//------------------------------// // Other Car Talk 1 // Story: Too Many Everything // by Daemon McRae //------------------------------// “So Limestone, dear, what exactly is it you do for a living?” Rarity asked hesitantly. As much as she was enjoying the quiet of Lime’s car, and the time she got to spend with Fluttershy, she found the driver a little… intense. Careful on the road, yes, but her presence was somewhat intimidating. Limestone spared her a sideways glance before returning her attention to the road. “I’m in college, actually,” she answered carefully. Even in polite conversation her voice had a gravelly edge that led to the intense impression she gave others. “Living with my parents while I get my archaeology degree. I’m really only on this trip as a way to unwind before I get to spend three months as an intern at a dig in Alaska. I’d be going earlier if there wasn’t a territorial dispute between the college and a local Inuit tribe. Nothing major, but god forbid you put a shovel in the ground without the government’s say-so.” “Really?” Fluttershy perked up. “What college do you go to?” “Griffinstone, although I’m slated to to my post-grad at Eaton,” Limestone explained. Both Rainbooms stared at her quietly, obviously impressed. “Well, my word. I wasn’t expecting you to be such an… academically inclined young woman,” Rarity replied. Then immediately regretted. Fortunately, Limestone wasn’t offended. “Ha! Yeah. Neither was I, to be honest. I kind of fell into the archaeology thing when my parents dug up some ‘native remains’ on the farm trying to lay new pipes. I musta spent hours poring over local records and talking to historians and stuff trying to figure out where it came from. Turns out they weren’t actually remains, just the bones of a long-dead animal who’d eaten somethin’ weird. My parents saw how much fun I was having digging around, and encouraged me to try for college. That was my last year of high school, and up until that point I was only keeping my grades up to keep my folks happy, but it was enough to get into GSC, color me surprised.” There was a small silence as Limestone changed lanes and glared daggers at a particularly aggressive driver behind her, only to sigh as Indigo’s car barreled past. “So what about you ladies? I know a little bit about both of ya’, cause Pinkie just doesn’t. Stop. Talking. But I’d like to hear it from the horse’s mouth, to be honest. What are you two up to back in the real world?” Fluttershy gave a small smile. “I volunteer at an animal shelter, and Rarity is a budding fashion designer.” “Eh, I never had much interest in fashion” Pie mused. “Spent too much time getting my clothes dirty. I never really liked the idea of puttin’ something on I couldn’t dig a hole in.” Rarity twitched slightly. Dear God it’s like Applejack all over again. “Well, surely you’ve been to a formal event at some point? Dressed up for the occasion?” Again, Limestone laughed. “Please! I showed up to my high school graduation in overalls you could barely see under an inch of dirt cause I forgot what day it was and had to get pulled out of the well I was digging halfway through the ceremony. If we hadn’t been having a party afterwards I doubt Pinkie would have even bothered coming to get me. I’m not about to spend a couple hundred dollars on an outfit I might only wear a couple times when I can buy a good pair of work boots that’ll last me to the heat death of the universe. My parents like to joke that I’d only ever get married if Carhart started making wedding dresses.” There was a few moments of silence before Limestone added, “Uh… Rarity?” “I think she passed out,” Fluttershy noted. ----------------------- Twilight swerved out of panic as Indigo blazed past her. “Holy cow! Is she trying to hit someone?!” “If only she’d do us the favor,” Sour grumbled. “I mean, oh no, slow down, there’s innocent people in the car…” Lemon Zest snickered into her hand as Sunny gave Sour a reproachful look. “You do know it’s Twilight’s friends in that car, right?” “Friend,” Twilight corrected. “The other two are Aria and Sonata, and despite Sunset’s… ringing endorsement of Adagio, I’ve never been able to get along with any of the Dazzlings. Also, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree with Sour Sweet. Whatever trouble Indigo gets into is entirely on her.” “And you’re not worried about Rainbow Dash getting pureed against a concrete wall?” “I would be, if she couldn’t fly at mach 6,” Twilight groaned. “I’ve seen her pull people out of moving cars before. And there’s no way Indigo’s actually going fast enough to cause an accident. Having been her passenger before, I can honestly say she’s skilled enough to stay out of trouble, aside from the many, many speeding tickets she should have.” “I can’t believe that girl wants to be a cop when she graduates,” Sunny grumbled. “It’s gonna be hilarious when she finds out they spend 95% of their time NOT in high-speed chases.” “This coming from the girl who wanted to be a spy for like four months after a single Jason Bourne movie,” Lemon chided. “W-well Hollywood should do a better job of portraying real-world careers realistically!” Flare said defensively. “You do realize they call it ‘fiction’ for a reason, right?” said spike from the back of the car. “Said the talking dog,” responded the entire rest of the car. --------- “Come on somebody, why dontchu run~? Ol’ Red’s itchin’ to have a little fun~! Get my lantern, get my gun~. Red’ll have you tree’d ‘fore the mornin’s done~!” sang Pinkie and AJ at the top of their lungs. They barely noticed as Indigo’s car roared past them, and the car only went quiet as the CD ended. “That was awesome! What else you got?!” Pinkie yelled, digging through Applejack’s music collection. ‘Finally, somebody who understands good music,’ AJ thought to herself. ----------------------------- Sunset groaned loudly as she watched Indigo’s car pull away ahead of them. “Would someone mind calling… anyone in that car and reminding them we don’t even know where the next hotel we’re staying at is? And also that I’m not paying their speeding tickets?!” Adagio sighed. “I’m on it.” From behind them, Sugarcoat could feel her blood pressure rising. “No. Nu-uh. Not again.” Maud just looked at her quietly. “...ok, fine. Is it bigger than a breadbasket?” “No.” “Is it smaller than a breadbasket?” “No.” Sugar felt a vein in her temple pulse. “Is it a bloody breadbasket?!” “Good job.” “Oh for God's sake!” Trixie barely stifled a laugh as she quietly tucked a dollar into Maud’s pocket. ----------- Meanwhile, should one be driving fast enough to keep up with Indigo Zap, they would hear the following emanating from her rolled-down windows: "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"