//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-Seven; Icky Mornings // Story: Most Daring Pony // by CowgirlVK //------------------------------// Arrow's first name wasn't 'Sharp' for nothing, and she was bound and determined to keep it that way. And so, with the light of the new day not even glowing on the horizon, Arrow was up and ready to start the day. Faster than Dash could clear the skies, she found a bowl, some oats, and the milk and had fixed herself up some breakfast. At a speed that would have made Rarity frown, Arrow wolfed it down, then raced out the door. With the night sky still not showing any signs of Celestia waking up the sun, Arrow dashed out of the house and raced across the valley to the home of the Glass family. She landed, beaming from ear to ear, and pounded on the door. And pounded. And pounded... Finally it opened. Mrs. Wisteria, dressed in a bathrobe, rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned. "Who is it? Oh." She stretched. "Morning Arrow, you are up early." "I'm ready to go work with the sheep!" she cried, fully awake, bouncing up and down like a pogo stick. Mrs. Wisteria blinked. "I see," she said simply. "I'm not, and actually, neither are you." She yawned again. "You need a work hat. Lilly has plenty hanging up in her room you can choose from. I'm sure she won't mind as long as it isn't her rodeo hat or the black one with the red ribbon. Oh, and make sure-" Her eyes closed for a second before she jerked them open once more. "Make sure it has a drawstring so if it falls off, you won't lose it. None of those hats are made for your head." "Has drawstring, not black. Got it!" Arrow said quickly. "I'll be right back, don't go away. And don't leave for the fields without me!" "Not planning on it," Wisteria said. "It's too early to go out anyways, so take-" She stopped, as Arrow was now out of sight with nothing but a cloud of dust where she had stood before. Wisteria shook her head. "Arrow, no joke." Arrow by this point was back clear across the valley. She dashed back into the cottage, back up the stairs, and back into the bedroom. She looked about the room and blinked. How had she missed that one? Half of the top of the room was literally edged with hats. Big hats, little hats, work hats, dress hats, stetsons, caps, bonnets, pink, blue, orange, green, black, white. Some hats were big, others small, and from every fabric Arrow could think of—felt, silk, cotton, yarn, straw; one was even made of paper. Lilly had them all. Arrow was in seventh heaven. Arrow knew Lilly liked hats. Shoot, she had three that she kept in her trunk at the end of the bed. One was a stetson, and the other two were an after shower towel cap and a black french style hat. Arrow felt like a filly in a candy store. She giggled giddily, rubbing her hoof against each one. Trying ones on, then returning them to their clips. Halfway round the room, Arrow's eyes fell on the perfect hat. It was bright, it was loud, it was edgy, it was perfect.   Arrow removed it, then tentatively tried it on. It was a perfect fit. The hat was a silver Stetson, its entire surface coated in white sequins. It was edged in blue, and its strings were pink. The brown mare was in love. Absolute, complete and total love. She walked over to the full length mirror on the back of the door and looked left, then right. Just then, the sun started showing its light into the window on the other side of the room. As it hit the hat, the room filled with light like a flashy disco ball. Arrow giggled giddily. "Beautiful, perfect! I love this hat!" she said to herself. Arrow removed the hat from her head and ran her hoof on the inside, which was lined with pink leather. Its front and back were padded for comfort, and the hat itself felt like a high priced felt. This was Lilly's dress hat, no doubt about it, and she was going to wear it. She put it back onto her head, then snugged up the drawstring under her chin. Sighing contently, she opened the door and stepped into the hall. "Morning Arr- Uh... No." Grace Research's mouth turned down into a very defined frown. "You are not wearing that hat."   Arrow sat down, crossing both forelegs across her chest. “And why not? It’s just so awesome!” she pouted. “Because,” said Grace, “That is Lilly’s rodeo hat.” “So what?” Arrow exclaimed, “Lil’s a pegasus, not some fruity earth pony! Why does she even need a rodeo hat? Pegasi don’t do rodeos.” Grace’s eye bore holes in the filly. “Lilly won that hat in a barrel racing contest in Canterlot many years ago. It is very special to her. You will not wear it,” she emphasized. Arrow rolled her eyes. “I don’t believe you. Why would the princess of snowy winters do something like...” She made a face, “Barrel racing?!” “Why would a pony who is brown like such flashy things?" Grace threw back. "Because it's awesome! Duh! Like, I look so drab. Well, besides my figure..." She struck a pose, the muscles in her body rippling on down. "And drab ponies like me need a bit of pizzaz!" "Arrow, I think you just like making a spectacle of yourself. You, by very definition, are a 'show off.'" Arrow died laughing. "Ya think?!" Her voice squeaked. "Yeah, and being a show off is awesome." Lilly's mother frowned. "No, it is not. For now it might be getting you ahead, but what about in the long run?" "What about it? I have nopony to answer to. My parents are dead, and Steady is only a guardian." "Arrow, you do in fact have somepony to answer to," Grace said, her voice still level. "Ppft! Who?" Grace raised both eyebrows. "Your Captain and my daughter, Lilly Feathers, for starters. Then there is Captain Comet who is, if I remember right, your uncle." "Step great, great uncle," the brown mare specified. "Still your uncle." "In paper only!" Arrow defended herself. "There are the princesses," Grace moved on. "What have they to do with it? They can't see me every stinking' minute of every stinking day," Arrow scoffed. Mrs. Grace Research glared at her. "No, but their Daddy can. And you ought to fear him." "Oh yeah... that stuff." She rolled her eyes. "I bet the next thing you are going to say is he really exists and I ought to listen to him." Grace nodded. "I am going to say that." "That is a bunch of baloney." Arrow retorted. “An old mare’s tale that only exists up here in this podunk lil’ town.” "Really? Do you know everything?" Arrow frowned. "No!" "Do you know half of everything?" Grace asked. "You're the book nerd, you tell me." The older mare smiled. "Let's just pretend you know half of everything. Could it be possible that he exists in the other half of the universe that you don't know? Could it be possible that he is the one that controls everything and is ultimately in charge?" Arrow rolled her eyes, not budging. "First off, I don't know that much, and nor do I care to. Second, I don't care. I'm going to wear this hat. Why? Because it's an awesome hat. I like the hat, and I was told I have to wear a hat. Alright? And you can't fly, so you can't stop me." Grace frowned. "Lilly's not going to like it." Arrow rolled her eyes. "Lilly doesn't know, nor will she unless one of you tattles on me. And only babies tattle." With the speed of a lighting bolt, Arrow took off and erupted through the front door back out to go work with the sheep. Grace was left standing in the hallway sighing. "Yeash, she’s Williwaw all over again!” ------------------------------ This was a morning like any other in the small cottage on the edge of the Everfree. Fluttershy slept in her large bed upstairs. Angel and many other animals littered the floor. Birds roosted above her head, and squirrels chattered away around her bed. The sun was just beginning to rise, its rays shining through her bedroom window. Poof  Something soft and woolly hit Fluttershy in the head. "I'm not ready yet Angel," she groaned in her sleep. Angel didn't respond. The butter colored mare's stomach began turning itself into knots as her mind made up scenarios on why Angel, after hitting her in the head, wasn't responding. Maybe Discord decided he should be the only one to pester her and had placed the rabbit in that crystal ball again. Or maybe Angel had fallen off the bed, then a vortex had opened up and swallowed him. Maybe it was those vines again creeping up out of the Everfree Forest, and they had grabbed him and locked him away somewhere. Maybe Chrysalis was back and had bunnynapped him- Fluttershy's eyes flew open. She looked around the room in terror, her body moist in a light sweat. Nothing. She searched for Angel. The little white rabbit was curled up at the foot of her bed, sleeping with Tank. Fluttershy sighed. "At least you are alright," she whispered, more for her own sake than for the rabbit's. Then she began to worry again. If it hadn't been Angel, what had whacked her? She glanced around. Finally, her eyes fell on a scroll with Twilight's seal on it; mystery solved. Fluttershy reached forward. Taking the parchment in her hoof, she broke the seal and began to read. Dear Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash is asking for her own bed from her home. She was awake almost all night complaining about her back hurting from the springs. Either A. I need you over here early so I can go, or B. You go get it. Please let me know soon. Twilight Fluttershy frowned. "Poor Rainbow Dash," she sighed out loud. She herself had gotten used to a regular bed years ago. Rainbow, however, was a different story. Even when visiting the princesses, Dash normally made a fuss (be it a small one) if her bed wasn't made of cloud fluff. In reality, Fluttershy was surprised she hadn't thought of this before. She knew Dash hadn't been sleeping, and as picky as Rainbow was about such things, it only made sense that she had been wandering because she was uncomfortable. And with how guilty she had been feeling, Fluttershy was certain Dash was probably punishing herself by not mentioning it. Fluttershy sighed and got up out of her bed, making her way over to her bureau. She found her hairbrush and quickly yanked it through her pink locks. Then she washed her face and brushed her teeth before going downstairs to start in on breakfast. Downstairs, it was chaos; organized chaos. It was the sort of chaos that could only come from bringing that which is wild into one's home. Her floor was covered in droppings from three days of not being around to clean it up. Her table had cracked nut shells all over it, and on her couch slept Discord. Fluttershy squeaked in surprise. "Good morning my dear," Discord said, not opening his eyes. "Your house is almost more chaotic than my own." "Uh..." The mare blinked. "It isn't as bad as some times when I return from our adventures. Normally Angel takes care-" "Oh please!" The draconequus rolled his eyes. "But that isn't why I'm here, my dearest." "Uh- Don't see me as rude, but why are you here so very early?" Fluttershy squeaked. Discord sighed, sitting up in bed. "Well, I had this awful dream last night-" "A dream?" Fluttershy exclaimed, surprised. “Do you find it surprising that a dream would bother me? Everypony has nightmares, whether they be large or small. It's a bane to each of our lives. And yes, I had one last night and decided to come here to finish sleeping. I tried Luna's bed, her being up and about-" Fluttershy's face paled. "Why? Why Luna's bed?" Discord scoffed, "I was hoping she'd return and help me through it. However, she threw such a fit when she found me! So then I went to Zecora's hut. She was no more happy to see me." Fluttershy could only blink. "Alright?" she muttered under her breath. "So, what was your dream?" "Oh my dream!" Discord wailed. "I was a broom! A broom of all things, dancing with Pinkie Pie, cleaning up the bakery! It was so orderly! So neat! So-" he gasped, "Clean!" Fluttershy sat down beside him on the bed. "That does sound scary. When did you wake up?" Discord wrung his tail. "When the Mountain Mares showed up and turned me into an ice statue!" He was shaking. Fluttershy did a double take trying to decide if it was for real or not. But he was in her house after all. "A statue! An ICE statue," he continued. Fluttershy patted him gently on the back. "It was only a dream Discord, it's over now. But I have a question: How could anypony turn you to ice?" Discord shuddered. "Trust me, sweet Fluttershy, they can, and they will! They said so!" "I see," she said, not having anything else to say. Only the elements could turn him to stone, but ice? That was just a bit outside of her reasoning powers. "Discord, I doubt they will, or can right now. But we've got to get breakfast served and to the castle as quick as we can. Rainbow Dash needs me." Discord frowned. "More than me?" Fluttershy nodded. "I'm afraid so. Twilight says the 'normal' bed is really hurting her." Discord rolled his eyes. "I don't blame her for saying such a thing. Frosting is so much better at bringing good dreams." Fluttershy smiled. "Really? I never knew that. Well, I was actually thinking about bringing her own bed from her home." Discord rolled his eyes. "I bet Cowgirl gave me that dream on purpose," he snapped bitterly. "Who?" Fluttershy asked. "Never mind your pretty head, but every time I turn around, she's using me as a plot device for something. I really wish she'd stop." Now there was Discord being Discord, and there was Discord being strange. This was almost Discord being Pinkie. "I see..." Fluttershy muttered. Discord crossed his arms. "Last time I refused to behave, she threatened to remove all of my powers and give them to Applejack! APPLEJACK!" Fluttershy was taken aback. "I see. So you think... 'Cow-girl' gave you this dream so you'd come here so you'd find out Rainbow Dash needed her bed and get it for me?" "That and intercept Soarin who's knocking on Dash's door right now," Discord answered. Fluttershy stood there gaping. "You don't believe me?" Discord asked. From nowhere he pulled out a bubble the size of her head and showed it to her. "See, there are the Wonderbolts now, almost to Dash's house." Fluttershy gasped, "Oh dear! They do know Dash is hurt! Right? And at Twilight's?" Discord nodded. "They should. I told them plainly enough." Fluttershy’s eyes widened in terror. “Discord! What did you do?” Discord only smiled. “Paid a debt and took them up on a challenge.” Fluttershy’s eyes grew rounder. “You didn’t cause any problems?” “Only ones that I can fix,” replied Discord. “If they ask me nicely.” Fluttershy sighed and stood up. “Anyways, the animals need feeding, and we have to get over there before the Wonderbolts...” She stopped mid sentence. “Before we have problems.” “We already have problems,” the draconequus pointed out. “They are just orange and blue.” Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh Discord.” “Yes, Fluttershy my dear?” Despite the dread in her stomach, Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle at Discord’s little joke. “Let’s get going before we add a yellow to the problem.” Discord suddenly looked concerned. “I would hope not! Oh dear, dear Fluttershy, don’t do anything rash!” Fluttershy blinked. “Wh- oh! OH!” Realization suddenly dawned on her. Despite the Wonderbolts’ colors being blue and yellow, the second color being what she was referring to, Discord had taken it as meaning her. She giggled heartily behind a hoof, “Oh Discord! The Wonderbolts, not me.” Discord looked serious for once. “Don’t scare me like that.” ------------------------------------------- “Five more minutes!” Rainbow Dash complained. “Come on Rainbow!” Twilight stood beside her bed, the medicine all poured up and a food tray ready. Rainbow, after a fitful night sleep, was steadfast in her idea of sleeping as long as she could. “Ya can go back ta sleep af-” Applejack swallowed a bite of her own breakfast which she had been talking around, “after ya eat. Besides, Spike is not a bad cook. Yer’ gunna enjoy breakfast RD.” Rainbow Dash pulled the blanket up over her head. “Five. More. Minutes,” she grumbled. Twilight groaned, “Rainbow Dash, I know you are tired-” Dash interrupted Twilight by pretending to snore. “Rainbow!” growled the alicorn. “You won’t like me if I let you sleep.” Again, Dash ignored the “royal summons” to wake up and eat. “Come on RD!” Applejack tried to help. “It’s apples and oats. Shoot, ah think Spike outdid me!” Spike gushed under Applejack’s praise. “Really!” “Darn Tootin’!” Applejack affirmed. Rainbow Dash pulled the blanket just far enough down so she could see Applejack’s face. “AJ, you are a horrible liar.” “Ah ain’t lyin’,” Applejack defended herself. “‘Sides, why should ah? It is better than ah can make.” “All the time, or currently?” Rainbow Dash shot at her. “See Rainbow Dash! Yer up!” Applejack said, changing topics. Twilight moved in before Dash could dive back under the covers, ready with two pills and a glass of water. “Down the hatch,” she said, helping Dash sit up. Rainbow Dash scowled. “AJ, that’s not fair!” Applejack smirked and chuckled slightly. “Ah’m just surprised ya haven’t raised a commotion over that girly girdle Rarity made ya.” “Do we really want to go there?!” Rainbow shot back. “It’s cool. Alright? Besides.... it doesn’t hurt as much with it on.” “Admitting to discomfort?” Applejack teased. “Yeah! And so have you!” Dash fired back. “Girls, I don’t think arguing is a-” Spike gulped as all three pairs of eyes landed on him. “Good idea?” he squeaked. Applejack and Rainbow Dash both smiled, chuckling weakly. “It’s all in good fun, Spike,” Applejack said. “Sheesh.” Spike rolled his eyes. “You could have fooled me.” With Rainbow Dash’s medicine now eaten, Twilight gave Dash her tray of breakfast. Rainbow frowned down at it. “Spike, don’t you think it’s a bit warm of a day for hot cereal?” Spike shrugged. “Doesn’t seem too warm to me,” he commented. Applejack chuckled, “Eh, tad warm, but feels good.” “How can hot feel good on a hot day?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “It’s hot! I’m hot!” “SHHH!” they all said together. “What?” Dash grumped. “Don’t say that too loud, Rainbow Dash!” Spike said uneasily. “And why not?” “I would have to concur!” a snake-like voice rippled about the room. “I think a certain Wonderbolt would agree that you are hot.” Rainbow Dash’s ears flopped down. “Discord!” “Just passing through!” he sang triumphantly. Spike looked uneasy, Twilight concerned, Rainbow Dash looked defeated, and Applejack had that glint in her eye that could curdle milk. For several moments there was silence. “Da ya think he’s gone?” Spike asked. Twilight groaned, “Who knows?!”