//------------------------------// // Nothing but Trouble // Story: Plan D // by Kai the Brony //------------------------------// Chapter 2 Sweetie Belle prodded her sister with her horn. “Rarity! Wake up. It’s been hours since you fell asleep. We’re so bored!” She complained. “And hungry.” Apple Bloom threw in. Rarity blinked sleepily and glanced out the window. A glorious sunset was drawing to a close and some farmer ponies were coming inside to eat. The mountains were coming closer with every clattering noise the train made. Around her ponies were eating various soups and sandwiches, chattering with their friends. She had slept for perhaps two hours. Her stomach growled. The danish she had left alone was gone and she could guess who had eaten it. Scootaloo looked guiltily at the rug on the floor. “What?” Rarity smiled a little. “Never mind, darling, I didn’t want it anyway. Come on, I brought some food with for dinner. I’m sure there’s something you’ll like.” She stood up  and walked towards the door. Sweetie Belle followed suit, followed by Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. The train rattled down the tracks growing ever closer to the capital city of Equestria. The crusaders felt it shaking under their hooves, thrilled by the sensation. They raced down the corridors, nearly knocking over several other passengers and leaving Rarity to apologize for their carelessness. “Terribly sorry,” She muttered. “It’s their first train ride.” The passengers usually pardoned the mild offense, though a few simply stuck their muzzles in the air and moved on. Rarity decided that they were on their way home. Only a Canterlot elite would be quite so haughty. One pair of the elite seemed very familiar. “Do I know you?” Rarity asked after a moment. The stallion looked down at her over his nose as if she wasn’t worth the effort of lowering his head. “You should. I’m Jet Set, owner of the leading pegasus transportation company. I have Very Important Pony status at all the clubs and especially on this train.” The mare butted in. “And I’m Upper Crust. Jet Set, darling, how can you forget Fancy Pants’ favorite?” Her voice had a snooty overtone that grated on Rarity’s nerves. Jet Set narrowed his eyes. “Ah yes, Miss Rarity. How silly of me. I tried to forget you ever since you stole our chance of winning over Fancy Pants. If we had his endorsement my company would be an economic explosion!” He gestured wildly with his hooves to demonstrate the explosion. “Yes, silly me. Hmph!” He sniffed. “Well I wouldn’t say I was trying to steal your chance for success.” Rarity laughed nervously. “I just acted like my usual sweet little self. It’s not like I can help who I am. Besides, your company hardly needs any more attention. As you said, it’s the leading transportation industry.” “Yes, quite.” Upper Crust flipped her mane. “It’s not like you did anything on purpose. All you had to do was give him that look and he was wrapped around your dainty little hoof.” Rarity gasped at the implication. “I beg your pardon! I did not manipulate Fancy Pants to earn high status.” “Just like you didn’t set those little brutes on us to make us look like fools.” Upper Crust tilted her hat so she could see Rarity better. “Those children are nothing but trouble, mark my words.” She and her husband stormed off to the diner car. The Crusaders bounded into the room they were staying in a few minutes before their guardian. “Honestly, girls, I had expected you would be a little bit more considerate.” Rarity glared at them. “I know you’re excited, but that’s no excuse to knock over complete strangers without apologizing. Do you realize who you ran into?” Apple Bloom blushed pink. “Was it somepony important?” She asked. “Yes, it was somepony important! I just got away from an argument with Jet Set and Upper Crust.” Rarity snapped. “They didn’t seem very happy with you and it doesn’t help that they have a bone to pick with me.” “I hate Jet Set and Upper Crust.” Sweetie Belle grumbled from her bed. Rarity gasped, astonished that such a phrase would come from the mouth of her little sister. “Sweetie Belle! Hate is a very strong word. A lady should never use it.” “But it’s true! After the way they treated you I don’t see why you don’t hate them too.” Sweetie Belle retorted. “Well I’m not the Element of Kindness, so I can’t really say that I like them. But you know about Equestria’s history and hatred.” “I guess. Sorry, sis.” Sweetie Belle sighed. “Yeah, we’re sorry.” Said Scootaloo. Rarity sighed. “It’s all right. No real harm done, just a few insults swapped. So,” She smiled teasingly. “You’ll never guess what I brought for dinner.” “Apple dumplings?” Apple Bloom’s eyes sparkled. “No, even better.” Rarity glanced at her pile of luggage. Apple Bloom sat down, baffled. “What could be better than apple dumplings?” Rarity levitated a box to her side. “That’s for me to know and for you to find out.” “Ooh! Ooh! I know!” Sweetie Belle bounced up and down in excitement. “Chocolate cake!” Rarity gave her sister a sidelong look. “Were you spying on me while I packed?” “Maybe...” Sweetie Belle flashed an innocent smile. Rarity opened the box to reveal the treat. “Now don’t think this will be a regular thing.” She warned the trio. “It’s just for this once. Hopefully it will be better than the horrendous food they had in the dining car. Oh, what am I saying? I got it from Sugar Cube Corner, it’s sure to be fabulous.” By the time dinner was over the conductor was announcing the nine o'clock curfew. He systematically knocked on all the cabin doors and made sure the passengers turned out their lights and understood that conversation was to be held quietly, if at all. “Evening ma’am.” The conductor poked his head into Rarity’s room. “Lights out until 7:30 tomorrow.” His gaze wandered to the crusaders. “Ah, are these the young rascals causing all the fuss?” “We’re sorry,” Said Apple Bloom. “We didn’t mean to cause trouble, honest.” The conductor laughed. “I believe you. Jet Set has had it in for me ever since the waiter got his order wrong.” He turned around to leave. “I’ll give you your privacy. Remember, lights out!” He closed the door behind him. “At least somepony around here has manners.” Said Rarity. “Come along girls, brush your teeth and go to bed.” She took out some curlers from one of her suitcases. “I’ll be a while, don’t bother staying up for me.” The Crusaders obeyed Rarity without question for once, tired out by the day’s misadventures. But they did ignore one instruction and stayed up waiting for Rarity to go to bed. When she left the bathroom they feigned sleep rather convincingly. Quietly, they waited for the rhythmic breathing indicating that Rarity was sound asleep. When the desired sound was forthcoming the Crusaders gathered on a rug in the middle of the floor. “So, what’s the plan?” Apple Bloom whispered. “We’ve already decided to use dark magic to wake up Discord, but how does that even work?” Sweetie Belle was happy to explain. “You see, magic is connected with a unicorn’s mind and emotions. Regular magic is more powerful when you’re in a good mood, so if a unicorn did something they were proud of they might be able to levitate a really big object. If they’re sad for some reason then they’d have trouble lifting a piece of paper. “Dark magic’s different. It runs on negative emotion, especially anger, so you have to be  extra careful. If you’re really angry then it could go out of control and lead to things you never wanted to happen. Make sense?” Scootaloo stared for a moment and shook her head. “Kinda. If you get it that’s what’s important.” “Great, but how are we going to get Discord to give us our cutie marks?”  Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle. “I don’t know, why do I have to do all the planning?” Sweetie Belle glared at her friends, embarrassed that she didn’t have an answer. “One does not simply walk up to Discord and say, ‘Hey, what’s up? You’re a nice guy, we were wondering if you had any extra cutie marks in the back of that ice cream truck.’” Scootaloo quipped. Sweetie Belle giggled. “When you put it that way, it’s kinda funny.” She gave a lopsided smile. “Okay, so I haven’t planned that far. Maybe the spell will use mind control or we can convince him somehow. Don’t know how yet, but we’ll figure that out later. I already know what mine’s going to be.” Apple Bloom and Scootaloo inspected their own flanks. Maybe there would be a symbol on it right now for brilliant planning! No such luck. Apple Bloom yawned. “I don’t know about you two, but I’m a mite tired. I’m going to go to bed, see y’all in the morning.” The other Crusaders followed suit, wondering what they next day held in store.