//------------------------------// // 23 - Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed // Story: The Storm's Challenge // by OneLonelyPickle //------------------------------// Chapter 23 - Bright-Eyed, Bushy-Tailed Twilight stirred. She groaned and felt her pounding head with a limp hoof. Underneath her was stone and when she looked around she saw stone walls and iron bars. Light was streaming in a tiny window, and from the bright glow, it was morning light. “Wha—” she began, but winced in pain before she could finish her thought. Sharp pain was reverberating beneath her skull. She moaned in agony. “Quiet!” yelled a guard from outside the cell. Twilight saw that there were now two of them, and they definitely weren’t as lazy-looking as the last. The guards glared at her with a hatred she did not understand. She looked away and covered her head in her hooves. This is bad… ouch, it even hurts to think. Twilight laid, face smushed against the damp, hard floor, for a long time. She tried to remember what had happened after her encounter with the strange fog, but to no avail. How long had she been knocked out for? And what was going to happen now? Tsunami thinks that I came here to use that mind control spell on him! Well… technically I did, but I didn’t know what it was! Twilight sighed. Why would Celestia teach me that kind of spell and not say what it was? Who knows what’s going to happen now… but one thing is for sure, I definitely need to get out of here. I still have a job to do. Another throb of pain shot through Twilight’s mind and she cried out. She looked around the cell, trying to think of something, anything, that would aid in her escape, all the while suffering for her thoughts. She bit down on her lip and tears welled in her eyes. The walls were magic-proof, the cell bars were magic-proof, and the window was magic-proof. She looked up and down. But not the ceiling or the floor! She had to be as subtle as possible, as the guards were eyeing her intensely. A loud grumble of Twilight’s stomach drew her gaze to her rumbling tummy, then up to the guards. She blushed. “You’ll get food when Prince Tsunami commands it, evil one!” shouted a guard. Twilight struggled to stand up. “It’s all a misunderstanding! If you’d just bring Tsunami here, I could—” But it’s not really a misunderstanding at all, is it? Twilight thought, looking back down to the floor, getting used to the pain from thinking. “Not another word, fiend, or you’ll regret it! Tsunami gave us permission to keep you quiet if need be!” said the other guard. This triggered an idea in Twilight’s head. She stared at the bars of her cell door. I wonder… it might just work! Twilight bided her time, lying and waiting. But not while I’m on an empty stomach… * * * Ringing. Ringing in her ears is what Rainbow felt, heard, and suffered. Something was… poking her back? What the heck is going on? Rainbow was flying high in the sky, clouds kissing her wings and birds calling her name. On the ground below, millions of cheering fans waved at her. There was a red ribbon just ahead, stretched between two poles. She saw a black and white checkered flag on a cloud and knew at once that it must have been the finish line. But the dang ringing wouldn’t stop, nor did the annoyance poking her back. She looked behind her and saw nothing yet continued to feel the poking. She ignored it as long as she could and flew right up to the finish line but had to stop. The sensations were too strong. “Argghhh what is it!” Rainbow felt the world around her drain away like water in an unplugged bathtub. Suddenly a different world came into view. The ceiling of her room. Light poured in through the window. To her left, Tank was poking her with his head. To her right, an angry alarm clock was vibrating and ringing. Then it hit her like a freight train. She slammed her hooves against her face in horror. “I OVERSLEPT!” - - - Rainbow was out of her door like a maniac, wings flapping close to the speed of sound and mouth drawn into a terrifying grimace. “No no no no no, I can’t be late! Not today!” She regretted staying out so late the night before. Rainbow ripped through the sky at a frightening speed. Houses and landmarks below faded behind her as quickly as they would appear. Any cloud unlucky enough to be in her path was torn to shreds. Then, off in the distance, Rainbow finally saw it. “Whoa,” was all she could manage, but it was shocking enough to make her stop her flight. It was the Saddlebred Citadel, and it was truly remarkable to Rainbow, especially from a distance, just how large it truly was. It looked about the same size as all of Canterlot Castle. Rainbow realized she was no longer moving and started her mad flight once again. Upon reaching the outskirts of Canterlot, it was clear that viewing the Citadel from a distance did it little justice. Rainbow was mesmerized by the sheer volume the structure took up in the sky. The sun was not visible from just about any place in Canterlot. Dozens of pegasi were flying every which way around the Citadel, either to enter it, to leave, or to check this or that outside its walls. Sometimes, one of the flyers would glow with sunlight as reflections bounced off their armor. Maelstrom’s guards, Rainbow figured. Meanwhile, balloons and the odd zeppelin were also docking and descending from one side of the Citadel. Rainbow watched the masses below in Canterlot as she made her own winged way to the Citadel. Soon enough she crested the titanic outer walls and was looking down at the main stadium with amazement. Inside was carved out like a large bowl, with a field in the middle and thousands upon thousands of seats cascading from the ground level up to the top of the walls. It was like the stadium in the Crystal Empire, where Rainbow and her friends had gone to watch the Equestria Games, only much, much larger. Swaths of pegasi were already strewn about the field, talking among themselves or watching ponies who were shouting out orders. Rainbow smiled and descended into the stadium. She scanned the masses until she saw Spitfire, Soarin’, and the rest of the Wonderbolts. She landed next to Spitfire, giddy and ready to go. “Mornin’ sir! Sorry I’m late, sir!” Spitfire looked surprised to see Rainbow at first, then quickly relief washed over her. “Rainbow! You came after all! Soarin’ figured you forgot to register your teammates for the relay and decided not to show up.” “Hey!” Soarin’ protested, “That’s not true! I only said she probably forgot. You said she wouldn’t show up!” He got into Spitfire’s face and the two stared each other down. Fleetfoot trotted up to the pair and waved her hooves worriedly. “Guys, guys! Not now, please!” She then turned to Rainbow as the other two silently agreed to a temporary truce. “Rainbow, is it true that you didn’t register any teammates for today?” Rainbow crossed one hoof over the other and looked at her friends with a nervous face, ears hugging her head. “Mhm,” Rainbow mumbled. “It was really stupid of me. I’m sorry guys! Where are the other teamless ponies?” Fleetfoot and the rest pointed their hooves towards one side of the field. A group of perhaps thirty or so pegasi, plus a few dragons and griffons, were scoping out their fellows. “If you had been listening yesterday,” Spitfire said, “You could have gotten two of our best flyers on your team. But nopony wanted to risk being stuck with lemons, so, all us Wonderbolts registered before the closing. Sorry, Dash. Good luck with what you get.” Rainbow swallowed hard. * * * “Can you believe it? This is so exciting!” Sweetie Belle was staring up at her big sister with saucer eyes aglow with youth and jubilation. Rarity smiled down at the tiny filly and ruffled her mane. “It certainly is, darling. I can’t say I’ve ever seen so many ponies gathering for one event like this.” She looked out over the city of Canterlot off the side of the balloon. Inside were her, Sweetie Belle, Applejack, and three other ponies. One of the volunteers for the event stood in the middle, controlling the balloon. She was a mare with a long, golden mane and a coat with a pale shade of green. Rarity noticed the medallion she was wearing, a fine accessory of bronze with an etching of outstretched wings. “My, what a beautiful necklace! I’ve seen a few so far this morning. Wherever did you get it?” Rarity asked. The EFL volunteer turned and smiled. “This old thing? Oh, this is just what we get for being Equestria Flyers League volunteers! We’re supposed to wear them to show that we’re volunteers. But thank you anyway!” “Well I think it’s splendid,” Rarity complimented, “I find such a fascination with simple jewelry. It makes your eyes pop!” The mare blushed, maroon eyes aglow, before replying. “And I love your outfit and your hat! It’s, like, totally designer label!” Rarity turned and struck a pose. “Oh, you think so? Why, you have a good eye. Because this IS designer label: mine!” Her fluffy white hat, wide brimmed and covered in swan down, bounced as she moved. Her flowing pearl-coloured dress, done in layers with streaks of feathers, attracted the attention of everyone on board once the EFL volunteer brought attention to it. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Ah mean, it’s a bit much if you ask me.” Nopony seemed to notice. Rarity addressed the EFL volunteer amidst the praise around her. “Tell me, dear: what is your name?” “Peony Breeze! And yourself?” “I am Rarity! Purveyor of all things fashion and tres magnifique!” One of the fellow riders of the balloon, a young stallion, gasped. “I know you! You’re that fashion designer that’s making a name for herself with Ms. VeeVee! My friend just ordered a bunch of stuff from you the other day!” The crowd ooo’d and awe’d. Rarity shot a sidelong glance to Applejack and smiled. Applejack changed the subject by asking Peony a question. “So, what made you want to volunteer for the EFL?” Peony’s eyes were shining and her crescent smile gleamed. “I’ve always wanted to fly with the Flyers League, even though I’m not super great at flying. I came here from Baltimare to watch the Storm’s Challenge, and when I saw ponies asking for volunteers in the royal courtyard, well, I jumped at the chance! They said if I did a good enough job, I might be able to join as a junior flyer, full time!” Applejack nodded. “Ah see. That’s super! Ah hope that works out for you, Peony.” She turned 180 degrees and leaned on the basket of the balloon. She nudged Rarity to get her attention, and both ponies watched the world below slowly drift by as Applejack whispered to her friend. “Ah don’t know about you, sugarcube, but ah’m starting to think Pinkie’s tail was right after all. Lots of stuff happening lately has been awful weird and suspicious.” Rarity quickly looked back at Peony, who waved with a goofy grin. She turned to Applejack and replied with a raised inflection. “Because of Peony Breeze? Why, she just loves the EFL and wants to be a part of the team! I don’t quite understand your reasoning.” Applejack shook her head. “Not her, Rarity – at least, not exactly. It’s this business with Maelstrom’s guards replacing Canterlot’s, and now all of these volunteers. And then there’s Pinkie’s tail. Altogether it’s rubbing me the wrong way.” Rarity lifted her chin and felt the breeze float through her coat. “Oh Applejack, you’re being overly worried! I’ll tell you something I learned from Ms. VeeVee yesterday. Maelstrom is totally loaded! He’s got a lot of bits to throw around, and the League is his lifeblood. He’s just showing off, is all. Not to mention, he gets a lot of funding from this rich family in the south. That Bushwhacker fellow that Fluttershy seems smitten with, he’s one of the younger sons in that family.” “Ya don’t say…” Applejack replied. “Well ah think you’re being underly worried! And ah think it’s on account of all the nice things ponies are sayin’ to ya lately.” Rarity turned up her head in a huff. “Hmph! That’s preposterous! When have I ever let praise get the better of me?” Applejack just stared at Rarity as if to say ‘seriously?’. Rarity smiled awkwardly. “Okay, okay, fine, but what do you propose?” “Ah ain’t proposing nothing. Just keep your eyes and ears open and be prepared for anything. Depending on how today goes, ah’m thinking it might be better to end our competition and help Pinkie.” Rarity started to pout. “But, Applejack…!” Applejack shook her head. “Rarity, some things are more important than silly competitions!” “Well… fine then. But I want you to declare me the winner if we do that.” Applejack was upset. “And why in the hay would you get to be the winner?!” Rarity closed her eyes and pushed up her mane. “I think that’s obvious, dear. I sold more than you.” “Who says that? We won’t know til we count the bits!” Rarity looked smugly at Applejack, whose eyes were ablaze. “Why Applejack, I thought this was just a ‘silly competition’.” “It is but” – Applejack gritted her teeth – “Shoot, Rarity! Why you gotta be so—” “Rarity! Applejack! Look!” It was Sweetie Belle. Both mares were drawn to the light blue cloud wall now looming before them outside the balloon. In the wall was an opening, where another balloon was letting off passengers. “We’re about to enter the Citadel!” Peony announced, “Get ready to disembark, everypony!” Applejack gulped looking at the landing platform built into the wall. She watched tentatively as other ponies got out of the balloon in front of her and stand firm on the cloud. “You, uhh, you sure we aren’t gonna fall through when we get off, Peony?” “Not a chance!” Peony chimed, “EFL volunteers are using their magic to power a cloud walking spell that covers this half of the Citadel. There’s no risk of falling!” Applejack felt a poke at her shoulder. “Overly worrieeeeedd,” Rarity sang.