Three Mares in a Boat

I awoke the next day at the crack of dawn in preparation of the day ahead. After a busy nights packing, I had decided to forgo bringing the encyclopaedias, with a large deal of convincing from Spike. Unbeknownst to him, I'm still bringing the pocket version. They will all be so glad I brought it when we're pondering why the river flows the way it does! I woke Spike with a nudge, only for him to grumble and return to his rest. I left him to it and decided to meet Rarity and Applejack out front, and to discuss our plans before leaving.

“Mornin' sugarcube! How y'all doing?” Applejack greeted me, trotting in with barely a full bag on her side.

Rarity however, was another story. With her she had bought a heavily laden saddlebag, that at first glance didn't seem too bad. Full, but nothing too extreme to be concerned with.

It was when her two neighbours came in, dragging several suitcases fit to bursting, I realised we had a problem. My best explanations seemed unwelcome.

“But why, I must bring my entire marine wardrobe! What if the water ways change colour as we travel, I can't be seen clashing colours! Why, I'd rather go naked than wear mismatched colours!”

“Err, Rarity We're always-” Applejack began, before being quickly interrupted.

“YES! YES, I KNOW!” Rarity said sharply, sinking her head down and sighing. “Fine, I'll just bring the one bag. But If it rains and my hat is the wrong colour, I'll be inconsolable!”

Rarity levitated a bag from one of her neighbours and quickly dismissed them, the pair looking positively star struck, but with a hint of lingering annoyance in their gaze. I stifled a chuckle and prepared some tea before we sat down to discuss the details of the trip.

“Well girls, I'm glad we've sorted out the luggage issue, given the boat isn't the largest. Now, onto the sleeping arrangements!” I said, before going into a large discussion that doesn't really warrant full detailing.

Suffice to say, we talked in length about how we would sleep. Applejack suggesting camping on the riverbanks over night, but Rarity was quick to interject. She mention how it would be entirely unwholesome, on the basis that camping is fine in dry weather, but when it rained it would become unsavoury. Applejack argued for the case of camping, citing how wholesome it would be to rest under the stars on firm ground, good for our health and spirit.

While Applejack had a good point, I had to agree with Rarity.

On the few occasions I had camped out with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, it had been entirely pleasant at first. A warm camp-fire, gentle talk and rousing discussions about Ponyville, it warmed your heart and stimulated the mind. We then retired into our shared tent and had a pleasant nights sleep, listening to the birds quietly singing lullabies to themselves as the dusk drew in and the stars came out in full force, little glimmers of hope and  wonder as the universe kept on growing. By the morning you'd awake to a beautiful warm sun rising and the gentle smell of dew upon the grass, readying you for the day like no coffee was able to do.

But then by the next night it rained dreadfully. We had to erect the tents in the pouring rain, causing a large argument over who was at fault for the thing falling down as our hooves grew cold and lost all feeling, the strings slipping out of our grasp. I had tried to use my magic to hold it in place, but it didn't help when the wind blew so mercilessly.

Then Rainbow Dash had the great idea to try and erect it by pulling on the centre rigging and flying straight up. Suffice to say the tent was quickly lodged within a tree, and refused to come free, despite our best efforts. All the while Pinkie was happily splashing in puddles while her tent lay in a heap on the ground, rain water encroaching into all nooks and crannies of the tent, making it entirely unwelcoming.

After a good struggle we finally got one tent up, so we all slogged in and agreed to share, our hooves and coats dripping wet and caked in mud. We slept restlessly, tossing and turning as best we could given the cramped space in the tent. As the night progressed, the tent slowly grew damper than the world outside and the rain pattered on the fabric, slowly seeping in as we accidentally nudged the sides.

Then, once we had finally managed to get off to sleep, Pinkie decided she needed to relive herself and darted out of the tent, leaving the flap open, allowing the wind and the rain to come driving in, as though they themselves were seeking refuge from the weather. By the next morning, we all awoke grumpy and sodden, our manes dripping wet, and a general malaise about us. We packed the tent up, wringing a good deal of water out of it, and headed home; somehow the return to our usual lives seemed all the more appealing.

“Rarity makes a good point, I think camping isn't the best idea” I chimed in, “no, I think we shall sleep in the boat itself for most nights. It has a wonderful design that allows you to erect a canvas tent over the top and keeps you far drier than a conventional tent would do. Not to mention the gentle ebbing of the river would easily sooth us into a rest filled night, and waking up refreshed and eager to continue on our way.”

Rarity looked at me and nodded happily. Applejack simply accepted the fact with reluctance.

“Fine. I'm still bringing a tent though, just in case!”

“Fine by me Applejack! Better to be prepared!” I replied, pouring myself another cup of tea. I resolved to bring another box of tea leaves with me, I simply couldn't do without on a boating trip. Tea would sooth our minds greatly for each morning and evening alike, a warming respite from a days hard rowing along the river.

It was then I realised I hadn't been entirely truthful in explaining how we were traversing the river. I glanced at Rarity, as she powdered her nose with make up, and examined her hooves again.

I pondered how to subtly drop the hint that we would be rowing the boat manually, as I levitated the 'Technical guide to rowing' off  my desk, hoping Rarity hadn't noticed. I'm sure she'll be fine with it once we're under way...