//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15 
// Story: Raindrops' Wrap Up 
// by Arkensaw Pinkerton 
//------------------------------//

The other two look way too sweet for your liking- the grey one in the middle seems much more your style. You pick it up and bite into it, and hear Pinkie let out a faintly disappointed sigh.

It's really good! It's extremely bitter, dark chocolate, with a chilli and nutmeg taste in the icing. It's almost savoury, and you smile at Pinkie as you finish it off. She doesn't seem that pleased, though. 

"Aw, I was hoping you wouldn't pick that one. That means you're not going to have the sort of day where you want me around, believe me. We'll wait here for a minute and then I'll tell Rainbow I need you ice-breaking up on Yew Tree Tarn. It's not very big so you'll be on your own."

You wipe the crumbs away from your mouth as you frown. You don't know Pinkie all that well, but it's still weird to see her without a smile on her face. 

"Pinkie," you ask quietly, "what sort of day was supposed to happen when I ate this cupcake?"

"The book said that it gave you the sort of day where you find out who everypony is. Especially yourself. But it's not supposed to be very pleasant."

"Why wouldn't I want you around for a day like that?" you ask, genuinely confused, and her expression's so forlorn you don't have the heart to push it any further. You sit in faintly uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before Pinkie abruptly gets up and leaves the bushes. You follow her out to see a furious Rainbow Dash sending off the last of the weather teams- she does not look happy to see you.

"Raindrops! Look who decided to join the party! I've got the Junior Weather Patrol all ready for you-"

"No can do, Dashie!" Pinkie says, and you almost double-take. She's practically bouncing again. There's not a hint of the worryingly quiet mare you were with a moment ago. "I need Raindrops to fill out my ice-breaking team! We're a pony short on account of Lyra not showing up today."

You're about to ask her when she had time to find that out but a glance at the boss tells you that probably wouldn't be the best idea.

"Ugh. Fine. Just get her out of my sight, okay?" Rainbow mutters at Pinkie before turning away. You've lost some points with the boss for sure here. Pinkie herself walks you away from the main square and pulls out a map, showing you Yew Tree Tarn. She points out a couple of landmarks to you and sets you on your way with a sad little smile. That smile sticks to you for so long you're there before you realise why the journey was so tiring. It's this stupid book! You still haven't dealt with it!

You undo your saddlebags, letting them thud to the ground, and take a look around Yew Tree Tarn. It's not that big, and you reckon it should only take you an hour or two to score the ice properly. You'll have a bit of free time then, since you know this lake's so far out it won't need melting until pretty late on. The lake's a ring, with a tiny island in the middle with the tarn's signature yew tree growing on it. There's something red stuck in the branches, you realise. 

You sit down in the snow with a sigh. It has not been a good morning. What now?

To investigate the mysterious red object, Click here for chapter 32.
To chuck the book in the lake, Click here for chapter 33.
Your day's already been ruined- why should anypony else have a good time? To sabotage Winter Wrap Up, Click here for chapter 35.

Requests closed for this chapter!

To go back a step, Click here for Chapter 7.