//------------------------------//
// 3 1/2. Being impatient pays off 
// Story: A Lost Mosaic 
// by DeathFox4 
//------------------------------//

I shook my head as I was put onto the ground by Rainbow Dash.  I fixed my saddlebags, checking the interiors as I ignored the mare, checking the belongings.  I securely latched it shut as I lifted my eyes, taking stock of the surroundings.  She had put me down by the edge of the Everfree Forest.  I nodded in satisfaction.  

"Are you even listening to me Lyra?"  Rainbow waves her hoof in front of my face, catching my attention as I nodded.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought Miss Dash."  I said, causing Rainbow to shake her head in disgust. 

"Bleh, No.  Don't call me that."  She said, lifting into the air and floating around lazily on her back as she talks to me.  "Rainbow is more than fine for you, it's what all my friends call me."

"Very well Dash..."  I trail off, thinking for a moment.  "Do you know the way to the ruins in question?"

As I receive a negatory headshake, I lifted my saddlebags further onto my body before starting to lead the way.  I hear a huff behind me before blue hoofs pick me off the ground.  "Lyra, I can fly."

I smile sheepishly.  "Force of habit."  I point towards the forest. "That way please." 





I let out a sigh as my hooves touched the ground.  I opened the saddlebags, handing Rainbow some fragments for her to test.  "Here we are.  Do you suppose you'd know where to find these?"  Rainbow nods.  She takes them into her hoof, taking off from the ground as soon as she took them.  She flew straight up at a blistering speed as she twirled, fragments falling from various heights before she lands on the ground.

I watched the fragments float on the air before fixing Rainbow with a glare.  "I could have done that myself."

"No, you couldn't."  She smiles at me, watching the air for a moment before darting in a direction in the air and catching a fragment.  As her movement scatters the other fragments, she looks around before dropping the fragment.  "Here."  She yelled, scooting down and picking me up again as she carried me some distance, dropping me onto the ground.  "Try there."

I huff a bit.  "Warn me next time!"  I called after her as she bolted again into the air.  I shake my head in frustration as I trot over to the location she pointed.  I pulled my shovel out of my saddlebag, pawing at the ground for a moment before I dug out a big chunk of earth.  This was going to be a waste of time, but I'd do it to humor Twilight.  I sigh, shaking my head as I scanned the dirt and tossed it to the side.  "Nothing there."  I said quietly, using my detection spell to pulse the ground, scanning for abnormalities in the ground.  "Still nothing!"  I call into the air, about to dig again to humor Rainbow.

Rainbow lands on the ground before me, skidding to a stop.   "Nothing?"  She asks.  I nod in response.  She lifts into the air.  "Ready?"

"Ready for wh..?" My words get cut off as she picked me off the ground, carrying me to another location.  "Try here."  She said, bolting into the air again.

I stare at the trail she left behind, shaking my head in disbelief.  Was this really her strategy, have her dig at random spots and hope I get lucky?  What a waste of time.  I dig my shovel into the ground, digging out a small hole.  I pulse the ground for abnormalities.  "What a waste of time.  I'm going to have such a bad headache after this." I mutter.  "And not..." I frown, my magic pulsing in response to the first.  I run the test again, paying attention to the results before carefully digging at the pointed direction a few feet away.

A few holes and a few pulses later and there before me laid the dirtied fragment.  I lift it up carefully, scanning it for a moment as I nod.  This was the same material and writing style as the fragments we were missing.  I placed it down, using the scan to adjust my old spell for the weathering in the area.  I pulse the ground, my jaw dropping as I quickly found five more locations, stopping my spell prematurely before it gave me too many results.

"Rainbow!  Careful when you land, please!"  I call into the air, taking a seat as I start to work.  I hear Rainbow give an affirmative as she darts around in the air.