Come on, come on… Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she peered over the edge of the cloud. She should be here by here Rainbow then flipped herself over onto her back. Where was she? Rainbow had got the timing right, hadn’t she?
This is so BORING, she thought to herself as she felt her head hit the cloud. Is she even gonna show up? Her hind legs twitched in the air, as if she was trying to buck somepony. Frustration mounted within her. As much as she hated the thought, she realized she might have to admit defeat here.
Rainbow let out an annoyed groan. Every year, ever since Twilight had arrived in Ponyville, Rainbow and Pinkie had a little game they liked to play. Just a fun little tradition for the two of them. Every year, they would set aside one week and see how many ponies they could prank in that time. Whoever got the most would declare herself to be that year’s Ponyville Prank Master, while the loser had to buy her some cider.
The pegasus grimaced at the thought. Every year, the outcome was the exact same. No matter how hard she tried, Rainbow could never beat the pink pony. Year after year, she would begrudgingly say the “You’re the prank master, Pinkie,” fork over some bits, and then the party planner would drink a cold, delicious mug of cider as she watched with envy...
But this year was going to be different. Rainbow had vowed that she would not be bested this year. She had spent every waking hour of the past six days trying out every conceivable pranking idea she had. Rainbow grinned as she remembered the look on Pinkie’s face when they checked the scoreboard a few hours ago and realized they were actually tied. Rainbow was so close, she just needed one prank before midnight and then she could taste the sweet cider of victory.
If Fluttershy would show up, that is. Rainbow pouted. If there was one thing she hated more than losing, it was waiting.
Rainbow’s ear twitched. She froze, listening. Hoofsteps. She quickly flipped over and scanned the ground. She’s here. Rainbow smiled. Below her, stepping out of the threshold of the Everfree forest, was Fluttershy. Rainbow made a silent hoof pump. Fluttershy had told her that she had been going into the forest the last few days, helping Zecora with something Rainbow couldn’t remember.
She felt around with her hoof. Rainbow quickly found what she was looking for: a cheap nightmare-night mask that she had found in her closet. As she began to pull it down over her face, however, she hesitated. Usually, Rainbow and Pinkie would make an exception for the mare when pranking. The poor mare was afraid of… well, everything, if Rainbow was being honest. Messing with her just seemed a little too easy, and even a little cruel.
Rainbow Dash shook her head. Desperate times called for desperate measures, she reminded herself. Besides, they made up that rule years ago. Surely Fluttershy had gotten a lot better since then, she’d seen it. There was really no good reason to give up now, not with victory so close…
She pulled her mask down and then dove to the ground. In front of her, Fluttershy froze, letting out a small gasp. Rainbow quickly dove behind a nearby tree.
“H-hell-lo?” Fluttershy stammered, her eyes darting around frantically. Rainbow held her breath. “I-is somep-p-pony there?”
Nopony answered. Slowly, Fluttershy turned around and resumed her walk. Rainbow stepped out from behind the tree and took flight.
Fluttershy’s ears shot straight up at the nose. Her wings flared, an already feeble attempt to make herself look bigger that was ruined by her shaking knees. Her eyes screwed shut, as if refusing to look at her impending doom. Cautiously she turned around and opened her eyes.
There was nothing but darkness behind her. Fluttershy let out a sigh of relief and turned around, coming face-to-face with a masked pony.
“Boo,” Rainbow said.
Fluttershy screamed. She reared onto her back legs before toppling over, landing on her back with her wings splayed and her legs akimbo.
Meanwhile, Rainbow tilted her head back and unleashed a volume of triumphant laughter. “I DID IT! I WON! I WON!” Rainbow hollered. She then leapt into the air, flying around in a little victory dance. “Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Ohmygosh! I’m gonna have all the cider…”
Her celebration came to an abrupt end, however, once she heard the sobbing. Fluttershy was crying, her face buried into her hooves as her shoulders shook. Rainbow felt her stomach drop. Oh geez, she thought, what have I done?
“Fluttershy?” Rainbow landed beside her friend and took her mask off. “Hey, Flutters? I’m sorry, I-”
“GO AWAY!” Fluttershy shrieked. She then curled into a ball, crying even harder. Rainbow sat beside her, gently placing a hoof on her whiters.
“Flutters?” Rainbow repeated. “I-I’m sorry, okay? Come on, talk to me, please?”
Fluttershy slowly lifted her head to look at her. “Why?” she asked, her cheeks shimmering in the moonlight. “Why w-would you do that t-to me?”
It was Rainbow’s turn to stammer. “W-well, I-I, um… you, uh…” Rainbow then sighed, realizing that it would be best to be honest. “I was trying to prank you.”
“A prank?” Fluttershy hissed. She stood up, coming face-to-face with Rainbow Dash. “You think that was funny?”
“I uh…” Rainbow said, taking a step back as she shrunk away from Fluttershy.
“You think it’s funny to wander around in the woods with a spooky mask, scaring innocent ponies!?”
“What? No! It’s just… it’s just I was actually ‘bout to to beat Pinkie this year an-”
“Oh, now I get it!” Fluttershy mocked. “You care more about some stupid game than one of your oldest friends…”
“What!? No! I-”
“... so you decide to mess with her. Even though she’s all alone, and weak, a-and… and completely helpless.”
Fluttershy had said the last couple of words with a breathy sigh. Rainbow blinked. She noticed something in her friend’s demeanor now seemed a little… different.
“Uh, you okay there Flutter’s?”
Fluttershy responded with a deep, throaty moan. “No…” she whispered, her eyes half open and her face flushed. “I’m not okay.” She began to creep forward as she spoke.
“I’m out here, by the forest at night…” she continued. “Weak… and alone… and vulnerable.”
Suddenly Fluttershy was a little too close for Rainbow Dash’s liking. She tried to take a step back but slipped and landed on her side with a squawk. She then looked up to see that Fluttershy was now looming over her with a look she would have never imagined her formerly timid friend in.
“Hmm. I sure hope nopony finds me like this. I’m so weak I don’t think I could even try to fight back if she tried to make me do… stuff.”
Rainbow's eyes had widened to saucers upon realizing Fluttershy said ‘she.’ "S-stuff?" she stammered.
Fluttershy then leaned down. “Bad stuff,” she whispered into Rainbow’s ear. “The kind of stuff that only naughty fillies do.” She then shifted position so her muzzle was now nearly touching Rainbow’s.
“You want to know the worst part?” Rainbow tried to respond with words, but all that came out was a high-pitched squeal. “I’d have to do it. No matter how much it hurts… no matter how much I beg or cry or scream… I’d have to do whatever she says.”
Rainbow’s jaw hung wide open, her face redder than a tomato. “Bruh… you… huh?” Above her, Fluttershy giggled, batting her eyelashes.
Finally, Rainbow’s stupor was broken. “NO!” she cried. She then pushed Fluttershy away from her and awkwardly scrambled onto her hooves. Dang it, Fluttershy. What’s gotten into you!”
Fluttershy did not answer, instead she continued snickering. Rainbow then realized she was looking at something behind her. Confused, she turned around.
“Boo,” the masked pony said. Rainbow then screamed before flying away at her top speed, leaving a multi-colored streak across the night sky as the two ponies burst out laughing.
Eventually Pinkie pulled her mask off. She whipped her eyes and sighed. “Sorry Dashie,” she sang in her effervescent voice, “but it looks like I win a-gain.” Somewhere off in the distance a cannon fired, followed by a shower of confetti raining down.
“But of course, I couldn’t of done it without my looovely pranking assistant,” she said, gesturing towards Fluttershy. Suddenly the mare was engulfed in a pillar of green flames, which then parted to reveal a smiling changeling. “Let’s give it up for Thorax!”
Another burst of confetti rained down over the two. “Aw geez, Pinkie. You don’t need to thank me.” Thorax said.
“You silly-willy. Of course I need to thank you! If it wasn’t for you Ponyville might of lost its prank master!” Pinkie then gasped. “Oh. My. Gosh. We should team up together every year! We’d be unstoppable!”
“Woah there,” Thorax said with a laugh. He put a hoof on the mare’s withers. “Let’s go get Fluttershy first. I think the pet store
would like to close soon."
Pinkie smiled. “Okey dokey lokey! To the pet store we go!” She said, before galloping out of sight. Thorax chuckled, shaking his head.
Suddenly, the mare returned, skidding to a halt in front of Thorax. "You know," Pinkie said with a coy smile, "You made a pretty good mare back there."
"Oh. Eh heh..." Thorax blushed. "Y-years of practice, I suppose," he added while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Um hm," Pinkie said, her smile deepening. "You know, the night is still young." She wiggled her eyebrows, then leaned forward until their muzzles where nearly touching. "Maybe after we get Fluttershy, we could head over to my place and..."
Pinkie then whispered something into Thorax's ear. The changeling could only sputter in response, somehow turned an even deeper shade of red. Pinkie than gave him a wink before walking away with a notable sway in her hips.
"You coming, love bug?" She called over her shoulder.
Without hesitation Thorax trotted after her.
Author's Note
Howdy howdy,
To quote the legendary Sliver Quill, I could ship anything. Also, in case you're wondering, Pinkie's plan was to take Fluttershy to the pet store, knowing the animals will keep her distracted for at least a few hours. Just FYI.
