//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Rainbow's Choice // by Metaphor //------------------------------// As a beam of morning sun found its way through a crack in the curtains a rather irritated groan sounded from within the darkened room. A blue coloured Pegasus stirred in her sleep as she was dragged from the depths of dreamland and back to reality. “Oooooh, why do you have to spoil my lie in?” complained Rainbow as she turned over in her bed, “I don’t have weather duty until ten...could easily fit in another few hours of sleep...” Rainbow gave a sigh and stretched, her back giving several loud cracks as she tried to shake off her drowsiness. She had been finding it harder and harder to get up in a morning over the last few weeks. She had been training hard in her spare time like she usually did...perhaps she was over doing it? “Over doing it my hoof!” she scoffed at the wall, “Besides if I don’t practice AJ might beat me at this year’s Iron Pony competition...got a reputation to uphold after all.” Rainbow grinned broadly as she stepped out of bed and crossed to mirror on the far wall. She must have slept a little roughly, her rainbow coloured mane looking a little messy. She frowned and cast a cautious glance around the room as if looking for some unseen spy. After a moment she raised a hoof and opened a draw on a small cabinet to her side. Again she looked around before pulling a hairbrush from the draw and sitting down in front of the mirror. It may seem a little strange but Rainbow was still slightly paranoid following the incident with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the ‘dreaded’ Gabby Gums. She was thankful that most ponies had simply forgotten about the incident but she certainly hadn’t. Whilst she didn’t hold any ill will against the young foals she was always on the lookout for cameras. After all she was a Wonderbolt in training and she didn’t want any incriminating girly evidence causing her embarrassment. Putting the thought aside she set about brushing the evidence of sleep from her mane. It didn’t take long, Rainbow having a short style compared to most mares. As she looked herself in the mirror she gave a large yawn before getting up and wandering slowly into the next room. Today’s weather business was for Ponyville and she knew she should be looking forward to that...but for some reason she just wanted to go back to bed. What was wrong with her today? She shook her head. No this wasn’t like her! She grinned as best she could and trotted over towards the balcony. Outside the sun had already risen and the balcony basked in its warm rays. Looking down from her cloud home Rainbow could see Ponyville a short way off. In her mind she could already imagine what the others would be up to. Applejack had likely been up since before the sun had risen, she wondered how many trees she had already bucked that day. Twilight would no doubt be nose deep in her studies already, she had to remember to drop by and pick up the latest Daring Do book from her. Fluttershy was likely giving her animals their morning feed, speaking of food Tank needed a fresh supply of lettuce. Rarity she knew was working on her dresses, she had been going on and on about a new order she had taken all week. And Pinkie, well who knows? Out of all her friends she was the only one she could never predict. But speaking of Pinkie, Sugarcube Corner definitely sounded like a good place to start the day. A nice breakfast before cloud busting duty would no doubt help her out. Again Rainbow gave a smile and stepped out onto the balcony. She fanned her wings in the morning sun and then leaped from the balcony. For a moment she allowed herself to free fall, enjoying the rushing feeling of the wing through her coat and mane. As the trees below began to approach though she unfurled her wings the wind catching her feathers and pulling her into a graceful swoop that sent her skimming the top of the branches. Her morning sleepiness was forgotten, this is what she needed. The feel of the rushing air, the freedom of the boundless sky, nothing would ever fulfil her as much as flying did. As she soared over the outskirts of Ponyville she found herself gazing at the various ponies coming and going below her. Big Macintosh looked a little tired as he pulled a heavy loaded cart down the main street, Apple Bloom bouncing up and down beside him as he went. Outside town hall the Mayor was speaking with two ponies that looked like they were from the newspaper. She also caught sight of Flitter as she stopped by a market stall. Just another normal day. Rainbow soon made if to Sugarcube Corner and gently landed a short way off. As she approached a couple of ponies looked up from the tables that were set up outside. At one of them sat Lyra and Bon Bon, the pair giving Rainbow a wave as she approached. Rainbow returned it but didn’t stop to talk. As she entered the building she couldn’t help but notice Lyra making large motions with her forelegs, that pony was always telling wild stories. “Oh hello deary!” came a cheerful call as Rainbow brought her attention back to where she was heading. Mrs Cake was behind the counter, the earth pony icing a selection of cupcakes. “Oh err...hi,” replied Rainbow as she looked around the interior of the bakery. “What can I do for you this morning?” “Just some breakfast I guess, is Pinkie around?” “Pinkie Pie? No she isn’t deary. She bounced out of the door early this morning, don’t know where she went. Shall I tell her you’re looking for her if I see her?” “Nah, if I know Pinks she’ll come looking for me before the day is out.” “Very well, now what can I get you this morning?” Rainbow paused in front of the counter, surveying the line of tempting looking sweet cakes lined up behind the glass. After a moment she ran her hoof along the glass and then pointed to one of them. “That one,” she said. “Oh, the pecan and maple muffin? Those always seem so popular, I’ll have to make more before the day is out no doubt,” smiled Mrs Cake as she quickly pulled one of the muffins from the counter and handed it to Rainbow. Rainbow took the muffin and took a small bite, nodding her head in approval as she swallowed, “Well you do make the best sweet things in town.” She quickly tossed a couple of Bits onto the counter top as payment before turning away. As she took another bite though she paused and turned back. Mrs Cake was just about to return to her icing job as Rainbow spoke. “Hey any chance I could order a batch of those muffins to take with me?” she said quickly. “Hmm? Oh! Ah, well I don’t see why not deary.” “Great! Could I pick them up later? I have some weather jobs to take care of this morning.” “Uh, sure.” “Great!” Rainbow quickly produced a few more Bits, enough to cover a batch of twelve muffins. As she looked back at Mrs Cake she found her staring at the money with a bit of confusion. “What wrong?” asked Rainbow, eyeing the money herself thinking there was something wrong with it. “Oh, nothing, nothing at all deary...it’s just well you always say you never want to eat too many of these in case if affects your training.” “Oh yeah, I do normally say that. Guess I’m treating myself today,” replied Rainbow after a moment of though, “Oh well, thanks again Mrs Cake. Later!” “See you later sweetie.” With that Rainbow left the bakery leaving Mrs Cake to stare into space for a moment in puzzlement. She eventually gave a small shrug though and went back to her icing. Stranger things had happened that’s for sure and the extra catering business was always a bonus. As Rainbow stepped outside Lyra was still making big arm motions, her companion Bon Bon looking a little bored although this completely escaped the excited unicorn in front of her. Rainbow chuckled as she gently lifted herself from the ground and took off. She had to meet the rest of her weather team on the outskirts of town to give them the entire brief. It wasn’t a big job but it was essential none the less. A rainstorm had been scheduled for Ponyville that was to last the rest of the day and early into the morning. A few days of bright sun had left the ground a little too parched for everyponies liking. As she arrived she found most of her team already assembled. Thunderlane, Flitter and Cloudchaser were already there, just Blossomforth was missing. They were talking amongst themselves as Rainbow arrived, each of them giving her a bright grin of welcome. “Morning Rainbow Dash,” commented Thunderlane as he glanced up at the sky, “Pity we have to spoil the nice weather with a storm.” “Yeah well, that’s our job,” replied Rainbow sternly, “Speaking of our job, where’s Blossomforth?” “Running late,” replied Flitter, “She said she’ll be here soon.” Rainbow gave a small grumble, there was always one, no matter. “Alright Blossom will have to catch up later but we have to get started,” she said, “Flitter and Cloudchaser, you two start work on moving the clouds in. Thunderlane I need you to whip up a little lightning, not much, just enough for an odd bolt but mostly thunder.” “Got it,” replied Thunderlane. Flitter and Cloudchaser also nodded their understanding and the three of them took off. Rainbow stayed on the ground watching the three pegasi go about their work above her. Despite Blossomforth not being there the job was going well and before long the clouds were starting to build and the dull rumble of thunder began to echo around the sky. Rainbow was impressed; everypony was doing a really good job this morning. Well that is everypony but Blossomforth, what was keeping her so occupied she couldn’t make it to weather duty on time? The more Rainbow thought about it the more she found it irritating her. By the time the three pegasi above her returned to the ground for a break she was positively fuming. “You alright Rainbow Dash?” asked Cloudchaser curiously. “Alright? Yeah I guess I’m alright,” replied Rainbow as she tried to brush off her expression with a smile, “Uh...good work you guys, looks like we’ll be finished on time despite...” “Rainbow Dash, so sorry I’m late!” came a call from behind the group. They turned to find Blossomforth coming in for a landing nearby. Rainbow’s expression returned to its earlier irritated form as she watched the Pegasus approaching. “Where have you been all morning?!” demanded Rainbow. Blossomforth looked a little taken aback by the sudden outburst, “I...sorry Rainbow Dash, I got held up with...” “Don’t give me those excuses! It’s bad enough you get ill on Tornado Day but now you’re late for weather duty too?” “That’s a bit uncalled for,” interrupted Thunderlane. “Oh can it mister!” responded Rainbow as she turned on the Pegasus, “You were just as bad that day and...” Rainbow paused in mid-sentence, raising a hoof quickly to her head and shutting her eyes. For a moment she stood still, a pounding feeling tearing through her head like she had just suffered a bad landing. The other pegasi remained quiet as they watched Rainbow for a moment. “...I...sorry everypony,” said Rainbow after a moment, “I don’t know what came over me. I just got really irritated and...” Rainbow stopped again as a new feeling washed over her. Her stomach gave a grumble and a wave of nausea passed over her. It took all her strength not to hurl immediately. She wavered slightly on her feet, what was going on. “I uh...think I need to...” Another wave of nausea passed over her and this time she couldn’t resist. Turning sharply she upchucked what little food she had eaten that morning, wavered again on her feet and collapsed.