//------------------------------// // Chapter 38 // Story: Raindrops' Wrap Up // by Arkensaw Pinkerton //------------------------------// Hang on. You really do want a drink of something. It's the same when you're working any other job on the Wrap Up- you almost never grab a bite to eat or something to drink, even though Sweet Apple Acres and Sugarcube Corner put up a big refreshment stand out by the fields. There's just not very much time to wolf down a snack or a quick glass of water, and Granny Smith ain't exactly champing at the bit to change the way it's done. Well, these foals have a lot of energy and you've got a plan. Time to hop to it! "Alright, line up, everypony!" Everypony does, although Diamond Tiara takes her sweet time over it. "This year, we're not going to bother with the fountain. I think the sun will unfreeze it eventually anyway, and if it doesn't I'll stop by in the evening and smash up the ice myself. Instead, we're going to go over to Granny Smith's refreshment stand and start ferrying out the food and drink to hungry and thirsty ponies. Now, we're going to divide up some of the work by tribe, so we do what we're best at. Earth ponies, step forwards!" Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, Twist and the filly with the big bow in her hair step forwards. "Okay, you four- what's your name there?" "Apple Bloom, Miss Raindrops." "Okay, you four are going to be carrying drinks out to everypony. Drinks can be pretty heavy, so I need you to be sturdy and strong today, you got that?" "Yeth, Mith Raindropth!" Twist shouts enthusiastically. Apple Bloom and Diamond Tiara seem to be glaring at each other, and it's distracting Silver Spoon. You roll your eyes and try again. "Twist here has the right idea- I want that loud and clear from all of you!" "Yes, Miss Raindrops!" the four of them shout. The other ponies are starting to get into it a little bit, shuffling silently as they wait to be called for. "Unicorns, step forward!" Snips, Snails, Dinky and a pretty little filly in a cape step forwards. She beams at you and jumps in as soon as you open your mouth. "So what's yo-" "My name's Sweetie Belle! And that's Scootaloo!" she squeaks, pointing to her orange pegasus friend who waves at you enthusiastically. "Thank you, Sweetie Belle. Now, balancing treats is a little easier when you've got some basic unicorn magic backing it up. I need you four to-" "Um, Miss Raindrops?" Sweetie Belle asks. She looks really worried. "I'm not very good at magic yet. Will you need us to have a lot of magic?" You lean in and wink at her. "You've got more magic than I've got, kid. You'll do fine, just use it as an opportunity to practice." You stand back up straight and clear your throat. "As I was saying, I need you four to take food out to the ponies who are working in the field or with the animals. Make sure they only take their fair share, and if they don't, report them to me. Is that clear?" "Yes, Miss Raindrops!" they shout, and step back. Scootaloo and Featherweight burst forwards before they're called, both looking a little sheepish about it. "Alright, pegasus ponies! A lot of our workers in the wrap up are the pegasi in the sky. Since you two can both fly, I need-" Suddenly, you hear a squeal from Diamond Tiara. She's covered in snow- Apple Bloom, looking sheepish, has already packed up another snowball, and looking guiltily at you throws it directly at Silver Spoon. Suddenly, there are snowballs flying everywhere, and you're about to wade in and give the youngest Apple a lesson in manners when you realise Sweetie Belle's tugging at your foreleg. "Miss Raindrops," she whispers, and you have to bend down to hear the rest. "Scootaloo can't fly but she doesn't want Diamond Tiara to know. Apple Bloom couldn't work out another way to make you stop talking about it. Can you come up with something else for Scootaloo to do? Please?" Sweet Celestia, she's got a sad little face. Please put requests for Raindrops' actions in the comments below! There's a few ways you could have gotten here. To go back a step, Click here for Chapter 16. Or Click here for Chapter 24. Or Click here for Chapter 30. Or Click here for Chapter 34.