priceless

by Derec mc coy


Hello Filthy and... Twilight?

It was a bit later than an hour when Rainbow Dash and Applejack were back at the entrance of the hotel. And as Roban said, he would be there too.



“You had enough time?” he asked. “Found your room? Fully unpacked?”



“Yeah. We’re checked in.” Rainbow Dash said.



“And Ah unpacked.” Applejack said. And she looked a bit angrily toward her friend.



“Did I miss something?” Roban asked, and lifted his eyebrow.



“No. Only the fact that Ah had to unpack everythin’ while Rainbow Dash here.” And Applejack turned her head to Rainbow “was too busy with her practicin’ flights.”



Rainbow Dash turned with an annoyed face to the orange mare. “Hey! Sitting four hours on a train without stops is very uncomfortable for a pegasus.” And she opened her wings in a defensive way. “Before you know it, your wings get stiff and useless. So I needed a flight to stretch my wings.”



“And that takes fifty minutes?” Applejack asked upset.



“Hey, you want me with two inflexible wings on that tournament? Well, be my guest.” And she turned around. “That way, we won’t win.”



Applejack stepped next to Rainbow Dash. “But that doesn’t mean that you can’t help a bit.”



“Ladies. Please.” Roban interrupted. “Things are done and over now. Forget it and go on. Okay? We need to get to Filthy Rich. And the other judges wants to meet you two too.” He walked in front of the two arguing mares. “You two are friends, right?” he asked when he got there attention.



Applejack and Rainbow doubted a little while and nodded.



“And you two are going to compete right? Right. So an arguing is not good to start with. Am I right? Of course I’m right. Now. Hug each other and follow me.” He turned his back to the mares and walked two steps forward to give them a bit privacy. But all the two mares did was lifting their noses and stepped side by side behind Roban.


None of the three said anything during the walk. At the end of the walk, Rainbow Dash felt a bit guilty, but was too proud to openly admit it.



“Here we are” Roban said.



“Wow.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack said astonished. They stood in front of a big house. Too small to call it a villa. But surrounded by those little shacks, it looked awesome. The garden was well maintained, the front door was painted pale blue, while the house was crystal white. No windows were broken. The roof was pale blue as well, without holes.



“I know. Ugly, isn’t it? who would ever make this colour combination?” Roban said with a smile. He tried to sound sarcastic, but it wasn’t really noticeable with his bad accent.



“This reminds me at Rarity.” Applejack said.



Roban cocked his eyebrow.



“Rarity is a friend of ours who has a colour combination, kinda like that.” Rainbow Dash explained when she saw the confusion.



“Okay then.” He said. And he opened the fence. “Now. Go in.” he said, and he made a friendly gesture.



The two mares stepped inside the domain, and walked to the front door. “All those hedges, perfectly cut… in different shapes and figures.” Rainbow Dash said when she saw the whole collection of figures. “Poor gardening colt.”



Applejack smiled. “He gets paid for doing that, you know.”



“I hope so.” Rainbow Dash said.



The three ponies stepped on the front terrace where the front door was found. Roban pull at the rope, asides the door. A loud bell could be heard, after it.



“Fillies, may I ask you to behave yourself. Okay? It might be an advantage if you show good manners.” Roban whispered.



Rainbow rolled with her eyes. “Sure.”



A white unicorn in a smoking opened the door. “Ah, Roban.” The butler said with an annoying polite accent “Sir Rich expected you.”



“Yeah… I know that.” Roban said with a monotone voice. From the corner of his eyes, he could see two giggling mares, laughing at the butler’s face, and accent.



“Euh… please, come in.” the butler said, and he trotted aside to make place for the three to come in.



“Thank you.” Rainbow Dash said, trying to copy the accent.



“Rainbow.” Applejack whispered between her teeth.



“What? I’m trying to be polite.” She said and they all walked in.



The butler brought them to a gigantic double door with ‘library’ on it. “Please wait here.” The butler said. “I’ll take a look and give you a sign when you can come in.” and with that, he stepped inside.



Rainbow Dash and Applejack nodded. “This place is big.” Rainbow said.



“Ah know. It’s bigger than my farm.” Applejack said.



They heard the butler mumbling something and they recognised two familiar voices, and one new.



“I know one of those voices…” Rainbow Dash said. “But I can’t put my hoof on it.”



“Me neither.” Applejack said. “But ah swear, I know them.”



“One of them is Filthy” Rainbow Dash said.



“And the other…”



The butler opened the door again. “You can go in.” he said, and he leaded the three ponies inside. They walked a bit farther and recognised two familiar faces, and saw one new. “Good afternoon Mr. Rich, and… Twilight?!” the two mares said together.



“You know the princess?” Roban asked astonished.



Twilight smiled. “Of course we know each other. We’re friends.” She said.



“Twi, what in tarnation are you doing here?” Applejack asked.



“May I explain that?” Filthy rich said, and he stepped in front. “But please, take a seat first.”



Applejack and Rainbow Dash said together on one couch, and Roban took a chair. The butler took his stand, next to the door.



“As you know, I’m Filthy Rich. I organised the competition. I will also judge together with Princess Twilight” and with saying that name, he pointed at Twilight



“Please, just Twilight is enough. And they already know me.” Twilight interrupted.



“I just like it to say Twilight. And it’s only a formality. From now on, you know nopony who joins the competition. So, it’d be fair. Okay?” Filthy said.



“Okay.” Twilight rolled with her eyes.



“And this here is the sheriff of Dodge Junction. He’ll be the third judge.” Filthy continued. The Stallion nodded as a ‘hello’ “and your good friend Roban over there, is the Stallion-who-does-and-can-everything. He knows all the rules, guide you all through the challenges, makes sure that you’re all in time, and that kind of stuff.”



“That’s me.” Roban said.



“Before I go on, can I offer you something to drink?” Filthy asked.



“The usual.” Roban said immediately



“For us some cider” Applejack said.



Filthy looked at the butler and gave him a sign. The butler nodded and left the room.



“So.” Filthy rich said. “First of all, welcome. And I’m happy to see that you two want to compete in this tournament. You are one of the six duos who are going to compete.”



“Just 6 duos?” Rainbow Dash asked. “How is that possible? I thought there would be more interest in this.”



“There was.” Filthy said. “But remember that list you had to fill in? That was the first ‘test’” he smiled. “We can’t accept too many competitors.”



“That’s the reason why the list was so long.” Applejack said.



“Exactly.” Rich said. “And I’d like you to pay attention to Twilight now. She’s going to explain the general rules.”



The butler interrupted by entering the room and deliver the drinks.



“So…” Twilight took a scroll and unrolled it. “The rules of each round will be explained right before the game starts. But, there are some rules which counts for the whole tournament. Beginning with: no magic, do not harm or insult other competitors, and the most important. Play fair. If we find you’re cheating, or behave rudely against other players, you’re out.”



“So, behave yourself, is the general message.” Filthy Rich interrupted.



“And what are the games actually?” Applejack asked curious.



W“we can’t tell. It must be a secret to the competitors. To ensure, it’s fair game.” The sheriff said.



“Doesn’t matter. I’m prepared for everything.” Rainbow Dash smiled.



“The first round starts tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Roban will pick you up and bring you to the place of instant.” Filthy Rich.



“So make sure you’re in bed at a decent time.” Twilight smiled. “It’ll be a big day.”







That evening, Rainbow Dash and Applejack said in there room. Rainbow was laying in her bed with Applejack on a chair near her. “So.” Rainbow Dash started. “Sorry about the unpacking thing this morning.” She mumbled.



Applejack looked up “What?” she smiled.



“I said sorry.” Rainbow Dash said.



“It’s okay Dash.” Applejack smiled. “Just… never do that again. Okay?”



Rainbow sat up. “What do you think we are going to do tomorrow?”



“Ah guess we’re going to do something with sport, most likely. Something with conditions?” Applejack said.



“A race?” Rainbow asked excited. “Awesome.”



“Ah’m not sure Dash.” Applejack said.



“But it would be great if it would be a race.” Rainbow said. She fell backward of excitement. She turned her face to Applejack. “Thanks for doing this for me.”



“You’re welcome sugar cube. It’s really nothing. You know Ah can use the money” Applejack said.



“Yeah, but still. I’m glad YOU want to do this with ME.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Together, we’re just… unbeatable.”



“Ah guess so…” Applejack smiled.