Appledashery

by Just Essay

Ever Dashed With the Devil In the Pale Moonlight?

"But let's make things clear," Rainbow said, her eyes glinting icily in the torchlight as she glared at Sunset. "We do things my way. I got into the Castle the first time using my wits and awesomeness. If we're to make this work again, then we'll have to rely on the same elements. So no bossing me around... no threatening my life at every turn... and no threatening my friends."

"After all you've put us through," Romulus sneered, looking over his shoulder. "Do you actually think I'm gonna roll over and let you—"

"Do you want the shards or not?"

"I... I..."

"Then this is how you're going to get them," Rainbow said. "Case closed. You know as well as I do that if we keep butting heads, then neither of us are going to get what they want."

"This is preposterous!" Romulus sneered. "Don Canter would never agree to—"

"Actually, Romulus, I'm somewhat certain he would," Sunset Shimmer said.

The griffon did a double-take at her. "Excuse me?"

Wincing, the unicorn stood up, staring calmly at the scene. "If Top Dog or the Flim-Flam Brothers were running things, then they might not agree to Rainbow's proposal. But, let's face it. Don Canter is the backbone of our entire operation. He funds it—and he's what's making this whole thing possible. He would be rather warm to Rainbow Dash's proposal, seeing as he wants the stones more than anything."

"And what about you?!" Romulus growled. "You're only here because the pony wrecked your crazy magic wheeltopia!"

"She stole from me that which made my dreams possible, yes," Sunset said with a frown. "However... if we pull this heist off, then I'll have four times as many resources through sheer bits alone. I can still pursue my exploits, only I'll have the ability to buy even more magical reagents. Sometimes you have to take a brief loss as a greater victory. This is something Princess Celestia once taught me."

"Ugh! You stupid horses and your stupid horse rules—"

"Take it or leave it, pal," Rainbow Dash said. "Just remember, you'll find Aatxe and his brothers to be a lot less open to negotiation than I am."

"Hrmmmmfff..." Romulus' beak nostrils flared. He stared in the direction of the throne. "The unicorn and I will have to consult our boss, Don Canter." His good eye glared at Rainbow Dash. "If he's actually down for such a hare-brained scheme, then I have no other choice."

"Sounds as legit as you're ever gonna get, bushy-bushies," said Lancie.

"Hmmmm..." Brucie scratched his chin. He and the other rodents looked at their matriarch. "Vell, Mozer? Eet vould seem dat our hospeetaleety haz finally rreached seeck morsel minds, da?"

Mother Rushnut leaned back in her throne. She waved a paw. "Cut dem loose."

A cluster of squirrels scampered up and gnawed away at the bindings holding Romulus and Rainbow together.

"Go to your boss, Meester Beerd Cat morsel," the matriarch said. "But at feerst moment of betrrayal, expect Mozer Rushnut to collect your head."

"Da..." Brucie smirked. "And Brucie getz beak!"

"Mrmmmf..." Romulus rubbed his talons as soon as he was freed. "...you'll be lucky if you get a dayum quill." He looked over his shoulder as he got up. "This isn't over, soft-hooves. I don't expect Don Canter to let you go without a fight."

"Whatever," the mare grumbled, flexing her stiff wings as she remained standing there. While Sunset and Romulus walked off, the squirrels hung out in tight groups, murmuring with one another.

Lancie strolled over to Rainbow Dash. "Soooooooo..." He licked his fang, folded his arms, and stared up at her. "...that was rather unexpected." His granite brow furrowed. "What's really going on, Sparky?"

"What does it look like?" Rainbow droned unemotionally. "We're teaming up with the devil incarnate to get the shards."

"And you know just as I do that doing that won't get me back to normal. Nor would it heal Princess Frecklestasia's adorafilly sister." He cocked his head to the side. "So what do you really have in mind?"

"Romulus and Company are going to get close to the shards." Rainbow's voice lowered to a quiet murmur. "But what they'll actually receive is a lot more... or less. Depending on how you look at it."

"Meaning...?"

Rainbow gazed into the shadows. An orange phantom's green eyes gazed back. "When the moment comes... and things are most awesome and opportune... I'm gonna drop them like a bad habit."

"Just how far?"

Rainbow gulped. "Far enough that—when they land—they're gonna break so hard that not even a doppleganger of myself could put them back together like I have been doing for you."

"Sparky, I must say." Lancie leaned back. "This plan of yours is random, cruel, and outright dangerous." His fang glinted in the torchlight as he smiled. "I love it."

"I know you do."

"Is that why you thought of it?"

"No." Rainbow's nostrils flared. "I thought of it because I love something else..." She gulped. "Somepony else..."

Comments

[RoboRed]

"When the moment comes... and things are most awesome and opportune... I'm gonna drop them like a bad habit."

"Just how far?"

Rainbow gulped. "Far enough that—when they land—they're gonna break so hard that not even a doppleganger of myself could put them back together like I have been doing for you."

...Wow.

[zaponator]

Jeeze, Rainbow's plan is a bit more sinister than I'd imagined. Sometimes the ends do justify the means though.

[Phoenix Kitten]

"Sometimes you have to take a brief loss as a greater victory. This is something Princess Celestia once taught me."

Not gonna comment on that Dash? or are you going to have another pony to apprentice under Twilight?

So...am I the only thinking that Applefake is just Dash's own doubts and self loathing?

[Lightning Bearer]

Romulus and (regrettably) Sunset are jerks, and deserve a beat-down. But I have to admit, Rainbow's plan seems to fall in a moral grey area that makes me squirm in my seat. Doesn't seem very honest.

[Aatxe360]

6454944

Pretty damn exciting. I laughed to tears when I finally made my entrance. You can get away with a lot of stuff when you're small.

[Tim the Planes-pony]

Highly likely that both will attempt to double cross each other. Not sure how that is going to play out though.

[Sheendough]

So Rainbow's just gonna shrug off the fact that she just found out just how many pissed of creatures are after her? And she doesn't even know the half of it! She doesn't know of the glowing eye or the number of henchmen that fatso has.

[Sam the Anti-Ninja]

So she's gonna double-cross them at the last minute? While that would effectively remove all her enemies at the same time, it seems downright evil of her.

[Jern]

Ever Dashed With the Devil In the Pale Moonlight?

I'm surprised Sharp Quill hasn't jumped all over this one yet!

I'm not sure what to think of this plan. Backstabbing has never been Dash's style (she's the element of loyalty after all) but Applebloom's life is on the line...

Either way I have a feeling it'll backfire spectacularly, it's not nearly stupid enough to work.

[Leftover of Saikano]

Dash, you diabolical.
pre04.deviantart.net/6ffe/th/pre/i/2014/288/0/c/sparkle_you_diabolical_by_dr_papa-d82y7zr.png

[Scohinyha Sanka]

You know, I don't know exactly how long this particular search has been going on but Applejack probably is feeling pretty frustrated that a certain prismatic mare just took of and abandoned when she need her the most.

Also things are getting rather messy. Well, more then usual.

[Hestia]

That is surprisingly devious for Dashie. Whatever plan I thought she'd have was a lot less . . . Ker-Splat than this one.

[viofriedsevey]

Has anyone been keeping track and knows how long Rainbow has been away?

[Sharp Quill]

6456237 It was my day off from doing references. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Ever Dashed With the Devil In the Pale Moonlight?

Reference to: Tell me, my friend, have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? What The Joker asks Bruce Wayne in the 1989 Batman. After Bruce replies, "What?" The Joker responds with, "I always ask that of all my prey. I just... like the sound of it." The relevance to what's about to happen shall be seen. In particular, who's playing the part of The Joker?

As for Dash not backstabbing because she's the Element of Loyalty: She's not loyal to Romulus and Sunset Shimmer; after all, what have those two done to earn it? (Besides trying to kill her over and over again.)

[JodiePonyPuddinAndPie]

I figured Rainbow would plan on something like this (although not as sinisterly) but I can't help but feeling that any advice from Figment McMeanypants should be considered cautiously. She doesn't want good things for our hero.

[Lone Gazebo]

The first thing that came to mind from the title was the DS9 episode. And I knew this was going to be some sick jams.

[arancaytar]

"She stole from me that which made my dreams possible, yes," Sunset said with a frown. "However... if we pull this heist off, then I'll have four times as many resources through sheer bits alone . I can still pursue my exploits, only I'll have the ability to buy even more magical reagents. Sometimes you have to take a brief loss as a greater victory. This is something Princess Celestia once taught me."

I like how Shimmy pretends like she doesn't totally plan on murdering the everloving buck out of Dashie the moment they've got what they want.

Rainbow gazed into the shadows. An orange phantom's green eyes gazed back. "When the moment comes... and things are most awesome and opportune... I'm gonna drop them like a bad habit."

"Here's a little concept I been workin' on. Why don't we betray them first?"

[True Edge]

6460914
i’m pretty sure it’s a reference to the 1989 Batman, with Michael Keaton. It’s the line the Joker uses in the film, right before he kills someone. “Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight?”