//------------------------------// // AJ vs. RD vs. Rarity // Story: Of Fluff And Feathers // by Moowell //------------------------------// Applejack and Rainbow Dash exchange a quick glance and nod, then both leap at Rarity at the same time. The white mare's eyes widen before she summons her pillows and defends herself against the two of them with two pillows a piece. However, she realizes it will be a losing battle if she stays on the defensive, so she leaps around to Applejack's side and swipes with all four pillows. AJ jumps backward, letting Rainbow Dash fly in under her and slam into Rarity, knocking her away from the castle and out toward the Ponyville courtyard. However, as AJ comes back down, she sees a chance to get back at RD and brings her pillow down hard. Rainbow crashes to the ground, and AJ rushes after Rarity. Rarity shakes out her mane and quickly does a self-cleaning spell to put it back into form before defending herself from Applejack. AJ swings with all her might, giving up all pretense of holding back against her opponents, who have proven themselves both powerful and tough. It takes two pillows for Rarity to deflect each of AJ's swings, but that still leaves two pillows open with which to return the assault. Rarity shields herself against one final attack, then brings her pillows to bear against AJ's flank, spinning her around just in time to catch a face full of fluff from RD's retaliation strike. As RD and Rarity start trading blows, AJ realizes that she won't stand much of a chance against both a pegasus and a unicorn unless she does some fancy thinking. She quickly looks around and spots a nearby wagon cart right next to a building in the direction where her friends are going. She rushes over to the wagon, staying out of the fray until she leaps onto the cart and springboards up to the roof of the building. Once she makes it up to the top, she readies her lasso. Rarity jabs with pillow after pillow, attacking RD unsuccessfully as the pegasus stays just far enough to dodge every strike while staying close enough to make her own. Suddenly, a rope wraps around one of her four pillows, just as it passes between her and RD, then flies backward with incredible speed. RD freezes with momentary shock only to have the pillow slam into her and knock her sprawling backwards into the air until she finally regains control of herself. "Surprise!" RD whirls to see AJ standing there, pillow in teeth and swinging hard. She tries to block, but the blow rockets her back at Rarity with its force. Rarity puts up her now three pillows between her and RD as the cyan pegasus plummets down at her, but they crash together anyways and roll a short distance. Suddenly, a pair of pillows tied together by rope slam into the two of them like a great, fluffy ball-and-chain, and they go tumbling sideways together. AJ leaps down from the building and bull rushes them while they're down and struggling, ready to make quick work of them. Just as they finally manage to get to their hooves, AJ bears down and swings. *BOOM* AJ flies sideways, much to the surprise of both RD and Rarity. *BOOM* *BOOM* The two of them look over, then fly backwards, tumbling into the sprawled out farm mare. "Why didn't you guys tell me you were having a pillow party?! I haven't been to one in ages! Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!" The three of them untangled themselves from each other and looked up to see Pinkie Pie standing there with her party cannon, its smoking barrel loaded with innumerable pillows. As AJ gets up to face this new threat, RD holds her back. "What're ya doin', Rainbow?! Lemme go!" AJ struggled to free herself from RD's grip. "Wait, Applejack! You can't beat Pinkie Pie alone! Trust me, it's impossible!" The three of them exchanged a meaningful glance, then rose as one, their pillows at the ready, to face the grinning pink mare.