//------------------------------// // 31 // Story: Seven Lights // by Fresnor //------------------------------// “For the last time Rarity, I'm fine. After that potion Flare brought and a couple nights of rest it's like I never had magical exhaustion.” Twilight complained to Rarity who was once again trying to carry everything she had brought with her for their little outing. “But darling it's only been two days since you were released from the hospital and you shouldn't strain yourself. You don't see Flare complaining about me helping her do you?” She waves a hoof in the orange unicorn's direction who shakes her head and holds her own hooves up in front of her. “Don't look at me, I've known her long enough to know when to fight her over something and when to just let her have her way.” The other two unicorns roll their eyes as Rarity sneak the bags off of Twilight to add them to her own, much to her pet's displeasure. Twilight sighs as she notices that this has happened and falls back to keep pace with Aegis Flare. “Ugh, how long is she going to be like this? I actually feel better now than before that storm drained all of our magic.” The orange mare just shakes her head at her friend before looking back at Scarlett who was dozing on her back. “Probably another day or two. She'll be focused on her dress-making soon and that tends to drive everything out of her head until she is finished. At least it's not a physical injury or else she'd be trying to drag us around in a cart with Applejack's help.” Twilight just shakes her head before sighing and looking around at the others and their pets they had all brought. “It is nice to see you coming out with us today though. You're usually off doing something whenever we do this which seems odd since you've missed it every week so far.” She glances over at her friend to see her reaction though she only just pauses a moment to rub her chin with a hoof. “Huh, I guess I have missed every other time. It's not like I tried to avoid it but it just turned out that way, though it doesn't help that it's usually in the middle of the day when Scarlett is asleep.” She nudged at the flying fox with her nose which only causes her to roll over and try to bury her head in the mare's braid. Aegis Flare chuckles at her pets reaction before she turns to see Twilight looking at her with a raised eyebrow before she shakes her head and continues on. They soon arrived at the park where they had planned to have their pet play date. They initially had a quick lunch out of the things they all brought while letting their pets run off to play together for a while. This led to them waking up Rainbow Dash who just happened to be sleeping nearby, and after a short conversation, before they returned to their owners to play together. Aegis Flare just sat there as she fed Scarlett small tidbits of fruit as she lazed around under a small umbrella that was keeping the sun off of her. The mare vaguely noticed that Rainbow Dash had come back again but she was somewhat dozing herself until she saw Fluttershy drag the cyan pegasus off. “Where are those two going?” Applejack, the nearest pony to her, just rolled her eyes before tossing a stick for Winona again. “RD said that she wanted ta get a pet for herself and ya know how Fluttershy can get when it comes ta animals.” Looking over in the direction the two fliers had gone, Aegis Flare considered the personality of the two before shaking her head and wondering what craziness was going to come from all this. <><><><><><><> Twilight and most of her friends gathered up at the front of the building while Rainbow Dash paced in front of the line of animals that she was considering for her pet. Aegis Flare walked up to join them as Rainbow Dash shushed them and began posturing in front of the animals. The orange mare looked over to Twilight as Winona licked at her cheek, and while Fluttershy snuck over to the group of animals with the tortoise, to put in her two bits on her worries. “You know, it wouldn't surprise me if she doesn't choose one of the animals as a pet with how difficult they can be sometimes.” Applejack nods on Twilight's other side. “Eeyup. If it will cut into her nap time she'll avoid it like a cow near a snake convention. Ah just hope that if she does go through with it and choose one that she doesn't regret her choice. Ya all know that she would never back down from it even if she finds out she made a mistake.” The two unicorns nod to her before turning their attention back to Rainbow Dash as she started the first event of the pet competition. After watching a few the observing mares, minus Fluttershy who was assisting with the animals, started whispering amongst themselves. “So which one do you think she will choose for a pet? That flamingo is so funny and I know she'll love it.” They all glance at Pinkie Pie before looking at the animals again thoughtfully. “Well darling the toucan's colors are so extravagant and fits with our favorite flier's looks.” After Rarity weighs in on her opinion Twilight shakes her head. “I don't think that those would work well with Rainbow, especially when she is out flying. The eagle or falcon would probably suit her more since they are the strongest fliers here.” She looks over two Applejack and Aegis for their opinion on the subject. “Really ah have ta agree with Flare on how Rainbow might not choose any of them. Ya see how our pets all fit us pretty well but none of those really say Rainbow Dash ta me.” Looking over to the orange unicorn to see what she says she nods along with the farm mare. “Really out of them all the tortoise is a better fit for Rainbow since she loves her naps and it would make a good companion then and it goes well with the shell she keeps around herself to hide her real self but you see how she is treating it.” They all watch as the pegasus once again berates the slow animal before they shake their heads and continue watching the competition. The rest of the competition followed much of the same pattern the previous events had until the very end. During the final race when the animals arrived without Rainbow Dash they started to worry until they saw her being carried in by the tortoise. They were all surprised when the pegasus ended up choosing it as her pet over the others but after hearing about how she was rescued by it and the other animals abandoned her they understood her decision. After finishing her letter to the princess she pulled the the unicorns aside for a moment. “Um hey, do any of you think you could come up with a way for Tank to fly with me and be able to live up in my cloud house?” “I have heard of objects being given to diplomats to let them walk on clouds but all I remember is that they used gems in some way.” Aegis Flare looked towards Rarity as she was the local expert on gemstones. “Hmm, that may be possible for the cloud-walking spell darling, but I don't know what would work to let the poor thing fly. It is a bit outside of my expertise but I'm sure that Twilight would know somepony that could help if she can't.” All eyes focus on the purple unicorn as she looks at the sky thoughtfully. “Well I do have a couple ideas that could work, but most of them would only be temporary measures. I'm sure the princess wouldn't mind helping with a more permanent solution if I asked. It'll be a couple days but I'm sure I'll have something for you before next week.” With her friend's help assured Rainbow Dash thanks them before she flies off to spend some time with her new pet.