Appledashery

by Just Essay

Hey Rainbow, What Does the Scout(ing) Say?

Epcot stuck her fuzzy head into the stairwell. She looked up, then down. Once she was certain the coast was clear, she shuffled through a doorway and motioned the ponies behind her to follow along.

"Alrighty! Looks bright and shiny!" She pointed up at the rotating flight of stairs. "This should take us all the way up to about mid-level. At that point—from what I sense—the tower is separated into a self-contained compartment of personal suites. It's quite likely that Shindig and her sons don't want ponies from the lower levels having easy access to the top floors."

"Yeesh..." Donut Joe muttered, staring straight up. Stu Leaves' weak figure leaned on his shoulder as the stallion dragged the two of them into the center of the stairwell. "That's a damn long way up!"

"It's our only access to the upper levels without attracting attention from the punks patrolling this place," Rainbow said. "Right, Epcot?"

"Yes, indeedy!" Epcot giggled. "Guaranteed to be 100% punk clean!"

"Looks to be about twelve flights of stairs," Gustave said, cracking his neck joints. "Perhaps some reconaissance is in order?"

"You just read my mind, birdo." Rainbow gestured straight up. "Epcot, Gustave, let's scout it out. Mulia and Donut? Keep Stu safe and take your time. We'll come back and rejoin you in time to discuss the next leg of the plan."

"Could we get a first leg before we work on a second one?" Donut muttered.

"Don't worry, Mister Joe!" Epcot winked at him while the pegasus and griffon dashed straight up the stairwell. "We'll get you back to making sweet sugar balls in no time!" FLASH! She turned into a sphere and rocketed after the other two.

Donut Joe sighed. Stu groaned slightly as the stallion carried the two of them up the long, winding stairs. "Sometimes I wonder if I should even trust that goofy, smiley 'chaperone.'"

"Are you serious?" Mulia Mild remarked, taking up the rear. "It's taking all my strength not to hug her."

---

Swisssh!

Rainbow Dash reached the top of the stairwell. She landed on the balcony before her, approaching a set of double-doors. Shortly afterwards, Gustave hovered to a stop behind, followed by a materializing chaperone.

"You know..." Epcot smiled. "...I almost think you're starting to get used to those 'fake' wings!"

"Don't even joke," Rainbow grumbled. "They're stiff, rigid, and embarrassing."

Epcot giggled-snorted.

Rainbow turned to squint at her. "...what?"

"Oh nothing." Epcot sighed, waving a hoof. "I know you've been dealing with a great deal of emotional and psychological pain, and we have yet to save your beloved friend, but I have to say—this is the most fun I've experienced in eons."

"Well, good to know that one of us is getting her kicks," Rainbow muttered.

"You were here the longest last time, Rainbow," Gustave said. "Do you think you can rediscover where the Cider Princess' bedroom is?"

"If this was Ponyville, I'd just smell for apples in the air."

"Eh?"

Rainbow sighed. "Really, though, it depends."

"On what?"

"On whether or not I find something in this part of the Tower that's familiar," Rainbow grumbled. "Truth be told, I didn't really pay attention to much besides... besides..."

"Hmmm?"

"Freckles," Rainbow muttered. She clenched her jaw. "Buck it. Let's get this over with." She looked over her shoulder at Epcot. "Yo, are there any guards beyond these doors?"

Epcot shook her head. "No. No guards."

"Very well then." Rainbow pushed the doors open—

Epcot winced, waving a hoof. "Uh, however..."

The doors opened to a chamber full of candles, banquet tables, and violin music. A festive group of affluent ponies froze in mid-chat, turning from their seats and wine glasses to gawk at the trio.

Rainbow Dash froze in place, grimacing.

"Merde..." Gustave remembered to say.

"Uhhh... Epcot...?" Rainbow squeaked.

"Well..." Epcot nervously murmured. "...you could have been a tad bit more specific."

"What do we do?" Gustave hissed.

"Not be creepy." Rainbow cleared her throat. She waved a hoof, smiling. "Hey... everypony! Uhhh... Stock Market!" She grinned awkwardly, sweating. "...am I right?"

There was approximately five seconds of silence. And then—

"Aaaaaaaah!"

"Aaaaaaugh!"

"The Blue Jay!"

"It's the Blue Jay!"

"Somepony call the guards!"

"Guards, help!"

Rainbow winced so hard she almost swallowed her teeth.

Comments

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

"You know..." Epcot smiled. "...I almost think you're starting to get used to those 'fake' wings!"
"Don't even joke," Rainbow grumbled. "They're stiff, rigid, and embarrassing."

... Applejack senses tingling. She must be close.

[Shipmun]

Epcot shook her head. "No. No guards."

Well thanks Epcot just go and tell an impulsive mare that there's no danger behind the doors. She won't, like, open them or anything stupid like that.

[Mister Saxon]

Hey Rainbow, What Does the Scout(ing) Say?

derpicdn.net/img/2015/2/26/837867/medium.png

[Aatxe360]

5821506

The weirdest sense of déjà vu...

[zaponator]

Welp, that stealth run didn't last long.

[Lightning Bearer]

You had one job, Epcot.

[RainbowJack2000]

"Merde..." Gustave remembered to say.

Good thing I'm taking French. That was hilarious.

[MidnightReflection]

...Guards! Dammit! They caught me stealing another sweet roll!

[YoshiFawful64]

"Are you serious?" Mulia Mild remarked, taking up the rear. "It's taking all my strength not to hug her."

Mulcot OTP?

[arancaytar]

"Don't even joke," Rainbow grumbled. "They're stiff, rigid, and embarrassing."

So just like whenever AJ is around then.

"Merde..." Gustave remembered to say.

Nom de dieu de putain de bordel de merde de saloperie de connard d'enculer ta mère.

[VikkiBlitzz]

"Not be creepy." Rainbow cleared her throat. She waved a hoof, smiling. "Hey... everypony! Uhhh... Stock Market! " She grinned awkwardly, sweating. "...am I right?"