Tilting Hopes

by DegeTheMighty

Rating: everyone
Tags: Rumble, Slice of Life, Thunderlane, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Flitter and Cloudchaser, Comedy
Length: 1094

With Thunderlane busy, Flitter and Cloudchaser have to foalsitting Rumble.

Thunderlane has a date with Blossomforth, and that left Rumble all on his lonesome. Luckily, Flitter and Cloudchaser were nice enough to offer to foalsit him for the night.

Being bored out of his mind, Rumble issues a challenge. Cloudchaser will let him watch a scary movie, if she loses to him in Jenga...

Inspired by this wonderful art by: Xieril

Published 2013-10-21 09:50:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-10-21 09:50:02 UTC

The Rumble State Building

It was so close. He was so close to losing absolutely everything. His building, his company, everything he had worked for over the past twenty-seven years was now on the line, and that line was getting thinner with each passing minute. All of his fortune, all of his money and livelihood settled on this very moment. Rumble had to be absolutely careful.

The Rumble State Building was going to be destroyed, that much was unavoidable. However, if he played his cards right, he could make it look like an accident, and claim a grand total of seventy million billion bits in insurance. It was a risky move if he got caught weakening the structure himself, but it would be Cloudchaser who was the one who brought the monument to its crushing end.

Rumble's hoof was shaking, both with excitement and fear. A deep breath calmed his nerves, as he gently pushed against the wooden support, that could have clearly ended his reign as the wealthiest pony in all of Equestria. The Wonderfully Tall & Handsome Rumble would put Filthy Rich's name to shame. He had to approach this with surgical precision, and thanked himself for getting his surgeon degree.

His small hoof made contact with the block, somewhat cold to the touch. His chest tightened, as he carefully, and slowly pressed against the support. Testing it was growing increasingly dangerous as time wore on, his building coming closer and closer to destruction. All that mattered was who would be the one to finally cause it to come crushing down, and Rumble was determined to make Cloudchaser take that fall with the tower.

“C'mon Rumble, you're taking a long time,” Cloudchaser spoke impatiently.

Rumble shook his head, refusing to listen to her lies. He steeled himself removing whatever taunts the devious mare would throw at him. All she wanted was to watch him fail. He was the only thing standing in her way from being on top, and being on the cover of Forbes. Her brand of hoof polish and lip stick would be the absolute best selling product in the world, and his company of suits and ties would be ruined. She was trying to provoke him. She only wanted his physical testament to his wealth to come crashing down like his career.

Rumble wouldn't let that happen.

Another incredibly gentle press confirmed that the support was not ripe for plucking. He withdrew his hoof carefully, as to not accidentally collide with another part of the building. His analytical eyes scanned the building, his new mechanical eyes were paying off... so far.

“Are you going to take forever?” She asked, taunting the incredible handsome stallion further.

Rumble scoffed, straightening his custom tie and returning to his task. Another support showed promise, as his hoof met his mark. A very gentle press connected with the wood, and still it refused to move, without causing a small tremor throughout the structure. His retracted his hoof in frustration.

“Darn it!” He shouted. “How am I supposed to do this!?”

“What's the matter, Rumble? You said you were good at Jenga,” Cloudchaser teased further.

Rumble growled, as he could hear the restrained laughter of Flitter behind him. He wasn't about to let this mare ruin his very career. He would show these two exactly what he was made of. The Wonderfully Tall & Handsome Rumble would not lose his cool in front of these silly fillies!

Seeking another wooden support, his hoof came upon a support near the top of the tower. Another one of his signature gentle presses and it seemed to give way, ever so slightly. He continued his soft, yet determined push, until the piece managed to slide out perfectly. Rumble dropped the support on the carpet, before cheering in joy. His massive and obviously devilishly wings causing him to hover in the air.

“Yes!” He shouted, pointing an accusing hoof at Cloudchaser. “Your attempts to taunt me into submission have failed! You WILL destroy this building and I WILL be the richest pony in Equestria.”

“....What?”

“Wow, you must be really getting into this, Rumble,” Flitter commented.

“I won't lose! The Headless Horse here I come!”

Cloudchaser simply giggled at his antics as she focused on her turn. The tower was missing a lot of pieces. It was beginning to look like one of those abstract sculptures Rumble would buy just to look important.

As her hoof scanned across the building with professional ease, Rumble caught something out of the corner of his eye. From the door frame into the kitchen, he caught the head of Thunderlane poking through. His older, yet obviously much less attractive brother was finally home, but Rumble saw that Cloudchaser was far to focused on the game to notice him.

He got an idea.

Making sure that Cloudchaser couldn't see his strange movements, Rumble signaled to his brother. The confused look sprawled across his face was quickly replaced with a mischievous understanding.

As Thunderlane tiphoofed ever closer, Rumble could make out the snickers from behind him, coming from Flitter. Good, so she wouldn't ruin it. Cloudchaser was too interested in the supports of the Jenga tower to hear Thunderlane sneak up on her. Her hoof began to press against a block, as Thunderlane lifted his hooves in the air.

“BOO!” He shouted, smacking his hooves down on her flank.

A loud yelp erupted from Cloudchaser, as her hoof smashed through the tower, pieces and parts exploding across the floor.

“Yes! I win I win I win!” Rumble chanted, hopping around the disgruntled mare towards his brother. “High hoof!”

An audible clap of hooves resonated throughout the room, as well as Flitter's laughter. Cloudchaser's cheeks burned, as she whipped her head around.

“What's the big idea, Thunderlane!? Cheater!” She said, punching him in the shoulder.

“Doesn't matter! You knocked it over! I win!” Rumble continued to chant. He was sure to get his insurance money now.

Flitter cantered over to him, more than pleased to see her sister so frustrated at a game she had considered boring. “Hey Thunderlane. How'd the date go?” She asked him.

Thunderlane laughed, before beginning to pick up the fallen pieces. “Better than your Jenga game. At least my relationship isn't in shambles.”

Author's Note

Sorry I've been drowning you guys in Slice-of-Life fics recently, but I find them so much easier to write than I originally thought.

I working on a project involving Luna, but I feel that may too big for a single one-shot. We'll see.