//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: A Desert Tale // by Seanessy //------------------------------// “And Applejack was so determined not to tell us, that she hopped on a stagecoach and we had to chase her half way across town!” Twilight exclaimed to Spike as she looked through her books. “Ha! No way! That’s hilarious!” “Actually, the funniest part was when Pinkie was done talking to her. She screamed for Rarity to catch her and jumped right off the station wagon.” “Wow! Did Rarity catch her?” The purple unicorn giggled. “Yes and no, we were going so fast that when Pinkie came down, the force knocked both of them off the cart we were on. I told Rainbow to go back, but she wanted to catch up with Applejack first.” “Hahaha! I bet Rarity had a few words for her when you guys finally went back for them, huh?” Twilight’s face froze in horror and Spike sighed happily. “Oh Rarity, even when you are angry you are truly an elegant beauty. Spike stirred as he allowed himself a moment to fantasize about the beautiful white mare that grazed his dreams so often. “So, what’d she say to Rainbow?” The purple unicorn remained unmoving which raised the purple dragon’s concern. “Twilight? Hello? Anypony in there?” “Dear. Sweet. Celestia.” ******************* “I can’t believe you left them in the middle of nowhere!” Spike shouted, clutching on for dear life as Twilight ran with all the strength her four legs could muster. “I know, I know, I know! Ugh! How could we forget Rarity and Pinkie Pie?!” As the unicorn made it into town, she was fortunate enough to find Applejack there with her applecart and Fluttershy with her. She approached the two ponies, who shot her concerned looks. “Ya’ll alright sugarcube?” “Pinkie… train… Rarity… nowhere…” the unicorn said in between short gasps. “Uhm…pardon?” “When you guys came back from Canterlot, you never brought Rarity and Pinkie Pie back with you!” Spike bellowed. Applejack raised an eyebrow and laughed at the baby dragon. “Horseswabbles! Right after, Ah confessed about not winnin’ any blue ribbons, we all-” Applejack’s face froze the same as Twilight’s when she remembered. “Oh, my!” Fluttershy squeaked as she too recalled. Rainbow Dash, seeing her friends, flew down from a nearby cloud. “Hey guys! What’s going on here?” Fluttershy grabbed Rainbow Dash by the shoulders. “We forgot Pinkie Pie and Rarity after we came back from Canterlot!” “What? No we didn’t we got Applejack, had our sappy moment and then headed back to town and got on the trai-” Rainbow blinked as she now was on the same page as her other friends, “Oooooh…right.” “We have to get on the next train to Canterlot!” the purple unicorn exclaimed. “But Twilight, what if they never found their way back to town?” Fluttershy said. “Ya’ll think they might be just stranded in the middle o’ nowhere?" “Oh, man. Rarity is probably heated! I wouldn’t be surprised if she made me into one of her dresses. And Pinkie, that pony’s so random who knows what she’ll do to me? She’ll probably turn me into cupcakes or something!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Rainbow, now is not the time to be worrying about yourself! We need a way to get to Canterlot while still being able to look for our friends!” Twilight said. “What about the hot air balloon?” Spike inquired. “O' course! Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, ya'll can fly us 'round while we all keep our eyes out fer 'em!" "Let’s go!” Twilight exclaimed, before jetting off. “Ohhhh, I hope we’re not too late…” the shy yellow pony said, worriedly as she and the others followed.