Ch 1 - What Lies Ahead
"Now get off my train!" a gruff voiced stallion yelled. With that Pinkie Pie was comically tossed out of the train onto her face. Everypony else followed after her nervously as the stallion scowled at them. The train door slammed in their faces making them all cringe, and everypony went to check on Pinkie who hadn't even moved.
"Uh.. are y'all alright Pinkie?" Applejack asked, the pink pony just laid motionless for a bit until suddenly she seemed to come to life. Like something from a cartoon Pinkie started to try and get up but her face was stuck to the concrete and was stretching with her each time she pulled back.
"I don't even know how this happening, but let's just help her out girls" Twilight said with a sigh. Applejack and Rainbow grabbed her on both ends, and Twilight wrapped her magic around Pinkie's tail. With a loud pop Pinkie's face came right off the pavement, her face being totally flat. Everypony just stared at her shocked, until Pinkie shook her head a few times and made it return back to normal. Everypony just awkwardly watched as their friend yet again defied physics, Twilight's mouth was wide open at the display.
"I don't know why grumpy pants over there got so mad!" Pinkie said, scowling at the stallion in the train, who gladly scowled back at her.
"Well you did kinda try to start a party on the train, which did cause it rock back and forth, which did maybe threaten to tip the whole thing over..." Rainbow deadpanned. Pinkie just crossed her arms grumpily.
"Pinkie not to sort of ruin the mood, but seriously You have to be on your best behavior, the only reason you girls are here is because you insisted" Twilight explained, but then turned to her friends sheepishly as they looked at her. "Not that we don't love to have you heh heh.."
"You owed it to us, you and Rainbow went alone on some trip without taking us last time"
"Yeah Pinkie, that's called a honeymoon. That's kinda the whole point and plus we only got to enjoy one of our three days there because you called us back for an emergency" Rainbow said.
"It was an emergency!" Pinkie pouted.
"You missing us isn't an emergency" Rainbow countered.
"Well I don't like it" Pinkie whined.
"Well I don't care.." Rainbow replied.
"Alright girls, that's enough. Once again thank you Twilight for the trip darling, the rest of us didn't find it necessary, but regardless thank you" Rarity intervened, Twilight was thankful for that.
Twilight smiled towards Rarity "it was no problem Rarity, but keep in mind that this does act as our replacement honeymoon. So me and Rainbow would like a little privacy"
"We understand Twilight" Fluttershy said, a parrot sitting on her back.
"Well it looks like ya' already made yer' self some new animal friends here" Applejack grinned toward her. Fluttershy smiled at her and then at the parrot.
"Oh yes, he's lovely. I really want to see what other types of animals they have" Fluttershy was practically beaming from excitement.
"Well you can get right to it, but we actually have to get out to the island first" Twilight said.
All six ponies found themselves fresh off the train on the western edge of Equestria by the sea, each carrying their own saddlebags. It was a sunny and grass covered area where they were dropped off and just next to them was a beach. There was a large wooden building on the sand that had some lit tiki poles by the entrance. Everypony headed over, just as excited as the next to begin their vacation.
As everypony entered inside, they immediately took notice of all the tropical themed objects in the room. Fluttershy shrunk away as she looked at all the scary tiki masks adorning the walls, practically staring into the shy ponies soul. Fluttershy backed up and bumped into Applejack who just raised an eyebrow at her, Fluttershy sheepishly smiled in return.
"Well hello there everypony, what can I do for you" a brown pegasus stallion called out from behind a counter. Everypony had only just noticed him. Twilight walked up to him with a smile.
"Oh wow, I definitely didn't wake up today expecting to see a princess" he laughed. He was an average sized stallion, with a brown colt and an even darker brown mane. His mane was a little long and he had black shades on as well as an unbuttoned green Hawaiian shirt.
"It's an honor" he said, attempting to bow down, but Twilight stopped him.
"No please, it's fine. I actually prefer it when i'm treated like any other pony, just call me Twilight" she said, motioning to herself as she said her name.
"Oh okay cool, it's not everyday that you hear of somepony so royal being so modest. My names Surf Shore, so what exactly can I do for you girls?" he grinned at them.
"We have a booked vacation at the island" Twilight said reaching into her saddlebag. She then pulled out six slim pieces of paper, their passes. As she put them down onto the counter she leaned over to read the top of them, "at I believe.... Tropical Shores" Twilight stated with a smile. Rainbow seemed to have a lightbulb go off above her head, and she stepped up to the counter.
"Wait a second your last names Shore, do you own island or something or just coincidence" Rainbow asked, Surf laughed a little.
"Heh, no I don't own the island, but my sister does. Her names Tidal Shore, but you can just call her Tide she won't mind, but yeah she gave me a job here when I was out of one which was really nice of her" Surf explained, Twilight just nodded in understanding.
"Anyways though, yeah we should be good to take you out to the island, The waves really aren't bad right now" Surf said as he turned around to reach into a cabinet behind the counter.
He turned back with a set of keys and trotted out from behind the counter and headed outside with a "just follow me"
Everypony followed out through the entrance and he lead them around back where there was a wooden dock with a few boats tied alongside it. Two of the boats were newer sharper motor boats with sleek colorful blue and orange designs, and there was third boat which was just a simple rusted looking row boat that definitely couldn't fit all of them. Everypony followed as he walked down the dock passing the first boat, then passing the second boat, and then nervously as he stopped in-front of the row boat.
Everyone looked at each other anxiously as he climbed in. Surf bent over and started reaching around on the little boat in a small case. Then he pulled out three orange life preservers and turned to face them. He laughed as he noticed the looks they were giving him
"Did you think we were taking this old thing? Nah I just had to grab some extra vests, assuming that you want some it's not mandatory or anything" Surf said as he stepped back onto the dock. Twilight used her magic to levitate them out of his hooves and hold them up above their heads.
"Thank you Surf, so does anypony want one then?" Twilight asked. Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack raised their hands. Rainbow leaned over to Aj with a grin.
"What you afraid of a little water Aj?" she asked, Applejack scowled at her. "The only place ah like ma' hooves are firmly planted on the earth, thank ya' very much" Applejack replied as Twilight levitated her a vest.
"Hey so does it matter if I just fly there, like alongside the boat?" Rainbow asked, flapping her wings a few times for emphasis. Surf just looked at her curiously.
"Uh, I guess. Noponys really asked before but hey it won't rock my boat... literally.. you know since you'll be flying... cause you're a pegasus... so it- you know what whatever it wasn't funny let's just go" he muttered as he stepped past the girls onto the newer blue painted motor boat. Everypony chuckled a little, and Rainbow happily took to hovering up in the air. One after the other everyone clambered onto the boat to find themselves a seat Twilight just behind Surf. He stuck the keys in the ignition and started up the boat and revved it a couple times.
"You sure that friend of yours can keep up?" Surf asked, leaning over to Twilight who was giggling.
"Trust me she'll be fine"
"Alright..." Surf said before nodding towards Rainbow who nodded back. After the acknowledgement the boat instantly took off gaining speed fast. Applejack had to hold her hat down just to keep it from flying away. As the boat glided across the water Rainbow was almost instantly on them again flying above the boat.
"She's barely breaking a sweat.." Surf mumbled as he watched her flap her wings casually. The island wasn't far it was just quick little ride out to the island in which Rainbow enjoyed, doing flips and spins along the way. Twilight couldn't but stare as Rainbow's mane blew in the wind, she was absolutely stunning. Rarity waved her hoof in-front of Twilight to break her out of her stare.
"Darling, you might want to stop ogling Rainbow, we're here" Rarity said, pointing towards the approaching island. The boat slowly careened alongside a dock as they docked. As everypony stepped off the boat they took it all in.
It was a pretty generic tropical island, but in the best way possible. Beautiful sandy beaches, plenty of jungle filling out the island in the distance, and there was a large volcano in the distance which seemed to be the center of the island.
"We should probably keep Pinkie away from that.. Twilight thought as they began heading down the dock.
Fluttershy was quick to take notice of the fish swimming a few feet out in the water, all different vibrant colors. She stopped for a minute just to watch. Her eyes were practically shimmering, sort of like a colt waking up for his presents on hearths warming eve.
"She looks so cute when she's excited like that" Twilight remarked.
*ahem*
Twilight turned to face an annoyed Rainbow.
"Why don't you ever call me cute like that?"
"Because when you make that face, it's usually because you found leftover cider in the fridge" Twilight deadpanned, a few of the girls laughed.
At that point they found themselves heading towards a very big welcoming. There were roughly twenty ponies, all wearing white collared shirts, presumably employees. They all stood in rows, similar to an army ready to march. Standing in-front of them was a unicorn mare. She had a baby blue coat and a dark blue mane long like Fluttershy's. She had pink eyes similar to Rainbow, who came landing down beside the other girls.
"Hello and welcome everypony to Tropical Shores!" she declared, and as the words left her mouth the ponies behind her all started clapping. Everypony awkwardly just smiled as they received a huge welcoming. Twilight took note of the ponies clapping, they somehow managed to hold Pinkie Pie level smiles the whole time, you'd think their jaws would snap off. It definitely felt forced.
As they walked forward Twilight approached ahead. "Um hello, um.. my names Twil-"
"I know who you are, you're the princess" the unicorn said. "My name is Tidal Shore, and i'm the owner of the resort and essentially the island" she explained.
"Hi, um these are my friends. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie" Twilight said, motioning to said pony with each name.
"Hello, it's good to meet you all!" she said excitedly. Twilight looked at her oddly, "she's certainly got a lot of pep, she's like her own Pinkie Pie Twilight thought.
"Do you do this kinda welcoming for all of your guests, Tide?" Rarity asked. Tidal Shore peered over Twilight's shoulder at her.
"Of course, we like to make sure everypony feels welcome!" she replied excitedly, her smile was a little unnerving.
"Oh well that's nice..." Rarity said awkwardly, nopony really felt comfortable. Even though the girls all acted as the ideal representation of friendship, they had already gotten their fill of friendship within minutes of being here.
"Do you uh.. think you can show us to where we'll be staying?" Twilight asked.
"Sure, did you want a tour or were you hoping to explore on your own?" Tidal asked in return.
"Uh we'll just find our own way around"
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Nopony was sure what it was, but the island was definitely unsettling. Though everyone started to ease up upon seeing some of the other guests. The other ponies on vacation seemed perfectly normal at-least, but the employees just seemed to cheerful. The girls had gotten rooms to stay in that were all connected by doors in-between them. All of them were gathered in the center room though.
"What the hay is with these ponies, I haven't seen a single pony working here not smiling" Rainbow said.
"I think it's nice.." Fluttershy quietly added.
"Yeah it's like everyones happy about everything!" Pinkie said.
"Yes but it just doesn't seem natural, maybe it's just policy. Like the costumed characters at amusement parks who hate their jobs but are forced to smile" Rarity said.
"I'm sure that's it. We're probably just looking to far into things, which is understandable given the adventures we've found ourselves in" Twilight said.
"Yeah ah doubt its anythang, let's just relax and enjoy a vacation. I think we've all earned it" Applejack finished, and everypony else nodded in agreement.
"Well I REALLY want to go see the animals!" Fluttershy called out excitedly, all eyes turned on her, surprised at her sudden enthusiasm. Fluttershy shrunk from their gazes, "um if that's okay with you girls..." she mumbled.
"That actually doesn't sound that bad, ah'll come with ya' Fluttershy" Applejack said, Fluttershy squeaked in excitement and quickly fluttered straight out the door. Applejack just chuckled as she went to follow her, "we'll meet y'all later back in tha' room for dinner"
"Well I was hoping to get my tan on down by the beach, would anypony like to join me?" Rarity offered to the room. Twilight and Rainbow nodded no, and Pinkie bounced up towards her.
"Ooooh yeah! I can build sandcastles!" Pinkie stated, Rarity smiled towards her as she levitated over a beach towel.
"Well then, let's get going" Rarity said as the two left the room.
"A tan, she knows she's got a snow white coat right?" Rainbow asked, Twilight chuckled.
"So... Twilight... it's just you and me...." Rainbow purred.
"Rainbow we just got here, and just because it's our honeymoon doesn't mean we have to just have sex in our bedroom"
"Ooohhh.... so sex on the beach" Rainbow winked at her.
"What!? No!" Twilight complained, Rainbow walked over to her. She slowly wrapped her arms around Twilight and leaned in.
"Rainbow don't yo- mmph!" Twilight was cut off by Rainbow pressing her lips against hers. Twilight tried to step back but Rainbow stepped with her. After a few steps Twilight's hooves hit the bed and she fell back onto the mattress, Rainbow going with her.
"Rainbow I'm serious ju- mmph!" Rainbow kissed her again, harder. Twilight pulled back and glared at Rainbow.
"Rainbow no!" but her glare was only met by one of the cutest puppy dog faces she had ever seen. Rainbow put her lip out in the best pouty face possible.
"Oh alright fine!" Twilight relented, grabbing Rainbow's head and forcefully pulling her back down for some make out time. No more than five minutes into their smooching did a luggage case fall over in the room. Rainbow leaned up to look around, Twilight wrapped a hoof around her neck.
"What was that?"
"I'm sure it was nothing" Twilight said, pulling Rainbow back in. Seconds later more noises were heard. Rainbow pulled back again and got up from the bed, Twilight just sighed dramatically. The noise was easy to make out and Rainbow quickly found the source, a thumping noise from inside of Rarity's luxurious luggage case. Rainbow leaned over the case and looked over her shoulder at Twilight who was sitting up on the bed watching cautiously. She silently nodded for Rainbow to open it.
Rainbow slowly took the zipper and then quickly ripped back the zipper like a bandaid revealing a cute white little pony face inside.
"Sweetie Belle!?" Rainbow shouted, confusion and irritation filling her tone.
