//------------------------------// // All the While // Story: Continuing the Dream // by Blue Breeze //------------------------------// Author's Note: Decided to have a break in the action to see what's going on with the girls during this whole thing. Translation: the world is against me and I'm having technical difficulties with writing the next part of Taurtarus. Now, on with the story I'm stuck writing(ugh, I'm very bitter right now). Up in Canterlot While the eight of us were sent down to Taurtarus, Princess Celestia had offered the girls to stay in Canterlot castle. After sending a Spike a message with a list of things to do such as tell ponies where we are and take care of our pets, as well as staying out of my drawers(yeah, they know), they had agreed to it, if for no other reason than to be closer to the gates for when, and I do mean WHEN, we make our return. Right now Rainbow Dash looks out a window, out into the open, silently hoping that we're all okay, especially me. She starts whispering to herself. "Blue, wherever you are, just please be okay. I can't stand the thought of losing you." Sunny comes over to Dash and puts a hoof on her sholder. "Don't worry, Dash. I'm sure they're all safe. They're tough. I know they can pull through this and come back safe and sound." Dash gets up and turns around before she starts trotting. "I know, Sunny. But I just ca't help but to worry. This is Taurtarus we're talking about. The most evil place in all of Equestria. Even the stuff in the Everfree Forest can't compare to stuff down in that place." Sunny comes back over to her. "I know. We're all worried." Twilight comes over to the rainbow-maned pegasus to help try and comfort her. "She's right, Dash. Even with knowing how Dark is, I worry about him." "Yeah, nearly two whole days since they've left. It's hard not to worry." Vinyl says. "I worry about Zephyr every second. I do hope he returns." Octavia says. "And I'm especially worried about Rhino." Fluttershy says. "He's never been through anything like this like the others have." "Neither has my dear star-eyed stallion." Rarity says. "I do hope Orion is being careful." "And Drax. Even a guy his size and strength isn't invincible." Spitfire says. "I definitely am gonna make good on those promises I gave him from before." "And Vinetion. I'm worried about she'll act being in a place like that." Fleur says. "Even I've been a bit frowny wowny since they left." Pinkie says. "But I plan to throw them the BIGGEST 'Welcome back from a dangerous place with your lives and a new friend' party EVER!" "Just calm down, Pinkie. Now need to get worked up." Applejack says. "WHEN they get back, I'm positive they'll probably just wanna take a rest for a bit, especially with their mares." she smiles at all of her friends who have coltfriends. "Ah just wish I had a stallion like ya'll. Somepony to hold me and who ah know will always protect me." Fern hops down from a chair she was sitting on. "Okay, I think that's enough of the mopey stuff. All of this worrying won't do us any good. I say we head out and do something that'll take our minds off of all this business." "But what are we gonna do?" Applejack asks. Fern taps a hoof to her chin. "I don't know. OH! I think I got it. I say we all head down to Pony Joe's donut shop and get us some donuts." Dash gives a weak smile. "I could go for some donuts." "Ooh, me too! I LOVE donuts!" Pinkie says excitedly. All of the others give nods and mutters of agreement. "Okay, to Pony Joe's it is." Fern says. Being originally from Canterlot, Fern knows her way around the town. Being Princess Celestia's student, Twilight knows her way around the castle, so she's the one to lead everypony out. The large group of mares, now having gotten out of the castle, make their way down the streets of Canterlot, on their way to get donuts. And donuts are awesome. As they walk down the streets, ponies look at them a bit funny, but they ignore them... for the most part. "Ugh, one thing I definitely don't miss is how snobby everypony around here is." Fern says. "No kidding. They all look like they have sticks up their rumps." Dash says. "You just need to talk to them a bit. Ponies around here are actually quite nice." Octavia says. "Yes, I do love the ponies here." Fleur says. Go figure on that one. "Octavia's right." Twilight says. "Some ponies around here may look pretty stuck up, but if you just take the time to get to know them, you may be surprised." "Whatever." both Dash and Fern say. After walking down the street for a little bit, they reach their destination: Pony Joe's Donuts and Joe. As they step in, they sniff the air and smell mouth-watering confectionaries immediately, some of them holding their mouths open at how delicious they smell. You know what I kinda like? Smelling something and tasting it a bit. It's like free samples. ...Am I weird? Stupid question. Joe smiles as they walk in. "Twilight, great to see ya and your friends again." "Hi, Joe. What's up?" He shrugs. "Eh, you know. The usual." "Hey, Joe. Remember me?" Fern says, poking out from the crowd. Joe laughs as he sees her. "Fern! Geez, it's been a LONG time since I've seen you around here. Great to see ya again. Now, what can I get all of you girls?" "Ooh! I want jelly!" Pinkie says characteristically, meaning energetically. "I'll take one with rainbow sprinkles." take a guess who said that one. All of the others begin taking their orders one by one. As Joe gets a full list, he goes and grabs them. "Here you go, girls. Enjoy." he says, usinging hiw magic to levitate it over. Twilight picks it up with her magic. "Thanks, Joe." they all say. They all walk off from the counter and go crowd around one of the many tables inside as they begin to chowdown on their donuts. As they eat, a black pegasus stallion with a mane and tail that's two shades of green, darker on the outside and lighter on the inside, a cutie mark of an infinite sign with a sword in the middle, and wearing a pair of green shades with a matching vest walks in. He steps up to the counter. "Hey, Joe." "Hey, Atom. Your usual?" The stallion called Atom chuckles a bit. "That'd be it." "Alright, one cinnamon apple donut coming up." Hearing the stallion's order, Applejack perks up a bit. She looks behind her sholder to see this stallion. 'Well, nothin' too bad on him. Easy on the eyes at least.' she thinks to herself. 'Just take it slow, AJ. Don't wanna go scarin' the feller off.' She turns back to her friends. "Ya'll mind if I go for a sec?" they all shake their heads, they're mouths full of donut. "Thanks. Ah'll just be a minute." Atom takes his donut from Joe before turning around to see Applejack. "Hey there." he says. "Howdy, partner. Couldn't help but hear you ordered a cinnamon appledonut." she says. "Sure did. They're my favorite." "Mine too." she extends her hoof. "My name's Applejack." He extends his own hoof and shakes hers. "I'm Atomic Vortex, but you can call me Atom." they let go of ech other's hooves as they stop shaking. "So, Applejack, you don't really look like the type to be here in Canterlot." "No, sir. Ah hate bein' around all these high falutin' city ponies." "Then what brings you to Canterlot?" Applejack starts getting nervous. Being the Element of Honesty, she can't lie her way out of this either. "A-Ah came up here with some friends. They had some business to attend to, so ah'm just stickin' around til they're done." Atom buys it, being able to tell she's not lying. "Oh, I see. So, where did you come from." "Ah'm just visiting down from Ponyville. Ah'm the proud co-owner of it's own apple orchard, Sweet Apple Acres." she says with pride. "Ponyville? Apple orchard? I did always prefer the quiet farm life myself, but things just didn't turn out that way for me." "Well, would you care to follow me and hear me tell ya about it?" "Sure, that sounds like fun to me. I'd love to." The two of them start walking towards the exit. As they do, Applejack looks at the other girls with a pleading face. They just smile and motion for her to go with Atom. She smiles happily as they leave. The two of them continue to go throughout Canterlot together, talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company as a whole. Atom reveals to Applejack that he's actually a member of the Royal Guard who's on temporary leave right now. She tells him all about Sweet Apple Acres and her family. They do this for several hours, getting lost in their story telling. They do this for so long that the moon actually comes up. Applejack looks up at the sky and realizes how late it's getting. "Boy, time sure flew fast." Atom looks up as well. "Heh, no kidding. Guess time flies when you're having fun." Applejack gets up from her seat on the bench they were sitting on. "And boy did ah have fun. Ah had a really great time with ya, Atom." Atom gets up. "And I had a lot of fun with you too, AJ." Applejack catches him offguard with a kiss to the cheek, making him blush. "Ah've gotta be goin', but ah'll be up at the castle. Just ask fer me anytime ya want." She then walks off, leaving Atom alone in slight shock. He puts a hoof to the cheek she kissed and smiles. "Fine job, sir. Fine job indeed." Author's Note: Atomic Vortex comes from well, Atomic Vortex. Looks like you got in sooner than I expected, bro.