"Jugglers? Really?" Rainbow deadpanned as she watched four jugglers tossing around bowling pins in the center of a gigantic arena. Thousands of ponies crowded the stands, all mildly interested in what was going on below.
"I mean, it's a wonderbolts show!" Rainbow shouted, a little annoyed at this disgrace of an opening act.
"I think it's kind of nice..." Fluttershy mumbled. Rainbow sat down in her seat alongside most her friends. Rainbow sat all the way to the left of her friends, except Twilight who would be sitting on her right if she was here right now. Her and Rarity were somewhere up by the concession stands getting the snacks.
"It's lame, I mean theres definitely a large excitement gap there" Rainbow said, motioning to the juggling ponies.
"Well ya' wouldn't want them to outdo tha' ones they're settin' up for" Applejack countered, Rainbow only slid further into her seat, her arms crossed.
"Yeah, like anyponys just gonna outshine the Wonderbolts" she grumpily replied.
Meanwhile, Twilight and Rarity were standing over by the concession stands. They had stepped off to the side in one of the smaller hallways near the a pillar.
Twilight stood there eyes closed as she held open a tiny black box. Rarity leaned forward and the gasped, covering her mouth with her hooves.
"Twilight, it's simply beautiful!" Rarity complimented, Twilight just looked back at her uneasily.
"Thanks, but I don't think the ring is what matters to Rainbow. Do you really think she'll say yes?" Twilight asked, nervously glancing at the diamond ring in her hoof.
"Of course darling, i've never seen two ponies more mean't for each other than you two" Rarity gushed, causing Twilight to smile at her warmly.
"Thank you Rarity" she said, wrapping her unicorn friend in a brief hug.
"I'm still pretty nervous though" Twilight muttered as she let go.
"That's alright, it's perfectly normal. You're asking another pony to spend their life with you, it's certainly a big deal" Rarity explained, Twilight just looked more unsure though.
"Yeah... it's a big deal.." Twilight mumbled, Rarity went to reach a hoof out and comfort her friend but she jumped back as there was a sudden loud noise on the speakers.
"ALRIGHT EVERYPONY THE WONDERBOLTS SHOW IS STARTING!!!" the speaker screamed, causing Rarity to raise both hooves to her ears.
Unknowingly those few words had caused an instant excitement riot. Everypony up in the concessions immediately began charging forward to get to their seats. Ponies started yelling, shoving their way past other ponies. Some ponies got crammed in door ways because of their sudden reluctance to take turns. Twilight could have sworn she had even seen some stallion using another pony as a battering ram through the now swarming crowd.
Twilight and Rarity immediately were surrounded by ponies who were shoving past, knocking both ponies back and forth bumping into each other. During the chaos Twilight got bumped against a pillar causing her to drop her ring.
"No!" Twilight shouted as the ring flew from her hooves into the crowd of ponies, Twilight could even make out the noises it made as it bounced across the ground. Twilight fell to her knees and she hopelessly watched the ring disappear into the ravenous crowd.
Rarity just watched desperately as Twilight's head sunk down in shame.
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After about eight minutes everypony and filled in the remaining seats in the stadium, except Twilight and Rarity.
"Has anypony seen Rarity and Twilight?" Applejack asked, earning curious looks from her friends.
"No, are they still getting the snacks? Rainbow asked.
"Ah guess... imma go check on them" Applejack announced as she got up out of her seat and head up the stairs to the side.
"See this is why you always put commander Pinkie Pie in charge of snacks!" Pinkie declared as she saluted, a green army helmet adorning her head.
"Where did you get the helmet?" Rainbow asked.
"Well actually-" Pinkie began, but only to get shushed by Rainbow.
"Never mind, shows starting" she said waving an absent a hoof at Pinkie. The announcer had stepped out into the area to name every Wonderbolt who stepped out into the center. "First is Spitfire!"
"Alright then deputy Fluttershy, it's gonna be our job to get the snacks!" Pinkie declared as she looked to a taken aback Fluttershy.
"Um... us? won't the others be back soon wi-" Fluttershy was cut off by Pinkie grabbing a hold of her hoof, Flutteshy squeaked in surprise.
"They can no longer be trusted to complete their mission, so it's up to us to get the snacks... No Matter What It Takes..." Pinkie said the last part somewhat maniacally, much to the uneasiness of Fluttershy who was now getting dragged by the hoof up to the concession stands.
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Applejack had finally stumbled upon the two mares on her search, she casually trotted up to them.
"Well there y'all are, what were ya-" she stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed Twilight sitting on the floor with Rarity crouched over hugging her, their backs to her.
"What happened?" Applejack asked as she walked around the two to face them, seeing Twilight's head downcast.
"Twilight do you mind if I-?" Rarity softly asked
"You can tell her"
"Alright, well our dear Twilight here was planning to propose to Rainbow Dash today" Rarity explained, Applejack looked shocked at first and turned happily towards Twilight.
"That's great sugarcube!"
"Yes... but there is a problem" Rarity continued, Applejack raised an eyebrow.
"During a Wonderbolts crazed stampede Twilight lost the ring in the the sea of ponies and now we don't know where it is" Rarity explained much to the dismay of Applejack.
"Wait a minute.. Rarity!" Twilight shouted excitedly, her head shooting up to face them.
"It was a diamond ring! You can track it with your magic!" Twilight exclaimed, causing Rarity to look surprised in realization.
"You're right darling, I completely forgot! How about I take Applejack here to go look for the ring, and you go and be with Rainbow. I'd be strange to propose if you haven't spent most of the day together" Rarity pointed out causing Twilight to nod at her confidently.
"Alright" she said, getting back up and trotting away. She stopped though and looked over her shoulder "please find it.." Twilight said desperately, making the other ponies frown.
"Don't worry Twilight, we won't let y'all down" Applejack said, causing Twilight to smile a little. "Thank you girls"
"It's no problem at all" Rarity said as Twilight turned to leave, and they turned to begin their hunt.
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Meanwhile, another hunt was taking place in the stadium.
"Alright Fluttershy scan the area for any open concession stands"
"None of them are open anymore, the show started. Wonderbolts shows close their stands when the show starts to draw everypony to the performance" Fluttershy explained, it sounded like she had memorized it.
"Uh.. why do you know that?" Pinkie asked.
"Rainbow talked about them a lot during our sleepovers..." Fluttershy explained sheepishly.
"Well that doesn't matter anyways!" Pinkie declared, Fluttershy just looked stunned.
"I- i - it doesn't?" she asked nervously.
"Of course not, you're on a mission with sergeant Pinkie Pie-"
"I thought you were a commander" Fluttershy added, but Pinkie didn't hear it.
"which means were gonna complete our mission one way or another, even if it means sneaking into their kitchens" Pinkie stated, causing Fluttershy to step back.
She kept stepping back mumbling "oh um.. uh.. I.. we can't.. it um... it's legal.. and Twilight wouldn't want us to... um and they could catch us and-" Pinkie marched up to her to put her hoof on Fluttershy's mouth.
"No excuses deputy Fluttershy, do you want to fail our friends and ruin everything?" Pinkie asked, unusually serious.
Fluttershy just sadly looked at her, "oh my, I didn't know this was so serious..... I.... i'll help" Fluttershy relented, causing Pinkie to cheer and grab hold of Fluttershy to drag her along again.
"Good cause i'm gonna need your help to reach the air vents!" Pinkie cheerily said, causing Fluttershy to gulp nervously.
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"Hey Rainbow" Twilight called out as she arrived back to their seats with Rainbow. As Twilight sat down beside her Rainbow leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Twilight, uh.. didn't you girls get snacks?" she asked, noticing her marefriend's empty hooves. Twilight looked at her own hooves too coming to the same realization.
"Oh uh... they were... sold out?" it came out sounding like a question.
"Oh alright" Rainbow said, more interested in the Wonderbolts show. Soarin was in the middle of some pretty awesome corkscrews.
"Wheres Fluttershy and Pinkie?" Twilight asked, looking past Rainbow at the empty seats.
"I don't know, some kinda secret mission" Rainbow said without interest, not even looking at Twilight.
"Oh.. alright. So the show been as awesome as you hoped so far?" Twilight asked.
Rainbow nodded excitedly, "yeah it's been really cool already, and it's just been solo stuff so far. Soarin did a crazy a crazy nose dive and then spread his limbs out to slow himself down before gliding back into the air"
"And why was Soarin able to do that?" Twilight asked with her little tutor voice.
Rainbow sighed dramatically and spoke like a five year annoyed by their mom, "because of terminal velocity" she said, causing Twilight so smile and clap her hooves together.
"It's good to know my lessons weren't going over your head" Twilight giggled, Rainbow just ignored her and focused on the show.
"Thanks again for buying the Wonderbolts passes, probably the best birthday gift ever" Rainbow said happily, turning towards Twilight.
"No problem Rainbow, anything for you" she replied, leaning forward to kiss Rainbow. The pegasus happily accepted, leaning forward for a quick peck. Twilight instead cupped both of Rainbow's cheeks and held the kiss for a little bit until Rainbow reluctantly pulled away.
"Whoa Twilight, there'll be time for that later tonight" she chuckled, causing Twilight to blush.
"Let's just watch the show"
"Of course, Rainbow"
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"We're close, I can sense it over here" Rarity stated as her and Applejack trotted along the balcony area. Rarity's horn was lit up as her magic searched for the nearby diamond. Applejack just watched curiously as she worked her magic, literally. Rarity then quickly took a sharp left into a corridor causing Applejack to back peddle and catch up to her.
"It... shoouulld bee heerre" Rarity dragged on her words as they slowly got to the diamond.
As the two looked forward they saw a brown coated stallion with a darker brown mane pushing around a mobile trash cart with mops attached to it. Rarity squinted and looked closely to notice a tiny shining diamond in the pile of trash.
"It's right in there!" Rarity called out excitedly as she pointed towards the moving cart. Applejack smiled and the two started walking down the hallway, they're smiles turned to grimaces when the pony turned the other way and started pushing the cart down the hall.
"Wait Sir!" Applejack called, but she noted that he was wearing headphones. The stallion swiftly unlocked the door at the end of the hall and pushed the cart in as Applejack and Rarity quickened into a sprint.
"Sir hold on!" Rarity yelled, but he didn't even notice them as he went in, just as he flung the metallic door shut Rarity and Applejack had reached, but only to be hit in the face with a door. Both ponies stumbled back, Rarity even falling over. Applejack rushed forward to bang on the door, but as loud as it was the stallion obviously couldn't hear them.
"Gosh darnit! How the hay are we gonna get in there!?" Applejack yelled, as she faced Rarity who was still recovering from her tumble. Applejack leaned down and offered her a hoof to pull her back on her feet.
"Thank you darling, and as for your question, I think I might have an idea. We'll need to find another employee to open this door, one that has the keys" Rarity explained, Applejack stared at her skeptically.
"and then what? Ask them to let us in the backstage area? they'll just think were some crazy fans. Like Rainbow" Applejack stated, Rarity smiled at her.
"Well obviously you don't understand how easy it is to whoo a stallion" Rarity said while fluttering her eye lashes for effect.
"What if we only find a mare?" Applejack asked.
"Um.. hope she's gay?" Rarity responded sheepishly. Applejack just gave her a deadpan look.
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Thankfully it didn't take long before the two managed to find a prime target for Rarity's feminine charm. A blue coated stallion pegasus with a yellow combed back mane. "I'll distract him, you grab the keys" said, and with that she winked seductively at Applejack, making her wanna gag, as she set off for her target.
"Oh thank goodness i've found such a strong looking stallion!" Rarity called out as she approached him, the stallion spun around to face her.
"Oh uh.. hey" he said.
"Well I didn't expect to find such a handsome stallion around here" Rarity said as she faced the stallion, her eyes roaming across his body.
"Uh thanks" he said, his nervousness being set aside. The stallion actually looked a little annoyed.
"Oh my I love your eyes, ooohhh and your hooves look so strong" she complimented, taking his hoof in her own to get a look at it. The stallion pulled away as he gave her a glare, Rarity thought she saw that, but pushed the thought aside.
"Darling, how can someone as good looking as yourself not have a beautiful mare by your side. I'd imagine you'd have mares fighting over you, I know i'd love to date you if you'd have me" she said, the stallion's glare not changing.
"Oh and your ears are just adorable" she purred, raising a hoof to touch one, but the stallion pushed it away.
"Listen, this isn't the first time a mare like you has tried to hustle me" he said, sounding very serious.
Rarity just sheepishly smiled at him, "whatever do you uh.. mean darling?"
"Yeah you can drop the act, you're obviously after something, and i'm willing to give it to you. So long as I get a date" he stated, causing Rarity to chuckle.
"Oh well of course you want to go on a date, it's not exactly foreign to me. I'm happy to hear that another stallion has realized my true beauty" Rarity boasted, as she flipped her mane dramatically with a hoof, and staring seductively at the stallion. The stallion only stared back at her, still clearly annoyed.
"Yeah.... uh no, not at all actually" he said which made Rarity go wide eyed and looked back at him with a purely puzzled expression.
"I want a date with that hottie over there" he said, pointing over her shoulder. Rarity turned around and noticed Applejack staring at them, bewilderment across her face.
"Is there a mare behind her?" Rarity asked.
"Nope, i'm talking about her right there" he motioned towards Applejack again.
"You wanna go on a date with me!?" Applejack asked, clearly surprised.
"You want to go on a date with her!?" Rarity shouted, both equally surprised and oddly offended. "You'd choose HER over moi?" Rarity asked as she made a dramatic fashion pose.
"Definitely, i'm not really into high class mares, I like the rough and tumble ones" he said, as his eyes wandered up and down Applejack's body, much to her uneasiness.
"Well ahm sorry, but ah don't think ah can-" Rarity quickly trotted over to stick a hoof in her mouth. "You'll just have to excuse us" Rarity said with a fake chuckled as she dragged Applejack around a corner.
"Applejack, you have to go out with him"
"What!? Ah'd rather get hog tied to a bull" Applejack said as she peeked around the corner. The stallion looked at her, raising his eyebrow a few times as he stared at her. Applejack fake gagged and faced Rarity again.
"Applejack you must! While I don't understand how he could resist ME!-" she said dramatically, "He for some other worldy reason wants to go on a date with you, and in exchange he can help us get to the ring. Remember that its for Twilight" Rarity explained. Applejack's angry tone slowly lowered into a slightly irritated one as she sighed.
"Fine then, but only for Twilight's sake.." she grumbled, causing Rarity to smile at her and lead her back to the stallion who didn't waste time ogling at Applejack again.
"She'll do it, you just have to open a backstage door for us with your keys" Rarity explained, the stallion seemed ecstatic.
"Awesome! Let's go open this door"
The three walked off and found the same metal door from earlier, the stallion went forward and stuck his key in and turned it. The door made a clicking noise as it unlocked and the stallion pulled it open for them.
"Oh my goodness thank you" Rarity said. As the two went to walk through the stallion stopped them and stepped in-front of Applejack. He leaned in close, too close for Applejack's comfort.
He whispered, "Later tonight, you, me, dinner at this nice burger joint close by the stadium, i'll pick you up outside"
Applejack only grumpily nodded and went to walk forward but he stopped her again.
"Make sure you're there, don't let me down... Applebottom" he purred seductively, and with that he leaned forward and smooshed his lips on her cheek giving her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Applejack's eyes shot open wide like dinner plates as the stallion slowly pulled back, his lips leaving her cheek with a popping noise. He then winked at her before walking down the hallway and turning the corner.
All the while Rarity simply watched with a hoof over her mouth, but that was only to keep herself from laughing out loud. After a few seconds after he had left, Applejack still stood there as stiff as a tree. Her eyes just staring off, Rarity even waved her hoof in-front of them to test.
"Um.. Equestria to Applejack, are you alright?" Rarity asked in-between giggles. Applejack stood motionless for a solid fifteen more seconds.
"Darling it wasn't that bad" Rarity said, causing Applejack to eerily turn her head to her like something out of a horror film.
"Not that bad? He called be Applebottom!" she yelled, at-least she broke out of her shock.
"Well at-least it was a compliment..... sort of..." Rarity said sheepishly, Applejack only glared at her.
"That darn stallion somehow managed to keep his eyes ANYWHERE but my own eyes the whole time, and now I have ta' go on a date with em'. If he had slapped me on the flank I swear I would have bucked him into next week" Applejack huffed as she stomped off into the backstage area, with Rarity following behind, trying to hold in a new set of laughter at the whole situation.