Author's Note

Written during a Q&S Panic contest with the prompt 'Don't Poke The Bear'.

Guarded Actions

"What does the princess need us for this time?" complained Rainbow as she impatiently hovered above Twilight. She was walking far too slow for Rainbow's taste.

"Rainbow, show some respect. She's the princess for a reason," Twilight replied, Rainbow begrudgingly shut up. As they neared the castle, Rainbow's eyes locked onto the two guards standing at the entrance. An impish grin crossed her face as her head went wild with ideas. Twilight, oblivious to what Rainbow was planning, greeted the two guards with a bow.

Wearing a cocky smile, Rainbow flew close to one of the guards and prepared to perform the most evil, tyrannical gesture known to ponykind. A gesture that, if leaked to the masses, could ruin her reputation far and wide.

"Boop," stated Rainbow, barely holding a straight face as she pressed a hoof against the white muzzle of the guard. Anger passed through his face, but he remained calm. It would not do to lose his cool on duty. He was prepared to hold still; to not give this mare the satisfaction of breaking him, Element of Loyalty or not.

Or at least, that's what he thought until she did it again, this time with her own muzzle.

Applejack looked over her harvest for the day, impressed with herself. Forty apple baskets was a very successful number for what she was capable of. Of course, these were rookie numbers compared to her brother, but she ignored that fact and focused instead on her accomplishment.

"Hoo-wee! Now that's a fine harvest if I do say so myself," she praised, wanting to relish in her grand achievement. Suddenly, a loud screaming sound hit her ears, something that confused her due to the familiarity of it. "Wait, but that's impossible. Rainbow's—"

That was as far as she got before the increasingly loud sound's source crashed into her with the speed of a bullet. As the dust cleared she could see her baskets had toppled over and a majority of her apples were now laying in the dirt.

"Rainbow! What in tarnation was that! And how are you in Ponyville? You're supposed to be up in Canterlot with Twilight!"

Dazed, Rainbow looked up at Applejack with a sheepish grin, barely registering the ruined harvest around her. "Heh, sorry. My bad. And umm, to answer your question…" Rainbow looked away, embarrassed, "I might have poked the bear a bit too much."

Sighing, Applejack stared at Rainbow with an unsatisfied look on her face. She looked as though she knew the answer to what she was about to ask.

"War Hammer?"

"War Hammer."