//------------------------------// // Dawn of the Shed // Story: Rifty Shifty // by Mythee //------------------------------// A wise pony once said that if you're going through hell you better keep running, or you'll never leave. And that was only one of the reasons why Rarity was absolutely, positively certain that they had to get out of here, no matter their state. (I mean, have you SEEN her hair right now?!!) She had brought up the issue- no, not the hair one- with Applejack multiple times to no avail, and became convinced that the orange pony had turned dull from exertion. But she wasn't the only one. -"We're all tired, Applejack, but we need to leave! Surely we'll have better protection in Canterlot. We can't let Pinkie Pie's sacrifice be in vain." The unicorn insisted pleadingly, drawing a fighting gaze from the orange mare and some attention from the dozen or so other colorful ponies shuffling nervously in the room. -"I told you already, ah'm not leavin'!" Through gritted teeth, she added: "-Not before we run those monsters outta Sweet Apple Acres." Rarity breathed an exasperated sigh and slid onto her stomach to flail her legs up and down in torment, annoying nearby ponies. Out of all of her friends, why did she have to be stuck with one so... so... stubborn?! -"This is such a DI~SAS~TER! Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and even Twilight Sparkle, why didn't you take me with youuuu?!" There is some explaining to be done. This dire situation had come out of the blue earlier that week- it all stemmed from an event being referred to as the "Rift". Long-limbed beings began to emerge from Everfree forest, mysterious raving creatures strangely intent on the ponies... especially on a select few of them, among which were those wielding the Elements of Harmony. They arrived by the hundreds and soon Twilight had left to investigate the cause, and never came back. One could almost suspect a dark plot, if not for... we'll get back to that later. Since town turned to chaos, many scattered, leaving to find a haven in other parts of Equestria; others remained, holing themselves up in obscure places such as this basement of an abandoned building, slated for demolition ever since Derpy accidentally started the process. The city's reaction to that was simply, "why not". -"Come to think of it... Derpy, why are you here with us? All of the pegasi have left for Cloudsdale, where it's safe." Spoke Cheerilee, attempting to peer over Derpy's wings to understand what she'd been staring at since awhile ago, which to her further confusion turned out to be the ceiling and the floor with each of her eyes simultaneously. -"AH!" The gray-winged mare suddenly took off, as if remembering something. "-I'VE GOT TO GO!" This announcement succeeded in turning the deep pink teacher a shade of white matched only by Rarity's flank. "-No wait!" She lunged at the younger pony, grabbing onto a leg, but Derpy was like an unstoppable force. Everypony scrambled onto their hooves to leap and pile up on the flying pony, but none succeeded in pinning her down; she erupted through the roof, carrying no less than three ponies off with her, announcing their location to all that lurked below. The victorious yay-ing from those being carried up to safety was soon drowned out by unponylike screaming from the streets; they had been spotted. Soon a small mob of invading organisms was sprinting toward the rickety shack, roaring hungrily. Nopony would blame Cheerilee for Derpy's unpredictability, but it didn't stop Rarity from making a show of this development. -"We're all doomed!" she cried, as Applejack dashed past her, taking the initiative. "-Snap out of it, Rarity!" The orange pony led the way out of the shack, barking orders to the others for them to run out in formation. Clouds of dust lifted in their wake, which got Rarity to snap out of her drama for fear of absorbing any more of it into her coat. -"Save it for later, it's time to get out of here just like you wanted!" She told herself, summoning up the strength to join the other ponies in rushing out after her friend. -"Rarity, NO!" Came Applejack's distant voice, but it was too late. One of the creatures was already outside, within hoof's reach of Rarity. It loomed, eyes widening in surprise and smile widening even further. -"IT'S RARITY!" The monster cried, pointing at the pony to alert its bipedal brethren; Rarity flinched back, about to bolt, but the... male? had grasped her tail in the nick of time, and she was held in her tracks. -"EEEEEEEEEK!!" She screamed, and the creature seemed just as shocked as she was, letting go of her tail, which caused her to topple over. -"I'm sorry, it was a reflex! Please just stand still for a second, my friends just want to meet you! We're not dangerous!" The horrified pony recovered as quickly as she could. "-Oh I know that, but you're all just TOO friendly! Now stay away from us!" A crowd of at least a few dozen of them was closing in on her now, yelling things like: "-We found Rarity!!", "OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HER!", "I get to see her up close!!", and most frightening of all, calls of "How did your perfect pelt get so dirty?! Ohh, I can take care of that!!" and "Let me brush your hair, pleaaaase?" Many of them were holding up handheld devices, from which light flashed repeatedly like cameras. -"I'LL SAVE YA!" Applejack erupted from a nearby bush with a flying jump kick, which was sidestepped by the creature with apparent ease. As the blonde pony fell and made a steady landing, she looked at the opponent, sizing him up. -"Nice dodge." She admitted. -"Applejack!" The delight in his voice caused her to twitch, and then he continued bashfully: "-Oh, um thanks, picked up a few things from watching all that anime, I guess! Hahaha!" -"What?" Applejack had no idea what he was talking about, but she'd created the opportunity for Rarity to flee; and with that, the ponies made a swift exit from the scene. -"No wait-" he called, failing to keep the ponies there. Oh well, at least he'd found new inspiration for his Rarijack fic. --- -"I feel a little bad for leaving that one back there without even saying goodbye." The unicorn admitted, when she and Applejack were a fair distance away, hiding in the garden brush near Ponyville's hospital and making quiet conversation. -"What are you sayin' now?! Ah saw 'im grab yer tail!" -"Yes but, he didn't mean any harm, you know? You shouldn't have tried to kick him. That was harsh." -"..." -"Uhm, thank you! For saving me earlier. I'm very sorry you had to split up from the group." -"Thass better." Applejack said, peering out from behind the fluffy camellias. A brown stallion was walking by near the hospital's wall, slowed as he was dragging a creature firmly clinging to his flank, where they could see an hourglass shaped cutie mark. ("I told you, I don't -HAVE- a damn TARDIS!" He grumbled tiredly, while the weird primate babbled on about what a big fan they were, and would he please, please bring them with him wherever he was going.) Eventually, Rarity spoke up again. "-What are we spying on, anyways? Isn't this the most dangerous area? The Hospital is full of them!" Applejack shrugged, finally forced to explain the risky idea she'd been contemplating. -"Since we're only two now, ah figured we could, y'know... infiltrate and go save Pinkie Pie." The fashionista pony immediately backed away, shaking her head furiously. "-Ohnonononono. We can't! There are too many!" Applejack knew this was going to happen, but she wouldn't be able to do it alone. It would be going from Mission Unlikely to Mission Impossible, and yet, she would do it anyways. The sound of party music and loud cheering from the Hospital carried over all of Ponyville, an endless reminder of the difficulty their favorite pink pony was in. Shortly after the Rift first happened, Pinkie Pie had taken it upon herself to throw an ENORMOUS welcome party for the new arrivals despite all the uninhibited clinging and ceaseless bothering from the creatures, distracting the bulk of these... "fans" and allowing many citizens to escape. But the creatures kept coming out of who knows where, as if there was no end to them. The mirthful celebration lasted day and night; by the third day, Pinkie Pie had fallen ill. Nopony had ever imagined that the hyperactive pony could run out of energy. Even in her sorry state, she continued to keep most of the creatures contained in the hospital, but not by her own choice; they had decided all on their own to throw her a "Get Well Party" until she recovered, which had been going strong ever since. Applejack clutched her hat with both hooves, shaking with emotion as she implored Rarity. -"Ah need yer help, Rarity. Ah swear, if we can just get her outta there, ah'll say goodbye to reclaimin' Sweet Apple Acres and we can go to Canterlot-" The white unicorn had put her front hooves on Applejack's own, eyes shining with compassionate tears and hope. -"Not another word, Applejack. We'll save her, I promise!" -"Save who?! Sounds like fun! I'll help!!" A perky voice interrupted all of a sudden, and both Applejack and Rarity's gazes shot up at the figure hanging down to peek at them from a tree. They had to rub their eyes in bafflement, even though they knew it was true. -"Pinkie Pie... but... how?! You were sick!" Applejack spoke while the ponies grins grew in unison. -"Oh, you sillies." giggled Pinkie, as if nothing had happened. "Of course I got better! But I thought it would be really really REALLY bad if I had to do any more singing and dancing and people-entertaining, so I kept pretending to be sick. I'm telling you," she began to flail in position, "-I can't eat another slice of cake! Never thought I'd say this, but Pinkie's all, partied, ouuut-!!" By her last sentence she had lost her balance and fell off her tree branch, making a ruckus. -"Uh oh Pinkie, we're glad yer OK, but ah think you just told everypony where we are." Said Applejack from under the pink one, getting back up. -"Nothing could ever be truer!" Rarity continued smoothly, "-and now that you're safe, we must head to ~Canterlot~!" Seeing Applejack's expression, she was about to retract her statement but then the orange pony smiled and nodded, readjusting her farm hat. -"Let's go then!" She announced, as a mob of partying creatures began to emerge running from the building, having heard Pinkie Pie's voice. The ponies galloped away and out of reach, Pinkie Pie still sitting on Applejack's back, waving back to the crowd. "Bye guys! You can keep partying without meee! Have fun! And have cupcakes, too! Oh, and cake! And sarsaparilla!" They could only listen helplessly to the endless list of foodstuffs as the star of their party disappeared over the horizon.