//------------------------------// // Storytelling // Story: The core of an apple. // by Tacosaurus101 //------------------------------// Hi all! Just a quick update. I've been rehearsing and revising and stuff... ENJOY! Rainbow Dash and Soarin were racing through the air, laughing as they tried to beat each other t o the farm. Rainbow gathered speed, smirking. Clearly, she was in the lead. Just then, Soarin zoomed in front of her. "Awh, C'mon!" She protested. He smirked back. "What? I'm a Wonderbolt. It's my job to be fast." "Oh yeah? Well, I'm a Dash. It's in my nature to win." With these words, Rainbow overtook Soarin and landed next to the door. Soarin landed next to her a few moments later. He chuckled when she smiled smugly. "I believe I won that..." She declared gleefully. "I let you win..." He replied as he knocked on the door. Granny Smith opened it and beamed. " 'Bout time you too showed up. These lot almost devoured mah pie whole!" "Pie?!" Soarin asked, much like a five year old would. He let his tounge dangle from his mouth as his stomach guided him inside. Rainbow Dash let out a loud laugh as she followed him. She took a seat in between Soarin and Applejack. Her younger sister passed Rainbow slice of Apple pie, of which the mare sank her teeth in to immediately. She loved Granny' s pies. Almost as much as AJ' s cider. "Thanks Scoot." She replied after swallowing. The Orange pegasus gave a small smile before continuing to whisper to Applebloom. They giggled deviously every now and again. Rainbow didn't want to find out why. When everypony had had their fair share of pie, Granny Smith announced "Since tonight is nice, why don't we go outside and light a campfire?" She was met with cheers of agreement and a hearty "Eeyup!" Rainbow Dash surveyed the fillies in front of her as she said "Alright troops, listen up. We've been tasked to go get the firewood by Granny Smith. Are we ready?" Upon asking the question, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo cheered. "I said, are we ready?" Rainbow asked, keeping with her mock general act. The fillies stiffled their giggles. "Yes sir!" "How are we gonna collect it?" "As safetly as possible!" "Good. Now, on your marks. Ready, set, go!" She yelled and blew the whistle tied to her neck. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash ran off across the fields towards the wood piles. "Remember, leave the heavier stuff to me." The mare advised, slightly worried about their safety. To her relief, they picked up small branches and placed them upon their backs. They raced back and forth as Rainbow Dash took her loads slowly and steadily. She was surprised when the heaviest of her load lightened slightly. Her magenta eyes met with bright green ones. "I hope ya don't mind but you looked like ya were struggling under all tha' weight..." Big Mac stated gruffly as he shifted the newly acquired logs. "No, uh thanks... I'll be fine next round okay? I can totally handle a few logs." "I seriously don't mind helpin' ya... Dashie" Rainbow froze for a moment. Normally, she'd threaten him but since he was lightening a hard load she'd let it slide. To her giddy surprise, she let out a laugh. Big Mac stared as she laughed. It gave him a strange effect. His stomach felt jitterery, like something was flying inside it and his cheeks were flushed. It sounded wonderful in some bizarre sense. He let out a laugh of his own. It was nice, to say the least, to have a change from the awkward silences they had experienced. They walked back to the where the others were waiting, carrying their loads. Granny Smith beamed as she announced "Ah reckon we've got ourselves enough wood don't cha think?" The mare and stallion only nodded as they placed the wood in the already crackling fire. Rainbow Dash and Big Mac took a seat next to each other, not saying a word. It was back to ignoring each other, it seemed. Rainbow Dash listened intensely as Soarin' told his tale of the Boogeymare. She'd heard it Many times but not in as much detail as this. "The sound of hoofsteps echoed louder and louder in the hallway, drumming in to its intended victim's head. The creak of the floorboards reminded him that there was nowhere he could run to. His cries for help died inside his throat before they even escaped from his lips, only a few squeaks of fear were audible as the Boogeymare found her pray and ATTACKED!" Soarin' lurched forward, making Apple Bloom and Scootaloo squeal in fear. "Thus, he was nothing more but putty in her treacherous hooves..." He bowed as his audience clapped, captivated by the words he had uttered. Apple Bloom let out a small yawn, signalling the end of their campfire storytelling. "Looks like it's bed, kids..." Granny chuckled as the young fillies shook their heads vigorously. " I ain't tired. Are you Scoots?" "No. I'm not..." The other filly replied sleepily. Rainbow Dash smiled softly as she lifted Scootaloo on to her back whilst Applejack lifted Apple Bloom on to hers. They trotted off to Apple Bloom' s room where the young ones were tucked up in bed. "G'night..." Applejack whispered to them as she turned out the light. The mare walked away, leaving Rainbow to follow. Just as she was closing the door, the fillies awoke, startled. "Rainbow Dash?" Both fillies asked. She froze before turning around. She flicked on the light. "What is it?" She asked as she sat down beside them. The look of worry and fear in their eyes pained Rainbow Dash more than she would admit. "Is the Boogeymare gonna come for us?" Apple Bloom whispered, shrinking under the blanket. Rainbow' s eyes softened. "Of course not. She's just a story... She isn't real." "But what if she is real and she comes for us and ... and" Scootaloo began hyperventilating, causing Rainbow to shush her. "She's not real... Besides, the slippery old mare would have to try to get through me to get to you two!" For good measure, Rainbow threw a few punches in the air at an imaginary foe whilst she hovered and kicked, earning laughs from the fillies. The cyan blue mare sat down again as they looked ready to go back to sleep. "Can you tell us a story?" Scootaloo eagerly asked. Rainbow Dash thought for a moment. "Alright. There once was a mare from Nantucket..." "Not that story!" Scootaloo groaned. "Where is Nantucket anyway?" Apple Bloom asked. "Alright, alright. Once upon a time, there lived two sisters. They were both princesses. One controlled the day and the other controlled the night. One had a mane of beautiful pink, blue,and purple that had the shimmer of the sun whereas the younger sister had a mane of many shades of blue that seemed to have the stars weaved in to it. Despite their differences, they loved each other no matter what. As time dawned on, the princess of the night began to feel unloved by the subjects in the kingdom she shared with her older sister. Her heart ached and craved for the same attention that the princess of the sun got. So she flew away when everypony was asleep in her beautiful night to find a kingdom of her own." Rainbow Dash felt pleased that the pair were engrossed within her tale so she continued. "The princess of the sun awoke the next morning to see her beloved sister gone. In that brief moment, her heart broke in to pieces, filling her with agony and her usual bright colours became a dull grey. The sun felt less radiant, more cold and unforgiving. The sun princess now rose both the sun and moon, seeing it as her duty. The night was always more painful for her as it reminded her so much of her sweet sister who was gone sooner than her happiness. Her rule was miserable for all and many thought of moving to a new kingdom where the love for all was still prosperous. Each night, the princess called forlornly for her sister. 'My dear sister who rules the night. Where are you?' Every time she called, sorrow wailed her words further in to the land, only for no reply. The night the sun princess gave up calling was when her cries for her sister to come home was when they reached the ears of the princess of the night. The princess of the night wept as she realized that she had broken her sister's heart. The moon glowed brightly, reminding her of the duty she was graced with. The wind curled around her, whispering 'Go home, go home. Your duty and sister calls. Do you expect her to cry alone? Go home before the kingdom falls.' " The fillies gasped. "Go on! Go on!" They pleaded. "Urgently, the princess raced amongst her stars which lit the way home for her. The sun was beginning to rise higher as she called 'My sister, my sister! I am here! Please do not weep!' The princess of the day embraced her sister and her colours brightened. Her heart was mended so it, and the bond with the night princess, was stronger than before. The sun gleaned brightly once more about ponies throughout the land rejoiced. Together, the sisters ruled, vowing never to leave each other again..." Rainbow Dash finished her story as the fillies settled down. "I'm glad they saw each other again...." Apple Bloom said between yawns. "Me too..." "Nighty night you two." Rainbow said as she nuzzled them. She went to turn off the light. "Rainbow Dash? Will you sing us a lullaby?" "No girls, it's late. I-" She was met with two irresistible doe-eyed faces that made her sigh. "Fine. But then it's lights out for good. " After clearing her throat, she began. "Stay awake, don't rest your head. Don't lie down upon your bed.While the moon drifts in the skies. Stay awake, don't close your eyes. Though the world is fast asleep.Though your pillow's soft and deep. You're not sleepy as you seem. Stay awake, don't nod and dream." She allowed her voice to ring clearly as the fillies drifted asleep. "Stay awake, don't nod and dream". Rainbow Dash flicked off the light and closed the door behind her, unaware Big Macintosh had been listening intently to both the story and the song.