//------------------------------// // Full Armor of Dash // Story: Ofolrodi // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// "Heeheehee!" Pinkie Pie giggled, floating around Rainbow Dash like a halo of bubbles. "It's like she's putting on a bunch of frozen leaves!" "Come one, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash droned, slapping on another plate of armor over her fetlock and tightening the leather straps. "It's a lot more awesome than that." Her eyes narrowed. "Although... heh... I guess it is pretty autumnal." "'Vernal' is more like it," Twilight Sparkle said, smiling in admiration. "The armor is green, after all." "In any case, it is the most delightful ensemble," Rarity said, cooing. "The Emeraldinians certainly had an eye for honor and beauty." "Plus, it looks very... safe." Fluttershy gestured with her fetlocks. "Must feel snug too. How heavy is it, Rainbow Dash?" "Well..." Rainbow squatted awkwardly aside the hovering wagon. The rest of the Herald fumbled around her, slipping into their own armored suits. "I gotta admit—it feels a bit loose on me." She gave her flank a slight shake. The leaf-motif plates of emerald armor rattled around her features, but they didn't shift too much. "But maybe that's a good thing. I don't wanna feel suffocated." "Something tells me you're a bit smaller than the average Emeraldinian," Twilight said. "Duhhhh!" Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes. "She's a bit smaller than the average anypony." "Pinkie, darling!" Rarity frowned. "Do not rub it in!" "Heh... guess I should be feeling lucky." Rainbow Dash strapped on the last plate in her possession. Soon, she was garbed head to tail in lightweight strips of armor—all bearing flora intaglio. Narrow bands of branch-like lines swam elaborate curves across the verdant sheets of metal, matching her every joint and ligament. Princess Luna's saddlebag was worn a bit tightly under the backpiece, but Rainbow managed. Thankfully there was enough room for the bulk of her pendant to dangle freely above the collar of the chestplate. "Logan must have taken forever to come up with an outfit that could fit me." "Can you fly with that on?" "I dunno. Lemme see." Rainbow Took a deep breath. She flapped her wings. Sure enough, she gained lift—hovering above the wagon. After a few seconds, she touched back down. "Well?" Pinkie Pie blinked. "It's... manageable..." Rainbow nevertheless could be heard wheezing slightly. "Wouldn't be my first choice to wear on a long flight." "Oh, darling, I'm sure you've worn heavier," Rarity said with a hoof-wave. "Maybe. I... kinda feel out of practice." Rainbow coughed. "Maybe I should have flown more laps around the corridors of Darkreach. Kept my muscle mass up." "To what end?" Fluttershy blinked. "You haven't been eating a whole lot." "Errrrr..." Rainbow nervously looked towards the supply crates of the wagon. "...yeah." "You've been quiet all this time, Applejack," Twilight Sparkle said, looking over. "What do you think of Rainbow's new get-up?" "Hmmm?" Applejack looked up. "Oh! Well done, sugarcube!" She smiled awkwardly. "You sure do look... er... handsome!" Rainbow Dash blinked. "I do?" "Applejack!" Rarity hissed through her teeth. "You never... ever refer to a lady as handsome!" "Well, what else can I say?" Applejack shrugged. "It's a strappin' set of sporty-lookin' armor!" "Practical and pretty!" Fluttershy said. "Errr... more like somewhere in between," Applejack said. "Shucks, I dunno. I wouldn't mind wearin' some if it made me all protected-like." "Handsome... ... ..." Rainbow Dash smiled dumbly into the twilight. "Honestly!" Rarity folded her forelimbs. "When all of this mess is done, I'm teaching you all a grand lesson in ladylike etiquette!" "Oh, go blow your nose, Rare-Rare!" Pinkie Pie squeaked. "If a knight in shining armor was showing up to save you from a dragon, would you pause to tell him how bad his breath stinks?" "Depends on how bad that breath is!" Twilight Sparkle giggled. "Stop laughing!" Rainbow Dash smiled. "Your friends telling a sweet joke?" Ariel's voice asked. Rainbow looked over. "Oh... uh... it's nothing." Ariel smiled, peering out of a narrow helmet. "You're allowed to smile at nothing." Rainbow just cleared her throat. "So... uh... what do you think?" She struck a pose in her armor. "Looks pretty sweet!" Ariel grinned. "How's it feel?" "Not too bad." "Really?" Ariel's features drooped under her helmet's visor. "Because this stuff is weighing on me like a ton! I'm surprised it's not killing you." "I... uh..." Rainbow shrugged, glancing at the various members of the Herald in their armor. "I guess I'm just lucky." "Damn straight, you are." Heavy metallic hoofsteps preluded the arrival of Logan. The large stallion stood in even larger armor, towering over the two mares. "Mrmmffff..." He struggled just to raise his helmet's visor and peered down at them. "Took me for friggin' ever to find the right pieces that would fit you. Emeraldine was short on pipsqueaks, I think." "Hey!" Ariel frowned. "It's okay, girl," Rainbow Dash patted her armored shoulder with a rattling sound. "Just smile sweetly and remember that you're a groin-kick level." "Hmmmm..." Logan's smile was bland. "Very cute." "Mrmmfff..." Flynn stumbled towards the group. His mechanical lense peered out of his helmet's visor. "Stuffy as hell, in here." "Suck it up, Baldy," Logan grunted. "You've got less hair. You'll sweat less." "A shame that therre werren't any wyverrns in Emerraldine," Kepler said. His armor barely fitted him, and he was reduced to wearing loosely-strapped plates of metal across random parts of his hairy figure. "I suppose I will have to do my combat at a safe distance." "That won't really change anything," Flynn said with a smile. "No, I suppose not. How about you, Wildcarrd? Farre well in yourr metals?" The griffion in question had his left arm exposed—which was fine. The prosthetic—although not matching the green leaf motifs—was sturdy enough on its own. He lifted his visor, exposed his beak, and hand-signed briskly. "Rright." Kepler nodded. "The next orrderr of business is to deal with those pesky vines." "Stalks," Ariel corrected. "Same differrence. Ha-hah!" "Yeah..." Rainbow looked at Wildcard and Logan. "Just how are we going to do that anyway?" "Well..." Schiiiiiing! Logan sweatily heaved his axe into view. "...guess it's time for some good old fashion lawnwork."