//------------------------------// // The Plan // Story: Winning, and Why // by 8686 //------------------------------// The barn stood monolithic and sentrylike beneath the sweltering sun, defying the inexhaustible furnace in the sky to try and bake the timbers of its hulking structure. Here and there the red paint upon its slats had bleached, cracked and peeled, revealing the bare, splintered wood beneath. The southernmost wall of the barn was one of the two shorter sides and bore the main entrance – currently standing wide open – and it was here that Rainbow Dash alighted. She’d snapped out of her reverie when she’d suddenly found herself over the farm at half the height she thought she’d been, and while it occurred to her that Applejack might be able to offer some insight into her current poser, instead of simply asking her, her devious mind had instead conjured a much better idea. She made her way quickly to the right hand corner of the building, skulking behind it and peering round along the long exterior wall on the east face. She could see Applejack busy stacking buckets or something in the shade at the far end. She hadn’t noticed her. Stifling a chuckle, Dash turned and trotted past the entrance to the southwest corner, and looked round that one too. Sure enough, a few feet along the western wall of the barn was a brass water tap connected to a length of green hosepipe, coiled and hung from a rusted old hook on the wall. A little further along from that, at the far end and just beyond an open window, hung a glass display case that was her eventual goal. First though, she had to get Horse A, to Hosepipe B. Trotting back to the opposite corner with a wide, inane grin, Dash composed herself. She turned around so her rear end was closest to the corner and then, loudly, she banged her hindleg twice against the wood frame of the barn. THUD. THUD. There was a brief moment of silence. Then a distant voice said, “Huh?” Dash grinned wider and flicked her tail deliberately, allowing the quickest, most fleeting of glimpses to reach Applejack’s view round the corner. “What the hay was...?” Slow, uncertain hoofsteps began approaching. Fighting the urge not the burst out laughing, Dash ran past the barn entrance to the southwest corner once more, and ducked round it. When the faint hoofsteps from the far side of the barn reached their closest and finally stopped, she knocked on the woodwork yet again. THUD. “What the heck is goin’ on...?” The hoofsteps began to approach once more. Giddy and excited now, Dash reached the hosepipe on the western wall, grabbed the end, turned the tap, and kinked the rubber, aiming the nozzle at the corner and ready to give a certain farmpony a nice, cold shower that, after working all morning in the heat of the sun, she was certain she’d appreciate. Eventually. She waited. For several long seconds. But the sound of the water whooshing into the hose had masked the hoofsteps. More importantly, it had masked the fact that they seemed to have stopped– “Sneak attack!” came a playful yell from behind her, an instant before she felt herself flung forward, her grip on the hosepipe lost as a soft, warm weight cannoned into her from the rear and tackled her to the ground. When her head stopped spinning she found herself lying on her back on the dry, dusty earth with Applejack standing atop her, pinning her to the floor. It appeared she’d ducked inside the barn through the entrance, and then jumped through the open window that Rainbow had unwisely sat with her back to. Dash writhed and squirmed a little but Applejack had her limbs expertly trapped, and so she relaxed back rather than struggle uselessly against her. It was too hot, after all. “Well well, looks like I caught me one o’ them prankster ponies about to do some mischief,” said Applejack with a happy, playful smirk. “You best say uncle, Rainbow. Or else I start ticklin’.” Dash made a face and rolled her eyes. “Applejack?” “Yes, Rainbow?” “Go climb a tree.” “Love you too, sugarcube.” “Applejack?” “Yes, Rainbow?” “Get off me.” Applejack gave a little chuckle. She stepped off Rainbow Dash and offered a foreleg, pulling the pegasus back to her hooves with a smile. Dash stood and dusted herself down while Applejack wandered back over to shut the hosepipe off. As she re-coiled it over the hook, Dash walked over to the glass display case hung at the far end of the barn. Dash turned and sat next to the display. A sturdy glass-fronted cabinet constructed of strong, varnished applewood and mounted on the barn wall just above head-height. Inside, clearly visible to anypony who happened to venture to this particular spot on the farm, were several different-shaped rosettes of blue and gold, their fine silk and intricate embroidery shimmering in the harsh sunlight – first place trophies from many, many rodeos, and each one proof that Applejack was the pinnacle of athletic endurance and dexterity. They weren’t blatant or in-your-face – not many ponies who came to the farm had cause to come back to this quiet corner of the barn – but they were proudly displayed nonetheless. Dash stared at Applejack and raised a forehoof towards the trophy cabinet, pointing at it in an almost accusing manner. Applejack’s gaze travelled from Dash to the rosettes. Not finding any meaning, she looked back to Dash and raised a confused eyebrow. Dash jabbed her foreleg a couple more times and gave Applejack an impatient glare. Applejack scrutinised the cabinet more closely now, but her confusion only deepened. She looked back to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow? You alright? I didn’t knock your noggin back there, did I?” Dash groaned and brought her hoof to her face before pointing it once more at the cabinet. “These are your trophies, right? You won them?” “Uh... yes?” said Applejack cautiously. “Why?” “Why?” “Yes, why?!” “Uh... because I was the best competitor, I guess.” “No,” Dash groaned. “I’m not talking about how you won them, I’m talking about why?” “Why?” “Why?!” Sheesh, was there an echo out here? Applejack gazed at her with a blank, mildly concerned stare. “Rainbow, sugarcube, are you sure the heat ain’t got to yer head? Because I really ain’t followin’ ya.” Dash slumped and sighed. She wasn’t making much sense. Because the whole thing didn’t make sense. She looked up at Applejack with a softer expression. “Did you know that Fluttershy’s never won anything?” “Uh... guess I’ve never thought about it. How d’ya mean, ‘anything’?” “I mean anything. No races, no contests, no games. I don’t even think she’s hooked a duck at the funfair and won a prize, the way she was talking. And then she says she doesn’t get what’s so great about winning anyway, and I... I’m like... well I don’t know! I can’t explain it! “I love winning!” said Dash, desperately, “And you love winning too! Look!” she pointed once again at the display case, as though to call upon proof of her assertion. “I was cheering you on when you won like, half of these. I’ve seen you win. I know that winning means the same to you as it does to me! But why? I mean, I know why I love it in here–” she jabbed her hoof into her chest, “–but when I try to say why I love it, it’s like it’s all... bluergh.” She looked hopefully at Applejack. “So... why do you do it? Why do ponies like us do this?” Applejack gazed at Rainbow Dash for a few moments before sitting opposite her and rubbing her chin thoughtfully. Then, after a long, patient silence, she took a step towards the trophy cabinet and gazed reverently at the ribbon set the furthest to the left. “That one there? That’s the first one I ever won,” she said. “I can still remember it, y’know? I wasn’t much more than a filly, and already pretty good with the rope. But when those judges read my name out, and gave me that there ribbon... right then, I was the best. I’d never been the best at anythin’ before an’ I felt... well, I guess I felt real special. And whenever I’ve won since, there’s always that little feelin’ comes back. That you’re the best. That you’re special,” she finished wistfully. Rainbow had, without realising it, begun to nod along, and as Applejack finished she burst out, “Yes! Exactly! It’s that feeling, right? That awesome, totally amazing feeling that you’re the greatest. That you’re...” She fumbled, but she couldn’t find a better way of putting it than Applejack had – “...special.” Applejack smiled and nodded. “Heh. Guess it’s tougher to describe than I thought.” “Okay!” Dash said with sudden enthusiasm, “So, what kind of contest are we gonna get Fluttershy to win?” Applejack blinked. “Uh... what?” “That ‘special’ feeling. You only get it from winning, right? So... she’s gotta win something! Now, what’s it gonna be?” Dash began to rub her hooves together, looking up at the sky, racking her brains. “Uh, Rainbow? Just think about this. Not that that ain’t a nice idea, but, well, Fluttershy really ain’t the competitive type. Not like you an’ me are. How exactly you expectin’ to get her to enter a real contest with other ponies?” Dash rubbed her chin and frowned a vexed frown. Fluttershy wasn’t as introverted as she used to be, but actually convincing her to compete, and against real opponents? That would be a really tall order. And even if she did manage to persuade her, Fluttershy’s well-known aversion to conflict and performance would mean she’d likely be too timid to compete at her best. Certainly not well enough to win at... whatever it ended up being. What Fluttershy needed was to compete in a scenario where she felt comfortable, against competitors with whom she felt at ease... Realisation struck and Dash smiled, her eyes lighting up. “Okay, so she doesn’t compete against other ponies, she competes against us!” This was genius! Applejack buried her face in her hoof. This was moronic. “Okay... sure...?” she said patiently. “So, you just gotta find a skill that Fluttershy’s got that she can do better than any of us, then find a way to turn that into a competition, and then find a way to present all this so it don’t sound like the most contrived plan in history. Which is what it is. And even that ain’t the biggest problem.” “There’s a biggest problem?” “Dash? Even if we say it’s all a game, how you really think Fluttershy’s gonna react if she beats all her best friends in some contest? You reckon she’s gonna feel good about herself, or is she gonna feel upset for making losers outta the rest of us?” “Oh.” Dash looked at the ground. A moment passed. But the wheels in Applejack's own head were turning now and somehow wouldn't stop. “Unless...” she began, to herself. Then a smile appeared and she looked back at Rainbow. “Unless maybe she’s helpin’ one of her friends to win too.” Applejack actually surprised herself with her slowly changing mind. But while Dash’s idea had all the hallmarks of a fool, cockamamy plan, the intent behind it was honourable and, actually, pretty sweet. And... this just might work, she supposed. “Wait here a sec.” She turned and trotted round the corner into the barn, reappearing a moment later with a short, coiled length of rope which she dropped at Dash’s hooves. Rainbow Dash looked quizzically at the rope, and then raised an eyebrow at Applejack. “Uh, Applejack? I’m not sure what kind of ‘game’ you’ve got in mind here, but it’s not quite what I was thinking.” “Very funny,” said Applejack. “It’s for a seven-legged-race. You pair up with Fluttershy. I’ll race with Pinkie Pie, and Twilight can go with Rarity. We’ll make it a real Pegasus, Earth-Pony, Unicorn contest.” “Unicorn?” “Aw, Twilight’ll always be a unicorn at heart. Heck, I barely even notice the wings anymore. And outta those three pairs, between Twilight and Rarity not being runners, and me tryin’ to wrangle Pinkie Pie from bouncin’ all over the place, I’d put my bits on ya. Fluttershy gets to help you win, and she wins too. And the best part is it’s all just a friendly competition between good friends.” “That’s brilliant!” “Well, I dunno if it’s ‘brilliant.’ It’s still the most contrived plan in the world. But if it’s gonna make Fluttershy feel like she deserves to, I reckon we can pull it off.” “Okay, great. I’ll go round up the others. You set the race up here, and we’ll all be back before you know it!” Applejack touched the brim of her hat, and Rainbow Dash flared her wings. An instant later she was rushing skywards and heading towards Ponyville. So, now she had a plan, and importantly, she had an answer to her question. Winning. You did it because winning made you feel... special. She knew deep down, there was more to it, but Applejack was right: that feeling, when it hit you, there was nothing else like it. When you got it, that special feeling, you wanted more of it. That was what she’d felt on that first win. And it was past time that Fluttershy got it too. * * * There was a place Fluttershy knew. A small, out-of-the way corner of the school, not far from the entrance to the staff-room building where the instructors spent their breaks. Other students rarely came there. Too close to the enemy, as it were. The only ponies that passed by were the teachers going to and from, and they were much more likely to give her an understanding smile, or at least ignore her, than to launch into petty teasing. The relative solitude granted her a comfort she couldn’t find anywhere else on campus, and so day after day, while all the other fillies and colts talked and played, she found her little nook here, all by herself, and simply waited quietly for lunch-hour to end. But that was not to be today. Today would be different. Today, another student walking past noticed her by chance from the corner of her eye, did a double-take... and stopped. “Hey, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy’s pleasant daydream about living on the ground, surrounded by adorable woodland critters was rudely shoved aside as her attention was called back from its vacation. She looked up and had to force her eyes to focus, but in spite of the unexpected and unwelcome interruption she couldn’t stop a small, automatic smile when she actually saw who it was. “Rainbow Dash? What are you doing here?” “On my way to Viper’s office,” she said with a cavalier grin. “Third time this month!” “Did you do something wrong?” “Me? There is absolutely no proof it was me, okay!” But she had a cock-sure smirk that wouldn’t go away. Then, unable to hold it in, “Okay, so maybe I cloud-seeded the roof of the classroom building. Halfway through Basic Weather Mechanics, bam! Instant downpour, straight out of the ceiling! The look on the teacher’s face! She really didn’t get the irony.” She sighed. “Totally worth it. Even if I do spend the next month in detention.” Fluttershy gave her a disappointed, reproachful look. Dash’s smile faltered for just a moment. “Yeah, okay, maybe not all that worth it. Anyway, I gotta go. I’m sure Viper’s waiting to chew me up and spit me out. Again. See ya round, Fluttershy.” And with that, Rainbow Dash trotted over to the staff-building door, and through it. Fluttershy’s head drooped once more, her gaze finding its familiar spot on the floor. But oddly, her happy fantasy from earlier struggled to return. Instead, in place of her usual daydream, she found her distracted thoughts turning to Rainbow Dash. The other filly was cavalier and brash and cocky, and... so different to her. And she had a rebellious nature that Fluttershy just didn’t understand. But... she was also the only other pony who’d really been nice to her in all her time at Flight Camp. She’d even stopped to talk to her. And now she was going into the Viper’s nest. Principal Frost wasn’t so bad as long as you were good. In fact when she had needed it, he’d been nothing but supportive to her, and he always seemed fair. But the students called him Viper for a reason. If you were bad, he bit into you with venom, and you did whatever you had to to avoid getting bitten again. Rainbow Dash might have acted like she dismissed it all as just another day, but a telling off from the Viper was always gruelling, and she felt sorry for her. And she thought... it would be nice to be nice to her. Standing, Fluttershy gazed across the plaza towards the rec building. There were lots of foals between here and there, most clustered in small groups, talking or playing ball. She steeled herself and began to trot, trying to pick an innocuous path between them. She kept her head low and her steps quick, certain that upon leaving her safe corner she would be mobbed by hordes of colts and fillies taunting and tormenting her for having dared to enter their social space, but oddly enough this fear never materialised. She did catch a few down-heartening sniggers from some of the groups as she passed, but most of the others simply ignored her, and she reached the door of the building without incident. She ducked inside and headed for the refectory, and straight for the sweets and desserts counter. This late in the lunch-hour there was thankfully no queue, though unfortunately there wasn’t much left to choose from either. But on the highest shelf, displayed proudly behind the clear screen, Fluttershy’s gaze was drawn to a jumbo-sized, absolutely gorgeous-looking doughnut. Warm and soft pastry dusted with powdered sugar on the reverse, while the front was covered with a generous layer of gooey, rich dark chocolate and topped with crunchy sugar sprinkles of every hue. Beside the confection, a small card declared that the lucky recipient would, within the saccharine dough itself, find a core of intoxicatingly sweet caramel that would perfectly compliment the flavour of the sweet patisserie. It was perfect. And there was one left. Fluttershy approached the canteen-pony behind the counter and drew a deep breath. “Um. One of those, please?” The doughnut was scooped and bagged. “Four bits.” Oh, gosh. It was expensive. But... it didn’t matter. This was for a good cause. Fluttershy paid over four out of the five bits she happened to be carrying, and took the paper bag in her teeth, savouring the sugary aroma from within. Two minutes later she was creeping along the long corridor of the staff building where, set into the wall to her left was a perfectly normal door, onto which was set a perfectly normal nameplate, and yet one which inspired feelings of dread and fear in most of the more unruly foals in the school. Pale Frost, Principal, Cloudsdale Curriculum Flight School and Summer Flight Camp. Opposite the door was an alcove containing a receptionist’s desk, though the receptionist wasn’t around at the moment. And next to the door was a line of three chairs, all currently empty. Fluttershy approached the one closest to the door and took a seat, holding the paper bag between her forelegs. She sat still and waited. After a few minutes she began to hear faint, muffled shouting coming from beyond the office door. One of Viper’s trademark tirades in full flow, rising to its inexorable crescendo. Except, every so often, it would be interrupted and responded to by the yells of a smaller, pitchier voice, slightly quieter in volume but no less passionate. Eventually the older, deeper voice began to dominate proceedings, becoming louder and louder and finally reaching a thunderous climax. A moment later the door opened, and through it stepped Rainbow Dash, head bowed, biting her bottom lip, and with an expression caught between furious and devastated. Behind her, in the doorway and shepherding her into the corridor, was Principal Frost. But they both stopped and looked up when they noticed her there. “Fluttershy?” they both said, as one. Pale Frost frowned a confused frown at her. “You’re not on my list, Fluttershy.” Then, in a softer tone, “Is there something you need to talk to me about?” “Oh, no. I’m fine. I’m... I was just here to wait for Rainbow Dash. If... if that’s okay?” Rainbow Dash and Pale Frost both appeared surprised. Pale Frost recovered first though, with a slight nod and a neutral, “Very well.” Slowly he retreated through his office door and closed it with a click. Dash watched the closing door until it snapped shut. Then she hung her head, whatever defiance she’d been outwardly cultivating falling away like a curtain. She looked up at Fluttershy with a wan smile that she had to force into place. “Heh. Yeah, a whole month’s detention. Go Rainbow Dash.” “I’m so sorry.” Dash gave a little shrug, striving for nonchalance with only partial success. She looked back at Fluttershy. “How come you were waiting?” “Well... I thought that you might need cheering up. So, I brought you something.” She hoofed over the paper bag to Rainbow Dash who sat, opened it with a look of curiosity, and extracted the jumbo doughnut from within. When she saw it her eyes positively sparkled, as much from the surprise of receiving it as from the thing itself. “Wow, that’s... pretty awesome,” she said warmly. “Thanks.” Fluttershy smiled a happy smile. She would never be so presumptuous as to call Rainbow Dash her friend, but she was by far the closest thing she was ever likely to get. And watching her go from upset to happy even with such a simple gesture filled her with a pleasant, comfy sense of rightness. It was just nice to be nice. But Rainbow Dash was rummaging in the bag once more, rustling it and sticking her muzzle inside, as though looking for something. “Hey, where’s yours?” “Oh,” said Fluttershy, surprised at the question. “It doesn’t matter. There was only one left, and I couldn’t afford another one anyway. You’re the one who needs cheering up.” She smiled. Rainbow Dash looked back up, open-mouthed, and then down at the cake she held. A moment later she took the pastry in her hooves and tore the doughnut into two pieces, as equal as she could, and offered one of the warm, gooey halves back to her, the sticky caramel in the centre oozing out. “Don’t leave me hanging, Fluttershy,” she said with a grin. Fluttershy’s kind smile became an elated one, and thirty seconds later, with hooves and mouths that were covered in chocolate and caramel, they were walking out of the staff building, laughing together. It was just so much nicer to be nice. And finally, she’d found somepony who thought the same. * * * It seemed to make more sense to start in the middle and work outwards, and so Rainbow Dash’s flight into Ponyville quickly brought her to the door of the Sugarcube Corner bakery and café. The bell above the shop door chimed its familiar ting-a-ling as she entered to see a smiling Mrs. Cake behind the counter, and somewhere behind her, a frantic Mr. Cake trying his level best to cater to two foals, a stack of washing up, and a series of still-baking, but about-to-be-burning scones in the oven. “Hiya Mrs. Cake. Is Pinkie Pie around?” “Oh, she’s got the day off today, dearie. She’s upstairs, I think.” “Great, thanks.” Dash paused a second, looking beyond Mrs. Cake. “Uh... is he okay back there?” “GAH!” A falling motion accompanied a crashing of pots and pans from the rear of the bakery, followed by the happy warbling of two foals and a low, pained moan. Mrs. Cake looked round, and then back with a smile. “He’s fine.” Upstairs Pinkie might have been, but the stairs weren’t the Rainbow Dash way of doing things. She left through the door and took to the air, climbing to the first story and alighted on the balcony of the giant cupcake that crowned the roof of the building. The heat of the day had caused Pinkie to open all of her windows as wide as possible, and since the window was Rainbow Dash’s preferred method of entry anyway, it was thus that she made her ingress. “Heya Pinkie. What’s happenin’?” Something very strange, apparently... Surrounded by a semicircle of no fewer than a dozen electric fans going full blast, Pinkie Pie was on her back on the floor, lying on a beach towel and wearing a pair of oversized comedy sunglasses. Next to her, a bottle of suntan lotion was out and uncapped, and a large beach-umbrella stood open above her, in spite of the fact that she was indoors. Adjacent to where she lay, a wide, deep, circular bowl of water had been set, abutted by a towering hodge-podge construction of books and things that could only be intended as a kind of miniature diving board, and at the top of which her alligator, Gummy, was patiently sat. She raised her head at the sound of the voice, and broke into a wide grin. “Hi Dashie! Wanna come swelter with me? It’s super fun!” “Pinkie... should I even ask what’s going on, or should I just put it down to one of those things?” “It’s a beach-party, silly! Except there aren’t any beaches in Ponyville, so I’ve had to improvise. I’ve got my beach-towel and sun-block...” she said. Then, she indicated the array of room-fans, “I’ve got a nice, coastal breeze going, and I’ve even got... hit it Gummy!–” Gummy stepped off his tiny diving-board, falling two or three feet through the air before landing in the bowl of water, causing a moderate amount of it to splash over Pinkie, “– ocean spray!” Pinkie beamed with a ta-daa grin. Gummy lazily began swimming laps of the water bowl. “Uh-huh,” said Dash, though she couldn’t stop a smile. Only Pinkie Pie could go to the beach without actually going to the beach. “Hey, Pinkie? I need your help. You gotta come run a seven-legged race with me, Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity.” “Ooh, now that sounds like fun. Oh... but... wait a second,” she said as a thinking frown appeared. “If we’re all running it together, that’s nineteen legs. That’s not a seven-legged race at all!” she cried in horror. “No, Pinkie,” Dash groaned, “We’re not all tying our legs together, we’re doing it in teams! You’re running with Applejack, I’m doing it with Fluttershy, and Rarity’s going with Twilight.” “Oooooohh”, said Pinkie. “That makes much more sense.” “So you’re in?” “I am so there! Oh! I know! I can even bring my own special hoofsie-rope!” “Oooo-kay. Anyway, if you just head on over to Sweet Apple Acres, AJ’s putting it together. I’ll bring the rest of the girls as soon as I round ‘em up.” “Okey-dokie-lokie!” said Pinkie with a smile. Dash smiled back and then turned with a flourish. It was kind of sweet actually. Pinkie Pie hadn’t even asked about the reason for the race, though she had to have suspected there was one. The simple offer of doing something fun with her friends was motivation enough for her to get involved. The reason behind it didn’t really matter. Yeah... the reason. Actually... as long as she was here, she might as well ask Pinkie too. Twilight was always going on about different perspectives and how they were better, somehow. She turned back. “Hey, Pinkie? You’ve won stuff before, right? Like contests, games, whatever?” She was sure she had, but she couldn’t really put a hoof on what. “Oh, absotutely-lutely!” said Pinkie, getting to her hooves. She trotted over to a large and tall wooden armoire stood against the wall, which Rainbow Dash had always taken for a normal wardrobe, containing normal wardrobe things. Pinkie reached up with her hooves and pulled on the oak double-doors. But when they swung open... “By the pony of greyskull...” breathed Dash. The huge cupboard was chock so full of so many gleaming trophies that a golden light seemed to spill into the room, brightening it even moreso than the stunning afternoon sun. Everywhere, on every shelf, every inch of space was occupied with a cup, or a ribbon, or a statue, all of them shining fiercely. Dash’s eyes popped out of her head. “WHAT!?” She gazed open-mouthed at Pinkie. “Pinkie?! What is all this?” “Oh, this is all kinds of things. I’ve been collecting these since I was a little teensy-filly. Oh, like this one!” she said, reaching in and lifting a medium-sized trophy from a middle shelf – a small statue of what looked like a dancing pony upon a walnut base, into which was set a golden plaque: Ponyville Junior Ice-Skating Championships, 1st Place: Pinkie D. Pie “Ooh, and this one,” – a golden spoon crossed with a whisk; 32nd Annual Canterlot Confectionary Competition, 1st place: The Doughnuteclairmoussemeringemadness, (jointly awarded) M. Miles, G. LeGrand, P. Pie, C. Cake, C. Cake, D. Joe. “And this one I’m especially proud of!” A gold medallion hanging from a broad lanyard of blue silk. On the front a picture of a farmbird, on the rear; 12th Annual Ponyville Turkey Call. Winner: Pinkie Pie. “But this one, is my absolute favourite!” she said excitedly, as she reached deep into the wardrobe. She pulled and she heaved, and eventually managed to bring forth the most enormous gold cup that Rainbow Dash had ever seen. It was even bigger than she was! It sported two large, slender handles, and the top of the lid was crested by a cross within a circle. But beyond that there was no indication as to what it was for. Rainbow Dash bent down to examine the inscription on the plaque at the base. Equestria National Tic-Tac-Toe Championships. 1st Place: Pinkamena D. Pie. What? Dash looked incredulously at Pinkie Pie. “Seriously? Noughts and crosses?!” “What can I say?” Pinkie shrugged, “I am good.” “But that’s absurd! How can you win a championship at noughts and crosses? They might as well call it Tic-Tac-Tie: it’s always a draw!” “Oh, not at the professional level, silly. Hey, Dashie, you wanna quick game?” This was ridiculous! “Yes! You’re on!” “Okey dokey,” said Pinkie as she sketched a quick grid on the floorboards with some white chalk she seemed to have found from nowhere. “You go first. Do you wanna be X’s, or O’s?” “X’s.” Twenty seconds later and Rainbow Dash could only stare in sheer bewilderment as Pinkie drew a line through three O’s. “That’s impossible! How did you–!” “I told you, Dashie, I’m really good,” smiled Pinkie. “But... but... but I made all the right moves! That’s... it’s... Huh?!” Dash’s brain threatened to go pop. “Best two-out-of-three?” Dash was about to say a firm, resolute yes. But from somewhere far, far back in the blackest corners of the mind; where the dark things lurk beneath a swirling, thick black layer of ooze and consciousness dares cast only the faintest flicker of light, a deep, foreboding voice issued forth a dire proclamation of doom. NO, RAINBOW DASH! TREAD NOT THIS PATH! THIS WAY LIES ONLY MADNESS. “Uh... you know what? I’m good.” “Oh, okay,” said Pinkie with another smile. “How about a nice game of chess?”  Dash rubbed a face with a hoof, striving for normalcy to return to the world. She looked back to the pony opposite her. “Pinkie? Why do you do it? Compete? What is it about winning that you like?” For a moment, Pinkie appeared confused at the question. Then her smile returned. “Oh, that’s easy, silly. It’s all games! Games are fun to play, but they’re only fun if you try and win. And when you win, you get a little warm fuzzy snuggly feeling inside that makes you feel super-special.” There it was again. “Special?” “Yep. And even when you don’t win that’s okay too, because somepony else gets to feel special for a change.” Yeah, it’d be a change for her alright. “Pinkie... did you know Fluttershy’s never won anything?” “Nopey-dopey,” she said with a head-shake. Then, slowly the thinking-frown appeared again, as she seemed to rack her brains, searching and sifting through the prior conversation. And as the bits and pieces came together a happy grin sprang forth. “Ohmygosh! It’s Fluttershy’s turn today, isn’t it?” “Well, that’s kinda what I’m hoping–” “Say no more!” Pinkie interrupted, holding up a hoof. Then, to herself, darkly, “I’m going to need to take much more rope than I thought...” “Pinkie? You okay?” “Don’t worry Rainbow Dash! You go get the others, and I’ll meet you at Applejack’s. Once I’ve... prepared.” “Oooo...kay.” And with that Rainbow Dash turned – cautiously it had to be said – and headed out through the open window as Pinkie gave her a cheery wave goodbye. She had Team Earth-Pony on board. Time to start gathering Team Unicorn. * * * The clock ticked. And then it ticked. And then it ticked. And then it ticked. And then it ticked... Urgh! Rainbow Dash slumped over, trying to bury her forehead into the desk at which she was sat. Her low groan attracted a brief, neutral glance from Viper – sat at the teacher’s desk at the head of the classroom – before he returned his muzzle to his book. Dash, sat right at the back in the centre, restlessly raised her head again, looked around the room for the fiftieth time, found nothing new in the way of stimulation, and finally lowered it back to the desk, pressing her muzzle into it. She groaned again. She hated detention. It was the one punishment they could get to her with, and they knew it. Everything else – cleaning the locker-room, or flying laps of the air-circuit or whatever – she could handle because she could do it, and do it fast! But this... with detention she couldn’t do anything except wait for it to end. It was horrible! The fact she was sitting in the same classroom in which she’d caused a deluge and thus landed herself in detention in the first place was, she was certain, supposed to be a form of poetic justice that she refused to dignify with contemplation. Besides, that wasn’t what got to her. The silence wasn’t the worst part either, nor either, surprisingly, was it the boredom. No, if she were being truly honest with herself, the worst part of detention – the part that turned it from being merely brain-sappingly dull into the worst punishment the school could make her endure – was being alone. It wasn’t like she’d ever admit it, but she liked having other ponies around. Needed them, almost. She liked talking to them, bantering with them, pranking with them, showing off to them! That was what she was about. What she was for! After all, what was the point of being awesome if no-one could see she was awesome? Being forced into a room by herself took all that away from her, leaving her with... not a whole lot. When she was alone, she felt like a pale shadow of herself. If there was even one other pony with her, this wouldn’t be nearly as unbearable. She didn’t know why exactly. It wouldn’t be like they’d be able to do anything. Viper might have his attention in that book but she knew from past experience that he had eyes like a hawk. Her quest for the perfect spitwad was on permanent hiatus at the moment, and had been for weeks. But just knowing that there was somepony else with her, that they were in something together in some way, would have made this tolerable. Viper knew. That was exactly why she was alone. This was punishment, after all. The clock ticked. Rainbow groaned yet again. Forced herself to find the bright side. She’d endured three and a half weeks of this. Two more days after today and that was it. Punishment over. The clock ticked. Arrrrgh! At the far end of the room, Viper suddenly looked up from his book, his attention caught by something outside the windowed classroom door in the wall on his left, but which Rainbow Dash, from her acute angle at the rear of the room, couldn’t see. Viper placed his book on the desk and stood. He walked over to the door and opened it, poking his head through into the corridor. A quiet conversation seemed to take place. Dash could make out Viper’s tones, oddly calm and reassuring, but the voice of the other participant was too subdued to be heard. The conversation lasted maybe a minute or so, and then Viper came back into the room, closing the door softly. With an odd, conflicted look directed at Rainbow Dash, he made his way back to the teacher’s desk and sat, his book going unregarded for once. And when Rainbow looked up questioningly at him, he made sure he had her full attention before he spoke. “Fluttershy is outside,” he said, matter-of-factly. Dash felt a little jolt of surprise and failed to hide it. “Why? Is she in trouble?” she asked. She wasn’t normally supposed to talk in detention. She half expected a rebuke for such a direct question, though none came. Instead, Viper gave a sad little shake of his head. He looked at the desk before him, sighing through his nose. “She’s not in trouble. But I’m aware that she’s had a particularly difficult day today. It seems it’s rather upset her. I think she’s come because she wants to talk about it.” Dash nodded agreeably. “Look, Vi–  uh, Principal Frost... if you need to go talk to her about whatever... you can do that. I’ll still totally be here when you get back,” she said. And she meant it too. It was weird, like Fluttershy’s arrival had triggered a kind of ceasefire between them, for the greater good. Besides, if she did abscond it would basically be like running away, and she was still determined to show Viper that she could take whatever punishments he could dish out. But Viper simply looked back with genuine surprise. “Rainbow Dash,” he said, “It’s not me she’s waiting for.” Oh. Dash shot a look towards the clock, the minute hand infuriatingly stuck at half-past. It ticked. She ground her teeth in frustration. “She asked me if she could come in and sit next to you until you were done,” continued Viper. “I told her no.” “What? Why not?!” cried Dash before she could bite her tongue. Oh, she was sure she was getting told off for this now, but she’d already started down the path. “I don’t mind if she comes in – don’t refuse on my account. And it’s not like it’s any skin off your muzzle. If she wants to come sit here, why can’t she?” Okay, yeah, this was punishment, but come on, was he that cold? If Fluttershy was out there feeling upset then really was there any harm if she just sat there? Viper met her gaze with an oddly neutral expression. Instead of the anger and the dressing down she expected for speaking out of turn, he simply gave a very slow, very shallow nod. “You’re free to go, Rainbow Dash.” Huh? She looked back at Viper with only surprise, then glanced at the clock a final time. “But... I... still have another half-hour.” Viper frowned at her, his expression perfectly conveying the thought which was even now jumping into her own mind. Did you really just say that? “You’re free to go,” he repeated, slightly softer now. “And I’m not expecting you back either. Your punishment is over. If you haven’t learned your lesson by now, I’m naïve to think that two more days would drill it into you.” Carefully, Dash rose from her seat at the desk, walking cautiously to the classroom door as though this were all a trick. As she reached it and put her hoof on the handle, Viper opened up his book again, and spoke. “Rainbow Dash? I’m... trusting that you at least won’t use the time I’m giving you back for anything... disruptive. Is that fair?” Dash looked back. She wasn’t about to openly make a deal with Viper but... yeah, that was fair. She gave him a careful nod. “Go on then,” he said, not looking up from his book. Dash tugged the handle and opened the door, stepping through and allowing it to swing closed behind her. Freedom had never tasted so ambivalent. As soon as she stepped into the corridor though, Fluttershy looked up and Dash caught a surprised, but happy smile on her lips. And immediately Dash felt familiar bravado and confidence flowing back into her, warming her insides like heated honey. It was like being around other ponies was fuel for her or something, and an unbidden, cavalier grin found her lips. “Hey, Fluttershy,” she said casually. “He’s... letting you out early?” said Fluttershy, hopefully. “What can I say? Prolonged exposure to my awesomeness is lethal to some ponies,” she quipped as she began to stroll, heading for the exit with Fluttershy falling into step beside her. “Luckily, you’re pretty tough. I’m pretty sure you can handle it.” From the corner of her eye she noted the faint flush of pink colouring Fluttershy’s cheeks. “You... really think I’m ‘tough’?” “Survived a fall from Cloudsdale to the ground without even a scratch? Hay yeah, you’re tough,” said Dash confidently. They reached the set of double-doors which led outside, and Dash halted before them, looking a little more seriously at Fluttershy who drew to a stop herself. “Look... is everything okay? It’s just, Viper said you were upset about something that happened today.” Fluttershy looked at her, then away. “Oh, it’s okay. It’s nothing, really. Today hasn’t really been anything out of the ordinary. Especially for a pegasus in a flight school who can’t really fly.” “Fluttershy?” “It’s okay,” she repeated. “Besides, I’m sure you’d rather talk about something else, um, that is, if you don’t mind talking to me–” “Fluttershy,” said Dash, a little more firmly, and sitting now. “We’re not going anywhere until you tell me, okay? I’m listening.” Fluttershy sat too, if hesitantly. She risked a quick glance at her, making eye-contact for just a second, and following that couldn’t bring herself to look at anything but the ground. Dash made no move and held her tongue, determined that Fluttershy would be the one to start talking. And after a long, indecisive pause, Fluttershy finally took a breath. “I... Vertical loops,” she said. “We were training vertical loops. The other foals in my class were doing two, three, even four in a row, and when it came to my turn... I couldn’t. Not even one. I just flopped out of the air and landed on my back. The instructor thought I was faking it... or doing it on purpose... so he made me try again. And again. And again. And...” she sniffled and there was moisture in her eyes now, “...and every time I did, the teasing got worse. Flutterflop. Floppershy. I’ve been getting called all sorts of names all day and in the end I just... I just really needed somewhere I could go where I wouldn’t be laughed at. Just for a little bit. So I came to detention and asked if I could sit with you. I– I hope you don’t mind,” she finished, wiping her eyes with a hoof. Dash frowned a thinking frown, her flight-orientated brain having immediately latched on to the primary issue. Vertical loops, huh? Easy enough. She stood again and pushed the doors open, leading Fluttershy out onto the campus into the late-afternoon sun. “Okay, no biggie,” she proclaimed. “Loop-de-loops are tricky at first, but once you crack ‘em, it’s actually pretty easy to string several together. You'll be doing it in no-time. You’re probably instinctively flapping while you’re inverted, or maybe even reverse-flapping? That’s not the point. It’s your momentum from the climb that’s supposed to keep you in the–” she caught herself, cutting herself off when Fluttershy returned her glance with an expression of confused bewilderment. Fluttershy might have been having trouble with the exercise... but that wasn’t the reason she’d come to find her, was it? You know what? She had a much better idea. She smiled a warm smile at Fluttershy. “Look,” she said. “It turns out, I’ve got some free time I wasn’t exactly expecting. There’s this little place just off campus that only I know about. Nopony else ever goes there and it’s totally private. We’ll fly, we’ll practice loop-de-loops, and we’ll talk about stuff. Just you and me. Whaddya say?” She didn’t even need to hear the reply. Fluttershy’s face said it all. Besides, it sure beat being alone.