The Royal Prank

“Scootaloo? What are you doing here?”
Rainbow was in a state of shock, her face comparable to Celestia’s at the crime scene when the bomb exploded.
“Um, well sis, I…I mean we…”
Twilight walked towards Scootaloo.
“What do you mean, we? Don’t tell me…”
But before she could approach the other two fillies, they took off their masks quickly as well, revealing Sweetie Belle and Applebloom.
“Er…. howdy Twilight, long time no see!” Applebloom said nervously.
“Yeah, hi Twilight!” Sweetie Belle repeated.
Twilight was not amused.
“Care to explain, girls?”

Before the two could continue to stammer, Scootaloo interjected, standing in front of her friends, completing the group, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, known for doing reckless activity to get their cutie marks, which always resulted in chaos every time. Seeing Rainbow Dash as a role model, Scootaloo was often the one who suggested these bizarre ideas and got them into trouble. However, showing a hint of her older sister’s loyalty, she always took the blame and responsibility for the trio’s actions when they went too far with their exploring and adventuring.

“It’s all my fault, Twilight. When you first got your castle after the six of you defeated Tirek, we met Flash Sentry, one of the royal guards who came as well to visit. At first, he seemed like a really nice pony, playing games with us while treating us like adults at the same time. Since he gave all of us such a feeling of responsibility and importance, we trusted him when he asked us if we wanted to meet up with him every week for some random fun and adventures. After that, we would always met with him outside the castle every Wednesday to play his games and have fun with him, such as exploring Canterlot under his permission and participating in the annual fair at the Crystal Empire.”

Twilight did not know how to react to this sudden outburst of truth from such a small filly, though she already guessed what followed from the look on Scootaloo’s face as she continued her speech.

“Then, one day, in another one of our adventures, he led us to this place, where he told us to mount these weird cupcake cannons and shoot down any objects in the air. In the beginning he threw rocks for us to blast, which was quite fun to shoot down. Then, an alarm set off behind us and he disappeared! We’re sorry Twilight, we should had known better that he wanted us to aim at other ponies than simple rocks! Now we injured another pony!” Scootaloo started to cry as she stared at the unconscious body of Spitfire on Rainbow Dash’s back.

“We’re really sorry Twilight.” Sweetie Belle and Applebloom quietly whispered.
Twilight’s gaze was still stern, but her voice softened when she spoke to the CMC.
“You girls really should know better than to trust a stranger that quickly!”
“He promised us carrot cupcakes with sprinkles…” Applebloom interjected.
Twilight slapped her hoof to her face, and continued.
“However, seeing how Flash could predict all of our movements, I guess that he manipulated you three in trusting him. Rainbow Dash and I forgive you.”
“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash was back to normal. “We forgive you.”
“And I guess I forgive you girls too.” Rainbow Dash flew upwards in shock as Spitfire had just regained consciousness and slipped off her back without her knowing.
“However, we can’t keep these young fillies out here in the open danger when we know now that Flash is inside. I am going to fly these fillies on my back and return to base. Twilight is now in charge of this operation. Do you understand agents?”

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle nodded, their faces now devoid of fear and full of determination. As Spitfire flew off with the CMC on her back towards Canterlot, Twilight and Rainbow rushed into the cavern that had opened along with the cannons, ready to face the danger below.

A few minutes later, the two ponies reached the bottom of the cave. Silently trotting towards the center, a swarm of bats suddenly flew outwards in their faces, almost making Twilight scream, but luckily Rainbow put her hoof in her mouth just in time.
“Are you alright Twilight?” Rainbow asked with concern.
“Like a million bits.” Twilight replied sickly.
“Don’t worry, as soon as we capture this Flash Sentry, we can go home and celebrate with our friends and Celestia, ok?”
Twilight smiled with these comforting words.
“Ok.”
And with these words Twilight gave Rainbow a warm hug.
“We’ll go through this and celebrate with our friends, together.”
However, this warm moment was soon interrupted by the sound of two wings flapping in the distance. Breaking out of their hug, the two ponies hid behind a corner and listened to the ensuing conversation.

“Did you see the look on her face?” The voice was raspy, yet feminine.
“Yes I did your highness. Priceless!” It was Flash Sentry.
“Wait a sec Twilight, haven’t we heard that voice before?” Rainbow interrupted.
“Sssh!” Twilight hissed quietly as the conversation continued.
“Well, flash…you have done well. I’m so pleased, I might even try the same plan on Cadence…or even Twilight Sparkle.”
“Are you sure, your Majesty? Twilight Sparkle? I mean…”
The voice laughed quietly.
“Don’t tell me you still have feeling for her? You know that she only liked you for your appearance, right?”
Twilight blushed as Rainbow stared at her with a grin.
“Well, I…”
“It doesn’t matter!” The voice roared. “Do you want to know why, Flash?”
“Because Flash Sentry, she is right…”
Rainbow pushed Twilight out into the open.
“THERE!”
The dark blue blast collided with Rainbow, and she froze into ice.

“RAINBOW DASH!!!”