Life With a Rainbow

Chapter Two: Shopping; Boy oh Boy

“Now then,” you say, looking at the substantial list you have to fill that day, “Let’s go shopping.”

In Ponyville, the weather was calm. A slight breeze blew through the air, creating a slightly cooler atmosphere. It was a beautiful day out, even by high standards.

Your list was a simple one, but it would be bothersome to fill, since the vendors who sold them were ever so conveniently placed all across the marketplace, with about one-quarter of a mile between each. You could fly there, but what would the point in that be?

“Shopping… Shoppitty shop shopping-uh…” you mutter. It was your week to do the shopping. After you had moved in with Dash, you had both decided it would be easier to alternate shopping shifts. You were silently muttering to yourself about how you wish it was Dash’s turn to do the shopping when you decided to look at the list.
'Butter, milk, eggs, cookies,' 'Cookies' was written hastily. You gave a slight laugh, Dash never could stop eating them. carrots, apples (✓), cotton candy, Wait, what? You look up to walk right into a wall of pink. You can’t help but notice that the pony in question you had just bumped into had noticed.

“Oh, hi, Gusty!” the pony shouted, you recognized by her voice and over enthusiasm that it was Pinkie Pie, the town’s resident party-holic.

“Hi, Pinkie. I was actually just on my way to Sugarcube Corner right now, to pick up some cookies for Dash.” you reply, spitting out the few stands of pink hair what you caught in your mouth.

“No way, same here!” she said, bouncing alongside you as you walked, “So how are you two? I haven’t seen either of you since last week!”

You remember that she was the only one out of your circle of friends who didn’t know. Even the resident mail mare, Ditzy Doo, knows by now.

“Oh you know,” you begin, nonchalantly, not hoping to make a scene, “we’re fine, as always. We’re together…”

“Well of course you are! You live together! What kinds of ponies aren’t together if they’re housemates? I mean real-” She’s stopped by a hoof in the mouth.

“Pinkie,” you begin, removing your hoof from her mouth, “We’re together together. As in a couple. We have been for about a wee-” You’re interrupted as she gasps more air than a pony’s lungs should be able to physically hold, and she bursts off, in the direction of Sugarcube Corner. “I could almost feel that coming, before I said it… Dash can wait until tonight for cookies.”

As you walked through the tranquil atmosphere of Ponyville, you could hear various ponies talking to one another. Whether it’s Twilight, Lyra and Bonbon, or even the shy and timid Fluttershy, they all had someone to converse with. You found yourself near Carrot Top’s stand.

“Hello, Carrot,” you begin, preparing the bag of bits. Like with the Apples, you know the rate for a dozen carrots.

“Hey there!” she starts, giving a friendly grin, “Looking for some carrots?” She asks, getting her carrot sack out.

“Of course. The usual, please.” With most shops, your usual was one dozen of whatever it is their wares were. You took out the fifteen bits, and handed them to her. “So, what’s been going on with you?” You ask her, taking the carrots.

“Oh, the usual; Fluttershy’s rabbits got out and ate up some of the garden, but we solved the issue. How’s Rainbow Dash?”

“Oh, she’s fine. She had weather patrol over Sweet Apple Acres today alone, but she’s going to be fine.” You tell her, “Pinkie finally found out about us.”

“Oh she did,” she asked, raising an eyebrow, “Took her long enough… I take it there’s going to be a party tonight, then?”

“More than likely… Well anyway, I should get going,” you say, packing the carrots away, and making a checkmark on your list, “groceries… Not fun at all.”

“Heh, your week again, is it?” She asks, giving a slight chuckle, “Good luck with that, send my regards, will you?”

“Can do, Carrot; have a good one.” You nod, heading off. By now, it’s about eight and most shops and stands are open.

You look at your checklist, which shows Butter, milk, eggs, cookies, carrots (✓), apples (✓). You only had the Butter, milk, and eggs left to retrieve. ‘Cookies’ was slashed off because you would have the party later, and though it would be an issue to explain, you could still manage to keep Dash from maiming you for not getting them.

The eggs had to be obtained at Fluttershy’s cottage, conveniently located due northwest of the Everfree Forest. Given that you were near Sugarcube Corner, you had to walk the whole way to the southeastern corner of Ponyville. While you could have just flown, you found it better, and safer for the groceries, to walk. Plus, you preferred to feel the grass under your hooves, and it was easier for you, anyway. As you began to daydream while walking, a buzzing catches your ear. Not the buzzing of a flying insect, but of rapidly flapping wings. You knew that had only one meaning. Crusaders.

“Look oooooouuuuuut!”

You jump just in time to avoid being flattened by a speeding Pegasus filly on her scooter, and the wagon tailing close behind with a yellow earth pony and white unicorn inside. You could feel the Pegasus’ helmet graze your tail as you jump. You see them go barreling into the river, just below the bridge by Fluttershy’s house.

“Oh Celes-…” You mutter, checking yourself for injuries, “Are you three okay?” You yell out, flying over, looking under the bridge. Luckily, there were only three wet fillies, a tipped over wagon and a scooter under the bridge, and nopony was harmed.

“Yeah, we’re fine. Just a little wet is all… Sorry about that.” Scootaloo muttered, picking up her scooter, while Applebloom, Applejack’s sister, and Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s sister were picking the wagon up.

“Ah, it’s cool.” You reply, helping the three get their belongings out of the water, “Where are you three off to in such a hurry, anyway? It’s not even nine yet.”

“We were off ta’ get our cutie marks in speed records!” Applebloom excitedly said, looking at her flank, “Ah guess it didn’t work so well, now did it?”

“Oh, come on, Applebloom, it’ll work out eventually…” Sweetie Belle said sympathetically

“Well here’s an idea,” you start, “Try doing what you specifically like, then see if that works. You can’t really rush these things. If you take it slowly instead of fast, it’ll work a lot better. Besides, I didn’t get mine until I was a few years older than you three.”

“Ya mean it, Mr. Gust?” Applebloom asks, looking at you. Sweetie Belle is listening intently, but Scootaloo has other plans.

“Yeah, yeah. No offense, but we hear that all the time. It gets a little annoying…” She starts,

“Oh, come off it, we’ll get them eventually…” Applebloom replies.

“Yeah, let’s go. I bet we can do something at the farm.”

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS APPLEBUCKERS! YAY!” they collectively yell, knocking you back a step. Scootaloo re-hitches her wagon to the scooter and the three mount up. The buzz off, a faint trail of dust behind them.

“Sometimes, I think that I’m the only sane pony in this whole town…” You mutter, trudging off towards Fluttershy’s cottage.

A/N:Well that’s done. Chapter two of ‘Life’ is now published. It only took hell knows how long. Even I don’t. Tonight’s music choice would have to be… Regeneration. Gotta love Doctor Who. This part of The End of Time gave me some heavy feels. I loved Tennant. He was and is the best Doctor. Matt Smith also is quite the good actor, but not as good as Tennant… With that, I go to sleep land. Good night, and Allons-y!
GOD that Look Out was a pain in the balls to code. I do my BB code manually...