It was a loud afternoon in the cafeteria, and six best friends were enjoying a nice chat. Well, actually, it was nine friends, but we’ll get to that later. Anyway, it had been a lovely evening, with only history class to go against it. They were excited to share their day with their BFFs. Thankfully, there were no terrorizing monsters trying to take over the school today. But the our-school-has-become-a-perfect-target-for-evil-villains vibe still hung in the air. There were no parties or events, either, so it was just a perfectly normal school day.
Well, almost normal.
“I seriously wish I still had my singing powers,” Grumbled Adagio Dazzle. “I would make everybody here shut up.”
Okay, okay. The other three friends are, in fact, the Dazzlings. The Rainbooms had finally accepted them, and they had stopped acting evil. Sort of.
“Hey! I told you to stop saying things like that! It won’t help your new image. At all.” Rainbow Dash retorted.
“She’s just saying things. What’s the harm in that?” Pinkie Pie pointed out.
“I know she’s just saying stuff, but pretty soon those will turn into bigger things, and she’d be singing for battles of bands in no time.” Rainbow
crossed her arms.
“You have to admit that was a good song though.” Added Aria Blaze.
“Totally.” Said Sonata and Adagio in unison. They all high-fived.
“I think it was too dark.” Fluttershy stated quietly.
“Everything’s too dark for you!” Rainbow Dash teased.
Sonata and Applejack giggled. Fluttershy reddened slightly.
“Come on, girls. Some people are just sensitive.” Rarity insisted. “Really sensitive.” She muttered after.
Fluttershy’s face got more red.
“We should stop, before Fluttershy’s face burns off.” Sunset Shimmer put her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder. “And can’t you guys be a little more nice?”
“We’re laughing with her.” Rainbow shrugged.
“And your best friends aren’t your best friends if they don’t tease you.” Adagio implied. “That is the sign of a strong friendship. That means you trust each other.”
Everyone else stared at her. Adagio noticed the shift in her friends and blushed. Finally, Sunset Shimmer broke the silence. “How do you know that much about friendship?”
“Yeah! I thought you were some heartless monster who didn’t care about anyone else’s feelings!” Rainbow accused.
“Hey, we’ve changed!” Exclaimed Sonata Dusk.
“Hardly.” Aria mumbled.
“Whatever! Just tell us how you knew that!” Rainbow jabbed a finger at Adagio.
“Well...I...um...you know,” Adagio stared at her lap.
“No, we don’t!” Applejack said.
Adagio sighed. “Well, I’ve been alive for a thousand years...so I guess I picked it up.”
Rarity laughed. She didn’t stop. She almost fell off the chair, but Fluttershy steadied her. Finally, Rarity wiped her eyes and blurted out,
“Seriously? You picked it up? You’re all embarrassed because you picked it up? You’re more heartless than I thought!”
Pinkie Pie started giggling. “That is true. I thought you had suddenly become a friendship-is-magic girl!”
“Hey, I thought it was good I’m learning about friendship! Even though, seriously, you guys are such typical best friends. And, I’m just saying, but ‘Friendship is Magic’ is a really bad motto. Dumb. And dorky.” Adagio pointed at Rainbow Dash. “I thought that at least you would want to be cooler than this.”
“WHAT!!!” Rainbow’s outburst made Fluttershy slowly slip under the table. “I’m cooler than you, and Aria, and Sonata put together!”
Adagio yawned. “I highly doubt that.”
“Totally.” Aria crossed her arms.
They both looked at Sonata. She was cradling her phone in her hand, rapidly texting.
“Um, Sonata? You agree, right?” Questioned Aria.
Sonata continued texting.
“Hello?” Aria waved her hand in front of Sonata’s face.
Sonata didn’t even blink.
“HEY! SONATA! SNAP OUT OF IT!” Adagio yelled. Sonata jumped, dropping her phone in the process. She scrambled to pick it up. Once it was retrieved, she looked around at all the staring faces and said, “What?”
Adagio hit the space between her eyes with her hand and sighed. “Never mind, Sonata.”
“Okay!” Sonata started to turn on her phone, but Aria snatched it before she could. “No more using this.” She tossed it to Sunset Shimmer.
Sunset Shimmer caught it and threw it to Rainbow. Rainbow threw it to Adagio, Adagio threw it to Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie threw it to Fluttershy, all while Sonata scrambled around the table, trying to get it back. Finally, Rarity tossed it to Sonata, who was at the other end of the table, panting. She caught it and sat back down, about to turn it on. She looked up, and saw all faces glaring at her.
She huffed and said, “Fine.” She stuffed it in her bag.
“Great! Now we can get on with the---”
Adagio was never able to finish her sentence because the bell rang at that moment. Immediately everyone in the cafeteria started getting up, including the Rainbooms and the Dazzlings. It was even more loud. The loudest voice of all, though was Adagio’s unmistakable yell, “GREAT! JUST DANDY!”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rainbow Dash ran her fingers over a shelf of books. The Rainbooms were huddled in the library, seeking out a certain book. Surprisingly, it was Rainbow Dash who insisted on coming here. She had told the others that she was looking for a book. Just a book. She made sure that the Dazzlings weren’t following. They all guessed that it had something to do with them. But they weren’t that convinced when they saw what section they were in.
Science-history.
Rainbow Dash had always been the least bit fond with science and history, so they all had no idea why she would be looking for a book in the section of those two combined.
Applejack looked at all the books around her. “Can ya just tell us what ya want from here?” She swatted a cobweb near her face.
“Eeew! Find your book already, darling! I’m ready to leave this place!” Rarity took a few steps back.
“Ah-ha! Here it is!” Rainbow pulled out a dusty book with a gem on the cover. It closely resembled the Sirens’ necklaces. Rainbow shook the book, causing dust to spray everywhere. Rarity cowered away, grabbing Pinkie Pie to shield her. Rainbow set the book on the nearest table.
“Hey, is that the Dazzlings’ gems?” Pinkie bounced around the table.
“What is this?” Fluttershy said.
“And how did ya know it was here?” Applejack added.
“I heard about it even before we met Twilight.” Rainbow replied. “I just remembered about it yesterday. Apparently someone knew who they were, and that person came from Equestria. They wrote about it, but no one believed it. But the library got it anyway, and put it in science history.” She winked at everyone else. “And we’re gonna use it against them.”
“Now hold on just a minute,” Applejack took the book off the table. “That’s kinda mean, ain’t it?”
“Yes.” Fluttershy nodded.
“It is quite rude, dear.” Rarity examined the cover. “Why would we want to do that?”
“For answers.” Rainbow Dash snatched the book back from Applejack. “And if they don’t tell us, we’ll just read this.”
“But…” Fluttershy began.
“No buts. This is gonna work out perfectly.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adagio sighed in frustration. The Dazzlings were sitting on the school steps, waiting for the Rainbooms. Students had walked past them, each one giving them a dirty look. Even though the Rainbooms had forgave them, doesn’t mean everyone else would. Aria was brushing her purple pigtails, and Sonata was chowing down on a taco.
“Uh!” Adagio gave up on being patient. “Where are they?” She paced in front of the steps.
“They’ll get here someday.” Sonata said between mouthfuls.
Right after that, the school doors thrust open and the Rainbooms ran toward them. Rainbow was holding a book, and Applejack was trying to grab it from her. When they reached the Dazzlings, Rainbow smirked. “Sup, guess what we ha---” At that moment, Applejack successfully pried the book from Rainbow Dash. She ran back towards the school doors.
“HEY!!” Rainbow ran after her, silently cursing at AJ. Pinkie bounced after them.
“Uh, hey.” Sunset Shimmer waved at Adagio.
Fluttershy looked at the ground.
“What was that book about? How was it important?” Adagio immediately started asking.
“Rainbow probably just found another book about soccer she wanted to show to us.” Aria crossed her arms. “Uh, I hate that sport.”
“It’s not so bad. It’s kinda fun once you know how to play it.” Sonata tossed her napkin into the trash can a few feet away and wiped her mouth.
“When did you learn soccer?” Aria asked.
Sonata shrugged. “I didn’t. I watched Rainbow Dash play. But I bet if I tried it, I’d be pretty good.”
“Whatever. But if it was just a soccer book, why was Applejack so devoted to stealing it?” Adagio took a step closer to Sunset.
Sunset fidgeted with her fingers. “Uh, Applejack doesn’t like soccer?”
Adagio glared at her and said nothing. Finally, Rarity broke the silence.
“Dag, no need to get feisty. How about going to the bakery for some nice treats?” She chuckled uncertainly.
“Fine.” Adagio stalked away toward the bakery. She glanced back and added, “But I will get the answer out of you.” She continued on, and Aria and Sonata followed after.
Sunset sighed with relief. “That turned out better than expected.” She lowered herself on the steps.
“I don’t think this went so well,” Fluttershy said. She rubbed her arm.
Rarity put her hands on her hips. “I just hope Applejack manages to take that book. I wouldn’t want the Dazzlings seeing that. Highly offensive, really.”
“Ah got it!” They whirled around to see a panting Applejack clutching the book to her chest. “Ah got it!”
Suddenly they heard a shout. They turned to see Rainbow Dash riding on a scooter towards AJ. Scootaloo is behind her, and they hear her saying, “Hey! That’s mine!” Rainbow ignores her and goes faster.
Applejack shrieks and says, “Here! Take this!” She tossed the book at Sunset, then put her arm in her shirt to make it look like she still had it. Rainbow didn’t notice the switch, and follows Applejack instead. They both raced around the side of the school.
Sunset studied the book. “We seriously can’t let the Dazzlings see this. Do they even know someone made a book about them?”
“Probably not!” They turn around to see Pinkie Pie skipping towards them. “Let me see!” She grabbed the book before Sunset could protest, and started leafing through it.
“Uh, darling, I don’t think you should read that. I don’t really want to know more about them…” Rarity glanced in the direction of the bakery.
Pinkie shrugged. “Okey dokey! But maybe just a peek?”
Rarity and Fluttershy shook their heads. Pinkie sighed. “Well, I guess a book wouldn’t have the full story. We can try to force it out of them instead!”
Fluttershy gasped. “No! No, no, no! That’s a terrible thing to do! They’d trap us in a spell! Or make us turn against each other! Or even---”
“Um, their powers were removed, remember?” Sunset interrupted.
“Yeah, I know, but who knows what else they can do? They can jump us, fight us, even ridicule us!” Fluttershy shivered at the thought.
Rarity raised an eyebrow. “Ridiculed, dear? I think it will be fine if that happens.”
“I-I guess.” She shifted her feet.
“We should go meet up with the Dazzlings. We wouldn’t want to be late.” Sunset Shimmer reasoned.
“But what about AJ and Rainbow?” Pinkie Pie questioned.
“I think they’re a little busy...But we can go anyway.” Sunset said.
“It’s only a matter of time before Rainbow finds out Applejack doesn’t have the book.” Rarity took the book from Pinkie and stuffed it in her backpack. “And let’s be hopeful a black hole randomly appears in my bag and swallows the book up.”
“But then it will swallow your fashion notebook! You always say, ‘I do so adore this notebook.’” Pinkie mimicked badly.
“Oh yeah…” Rarity nervously glanced at the bag.
“Guys, a black hole is not going to appear in Rarity’s backpack!” She got up and stretched her legs. “Now let’s go!”
“Hold it right there!” They whirl around to see Rainbow Dash glaring at them, hands on her hips. Applejack was at her side, so out of breath she was halfway to the ground. “Where is my book?”
“We don’t know! Heh he…” Rarity kicked aside her bag.
Rainbow’s gaze fell on the bag. In a split second, she lunged on it, with Pinkie and Applejack jumping after. Rarity and Sunset Shimmer tore the bag away, and Fluttershy just gasped in the background. Rainbow fell to the ground, but got up and ran for it a second time. She grabbed the other side of the backpack, and Rarity and Sunset still were gripping the bag. Pinkie and AJ tried pulling Rainbow Dash away from the bag. Fluttershy still just stood in the background. Sunset, Rarity, and Rainbow were in a sort of tug-of-war, and Rainbow kept screaming, “Gimme!”
Suddenly, like it was in slow-motion, the bag ripped in half. All the contents were spilled on the ground below it, including the book. Rainbow pounced on it, and Rarity fell on her knees, saying, “My bag! My beloved bag!” And whimpering in her arms. Fluttershy was also whimpering, but more in a frightened way. Applejack and Pinkie tackled Rainbow, and Sunset Shimmer started gathering all the stuff that had flown out of the bag. Once all was in a neat stack, she jumped in on the dog pile and tried to pry away the book from Rainbow Dash’s grip.
Finally, after a full five minutes of tackling, Applejack grabbed the book while Rarity pulled Rainbow backward. The book loosened from Rainbow Dash’s arms, and AJ easily snatched it from her. She put it aside and said, “Rainbow, why do you want to do this?”
Rainbow Dash pushed Pinkie Pie off of her and replied, “Duh! For answers! Do we know anything about their past?”
“Well, actually, yes…” Fluttershy mumbled from the background.
“I know Flutters, but we don’t know so much about them. This is our chance to get all of their secrets!”
“That’s kinda rude, ain’t it?” Applejack crossed her arms.
Rainbow Dash waved her hand. “Rude, shmude. Don’t you guys want to know about them too?”
Fluttershy looked at the ground. Rarity sadly picked up the two halves of her bag. Sunset fidgeted with her fingers. Pinkie nodded, and Applejack glared at Rainbow.
“Hmmph. You guys do want to know. I knew it! So why not find the answers now?”
“They just tried to corrupt the school, for heaven’s sake! The entire student body is furious at them, and you want to add to that misery sandwich? Just let it go, Rainbow!” Rarity retorted.
“Yeah. Even if I want answers, I don’t really want to do this right now. We should eat instead!” Pinkie bounced happily.
“I don’t want to do it ever.” Sunset picked the book up. “This can cause total madness.”
“Yup.” AJ nodded.
Fluttershy squeaked something that sounded like, “Me neither.”
Rainbow sighed. “So you want to just forget the book? The book that has all the answers we need to figure them out?”
Rarity huffed. “I doubt it has all the answers. Probably just a few that everyone already knew, plus some ones that he just made up or guessed.”
“I don’t care! There might be some real stuff! I mean, we should at least look.”
“No, Rainbow Dash. We’re not gonna do this.” Sunset Shimmer set the book down.
Rainbow sighed. She looked longingly at the book. “Then what do you suppose we do?”
They all looked at each other.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The river sloshed below them. The Rainbooms were on a short bridge above the river near the park. The air was filled with the smell of fish.
“You think this is the best thing to do?” Sunset asked.
Applejack and Fluttershy nodded. Rainbow sighed.
“Okay then. You got the rocks, Pinkie?”
“Yup.” Pinkie Pie got some rocks from out of nowhere.
“The book?” Sunset looked at the Rainbow.
“Are you sure this is the right thing?” Rainbow Dash blurted.
“It is, Dash. Now give it up.” AJ replied.
Rainbow closed her eyes and handed it to Sunset.
“And you have the string, right Fluttershy?” Sunset Shimmer glanced at the river.
“Yes.” Fluttershy got some string from her pocket and gave it to Sunset.
“Good.” Sunset Shimmer wrapped the string around the book, then took the rocks from Pinkie Pie. She tied the string around the rocks so that the rocks were attached to the book.
Rainbow Dash whimpered.
Sunset glanced at everybody. “Ready?”
They all nodded.
Sunset held the book above the water. She let go. The book dropped with a loud sploosh, and the rocks pulled it down so it sunk to the bottom. Everyone looked down in silence.
Finally, Rainbow said, “Wait a second, that was a library book!”
Everyone looked at each other. Five more seconds of silence passed. Suddenly Pinkie tried to jump off the bridge, Fluttershy and Rainbow ran away, AJ grabbed Pinkie, and Sunset screamed,”DAMNIT!!!”.