//------------------------------// // The Best // Story: Eljunbyro // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// "Mmmmm..." Fluttershy took a deep breath, her cheeks rosy as she trotted happily down the elevated street overlooking the mid Canterlot shopping district. "The mountain air is so crisp and fresh. It's just wonderful..." "Fluttershy, you were born in the clouds," Twilight remarked as she and the rest of her friends strolled down the line of richly furnished shops. "I'd think the mountains wouldn't compare to the fresh air you got up there!" "The air is different here, though," Fluttershy said with a soft smile. "You get the delightful fragrance from the mountain forests, the misty breezes coming from the snowy peaks..." "And don't forget the scrumptious aroma from the local confectionary!" Pinkie Pie chirped. "Oooh! That one sells peppermint! Can we go? Can we go?! Huh huh?! Can we?!" "For goodness' sake, Pinkie!" Rarity exclaimed, balancing no less than four bulging shopping bags in her telekinetic grasp. "We've been to four candy establishments already! Don't you ever think of your poor teeth?!" "Reckon you should pay as much mind to yer bit bag there, sugarcube," Applejack said with a wag of her eyebrows. "Oh Applejack, don't be so swift to ridicule me! I rarely get sewing materials like this back in Ponyville! And even the ones that I do get my hooves on, I have to order by express pegasus mail! It would take me at least six months to compile all of the marvelous silks and ribbons I've gotten in the last two hours alone—" Shrieking, Rarity skidded to a stop, formed a flimsy fort out of her shopping bags, and hid behind it—trembling like a little foal. "That was him this time! I know it! It h-had to have been him!" "Relax, Rarity," Twilight said, reaching a hoof over to pat her quivering shoulder. "That didn't even remotely look like Prince Blueblood." "He had his mane and his eyes!" "If that's true, then a whole lot of these stallions have had his manes and eyes!" Pinkie Pie said, giggling. "Stop being such a worrywhinnie, Rarity! It's a beautiful day! Wave your shopping bags in the air like you just don't care!" "I keep feeling like he's going to be just around the corner!" Rarity said, whimpering. "It'll be last night all over again!" "For the last time..." Twilight rolled her eyes and smiled consolably. "Celestia has her full assurance that we are not in any trouble. Yes, last night was kind of... crazy. But it's not like we're in a state of emergency!" "Yup! These streets seem pretty calm to me." Applejack turned and smirked at Rarity. "Besides, darlin', from the what I saw of that upstart fussybottom, I'd say Blueblood got exactly what was comin' to him." "He could disgrace m-me!" Rarity stammered. "He could soil my v-very name! My fashion career would be ruined!" "I don't think he even remembered your name," Fluttershy said in a shocked tone. "Blueblood is from the Azure Unicorn family," Twilight explained. "He was only in Canterlot during the Gala because Trottingham is experiencing a flash flood lately." "Oh yeah!" Pinkie nodded. "I heard about that!" "Twilight," Fluttershy said, looking at her friend with a worried expression. "Doesn't your cousin live in Trottingham?" "Who, you mean Misty?" Twilight giggled. "Don't worry. She's alright. She didn't get flooded like all the houses closer to the coast. She sent me a letter just two days ago." "Well that's good to know!" Applejack turned and smiled up my way. "Seems like it's a beautiful day for everypony after all!" Her freckles matched the snowpeaks of the mountains beyond. The blonde wisps of her bangs fluttered in the cool breeze. Her brow furrowed beneath her hat. "Rainbow?" "Oh! Uhm..." I cleared my throat and gazed off towards the streets beyond. "Yeah! Nice day for..." I groan. "More and more shopping..." "Is something the matter, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity remarked as she lifted the bags into a dainty hover beside her once again. "Still feeling the effects of sleep?" "I'm feeling effects alright. But not sleep!" I flapped my whings and hovered even higher. "How far up do these mountains go? I wanna see!" "Oooh! Carry me with ya!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, bouncing as the group moved along again. "I wanna pet a mountain goat!" "What if he doesn't want to be petted?" Fluttershy asked. "I'd ask first! The mountain goats where I come from are really polite!" "Uhhh... Rainbow?" Twilight nervously remarked. "I wouldn't go too high if I were you?" "I'm just stretching my wings! This beats shopping for bunch of lame ribbons anyday—" A whistle blew. I winced, nearly falling like a dead weight from midair. I glanced down to see a unicorn guard frowning up at me sternly. "You! Pegasus! Mind the flight restrictions of Canterlot! Or else!" Twilight wincingly smiled. "Tried to warn you..." "Unnnngh!" I forced myself to levitate down just a few feet above the ground. "Stupid city flying rules! How the heck does the royal guard get anything done with such restrictions?" "If I recall, the restrictions are made for the sake of the royal guard," Fluttershy said. "If everypony agrees to fly below a certain level, then that allows Celestia's pegasus guard ponies to do their job more efficiently." "What's so efficient about standing around and doing nothing?" I said with a grunt. "It's not nothing!" Twilight exclaimed as we crossed a sunlit street. "They're protecting the interests of Canterlot citizens and keeping foreign monsters and creatures at bay!" "I think somepony is too impatient to let the rest of us get some much-needed shopping done!" Rarity said with an upturned nose. "I can't help it!" I exclaimed, pulling at my mane. "I just want to fly and let off some steam! That whole screwup with the Wonderbolts last night has gotten me bummed! I wanted to impress them again like I did at the Young Fliers Competition, but it turned out to be the worst night ever!" I sighed long and hard. "Now it'll be a lifetime until I get to see the Wonderbolts in person again." Twilight looked at Applejack. Applejack looked at Rarity. Rarity looked at Fluttershy. Pinkie Pie had her eyes crossed. I squinted at the group. "What's on everypony's mind all of the sudden?" Twilight cleared her throat. "Well..." She smiled playfully. "We have an entire afternoon free now that all of the shopping's been done. I thought we might finish the tour of Canterlot by visiting the northeast district!" "Pfft. Yeah?" I groaned, folding my forelimbs as I hovered limply ahead of the group. "What's so special about that side of town?" Twilight pointed. "See for yourself!" "Buh?" I turned and looked. I felt my eyes exploding. "No way!" Before us rested a large circular building sculpted out of blue marble. I had seen postcards of the Canterlot Stadium before, but here it stood naked before me, and on the marquis it said: 'Wonderbolts Air Show: Performing Daily.'" "They're... They're on tour here this week!" my voice cracked. "Of course they are, silly filly!" Pinkie grinned in my face. "You think they'd just be in town for only the Gala?" "And there's an exotic falconing show for the opening act!" Fluttershy said, twitching with excitement. "Oh, I can't wait to see them!" "And I'm fixin' to talk to some of the local managers to see about enterin' the next Canterlot rodeo in this here circle!" Applejack said with a tilt of her hat. "See? We may have just had the worst night ever, but reckon that don't mean we can't have the best afternoon ever!" "My BBBFF got us all in for free!" Twilight exclaimed, smilling brilliantly as she suddenly brandished six tickets. "What do you think?" "I think it's so awesome!" I exclaimed, hugging myself as I felt like bursting. "Omigosh! You guys are the best! Squeeee—!" My eyes bulged. Blushing, I clamped a pair of hooves over my mouth. "Uhhhh..." I cleared my throat and pivoted to face them with a frown. "You totally just did not hear me squeak like a little foal." "Heeheehee... Yesssss we diiiiiid!" Pinkie Pie bounced past me towards the stadium. "It's okay, darling," Rarity said, winking at me as she trotted by. "We won't tell a soul." "After all," Applejack added, her emerald eyes sparkling whether she knew it or not. "We are 'the best.'" I gazed after them, my smile stretching my lips to the breaking point. "You sure are..." And I zipped after them in a blue blur.