//------------------------------// // 1: Shit happens // Story: Rainbow and the Gem Theft // by GreatandPowerfulTrixie //------------------------------// That's what Rainbow Dash thought as a plate with remains of last night's dish fell to the ground. No breaking sound could be heard; much to her relief. She was up late last night again... with a big pizza,... extra red pepper. There was a Daring Do marathon. Maybe she slept in? The young pegasus mare was still lying in bed. Rainbow narrowed her eyes as she peered over the edge and caught sight of the mess on her floor. The mare let out a little growl, then decided to continue with sleep. Something has been nagging at her mind though. Today was a special day. But what was it? Rainbow scratched the back of her head. Nothing. She scratched again. Still nothing. She flipped over the plate on the floor. Her stomach grumbled. She dipped her hoof into some sauce and put it inside her mouth. 'Yes. Delicious... wait!' Rainbow slowly rolled over the other edge and fell onto the cloudy ground of her home. 'I can almost remember!' She stretched out her hooves for an open bottle of cider, which was standing right in front of her, and quickly gulped down whatever was left. 'Nope. Still nothing.' The mare now finally stood up and lazily moved to the door. She stepped outside, spread her wings and took off. Rainbow Dash was headed towards Ponyville. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Meanwhile Fluttershy and Rarity were trotting along the path to the Golden Oaks Library. Both sighed. "So I take it you were busy too the past few days?" Rarity asked, only receiving a nod from her companion. "WELL, last night I almost thought I'd pass out after I had done another attire." "Oh, that's awful. I really think you should take a break from time to time or you might over-stress yourself." Fluttershy sounded genuinely concerned about the dressmaker's working life. "Hah!" Rarity spat with disbelief. "I'm sorry dear! But I simply can't just take a day off or two. The world is spinning around tirelessly and if I don't keep up with my work, WHO KNOWS? Maybe some other fashionista gets the jobs to do and the bits to earn. I cannot allow this to happen!" Fluttershy, who knew the unicorn way too well, put on a frown. Rarity rolled her eyes. "Fine," she sighed. "maybe even I could have some holiday, BUT surely not before I've done everything for M&C's latest order!" The pegasus nodded approvingly. Rarity couldn't help but smile. "Anyway," the unicorn began again. "What have you been troubling... Oh my." Fluttershy followed Rarity's gaze, just as Rainbow Dash landed beside them. "Hey Guys." - "Darling, whatever happened to your mane?" - "Huh?" Rainbow put a hoof onto her hair. "Don't tell me you haven't showered yet!" The unicorn said, slightly disgusted by the sports-pegasus appearance. "Nah, didn't feel like it." Rainbow yawned. "Where are you two going?" - "We ar-" "We're on our way to Twilight. She has something awfully important to attend to, and she's going to leave town for a bit, together with Pinkie Pie and Applejack." Rarity explained. Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Wait! What about us?! What about me?!" - "Pardon?!" Before the two others could say anything the pegasus flashed forward along the path. "Rainbow! Wait!" Fluttershy called out. "Well, there goes that," Rarity huffed. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ "Spike?" - "Here." The little dragon handed over a scroll. He had his arms crossed and was glaring at her expectantly for a while now. "Alright, let's see." Twilight seemed completely oblivious to his attitude. She was focused on checking the preparations for their depart. Spike coughed a little. Not because he had a cold, but to gain the unicorns attention. After a few seconds he tried again. "Ahem." The shuffling of her hooves were the only thing audible. "Twilight?" She instantly turned her head. "What?!" Spike jumped back a bit. "Geez!" The unicorn looked confused. The little dragon slowly took in his previous stance. A sore expression. "Do I really have to come with you?" Annoyance in his voice. "Yes." As fast as she responded, Twilight put her attention back to the desk. Spike groaned. "Why?!" Without taking her eyes off the paper she opened her mouth and said. "Because... I don't want to leave you on your own for a whole month." "Why not??" She took in a small breath. "Because I don't want to leave you on your own for a whole month." "You said the same thing twice." Spike stated blankly. "Did I?" Twilight smirked. "Just tell me!" He bellowed. The unicorn sighed and turned to face the baby dragon. "You're too young to be left alone for so long, Spike." "Then just let Rarity or Fluttershy watch over me! Or Rainbow! Or-" "Spike. They..." Their argument was disrupted by a loud crash. A cyan blur had bursted through an open window and landed into some bookshelves. Both were surprised at this sudden intrusion. Twilight's expression turned into a deadpan one. "Rainbow Dash." "Heya Twilight. How's it going? I see you got yourself some more books! Heh." There was a knock at the door. "Spike, could you?" "Already on it." He opened it. "Come in." First came Applejack, tipping her hat. "Howdy y'all! Twilight, ya ready for the trip?" "Yeah!" Pinkie Pie chimed in. "I can't wait to get there and see their cheerful faces when they taste our delicious treats! I bet they're going to be SUPER happy about it! Ooh! I'm so EXCITED!!" "Calm down, will ya? This ain't gonna be one of yer... uuh..." The farm-pony looked confused. "What you doing there, Dash?" "Me? I'm just chillin' here." Rainbow was lying comfortably on a pile of books. Twilight rolled her eyes and turned back to the desk. "I was just about to check if I got everything; give me a minute." "Ladies." Rarity and Fluttershy had joined the little gathering as well. Spike closed the door. "Rarity! You gotta help me out!" The dragon entreated, clasping his claws around the dressmaker's hooves. "I don't want to leave Ponyville for so long! I wanna stay here! With you guys!" He threw his best puppy-dog eyes at her. Rarity wasn't able to give a straight answer. "Oh Spike... I'm currently very busy and I don't know if I'll have enough spare time to... tend your needs..." The young dragon's eyes became watery. Rarity looked desperately at Fluttershy, who awkwardly shuffled her hooves. "I'm sorry." She then looked even more desperately at Rainbow Dash. "I don't even know what's going on." The pegasus responded, shrugging. "Oooh..." Hopelessness clearly audible. She turned her face back to Spike. "I... I... alright." "Yess!" He hissed in a pose of triumph. "But only if Twilight's okay with it!" - "Twilight?" - "Nope!" Rarity sighed in relief and wiped her forehead. Spike melt down in defeat, his face meeting the ground. A muffled groan emerged. "Oh come on, Spikey!" Pinkie threw in, bouncing up and down a few times. "It's not gonna be that bad! Maybe you'll make some new friends!" He kept laying there; motionless. "If that's not enough to cheer you up, I have some of your favorite MUFFINS!!" Spike glanced up with widened eyes. "Cherry with gold-sprinkles, filled with cream and ruby-bits?" - "Uhuh!" "Cool. When do we go?" - "Well," Twilight joined in. "I'm ready. We can head off. But first: Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow?" The three turned their attention to the librarian. "We'll be off to the south-west. Princess Celestia has asked us if we'd be able to help out there. It appears that they have had some major weather problems and lost most of their crops. Me, Applejack and Pinkie Pie will be there to support a temporary food-drive, which gives out provisions to ponies until they manage on their own again. "This will roughly take a month, we'll be sent back as soon as transports from the east arrive. You three will be staying here, for your skills didn't seem... fitting enough. Please look after the village while we're gone, I- we all trust in your abilities. "And If something happens, please don't hesitate to inform the Princesses!" "Of course, Twilight, don't you worry." Rarity said nonchalantly. "Aye! You can count on us! We'll buck off any problem that comes our way!" Rainbow boasted. "I'll help too." Fluttershy added softly, smiling. They went out the door and said their goodbyes to each other. In the end, the only ones left were the two pegasi and the dressmaker. "Hey! I'll go grab some lunch. Anybody coming with me?" Rainbow suggested. The other two nodded and followed her. Soon after they'd find themselves in a little cafè.