Equestria Wide River Expedition

Chapters

The Rafting Trip
Train Ride
'Duckies'
The Lost Rafters

The Rafting Trip

Applejack was doing her usual work, bucking apple tree after apple tree after apple tree. Each bucking wearied down Applejack as she kicked each tree. Finally, she decided to call it done and sat under the most recent tree she bucked. Apple Bloom finished putting away the last of the apples Applejack bucked down, so Apple Bloom ran over to her sister and sat next to her.

"Hey Applejack, how many apples do ya think we collected today?"

"Hmm..." Applejack put a hoof to her chin and replied, "Don't ya think y'can add them up? Y'have done this a while. Give me your guess."

Apple Bloom mimicked Applejack's position and thought for a while. Apple Bloom finally pepped up and exclaimed, "More than yesterday!"

Applejack laughed and scratched Apple Bloom's head. "Ya got it!"

Apple Bloom joined in with her sister in laughing.

Sweetie Belle observed the new dress that Rarity made. "Wow, Rarity! Another dress made!"

Rarity grinned at Sweetie Belle and walked over to her. "I just can't believe how many dresses that were ordered yesterday. Poor Fluttershy must have been tuckered out with worry!"

Sweetie Belle walked through the rows of dresses that Rarity hung. "You know, if you keep doing this, you might get sick again! And you were sick just recently!"

Rarity nodded. "It's true that I may have pushed myself too much before." Rarity thought for a bit then said, "But I believe you are correct this time. I may need to get some rest. And anyways..." She grabbed the list from her counter and looked through it. "I got through the whole list that Fluttershy received." Rarity walked over and slumped into her couch, putting her hoof behind her head. Rarity then requested, "Sweetie Belle, I'm hungry. Be a dear and grab me a snack?"

Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity quizzically. "Um, sure Sis. What do you want?"

Rarity continued relaxing. "Something that matches my color."

Sweetie Belle nodded and walked off downstairs.

Scootaloo continued riding on her scooter down the streets. She was focused on one thing; keeping up with Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo fluttered her wings quickly and accelerated forward. Rainbow Dash took spot of this and smiled. Even on the ground, Scootaloo was quick on her scooter. Rainbow Dash then looked forward and saw a favorable relaxing spot: a tree. She then rushed over to the tree and crashed into the tree. Rainbow Dash, on the ground because of breaking the branches she was attempting to land on, rubbed the back of her head with her hoof. She got up and saw Scootaloo speeding towards her. With a skid of her scooter, she slid to a stop before running into Rainbow Dash and brushed off her helmet.

"Rainbow Dash! You okay?" Scootaloo questioned concernedly.

Rainbow Dash laughed and walked over to Scootaloo. "Sometimes, you have to make errors to learn, Squirt." She then decided to quickly rush to another topic to keep her pride. "Anyways, great job keeping up with me back there. What's the rush though?"

Scootaloo beamed and took out a paper. Rainbow Dash skimmed over the paper. "Equestria Wide River Expedition?" she contemplated.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo answered excitedly. "It's a rafting trip! The Cutie Mark Crusaders really want to go to see if we can get our 'Rafting' cutie marks! But..." She kicked her hoof on the ground. "We need some adults to be able to go."

Rainbow Dash continued looking over the paper. She then looked to the prices. Her eyes widened in shock. "Only that much? Usually, these trips cost over two-hundred bits. But this is only one-hundred-fifty!" Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo. "Are you sure that this isn't a hoax?"

Scootaloo shook her head. "Of course not! We made sure it was completely true! And this is the most entertaining of all!"

Rainbow Dash thought for a moment and nodded. "Well, I'll go ahead and see if this is alright with Rarity and Applejack. I mean, it's not fair that I only come. I'm sure that the others may want to go."

Scootaloo sulked a bit but tried to contain her sorrow. "Oh, alright..." Scootaloo unenthusiastically said.

Rainbow Dash gave a knowing smile and flew off.

"Rarity! I'm back!"

Rarity smiled at the call of Sweetie Belle. Rarity was getting quite hungry.

"Thank you, Swee-" She cut herself off as she noticed what Sweetie Belle was carrying.

Sweetie Belle just kept a big grin, teeth showing as she carried a bag of marshmallows. Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle, unamused. Before Rarity got the chance to counter, a ringing was heard at the door. "You got off lucky this time..." Rarity cursed as she walked down the stairs. When she was at the counter, she sang, "Welcome to Carousel Boutique!"

Rainbow Dash walked towards Rarity. "Hey, Rarity, got something for you to look at." Rainbow Dash then pulled out the paper that Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dash.

Rarity took the paper with magic and read through it. "Equestria Wide River Expedition? Oh, that sounds dreadful. Who would want to ride on the rapids with only a... 'duckie'?"

Rainbow Dash shrugged to show her same confusion. Rarity continued reading before gawking. "That's the expense?"

"Yeah, I didn't believe it either."

"Well, dear, that's... Really not as much as I thought this trip would be." She placed the paper on the desk and continued. "So why show this to me? I'm not the adventurous type, you know."

"It's something with the CMC wanting a 'rafting' cutie mark." Rainbow Dash resentfully said. Sweetie Belle perked her ears up and watched Rarity and Rainbow Dash.

"Why, that's quite usual for them. But why in the world would I go? I simply cannot handle these type of trips."

"If you don't do, then who will take responsibility of watching their own little sister? You know I'm not going to watch all three of them." Rainbow Dash then placed a hoof on the counter. "Besides, wouldn't you consider this a, I dunno, a sister-bonding... thing?" Rainbow Dash then put a cheesy grin to convince Rarity.

Rarity looked at Rainbow Dash paranoid. "If you are so insistent, then why don't you just bring along Applejack? You and her could make the team to watch over the three."

Sweetie Belle decided to join. "But Sis! I won't go without you! Please?" Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity with large and adorable eyes.

"No! I refuse to..." Rarity tried looking away, but the stare was getting to her. Finally caving in, she gave a grunt and exclaimed, "Fine! I'll go! But just this once."

Sweetie Belle hopped around Rarity with excitement. Rainbow Dash sighed and took the paper from Rarity's desk. "Sorry, can't stay here much longer. Gotta tell Applejack. Later!" Rainbow Dash then flew out of the shop. Rarity groaned as she thought of what she was getting herself into.

Applejack looked into the sky and saw Rainbow Dash flying over. Applejack yelled out, "Hey! Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow Dash looked down and landed next to Applejack. "Hey, I was looking for you!"

"Same here! Ah need some help. Mind if ya can pitch in?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Hay, yeah! Glad you thought of the right pony for the job. What ya need?"

"Ah need some help with paintin' mah barn. Mind if ya could paint the roof?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Sure thing!" Rainbow Dash and Applejack then clapped their hooves together.

"Great! Now follow me!" Applejack requested.

Applejack led Rainbow Dash to the barn through a path of many fallen leaves. After walking on the path, they finally reached the barn. The first thing that bought the attention of Rainbow Dash was the barn wall. On the barn wall, Pinkie Pie was painted with rays of sunshine falling down. "Uh..." Rainbow Dash questioned as she pointed towards the painting.

Applejack shrugged. "Just worry about the roof. Ah'll work on the wall."

Applejack picked up her brush and began to paint the wall in a red paint. Rainbow Dash did the same and flew onto the roof. As she started painting, she asked, "Hey AJ, how do you feel about rafting?"

Applejack looked up at Rainbow Dash. "What'da mean 'rafting'?"

"You know, riding on a boat on the river?"

Applejack blankly stared. Rainbow Dash groaned. "Have you ever gone rafting before?"

Applejack shook her head. "Ain't it just sailing?"

"No, it's completely different!" Rainbow Dash interjected. "Okay, it's sailing, but it is with more style and excitement!"

Applejack just shrugged. "So, why bring that up?"

Rainbow Dash flew down, leaving her paint brush on the roof. "Well, Scoots came by earlier. Said something about a 'rafting' cutie mark."

Applejack groaned. "This again?"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "But it's a little different this time though. Scoots told me that she needed an adult, so she came to me."

Applejack thought for a moment. "So... A sister get-together?" Rainbow Dash nodded, which brought a smile to Applejack. "That's great! Ah would love to come! Though, we may have a few problems with Rarity. How're we gonna convince her?"

Rainbow Dash just held her hoof out. "Don't worry about that. Rarity already agreed."

Applejack didn't hold back her confusion. "Rarity agreed? Like... Really agreed? She's the last one to agree to anything like this!"

Rainbow Dash chuckled. "I guess that sisters do have power over each other."

Applejack shook her head. "Wait a minute, are ya leading this trip?"

"No!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "We're going to have guides for this." She grabbed the flyer that Scootaloo gave Rainbow Dash and handed it to Applejack. "Here."

Applejack scanned the paper carefully. After a moment, Applejack smiled. "Ah'm guessin' that this will be fun."

"Hay yeah! This is going to be awesome!"

Apple Bloom, hiding behind the barn with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, clapped their hooves together as a group.

"We did it!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

"Scootaloo, your plan actually worked!" Apple Bloom praised.

"I told ya that I had this handled," Scootaloo complied.

"Ah can't wait! My hooves are already itching with excitement!" Apple Bloom cheered.

"Cutie Mark Crusader Rafters! Yay!" they rooted.

Then a yelp came from Applejack while Rainbow Dash cracked up at the red paint splattered on Applejack from the brush that fell from the roof.

Author Notes:

I'm going to start this story. I felt like it would be nice to explain my trip. Originally, I thought of a class trip, but then I thought, "Why not bring some of the mane six?" And this is what came out. Hope you enjoy!

Oh yes! I better give credit to Toxic-Mario because I 'borrowed' his comic for the Rarity and Sweetie Belle scene...

Oh, I did edit this part a bit. Now that I read this, it seems a little short to me.

Train Ride

"C'mon! Hurry! We're going to be late!"

Sweetie Belle waited impatiently as Rarity ran around packing for the trip. Sweetie Belle had everything packed in her suitcase, but Rarity continued to gather many hats together. She looked at each individual hat carefully.

Sweetie Belle groaned. "C'mon Sis! Can't you just pick a hat? Please?"

"Sweetie Belle, must you be so impatient?" Rarity asked. "I must look fashionable before everypony!"

Sweetie Belle let out a defeated sigh and walked over to her bags. Rarity peered over each hat, deciding which one would be best. A knock sounded from the door and Sweetie Belle quickly ran over to the front. She opened the door to Applebloom and Applejack, who were saddled up and ready.

"Sweetie, y'all ready yet?" Applejack asked.

Sweetie Belle sighed. "No... Rarity refuses to leave without looking 'fashionable'." Sweetie Belle then plopped onto the floor.

Applejack just shook her head. "Ah'll take care of this." She turned to Apple Bloom and said, "Better stay here with Sweetie Belle." She then ran upstairs where Rarity and Applejack started an argument almost immediately. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other and laughed.

Scootaloo continued jumping up and down as Rainbow Dash flew around clearing the clouds. She enjoyed the breeze in her mane as she continued to clear the sky. Rainbow Dash looked down every so often to see Scootaloo still excitedly jumping. At first, Rainbow Dash thought it was kind of awesome how her fan was excited for the trip. But as time went on, it became a little annoying how Scootaloo kept following her around as she was preparing the skies for later. She knew that the others could fill in for her, but Rainbow Dash still felt like she had to leave her mark in the sky.

After clearing the whole sky above Ponyville, Rainbow Dash grabbed her bags and flew down next to Scootaloo. "Well Squirt," Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "Looks like it's time for us to see how the others are doing."

Scootaloo nodded excitedly with a huge grin. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and started walking towards the Carousel Boutique. As she peered back, she saw Scootaloo hopping behind her. Rainbow Dash smirked at the filly's enthusiasm.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle groaned as Applejack and Rarity continued arguing.

"We're never going to move anywhere with those two arguing," Apple Bloom complained.

Sweetie Belle agreed and rolled onto a couch. "But how are we going to separate them from arguing?"

Apple Bloom thought for a bit. Before she could gather an idea, a knock was heard at the door.

"I'll get it!" Sweetie Belle yelled as she hopped off the couch. She walked to the door to open the door. Behind the door, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo stood, both of them grinning. "Scootaloo! You came!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo ran up to meet each other around Sweetie Belle as Rainbow Dash looked at the ceiling. Rainbow Dash sighed. "They're arguing again?" Rainbow Dash asked. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked over to Rainbow Dash and nodded. Rainbow Dash just groaned and flew upstairs.

Apple Bloom looked at her friends. "Ya sure that Rainbow can separate them?"

Scootaloo boldly stated, "She's Rainbow Dash. Of course she can!"

As Scootaloo finished, a yell was heard and it became quiet immediately. One voice then sliced through the silence. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo tried their best to stay silent to hear what the voice was saying.

Faintly, they heard, "You two are really arguing at a time like this? C'mon, the other three are ready to leave and you're wasting their valuable time with all this yelling! It's a sister-bonding type, uh... thing. So shouldn't you be there and ready for your sister?"

Another voice spoke out. "I suppose so... I guess I got a little caught up in fashion and forgot who I'm doing this for."

A third voice then spoke up. "Yeah, Ah reckon Ah'm also to blame here. I got caught up with trying to get Rarity down that Ah almost forgot as well." A laugh then sounded. "But what in tarnation got you all hyped up to be the voice of reason here?"

The first voice spoke, "Well, uh... You know... Rafting is really awesome, and I want to go as quickly as I can."

"Oh, is that so?" The second voice asked.

The first voice exclaimed, "Of course! I mean, who wouldn't be excited?"

The third voice sounded, "Well, it sounds more to me that yer excited to spend time with your number one fan."

The first voice squeaked, "What? No!" A cough was heard and the first voice continued. "I mean, yeah, it's cool and all, but that's definitely not the reason!"

The third voice spoke, "Whatever ya say, RD." Even more faintly, two snickers could be heard.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders then regain their senses when Apple Bloom sighed. "Well, at least that's taken care of," Apple Bloom stated.

Sweetie Belle smiled. "We're finally going to leave soon."

Then the second voice upstairs sounded, "Oh dear... Which scarf should I bring?"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders then groaned as they fell to the ground.

After what seemed to be a few months for the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they were finally standing on the train station entrance. Much commotion rushed around as everypony continued to scatter around to get to their train. The Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash sat near the front counter. Sweetie Belle busied herself by counting everypony coming in. Scootaloo attempted to fly in the station with some instruction from Rainbow Dash. Rarity looked at herself in the mirror to make sure that her make-up shined above the rest. Apple Bloom and Applejack laughed as they told each other stories; Apple Bloom spoke of her crusading while Applejack told about her days on the farm as a filly.

Everypony looked up as the train whistle sounded from the station square; the conductor yelling, "All aboard!" Applejack wrapped up her story and picked up Apple Bloom onto her back before carrying her to the station. Sweetie Belle lost focus of watching and jumped next to Rarity. Rarity continued to put on her make-up as she was walking, making Sweetie Belle groan with exasperation. As Scootaloo fluttered in the air, Rainbow Dash inspired Scootaloo to try to fly to the train, in which she dropped onto Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo flushed with embarrassment, but Rainbow Dash praised her for trying before flying over to the train. When everypony was boarded, the train doors closed and the train left.

A few hours passed as the train was keeping it's steady rhythm. Many of the passengers were asleep, but Scootaloo, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were awake. Scootaloo was much too excited to sleep, but she attempted to fall into a blissful sleep. From closed eyes, she could hear a voice calling, "Hey. Rainbow. You awake?"

From Scootaloo mind, she could easily determine that Applejack was calling for Rainbow Dash. Scootaloo wondered why Applejack was calling so late in the night, so she continued to listen.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash answered. "Why?"

"Ah just wanted to talk to ya for a bit."

Scootaloo heard a shuffle before Rainbow Dash responded, "It's dark outside. Couldn't this wait for tomorrow?"

"Don't get yer feathers in a ruffle, RD. It will be quick."

A small moment passed before a sigh sounded. "Fine. Make it quick then."

"Ah just wanted to know the real reason as of why ya came on this trip."

"Like I told you before, it's for the awesome rafting."

"Come on Rainbow, Ah know ya better than that. There's another reason." A pause occurred before Applejack continued. "It's because of Scootaloo, ain't it?"

Another pause occurred longer than the previous pause. After a little bit, Applejack continued, "What ya hidin' Rainbow? It's not like you to be so silent."

A sigh could be heard before Rainbow Dash finally responded. "Well, promise me you'll keep this a secret?"

"My lips are sealed. None of a peep shall be comin' out of my mouth."

"Well..." Rainbow Dash started. "I see you guys together; you and Apple Bloom. You two look like you have so much fun together. I admit, I got a little jealous seeing you two being together. I never got to have that fun when I was younger. Never had a sister." She gave a small laugh before continuing.

"Then, Scootaloo came talking about a trip with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. I was about to ignore it, but then she asked if I would come along. I was going to refuse, but then a thought came to me. Wouldn't this be a chance to actually feel what it would be like to have a little sister to play with? Was this my only chance? I decided I would come along, but I didn't want to go alone with three Cutie Mark Crusaders running along. So, I had to ask for you and Rarity to come along. And anyways, I might be able to watch you and Apple Bloom together and learn to be a good big sister to Scootaloo." A moment of silence creep along before Rainbow Dash asked, "Does Scootaloo even have a big sister?"

"Not that Ah know of. So maybe this could be great for both of y'all."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, if Scootaloo doesn't have any sisters, maybe she'll have the same feelings that yer having. And even if she does have a sister, she would still feel excited to spend time with her big time idol. Either way, Ah'm sure everything will be fine."

"But what if-"

"No buts Rainbow. Ya have to be the older mare here. Don't think that yer gonna ruin it for her. Just have fun with her. She's not goin' ta hate ya in one trip."

There was another pause. Applejack then finished with saying, "Listen Rainbow. Everything will be fine. Don't worry about it." With that, a rustle of sheets sounded.

Scootaloo laid in her bed, not believing what she had heard. "Sisters..." she thought to herself. "I never had a sister... And now I finally will be able to know what it's like! And Rainbow Dash!" She tried to hide her excitement from the outside, but a smile escaped. "She's going to be my sister! I can't believe it! This will be the best trip ever!"

Author Notes: Sorry for the long time between this update to the first! But I'll make sure to update this more. I was off on vacation, so I didn't really have time to work on it. And no, I'm not doing a story on that because the recent vacation stunk! So anyways, here's the next chapter!

How did I miss my error in leaving an error like that? "Rarity, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle were hugging." Seriously, why did I leave that in?

'Duckies'

The train whistle sang out to wake everyone on board. Each and everypony woke up with either a yawn, a jump, or a yelp. They looked outside to see another boarding platform that laid out with sand.

"Dear me, nobody told me there was a beach here! I would have brought my tanning plate!" Rarity complaints were ignored as the others were taking in the view of the beach.

They walked out of the train to be greeted with many smiles by many ponies. "Pinkie Pie would be proud," the six thought as they descended down the beach.

Applejack looked over at the inflated canoes located near the end of the beach. "Wait, we're expected to go on those things?" she asked.

Rainbow Dash observed where Applejack was now pointing at. "Heh. Looks like a two-seater."

Applejack smiled. "Well, Ah be! Looks like this will be a sister get-together!" She rubbed Apple Bloom head, which made Apple Bloom go into a giggling fit.

Rarity just sighed. "So we have to get on those things? What a dreadful vacation this will be."

Sweetie Belle looked at her sister. "C'mon Sis, don't be so... Erm... What's the word?"

Rainbow Dash flew over and whispered to Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle's eyes brightened. "Sis, don't be such an a-"

Applejack covered her mouth quickly. "Hoe there! No need to repeat what Rainbow tells ya." Rainbow Dash was trying to contain her laughter from the side, which earned a glare from Applejack.

Rainbow Dash flew over to Scootaloo and started whispered. Scootaloo grinned as Rainbow Dash whispered to her, making her start to giggle. Scootaloo whispered back to Rainbow Dash what seemed to be mouthing "good one".

"Now Rainbow, you have to behave yourself. This is going to be dreadful as it is, and it's not going to help with a pony going berserk telling inappropriate things to some fillies!"

Applejack nodded. "She's right. Ya shouldn't go messin' with fillies' heads."

"Oh, come on. It was funny." Rainbow said. Applejack stared down at Rainbow Dash, who sheepishly grinned. "Of course I won't do that during the trip though! I mean, that would be totally uncool!" Applejack still stared at Rainbow Dash, making Rainbow Dash feel uncomfortable. She broke down by saying, "Alright! I won't play around with the fillies." She rose a hoof to a salute. "Pegasus' honor!"

Scootaloo jumped on Rainbow Dash's back. Rainbow Dash placed her hoof back on the ground to keep balance. "I never heard of that," Scootaloo proclaimed. "What's 'Pegasus' honor'?"

"Glad ya asked, Squirt!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, regaining her prideful attitude. "Pegasus' honor is just another type of promise. But, you know, for Pegasi."

"Oh, that makes a lot of sense!" Scootaloo smiled from being enlightened.

A brighter sounding whistle was heard at the beach. "We better get a move on," Applejack stated. Each of them walked towards where the guides were blowing their whistles around the beach.

"Hello everypony!" a mare called out. "I welcome you here today on this fine morning! My name is Riverret Flow, and I'll be one of your guides today!"

"Riverret Flow, huh?" Applejack questioned to herself. "That seems awfully familiar..."

"So, if you haven't been on the river yet, raise your hooves!" Many of the crowd, including the six ponies, rose their hooves in the air. "Well, don't worry about that! You'll learn on the river how to raft. But for now, let me introduce you to my friend, Drench Apple!"

"Isn't that your cousin, Applejack?" Rarity asked silently.

"Ah knew that Drench worked on the river, but Ah didn't know that he meant this."

"Hey there everypony!" Drench Apple sang. "Welcome to the river! Before we go onto our expedition, I want to give you these cups for on the river!" He held up a cup with the Equestria Wide River Expedition logo imprinted on the side. "Each of y'all shall receive these cups. They will be your only access to the water here." He patted a orange water dispenser. "Remember, even if we're on the water, it ain't drinkable. Oh, and this here..." He patted a yellow water dispenser. "Is where you can get some lemonade."

"Why lemonade when yer an Apple?" Applejack asked.

"They wouldn't allow me to make apple cider for the trip. Anyways, it's time for Soak Strip to explain the rules while on the river!" Drench Apple pointed towards another pony, who was on an inflatable canoe.

"Thanks so much, Drench Lemon!" Drench Apple attempted to keep a smile on his face, but a glare escaped his eyes at Soak Strip. Soak Strip didn't mind and continued. "So you see what I'm on now? This is a 'ducky'."

"Where's the duck?" a pony asked from the crowd, in which there were giggles ringing from the crowd.

"An excellent question! On the river, we call these canoes 'duckies'. Reason why is-"

"We're sitting ducks on the river?" More snorts and giggles came from the crowd. Drench Apple smiled wider.

"Well, uh... Let me continue. In these 'duckies', you have a paddle for each partner."

"Why does your 'ducky' only have one seat then?"

"It's because I have been doing this a while, so I can go on the river alone. Now-"

"But don't you want to go on the river with Riverret on your side?"

Riverret Flow covered her face stifling a laugh while Soak Strip looked around in random directions, face turning a shade of red. "Moving on!" he blurted. "Now it's time for me to demonstrate what you have to do when you have to go on the river." Soak Strip jumped into the water. "When in the river and you have to go, you just smile and wave. We call these 'Smiley Breaks'."

"'Smiley Breaks'?" Apple Bloom asked quietly to Applejack.

Before Applejack could answer, Rarity exclaimed, "Eww, we're going in the water where everypony goes?"

"Don't fret, Miss. It flows pretty quickly, so it shouldn't be a problem." Soak Strip then swam back to his boat. "Now I'll demonstrate how to get back on the 'ducky'. Riverret?"

Riverret's horn glowed as the 'ducky' and Soak Strip floated upwards. Soak's bottom hooves were in the straps under the 'ducky' as he held on to the other side of the 'ducky'. "Now, as you can see, there's some straps underneath the 'ducky'. You can push yourself up from there and get back on." Soak Strip then pushed on the bottom and got back into the 'ducky'.

"See? Easy as a-WOAH!" The 'ducky' flipped over, resulting in Soak falling and splashing in the water, getting soaked. He swam to the surface and gasped as he got out of the water. The 'ducky' fell next to him, in which he grabbed and started swimming back to shore. While swimming, he exclaimed, "Anyways, we'll move on to the other signals. Mist Spring, you're on, you silent beast!"

Mist Spring raised a hoof in the air and bent it forwards. Riverret explained. "This mean that you are injured." Mist Spring then rose her other hoof and started waving. Riverret explained again. "This means you are okay." She then put her hooves pointed at Drench Apple.

"Thank you, Misty! Ah hope you enjoy the rafting trip! Remember, if y'all want a drink, y'all have to paddle yer way ta me." Drench Apple then started passing out the cups to each pony. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo ran towards the guides while Applejack, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash gathered together.

"Ulk! This trip will be a disaster on my hair and everything!" Rarity complained.

"Calm down, Rarity," Rainbow Dash said. "You need to remember why we're here in the first place."

"Yeah, remember what we're here fer. We're here fer the girls." Applejack then came to her ear and whispered, "You don't want ta ruin this for Sweetie Belle, do ya?"

Rarity wanted to talk back, but she knew that Applejack was right, so Rarity released a grunt of defeat. "Fine. But I'm taking a nice long shower at the spa when coming back."

"That's the spirit, sorta!" Applejack cheered. "Let's get ourselves together with our sisters!"

The three then walked to where the Cutie Mark Crusaders were; by the 'duckies'. They each reserved one for each of them. Rainbow Dash flew onto the 'ducky', which bounced Scootaloo upwards into the air. She fluttered her wings to slow her descent onto the 'ducky', in which Rainbow Dash patted her back upon Scootaloo's landing. Scootaloo smiled and relaxed on the 'ducky'. Rainbow Dash took her cup then pushed the 'ducky' from the beach into the water.

Applejack went into the 'ducky' and grabbed Apple Bloom in a hug. Apple Bloom laughed as she tried to escape, but Applejack kept a hold on her. After Apple Bloom accepted the hug, Applejack let go of Apple Bloom, in which she slumped into the 'ducky' and pushed it into the water. Applejack grabbed her cup from Apple Bloom afterward.

Rarity carefully got into the 'ducky' as Sweetie Belle carefully backed up. Rarity, after a while, finally got in the 'ducky' and used magic to lift it from the water and sand and carefully levitated over the water. Sweetie Belle looked down and asked, "Shouldn't we be on the water?" Rarity sheepishly grinned as she lowered the 'ducky' to the water. She felt the water splash on to her, so Rarity jumped upwards onto Sweetie Belle while yelping. Sweetie Belle showed that she wasn't amused, so Rarity climbed off her slowly into her seat. The water splashed onto Rarity, making her cringe. She finally sat on the seat, so Sweetie Belle smiled to show she was pleased. She handed the cup to Rarity, in which she took with her magic with a cheesy grin.

"Now, everypony!" Soak Strip called out. "Before you do anything, there are some things on the 'duckies' that you should be looking for. First thing is the life jacket! Make sure you and your partner get your life jackets on before you start paddling. If you don't have a life jacket, go get some from Drench Lemon!"

Drench Apple kept a scowl to himself as he looked into his boat for extra life jackets. Applejack and Apple Bloom grabbed their life jackets and put it on to each other. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash looked at the life jackets and pretended to put them on. Rarity looked at the life jacket in disgust. "Ew, that's so unfashionable." Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity with big eyes, so Rarity tried to contain herself and put on the life jacket. She tightened the life jacket before going on to Sweetie Belle, soon going back to disgust of how unfashionable it was. Applejack and Apple Bloom strapped each other, enjoying making the life jackets tighter. Soon, Applejack gave up, in which Apple Bloom hollered a cheer and sat back into her seat. Some ponies paddled to Drench Apple to get the life jackets while others strapped themselves up.

When everypony had their life jackets on (with the exception of the pretending pegasi), Soak Strip continued. "Next, you should find a paddle inside the 'duckie'. Everypony should have a paddle, but we must make sure, so... Everypony raise your paddle upwards!" Each pony grabbed a paddle from the sides and held it up with either their hooves or by magic.

Soak Strip nodded. "Alright then, let's go!" Soak Strip pressed forward, with everypony behind, Drench Apple following everypony in the back.

And so began the rafting trip that the Cutie Mark Crusaders were excited for.

The Lost Rafters

Paddling down the river, Apple Bloom and Applejack circled around in circles many times. Finally giving up, Applejack stopped paddling as Apple Bloom continued to paddle. Soak Strip paddled over and teased, "Can't go down the river if you don't paddle."

Applejack grunted. "We are paddlin'! We just keep goin' in circles." Apple Bloom giggled from the front of the boat, stopping her paddling.

Soak Strip stopped paddling and smiled. "If you don't try, you can't proceed. It's a learning experience." With that, Soak Strip paddled forward.

Applejack looked at the paddle she was holding and attempted to paddle again. Apple Bloom got her paddle and started paddling as well. After a few strokes, Applejack said, "Hey, Ah think Ah'm gettin' the hang of it."

Apple Bloom and Applejack then continued paddling forward. A few more strokes later, and they began circling again. Apple Bloom laughed as they went in circles. Applejack couldn't hold back a smile knowing that Apple Bloom was at least having fun. Rarity and Sweetie Belle paddled on, focused on small and simple strokes. Rarity looked over at Applejack and Apple Bloom and called, "Yoo-hoo! Applejack!"

Applejack looked towards Rarity, who was levitating her paddle. "Confound it!" Applejack yelled. "How are ya doin' that?"

Rarity chuckled. "It's simple, dear! Just use light and small strokes."

Sweetie Belle chimed in. "Yeah! Rarity apparently has read a book from Twilight's library about river traveling! She told me that I was the steerer or something like that."

Apple Bloom grinned. "That explains a lot! Thanks Sweetie Belle!"

"No problems, Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle turned to her sister. "Let's go ahead and try to catch up with Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo!"

"I hope we can catch up with those two. They are so quick." Rarity then started paddling with Sweetie Belle. Rarity turned to Applejack and cooed, "Ta-ta Applejack!"

Rarity and Sweetie Belle then left Applejack and Apple Bloom behind. Applejack and Apple Bloom looked at each other and nodded. They decided to start paddling forwards in which they turned into a circle again. Apple Bloom then revolved them into a full circle, returning them to front-view. Applejack smiled and nodded before continued pushing forward.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo fluttered their wings to propel forward. At the speed they were going, they felt like they couldn't be passed at anytime. In fact, that concerned Rainbow Dash a bit. Rainbow Dash looked back to see if anyone was behind. Seeing as there was no one, Rainbow Dash pointed out, "Hey Squirt, I think we passed them!"

Scootaloo grinned. "That was awesome how you passed by everyone with your wings! You were like a speeding bullet!"

Rainbow Dash rubbed the top of Scootaloo's head, earning a giggle from Scootaloo. "C'mon, we better speed back before-" Rainbow Dash looked ahead to see rapids. "Woah! We get to cross those?"

Scootaloo looked over to see the rapids that Rainbow Dash looked at and grinned. "This is going to be awesome!"

Rainbow Dash smirked. "Let's do this, Squirt! Full speed! They'll catch up later."

Scootaloo nodded and paddled forward. Behind them, Riverette went left of the fork in the river.

"Alright everypony! Look over there. Do you see that rock?" Riverette pointed out many sights on the river, as well as the river itself. Most ponies ignored what Riverette said and went about their own business. Applejack finally caught up to Rarity and Sweetie Belle as the river ponies told everypony to relax a bit before continuing on. Rarity sat back in the 'ducky' while Sweetie Belle waved at Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom waved back, in which Applejack paddled over to Rarity.

"Nothing like a little relaxing on the river," Rarity said, relaxing in the 'ducky'.

"You said it," Applejack said, getting relaxed in the 'ducky'.

Apple Bloom then looked around. "Still didn't get to Scootaloo yet?"

Sweetie Belle shrugged. "I haven't seen Rainbow Dash or Scootaloo ever since we left."

"Makes ya wonder if they could have gotten lost..." Apple Bloom commented.

"Y'all shouldn't worry 'bout RD gettin' lost. She can fly upwards and just look from the sky," Applejack said to comfort Apple Bloom.

"But... What if Rainbow can't fly? What if-"

"Ho-there!" Applejack interrupted. "Rainbow will be fine. After all, she wouldn't do anything too risky with Scootaloo with her." Apple Bloom sat back in the 'ducky', having a smile on her face. Applejack muttered, "At least, I hope not."

"We are going way too far from the crowd." Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "This is getting bad."

"Yeah... You're right... Maybe we should use these paddle things..." Scootaloo put her paddle into the water, in which it was pulled away by the current of the water. "Or not!"

"Don't worry, Squirt! I'll just fly us out of this!" Rainbow Dash started flapping her wings. She flew up with the raft, but she rammed into the wall of the mountain, bringing her and the 'ducky' back into the rapids. She cringed at the pain in her left wing. Scootaloo gasped at Rainbow's now broken wing.

"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"It's okay..." Rainbow Dash winced. "Or... Maybe not..." Looking closer, Rainbow Dash saw that her wing was bent backwards; deformed and smashed.

"What are we going to do?" Scootaloo asked, looking around. "Your wing is broken and we can't get out of this!"

Rainbow looked around and saw a little piece of land. "There!" She grabbed her paddle and started towards the land. Each stroke of her paddle pushed her away from the patch of land, in which Rainbow Dash paddled harder. "No, no, no, no, no, NO!" she yelled as they spun around, continuing down the river flow.

Rainbow Dash continued paddling against the rapids, in which Scootaloo watched the many rocks coming up. Scootaloo gasped loudly, which caused Rainbow Dash to faced forward from the revolving 'ducky'. She growled at the difficulty that the river was causing and cursed under her breath.

"Get ready, Squirt!" Rainbow Dash yelled. "This is going to be a bumpy ride!"

"Alright, here we go again!" Riverette Flow started down the river in her boat, in which everypony followed. Rarity groaned, but Sweetie Belle didn't mind as she started paddling forward. Applejack and Apple Bloom whispered to each other and pulled up to Rarity's 'ducky'.

"Hey, Rarity!" Applejack called. Rarity turned around to see a bunch of water splashed from Apple Bloom's cup. Rarity squealed as the water hit her, which caused Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Applejack to laugh.

Rarity shook her head and glared at Applejack. "Oh. It. Is. On!" She then levitated her cup into the water and levitated the cup over Applejack's head. Rarity then dumped the water on Applejack's head, in which Applejack's hat repelled most of the water.

"Hah, can't get me!" Applejack taunted. "Let's go, Apple Bloom!" Apple Bloom nodded and started paddling forward, in which Applejack powered the 'ducky' to propel quickly. Rarity grunted and regained her cup.

"I can't believe her..." Rarity muttered.

"Well, Sis, shall we?" Sweetie Belle suggested.

"Yes, we shall," Rarity replied. Sweetie Belle and Rarity then started forward towards Applejack and Apple Bloom.

Faster and faster they went, passing many ponies. They continued forward until one pony called out, "Hey! Don't get ahead of the leader!"

Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle stuck their paddles down to skid to a halt. "Sorry 'bout that, Riverette," Applejack said before getting splashed in the face with a cup full of water. Rarity and Sweetie Belle giggled to each other, in which Applejack just returned the splash with a glare. Before Applejack could do anything, Apple Bloom put a hoof on Applejack.

"Applejack, we just passed many ponies, but there still wasn't any sign of Rainbow or Scootaloo. I'm gettin' real worried..."

Applejack looked back at the ponies they passed. Rarity added, "I know it's like Rainbow Dash to go ahead of herself at times, but she wouldn't have gone too far ahead, would she?"

Riverette paddled over to Applejack, Apple Bloom, Rarity, and Sweetie Belle. "Something the matter here?"

Applejack, after a brief hesitation, nodded to Riverette. "Yes. Yes, there is. Our friend is missing."

The ponies on Riverette's boat gasped with the exception of Riverette. "No problem. Describe your friend to me. We'll find her quickly with Soak Strip on the paddle."

"Well," Applejack started. "Rainbow Dash is her name. She has a rainbow-colored mane and a blue body. Then there's Scootaloo that was with Rainbow Dash. She has a purple mane with an orange body."

"Easy enough." Riverette whistled to Soak, in which he paddled to her. "We're looking for two ponies."

"Two ponies, huh? I saw two ponies paddle ahead, but I thought they were from a different group. Did one of them have a rainbow-mane?"

Applejack, Rarity, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle reacted quickly with a gasp. Each of them, including the ponies in Riverette's boat, started muttering to themselves. Applejack, who stayed focus, said, "That's her. Where do ya reckon we lost her at?"

"Well..." Soak went into deep thought. "She could be really far ahead of the pack. Or she could have split into the wrong direction. Either way, we lost her because she went ahead of us."

Applejack sighed. "I just hope they are alright..."

Rainbow Dash, wielding her paddle, pushed away from each rock by pushing on the rock. Rock after rock, Rainbow Dash continued to push away from each rock. But as the river went on, the more stones stuck out of the ground. Soon, she and Scootaloo ran over many rocks, causing the 'ducky' to pop under the pressure. Rainbow Dash quickly grabbed Scootaloo and jumped from the 'ducky', grabbing a tree branch from a near wall of the mountainside. Scootaloo clung to Rainbow Dash tightly as Rainbow Dash struggled to keep her grip. The popped 'ducky', paddle, and cups flowed down the river, bumping over rock and rapids. Rainbow Dash continued to look for a way to get up. She looked and finally spotted a branch above her.

Rainbow Dash pointed a hoof at a branch above. Scootaloo looked at where she pointed and clung tighter. "I can't do it!" Scootaloo yelled. Rainbow Dash grunted through her grab and continued to point. Soon, a snap sounded. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash looked at the branch and noticed that it was breaking. Scootaloo looked at Rainbow Dash and the branch above and back before finally making a decision. She jumped to the branch above and grabbed it with her mouth. Rainbow Dash gave a pose saying that Scootaloo did a good job. Rainbow Dash then propelled herself upwards to a side of the cliff with her hooves.

"Scootaloo, get on!" Rainbow Dash commanded. Scootaloo followed Rainbow Dash's command and jumped onto her. Rainbow Dash caught Scootaloo on her back and climbed up to the side of the cliff, where Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash relaxed. After a few breaths, Rainbow Dash looked upwards to see how far up the cliff went. After a few head turns, Rainbow Dash sighed.

Scootaloo came up to Rainbow Dash and looked up at her. Rainbow Dash looked back into the filly's eyes and finally said, "I'm sorry, Scootaloo..."

Scootaloo looked down and sat down next to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash looked down as well thinking of what to do. Finally, she spotted something beyond the horizon. "Huh?" she questioned. Rainbow Dash got up and trotted as far as possible to look at the mysterious figures. After a few seconds, she noticed that they were just a few bears. Rainbow Dash sighed and went back to Scootaloo.

Scootaloo continued to look down. She thought of how this trip would be exciting to be with her idol, Rainbow Dash. She then thought of how it went downhill so quickly. Downhill, she thought. Downhill... "Downhill!" she exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash looked at Scootaloo questionably as she walked towards the edge. She searched the bottom and saw a pathway below. "Rainbow Dash, look!"

Rainbow Dash trotted over to Scootaloo and looked down. She saw the pathway as well and rubbed Scootaloo's head. "Great job, Squirt!" she congratulated. "Way to think ahead!"

"But the question is... How do we get down there?" Scootaloo asked. She looked toward where Rainbow Dash was and saw she wasn't there anymore. She looked back to see Rainbow Dash tugging on a root. "What are you doing?"

She stopped tugging for a moment and commanded, "Get over here, Squirt. This may be a little dangerous."

Scootaloo came over to Rainbow Dash and held on. Rainbow Dash did a powerful last tug before the little cliff started to crash down. "Hold on!" she yelled as the cliff started brushing downwards. She looked over to the pathway and jumped with Scootaloo still clung on. She landed on the ground with Scootaloo while the rock behind splashed into the river.

"We... Made it?" Scootaloo asked in wonder.

"Like I said before, I don't leave my friends hanging." Rainbow Dash looked down the pathway they were going to travel on. "Let's go, Squirt. We might be making the others worry a bit."

Scootaloo replied with a grin and she and Rainbow Dash trotted down the pathway.