//------------------------------// // The Competition // Story: My Little Pony: Rhyming = Random? // by Ferlathin //------------------------------// My Little Pony: Rhyming = Random By Ferlathin Chapter I - The Competition – – – Rainbow yawned. She had just woken up from one of her naps. She looked down on the ground from her cloud and noticed Zecora trotting on the way towards Everfree Forest. Zecora had most likely been to town to buy some ingredients for her many potions and brews. Rainbow decided to dive down to the zebra to see what she was up to. “‘Sup, Zecora!” “Hi there Rainbow, tired? I can see. What brought you down here... to talk to me?” the zebra replied with her usual rhyme. Rainbow wasn’t sure of what to say, so she tentatively said, “I don’t see you very often, so might as well take the chance to talk to you when you’re outside of the Everfree Forest!” “I bought some ingredients for a future task. So go right ahead and start to ask.” After hearing Zecora speak rhyme after rhyme she thought to herself, Is she actually keeping this up, naturally? Hmm... She gave voice to her thoughts and asked, “Do you always speak in rhymes?” “It’s the way of my people, it’s always been there. It can be intriguing, so I tell you, beware.” “Ha. You think I wouldn’t be able to keep up? It’s so on. I challenge you, Zecora. To a rhyme competition. Last pony standing, with proper rhymes, wins.” she added, “I dare you too!” She pointed her hoof seemingly at nopony. “Who is this ‘you’, where you’re pointing your hoof? I can’t see anypony, is this but a spoof?” “Oh, no. You know who you are,” Rainbow said, still pointing seemingly nowhere. Wait what! I thought to myself. She can’t be serious... “I am serious, alright. Do you accept?” But I’m so bad at rhyming! I’ll ruin everything! I thought once again. “Nah. I’m sure you’re just as good as we are.” she said soothingly. But how should I do it then? “Just make it work. You’ll figure it out.” *sigh* Fine. I’ll give it a try. “Well now then my friend and the person within. Let’s start speaking in rhymes, let the game begin.” she said with a grin. “That one was short and a very cheap trick. Shape up right now, or get beat with a stick.” Her eyes shone with anger, I had to give in. The rhymes kept coming, I couldn’t let her win. “Who is this person? I’m feeling confusion. Is there something I missed or just an illusion?” the zebra said as she looked around. Whatever Rainbow saw, it could not be found. “The game is on then. Let’s do this, alright! I can feel it now, it’ll be an awesome fight,” Rainbow said without seeing her mane, starting to shine with a glow like from rain. “I might help you both, from time to time. I hope you’re okay with such a rhyme. Whenever I do, do not feel mislead. It will be quite fine, now continue,” I said. “Whatever you say, I couldn’t less care. I do not dislike it as long as you’re fair.“ “I can hear him now too!” Zecora spoke out. “It just feels so blue,” she wanted to shout. “I don’t want to shout, what is wrong with you! This feels too uneasy, just scram! Shoo!” “I’m not going away,“ I said with a smile. “You’ll have to beat me or I’ll be here awhile.” “I’m not gonna lose, it is like a crime. I’m awesome at rhyming, they call me; sublime,” Rainbow said, with a gesture and a neigh. It looked so funny, it was quite the display. “I’ve always been speaking, like this in my mind. There’s no chance you’ll win, even if I was blind,” Zecora said, with a smile on her face. Will she too be able to keep up in this race? “I have a good chance, it’s decent at least. To win this game, you African beast!” I said, quite smug and waited to see, what the zebra’s reaction to this would be. “What is that you say, you insolent man. To speak such things, of my noble clan!” “You’re right. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said. But it’s your expertise I’m starting to dread.” “Well lucky for you, I soon will be gone. You don’t stand a chance, I’ve already won.” “It’s not over yet, for I am still in! There’s no chance at all, that I’d let you win,” Rainbow said, with a smile on her face. She flew beside her friend, slowly yet with grace. The party of two reached the Everfree. “This is where we part ways, you and me,” Zecora said, trotting towards the tree, “And your opponent somepony else has to be.” “At least we had fun, it can’t be denied. I gave it my all but let’s say that we tied. I bid you farewell, Zecora my friend. Maybe someday, a letter I’ll send. It’ll be filled with adventures, both big and small. Like when I defeat a dragon, or went to the mall.” Rainbow waved as she saw her friend go. I did insist so she said, “Is that so?” “Yes my dear Rainbow, now it’s you and me. As we travel away, from Everfree,” I said to the mare, that I loved so much. I sighed as I’d never feel her touch. “Hey! What did you...” she said with a blush. “Is that really true... That I’m your crush?” “I have to admit, you’re quite the mare! The feeling is real, it’s true, I swear.” She continued on the way, leading back to her place. I noticed a smile, spread across her face. She was happy, and so was I. At least today, I had not been shy. I gave her a glance, every now and then. She noticed me once, and spoke up again. “I am still confused and I can not quite see, how someone like you, could love somepony like me?” “Dash my dear friend, it’s a well-known fact. That sometimes the world, can be very abstract.” “What are you saying, I’m feeling attacked! How did you think, that I would react?” “I’m sorry my friend, I meant it not so. Can we just drop it, and let it go?” “No I won’t drop it, ‘til you make amends. Do it right now, or we can’t be friends!” “I’ll do anything! Please tell me how, I can make it up, to you right now.” “If you really care then you’d do this; just lean right in and give me a kiss.” Speechless I stared at my pegasus friend. I did what I did for our friendship to mend. I leaned in close and shut my eyes, I wasn’t sure if this was wise. I knew that I could not pretend. What happened next, I didn’t intend. My intention was pure, to give her a peck, but I couldn’t control her or keep her in check. The passion I felt, when she kissed me back. The feeling of bliss, it threw me off track. I couldn’t do much, but embrace her as well. She enjoyed it too, that much I could tell. Our lips separated and I felt a rush. “Well that’s a sweet kiss,” she said with a blush. Thank god she forgave me, I thought in my mind. Who would have thought I’d make up, in kind. We continued to travel, side by side. Not much were said, I decided to bide. The silence went on, until one of us saw, Angel the bunny with a carrot in his jaw. “Hey Rainbow! Look, over there do you see? It’s weird that he’s here, don’t you agree?” “I guess I can find it a little strange. He seems to have run off for a change. At the same time I think I understand, his lust and desire to explore new land. I have been a filly once too, you know. Itching to seek adventures on the ground, below.” “There you are, little Angel Bunny!” Fluttershy said with an expression not sunny. “Hi there, Fluttershy!” Rainbow said. The yellow pony winced and covered her head. “Oh Rainbow, it’s you. You scared me a bit.” I couldn’t deny it, she was quite fit. “Hey you! I know what you did just now!” Rainbow said angrily and raised her brow. Fluttershy flinched at this sudden gush. I looked at Rainbow and gave her a pleading, “Shh.” “Don’t be frightened, Fluttershy. I’m sorry, it’s okay.” To which Fluttershy responded with a tiny, “Yay.” “It’s a friend of mine, you can’t hear his voice. Unless you want to, that is your choice.” “Why can’t I see him?” Her voice was so kind. “I’m not sure if he’s all in my mind.” “Hey I’m right here!” I said and gave her a nudge. She gave me a smile, but wouldn’t budge. “Oh, I hear him now too. What is your name?” “I... I shouldn’t say,“ I replied in shame. “Aww, come on now! Don’t be such a wimp. Introduce yourself or I’ll make you limp!” “You can’t make me do it,” I said with a grin. “His name is Martin and he’s fine, within,” Dash said and looked at me with joy. “He’s a really good person, just a shy little boy.“ I was confused, but decided not to show. I have not told her, so how did she know? “You can read my mind and I can read yours. It’s as easy as doing the daily chores,” she replied to my thoughts like if she had heard, my own conversation, word for word. “I might just add, to my defense. Does it not kind of, make sense?” “It does sound fair,” Fluttershy said and smiled. She tried to calm Angel, who had gone quite wild. “I do not know, what has gone wrong. Need to get him home, and sing a song. And then maybe tell a pony’s tale, about perhaps, Cloudsdale. What’s up with me, I speak in rhyme!?” “It’s ‘cause of his presence, he likes the chime.” “Fair enough, it is quite fun. I’m sorry Dash, I have to run.” “See you later, Fluttershy. I’ll be stuck here, with this guy.” Fluttershy turned around and left. And I made my comment, quite deft. “What’s that you mean, stuck with this guy.” To which Dash replied with but a sigh. A little while later she meets a good friend. Twilight’s her name, and now the rhymes will end. “Don’t make me stop, I like this, please!” Rainbow said sadly, I obliged with ease. “Make what stop?” Twilight asked with a smile. One could see that she had been out for a while. “I found somepony new, an admirer of me. I’m sure you’d be jealous, if you him could see.” “What’s up, my friend? You speak like Zecora! What happened to your mane, it looks like an aura!” As Twilight spoke she felt a chill down her spine. I talk like her too, that just can’t be fine, she thought to herself in a moment of fear. She spoke up again, afraid of what she’d hear. “What’s happening to me, please do make it stop!” she said, trying hard to make her voice not drop. She collapsed on the ground, but felt a hoof on her cheek, “Do not worry Twilight, be strong, not weak!” Twilight nodded at her winged friend, “Do you know if this will ever end?” “I know why it’s there Twilight,” she said with a grin, “It’s part of a game that I am in. It will continue on until one of us lose. You can ignore his voice, should you so choose. Just close your mind and focus hard, keep your thoughts together and be on your guard. If you do it just right, you soon will see, that the only pony he’s controlling is me.” “But what can I do to get you out of this madness?” she said with a sigh and a slight touch of sadness. “You don’t need to help me, away from this ‘mess’. I brought it on myself, so it’s fine, I guess,” she said to to her friend and held out her hoof. Twilight didn’t respond, she was too aloof. Rainbow poked her friend, sturdily yet with care. “Let’s go back to your place, I’m sure you’d rather be there.” “But what will we do, about this new friend of yours?” she asked Rainbow as she stood up on all fours. “I think he’ll stick by, he usually does. It should be fine though, he won’t make a fuzz.” “Alright then, let’s go!” Twilight happily said. And in silence the two friends started to tread. It didn’t take long to get to the tree. Spike greeted them there, “Got the present for me?” “Oh no, I forgot!” Twilight exclaimed. “It’s all my fault, I should be blamed,” Rainbow said with a with a tired sigh. “I’ll be right back, I know just what to buy!” She left her friends and flew towards the square. When she did arrive, she got inside the affair. “Hmm, which should I get... I’ll take one of these!” The cashier said, “That’ll be five bits, please!” She gave him the money and off she went. Back to Spike, the little gent. As Rainbow came back she said, “Here you go!” Spike’s eyes widened as he said, “Whoa!” “What you got there, Spike, is quite a gem! Don’t eat it at once, you treasure them!” Twilight said to her dragon friend. She turned to Rainbow, “How much did you spend?” “The price was low, it wasn’t much,” she said and gave her friend a touch. “Oh I won’t eat this, “ Spike replied. “I’ll carry it with me, it’ll be my pride.” He walked away, happy with his gift. “Let’s do this quickly, we have to be swift.” Twilight started to search around. “Where did it go?” she said and frowned. “What exactly are we looking for?” said Rainbow as she searched the floor. “There is this book, many spells within. With it I can make you sure to win!” “That does sounds like cheating, you know that I can’t! Good conscience only a true win will grant. But if this is so important to you, I’ll ask him to leave... that’s what I’ll do.” “Please do, right away!” The lavender mare cried. “It’s because of my thoughts... I don’t want to hide.” Rainbow spoke up, but her voice died away, “Could you then please... be on your way...” “You know I can’t argue, with you, my love. I’ll make sure you’re safe, from here, above.” “I know that you will... I’ll miss you, friend. I can only hope, that my heart will mend,” she said to me and added a sigh, “I guess that we now can say goodbye.” She gave me a smile, the sweetest can be. I thought to myself, Well that’s it, for me. I waved farewell, as I wandered away, it had after all, been a wonderful day. I decided right then, that this should be it. The finish came closer, bit by bit. The library was now, but a spot on the ground. I all was very quiet, not a breeze, not a sound. I do not right now, have much more to say, since this should be it, I’ll call it a day. Thank you for reading this story, my friend. I’m not saying goodbye, but this is... The End This is where I, will add a small quote. To you it’ll be, an author’s note. Rainbow and I have been through a lot. And now we have been in a random one-shot.