A Blue Joke

A Blue Joke

Chapter 1: Probably Nothing

It was a bright and sunny day in Ponyville, and Blue Lighting had just emerged from his modest home. The wicked enchantress had been in town today, and he heard rumors that six mares had gone into the Everfree after her. The blue colt pondered who'd be brave enough to do that. That Zecora is a strange character, and he had the sense to lock his door whenever she came around. Now where was that Rainbow Dash? She owed him 5 bits for his work earlier that day. She was paying him a bonus if he took her early sun duty today. Always looking to impress his boss and coworker, Blue agreed, and, in his opinion, did a great job. Just then, he noticed a small group emerging from the Everfree forest a ways off. He could only see colors from his doorstep, but there were too many colors per-capita for Rainbow not to be amongst them. Just then, Dash broke from the group and began flying in his direction.

“Hey Dash!” Blue called as she got in range, “What's that about, and... about this morning...”

“Oh, Blue! Nothing, a silly filly wandered after Zecora, and my friends and I went in and got her. I did offer the bits if you did a good job, alright, and you did, congrats!”

Rainbow had landed near blue and trotted up to him, producing a small pouch from under her wing. She opened it and five small gold coins were quickly produced and given to Blue. As he took the cash, he noted her coat was lightly dusted in a bluish dust, and it was thickest at the wings. The bits he'd taken had also taken some of it.

“Dash, what's with this blue stuff you got on your wings? It kinda smells funny.” Lighting asked as his coworker put away her coin purse. A puzzled look quickly spread across her face as she noticed the powdery substance. She flapped her wings powerfully a few times, launching a sizable cloud into the air. Both equines were coughing on the dust. Dash laughed a bit afterward.

“Sorry Blue... Musta been those dumb flowers we had to walk through in the forest, probably won't do anything, but I'm gonna wash. I sure got a lot on my wings, and I don't want it caking my feathers.” Dash sounded a bit concerned at the end of her statement.

“Yeah, that wouldn't be fun later. See ya around, Rainbow!” With that, Lighting began to head for the market, as he'd intended to do all day. What was that stuff? Probably nothing, better not worry about it. Now if only he'd remembered to pack his shopping list.....