//------------------------------//
// Finding Their Friends 
// Story: Rainbow Dash and the Crystal Empire 
// by Rainbow Dash 55 
//------------------------------//

"Where do you think they are?", Fire Streak whispered.
They crept around the gate of the Crystal Empire, looking for Rainbow's friends.
"I'm not sure. I told them to--"
"PPSSSSSSTTT!"
"What was that?", Fire Streak asked.
"Guys! Over here!", the familiar voice whisper-yelled.
They looked all around them, and finally found several bushes strangely lined up near each other.
"Pinkie Pie?", Rainbow said to one of the bushes. She peered over the top of the bush.
"SURPRISE!" Pinkie exploded from inside of the bush, followed by confetti.
"Pinkie, keep it down!", Applejack commanded as she emerged from another bush.
"Yes, Pinkie, I think we need to be quiet so nopony finds us," Fluttershy gently told her as she poked her head up from the third bush.
"Ew, gross! Ew, slimy! AH, it cut me!", Rarity cried. She was covered in thorns and leaves as she got out from her bush.
The Wonderbolts Rainbow had met from earlier that day all came out from their bushes, too.
"You're all okay!", Rainbow said.
"Of course we're okay, silly!", Pinkie happily said. "But are both of YOU okay? Your mouths are red."
They blushed furiously.
"Okay, Pinkie, that's enough," Rainbow said. "Here's the plan."