//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: 20% Warmer Than Usual // by Black_Board23 //------------------------------// Chapter 3 It was finally here. The day that Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow dash would leave for Manehattan. Twilight was a little shy about it, the only time she traveled was when one of her friends needed her along. Like when Applejack ran off to earn money at a cherry orchard . Or when Pinkie Pie wanted them to go with her to the dessert contest in Canterlot. Bad memories, there. Also, all those times she had travelled on the Friendship Express. This time, they were traveling in a sketchy contraption Rainbow Dash had tied together. The balloon that Twilight Sparkle kept in her basement for special occasions was tied to a rope which in turn was tied around Rainbow Dash's waist. She also said it would help her train for her performance in front of the Wonderbolts. Twilight had also assigned Spike to crunching the numbers on the weight capacity of it all. It should be able to withstand the weight of 2 ponies plus baggage. "Well, let's go." Rainbow Dash said, impatiently. She didn't like staying grounded for long amounts of time. "Sorry, I'm just struggling with my luggage. I swear it wasn't this heavy when I finished packing last night." Twilight said back, lugging her enormous bag into the balloon. "Weird. But still, it'll be good for my exercise. So, say your goodbyes to everyone and lets go." Dash said while tapping all four hooves, a skill she'd learned in flight school. The pegasus was just bristling with energy, ready to jump off the ground and fly. "Don't worry, I'll try and make it quick." The dawn-colored unicorn promised. In fact, the mare's friends had gathered on the hill they would take off from in a bon voyage party. Pinkie Pie, of course, had insisted on it. Rarity was sitting on the red velvet couch she always seemed to lug around with a new hat she'd designed for summer. She bragged that is was not only fabulous, but also practical. As a going away present, Applejack had brought both Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle a cup of apple cider and a jar of zap apple jam the earth pony had saved from their seasons that year. Fluttershy, ever so cautious, offered to help clear the skies before their take-off. The pegasus had done a good job too, there wasn't another pegasus or balloon or chariot in the sky as far as the eye could see. Twilight Sparkle gave a meaningful hug and a thank you to each of them for what they'd contributed to the trip. "Well, I guess it's finally time to go." Twilight said with an heir of finality to it. She hopped into the balloon and let go of some of the weights holding it down. The balloon lifted slowly to the heavens as both ponies traveling with it waved back at the party below. Eventually, when each pony below them looked slightly larger than a blade of grass, Rainbow Dash reached into her saddle bag and pulled out her flying goggles and strapped them on. "Ready to go?" the pegasus asked. "As ready as I'll ever be." Twilight Sparkle answered with a groan. "In that case, you better hold onto something." Rainbow Dash advised. "Why would I have to d-WHOOAAAAAA!!" Twilight screamed as her question was pulled from her mouth and instantly answered. The balloon shot forward from an almost complete stop to screaming across the sky in seconds, it's sights set for the city of Manehattan. Any passerby seeing them would have thought that they were about to crash any minute. Twilight didn't think any different. She suddenly came across a problem in her head, both literally and metaphorically. The unicorn tried to scream at the crazy driver, "You need to slow down! Since pegasi are built to travel at high speeds, they can withstand huge amounts of g-forces. Unicorns aren't! If you don't slow down, I'm going black o-." He head made a soft thud against the wicker of the balloon basket as she slumped over. Rainbow Dash wasn't aware of what had just transpired in the balloon. All she was aware of was that, in a few long hours, they would be in one of the largest cities in Equestria. WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW The first thing the mare saw was blinding sunlight. She immediately closed her eyes again. Twilight Sparkle had just woken up from her black out after about three hours. It must have been onset from a drop in speed. Come to think of it, Twilight couldn't feel herself moving at all. WHen she remembered the incident and got adjusted to the sunlight she opened her eyes again. She was staring at the top of the balloon. It looked wrong, however, almost deflated. Suddenly Rainbow Dash peaked out over the edge and trying to keep the panic out of her voice, said, "Uh, Twilight? We got a problem." Twilight Sparkle, clearly still groggy but worried now, asked," What is it?" "Well, to put it frankly, we're going down." Rainbow answered with despair. That snapped Twilight out of it like a whip. "What?! How?!" the unicorn began asking questions frantically. "I don't know!" Rainbow Dash said, the words flying out of her mouth, "We were flying along and I was taking a short break when I noticed that the balloon was feeling really heavy. When I turned around to see it, it was almost flat! Then I flew over to it and grabbed it by the top. I've been holding it like this for around five minutes." In that case, we are gonna crash!" Twilight said sadly. "If only Octavia was here to play us off," Twilight thought. "How much time do we have le-AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!"Rainbow screamed as the balloon lost it's final bit of air. It spiraled to the ground like a rock. Just before they hit the ground from hundreds of feet up, Twilight was able to make out the words, "I told you you shouldn't have brought that book!!" Then thud. A solid, heavy, disgusting thud of two living organisms smashing into the ground and bouncing. It was enough to curdle the air around them and it would have been described by a viewer as worse that hooves on a chalkboard. They lay there in an empty silence waiting to be filled with words and life. But it never came.