Census Maximus Ultimatum

Chapter 8

Rainbow Dash opened her mailbox, and yanked out the day's letters. Rifling through them, she ignored several letters involving business stuff and bills, and the last two were different from the rest. One was a formal letter from the Mayor, which was what she had been waiting for for about  three days, and the other was a hand-addressed envelope from...

Princess Luna?

Turning around and walking back in the house, she smiled at Scootaloo, who was sitting on the sofa reading the second book in the Daring Do series. Rainbow Dash had been overjoyed when she had discovered Scootaloo holding the first book and reading the back, an interested look on her face. Leaning over her and looking at the pages, she snickered as she remembered reading the part that her little sister was at.

Continuing to the table, she tossed the business mail across the tablecloth and set the two letters of current interest in front of her. Picking up the one from Mayor Mare, she slid the letter opener underneath the flap and slashed the paper open. Removing the pages, she began reading.

Rainbow Dash

Cloudsdale

Tuesday, April 10th

Dearest Rainbow Dash,

As I promised, I read through the records that you requested. However, unfortunately, I was unable to find that which you wanted. So, to answer your question, Scootaloo was not born in Ponyville. You will have to search elsewhere. I spoke to Princess Twilight Sparkle, and she asks that you see her, in private, on the 12th of April.

Best wishes in your search.

Signed,

Mayor Mare.

Rainbow Dash looked at the second page, which contained a short message and a list of possible locations of where the filly could have been born. There was Cloudsdale, Appleoosa, Manehattan, and Canterlot. Rainbow Dash thought about the Crystal Empire, but the likelihood of such an event was extremely slim.

Rainbow Dash stared at Appleoosa. It was the closest town to Ponyville, excepting Canterlot.

She would leave in the next couple days.

“Awww...” Rainbow Dash looked up at Scootaloo. She was sitting up higher now, a frown on her face as she gazed intently at the pages. “Rainbow, she died! Why would they make her die?”

“I don't know sis, I guess it's just part of the story.”

“Well that's not fair...” She went back to her book.

“WHAT?”

“I'm sorry Sweetie Belle, it's just how it needs to be!”

“I can't play with her! She's so MEAN!”

“Well, Mister Filthy Rich assures me that she's very nice!”

“Well that's what he always says! At school she's just a stuck-up brat!”

“Well, dear, you and her will just have to get along while I am at the party. And you may NOT do anything to hurt her. I've

seen your drawings of little robots and things, and I think you have quite an imagination. You will get along with her, or...I'll think of something. You will regret it.”

“Aw, but...fine...” Sweetie Belle walked out of the house. She couldn't pull any pranks on Silver Spoon without getting into trouble. The party was tomorrow night.

“This is stupid!” she said to herself. Why didn't she ever get an opinion?

Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo.

“Hey, Scoots?”

“Hmm?” The orange filly didn't look up.

“You think you'd be all right alone for a couple days?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Well...” How could she put this?  “I've got a friend in Appleoosa who wants to see me. I'd like to see her as well, so I think I'll go out there.” Lying to her new little sister was hard, but it had to be done.

“You can do that, I'll be fine here. When would you go?”

“In the next couple days, and I'd come back before too long, no more than a couple of nights.”

“Okay. It's a good thing there's no school this week. If you're gone, nobody can help me down from here.”

“Hey, you've been doing good with your flight exercises. You're getting better. And if you're worried about that, I can get Twilight to come and get you down for the day, and bring you home at night, or you could stay with Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle.”

“I'll ask around tomorrow. But I gotta finish this book, it's really good!”

Rainbow Dash smiled, and then picked up the second letter.

Princess Luna.

“Why is she writing to me?” Rainbow mumbled to herself. Cutting open the letter, she slipped the single page out.

Dear Rainbow Dash,

I doubt Scootaloo has told you this, but I spoke with her on the night you brought her home. She was rather distraught about something involving her relationship with you, though when I pressed for an answer, she was unable to come up with a reasonable answer.

I hope that the two of you have been maintaining a stable friendship. Sometimes sisters have strange arguments that don't make sense. I would most certainly know. Keep her comforted, be kind to her.

Formally signed,

Princess Luna of Canterlot, Equestria

The final signature was written in royal purple ink. Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo, wondering how she could have spoken with Princess Luna without her knowing.

Looking back at the first letter, she realized that although the letter had been sent yesterday, the 12th was tomorrow, and she had to figure out when to meet with Twilight. She would leave in two days. Hopefully nothing would go wrong on this trip.