//------------------------------// // Day 1 // Story: The Bet // by Blueninetails //------------------------------// Twilight lightly groaned as the morning sunlight woke her from her slumber, but loudly yawned as she willed herself to sit up and rub her eyes. She hadn't gotten as much sleep as she would've wanted after the events of last night so she had to rework her entire schedule for the entire trip. Once her eyes had adjusted properly to the light of her mentor's sun, she proceeded to roll herself out of bed and go to the bathroom. On the way, she did notice that Spike seems to be gone from his bed. The two shared a hotel room with two separate beds. Twilight's best guess as to where her little assistant had gone, downstairs enjoying a good breakfast. Technically, being in the bathroom of her own private hotel room, she could've used magic to go through her usual morning routine and nopony would ever know, but Twilight knew what she was getting herself into and refused to be so uncouth as to be dishonest to her friends. Besides, it offered her a great opportunity to experience how non-unicorn ponies go through everyday life, and as with any good study, she had to be as consistent as possible through out the entire study. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. By the time Twilight had properly gone through her routine, a full hour had passed and she was still struggling to finish brushing her mane. As soon as she was somewhat satisfied with how her mane looked, Twilight picked up her saddlebag and headed out the door. "Mornin' Twilight." Applejack greeted her "Morning Applejack." "Betcha yer rather hungry right about now, huh?" Applejack asked with a smirk. "Yes, you'd be right about that Applejack. I really could use a good breakfast right about now." "Actually, ya might wanna consider gettin' brunch instead. It's eleven in the mornin' sugarcube." "It's that late?!" "Yer one of the last ones awake. Well, next ta Rainbow anyway. That mare hasn't woken up yet." "I see..." Twilight commented as they started toward the lobby of the hotel, "Are you still planning to go along with Pinkie and Fluttershy to that bakery today?" "Ya bet. We're just waitin' on Shy right now. She took mah sis, 'er friends, an' Spike down ta the end of the beach ta look at some seastars. Why? Plannin' ta follow along?" "I'm sorry Applejack, but I'm going to have to decline the offer again. I'm too hungry at the moment to really want to wait the trip to get food." Applejack chuckled at the statement. "Well, ah have no problems wit' that. Especially, since ya didn't eat much last night, an' ya missed breakfast. We'll see about bringin' ya somethin' back if we can." As they reached the lobby, Twilight and Applejack went their separate ways as the alicorn went to go appease her hunger, and Applejack headed out to where Pinkie and Fluttershy were suppose to meet her. "Howdy Pinkie Pie. Did Fluttershy finish up with them crusaders yet?" she asked the pink pony, who was sitting near the entrance outside eating an apple from the buffet area. "Nope, not yet." Pinkie replied before taking another bite, "This is really good." she commented out loud after a momentary pause. "My goodness, it's really quite warm out today." Rarity rang out as she came out of the hotel and joined her friends. "Hiya Rarity!" Pinkie greeted. "Yep, but it ain't nothin' ta be worried about." Applejack stated, "Ya goin' somewhere Rares?" she asked, noticing Rarity seemed to be carrying her saddlebags. "Why yes, I am. I'm going down to the shopping centers to see what's fashionable here. It might give me some ideas for my own work once we return home." "Ah thought ya were goin' ta watch them fillies today." "Oh...right..." she stated as she recalled that detail, "Oh dear, I completely forgot about that." "Hm...Well, why don't we take the Crusaders with us fer a time? I'm sure Pinkie an' Shy wouldn't mind if they tagged along fer a bit." Applejack stated, "We can bring 'em to ya later if ya want." "Oh, of course. You can probably find me near the central plaza, that is where the more well known stores are located." Rarity replied with a nod, "Applejack, if you don't mind me asking, I'm afraid I don't quite understand, why a betting game with Twilight and Rainbow Dash? Pinkie, Fluttershy, and myself are taking no part in it. How does that ensure we all can meet and socialize together?" she added after a moment, to which Pinkie gave a nod in agreement as she hopped over to them. "It was so we could Rares. Ya heard it yerself, they both were goin' ta be busy as a honeybee in spring with their own plans ta hangout." "So you gave them a reason to, by taking away the key element to their plans...? My Applejack, I wasn't aware someone so honest can be so cunning." Rarity stated with an amused smirk. "Hey, it ain't like ah'm lyin' to either of 'em." she replied defensively "I said nothing of the sort dear Applejack." she simply replied back in a sincere voice, "Well, I'll be taking my leave now. I wish you three have fun on your trip today. Ta." and without another word, was off. About that time, Applejack heard an audible yawn behind her. Looking back, she saw her cyan friend sleepily trotting up to her. "Mornin' Rainbow." "Morning you two." Pinkie waved back to her, since her mouth was currently full. Rainbow then gave another yawn before shaking her head to wake herself up more, then opened her wings to stretch them. "Remember, no flyin' Rainbow." Applejack stated with a smirk "I remember." Rainbow rebutted as she rolled her eyes, "Stretching my wing muscles does NOT count as flying." she added before she pressed her wings back onto her sides. "Jus' givin' ya a friendly reminder." she stated as she looked back at the where the crusaders and Fluttershy were, "So, whatcha plannin' ta be doin' today Rainbow?" "Well, since I can't really fly around and practice my tricks, like I wanted to." she shot Applejack a glare, "I'm going see if Twilight needs tutoring in landing. I don't have to be in the air to teach her that." Applejack simply replied with a nod, before looking back out to the beach. As the sun was near setting on another day for the group, Twilight and Rainbow Dash could still be found on the beach, along side with the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike. They couldn't really say where the others were at that time, other than Fluttershy, who had retreated back to her room for a quick nap, and the princesses, who had also retired to their room after a two-hour long scuba diving adventure. It was a matter that Twilight mentally noted to do a little research on and possibly try. Rainbow was still helping teach Twilight how to properly land. The two had started a little over three hours ago, and Twilight still couldn't quite grasp the proper timing when it came to coming to a stop in mid-air, and landing safely on her hooves. Granted though she was improving. "Alright Twilight, let's try landing again." Rainbow shouted out, "And remember, don't push backwards too hard when you slow down." she added as she fidgeted slightly. Twilight gave a quick nod in affirmation before descending in a spiraling fashion. Once she was a couple of feet above the ground, Twilight beat her wings forward to slow down and eventually came to a halt. Unfortunately though, Twilight still landed flat on her rump as she miscalculated the amount of push needed to come to a full stop. "Well..., at least you're getting better Twilight. At least you landed on your butt rather than your back this time." Rainbow stated as she chuckled Twilight groaned in response. "Oh come on Twilight, you did good. You just need to adjust your technique a little." Twilight sighed. "I'll do some research later. For now, I'm tired." Rainbow sighed as well, followed by her opening and closing her wings. "Howdy ya two." They both heard Applejack greet them. They both looked to see the farmer pony trotting up to them. Pinkie and Rarity right behind her. "Hey Applejack." Twilight greeted. "Where've you three been?" Rainbow asked. "We went a lil' bit outside the town ta have a look around." "It's rather refreshing actually." Rarity stated, "As much as the town is beautiful, much of the area all around the town is just as visually appealing." "Ah hear we're suppose ta have good weather all week, so ah reckon a lil' picnic would be just dandy." "I think that's something we can all do." Twilight replied with a smile, "So, when do you plan on holding the picnic?" "Ooo, ooo, how about tomorrow?" Pinkie asked excitedly. Apparently the idea was so appealing to her, she wanted to do it as soon as possible. "Whoa there sugarcube, we still have ta hear when Fluttershy is feelin' up ta it as well." Applejack stated with a smirk. "Oh yeah..." Pinkie replied along with a nervous grin, before her expression went to confusion as she noted that Rainbow's wing seemingly twitching once in a while, and the cyan pegasus acting a bit fidgety. "Actually, I'm not sure if I can join you girls for a picnic tomorrow, if you do choose it for tomorrow." Twilight stated as she gave an apologetic look. "Already made plans for tomorrow darling?" Rarity asked "I made a promise to Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle that I'd take them exploring in one of the caves that's open to tourists." "Ain't that somethin' ya should be askin' us about first?" Applejack asked "Don't worry, the cave I have in mind is quite safe. I'm sure you remember it." Twilight stated, "It's the one that supposedly has fossils and a pirate's lost treasure." "Ya mean that one cave where a blue stallion is always in front, soundin' a lot like Flim an' Flam?" Twilight nodded in response, "Ah dunno..., ah mean, ah know the cave yer sayin' Twilight, but ah'm not so sure ah'm comfortable lettin' her go. Maybe if it was jus' 'er, ah know ya can watch 'er jus' fine, but all three...?" "Indeed, those three are quite the hoof-ful when together." Rarity added. Pinkie, who had been looking at Rainbow, noted another wing-twitch from Rainbow Dash. "Well...why don't you girls join us? It does fall within your objective of hanging out together doesn't it?" "Oh...um..." Rarity replied nervously, "I think I'll have to pass on that offer Twilight. I'd love to, but there's just too much...ugh, dirt..." "Oh, it ain't that bad. A lil' dirt in yer mane ain't gonna hurt ya." Applejack stated, earning a slight scoff from the white unicorn, she then turned her attention once again to Twilight, "Well, ah certainly wouldn't mind that. A reckon a lil' cave explorin' is a dandy idea." "Great, we can meet at the hotel lobby tomorrow after lunch." "Are you okay Dashie?" Pinkie asked, once she saw Rainbow fidget and her wing twitched once more. "I'm fine Pinkie." Rainbow replied dully. "Why? What's wrong with Dash there Pinks?" Applejack asked "She keeps twitchy-twitching." "I said I'm fine." Rainbow shouted defensively. Unfortunately, her wing gave another twitch that seemed weird in sense that one opened up completely then closed, while the other barely got up to half-way before being folded back on her side. "Are you sure Rainbow?" Twilight asked, "Because, now that Pinkie mentions it, I did notice that you seemed a bit...I don't know, tense while I was flying." "..." "Hm..." Applejack gave a thought before giving a smirk, "Ya know, ah bet this has somethin' ta do with our lil' deal last night. Itchin' ta fly again there Rainbow?" "What?! No, I'm fine. You'll see Applejack, I'm not going to lose our bet." Rainbow rebutted as she gave a cocky smile, her former jittery behavior now gone. "We'll see Rainbow." Applejack remarked, "But, if ah'm right-" "Which you're not." Rainbow stated firmly as she glared at her "If ah'm right, yer probably gonna snap like a tree branch with a ton a' snow on it before Twilight does." "I'm not going to lose, and I'm definitely not going to let Twilight beat me." Rainbow stated firmly, "Twilight, I'm coming along tomorrow. I'm going to make sure you lose before I do, that is if I do choose to lose." then stomped off back to the hotel to cool off. "Okay...that wasn't exactly how I pictured asking if Rainbow wanted to join us, but...I suppose that works too." Twilight stated, then gave a sigh, "Well, I have some planning to do for tomorrow, so I'm going back to my room. I think you'll find the crusaders over there." she then pointed what kind of looked like a small mound of sand, "They were digging a hole there earlier for whatever reason they saw fit. It's not deep though." "Alrighty, gotcha Twilight." Applejack said as she started trotting towards it, Rarity just behind her. "Oh, if you see Spike over there, tell him I want him back at the hotel before eight tonight." Twilight called out.