Morning in Ponyville.....dulls.
It was a cloudy day, the fifth gloomy evening of a whole week of off and on precipitation. Gray, gray, and more gray, every where you look, you feel a little depressed at how absolutely gloomy Ponyville looked.
The thick, permanent clouds up above were of a menacing black, and gray color, rolling off into the sky, rumbling, and growling. A possible storm was brewing. Why was such bad weather scheduled to the Pegasi today? Or even the whole week?
To give the first chapter a setting.
(Actually they were very far behind schedule for regular rain showers, and need to cram because a certain blonde haired Pegasus forgot to punch in the schedules.)
Out of all of Ponyville, Rarity's boutique was in a most dreadful state. The windows were boarded up, and the once extravagant paint was chipping. Cobwebs grew in nooks and crannies, while the yard was left unkept full of tall weeds. The boutique was so disheveled that Rarity couldn't help but cry as she stood in front of the once beautiful building, now a wrecked mess.
It started to rain. Hard.
The cold droplets pelted poor Rarity. In seconds her lustrous dark blue mane flattened against her neck and shoulders as it was soaked in rain water. Her white, cotton, button shirt became so soaked it was almost transparent, showing just a glimpse of her black bra. She shook in both in the frigid cold , and in disbelief.
How could this have happened. Only a week, and then this? How?
Rarity tried to hold back her tears, but this was too much. Her home, her passion, her life, gone in almost a day.she fell to her knees, not caring about dirtying her denim skinny jeans, and let her violent sobs go. The tears poured between her fingers as she held them to her face and wept.
Of all the ponies in all of Equestria, why did it have to be Applejack to get my cutie mark.
It was one week after that horrible magic mystery spell that switched Rarity's cutie mark with Rainbow Dash's. For only a day did Rarity take charge of the weather, causing a horrible back up in the weather management thus causing this horrid week of rain. Not only that, Rarity's boutique was near foreclosure, and her business to bankruptcy, in only a day! Unfortunately, Applejack was the one to get her cutie mark, and Rarity honestly can't blame her dear friend for her financial trouble. Applejack never was the fashion designing type.
Regardless, Rarity is currently working to file out the outrageous insurance paperwork for her business. With help from the princess, Rarity will get her boutique back, in time. Until then, she will be staying with the Alicorn truly responsible for this mess. Twilight Sparkle.
"Thank you for letting me stay for a while Twilight. It really is a big help."
"Of course Rarity! A friend in need is a friend indeed."
The large den of Twilight's tree home was very cozy and warm, a much better alternative to crying in the rain. Wrapped in several plushy blankets, Rarity sat snugly on the couch in front of the fireplace. The ornage glow casting off her soft white fur, and making her blue eyes sparkle as she stared into the flame, lost in thought. Twilight sat next to her, snugly wrapped in a homemade quilt, and a thick romance novel in her hands. She grinned at Rarity and showed her the book.
"This is one of my favorite novels." She beamed. "It's a wonderfull adventure story about a mare who gives up everything to live with the stallion of her dreams in a far off land." She waved her arm in one slow motion across the air In front of herself as she said "far off land."
Rarity smiled and took the book titled Jungle Rhythm and opened to the first page. There truly was nothing better than sitting next to the fire place with a lovely romance novel, and your most closest friend. The only thing that could make this better was....
"Here ya go Rarity!" Spike walked in with a tray of two steaming mugs of hot cocoa. "Special brew, just for you." His voice deepened a little as he tried to disguise his pre-puberty, cracking shrill.
"Thank you spike." Rarity levitated the mug with her unicorn magic into her open hand. "Anything for you..." He sighed.
Twilight made hand gestures to shoo him away. He reluctantly replied, and slinked back to the kitchen.
"Don't worry Rarity, the princess will take care of your boutique in no time. For now you just need to relax."
Rarity snuggled over next to Twilight and nudged her shoulder with the top of her head, being careful not to impale Twilight through the head with her horn.
"I have full faith in the princess, I just don't see why it must take so long." Rarity pulled the blankets closer to herself. The silk pajamas she wore were very soft and velvety in comparison to Twilight's simple oversized cotton T-shirt with a football jersy number, the same T-shirt that her hunk of a big brother wore when he played hoofball. Seriously...without fail, Twilight sleeps in that smelly old T-shirt every night, even after she had to rip little holes in the back for her new wings to fit through. Something that may not seem entirely strange for a loving little sister to do, but it still raised little red flags in Rarity's mind.
Rarity opened the next page of the book after taking a delicate sip of her cocoa. It was the table of contents with twelve long chapters in total. Since it was recommended by Twilight, it must be a good read. The next page was the interlude, a dramatic scene meant to foreshadow events that may happen later in the plot.
The jungle was a treacherous maiden. Full of many surprises.
Even the very first sentence acted as a hook for somepony to continue reading. But after being engrossed by the first paragraph, Rarity heard an inhaling noise coming from beside her. Looking over, Rarity noticed Twilight had her snout buried into the neck of the old jersey, taking long deep sniffs, and sighing with pleasure with a look of sheer content on her face.
Little red flags going up....
Then a sudden knock at the door.
"Who could that be?" Twilight whispered, snapping out of her daze like trance from inhaling her brother's scent. That definitely was a good question. What kind of a nut job stays out when it's pouring rain? Must be somepony returning an overdue library book.
With some effort, Twilight untangled her self from the mass of blankets to answer the door. Even though she didn't want to her upbringing taught her not to be rude, even if it means bending your wings in an awkward angle in doing so.
"Ouch!" Twilight rubbed her tender wing after pinning it to the couch by accident. Her delicate, socked feet made small thumps on the hard wood floor, taking short, quick steps as she walked to the front door. When she got to the massive door, she mentally face palmed herself for forgetting that she could of asked spike to do it. She also immediately regretted not looking through the peephole before opening the door.
Lightening struck at the moment Twilight laid eye on the hulking stranger on her door step. A flash of light, a frighting scowl with a mouth of sharp teeth. Twilight was on the verge of screaming, and letting off a magic discharge in defense at the utterly terrifying tiger man that has come to her door. His bulky, tall body was completely coverd by a dripping black trench coat except for his fat head. Missing an eye, and with a threatening overbite of sharp fangs, the tiger man was a stunning sight.
"Excuse me...." He growled. "Is this the resident of Princess Twilight Sparkle?"
"Buh......ah.....wha......" Twilight was completly speechless, and dumbstruck at the sight of the visitor. He was huge! His broad, obviously muscular shoulders were wider then the door frame. His over all hight was nearly four heads taller then Twilight, and she was only five foot six!
"Are you princess Twilight Sparkle?" He asked again, but in a less menacing tone.
"Y-yes..." Twilight vigorously nodded her head. She was trying to remember how to reenact when encountering a tiger. What was the first thing to do? Don't look into its eyes? Oh horse apples ...she was doing that already. The tiger mans eyes were of a beautiful glowing gold color, with slitted pupils, for he could see in the dark.
"I have been told that you currently have a mare that goes by the name of..." He paused and stuck his mighty paws in his trench coat pockets. He pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from one, and a pair of tiny reading glasses in the other.
"Rarity the unicorn?" He said, squinting his eyes to see through the puny glasses that he held in his oversized claw. "I have a letter to deliver to her, I came here because her current residence has been foreclosed." His voice gradually fell from a menacing growl, to a really gentle purr. His face,seeming to be in a permanent scowl, began to soften, but he yet to smile.
He took a small letter from the depth of his pocket, and handed it to Twilight, who took a small step back from his approaching claw.
"Uh....thank you?" With shivering hands, Twilight took the letter from the tiger man's paws, being carefull not to provoke an attack.
She looked at the letter. It was addressed to Rarity, with an anonymous return address. The only other thing on the blank letter was a small design of palm trees in the corner.
"Sir...there's no return..." Twilight gasped as she looked up to see that the one-eyes tiger man was gone, and she was now standing in an empty door way. For such a big guy, he moved pretty fast, and quietly. Twilight stared of in to the darkness. It was pouring rain, and there was no sight of the mysterious stranger.
"Who was that?" She whispers to herself before closing (and locking) the door.
"Who was it?" Rarity asked as Twilight walked it with the letter in her hands. "Oh dear Twilight, are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Rarity looked over the couch to see Twilight was obviously frazzled.
"Somepony....I mean....some uh....." She paused to thing of something to say. "A letter...for you.." She handed Rarity the letter.
"Who could this be from?" She said, levitating the letter into the air, and tearing it open.
Was it a bank notice? A bill? Jury duty? A love letter from a secret admirer?
Please let it be a secret admirer... Rarity though as she unfolded the inside paper and read.
Dear Rarity the unicorn
congratulations!
You have just won an all expense paid trip to the Galloping Islands! An exotic adventure in a tropical paradise for a full week from Sunday/ June 11th, to Saturday/ June 18th.
Enjoy a relaxing spa at your already booked hotel suite at a five star resort by the beach. Have fun with the many activities we have planned, and for your own choosing: like a jungle safari, an extravagant yacht ride, white water river rafting, and many more!
Enclosed will be you one ticket to Galloping islands, via Equestrian cruise lines. Enjoy you stay, and don't forget your sun block!
The rest of the paper was all the information about the trip, but Rarity was already hooked at "congratulations".
"I...I....." Rarity as lost for breath as she stared at the paper in her hands, wide eyed.
"Rarity...are you okay..."
"I won!" She shouted, jumping off from the couch, hands extended high into the sir, flinging all the blankets all over the place.
"I won a vacation! I won! I won!" She hugged Twilight in a tight bear-hug, and danced in circles.
"I'm so happy for you." Twilight said in a suffocating tone as her head was squeezed into Rarity's chest.
As Rarity let go of Twilight, she jumped and down and let out that high pitched squealing noise she always made when she was really excited and happy.
"What's going on! I heard Rarity scream!" Spike ran in to the den wearing an apron that read kiss the cook and holding a spatula.
"Oh Spike! I won!" Spike wasn't prepared for the sudden hug that she gave him. His scaly cheeks grew bright red, and even brighter as Rarity gave him a peck on the cheek.
"Woooza....." Spike knees buckled out from under him, and he collapsed to the floor in a heap of pink hearts as Rarity let go of him.
Rarity was on the brink of tears. If any one deserved a vacation more right now, it'd Rarity. A break from all her trouble, and all her worry. She can finally leave this gloomy atmosphere behind for the bright and sunny beaches of Galloping islands, a place she has heard of, but never been to.
Maybe this vacation is what she needs to get back in the swing of things.
Three days later...June 11th, lake view harbor.
"Rarity....don't you think that's a bit too much luggage? Applejack looked up at the towering stack of multicolored baggage that all had tags with Rarity's name on them.
"Of course not my dear, I had to pack all the necessities for my stay!" She adjusted her large, floral sun hat and glasses as she looked in a pocket mirror to see if her hat was at the right angle.
"Sure....but is it necessary for you to bring seven different bags of luggage?" Applejack interjected, giving the teetering stack a poke with her finger. It swayed this way and that, but it refused to fall.
"Each bag for each day of the week of course."
"Have fun on your trip. I bet it will be very fun." Fluttershy sighed, flapping her wigs, and hovering a few inches off the ground. "There will be lots of animals to see, but remember to not to provoke them, they don't like that..." She shook her head, her absurdly long pink hair swaying to and fro.
"She'll be fine! Just don't accept drinks from strangers!" Rainbow dash flew over head, sticking her face only inches away from Rarity's " next morning, you'll wake up in a bathtub full of ice with both your kidneys stolen!" She burst out laughing, holding her sides as she floated in the air.
"Rainbow! That's not funny!" Twilight laid a hand on Rarity's shoulder to reassure her. " it'll be fun, just be safe." She then leaned in and whispered. "But seriously...don't accept drinks from strangers."
The gang was all here to say there goodbyes to Rarity, even Pinkie pie.
"Have fun on your trip." Pinkie said nonchalantly. She parted a lock of her long straight hair from her dull blue eyes . Her face no longer smiling. It really did put a damper on everyone's mood to see Pinkie like this, but they were powerless to stop what she was going through.
"I will have fun Pinkie, and you better be smiling when I get back!" Rarity gave her a hug, which made Pinkie feel a little better, but not enough to completely take away the emotional pain.
"Make sure that what ever you do...." Applejack leaned in towards Rarity. "Stay away from carriages, they are nothin but trouble." Rarity just laughed, still not understanding why Applejack was so freaked out by stagecoaches, maybe she'll never know.
The large passenger boat at the dock began to rev up its engines for departure.
"All aboard for Galloping islands!" A stallion in a sailor suit shouted by the boat gate.
Rarity gave her friends a big group hug and walked up the boat ramp with a poor teenaged stallion, crushed by the immense weight of her luggage he carried following behind.
The five girls waved at the departing boat as it floated off into the sunset.
"If she doesn't come back in one piece, I'mma gonna say, I told you so." Applejack mumbled. At the get go she was skeptical about this whole "free vacation" thing. She had every right to be.
Who's to say it wasn't dangerous to go to a country you hardly knew anything about?
