Chapter 3
~An Awesome Day~
Today was going awesome. Rainbow Dash, had managed to finish her weather duties in record time. As always. She had just left Twilight’s house and was speeding to her humble mansion in the sky. She couldn’t stay long; she had to meet up with Pinkie Pie in a short while. The house was always spacious, which often left her feeling sad. It wasn’t too bad though, she only came in to grab goggles or occasionally to go to sleep. She much preferred the outdoors. The only things adorning the walls were a few shelves, and the posters of her heroes: the Wonderbolts. She flew past the doorway and through her bedroom window. She hesitated a moment while trying to recall the last time she used the stairs. Then with a shrug she emptied most of her saddlebags. The room was a mess which was remarkable for a pony that put more stock in physical well-being than worldly goods. “It wasn’t like I really need to walk through the room.” She thought to herself. Once everything was placed more or less where she could find it again, Rainbow removed a final item from her bag, the heavy tome of a book. Glancing at the cover she smiled. She was never too big on reading; it wasn’t until she had an accident that landed her in the hospital that she ever considered books to be worth more than firewood. A sudden thought caused the peagsus to chuckle “I wonder what Twilight would think of THAT.” She gently flipped the book onto the small table near her bed, and then flew back out the window toward the Sugar Cube Corner.
She was happy about going to see the Wonderbolt performance and it showed in her flight. A vision of flying in front of a roaring crowd filled her head as she started a steep dive. She had been dreaming of joining the Wonderbolts since she was a little filly and was now closer to her dreams than ever before. Even though she did see Soarin everyday at the Wonderbolt academy seeing her fly with the other Wonderbolts was something else entirely. As the ground rapidly filled her view. She paused; the phantom crowd caught their breath, then at just the right moment she pulled up, leveling off mere inches from the ground. The crowd exploded in cheers as she made the death-defying stunt. It was a hard-earned skill and won her a good many bits in bets at flight school. She liked to do it every now and again to keep her skills up.
She was only a few blocks away from the sweet shop when she pulled up from her dive. Although, she was steadily losing speed, Rarity still looked slightly blurred when she stepped out of her boutique to wave her down. She entertained the idea of letting her momentum carry her to her destination, but only briefly. With a slight adjustment of her wings and feathers, she increased her wind resistance and tilted her body to bring her into a lazy U-turn. “Dash darling.” Began the elegant unicorn. “Where are you rushing off to?” shuffling uncomfortably from hoof to hoof Rainbow Dash replied “I got an order coming in.”
“Are you late for the pick-up?”
“Not yet…” she replied, rolling her eyes. “No need to be rude darling, I was just curious.” She said looking hurt. Rainbow face-hoofed “Sorry Rarity, I just want to finish this so I can get to packing for a trip to Canterlot.” Excitement shone in the eyes of the athlete. Brining out her closest Pinkie Pie impression as the words tumbled out. “I’m going to see a Wonderbolt performance!”
“How wonderful! Say, I’d hate to impose but do you think I could come with?”
Rainbow turned casting a glance in the general direction of the tree turned library turned house. “Actually I’m going with Twilight…”
“I’m sure she won’t mind. Now if you’ll excuse me I simply must do something with this hair.” With a flourish of a hoof Rarity turned and walked back into her boutique.
With a few strong beats of her wings, Rainbow quickly regained flight. She stayed just high enough to clear the traffic that was out and about today as she flew the remaining distance to the Sugar Cube Corner. As she walked through the door a small bell heralded her entrance. “Hello, Mrs. Dash” said a smiling Mrs. Cake “What can I do for you?” Dash took a few more steps toward the counter. “I just came to pick-up my order.” Mrs. Cake lifted a small piece of paper, glanced at it, and then quickly stowed it back under the counter. “Sure thing sweetie, let me just go get Pinkie Pie” With that Mrs. Cake turned and retreated into the kitchen. While waiting Rainbow observed the other patrons. On one side was Lyra and Bon-Bon drinking what appeared to be coffee, while chatting idly. Near the door sat Derpy savoring a muffin, blueberry by the look of it. And on the far side sat a pony Rainbow didn’t recognize with dolphins forming a circle for a cutie mark.
“HI RAINBOW DASH!” called the exuberant pink pony. “Hey Pinkie.” Pinkie reached behind her back and pulled it back into view holding an impossibly large box of cup cakes. “Here you go!” Taking the box from her friend, Rainbow Dash turned to leave. “Thanks Pinkie Pie catch you later!” Just as Dash was going to take a step a quick glance back at her friend froze her in place. Pinkie’s mane had gone flat, her eyes had widened and her lip quivered slightly. “Pinkie are you okay?” Pinkie lowered her head “Your leaving? We were going to go prank people today…” Rainbow Dash winced slightly. “I’m sorry Pinkie Pie I forgot.” Trying to cheer up her friend she added “Hey we’ll do some intense pranking when I get back okay?” Pinkie immediately brightened at this and her mane sprung up like someone had flipped a switch. “REALLY!?!” She said leaning closer. “Do you Pinkie Promise?” Rainbow smiled at her friend “Cross my heart. Hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She said while going through the familiar motions. “YAY!!! This calls for a party! An intense pranking party!” Rainbow dash sighed. “Pinkie don’t you think It’ll be hard to prank someone if they know they’re going to be pranked?” Pinkie began jumping in place “I know! I know! I’ll call it: Not an intense prank party. But that doesn’t really rhyme…” Rainbow dash face-hoofed. “Alright well I guess I’ll see you there.” Pinkie Pie cocked her head to the side. “Do you mean after you get back or when we get to Canterlot?” A look of confusion and horror crossed Rainbow’s face. “How’d you know I was going to Canterlot?” Pinkie Pie looked sad for a moment. “O no… The author hadn’t gotten there yet… You were going to invite me!” She said finishing with a smile. “Well… Um… Okay…” She said dismissing it as Pinkie just being Pinkie. “So would you like to come?” Resuming her previous bouncing Pinkie replies “Of course how else was I going to see all my friends in Canterlot silly?” Dash just shakes her head and turns to leave “Alright see you at the station Pinkie.” “Okie Dokie Loki!” came a sing-song voice. As dash left the shop the sounds of pans moving and the smells of sweets in the ovens filled the air.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well the day was almost over. Dash had everything ready for tomorrow. She didn’t pack much, a pen and poster for an autograph, some bits for drinks and what not, and a pair of goggles. Now she was pacing restlessly about her bedroom. “I just know I’m forgetting something.” Her pacing increased in pace as her frustration mounted. In her annoyance she kicks a tuft of cloud across the room. Then with a sigh she turns to her bed and flops down. Just as she settles into her soft cloud mattress she notices something on her table stand. “So that’s what I forgot.” Dash smiles, lifts the book from its resting place, and runs her hoof over the cover again taking in the crisp feel. She opened her new book to the first page “Maybe just one chapter.” The fresh smell of a new book met her nostrils as she takes in the words that speak of adventure. In the comfort of her bed she read until her eyelids grew heavy. She dreamed of flying.