//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Apple Cider and Pie // Story: Til Kingdom Come // by TorontoFCBrony //------------------------------// "Mmm... Good morning, Dashie," Soarin said while turning his head and opening his eyes the next morning. The sun had shot through the windows at the top of their room, and the tropical birds were singing their songs. Rainbow, with a very messed up yet very cute bed mane, responded, "Good morning, babe." "What do you want to do today?" "Well, Soar, since yesterday we just laid around at the beach, why don't we go on an adventure today? There are pamphlets at the reception desk. Maybe we can go to the rainforest or whale watching today?" "Dashie, if we wanted to go whale watching, I'd just take us to Spitfire's mom's house." "Soarin!" Rainbow yelled out while using her hooves to cover her mouth. "That was mean of me, wasn't it?" After chuckling in her hooves, Rainbow uncovered her mouth, and responded, "No! That was hilarious!" "Glad you think that, my dear." "So, you want to go eat and then go to the lobby?" "Yep." And that is exactly what the couple did. They had a breakfast at the buffet, and then went over to the reception area to figure out something exciting that they could do for the day. "Oh Soar, look at this!" Rainbow said while reading a pamphlet with excitement. "What is it?" Soarin asked while coming over. "They have a trip to the tallest waterfall on the island, but there's a small pond of water underneath it and a cave where tourists go to swim. That sounds awesome!" "Let's do it," Soarin agreed. "Senor y senorita, the tour is actually just about to leave," a worker with a mustache at the desk pointed out. He pointed one of his hooves over to the driveway, where an open wagon on wheels with about eight tourists from the resort were sitting. It was being pulled by two other earth stallions with brown fur. Soarin and Rainbow ran over to the wagon and just got the last two seats available, and they pulled off. "Hola everypony! How're you all doing today?" the stallion tour guide shouted out. "Good," everypony shouted in return. "There is just a twenty minute ride to the Cinco Rios Falls Welcome Centre. There you will get some boots, and we will walk through the jungle to get to the falls. Want to go faster?" "Yes!" everypony shouted excitedly. "All right, rrrrrapido porrrrrrr favorrrrrr!" The stallions pulling the wagon took it into a higher gear as they made their way along one of the island's main highways to get to the falls. They passed along plenty of shanty houses and young fillies and colts playing hoofball on the side of the road. "Coast Caballo means Horse Coast," the tour guide explained along the way while the wind from the ride blew his mane. "It was discovered just over two hundred years ago, but tourism has been booming more recently due to the beauty. Over to your left in a few seconds you will see a beautiful view of the ocean." The ponies on the ride all looked to the left, and after a break in the thick tropical trees, they could see the light blue water down the cliff. They hadn't even realised that they were climbing towards the middle of the island. The tour guide continued, "As you can tell, it is not the richest country in the world. Tourism is now our biggest industry after selling fruit and coffee, so we always appreciate it when you fine ponies come. To your right will see a few of our local fillies sitting on a porch." All of the tourists, except for the couple, made sounds of awe as they took pictures of the poor foals on the side of the road playing tag. Soarin and Rainbow just looked at each other in confusion. "So, who here is from Equestria?" the tour stallion asked. Only Soarin and Rainbow put up their hooves. "Where is everypony else from?" "Germaneigh," one of the stallions said. It was apparent that the rest of the ponies on the tour were all one large group of family or friends, but the couple from Equestria didn't need anypony else to enjoy their time together. The ride went on for about an hour- much longer than expected, but it was island time. Soarin and Rainbow did not mind at all. They got to spend time together at the back of the wagon, watching the sights go by. Rainbow even peacefully rested her head on Soarin's shoulder. They got to their destination all in one piece. Soarin and Rainbow gave a tip to the two stallions pulling them. "Grassy ass," one of them said. "Excuse me?" Rainbow asked. "My flank seems clean to me." "No no, senorita. Gracias. It means 'thank you'." "Oh," Rainbow replied with a blush. "Sorry. You're welcome." The couple went into the visitor centre. After a quick review of where the tour would take them, as well as the safety precautions they needed to take, the tourists were all given high rubber boots so that they could walk into the wet rainforest. "Please, everypony, stay on the trail," the guide said as the group made their descent into the rainforest to get to the bottom of the waterfall. "Hey Soarin, wouldn't it be awesome if a tiger or a manticore came out and we had to fight it off?" "Yeah. I'd use my hooves of fury to give him the what-for!" "I'm so glad I have such a brave husband," Rainbow said as she moved closer to Soarin. "Yeah, I'm pretty amazing," he replied. "Oh sweet Celestia, what the hell is that? Get it off!" "What?! What is it?" Rainbow asked in worry as Soarin instantly became a karate master as he moved his body rapidly. "Senor, are you all right?" the guide came over and asked. "I'm just dandy!" Soarin shouted sarcastically as he still was moving to get whatever it was off of him. The guide very calmed reach his hoof towards Soarin and pulled off the spider web from his face. "Pfft. Tourists," the guard scoffed. "Thanks..." "Yeah, I'm really glad I have a brave stallion," Rainbow winked. "Oh, shut up, Dashie. You would have done the same thing." "Yeah right!" Rainbow responded as she started to laugh. "You've been shot, and you were scared of a spider?" "It could have been some kind of jungle spider with a disease or something. Didn't you think of that?" "Sure sure," Rainbow chuckled as they continued to trot forward and downward. The couple and the rest of the group made their way further down. Eventually, they could feel the air start to get a few degrees colder, and the smell and sound of running water filled the air. "You hear that, Soarin?" "Oh yeah!" "Just beyond these trees is something you will remember forever," the tour guide said. He then pushed aside a few branches from a tree, revealing the pond where the waterfall led to. There were ponies young and old splashing in the light blue water due to the bright sand around it. There was a rope attached to the tallest tree in the area so that one could swing into the water. The mist cooled off everypony in the area, and when the sun came out through the clouds, the mist also made a rainbow appear. "Enjoy yourselves," the tour guide said. "Let's go!" Rainbow shouted as she ran and jumped straight into the water. Soarin smiled as he watched the mare, and then joined her as well. The two of them swam in the water, which was just deeper than their heads. They occasionally splashed each other while moving their way to the waterfall. The booming sound from the falling water was refreshing, and the mist was very cooling in the hot tropical sun. The couple eventually made their way underneath the waterfall and into the cave behind it, where the water was colder but shallow enough for the couple to stand on their hind legs while swimming. The sunlight was shining through the falling water. The cave went much deeper, but the couple stayed close. "Rainbow, why do you always look so hot?" Soarin asked as Rainbow looked back at him with her wet mane. "I guess I was just born this way. I can't help looking this good." "It's... it's a little creepy in here, though. Let's go closer to the group." "Sure." The two pegasi moved towards the waterfall. As they were about to exit the cave and go back out into the sunlight, Rainbow stopped her husband. "Wait, Soarin. There's always been something that I've wanted to try." "What's that Dash-" Soarin couldn't finished the question because the mare locked her lips on his and moved the two of them directed underneath the falling stream of water. A kiss under a waterfall was truly a majestic feeling. -------------------------------------- "Soarin, that was so wonderful. i don't think I can get any happier," Rainbow said after the two of them made it back to the resort. "Same here, Dashie. I feel like a colt in a carrot store." "What do you want to do no-" Rainbow started to ask before she was stopped by a sign on the cobblestone walkway that pieced together the different parts of the resort. "'Free hooficure and makeovers- today only.' Sounds... stupid, doesn't it, Soarin?" "Dashie, don't think I'll judge you for it. Go ahead. I'll go to the beach hut bar or something while I'm waiting for you." "Thanks!" Rainbow replied. She gave Soarin a kiss on the cheek, and went into the room where the sign pointed to. Soarin made his way over to the bar, which was a hut made of wood and had a straw roof. "Hola senor, what may I get you?" the bar stallion asked as Soarin took a seat. "Can I have an apple cider?" "Sure thing, amigo. Coming right up." As the bartender began to make his drink, the television at the corner of the wall caught his eye. It was showing the Germane Super Cup, which saw the city of Manes taking on Coltmund. It was an instant-watch for the stallion. "Here you go, my good man." "Thanks," Soarin said while giving a bit as a tip. Soarin took a few sips of his drink. It was a peaceful moment, that is, until he was tapped on the shoulder by a hoof. "Soarin? Is that you? Dude, you really are alive!" Soarin gave his head a shake as tried to figure out who the stallion who knew him was. "Rhodimus? Is that you?" "It sure is!" replied the stallion pegasus. "We're having a quick reunion here with a few other of the other colts who served in Saddle Arabia. Over there is Omega, Alpha, and Zeta. We're all still working at the Canterlot Royal Guard. I can't believe that you're alive! We were told that you passed away." "Yeah, I had gone into a coma. When I came out of it I was in enemy captivity." "Dude, that is just, like, crazy, bro!" "Have you been drinking?" "Yeah, a lot. It's free, after all. And if it's for free, it's for me." "You haven't changed a bit, Rhodimus," Soarin said while turning back to look at the match on the television. "Come on, let's share a drink for old times. I know we hardly saw each other in the war, but it's cool to catch up." "Sure, grab a seat." The four stallions all sat at the bar stools beside Soarin to watch the match and catch up. After Soarin finished his drink, he requested an amaretto sour. And then a screwdriver. And then a spiked orange cooler. Eventually, he lost track of the amount of fruity and alcoholic drinks he had. The match on the television had finished, and he didn't even notice, especially due to all the laughter that the former soldiers were having while telling funny- and morbid- stories of the war. "...And then I said, 'rectum? I nearly killed him!" The stallions all burst into laughter. After wiping a tear from his eye, Omega said, "Oh, Soarin. You sure know how to retell a joke I just told you!" "Ahhh. I love you guys," Soarin said while putting his forelegs around two of the stallions with him. "But I gotta go. My hic wife is hic expecting me in the room." After saying their goodbyes with a few missed brohoofs and some punches to the shoulders, Soarin stumbled his way back to his room, which felt like an adventure. "Honey. Hic. I'm home," Soarin said as he walked in the door. As he turned the corner, he noticed somepony laying on the bed whom he had seen before. "You. I know you. I met you back at the Grand Galloping Gala." "..." "No no no. Don't you try and seduce me! Hic. I'm a married mare. I mean, I have a husband," Soarin said while stumbling towards the bed. "..." "Babe, what we had was great, but we can't do it again." "..." Soarin shot his head back and gasped. "No! I would never cheat on Rainbow Dash!" "..." "Ohhhhh. But why are you being so scrumptious and seductive?" "..." "Okay, just this once, but don't tell my wife." -------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Rainbow was desperately looking for Soarin after she had returned the room to drop off an apple pie and some sexy pictures that she had taken at the photo store as a gift for her husband. She looked at the pool, the volleyball court, and finally went over to the bar, where she saw four drunk and loud stallions. "Excuse me? Have any of you seen a blue pegasus around here?" she asked the other stallions. "Whoa!" Zeta said. "Somepony get me a glass, because I just found myself a tall drink of water." "Are you really that drunk?" Rainbow asked. "I swear to drunk I'm not Celestia." "Yeah, whatever," Rainbow said. She decided to make her way back to the room, hoping to find the Soarin had returned there. But as she made her way to the room, just before trotting through the door, she heard her husband making very suggestive sounds. She slowly opened the door. "Um, Soarin?" "Uhhhhhh..." "Are you okay?" "Ohhhh." Rainbow turned her head around the corner. First was a look of shock, but then a massive grin came upon her face. There was Soarin, spread out on the bed, covered in crust and apple pie filling. "I hic tried to resist her, but she was just so tasty!" "Well, Soarin, I got 'her' just for you. Did you see the pictures I had taken too?" Soarin was too covered in food and too drunk from sheer ecstacy from the pie to even get up. Rainbow walked over to the desk to see the pictures that she had taken for Soarin. One was her in socks, one was her dressed as a cheerleader, in a cowfilly outfit, and finally one was a seductive pose with the very same apple pie. Rainbow couldn't help but chuckle at Soarin's face. His tongue was still hanging out of his mouth as he lay sideways on the bed. "Hey, does this place smell like upsexy?" Soarin asked. "What's upsexy?" "Oh, nothing much. What's up with you?" Rainbow rolled her eyes as Soarin nearly died of laughter from his own joke. "Oh, you. I wanted us to share this pie and look at the pictures I took together, but I guess you're not prepared for that. Maybe tomorrow."