//------------------------------// // Interlude Two // Story: Remedial Studies // by Rose Quill //------------------------------// “Yaahoo!” came the shout a few moments before a blue shape dropped into the pond, sending up a fountain of water. I laughed and shielded my face from the spray as Rainbow Dash surfaced, flapping her wings and flinging droplets of water every which way. Though I’d never mention it to her, she looked a little like a giant blue duck the way she was acting. “Ah, this is perfect!” she exclaimed. “Great day to chillax with my friends and a weeks leave from the squad.” Fluttershy smiled from the shore where she was relaxing on a blanket with Rarity, teapot sat between them.  “Is that the only thing you’re looking forward to?” the shy mare asked. Rainbow flashed a wide grin at her marefriend. “Well, at the moment, yes. I have some ideas for later, though.” Fluttershy blushed a little and glanced away coyly. “I look forward to it.” I sighed and dove under the water for a moment, reveling in the cool temperature. As I surfaced, I shook my mane out and heard a squawk of surprise from behind me. Turning, I saw Pinkie giggling as she wiped some water from her face. Her mane, somehow, was still standing up in its signature poofiness. “Sorry, Pinkie,” I said with a shy grin. “I didn’t see you.” “It’s ok, Sunny!” she chirped. “Wow, your mom really made it a hot one today, didn’t she?” I nodded. I didn’t mind my friends knowing who my mother was, but I also didn’t like it being mentioned in casual conversation for some reason. “Well, it’s a perfect day for a swim at least.” I splashed a hoof gently and looked back towards the shore. “Wish Twilight had managed to make it, though.” “She and Applejack will be back from that friendship problem in no time!” the baker said, backstroking. “They’ll figure it out and everything will be okie-dokie!” “It’s positively adorable how you pine for her, darling,” Rarity said, lifting a hoof to her chest. “But you’ll find that in time, even though you miss them while their gone, you’ll enjoy welcoming them back that much the better.” “Sounds like you have some experience with that,” Rainbow smirked. “You should know that a lady never kisses and tells,” the fashionista scoffed. “AJ is my best friend!” the flyer protested. “I just want to make sure you aren’t turning her all fru-fru.” “I hardly think that anything I could do would make her any less practical than she already is. In fact,” Rarity tossed her mane behind her shoulder. “She happens to have a more refined taste than I originally gave her credit for.” “Surely that’s not the only reason you’re with her,” I teased. “Quite right. She is a wonderful, wonderful mare and she has managed to keep me a little more grounded as of late. I doubt I could have opened the Van Hoover store without her helping me plan, or repair the damage to Rarity for You after that horrid mess with the Storm King.” “Wish I could have been here for that,” I whispered, feeling a bit of anger inside. “I’d have given them a taste of righteous wrath.” “Which is probably why it was best you weren’t.” Starlight came around the bend with a kite and a towel in tow. “I know they happened to be prepared for Unicorn magic. Trix and I barely managed to get off a shot before they had us in those cages.” “Still,” I gritted. The thought of my mother and aunt, turned into statues just to harness their magic burned inside me whenever I thought of it. “Well, in any case, it’s in the past,” Starlight said. “And look who I got to join us.” As she stepped aside, I saw Juniper step forward, her head a little low in bashfulness. This was probably the largest gathering she had attended since coming here, and with all of us sounding the same, I was sure she’d be more than a little uncomfortable. “Hey, Junie!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing over. “You’re going to have some super-duper fun today!” “T-thanks, Pinkie,” she stuttered. “Indeed, it is good that you’re not holding yourself apart any longer,” Rarity offered. “Tea?” “Yes, please.” The Pegasus wandered forward and was stopped by a sudden blue blur. Rarity gasped as water sprayed across her from Rainbow’s dart from the water. “So, you got those wings ready yet?” the Wonderbolt asked. “I’m just itching to see how you hold up.” “Rainbow,” Fluttershy warned. “We talked about this.” “What?” the blue mare asked. “It’s not like I’m challenging her here and now. I’m just asking if she’s ready. If not, I could probably show you some tips.” “I’m working with Slipstream,” Juniper said. “I think I’m getting to the point where I don’t have to think about it as much.” “Pssh, Slipstream?” Rainbow scoffed. “Sure, she’s a great weather pony and a precision flyer, but she isn’t going to help you understand the thrill of speed, of feeling the air shatter before you as you break the sound barrier.” Junipers eyes widened in surprise. “You can fly that fast?” “Faster.” I smiled. “You’re looking at the only pony in recorded history to have pulled off a Sonic Rainboom on multiple occasions.” My smile became a smirk. “Even though sometimes it was more a nuisance than anything.” “I’m telling you, I didn’t mean to blast by you that day!” she protested. “And I paid you back for the drink you spilled.” “What’s a Sonic Rainboom?” Juniper asked. Rainbow looked to the shocked, bordering on horrified. “You’ve never heard of it?” “That sounds familiar,” Starlight muttered. “I’m not exactly from here.” Juniper reached forward with a wing and adjusted her glasses. “Only one way to explain,” Rainbow said as her wings flared out. “Dashie, no,” Fluttershy began. “You can just…” The stuntmare vanished with a sharp rush of air. “…explain it to her with words.” The gentle mare covered her face with a hoof. “Still not getting her to understand subtlety, I see,” Rarity commented. “It’s a work in progress.” Fluttershy ruffled her wings in a way I was starting to understand as annoyance. Juniper was about to say something when a cracking sound made us all look up, seeing the rainbow contrail of the Pegasus high above. As we watched, a haze of white light formed around her. Suddenly, with another shuddering boom, a wave of rainbow light shot out from the plummeting mare, spreading out from her flight path. Her contrail was a little wider and more brilliant. “Wow,” Juniper said, her eyes locked on the spectacle. Rainbow screeched to a halt before her after skimming the water. “That,” she crowed. “Is a Sonic Rainboom.” “That was pretty awesome,” Juniper whispered, looking at the still trailing colors in the sky. “Don’t encourage her,” I said. “Or she’ll never be done talking about it.” “Hey, just because I’m 20 percent cooler than the rest of you doesn’t mean I’m going to brag.” “You just did, Dashie,” Fluttershy countered. “It’s ok,” Juniper said. “I’ve got time off from working with Slipstream, and I’d be glad to learn from you.” “Then get ready kid,” Rainbow said, swiping a hoof across her nose. “I’m going to work you so hard your wings might fall off.” I couldn't help but laugh at Juniper’s moan.