"...You're going to catch it. The fastest creature in the universe," Discord repeated dryly, his voice burdened with an everlasting tone of amusement. "You don't know what this thing is, you don't know where it comes from or what it can do. But never mind all that, the Great and Powerful Rainbow Dash is going to catch it."
Rainbow huffed. She was once more (as she often was) glad that Trixie had not made an appearance in some time, as the unicorn would very likely not appreciate Rainbow Dash stealing her title, however unwillingly. She glanced into the mirror again, but saw only her own reflection. Whatever magic had persuaded the mirror to show her the bird a few moments before had run its course and faded into obscurity.
"Yes," she said defiantly. "I am."
"And how are you going to do that?" Discord asked.
"Easy," Rainbow said. "With science."
Fluttershy was just now returning with the rest of the snacks and utensils, bringing their hushed conversation to a premature halt.
"I'm so glad you're here, Dashie," she said. "It's wonderful having friends over."
A mile or so away from where the three comrades were having their tea session, at the exact same moment, Pinkie Pie was bolting back and forth across the homely interior of a small house belonging to a very nice couple of earth ponies. Their son had only recently gained his cutie mark, and a celebratory surprise party was in the final stages of production. Brightly colored streamers swung from the rafters, balloons of every color on long strings tied to almost everything.
An hour or so after she had begun, Pinkie skidded to a halt in front of the happy couple, her eyes bright and shining. "Oh, I can't wait to see the look on Wave Runner's face when he sees all this! He's gonna be so super duper excited, where did you say he was again? How much time do we have? I hope he likes chocolate cake... I FORGOT THE CAKE!" She shrieked suddenly, at a decibel level slightly above that of a rocket engine and her words pouring out just a tad slower than Mach 2.
The stallion pushed his hair back into place, it having been pushed awry by the sudden blast of air that came from the small pink horse. "We told you twice already, we got the cake while you were decorating," he said patiently. "Wave is off with his friends, and will be home in a few hours."
"Great!" Pinkie exclaimed, and planted her rump in the middle of the floor. "Everything here is all done, and the party cannon is primed and ready for launch for added special effect!"
The couple exchanged a glance. "Party... cannon?" The mare echoed nervously.
"Don't worry, it's safe. Patent pending," Pinkie said. She would have gone on longer had it not been for an easily recognizable whirring sound that came from outside one of the open windows. She whirled around to see Tank hovering outside the window and immediately rushed to him, grinning from ear to ear.
Behind her, the stallion looked nervously at his wife. "Next time we call a professional," he deadpanned, quite unsure as to what kind of wild force they had let into their house, but the decorations were top notch, he had to give her that.
Pinkie had taken a small card from the tortoise, and smiled apologetically. "The good news is, the decorations are done and everything is in order," she said. "The not so good news is that I really have to run, one of my friends needs me!"
The couple looked relieved. "That's alright, Pinkie, you've done more than enough. I think we can take it from here. Wave will be beside himself."
Pinkie looked concerned. "How is he going to be beside himself? Did he find the Mirror Pool?"
"The what?"
"Can't tell you, it's a secret!" She said. "Bye!" And bounced out the front door like a giant rubber ball, leaving the perplexed couple behind. Tank's note had been urgent, instructing her to meet Rainbow Dash at the old rainbow factory. Wasting no time with a friend waiting on her, Pinkie arrived at the factory in record time, turning a corner and right into someone turning the corner from the other side. Her eyes widened in surprise, then in delight.
"It's you!" She exclaimed.
One Hour Earlier...
Twilight Sparkle gently closed the book she was reading, wiping her eyes with a hoof. "I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't think I can read anymore," she admitted.
Spike, who'd been sitting next to her, gasped as if she'd just used a nasty expletive in front of a room of foals. "Twilight!" He exclaimed. "Are you feeling alright?"
Twilight laughed. "Of course, Spike. But I like reading for fun, and a lot of the things I have to read now that I'm a Princess are decidedly NOT fun. Tax reports, land ownership documents, political revenue statements, budgets, tax laws..." She sighed. "I'd much rather be studying. Studying IS fun."
"If you say so," Spike said, yawning despite himself just from the explanation. "Why don't we get out and do something? We haven't done anything since..." he trailed off, counting on his claws, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Since May Tenth," Twilight finished. "It's been almost five months since anything happened. Which is very strange, since usually something happens every week like clockwork."
"Yeah, but we were overdue for a break," Spike said, then jumped up on the chair.
"Come on, lets get outta here, pleeeeeease?" He begged, his eyes wide.
Twilight laughed again. "Alright, Spike," she said. "Let's go."
"Alright!" Spike exclaimed, mounting onto her back, and digging his heels into her sides. "Hi ho, Twilight! Away!"
Twilight didn't move an inch, just craned her neck around and glared at him. Spike grinned sheepishly. "Heh." He said, rubbing his neck. "Sorry."
Leaving the small library, which Twilight didn't much care for at all (lack of proper organization, she often complained), Twilight was only just beginning to head for the castle when a tortoise zoomed around the corner. He had two cards attached to his shell, one depicting a purple firework and the other a bright pink balloon. Twilight stopped, frowned, and took the firework card, and Tank zoomed off down a sidestreet.
Twilight opened the card, her eyes lighting up as she read its contents.
I need help studying, will you teach me? Meet me at the back of the abandoned rainbow factory. R.D.
Twilight lit up at once. "Yay! A tutoring job!"
Spike was less thrilled. "Could she have possibly picked a more terrifying place to study, though? Especially after what hap-"
"Spike!" Twilight cut him off. "You know as well as I do that it's just an old pony's tale. Ponyville simply didn't have a big enough pegasus population to sustain a rainbow factory here, and they went bankrupt."
"But-"
"They went bankrupt, Spike. That's the end of it. It's not haunted, just deserted. And I don't want to hear another word about it."
"Alright..."
Stopping at the castle to pick up blank notebooks, ink, quills, and study materials on every subject she could fit into her saddlebags, Twilight set out for the old factory. It was completely deserted, a tall fence surrounded the place with boarded up windows. Twilight frowned, going around the side, and slamming headfirst into a bright pink pony.
"It's you!" The pink pony exclaimed, surprised.
"Pinkie?" Twilight asked. "What are you doing here?" This was certainly not one of the places that she'd ever expected to see the party horse.
"I got a card from Rainbow Dash, she wants to plan a party here! Pretty sneaky too, nobody ever comes here. IT'S THE PERFECT PLAN!" She shrieked, streamers bursting out of her mane.
Twilight blinked. "I got a card too, but she wanted to-"
"Look!" Pinkie exclaimed suddenly, pointing with her hoof. Twilight looked.
A dark figure standing in the shadows looked first right, then left, then stepped out. It was very clearly Rainbow Dash, but wearing an oversized trenchcoat and dark sunglasses.
"Hi Dashie!" Pinkie waved.
"I am not Dashie, I am Marepheus," she said. "You both have been chosen for a very special mission, come on, quickly!" She disappeared around the back corner of the building, into an alley.
Twilight and Pinkie exchanged a glance, then followed. Once safely behind the building, and the three of them were gathered, Rainbow Dash cast off the disguise. "Sorry, I had to ditch Fluttershy," she explained. "This mission only requires the best of the best, and I love her but she just doesn't have what it takes."
Twilight stamped her front hoof. "Rainbow, what is going ON?" She asked, annoyed. "Are we studying or not? I brought flash cards!"
"Sorry, Twi. No studying today," she said, and Twilight looked crestfallen. Rainbow Dash hugged them both closer to her, and dropped her voice to a low whisper.
"We're going bird watching."