//------------------------------// // Brute Force // Story: Chronicles of the Spectrum // by Blue_Thunder //------------------------------// Rainbow had ran back and forth between Sweet Apple Acres and Sugarcube Corner the after hours of the first couple days. After wednesday, she felt the script was just fine how they figured it. With all that spare time, Rainbow nearly lost her patience waiting for sunday to come around. Finally, it did... ~~~~~~~~~ "-et me see if Ah got this right," Aj said, looking at the camera. "You think Sunset read your mind?" "I know she did." Rainbow wiped off the lens with the provided cloth. "She wouldn't have grabbed my wrist otherwise. She didn't find anything though." "Oh?" "Wasn't anything to find." "Ah see... Still... Ain't lookin' into someone's past an invasion o' privacy?" Aj continued. "It is. That's why I'm showing you this video right here." Rainbow turned the screen and played the video she took a week and a half ago. ""Stay out of my head!"? You've known since it happened, an' you're just now tellin' someone about it?" "Well, yeah. Gotta pick my friends wisely you know?" Dash put an arm around Aj's shoulders and looked at the opposite seat in their booth. "Besides, she doesn't suspect I know anything. I tell you what though, it helps to be a fast reader. Even if my comprehension is s-" "Salutations!" Pinkie sat down quickly wearing her work uniform. "I only have ten minutes right now, so talk fast." "Pinkie. What time are you off work today?" Dash asked her, removing her arm. "Off at 4 today. You guys still have an hour and a half to kill. Why not spend it at the arcade down the road?" "Nah, got stuff to talk about here. We can wait, right Dash?" Rainbow nodded. "Okey-dokey-lokey. Oh! Before I forget: did you get your money back from your video?" "Sure did. Sunset's a peach." "More like an apricot, but to each their own. Oop! Gotta go! See ya girls!" She stood and took off behind the counter. "You think working in a sweets shop with Pinkie's power is a good idea?" Rainbow looked at Pinkie disappear. "She probably has really good control over her power. Just like the rest of us do." She thought a moment. "Well, maybe except Twilight. What with her breathin' exercise." Rainbow stood and stretched. "Hey. Walk with me? I'm getting restless... Again." Soon as she opened the door, she bumped into the same guy who sat down for Sunset's test. "Hey buddy. Why don't you-" "Watch where you're going?" Shade Walker took a step back. "Fancy meeting you here, Rainbow. Applejack. Come to sample the local cuisine?" "Nope. Just ... Just visiting a friend. We'll be shooting tomorrow around here, so feel free to stop by." "I'll put it in my phone." He took out his device and punched in a few things. "All set. See you then." He walked by them into the restaurant. As they started heading away from the doors, Aj asked, "What was all that about?" "He's on to us. I can feel it. If we can get Sunset to read his mind and history, we can prove it. But that means using our powers the wrong way." Aj stopped. "He knows?" "He was there, just before you came up to Sunset's table. I got it on camera." She opened up her own device and played the video. "See? Sunset didn't even hesitate. And, she wasn't wrong. So, he knows her power is real. Since he goes to our school, he's probably been following us around. In the darkness and hidden." "You really think that?" "Of course I do. I know a spy when I see one." Rainbow looked at Sugarcube Corner. "He's in there now. Probably keeping an eye on Pinkie. And she probably already knows it, too. Gotta warn the others. I'll be back by film-time. Promise." Rainbow walked out of sight from the building and took off down the road. ~~~~~~~~~ When she returned, it was already 4:30. Pinkie and Aj were all set up and ready to start. Around the back of Sugarcube Corner was the living space for the Cakes. Pinkie lived upstairs, and got permission to film in their home. Rainbow gave the good news to the two of them, then they got into position. "Don't forget Pinkie. You gotta say the line. You know the one." Pinkie nodded. ~~~~~~~~~ Pinkie was standing beside a big box with a clipboard in her hands and a pencil behind her ear. The box was open and some small pieces were set off to the side. "Howdy Pinkie. Sorry for the wait, traffic was a nightmare." "No problem. I wasn't going anywhere anyway." "I'd imagine not. So, ya said ya needed mah help?" "Right!" Pinkie snapped her fingers and looked at her. "I just got a shipment of parts to build another party cannon, and once again, Bulk Biceps is busy at work. So, I called you to help instead. Hope that's alright." "Ah'm here, ain't Ah?" Aj walked to the open box and peered inside. "Lotsa metal in there. Gonna build it down here?" "Nah. I would like to at least make sure all the parts are there before taking it upstairs." "No sweat." Aj leaned into the box and paused. Pinkie turned to the camera and waved a little before saying, "Pay attention. This is important!" She looked at Aj and said, "You want some help there?" "Nope. Ah'm fine." She hefted the biggest piece out and set it carefully on the floor. "Looks like half the barrel." Then, she pulled out the other half and set it beside the first. "There's the other half." "Quarter. The barrel is four pieces." Pinkie checked a couple things off the sheet on the clipboard. Together, the two of them took out and cataloged the pieces. Then, Aj put them all back in the box and carried the whole thing up the stairs, with the camera following their every move. At the top... "Thanks for all your help, Aj. But I have to ask... How do you have such brute strength?" "Ah can throw a transmission like a softball an' bench press a one-ton. This? This ain't nothin'. If ya ever need help like this again, give me a holler." Aj tipped her hat and headed downstairs. When the door shut, the video ended. ~~~~~~~~~ "So girls?" "Can you really bench a one-ton?" Sunset asked. "Sure can. If Ah tried anyway. Big Mac an' Ah worked on the truck over the week an' Ah played the role of jack. Kinda fittin' if ya ask me." "Your physical strength has increased since the Camp Everfree incident. You are definitely getting stronger." Twilight looked at Sunset. "You are getting better at picking what memory you want to look at." Then to Rainbow. "You are faster than ever." Over to Rarity. "And your control is amazing." She turned to Fluttershy. "It's only a matter of time before you develop a special skill that enhances your own ability, Fluttershy." "I look forward to it." "That means I'm next, right?" Pinkie asked, taking a bite of salad. "That's right, Pinkie. And I'm also going to need Fluttershy's help for this one." "Why me?" she asked. "Not that I mind helping, just curious is all." "I'll tell you more about it when we get to the docks. you're gonna have so much fun in this one, Pinkie." Rainbow finished the rest of her food quickly. "I'll hold you to it. Do I get to bring candy?" "Of course! To share, eat, and... Well, spoiler alert." She winked at Pinkie, who chuckled.