Chapter Four
“Hey! Drub, you see this thing?” The Charr warrior, Dahgar asks his companion.
Coming up to his hunting partner, Drub looks at the area Dahgar is pointing at. “Yeah, what is it? Looks kinda like magic."
“That’s what I was thinking! I dare you to walk through it.”
Taken slightly aback at his partner's comment, Drub responds, not sure if Dahgar is being serious or not. “Are you insane? You know our Legionnaire forbids interaction with anything magic in nature!”
"What he doesn't know can't hurt him, besides" Dahgar lets out a snide chuckle. “I think your scared.”
“I am not! And to prove it to you!” Drub says as he charges towards the distorted area in front of them. Suddenly, he disappears. Dahgar just stands there, dumbfounded at what just happened. He slowly creeps away from the distorted area, deciding it best to talk to someone more magically inclined than him about it.
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Magnificent, is the only word to describe it. Flying through the air at such speeds. Everything around her a complete blur. Her mane completely windblown backwards, flapping against her skin. The signature rainbow trail that follows behind her whenever she flies faster than fifty miles per hour. Rainbow Dash is in a state of complete bliss, as she always is whenever she is racing, well, and winning. As Rainbow Dash looks to her side, she notices Spitfire has caught up, and is
flying almost next to her.
Meanwhile, an announcer pony is giving a play by play of the race. “Spitfire has caught up to Rainbow Dash! On the last lap of the Cloudsdale Whirlwind Derby. It looked like Rainbow Dash was going to win the race from the beginning, but now it could be either ponies game! It’s Rainbow Dash in the lead, now its Spitfire! Rainbow Dash gets ahead by a nose! Spitfire inches in front of Rainbow Dash! Wait.. What just happened?" The Announcer pony asks, more to himself than anyone else. Indeed, where Rainbow Dash and Spitfire were neck and neck, suddenly Spitfire just disappeared, only to reappear shortly after, a ways behind Rainbow Dash. "Rainbow Dash is the Winner!" The Announcer pony, having looked back at Rainbow Dash, ssees that she has passed the finish line.
It felt amazing. She was still feeling the adrenaline pumping through her veins as Rainbow Dash landed down on the first place pedestal, to in the moment to realize what happened. Spitfire took third place, and in second place was fleetfeet, another Wonderbolt. After the awards ceremony, a newspony, who had been reporting on the race comes up to Rainbow Dash to ask her a few questions.
“So, Rainbow Dash, how does it feel to be the winner of the Cloudsdale Whirlwind Derby, this fine evening?” The newspony asks.
“Wait... It’s Evening already? That means I am going to be late for Applebloom’s party! I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat!” Rainbow Dash responds, as she dashes off, accelerating to full speed within a matter of seconds, racing towards Ponyville.
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Applebloom is sitting at the front of the table in Sugarcube Corner, with Applejack on her right and Scootaloo on her left. Next to Scootaloo sits Sweetie Bell, who is sitting next to Rarity. Next to Applejack is Big Mac, and then Granny Smith. Fluttershy is in the kitchen with Pinkie Pie.
“What’s taking the cake so long, I’m hungry!” Complains Scootaloo.
Just then Pinkie Pie slowly walks out of the kitchen, balancing a cake on her back and everyone sings Happy Birthday to Applebloom.
“Aaawww, shucks. Thank you guys, but I don’t need such a fancy cake.” Applebloom says, looking down at her red velvet cake. Of course its her favorite, and she is glad that they had made it for her, she’s just being nice.
“Are you kidding? Its your BIRTHDAY! And everypony needs to get their favorite cake on their birthday, DUH!” Pinkie Pie exclaims. “Now, blow out the candles and make a wish!”
“Okay.” Applebloom then inhales a large amount of air, and blows out all eight candles, with a single exhale, on her birthday cake.
“What’cha wish fer, sis?” Asks Applejack.
“I can’t tell you, silly. Then it won’t come true!” Applebloom responds, looking up at Applejack smugly. “Thank you all for this wonderful party. I really ‘preciate it.”
“The party isn’t over yet! You still have to open your PRESENTS!!!” Pinkie Pie says, bouncing around excitedly, practically shouting the last word. “Too bad Rainbow Dash isn’t here though... Or Zecora.” However, as Pinkie Pie says that, the door to Sugarcube Corner bursts open, and standing there is a blue pegasus, her rainbow mane glistening in the sunlight. Rainbow Dash has her black sunglasses on, balancing a present on her back and doing her best to look cool.
“Miss me?” Rainbow Dash asks, with a cocky grin on her face. “I’m sorry that I’m late. I had entered the Cloudsdale Whirlwind Derby before I even knew about the party. I thought I could finish the race before the party started but I was wrong.”
Scootaloo perks up. “Wow! You were in the Whirlwind Derby! That’s like... The fastest race EVER isn’t it!? You are SO cool Rainbow Dash! What place did you come in? You came in first didn’t you?” Scootaloo asks, trotting up to her idol.
“Well yeah, of course I did squirt! I’m Rainbow Dash, I don’t know HOW to come in anything other than first.” Of course Raibow Dash is bragging, but so what? She knows that Scootaloo looks up to her, and so she wants to give Scootaloo very good reasons to. If that involves bragging, well, when did bragging ever really hurt someone, right?
“Oh... you are SO cool...” Scootaloo swoons, not even realizing she has already said it once. Applejack walks up behind the pegasus filly.
“Don’t let it go to yer head Rainbow. Just ‘cause yer fast don’t mean ye get the right to brag. Besides ah think we both know after the runnin’ o’ the leaves who would win in a foot race.” Applejack smirks at Rainbow Dash, teasing her.
“Anyways, girls. How about we sit back down and let Applebloom open her presents, okay? After that we can get up and dance around, play some games, and just have fun.” Rarity suggests, trying to make sure Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s friendly rivalry doesn’t take the spotlight off of Applebloom. If anypony was going to take the spotlight off of the birthday filly, it should be her. At least thats how Rarity sees it.
So, with that, they all sit down to watch Applebloom open her presents. The first present she opens was wrapped in tan wrapping paper, and a red ribbon. “That one’s from me an’ Big Macintosh.” Applejack explains as Applebloom starts unwrapping her gift. She uses her hooves to hold the box steady as she grabs the ribbon with her teeth and pulls on the loops to untie it. After it is unwrapped, she takes the cover off of the box and, lo and behold, a miniature version of Applejacks signature hat is lying in the box.
“Oh my Celestia! Thank you!” Applebloom exclaims excitedly, as she puts on the hat. “It fits perfectly! It’s so cool, thank you Applejack, thanks Big Macintosh!”
Granny Smith lifts her head up from the table, looking around, a small bit of drool on the table from her sleep. “Watch’er language Applebloom!” She exclaims, and then lays her head back on the table and falls back to sleep.
“Now now. It was actually Big Mac’s idea, ah just went an’ bought it. Ain’t that right Big Mac?”
“Eeeyup. Anythin’ fer mah little sister.”
“Thank you so much guys.” Applebloom says as she goes and nuzzles both Applejack and Big Macintosh. Afterwards she opens each present giving each pony a sign of affection, depending on how happy she was with the present. After her siblings presents, she opens Twilight Sparkles present, which was a book about Apple Orchards throughout the history of Equestria. From Pinkie Pie she is given her own little party cannon, however she cannot seem to use it, as nothing comes out when she fires it (although it works for Pinkie Pie.) Rarity gives her a brush for her mane. Rainbow Dash gives her a pair of ‘super cool’ sunglasses. Fluttershy gives her a Pony Paddleball.
Finally, Appebloom opens the presents from Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo last. Sweetie Bells present was a green and red cape that she had made with her sisters help, and Scootaloo had made her a coupon that let her lead the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a day, and decide everything that they would do.
“Gee, thanks everyone This was all really nice of you. Although ah wish Zecora could’ve made it.” Applebloom says, grateful for all of the presents.
“Aaww, don’ worry about it Applebloom, I’m sure she has a good reason-” Applejack manages to get out before she is interrupted by a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it!” With a flash of pink, Pinkie Pie runs to the door and opens it, standing there is a very haggard looking zebra. Her mane, normally in a mohawk, completely ungroomed and flat against on her skin, she was covered in sweat and panting, as if she had been running a lot.
All of the ponies, except Granny smith who keeps snoring exclaims in surprise as the zebra trots in. “Zecora! What happened to you?”
End of Chapter Four.