No More Hoof Measures

(AN: this chapter begins with a song. If you’re wondering how it goes, here’s me singing it. https://vocaroo.com/1kdQxKiAio4i)

Young foal in Manehattan, named Slippin’ Slide

Scammer and con artist, boy he was sly

But good things can’t last and he had to flee

Tried to turn his life around and got a degree

Now she’s a grown mare and practices law

But brother Rock Slide still thinks she’s an outlaw

She tries to be clean tries to do the right thing

But old habits die hard and the money sings

Fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, impersonation

Criminal conspiracy, witness tampering, false accusations

Fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, impersonation

Criminal conspiracy, witness tampering, false accusations

Crime sure does pay plenty, ain’t that the truth

Scruples are bygones of a naïve youth

Criminal names in her little black book

With her connections you’ll get off the hook

One brother dead and a life left behind

Quiet regrets in the back of her mind

Living in fear is the price of the game

But money soothes every illness and pain

Fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, impersonation

Criminal conspiracy, witness tampering, false accusations

Fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, impersonation

Criminal conspiracy, witness tampering, false accusations

“Good night! Thank you for dining with us!” said Sally, holding the door open for the Adler family as they waddled fatly out of the door, after lingering in the restaurant for 45 minutes past closing time. As the 11-year-old Hunter Adler stopped watching tiktoks at full volume on his phone long enough to exit Phoenix Arizona’s 4th busiest Olive Garden, Sally closed the door, locked it, and sighed. Most of the staff had already left. It was just her and the manager. She walked into the back to deliver the good word.

“They’re gone. I’m going home.” Said Sally, removing her apron. As usual, Mrs. Person said nothing. She just sat there, looking sullen, the bags under her eyes trying to drag her down into her grave. Mrs. Person almost never didn’t look suicidal, but she looked especially bad today, even accounting for the fact that she was still at work at 11:45 pm on Saturday. She didn’t look up to look at Sally, she just sat there doodling.

“Can I see what you’re drawing?”

“…”

Sally leaned over to take a look.

“Nice work. You’ve gotten really good at drawing. You must practice a lot. Remember when we first met, a few years ago? You couldn’t even write. It was like you had never held a pen before. I guess you must not have done it a lot as a child.”

“Never.” Said Mrs. Person.

“Is there a reason you only ever draw ponies?”

“They remind me of better times.”

“How so?”

Mrs. Person sighed. She liked to sigh when she wanted to express to the person whom she was talking to that she didn’t want to answer a question. She finished her sketch by naming it, in big letters across the top. Her handwriting was still pretty bad, but it was legible enough.

“Slippin’ Trixie.” Read Sally, “is she supposed to be you?” Trixie nodded.

“I like her,” said Sally, “she exudes confidence.” Sally left the building, eager to return home to her boyfriend. Trixie was in no rush. She had nothing waiting for her at her house. She twirled her pen absentmindedly, dropping it almost immediately, as she usually did. She dropped a lot of things. She didn’t pick it up. She stared at the ceiling, lacking the will to move her body. She just stared, and thought about her life. She didn’t value it at all. She hated her life. She wanted it to be over. She had nothing left. She used to be somepony, now she was nobody. And it was all because of that piece of shit Twilight Sparkle.

YEARS EARLIER

“Trixie is quite happy to say that your friend Rainbow Dash is a free pony, as of this morning. It really wasn’t a big deal. The feds raided her house, since she was a suspect in the Glitter case, found some marijuana, and arrested her. But they couldn’t find any evidence that she was involved in crystal meth, so they didn’t have any charges. They couldn’t lock her up for the marijuana, because you can’t arrest somepony on evidence unrelated to the reason for your search warrant blah blah blah constitutional rights I’m sure you know it all already. You are quite the bookworm after all! Really, you didn’t have to call me up so worried. Something like this is trivial for the great and powerful Trixie! Now, Trixie believes that all that’s left is the matter of, ahem, my payment.”

Twilight handed over a sack full of cash. Trixie counted it very quickly.

“Cash, Trixie loves when clients pay in cash. Thank you very much. I believe our time here is done.”

“Actually,” said Twilight, “There’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Oh?”

“I want you to get me off.”

“Oh my!” said Trixie, “I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I’m a lawyer, not a whore. There is a slight difference.”

“You know what I fucking mean, Trixie.”

“Actually,” said Trixie, “considering that you’re not under arrest, I don’t think Trixie does know what you mean. I’m sure you’re shivering in your saddle because the feds raided your house and found all your yaoi, it always scares the upright types, but they didn’t find anything. The great and powerful Trixie would know, if they had good cause to arrest you, they would have done it already. There’s nothing to get you off of. You’re just being paranoid because the police are in your business for the first time in your life.”

“I don’t think you really understand the situation,” said Twilight, “they’re going to keep snooping around, and eventually they’re going to find something.”

“Oh yeah?” said Trixie, clearly amused, “and what are they going to find? Your copy of ‘How to be a Total Dork?’ I’m surprised you don’t keep it at the library. It would be a best-seller in this town. Now get out of here, the great and powerful Trixie has other clients to attend to.”

Twilight leaned in close.

“They’re going to find my meth lab. I’m Glitter. I’m the one they’re looking for. The police are investigating me and it’s only a matter of time before they find out I’m guilty. I was told you were the kind of lawyer who could, you know, help out a pony like me. You were highly recommended.” Trixie looked stupefied.

“I beg your pardon?” Twilight maintained her taciturn expression as she made direct eye contact.

“You heard me. So help me shed the heat, and there’s 50,000 bits in it for you.”

“…”

TEN MINUTES LATER

“How are you feeling today Rarity? Any better?” said Rainbow Dash.

“A little bit…” said Rarity, “I just don’t know what happened… At first I thought it was from my injuries with the glass, but the doctors say there was no infection. They stitched me up very professionally, sent me out, but later that night I felt so incredibly sick. It was like I had the flu, but the doctors say they couldn’t find any virus. They just don’t know what went wrong. I’m feeling better today, but I fear it may be a while before I can really start living my life again. I had Fluttershy call Sapphire Shores and tell him that I won’t make my next deliveries. I hope Sweetie Belle does alright… She’s living with Applejack for now, but she practically lives here. She can’t stop visiting me. She’s so worried. Thank you for coming by, Rainbow Dash. It means a lot.”

“I got you this.” Said Rainbow Dash, removing a book from a satchel, “It’s the first Daring Do book. I don’t know how much you’ll like it, but it’s what Twilight got for me when I was in the hospital, and it made my stay a lot easier on me. It might not be for you, but I hope you like it.” Rainbow Dash was nearly in tears as she placed the book on the side table and hugged Rarity tightly, trying not to cry.

Twilight barged into Rarity’s hospital room, pushing past everypony and grabbing Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight…” said Rarity weakly, “It’s so good to see you again. You were just here a few hours ago.”

“I can’t stay and chat Rarity, I need to talk to Rainbow Dash, it’s very urgent.” Twilight frantically pulled Rainbow Dash out of the room before anyone could protest and teleported the both of them into the library.

“Yo, what the hell Twilight! I was visiting Rarity! Couldn’t this wait?”

“No it cannot wait, Rainbow Dash. I told her everything! I told her I was Glitter! I asked her to help me hide the evidence for 50,000 bits!”

“And?”

“And she refused! She told me it was ‘obstruction of justice’ and ‘a moral outrage’! She said she was going to call the police! We’re fucked! I can’t believe you let me trust her!”

“Wait back up a second. Trixie said she was going to call the police? Slippin’ Trixie refused to take 50,000 dollars, that Trixie? For real?”

“Yes, ‘for real’. We’re going to go to jail! I’m so fucking stupid! What are we going to do!”

“Okay, let’s relax for a sec. I think I have a plan.”

LATER THAT NIGHT

Snips and Snails shoed Trixie’s last client out the door, before clocking out. Trixie stayed in a little longer, and drew a picture of herself as an alicorn. It was a keeper. She thought it was good enough to take home and maybe put up on the wall. She thumbed through the day’s acquisitions. She’d made a hell of a lot of money today. Her brother had always told her there was more money in law than in crime, and that may be true, but Trixie found that the only profession more profitable than a criminal lawyer, was a criminal lawyer. Still, it was a profession where one had to watch their back. Twilight Sparkle had come in earlier that very same day, probably wearing a wire, trying to get intel about the Glitter case. Whoever the hell Glitter was, Canterlot must want her pretty damn bad, considering the D-team was out on the town, trying to squeeze every shady character in Ponyville for tips. Not to mention turning twenty houses inside out looking for meth. They were desperate. Glitter wasn’t going to stay out of the task force’s eyes for long, that was for sure. Maybe the real Glitter would choose Trixie to defend her in court after she got arrested. That sounded like good money. Something to think about.

Trixie turned off the lights in her office, headed out the door, locked up, and started the trek home, and then somepony put a bag on her head, hogtied her legs together, and threw her into the back of a wagon. Trixie struggled uselessly against the restraints while screaming for about four seconds, before trying the much smarter plan of using her magic to break them, but her horn shined dimly as the sack over her head seemed to absorb the magic. It was made out of that anti-magic material. There was nothing she could do but try to reason with her captors as she felt the wagon take off underneath her.

“Hey, what’s this about? Guys? Listen, whatever this is I’m sure we can solve it with money. I have lots of money! Hello? Come on talk to me, just tell me what you want. I’m sure we can work it out.” Trixie tried for a while, but received no response. After laying on hardwood long enough to make her back hurt like a motherfucker, the carriage stopped and she was pulled by two ponies out onto the grass.

When they removed her bag, Trixie could see where they had taken her. Directly in front of an open grave. Trixie felt a gun pressed against the back of her head.

“OH NO! OH NO NO NO NO NO NO! NO IT WASN’T ME IT WAS NACHO HE’S THE ONE! IT WAS HIM! PLEASE DON’T KILL ME!” Trixie turned and pleaded to her two masked abductors, tears streaming down her face.

“What the hell are you talking about. Who’s Nacho?” Said the pegasus.

“Wh-“ said Trixie, stuttering in shock, “Odyssea didn’t send you?”

“No.” she said, and Trixie believed her, because she recognized the voice as that of Rainbow Dash.

“Oh, oh thank Celestia. Oh fuck. Oh fuck me. I thought…” Trixie took a few deep breaths of relief. “Well,” she continued, attempting to restore her confident demeanor, “in that case, what can I do for you fine ponies?”

“Earlier today, we gave you an offer. You should have taken it.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“We? You mean? Ah shit don’t tell me. Twilight actually was Glitter? Applejack didn’t put her up to that?” Twilight looked away.

“Ha! Wow, consider me genuinely surprised,” said Trixie, “sorry girls, I wasn’t exactly keen on taking a bribe from Princess Celestia’s pet bureaucrat. No offense but you never struck me as the criminal type. But hey, I’m more than willing to do anything now! I’m going to keep a happy thought and assume that this,” Trixie craned her neck to gesture towards the open grave with her head, “is just a negotiating tactic. You want to throw the feds? I’m your pony, alright? I’ll take your money, just tell me what you want.”

“The task force is snooping into my business.” Said Twilight, “They almost found my money when they raided my house, but I had the foresight to hide it at Fluttershy’s place before they arrived. They wrecked my library, and sooner or later they’re going to finish wrecking all the other houses on the suspect list and start going through my other stuff, and they’re going to find my meth lab. I need them to not find anything, I need them to stop their investigation. I need to be able to cook meth and pay my bills again without being tracked. It’s too dangerous to cook right now, and dealing is completely off limits, especially since there was an uh, an issue with our distributor.”

“Okay, okay. Listen. They know for sure that it’s one of the suspects. They’re going to keep looking until they find somepony. The way I see it, somepony’s got to go to prison. But…” Trixie said, “that doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to be you.”

“What are you suggesting?” said Twilight.

“First things first,” said Trixie, “could you please undo these ropes? I don’t mean to be rude, but these are hardly ideal working conditions for me.” Rainbow Dash looked at Twilight, then complied. Trixie stood up and stretched.

“Oh, that’s a lot better.” She said, “Anyway, before we continue, I’m going to need my retainer.”

“Your retainer?” said Twilight, “you had your chance at your retainer. Your payment is going home tonight with your head still attached to your body. No retainer.”

“Well hear me out.” Said Trixie, “Without payment, you don’t have attorney-client privilege. If you pay, you’re officially a client, and I’m legally obligated not to say anything to the police under threat of disbarment. Believe me, take my legal advice here, it’s in your best interest to pay up.”

“No way.” Said Twilight.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” said Rainbow Dash, pulling out her money, “Here. You can take my money. I still have plenty. Everybody wins. Now what’s the plan?”

“Congratulations and welcome to the family,” said Trixie, “I hope you don’t mind if I eschew the whole ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’ thing. That’s more of a stage name. My real name is Slippin’ Trixie. Used to be Slippin’ Slide, but my family disowned me. I don’t really have time to get into it. As for the plan,” she said, flipping through the cash, “the plan is we frame somepony. They go to prison. You don’t.”

“I don’t feel comfortable framing an innocent pony for a crime that we committed.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“Hey, I never said they had to be innocent! Just innocent of the particular crime we’re accusing them of. Who are the suspects? Besides you two of course.”

Twilight Sparkle removed a list from the wagon and read it out.

“Me, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Sweetie Belle, Photo Finish, Suri Polomare, Coco Pommel, Lyrica Lilac, Cherry Jubilee, Thistle Whistle, Cheerilee, and Derpy Hooves.”

“Well,” Trixie pondered it over, “Applejack is clearly off limits…”

“All of our friends are off limits!” Rainbow Dash snapped.

“Okay okay, I get it. No Fluttershy, no Pinkie Pie. Yada yada yada. But why are they so certain it’s one of these ponies? What’s the common thread? Why is Applejack on her own suspect list?”

“All of the mares on that list were present at the party where Sunset Shimmer died.” Said Twilight, “Sunset snapped at Rarity for inviting her meth cook to the party, and name dropped my pseudonym. Then she got high on my meth, threatened to burn down the building, and exploded a pony’s head with her magic when she tried to escape. Applejack knows it could only be one of the mares, because she called me ‘she’.”

“Wait back up a bit.” Said Trixie, “Somepony got their head blown up? Who?”

“Some friend of Rarity’s from Manehattan named Suri. Sometimes she went by Buttonbelle. She was a huge cunt, but she hung out with Rarity sometimes because they were both really into fashion.”

“An unlikable out-of-towner got merced at the party, and you had to come to me to figure out how to get out of this? Come on girls, do I need to spell it out for you? Frame the dead girl. This is 101 stuff. How long have you been in this business huh? How long has she been dead?”

“Four days now.”

“Nice. Nice and recent. I know what to do. Leave it all to me.”

THE NEXT DAY

Finger Flyer hadn’t been in Manehattan in a long time, but he knew the city well. He’d spent most of his life in Fillydelphia, but he had lived in Manehattan for several years. It’s where he’d met Trixie, back before either of them knew where they wanted their lives to go. Today he was back there on a job. A simple job. A frameup. About a week earlier a mare named Suri Polomare went on a little trip out of town to Ponyville, where she died. 5,000 bits wanted Finger to plant some meth in her apartment, then send in an anonymous tip. The job would have been better to do earlier in the morning, when fewer eyes would be open, but Manehattan is a long way away from Ponyville, and the task was too time sensitive to wait until the next morning.

Finger lingered around the entrance to the apartment lobby, then when somepony came inside, he quickly followed behind them, following them into the elevator, and heading up to the eighth floor.

The building was quite nice. Suri must have been a rich pony. Finger trotted casually down the hallway to her room. Room 825. But the door was already open. Finger leaned in to peer inside. Shit.

The place was crawling with police officers. The apartment was trashed. Little care was taken to preserve the integrity of the apartment, since its now ex-occupant was deceased, and also because the Manehattan police were generally pieces of shit, like all police departments in big cities. One of the officers noticed the peeping Finger.

“Can I help you sir?” said the officer.

“Neighbor from the same floor.” Said Finger, “what seems to be going on in here?”

“Your neighbor’s dead, and some task force crackpots in Ponyville thought she was a suspect in some case of theirs. We’re searching her apartment, but we ain’t found shit but a bunch of clothes, fabrics, and used condoms. Definitely weird, but nothing illegal. Her family’s not happy about the investigation, but fuck ‘em. They were yelling at me last night about the search, and about the fact that her body’s being kept in Ponyville for the autopsy this weekend. They wanted her home in Manehattan for the funeral. I hope it’s not an open casket funeral. Task forcies told me she had her head blew up. That’s gonna be a hard conversation to have with little Scooter and Squirt Polomare. ‘Mommy, where’s auntie Suri’s head? Is it in the same place Mr. Snuffles went to?’ Wouldn’t wanna be in that room.”

“An autopsy in Ponyville, huh?” said Finger, who was very good at thinking on his hooves, “You know I know a mortician in Ponyville. Is she at the Ponyville discount examiner by any chance?”

“Nah, the body’s being kept at a place called Post-Mortemia’s Luxury Corpse Solutions. She’ll be there for another two days until her autopsy.”

“Wow. Crazy world.” Said Finger, “well I better get going. I’ve got work. Nice talking to you officer.” When Finger was back in the elevator, he made a phone call. Yes, ponies have phones. They just don’t use them very often. Just like guns.

“It’s Finger. We’ve got a problem.”

THAT AFTERNOON

“WHAT ‽” said Twilight, aghast.

“Look,” said Trixie, sheepishly, “I know how it sounds. There’s a reason it was our plan B. But plan A just went belly-up and believe me, this is the best remaining option.”

“If it’s such a good option, why don’t YOU do it?” said Twilight.

“Why don’t I do it? Uh, because you pay me a consulting fee, not a breaking-and-entering fee. And I consult you to take my advice, because I don’t think there’s another way you’re getting out of this.”

“Can you believe this shit, Rainbow Dash. She honestly-… Rainbow Dash? Hello?” Rainbow Dash was unresponsive. Twilight shook her shoulders and she jolted in alarm.

“WOAH!” she said suddenly, “Sorry, I kind of zoned out. I was thinking about Rarity… I hope she’s alright…”

“You didn’t hear what she said?”

“No, what did she say?”

“She wants me to stick a bag of meth up Suri’s vagina.”

“You gotta plant it somewhere,” said Trixie, “and her body’s the only place they haven’t searched yet. Can’t be the mouth because, you know.” Trixie made a ‘mind blown’ gesture. “And in case you’re wondering it can’t be hole number 2 either. All that gets emptied out when somepony gives up the ghost. It’s disgusting.”

“Well, why can’t Rainbow Dash do it?” said Twilight, who was really reaching at this point.

“Rainbow Dash can’t teleport. She couldn’t break into a tissue paper factory. And besides, I need her help to distract the guards watching the security cameras.”

“How am I supposed to do that?”

“Well, if you were more of a looker, I’d ask you to seduce them. If you weren’t a pansy, I’d ask you to get into a fight with them. But given your skill set, I settled on a more idiot-proof task. When the new security guards are arriving to the building for the night shift, just run up to them and tell them that The Great and Powerful Trixie is putting on a free show a few blocks down. They won’t be able to resist the FOMOOTGAPT, the Fear of Missing Out on the Great and Powerful Trixie.”

“Faux Moot Gaped? What the hell is that?” said security guard number one.

“It’s the fear of missing out over, uh, Trixie the, um, godly… awesome… It basically like, it means you’ll be really scared, or something, if you don’t go and see Trixie’s magic show!” said Rainbow Dash.

“Uh, sorry,” said security guard number two, “we have a shift tonight. Can’t. We’re not really into magic anyway.” They began moseying on through the door.

“WAIT HOLD ON A SECOND.” Rainbow Dash blurted out. They stopped.

“What?”

Rainbow Dash began to sweat. Think, think think. What were the other plans again?

“I was just uh, I was just wondering,” Rainbow Dash tried to speak in a more confident, sultry voice, “what two beautiful and handsome boys were doing around here tonight, in um, in a place like this.” Rainbow Dash tried to flutter her eyes, but it just looked like she was blinking really fast.

“Are you talking about us?”

“Um, yes.”

“We’re going to work. We work here.”

“Oh wow that’s so cool. But work is so boooring! You two look so fun, I have a better idea…” Rainbow Dash got uncomfortably close to security guard number two, nuzzled against him, and tried to nibble his ear. But he freaked the fuck out when he felt her teeth and jerked away, and part of his ear ripped off.

“AAAAUAAUAIAOAAOIAAAAIAGGGGGHHHHRRRRR” he screamed.

“HOLY SHIT WHAT THE FUCK.” Said security guard number one. His name was Slam for the record, although Rainbow Dash didn’t know that. The one that was now missing a part of his ear was named Crack of Dawn.

“OH NO NO NO NO I’M SO SORRY!” said Rainbow Dash, the chunk of flesh falling out of her mouth as she opened it to apologize, “I didn’t mean to do that! I wasn’t on that plan! I was trying to seduce him!”

“Crack of Dawn are you alright?”

“I think I need to go to the hospital man! I’m bleeding like crazy! I’m freaking out you guys!”

“Oh shit I am so so sorry!” said Rainbow Dash, “I’ll take you to a hospital! Come with me!” The adrenaline gave Rainbow Dash the strength to carry Crack of Dawn all the way to the hospital, which luckily wasn’t that far. Slam followed behind, being a pegasus like Dash, and equaling her speed since he was unencumbered.

The wound turned out to not be that serious. They had arrived early, and it had no chance of being infected. After a little gauze, and a little time to let the shock wear off, Crack of Dawn felt fine. Although he was now permanently missing part of his ear, it wouldn’t affect his hearing. Rainbow Dash apologized profusely, exchanged insurance information, and even paid for Crack of Dawn’s hospital stay. After they had reassured her repeatedly that it was fine, she eventually left to visit Rarity, since she was in the same hospital. She was feeling much better, and with the doctor’s permission and on Rarity’s insistence, Rainbow Dash wheeled her home to the Carousel Boutique, where she spent the night. Rainbow Dash was exhausted. It had been a very long and stressful day. She went to sleep at nearly 4 am, crashing in Rarity’s guest room.

When Sweetie Belle shook her awake the next morning, the sun was shining brightly in the sky. It was lunch time. Rainbow Dash’s eyes were crusty, and the sun was so bright, and she had dried drool all over her mouth. She was not happy to wake up.

“Twilight wants to talk to you.” Said Sweetie Belle, “she’s outside.” Rainbow Dash got up slowly and groggily, and opened the door.

“Where the hell have you been?” said Twilight.

“Uhhhh…” said Rainbow Dash, still in a stupor, remembering all the things that had gone down the night prior.

“I’ve been looking all over for you. I was hoof-deep in necrogash saving our asses, and then when I go talk to Trixie after her show, she says you were a no-show! Where the hell were the guards? Did you distract them? Are we caught? Did they see me… plant the evidence? Trixie couldn’t find you, I couldn’t find you, and then I finally find you at Rarity’s house of all places, and Sweetie Belle says you’re asleep at 11:30 am! So what happened with the guards?”

“I bit one of their ears off.” Said Rainbow Dash.

“Woah,” Said Twilight, “and that worked?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Rainbow Dash defended herself, “I was trying to- Well actually nevermind. But they definitely didn’t see you. We spent the night at the hospital.”

“We? You came with them?”

“I paid for his stay. I felt bad for him.”

“Well,” said Twilight, looking optimistic all of a sudden, “if that’s the case, then you can look forward to paying for a lot more hospital stays!” She quickly realized exactly what she had said and tried to pivot, “I mean, you can look forward to continuing to have the disposable income necessary to pay for other ponies’ hospital stays, is what I mean. Because my part of the job went perfectly! That meth is in there. Our patsy goes in for her autopsy tonight, and when they find the bag, we’ll be home free.” Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. She was very tired of living in fear.

“Come Sunday we’ll be free to start cooking again!” said Twilight. Rainbow Dash’s smile faded.

“…What?” she said.

“I said we’ll be free to start cooking again.”

Rainbow Dash stammered for a few moments and then said, “N-no.”

“What?” said Twilight.

“I said no. I’m not cooking with you again. I’m done. I’m out. No more.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious. I’m out. I can’t keep doing this. We shouldn’t keep doing this.” Rainbow Dash started to raise her voice, “Rarity almost died. And it was because of our poison. I had to look at her, miserable and weak, laying in a hospital bed, and not tell her that I was the reason she was in there. I thought she was going to die, because of me. Now somepony else is hurt because of me too.” Rainbow Dash’s volume got lower, “Sunset Shimmer, Krazy-7 and Krazy-8, this business is dangerous. We’re in danger Twilight. And I can’t shake the feeling, that we’re putting our friends in danger too. So I’m done. I’m not cooking with you anymore.”

“Rainbow Dash…” Rainbow Dash closed the door on Twilight before she could continue. Then she walked to the kitchen, where Rarity was making a very slow and painful attempt to remove some pots and pans.

“Morning.”

“Good morning Rainbow Dash.”

“Do you want me to make some lunch?”

“That would be very much appreciated, thank you.” Said Rarity sheepishly, “Who were you talking to at the door?”

“Nopony.” Said Rainbow Dash.