//------------------------------// // Chapter 10: 100 laps for Soarin // Story: In Search of a Rainbow // by Aswad Zeev //------------------------------// As the new day dawned, three very tired ponies trotted into Appaloosa. Grateful to finally be back in civilization. Despite being ready to drop, Spitfire saw Braeburn's cart already set up for the day's sales. There in front of the cart was a pale blue pegasus in a Wonderbolts uniform, already with one pie in hoof and halfway through devouring another. She quietly trotted up behind him before yelling “HOW MANY PIES HAVE YOU STUFFED DOWN YOUR GREEDY THROAT?” Soarin jumped 20ft into the air, dropping both pies before he started using his wings and spotted Spitfire in her tattered uniform. “Um, your back?” replied Soarin around a mouthful of apple pie he nearly choked up. He slowly flew back down glancing at Dash and Daring. He tried to rush over to Rainbow Dash to check out her broken wings but he fell flat as Spitfire stood on his tail. She turned to Braeburn, who was looking on blurry eyed in half amusement, half concern. “How many pies did this fat ass get through in a day and a half?” “There was twenty for the Wonderbolts and another six for him, plus the two he just dropped.” Spitfire turned back to Soarin. “Eight Pies? You nearly ate eight whole pies? If I was your mother, I'd have your wings clipped and you'd be grounded! Instead, when we get back you'll be doing double time to make up for it. Plus we need someone to cover while Rainbow recovers. You can start by doing a hundred laps of this town, and then a hundred more laps of the course before AND after I re-design it!” He groaned in horror at the thought of so many laps made his head spin before Spitfire dragged him off to find any other Wonderbolts awake to watch him, while she found somewhere to sleep. Braeburn gave a curt nod to Dash and Daring as they walked up after that show. “Howdy Ladies, Ms. Dash, and Ms. Do. I see you made it back in one piece. Quite an adventure was it?” Rainbow scoffed “Hey Braeburn, how do you know who daring do is?” “Applejack told me in her letters. Plus while we haven't met yet Ms. Do, I have seen you pass through here on a few occasions. Didn't know at the time, but I've read about them.” Braeburn turned back to Rainbow Dash “Applejack told me about the fiasco with the books in one of her letters. So whenever we get a bookseller coming through town, I always check to see if they have one. That's how I recognize you through the cover.” Braeburn passed the pair of them a pie each. “Here, have these, you both look like you need it, and don't worry about paying me, I'll look forward to reading about this adventure and that will be payment enough.” Epilogue The Changeling queen hissed in fury, How dare the minion let her down, and one of those damn element ponies got away. She was so close to setting the trap to get rid of those insects. She punched the wall of the hive and everyone felt her fury as the whole hive shook. Still, at least there was one small consolation prize, the Changeling before her, quivered in fear. While out on her mission among the ponies and cats, she'd been able to soak up a lot of love the queen could feed on. To satiate her fury and hunger the queen began to feed on the vast amounts of magical energy. Soon, a few more agents would return, and they too would be bringing more love energy with them and then the Changeling army would be strong again, and not have to rely on those useless cats who claimed to be “allies”. One day soon, the truce would be broken and she'd be coming for revenge on “all” of Equestria's citizens, no matter their species!