the noise of Saddlebred Citadel. Since arriving earlier, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, and the CMCs had been joined by thousands of other ponies in the stands. The field had opened up into the Jungle Gym, drawing an awe-inspired “wow” from Fluttershy.

“That looks… scary. I hope everypony is okay at the end.”

Rarity shook her head.

“I wouldn’t think so, darling.” She screwed her face into one of worry. Fluttershy watched with innocence. “VeeVee told me how long the waiver for this event was. It’s going to be a ghastly affair, for some. But that’s what they all signed up for.”

Fluttershy’s mouth became dry. She scanned the field and found Rainbow. She stared at her with worry. Next her eyes drifted over to another part of the field, where Bushwhacker had been previously, but he had already left to his section of the relay. Fluttershy swallowed hard and covered one eye with a hoof.

“Oh my… I don’t know if I can watch after all…”

The CMCs, meanwhile, were all smiles. Their tails practically wagged.

“This is going to be radical!” Scootaloo roared above the crowd.

“Yeah!” yelled Sweetie Belle, “It’s gonna be sensational!”

Apple Bloom cried, “Well it’ll just be, uhh – well it’ll be really cool! Yea’!

The voice of Tele-P started to fill the stands and the mares and fillies’ eyes were glued to the VBI screens and the images of Tele-P and Kissie. Before anypony could prepare for it, a loud cannon shot off at one end of the stadium and sounded the start of the race. The mass of flyers on the field poured into the Jungle Gym, pushing and shoving wildly to secure a spot.

“Rather brutish if you ask me,” Rarity said, pulling back in disgusting. She adjusted her hat. Applejack, sitting on the other side of Fluttershy, who sat between the competitive duo, felt her ears flick about as they registered an interesting exchange.

“Bah! This cider right here is disgusting!” Applejack’s head turned around to see what was amuck and saw somepony spitting out his drink, glaring at the EFL volunteer who had sold it to him. The stallion continued, “What kind of slop is this? This is nothing like the Sweet Apple Acres cider I had in the courtyard yesterday! What gives?”

The EFL volunteer shook her head and frowned. “Well sorry sir, this is what the EFL has available. If you’d like a refund—” The stallion cut her off, and then another EFL volunteer came to back his comrade up. Several other customers, unhappy with their cider, came forward, and soon a crowd was forming on the stadium stairs between the rows of benches.

Applejack looked back at the race and bit at her hoof. Making a decision, she turned back to the cider altercation and jumped off the bench. Rarity noticed this immediately.

“Hey! Applejack!” she cried. But Applejack was off. She threw herself into the middle of the argument about cider.

“Now hold on there, ponies,” she said, clearly and calmly. The stallion who bought the cider turned his angry glare towards Applejack, and the two EFL volunteers just looked confused. Ponies sitting nearby were also taking notice. “Y’all got an issue that Ah think Ah could solve.” Applejack turned to speak to the stallion directly. He recognized her and his face lit up, as did other unhappy customers.

“You’re the mare who sells that cider!” the stallion cheered. Applejack beamed.

“Sure am! An’ Ah think we can all work out a deal; you EFL folks, you know who decides what cider to sell? Maybe we ought to have a talk…”

“Oh no you don’t!” It was Rarity. Applejack jumped before sheepishly looking behind her. Rarity was not happy. “Well, I never thought I’d see the day, Applejack, but here you are, talking about cider and business when our friend Rainbow Dash has got the—”

“What is THAT outfit?!”

It was Rarity’s turn to be cut off. Applejack, Rarity, and the crowd of angry cider enthusiasts all turned to a new pony, a finely-dressed mare speaking with an upper crust accent.

“I say, my dear, that’s the most splendid dress I have seen in my life! I spotted you from across the way and had to come see if my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me! Wherever did you get it?”

Rarity’s eyes gleamed and she smiled.

“Well as it just so happens, madam, this is my own creation…”

It didn’t take long before both Rarity and Applejack got wrapped up in their affairs so heavily that they completely forgot about the Storm’s Challenge. Rarity began to take off to a quieter part of the Citadel to speak with her new potential client, before stopping to grab her little sister.

“Come, Sweetie,” she said, tapping her filly sister on the shoulder, “I need your help taking a VERY large order. It’s too loud in here!”

Sweetie moaned. “Awww, but I thought we weren’t going to be doing any competition stuff today!”

Rarity insisted, “Sweetie, it won’t take long, I promise! Now, come along, please, you’re making a scene…”

“Hold yer horses there, pardner!” Applejack protested, coming from behind. “If’n you get yer little sister again then Ah get mine! Apple Bloom! C’mere!” The farmer pony grabbed her sister with a hoof and pulled her off the bench. “We’ll only be gone a moment! Ah need another set of ears to help me with negotiations. Can’t trust city folk all that much.”

Apple Bloom struggled but eventually gave up with a whine. She looked over to Sweetie who frowned and shrugged.

“Umm, girls…” Fluttershy spoke loudly, for her anyway, but not loud enough for her friends to hear. Both Applejack and Rarity went in opposite directions, sisters in tow. Scootaloo yelled in Fluttershy’s ear.

“I GUESS IT’S JUST US! THIS IS SUPER COOL!”

Fluttershy cringed and rubbed her hoof against her ear. She looked at Scootaloo sternly.

“You don’t have to yell in my ear like that, Scootaloo.” The little orange filly beamed childishly and hopped in place.

“S-sorry, Fluttershy. BUT I’M JUST SO EXCITED!”

The two turned back to the field, specifically towards the VBI screens. Spitfire and Zephyr were duking it out for first place. Scootaloo nearly died from the excitement. Fluttershy reserved her loudest cheering for Rainbow’s race but felt compelled to offer a few screams of encouragement. Scootaloo’s throat was hoarse by the time it was clear Spitfire would finish second to Zephyr.

“He’s way too fast! That’s no fair!” Scootaloo complained. Fluttershy watched the VBI screen and frowned.

I don’t even know if Rainbow could keep up with him…

As the third and final leg of the relay began, Fluttershy turned around and looked for her friends.

“Where are those girls? I thought they were only going for a minute...”

Suddenly a harsh, terrified gasp arose from all around the stadium. Fluttershy looked around to see what the matter was. Tele-P announced something and Fluttershy heard him mention Bushwhacker. She locked eyes on the VBI screen and saw what the fuss was about. Her heart dropped.

“Bushwhacker…” she mumbled. Bushwhacker’s limp body was tumbling within a whirling chamber of clouds, until the cameraponies lost sight of him and the VBI switched back to the race.

Fluttershy panicked. Was he okay? How far did he fall? She felt her chest heave up and down with a shaky hoof. Scootaloo looked back at her.

“Fluttershy areeee you okay?”

“NOIMNOTOKAY!” Fluttershy snapped, hyperventilating. She hopped off the bench and started to wander in a random direction. Scootaloo followed after.

“Wait, Fluttershy! Where are you going?!”

Present time…

“Ah mean, that’s about the long an’ short of it, Rainbow…” Applejack finished recounting the story about where everypony was during Rainbow’s race. Rarity shifted uncomfortably, and Fluttershy hid behind her mane. Rainbow didn’t show any emotions.

“I… see…” Rainbow turned to Fluttershy. “Is he okay? Bushwhacker?”

Fluttershy cleared her throat awkwardly. “Well, umm, as it turns out, umm, he landed on a cloud, s-so he’s actually pretty much fine, aside from, umm, some scrapes, and he was a bit, umm, delirious when I saw him.”

Rainbow looked at the ground. The other mares looked among one another uneasily as the silence became thick.

“Just so you girls know, I lost the race.” Rainbow bit her bottom lip as her eyes vibrated with moisture. She switched to gritting her teeth instead. “S-so it’s pretty hard for me to hear you all talk about what you were doing instead of giving me support, especially when it was a bunch of…” Rainbow shook her head and sniffled.

“N-never mind.”

Applejack stepped forward and Rarity opened her mouth to speak, but Rainbow took to the sky before anypony could stop her.

“Don’t worry about it, guys!” Rainbow called out without looking back. “I’m gonna go be by myself for awhile!” Rainbow zipped away into the clouds.

Fluttershy cried out, “Wait! R-Rainbow!” She took to the skies as well, but Applejack’s words stopped her.

“Hold on, missy. Just let her go.” Fluttershy turned back around, mid air.

“B-But we can’t just let her go! Ohhh, I feel so terrible!”

Rarity stepped forward.

“No use right now, Fluttershy. It wouldn’t matter what we say… Rainbow needs to be alone. The damage is already done. We’ll go see Rainbow tomorrow and straighten this whole incident out. Still…” Rarity looked crestfallen towards the VBI screen, displaying the rankings of the teams. She caught Rainbow’s name. “…I feel so bad for her… after all that hard work.”

Applejack sighed and then spoke.

“Well, standin’ around here an’ moping isn’t helpin’ Rainbow none, nor us. Might as well get back to solid ground.”

* * *

Tears streamed down Rainbow’s cheeks. She fought desperately against the dispair. Flying as fast as she could, in whatever random direction the wind took her, Rainbow was broken. She rarely lost races, but at least when she did, her friends were usually there to back her up. They gave her all their attention and support. It was a given.

That time had been different. A stupid competition and a stupid crush… those were evidently more important.

I mean, Rainbow thought, Fluttershy had a right to be worried about that guy, but he wasn’t even hurt in the end! Why didn’t see come back and watch the race?

Rainbow stopped flying aimlessly and looked around. Clouds as far as the eye could see. She fluttered softly and cut her sobs.

Maybe I’m overreacting. This whole thing is pretty crazy, can’t be too upset if the girls got wrapped up in it too, in their own way.

The sun was still erect in the sky, but it was clear that dusk was approaching, flecks of gold just appearing on the horizon. A cry in the distance made Rainbow turn her head towards the source of the noise.

“Rainbow! Wait!”

Rainbow recognized the voice of Zephyr, and soon enough he flew threw a fluffy, white cloud and was hovering in front of her.

“Rainbow! Thank goodness I caught you! Why’d you just take off like that? Nevermind! Listen, come with me! We’ll straighten this whole thing out! The ref told me about Slapshot!”

Rainbow cocked her head.

“He did? Wait – that’s right! That cheater, Slapshot! And he almost hurt somepony real bad!”

Rainbow’s brow furrowed. She continued her tirade.

“I don’t even care about the race, Zephyr! That guy’s got to be disqualified!”

Zephyr nodded.

“Well hurry up and follow me! We need to catch Maelstrom before he leaves!”

* * *

Zephyr and Rainbow flew back to the Citadel at top speed. Rainbow hadn’t even realized how far away she had gotten until the seconds turned to minutes and eventually her and her friend crested a huge cloud and were looking down at the immense Citadel, hovering just above Canterlot Castle.

“We may already be too late,” Zephyr lamented, “Let’s go!” Rainbow nodded.

The two slowed their approach as they neared the VIP section of the Citadel stands. They were nearly empty save a few stragglers, clearly elites of Equestrian society, talking amongst themselves on the plush VIP chairs. Zephyr looked around frantically.

“Hey!” he shouted, spotting one of Maelstrom’s guards. The guard took notice immediately and rushed up to salute Zephyr.

“Yes, Mr. Zephyr, sir! What is it?”

“Where is Maelstrom? Has he left already?”

The guard shook his head.

“Should still be in the meeting room, just down here, sir.” The guard pointed at a passageway leading inside the Citadel. Zephyr nodded gratefully. He and Rainbow shot down the passageway until they passed a half-ajar door. They doubled back and Zephyr shoved inside.

“Maelstrom?” he called out before even checking who was inside.
Maelstrom and a few other ponies, dressed in a purple, gem armor, were inside. Rainbow couldn’t remember what the name of the gem was, but she had definitely seen gems like it among Rarity’s dress supplies. Maelstrom’s expression quickly turned from stern to a beam when he saw Zephyr. Maelstrom strode up to meet the pair. His presence alone made Rainbow unconsciously back up behind Zephyr. Then it hit her.

Her face lit up.

“Ohmigosh, it’s Maelstrom, right in front of me!”

Rainbow contained her fangirl as much as possible as Maelstrom’s imposing form stopped in front of Zephyr. Maelstrom patted Zephyr on the shoulder with his wing.

“Great performance out there, number one! And—well!” He turned to Rainbow. The cyan mare couldn’t meet the emerald gaze. “This has to be Rainbow Dash! It’s an honor!” Rainbow’s mouth muscles quivered. She looked up to see Maelstrom’s extended hoof, encrusted with ruby-red armor, and then saw his light-hearted expression. Her heart became slow once more and she returned the hoofshake.

“T-The honor’s all mine, s-sir!” Rainbow could die right then. Maelstrom’s shake was so monstrous and firm she believed he could have picked her up and shook her whole body if he wanted to. Rainbow’s wings were fluttering on her side, her tail was wild and swashing to and fro, and her ears were straight up and perky.

Maelstrom frowned and shook his head.

“So sorry to see that you didn’t make it past the first race, but the competition is stiff, for sure. You have nothing to be ashamed of, and you nearly beat Slapshot, one of my best flyers!”

Zephyr chimed up worriedly.

“That’s why we’re here, sir. We have something to report!”

Maelstrom cocked his head.

“Oh?”

Zephyr took the lead in explaining what had happened, with Rainbow filling in the details from her perspective. At one point, Maelstrom commanded one of his guards to find the mare who had been rescued by Rainbow, based on Rainbow’s recollection of her appearance. Rainbow thought it was a lost cause, as the races had ended hours ago. Soon enough, however, the same mare from before appeared in the doorway.

“It’s true! All of it!” she cried, both wings casted up on her sides. She entered the room properly, performing an awkward curtsy to Maelstrom. Rainbow saw the undeniable look of “star-struck” in her eyes, but to the mare’s credit she powered through her testimony. Afterwards, Rainbow thanked her and the mare left, all smiles. Zephyr pleaded to Maelstrom.

“See! This changes the results!” Zephyr’s words registered in Rainbow’s ears and she perked up. He continued. “If you find that Slapshot broke the rules and deliberately injured another flyer, he and his team are disqualified! That means Team 117 finished in 25th place and goes onto the second race!”

Rainbow’s mouth opened. She hadn’t even thought of that! Her gaze quickly snapped to Maelstrom, who was deep in thought.

“I don’t like the idea of making a decision affecting a party who isn’t here.” Maelstrom’s muscular neck flexed and writhed as he stretched it. He exhaled.

“But,” Maelstrom looked at Rainbow and smiled, “The evidence seems pretty clear, no? And you’re one of the Elements of Harmony, is that correct?” Rainbow nodded, averting her gaze once more, cheeks red hot. “Right. I can’t ignore the testimony of one of Celestia’s hoof-chosen champions, can I?”

Maelstrom turned to Zephyr.

“Plus, we both know what he’s like. You find Slapshot and tell him what’s what. Rainbow and her team will move onto the second race; Slapshot and his team will not. He’s disqualified.”

Zephyr bowed.

“T-thank you, sir. Umm, Maelstrom.” Zephyr got back up and cleared his throat. He didn’t look Maelstrom in the eyes, and Rainbow noticed a flicker of something in Maelstrom’s eye as he looked at Zephyr. An emotion hiding beneath the surface. The ends of Maelstrom’s smile twitched as if an extraordinary force held them drawn up.

Rainbow admired Maelstrom’s armor. His helmet had a mohawk crest that added a whole other foot to his height, which was already much taller than Rainbow. Gold trim surrounded every piece of armor, and underneath Maelstrom wore a forest-green EFL outfit. It was even more amazing than the purple gem armor his guards wore. Rainbow looked over to them. They glared back at her. Something was definitely off about the whole situation.

Nevertheless, Rainbow shook her head and returned to reality. She nearly pounced on top of Maelstrom as thanks, but at the last second she forced herself to simply bow.

“Thank you so much, sir! You have no idea what this means to me! My teammate and friend, Jerri the griffon, she got really injur—” Rainbow gasped. “Jerri! I totally forgot! Oh crud! I gotta go guys—I mean, sirs! Thank you thank you than…” Rainbow flew out of the room as fast as her wings could take her.

Maelstrom’s expression changed. Zephyr turned to leave the room.

“I hold you accountable for Slapshot’s performance today. That behavior is not to be tolerated, but surely you know that already, little Zephyr.”

Zephyr sighed.

“Oh, I know, Maelstrom. Everything is my fault. I understand. It won’t happen again.” Zephyr left the room.

Maelstrom bellowed after his star flyer.

“IT HAD BETTER NOT!”

Maelstrom turned to his guards, who were pretending not to have heard the exchange.

“Let’s be off. I need to return to my tent for a status report.”

Author's Note

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

30 - Verstandwechseln

Chapter 30

Verstandwechseln

Pinkie Pie’s eyelids twitched and she slowly opened them. She was still in Maelstrom’s tent. Her head felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

“Uhhh…” she groaned, bringing a hoof up to her throbbing skull. She saw Spike, noticed he was tied up, and panicked.

“W-what’s going on—ouchie!” Pinkie only struggled for a second before the sharp pain in her head stopped her movement. Spike flipped himself around to look at Pinkie.

“Pinkie! You’re awake! Thank goodness! Listen, it’s—”

A guard trotted up and bucked Spike in the side. Spike silenced with a cry of pain. Pinkie reacted with a shrill “Hey!”

The guard shouted, “I said no talking, fiend!” Pinkie looked up at the stallion, encased in emerald armor, like all of Maelstrom’s guards. His eyes burned with anger. Pinkie didn’t understand it at all, but she laid back down with a whimper. She locked eyes with Spike, who while wincing from his pain, motioned behind him with a jolt of his head. Pinkie looked behind Spike.

Off to one side of the tent was the grey pony named Velmeera, laying down with her eyes closed. She appeared to be in pain, shaking and whispering to herself. Her dark, black mane covered most of her face. Pinkie frowned and looked back to Spike, who widened his eyes to signal his surprise at the turn of events. Pinkie mouthed words to Spike.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Spike mouthed back.

“No idea.”

Pinkie cocked her head, misunderstanding.

“Oh my knee? What happened to your knee?”

Spike made a “What?” face and shook his head. He tried again.

“I said NO idea.”

Pinkie lowered her brows.
“You… Are out of here? But how will you escape?”

Spike gritted his teeth and started to hop in place, claws and feet hogtied behind him. He cried in frustration.

“No I said, ‘NO IDEA’ Pinkie! You’re terrible at this!”

He immediately regretted his words as the guard came near. “Hey, what did I say?” But before the guard’s kick could connect, somepony ran into the tent.

“Vhere is mein Schvester – dah! Velmeera!”

It was Ms. VeeVee. Her face had dropped, and a look of fear overcame here. She rushed over to her sister’s side. Velmeera looked up and smiled weakly before VeeVee wrapped her in a hug.

“S-sister…” Velmeera said, quietly and in a normal tone, not like what Spike and Pinkie had heard before. There was life in her voice, and she sounded like a normal, young mare. The two prisoners exchanged glances. They turned their attention back to Velmeera, who had a small smile on her face.

The two sisters separated and VeeVee looked at Spike and Pinkie, then back to Velmeera.

“Vhat happened here? Vere you forced to be using zhat ability?”

Velmeera nodded. Pinkie noticed that Velmeera’s eyes were no longer pinpricks but were deep and purple, much more visible now that there was form and color, especially as they sat behind her curtain of a mane. VeeVee sauntered over to Pinkie and Spike and rose an eyebrow.

“Vell, zhe ‘jigging’ is up, as you vould say – mmmm, no?” VeeVee shook her head sadly. “Now you vill see vhat happens when Maelstrom comes back.”

The guard from before cleared his throat and stepped forward.

“M-Ms. VeeVee, y-you look radiant… um, anyway, Ms. Velmeera caught these two sneaking about. I don’t know how they got inside, but they found out about the Orb.” The guard motioned at the Orb, once again covered with a blanket. VeeVee nodded at him. The guard glared down at Pinkie and Spike. “Ms. Velmeera used her powers to freeze them until we could tie them up. We’ve been waiting for Maelstrom to return. Shall he be along shortly?”

VeeVee looked into Pinkie’s eyes. The pink mare’s pupils were huge and shaky, and her lips quivered. VeeVee turned her gaze to Spike, who was a bit more defiant, but his eyes betrayed his true feelings. VeeVee sighed.

“He vas just behind me, I am thinking. Something held him up. But, mein Schvester und I are going to go rest… Maelstrom vill handle zhe rest.” VeeVee turned to leave but a pony at the entrance stopped her in her tracks. A cold sweat trickled down the back of VeeVee’s neck as a booming voice swelled inside the tent.

“I think not, VeeVee. You and your sister will stay.”

Maelstrom had arrived, an attendant unicorn at his side. The eager attendant’s horn was glowing as pieces of Maelstrom’s ruby-red armor were slowly taken off by a magical glow and placed on an armor rack. His shiny, well-groomed coat underneath was a very similar shade as his armor. Maelstrom strode into his inner sanctum like a lion parading among his pride, though his blonde mane was cut short like a soldier’s, not long and regal like a lion’s. He postured his head and body straight and forward as he moved, his emerald glare penetrating and fearsome.

Maelstrom passed VeeVee and half-turned towards her with a bitter expression. VeeVee obediently shuffled over to her sister, and the two laid motionlessly, staring at the ground.

“Two little spies, hmm?” Maelstrom turned and looked down at Pinkie and Spike, who could not match his gaze so far above them. He towered over anypony in the tent by at least an entire head. He was so wide it seemed like he surrounded the two, his shadow from the candlelight casting nearly complete darkness over them. Maelstrom scanned Pinkie then smiled.

“Ahhh, you must be Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter. It’s a pleasure to meet you. You and your friends have been quite the little Equestrian champions over the last few years, haven’t you?”

Pinkie swallowed then dared to look up at Maelstrom and defy him.

“T-that’s right, and we’re gonna whoop your flank if you try anything weird or evil or… weirdly evil!”

Maelstrom started to laugh. The callous arrogance made Pinkie’s blood boil. She was now more mad than afraid.

“What do you think I am going to do? All you have seen is that strange orb over there.”

Pinkie moved her tail to in front of her body.

“My tail told me! You’re gonna do something bad, I know it! My tail is never wrong!”

Maelstrom rose a brow. He looked back at his guard, who shrugged. Maelstrom turned back around and chuckled.

“Rrriiiight… they do say you’re the odd one of the bunch. In any event, you have no proof of anything substantial. Still, you know too much.”

Maelstrom paced back and forth. Pinkie and Spike both noticed with gasps that he had no Cutie Mark, and also, that his body was covered in small scars. “I cannot allow you, the Element of Laughter, to just walk out of here, knowing what you know now.” Maelstrom stared at Pinkie, who glared back at him. Then Maelstrom looked over at Spike. “Well, you’re not trouble, little dragon, but still, the information you both contain is too dangerous to risk it being shared.”

Spike protested. “Y-yeah, well, what a-are you gonna do? Ponies will n-notice that we’re gone if you k-keep us here!”

Maelstrom rubbed his chin and laughed, arrogant and confident.

“Right… right you are, little dragon! That is true! Hahahaha!”

Maelstrom turned to VeeVee and Velmeera. He motioned with his head for the two to approach.

“Come, sisters! I need your powers combined. Change their memories.”

Pinkie and Spike looked at one another, eyes wide. Spike struggled with his binds, feeling a slight give in them. VeeVee responded to Maelstrom.

“I-I have none of zhe problems vith helping you, M-Maelstrom, but mein Schvester is still recovering from using her powers earlier. It takes—” VeeVee was stopped by the sheer force of Maelstrom flying over. The gust of wind shoved Pinkie and Spike and even the guard was unsteady on his feet. Maelstrom’s pupils were tiny dots and little veins stood up on his neck.

“Are you defying my command?”

Each flap of Maelstrom’s immense wings threw dust around the room. He glared at VeeVee, who could only lay back down and stare at the ground.

“B-but…”

Maelstrom landed on the ground with a thud and quickly flapped one of his wings. The gust it generated wrapped around VeeVee and picked her up, surrounding her like a mini tornado and keeping her in place. Maelstrom roared.

“DO AS I COMMAND! I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH IT HURTS THAT BRAT!”

Maelstrom gritted his teeth and stomped over to Velmeera. The little mare shook like a leaf in a windstorm. Maelstrom used one hoof and picked up Velmeera by her neck.

“Those eyes are the only reason you’re here! The only reason I deal with your presence! Use them as I command or I’ll send you back to that vile little hamlet you call a home without them!”

Tears rolled down Velmeera’s face and she broke into a full sob. She cried like a little filly and struggled against Maelstrom’s grip, to little effect. She started to beat at his hooves with a frantic desperation.

“Please don’t force me to use them anymore! No more, please! The voices… the voices are too much!”

VeeVee cried out amidst the gale surrounding her, “Maelstrom, let her be resting! Just for a few more of zhe hours!”

Maelstrom shouted, “No, there is no time for that! The sun has set and their friends will start looking for them! It has to be now! Pull those eyes out and do it already, Velmeera! Or so help me…”

A snap sound brought everypony’s attention back to the prisoners. Spike had broken out of his rope and was running to the opposite end of the tent.

“I’ll go get help, Pinkie!” he yelled back as he made his escape. Maelstrom growled and dropped Velmeera. He shot after Spike and slammed his hoof down on the baby dragon’s back, knocking the wind out of Spike’s lungs. Maelstrom held him down for a moment, then stepped off and used another gust of his wing to wrap Spike in a mini tornado. Spike was unconscious.

Pinkie screamed, “Spike! SPIKE! Let him go, you big meanie bo beanie!” Pinkie struggled against her own bonds, but had no claws to cut through. It was fruitless. The tornado around Velmeera started to dissipate and she dropped to the ground, quickly running over to her sister and wrapping her within her leathery wings.

“I-it’s okay, little Schvester…” VeeVee started to sing a quiet lullaby and she rocked the sniffling, shivering Velmeera back and forth. Maelstrom stomped over to the two.

“NOW! DO IT NOW!” he commanded.

Velmeera hid herself with her hooves. VeeVee glared up at Maelstrom, biting her lip in frustration. Her pupils were bat-like and diamond-shaped. Pinkie couldn’t believe that the elegant, beautiful Ms. VeeVee looked like a scared, tiny mare at that moment. Her usual souffle mane looked disheveled, her eyeshadow had bled from her stray tears causing an unattractive and sad streak down her face. Instead of looking poised she looked backed into a corner, like a feral animal, more like a bat than a batpony. Pinkie frowned.

Finally, VeeVee got up with a huff and her amber eyes started to glow. A shiver wormed its way through her body and after a moment, the long branch tied to her side started to move, covered in an amber mist. The mist lifted the branch and lodged it into the ground, and a glowing black stone at the end of the branch started to vibrate, switching colors between white and black.

“Get up, Velmeera,” VeeVee said through her teeth. “Use zhat. Look at zhe stone.”

Pinkie continued to bitterly fight her restraints as Velmeera got up onto shaky hooves. Pinkie watched as the foal-like Velmeera changed into the other Velmeera in an instance. Her eyes were pinpricks and her voice became monotonous.

“Right… the combination spell… Verstandwechseln…”

Velmeera’s gaze fixated on the stone and her eyes went black. Suddenly, a bright grey light exploded out of the stone and Pinkie had to shield her vision. Then, tentatively, she peeked out from behind her hoof and saw a streak of grey magic shooting towards her. Pinkie screamed, and remembered nothing else after that.

* * *

Rainbow looked down at her friend with a smile.

“Hey, Jerri. How you feeling?”

Jerri saw Rainbow and beamed, despite the cast covering half of her face. The nurses had fully bandaged one of her wings and it was hoisted into an open position by a contraption connected to the ceiling of the Citadel infirmary. It seemed like there were more bandages on her body too, but Rainbow couldn’t see much because Jerri had a blanket on up to her chest.

“R-Rainbow Dash! I knew you’d come! I feel—well,” Jerri looked at her hoisted wing with a wince. “Not that great, if I’m being honest.”

Rainbow smiled flatly and kicked the ground with her hoof.

“Yeahhh… no kidding. Listen, I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I got… wrapped up in something. But guess what! We got through to the second race!”

Jerri exploded with happiness, an eagle's cry escaping her beak.

“Wow really?! We really, really did? Crackclaw wouldn’t tell me! So, I was useful to you, Rainbow! I did it!”

Rainbow’s eyes started to water and she nodded.

“Yeah… you did. You were the best, Jerri.” She wiped her eyes with her hoof and sniffled. “Y’know, I’m really glad you’re okay. I know we only just met but if something had happened… like, something really bad, well… I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. I feel responsible.” Rainbow trotted over to the side of the bed. “Jerri, you didn’t need to push yourself so hard for me. Trust me, I get having heroes and wanting to impress them and make them notice you, but if it means getting hurt that bad—”

Jerri stopped Rainbow with a talon. She furrowed her brow with a fiery determination.

“Rainbow Dash, I think you’re awesome, and I’d do anything to help you out! But don’t think for a second that I did all of that just for you! I have my own reasons for trying so hard.”

Jerri released her talon and smiled again. Rainbow rubbed the back of her head.

“Oh, o-okay. But still! You won’t be flying for a while, huh? So I guess we’re not going to round two anyway…” Rainbow maintained a faulty, shaky smile. Jerri shook her head.

“I’m not, but YOU are. The races are individual races from now on! And the next one starts the day after tomorrow. I heard it from the nurses.”

After Jerri said the last word, a nurse walked into the room. She seemed surprised to see Rainbow.

“Hey, no guests at this hour! Please leave!”

Rainbow nodded at the nurse and apologized. She turned back to Jerri before leaving.

“Really? I’m definitely glad to hear that, but I feel bad for you! I’ll come back with Crackclaw to visit you when I can!” The two said their goodbyes and Rainbow left. Just outside the door she squealed and did a hoofbump into the air.

For a second there, I thought everything Zephyr and I went through with Maelstrom was going to be a waste of time! Thank you, Jerri, for what you did… you have no idea what it means to me.

Rainbow glanced back inside Jerri’s room, the door now closed, with a smile. A voice pulled her attention down the hallway.

“RB!”

It was Zephyr. He smiled lightly. His bright pink mane was down, drawing a strange look from Rainbow as she realized that he had quite long hair. Most stallions – well, no, all of the stallions Rainbow ever saw – did not have such long manes. There was a sharp contrast between his dark blue coat and his mane, but all the colors seemed to mesh well when he wore the dark green EFL uniform.

“Hey, Zeph! Uhh, what are you still doing here?”

Zephyr came closer.

“Oh, I was visiting Bushwhacker. That guy…” Zephyr shook his head. “He is fast but boy he’s really kind of a wuss sometimes.”

Rainbow chuckled. “Yeaaaah... I’ve met him before. I know what you mean. My gal pal Fluttershy has a crush on him, and I don’t get why. I mean, they’re both kind of scaredy cats; maybe that's why.”

Zephyr laughed. “Yeah? They make a good match then, don’t they?” The two continued to talk as they left the Citadel.

“Bushwhacker’s not that bad though, once you get to know him.” Rainbow watched Zephyr speak as the two flew away into the night, his long, pink mane trailing behind him like a sheet of silk. “He might be afraid of most things, but he has no fear when it comes to animals. He comes from a big, important family and he’s the youngest, so he never got much attention growing up. Always wanted to be a big-time flyer, but his family never liked the idea, you know? He’s one of those types.” Rainbow looked in front of her.

“I can’t relate. My folks always supported me so much it felt suffocating.”

Zephyr sighed.

“Must have been nice,” he said quietly. Rainbow remembered their conversation from the night before and tried to save face.

“I m-mean, folks aren’t everything! Being great yourself is important too, and practice! Yeah!”

Zephyr laughed. “Hey, it’s fine, RB. Don’t sweat it. Anyway, we better split and get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, remember? The Sonic Rainboom, Sweet Apple Acres.”

Rainbow remembered alright. Her heart sank like a boulder. She struggled to swallow.

“O-oh right! That was tomorrow morning? As in the morning that comes when the sun rises? That one?”

Zephyr raised a brow.

“Yesssss… that would be tomorrow morning. Is something wrong?”

The two passed a wisp of cloud on their way back to Canterlot. Rainbow’s turn off for Cloudsdale was coming up before long.

Rainbow shook her head.

“Nothing’s wrong, Zeph! Tomorrow morning, Sweet Apple Acres, the Sonic Rainboom! You got it!”

She stopped and faced Zephyr, raising her hoof up like a fist and smiling wide and confident.

“You’re gonna see the biggest Sonic Rainboom you’ve ever seen, Zeph! Get ready for it!”

Zephyr grinned.

“It’ll be the only Sonic Rainboom I’ve ever seen, RB. You better not disappoint!” He flew off towards Canterlot. “Remember: I’m going to show you my secret, too!”

When Zephyr was far enough away, Rainbow grasped her mane and started to sweat.

“Crud! I can’t do the Sonic Rainboom off the hoof like that! If Zeph finds out, he’ll think I’m a fraud and then we’ll be enemies!” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “No, Zeph’s not like that. He won’t hate me. He’ll just… look down on me and think of me as a normal flyer not worthy of being his friend.” Rainbow sighed.

I should just go to bed and worry about this tomorrow. It’s already pretty late.

Rainbow thought about her friends as she headed home.

The girls…

She narrowed her vision and grunted.

Maybe what I said to Zeph has some truth to it. You gotta be great by yourself sometimes.

* * *

“Whoa boy, Pinkie… what’d you just say?”

Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy stared incredulously at Pinkie, who had just arrived with Spike as the girls were about to part ways outside Pony Joe’s cafe. Pinkie was all smiles.

“Sorry, I was so out of breath everything just kind of came out at once! I said, ‘Maelstrom is A-OK!’ Spike and I had a good talk with him at his tent at Pepperheart Field, he’s got nothing to hide. See, when we said we were helping out the Cakes earlier today, that was kind of a fib. Well, it was more a lie. Or was it a fabrication?”

Spike nodded.

“Yeah! He gave us a tour of the camp and his tent. He’s got, like, a million statues! Pretty cool stuff, even though it sounds a bit, well, boring.”

Applejack adjusted her stetson.

“Well, guess that settles it then, folks…”

Rarity hummed in agreement. “Indeed.”

Fluttershy smiled. “Does that mean you and Spike are done the investigation?”

Pinkie nodded rapidly, still smiling. Spike scratched the back of his head.

“Yeah, I’ve gotta work at the library tomorrow, some of the books are due back and I gotta make sure they get checked in properly. But I’ll be back here in Canterlot for the second race! I’m not missing anymore of those!”

“And I,” Pinkie began, “Will actually be helping the Cakes, for real this time! Make sure to come by and say hello and grab a piece of cake or six!”

At the mention of cake, three little groans came from the sidelines.

“Please don’t bring up… cake…” moaned Sweetie Belle.

“Or pies… or donuts…” complained Scootaloo.

“Er… umm… yeah… ughhh…” cried Apple Bloom.

The CMCs had swollen bellies and were lying down on the ground, green tinges touching upon their faces. Applejack rolled her eyes and Rarity shook her head.

“Told them fillies to slow ‘er down with the pastries…”

“Honestly, Sweetie, how unladylike…”

Fluttershy cleared her throat.

“Umm, everypony, if it’s okay, I think I’m going to head home now with Spike. Are any of the fillies coming with me?”

On a dime, the CMCs presented themselves in front of the mares, huge smiles all aglow. Their sore tummies seemed to disappear like magic.

“Nope!” They said in unison. “We’re going to have a Cutie Mark Crusaders sleepover in Rarity’s hotel room!”

Rarity shot back, “Oh no you aren’t, I—” She was confronted with not just one set, but three sets of wet, puppy dog eyes. “I m-mean, Applejack already volunteered to host your sleepover earlier!”

The CMCs cheered.

“Now hold on a tick, Rari—"The CMCs started hopping around Applejack and planning out their activities. Applejack glared at Rarity and sighed.

“Fine.” Another set of ear-busting cheers from the fillies rattled everypony’s brain. Rarity snickered to herself. Fluttershy cleared her throat one more time as Spike walked up to her side.

“Right, and before I go, are we still planning on apologizing to Rainbow tomorrow? What time should we meet up, and where?”

Rarity and Applejack looked at one another, then at Fluttershy.

“Ah suppose we should meet near town hall in Ponyville. We’ll borrow the balloon and go visit Rainbow at the Wonderbolts Academy.”

Rarity nodded.

“Yes, we’ll all meet around noon. We need to settle things here with our sponsors then head out by foot. The trains are still so busy during the day.”

Pinkie interjected.

“Speaking of trains, you two better go now if you want to catch the last train, Fluttershy!”

Everypony said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. Far to the north, a very hungry alicorn said goodnight and fell asleep, unsure of what the morning might bring.

Author's Note

Longest chapter yet, I believe. Enjoy!

31 - The Sonic Rainboom

Chapter 31

The Sonic Rainboom

Twilight grumbled as she weakly opened her eyes. She was getting tired of sleeping on a bed of straw in a dungeon.

“Have… to eat…” she said to herself quietly. Morning’s first light snuck in through the tiny, barred window, pasting a square of orange in the middle of the jail cell floor. She glanced towards the cell door and sure enough, there were still two guards on duty. Only, one of the guards was leaning against the wall having a snooze, and the other could barely stay awake. Twilight narrowed her eyes.

The same ones from before I fell asleep last night. Looks like their shift will come to an end soon.

Twilight remembered the last time the guards changed. It seemed to happen at least every 12 hours if the sunlight was anything to go by. Twilight tried to stand up, but not realizing just how out of energy she was, she lost her balance and fell back down with a wince.

“D-dang… at this rate…” she whispered. The guard who was still awake, but wobbly, blinked at her a few times before shaking his head. He managed to put on a determined face and spoke to her.

“Hey, s-scum! Simmer down!”

At that moment, hooves on the cobblestone floors behind the guard echoed with a clip-clop. Twilight had to catch her breath from her efforts.

Really, really not good. I need food… energy…

As if to answer Twilight’s pleas to herself, two fresh guards appeared behind the bars, one with a tray of hay in his mouth. Twilight wasn’t particularly happy about just plain hay for breakfast, but she wasn’t going to be a choosy beggar (or a beggar at all).

“Alright lads, shift’s over. Leave the princess to us,” spoke one of the newcomers, wearing a smug grin. The other tossed the tray of hay throw a slit in the cell door and it landed with a resounding clank on the floor. The sun’s light illuminated it like a sick joke. Twilight, however, eyed the hay like a starving dog might a bone.

The guard who had given Twilight trouble rubbed his eyes with a hoof and yawned loudly. He poked his sleeping comrade, who awoke with a start.

“Hey, s-shift’s over. Let’s go sleep…”

Twilight stopped watching the guards and turned her attention back to the food. It was a meagre helping of hay. It didn’t look particularly fresh.

Still, Twilight craved it deeply. She hadn’t gone that long without food in her entire life. She shuffled over to the tray and started to eat.

Yuck… mushy.

It was the sustenance she needed, however, and so she forced it down.

“Heh, look at this. An Equestrian princess feeding off the ground!” proclaimed one of the guards, laughing. The other chuckled and joined in on the teasing as Twilight’s cheeks burned pink.

“Yeah! Hey princess, if only you didn’t try to attack the prince, you’d still be eating those fancy meals!”

Twilight heard the other guard scoff as she forced the stale hay down her gullet.

“You Equestrians are all the same… somepony shows you hospitality and you take it for granted. I see the prince has always been right about your kind now.”

A well-fed Twilight who had slept on a wonderful, feather bed the night before would have had words to say to those guards, but the Twilight who slept on a hard, stone floor and whose only food for 24 hours was some old hay remained silent. She bided her time and energy. She finished the last of her meal and shuffled over to the wall, sitting up against it. She glared at the guards, who grinned back at her.

Let them say what they want, do what they want. But once my food is digested, I should have just enough energy to enact my plan…

Twilight changed her focus to the magenta-glowing ceiling. She closed her eyes.

If those personal tests I ran last month on my metabolism are anything to go off of, it should only take two hours to digest this much food fully. And then, my ability to cast magic will be back up to at least 50%. Nothing special, but enough to get out of this crazy city if I play my cards right.

She looked back down at the guards. Still grinning. She closed her eyes.

More rest… go over the plan… think, Twilight. Think. Every single variable needs to be considered. If I get caught again, Prince Tsunami will probably throw me in a twenty-foot hole in the ground. Or, something worse…

* * *

Rainbow Dash paced from one end of her kitchen to the other. Tank watched her from the table, tired, sleep-caked eyes blinking once every twenty seconds.

“Okay, okay. I got it! I’ll tell him I got the mumps!” She looked at Tank for approval, who could barely keep himself awake. “Zeph will understand! Can’t do the Rainboom with the mumps!”

Rainbow started pacing again.

“Oh, oh — how about this instead, Tank? I tell Zeph that my long-lost sister from Las Pegasus just flew into town a-and if I don’t visit with her now, I won’t see her again for another eight – no, nine years! Yeah, that’s it!”

She turned back to Tank, wide smile on her face. Tank was snoozing again. Rainbow glanced over to a window and saw that the sunrise was still new. Only a hint of orange fire peeked over the horizon. Rainbow looked back to Tank with remorse.

“Guess it’s still pretty early, even for me, huh? Sorry buddy.” Rainbow scooped up her amphibian pal and gently glided with him upstairs. She laid him down under her covers and kissed his forehead.

“You take it east today, pal. Only one of us needs to push ourselves to crazy limits that most pegasi wouldn’t be capable of!” With that being whispered, Rainbow tiptoed out of the room, aware of the throbbing in her wings.

All that stress on my body from the race yesterday has caught up to me overnight… Rainboom or not, how am I going to train through this pain?!

Rainbow went back downstairs and flopped down on a dining chair. She laid her head on the table and stared at her fridge.

“Does Zeph feel this bad too? And there are still two more races to do. If I skimp on training, that puts me at a disadvantage. Or… does it?” Rainbow quickly turned her head to the other side, her right cheek smushed against the kitchen table. “Maybe it’s better to take a day off? Hey — that can be the excuse I give to Zeph! I mean, everypony will need a breather after that race yesterday! Why didn’t I think to say that last night?”

Rainbow thought about the way Zephyr had looked at her, full of hope and wonder before he left, confident that he’d see the Rainboom the day after.

“Right. That’s why.” Rainbow sighed. She jumped off the chair, cranked her neck one way — it made a noise as vertebrae snapped into place — then the other, and then unfurled her wings. The jabbing sensation between each of her wing fingers was like a thousand needles.

“YOOWCH!” Rainbow fell on her rump. She rubbed a wing with her hoof. It was tender.

“Kind of like the day after a workout… only this time for my wings. Ughhh…”

Rainbow did some breathing exercises. Slowly in, then out. Lots of short breaths, then a long, slow one. She forced some breakfast down and preened herself in the bathroom mirror. Before long she was face to face with her front door, Wonderbolts uniform fitting tight and her googles strapped on just above her eyes.

“I can do this. For the sake of my friend, for the sake of myself, and for the sake of the Wonderbolts — I can do this!”

Rainbow transformed her tired expression into a vigorous smile. She felt the muscles between her eyes contract towards the bridge of her nose and she bent her knees slightly.

“Let’s go, training! Bring it on! Bring it onnnn! I can do this!”

She burst out of her front door with a sprint, opened up her wings, dove off of her cloud, and…

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Rainbow started to fall down towards the earth.

A grey pegasus carrying a mailbag, and a less-than-impressed Rainbow Dash, happily flew through the skies towards Sweet Apple Acres.

“Derpy, this really isn’t necessary!” Rainbow crossed her forehooves and pouted. Derpy had her own forehooves hoisted underneath Rainbow’s so she could carry the intrepid athlete as she flew. Derpy was all smiles.

“Nonsense, Rainbow Dash! I’m happy to help! Usually, I only make things worse, but not this time! Aren’t you glad I was there to catch you when you were falling?”

Rainbow blew air out of the side of her mouth.

“Pshh, I was gonna start flapping any minute! I just had to catch my breath a-and let my wings rest a bit!” Derpy giggled.

“Sure, Rainbow, sure!”

Before long Derpy had dropped Rainbow off at the top of Three Tree Hill. She flew off with a wave as Rainbow frowned.

“Well THAT was embarrassing. I’m really glad Zeph or nopony else saw me.”

Rainbow looked up at the clouds and around at the landscape of apple trees upon apple trees as she searched for Zephyr.

“Speaking of, where is he?”

Rainbow plopped down in front of one of the trees and started to munch on an apple, taking care how she positioned her wings as sometimes the jabbing pain would return. She sighed, loud and annoyed.

“How the hay am I going to pull this off?!”

Seconds turned into minutes which then turned into what felt like hours. Rainbow almost nodded off a few times, but then her wings would jitter with pain and she was sadly woken back up with a groan. Eventually, a voice called out from the clouds.

“Heyyyyy RBeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

Zephyr flew down like a whizzing bullet. He was headed straight for Rainbow, whose stomach sank like an anvil in the middle of the ocean.

“ZEPH STOP!!”

She threw her hooves up to cover her face and braced herself. At the last minute, Zephyr stopped with a powerful gust of his wings. Rainbow cried in between fits of heavy breathing,
“Z-Zeph… are you… crazy?! You almost… killed me!”

Zephyr laughed hysterically and rolled over onto his back. He stopped and looked up at Rainbow, tears at the corners of his eyes.

“Oh, that’s rich! I love doing that one to ponies! Betcha didn’t know I could stop on a dime, huh?”

Zephyr leapt to his hooves and unfurled his wings. He was wearing his forest green EFL uniform with the stripes. There was a saddlebag strapped to his hindquarters.

“Alright, it’s go time, Rainbow! Sonic Rainboom time, let’s see it!”

Rainbow gulped. She placed a hoof on the ground to stabilize herself and tried to get up. The electricity in her wings felt like a hot knife against her nerves. She bit down on her teeth as her shaky hoof struggled to hold her weight.

“Rainbow?” Zephyr stepped forward. “You okay?”

Rainbow fell back down, having been laying against the tree for so long that her body had grown accustomed to being sedentary. She looked up at Zephyr with wild eyes.

“Course I’m okay! Why wouldn’t I be? My hoof just fell asleep, that’s all!”

Zephyr cocked his head and rose an eyebrow. Rainbow noticed his eye-blindingly-pink mane was back into a long, thin ponytail.

“Yeah? Because it looks like you were in pain,” Zephyr began, reaching back towards his saddlebag. “Here, I’ll give you something to make you feel better. Ancient northern Equestrian secret, you could say!” He pulled out a jar of some goopy-looking, off-white paste. Rainbow unconsciously cringed as she saw the strange material.

“What is that stuff?”

Zephyr walked over and sat on his rump beside Rainbow. He twisted off the lid and dipped his hoof into a generous portion of the goop.

“Special ointment, are you blind? Here — is it in your wings? Giv’em here.”

Rainbow glared at Zephyr, who looked at her with such gentle emerald eyes, it was if he was a nurse treating an injured foal. She put on a brave face and spoke, not even trying to hide how she felt.

“Hey, I said I’m fine! Don’t put that weird stuff on my wings… what if it stains?!”

Zephyr laughed.

“Trust me, RB. It’s gonna blow your mind. I’ll just go ahead and” — Zephyr didn’t wait for Rainbow’s permission and started to rub the ointment all over Rainbow’s wing. She felt brief sparkles of pain and braced herself for more, but it never came. Instead, a cool, numbing sensation took over — “There,” Zephyr finished, “One wing done. How’s it feel?”

Rainbow’s mouth fell open a little bit and all she could do was blink at the ointment. She then looked up to Zephyr.

“What IS that stuff? I can’t believe it…” Rainbow started flapping the wing closest to Zephyr, and sure enough, it felt as good as new, albeit numb in places. Zephyr chuckled and moved over to her other side.

“Like I said, ancient secret. The stuff this is made out of is only found around the place I grew up. It can be used to make a numbing ointment that will get rid of that pesky morning-after-a-tough-race soreness.” Zephyr started to rub the ointment on Rainbow’s other wing, and this time she moved it out a bit more to give him easier access. Zephyr continued, “You can keep using it for a few days, but eventually your body will get used to the enzymes inside and the pain will come back even worse. It’s a kind of double-edged sword, I guess.”

Rainbow complained.

“Hey, why didn’t you say so! So basically, I gotta keep using this stuff until the races are over, and then I’m in for a world of pain?!” Zephyr shrugged and looked at Rainbow with a toothy smile.

“You saying you would have said no and kept laying there like a bump on a log while the races went on without you?”

Rainbow returned the expression and jumped up to her hooves.

“Heh, no way. But still — you owe me when this is over! And hey, it doesn’t hurt that bad, does it?” Zephyr shrugged again.

“Only if you’re a wuss, I guess.” He laughed, and eventually, so did Rainbow. “Okay RB, let’s get on with it so we can return to training! I’m not too worried, but you need every bit you can get if you want a piece of me during the final race.” Zephyr took to the skies. “You’re going to need to try out the thing I teach you after this about a hundred times, too, before you get it right. So there’s no time to waste! Get your butt up there and show me a huge, circular, rainbow… thing!”

Rainbow followed after Zephyr, amazed at how she could fly as if the morning’s pain had never occurred. Zephyr was doing somersaults, flips, and hollering like a schoolcolt.

“Oh yeah! Finally get to see the Rainboom in action — you got the ointment, it’s morning, you had a good night’s sleep — wait,” Zephyr turned back around and looked at Rainbow seriously, “You DID get a good night’s sleep, right?” Rainbow nodded with an “mhm”. Zephyr turned back around and Rainbow slapped her face with her hoof.

Why’d I say THAT?!

“Okay, Rainbow my friend, is this high enough?!” Zephyr asked. The two maintained their altitude high, high above Sweet Apple Acres. They were essentially above Ponyville as well, and the surrounding countryside. Applejack’s red barn looked like a toy to Rainbow, who felt the onset of vertigo by trying to focus on it. She swallowed hard.

“Y-yeah, I guess so, Zeph,” Rainbow managed with a dry throat. She steeled herself and furrowed her brow.

Alright, here goes nothing! If I believe in myself, I can do this!

Rainbow stretched out her body so her forehooves were forward at the same angle as the rest of her body including her back hooves. She started to flap her wings harder and harder but in a way that kept her in place instead of launching her forward, as if she was powering up.

This is the STAR FLYER of the EFL. He’s been talking a big game this whole time but it’s time to show him something that will knock HIS socks off.

Rainbow lowered her goggles.

Go time!

She briefly contracted all the muscles of her midsection and brought her back up. Then with a grunt she launched herself towards the distant ground.

Rainbow dove like a bird of prey, the dirt far below her target. It didn’t take long before the air resistance intensified, though, and her cheeks started to flap in the wind. She obliterated any clouds she encountered on her journey. Falling, falling, falling. And then she saw it.

The cone.

A cone was forming in front of her!

It was coming!

Rainbow could barely see.

The wind was a gruesome howl.

The green and brown below was getting closer.

The cone was getting bigger.

She was going to do it.

The wind was so loud.

Rainbow’s entire body was numb.

She might have been screaming but she wasn’t sure.

And then… it happened. In an instant.

The world was spinning. Colors blended into colors and it all just became a blur. Sounds didn’t exist, unless sounds were simply the vicious screaming of the wind. Time passed, or maybe it didn’t.

Rainbow’s eyes had closed at some point, and then, they were opening. She saw Zephyr, looking at her worriedly. She was back on the ground in front of the tree.

“D-Did I do it?” Rainbow asked, excitedly and expectantly.

Zephyr shook his head and the disappointed look on his face made Rainbow’s heart drop.

“No. You didn’t.”

32 - Twilight's Escape

Chapter 32

Twilight’s Escape

Rainbow lay defeated beneath the apple tree, refusing to look up at Zephyr. She was still catching her breath from her Rainboom attempt.

“Rainbow…” She wasn’t watching Zephyr but she was sure he was looking at her. He sounded disappointed. “Can you actually DO the Sonic Rainboom?”

Rainbow shuffled her hooves nervously. She opened her mouth to speak, thoughts swimming around in her brain.

“Well, I can’t NOT do it, if that’s what you mean. It… depends.”

Some birds nearby started to sing a morning song. Rainbow glanced over and smiled.

“Hey! Those are some cool birds over there!”

“Rainbow!” Zephyr wouldn’t be distracted. Rainbow reluctantly turned to face him. Sure enough, there was a downward crease in his brow. Rainbow’s ears folded over.

“O-okay, fine. I admit it. I can’t really just do the Rainboom whenever I want, okay? I never could! It’s always just been something that happens, like at random!” Rainbow sighed and hung her head. “I only made it seem like I could because… I didn’t want to disappoint you, Zeph. I mean, you’re THE Zephyr!”

“And you’re THE Rainbow Dash!” Zephyr said, making Rainbow look up with some surprise. Zephyr smiled. “Yeah, I approached you originally because I wanted to learn the Rainboom, and yeah, it’s pretty cruddy that you can’t show me it or teach it to me…” Zephyr turned away for a moment, and Rainbow saw him look longingly in the distance. He shook his head and turned back, returning to a smile. “But hey! It’s cool! Because I realized you’re pretty awesome. Even if you can’t do the Rainboom whenever you want, you still did it once before — twice, even — and that’s something I can’t say.”

Zephyr held out a hoof and Rainbow grabbed it. He hoisted her up onto her legs.

“Listen, I ain’t perfect either. You didn’t have to go that far just to continue to impress me. You could have gotten pretty badly hurt there.”

Rainbow kicked at the ground with her hoof. She looked like a dejected filly, but only for a moment. She regained her confidence and stared down Zephyr.

“Bah! Me? Get hurt flying? Not a chance, buster!”

Zephyr continued smiling and rose a doubtful brow. Rainbow blushed lightly and snickered before replying.

“Okay, okay, you’re right. I guess it was silly of me, especially since I just told Jerri last night pretty much what you just told me.” Zephyr cocked his head.

“Jerri? Who’s that?”

“Oh, one of my teammates from the relay yesterday. She got hurt pretty bad because she was trying her best not to let me down.” Rainbow rolled her eyes and smiled. “I guess I should start taking my own advice.”

Zephyr punched Rainbow’s shoulder with his hoof.

“Ya think? Enough of this heart-to-heart stuff, I still want to show you my secret!”

Rainbow rubbed the spot Zephyr had punched. Confusion mired her face.

“Still? But I thought you wanted me to teach you the Rainboom first!”

Zephy shrugged nonchalantly then took to the air with a grin.

“Consider this a sign that we’re friends, then! I only ever show my friends this!”

Rainbow’s tail started to swoosh left to right and she took on a stance like an excited puppy, with wide eyes and an open smile.

“Are you saying there all your friends know this trick and you’re STILL the fastest?!”

Zephyr didn’t look back at Rainbow but just flapped his wings and starred out at the sun.

“No… that’s not it.” He paused and Rainbow flew up beside him. She looked over and saw that Zephyr was forcing a smile. “I don’t have any other friends.”

Rainbow opened her mouth to speak. Her eyes were bugging out. She tried to remember if she might still be asleep. A quick pinch told her she was not. Zephyr turned and gave her a genuine smile, complete with closed eyes.

“That was my lame way of saying you’re my only friend, so, I’ll show you anyway!”

Zephyr took off towards the atmosphere.

“Come on! Before I change my mind!”

Rainbow frowned.

How the heck doesn’t Zephyr have any friends? That makes no sense…

She flew after Zephyr, who had stopped on a cloud high above Sweet Apple Acres. When Rainbow reached the same cloud, she noticed that Zephyr was facing a stretch of sky that didn’t have a single cloud in its path as far as the eye could see. Zephyr took a deep breath and looked back at Rainbow with a confident grin.

“You ready for this, RB?”

Rainbow shook her head, perhaps a tad too eagerly.

“Uhhh, yeah? You’ve been hyping this up for the last few days! Time to put up or shut up, Zeph!”

Zephyr put his old, brass goggles down around his eyes. He assumed a stance where his back curved at a 45-degree angle, so that his front hooves and head were pressed close to the cloud and his back section was held up. He started to piston his wings like he was on a straightaway at the end of a marathon. He held himself in place despite the force of his flapping, which Rainbow had to put her own goggles on to mitigate.

“JUST WATCH FOR NOW RAINBOW,” Zephyr yelled above the sound of the wind his wings were generating, “I’LL EXPLAIN IT TO YOU AFTER!” Suddenly, Rainbow noticed visible, light blue streaks of wind start to appear around Zephyr’s wings. Eventually the light blue streaks turned into self-contained spheres of rotating wind that encapsulated Zephyr’s wings.

“DON’T BLINK!”

But Rainbow wasn’t prepared at all. She blinked. In that split second, she was thrown backwards on her cloud in the opposite direction. An unfathomably strong gust tossed her like a leaf in a tornado. Zephyr was nowhere to be seen, but a streak of light blue clouds traced a path straight forward, easily miles and miles away into the wild blue yonder. It all happened in one split second.

Rainbow was awestruck. She nearly dislocated her jaw. She didn’t dare blink again until she saw where Zephyr went. She looked every which way.

“Zeph!” she shouted. “Zeph!”

A gust of air behind her threw her mane in front of her face.

“Hiya,” said Zephyr. Rainbow spun around. There wasn’t a hint of exhaustion. His neon pink mane hung low to one side of his neck, goggles sitting square around his eyes, emerald irises full of energy just behind. From this close, Rainbow noticed his dark blue face had very immaculate features, similar to Maelstrom. In fact, if Rainbow didn’t know any better, there was even a resemblance.

“How the hay!” Rainbow began, all smiles, tail wagging, ears flicking. Her wings were open and jittery. “How’d you do that! I’ve never… that was unreal! Was that magic?” Rainbow started to walk around Zephyr, as if there was some secret to uncover about his speed. Zephyr shook his head and chuckled.

“I don’t know if you can call it magic. But it’s definitely not a normal way to fly. Here, I’ll go slow this time. Slower, anyway.”

Rainbow watched Zephyr closely, particularly around his wings. Zephyr took another deep breath and started to flap his wings, slower than before, but still faster than most ponies could keep up with. Rainbow squinted.

“Pay attention,” Zephyr explained, “This is the trick, if you wanna call it that.” Every few flaps of Zephyr’s wings, he broke the normal flapping rhythm for just a second and generated a stronger flap inwards towards his body. The combined stronger flaps eventually generated tiny streaks of light blue wind, which got larger as time went on, before the light blue wind formed small tornado-like swirling spheres that covered both Zephyr’s wings.

Rainbow gasped.

“That’s the trick! You’re creating large bursts of air and storing them with your wings?

Zephyr smiled smugly.

“Heh, you’re definitely an expert flyer to catch that. That’s right. The spheres of air act sort of like the engine in a train — well, I think. I don’t know much about trains…” Zephyr rubbed his chin with a hoof inquisitively. “Something like that anyway. It helps propel me forward quicker than you could just flapping your wings like normal.”

Zephyr slowly brought his flapping to a halt, the light blue spheres still swirling around his wings.

“I figured this out when I was younger, this was the thing I thought I could impress my uncle with, but by then nothing I did really caught his attention.”

Zephyr held open his wings, spheres and all. “You can also do this if you don’t want to use the built-up energy to fly fast…” Zephyr threw both of the spheres with his wings. They travelled a fair distance across the sky before bursting. The resulting gust, branching out 360 degrees on all axes, shifted the clouds in the sky and once again forced Rainbow and her cloud back. It threw her mane back into place.

Rainbow looked back at Zephyr with a huge grin.

“C-cool!”

Zephyr shrugged and laughed.

“Yeah? You’re right, it is cool! But I don’t think it has a practical use.”

Rainbow looked eager for more.

“Can you do it again, Zeph? If I just see it one more time, I think I can start practicing myself!”

Zephyr grinned and assumed his flying stance.

“Alright! After this, you’re on your own! We’ll train separately from here on out!”

* * *

The grumbling and rumbling in Twilight’s stomach had ceased. Her eyes were closed and she breathed in softly.

Calm. Focus. The plan will work.

She opened her eyes. The two guards outside her cell were talking to each other. Twilight felt enough energy to carry out her plan, but feigned weakness in attempting to stand. She wobbled her hooves.

“Hey! You two jerks!” Twilight said as saucily as she could. The two guards glared at her.

“What did you just call us? Keep quiet, fiend!”

“Don’t make us make you be quiet!”

Twilight grinned.

“You two colts? Please. Even now…” Twilight pretended to weakly fall down. She continued to smile at the guards, smug and confident. “… even now I could still take you. I’m a princess of Equestria. I could take over your minds and make you do whatever I want. You’d be my little colt slaves.”

One of the guards grabbed the cell bars and shouted at Twilight, full of fury.

“Cut that out before you regret it! You can barely stand, so stop talking big! Don’t think because you’re a mare we won’t come in there and shut you up!”

Twilight ignored him and looked over to one side of the room, as if deep in thought.

“Or maybe I’ll use my magic and make Tsunami my slave! My little prince slave! I’d have to shave that ridiculous mane of his off, of course. Maybe give him a nice collar—”

The guard roared and started reaching for the cell keys attached to his hip.

“That’s it! Let’s go, Shellshock! Let’s show the princess what happens to the fools who talk bad about our prince!”

The other guard nodded, equally as mad.

“I’m gonna enjoy this!”

The first guard opened the cell doors and raised a hoof to step inside. Twilight’s eyes opened wide. Her horn lit up, bright neon lavender, and she teleported behind the guards with an eldritch flash. The guards swung around, the confidence draining from their aghast faces.

“Oh h-horseshoes!” one of them yelled. Twilight glared at the guards and threw a pale-yellow spell at the one who opened the cell. She aimed it perfectly to land right between the space in his helmet where his eyes were. The magic quickly branched out and grabbed the other guard between the space in his helmet, and the tether between both guards pulled both their heads together like a spring-loaded beartrap snapping closed. Their heads bonked together hard enough to rattle their armor, and they fell to the floor, blank expressions on their faces.

“Can’t say I enjoyed that, myself,” Twilight said to herself, breathing heavily, “But… it had to be done.”

Twilight charged up her horn for a few moments, tightening the muscles in her hooves to brace herself. She released her spell and a bright flash with a loud burst of noise like thunder erupted from Twilight’s horn.

“L-let’s see if that worked…” she said to herself through pants.

Twilight used her magic once more to create a magical space in the air that reflected like a mirror. She looked at herself and smiled.

The mare grinning back didn’t look like Twilight at all. Instead, reflected by the mirrow, was a mare with a deep brown fur coat and a short, black buzz cut. She turned her face every which way to check for any defects.

“Right, disguise part one: check. Now for the finishing touch.”

Twilight grabbed the armor from one of the guards with her horn’s lavender glow and started to place it on herself. It took a some time to figure out how it was supposed to fit, but eventually, she made herself look just like one of the palace guards.

“Hopefully nopony who knows every guard’s face sees me,” she said as she started walking down the long corridor outside of the cell, “But I doubt that will happen. There must be hundreds of guards!”

Twilight reached the end of the corridor and came upon another corridor. There was only one obvious way to go: straight. The other paths led to other jail cells. A guard was stationed in front of what must have been an exit.

“Wha—hey, who are you? When did you go down that corridor?” he asked, sounding like he’d just seen a ghost. Twilight cleared her throat, searching for an answer.

“Uhhh…” she rolled her eyes. “I just, uhh, came when you weren’t looking. Went to check on Shellshock, he told me yesterday he wasn’t feeling good.”

The guard at the exit raised a brow, then lifted his helmet and scratched his cheek.

“R-really? Strange… I thought I was looking the whole time. I guess not — don’t tell Prince Tsunami, please!”

Twilight smirked.

“Your secret’s safe with me. Work on your focus, though. Might not be me that catches you slacking next time.”

Twilight walked past the guard. He watched her leave with a confused expression.

Once outside the jail chambers, Twilight breathed out in relief. She was already sweating bullets underneath the armor, a combination of stress and the stuffiness of the armor. Twilight stopped and looked at the ground.

Wait, I should have asked him about food! I need to get back to full energy if I want to get out of here… the Shapeshift and Magic Tether spells took a lot out of me, and I wasn’t that energized to begin with.

Twilight looked back up. She was now in a wider corridor, with a higher, vaulted ceiling. Portraits of different, regal-looking stallions adorned the walls at certain points. Candelabras illuminated the hallway, which had a red velvet carpet running in the middle of it. The brown stone walls glowed an eerie magenta.

Seems like all the walls in this palace are magic-proof.

Twilight spotted a pair of guards walking towards her, a stallion and a smaller mare, both in emerald-gem armor. She gulped.

Here goes nothing!

She waved at the guards and trotted over.

“H-hey, umm, I’m new to guard duty in the palace… when’s lunch? I’m starving…”

One of the guards, the mare, pointed behind her.

“Lunch is served at noon, follow this hallway and don’t turn down any other corridors until you see the white, wooden archway. Through there is the mess hall.”

Twilight nodded.

“Thanks. I appreciate that. Most ponies haven’t been telling me anything all day…”

The stallion spoke up.

“Not a problem. We all started new at some point. You should feel honored to serve in the palace, it brings us closer to Prince Tsunami and Clopstantine himself.” The stallion and mare brought a hoof to their chests and closed their eyes.

“He who is Great, thank Him for his presence,” they recited.

Twilight copied the words and gesture as best she could, then went on her way. The inside of her helmet was drenched with sweat. Her breathing was getting worse and her eyesight was wavering.

Whoa… getting’ woozy… need to eat… and get a drink of water… ugh…

Twilight admired the paintings on the wall and the occasional staute as she walked, and walked, and walked some more. The hallway winded forever, although she passed dozens of branching corridors and wooden, iron-plated doors as she trotted. Twilight wondered if she’d even get to the mess hall before passing out. There were constantly guards or servant ponies coming and going. It wouldn’t take long before her unconscious form was found if she did pass out, and by then the Shapeshift spell would have surely worn off.

Can’t let that happen… must stay awake!

A thought crossed Twilight’s mind. She walked and stared at the red carpet as she flipped through the images in her brain. Celestia’s disappointed face was front and center among them.

This was supposed to be an escape plan, but can I really return to Canterlot with nothing? I was supposed to uncover the secret behind the weird, nightly dreams that Luna and Celestia have been having. Princess Luna is sure it’s a form of magic coming from Clopstantinople…

Twilight sighed, her old doubts returning.

What kind of princess would I be if I just ran away now?! I need to find something… anything! Tsunami has got to be up to something! They saw him in their dreams!

Twilight raised her head once more, newly determined.

I won’t quit! I’m not leaving this palace until I find out once and for all what Tsunami is up to!

33 - A Sorry and a Hug

Chapter 33

A Sorry and a Hug

The summer heat formed a wavy, breath-stealing haze, slowly sapping away everypony’s energy. Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were sauntering toward the centre of Ponyville. It was a chance at a lucky break, as Boozebeard and Ms. VeeVee had agreed to continue the shop operations in Canterlot without them.

Applejack looked around with an attentive yet tired eye as the group walked. There was at least one pony wearing a medallion of the EFL wherever they went. Usually it was the bronze medallion, the one that the volunteers and junior members would receive. Once or twice it was a silver medallion, noting a fully-fledged member. The group passed a few EFL booths as they made their way, which were handing out medallions and prescribing tasks to volunteers. Applejack grumbled to her companions.

“Ah dunno, girls. Whole thing’s still got me a bit jittery.”

Rarity brushed a wave of mane out of her face. She was dressed in a glowing, sequined, violet dress, flowing all the way down to just above the ends of her hooves and back behind her. She hummed in thought.

“Hmm, you really think so, Applejack? It’s certainly not the most vogue of fashion accessories.” Rarity watched a couple of young stallion friends hoof-five as they put on their bronze EFL medallions and ran off. “But it is accessible to the masses! Plus, what’s the harm in ponies taking a liking to the Flyers League? If you ask me, the Wonderbolts should have thought of the medallion thing years ago! It’s great for publicity!”

Rarity stared at the dark circles around Applejack’s eyes and stifled a snicker.

“Annnnnnd… maybe someone’s a tad cranky after being up all night with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, hmm?”

Applejack stopped and rubbed her forehead, annoyed.

“Nah that ain’t it, Rare. Ah ain’t cranky! Though Ah could use a nap…” Applejack shook her head and lightened up her expression. “It’s just, why’s all this happenin’ right now before the races? The League’s been around just as long as the Wonderbolts. They coulda come up here anytime they liked for ‘publicity’ but we’ve never so much as seen ‘em around these parts before a few days ago!”

Fluttershy remained silent as the trio reached the balloon launch pad. Thoughts mulled over in her head.

Should I say something? I mean, Bushwhacker told me — well, it’s probably nothing.

She looked over at Applejack’s worried expression. Rarity was much more relaxed and tried to calm her friend down. Fluttershy retreated back inside her nagging brain.

Applejack’s suspicious and so am I, but is this really fair to the EFL and Maelstrom? With what Bushwhacker told me earlier — oh, what do I say? Should I say something?

A pair of Maelstrom’s guards, suited in emerald armor shining bright in the afternoon sunlight, walked by. They looked at Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rarity with a firm, neutral expression.

“Afternoon, ladies,” one of them said, deep and commanding.

Applejack stared cautiously and tipped her stetson.

“Afternoon, boys…”

Rarity did a bit of a flourish with her dress and hat before batting her eyelashes, and the two guards exchanged a glance and a smile. Fluttershy retreated behind her mane as Applejack lightly shoved Rarity. The two guards continued on their way.

“What was tha’ all about?” Applejack asked with a huff. Rarity blew some air out of the side of her mouth.

“Whhhhhatt?” Rarity jokingly whined, “I was just having a bit of fun with the boys in green, as they say! You really do need that nap, Applejack, honestly. You’re acting just like Pinkie Pie was before with her Pinkie Sense” — Rarity raised a hoof and spoke matter-of-factly — “And may I remind you that Spike and Pinkie carried out their little game of detective and found nothing out of the ordinary about Maelstrom!”

Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak. “I—” she began. Both mares looked at her expectantly. Fluttershy decided against what she was going to say and cleared her throat. She sighed.

“I was just going to say, umm, we should probably see if Rainbow’s at home first. She did, you know, lose the race after all. M-maybe she’s not training with the Wonderbolts anymore.”

The group boarded the balloon.

“Good idea, Fluttershy,” Rarity replied. The balloon attendant was one of Maelstrom’s guards. Applejack sighed with exasperation.

“Jeez, you too?” she asked. The guard just looked back emotionlessly.

“Where are you ladies off to this afternoon?”

Applejack nearly snapped back.

“Off to see a friend in Cloudsdale, if we ever make it there! If you’d be so kind, sir…”

The attendant narrowed his eyes and released the rope knot keeping the balloon in place on the ground.

Rarity smiled.

“I must say, I do find their armor quite dashing, compared to the Canterlot guard. Emerald is in season this year, you know!”

Applejack made an annoyed noise as if tripping on what to say.

“Tsh — Rarity! That ain’t the point! Dontcha get it? Why are Maelstrom’s guards in Ponyville? Do ya see Maelstrom anywhere? Comon now, this is definitely not normal!”

Rarity’s rising inflection gave away her growing annoyance.

“VeeVee already explained that, didn’t I tell you, Applejack? Maelstrom’s guards have taken on the duties of the Canterlot guard for the duration of the races, in order to give the Canterlot guard a break. Think about it: Maelstrom brought this entire spectacle to Canterlot driving thousands of ponies to the city!” Rarity raised a hoof and shook her head as if she couldn’t believe Applejack’s doubts. “Can you imagine the cost and time constraints to have all the guards perform their usual duties on top of keeping the peace when there’re all these rambunctious sports fans in town? Maelstrom wanted to grease the wheel, so to speak, so that Celestia would let him hold the Storm’s Challenge. He offered to have his guards handle security so the Canterlot guard didn’t have to! What about that sounds suspicious to you?”

Applejack wobbled a bit in her tiredness and shot back at Rarity.

“Uhhh, I dunno Rare… the whole thing?! Am Ah just going crazy or something here?”

Fluttershy leaned over the edge of the balloon and peered below as Ponyville got further and further away. She drowned out her arguing friends.

Bushwhacker…

* * *

Earlier that day

Fluttershy searched Pepperheart Field, pep in her wings. She looked around nervously.

Oh, which one was it again?

She scanned the numerous tents that had been set up for the EFL. The tented part of the field was nearly deserted, as almost all the members were training at their replica Saddlebred Citadel. Finally, her eyes fell on a tent she was sure was Bushwhacker’s.

“There!” she said with a smile. She zoomed forward and stopped at the entrance flaps. She cleared her throat and poked her head inside.

“Bushwhacker?” she asked.

Sure enough, the blond athlete was lying in his bed, bag of ice sitting on his forehead. He forced a cough. His head turned slowly and he smiled weakly when he saw Fluttershy.

“H-hey, Flutters — you’re a sight for sore, tired eyes…” Another forced cough. Bushwhacker groaned. Mindy the boa nestled her head against Bushwhacker’s. A young koala hugged his lower hooves tight and a small kangaroo looked worried from his position beside the bed.

“So you are here!” Fluttershy said, stepping inside. “The nurse at the Citadel infirmary said they discharged you this morning because you were doing fine, but umm…” Bushwhacker struggled to sit up and his kangaroo friend helped ease him into a comfortable position.

“Those nurses sometimes…” Bushwhacker managed to reply, “A bit too eagah to get another empty bed. I got this headache, Flutters — could be a serious concussion.” Fluttershy sat down on a pillow near the bed.

“R-right, um, that makes sense,” Fluttershy said, not quite sure if it did make sense. Mindy the boa slithered over to Fluttershy and gave her a snake hug. The kangaroo hoped over to receive some gentle petting from a very eager Fluttershy.

“To be honest with ya,” Bushwhacker said rather cheerfully as he stroked the appreciative koala at the end of his bed, “I’m not too bummed about being outta the races!”

Fluttershy cocked her head as Mindy gave her a snake kiss on the cheek.

“Whyever would that be, Bushwhacker? I thought you loved flying! It’s always been your dream, right?”

Bushwhacker shrugged and laid back down with his hooves behind his head.

“Yes and no — sure I always wanted to be a flyah. But maybe it was ‘cause my family didn’t believe in me. Thought I was too soft on account of the animals and all. I spent a lot of time in the Outback. I still do. I think I’m happiah there.” Bushwhacker threw up his hooves. “I mean, if the races are gonna get this dangerous, crikey, I’m better off in the Outback with me blokes! And the ladies, like Mindy there!”

Bushwhacker sat back up with a grunt of strained pain and looked at his animal friends attached to Fluttershy.

“I already proved I could be a flyer! And it’s definitely a hoot, make no mistake. But it ain’t me, you know?”

Fluttershy smiled warmly.

“I understand completely what you’re saying, and I think it’s great that you’re choosing safety over excitement — I mean, if that’s what you want.”

The two continued their conversation, just small talk about the races and animals. Then during a pause, Bushwhacker cleared his throat purposefully loud.

“Uhh, Flutters? Mind popping a squat a bit closah?”

Fluttershy felt her cheeks get hot.

“Ohh, umm, like right beside you?” Fluttershy looked around. “Well, I mean, I guess I c-can…”

She grabbed the pillow and flew over to the side of Bushwhacker’s bed and sat down. They weren’t very far from one another. Fluttershy couldn’t look him in the eye. There was tension inside the tent, at least from Fluttershy’s end. Bushwhacker whispered.

“Listen, Flutters, I was thinking — had a lot of time for thinking, yesterday and all — and, well…” Bushwhacker seemed nervous, more nervous than Fluttershy normally was. She looked up at the stallion. Some kind of secret hid behind his eyes. “About Maelstrom and all…”

Fluttershy was taken off guard, not expecting the conversation to go the way it did.

Wait, what way did I think it was going to go?

Bushwhacker swallowed hard and continued whispering.

“I sort of, kind of — well the deal is…”

Fluttershy looked around as if Bushwhacker was revealing a secret that could put them away for life. Then she looked right at him.

“What is it, Bushwhacker?” she replied in an even quieter whisper. Bushwhacker looked over at the entrance to the tent, then back at Fluttershy. He leaned in close.

“Truth is, I don’t think your friend Pinkie is a crazy sheila after all. In fact, I think her tail thing makes sense. Maelstrom—”

Bushwhacker’s eyes darted back to the entrance to his tent. Fluttershy noticed his brow become moist with sweat as he shakily bit his lower lip. Bushwhacker sat up and his demeanor changed. He held Fluttershy’s gaze firmly, telling her with his eyes that this was important.

“Maelstrom’s a totally odd bloke, okay? Straight strange, if I’m speaking freely. The way he talks about Equestria and Celestia sometimes… see, it was weird how we met in the first place about a year ago. He just shows up at my family’s place — kind of a palace, not trying to brag, but folks around there know who we are, yeah? And Maelstrom starts talking to my folks. I didn’t know what about, but it ended up that he wanted me to join the EFL, be one of his flyers.”

Bushwhacker’s breathing picked up. His gaze was always jumping back to the entrance flap of his tent. He stopped to listen, as if someone might be eavesdropping outside the tent. He continued when he felt the coast was clear. Fluttershy was completely enraptured.

“At the time, I was through the roof! Happy as a joey, truly! But there was always something that bugged me about it all. Like…”

Bushwhacker’s eyes became sullen.

“Kinda like he didn’t want me for ME, like he was just after my family. Well, we got a lot of money — folks know that too. Whole vault full of bits! And then when you were tellin’ me about your friend Pinkie and everything — I dunno, the strangeness of it hit home all at once. Maybe I’m just going troppo…”

Bushwhacker’s face became determined, sucking Fluttershy in even more.

“Listen, Flutters, that’s not all. Them ponies he hangs around with — Ms. VeeVee and her creepy little sister — well, VeeVee’s a beaut, no question.” Fluttershy’s snout scrunched up briefly. “But they’re even weirdah than Maelstrom! See, ponies tell me they come from some place that’s even further north than the Frozen North! Some place where the sky’s always dark and the magic is even darkah — not like here in Equestria!”

Bushwhacker paused for Fluttershy to say something. A curious dent parted her brow.

“But why are you telling me this now and not a few days ago? Did something happen?”

The sound of hoofsteps outside the tent made Bushwhacker throw his head up like a startled animal. His breath caught in his throat. The hoofsteps faded away as whoever made them continued walking. Bushwhacker turned back to Fluttershy.

“Like I said, when you mentioned your friend Pinkie Pie’s tail troubles, it made me rethink everything. I always wanted to just believe Maelstrom cared about me and wanted me to be one of his star flyers. But there was also yesterday, Zephyr came to see me in the infirmary. He had this look, I’ve seen it before.”

Bushwhacker closed his eyes and swallowed.

“He had had a fight with Maelstrom or something, and — I told you before, I didn’t mean to, but it came out — those two are uncle and nephew. There’s isn’t the happiest relationship though, and members who know about them aren’t supposed to EVER share that secret. Media’s never even got wind of it! And if Maelstrom knew I told you…”

Bushwhacker shivered. The sweat on his face started to trickle down.

“A-anyway, that’s about all I got to say about it, frankly. Make of it what you will but we’re friends, Flutters, and I couldn’t keep it inside any longah!”

* * *

Back in the balloon…

“Fluttershy? Equestria to Fluttershy, hello!?”

Fluttershy snapped out of it with a jolt of her head. Applejack and Rarity stared at her impatiently.

“You okay darling?” Rarity asked, “We need you to fly over and check if Rainbow’s home.” She chuckled awkwardly and pointed at her back. “No wings, remember?”

With a fluster, Fluttershy jumped up and started to fly over to Rainbow’s cloud home.

“S-sorry, girls!” she apologized. She landed on the cloud in front of the door and knocked. The tap tap barely made an impact. She cleared her throat.

“Rainbow!” she said just barely louder than her usual voice. “Are you in there? Rainbow Dash?”

She looked back at her friends in the balloon. Applejack cupped her mouth with her hooves and called out.

“Try tha door!”

Fluttershy turned back around and gripped the doorhandle. No give.

“Rainbow!” she said again. Nothing.

“Fer cryin’ out…” Applejack said from the balloon. She took in a large breath of air before shouting, “HEY RAINBOW DASH! COME ON OUT SO WE CAN TALK TO YA!”

Everypony waited for a minute, and still nothing happened.

“Fluttershy,” Rarity asked, “Be a dear and check the windows. Maybe she’s hiding and doesn’t want to come out?”

Fluttershy did just that. But no matter which window she peered through, even Rainbow Dash’s own bedroom, Fluttershy saw no signs of her prismatic-maned friend. She returned to the balloon.

“Doesn’t look like she’s home,” Fluttershy said, “She’s probably at the Academy after all.”

Applejack smiled.

“That’s good! She might still be trainin’! Maybe she’s in decent spirits after all. Let’s go, everypony!”

It had been a while since Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack had been to the Wonderbolt Academy. Rainbow Dash aside, they were excited to catch a glimpse of Wonderbolt HQ in the heat of a competition training session. Sure enough, as the balloon descended upon the top of the mountain, the place was obviously packed. Pegasi were coming and going in all directions.

“There’s Spitfire!” Fluttershy said, pointing downward.

The three mares landed and inquired about Rainbow Dash. Spitfire told them she was over by the Chinook Challenger 8000. The balloon ascended once more and floated through the air a short while before coming to a clearing outside the Academy where a huge machine sat on a cloud. It looked like a giant-sized fan. The undeniable brightness of Rainbow’s mane and tail caught everypony’s eye.

“There she is!” Rarity cried, “Rainbow! Rainbow Dash!”

At the sound of her name, Rainbow looked over, goggles firmly over her face and her Wonderbolt’s uniform tight against her body. She couldn’t hide a smile as she saw her friends approach, although it quickly transformed into a neutral expression. She zoomed over to the balloon and landed in the basket.

“H-hey gals. W-what are you doing here?” Rainbow acted aloof. She blew her mane out of her face with a puff of air and held up her hoof, turning it around and staring at it. “Kinda busy at the moment, not much time to talk.”

Applejack spoke softly, treading her words carefully.

“We know, but just hear us out.” Rainbow looked up at Applejack briefly with a pouty face, then glanced back to her hoof. Applejack sighed. “Look, R-Rainbow, we messed up yesterday! Really bad — something fierce!”

Rarity stepped forward.

“Right! We acted like hooligans! We shouldn’t have run off about our own silly business when you were counting on our support!”

Fluttershy spoke with sincere remorse.

“And I shouldn’t have spent so much time on Bushwhacker when I knew he was okay! Besides that, we dragged the fillies off too, and left you with nopony to cheer you on!”

Rainbow kept looking at her hoof, not budging.

“Yeah-huh. So, what are you ladies saying?”

All three of the other mares looked at each other then back to Rainbow.

“We’re sorry Rainbow!” they said in unison. Rainbow broke character and put her hoof down. Her bottom lip started quiver. Her pupils jittered like eggs on a skillet and her eyes became moist.

“Y-you gals…” Rainbow said shakily. “OH, COME HERE ALREADY!”

All four mares leapt into a great, big embrace. They “aww’d” and cuddled up close. It was more of a bear hug than any Fluttershy got from her friend Harry.

“I accept your apology, girls — I mean, of course I do!” Rainbow sniffled. “It really hurt, y’know, seeing that you guys weren’t there. But I get it — stuff happens! I’m not perfect either!”

Applejack chuckled.

“Heh, that what you really believe? Coulda fooled us with the way you’re always acting.”

The four broke apart. Fluttershy wiped her wet eyes.

“Ohhh, I still feel terrible, though, Rainbow. The way you looked yesterday” — Fluttershy sniffled and straightened out her face, smiling at Rainbow with determination — “it’s not going to happen again, I promise!”

Rarity looked at Applejack and the two nodded. She addressed Rainbow, “And we’re ending our little competition today! It’s gone too far if it means we can’t support you during the races!”

Applejack took off her stetson and sighed.

“Course, well, now… after yesterday…” She frowned. The other girls followed suit. Rainbow rose an eyebrow.

“What’s that look for? Everything’s cool, I promise!” Rainbow said happily. Rarity scratched the side of her face.

“It’s just, dear — you didn’t make it to the second race.”

Rainbow’s eyes widened and she smiled wide, as if a lightbulb went off in her skull.

“That’s the best part though, everypony! I DID make it through!” Fluttershy, Rarity, and Applejack made surprised gasps. Rainbow continued, “Yeah, here’s what happened—”

Rainbow explained the entire situation with Slapshot, Zephyr and Maelstrom. When she was done, everypony looked relieved again, except for Fluttershy, who was reminded of her thoughts on Maelstrom by the story. She slunk back a bit and hid her face.

“Shoot, Rainbow — that’s great news! So, everything worked out A-ok!”

“Great news indeed! Maybe we can continue the competition after all, Applejack!” Rarity said, glancing over at Applejack, who glared back. Rarity laughed nervously.

“Kidding! Just kidding!”

Rainbow nodded, full of mirth. Her face shifted to a frown.

“I’m definitely not happy about that Slapshot guy and what he did, so if I see him, I’m letting him have a piece of my mind. Might even feed him one of my patented Rainbow Dash right hooks, too!”

Applejack placed a hoof on Rainbow’s shoulder.

“Now now, Rainbow, hold yer horses. No use steppin’ down to his level, all the way down there with the other bad apples. You just keep training and focus on the races! He’ll be dealt with, Maelstrom being the no-nonsense fella he is.”

Fluttershy’s thoughts continued to ruminate. She looked up at Rainbow, blurting out what was on her mind.

“What do you think of him, Rainbow? M-Maelstrom, that is.”

Everypony turned to Fluttershy. Rainbow grinned.

“He’s awesome! Totally intimidating — but in a cool way! I would love to see the look on that bozo Slapshot’s face when he gets chewed out!”

Rainbow bounced in place, letting her wings vibrate with excitement.

“Ooooo — now I’m even more pumped after talking to you gals! This is so cool! I’m gonna smash the competition tomorrow.” Rainbow flew up and punched one hoof into her other. “Then I’m gonna beat ‘em all the day after that and claim that sweet, sweet number one spot! Even Zeph is gonna be eatin’ my dust — oh, I didn’t even tell you about Zeph yet!”

Applejack grinned like a fox and leaned towards Rainbow.

“Ah reckon you got some mighty fierce crush on him, dontcha?”

Rarity giggled. Rainbow laughed a single, sharp laugh.

“Hah! Not even! He’s a real bro — and I’m not like Fluttershy over here falling for famous racers because they’re good looking or whatever.”

Fluttershy was brought back to reality with a hot blush. She momentarily forgot all about Maelstrom.

“W-w-what? W-who said I h-had a crush?”

The mares laughed. Fluttershy smiled.

I guess this is okay. Rainbow’s happy. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. I can’t ruin her mood, Bushwhacker’s just… overreacting. Yeah, that’s it.

Rainbow’s face lit up. Her ears ever-so-slightly moved back and forth, and every time she spoke her wings jumped. Fluttershy let her lips form a huge, toothy crescent and she closed her eyes.

Everything’s going to be just fine!

Author's Note

Took too long between this and the last chapter. But! I'm pretty happy with it!

17 more chapters to go (or so the plan says)!

34 - VeeVee and Boozebeard

Chapter 34

VeeVee and Boozebeard

CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG CHUG

A crowd of stallions and colts surrounded a huge, off-yellow stallion as he raised a barrel of cider higher and higher into the air. The sweet liquid inside poured out and passed right through his thirsty lips. Gulp after gulp, he downed the Sweet Apple Acres secret recipe cider.

With an oxygen-starved gasp for air, Boozebeard pulled away the empty barrel and roared. The testosterone-charged crowd around him shouted in awe. Boozebeard unleashed a string of deep, boisterous laughs. His friends from Tall Tale’s Adventure Flyers flew up to him and and lifted him up (no easy feat, even for ten stallions). They paraded him around the crowd of males like a victorious champion.

“Three cheers fer Boozebeard! Tha gre’est cider sucking stallion aroun’!” one of the shaggy-maned stallions cried.

“Aye, an’ not a bad flyer, neither!” another said with a chuckle. The crowd laughed. Applejack’s wagon, nearby, was being manned by two of the Tall Tale flyers. They had their hooves full processing transactions as pony after pony came through. The freshly picked baskets of apples, the baked goods, and the barrels of cider that Big McIntosh had brought earlier that day were already nearly sold.

Not far from the apple wagon, a stone’s throw in fact, was Rarity’s makeshift shop, which was far less rowdy than Applejack’s, though no less busy. The main attraction of the day was Ms. VeeVee herself, dressed to the nines in a tight, glittering red dress. Her eyeliner was a dark, sultry ruby, as was her bright, red lipstick, though they failed to highlight the luster that was missing from VeeVee’s usually sharp eyes. A grave sadness hung on her brow.

Nonetheless, patrons hungry for Rarity’s fashion surrounded the dress and accessories displays. Off to one side were a few of VeeVee’s biggest male admirers, carefully recording orders that the crusty elites ordered them to list. VeeVee herself entertained a couple of Canterlot high-class philanthropists.

“Why, it wasn’t NEARLY this busy when we came the other day,” said the wife of the couple, her grey mane looking like an inflatable poodle, “It was quite barren, wouldn’t you say, dear?” She turned to her husband, a huffy stallion tightly choked by his tie and his suit.

“Q-quite indeed… dearest…”

VeeVee forced a smile towards the two.

“Feel free to try on vhatever you wish for—mmm, yes?”

VeeVee expanded her smile even further, so much that anypony of normal status would surely catch its inauthenticity. For the Canterlot uppercrust, however, it was business as usual. The wife looked around with a sad glance.

“I say, you seem to be missing an employee. That sullen-looking mare with the black mane… where is she?”

The husband nodded in agreement with his wife.

“Yesss, hmm, that one added a certain quality to the shop — what would you say, dearest? As if she were a dark accessory that highlighted the beauty of the shop’s wares.”

The wife nodded rapidly.

“Yes dear, just that, exactly.”

VeeVee looked to the ground, still faking her smile.

“Ahh, mein Schvester.”

She looked back up with an even fuller smile and closed eyes pulled into false mirth.

“She’s resting up! Bad bout of zhe Pony Pox, ja!”

As VeeVee talked to Rarity’s clients, the noise from the other shop, the shop full of miscreant stallions, started to batter her ears a little too much. Her brow furrowed. VeeVee marched over to the no-ponies-land between the apple wagon and the dress wagon. She cleared her throat obnoxiously loud, staring down the crowd around Boozebeard.

There was no reaction to that, so she shouted.

“Hey! You ponies over zhere!”

Some of the males in the crowd heard and turned around, and instantly became trapped in the spell that VeeVee inadvertently cast with her appearance. Her fans from Rarity’s shop were standing behind her, less for support and more that they just felt attracted to the batpony mare. Eventually the disturbance caused by VeeVee was enough that Boozebeard could see her across the way.

Boozebeard, now back on his own four hooves (though barely), burped loud and looked around.

“Ehhh? Wha’s all this, then, hmm — oh it’s YOU!”

Boozebeard soared over to just in front of VeeVee and landed with a shaky slam against the fine cobblestone of the courtyard. He glared at VeeVee, who glared back with equal ire.

“Come ta cause anotha’ ruckus then?” Boozebeard hissed.

“Nein! I only vish you vould stop bringing such barbarisch ponies around! Zhey scare Miss Rarity’s clients — mmm, no?”

A hot air balloon floated down towards the courtyard as Boozebeard shot back with a spitting rebuttal.

“Oh ye? An’ what do you propose ta do abou’ it, lass?”

VeeVee’s wings unfurled, jutting straight out to either side of her like jagged blades of black ebony.

“Perhaps you will be finding out if you continue, Schmutzfink!”

Boozebeard’s imposing wingspan unleashed itself and toppled over a few onlookers. His giant body cast shade over VeeVee.

“Zat right, lass? Yer gonna go hoof ta hoof with ol’ Boozebeard, then? Righ’ here?”

Boozebeard grinned an awful, wide grin.

“Not like I’m against gettin’ you back fer the race yesterday…”

Off to one part of the courtyard, Rarity and Applejack’s balloon had landed. The two mares approached their shop sponsors with unknowing smiles that quickly faded away.

“Howdy Boozey — err, what’s goin’ on here?”

“VeeVee, darling! You look positively ghastly — why do you look ready to tear Boozebeard’s head off?!”

The two temporary shopkeeps turned away with snarls.

“Bah — s’nothing,” Boozebeard said, looking at Applejack with one eye open and his face turned away in displeasure. “Buh Ah dun like ponies like ‘er lookin’ down on ol’ Boozebeard cas uh my habits!”

VeeVee huffed.

“Alvays vith zhe excuses! Zhese strong men think zhey can do vhatever zhey vant because zhey are so big…” VeeVee turned back around and Rarity watched in awe as her face became vicious and feral. Her batpony pupils enlarged to epic proportions, her ears stood fully upwards and erect, and she revealed her dagger-like bat fangs. “YOU MAKE ME HAVE ZHE SICKNESS, PIG MAN!” she shouted.

Applejack and Rarity exchanged confused glances. The hundreds of ponies gathered around were totally silent.

Suddenly, a stallion near Applejack’s wagon shouted.

“BOOZEBEARD YOU GOT THIS!”

A mare on the other side, close to Rarity’s shop, cried in reply.

“DON’T LISTEN TO HIM VEEVEE! YOU GO GIRL!”

That was enough to turn the crowd against one another based on their allegiances. Applejack and Rarity quickly led their sponsors away with bewildered urgency. Applejack tore into Boozebeard the second they were alone.

“What in tarnation is going on? Shoot, Boozey — Ah only wanted you to hold down the fort ‘til I got back! What’s all this ruckus with VeeVee?”

Boozebeard turned his head away, his long, messy curls of maroon bouncing as he did.

“Bah! It’s all ‘er fault, truly, Applejack! Ah done nothin’ bu’ be meself! Drinking cider, entertainin’ the sportsponies” — Boozebeard turned back to Applejack and threw up his hoof, eyes wide — “Ah done what you said to do, nothin’ more!”

Applejack hummed and leaned around Boozebeard to look past the crowds at Rarity and VeeVee. She saw Rarity staring back, just as focused as she was on getting to the bottom of things. Rarity, on the other side of the courtyard, responded to VeeVee.

“And you’re sure it was all his doing, all the nonsense? You had no part in it, VeeVee, my dear?”

VeeVee sighed in exasperation and made a flourish with her hoof.

“Ja! Like I am making the saying, zhat brute vas being barbarisch — he almost scared avay all our clients!”

Rarity frowned and her brow warped with concern. She put her hoof against VeeVee’s forehead.

“Are you sure you’re not coming down with something, though? As I said before, your appearance is somewhat unsettling…”

Rarity did not miss that Ms. VeeVee, batpony flyer extraordinaire and beloved by stallions from far and wide, was not herself. Her leathery, black wings were jittery. Her amber eyes, generally captivating and charming, seemed sullen, empty. Her makeup may have looked decent to an average pony, but a mare of Rarity’s fashionability could tell it was done haphazard. VeeVee’s jet black mane was more like a lump of tar than a pristine souffle.

VeeVee snapped back at Rarity.

“Ja, ja, everything is all” — VeeVee waved her hoof around in front of her dramatically — “You know, like the peaches and cream! Mein only problem is him!” She pointed over at Boozebeard, who stuck his tongue out in response. Rarity sighed, rubbing the side of her face with a hoof. The crowds of ponies around them were whispering amongst themselves, which Rarity did not fail to notice.

“Anyway, it’s no big deal, whatever happened,” Rarity said with a nervous smile, “Applejack and I agreed to end the competition. There’s no need for these shops anymore! We’re going to pack it up and head home!”

Over at the other side of the courtyard, Applejack was giving a similar speech to Boozebeard.

“… so ya see? Just let it go — the tizzy with VeeVee, the anger, what have you. We’re done and through! Y’all can go back to training or whatever!” Applejack gestured towards Boozebeard’s companions, who were dealing with the confused crowd of customers. Boozebeard and VeeVee exchanged angry glances across the courtyard.

“Ah don’t think Ah wan’ to, Applejack.”

Boozebeard puffed out his chest and snorted like a bull. Applejack facehoofed.

“And why’s that, Boozey?” she asked with exasperation. Boozebeard shuffled back and forth and gritted his teeth.

“It’s jus’ — ever since Ah was a wee colt, ponies like her have been pointing their hooves out an’ laughin! ‘Lookit that clown, Boozebeard, gallivanting around with his wild hair an’ his craziness’, they’d say.” Boozebeard stopped pacing and turned to Applejack, his face turned inward with frustration and his hoof pointing towards VeeVee. “Ah’ve had enough, an’ Ah think Ah know how we can make this work for everypony…”

Over on the other side, Rarity and VeeVee were whispering off to one side of the makeshift shop. Elite patrons gossiped among themselves as the gigantic form of Arnold, the creature from VeeVee’s stave, barred them from moving forward with his crossed-arm stance.

“I vill never surrender! Nein! Never again!” VeeVee was stalwart. Rarity felt a drop of sweat cascade down the swoop of her neck and onto her shoulder. She smiled sheepishly at VeeVee.

“Darling, with all due respect, I simply cannot keep the shop running any longer after today — nor can you! The second race is tomorrow!”

VeeVee flashed a batpony-fanged smile at Rarity and chuckled.

“Ja, but zhat is zhe best of zhe parts — mmm, no? See,” VeeVee stood in front of Rarity and cocked her head with a smile. She signaled Rarity with some rapid blinks. Rarity sighed and returned the smile and threw up a forehoof, which VeeVee quickly wrapped with her own. She looked at Rarity with blazing eyes. “I have zhe plan to win against Boozebeard! And ve don’t have to be missing zhe important race to do it!”

Rarity, and Applejack across the way, both sighed as they heard their partners reveal their new strategy for capitalistic victory. The crowds of customers around both wagons was robust — no other stall in the busy Royal Canterlot Courtyard had nearly as many patrons. The very air was thick with the noise of race hype and the need to spend bits that came with it.

* * *

The rush of an evening breeze pushed Rarity’s mane around her head. Applejack held steady to her stetson as the balloon that both mares were riding back to Ponyville bounced with the wind. The setting sun was an orange-red fireball casting a charming glow upon the world below. Rarity and Applejack couldn’t help but relish the surrounding countryside from far above in the balloon, the landscape smothered in orange glow and shadows. Tiny green treetops and cottages marked the way back to Ponyville. Here and there was a wide stretch of farmland and a barn.

“Everything worked out smoothly, I think!” Rarity cried, peering out to the open sky as she leaned with her hooves over the side of the basket. Applejack sighed as she maintained altitude with the balloon’s burner.

“Ah suppose — but! Don’t be thinkin’ this here competition ended with one pony winning or losing! It was a tie, y’hear? We ended early for Rainbow!”

Rarity responded, “Yes, yes, Applejack, of course.” She hummed to herself happily for a moment before speaking again. She turned back to Applejack.

“Say, Applejack, you don’t think it’s a bad idea… everything they said before?”

“Ah don’t know what it is, frankly speaking, Rare — but if Boozey thinks his crew can manage, then Ah’ll believe him. The only reason Ah’m agreeing to it at all is because Granny Smith will be awfully sore if Ah don’t return with a wagon full of bits after missing chores for five or six days straight.” Applejack sniffed nonchalantly and adjusted the burner again. “Course, don’t hurt to make enough bits to purchase a second barn, neither.”

Rarity snickered.

“Right. And if I sell enough dresses, dress orders, and accessories, I’ll have enough work to last until Hearth’s Warming — no, well into the new year!” Rarity twirled around on her backhooves and sighed with pleasure. “Can you picture it, Applejack? An entire repository of fashion with a gem mode? With all the bits I’ll earn — why, I can start a whole package of gemmed apparel for the winter and spring line ups!”

Applejack rolled her eyes.

“Yea yea, sounds like a hoot, Rare. Say — what do ya think Twilight’s up to right now?”

Rarity hummed as if she just remembered something.

“You know, I feel bad but, I almost forgot she had gone away. I suppose she’d be having dinner with some foreign royalty at the moment, discussing international politics and relations or some such.”

Rarity sighed longingly.

“Living the dream, in other words…” she trailed off. Applejack chuckled.

“Ah figured you’d say that, Rare.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the one day delay! Had a pounding headache last night plus I ended up dividing this chapter into two - meaning the next chapter is BASICALLY already done! Might just wait until Saturday to post it as per the schedule though instead of releasing earlier. Depends how much writing I can get done before next weekend.

Enjoy!

35 - Brothers

Chapter 35

Brothers

Twilight Sparkle put her ear against a wooden door. There was no sound from the other side.

This one’s no good either.

She pulled away and resumed her trek through the corridors of Clopstantinople’s royal palace. Twilight closed her eyes and forced a glow from her horn. She made a quiet, focused hum. She’d mapped out the entire palace in her head, or at least what she thought was the entire palace — and with her magic, she kept it in a safe corner of her mind so she could apply the information to a magic scroll once she returned to Canterlot.

The day had proven less-than-fruitful than Twilight had hoped, if she was being honest. While there was a lot of valuable information gathered about the palace’s layout, and eavesdropping had enlightened her on some aspects of Clopstantinople society, she hadn’t found anything that could damn Prince Tsunami. She bit her lip as she approached a wide hallway that veered off to her left.

And I only have maybe another hour before I have to leave. The guard shifts will change, and once they learn I’m not there…

Twilight glanced briefly down the wide hallway to her left and had to do a double take.

A huge pony, wearing yellow gem armor (Twilight figured it was citrine) was glaring down at a palace guard wearing the usual emerald armor. The huge pony’s helmet had an obnoxiously large crest of brown bristles that stuck up and outward on both sides, so that it looked like an angular leaf. Twilight quickly picked up the pace as she headed for the other side of the door frame.

Don’t want whoever that is to see me. Could be trouble.

“HEY YOU! COME BACK HERE AT ONCE!”

It was the sound of a gravelly-pitched mare shouting. Twilight froze in place. She had just passed the hallway, too. Sweat poured out from under her helmet.

S-should I just assume that wasn’t for me and move on?

The voice called out again.

“TO THE GUARD WHO JUST PASSED THE HALLWAY, I AM TALKING TO YOU. IF YOU DON’T COME HERE THIS INSTANT, I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE A LIVING NIGHTMARE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?”

Twilight gulped. Her breathing picked up. True, she was disguised, but just the sound of that mare sent shivers down Twilight’s spine. She didn’t even know mares could grow that large. She was like two Bulk Biceps stacked on top of each other.

Twilight reluctantly turned around and entered the wide hallway. There was a massive set of worn, brown wooden double doors at the far end, where the huge mare and the guard stood. The guard’s face looked like how Twilight imagined hers looked — utter fear that at any moment, one might be ground into a paste.

The huge mare had a set of beady, wild eyes and a brazen, unflinching crescent of a white smile. She seemed tightly wound up, an unsteady breath escaping her lips. Twilight shook as she stepped closer and closer, until she figured she was close enough and stopped. She gave an uneasy salute.

“S-sir?” she asked. The mare screamed, flecks of spit showering Twilight.

“SIR? DID YOU JUST CALL ME SIR?”

The huge mare stomped forward, and Twilight was sure it was the end. The emerald-armored guard scuttled all the way back to the door and tensed his body. The huge mare glared down at Twilight as if she were an unfortunate ant and the huge mare was a rowdy schoolcolt with a magnifying glass.

“I AM A MA’AM, AND YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT! I’LL FORGIVE YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE PROBABLY NEW HERE AND YOU LOOK LIKE ONE OF THE NORMAL GUARDS, SO LISTEN UP, NEWBIE!”

The huge mare barked back at the guard.

“PUNY STALLION, GET UP HERE AND TELL THIS NEWBIE WHO I AM!”

The guard flew forward, reaching the side of the huge mare at a speed that made Twilight’s head spin. The guard quickly recited a practiced speech.

“This is the awesome and powerful MARE, Big Bertha! Commander of the Mare Corps of Clopstantinople! Nopony, especially stallions, can withstand her strength or beauty!”

Big Bertha lifted one of her great big hooves, wrapped it around the guard, and gave him a noogie. She roared with laughter.

“THAT’S RIGHT, LITTLE FELLA! DON’T FORGET IT! NOW,” Big Bertha shouted, looking back to Twilight. She flicked the guard away with her hoof like he was a bug. “THAT PUNY STALLION JUST TOLD ME THE OTHER GUARD THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO STAND GUARD IN THE SECRET ROOM DIDN’T SHOW FOR HIS SHIFT. I NEED YOU TO GO IN THERE AND SHOW THESE MEN HOW A MARE DOES A JOB RIGHT. UNDERSTOOD?”

The way Big Bertha glared down at Twilight, her beady eyes and giant smile never fading for a second, made it clear it was no suggestion. Twilight nodded her head exactly twenty times in the span of a second.

“Y-yes si — MA’AM! Ma’am… I said ma’am!”

Big Bertha stomped out of the hallway.

“HAH, GOOD! IF YOU GET BORED OF THE NORMAL GUARD LIFE, COME APPLY FOR THE MARE CORPS! NO PESKY STALLIONS TO BOTHER YOU! HA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!”

The entire scenario left Twilight speechless. She shook her head and the confusion away.

Well, whatever THAT was, this might be what I was hoping for, strangely enough. She did say ‘secret’ room.

Twilight looked at the double doors. The guard, still picking up the pieces of his shattered manhood, cracked one of the doors open with his hoof.

“C-come on already, let’s get in there before Prince Tsunami arrives,” he said to Twilight. Her heart jumped for joy.

Prince Tsunami! What luck!

Twilight marched through the ajar double doors, which were quickly closed behind her. She was hesitant once inside, not sure where to go, but the other guard took position to the right of the double doors, so she figured she’d stand on the left side.

The room was surrounded by glowing magenta brick walls like any other place in the palace, with a few open windows at the very top of the walls letting in some moonlight to illuminate the otherwise dark area. The only thing inside was a large crystal ball atop a stepped platform. Twilight rose a single eyebrow as she studied it.

What is this thing? The guard said Prince Tsunami is coming. I suppose if I wait, I’ll find out.

Moments passed. Twilight shot the odd glance over at the guard, to see if he might be looking back and reveal more of what was going on to Twilight, though he only ever just stared forward, emotionless. Twilight tried to find some kind of purpose in the crystal ball, though it was dull and empty. A mere hunk of spherical turquoise inset by an intricate, metal pedestal. Twilight narrowed her eyes.

Something’s about to happen…

Just then, the double doors creaked open slightly. Hoofstep sounds bounced around the walls as a few new ponies walked in. Twilight tightened the muscles around her snout into a snarl as she watched the first figure move towards the crystal ball.

Tsunami!

Prince Tsunami was joined by two other guards who quickly left once they checked and saw that the room was being guarded by Twilight and her fellow victim of Big Bertha.

“You’re new.”

Twilight broke free from her angry trance and looked at Tsunami, who had just addressed her. His hard, emerald eyes burned their way into her skull. It was if his glare was piling pound after pound on top of her as each moment ticked by, to the point where she felt like falling to her knees for lack of an answer. He spoke again.

“I haven’t seen you before. Quickly, tell me who your commanding officer at the training academy was, and who commands you now.”

Twilight bit her lip. Tsunami’s emerald eyes did not relent their assault. The sheen in Prince Tsunami’s electric blue, mountain-esque mane caught the moonlight from the windows and twinkled. His silver crown was just as reflective, as was the silver, emerald-encrusted armor on his four hooves. Twilight opened her mouth to speak, her mind bereft of a response but the moment calling for one.

Suddenly, the crystal ball burst into a turquoise light with a whir. Both Twilight and Prince Tsunami had their gazes drawn away by the explosion of light and sound.

“Tsunami… Tsunami! Are you there?”

A gruff voice called out from the crystal ball. It’s previously lifeless form, Twilight noted, was swirling and swirling and turning into… something. A figure was forming on its surface. It was like Twilight was looking at a moving picture come to life. Tsunami responded happily to the voice inside the crystal ball, as if the exchange between himself and Twilight hadn’t occurred.

“Yes! Yes, I am here, dear brother. What news from Canterlot?”

Every nerve in Twilight’s body throbbed at once. Her ears flickered involuntarily, and her pupils shrunk. She watched the swirls in the crystal ball very clearly form into the image of a stout, red pegasus. His eyes were the same as Prince Tsunami’s.

“Nothing unusual to report,” the red pegasus replied through the crystal ball, “This scouting mission is going exactly as planned. Exactly as I have reported every night now for a week.” Twilight watched as the red pegasus cocked his head and sneered. “Surely you believe me, brother?”

Prince Tsunami shook his head.

“No, no, it’s nothing like that, Maelstrom — don’t be foolish. I’m just being as cautious as the situation demands.” Prince Tsunami raised his gauntlet-clad hoof incredulously and laughed. “You’ve never been one to hide your emotions very well, even if you think it to be otherwise!”

Twilight looked to the ground, deep in thought. She was feeling as hot as ever underneath her armor.

Maelstrom… Maelstrom… I KNOW I’ve heard that name before…

The two ponies conversing through the crystal ball did not stop their conversation so Twilight could delve into her mind. The one known as Maelstrom continued.

“Bah — whatever. Anyway, as I promised those many moons ago, I have once again contacted you through the Orb, and have nothing interesting to report. So, make it worth my while with some interesting news of your own!” Maelstrom chuckled. “Tell me what you have done with that stray princess you caught! Surely the Mare Corps have had their way with her by now? Or perhaps the court mage played a ‘trick’ on her?”

Twilight shot her head back up and stared at the crystal ball. Though the image of Maelstrom was not clear through the crystal ball, what he called “the Orb”, Twilight could tell he was smiling wide and smugly. Prince Tsunami shook his head.

“Not yet. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with Twilight Sparkle. Celestia and that little sister of hers know that she is here — they were definitely the mares that sent her here! If Twilight Sparkle doesn’t return at some point…” Prince Tsunami paused, and Twilight could hear a very prominent gulp come from his throat. He continued, “It might be best to send her back. We can’t risk things ending so soon, not before the preparations are ready. Not before Clopstantine the Great can return properly and set things right!”

Maelstrom roared from the other side of the crystal ball and Twilight cringed from the surprisingly loud shout.

“BUT SHE TRIED TO MIND CONTROL YOU, TSUNAMI! HAVE YOU NO PRIDE?”

The echo of Maelstrom’s shouts reverberated around the room a few times before he calmed down with a series of pants and resumed with a calmer disposition.

“There were two dozen guards in the Sky Chamber when she tried to cast that spell on you. Don’t you think they will start to question your leadership if nothing is done?”

Prince Tsunami snapped back almost immediately.

“My leadership? You forget yourself, brother, having been away from home so long. This country is led by and BELONGS to Clopstantine the Great! I care not how they view me.”

The room went silent. The image of Maelstrom was quiet and calm. Prince Tsunami spoke once more.

“Now, your little galivanting adventure of the last few decades has gone on long enough. Have you not mapped out every nook and cranny of Equestria at this point? Come back home, brother. The Pegasus Corps needs you at its head once more. Enough with the sporadic visits every few years! My son won’t return unless you do, and you know how important it is for the line to continue.”

Twilight was desperately trying to process everything she was hearing. She closed her eyes.

Maelstrom… Equestria… scouting mission…

She mulled over everything inside her brain. Then, a stray memory bombarded its way into her consciousness. Twilight’s eyelids flew open.

The races!

Twilight had remembered where she heard the name Maelstrom from: some young colt on the airship ride to Clopstantinople. She remembered how he ranted and raved about Maelstrom and the Equestria Flyers League “putting on the greatest series of races ever” in Canterlot soon. That was a few days ago.

Twilight gritted her teeth and glared at the image of Maelstrom.

So, it was all a ruse to dig up dirt on Equestria! Something IS going on up here with Prince Tsunami, and that Orb thing is the key! I need to get all this information back to Celestia!

When she had finally realized that she had spaced out, Twilight noticed the glow of the crystal ball fade. Maelstrom’s voice resounded one more time before dissipating for good.

“The Elements of Harmony will be no issue to me from now on. They have no lead anymore. I must go…”

Prince Tsunami spoke to himself as the room became dark once more.

“Well of course they are no trouble to you, foolish brother — I have the Element of Magic safely contained in my cell.”

He paused before continuing.

“But why would you fear the Elements if you are on a mere scouting mission, hmm? That Maelstrom…”

The guard across from Twilight saluted as Prince Tsunami took his leave, his gemmed grieves pounding on the stone floor with a vicious clang as he walked. Twilight also saluted. Then, when the prince had left, the door closed behind him. Twilight said a silent prayer towards the sky that he had forgotten about his suspicions of her. A moment later, the guard moved and opened the double doors.

“Good job, newbie,” he said to Twilight before leaving, “Now just remember not to tell a soul about what you heard.”

Twilight nodded.

“R-right!”

Once back into the wide hallway, Twilight walked at a fast pace. There was little time to spare.

I need to make it to the other side of the palace to leave from that exit I discovered a few days ago. But once I’m outside, it’s smooth sailing!

A confident smile broke out onto Twilight’s face.

And to think I was starting to doubt Celestia and Luna.

1 - A Grand Entrance

The Storm's Challenge

Written by OneLonelyPickle

Chapter 1

A Grand Entrance

Trumpets tore through the air in Ponyville, shrill and brass, as an esteemed guest made his way to the center of town.

“Oooh! Oooh! Mr. Maelstrom, sir! Over here!” shouted Rainbow Dash, jumping up and down and spinning as she hovered over the ground. Her cries fell short of her idol, who was bombarded on all sides by ponies like Rainbow, screaming their hearts out. Whether you were a young-blooded flyer, an easily-impressed everypony trying to catch a glimpse of a celebrity, or one of the hundreds of mares admiring the muscular form of Maelstrom, there truly was something for everypony.

The most well known flyer in Equestria, Maelstrom “The Storm” moved towards the center of town, bringing with him a massive crowd of followers. Rainbow decided to fly ahead and get a spot before there were none left. She took to the air, a gluttonous smile devouring her face.

“Welcome, everypony, to this most amazing of events!”

The mayor's always-jubilant voice reverberated off of the walls of buildings, and the hides of ponies, as she began her speech.

“Though he truly needs no introduction, well -- here it goes: He’s one of Equestria's greatest flyers—” Even if the mayor had intended to continue, it was impossible now to cut through the thick growth of sound that had erupted out of the crowd. Ponies of all sizes, colors, genders, and races were shouting, screaming and cheering their loudest, and Rainbow was no exception. She could feel her heart about to burst from the excitement.

The mayor backed up, clearing the path for the strutting, mercurial Maelstrom, who was now making his way to the podium. On either side of the massive red pegasus were two equally massive guards, covered head to hoof in gleaming emerald armor. Gliding in the air above Ponyville were three dozen more guards. Like hungry eagles they watched the crowd, their x-ray-like vision scanning every mane and flank for any signs of ill intent.

“Helloooo, all you amazing ponies of Ponyville!” Maelstrom shouted, sounding more like a command than a comment. From Sweet Apple Acres to the edge of the Everfree Forest, one could not twitch without the sound of mindless cheering filling one's curious ears. Rainbow was biting her forehoof absent-mindedly hard as she screamed through her cyan flesh like a little filly.

How could something so awesome happen in her lifetime? Did dreams really come true? Was it possible she was just dreaming? Were the hundreds, maybe even thousands, of ponies around her just figments of her overactive imagination? How about the guards or the much-loved Maelstrom himself? Did it even matter if the heart-pounding event was just one of Rainbow's sleep-induced phenomenon? Rainbow was snapped out of her thoughts — Maelstrom continued.

“I do not agree with the mayor’s sentiments that no introduction is required — if we’re all going to work together in the following week to put together the greatest air show of Equestria's history, I at least need to open myself up to each and every one of you.”

Maelstrom had to stop to let the crowd die down. It was indescribable how much feedback his words were attracting. After a pause, he resumed his speech.

“My name is Maelstrom — some of you might know me as 'The Storm'. I’m forty-eight years old, and I can still whoop young pegasi in a 100-lap race with my eyes blindfolded! I founded the Equestria Flyers League when I was just twenty-two, and since then it’s grown to be the largest organization for pegasi athletes in the country."

Maelstrom reviewed the crowd with a gentle, approving smile.

"I’ve devoted my life to the sport of flying, and it warms my heart to see such a reaction from you fine, humble folk—”

The crowd responded accordingly: with another wave of decibels. Maelstrom looked to his left, whispered a few words to a guard, then turned back around, his smile ever-present.

From Rainbow's perch atop a cloud positioned directly above town hall, she could see it all: the mares screaming "I love you", the athletes hoof bumping the air, and all of the fillies and colts hopping in place excitedly. Ponyville was in love with Maelstrom. That same superstar began to speak once more.

“Now, I know what some of you will be thinking: 'Maelstrom, isn’t this little contest of yours a little too similar to the Equestria Games?"

The ponies in the crowd turned to one another and mumbled amongst themselves.

"No, my ponies, it is not." Maelstrom continued. "My contest, my challenge, is first and foremost a spectacle to watch and be awed at by the spectators, and to be bitterly fought over by its contenders! It is NOT about mere friendly competition. Furthermore, we are going to focus exclusively on the art of flying. We want to find out precisely what flyers can accomplish when pushed to their maximum limits!"

The pegasi in the crowd cheered, Rainbow being no exception.

"And for you non-flyers," Maelstrom's loud voice thundered throughout Ponyville, "I hope what occurs in the next week awakens in you the passion to try something extraordinary yourself. Go and join a marathon, go mountain climbing, swim across the Aclopagos River — it doesn’t matter!"

"What matters is that you let your spirit be free to do as it pleases. You must live every day as if it is your last! To not be restrained by what anypony says you should or shouldn't do!”

Rainbow felt a vibration on her cloud. She turned around to see that Fluttershy had landed next to her. Fluttershy smiled behind her mane, which then like at most times acted like a mask hiding her demure face.

“F-Fluttershy!" Rainbow stuttered, loud enough to be heard amidst the commotion. "C-can you believe this? That’s Maelstrom RIGHT THERE!”

Fluttershy tried to reply, but the noise built up all around her was overpowering. She stepped back in defeat, then regained her courage, stepped forever, and started screaming at the top of her lungs. Yet Rainbow had her eyes fixated on Maelstrom, and heard nothing.

"The Storm" was an immaculate example of a pegasus. His wings, when outstretched, spanned at least 12 feet. His hooves were toned and appeared to be crafted by a deity. His coat, covered in an impressive sheen, bounced light rays off it like a mirror. His eyes, deep and emerald, sucked up attention like a vacuum. He was an alpha male in every sense of the concept.

“All you pegasi out there, remember this," Maelstrom encouraged, "These games are for YOU. Take this time to show the whole country what YOU are made of. Shine your brightest, and may the Princesses—" Maelstrom abruptly stopped speaking. He looked out to the crowd, and Rainbow thought it looked like he was deciding his next words. Maelstrom shook his head, furrowed his brow as if a new determination had come about him, and continued. "May the Princesses bestow upon you a blessing of good luck!"

“I now officially open registration for The Storm’s Challenge to the flyers of Ponyville!”

Maelstrom flew into the air just above his podium and stretched out his fore and back hooves in a mighty demonstration, and as he did fireworks exploded in the air above the stage. An entourage of flyers zoomed past the skies above Ponyville trailing red and green colored smokes behind them and creating a booming drum as they cut through the sound barrier.

Madness overtook the crowd and the screams of ponies doubled in volume compared to earlier. Elderly ponies had to cover their ears or risk permanent damage. Pegasi of all descriptions headed for the sign-up booths as Maelstrom made a final wave to the crowd and took his leave, his guards emotionlessly in tow.

Rainbow was about to take her leave when a voice stopped her dead in her tracks. A shiver of ecstasy slithered down her spine as the weight on the cloud increased substantially.

“Hey, if it isn’t Rainbow Dash!” exclaimed a pony Rainbow could tell was Spitfire. Rainbow slowly turned her head around as if it was attached to a rusty hinge, a goofy smile plastered on her face. Another pony, Soarin', also landed on the cloud in front of Fluttershy.

“What's up, Rainbow?” asked Soarin'. “Long time no see, dude!”

Rainbow bowed her head and crossed her fore hooves, attempting some sort of curtsy, more out of excited impulse and less out of respect. It only happened for a second before Rainbow hastily turned "Cool Mode" on: her wings were straightened against her, her chest was pushed out uncomfortably, and her mane sat over her left eye.

“H-hey guys — oh, I'm cool Soarin', y'know, just like always, hehe." Rainbow's far-too-quick response, coupled with the awkward snicker added to the end of her sentence, made her sound quite uncool. Regardless, the Wonderbolts were not phased. Spitfire got to the point.

“So Rainbow, I guess I don't even have to ask if you're going to join the race.”

Rainbow relaxed and batted the air with her hoof. “Psshh — Yeah, of course I'm joining!"

Soarin' spoke, "You know, there's gonna be a ton of competition. This race isn't open to just Equestrians. I heard that a lot of flyers outside of the country will attend as well.”

Spitfire nodded. “Oh yeah, definitely. There's even a rumor going around among us Wonderbolts that Zephyr'll be attending. I mean, if the Flyers League is taking part in the races, he's got to be coming too.”

Soarin' quickly added, “Me and Fleetfoot were just talkin' about that, like, ten minutes ago! Wouldn't that be freaking awesome?”

“Oh dude, totally!” chimed Spitfire as she high-hooved her companion.

Rainbow's heart dropped to her toes. “Z-Zephyr… THE Zephyr, c-coming to Ponyville?”

This was a far bigger deal than Rainbow could have ever imagined. Zephyr was the leader of one of the Equestria Flyers League’s top teams, and if he was going to attend, who else might come to claim the title?

Spitfire turned to face the melting pile of fangirl that was Rainbow. “He won't be coming to Ponyville, silly -- well, not unless he wants to. The Storm's Challenge is going to be held above Canterlot, at Saddlebred Citadel.”

“NO WAY! We get to go to THE Saddlebred Citadel?” Rainbow couldn't help but squeal.

Soarin' grinned. “Well, that's only if you sign up and enter the race. The Citadel moves all across Equestria and this is the first time it's going to be in Canterlot. Nopony who calls themselves a flyer is going to want to miss this!"

Fluttershy wasn't at all interested in the races or the Citadel. Nevertheless, she felt awkward not joining the conversation, so she stepped forward. An idea entered her mind, causing a blush to color her cheeks pink, and she spoke in a loud voice that somehow seemed like a whisper.

“U-um, do you Wonderbolts know somepony named Bushwhacker? He's a... friend of mine." Fluttershy's quiet voice just barely registered in Soarin's ears, and he replied while blinking rapidly.

“Oh, yeah, Bushwhacker. He's in the Flyers League right? We sometimes race with them, and I've seen him around...” Soarin and Spitfire exchanged odd glances.

“He's a rather, err, interesting pegasus… to say the least.” Spitfire rolled her eyes, her half-drawn smile not hiding her true opinion well.

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “Fluttershy, how do you know a pony in the Flyers League? They, like, never come to Ponyville!”

Fluttershy spoke as she twiddled her hooves. “Oh, but B-Bushwhacker is a member of the Society for Better Living with Animals, like me, s-so I used to see him once a month in Canterlot. We discussed animals and how to properly take care of them. He's an amazingly good flyer, a-almost as good as you, Rainbow. But I haven’t seen him in a while…”

Spitfire gently pushed Rainbow and changed the subject. “Almost as good. But I think Dashie here's got what it takes to be number one. Her and Lightning Dust swept house at our lesson last year. I’d never seen that kind of skill from newbies in all my time with the Bolts!”

“Heck yeah!” hailed Soarin', “And remember her back in the Best Young Flyer competition the year before that? She's the only pony to perform a sonic rainboom in, like, a million years!”

Rainbow blushed, tracing her hoof along the cloud beneath her. “Well, actually, I made a sonic rainboom when I was younger too… when I was a filly.”

The two Wonderbolts were speechless. It took awhile for them to find their tongues, but eventually Spitfire made a suggestion.

“Say Rainbow, how'd you like to come with us to sign up for the contest? We’d be honored to have you with us!”

An explosion of happiness overtook Rainbow's face until it was impossible for the engorged smile to envelop any more space, and she managed to stammer out an answer, “S-sure!”

With that the uncontrollable pegasus leapt into the sky, as an excited foal would leap into a clear pool of water on a day just as hot as that one. Rainbow briefly twirled around before turning her attention to Fluttershy, who was still standing on the cloud.

“Y-you comin' Fluttershy?” she asked.

Fluttershy shook her head. “No, but thanks for asking. I'm a pretty terrible racer and an even worse competitor. Besides, I have to go help Rarity get rid of a family of bats living in her attic. Oh, but if you see Bush—”

Rainbow had already zoomed away after the Wonderbolts.

“Bye, Rainbow,” Fluttershy whispered with a wave. She sighed, her face still a little hot, though she knew not why. She took her sweet time descending from the cloud, feeling the cool yet refreshing breeze rustle her angelic mane and work its way through her delicate wings. Ponies were running about every which way, going about their daily business as best they could amidst the commotion. It made Fluttershy smile, albeit it also made her a tad anxious.

With hooves planted firmly on the solid earth once more, Fluttershy began a leisurely trot towards Carousel Boutique.

Author's Note

Edit: December 18, 2020 - Polished this chapter once again; I have made several edits over the years after re-reading and not liking how it sounded. For now, I think it's nearly perfect. I'm not entirely happy with how I chose to start this story, but I think it's really great considering beginnings are what snag most writers and prevent them from moving forward. It gets the story started without any filler or delay.

2 - Fine Print

Chapter 2
-
Fine Print

Rainbow couldn’t stop smiling. It was almost scary how her mouth muscles refused to relax. It was understandable — it was not everyday that she got to spend time with the Wonderbolts.

“Wow, there are a lot more Ponyville pegasi signing up than I thought there'd be,” commented Spitfire, her forehoof resting thoughtfully on her chin. Indeed, there were at least forty pegasi she had counted so far.

Rainbow, Soarin', and Spitfire were waiting in line at one of the contest sign-up kiosks. Rainbow wasn't terribly concerned about the contest at that time, and was instead enjoying being in the presence of her heroes. She was getting all sorts of approving glances from ponies, no doubt due to her association with the famous aerial team. Well, that and her undeniable coolness, of course.

Soarin' grinned over-confidently. “All the more flank to whoop,” he half-whispered as he scanned the surrounding area. There was no competition even worth mentioning coming out from Ponyville, as far as the Wonderbolt's second-in-command was concerned, unless one considered Rainbow as well.

“Now now, Soarin', don't get ahead of yourself,” teased Spitfire, “You'll be out of the Storm's Challenge long before anything interesting happens!”

Soarin' frowned, going on the defensive. “Oh yeah? And who's gonna be the one knocking me out of it, Miss So-Sure-Of-Herself?”

The fiery mare brought her face nose-to-nose with Soarin's. “Me,” she said, putting excessive amounts of emphasis on the short, saucy word.

“You think you can take me? Come at me, sis!” Soarin' shouted, standing on his hind legs and raising his front hooves like fists.

“Um, guys?” said Rainbow, pointing a hoof forward. Spitfire and Soarin', in their kerfuffle, were oblivious to the fact that the line had shortened, and that their party should have been much closer to the kiosk. With barely noticeable blushes Soarin' and Spitfire closed the gap. Rainbow giggled.

Rainbow’s stomach turned upside-down. She glanced at the words on the contest waiver for the fourth time. The bold letters she read seemed to urge her, right then and there, to quit:

You and you alone are liable for all injuries that occur, including, but not limited to. . .

The list of possible injuries was, while frightening, nothing compared to the final part of the waiver, which elicited a very prominent gulp from Rainbow.

. . .and, if such an outcome should occur, death.

She couldn't help but play the scene out in her head: she was flying in the races, surrounded on all sides by muscular, athletic pegasi, flying around obstacles at insane speeds. All of a sudden, she accidentally clipped her wing on something and fell to a slow, dramatic death on the unsympathetic earth below. Rainbow swore she could hear a crunching noise ring through her ears. She cringed, and was unable to hide it from Spitfire, who did not seem as disturbed as the cyan mare.

“I' shounds priddy intenshe, eh Ra'bow? Loog a' all theshe lega' papersh 'e 'otta shign 'oo,” said Spitfire through a mouth full of documents. With a giggle she transferred the thin objects to a usually unnoticeable pocket in her Wonderbolts costume. Rainbow feigned laughter.

“Yup, haha, they really think we're gonna get hurt. Probably just in case or something, y'know, to keep the lawyers off their backs,” Rainbow said, her uneasy tone giving her away.

Spitfire shrugged and replied, “I don't know… a race this size? There are going to be tons of flyers going at it all at once. Somepony's bound to get hurt, wouldn't you think?”

Rainbow winced. It was not like she was afraid of the pain. What really gave her nightmares was being confined to a hospital bed or the ground for the rest of her life. She dared not even imagine what it would be like to never fly again, to feel the freedom only open wings and drafts of wind could bring.

And of course, the word from the contest waiver, “death”, was always there, looming forebodingly behind her conscience.

* * *

A few blocks down the road, the mayor of Ponyville was busying herself with work, with a little help from Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie?” The mayor called out from her office. She looked stepped outside of it and looked around Ponyville town hall. As improbable as it seemed, the voice of Pinkie had completely stopped while the busy politician was unpacking a box of new office supplies. When the mayor discovered her assistant for half the day was no longer in the room with her, she became worried. Where had that never-ending source of glee run off to?

After checking every other room in city hall thoroughly for any signs of the silly filly, the mayor at last came to a linen closet. An eerie aura seemed to seep out from the door handle, causing the mayor to turn it slowly and hesitantly in case her premonitions proved true. There was a chomping sound coming from inside the room — no, not chomping. It was more like slurping mixed with gobbling.

“Are you in there P-Pinkie?” the mayor asked as she reluctantly brought the door to its fully opened position. It was completely dark inside, and the sound of eating had vanished. The mayor squinted and could make out movement. She took one step forward.

“HI MS. MAYOR!”

Pinkie jumped out and shouted, causing the mayor's heart to stop. The middle-aged earth pony screamed in terror.

Pinkie flipped on a light switch and, pointing to something on the floor the mayor couldn't yet distinguish, began to ramble. “I'm taking a 'cake break'! You want some? I baked it myself, specifically for my 'cake break'. I call it my baked 'cake break' cake!”

The mayor had her fore hoof on her chest and was breathing heavily in an attempt to calm herself down. She spoke through short pants, “P-Pinkie, why are you in my closet? You could have just asked for a break and eaten in the break room!”

Pinkie beamed. “But that wouldn't have been any fun! The best part about a 'cake break' is that it's random!” she said with a couple of giggles.

The mayor gave Pinkie a confused look before continuing, “Well, uh, okay then. Anyway, I can finish unpacking my new office supplies, so I'd like you to gallop on over to the Carousel Boutique and see if Rarity has finished making that snazzy vest I ordered!”

“Oh boy I get to go visit Rarity? Okie dokie loki, Ms. Mayor!” answered a chipper Pinkie, finishing with a salute. “You can count on me, ma'am.”

* * *

Fluttershy returned to the living room of Carousel Boutique, her relocation job now complete. A quaint little family of bats had been living in Rarity's attic, and after some convincing from Ponyville's favorite nature-loving pony, they left without a complaint.

Rarity stared at her friend, slack-jawed and speechless. She came to and shook her head. “Even after all the times I’ve seen you helping animals, it never ceases to blow my mind, Fluttershy... how do they all love you so much?”

“Oh, well, they don’t all love me.” Fluttershy took a seat on a couch opposite her friend. “Sometimes they’ll snap or snarl, but I just keep calm and let them know I won’t harm them. Animals aren’t out to hurt anypony, Rarity, they just want to find a good home for themselves or their family. Since we don’t always speak the same language, it takes a lot of patience to get the point across without getting upset or having to resort to violence.”

Rarity nodded. “Maybe that’s my problem. If there’s one thing this lady’s short on, it’s patience. Honestly, I find myself ready to scream if I miss a deadline by just one second—”

Rarity jumped out of her seated position and drew in a shrill gasp. Fluttershy tilted her head quizzically.

“W-what’s the matter Rarity?”

“The mayor’s vest! I-I was so wrapped up about those bats that I didn’t get any time to finish it! She’ll probably send someone over soon t—”

Somepony knocked at the front door, right on cue. The bubbly voice rang out from behind the wooden barrier, “Rarity! It’s me, Pinkie Pie! I'm here to get Mayor Mare's vest!”

The called-for mare bit her lower lip. Rarity quickly looked around before hopping behind the couch. “Fluttershy, answer the door, and tell her I’m not here!” she whispered to her timid friend.

“O-okay… well, if you think that’s a good idea,” Fluttershy said quietly. She opened the door and in bounced Pinkie, her face lit up as usual.

“Hey Fluttershy! Where's Rarity?” asked the pink party pony. Fluttershy looked around, her face hidden behind her mane.

“Oh, um,” she mumbled, “Rarity’s… busy.”

“Busy? With what?” asked Pinkie.

“She’s… eating.” Rarity facehooved from behind the couch as Fluttershy proclaimed the silly lie.

“So, she’s in the kitchen?” Pinkie raised an eyebrow, and brought up a hoof to move. The path into the kitchen would bring her in direct line-of-sight with Rarity’s hiding spot.

Fluttershy nearly shouted. “NO! I, err, I mean, she’s… at a restaurant. Yes, she’s just outside of town, um, but I don’t know where.”

At this outburst, Pinkie squinted at the anxious mare before her. She brought her nose straight up to her friend’s face, and looked deep into her eyes. Fluttershy sheepishly smiled and cleared her throat.

“Okaaaay then… I’ll just go find her!” Pinkie said, seriously at first, then ending on a cheerful note. She began to leave. “Thanks for your help, Fluttershy—oh, I almost forgot!” Pinkie turned around. Rarity held her breath.

“Is Dashie gonna join that really cool race thingy, because if she is I’m totally gonna throw her a special party!”

Fluttershy said, “I think so. I saw her leave with the Wonderbolts to sign up, but I’m not sure she’ll want to be partying with the races happening this week.”

“Yeah, I guess not,” said Pinkie with a little disappointment in her voice. “Oh the other hoof—”

“Pinkie, I have to, err, water Rarity’s plants now, so, um…”

“Okay! I gotta go find her and get that vest anyway! Goodbye, Fluttershy!”

With that, at last, Pinkie left, and Rarity inhaled a much needed breath of air. She plopped down on the couch across from Fluttershy and nervously rubbed the back of her head.

“I’m so sorry I had to ask you to do that for me, Fluttershy. It’s a good thing Pinkie Pie doesn’t know I don’t have any plants! By the way, what was she saying about Rainbow Dash and a race?”

The yellow pony explained to Rarity all she knew about Maelstrom, the races, and what was going on. Rarity looked excited by the end of it all.

“How exquisite! With all the ponies that’ll be coming to the area I’m sure I’ll be getting some much needed business. Ponies don’t buy fine clothes like they used to anymore.”

Fluttershy nodded. “Speaking of clothes, I guess you’ll want some alone time to finish the mayor’s vest."

“Oh, well I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to get rid of you, but yes, darling, I would like to get that done, sooner rather than later.”

“It’s no problem, really Rarity. I want to go check up on Spike anyway. With Twilight gone he’s all alone tending to the library.” Fluttershy frowned.

“Ah yes, Twilight’s on a ‘Princess-related trip’ right? Figures,” Rarity stretched, covering most of the couch and nesting her delicate head on her marshmallow hooves. “She gets to go off gallivanting with big important ponies while I’m stuck here with the little fish…”

Rarity quickly realized what she said and laughed uncomfortably. “But what, err, graceful fish they are!” she exclaimed, trying to regain the favor of Fluttershy, who really wasn’t all that insulted to begin with. Rarity was Rarity, after all.

The two wrapped up their conversation and Fluttershy took her leave. Once again she was on the blazing trail, this time off to cheer up a particularly overworked baby dragon.

The sun reached its zenith in the sky, and somewhere in the world one very studious alicorn princess had reached her destination.

13 - The Star Flyer of the EFL

Chapter 13

The Star Flyer of the EFL

“Z-Zephyr? The REAL Zephyr?!”

Rainbow’s jaw refused to return to its proper place and hung like a sack of rocks. Zephyr rolled his eyes.

“Yeaaah — hey, relax. We’re both celebrities, aren’t we? Don’t be so star-stuck.”

The cyan pegasus scooped up her muzzle as best she could and shook her head with incredulity.

“B-But what the hay are you doing here, by yourself, and talking to me — wait, me, a celebrity?”

Zephyr chuckled. He performed a backwards somersault and descended through a cluster of clouds, then came back up and flew a wide circle around Rainbow. He stopped in place, upside down, and twirling in place, as if hanging upside down on an invisible rope, his eye-blindingly pink ponytail swaying in the light breeze.

“I came to find you, of course. That and watch Lovey Dovey’s team… and I don’t like to travel in style, contrary to popular opinion. In case you thought I'd be coming in a giant limousine carriage or something.” Rainbow thought back to Soarin' the other day and snickered. Zephyr sighed. “It’s all so tiresome — everypony always wants a piece of Zephyr. Let's hassle Zephyr! So, I came by myself in secret. Actually, I have something to ask you, more importantly!”

With a whip of his ponytail Zephyr flipped himself back to normal so he wasn't looking at Rainbow upside down. He moved his goggles to just above his brow and stared at his fellow “celebrity” with a piercing emerald gaze. “And yeah, you’re pretty famous yourself. You think you can save Equestria several times, pop off a sonic rainboom TWICE, and not draw attention?!”

Rainbow blushed. She swatted a hoof in front of her. “Pshhh — well, when you say it like that, I mean… it’s n-not really a big deal. I didn’t save Equestria by myself, but YOU did beat Quicksilver Dart one on one – with two broken fetlocks!”

The two started to fly at a brisk pace, as Rainbow still needed to keep her spot in the exercise and bust obstacles as she did so, and Zephyr followed. He replied, “Yeahhhh I did beat Quicksilver, but y’know, she’s not all that, like the tabloids would make you believe. And you don’t need fetlocks to fly well – coming back to your rainbooms, how is it that you managed to do one as a filly and then not again until just a few years ago?”

Rainbow kicked a cloud into next week. “I dunno, honestly. I mean, both times it happened it was when I had to save a friend, and only the rainboom could get me to them in time.” Rainbow shot Zephyr a sidelong glance. “Say, how do you know about that time when I was a filly? It was a long time ago; most ponies don't know that was me.”

Both pegasi came to a clearing where the nearest cloud was miles away. All before them was orange-blanketed cloud tops far below and huge columns of white to the east and west. It was like a great big bowl of air encapsulated by fluffy white clouds. Zephyr smiled to himself as he responded, “Let’s just say I… come from a well-connected family.” He hoofbumped the air. “Anyway! I want to show you something; it’s related to my request. Come on!”

Zephyr was off like a flash, descending below the clearing so fast that even Rainbow almost missed it. She took off after him. Down and down they flew, and Rainbow started to worry she would mess up the exercise if she didn’t get back on track. Suddenly, she broke into another cleared-out area and watched Zephyr with wide eyes.

A sharp cone was forming in front of him as he headed towards the earth like a comet. Rainbow could tell from her angle what that was: he was going to perform the sonic rainboom!

But just as quick as Zephyr had been, the sonic rainboom cone disappeared, and losing his momentum, Zephyr shot back up into the sky with hooves and wings flailing. He caught himself once more and flapped his wings to keep aloft, then zoomed up beside Rainbow. He was panting and coughing like he had just won a marathon twice in a row.

“Did you – was that — not bad… eh?” Zephyr smiled through his struggles. Rainbow felt her jaw grow limp again.

“You almost did the sonic rainboom!” Rainbow’s expression changed to one of excitement. “I mean, I’m a bit jealous, but wow! That’s so cool! I thought I was the only one who could do it!”

Zephyr took in a deep breath and exhaled out of his mouth drawn into an O. He jerked his head so his ponytail flopped out of his vision. “Well, you still are the only one who can do it. I’ve practiced the darn move like 5000 times in the last two years and have never been able to get closer than that to completing it.”

Rainbow remembered the exercise and motioned upwards, asking if they could continue back where they left off. Zephyr agreed with a nod and a few moments later both ponies were soaring in the clearing along the path of the exercise. They were close now to the end if Rainbow’s time-keeping skills were anything halfway decent.

“You’ll get it, Zephyr,” Rainbow said as she directed a flock of geese towards a safer direction, “Trust me. You’re already so close AND you’re a champion flyer! You’ll figure it out!”

Zephyr beamed at Rainbow. “You’re right, I will… because you’re going to teach me!”

At this Rainbow gasped. “No way! Like, now? Tomorrow? The races are starting soon! No offense, Zephyr, you’re awesome and all, but I’m going to win those races” — Rainbow broke into an ear-to-ear grin and pointed at herself with a stalwart hoof, her multi-colored mane bouncing up as she did — “which means I need to train with the Wonderbolts as much as I can. Sorry, but no can do.”

Rainbow and Zephyr passed into a cumulonimbus. Rainbow had to kick and flap her wings harder than ever before during the exercise as the massive cloud began to dissipate. Zephyr cried amidst the noise of static electricity breaking off as Rainbow hit the cloud.

“This is the best part, though, Rainbow! In exchange, I can show you a way to fly twice as fast and actually have a chance to beat me at the races!” The cloud broke up around the two with a final burst of static. It only slightly frazzled the two pegasi, as both had a lot of experience with angry storm clouds.

“What do you mean?” Rainbow asked, eyebrow raised. “A way to fly TWICE as fast? You saying right now you can fly at least TWICE as fast as ME?”

Zephyr nodded with hooves crossed, looking proud. “It’s my secret; it’s how I win every race, and I’m willing to share it with you – and only you, Rainbow Dash – in exchange for the secret of the sonic rainboom. It’s the ONLY way you’ll be able to keep up at the end of the final race, I can assure you.”

“The final race?” Rainbow asked as the two continued towards the sun. Zephyr hummed an affirmation.

“I wouldn’t play my trump card on the other two, less-important races, would I? So, do we have a deal?” Zephyr held his hoof out with a smile. Rainbow didn’t sense any ill-will, and this was THE Zephyr. She clasped the outstretched hoof in her own and returned the smile.

“Fine, but you better not be joshin’ me, or I’ll come find you. Thanks to Famous Flyer Monthly, I know where you live!”

The two laughed and Zephyr said somewhat seriously, “That’s a little creepy!”

The sun wrestled with the horizon as the day came to a close. Rainbow and Zephyr glided towards the end point of the flying exercise.

“Hey.” Rainbow broke the silence. “You mind if I ask you how awesome Maelstrom is, like, in person? I’ve been dying to know – and I mean not in front of a crowd. Like if it was just you and him.” Rainbow looked at Zephyr with a big grin and sparkly eyes, but the stallion just turned away with a sigh.

“Ehhh… he’s… well,” – Zephyr rubbed the side of his face – “Stoic? Rough around the edges? He’s an amazing flyer, no question there.” Zephyr quietly cleared his throat. Rainbow raised a brow.

“That’s it? It kinda sounds like you hate the guy, even though you should adore his every fibre and being!” Rainbow got into Zephyr’s face and threw her hooves in the air. “He’s been a champion racer before either of us were born! A living legend!”

Zephyr snarled for a split second. Rainbow flinched. The star flyer of the EFL closed his eyes and swerved around Rainbow. He let out all the air gathered in his lungs.

“Maelstrom is my boss. That’s all there is to it, alright?”

Rainbow gulped. She caught up and maintained her pace beside Zephyr. “Alright, sorry I asked.” After some silence to lighten the tensions, Rainbow piped up again. “So, you want to start training tomorrow? I’m not sure how much I can teach and show you, but I have some things in mind, shouldn’t take more than a few hours.”

Zephyr forced a smile. “Sounds good. Let’s meet in town where the skies are the clearest, around 4pm. That way we can both get some training in with our respective teams. Where's the best place to train?”

Rainbow stroked her chin with a hoof as if to entice thoughts to form. “Well… guess that would be Sweet Apple Acres. We weather ponies usually don’t put many clouds around there because the trees need the sunlight. We could meet above the highest hill, the one with the three apple trees.”

Zephyr turned to Rainbow and nodded quickly. “Until then, then.” With one final smile, he was off behind a cloud. He called out from a distance.

“Don’t worship the ground your heroes walk on – or fly over – until you know them, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow mulled the words over for a few minutes before letting her happiness overtake her face. She shrieked and started punching and kicking the air. “Ohmigosh ohmigosh ohmigosh! Training with Zephyr? I gotta pinch myself!” And that she did, with an “ow!” afterwards. She shook her head.

“Gotta be real! Well, one more for good luck.”

This time was harder than the last, and with a yell, she left a red mark on her forehoof.

“Okay, definitely awake! Time to get back to base!”

28 - The Orb of Omniscience

Chapter 28

The Orb of Omniscience

Sherclop Pones took one last puff of her bubble pipe.

“It’s elementary, dear Watspike.”

Watspike adjusted his black face mask and grumbled, “Is that what you want to call it? Seems crazy to me…”

The pony and her intrepid investigatory assistant, dressed like ninjas, hid behind a tree, waiting for the right moment to bounce on the hideout of the evil menace, Maelstrom.

Watspike threw up his claws in distress.

“For starters, it’s the middle of the day! Are we really going to just run out there and hope to not get caught?”

Sherclop Pones returned her bubble pipe to her saddle bags.

“Hmm, observe, young Watspike.” She motioned her hoof towards Maelstrom’s tent. The lone patrolling guard passed around the EFL-colored tent. Watspike followed Sherclop’s gaze and saw that the other guards standing nearby were talking. They nodded to one another then left.

“Lunch time, Watspike! Our only chance to get inside while that patrolling guard is walking around the other side of the tent! Let’s go!”

Sherclop was off in a cloud of dust. Watspike chewed the ends of his claws.

“Oh crud, we’re done for! W-wait up Pink—err, Sherclop!” he whisper-shouted as he followed after his master investigator companion.

In a flash, Sherclop pulled back, tore open her saddlebags, and yanked out a strange, large device. She tossed it towards the base of Maelstrom’s tent and it started to take form.

“Good thing I had that spar with the villain’s henchman, Slapshot!” Sherclop announced as Watspike caught up, breathing heavily. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have thought of using this!”

The device Sherclop had thrown popped open to reveal a medium-sized trampoline. Watspike frantically searched all around himself, sweating buckets at the same time.

“O-okay, you jump up first Pinkie – err, Sherclop,” Watspike began, “T-then I’ll go after!”

Before he could finish, Sherclop was already leaping unto the trampoline and gracefully launching herself into the air. She landed with a barely perceptible “thud” on top of Maelstrom’s tent. The roof was shaped in such a way so that anypony on the ground wouldn’t see anypony on top of it, unless they headed for the flagged spire of the tent in the middle. Sherclop poked her head over the side of the tent and called down to Watspike.

“Hurry, Watspike!”

With one final gulp, Watspike closed his eyes and jumped onto the trampoline. He flew into the air with a muffled cry, landing right next to Sherclop. Watspike looked back down on the ground.

“What about the trampoline??” he whispered. As if to answer his concerns, the trampoline folded itself back into what appeared to be a weird rock.

“O-oh… how’d it do that?” Watspike inquired. Sherclop shrugged.

“Ehh, it’s old. Usually only stays unfolded for two jumps now!” Sherclop looked stalwart at her assistant.

“Okay, Watspike! Time for your important duty in this plan!”

Watspike held up a claw and deadpanned. He then flicked his claws together and one of his fingers shot open like a switchblade. He used his finger to delicately cut a large hole into the tent roof.

“T-there! It’s done!” Watspike swallowed hard, and Sherclop looked more excited than he hoped for. “W-who goes first?”

Sherclop grabbed Watspike and lowered him, upside down, into the hole.

“Bwah, P-Pinkie! What the hay?!”

“Shh!” Sherclop shushed. “What do you see, young Watspike?”

Watspike looked around, trying to decipher the inside of the tent while upside down. He stared ahead then turned around. It appeared there was a circular entrance hallway of sorts that surrounded an enclosed, middle portion of the tent, as if there were a smaller tent inside the bigger one. Watspike couldn’t see what was inside the middle portion. Candelabra, complete with burning wax fixtures, lined the hallway, and on the walls at certain intervals were portraits of regal looking, frowning stallions.

“It’s weird, it’s like one of the hallways in Canterlot Castle, only inside a tent.” Watspike called up. Sherclop whisper-shouted back with urgency.

“Yes, but is the coast clear, Watspike?!”

Watspike twitched. “Oh, right. Yes, nopony is here. It’s… safe, I-I guess.”

Sherclop unceremoniously dropped Watspike and leapt in after him. Watspike had no time to cry out in dismay as he landed on his face into the lush, red carpet of the tent’s outer hallway.

Both super sleuths heard a muffled exclamation from just outside the tent.

“Huh, I never noticed this weird rock before. Odd…”

Sherclop looked at Watspike, who was perspiring madly, and made a shushing gesture with her hoof. The two tiptoed around the hallway, looking for an entrance to the inner chamber. There was a bust of some stallion on a marble pedestal, and when nearby candlelight hit it, it cast a wavy shadow down the hallway. It was eerie, and Watspike scratched his neck nervously.

Finally, the two reached an opening to the inner chamber of the tent. Sherclop and Watspike stopped just outside the opening to the inner chamber and looked at one another with a nod, then continued inside.

The inner chamber of the tent was a wide, open, hexagonal-shaped sleeping area of sorts. On one side was a huge chamber bed, complete with hanging silk curtains and an elaborate bedframe and headboard. The other side of the room contained rows and rows of bookcases showcasing old, dusty tomes that Twilight Sparkle most certainly would have loved to peruse. An ornate armchair was at the back of the room, opposite Watspike and Sherclop, right underneath a huge portrait of a grey-furred stallion wearing a silver crown.

But the object that drew both detectives’ attentions the most was covered with a thick blanket, smack dab in the middle of the room. It was almost as tall as the roof (Sherclop noted the tent was similar in size to Carousel Boutique) and appeared spherical, as if a globe might be hidden underneath the blanket. Watspike and Sherclop exchanged glances again, before both pulled back their black ninja masks. Sherclop’s poofy mane was at last freed.

“Let’s find out what Maelstrom is trying to hide!” Sherclop whispered. She approached the blanketed object tentatively, Watspike keeping his distance, constantly checking behind his shoulder.

Sherclop flopped her front hooves onto the object, tore off the blanket, and stared in awe as a bright light emanated from underneath.

What the object was, exactly, neither individual knew, but it appeared to be a huge crystal ball with an elaborate iron pedestal. The inside of the ball seemed liquid, or at least, the flowing streaks of grey and white floating inside of it made it appear that way. The ball’s glow covered the room in an eerie turquoise light. Watspike stepped closer.

“W-what the hay is it, Sherclop?”

To her discredit, Sherclop could not answer. Her mouth was agape and she brought a hoof to her chin. After a moment to ponder, she did the only thing she could think of in that situation: she reached forward and touched the crystal ball.

As soon as Sherclop’s hoof touched the hard object, her mind was wrenched to a far-off place, as if it fell into a vivid dream. Sherclop saw a dark room surrounded by stone walls which glowed a faint magenta color. Two ponies dressed like Maelstrom’s guards stood by the door of the room, and upon seeing Sherclop, their faces twisted into horrified expressions.

“Who are you?!” one of them cried. Sherclop pulled back in distress and found herself falling backwards back inside Maelstrom’s tent. Watspike went to her side and patted her stomach.

“Pinkie, Pinkie, are you okay? W-what happened? You stopped moving for a minute there!”

Breaking character, Pinkie Pie looked at Spike with a confused expression.

“I touched the crystal ball and then I went to a room in a castle somewhere. Maelstrom’s guards were there, and when they saw me they started freaking out, so I got scared and fell back into… here. Did I get teleported or something?”

Spike shook his head.

“Like I said, you just stopped moving, that’s it.”

Pinkie cried out, “What is this thing?!”

A quiet, monotone voice called in response from behind the pair.

“That is… the Orb… of Omniscience.”

The voice made Spike and Pinkie jump, and they quickly cranked their necks behind them to see where it came from. It only took a second for Spike to realize that it was the young mare he had met at Canterlot Courtyard a few days ago, the one who stayed away from the crowd. Pinkie hadn’t seen the pony before.

“What… are you… doing here?” the young mare asked. The pinpricks behind her ebony mane latched onto the combined four eyes of Spike and Pinkie, and both then found themselves stuck to the floor. More than that, their bodies seemed to be immovable. Their mouths dropped, but no other muscles moved from that point on.

“Not good… not for you… sister and Maelstrom… will want to… meet you now…” The young mare shook her head. “Not good… at all.”

Spike’s vision started to become blurry, and the world around the young mare swirled and swirled until it became dark and black. All he could see now was her pinprick eyes, enlarged and glaring down at him, throbbing and pulsating. The sensation was like an out of body experience.
Time seemed to stop completely while in the trance-like state, but eventually, time must have passed, because when Spike came to, he was tied up with rope and lying on the ground in Maelstrom’s tent, surrounded by a few emerald-armored guards.

“Good job,” one of the guards declared, staring over at one side of the room. “If you weren’t here, Ms. Velmeera, these little spies would have ruined everything.” Spike followed the guard’s gaze and saw the young mare, apparently named Velmeera, hunched up on the ground. Her body shook and vibrated. Her muffled winces of pain were her only response to the guard. Spike remembered his situation and started to struggle.

“L-let us go!” Spike cried, looking over to see a passed-out Pinkie, her mane deflated and sprawled out all over the red carpet of Maelstrom’s tent. “Pinkie! Pinkie, wake up!”

There was no use struggling. Spike felt a jab to his side and saw a guard pull away as he turned to see what it was.

“Quiet, little spy!” the guard cried. “Or next time I’ll kick you harder! You’ll wait silently until Maelstrom comes to decide your fate, or else we’ll have Ms. Velmeera do her own thing to you again!”

Spike’s throat was as dry as a desert. His breathing started to pick up its pace, and he realized that his and Pinkie’s game of detectives was evolving into a very scary, new reality.

* * *

Rainbow felt like laying on the grass forever. She didn’t move. She barely breathed, except to make deep, sad sighs. Her eyes laid toward the ground. Crackclaw prodded her with a gentle claw.

“Come on, Rainbow. Get up.”

But the cyan mare did not get up. She was utterly defeated. Team 117 lost the first race of the Storm’s Challenge. Jerri was injured. That piece of manure, Slapshot, passed to the second race, and Rainbow was left in the dust. Worst of all, her so-called friends were nowhere to be seen.

Crackclaw sat cross-legged in front of the depressed pegasus. He started flipping her ears up and down, then blew on her mane.

“Up. Get up. Stop mopping.” Rainbow didn’t respond. Crackclaw sighed, losing patience.

“Listen,” Crackclaw grabbed Rainbow and forcefully stood her up. She defied the black dragon with a piercing gaze but he continued to speak, unfazed. “You’ve got friends here, right? Go find them and let them cheer you up. I’m not going to put up with this anymore, I’ve got to go check on Jerri.”

Friends…

Rainbow became sour upon hearing the word. Her “friends” barely seemed to care about her and the races over the last few days. She hadn’t seen any of them during practice, and the only time they seemed to care about her race, it turned out they hadn’t even seen her finish! Hay, Pinkie Pie hadn’t even bothered to show up at all! They were all off doing more important things, clearly!

“Those guys…” Rainbow started with a grumble. Crackclaw tilted his head.

“What?” he asked. Rainbow gritted her teeth and hissed.

“I’M GONNA GIVE THOSE GUYS A PIECE OF MY MIND!” Rainbow was off. Crackclaw raised a single brow.

“Oookay…”

Saddlebred Citadel was slowly decreasing in population at the end of the first day of races, though many ponies still remained to try and get autographs, to buy souvenirs, or visit injured flyers. Rainbow navigated the immense structure with purposeful dexterity, whizzing around obstacles and scanning every hide and flank for the familiar cutie marks of her friends. She eventually found the Cutie Mark Crusaders, of all ponies, and Rainbow’s anger dissipated for a moment as she landed in front of the tiny fillies.

“W-what are you fillies doing here? Where are your sisters and Fluttershy??”

Scootaloo hopped up and down, face aglow.

“H-hey Rainbow Dash! You were super awesome just now! I mean, I saw some of the race, Fluttershy dragged me down to the infirmary to see her friend because he got injured, so I didn’t see the end. Did you win? You won, right?!”

Rainbow looked down at the ground, and with a shocked expression, Scootaloo realized something was amiss.

Apple Bloom looked at Sweetie Belle, brow creased, and spoke next. “We were all watchin’ the race, an’ then AJ started talkin’ to somepony about cider, Rarity about dresses to somepony else, an’ Fluttershy… well, we had to stay with a bigger pony, see? So we all kinda…”

Sweetie Belle lamented, “Sorry, Rainbow! Nopony meant to leave, it just sort of — stuff happened!”

Rainbow looked back up, fire in her eyes.

“Where are they?”

All three fillies pointed a hoof to their right. Rainbow looked over and, in the distance, she spotted her friends. Rarity and Applejack were snout to snout and red in the face, while Fluttershy tried in vain to break them apart. Rainbow zoomed over almost as fast as she flew during the race.

“Once again yer being a right pain in mah butt, Rarity!” Applejack cried. Rarity pulled her head back and raised a hoof to the side of her face.

“A pain in your… behind? And I suppose you think you’ve been completely innocent in this entire tirade…” Fluttershy cleared her throat loudly.

“Umm, girls? Rainbow is—”

Rainbow was standing before Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack, and once the arguing duo snapped out of it, they looked over and their ears folded over.

“Ahh shoot, the race…” Applejack began, hoofing the ground in embarrassment.

“Right…” Rarity started to say to Rainbow, ashamed of herself, “We completely missed it, darling.” Rarity smiled sheepishly. “But s-surely you won…?”

Rainbow ignored the half-hearted question. She tore into her friends with her scowl.

“So, you three obviously had better things to do than watch me race in, like, the biggest race of my life! I risked my life out there, and so did my teammates! But when it was over, and when I needed support the most, here you are, arguing about… what, your stupid competition again? And Fluttershy, where the hay where you? What’s your excuse?”

Fluttershy stepped back, obviously wanting to be anywhere else at that moment.

“Oh, umm, well…”

Applejack protested.

“Let us explain, Rainbow! It-It happened like this…”

Author's Note

Longest hiatus ever... sorry! To all two of you who care... here is an update to the story finally. I also went through and edited the earlier chapters for inconsistencies / typos and the like. Enjoy!

I believe the story is going to start hitting its stride now in terms of action and the plot being revealed, so let me know how you feel about it!

36 - The Drama Before The Race

Chapter 36

The Drama Before The Race

Rainbow burst out of her sun-kissed bed sheets, flew into the air above her room, and threw up her hooves triumphantly. The clock wasn’t even close to hitting the alarm.

“Alllllrrriiiiight, time for race number two! LET’S GOOOO — OWWWWWWWWW!”

The stinging in her wings was back with full force. She crumpled onto her bed, holding her wings in a desperate desire for relief. Tank rubbed his little turtle head on Rainbow’s side in an attempt to give comfort. Rainbow winced.

“Ouchouchouch! I need that — ouch! — cream stuff!”

Tank took the hint and started his propeller. He soared over to Rainbow’s Wonderbolts outfit and retrieved the cream that Zephyr had given Rainbow the day before. He quickly placed it on the bed, Rainbow clawing for it immediately. She unscrewed the lid with amazing speed and started to lather her wings generously. After a moment, she laid back down and sighed happily.

“Thaaaat’s much better! Thanks, buddy!” She rubbed the top of Tank’s head and he beamed. Rainbow jumped into the air once more. “Time to get a move on!”

Five minutes later, Rainbow was outside dressed in her Wonderbolt’s outfit, her goggles were tight against her forehead, and her wing warmups were finished. She cracked her neck to the left, then to the right. She breathed deep, savoring the rush of the early morning air, then exhaled slowly.

“Perfect,” she said quietly. The sun barely peeked out above the earth. Ponyville was still mostly covered in a purple glow, but sunlight did reach outward from the horizon. Rainbow unleashed her wings and took to the air with a dive off of her cloud home.

Normally, Rainbow might see other ponies out and about when she left in the morning, but as she was a whole half hour earlier than normal, it was mostly deserted, both in the sky and on the ground. The hovering Saddlebred Citadel loomed in the distance above Canterlot, and Rainbow narrowed her eyes as she watched the sunlight bounce off its blue cloud walls.

Time for the skills competition. Nothing to sweat! I got the skills to pay the bills!

Rainbow practiced the move Zephyr had shown her the other day as she flew. Though she was sure her form was perfect when she waved air inwards toward her body, there seemed to be no effect like how Zephyr could generate mini tornados. Rainbow sighed.

Just gotta keep practicing! I still have until tomorrow!

Rainbow reached the Citadel before long and flew down into the stadium. Because she was early, it was a lot emptier than she had experienced on the day of the first race, when she had arrived late. Rainbow blinked rapidly as she landed on the short, perfectly maintained grass of the field. She looked around.

“Hmm,” she hummed, a twist in her lips. “Ahh! There they are!” It was the Wonderbolts — or, at least, some of them. Spitfire and Soarin’ were nowhere to be seen. Instead, a hooffful of the senior members plus Fleetfoot were present, looking less than excited to be at race number two of the Storm’s Challenge.

“Hey! Fleetfoot! Fellas! What’s up?” Rainbow cried with an eager wave from across the field. She soared over and landed right in front of the somber flyers. Fleetfoot sighed and forced a smile.

“Morning… Rainbow. You’re early, which is good to see…”

Rainbow glanced at each of the Wonderbolts. It was like they were attending a funeral and NOT the second day of the biggest races ever. Rainbow cocked her head.

“Uhhh, guys? Why the long faces?” Rainbow started laughing. “Long faces! Ponies! Hahaha, sorry, I didn’t plan that one!”

Fleetfoot dropped her façade and looked at the field in front of Rainbow.

“Soarin’ never came back yesterday, or last night, or this morning.”

Rainbow briefly remembered Soarin’s absence from the Academy the day before, though thought nothing of it at the time. Then, she remembered the whole deal with Spitfire and Soarin’, and her wings opened straight out.

“Oh! That! It’s all because of that Lovey Dovey pony, isn’t it? The other day at the race, she came up and started causing trouble! That’s why Spitfire got upset and Soarin’ left! It wasn’t her fault at all!”

One of the other Wonderbolts stepped forward and spoke.

“That may be the case, Ms. Dash, but the fact still remains that our captain and second-in-command are at odds — and some of the other Wonderbolts who are closer to Soarin’ left as well.” He sighed and his head dropped. “We don’t know what to do now.” Fleetfoot grunted in agreement. Rainbow furrowed her brow.

“Well I know what to do! When Spitfire gets here, I’m gonna tell her to make up with Soarin’! He’s definitely going to show up — no way he’d miss the race! This is all a stupid misunderstanding! They just gotta talk it out, that’s all!”

Rainbow tried to keep the spirits high with the Wonderbolts as the first rays of the morning light streamed over the top of the stadium bowl. More and more flyers were pouring onto the field or the team waiting areas. The more serious fans were already filing into the stands and waving foam fingers. One stallion even screamed “Yeahhhh!” at the top of his lungs.

Eventually Rainbow got tired of the negativity of the Wonderbolts and started doing some more warm up stretches. Her glare of determination burned a hole through the grass.

First my friends — which is all cleared up now, but still — and now the Wonderbolts themselves! It’s like nopony realizes that this is THE STORM’S CHALLENGE!

She smiled brazenly at nothing in particular, got onto her fore hooves, and performed a hoofstand. She flapped her wings viciously and struggled to maintain her body completely perpendicular to the field.

I can’t let my focus down! It looks like it’s going to be up to ME to win this for the sake of the Wonderbolts. Well, and myself, of course!

She started doing upside down, two-hoofed pushups, sweat already pouring down the bridge of her nose. She had a staring contest with the green blades beneath her.

Zephyr’s definitely going down! I need to think of something cool to say to him when I see him later, really psyche him out! Only thing is, I got to perfect that move of his before tomorrow…

Rainbow got back onto four hooves and caught her breath, wiping away the built up sweat on her brow with her wing.

I barely made a dent in it yesterday! I couldn’t even form one of those mini tornados around a single wing for longer than a second!

A sharp whistle torn through the air and made Rainbow’s ears perk up. A referee looked up at the sky and Rainbow followed his stare.

“Hey! You’ve been disqualified,” the referee said to the newcomer, “What are you doing here?”

Rainbow grimaced. It was Slapshot, dressed in his tuque and jersey. He landed on the field a couple paces from Rainbow, chewing ferociously on that stuff Rainbow saw him spit the other day. She was instantly on him before he said a word.

“That’s right, Slapshot! You’re lucky you’re not in a castle cell right now — why if it was up to me—”

Her confidence waned as Slapshot marched right up to her, half an inch away from her snout. He was slightly taller and Rainbow braced herself for a strike. Instead, Slapshot just sucked air in through his teeth and glared down.

“Pssh, you’ve got a big mouth, eh? Had to rat me out, like a good little pony, didja? What a joke.”

He blew a bubble with the Seeptree Sap, let it burst in front of Rainbow’s face, and continued chewing and staring at her. Rainbow regained her determination and glared back. She spread her wings out and got into a pouncing position.

“You could have killed that mare you hit with your disgusting gum crud! Do you really think I wouldn’t say anything? What’s fair about using something like that to win? Don’t you care if anypony gets hurt?”

Slapshot tilted his head and spoke, ignoring Rainbow’s questions.

“What I don’t get, yeah, is how you talked Maelstrom into siding with you, bud. You and him got a side arrangement deal going on or something, know what I mean?” The two sets of pony eyes were burning hot, fiery and passionate. Anypony watching expected them to throw down at the drop of a pin.

Before Rainbow could open her mouth to retaliate, a familiar voice called out from the sky.

“Slapshot! You better not be causing trouble!”

Rainbow looked back and up. It was Zephyr. She smiled, realizing Slapshot was about to get it from a fellow EFL captain.

“Zephyr! Bah, this is such a goof, eh,” Slapshot hissed, shaking his head. “Was it you, Zephyr, who got me disqualified? You’ve been spending an awful lot of time with the little famous pony girl here.” He turned back to Rainbow and puffed out his chest. “You’re a little hero girl, or so they say. Real big and famous, aren’t you?”

Zephyr landed next to Rainbow and chastised Slapshot.

“Just leave, Slapshot, before Maelstrom gets here and you get worse than just a disqualification!”

Slapshot growled, closed his eyes and tensed up his face muscles. Everypony held their breathes, expecting an outburst. Instead, Slapshot just reared onto his hindhooves, whinnied loudly, and landed with a thud. He snorted and his wings flew open wide.

“Nah, you know what, bud, don’t even worry about it, eh? I’m outta here. I’m done.”

He turned to leave, then quickly turned back around to spit out a glob of brown saliva, which barely missed landing on Rainbow’s hoof. He glared at Rainbow one last time before he blew air through his teeth one last time and flew into the sky.

“What do you mean?” Zephyr called after him. Slapshot continued flying but shouted his reply.

“I mean I’m gone! Heading back to Vanhoover, yeah? Done with the EFL, done with taking orders from a bunch of losers who take flying too seriously!”

Right before everypony watched the shrinking form of Slapshot crest the top of the Citadel and leave, a shiny medallion fell to the field with a light thud. It was Slapshot’s silver EFL medallion. Zephyr picked it up with a sigh.

“Well how’s that for a start to day two…” Zephyr lamented. He turned to Rainbow with a forced smile. “Mornin’, RB.”

Rainbow was still in battle mode and she snorted.

“Good riddens to that jerk!” she cried, “You’re lucky, if you ask me, Zeph! You don’t want a bully like him leading your members around at competitions!”

Zephyr nodded in agreement.

“That’s true, but he was one heck of a good flyer, no question. Anyway, he was already disqualified, but I do feel bad for his teammates.”

Zephyr changed the subject with a smug grin and an upward tilt of his neck, forcing his long, pink ponytail to whip around.

“So, did you perfect my trick yet? Can you match my speed?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and did a single, arrogant laugh.

“Girl’s gotta have some tricks of her own up her sleeve. I ain’t tellin’ you nothin’!”

Zephyr returned the expression.

“Fine by me. And to that I’ll say: don’t be surprised if you see a Rainboom at the end of tomorrow’s race.” He laughed. Rainbow’s eyes widened and she took a step back.

“W-wait, seriously?” she asked. Zephyr laughed even louder and held a hoof to his chest. A group of flyers, including most of the Wonderbolts and Fleetfoot, started to gather around. Everypony looked excited, as if they were watching two celebrities. Whispers and nervous laughter surrounded Rainbow.

“H-hey Zephyr!” one flyer asked, “Are you and Rainbow friends?”

Another stepped forward and raised his hoof. “Oh! Oh! Rainbow Dash! Do you think you can beat Zephyr in the race tomorrow?”

Rainbow blushed and crossed one hoof over the other. She stood up straight and put away her wings. Zephyr chuckled as he watched her nervously shuffle. Somepony shouted from the sky.

“First she needs to get through today without eating my dust! Same goes for Ponytail over there!”

Rainbow looked up to the source of the sound and her face lit up.

“Spitfire!” she cried. The backswept, yellow mane of Spitfire was perfectly shaped and coifed. Her Wonderbolts outfit was tight against her, freshly washed, without a single speck on it. A pair of Wonderbolts-issue goggles graced the spot just above her forehead. She landed with a flourish and the group shifted to surround her as well. Spitfire struck a pose.

“Don’t count out the captain of the Wonderbolts just yet! This upstart here” — she motioned toward Rainbow with a flick of her head — “Might be drawing a lot of attention, but let’s not forget who the top flyer in the Canterlot region for the last eight years has been!”

The group of ponies, and the three star-studded flyers in the middle of them, talked among themselves for a few minutes before Rainbow Dash remembered what Fleetfoot had said earlier that morning. She quickly flew to Spitfire’s side, nudged her with a hoof, and whispered in her ear.

“Hey, can I talk to you about Soarin’? Like, can we go someplace a bit quieter or something?”

Spitfire’s ears drooped and she lost her demeanor. She looked at Rainbow and nodded. The two flew off into to an unoccupied stadium entrance tunnel, the group of ponies behind them crying in protest. Fleetfoot made sure that nopony followed the duo.

“I know what you’re going to say, Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire said as they landed, “But this time I swear I didn’t overreact or anything! I mean—” She sighed and rubbed the back of her head. “Well, I might have… sort of… told Soarin’ to go join Lovey Dovey at the EFL and never return to the Wonderbolts… ha ha ha!”

Rainbow gasped, her mouth growing as wide as a reality-shattering Pinkie Pie’s.

“YOU WHAT?!” Rainbow shouted. Spitfire grimaced as she heard the reaction she expected. She looked at Rainbow with a frown and kicked at the ground dismissively.

“W-what?”

Rainbow looked at Spitfire like it was the stupidest question ever uttered. Her jaw was still unhinged, and she held up her hoof as if to say, “Really?” Spitfire rolled her eyes.

“Okay, okay, I got it. Here’s what happened: Soarin’ came back from the EFL training camp yesterday morning, I guess he had spent the night there… with Lovey Dovey — not together, like in the same tent or nothing! Don’t worry, I grilled him on that!” Spitfire’s cheeks were a deep scarlet as she went on with a slight tremble in her voice. “A-anyway, when he got back… I lost it. I mean, I know we had that talk, Rainbow, but I was worried… worried when he never came back the night of the first race…”

Spitfire shook her head and sat on her rump, cradling her head in her hooves.

“I saw red, okay? And I said the worst thing I could think of, and he thought I was serious! I mean, I don’t blame him, but still!” Tears welled in Spitfire’s eyes, and Rainbow could hardly believe it was the same Spitfire that she had seen and heard chew into lazy Wonderbolts at the Academy. “I hid it from everypony yesterday so the remaining Wonderbolts could focus on training, but now I’m scared because I think he might have actually left to join the EFL! And that Lovey Dovey…”

Spitfire smacked the concrete ground hard and ground her teeth together.

“I’m so stupid… so, so stupid!”

Rainbow put a hoof on Spitfire’s shoulder. Spitfire looked up with wet eyes and Rainbow smiled, wide and confident.

“Do I even have to say what you need to do? Remember my friend Applejack and that whole honesty thing?”

Spitfire sighed and closed her eyes. With a nod and smile, she replied.

“Yep. I gotta come clean to Soarin’, huh? It’s no use pussyhoofing around, I’ve done enough damage already.”

Rainbow spread her wings and her eyebrows flexed upward.

“Exactly! It’s nothing that telling the truth won’t fix! Spitfire, the Wonderbolts worship you, and I know Soarin’ could never hate you! If you just explain everything, I know it’ll turn out okay. Maybe not right away… but eventually — and it’s the right thing to do!”

Spitfire stared off at a random spot on the concrete. Her wings drooped.

“I know. And… Soarin’ will forgive me. But after this, there’s no way we could ever — I mean he’d never want to be with —” She sighed and shook her head. “That doesn’t matter now. The team is more important, and so are Soarin’s feelings.” She looked up and smiled weakly at Rainbow. “I’ll tell him before the race.”

Rainbow held out her hoof and Spitfire accepted, letting the Wonderbolt rookie pull her to her hooves with a strong grip.

“Don’t be so sure it’ll turn out badly, captain! You gotta stay positive!”

Spitfire nodded and the two finished their pep talk, walking back out onto the field. Rainbow felt relief that the only dampers on her morning had fallen away, one by one. A miniature version of herself danced in her brain.

Finally, I can focus on mental prep for the race in a few hours!

Unbeknownst to Rainbow, far away to the north, Twilight Sparkle was waking up in a strange place, replaying the events of the previous night in her sleepless dreams…

37 - The Princess of Friendship Fights a Strange Cloud

Chapter 37

The Princess of Friendship Fights a Strange Cloud

The night before the second race…

Twilight Sparkle power walked down a spiral staircase, eager to escape the palace, but cognizant of her situation and how important it was to not draw suspicion to herself. At the bottom of the staircase was the hallway that would lead to the exit she sought. A smile crept onto her face.

Almost home free! I can’t believe this worked without a hitch!

As it had become late in the evening, there weren’t many palace retainers about. Once in a while, Twilight met eyes with a tired scullion or maid shuffling past. Guards were posted at random intervals throughout the hallway, standing tall and motionlessly.

Suddenly, as Twilight reached the midway point in the hallway that led to the open room with the double doors which would be her escape, a loud twang of bells echoed and bounced off the stone walls. She stopped for a moment to look around. A nearby guard stirred from his dutiful trance.

“That’s the escape alarm!” the guard said to Twilight, brow furrowed. “Somepony has escaped the palace jail!”

Twilight began to sweat up a river and she bit her lower lip. A vibration of worry slithered down her spine.

Spoke too soon, she thought. She turned to continue down the hallway.

“I’ll go guard this nearby exit!” she said to the guard to cover her escape. The guard nodded and broke off in the opposite direction. Twilight’s pace increased in speed, and if it weren’t for the alarm going off, she’d definitely look suspicious. The sound of hooves rapidly clip-clopping against the cobblestone floor were just as loud as the alarm itself.

“Look alive, solders! Twilight Sparkle has escaped!”

The bellowing voice boomed from the other end of the hallway where Twilight had come from minutes earlier. The voice was thick and belonged to an old stallion, Twilight had no doubt. She was nearly at the open, wide door frame that led into the exit room. She gulped.

So close! Nopony knows I’m in disguise. It’s fine! I’ll be fine!

Once she passed the door frame, she sighed in relief that there were no guards present in the huge, open room. There was nopony at all, just the slow burning flames of the braziers on the walls. From the appearance of the room, Twilight reckoned it was a receiving station for all the goods coming to the castle. There were docking stations where wagons would enter to be inspected. Each station had a wooden table with a set of weights on it and a stack of unrolled scrolls and an ink quill. Twilight rushed for the double doors and her freedom.

No use holding back now!

Twilight lowered her head and forced a piercing glow from her horn. She closed her eyes and and tensed herself in preparation for the collision. She crashed through the doors with a thunderous roar of wood being smashed apart, receiving barely a scratch thanks to her magic.

The surprisingly cold chill outside the palace was quite welcome and Twilight breathed out in relief. She found herself surrounded on two sides by high stone walls, the same type of brown and tan stones that the walls around Clopstantinople were made of. The path leading away from the smashed double doors was about half a mile long and at the end of it was a closed iron gate.

Twilight sighed in relief.

“Okay! No use for this armor anymore, but I’ll keep the disguise,” she quietly reasoned, taking off each piece of armor as quick as she could with her horn’s glow. Then, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.

“Okay, here goes… NOTHING!”

She reopened her eyes and at the same time a powerful discharge from her horn blasted her through the space-time continuum and transported her into the air some distance above and away from the city. Twilight was falling like a rock as soon as she reappeared, and she couldn’t help but scream and flail her hooves every which way in abject terror. Wherever it was that she had reappeared, it was high enough that she fell for a good ten seconds before coming to a foolish realization.

Twilight drew all of her power to her horn and broke her disguise spell with a quick, magical release of violet light. At the same time, her wings returned to her and she flapped with all her might. Twilight stopped her rapid descent right before she crashed into the top of the forest surrounding Clopstantinople.

Twilight desperately caught her breath as her mind raced.

T-that was too close! I can’t believe I didn’t plan for that!

A smile broke onto her face.

But I escaped! Time to get out of here.

Twilight only looked behind her for a moment. The night-covered city of Clopstantinople was maybe a mile or so behind her, with a dark row of mountain peaks further off in the distance behind it. Searchlights on top of the domed palace and stationed around the city walls were scrying the skies for any sign of the escaped alicorn princess. Pegasi that looked like dots from how far Twilight was were starting to flock to the air and investigate. Twilight flew upwards to increase her altitude, then leveled out and glided.

The Frozen North Ridge is directly north of Clopstantinople, meaning due south of the Ridge is the Unicorn Range, then to the south-east is Canterlot.

Twilight smiled.

I’m not sure how long it will take to fly all the way back to Canterlot — maybe another half a day? But once I get to the Range, I should be in the clear as far as pursuers go.

Twilight’s route seemed to take her straight toward the moon, as it was so full and glowing bright that night. Her use of magic for the teleportation spell, even after she had eaten a hearty lunch earlier in the day, took about half of her energy. Twilight could barely go above a gliding speed that would make an elderly pegasus lose her patience if she were stuck behind.

This should be fine, though, Twilight thought, easing her doubts, Nopony should have any idea where I am.

Minutes passed. Twilight continued pacing herself and every so often she glanced behind to see the city become more and more of a distant object. She exhaled all the built-up stress in her lungs

Clouds rolled in around Twilight about a half hour into her great escape. The air was otherwise still and silent. There were just a few clouds at first, followed by more as the breeze carried them into Twilight’s path. She grew anxious. Did clouds really just randomly gather together like that?

When a thick fog began to set in around her, Twilight knew trouble was ahoof. She furrowed her brow and glared forward.

This isn’t some natural weather occurrence, is it? she worried.

A familiar whisper quietly hissed from seemingly all directions.

“Oh no, this won’t do! The little princess from the south has rudely left the Prince’s hospitality. And you thought nopony would find you…”

Twilight halted her flight and flapped in place. There was no use in proceeding if she couldn’t see past the thick fog, which had formed an opaque wall all around her. She lit up her horn to reveal the surrounding area. The whispers continued.

“Flying outside the city on nights when the moon is largest is my favorite thing to do. Looks like you were unlucky.”

“Show yourself, whoever you are!” Twilight shouted, losing her patience. “I remember you from the palace that day!” She quickly looked, carefully scanning for any signs of movement in the grey fog clouds. Though the bright, violet light from her horn was piercing, all it showed were even more clouds hidden in the fog. Nothing else. Just clouds.

“Show myself? I’m not mad, princess. You’d best me quite easily,” the whispers said. “I’ll need to take a more indirect approach.”

Without warning, a cloud burst forward out of the fog and headed straight for Twilight. Since she saw it coming, dodging was an easy feat. However, with a gasp, she realized her folly. A cloud that had been thrown from behind enveloped her and held her in place in the sky.

“W-what is this cloud?” she cried, struggling to escape. It didn’t budge a bit. It was more a floating hunk of concrete at that moment than a cloud. A hushed laughter bounced around.

“Cloud combat is not quite as popular as it used to be in Equestria. I might even be the last one to use it — it’s interesting, isn’t it? You won’t be able to move now, so best to stop struggling.”

Twilight gritted her teeth and shot a beam of violet at a random point in the fog. It travelled on and on until she couldn’t see its glow past the fog. She cried in frustration and shot off several more beams in random direction until she felt her magic run close to empty. She struggled to catch her breath amid the crushing suffocation of the cloud.

I need to calm down… she reasoned with herself. The whisper kept laughing all around her. Quiet, chilling laughter.

“Hehehe. Obviously, your little lasers missed me, princess.”

A string of clouds shot out of the fog and formed a tether between Twilight’s cloud prison and something inside the fog. The tether harshly tugged at Twilight’s cloud prison and sent her soaring through the air back towards Clopstantinople.

“No, I won’t let you take me back!” she screamed in a panic. She closed her eyes and focused her magic to her horn with so much strain that it caused veins to pop up on her forehead and neck. She howled as she released the stored power from her horn, creating a 360-degree blast of violet energy. It cracked her cloud prison and she struggled free at last. The energy continued to travel and it blew apart the fog as it did.

“H-horsehay!” the whispering voice complained. The air was clear, leaving only several grey clouds floating about. Twilight could trace the noise to a particular cloud in the distance. Two wings made of cloud flapped outside of the inner cloud. It looked like a big, fluffy, flying sheep without a head. Twilight glared and shot a bolt of violet magic at it.

“YEEEOWCH!” the voice cried as the bolt exploded on impact. Twilight immediately continued flying southward at as fast a speed as she could manage, not worrying to look back.

That should be enough to get rid of whoever that was. I can’t risk using any more magic. Just flying is using too much of my power and energy right now. If I cast even one more spell, well…

Twilight glanced down. The treetops were very, very far away. She swallowed hard.

…it’s not going to be pretty if I freefall from this height.

Despite her assurances to herself, Twilight again heard the familiar whispers before long. They sounded as close as a breath away.

“I can’t let you escape! I’m the Acting Commander of the Pegasus Corps, and if the true Commander came back and found out that I dishonored his position…”

Twilight glanced back for a second. It was just enough time to warn her of a mass of cloud billowing toward her. She swooped down and narrowly avoided it. Her lungs were burning.
Every few seconds she looked back just in time to catch a glimpse of another attempt by the cloud with wings to encapsulate her, and every few seconds she had only an instant to steer herself out of its dangerous trajectory.

“Stop resisting, arggggh!” the whispering cloud complained. Twilight closed her eyes. Every fiber of her being wanted her to stop.

“No! I’m never, ever stopping! I’m going back to Canterlot and letting the other princesses know what Tsunami’s up to! And I’m going to stop whatever that Maelstrom guy is planning, too!”

Twilight managed enough of a distance to look back and grin smugly.

“All your plans are going to fail.”

She saw angry, cartoonish eyes form on the “face” of the winged cloud sheep. They were red with black pupils.

“THEN LET ME SAY THIS, PRINCESS!”

The voice of the cloud turned into shouting.

“I WILL NEVER, EVER STOP CHASING YOU! WHO DO YOU THINK IS WEAKER RIGHT NOW, YOU OR ME?”

Twilight admitted to herself that he had a point. She closed her eyes and breathed out as calmly as she could while the rest of her body worked as hard as a hummingbird to propel forward through the cold, night air.

Fine, I have no choice then. Let’s hope I can manage not to become a pancake after this.

Twilight breathed in a large gulp of air, stopped mid-fly, and swerved back. At the same time, she powered up her horn for one last spell. Before the cloud with wings could stop, he flew headfirst towards Twilight’s spell.

“See you next year, you weird, sheep, cloud… thing!” Twilight cried. Her horn momentarily became glowing and purple, and then discharged a thick wave of violet magical energy. The cloud’s strange eyes grew twice as large as it realized what was about to happen. The energy from Twilight’s horn enveloped him like a tidal wave and blasted him back, all the way to the dark horizon and the city just beyond.

“YOU LITTLE — AAHHHHHHHHHH!”

The cries dulled and died out, as did all the magical energy, dissipating into violet nothingness . Twilight weakly smiled as her wings gave out and she tumbled to the earth below.

“G-good, it worked…”

Twilight managed, just barely, to hold open her wings so she could glide. Bute very half-second spent with her wings open, even just to glide, and even with token resistance from the breeze, was like a lifetime of jabbing pain. Twilight cried out and tears formed at the ends of her eyes.

“JUST A BIT MORE!”

She stared forward and squinted. The dropping altitude on her guided freefall led her closer and closer to the thick treetops below. Slowly, oh so slowly, Twilight led herself toward an emergency landing. With a brace before impact, Twilight closed her eyes and swiftly crashed through hundreds of fir branches. The snapping, whipping noises around her slowly faded as she lost consciousness.

* * *

Back to the morning of the second race of the Storm’s Challenge…

Twilight’s eyes painstakingly fluttered open. She groaned and reached up with a sore hoof to her even sorer forehead. Her body was unceremoniously crumpled up around a pile of dirt that had formed when she collided with the ground the night before. Needless to say, Twilight felt as bad as she imagined she looked. Miraculously, she realized she must not have been discovered.

“This isn’t good. How am I going to fly back in this condition?” Twilight whispered to herself, still holding her throbbing head. She groaned while trying to stand. Her shaky hooves tensed and she bit her lip. The pain was manageable, but the mental fatigue was blinding. Almost literally.

“Ohhh, I knew I wasn’t ready for this kind of task!” she lamented, seeing the disappointed face of Celestia in her mind. “I needed to do more planning, more thinking!” Her self-deprecating remarks continued while Twilight forced her tired, sore hooves through the forest.

An hour passed. Twilight had managed to take most of the pressure off her hooves by gripping the trees with her wings as she passed them. It didn’t seem like she was covering much ground, since the forest looked the same no matter where Twilight turned.

Tall needle-bearing firs and broad-leafed oaks with treetops that towered overhead reminded Twilight of Manehatten, only greener and less polluted. The soil beneath Twilight’s hooves was maroon, and in spots a little green bush or weed stuck up like an untrimmed piece of facial hair. She thanked her stars that the only movement she saw came from ground squirrels scurrying about. The sun weakly peaked through the leaves above.

Twilight pulled away from the tree she was leaning against with a grunt. She looked up with determination at the sun through the forest canopy.

I need to risk flying. I can’t spend any more time here than I already have, because at this rate, I won’t get back to Canterlot until tomorrow.

She took a deep breath and sighed. She unleashed her wings with a wince and took to the air.

I can beat myself up later! Right now, I have to get to my friends as soon as possible! They may be in danger!

Author's Note

A million pardons for the week break. It's been a terribly busy second half of the month.