//------------------------------// // The Plight of a Rainbow // Story: Trading Pains // by DJSaltine //------------------------------// A pink party-mare hopped enthusiastically through Ponyville, greeting ponies happily as she went to visit one of her closest of friends. Pinkie Pie took notice of the beautiful sky, cleared by said friend earlier that morning, the blue dome and golden sun hovering above her world seeming to smile down on her. “I hope Dashie wants to come over today!” Pinkie smiled to herself, her hops a bit higher than before. “She said she’d bake cupcakes with me!” The optimistic pony bounced underneath a cloud floating lazily above the ground. On top of this listless cloud lay a snoozing pegasus soaking in the gorgeous rays. The mare’s rainbow colored-tail hung over the edge slightly, giving Pinkie Pie the indication of Rainbow Dash’s whereabouts. Pinkie’s smile penetrated through the creamy cloud and at her peaceful friend. Before she could yell out her friend’s name, her colorful tail swished around and disappeared behind the cloud. “I know you’re there, Rainbow,” Pinkie giggled. “You don’t need to play Hide-and-Seek!” “Ugghh…” A noise from above echoed into Pinkie’s ears, sending a worrisome shock running down her spine. The groan wasn’t a content or awakening type groan, it was one of pain and anguish. “Dashie?” Pinkie asked, her face showing her fears. “Dashie?” No response came from behind the cloud. “If this is a prank, it’s NOT funny!” Pinkie stomped a hoof, emphasizing her point. “P…Pink…ie?” Rainbow’s voice called down. “Urrgggh!” She rolled around, holding her aching midsection. Pinkie could see the rainbow mare sliding to the edge of the soft cloud, her face green and eyes dreary and distant. “Are you okay, Dash?” Pinkie asked, her head tilted. “You look like Mrs. Cake did when she was sick!” Rainbow Dash groaned. “I think I’m sick again…” “I can see that!” Pinkie replied. She looked up to her green friend and stated bluntly, “Let’s get you home.” Pinkie could see Rainbow Dash rolling around a little on top the cloud, but she never expected Rainbow to fall off. Luckily for Rainbow, Pinkie caught her on her back. “It’s okay Dashie, we’ll have you feeling dandy in no time!” Pinkie cheerfully responded, her face calmingly happy. ‘We’ll make cupcakes when you feel better,’ thought Pinkie. * * * * * * * * “C’mon, Zecora, where are we going?” Twilight complained, running after the striped zebra. Zecora’s face showed annoyance, as she ran away into Ponyville, her mouth gripping the vase tightly. Although she ran berserk-like, she knew where she was headed. As long a certain pony didn’t annoy her too much. “Zecora! Would you stop ignoring me and ta…” Twilight’s pupils shrank, her run slowing down. “Oh…” She looked down, smiling with a deep blush crimsoning her face. “Oops… Sorry.” Twilight picked up her pace. Zecora lowered her eyebrows smugly. Just ahead, the hospital awaited. Zecora stopped on the automatic door spring, allowing the glass doors to slowly open. Inside, several nurses ran by to an emergency room. Only a single receptionist waited behind the counter. Zecora walked briskly up to said counter and waited for the nurse to look up from her list of admitted patients. “Hello? Feeling ill?” Zecora placed the shattered vase down. “Good gracious, no, I’m fine, but I do need to take some of your time. Have you a patient whose face is green, mane unkempt and the sickest you’ve seen?” The nurse sighed and looked to her notes, her face showing either depression from her line of work, or lack of sleep. “Says here the last one got out yesterday,” she looked up to Zecora’s eyes. “Nothing here about any new cases.” “I see,” Zecora looked to the chairs nearest the entrance. “If you don’t mind, we’ll wait here until our pony we find.” “Suit yourselves,” the nurse shrugged. “We’ve got a busy staff today, so watch out for the doctor; he’ll run into you if you aren’t careful.” Zecora smiled and bowed gratefully before picking up her vase and sitting in the corner. Twilight, on the other hoof, gasped for air as she too entered the cool building. She looked to Zecora meditating calmly. “You brought us here for what, exactly?” “The pony we seek will be here soon, even though she rested well under Luna’s moon.” “So what was with the rush?” “If we didn’t run all the way to Ponyville, we would have to visit her ill.” Zecora looked to the shattered glass and the carefully contained mix inside. “It’s more relaxing to wait.” She looked to Twilight’s eyes, her own serious and less-than friendly. “Besides, you never want to cheat fate.” Sighing in both defeat and exhaustion, she slumped next to Zecora as they awaited whichever pony decided to show up. * * * * * * * * Pinkie Pie, still holding Rainbow Dash on her back, made quick progression to get to the hospital. As Pinkie trotted, she thought about Rainbow’s plight. ‘Maybe somepony knew why Rainbow was sick again. Maybe she didn’t get enough of the medicine. Maybe she came into contact with another pony who was still sick. Maybe sh…’ Pinkie was cut off by the fact that she had walked up to the hospital and bumped into the sliding doors. Shaking her head, Pinkie smiled as they opened before her. “Opsie Daisy!” “Pinkie?” Twilight called from inside. “What happened to Rainbow?” Pinkie Pie looked back at the exhausted Rainbow Dash. “Oh, Dashie is feeling sick.” Zecora stood up and walked to Pinkie. “She was the one who cared for your friend. Come, let’s make her suffering end.” Zecora walked up to Twilight’s ill friend. “Relax, drink this cure. Afterwards, you’ll be fine for sure.” Nodding her head, Zecora motioned for Twilight to use her magic. Awkwardly, Twilight quickly picked up the bottle and rested it against Rainbow Dash’s lips. Twilight gently raised the vase a bit to allow the liquid to slip into Dash’s mouth. Lazily, Rainbow Dash swallowed a bit. “Drink it all, you need its contents. When well, we shall retrieve Zeke’s sense.” Rainbow Dash was slow to drink the green soup, but did eventually allow it to fall down her esophagus. She lengthened the entire swallowing time up to over a minute. Finally, the last of the serum dripped into Rainbow’s mouth. Twilight levitated the vase away from Rainbow and placed it in a trash can near the receptionist’s desk right before the doctor rushed by, his face panicked and his covered in a thin layer of blood. Nopony noticed him, as they were more interested with Rainbow’s recovery. “Urg!” Rainbow stuck out her tongue, a layer of the green gloop still clung to it. “Never make me drink something so bad again!” She gagged again, forcing Pinkie to hold her balance on her four hooves. “Hmhmhm,” Zecora chuckled, her face emanating a shine of friendliness. “Enough chat, everypony,” Twilight interrupted. “We’ve got to find Zeke and stop his plans!” “Ooooh! I never heard of that pony!” Pinkie Pie hopped up and down, Rainbow’s head bobbing violently into Pinkie’s side. “P-p-p-in-ink-k-kie-ie P-p-ie-e-e-e-e,” Rainbow Dash stuttered, her vocal chords being annoyed with her constant movement. “Hm?” Pinkie looked behind her. “Oh, hehe, sorry Dashie!” She stopped her hopping. “I don’t think you saw him, Pinkie,” Twilight tilted her head in thought. “He only came to see Mrs. Cake and you were out.” “Well, I’d better start getting ready for a PARTAH!” Pinkie screamed, Rainbow Dash falling off her back. “Whoa!” Rainbow hit her head to the floor hard. “OW!” “Sorry, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “No, Pinkie, we need to find him so we can stop him from causing any harm to anypony!” Twilight interrupted her friends’ spat. She looked them both down, their faces frowning. Looking out to the beautiful day outside, she stated, “Besides, I think I know where he might be!” With a determined smile and her stamina back, she darted to collect the elements and pick up Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy. Their battle was just starting. * * * * * * * * “No pony knows the hardships we’ve faced; the cries of my tribe haunt my sleep. Though, now, once we’re done here, all the glories of Equestria will be ours to keep!” stated a hauntingly cloaked figure walking up a mountainside, his cape fluttering majestically in the wind. He looked up to a cave high above him. “Once they arrive, their end will begin.” He hopped over a small crack on the ground, its elevation devastating for someponies. “My family will heal, lacerations disappeared;” He noticed a young bird hopping playfully at the edge of falling, its wings too small to allow it to fly. “This town will sleep and never rise.” Walking up to it, he lowered his face and inspected closer to the odd avian. He smiled gently. “Celestia will face a god worse than any she’s ever feared!” He picked up the baby bird and brought it nearer to the mountain. He glanced back to Ponyville and up to his path before looking down to the grateful beast. He patted its head gently, he walked on. He heard a mother's caw, searching for its offspring. His eyes darted back to the bird, filled with fear and regret.