The Most Daring Pony (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.”