//------------------------------// // Chapter12- Various Meetings // Story: The Alicorn of the Stars // by mushrumluver //------------------------------// The Alicorn of the Stars Chapter 12 – Various Meetings “Whoosh! Whish! Zoom!” Rainbow Dash soars through the blue sky beaming her signature rainbow trail. Loops and turns, she goes around various cloud formations. Rising above the clouds, she braces herself for her Sonic Rainboom finale. With all her speed, she dashes through the skies towards the ground. Sparks crackling alongside her as she passes through the sound barrier; she gritted her teeth for more focus as she maintains her course. “Boom!” a rainbow-colored sonic boom scattered all over the place the moment she succeeded. With the sonic rainboom boosting her, she tilted upward and spinning rapidly projecting a rainbow-colored streak around her. It would be a spectacular finish but unfortunately her consciousness couldn’t take the speed and rotation pushing her senses to the limit. Her momentum was soon put to a halt by the time she lost her consciousness. Instantly the effects died down and Rainbow Dash falls down from the sky. Rainbow Dash unknowingly plummets down to her death. “Uhh…” Everything was still hazy the moment Rainbow Dash opened her eyes “Where am I?” As her vision clears, she clearly notices the same sky, trees, clouds and landscape realizing that she is still in the same spot. “You’re finally awake.” A gentle voice from behind suddenly spoke. “Who’s there?” Rainbow Dash suddenly turned back startled by the sudden approach. She noticed a green-eyed silver-coated Pegasus mare with a side-swept style white mane holding a water canister. “Relax, I don’t bite.” The mare chuckled. “But seriously you were this close, if I wasn’t there on time.” The mare using her free hoof emphasized Rainbow’s close call. “You really should be careful; after all you just have one life. Here” She then handed Rainbow Dash the water canister after she finished her sentence. “Uhh… Thanks…” Rainbow reluctantly accepts the canister. “So what were you doing here?” she suddenly asked after taking a sip from the canister. It was her typical behavior to doubt every pony she meets as if they had an ulterior motive that prompted her to even question her savior. “You really should be more trusting of other ponies.” the silver mare sighed “For starters, I’m also looking for a place to practice for the incoming Flyer’s Competition.” “Well I’m also participating for the competition.” Rainbow proudly declares. “It’s just so happens that I need a move twenty percent if not FIFTY percent more cooler than the Sonic Rainboom and that prize is mine, no offense.” Rainbow, the usual, started bragging her stuff. “That is a cool move, so do you already have a partner?” the mare asked. “A partner pfft! What for?” Rainbow smirks at the question. “For this!” the mare popped out a flyer showing the details regarding the incoming Flyer’s Competition. Rainbow glances through the flyer. At first, she remained calm since she already knew the time, venue mechanics and the prize but what shocked her is to see the recent changes in the mechanics that it requires a pair to participate. “What?! Why would they do this?” Rainbow suddenly grabbed the flyer and stared at that certain statement. “Well, I heard that the Wonderbolts are looking for somepony that can easily work in a team.” The mare started to explain. “But the good thing is that there might be two ponies that can actually be in the Wonderbolts this time.” “Does that mean that the prize money is split as well?” Rainbow Dash concerned since she offered to give all of the prize money to Applejack. “Obviously…” the mare replied “Do you really need that money?” “Well, it’s for my friend, her home caught fire and I was hoping to use all of the prize money to help her.” Rainbow Dash humbly explained her reasons. “If that’s the case, why don’t you pair up with me?” the mare offered. “I don’t really need the prize money that much as long as we win the competition that’s good enough for me.” “Hmm…” Rainbow giving thought to the offer. “Well as long as you don’t slow me down, I guess it’s okay.” She was putting on airs again despite her failed attempt earlier. “Challenge Accepted.” The mare replied as she flew up the sky preparing to show Rainbow Dash some of her moves. Her eyes focused and wings prepped, she speeds through the sky like a bullet. With just a few seconds, sparks were crackling already similar when doing a sonic rainboom, but her direction is different on how Rainbow Dash does it. In her case, she was doing it while moving across the skies. Rainbow could already see the sound barrier building up as the mare continues to build up speed. “Boom!” the sound echoed throughout the area leaving Rainbow Dash jaw-dropped. She knew the level of difficulty of doing a Sonic Rainboom at that horizontally like that. For in her case, gravity was on her side increasing her speed when doing that, but on the mare’s case there was no gravity to assist her it was her pure acceleration and speed that did the Sonic Rainboom. The mare’s speed continued to increase as she passed through the speed of sound. Yet despite the immense, speed she was still under control and managed to stop just beside Rainbow Dash. “Although not at much colorful as yours but still that’s why I just call it Sonic Boom.” the mare chuckled after seeing Rainbow Dash’s expression. “So did you like that?” “Not as cool as mine but still it’s awesome.” Rainbow Dash replied maintaining her cool and calm demeanor after she shook her head removing her awe-stricken face. “I like you, I’m Silverstar” the mare extends her hoof. “What’s yours?” “The name’s Rainbow Dash.” Rainbow Dash shook hooves with Silverstar accepting her partnership. ****** “This can’t be right…” an orange pony scratching his head with a puzzled look on his face said as he looks over the remains of the burned farm. “From what I remember Sweet Apple Acres is supposed to be here.” He then stood here confounded at the site. “What in tarnation are ya’ doin’ here?” A familiar voice spoke from behind as she approached the dumbfounded pony. “Hmmm?” the pony turns around recognizing that familiar accent. Those green eyes, the light orange coat and the cowpony hat, but what gave away her identity was her freckles. “Applejack!” the pony gleefully approached the cowpony. “Who are ya’ again?” Applejack unfamiliar with the sudden friendliness of the pony in front of her. “It’s me, Sly, Sly Crossmane.” The pony excitedly introduced himself. “Sly… Sly…” Applejack pins her head trying to recall that name for she was sure that she knew that name long ago but where and when. “Back from Manehattan…” Sly responded after he saw Applejack taking time gathering ther memories. “Oh yea… yer that pony Ah’ met when Ah’ was still livin’ with ma’h Uncle and Aunt Orange.” Applejack finally remembered. “Phew… For a second there I thought you forgot all about me.” Sly feeling a bit relieved. “Although that was a long time ago, but still I remember those days like yesterday.” “Eeyup! We had fun back then along with those two.” Applejack chuckled a bit. “Remember the time that I saved you from those bullies?” Sly replied. “Oh come now, ya’ know that it was those two who did all the fightin’” Applejack replied “That reminds me, what’re those two up tah’ now?” “Aster and Bran? Well they’re doing their own thing. Now much news after we’ve went our separate ways.” Sly replied yet he was feeling unsure of his answer since even he himself doesn’t know the answer. “Ya’ll three were a trio back then right?” Applejack said. “Yup, despite me being an earth pony, Aster a pegasus and Bran a unicorn, although we did some crazy stuff back then, we all got along just fine.” Sly replied feeling proud of his band of friends. “Just like me and mah’ friends here.” Applejack replied feeling the same sentiment. “I’m just wondering.” Sly turns his attention towards the barren burnt field. “What happened here? Before I left there was this huge apple farm here.” “Well…” Applejack’s expression suddenly turned bitter “some nasty forest fire burned the whole place down.” “Oh…” Sly replied also feeling down “I’m sorry for bringing that up” “That’s okay.” Applejack replied. “Is there any way I can help?” Sly tries to offer his help. “Thanks Sly, but right now Ah’ got the situation under control, although it might take time and beside ma’h friends are here tah’ help me.” Applejack replied regaining her joyful mood earlier. “That’s good to hear. “ Sly also catching Applejack’s optimism “It’s good to have friends who’re there to help you when you need it.” “Ah’m really lucky to have friends like ‘em” Applejack replied. “So what brings ya’ here?” “Vacation, and what better way to spend it than come home after being gone for a long time.” Sly answered smiling back. ****** “Spike?!” Rarity shocked to see the baby dragon hiding behind the cabinet. “What in Equestria are you doing here?” “Hi Rarity…” Spike waving with a flimsy grin on his face as he comes out of his hiding place. “Does Twilight know about this?” Rarity asked the baby dragon while looking left and right worried that somepony might see Spike. “Ugh…Y-yeah.” Spike replied as he laughs of awkwardly. “i-in fact she even let me off in a… uh.. vacation.” “Tell me the truth…” Rarity replied hardly believing Spike’s words as she peers into Spike’s eyes and not to mention Spike stuttering in his reply earlier. “Ugh… Ugh…” Spike started to become angst with Rarity staring at him like that. Beads of sweat started to roll down his cheek and back as he feels nervous of what would Rarity say if he told her the truth but he had no choice, not when Rarity was looking at him like that. “I—I followed you here.” Spike spoke his mind feeling a bit nervous on how Rarity will reply. “To be honest, I don’t really trust this guy, I mean sure he’s rich, powerful and a noble and all but there’s something about him that makes me feel uneasy about him. He’s seems like those bad pony and not to mention scary.” “Good Heavens, Spike! What in Equestria are you saying? Lord Draco is a renowned noble pony who serves directly under her majesty as her official monster slayers. And not to mention he is also a member of the Royal Court. Surely the princess wouldn't employ bad ponies to serve her.” Rarity reprimands Spike feeling shocked and disappointed in Spike. Spike paused for a moment to muster up his courage. “I don’t want to see you go away. Everypony would be sad, I would be sad.” He finally confessed his true feelings as he felt that Rarity would be gone. Rarity smiled back at Spike “Spike deary, you have nothing to worry about, I’m just here for work.” “Okay…” Spike replied reluctantly “How about this, if you promised me that you’ll go home right away and wait for my return, I’ll go with you to the Summer Harvest Ball.” Rarity replied to put the dragon’s worry to rest. “Really?!” Spike jumped up in excitement. “Pinkie Promise.” Rarity replied. “Cross my heart and hope to fly—“Spike answered. “—Stick a cupcake to my eye.” Rarity continued enacting the statement. Feeling satisfied and relieved, Spike snuck away from the room hoping that no pony saw him. As he nears the front gate of the manor he was greeted off by none other than Draco himself. “Ugh… Hello?” Spike awkwardly waved his claws at the noble pony. “and just vhere do you think you’re going Dragon?” Draco draws out his sword, staring down at Spike with his murderous eyes. “You do know zat you are trespassing ont my property, Dragon” Spike shivers in fear as he felt defenseless over Draco. Motionless and scared, Spike couldn’t even shout out the words “Help”. Falling down on the ground, Spike tried to back away from Draco. “Just kidding…” Draco sheathed his blade over the frightened Spike as he chuckles at Spike’s reaction. “I know you are Frau Rarity’s friend, but also keep in mind zat you are still trespassing.” “I’ll keep that in mind.” Spike sighs in relief. “Well I have to get home now; ugh I guess it was nice meeting you.” Spike brushes of the dirt from as he runs off outside the gates. “Van second.” Draco called out to Spike stopping the baby dragon. Before he approached Spike, he waved some sort of signal to some ponies inside the manor “W-what is it?” Spike turned back feeling nervous as to what Draco wants. “I’m just sending in van of my carriages to fetch you back to Ponyville, you vorry to much.” Draco stood by Spike side as both of them waits for the carriage to come. “I don’t vant Rarity to vorry about you.” “Thanks…” Spike thanked Draco yet he still feels awkward around him. As soon as the carriage arrived Spike got on it. Before it left the manor, Draco approached Spike from the window. “She vill be mine.” Draco whispered behind Spike’s ear. The carriage soon left after Draco’s whisper. Spike hastily turned back seeing Draco’s malicious smirk; but it was too late as Draco and his manor becomes smaller and smaller as the carriage drives back to Ponyville. Feeling helpless and worried, he sat down and stared at the bright red sun as it goes down the mountain ranges. His worries soon found a small glimmer of hope as he remembered Rarity’s words earlier before his departure. Smiling softly he rested on his seat knowing that Rarity will surely come back. ****** “Hmm… I wonder where that book went. I’ve search everywhere, it can’t just go disappear into thin air. How could I lose it, it had all the information I need.” Twilight speaking to herself as she walks across the streets of GroveTown not minding of what is in front of her in her deep thought. In her carelessness, she accidentally bumped into a certain green mare. “Watch where you’re going!” the mare shouted at Twilight. “Sorry about that, I was just thinking and—“Twilight apologized but she was interrupted to moment she saw who she bumped into. “YOU!” both Fran and Twilight pointed at each other at the same time.