Prologue
Prologue
"Rarity, are you sure this thing is safe?", Sweetie Belle asked nervously.
"Of course it is dear", Rarity replied. "This is how ponies with high class travel nowadays."
"That didn’t answer my question", Sweetie Belle said as she glanced out the window.
Sweetie Belle was tired of the view the little window provided.
When somepony learns that they're going to be flying sixty thousand hooves above the ground, they expect to witness something amazing, something that could only be seen by a pony that high up.
Unfortunately for Sweetie Belle, all she could see out her little window was blue,
lots……and lots……of blue.
Since the clouds in Equestria are designed to float at roughly the same height as Cloudsdale, no clouds were high enough to add any whiteness to her view of the sky. Her limited view of the ground however…...…was also blue, because the "high class" flying machine she was strapped to had been flying over a very boring and still ocean for most of the flight.
The ocean below Sweetie Belle seemed to be mocking her with its blandness, not even having the decency to show off one of its tropical islands. After the first couple hours of this view, Sweetie Belle had decided that she hated the ocean. Sweetie Belle decided that the ocean was ranked right below Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon on her mental Things That Make Me Want To Act Most Unladylike list™.
Choosing the high road, Sweetie Belle had chosen to ignore the ocean's taunts and had turned from the window to the magazine pocket in front of her. She started rummaging through it, hoping that at least one magazine would have something interesting to show her.
Sports…sports…fashion…fashion…sports…used strawberry gum…interior decorating…exterior decorating…cosmetics…foal care, nothing peaked her interest until she saw the emergency instructions pamphlet.
An interesting thing to note about Equestria's first airline is that the pegasus who wrote the airline's safety pamphlet was a "bit" bigoted and had been "slightly" irritated by the fact that flight was no longer an experience exclusively for pegasi. Because of this, he had felt that it was his duty to ensure that everything that could possibly go wrong during a flight was mentioned in the aeroplane's pamphlet in a thinly veiled attempt to dissuade ponies from trusting these new flying machines. Needless to say, Sweetie Belle had found the pamphlet very informative.
At the present moment, Sweetie Belle was feeling a very strange mixture of boredom and a nightmare inducing fear of the metal coffin she was strapped to. This strange feeling, coupled by the frequent flight turbulence, made Sweetie Belle's stomach feel very queasy.
Closing her eyes for a small nap, Rarity said, "I have to admit, even with this flying machine's occasional jolts, it has been a far more comfortable experience than any chariot ride I've ever been on, wouldn’t you agree Swee-?"
"HUUUURGGEHH", was the sound Sweetie responded with as she held her complimentary paper bag over her mouth. Keeping her composure, Rarity levitated a washcloth from her stylish new travel bag and gently cleaned Sweetie Belle's face. "Why are we even going to this dumb island?", Sweetie Belle asked as she placed her now full bag under her seat.
"Princess Celestia chose me personally to act as a representative of Equestria and begin establishing diplomatic relations with this "Mushroom Kingdom" while she and Princess Luna attend their royal duties in Canterlot.", Rarity said with proudly.
"but why?", Sweetie Bell asked.
"Well why shouldn't I be, am I not capable of representing Equestria?", Rarity asked while giving her sister a questioning look.
"I mean…well, why not Twilight, shouldn't she go, seeing as how she's a princess and all?", Sweetie Belle said hoping she didn’t offend her sister.
"Twilight has assigned herself the royal duty of researching the Mushroom Kingdom in order to help Princess Celestia prepare for her meeting with its ruler in two weeks. So naturally, the responsibility of representing Equestria was left to one of the element bearers. Being the generous pony that I am, I volunteered to carry the full weight of the enormous responsibility.", Rarity said with a proud smile.
"And the fact that the meeting is on a tropical island resort had nothing to do with you volunteering?", Sweetie Belle innocently asked with a large smirk on her face.
Momentarily shocked by this accusation, Rarity quickly regained her composure and said, "Oh nonononono of course not, what a ridiculous notion."
Satisfied with her response, Sweetie Belle then asked, "Well, why did you bring me along?"
"Because I'm taking care of you while mom and dad are out of town.", Rarity calmly answered.
"Why?"
"Their visiting some old friends in Manehatten."
"Why?"
"Well, they haven't seen them in a while."
"Why?"
"I don’t know, I guess they've just been too busy to see them."
"Why?"
"Sweetie, could you maybe b-."
"Why why whyyyyyy?"
"Sweetie, I'm asking nic-."
"Why why why why why why whyyyyyyyyyy?"
"WHY, don’t you play with your monitor, Sweetie?"
"Okay!", Sweetie Belle said momentarily distracted.
Seizing the opportunity to have a moment to herself, Rarity said, " I'm going to find this plane's powder room, I'll be back in a moment."
Sweetie Belle barely registered what Rarity said as she was busy pressing buttons and twisting knobs around the screen in front of her. When she finally found the ON switch, the screen lit up and displayed what appeared to be a star wearing a crown. Eyes glued to the screen, Sweetie Bell watched as the camera then moved to show a group of colorful two-legged creatures in grass skirts.
~~Welcome to the sun-drenched tropical paradise of Isle Delfino! We're so pleased to welcome you to our beautiful home! Come enjoy a natural wonderland to which we've added the world's finest resort facilities, a spectacular amusement park, and succulent seafood!~~
"Gross, they eat that stuff?", Sweetie said in disgust.
~~This and more await you on Isle Delfino! Come relax and let us refresh your body and spirit.~~
As the video was ending, Sweetie Bell noticed a weird black blob in the background. When she squinted her eyes, it was kinda shaped like… "Rarity…!? Rarity, are you seeing this?", Sweetie exclaimed to the empty seat next to her."
"In a minute dear!", rarity shouted from the back of the plane. Rarity was currently engaged in a heated argument with a very rude pony who had "suggested" that she learn to control her obnoxious child.
Five minutes later, after explaining the argument to the steward and then "accidentally" undoing the latches on the rude passenger's overhead luggage with her magic, Rarity made it back to both her seat and an impatient Sweetie Belle. "Now Sweetie, what was it you were trying to tell me?"
"I saw you on the video, you were wearing all black like a ninja and were jumping behind these weird dancing things!"
"Why that’s impossible Sweetie Bell. I would never wear anything designed for a ninja, ninjas are highly unfashionable. Besides, since I've never been to this island before, so how could I possibly be in the video?", Rarity stated.
"But that pony looked just like you!" Sweetie Belle said with a slight frown. Feeling her boredom return, Sweetie Belle slumped back into her chair and briefly considered staring at the ocean again.
"I know this trip has been a bit boring to you, but the steward said we'll be landing soon.", Rarity said with an understanding smile."I'm sure that by the end of this vacation, you'll be happy you came along."
Sweetie Belle turned and gave Rarity a smug look while saying, "You mean royal business trip, riiiiiight Rarity?"
Wishing not to discuss the matter any further, Rarity looked around for a distraction. "Oh look Sweetie, you can see the island out your window!"
Sweetie Belle's face filled her window, her smile grew wide as she saw that the boring ocean beneath her was now dotted with tropical islands of all of shapes and sizes.
~~Attention all passengers, this is your captain speaking. Please buckle up and prepare for descent as we arrive at our destination, beautiful Isle Delfino.~~