//------------------------------//
// 01 - The Plan Was 
// Story: Perfectly Harmless 
// by JustHere4ThePonies 
//------------------------------//

Okay.  Here she comes.  Moment of truth:  Saddle bag?  Check.  Bed roll?  Check.  Tent?  

Rainbow Dash was approaching the camp site laden with gear, but - as discussed - no tent.  Scootaloo was supposed to bring the tent.  It was all part of the plan.  Oh, I brought the tent alright...  

"Sup kiddo?" R.D. called as she sauntered into camp.  She cocked an eyebrow at the gear Scoots had contributed, looking miffed about having the larger burden.

"Hey, sup Dash?" Scoots replied, eager to redirect her attention, "Just got here a few minutes ago."  It was more like an hour; wouldn't want to seem weird.

"You wanna drop that pack and get airborne?  Do a little recon?" Scoots practically hopped from one hoof to the next, channeling her excitement into contrived enthusiasm.

"Actually, I'm a little beat from that hike," Dash confessed, unshouldering her kit with a huff.  "Let's go ahead and set up first.  You mind?" 

Maybe she noticed Scoots stiffen at the mention of setting up.  This was happening a lot sooner than predicted.  She'd been hoping they'd pitch camp in the evening, when it was too late to head back home.  But she couldn't very well protest without a good reason.

"Uh, yeah.  Kay," she saved, shaken.  Dash started rifling through the bundles of gear while Scoots absently kicked twigs and pebbles from the spot in question.  She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"Um, hey Scoots?" - She made sure she was facing away so Dash wouldn't see her react - "About this tent.  It looks a little small.  Kinda really small." 

Dash had it halfway laid out, examining:  "I think you brought like, a filly tent or something."  

Scoots tried to maintain composure, sure that Dash would call off the whole thing right there:  ("We can't sleep in this.  Let's head home and try this some other time.  Maybe next month.  I don't wanna get that cozy.")  

She held her breath, scrambling for a pre-emptive response that would salvage the plan, but R.D. cut her off:  "Ah well - whatever.  Help me get this thing staked down, will ya?"  

Oh thank goodness.  Hell yeah!  Plan's back on.  Scootaloo hoped Dash wouldn't notice the sigh of relief she let slip.  




When the tent was pitched, they stood back to inspect it.  Damn...it really is tiny.  Dash wore an unreadable expression, though it clearly wasn't delight.  

"Did you uh, not know this was a filly tent?" Dash questioned in a tone that suggested she already knew the answer.  Dash stood a full head above its peak, and Scoots was inches behind at most.  

Scoots' face burned, but she resisted the urge to look away.  "Guess I didn't realize how small it was," she fibbed with rehearsed candor, "It's been years since I've used it."  

Dash gave her a funny look, but shrugged it off just as quickly:  "Well, it's cool.  As long as it doesn't rain, no reason we can't just sleep out, right?"  

Sleep out?  I didn't even think of that.  Sonuva-  Dash had that funny look again.

"So!" Scoots recovered, "You... Wanna go survey?  See what's new in this neck of the woods?  Been ages since we came up here.  I could hardly get off the ground last time."

"Alright, sure.  Then, we'll head down to the lake.  Oh, and there's this great trail I wanna show you too..." R.D. went on, their all-important sleeping arrangements already forgotten.

Sleep out?!  Dammit...