Rainbow Dash trotted along the aisles of Rich's Barnyard Bargains. A lot of great deals presented themselves to her, price cuts, fifty percent off, buy one get one free. They were all so appealing she nearly grabbed whatever she could lay her hooves upon. But she had a particular item in mind.
“Ah babyfood.” Rainbow Dash grabbed several bottles of the mush into her cart as she made her way to the checkout lane. Luckily there was a short line. She could get this done as soon as possible.
“Welcome to Rich's Barnyard Bargains,” The checkout pony spoke in an emotionless drawl. Clearly she didn't want to be here. Luckily her boss wasn't watching. “How can I help you?”
Rainbow Dash placed the jars stop the service counter and the checkout pony began her job.
“So are these organic?” Rainbow Dash asked.
The checkout pony looked at one of the jars. “It says organic on the lable.”
“Yeah. But you know it says it's organic, but I just want to make sure this is one hundred percent organic. It's for.....somepony.”
The checkout pony stared at the pegasus blankly. “I'm sure.”
“Could you check?”
Once more a blank stare followed. “No.”
Frowning, Rainbow Dash decided to go with her gut. After all, this was just baby food. It wasn't as if it mattered if the little guy had a healthy meal. But then again, this was a baby after all. Rainbow Dash shook her head, dismissing the thought. Why was she getting all of these thoughts? Could the little pest have affected her that much. She couldn't think of such things. All she wanted was to get out of here and never have to do another “feeding” again.
Since this whole ordeal had begun, Rainbow Dash suddenly felt as if things would work out.
XXX
“Baby!” Apple Bloom shouted.
“Little griffon!” Sweetie Belle cried.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders followed the baby griffon to Ponyville. For a baby, the little one was fast; really fast. By the time they had reached the outskirts of the town, he had run out of sight.
“I can't believe we lost him! Rainbow Dash is going to be so disappointed.” Scootaloo lamented, displeased with the idea of letting down her idol.
“Come on he has to be here somewhere.” Apple Bloom attempted to brighten up the situation.
The trio trotted deeper into town, keeping an eye out for any sign of white or brown. Their hooves beat against the stone path as they hastened their steps. They soon found themselves in the market place. Many ponies mulled about buying and selling. Although there were many signs of coat colors, there were none of the griffon variety.
“He could be anywhere.” Sweetiebelle complained. “We'll never find him.”
“We can't give up! Rainbow Dash is counting on us!” Scootaloo wouldn't give up. There were more than five bits at stake.
The market was big, and there were plenty of places for a baby to hide. Then again, the baby probably wasn't even here in the first place.
“Aggghhhh!” A shrill scream echoed throughout the market. Following the direction of the sound, the Cutie Mark Crusaders noticed Bon Bon frantically back stepping from a vegetable stand. “There's a rat in there!” The frightened mare proclaimed.
The owner of the stand immediately looked through his stand to make sure that wasn't true. His eye raised quizically as he noticed nothing was out of the ordinary with his produce.
“What are you talking about? There's nothing wrong with-”
“Wark!”
The tiny but shrill sound gave away his position, one that Bon Bon and the stand owner noticed. A furry, feathery runt poked its way out of the vegetables. It's big, golden eyes stared up at the adult ponies, especially the one with the multicolored hair. For a moment, an image placed over Bon Bon as the baby's memories played back a certain game it liked the play. Bon Bon let out another shrill scream as the baby griffon leapt and dug into her mane, tussling it about and enjoying himself.
“Get it out! Get it out!” Bon Bon screamed as she tried to remove the extra addition to her hair.
“There you are baby!” The trio of voices blended in together.
The baby turned its head and noticed the three strange fillies charging towards him. Although they were strangers to him, to everypony else, they were the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The Crusaders leapt at the griffon only for them to crash right into Bon Bon. The baby leapt from his mare perch and hopped to a new stand, shocking the respective owner.
“I'll get him!” Apple Bloom exclaimed. The filly leapt at the stand only to be smeared with fruit juices. Unfortunately, the young griffon leapt the moment his pursuer followed. Hopping to a new stand, the baby repeated the process as Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle met with similar success as their friend. Each time they would leap, the baby griffon would leap even faster causing a great mess of things. The noise and growing shouts of the ponies filled the young griffon with alarm. He sought protection. He sought......Mommy! There she was! Mommy was here! She would protect him!
The little griffon darted to his mother cuddling up to her leg just as he had done in the past. Rainbow Dash moved her leg away slightly, just as she had done so before whenever her “baby” showered her with affection. However, for the time being, her attention was divided between her little baggage, and the angry stares of every pony present. Well minus the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The adult ponies however, quickly connected the dots noticing the griffon's preference towards Rainbow Dash.
Sheepishly grinning, Rainbow Dash uttered a simple apology. “Sorry everypony.”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders showed equal sheepishness as they trotted up to Rainbow Dash.
“So.........do we still get five bits each?” Scootaloo asked.
Rainbow Dash groaned. Today was turning out so well.
XXX
The sound was excruciating; piercing the ear drums.
“Come on please be quiet!” Rainbow Dash pleaded.
It had started the moment they had gotten home. Rainbow Dash had managed to feed the squirming brat, with much difficulty of course. Yet, after one jar of baby food and being a fussy eater, the baby griffon suddenly broke into a crying fit. The day had long passed into night. It went like a breeze. Rainbow Dash had kept the child quiet long enough, but soon the child grew hungry. A second jar of baby food later, Rainbow Dash's mane was frazzled mess; remnants of the earlier feeding.
“Come on, eat up.” She had said. Taking the spoon, she nudged it toward the baby with the intent of filling its belly. The child turned its head away in protest.
“Please....I don't have time for this.” Rainbow Dash whined. She would nudge her head towards the baby who continued to defy her. “Come on. Open up so the dragon can get in its cave.” Rainbow Dash said trying a new approach; one that had been tried on herself in her youth.
Slowly the young griffon opened its beak and gradually accepted the flavored mush. One bite followed, then two, and more. A small grin played upon Rainbow Dash's face as the griffon swallowed. Maybe this whole parenthood thing wasn't so bad after all. Today had been rough, but this one brief moment, seeing the grinning face of the baby griffon.
“BLARGH!” All of a sudden, the baby's face contorted in clear discomfort and the next thing Rainbow Dash knew, her wide eyed expression was covered with....whatever was left of the baby food.
That was the past however, in the present, both meal times had long ended and now the baby currently was screaming its head off.
“What's wrong?” Rainbow Dash tried to keep her voice calm and peaceful, not wanting to upset the child even further. But the child continued to cry no matter what she said or did.
“What? You want something to play with?” Rainbow Dash looked around for anything that could be used as a toy, but found nothing. “How about a funny face?” Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue and made her best silly face, but still nothing. Tank had long retreated into his shell, hoping to drown out the noise. At this point, Rainbow Dash wished she had a shell to retreat into. This was becoming too intense. The child continued to cry and wail, never ending in its onslaught against her eardrums. It went further than that even. Her poor mind tried to maintain all rationality of patience and understanding. After all, this was only a baby. But her patience had its limit. It couldn't go on for long, and whatever strand of reasoning had reached its zenith.
“SHUT UP!” The entire room fell silent. Tank retreated back into his shell for a second time, and the baby griffon closed his beak. his large golden eyes increased in size, focusing on the pegasus before her. It didn't take long for a whimper to emerge and with a tear in his eyes, the baby griffon let it out.
As the crying commenced, Rainbow Dash's left eye twitched.
XXX
“I'm coming! I'm coming!” Twilight trotted to the door, hoping to quell the pounding. It grew more incessant with each step she took. Reaching for the handle, she only opened it just a tad before it burst open. Immediately, her ears were hit with a screeching sound. Staring back at her was a tired looking Rainbow Dash; upon her back, the baby griffon screamed, tears streaming down his face. “Rainbow Dash? What?”
“Twilight! He won't stop crying!” Rainbow Dash's complaint came like a force of wind. Although nothing blew Twilight over, she could feel the overwhelming emotion behind it.
Without saying a word, Twilight beckoned her friend inside, wincing at the crying.
“I've tried everything but he just won't shut up!”
Without a cue, Twilight levitated the youngster off Rainbow Dash's back. Moving him towards her, Twilight observed the child. Gently, she patted her hoof upon his back
“Urp!” The child let out a cute, tiny burp.
“There, he just had a little gas.”
Lowering the child down, he let out a yawn before curling up, drifting off to sleep. Rainbow Dash stared at the griffon, her right eye twitching in irritation. Gas? All he had was some plain old gas? Furthermore, a simple burp was what was needed to fix everything.
“I can't do this.” Rainbow Dash muttered.
“Excuse me?” Twilight asked, just barely hearing her friend.
With an exasperated sigh, Rainbow Dash ran a hoof across her face, causing a few strands of her mane to fall out of place.
“This is too much. Today was just awful, and it's all his fault!” Angrily she pointed a hoof to the sleeping, innocent babe.
“Oh come on Rainbow Dash, you can't blame him,” Twilight reasoned, “he's just a baby.”
“More like a little nightmare.” Rainbow Dash sardonically retorted. “I swear, ever since he came into my life he's been nothing but a headache!”
Twilight opened her mouth to reason, but Rainbow Dash wasn't done.
“I can't stand it! I don't have any free time to myself. Look I know you said he imprinted upon me but I'm not meant to be anypony's mother. There has to be a way around this.” Rainbow Dash tried to think of any way to get out of this forced motherhood.
A moment of silence followed, save for the griffon's snoring. At last, Twilight broke the silence. “Look, Dash.” Twilight began. “I can't imagine what your feeling right now. If I was in your position, I probably might feel the same way.”
A soft snort escaped from the pegasus. Nopony could even begin to fathom to how she felt.
“But for some reason, you and this little griffon were brought together. If you ask me, its fate.”
Fate. That was a good word to sum up the situation. It all seemed like more than just a coincidence. Not that Rainbow Dash cared for it. To be honest, the whole thing sounded like something out of one of Twilight's books.
“Twilight. I just...I just don't know.” Rainbow Dash wearily replied.
Twilight sighed. “Why don't you stay here tonight?” She offered. “Tomorrow morning, I could write a letter to the princess. There's an orphanage in Canterlot. I-I'm sure we can work something out.” Twilight wasn't sure if that idea could work. She had said and read about how young griffons imprint upon the first thing they see. Something like this could be damaging to the youngster's psyche. But they could get to that in the morning. Twilight brought Rainbow Dash a blanket, as well as for the baby, forming a makeshift nest for him to rest. Rainbow Dash rested as well, tired from a long day of humiliation. Her mind went over the events of the day repeatedly. How did her life come to this? What did she do to deserve this? Oh well, this would all be fixed with a quick letter to the princess; she hoped.
Suddenly, before long, she heard a tiny yawn. Looking over to the makeshift nest, she noticed the baby griffon walking towards her. A soft grumble scratched her throat. She nearly pushed the baby away, but another cute yawn put that action aside. Before she could say a word, the baby cuddled up to her, nuzzling against her soft coat; a sound that was like a purr emerged from the baby who continued its cuddle fest.
“Oh no, don't try and butter me up, not after today.” Despite her words, the baby continued to cuddle. “Don't think this cutesy stuff is going to work on me.” The baby gazed up at Rainbow Dash with its big golden eyes. “Even if you are kind of cute.” Shaking her head, Rainbow Dash rose to her feet and headed towards Twilight's book shelf. She pulled out a rather particular book, one she hoped to find.
“Daring Doo and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone.” Rainbow Dash read.
Setting herself down, Rainbow Dash got into position, making sure that the baby was in the proper spot. “Now I'm only reading this so you won't keep me up all night.”
The baby trilled and snuggled up, gazing into the book as Rainbow Dash lowered it.
It only took one chapter for the baby to fall asleep. Closing the book, Rainbow Dash set her head down, but she didn't close her eyes, not just yet. Her eyes watched the baby's body move up with his breathing.
“Why do you have to be so cute?” Rainbow Dash asked.
The baby merely moved in its sleep, uncaring and unknowing of the world around it. A small smile played upon her lips before she closed her eyes completely.
Maybe she wouldn't quit this whole parenthood thing, not just yet. After all, it wasn't like her to quit anything she tried.