//------------------------------// // The Stragglers Arrive // Story: Nightmares and Dragonscapes // by Crosis //------------------------------// When Rarity said that she’d just wait there, she hadn’t meant it literally. Quite the contrary, in fact. She had assumed that perhaps another group of guards were on their way, with transportation and numerous apologies. After all, they couldn’t just whisk Spike away and leave his special somepony behind, now could they? At the very least, she expected Twilight to teleport back for her, or return with Spike. Surely they wouldn’t just forget about her. Would they? But the minutes ticked by, and it looked as though they’d done just that. Her feet were starting to ache from the elegant stilettos she had worn, but that was nothing compared to chafing of her ego. They’d forgotten her, like some tourist’s piece of luggage! “Ohhhhh, foo,” she grumbled, daintily stamping her foot. “One of these days I really must learn how to teleport! Well, that or grow myself a pair of wings… somehow.” Flopping back onto her seat, she kicked off her heels, crossed her arms and began to pout. When that failed to improve her mood, Rarity decided that she might as well resume work on her outfit. But try as she might, she was unable to keep her mind focused on the garment. Her thoughts kept straying back to Spike’s tantalizing reaction, but that only reminded her of how they were rudely interrupted! That, of course, reminded her of the abduction fiasco. And after several minutes of stewing, Rarity exploded “Honestly,” she ranted to the empty room. “Just who did they think they were? Barging in here like that, claiming to have some important mission and making off with Spike? Hmph! Nothing more than jackbooted thuggery, if you ask me!” “And the nerve of that one stallion! Treating me like some insignificant peasant? I am an Element of Harmony! That has to count for… well… something! Surely I’m the equal of SOME kind of nobility. A countess, at the very least! Not that I expect groveling, but a bit of deference would be appreciated, or at least some gratitude for my past endeavors! And speaking of which, how many kingdoms has he helped save lately? Hmm? I don’t recall seeing him when the changelings ran amok! Probably hiding in some coat closet. Yet he has the gall to look down on me, brush me aside like that… Errrgh!” Completely fuming now, Rarity grabbed a double fistful of golden fabric and twisted it savagely, imagining that the silk was really that uncouth ruffian’s neck. “Tell me to get out of the way, will you? Just you wait! I’ll straighten you out, you see if I don’t!” She was so absorbed in her vicarious throttling that she failed to notice when the train rolled to a halt, the door to her compartment opened, and she gained a rather apprehensive audience. “Uh, guess one of us should tell ’er we’re here, ya think?” Scootaloo gulped. “Yeah, good idea. Sweetie, you do it.” “Are you crazy,” the unicorn asked, forgetting to rhyme. “I’m not going anywhere near her! What if she tries to strangle me next?” “Oh, you girls are so silly. Watch, I’ll do it!” With a carefree smile, Pinkie hopped over to Rarity. Raising one finger, she began tapping the back of the unicorn’s head. “Rarity! Rarity, we made it! Helloooooo, anypony home?” Still absorbed in her vengeful fantasy, Rarity spun around with her eyes narrowed to slits and teeth bared in a snarl. Just as Sweetie predicated, she lunged forward with both hands aimed for Pinkie’s throat. The Crusaders screamed and ducked back into the hallway, and Pinkie fell onto her rear, leaving Rarity’s hands to close on thin air. “Oh dear, I’m so very sorry Pinkie Pie.” Coming back to her senses, Rarity quickly helped her friend up from the floor. “Sorry? What for? You did great!” Pinkie waved her arms around wildly, nearly smacking Rarity in the face. You were all ‘GRR!’ and I went ‘EEK!’ That was the best Nightmare Night scare I’ve seen yet! You don’t even need a costume to be all super scary!” Rarity wasn’t exactly thrilled by Pinkie’s comment. For a lady such as herself, it was less than flattering to be told that her natural temper was on par with overacted holiday theatrics. “Sweetie Belle! Would you come back in here,” she called. One by one, the three fillies poked their heads into the doorway. “Uh, heya sis,” Sweetie said. She was watching Rarity cautiously, as if she expected her older sister to pounce on her at any moment. “Sorry to barge into your room, but you, uh, you done trying to murder your costume?” Rarity was now sporting a very mortified blush. They’d also seen her assaulting an innocent piece of fabric? Wonderful. She must have appeared positively psychotic. “Oh, that? Just a bit of snag in the creative process,” she said with a forced laugh. “I simply needed to vent my frustrations.” “Just so long as you don’t do it when I’m nearby,” her sister muttered. “Anyway,” she said, desperate to put this awkward moment behind her. “What did you come in here to tell me, Pinkie?” “Oh, just that we made it to Canterlot! I wanted to see if you and Twilight… and… Spike were… ready…” Pinkie trailed off, her eyes scanning every inch of the compartment. “Say, where’d Spike and Twilight go?” That one little question instantly soured Rarity’s mood. “Well, they were here, until those oafish guards burst in,” she snapped. “Ya mean the ones that were bustin’ into everypony’s cabin and makin’ all that ruckus,” Applebloom asked. “Yes, and it just so happens, they were looking for Spike. Upon discovering him, they immediately forced their way in here, quite rudely might I add. Despite my and Twilight’s efforts to speak with them in a civilized fashion, they callously ignored and belittled us, dragged Spike out of the window and flew off with him towards Canterlot. Twilight left shortly thereafter, I suppose in an attempt to find out why.” “Ohhh, that is so awesome,” Scootaloo said. “So how come you’re still here? Were you not important enough to get taken too?” Pinkie stepped in front of Scootaloo before Rarity could grab her. “Well! We’re sure not gonna find them by standing around in this train like a bunch of dumdums! Come on, girls. Princess Celestia was supposed to meet me and Gummy when we arrived. We’ll just ask her what’s up.” Somewhat mollified by Pinkie’s suggestion, Rarity fetched her luggage. But as they waited for the Crusaders to gather their own belongings, she couldn’t help but ask something that had been on her mind the entire morning. “Pinkie Pie, I hope you won’t think me rude, but might I ask what possessed you to bring Gummy along for this trip?” She pointed down at the tiny alligator whose head was sticking out of Pinkie’s handbag. “Surely he won’t be helping with the baking, will he?” Her stomach lurched at the thought of the little creature hopping up and down in a bowl to knead dough. “Nuh uh, he’s not much of a cook. Or a utensil. Did you know I tried to use him as a rolling pin one time? It would’ve worked, except he was shedding. The pie had tons of itty bitty scales stuck in it. They were really crunchy, kinda like dried-out tomato slices! But when Mrs. Cake tried them, her face turned all greenish and she didn’t leave the house for a week!” Rarity wanted to gag. While it didn’t exactly surprise her that Pinkie would still devour a confection full of scales, that wasn’t a scenario that she enjoyed picturing. “So then why did you bring him,” she asked again. Pinkie tapped a finger against her chin, eyes crossed. “Hmm! You know, I’m really not sure. All I know is that when Princess Celestia asked me to come, she also made sure to invite Gummy. Well, not really invite, it was more like she told me that I absolutely had to bring him along.” Now this was a surprise. What on earth could the princess be thinking? Inviting a pet? And on a business trip of all things? By this point, Sweetie and her friends were ready to leave, so Rarity decided not to question things further. Hopefully, Celestia would be able to explain everything herself. It seemed she wouldn’t have long to wait. Celestia was already waiting for them as the five mares stepped off the train. She stood flanked by several guards, her turquoise dress glowing in the sunlight, her luxurious mane floating ethereally (Rarity was determined to somehow, someway learn how she did that.) With a warm smile, Celestia strode forward to meet them. “Rarity, Pinkie Pie, welcome back to Canterlot. It is truly a pleasure to see you both again.” Rarity bowed, dragging Pinkie along with her. Returning the gesture, Celestia next turned to the Crusaders. “And I imagine you three have come for the celebration,” she guessed. “My compliments on your marvelous costumes.” “Thank you very much, your grace,” Sweetie rhymed. “We’re really excited to be in this place!” “Yeah, we can’t wait to find out what your sister has planned,” Scootaloo added. “Do you know what’s up?” Celestia chuckled. “Yes, but I’m afraid I can’t spoil the surprise. Suffice to say, it is something that nopony should miss.” “Hey, speakin’ of missing stuff, do ya’ll know where Spike’s hidin’ out?” “Applebloom,” Rarity hissed. Just leave it to Applejack’s little sister to address their monarch so brashly. Celestia looked confused by the question. “Spike is hiding? Well, I’m quite sure I don’t know where. Somewhere in Ponyville, I’d imagine?” “Nope,” Scootaloo chimed in. “He should be somewhere here in the city.” Celestia’s regal façade vanished, replaced by a look of surprise and more than a bit of indignation. “He is? Well… when did he arrive? And why didn’t he tell me? Honestly, he sends me letters every single day; you’d think he would have the sense to let his own mother know when he’s coming to visit.” Pinkie and Rarity exchanged glances. “Umm, pardon me, your highness. But how could you not know?” Rarity gulped at Celestia’s unamused look. She mentally kicked herself, realizing how easily her comment could have been seen as an insult. “What I mean to say is that you’d have to know that Spike was on his way here. How else could you have sent out those guards?” “Guards?” “Yes, guards.” She now felt just as confused as Celestia. “The ones who stormed into the train and took Spike, claiming to be on some pertinent mission?” Celestia shook her head. “But I gave no such orders. Unless…” A knowing smile tugged at her lips. “Tell me, did these guards have unusual yellow eyes? Drab, grey fur? Dark armour?” Pinkie jumped up. “Ooh, yeah, yeah! That’s them alrighty!” “Well, in that case I am pleased to inform you that Spike is perfectly fine. If I was to hazard a guess, I would say that his dear Auntie Luna became a tad impatient for him to arrive. She has been rather excitable these last few days. She probably just could not wait to fill him in on her plans.” “Oh, I suppose that makes sense,” Rarity mumbled. It certainly didn’t lessen the indignity of her previous treatment, but she supposed that she could stomach it for now. “If you three would like to see him, Aegis or Phalanx will be happy to escort you up to the castle.” The two guards paled, not an easy trick when one has white fur. Apparently they were less than enthusiastic about having to accompany the Crusaders. “Well? Which of you would like the honor of guiding these lovely young ladies?” The guards shared an uneasy look. They turned to face one another, each raising one hand in a fist while holding the other splayed. Raising their fists high, they swung downward… “Rock!” “Paper!” “SCISSORS!” The other ponies watched in baffled amazement as the game continued. With each tying round, the stallions grew more intense. Sweat beaded their foreheads, and their hands looked ready to blister. “Wow,” Sweetie said. “They’re really serious about this, aren’t they?” Celestia just laughed. “Oh yes. To my guards, there is no dispute or contention that cannot be solved by a game of rock, paper, scissors. Oftentimes I even suspect that they would support the results of the game over my own commands!” If anypony else but the princess had made that claim, Rarity would have rolled her eyes at the sheer absurdity of it. Still… watching the two guards yelling at the top of their lungs, putting their entire upper bodies into each swing of the arms, maybe Celestia was right?” “SCISSORS!” Both stallions froze in place, their eyes fixed on the open palm and closed fist before them. Aegis grinned in triumph, then reached over to slap his hand down over Phalanx’s. “Hah! Paper covers rock!” “A hard-won victory,” Celestia said, applauding loudly. The others joined in, and Aegis bowed dramatically, relief plain on his face. “As the victor, I believe that means it will be your privilege to escort these fine fillies.” His relief quickly turned to horror Phalanx immediately sank to his knees in mock dismay. “Damn the luck! I wanted to be the one to lead them up to the castle. Oh, if only I had picked scissors instead!” Rarity grimaced at the display of overacting. Fondue had less cheese in it this. “Now wait just a second,” Aegis tried to protest. “That wasn’t what we were playing for! We agreed that the LOSER was the one that had to take them. Phalanx, you lousy, lying son of a -” “Aegis,” Celestia said warningly. “My apologies, princess,” he said, shoulders slumping in defeat. “I would be glad to take them.” Rarity lifted a hand like a hesitant schoolfilly. “Princess? Might I accompany them as well? I… still have a bit of work to finish on my own costume.” “Certainly,” Celestia said brightly. “In fact, feel free to use the same quarters that you occupied on your last visit. I’m sure you remember the way?” “Oh, yes of course! Thank you.” “Think nothing of it. Now then, Phalanx? Since Aegis will be with this group, that means you will be accompanying Pinkie Pie.” The smug look on his face vanished as the party pony skipped over. “Yay! You’re gonna be my official candy taster, ooh, and my ingredient fetcher. You can help me make up awesome names for the treats, and help me pass them out to hungry little foals! We’re gonna have tons of fun, all night long!” Phalanx gulped. “ALL night,” he asked. Acting as a temporary escort didn’t sound too bad anymore, no matter how crazy the fillies were. “Mmhmm,” Celestia nodded. “You will be acting as Miss Pie’s personal assistant for the evening.” “But…but…but…but…” “No buts, buster! Now zip that lip. We’ve got places to be.” The group split apart, each unwilling guard being dragged off by his respective charge(s). Celestia watched them go, then turned her attention to her one remaining companion. “I think that went rather well, don’t you?” Her companion didn’t reply, but Celestia continued as if he had. “Yes, quite a fortunate turn of events. With any luck, Spike and his young friends will keep Luna occupied long enough for us to prepare our little surprise. Well, then. I suppose you and I had best get to work. We have a very big job ahead of us.” Chuckling at her own joke, Celestia turned and walked away from the station. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Luna’s face. Her little sister was in for the surprise of her life.