It was a nice weather in Ponyville. The pegasi crew had done their job earlier than expected. The sky was perfectly clear, the wind was softly blowing and Celestia’s sun shone brightly. Ponies all around were busy, yet they were all quite relaxed, free from any tension. They passed over goods, exchanged friendly conversations and admired the perfect day.
Coming from the Everfree forest, was a cheery pink mare, clenching a red rectangular box between her teeth. She had a pair of joyful baby blue eyes, as she bounced towards the tranquil little cottage of her most silent friend.
She stopped in front of the door and used her pink fluffy tail to knock. “Fltuzhzy! Itz me, Vinkie Vie!” She tried to say, but failed, nevertheless. Anypony wouldn't be able to talk clearly in that state.
“I'm coming!”
Sounds of clattering hooves were heard, before the door opened for the pink pony. A yellow pegasus, with long pink mane and kind turquoise eyes emerged from the cottage. She was accompanied by a little white rabbit, who perked his ears.
“What is it, Pinkie? Is there anything wrong?” The sweet pegasus said, and looked at her friend expectantly. She'd seen the red box Pinkie was carrying and that brought her realization, though, she waited for her friend to tell about it.
Pinkie bounced merrily, as she twisted her tail in excitement. Her mane went up, as she inched her face closer to the pegasus, who flinched in defense. “Vlook at diz!” She pointed her hooves at the box, as she talked like a gattling gun, splattering her saliva to all directions.
The pegasus cringed at the sight, as she took some steps backwards, raising a hoof a bit. Her pet bunny glared at the earth pony and jumped off of his mistress’ head. “Uhm. Pinkie… actually, I…” She looked at her side.
Pinkie Pie stopped and angled her head. She studied Fluttershy’s expressions; she was forcing a smile, her face full of confusion. The pink pony nodded her head and spit out the box in front of her and the pegasus. “I found that thing in the forest! And it says that it's a sort of a game!” She beamed.
Fluttershy moved forward and looked at the box. She raised a brow and looked at her friend. “Well… It also says that it's a board game. And actually,” she raised her head in thinking, while Pinkie’s beam stretched out wider. “... I played a game called “Monopoly” with Discord. It was really fun,” she smiled and looked at Pinkie Pie, whose cheeks seemed to be about to blow.
“Sooooo?!”
“I'd be glad to play,” Fluttershy smiled, as the pink pony launched herself into the air and landed into the ground with a thud.
“What are you waiting for? Come ooooon!” Pinkie grabbed the red box together with Fluttershy, who squealed as she was dragged outside by the energetic pony.
“Let's call the others to join the party!”
“Uhm… what party? I don't really think we should-eep!” Fluttershy was mercilessly brought by the powerful vice grip of Pinkie, going cross-eyed because of the force. The red box twirled in mid-air for a good three-second, until it fell on the hoofstep.
The pair headed to the town, and to Rarity’s place, with Pinkie Pie making most of the noise during the trot.
At that time, Fluttershy was as usual, hiding the half of her face behind her curtain of pink mane, trying to avoid all sorts of gaze around. She couldn't be certain of her agreement in playing the game, because the last time she said yes, Discord turned the entire Ponyville into a Metroville, much like Manehattan. It was really fun, but Discord was banned from entering the town for an entire month. Not that he couldn't sneak in, of course. But she really felt terrible for the cunning draconequus. At the back of her mind, she felt that Discord might probably be guilty if ever something that concerned chaos is involved.
After a short while, Carousel Boutique was in front of the two mares. Fluttershy could feel the excitement from Pinkie, just by looking at her steady hooves and expectant beam. By the looks of it, the pink mare would not be able to simply knock at the door and instead barge in like a roll of fluffy candy mess. Fluttershy knew that Rarity didn't want that kind of thing.
Stepping forward, Fluttershy allowed herself before Pinkie and glanced at her friend, giving her a nod. The other pony just nodded her head, in which the butterscotch mare feared that it would soon fall from her neck. Gulping that dark thought, she turned to the door and knocked twice. “Rarity, it's me and Pinkie here, would you mind…?” She whispered, her ears drooping slightly.
In a blink of the eye, the door opened as a bell chimed, revealing an elegant white unicorn. She batted her eyelashes , as her right hoof flicked her styled mane.
“Whatever might that be, darling? Why are you early for-” Rarity stopped in mid-sentence when she saw Pinkie. She expected that Fluttershy was the one in the door and nopony else. Scrunching her nose, she chuckled awkwardly and straightened her posture. “What can I do for you?” Lifting her muzzle in a smile, Rarity turned to her friends.
Fluttershy’s cheeks were tinted with pink, the same shade as her mane. Regaining her composure as well, she pointed at the back using her head, addressing to the distracted Pinkie Pie, who mysteriously found a basalt in front of the porch. “Pinkie is inviting everypony in playing a board game she found in the forest. Would you mind joining us, Rarity?” Fluttershy looked at the unicorn expectantly, her wings fidgeting slightly.
“Uh. A board game, you say?” Rarity raised an eyebrow, suspiciously looking at the pink mare. She stepped out of her doormat and leaned on Fluttershy’s ear, grimacing slightly. “Are you sure Discord is not behind this?” She whispered, glaring at nopony in particular. She looked around with cautious eyes, scanning the place of any presence from the mentioned entity.
Fluttershy rolled her eyes to her right, allowing her to look against the other pair of eyes. “I haven't seen Discord for quite a while. I'm certain he isn't,” the pegaus said softly, shaking her head slowly.
Rarity leaned back, her brows furrowed. She looked at the butterscotch pegasus even more carefully, making sure that she wasn't the mentioned draconequus in disguise. Fluttershy felt betrayed for a second the way Rarity rolled her eyes to inspect her.
“Very well,” Rarity raised her nose. “If all this just for fun, I would be joining this little game,” Fluttershy beamed, her eyes sparkling. “Just for you, dear,” Rarity spoke in a calmer tone, wearing a soft smile. The pegasus smiled back sweetly, trying to fight back the urge to hug Rarity using her wings.
“Oh, thank you, Rarity. You just don't know how happy I am because you agreed!” Fluttershy flapped her wings gently, allowing herself to hover and twirl in the air for a while.
Rarity chuckled. “I know that very well, Fluttershy.”
Out of the blue, Pinkie appeared behind Rarity, startling the two other mares. Fluttershy’s wings tucked in instinctively, making her fall to the ground on her rump. Rarity’s face twisted like the time Sweetie Belle committed an arson for burning half of Twilight’s library.
“Two plus one! Now we only need three!” Pinkie chimed, balancing a perfect replica of her sister's pet on the tip of her nose. She hummed a significant tune, as she bounced towards the direction of the distinct castle. Rarity and Fluttershy shared a glance, both wearing smiles.
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After a sugar rush from the one and only resident party pony of Ponyville, she had successfully convinced their lavender alicorn friend to play with them. The princess wore her usual annoyed face whenever Pinkie got on her nerves. It was actually a miracle from the stars that Twilight Sparkle hadn't mauled the pink package of energy.
With the four of them, they headed to Sweet Apple Acres, with a constant bickering of Twilight and Pinkie. The other pair were busy admiring the scenery, as if unaware of the heck behind them. Along the dirt path to the farm, a distinct shout was heard. The four stopped from trotting and snapped their gazes to the direction of the shout.
“Rainbow Dash is also there?” Twilight asked, raising a brow. “What is she doing in the farm?”
As if someone who was omniscient, Rarity flicked her tail and turned to the alicorn. “You haven't heard, dear?”
It was pretty obvious that Twilight didn't know. She stared at Rarity with the look saying, Do I look like I know?
Rarity threw her head dramatically, releasing an exaggerated sigh. “Twilight, dear! It's their day today! Why in all sewing threads you are not aware?!”
It was not a very good day for Twilight, and she could honestly eat a pear today. She glared at Rarity with all her might, frowning to add her intimidating look. “Rarity, I have been in the castle for over a week with almost no sleep due to some papers!” Twilight said through gritted teeth, bursting out in the last word. She opened her wings halfway, her right eye twitching. “I don't have time for some puzzle-solving! Get straight to the point!” The princess groaned and rubbed her temple in emphasis.
Rarity seemed unfazed. She blinked at Twilight’s sudden outburst, as well as her two other friends around. After a while, a pair of ponies was heard trotting towards them, as they both slowed down and felt the small tension.
“Uh…” Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked at each other and shrugged.
Rarity stepped forward, ignoring the presence of the newcomers. She furrowed her brows, as she felt downcast. “I'm very sorry, dear. I was not-”
“No, it's my fault. I'm sorry, Rarity,” Twilight raised her head and looked apologetically at the white unicorn. She trotted at the center to look at all of her friends including the clueless ones. “I'm just stressed out from all of those documents I need to pass to the capital. I even threw my frustration to all of you. I can't believe how hard it is to be a... “ she glanced unconsciously at her wings. “...princess,” her ears drooped.
Twilight’s friends suddenly gathered around her, placing comforting hooves on her head or shoulders. Even Rainbow and Applejack. They sensed the problem and as good friends, they would do their part.
“We're very sorry for disturbing you, Twilight,” Fluttershy tucked her head in, stepping back after giving the alicorn a one-arm hug and room for her other friends.
“Though I can't understand what's happening, yeah, sorry,” Rainbow hovered above Twilight giving her a small smile.
“I should have understood that you weren't feeling well since the start,” Pinkie nuzzled the lavender alicorn, not forgetting to nuzzle again for the second time.
“Twi, you know that we're one call away. Ya don't have to do those all in your own. It's a one thing I learned from an expert,” Applejack cupped Twilight’s cheek, smiling softly. She suppressed a snicker, making the alicorn lift her lips into a crescent. “And ‘sides; y’all know we'd be glad to help,” the orange mare winked, as they all parted away from their alicorn friend.
Twilight smiled softly, her ears perking from the assuring words of her best friends. The heavy lift in her heart was pulled away like magic, easing all her stress away. All she needed were her friends, and she couldn't ask for more. She knew it all, but being overloaded with work, Twilight almost forgot that she had got ponies around her, ready to lend a helping hoof.
“Thank you, girls. I appreciate,” feeling a sudden lump in her throat, she just looked at all of her friends and wished that it said all what she wanted to say. For a nice two seconds of silence, Twilight gladly took that as a yes. She quickly changed the look of her face and wore a bright beam that showed her molar teeth.
Which kinda freaked out the other mares.
“So! Let's play that board game thing!” Twilight squealed in delight, surprising even Pinkie Pie.
Rainbow raised a brow. “What?”
Applejack backed out slightly, pushing her hat nearer her eyes. “I'm sorry, but I think I'll pass.”
“Aww! Why?” Pinkie pouted and drooped her ears. “It's the greatest game ever!”
“I still got a lotta chores ta’ do, Pinkie Pie. I can't afford bein’ dumped by those,” The orange pony replied.
Twilight stepped forward. “It's fine if you really can't, Applejack. We understa-”
“But it's fun!” The pink mare cut in purposely, with the alicorn throwing an annoyed glare at Pinkie.
“What I'm saying is that-”
“You'd miss the bonding! The fun?!” Pinkie held both of Applejack’s cheeks, bumping her nose against the other mare.
“Uhm… Look, I-”
“And who said that I would be joining? Huh?” Rainbow Dash pulled Pinkie away from the farm mare, hovering in front of Applejack. “Nopony asked me yet!” She threw her hooves in the air and crossed them afterwards.
“Then I'd be saying this for everypony’s information,” all heads turned to Rarity. “Pinkie Pie is requesting some of our time for a short game. Why, couldn't you take requests?” Rarity raised her brow, particularly at Applejack who frowned in retort.
“What are ya sayin’? Neglect my responsibility over my work?” Applejack’s cheeks started to burn in frustration, as her emerald eyes glared daggers at the unicorn.
“Well, you do with your friends! It was just a simple request, Applejack!” Rarity spat back, stomping once.
The farm mare contorted her face like a crumpled paper before concluding into a poker. “Fine. Buck it,” she groaned and rolled her eyes as hard as she could.
Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other with worried faces.
“Learn to accept a no,” Applejack turned around and glared at the farm house. She readied her hooves to gallop away when Rainbow stopped her. She scratched her hooves against the ground and averted her glare to the blue pegasus before her.
Dash descended in front of the orange pony. “Whoa. What's gotten into you?” She tilted her head to the right, frowning slightly.
Applejack was about to gallop past the pegasus when an insisting hoof blocked her exit. “Chill out for a bit, will ya? That accounting stuff is getting into your head lately, and I've been telling you to relax. Just for some hours?” Rainbow stood her ground, retaining her stern look, mirroring the other mare’s.
Putting her defenses down, Applejack let out a sigh and a weak shake of her head. “You're right. My mind isn't even workin’ right now,” She sifted a chuckle, as her knees felt wobbly. Rainbow was quick to notice as she quickly flapped her wings and stretched out her hooves.
“You okay?” Dash whispered softly.
“Of course, why wouldn't I be?” The orange mare smirked, her look saying, ‘Gotcha!’
Fluttershy noticed that the scene had been fixed. Perhaps, the board game just came in handy for them to relax for a bit. It looked like everypony had a hard week, and they all had soy sauce on their heads. Only if she could help a bit…
“We could play now, in the castle,” everypony’s attention shifted to Fluttershy, as she drooped. “I-I’d just get the board now… In my… cottage,” she squee’d, slumping her entire self like a turtle with no shell.
“Alright, dear. You may do so,” Rarity smiled softly, as Fluttershy nodded once and opened her wings.
The yellow pegasus ascended from the ground, creating small ripples of dust beneath her. “I'd be back in to time. Wait for me,” Fluttershy waved and flapped her wings, flying towards the direction of her cottage. She didn't turn back and just wore a gentle smile, hoping for the best for this day. It may not be her job to cheer ponies up, but doing something like this was the least she could do.
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“Twists and Turns?!” The orange pony exclaimed, directing her saucer eyes at the red box in the magical grasp of Twilight. “I’ve known this ‘ere game since I was a lil’ filly!”
The other mares in the library chamber of the castle seemed quite interested of Applejack’s revealed interest of a certain board game.
“Would that mean you know all the rules? The mechanics?” Twilight inquired as she levitated the box in front of the farmer.
Applejack nodded with a soft smile. “Uh-huh. My Pa used to play with me,” the atmosphere turned a little gloomy for a short while, but Applejack quickly diverted the attention. “And it's quite simple, honest. Look at this,” she pulled the lid as ponies started to gather around her.
“The instructions says to follow what the board and the card says, then that's it,” the farm mare tapped the inside of the box.
A certain scoff was heard. “Lame instructions. Who did that?” Rainbow crossed her hooves in front of her chest.
Applejack raised her head and looked blankly at the hovering pegasus. “It was made by our family, Rainbow Dash. And what do you know, anyway? Your head's always up the clouds,” she scoffed back and rolled her eyes, looking back at the box.
Dash narrowed her eyes and choked. “Wh-why you!”
“Anyways, I'd be guiding you. Jus’ roll the dice and I will tell ya what ta’ do,” Applejack set up the board and opened the guide in front of her. She threw the dice in, as her friends claimed their positions.
“This is suspiciously simple, Applejack. Are you sure that you know this?” Rarity placed her flank safely on the soft velvet cushion and stared at the board.
“Hah! O’ course, I am sure. Don't y’all remember playin’ this same game one summertime?” The orange Earth pony raised a brow, setting up several sprites such as a small wooden monkey, bunny and other sorts of woodland creatures and other objects.
“Hmm… Let me think,” Rarity tapped her chin as she levitated a wooden crown. Her eyes suddenly lit up, as she smiled. “Ah! Yes! I do remember! It was the time your brother threw a fit when he lost so badly,” she chuckled and smiled even more because of the memory,
Applejack shared the same laughter. “Pfft. Yeah. He even bowed not to take a look at it.”
“Soooo, since you know this game, what does this axe do?” Rainbow scooted nearer to Applejack, lifting a small carved axe.
“Oh, this here thing? It's your avatar. You're the barbarian.”
“A what?” Dash’s voice squeaked, as she stared quizzically at the wood.
“Silly, it means you live in the caves!” Pinkie Pie giggled and picked an arrow. “Oh! Look! I'm Cupid!” She pretended to have a bow, as she ‘shot’ Twilight with her arrow.
“What can you say now, Princess? You have fallen in love!” Pinkie dramatically stated, using a highly accented voice with a sudden beret appearing on her pink head.
Twilight giggled. “And to who, Angel of Love?” She smirked and rolled her eyes, picking up a ‘magic wand’.
Pinkie seemed to forget the question for her blue eyes captured something shiny that lie on the board. Her head turned to it, as her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Oooh… Shiny…” She felt drawn into the luster of the crystal ring, her smile broadening every second. Her hoof slowly reached the sparkling ring until something slapped her hoof from its trance.
“Not yet, Pinkie. You have ta’ roll the highest number to gain the Ring o’ Salvation,” Applejack pushed the dice containing numbers up to twenty. She looked at the corner of her eyes and felt something strange about Fluttershy. The meek pegasus turned even more meek when she came back with the game. She wondered what could have happened along the way, but she could ask about that later. And besides, Fluttershy seemed to not wanting to talk about it yet.
“Okay!” Pinkie Pie beamed. She grabbed the dice and stuck her tongue out, releasing it across the board. “Hah! Eighteen!” The pink pony squealed. She did a small victory twirl and smirked at Fluttershy.
“Think you can beat that?” Pinkie crossed her arms and beamed at the yellow pegasus.
Oh-no… Fluttershy’s ears drooped, as she tucked her wings. She avoided to catch any of their stare and decided to hide behind her pink veil. “Uhm… No, I don't think so... “ She peeked in and saw the disappointed look of her friends and her heart seriously felt mauled. “Oh, okay, I'll try.”
Fluttershy grabbed the dice, as everypony looked as it rolled. At first, the dice turned to twenty and made Pinkie devastated, but it went to the left side and ended up as one. A collective sigh was heard, as Fluttershy slumped back to her position. “See…? I can't.”
“At least you tried,” Twilight gave a reassuring smile, levitating the dice. “Now it's my turn,” she smirked slyly at the dice and dropped her magical hold. The dice rolled and ended up in eight. Her smile fell suddenly, as if she reached the eye of the storm. Releasing a groan, she gestured to Applejack and gave her the dice.
Applejack took the dice on her hooves and threw it across the board. They stared at it for a moment, as it ended up in three. “Shoot!”
“Weak! My turn!” Dash snatched the dice and held it for a few seconds before releasing it. She wore an unbreakable cocky grin, comfortable that it would end up her way.
When it just didn't. The dice showed zero, as the blue pegasus threw her head in frustration. “Why?!” She groaned as hard as she could and complemented it with a frown.
Applejack leaned sideways towards Dash and smirked at her. “Can't beat me in dice throwin’ eh?” She chuckled and retained her tormenting grin.
Rainbow snapped her head towards the orange pony. “You only got three!”
“And y’all got zero.”
Rainbow Dash groaned. Who would add zero in a dice anyway? It was like it was made just for her. Thinking about that felt horrible and… uncool.
It was Rarity’s turn afterwards. She got seventeen, just a point behind Pinkie’s. With the pink pony having the highest amount, she quickly took hold of the ring and inserted it around her left forehoof. Admiring the shining beauty of the ring for an entire minute, the game soon started.
But it left one particular yellow pegasus uneasy.
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“Are y’all ready?”
“Why am I always the damsel in distress?”
“This is stupid. I don't like to be a turkey.”
“That's good, Dashie. Being a turkey is the best thing ever. You're treated specially during Thanksgiving Day and they dress you up.”
“Pinkie, I think that's not it! You have to take a turn to the right to use the ring!”
“But the dice says one!”
Applejack turned to Fluttershy and furrowed her brows. “Fluttershy, it's your turn now,” her voice lowered and echoed concern. The others didn't seem to mind for they were all engrossed in the game.
The yellow pegasus squeaked and jumped slightly from her seat. Her turquoise eyes met Applejack’s, as she gave out a sigh. “I think I must go. I can't play with you, all. I have something to do,” biting her bottom lip, Fluttershy looked at Applejack.
Rarity’s ears perked up, as she turned to the pony beside her. “Why all of a sudden, darling? Is there something wrong?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, everything's fine. I just…” The sharp stare against her skull from a certain farm pony made her weak, as she slowly slumped. “... have to tend Angel… for… a while,” she whispered, feeling her eyes sting.
Rarity placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder as she gave her a smile. “Go on, we'll be fine,” she nodded once.
Fluttershy looked at her other friends for reassurance. Twilight gave her a soft smile, Pinkie a beam and Rainbow a dismissive hoof. Lastly, she turned to Applejack, whose gaze finally softened. Her ears perked up because of this.
“Okay,” Fluttershy stepped aside and flapped her wings, taking her exit. She regretted her decision and she felt like she abandoned her friends. But there really was something she wished to take care of.
Flying back to the cottage, she entered her home and landed on the door step. “Discord? Are you still there?” She called for the draconequus as she looked around. Taking cautious steps as rodents scurried their way across the house, Fluttershy took the ladder, as a certain face appeared beneath her hooves.
“Fluttershy!”
“Ack!” The yellow pegasus dashed upwards, her heart galloping fast. She wrapped her hooves around the nearest birdhouse, as she trembled with fear. “D-Discord?”
A distinct figure emerged from the staircase, wearing a smirk. He clicked his lion paw and summoned a pink flowery parasol, batting his exaggerated eyelashes. “Why, yes, dear. Who else?”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes and sighed. She released herself from the birdhouse and hovered in front of Discord. “I agree,” she said sternly, her brows furrowed.
“Hmm? To have a coffee with me?” Discord clicked his fingers as a tea set appeared in front of him. He pulled Fluttershy in the air and placed her on a chair, as the pegasus found herself dressed in a green frilly outfit.
“No, Discord. I don't want coffee. I want your help!” Fluttershy pushed the cup away and frowned at the draconequus. “You said you'll help me, right? Now’s the time.”
Discord stopped from pouring the coffee and wore a blank face. The tea set and the dress vanished with a pop, as he crossed his arms. “Oh, really? You want me to do that?” He raised a brow, as he tapped his chin. “I never thought I'd get a permission from you, Fluttershy. And you just don't know how happy I am!” Discord leaned in and nuzzled the pegasus, doing his worst imitation of Fluttershy.
Fluttershy pushed Discord away and frowned. “I'm not joking, Discord.”
Discord dramatically pouted, as he shrunk in size. “Oh… okay…”
“Discord!”
“Alright, alright!” The draconequus rolled his eyes and turned his form to normal. “But I tell you, my friend,” he wrapped his arm around Fluttershy’s neck, as a holographic screen appeared in front of them. It showed the current state of the other five in the castle, who really seemed to enjoy the game.
“Our friends just love it, and you want to ruin it? How cruel!” Discord shook his head.
Fluttershy was quick to retort. “I'm not ruining their fun! I like to see them happy!”
Discord smirked amd resumed to his pouty face. “But would they be happy with what you intend to do?”
Fluttershy thought for a while, as her eyes softened. “Uhm…” She raised her head and stared at Discord with a stern face. “Yes, I know they would!”
Discord frowned for a second, but then replaced it with a smirk. “Well…”
“Do you want to help me, or not?” Fluttershy pushed Discord for the umpteenth time.
Discord’s face turned dark, as he grinned. “My pleasure,” he chuckled evily, widening his grin from ear to ear.
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Rainbow Dash lazily poked the dice, as she laid on her back with her wings opened wide. “I'm boooaaard!” She groaned and slapped her forehooves against her face.
“We don't have to be a genius to figure that out, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity chimed near her, as the unicorn combed her styled mane for the hundredth time.
Rainbow raised half of her body and furrowed her brows. “What's taking them so long? And why am I not there!” She whined and kicked her hooves.
The once fun time turned dull again, when their two Earth pony friends decided to go out of the room and prepare something for the five of them. Dash wondered what was it and her curiosity seriously kills her. She wanted to jump out of the window and soar, just to ease this deadly boredom.
Pinkie and Applejack were out for over an hour and there was no sign or whatsoever from them. What if they got robbed? No, seriously. That wouldn't happen. Those two could fight, especially Applejack. What if they were foalnapped? No, that wasn't the case. Pinkie could outwit whoever bandit dared to get them.
Dash couldn't take it, she had to see that those two would come back. Or know where they were, or else she would die.
But her body seemed to be pinned against the floor and her eyes were drooping slowly. Sleep was calling her, as she closed her eyes for a while. She trusted her friends… nopony could ever… touch the silky straw of a mane…
“Hellooooo, everypony!”
Rainbow felt her soul escape from her body, as she shot up in the air with narrowed eyes. “What the actual hay?!” She blurted out, the furs on her spine rose.
“Hey, Dashie! Slept well, huh?”
Rolling her eyes downwards, Rainbow saw the friends she was waiting for. The pink mare was waving her hoof, wearing her signature beam, while the orange mare slightly panted, giving her a soft smile. Dash found herself smiling back, but then everything washed her like a tide. She quickly descended to the ground and flicked her mane, wearing an annoyed frown.
“What took you two so long?” Twilight took the words out of her muzzle, as Dash’s eyelids flattened.
“Weeeell, AJ and I did some…” Pinkie tapped her chin and looked upwards, as if the answers were painted in the ceiling.
“We did some modifications in the castle halls,” Applejack answered for Pinkie, with the latter nodding. “It ain't grand, just some Twists and Turns,” the farm pony chuckled lightly, wagging her eyebrows. “Get it?” She smiled unusually, waiting for a round of applause. She looked at Twilight, who wore a baffled expression then Rarity, who just shrugged and then Rainbow, who had a blank, unreadable expression. Even Pinkie became as silent as a rock.
Sighing, she held the brim of her hat and bowed slightly, blushing lightly. “Uhm…”
Pinkie looked at her side and did a grimace look before putting on a bright smile. “Sooo! We are gonna do LARP!” She squealed, bouncing on her hooves.
Everypony’s faces -aside from Applejack- lit up and were painted with puzzlement. “Larp? What's that?” Rainbow voiced the other two’s confusion, as she raised a brow.
Seemingly reclaiming her poise, Applejack released her hat and brought up a faint smile. “It's L-A-R-P. LARP, as in, Live-Action Roleplay! I know y’all gonna like them show,” she tipped her hat and beamed.
“Uh-huh…” Rainbow nodded solemnly, as she turned around. “Meh, I'll pass.”
“Why?! It's sooooo fun, Dashie! You get to be the character in the game and you can Pfftoooiee! Bazaaam! Hiya!” Pinkie kicked and punched in mid-air.
“It does seem interesting,” Twilight smiled. “Okay, count me in!” She extended her hoof, as Pinkie followed over the alicorn’s.
Rainbow scoffed and laid her backside, placing her hooves on the back of her head. “Nah. See, Twilight likes it, so it's for eggheads.”
Rarity and Twilight frowned, as Applejack took the lead. “Then we could all have fun while you burn your rump there,” the orange pony harrumphed and extended her hoof, followed by Rarity.
“That's so immature of you, Dash!” Rarity furrowed her brows.
“Immature? You are all immature. That's just silly childish game!” Rainbow snapped and closed her eyes.
Applejack smirked, directing it to Rainbow. “She's jus’ afraid to be toasted,” that made Dash open her eyes suddenly. “C’mon, everypony,” they all parted and went away, leaving the pegasus with a lingering regret.
Dash looked at the retreating figure of the four, with her eyes fixated on Applejack. She had a slight sway from her steps and Rainbow seriously wanted to pounce her for revenge. Groaning in defeat, she stood up and galloped towards her friends. “Okay, okay! I'm in!” She stomped hard.
Applejack and Twilight looked at each other and smiled, giggling lightly.
“Yaaaay!” Pinkie clung onto Rainbow, beaming from ear to ear. “This is gonna be greaaat! I'm the elf!”
Dash rolled her eyes. “Sure.”
“If you want, I could give you this ring, Dashieee!” Pinkie presented her shining ring.
The pegasus stopped and fluttered her eyelids like the way Rarity did. “Oh, really?! Thank you, kindly!” She chimed in a raspy high pitched voice before dropping her expression into a poker. “Forget it. That's just a stupid ring.”
The four continued to trot, leaving Pinkie devastated. “Stupid?!” She stared at the sparkling ring, as her eyes twinkled in awe. “No way you're stupid, sweetie,” Pinkie caressed the ring as if it was a foal, giving it short kisses.
“Pinkie!” Twilight bellowed, startling the pink pony. The latter quickly followed suit, but kept her distance from Rainbow, eyeing her cautiously.
Dash rolled her eyes again and groaned. She wondered what kind of stupid things they would do. Well, at least this was better than being bored to death.
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“Since we're havin’ a roleplay, we're gonna need some costumes that fit our chosen characters.”It will make the game a lot better and realistic.”
Applejack’s words echoed inside Rainbow’s skull like a leech, making her do another exasperated groan. She was a pony of adventure, yes, that was indeed the truth. But being an expert of this thing, she could tell that she would just be bored again and again.
Why did she agree to do this stuff, anyway? It was not like she couldn't refuse, but she wanted to shove her victory onto Applejack’s face once they finish the game. Take that, Applesauce.
But first, before she could go back to the castle, she had to have a costume. It would be a lot easier when they agreed to Rarity’s help, but when the white unicorn proposed something like it, the four of them looked fearfully at each other as they all quickly popped out of Rarity’s sight.
So, at that very moment, Rainbow Dash was struggling inside her closet, trying to find anything that she would call a costume. She needed to look like a barbarian, but she had no idea how. She stopped from fumbling her actually empty closet, and thought for a while.
As far as she remembered, the barbarian was the ugliest thing she had ever seen.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up and her muzzle stretched into a smile. “All I have to do is to look hideous! That's not hard!” She thought aloud and dashed into the kitchen. Her own words echoed back to her and she halted.
How would it be easy? She was the coolest pegasus ever existed and being hideous would be one of the hardest. Groaning as if it was her first time doing it, she continued her search for a barbaric costume.
A light bulb shone brilliantly above her, as she grinned slyly. An idea came into her and it would surely blow the others’ costume up, even including Rarity.
“Watch in awe as the-” Dash stopped in mid-sentence. She felt that the line sounded really familiar, like sompony was born to say it. Shuddering with the thought, she grabbed the recent net coverings of her apple purchase, a pair of random measuring cups and black belt that hung somewhere near the window of her cloud house.
Hoofful of stuffs, Rainbow Dash started to work with her costume.
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Applejack trotted merrily towards Twilight’s castle, humming a random tune that came out of her mind. She felt totally awesome with what she was wearing, as she let her costume flow with the gentle breeze.
Her mane was tied up in a pony tail, leaving strands of blonde hair to hang on the side of her head. Her hat was replaced with a blue metal can that had two conjoined L- shaped rulers glued nicely on the upper front of the can. The ‘helmet’ was placed down onto her nose, with two holes that allowed her to see. The can had a hole at the back for her golden mane to flow freely. Around her neck to her back was a matching blue cape that covered her flank. Around her torso was a sliver belt with the Apple Family emblem dangling on her side. On the left side of her belt was a wooden sheath containing a sword of some sort. Clipped on her right side was a trashcan lid that was painted with the shape of an apple, making it look like a shield. Silver horseshoes that covered her fetlocks were found around her hooves, completing her outfit.
The apple farmer smiled proudly, before galloping back towards the castle. Her horseshoes glistened with the sunlight, as loud clattering of metal gathered the attention of ponies that happened to pass by. She was quite recognizable as herself, but some ponies were having a hard time to really process that it was her.
Finally reaching the castle, she opened the castle door with a hoof and entered, her hooves creating another loud clattering. She couldn't see anypony yet, and she thought that she was the only pony there. With Spike and Starlight taking care of some royal business at Canterlot, Applejack knew that Twilight was the only pony there. Or maybe, the others were already there.
“Twi? Are y’all there? Rainbow? Rarity? Pinkie Pie?” Applejack looked around, but the castle remained silent. She suddenly felt nervous, as the noise she could only hear was the sound that came from her loud shoes.
Knitting her brows behind her helmet, she cautiously took steps inside the castle looking constantly to every direction. “Uhm… This ain't funny, ya know. Show yourself, everypony,” her voice cracked, as she gulped.
A step. She snapped her head towards her right, as a figure of something that just flew past her appeared. “Who's that?” She asked as she started to put her attention to the sword clipped on her side.
“R-Rainbow…? Is that you? I will seriously tie you up like a turkey!” Applejack stomped once, but because her hoof was covered with a metal shoe, the sound made her ears ring. Grunting, she glared at her hooves. “Stupid horseshoes.”
Another step. This time, it was nearer to her, but she still couldn't see it. The thing she hated the most was enemies lurking behind shadows. She wanted somepony that would fight her head on, not one that would sneak behind her. Applejack had thousands of creepy stories inside her mind, all thanks to Granny Smith, so those kinda helped her out to predict what could possibly happen.
But a secret switch thingie was new.
Her hoof had a contact with some secret button on the castle floor. She created a sound of a dying horse, as the button sank deeper into the ground. She didn't know what to do this time, and adding to her horror was the sudden closing of the door far behind her. It echoed inside the castle, as it fell into another horrifying silence.
Applejack was now breathing heavily, sweat trickling rapidly from behind her helmet. She stayed that way after she stepped on the switch and then her mind went blank like her sister’s flank a month ago.
She didn't know what to do and she just resorted in closing her eyes. “B-Big Mac… help me,” more hoofsteps echoed towards her, but she was certain it just came from a single pony. “...I'm…” She heard a single step behind her, as she couldn't help herself but to raise her hindhooves for a buck.
“I'm scaaaaaaawhooaaaaa!” With her hind hooves absent from the ground, the floor opened up and brought her down to a dark hole. Applejack screamed her lungs out, as she fell endlessly to the ground.
Feeling like an eternity, she finally landed on top of a soft foam of some sort that prevented her from a crushing death. She let out multiple grunts and groans as she rolled from her back to her stomach.
“Ugh… What…” Applejack opened her heavy eyelids, as a blue blurry figure appeared in front of her. It seemed to her that it was putting its hoof all around her, saying some concerned cries and all that she couldn't quite pinpoint. Her vision slowly came back to normal, as the figure came closer.
“Applejack!”
“Huh…?” Applejack shook her head, as her helmet tilted sideways. She blinked at the pony she recognized the most.
“Rainbow!” She exclaimed, as she shot up to her hooves and quickly wrapped herself around the startled pegasus. Applejack kept herself like that for about a minute, until she realized what she was doing.
Pulling away from the pegasus, she smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of her neck. “Howdy,” she muttered, as she fixed her helmet upright. “Where’re the others?”
“Uh, well,” Rainbow rolled her eyes upwards and sucked her lips, unconsciously fiddling with her hoof. “They're on the other side of this wall, probably alive,” she turned to Applejack with a blank face, who had her muzzle opened halfway and her right eyebrow raised an inch behind her helmet.
“What do ya mean?” Applejack frowned, and just now, she took notice of Dash’s costume.
The pegasus was wearing some sort of animal-themed costume, her torso covered with what Applejack assumed could be an animal-printed cloak. It looked like a bear skin, with a brown leather belt securing its place around her hips. An axe was clipped on her side, and the orange pony wondered of its genuineness. Her wings were tucked securely, as her hooves were wrapped with crisscrossed white strings, and her helmet was far beyond what Applejack expected. It really looked like somehing from the ancient, and the horns protuding to both ends of the headwear really took her attention.
All in all, for once, Applejack would applaud Rainbow’s resourcefulness.
“When I heard your shout, I quickly jumped on the wall and-”
“Wait, jumped on the wall?” Applejack leaned her neck backwards.
Rainbow flashed an unamused look. “Let me finish.”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“Then I jumped. On the wall. Then suddenly, the wall flipped and I ended up here, then I saw your flank being hauled down here, and that,” Dash declared proudly, puffing her chest. “So I don't know where they are right now.”
“Oh…” Applejack nodded absentmindedly, unsure of Rainbow’s implication.
“I just want to congratulate you, AJ,” Rainbow suddenly wrapped one of her forelegs around Applejack’s neck, catching the farm mare off guard.
“For what?” The orange mare looked at the pegasus incredulously.
“Duh!” Dash rolled her eyes and booped the farm mare, giggling at the face AJ made. “This!” She spreaded her hooves wide, wearing a broad beam. If the place wasn't that dark, Applejack would have seen how sparkly Dash’s teeth were.
“I am well aware that I ain't the one who made that costume of yours,” Applejack said flatly.
Rainbow Dash blinked, her hooves falling lifelessly from the air. Her beam dropped instantly almost faster than her Sonic Rainboom. “What…” Was all she could say. She squinted her eyes tighter, examining Applejack’s face. To the pegasus’ annoyance, the other mare didn't move a muscle, and if that was the case, Rainbow had to do something else.
“Seriously, AJ? Don't act all humble here. You did a very awesome job!” Rainbow grinned at her best friend, nudging her gently.
Applejack’s face moved a little bit and Dash called that a progress. “Thanks, I guess. Though, this here horseshoes are a pain in the flank. Heheh,” the farm mare giggled awkwardly, and it was far from genuine giggle, as far as Dash was concerned.
Time for phase two. “Buck it, Applejack!” Rainbow blurted out, her wings flaring open. Her face contorted into an unnatural angry twist, and made Applejack flinch.
“Just accept the praise and quit denying, for Celestia’s sake!” Rainbow slapped herself and pulled her face downwards, the lids of her eyes stretching out.
Applejack was surprised of Rainbow’s sudden outburst, and it sparked a flame within her as well. “I was! What in tarnation are you shouting about?!” She stomped her hoof once, and for the second time around, she stepped on another switch. Both of their eyes narrowed in pinpricks, as the floor grumbled ominously.
They had a second of a perfect fearful eye contact before they both fell into the hole. Applejack and Rainbow Dash screamed, their voices almost sounded the same. It didn't down on Dash that she could fly until a good three seconds passed. Her wings flapped instinctively, and the first thing she did was to stop screaming and dive head first onto the other flightless pony.
“I'm coming!” Rainbow shouted at the black abyss, and sooner, the distinct bright orange coat of Applejack became visible from her eyes. She flapped her wings faster, as she caught up with her friend's rapid falling. Dash stretched out her hooves and grabbed the earth pony, wrapping herself around Applejack’s firm frame. She tucked her wings in and allowed herself to fall, holding her best friend tight. Applejack stopped from screaming, and Rainbow concluded that she might have lost her consciousness.
The two mares fell, and sooner, Dash closed her eyes as well, and allowed gravity to hold them together.
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Rainbow Dash expected a hard fall and broken bones and wings, but all those didn't come true. Instead, warmth covered her entire body, as if enveloping her and Applejack in a warm blanket. Not only that, but she found herself floating. To contain her curiosity, she cracked an eye open, as a loud chorus of gasps entered her ears.
She found the rest of their friends, their faces painted with concern. Pinkie and Rarity were in the front row, while Twilight was at the back, who had her horn lit up and covered in a purple aura. Dash knew that Twilight was the one responsible of their safety, and she couldn't be thankful enough.
“Are you guys alright?” Twilight asked from the back, as she went towards them.
Rainbow could only groan in response.
The lavender alicorn gently dropped the pair on the dusty floor of the castle undergrounds. They quickly took notice of Applejack, as they formed a circle around Dash and AJ.
“What happened?” Rarity covered her muzzle with a hoof, her sapphire eyes glimmering with concern. She wiped the hair that covered Applejack’s face and placed her hoof on top of her forehead.
Dash gained strength, as she pulled herself up. She looked at Applejack, the look on her face dropping into a regretful frown. “She passed out along the way,” Rainbow answered flatly, as she kneeled beside the fallen mare. Twilight and Pinkie looked at each other, their ears drooping.
With her sullen eyes fixated on Applejack, Rainbow whispered, “She might have been really scared back then,” unconsciously, Dash clenched her hoof.
“Let me see her,” Twilight said in an authoritative tone, as Rarity took a step back to give the princess her space. Twilight enveloped Applejack with her magic, and within a few moments, the Earth pony stirred. The others watched, as the orange mare blinked slowly, her emerald eyes glistening with the faint light given by the nearest torch on the wall.
“Applejack!” The others, sans Twilight, exclaimed, as the pony addressed slowly rose from her hooves and was followed by Rainbow.
“Whatever must have happened to you, darling?” Rarity tilted her head. “And your…” She grimaced, looking at Applejack’s outfit. “...fetlocks…” Before she could faint, Pinkie already took a step forward to cover Rarity’s view.
Applejack was not in the state to deal with Rarity’s fashion dilemma. Her head still felt light and it took her some time to adjust her vision. “I'm fine. And Rainbow… Rainbow?!” Applejack span around, trying to find that certain pegasus. Her eyes were wide, and her heart thumped faster than her galloping.
“I'm over here, cowgirl,” Rainbow emerged from the shadows, in her hooves was Applejack’s helmet. She wore a smug grin, as she went in front of AJ. “Or should I say, knight?” Dash winked and placed the head gear on Applejack.
Applejack smirked back in return, mirroring Dash’s expression almost perfectly, even behind the helmet. “I should thank you, for savin’ my flank back there.”
Dash threw a dismissive hoof. “Nah. As long as it is a nice flank,” she replied, which gained reactions from their other friends. She looked at them incredulously, and quickly threw her hooves in the air, her wings fidgeting uncomfortably. “What? Can't I say a joke?! Sheesh…” She rolled her eyes, as a soft whisper of “phrasing” was heard by everypony aside from Dash.
Applejack chuckled heartily and pulled Rainbow in a one-arm hug. “Aww, Dashie gettin’ all fancy, huh?” She wiggled her eyebrows playfully at Dash and enjoyed the wonder of Rainbow’s twisting face.
“Wh-What?! No!” Rainbow’s cheeks became tinted with rosy pink, as her rebellious wings resisted from behaving.
The others shared a light laugh, until it all dawned on them the situation they were currently in.
“Guys… I know this is cheesy and all but… Applejack!” Pinkie bounced from where she was and shot herself towards the addressed pony. “Lead us to freedom!” She screeched at Applejack’s face, as the farm mare cringed.
“What? I have nothin’ to do with this!” Applejack pushed Pinkie’s nose and made the pink mare stumble sightly.
“Nothing to do? Silly Applejack, you did all of these!” Pinkie spreaded her arms wide, mirroring Dash’s look a while ago.
Applejack did a double take and a major raise of an eyebrow. “For the last time, no, nothin’! I jus’ hung some random pieces of paper along the hall as darned instructions!”
“You did what?” Rarity asked from behind and was ignored afterwards.
“But… who did this?” Twilight tilted her head, as her bottom lip quivered slightly.
“No, no. No! Don't step on that!”
Click!
Too late.
Everypony present screamed, as they once again fell into a seemed to be bottomless pit. Pinkie and Rarity held onto each other, while Applejack grabbed Twilight to hold on. Rainbow Dash was quicker to respond than earlier, for she flapped her wings smoothly before she fell again.
“Guys!” Rainbow narrowed her eyes and dived in.
Twilight lit up her horn, as Rarity’s scream echoed along the walls of the pit, bouncing back to the alicorn’s poor equine ears. “Calm down, everypony! I got this!”
Soon, all of them were engulfed with a surge of magic from Twilight, even capturing Rainbow Dash. They were all brought back safely on the ground, with neither of them knew where they were.
“But, Applejack, darling. This is a state of the art architecture! And you did this in a very short amout of time! I simply must praise you, dear,” Rarity didn't have to take a rest from the fall. She was all back to her usual glory in a blink of the eye.
“Again,” Applejack growled. Of course, she was getting tired of all the pitfalls and telling her that she was the one who created the maze. “It's. Not. Me! Y’all dare tell that to me again or I'll make sure ya ain't gettin’ none of Celestia’s sun tomorrow!” She hissed and stopped herself from stomping before another switch could be turned on.
Rarity nodded softly and huffed. She flicked her curly mane that was adorned with small blue jewels. Her white velvety dress flowed gracefully along her frame down to her hidden tail. The dress was simply designed with matching blue jewels like her mane and her sparkly silver crown didn't go unnoticed.
“But if it's not you or Pinkie Pie, then who is?” Twilight asked, her curly ‘beard’ and the bell of her wizard hat following the direction of her head. Her horn was surrounded with an aura of magic, levitating beside her a wooden staff with a blue orb at the tip. She wore her first Nightmare Night in Ponyville costume, and the staff was an additional.
Suddenly, Pinkie gasped. “Ohmygosh, my tail’s a twitchin’!” Everypony looked at Pinkie with panicked eyes.
“What does that mean?” Dash squeaked, her wings flapping frantically.
“Oh no, my kidneys are shaking!”
“Pinkie, we can't see your kidneys,” Twilight rolled her eyes.
“Of course, Twilight. I can't just pull them and show it to ya, can I?” The pink pony raised an eyebrow at the alicorn, as her tail continued twitching. The tips of her ears had an extension, making them longer and more pointy than usual. She also wore a beret and a green cloak. Clipped on her both sides were a bow and a set of arrows respectively.
“Twitichin’ tail, shakin’ kidneys…” Applejack gulped.
“Everypony, changelin’s are comin’,” and the orange pony came into a harsh realization.
“You got it, Jackie!” Pinkie winked, as the ceiling above them grumbled.
“What?!” Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow exclaimed, with their eyes narrowed into pinpricks.
“There are about twenty changeling drones heading towards us! Even more or less than that,” Pinkie looked at her hooves and then to the ring around her left hoof and planted a quick peck on it. She muttered incoherent words on the ring, as Applejack grimaced beside her.
“But… But why?! The changelings were defeated by Cadence and my brother, how could they come back?!” Twilight looked around frantically, as she slashed the staff in the air.
“Magic?” Rainbow Dash smiled sheepishly, as they all heard a certain chorus of hisses.
Piercing icy blue eyes glimmered from the darkness before the five friends, until their owners revealed themselves to the ponies. Their ivory black chitin came into view, as their wings buzzed ominously. They all hissed, their snake-like tongues protruding in and out of their fanged muzzles. Their holey limbs stepped forward, as they glared at the friends.
“Applejack, whatever Earth pony magic you have used to summon the changelings, or maybe you're a queen changeling in disguise, we'll never know, hehehe,” Twilight narrowed her eyes, as she slowly took cautious steps backwards. “I say, I am truly impressed and I want you to teach me how. Just, why did you do that?” The purple alicorn’s voice trembled slightly, as her wings spreaded half-way.
In sync, a very lion-like growl and the hisses from the changelings shook the dark hallway, as if that certain growl triggered the changelings to attack. Sooner, both sides ran to attack each other with all sorts of ways.
“For the last time, I am not a changeling!”
