Issuing the challenge. (Twilight's POV) (Revised)
“INCOMING!”
THUNK!
I closed my eyes and groaned inwardly as I recognized the now all too familiar sound of a certain cyan pegasus hitting the library’s door, I was just grateful it wasn’t the window this time. For the past two weeks Rainbow Dash had been trying to perfect several new, and what she called “complicated” ariel tricks, and these unexpected, and sometimes painful visits had become normal.
With a sigh of resignation at the fact I wouldn’t be getting anymore studying done this afternoon, I teleported downstairs and telekinetically placed the book I was reading back on the shelf with its other literature companions before opening the front door.
“What where you trying this time, Rainbow?” I asked looking down at the prone pegasus sprawled ungracefully on the ground “The spiraling corkscrew of death? The filly flash two point zero? Or the triple plunging barrel roll?” Rainbow’s only response was too groan and rub her head where a sizable lump was already forming. “Come on Dashie, let’s get you fixed up.” I delicately used my magic to pick my friend off the ground and levitate her into my lounge room where I placed her in a comfortable position on my couch. “I’ll go get you an icepack for that lump on your head.”
A few moments later I returned from the kitchen with the promised icepack held in my magical grasp, and Rainbow winced painfully as I softly applied it to her bumped head.
“Thanks Twi, I was really sure I had the spiraling corkscrew of death perfected this time.” Rainbow sighed and slumped further down into the couch. “I’m just not sure what went wrong.”
“Well at least you didn’t hurt yourself too badly. Though you might have a slight concussion so I wouldn’t recommend moving for at least an hour so the swelling has a chance to go down.”
“Aww...come on Twi!”
“Sorry Rainbow, doctors orders.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow at me. “I thought you were a librarian.”
I couldn’t help but give a little smirk at that. “No one likes sarcasm, Rainbow.”
“Yet you were smiling,” Rainbow pointed out.
If Rainbow didn’t already have a concussion I would have used a book to hit her lightly upside her head. Instead I levitated a Daring Do book from one of the shelves and placed it in Rainbow’s lap. “While you’re waiting for the swelling to go down you might as well finish the last chapters of your book.” Rainbow hesitated a moment before giving a little squee of excitement and opening the book up to the page she had left off.
I couldn’t help but give a little giggle of my own at the cute expression that always formed on Rainbow’s face as she lost herself in a world of written adventures. I especially loved the way her magenta eyes would widen whenever Daring Do found herself in trouble, or the way her back left leg would start tapping whenever the suspense was becoming too much. After a few moments I realized I had been staring at her for a bit too long, and with a light blush gracing my cheeks I trotted into the kitchen to make myself a much needed snack.
This hadn’t been the first time I found myself just staring at the athlete’s sexily toned body, or getting lost in those bright beautiful eyes of her eyes. Thankfully nopony had caught me staring at her like that yet, otherwise things would become very awkward between Rainbow and I if she ever found out about the secret crush I have on her.
The rumbling of my stomach pulled my thoughts away from Rainbow Dash, and back to the reason I had come to the kitchen in the first place; a much needed snack.
“Hey Rainbow, I’m making myself a snack, are you hungry?”
“No thanks Twi, I had something to eat before I left.”
Choosing to Ignore her comment about not being hungry, I made four daffodil and daisy sandwiches and placed two of them on the coffee table in front of Rainbow. “Stale french fries and flat soda, are not constructive to one’s continued good health and nutrition. So I have to insist you have a proper meal while you’re here.” Rainbow rolled her eyes, but put down her book anyway so she could eat her sandwiches.
“I’ll have you know Twi, I eat very healthily and nutritiously, how else do you think I have such an awesomely toned and sexy flank?”
I smirked and gave her cutie mark area an appreciative glance. “That is definitely an awesomely toned and sexy flank, you have there Dashie.” My comment caused Rainbow Dash to blush slightly and shift around so her flank wasn’t as visible as much. “So, Rainbow, I’ve been thinking... you know how you keep saying you’re the most daring pony.” Rainbow’s ears perked up and she looked at me with interest. “Well, I bet you fifty bits, and a months worth of cider, I can come up with a challenge not even you will be able to complete.” Rainbow was definitely interested now, she was practically drooling at the prospect of so much cider and I knew I almost had the pegasus hooked.
“So What’s the challenge?”
I couldn’t do anything to stop the excited expression that formed on my face, but I did my best not to blurt out the challenge I had planned for Rainbow just to see how she would react. Instead I used my magic to clean several bread crumbs off of Rainbow’s chest. “Unfortunately Rainbow, the actual challenge is going to be a secret until the very last moment, otherwise it wouldn’t be too much of a challenge.”
“And what happens if I fail this challenge?”
“You get to help me around the library for the next two months.” Rainbow looked thoughtful as she ate the rest of her sandwich in silence, and I could sense her reluctance at accepting an unknown challenge. So I did the best thing I could think and appealed to her sunlike ego which would never allow her to be seen as nothing but the best pony around. “I will completely understand if you don’t want to do this Rainbow, I’m sure Applejack...”
“Hey egghead! I didn’t say I wouldn’t accept your challenge!”
I feigned mild skepticism and raised a cynical eyebrow. “So you are accepting my challenge or not?”
“Yes!” Rainbow said looking determined. “I accept your challenge!”
I smiled to myself at how easy it was to use Rainbow’s ego against her. “That’s great Rainbow, be here Tuesday morning, six thirty AM. I need to get a few things prepared.”
“What kinda things?” Rainbow asked trying to look disinterested. She was no doubt fishing for any clues that would give her an idea of the challenge I had prepared.
“Sorry Dashie, but that’s a secret.”
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea (Rainbow)
By the time Tuesday had come around, I had pretty much given up trying to figure out what challenge Twilight was going to give me. But knowing the egghead that she is, she’ll probably get me to read an encyclopedia cover to cover, or pretty much something as equally and mind-numbingly boring as that. I was almost tempted not to make the flight over to the library just thinking about that, but I had already agreed to this mysterious challenge, and I really wanted to know what it was. Taking a deep breath, I reached out a hoof and knocked a couple of times on the door.
I heard the sound of things being hastily put away, before the door was opened revealing Twilight with a couple of saddle bags in held in her magical grasp. “Hey Twi.,” I greeted. “What’s with the saddle bags?” Twilight placed a saddle bag on each of our backs, and I was slightly surprised to find that mine was completely empty.
“This is for your challenge Dashie. That is of course if you still want to go through with this.”
I gave her my best deadpan stare. “I’m here aren’t I. And I still don’t know what this challenge of yours is.”
Twilight smirked and walked out of the library gesturing for me to follow her. “I assure you it’s going to be something very unexpected, but before we begin there are some rules.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Rule number one, you are completely free to not go through with this challenge until you know what it is, without any consequences. Rule number two, once you do know what it is, and you decide not to go through with it than I will have won the bet and you have to help me in the library for the next two months. I’ll tell you the rest of the rules once we get to our destination.”
I followed after Twilight feeling more and more apprehensive about this challenge, the good news was I wouldn’t be reading any encyclopedias. But judging from the occasional smirk Twilight threw my way, it was probably going to be something I wouldn’t enjoy. Part of me wanted to bail out before I figured out what my challenge was, but the promise of fifty bits and a whole month’s worth of cider kept my legs walking, and my mouth drooling.
After several minutes of walking we came to the train station and my curiosity piqued to new heights. “So where’d you say we were going?” I asked as casually as I could.
“I didn’t,” was all Twilight said.
“Well you could at least tell me where we’re going, it’s not like it’ll ruin the challenge or anything, right?”
Twilight pursed her lips thoughtfully, “I suppose not. We’re going to Canterlot.”
“What’s in Canterlot?”
Twilight just gave me a wink and paid for our tickets. “Don’t worry Dashie, you’ll find out soon enough. But just remember, you’re not bound by our bet until you know what your challenge is, so you’re free to quit anytime you like.”
I flashed Twilight my best cocky smile, and sauntered past her onto the train. “Please, I don’t think there’s anything you can come up with I that I won’t be able to do, especially if I’m getting fifty bits and a month’s worth of cider as a prize.”
Twilight shrugged and led the way into our compartment. “If you say so Dashie. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Seriously,” I muttered, as I saw we were going to be hard pressed finding a seat for ourselves.
“Over here, Rainbow,” Twilight called somewhere at the back of the compartment, where she had found an empty seat.
I made my way over to my friend and dumbed the saddle bags under the seat. “So, got anything fun to do?” I asked hoping we wouldn’t be spending a two hour trip in boredom.
Twilights horn glowed and she levitated several books from her saddle bags. “Of course I do Dashie, which one did you want to read?” I looked over my choices, and pointed to a Daring Do book I hadn’t read nearly enough. Twilight placed the rest of the books back in her bags, and moved closer to me until our wings were touching and I shivered as tingles ran through my sensitive feathers. “Oh sorry Rainbow,” Twilight said moving away from me. “I just wanted to make sure you were able to read the book as well.”
I frowned at her in confusion. “Why aren’t you reading any of the other books?”
Twilight hesitated and her gaze flitted anywhere but me. “I...was already reading this book...and I wanted to get it finished today.”
I gazed at her a moment longer wondering why her face was slightly red, and why she wasn’t able to keep eye contact with me. “It’s okay, Twi. I don’t mind.”
Twilight gave me a brief smile and moved closer to me until our wings were touching once more. “I can read to you,” Twilight offered. “That way I won’t accidentality turn the page when you’re not finished.”
I shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
Twilight cleared her throat and in a quiet voice so as not to disturb the other passengers, she began reading form the book, occasionally pausing to turn the page or take a sip of water. ‘Til now, I never noticed how relaxing Twilight’s voice could be, of course right now I wasn’t being told off for crashing into the library, or being lectured on proper book care. And after a few minutes, the combined effect of Twilight’s soothing voice and the constant motion of the train lulled me into a deep slumber.
“Rainbow, wakeup.” I began to stir awake from Twilight’s voice, and hoof constantly poking me painfully in the chest.
“Five more minutes, Twi,” I mumbled, shifting into a better position to escape from the painful assault of Twilight’s hoof.
“Rainbow, you’re drooling on me.” My eyes shot open and I wiped a hoof across my mouth.
“Heh, sorry ‘bout that Twi. How long was I asleep for?”
“Only fifteen minutes. I woke you up so you could have some breakfast. Daffodil and daisy sandwich sound good?”
“How’d you know I hadn’t eaten breakfast,” I asked, taking the offered sandwich from Twilight’s magical grasp.
“Please Rainbow, when you wake up early the only thing you think about is your next nap.”
“Not true,” I mumbled through a mouthful of bread and flowers. I had to admit, the egghead could make a pretty awesome sandwich and soon I was looking for anther one.
“Still hungry, Dashie?” Twilight asked. My stomach growled, answering the Alicorn’s question.
“So, what made you decide to do this whole challenge thing anyway?” Twilight began choking on her sandwich, and I hit her on the back until the bit of offending food flew from her mouth.
“Well...I,” Twilight began looking anywhere but me. “I...just thought...you’d appreciate...the chance to finally... proveyourselfthemostdaringponyinEquestria.”
“Uh-huh...and why did you choose me instead of Applejack?”
“Well...I did think of her, but...she’s pretty busy with the farmwork and all. Besides, I highly doubt Applejack will be able to top the challenge I have planned for you.”
I facehoofed and groaned.“I’m going to regret agreeing to this, aren’t I?” Twilight smirked and used her magic to wipe the crumbs off my coat, and I shivered at the tingles the touch of magic caused.
Twilight looked at me with concern. “Are you cold Rainbow? I’ve got a scarf, if you need one.” Without even waiting for my response, Twilight levitated a scarf from her saddle bags and wrapped it around my neck. Once again I shivered at the magical tingles.
“Uh...thanks Twi.”
“No problem, Dashie. Though...I don’t suppose...you would like to get dinner with me after your challenge...”
“Are you okay Twi?” I asked looking at my friend with concern. “You seem, I don’t know, you seem a bit off.”
Twilight swallowed and once again avoided my gaze. “I’m fine Dashie. I’m just a little nervous you’ll bail out of your challenge.”
“Like I said before Twi. I can handle any dare, or challenge you can throw at me.”
“If you say so Rainbow.” Twilight muttered.
