//------------------------------// // Chapter 28 MARK NUTT! // Story: The Slow Mo Stallions // by gamershot //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash was trotting along behind some of the wonder bolts. She'd been talking to them a bit as they made their way over to the main hall to see what was going on. Before they'd set off to go there, they'd ignored her. Other ponies would always drag them off into different conversations, leaving her very annoyed. When they asked her to join them she was delighted and accepted instantaneously. Spitfire lead the group, followed by Fleetfoot, Soarin and Rainbow Dash, the other Wonderbolts decided to stay in the VIP area, keeping the crowds of ponies with them. "So, how you doin’ Rainbow Dash?" asked Spitfire, looking back to the rainbow maned pegasus. "Good, how are you?" replied Rainbow Dash with a smile. Spitfire shrugged and smiled at Rainbow Dash. "Great, I just hope some'n good's happening in the hall." replied the captain of the Wonderbolts. "Thanks again for saving my pie Dash." thanked Soarin with a smile. "No problem Soarin, wouldn't want a good pie to go to waste." said Rainbow Dash, appearing cool on the outside, but buzzing on the inside. "I know what you mean." agreed Soarin with a wink, making Rainbow Dash blush. When they reached the hall, they all gasped, eyes wide and mouths open at the sight. The room was filled with ponies running around, throwing apples at each other. "What the buck?" remarked Fleetfoot, raising a brow. "This is crazy." added Spitfire. Long Shot cantered up to them, panting. "I hit him in the dick!" he yelled before galloping away. Gavin and Dan then galloped up to them, both looking angry. "Have you seen Long Shot, the little bugger!" growled Dan. "Yeah he ran that way, why?" replied Rainbow Dash. The stallions nodded and galloped off after Long shot, ignoring answering her question. Applejack was next to emerge from the crowd, trotting happily, her mane and tail bouncing. "Howdy ya'll." she greeted, tipping her hat. "Hello?" replied Soarin, very confused. "AJ, what's going on in here?" asked Rainbow Dash. "To help me sell apples, Gav n' Dan kindly offered to get ponies to 'chuck' apples at 'em fer bits." replied Applejack with a smile. The confused pegasi “ahhed”, finally having an answer to the madness. "Anypony else think this looks super fun?" chuckled Soarin. "Yeah, watch this." replied the cyan mare, flying up into the air. "HEY EVERYPONY!" she yelled, making the crowd of ponies stop and look at her "YOU WANT A TARGET? TRY AND HIT ME!" she shouted before darting around the room. Accepting the new target, apples were thrown high into the air in an attempt to hit the speedy mare. They had no chance. She flipped and spun through the air at incredible speeds, her signature rainbow behind her. The three Wonderbolts looked at her, amazed that she wasn't one of them already. They shared a brief glance, all thinking the same thing, before looking back up to Rainbow Dash. She dove and back up again, apples flying all around her. Applejack picked up an apple and took a bite. "How bout this Dashie!" she chuckled to herself. Applejack threw the apple perfectly in front of the rainbow coloured blur. Rainbow Dash just looped around the apple and sped off again. "Darn it!" grunted the orange farm pony, picking up another apple to throw. The three Wonderbolts were still staring at Rainbow Dash, even throwing a few apples themselves. "So... Anyone really wanna join her?" asked Fleetfoot. "Yeah!" agreed the other two. They nodded before zooming off into the air to fly with Rainbow Dash. They flew together perfectly. They performed some of their tricks and routines and Rainbow Dash joined in. She's memorized their routines when she watched them. It was amazing. The ponies below them whooped and cheered at the dazzling display, still throwing the odd apple at them. Spitfire pulled up to Rainbow Dash as she flew. "Hey kid!" she yelled. "Yeah?" replied Rainbow Dash, briefly looking to her side. "Could you do that sonic rain-boom thingy to finish this off?" requested the captain of the Wonderbolts with a smile. "Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh!" yelled Rainbow Dash excitedly. "Wait, I don't think there's enough room." she sighed. "We'll take the crowd outside, you get ready." replied Spitfire confidently. Rainbow Dash nodded and flew through the door and straight up. She needed as much height as possible to pull off a sonic rain-boom. This one was for the Wonderbolts though; she was going to pull it off. The Wonderbolts flew around herding the ponies in the hall through the door. It didn't take long for the excitable crowd to follow their lead and come outside into the moonlight to watch the grand finale. They could faintly see Rainbow Dash above them, getting higher by the second. Once she'd reached her target height she looked down. There were no clouds out so she had a perfect view of below. The ponies cheered her name again and again, waiting for their minds to be blown. "Go Rainbow!" yelled Dan. "You can do it Dashie! Boggle my brain!" added Gavin. She nodded her head and dove down through the air, her cheeks wobbling because of the speed. She could feel the air below her pounding her face harder and harder. She kept as streamlined as possible; she sucked her stomach in and kept her wings flat to her back. Eventually she felt herself hit critical velocity as she neared the ground. Here it comes. she thought, bracing herself. A surge of rainbow energy radiated from her. A loud boom shook the ground as the light passed over everything in sight. Rainbow Dash pulled up from the dive, a huge, thick, vibrant Rainbow following her. She led it across the sky, gracing the starlight with colour. She passed over the moon, lighting the Rainbow and making it sparkle. The ponies below were silent. This was probably the only time they'd ever see anything so beautiful. The Wonderbolts shared another glance before looking back to the rainbow. As she sped up and darted past the crowd, they cheered wildly, screaming in happiness. The Wonderbolts joined her in the sky to do one last routine, leaving storm clouds behind them. When they finished they landed on the ground gently, possibly the four best flyers in Equestria. The crowd cheered once again, the rest of the Mane Six (and Gavin and Dan) running up to hug and congratulate the amazing pegasus. Soarin patter her back playfully. "Great job Rainbow Dash!" he said. "That was incredible!" "Yeah," she sighed happily, "yeah it was". The tired pegasus trotted back into the crowd of ponies, needing a rest. After a while the hype died down and Long Shot was walking along the side of the hall, minding his own business. He heard a rustle in the bushes behind him and stopped to check it out. Nothing. He shrugged and continued his walk. Then he heard some giggling from the bushes and poked his head inside to check it out. "Hmm..." he mumbled. He carried on walking, deciding it was just his imagination. Suddenly, Gavin jumped from the bush in front of him, Dan from the one behind. Dan had his fore hoof held up to his chest in preparation. Gavin was holding a giant bow, with no arrows. Instead of the usual ammo, he had a large pie held back on the elastic. "I have one thing to say Long Shot." smirked Gavin. The tan pegasus lifted his head forty-five degrees and cleared his throat. "MARK NUTT!" Gavin released the elastic, sending the pie flying into his face, coating him with cream and mushy fruit. Long Shot staggered back from the impact of the pie, just as Dan wanted him to. Dan then battered his... Sensitive place with his hoof, kicking as hard as he could. Long Shot fell to the ground cradling himself, and swearing vengeance. Gavin and Dan looked at each other, wide smiles on their faces before darting off, away from the injured pegasus.