//------------------------------// // Duty calls...But it can wait // Story: Good Vibes // by sunsetsjournal //------------------------------// Chapter 6: Duty calls...But it can wait. “Not bad, Applejack". Rainbow Dash exclaimed, while taking a few sips of the smoothie her friend had made her. "You've got talent for this sort of things". "Really?". Applejack answered, raising her eyebrow, annoyed. "Wow, Dash. Thank you finally noticing". "Hey, what's up with you?". The blue-skinned girl questioned, realizing there was something wrong with the other youngster. "Me? Does it look like I am not fine? Thank you very much for your concern, though. I really appreciate it". Perhaps because that "really" had been said in a particularly annoyed tone, Rainbow Dash was now more than sure that her friend was hiding something from her, something she had to spill if she wanted to feel any better. "Geez, AJ". Rainbow Dash went on saying, "Did I ever tell you that you are a very bad actress? Perhaps you should consider taking a few classes". "Ha, ha". Applejack replied, visibly not pleased with Rainbow Dash's answer. "Since when did you become a comedian? I am absolutely dying to know how you managed to become so good in such a short time". "Hey!" The other girl said in her defense. "I can be incredibly funny, when I want to”. “Uh...”Applejack sighed, hearing those things. “...As if”. "Hey, Applejack! Seriously, what is wrong with you? It's almost like you're not yourself today." As much as the cowgirl would have liked to answer, she knew too well that for once she could not argue with Rainbow Dash's logic. There was wisdom in the blue-skinned girl's words, buried very deep under a thick layer of pride and stupbborness, but still wisdom. Besides Applejack needed to blow off some steam anyway. "Ah, shoot!". The country girl sighed in the end as a sign of defeat. "You win this one, Rainbow Dash. But just this one". "Ah!". The other youngster exclaimed pleased. "I knew you were trying to hide something. Now tell me: am I or am I not the best friend ever? Because, you know, only a true friend like me would remain by your side and listen". "Rainbow Dash". AJ shouted nervously. "Friendship isn't a competition. Nobody wins or looses and nobody certainly gets any prizes!". This time it was Rainbow Dash who could not find the words to argue with her friend's logic: as much as she hated being wrong, this time she had to admit she had let herself being carried away. "F...Fine". The blue-skinned girl replied, gulping, as she began to feel the heat of the pressure of Applejack's eyes, staring at her. "I'll admit you are right...For once". Hearing that terrible and very light-hearted apology, the cowgirl gazed into her friend's eyes even more deeply. As Rainbow Dash noticed the anger in those green eyes, her forehead began to sweat, as if it were the middle of summer...Well it was July, sure, but to her those eyes looked like two fire orbs. "Okay, Okay. I give up!". The proud girl, finally admitted, when she realized she could not possibly handle that kind of pressure. "I know friendship isn't a competition and that there are no prizes. I just hate losing, especially to you". "Ah". The cowgirl exclaimed, as she proudly raised her head, while playing with one of her blond curl. "Keep practicing and maybe some day you will be almost as good as me at being a friend." "Hey!". Rainbow Dash protested furiously. "We've just said that friendship isn't a competition! What gives you the right to think of yourself as a better friend than me?!". "Oh, well...". The cowgirl giggled, as she began to speak. "For example I don't go around, yelling at everybody that I am the best at everything. I don't tease others, constantly repeating how inferior they are to me all day, if they're not good at sports..." "Hey! That's true...It's not my fault if I happen to be the best athlete at Canterot High!". "Sure, but you ain't certainly the most modest athlete at Canterlot High...". Instead of replying, Rainbow Dash just blushed in response. "Plus, I don't try to show off my skills every time I get the chance to do so!". "I think you've proven your point now, Applejack." The country girl's friend said, suddenly interrupting her. "You can stop mentioning every time I did something wrong". "I'll do it if you say please". The cowgirl went on saying with smirk on her face. "Oh, c'mon! Stop kidding: this game isn't funny anymore!". "Oh well, too bad. Cause we can stay here all day, while we try to bring up every single to time you screwed things up. For example I've got a pretty vivid memory of this one particular time, when you..." "Okay, I am sorry. Can we please stop this and change the topic of our conversation? Are you happy now?!". The blue-skinned girl shouted furiously, as her cheeks were turning as red as tomatoes. "Sure". The other youngster answered with a proud smile. "Can you now tell me what's bothering you so much?!". The moment she heard that question again, Applejack breathed deeply, accepting the fact that the more she held that heavy burden on her chest, the worse she would feel. "Fine. It's this darn job. I said it!". " What are you talking about, AJ?". Rainbow Dash questioned confused. "You get to do nothing but stand here and make smoothies all day. It doesn't exactly sound that hard, plus I can tell you that you are good at it...Again". "That's exactly the problem!". The country girl answered, dangerously raising her voice level. "Hey, keep it down, AJ!". The blue-skinned girl said, interrupting the other's speech. "Right, we wouldn't want Mr. Grumpiness to hear us...". Applejack whispered annoyed. "Who's Mr. Grumpiness?". "My new boss. It seems everything I do isn't good enough for him. So, he just exits that office of his every now and then and comes here to scowl at me, then shuts himself inside his room again". "Geez ,AJ". The country girl's friend replied, finally starting to understand Applejack's feelings."He sounds like a total jerk alright." "Oh, I can assure you he is". "If he really is as bad as you make him sound, I don't wonder why you are so not you today". "It's not just him, Rainbow Dash". Applejack went on saying. "It's my job...Pretty much everything it involves". "Ah, could you elaborate?" Rainbow Dash asked, not being sure she had fully understood what her friend was trying to tell her. "Oh, I'll elaborate alright!". The country girl exclaimed, as her eyes turned red from fury. "Do you see what I am wearing?". At the sight of the horrible apron her friend was wearing, the blue-skinned girl had to do her best not to burst into laughter, even if she could not help but let a low squeak escape from her mouth. "Geez...Rainbow Dash". The cowgirl sighed, seeing her friend's unorthodox reaction. "Thank you so much for your support and understanding." "Sorry, AJ, I just could not help that". Rainbow Dash quickly answered, drying the tears of joy that were wetting her eyes and cheeks. "That apron is hilarious. I may not be as fashion forward as Rarity, but let me tell you that you seriously need a change of wardrobe!". A few more seconds passed, before the cowgirl found the right words and strength to reply that not exactly polite comment. "You'd be surprised to know as much fashion forward you are." "Uh?" Rainbow Dash question confused. " What do you mean exactly?" " I bet Rarity would say the exact same thing, if she were here." "Oh." "Don't just say oh, Rainbow Dash. Come up with something smarter for pity's sake! Do you really think I like wearing this ridiculous thing? Do you think I'd come all the way here from Sweet Apple Acres, wearing this?!". As mush as the blue-skinned youngster wanted to answer, she was literally lost for words, so she just gulped in response. "What? Cat ate your tongue?". Applejack asked ironically. "Nope". The other girl replied, giggling, trynig her best to break that awful atmosphere. "I also don't see how that could be possible, seeing that I don't keep any cats back home. I don't even like cats, all I have is Tank." "And you couldn't ask for a better pet than him". The cowgirl went on saying, finally starting to smile, as their conversation drifted towards lighter and certainly more pleasant topics such as pets. "You just love that little guy". "Love?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, as she felt her hair suddenly raising from nervousness. "As in a sappy kind of way? No thanks, that's not for me...or Tank by the way. What that guy needs is some serious physical training. You know to keep that reptilian legs in shape". "You mean the same reptilian legs you so carefully cover with a warm blanket every night by the heat of the fireplace, if it's too cold outside? Right after you finish reading one of your favourite Daring Do novels to put him to bed?". Hearing those statements, Rainbow Dash felt the temperature of her body raise, as if the air conditioning in the mall had been suddenly shut down. How did Applejack know all this? How could have she found out the exact things she only did, when she was all alone in her room with Tank? Not even her parents knew that much about her relationship with her beloved tortoise? Had she perhaps given Applejack a few hints about what she did with Tank during their conversations without noticing? But most importantly how could she buy the cowgirl's silence, so she could preserve her reputation at school and avoid becoming the biggest laughing stock in Canterlot High? "Who told you those things?!". Rainbow Dash asked nervously. "They are all false!". "On, c'mon, Rainbow Dash". Applejack went on teasing her. "You know very well that lying won't get ya anywhere". As her friend was saying these things, the blue skinned-girl did not have the courage to protest anymore, she simply kept listening, as her cheeks slowly became red. "Plus I kind of saw you do all those things with your pet the last time you brought him with you at Fluttershy's animal shelter. Do you remember the photo shoot?". Of course Rainbow Dash remembered the photo shoot. She and all of her friends had agreed to take their pets at the animal shelter, so that Futtershy could take a picture of them for her charity calendar. Who could ever forget something like that? "Uh, fine". The blue-skinned girl finally admitted, giving up. " I might be slightly affectionate to Tank, but so what? It's not like you don't do the same things with Winona". "I ain't saying that you did anything wrong". Applejack said, intervening. "That is completely normal even for someone as "tough" as you. " "Eh...Can we please change the subject now?". The other girl exclaimed, growing more embarrassed by the minute. "Because all I understood before is that you aren't too happy with your job." "Yeah". The country girl sighed, tired of repeating the same thing over and over again. "Speaking of which...". She then added, suddenly pointing her watch. "Aren't you a little late for yours?". As soon as the cowgirl spoke those words, the blue-skinned youngster began to play with a curl of her hair, as if what Applejack had just said did not matter to her. "Chillax, AJ". She the said, finally answering. "I won't be needed at the sport retail shop until the next hour, plus thanks to my awesome powers I can get there in the blink of an eye". "If you say so, Rainbow Dash." Applejack replied, though not convinced that her friend was doing the right thing. "Well, it's been "nice" talking to you, but now I must be going". The blue-skinned girl went on saying. "I'd better do as many fun things as possible before I need to get to work. Goodbye, Applejack". "Bye, Rainbow Da...". As the cowgirl spoke, she was interrupted by a sudden, violent zoom that lifted a cloud of dust in the air, forcing her to close her eyes. When she opened them again, the country girl found herself alone. "Great, just great...". A few seconds after, Rainbow Dash was already at the opposite edge of the mall, where she was forced to stop by the gathering of an impressive crowd. "It looks like we'll get to work hard today. I bet the other girls have their hands full already". The crowd surely huge, but despite that fact, Rainbow Dash was able to spot two grinning familiar figures among the others. One of them was tall, thin and had short greenish hair; the other was definitely shorter than his friend, he certainly did not look athletic and had short red hair. "Snips and Snails?" Rainbow Dash thought to herself, as she noticed that the two boys were smiling suspiciously. "What are those two up this time? Whenever those two are together, it's not a good sign. I'd better follow them and see what they intend to do". Rainbow Dash's hunch was right and the young girl was even more sure about that, as soon as she saw that her two school mates where carrying hand sprayers full of paint. "Oh, oh". The blue-skinned girl went on saying to herself. "I might have an idea of what they're gonna do with those. But if they think I'm gonna let them get away with this, I'm afraid they are sadly mistaken. Now I just need to find a security guard". While Rainbow Dash left the pranksters alone to look for someone who could help her catch the two of them, Snips and Snails headed for the flower shop, owned by Daisy, Flower Wishes and Roseluck. When the boys arrived none was in the store but them, as at that time of day the three friends used to take a break from their job and have a cup of tea at the nearby cafè. “Are you sure they are not in there Snips?”. The first one whispered to his friend. “Absolutely”. The second one answered. “They're never here at this time of the afternoon. Now keep quiet and start working. You'll see how much fun we'll have, when those three come back here and see our work”. “You bet we will”. Snails giggled maliciously. “They are so dramatic I bet they'll pass out, as soon as they see our work here”. “Then keep quite and get to work”. Luckily for the pranksters the flower shop occupied an isolated corner of the mall. People rarely wandered there, so it was unlikely that someone would catch them in their mean act. What's more with all the confusion, caused by the summer sales, none would ever pay attention to two boys in front of a small flower shop. or at least that is what Snips and Snail thought. As much stupid as the two of them may have been, they sure worked fast. In nothing but a few minutes the glass front door of the flower shop was covered in green and red spray paint. “Not bad, Snips”. Snail exclaimed, as soon as the two pranksters had finished their job. “Not bad at all”. “Now we just need to hide behind the conrner and wait til the girls come back. It shouldn't take that long”. “Sorry to disappoint you, guys”. Suddenly a voice said from behind their backs. “But the fun ends now”. “What?”. The two boys, exclaimed, turning around and seeing Rainbow Dash, standing in front of them. “Rainbow Dash, hey!”. Snails said, trying his best to hide the trembling in his voice. “What a surprise to see you here!”. “Surprising indeed for the two of you”. The blue-skinned girl smirked proudly. “What do you mean?”. The other one went on saying, noticing that his friend Snips was sweating. “Oh, nothing really. Say, would you happen to know who was so mean to ruin the entrance door to the girls' flower shop?” “Us?” Snails exclaimed. Almost shivering. “Why would we know such a thing? Did you see who it was, Snips?”. The other boy replied by shaking his head. “Oh, really?!”. The young girl giggled, teasing her two victims. “Because my friend and I here think otherwise.” “Friend?” The boys questioned, confused, at the same time. Immediately from behind Rainbow Dash a police officer appeared. He was tall and bulky; his skin pale as that of a ghost, and he was scowling like an angry bear. “Hello, boys”. The guard said, looking very mad. “Enjoyed your little art class?”. “We didn't do it officer!”. Snips exclaimed, trembling like a leaf. “Yeah, we just happened to be here at the wrong time. We swear!”. Snails added, intervening. “Don't try too fool me, you little scoundrels!” “But...” “We saw it all, boys!”. Rainbow Dash said, stopping Snails from making another stupid excuse. “You mean the whole thing?”. “From the start to the very end.” “This means?” Snails, asked timidly, understanding that trying to hide what it had already been found out would be no use for both his friend and him. “It means that you gotta clean that door now if you don't want to get into some more serious trouble. And trust me...I've never made a single joke in my life!”. At the sound of those words the two pranksters lowered their head in sign of defeat. “But how are we supposed to do it?”. Snails asked after a minute of silence. “Here.” Rainbow Dash said, passing him a couple of dish cloths and a bottle of cleaning detergent. “Something we borrowed from the supply closet. They'll help you do things faster”. “Now move and start cleaning!”. The police officer shouted nervously. “Yes, sir!”. The two boys exclaimed, terrified by the giant's voice. “Thanks for your help.” The officer said, shaking hands with Rainbow Dash, after Snips and Snails had started cleaning the mess they had made. “It's so good to see that there are people like you among the youngsters. You'll help make a better world: of that I am certain!” “Thanks agent”. The blue-skinned girl replied, blushing. “I just did what was right”. “Exactly”. The officer went on saying. “If there were more people like you, everything would be going smoothly...But unluckily for me I have to deal with people like you every day!”. The tall man shouted, turning toward Snips and Snails who had suddenly slowed their pace down to listen to the conversation between Rainbow Dash and the police officer. “Who told you that you could take a break?! You were mighty fast at doing your job just a moment before. Now I expect you to be equally fast!”. “Yes, sir! Sorry, sir!”. The two pranksters quickly replied, before getting back to cleaning. “You can go now, Rainbow Dash”. The police agent finally added, turning back to the blue-skinned girl who had helped him catch the two rascals. Leaving the flower store behind, Rainbow Dash marched proudly, pleased with what she had done. Right at that moment she was feeling like some sort of heroine of justice. “Ah!”. She exclaimed, smiling happily. “Nobody can mess with me!”. On her path the girl was lucky enough to come across Daisy, Flower Wishes and Roseluck who were on their way back to their store. “Hey, girls!”. The blue-skinned youngster exclaimed, seeing them. “Hi, Rainbow Dash!”. The three girls replied, greeting her with a smile. “What brings you to the mall? Shopping with the other girls?”. Daisy asked curiously. “Not exactly”. Rainbow Dash explained. “The girls and I decided to take part time jobs here at the mall. But I arrived a little early, so I decided to just go for a stroll.” “Sounds great”. Flower Desires said, intervening. “ Did anything in the window displays catch your eyes?” “Not really, but I simply must tell you something”. “What is it, Rainbow Dash?!”. Roseluck questioned, worried. “If it's important, tell us, please!”. “Relax girls”. The youngster replied proudly. “Snips and Snails were trying to pull you three one of their mean pranks by painting the door to your store, but a security guard and I managed to catch them. Now they're cleaning up the mess they made”. “The front door to our lonely store?”. Daisy exclaimed, looking shocked. “Yeah, but as I said, an officer is making sure they fix everything up. So no harm done.” “You heard that, girls: harm done!”. Roseluck intervened. “No, that's not what I...” “The horror!”. Flower Wishes screamed desperately, before she and her friends fainted on the ground. “The horror!”. “Ah...”. Rainbow Dash sighed, after their dramatic scene ended. “I guess that couldn't be avoided with them”. At the moment she said those words, the blues-skinned girl heard the sound of the clock, hanging on the wall of the mall corridor. She turned her head curiously and noticed that it was already 5 pm. “Oh, no!”. She shouted loosing her composure. “I am an hour late for work! If I don't get at my shop now, soon I'll be the one screaming!”. With these very words she rushed to the sport retail store with all the speed her magical gem gave her, but not even that managed to save her from the angry shouts of her new disappointed boss. Luckily for her the store was low on personal, so she was given a second chance. “And that's what happened”. Rainbow Dash sighed, while Rarity was listening, sitting by her on a bench in the sport retail store. “Pretty bad, eh? I managed to screw everything up on my first day. I hate to admit it, but I should have listened to Applejack”. She went one saying, without stopping for a second, as if she did not need to breath. “But again, I did catch Snips and Snails and stopped them from getting away, so I guess it was not all that bad.” “Fascinating tale, darling”. Rarity said, intervening, while standing up from her seat. “Fascinating tale?”. The other girl questioned confused. “Rarity, I just told you I screwed everything up!”. “I am sorry about what happened, darling”. Rarity interrupted her, visibly in a hurry. “But I really must be going now, maybe we will catch up later...If I survive Prim Hemline”. And with those words Rarity rushed out of the store, leaving her poor friend alone. “Uh”. Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “She couldn't have been more light-hearted than that”. While she was still caught up in her deep thoughts, the youngster heard a noise, coming from outside. Instinctively she turned her head toward the source of that very noise to see a familiar face. Right there, just a few feet away was Sunset Shimmer. She was dressing in an embarrassing blue uniform and wearing a hat, shaped like a pufferfish. Her hair was combed in an unusual haircut. But what caught up Rainbow Dash's eye the most was the fact that her friend was sitting with her knees on the ground, holding a broken sandal in her left hand. Even from that distance she could tell that the expression Sunset had on her face was anything but joyful. “Geez...”. Rainbow Dash thought to herself. Laying her eyes on her. “...Now, that's someone who needs some serious cheering up!”.