//------------------------------// // Episode 8 Rainbow and the sea // Story: Evanstallion: Neon Friendship // by Short-tale //------------------------------// The day began in an normal way. If normal was your pink roommate divebombing you as you slowly woke up. Fluttershy immediately tried to flee under the bed but her assailant shifted her weight down. She was pinned and escape was impossible.  “Guess what? Guess what?” the assailant asked. “We’re going on an airship and your friends can come!” Fluttershy gasped for breath.  “Oh sorry,” apologized the heavier-than-she-looked Pinkie Pie. She shifted off so that Fluttershy could breath normally. “That sounds..nice,” the little pegasus finally managed. *** “This is amazing,” shouted Sunburst. “Is this what flying is like?,” he asked Fluttershy who was clinging to the mast of ship.  “I don’t know,” the yellow pegasus whimpered with her eyes closed. “I don’t normally fly this high. I feel a bit dizzy.” “Thanks fer lettin’ us tag along, Ms. Pinkie,”said Applejack. Her eyes filled with wonder as she saw the large masted ships on the ocean.  “Look, there it is.” Applejack pointed to a convoy of three mastered ships in the sea. Hippogriffs ran around the ship as they got a landing platform ready.  “I just wanted to share the fun with everypony,” explained Pinkie. “Down there is the hippogriff fleet. They’re bringing Unit-02 and the second filly to Ponyville 3.” “The second filly? You mean there are more Eva pilots and Evanstallions?” asked Sunburst excitedly. “Absolutely,” exclaimed Pinkie. “There are quite a few being made. Evas 03 and 04 are being made by the hippogriffs in Mount Aris and Eva 05 is being made in Griffonstone.” “Do they have pilots yet?” asked Sunburst cautiously. “Nope, just the three so far.” “Hey, Ms. Pinkie, do ya like my new hat?” asked Applejack, adjusting a Stetson that looked exactly like the old one. “I got it especially for this occasion.” “Ha ha, I love it. It’s all cowpokey,” cheered Pinkie. “Shucks thanks,” blushed Applejack.  “We’re heeeree,” announced the pink pony with a burst of her cannon. “This the ship Rainboom.” The airship hovered above the deck of the massive galleon and a ramp lowered down. The hippogriffs grabbed the end of it and attached it to the deck. The little group descended onto the deck of Rainboom. Hippogriffs helped each pony as they disembarked the ramp.  Sunburst was a flurry of activity. He galloped and gawked at each magical device the ship bore. The hippogriffs were delighted to explain each one to him.  Suddenly a gust of wind took Applejack’s new hat and threw it across the ship towards the bow. “Aww, horseapples,” Applejack muttered then shouted,” somepony stop that hat!” The hat zipped and slid just out of reach until it was landed on by a blue hoof. The hoof crushed the poor little hat into a mangled mess. A single tear slid out of one of Applejack’s wide eyes, before they narrowed and took in the hat smasher.  The blue hoof was attached to a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane in a white dress. She looked down at the crushed hat and smiled a sheepish smile. “Ha ha, oops,” she said,”I guess I over did it.” “Ya crushed mah hat, who in the Sam Hill do ya think ya are?” demanded Applejack now inches from her hat-ssasin. “You’ve not heard of me? Ha, I’m Rainbow Dash,” the pegasus proclaimed loudly,” and I’m the most awesome Eva Pilot there is.” Rainbow flapped into the air and stood tall to emphasize her greatness when another stiff breeze threw her dress up over Applejack’s head.  “What the? Get off me. You destroyer of hats!” demanded Applejack.  “Well you stop looking up my dress!” argued Rainbow. “A look like that is worth at least five of your crummy hats.” “Yer dress tried to grab me by the face, and what did ya say about my hat?” “Okie Dokie, lokie,” shouted Pinkie as she demanded their attention by placing her hoofs on each of them. “Let’s head some place less breezy in the kneesies.” “So which of you is the third filly?” demanded Rainbow. “Oh no! It’s not hat head is it?” “Whachoo call me?” Applejack spat shaking her hoof violently.  “Hat head, giggle, that’s funny,” snorted Pinkie. Applejack stopped in mid hoof shake and backed off but continued to give Rainbow the stink eye. “No the third filly is hat head’s friend, Fluttershy. She was able to sync with her Eva and defeat an angel on her first day!” “Really?” grinned Rainbow as she sized up the little yellow pegasus, “guess I have to show my best stuff. You better be ready for it, Jack. I’m giving it 120 percent.” “Ouch,” Fluttershy whined as Rainbow poked her with her wing. Pinkie erupted in another fit of giggles. “Her name’s not Jack, silly. It’s Fluttershy.” The small band of ponies arrived in front of a very stiff looking hippogriff. He looked down on the little ponies with disinterest. He was a light grey color and wore a red jacket with rows of buttons on both sides of the breast. He seemed very much in charge. “Hello Captain, my Captain,” saluted Pinkie.  “Mrs Pie,” he began. “Captain,” Pinkie interrupted , “I’m a Captain like you. Now we can be twinsies.” “Umm no, we don’t look anything a like and..,” he stammered then shook his head and reorientated his steely gaze at her. “That isn’t the point. I’m not happy that the hippogriff navy has to sail all the way from our kingdom with this monstrosity.” “Oh I am sorry that you don’t love your job,” Pinkie sympathized. She produced a cupcake from her mane. “Here's my orders from Princess Celestia herself. Maybe it will help you feel better.” “Your orders are on a cupcake?” The hippogriff looked suspiciously at the brown frosted treat.  “Yeah, you can read them written in the frosting with this,” she happily explained, producing a magnifying glass from her mane.  “I’ll take your word for it,” sighed the hippogriff. Then quickly devoured it in one bite. “Still have the best “cupcakes” in town?” asked a light orange pony with a brown mane. “Oh no,” bemoaned Pinkie as she placed her face in her hooves. “Pinkamena Diane Pie,” said the pony coming in closer. “Good to see you.” “I wish the feeling was mutual Cheese Sandwhich,” snarked Pinkie, growling a little. “What are you doing here?” “I’m escorting the awesome Rainbow Dash,” Cheese said and winked. “Well consider her escortulated, now you can run along.” “And miss the radiant beauty of your “cupcakes”? “Hmmpff,” Pinkie said “So Fluttershy, does she still leave frosting on the ceiling?” Cheese asked, turning to Fluttershy. “How did you know?” giggled Fluttershy. “Well, Pinkie and I go way back.” “Those times are over, Cheese,” Pinkie insisted. “I don’t want to discuss them.” “Fine, suit yourself. See you around, Pinkamena. C’mon boneless 3.”  Cheese placed a rubber chicken with a large red “3” painted on it on to his back and left the little group staring at him in confusion. Pinkie watched him leave then snorted in annoyance.  *** Cheese found Rainbow Dash out on the prow of the ship with her wings out. She looked longingly at the sky. Then noticed him behind her and cheerily turned.  “Hi ya, Cheese,” Rainbow said enthusiastically. “Hey Rainbow Dash, how is the most awesome pony on the boat?” “Ok, I guess.” “How did the great meeting go? I know you were pumped.” “I was but then I stepped on one of the third fillie’s friend’s hat.  Then my skirt blew into his face and I kinda froze up. I heard how awesome she is and challenged her to step that game up,” Rainbow listed. “Umm are you she is up for such a completion?” “Well yeah. I mean she pilots an Eva so well she must be into completion.” “I’m not so sure Dash,” reprimanded Cheese. “Not everypony likes competition like you do.” “You think?”  “Perhaps you might want to get to know her a little better before you challenge her.” “I guess,” admitted Rainbow as she rubbed her neck with her hoof. “It just sounds so boring. But between you and me, she is kind of cute. Oh wait, I know.”  Rainbow Dash flew off towards the bowels of the ship. She found Fluttershy debating which snack to buy from the vending machine. Fluttershy jumped as Rainbow landed next to her with a large grin on her face.  “Fluttershy,” Rainbow announced “Come with me.” “Oh umm ok,” Fluttershy muttered as she allowed her mane to envelop her face. She wished she had gone for the oat bar she had originally sought.  They moved through the lower decks. Rainbow excitedly darted this way and that. Then zeroed in on a large open room. She ushered Fluttershy in and happily displayed to her a large lump under a tarp.  “What is that?” Fluttershy asked apprehensively. “This is my Unit-02. The fastest and most awesome Eva in the world,” declared Rainbow triumphantly as she lifted as much of the tarp as she could. “Um, it looks kind of different,” observed Fluttershy. The shape of the Eva was decidedly different from the other two Evas Fluttershy knew. It had a strange silver bulge along its back and multiple eyes on its face. “Well that’s because it is. Unit-00 and Unit-01 were the earth pony and unicorn models but this is the first pegasus model.” “Really,” gasped Fluttershy. “It can fly?” “Buck yeah,” beamed Rainbow Dash,” but without the plug it still only lasts for five minutes. So I never get very far.” “Oh, that’s a bummer.” “I know. But one day I’ll be able to get it to soar higher than the stratosphere.” Rainbow looked at the ceiling in defiance with a small sense of longing in her eyes. Fluttershy could feel the determination and a small sense of sadness. She was both envious and inspired by the blue pegasus at the same time.  Suddenly a siren began to sound through out the hull. Fluttershy’s necklace began to glow as well.  “Oh my goodness, an angel?” gasped Fluttershy as her necklace flashed a brilliant blue. “No way,” shouted Rainbow,” c’mon lets go.” “What?” flustered Fluttershy as she began to back away. “Go where?” “Duh, we’re going to fight the angel with my Eva.” “But I don’t think we should. I mean it is their machine after all,” Fluttershy rambled. “We shouldn’t take it without asking.” “What kind of pilot are you, third filly? Pilots take risks,” stated Rainbow. “We fight angels for Celestia’s sake. How can you fight without risks?” “Umm I don’t know. Wait! What are you doing?”gasped Fluttershy. “Getting changed into my plug suit.” Rainbow began to take off her dress and slid into her bright red plug suit. “Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, hide somewhere to change?” Fluttershy asked as she turned her away quickly and blushed. “Why?” Rainbow’s eyes drifted towards the trembling mare.  “Some sort of decency sort of thing.” “You prude. Here get dressed in my spare.” “Ok.” They quickly dressed and Rainbow was able to get a fuller assessment of Fluttershy’s flank. She snickered to herself. Then they both climbed onto the awaiting entry plug.  The Eva came to life with a roar. The large tarp fell from its haunches. Rainbow pushed the levers and Unit-02 started to move to the exit hatch. Fluttershy tried to hide in the back of the back of the cockpit but found it had even less room than her own. She had to sit directly behind Rainbow. Rainbow snickered as she leaned her haunches into the yellow pegasus’s lap.  *** The hippogriff captain gave orders as his crew quickly followed them. “Something huge is out there,” he cautioned his guests. “It’s heading right for this ship! We’re not sure what.” Suddenly a nearby ship exploded in shower of wood and splinters. The captain reeled in shock. “What was that?”  “It’s an angel, Captain Twin. That means it’s CAKE’s turn to bring it down. I’m taking over the convoy, what’s left that is,” commanded Pinkie. “Fine! Anything! Just save us!” the hippogriff moaned and threw his hands over his head.  The hatch on the ship opened and Unit-02 lifted itself onto the deck. The tarp fully blew off and revealed a large red gleaming metallic pony body. It unfurled deadly looking silver wings that nearly blinded those around in the sun.  “All right Rainbow Dash!” cheered Pinkie through a bullhorn she pulled from her mane. “Get out there and show your stuff like you did to Applejack earlier!” She shook a set of rainbow colored pom poms.  “Why did you have to bring that up?” whined Rainbow through the Eva’s loudspeaker. She felt her cheeks get hot at the thought of embarrassment. “Your blushing now but not when we just changed?” noted Fluttershy. “You said I was a prude.” “I’m a little shy around stallions,” explained Rainbow. “What!” shouted Applejack shaking her hoof. “I may not be into dressin’ the same as ya’ll but I’m a mare through and through.” “Wait! The speaker was on the whole time?!” gasped Rainbow. “We don’t have time for this. We gotta kick butt.” Unit-02’s wings flapped rapidly and the machine took off into the air. The ship nearly capsized with the weight of its jump. The crew and friends were splashed as the ship righted itself. Unit-02 landed on the next ship over and attached the Eva’s cord into its tail with its wings. It turned its multi-eyed gaze across the ocean.  “Alright! Now we’re ready for action,” Rainbow Dash said with a satisfied huff.  “Umm good, I guess,” Fluttershy mumbled, “because here it comes.” “Deploying razor wings,” instructed Rainbow. The large silver wings unfurled. A large white mass emerged from the ocean moving at unimaginable speed. The mares had seconds before the white head became a cavern of razor-sharp teeth. It lunged from the sea and clamped on to the top half of the Eva. Rainbow cursed as the angel and Eva slid off into the sea. Unit-02 couldn’t move, held fast by the massive mouth of the angel.  “Oh no,” cried Rainbow. “It knocked us into the water. I can’t fly in the water. We can barely move.” The angel shook the Eva like a shark on a line and tried to shake it to pieces. Large metal chunks fell away from the robot’s backside and descended to the ocean floor. *** “What are we going to do? Hamiel just ate the Eva?” fretted Pinkie.  “Hamiel?” asked Sunburst.  “It’s trying to eat an Eva. It sounds like a pig to me,” explained Pinkie. “With a pun like that it’s time for me and Boneless 3 to vamoosh,” Cheese announced with a wave. He paused as his rubber companion’s head swung lazily in his face. “Don’t give me that look Boneless 3. The thing you’re carrying can’t fall into angel hoofs. If they had hooves, which they don’t. Looks more like flipper actually.” Cheese Sandwich pulled a string in his poncho. At first nothing happened then a balloon shot into the air from his back and inflated into the shape of Pinkie.  “Looks like you’ll sweep me off my feet once again, Pinkie,” he laughed and flew off the deck. “You made fun of MY joke and you come up with that!” Pinkie growled. “And stop making balloon mes, Cheese.” She raised an angry hoof at him as his balloon sailed off toward Ponyville 3. “I’ve never seen Ms. Pinkie so ornery,” whispered Applejack. “Don’t you mean cheesed,” jeered  Sunburst.  “Don’t you two start!” chided Pinkie.  “Yes ‘am,” the duo shouted in unison. “We’re about to run out of cord,” the Captain hippogriff bemoaned. “More like fishin’ line,” observed Applejack. “Yeah, fishing mmm,” pondered Pinkie. “The cord has 10 feet left,” panicked the Captain. “Mmm,” continued Pinkie deep in thought. “5 feet.” “Mmmm” “3..2..1” “Mmm, Oh wait, I know.” The ship lurched forward as the cable reached the end. The prow bashed into the nearest wave and threw the water on everyone on the deck.  “We should pretend we’re fishing. Reel the Eva back in,” Pinkie suggested expertly. “When it gets to the surface we hit it with a paddle.” “Not sure what type of fishin’ ya been doin’,” ventured Applejack. “Ooo, Ooo, how about we hit with a party depth charge instead?” mused Pinkie as the solid idea caused her to prong in anticipation. “Is that anything like your last party device?” asked Sunburst timidly. “Yuppers.” “Now we just gotta warn Fluttershy an’ Rainbow Dash somehow,”Applejack said as she looked into the depths of the ocean.  Pinkie placed her head underwater with her bull horn and shouted. “Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, we’re going to reel you in and throw a surprise party for the angel. You just have to get him to open his mouth for the big surprise. But don’t tell him.” *** Fluttershy and Rainbow looked at each other in confusion.  “It feels like they’re reeling us in,” Rainbow Dash commented. “Why would they give the angel a party? It’s trying to eat us.” “Pinkie knows what she’s doing. I hope,”assured Fluttershy. “We just have to open its mouth.” The angel opened its own mouth as it began swimming excitedly towards the big ship.  “What is it doing?,” Rainbow asked. “I think it’s excited to be invited to a party. Ooh that Pinkie is always so kind.” “Well, let’s make sure it keeps its mouth open wide then,”nodded Rainbow. The angel rushed to the surface with its mouth open wide. The Eva opened its wings and pushed its mouth open further. It burst through the surface fully agape. Unit-02 pushed out of its mouth and soared through the sky.  “Here’s your big surprise,” Pinkie sang as she moved a large cake with a large crane. She swung the cake over the edge of the ship. The angel turned and readily grabbed the enormous treat.  “Enjoy it, Hamiel,” Pinkie waved. The angel licked its lips then felt an immense pressure in its digestive tract as the cake detonated. Hamiel’s form erupted in a black mass that filled the ocean around the ship. The ship rocked violently in its wake. Thick blackened water surged around them.  The Eva drifted slowly down to the deck of the ship. It puffed its chest out with pride then lost its power and collapsed on the deck.  “Ha! I got one last hero pose in before the power ran out,” Rainbow Dash congratulated herself. Fluttershy didn’t know what to make of this odd pony. She didn’t seem to bat an eye that Pinkie had just tricked the angel to its death. She had watched the angel explode in dark meaty chunks with complete shock and revulsion.  Now this new pilot seemed more preoccupied with praise than keeping ponies safe. She also shifted uncomfortably in Fluttershy’s lap. It almost felt she was doing it on purpose. The entry plug opened and the two pilots flew out.  “Look Captain Twin, they’re twinizes too,” shouted Pinkie. “Ya went an’ sided with her?! The hat masher?!” huffed Applejack.  “You’re just jealous I’m so awesome,” retorted Rainbow Dash. “I ain’t jealous of no darned fool that can’t tell a mare from a stallion.” “It’s not my fault you dress.. stallionish.” The ponies continued to bicker with each other as the ship carried them back to the port where their train awaited. Fluttershy half heard the noise they made. Something about Rainbow Dash sitting on her lap made her both uneasy but excited. As hard she tried she could not forget the warmth in her lap that seemed to linger impossibly long. *** Cheese Sandwich arrived in Commander Discord’s darkened office. “Did you acquire it?” Discord eagerly asked. “It was hard to carry but I found it. Do you think the angel could have been after this?” Cheese asked while he produced his rubber chicken. “I do believe that is a rubber chicken,” informed Discord. “C’mon boneless 3 spit it out.”  The chicken coughed up a large toy pony. “At last we have it. The beginning of it all. My lovely pony. The pony instrumentality project can proceed,” snickered Discord and picked up the toy. “My goodness it’s heavy.” *** As the next day began at school, Fluttershy and her friends discussed their tiresome ordeal.   “Thank goodness that’s over,” sighed Applejack in relief. “I’ll be a retarded rooster if I’d ever have to deal with her again.” Applejack’s relief was short-lived as they noticed Rainbow Dash fly through the classroom door seconds before the bell rang. The teacher stood up as she handed him a note. He turned to the class and happily announced,”hello class it appears we have a new student.” Before he could finish his introduction Rainbow cut him off. “Hi everyone, I’m Rainbow Dash and I’m awesome,” bragged Rainbow as she puffed out her chest and unfurled her wings wide. “Consarn it!” shouted Applejack.