What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

"RAINBOW DAAAAAASH!!!" a shrill, bubbly voice shouted from below. "YA FORGET OUR DEAL?"

The squeaky voice bounded up from the ground, danced through the comfy cumulus window, and tickled Rainbow Dash's ears, coaxing her to sit up and run a hoof through her multicolored mane. Deal, Deal, Deal... She searched her mind and kicked her back hooves over the side of the highly disheveled bed.

"COME ON, YOU LAZY FACE!!" the call trilled again.

Rainbow grumbled under her breath and dragged herself over to the seemingly cheerful hole in the wall. "Yeah, yeah. Be right out, Pinkie," still mumbling, she moped her way to the altostratus counter and began to make herself a cup of black eye coffee.

"I'M GONNA GO GET TWI, OKAY?"

The cyan pegasus simply responded with a grunt. Within an instant, the coffee was done and Rainbow Dash had woken up a bit more.

As she slowly sipped the black liquid, she hummed to herself, gathering up a saddlebag and a few other Knick Knacks. The pegasus went through a mental list as she pushed various items into the excruciatingly worn out bag.

Six leaf clover,

Spitfire's lost horseshoe... Really should get that to her.

Heart shaped river rock from Pinkie,

Applejack's 'borrowed' earring. Eh, she looks cuter with only one any- Rainbow Dash stopped. "necessities, featherbrain!" she brought a hoof to her forehead and sauntered over to the sink, thinking about the day that lay ahead of her.

"Let's see," she sighed, standing on tip-hooves as she reached for her giant water bottle from the back of the glasses cabinet. "water bottle, check,"

"energy bar, check,"

"swag-glasses, check," Rainbow Dash rambled on about her list, pushing each object separately into the bulging saddlebag. "uhh.... Might have to take a few of the UNNECESSARY items out of the bag," she haphazardly tossed every little bobble out of the cyan saddlebag, each landing in a different place. After a minute or so of making sure she had everything, she pulled the waist strap around her stomach and admired the tiny window that sat on the south wall as if she could see all of Equestria through it.

"Alrighty then, I think I'm off!" with that, she flew out the window, her back hoof barely catching on the note Pinkie Pie had thrown her.

-_-_-_-_-_-

When Rainbow Dash finally caught up with Pinkie Pie, the magenta earth pony had already gathered up an achy Applejack,  a talkative Twilight Sparkle, and a fidgety Fluttershy.

"Oh, hiya Dashie!" Pinkie chirped, galloping over to the cyan pegasus. "how ya doin'?

"Pretty good, actually," she raised her fore-leg for a hoof-bump and was quickly given one. "you guys stopped by Rarity's yet? You know it's the funnest thing to do," there was an unnerving amount of sarcasm in her voice as she trotted along with the pink party pony.

"Aw, don't be like that!" Pinkie Pie sang, hopping up in the air. "I'm sure it'll be fun!"

Before Rainbow Dash knew it, Pinkie was beating a hoof on the alabaster door, eyes darting about the gold trimmed doorknob.

"Come in!" a silky voice mused as a glow of blue magic turned the handle.

As the band of ponies sauntered in, they could see Rarity sitting on a velvet love seat, a taffeta hat draped across her head. She was daintily sipping a stout cup of tea and had a glittery, folded up saddlebag sitting patiently next to her. Early-morning sun shone through the window, bathing the ivory unicorn in soft light.

"Uh, guys? Are we just gunna staynd and gawk or are we gunna get on wiyth it?" Applejack drawled, her thick country accent breaking the silence.

"Well, duh! I thought we were playing 'Shhhh!'," Pinkie Pie paused. "Fluttershy's the world champion, you know."

This statement erupted a roar of laughter from the band of mares.

"GUYS! Are we just going to stand around and do nothing or are we actually going to go the the Everfree forest!?" Rainbow Dash was getting impatient. She was promised an adventure, and whether they like it or not, she was going to get one.

"Ugh, Rainbow Daaash! Yes, I suppose I'm ready," Rarity averted, inching off of the velvet love seat like a cloud of vapor.

"Off we are, then!" Twilight cheerfully babbled, trotting over to the door.

-_-_-_-_-_-

After a long uneventful walk through Ponyville and an even longer, more uneventful trot to the edge of the forest, they were finally there.

"Hey, where ya think you goin', chumps?" a deep, rumbling voice growled. "you don't look tough enough ta be goin' in tha dark Evahfree forest."

There were two buff stallions blocking the entrance.