Author's Note

This is a part of the Jest Days of Christmas, where I update something every single day of December. Go check out the link for the full list and check back everyday for a new update!

Rainbow Dash and The Hunters

Rainbow Dash twisted this way and that, banking against the furious winds, and pouring rain. The sky above her was pitch black and completely covered in dark storm clouds that swirled constantly. Although it was technically only early evening, it looked like it was nearly midnight, with only the occasional lightning bolt illuminating the washed-out streets of Ponyville.

The pegasus leveled out just as she was about to hit the mud, gliding to a stop at the entrance of Sugarcube corner. Her muscles were tired, her injured wing ached, yet she was grinning from ear to ear as she strode her way inside.

There she saw that the usually crowded bakery was nearly empty. There were only a few old-timers having coffee and chatting in the corner, as well as a couple of rain coat-wearing kids present. Or at least that's what Rainbow Dash thought at first, for she quickly noticed that there were several newcomers there as well.

Hidden away off to one side in one of the few booths the bakery had, were nearly a half dozen hooded figures. Only one did not wear something that obscured their features, though even if she did Rainbow Dash would recognize her. Furious Flare wore a scowl, and her armor, her signature blade resting against the seat, its handle in easy reach.

“Hey Rainbow Dash, did you need something, heeeey can you hear me?” Pinkie Pie called.

Rainbow Dash blinked and turned back around. “Oh uh, just a coffee please.”

“Two creams, eight sugars, right?” Pinkie Pie replied.

“You know it, Pinks. Put it my tab, and toss me one of those bear claws while you’re at it,” Rainbow Dash added.

“You know you still haven't paid up from last time,” Pinkie Pie pointed out.

“Ahh you know I’m good for it. Besides, it's hard to carry bits when you’re flying around,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

“Okay, but you gotta pay this Friday, or else Mrs. Cake says I have to cut you off,” Pinkie Pie replied.

“Yeah yeah, I’ll get you the money,” Rainbow Dash dismissed, the mare leaning against the counter.

“I’m going to ignore all of those red flags and get your order now!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.

The pony retrieved her friend’s snack, hoofed it over, and then began brewing the coffee.

“Say,” Pinkie Pie whispered in a low tone. “You look like you know the new pony. What’s their deal?”

“I’m surprised you don't know a disturbing amount about her already,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

Pinkie Pie shivered. “No way. She's got some bad vibes coming off her. My Pinkie sense told me to steer clear.”

“Huh,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “And to answer your question, she's some psycho killer the princesses sent to execute Ghuzrod.”

“The ork?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yeah! The one that saved my life!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“Ooooh. Twilight mentioned something about that when she came by to get her morning cup full of espresso with whipped cream and chocolate shavings on top,” Pinkie Pie murmured absently.

“That sounds awful,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Oh it's pretty nasty, but at least she's not drinking a cup full of boiled five-hour energy drinks anymore,” Pinkie Pie offered.

Rainbow Dash stuck her tongue out in disgust. “That's… yech.”

Pinkie Pie pushed a cup of coffee across the counter. “There ya are. Nice and sweet, just the way you like it.”

“Thanks Pinks. See ya round,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

“See ya later dude. Make sure you be careful with that coffee, it's hot,” Pinkie Pie warned.

“Yeah, yeah. You tell me that every time,” Rainbow Dash dismissed.

The mare strode away, her beverage in one hoof, and her snack balanced on a wing tip. As she walked, she took a bite of her bear claw followed by a sip of her drink.

“Ooh that is hot,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

Rainbow Dash grabbed a chair and dragged it over to Furious Flare’s table, plunking down at the end.

“So,” Rainbow Dash began. “What is the League of Evil Jerks up to today? Kick any puppies recently?”

“Augh not you again,” Furious Flare muttered bitterly.

“Ma’am?” asked one of the hooded figures.

“This is Rainbow Dash. Element of loyalty, and current pain in my flank,” Furious Flare explained.

“I think murder is bad. Screw me, eh?” Rainbow Dash mocked.

“Yes. I want to kill a world-ending monster destined to genocide not only Ponykind but every thinking race in Equestria. If you have a problem with that you should get your head checked,” Furious Flare retorted.

“Woah, I’m not here to argue,” Rainbow Dash replied.

Furious Flare blinked. “I’m sorry, what?”

Rainbow Dash took a bite, chewed slowly, and followed it up with a short sip of her coffee.

“Nope,” Rainbow Dash declared.

“Then why are you here?” Furious Flare demanded.

“Just wanted to know how you were liking the weather,” Rainbow Dash offered before going back to her snack.

“The weather is rather foul. We weren't expecting such a storm and it's waylaid our party,” Furious Flare muttered.

“For probably two days,” Rainbow Dash added.

“Two days? How did you…” Furious Flare’s confused expression melted away, replaced by an angry glare. “What did you do?”

“Oh nothing illegal,” Rainbow Dash stated, kicking back in her chair and sipping her coffee. “I just convinced the boss lady that since we were due for a summer storm we could get that out of the way now.”

“You purposefully protected that thing?” Furious Flare shouted.

“Chill,” Rainbow Dash retorted, jabbing the last bit of her bear claw at the other mare. “I was just doing my job as head weather mare for Ponyville.”

Rainbow Dash then tossed back the last of her snack and chewed noisily while grinning.

“I… you…” Furious Flare stuttered, a vein in her neck bulging. “You may very well have doomed this world with your little stunt!”

“Nah I’m pretty sure the storm ain't that big,” Rainbow Dash teased.

The pegasus laughed and took another swig of her coffee.

“You have gotten in my way for the last time, Rainbow Dash!” Furious Flare shouted, pounding her hooves into the table. “Element of harmony or not you cannot be allowed to stand in the way of mission!”

Furious Flare all but leaped from her seat, her magic grabbing her sword while a hoof reached for Rainbow Dash’s neck.

“What are you-woah!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

An errant hoof clipped one of the two chair legs actually on the ground, knocking Rainbow Dash off balance. Already reclined nearly to the point of toppling over, Rainbow Dash fell backward, and instinctively pinwheeled her hooves in an effort to stabilize herself. This had the effect of launching her cup of coffee at the wall, unfortunately, Furious Flare’s face intercepted the throw.

“Ahhh it's so hot!” Furious Flare screamed.

While their boss lay on the floor clutching her face in agony, the rest of the hunter’s party was busy charging out of their seats. Every bit as angry as Furious Flare, they grabbed at weapons or ran at the element of loyalty with bare hooves raised.

“Get her!” Furious Flare yelled.

“Yeah nah I’m outta here. Y'all are crazy,” Rainbow Dash retorted.

The pegasus turned and flew toward the exit, but paused at the threshold.

“What did I tell you about the hot coffee?” Pinkie Pie shouted.

“Sorry Pinks, you were right!” Rainbow Dash yelled back.

The speedster then threw open the door and launched into the open air. Behind her, the royal hunters all tried to pile through the exit at the same time and ended up stuck. The comical traffic jam would have prompted a laugh from Rainbow Dash but she was already gone.

“I’ll show those jerks,” Rainbow Dash thought aloud as she made her way to the library. “I’ll get the girls together and in two days we’ll beat those murder hobos to the punch.”

Rainbow Dash banked around a cloud and leveled out, the living tree house coming into view.

“Wait,” She muttered. “Why am I talking to myself?”

Rainbow Dash frowned. “I’ve been hanging out with Twilight too much.”