The Taste of Shenanigans

CHAPTER 1: Where-ity?

It was a lovely day in Ponyville, with the sun and the birds and all that. Applejack was in the apple orchards, collecting apples or whatever. As she bucked one of the trees, it made a loud ‘CRACK’ sound, and swayed wildly. Then it fell on Applejack and fractured her skull.
“Ow!” said Applejack, and wriggled her way from underneath the tree. As she rubbed her sore head, she noticed a rip in her hat.
“Oh, applefeathers.” she muttered, and then squinted as she tried to think of a solution. “Right. Off to Rarity’s. These apples can wait.”
Applejack galloped away from the orchard, and towards the Carousel Boutique. When she arrived, she pushed the door open and walked in.
“Rarity?”
There was no answer. Applejack sighed, and searched the rest of the building. Rarity was nowhere to be seen, so she went to visit Twilight Sparkle, AKA Ponyville Help Desk.
“Hey, Twi?”
“Hi, Applejack. Are you alright?” said Twilight.
“Yeah, I’m good. Listen, you seen Rarity? I’ve been lookin’ all over for her. Can’t seem to find her anywhere.”
“Hmm… did you look in the boutique?”
“Yes, Twilight, I’m not an idiot.”
“…are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Well, if you like, I’ll come and look for her with you. I need to ask her for advice on mane-styling or something.”
And so off they went to search for Rarity.
After a short montage (think ‘The Last Roundup’), the ponies gave up. Rainbow Dash had no idea where Rarity was. Neither did Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy. The five ponies had effectively covered the whole of Ponyville in their search. They had no luck, so they went to rest at the local watering hole.
“This watering hole sucks.” said Rainbow Dash. “Let’s go to the pub!”
So they went to the pub.
As the afternoon became evening, the ponies were still in the pub. Berry Punch approached Twilight Sparkle.
”Sup?”
“We can’t find our friend.” said Twilight, pouting. “We’ve looked all over for her…”
“Did you look in her house?” asked Berry Punch. “Some ponies live in their houses.”
“Of course we did. That’s the FIRST place we- I -looked” replied an irritated Applejack.
“Have you checked since then?”
“Oh, we forgot. Lol.” said Twilight Sparkle. “We should go and look there again.”
“Then what are we waiting for?!” Rainbow Dash said, and leapt out the door, flying towards the boutique. The others followed, albeit slowly. When they arrived, Rainbow Dash was stood smugly at the entrance, holding a piece of paper in her mouth.
“What’cha got there, Dash?” asked Applejack.
“Only… A CLUE!” she replied, passing the note to her.
“OH! OH!” shouted Pinkie Pie, putting on her investigation hat and pipe. “Investigation time!”
“Hang on, Pinkie… let’s see what this says first.” said Twilight.
Applejack read it aloud. “It says… ‘Rarity has NOT been kidnapped by a mad scientist. She is NOT being held captive in his laboratory. Do NOT investigate.’”
“Aww…” Pinkie Pie removed her hat and pipe, disheartened.
A look of deep concentration crossed Twilight Sparkle’s face.
“Hmm… it seems this search is just beginning…” she said.
“No.” said Rainbow Dash. “That’s stupid. It began ages ago.”
“…yeah, OK, but it appears we have a long search ahead of us.” said Twilight. “Any ideas as to where this lab might be?”
“I know a guy who might know.” said Pinkie. “Follow me, I’ll introduce you.”
“Oh OK.” said Twilight.
Pinkie Pie began to skip away. The others followed. Eventually they reached the bowling alley, where Pinkie led them to a stallion wearing goggles. He was a pale grey colour, with an extremely messy white mane.
“Everypony, this is Dr Madbrain. Dr Madbrain, these are my friends Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle.”
“Oh, zis is a nice surprise! Vat brings you here, zen?” he said.
“We want to know if you know where there might be a secret lab!” said Pinkie.
“Hmm… no. I’m afraid zat I know of no such place.”
“Are you sure?”
“NO! I MEAN YES! I’M SURE!”
“Oh well! Thanks anyway!”
Once they had left the bowling alley, Twilight asked Pinkie “How do you two know each other, anyway?”
“He was my rival in bowling tournaments.” she replied. “We faced each other in the final. He beat me by an incy wincy bit. An incy wincy bit…”
At that moment, Dr Madbrain barged past them, laughing crazily.
“FOOLS! IT VAS ME! I KIDNAPPED YOUR FRIEND, AND SHE IS IN MY LABORATORY!” he shouted.
“HEY!” screamed Pinkie. “WHEN CAN WE HAVE A REMATCH?!”
He just laughed as he disappeared into some trees.
“Why did he just admit that?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“Not important.” replied Twilight Sparkle. “What matters is that we catch him!”
“One problem…” said Applejack. “We don’t know where he went. He’s way too far away now.”
Pinkie Pie shook her head. “He’s gone to his lab. I know where it is, don’t worry.”
“Wait… what?!” exclaimed Twilight. “Why didn’t you tell us before?!”
“I didn’t know he was EVIL, silly! I thought he was a GOOD mad scientist.” said Pinkie.
“You didn’t even mention he was a scientist…” muttered Rainbow Dash.
“I said DOCTOR, didn’t I?”
“Well yeah, but still…”
So off they galloped again, this time in pursuit of Dr Madbrain.
After a short trek through a patch of forest, the ponies came across a large opening to a cave. Not just any old cave, however. It had neat walls and floors, and passages leading down long corridors.
“Now, Pinkie…” said Twilight Sparkle. “Do you know your way around this lab?”
“Nope.” she replied. “Never been inside. But this is definitely the right place.”
“If you say so…”
As they prepared to enter the lab, Fluttershy let out a small squeal. Rainbow Dash sighed.
“What’s the matter, Fluttershy?”
“Well-”
“Let me guess. You’re scared.”
“Well, it’s just…I’m not sure if… uh… yes.” said Fluttershy.
Rainbow Dash looked at the others, as if to say ‘What should we do with her?’
Twilight, looking exasperated, just walked up to Fluttershy and said “Look. If you really don’t want to go in, then stay here. Whatever. But you can’t have milkshakes with us afterwards.”
Fluttershy hesitated, and then said “I’ll just stay here, if that’s OK…”
“Meh.” said Twilight.
All of a sudden a bat flew into Applejack’s eye, picked it out with its claws, and made off with it.
“Agh!” she cried, and lifted her hoof up to where her left eye was. “That hurts.”
Pinkie Pie then reached behind a rock, and pulled out an eye patch. “Here!”
Applejack chuckled, and took the eye patch, putting it on. “You so silly.”
The ponies then entered the laboratory, slowly walking and gazing around.
“Uh, Fluttershy’s still here.” said Rainbow Dash. They turned around, and sure enough, there was Fluttershy, hanging at the back of the group.
Twilight approached her, shaking her head. “…well?”
Fluttershy looked at the ground.
“Scared of something?” Twilight asked.
“Bats.” she replied.
“I don’t believe you.”
“…the dark. And I’d be on my own.”
Twilight looked suspiciously at her. “You want the milkshake, don’t you?”
“Yes.” she admitted. “I thought I could go without it, but I can’t.”
Twilight shook her head again, and they carried on into the lab.

END OF CHAPTER 1