//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: A Pirates Life For Me! // by Aqua Shimmer //------------------------------// They were going to have their annual sleepover at Twilight's. Though Rainbow was looking forward to it, there were some concerning thoughts on her mind. She shook her head and took one last swig of her drink before getting her things for the long night ahead of her, and mentally preparing herself for the news she was going to share with her five best friends. before she left she put Tank's magic propeller on him. "You know where to go." Tank slowly saluted and flew through the window. She then remembered what exactly she was drinking earlier and ran to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Soon she got the smell out of her mouth and double checked her bag to make sure she had the things that would have ruined her night without. The other stuff was in her secret stash in the library. Rainbow put on her saddle bag and painfully glided down from her cloud house. Soon she saw the library and landed. "Howdy sugarcube. You weren't lying when you said you were planning on staying the night this time." Applejack said from behind her. "Yep." She stopped walking so AJ could catch up. "I wouldn't miss this one for the world." "Why this one? Why not the others?" The orange mare was now directly next to her. "Just want to hang out with you and the other girls and I have to tell you guys something important later." The pair continued walking, now 50 feet from the library. "Which is?" "Nothing to be discussed at this moment. Hey Twi!" The lavender unicorn was waving at them from the now open doorway. "Hello girls. Glad you could come." said Twilight. "Glad to be here for once." She nodded to twilight walking through the door. "She's actually here. I'm so excited." Rainbow heard Twilight whisper to Applejack. "I was surprise too, but I think she's hiding something." Applejack whispered back. "And what makes you think I'm hiding anything." Rainbow asked the mares. She set her bag on the ground gently, then turned around to face the two. "Nothin. Just the way you've been acting lately." "And how have I been acting?" "You've been acting lik-" Twilight kicked Applejack. AJ tried to complain but one look from Twilight quickly silenced her. Twilight walked in and Applejack followed, never taking her eyes off Rainbow. I'm screwing this night up already. Distrust is supposed to come after the announcement. Rainbow mentally facehoofed and scolded herself silently. She didn't have long to do that though because she was soon struggling to breathe. "Pinkie." she managed to get out. "Yes Dashie?" the pink mare asked, still having her grip of steel around her. "Release." Rainbow was surprised that actually worked. Pinkie let go. "Sorry. I'm just so happy you came. This is going to be so much fun. We're going to play games and stay up late and tell secrets and the first one to fall asleep gets a prank played on them, Pinkie Pie style, and-" "Pinkie pie. I think she gets the point." interupted Rarity, who was walking into the room with Fluttershy right next to her. "Good evening girls." Fluttershy said in her usual quiet way. "Evening." Rainbow said, doing a small wave to the pair. "You did make it to this one, Rainbow. That's so nice to see. How was your week away?" asked Rarity. "It's been fine." "What did you do?" Rainbow felt an urge to spill the beans, but she resisted. It wasn't time yet. "I'll tell you guys later." She looked at each of their faces and memorized every feature. They all looked confused, save for Applejack, who just looked agitated. "What do ya mean by that?' "It means I'll tell you later. Nothing more, nothing less." It was obvious that AJ was not happy with the answer she had been given. "So what exactly do we do first at one of these sleepovers?" "That's easy Dashie. We catch up on news and things like that. Do you want to go first?" Pinkie asked her. " No thanks. I don't have anything to share." "That's okay Rainbow. May I go first Pinkie?" "Sure Twilight. Go ahead." "I got a letter from Canterlot that had a story about pirate raids on equestrian ships. the princess sent out a battleship to stop them. Shining Armour was sent out with them. There's been no news about them coming back yet. I'm worried about him." Rainbow walked over to Twilight and hugged her. "He'll be fine. You just have to believe in him." Twilight looked up at her and smiled. "You really think so?" "I know so. We all know it. Don't we?" All the others said yes and walked over to comfort her. Twilight's going to kill me when she finds out. Rainbow kept on a brave face so she wouldn't break down and start telling them to early. "This is simply terrible darling. But like rainbow said, he'll be fine. Don't worry." She didn't hear what else her friends said. She was focusing on Twilight's face, which was brightening with each word they said. The rest of the night passed in a blur that she would remember for the rest of her life. It started slowing down around the time. She was both mentally and physically prepared for any outcome. "And that's when I said, 'Honey, we don't have time for that!'" Everypony else laughed. Rainbow just smiled but even that quickly faded. "Is something wrong with Dashie?" "I think its time I told you girls something." The room grew silent. "I'm a-" She was cut off by a knocking on the door. "Hold that thought Rainbow. I'll go see who it is." Twilight got up and walked to the door. She opened it up and Shining Armour stood on the doorstep. Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff..........