"It's such a lovely day." Fluttershy breathed deeply.
"Indeed!" Rarity agreed. "It has been good to just relax and have fun after all the hard work we've done this week. I for one desperately needed it."
"We all did." Twilight stretched and smiled. "Plus it gives us all a chance to spend time fun time together. We haven't done much of that lately."
"Yeah, its been really busy for everypony." Starlight added. "Its nice to rest and relax."
"Says the pony who brought her favourite spell books to study." Spike scoffed. "I mean, seriously...who studies when they should be relaxing?"
"Twilight." responded several voices at once, earning a scowl from said mare.
"And it would seem Starlight is following in her mentor's hoofsteps." Rarity smiled.
"Really, Flutters, it was a great idea to get everypony together for a picnic!" Dash spoke up. "The fillies are sure enjoying it."
The shouts and squeals of the Crusaders proved her correct, as they chased each other in a seemingly endless game of tag.
"Come back here, Scootaloo!!" Sweetie Belle yelled, after an attempt to tackle the orange filly failed.
"No!" Scootaloo shouted, dodging another tackle attempt...this time from Apple Bloom.
"Aw, ponyfeathers!" The farm filly huffed. "Ah thought Ah had ya that time!"
Scootaloo laughed merrily as she made a beeline for their home base...a tree next to the picnic spot. Unfortunately, she looked back at her chasers and ran smack dab into Dash.
The tickle attack ceased and the now red faced and gasping Scootaloo was released.
"Ok. I think we all need a new game." Sweetie Belle said.
"I have an idea." Dash spoke up. "Let's all of us play a game!"
"What game?" Scootaloo panted, sitting up.
Dash stood up straight, tilted her head, and spoke as ominously as possible.
"Truth or Dare!!!"
"Oh no!" Fluttershy gasped out in horror, past memories of that game coming to mind.
Embarassing, unpleasant memories.
Dash laughed. "Relax, Flutters." She said with a smirk. "This is gonna be a totally clean version. I wouldn't play our slumber party versions with fillies present."
"Thank Celestia for that!" Rarity said, blushing at some of the memories of her own dares and truths.
"This should be fun!" Spike said to Scootaloo as everypony took their places in a circle.
"Alright, everypony know the rules?" Dash asked, looking specifically at the fillies.
"If you pick truth, you gotta tell the truth to any question." Scootaloo stated.
"An' if ya pick dare, ya gotta do whatever the dare is." Apple Bloom added.
"And you can't back out or change your mind once you choose." Sweetie Belle offered.
"Great!" Dash said. "Just one more rule, though. After you choose Truth or Dare, each of the other players gets to ask a question or give a dare, and then you choose the one you want to do."
The fillies nodded their understanding of the rule. Dash grinned.
"Then lets play! Who wants to go first?"
"I will!" Scootaloo piped up boldly. "And I pick Dare!!"
"Wow! And its a Dare right from the start!" Dash said. "I'm impressed, Squirt! You really are like me. I mostly pick Dares."
"Ok, everypony think of Dares for her." Twilight said.
"Oh, I got one!!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed excitedly. "I dare you to quote the most romantic line you can think of!"
"Ah dare ya to see how long you can hold your breath." Apple Bloom said.
"What kind of dare is that?!" Sweetie Belle asked in dismay.
"Ah couldn't think of any others."
"Ok, maybe I'd do that one." Scootaloo said.
"Ah'm thinkin' we need to cut back a bit." Applejack said. "Why not just pick two or three ponies to give the dares or truths? Or break up into pairs on them? Otherwise this could take all week!"
"Good point." Dash said. "Ok. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and me will take Scoots. So, Scoots, I dare you to stand up and yell at the top of your lungs 'Rainbow Dash is the coolest, awesomest, bestest big sister ever!'. Three times."
"Done!" Scootaloo said.
She stood, inhaled deeply, and proceeded to yell the required sentence at the top of her lungs. It echoed quite well around them. She sat back down and beamed at the giggling Dash.
"Seriously, Rainbow Dash, could you possibly come up with less obvious ways to stroke your ego?" Rarity huffed.
"Nope." Dash smirked. "Who's up next?"
"Ooh, me! Me!" Sweetie Belle begged.
"Truth or Dare, Darling?" Rarity asked, smiling.
The filly grinned widely at her older sibling, eyes shining.
"Truth!" She said.
"Alright. Do you have a crush on anypony at school?" Rarity asked, knowing the answer already.
The filly blushed furiously and her smile shrank a bit.
"I like that question!" Scootaloo said, grinning. "Can I ask it too?"
"Of course you can." Rarity said.
"Ah have a different question." Apple Bloom piped up, noting her friend's discomfort. "What's the craziest dream ya ever had?" She winked slyly.
Realising she'd been given an out, Sweetie Belle quickly took it, looking at Apple Bloom.
"I once dreamed I was practicing my magic with Twilight and I turned her into a big grape."
Dash burst into loud guffaws at that. The others snickered, snorted, and giggled. Twilight just grinned at the filly.
"My turn!" Apple Bloom said. "Ah choose Dare!"
"You sure about that, now, Bloom?" Applejack asked, grinning.
"Yeah!"
"Ok then. I dare ya to tell us your craziest dream!" Applejack said.
"I dare you to talk like Zecora for five whole minutes!" Sweetie Belle said.
"I dare you to take off your bow for a whole half hour!" Scootaloo challenged.
Silence reigned supreme for a long time, all eyes moving back and forth between Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. Asking her to be seperated from her bow was like trying to seperate Applejack from her Stetson. It was a line you just didn't cross without paying a penalty. It was an unwritten rule of law.
It was something you never did.Ever.
Apple Bloom finally spoke. "Ah pick Applejack's dare." She said.
"Aw ponyfeathers!" Scootaloo said in disappointment.
Sweetie Belle leaned close to her. "Be glad isn't making you very sorry for that dare, Scootaloo."
Apple Bloom told the tale of her craziest dream, back when the trio was busy trying to get cutie marks. She had dreamed she'd gotten marks she didn't want. Marks with no apples. And had been kicked out by her family. She could laugh over the dream now...back then it had been horrifying.
When she finished, everypony was smiling or chuckling softly.
"Just goes to show ya how silly worryin' can be, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Ya'll didn't get your marks by worryin' and frettin' and tryin' every single activity under Celestia's sun...ya'll got em when you quit trying all that and just decided to focus on the thing ya were good at: helpin' ponies. An' for the record, Bloom...once an Apple, always an Apple. Ain't nothin' gonna change that."
Apple Bloom grinned. "Ah know that now." She stated.
"Ok, ok! Let's get back to our game here!" Scootaloo butted in impatiently.
"Alright. Guess I'll go next." Dash said, not failing to notice the devious smirks of her friends and the eager, mischievous grins of the Crusaders.
"You know it!" Dash replied, smirking...and hoping that it wouldn't be anything massively ridiculous.
"I dare you to act like Rarity for thirty minutes." Twilight said, smirking. "In every single way, too. Which includes fashion."
Dash looked horrified at that prospect, while Rarity chuckled at the idea of watching her cyan friend act like her for even two minutes, let alone thirty.
"I like that idea!" Sweetie Belle crowed. "I second that dare!"
"Ah third it!" Apple Bloom announced.
"That's not fair!" Dash exclaimed. Scootaloo giggled.
"I was gonna dare ya to act like somepony, too." She said. "But I was gonna say Pinkie Pie or Twilight. But I think I'd like to see your Rarity impression, too."
Both mares laughed at the death glare Dash sent her sister's way.
"This is treason, Scootaloo." She said with a huff. "Treason I tell you!"
"Sorry, Dash." Scootaloo's sparkling eyes stated she was anything but sorry.
"I want to switch." Dash said, glaring at Twilight.
"Nope." Twilight said, grinning. "Once you pick, you can't change your mind. You know that."
"Oh horseapples!" Dash said. "Why'd you have to pick Rarity?? Why not Pinkie, or yourself, or Fluttershy, or even Starlight? Why Rarity? Why?"
"Because we live to make you miserable, darling." Rarity said, eyes twinkling.
That brought a round of hysterical laughter, as Dash glowered at the fashionista briefly before looking back at Twilight.
"Fine. I'll do it." She said. "But you are going down when your turn comes." Her grin was almost evil.
"Ok." Twilight smiled. "Spike, set the timer."
Spike obeyed, settingnthe timer for thirty minutes and got ready to start it.
"Oh, wait a moment!" Rarity exclaimed. "If you're going to act like me, darling, you need to look the part!"
"What the-?!"
Dash was cut off when Rarity pounced on her, employing hooves and magic to transform her. At last she stepped back.
"There!" She said happily.
It took every ounce of self control the group had not to break down into hysterics again. Dash was currently wearing one of Rarity's scarves and had her mane styled exactly like hers. Her coat had been brushed down smoothly and eye shadow applied to her eyelids. She scowled fiercely.
"You will all pay for this." She fumed.
"I started your timer." Spike said.
Dash blinked, then huffed.
"You will all pay for this, darlings!!" She ground out, matching Rarity's accent almost perfectly.
That did it. Scootaloo broke first, collapsing backwards and holding her sides as she howled with laughter. Her friends quickly followed, then the others. Soon they were all laughing hysterically.
"Well, I never!" Dash scoffed scornfully, deciding to at least play her role to the fullest...and poke some fun at the real Rarity, who was giggling.
She lowered herself down on the grass with a sniff, and eyed the howling Scootaloo. Reaching over, she thumped the filly lightly on the head with her hoof.
"Sweetie Belle, do stop laughing so hard, it isn't ladylike."
Scootaloo stopped laughing at gaped at her.
"I'm not Sweetie Belle, Dash!" She said, stating the obvious.
"Why, of course you are, darling!" Dash returned. "If I am Rarity, you are Sweetie Belle. Now do sit up, Sweetie, and behave like a proper young filly." Her grin was positively wicked.
Scootaloo blinked up at her sister in complete bewilderment. And then it struck her: Dash was paying her back for her 'treasonous' act by making her play the part of Sweetie Belle. Well, two could play that game!
"Why, of course, Rarity!" She said, sitting up immediately and smiling innocently. "How could I have forgotten all the...the..." She floundered.
Sweetie Belle, giggling, leaning close and whispered something in her ear.
"Ah! Yes! All the proper and genteel manners you so kindly taught me?" Scootaloo finished. "Why, after all, you are the most mannerly pony in all of Ponyville! So generous and kind hearted and...and so sweet!"
Dash was starting to look a bit green at all the sappy, emotional nonsense. Her friends were doubled up in a fit of silent giggles.
"Stop that!" Dash ordered, glaring at Scootaloo.
"Why, of course, big sister!" Scootaloo's eyes were wide, and her smile even wider. "I want to be just as mannerly as you are. So, I will sit right here and smile and look just as pretty as you do."
Dash broke.
"Gah!! I give up!!" She yelled, yanking off Rarity's scarf and throwing it at her before messing up her mane. "I can't take it!"
"How long did she last?" Twilight asked Spike with a grin.
"Exactly three minutes." Spike said, chuckling.
"Ah wouldn't have thought she could last for one!" Applejack hooted.
"Of course, since you failed to complete the dare, there's a consequence." Starlight spoke up, smirking.
"I don't care!" Dash said. "Lemme have it! Anything is better than being Rarity! Bleh!!"
"I should be offended." Rarity sniffed. Then she grinned. "But I'm not."
"Dash, as your consequence," Twilight said, "you can do...oh, say, thirty wingups in thirty five seconds."
Dash gaped at her, eyes wide. "Are you serious?!"
"Very." Twilight said.
Grumbling, Dash got up and moved into position. Thirty five seconds later, she completed the last wingup and groaned.
"Ow."
"Who's next?" Applejack asked.
"How about we let Fluttershy go next?" Rarity asked. "She looks ready to run away."
"Oh...oh my." Fluttershy said nervously.
"Ok." Dash said. "Fluttershy, Truth or Dare?"
The timid pegasus gulped as she pondered the choice. It was very unclear what she would be asked either way, but Truth seemed safer. Maybe. On the other hoof, she didn't want to seem cowardly when most of the ones before her had chosen dare. Finally, she took a deep breath.
"Dare." She squeaked, surprising herself.
"Wow. Ok." Dash said. "I dare you to...to...dang it. What kind of clean dare can I give her?"
"Ooh! I got one! I got one!" Pinkie squealed. "Fluttershy!! I dare you to hug as many trees as you can in two minutes and tell them you love them!!"
All eyes locked on her in astonishment.
"That's your dare?" Dash exclaimed. "What kind of dare is that??!"
"Its a Pinkie Pie Dare Special!" Pinkie said giggling.
"I'm not even gonna try to understand this." Dash muttered. Then she brightened.
"I dare you to give Angel Bunny to Pinkie Pie for the rest of the day!"
"Oh, now, Rainbow Dash!" Rarity exclaimed, as Fluttershy eeped and Angel hid behind his mistress. "That is just...well...not very nice!"
"I know." Dash said, grinning wickedly at the bunny and recieving a glare from him in return.
Pinkie would never hurt Angel, but she would sure make him absolutely miserable, without any malicious intent, of course. And Fluttershy would find being seperated from her favourite pet quite unsettling.
Spike set the timer as she rose. He started it, and the others watched in amusement as she flew from tree to tree, hugging each one and telling it how much she loved it, much to Pinkie's delight. Twilight kept count, and when the timer went off, Fluttershy had managed to hug a total of twenty-five trees.
"I'm impressed." Dash said.
"It was a real tree-t to watch!" Pinkie giggled at her own joke.
"Ok, ok! Next!" Dash said.
"I'll go." Twilight offered, only to immediately regret speaking when Dash grinned wickedly at her.
"Truth or Dare, Twilight?" Sweetie Belle asked.
Twilight pondered it briefly before smiling.
"Dare." She said.
"You asked for it." Dash said. She leaned closer. "I dare you to take your favourite spell book and let me destroy it without stopping me."
She didn't mention she would have Starlight perform a reconstitution spell afterwards. Twilight sat stock still, open mouthed. Then her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Uh oh." Spike muttered.
"Rainbow Dash." Twilight said icily, with a smile that was not at all friendly. "I thought you just dared me to let you destroy a book. But I know you did not just say that, because you already know that if you do I will end you. Painfully. So, please, tell me that you did not say it."
"I said it." Dash said, grinning, knowing she was risking life and limb and not caring.
Twilight looked beyond mad. A hint of steam came from both ears.
"Rainbow Dash." Applejack said, shaking her head. "Now ya went and done it. You just had to use that as a dare, didn't ya?"
"I'm sticking by it." Dash said.
Twilight scowled fiercely. "Alright, Rainbow." She said coldly. "Please move away from everypony so I can obliterate you!" Her horn sparked.
"Whoa! Hold on!" Starlight shouted, leaping between the two and raising a protective barrier to shield Dash. "Twilight, let's not do anything hasty. Dash is your friend, remember?"
Twilight took a breath. "You're right." She said. "Ok. I'm fine. But somepony else better have a dare thought up, because if this is the only one, I will end her. Here and now. Slowly and with vast amounts of pain."
"I have a dare!" Scootaloo yelled, not wanting to see her sister blown off the face of Equestria. "I dare you to...to..."
"To do a chicken dance!" Sweetie Belle supplied for her struggling friend.
"Yeah!" Scootaloo said. "I dare you to do a chicken dance! Complete with noises! For five whole minutes!!"
Dash snickered. "You heard her." She teased. "Do the chicken dance...egghead."
Twilight glowered, but since there wasn't much choice, she moved into position and started doing a chicken dance, flapping her wings and bawking and squawking, redfaced with exertion and embarrassment.
"Oh, come on! Put more squawk into it!" Dash taunted.
Twilight glared daggers at her, but complied. Once the timer dinged, she dropped onto the ground, panting.
"Are you a little eggs-hausted?" Dash quipped.
Twilight muttered a word that fillies didn't need to hear, but three did, and they giggled.
"My, such fowl language!" Dash said.
"I will end you. So help me Celestia!" Twilight growled.
Dash laughed heartily. "Did you know chickens read hencyclopedias?" She asked.
Twilight groaned while the others burst out laughing at her obvious frustration.
"Ok. Ok. Enough." Applejack snorted. "Back to the game. Ah'll go next."
"Great!" Dash said. "Hey, why don't you ask first, egghead, instead of just laying there."
Twilight could only groan as everypony once more burst out laughing.
"What is with all the dares?" Rarity asked with a huff. "They are quite amusing, but still. Nopony has picked Truth. Except Sweetie Belle."
"Hey, Starlight, Spike! You two haven't come up with any dares. How about you take this one?" Twilight said.
"Do we dare?" Starlight quipped, and Spike snorted.
"Very funny." Dash said. "Now make it good, you two!"
Spike moved over to Starlight and they whispered for a minute, faces scrunched in concentration. Finally, they moved apart.
"Ok. I dare you to tell one truthful thing each pony, and myself, does that annoys you." Spike said.
"Oh, that's good!" Dash said. Then she frowned. "I think."
"An' Starlight's dare?" Applejack asked, not really wanting to do the first.
"I dare you to take your hat off and give it to Pinkie Pie for twenty minutes." Starlight said, grinning.
Applejack glared. "Ya'll ain't touchin' my hat." She said flatly.
"Looks like its my dare, then." Spike said. "Unless somepony has another one."
"Ah do!" Apple Bloom came to her sister's rescue. "Ah dare ya to drink two bottles of apple cider in twenty seconds."
"Oh, that's also good!" Dash said approvingly, while Applejack gaped at her sister.
"Two?? In twenty seconds?? Have you gone plumb crazy or somethin', Bloom?!" She sputtered.
"What's the matter, AJ?" Dash teased. "Can't do it? Its easy. I can do it without even breaking a sweat or losing my breath!"
"Tarnation!! Somepony give me that cider!!" Applejack huffed.
Rarity obiligingly levitated over two bottles while Spike set the timer for twenty seconds. Once both bottles were open, Applejack nodded at the drago, and he started it.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo started chanting Applejack's name encouragingly, as did everypony else, except Dash. She stared smugly at her friend, certain she wouldn't pull it off. Applejack managed to get one whole bottle down and less than half of the second in fifteen seconds.
"Come on, Applejack!" Apple Bloom yelled, obviously forgetting she had been the one to give the dare, and wasn't supposed to be cheering her on.
Despite looking a bit ill at having drunk so much cider so fast, Applejack managed to finish off the rest of it just as the timer dinged.
"Yes!" Apple Bloom yelled triumphantly.
"I'm impressed." Dash said, astounded.
"Ha. Told ya so." Applejack said, trying to get her breath back.
"You cut it kinda close, didn't you, AJ?" Dash teased, earning a glare.
"Who's...next?" panted the farmer.
"Well, I suppose I shall go next." Rarity offered.
"Oh yeah?" Dash grinned evilly. "Truth or Dare?"
"I suppose I shall continue the current trend and pick Dare." Rarity replied. "Lay it on me, girls! I can take it!"
Dash was ready. She leaned forward and locked eyes with her friend, her evil grin widening.
"I dare you to wipe off your makeup and let the Crusaders redo it for you."
There were gasps all around and Rarity looked horrified. The Crusaders would completely ruin her beauty if she agreed to this! She was rendered completely speechless for a full minute before she finally recovered her wits.
"What?!" She sputtered. "Now see here, Rainbow Dash! If you think I am letting anypony touch my makeup, especially these three....you have got another thing coming!"
"Welp...that's my dare."
Rarity huffed. "Somepony please tell me you have a better dare!"
"I second Dash's dare!" Twilight said, giggling.
The others all nodded in agreement. It was clear they wanted to see this happen. Rarity groaned.
"Oh...very well!" She said. "But if this ends in disaster, Rainbow Dash, I will end you!"
She removed her makeup and the Crusaders eagerly jumped at the chance to redo it. They attacked her with lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, and face powder. She whimpered and whined now and then while her friends giggled. At last, the three fillies stepped back to admire their work.
"Done!" Sweetie Belle said.
Twilight, giggling, conjured up a mirror and held it out. Rarity stared at her reflection and let out a scream. She looked hideous! Dark purple eye shadow, orange lipstick, pink blush. It was terrible!! The only decent thing was the mascara.
"My...my...my....LOOKS!!" Rarity shrieked.
"Did we do that bad?" Scootaloo asked, her twinkling eyes indicating she wasn't disturbed by Rarity's dramatics.
Forcing herself to take a breath, Rarity managed a weak smile.
"Oh, n...no, darling. Of course not. It...its...well, its...ahhh...unique...." was her best answer.
Dash was dying, holding her sides and shrieking with laughter at just how well her dare had worked. Rarity glared at her.
"You will regret this, Rainbow Dash." She said ominously. "Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, but you will regret it! And very soon..."
Dash merely laughed harder. The others were also laughing as the Crusaders sat back down.
Alright, who's next?" Twilight asked, taking a breath.
"Ooh, me! Me! Do me! I want to be next!" Pinkie bounced excitedly.
"Ok, Pinkie Pie." Twilight smiled. "Truth or Dare?"
"Both!!!" Pinkie squealed.
The random answer wasn't really that shocking. The others exchanged looks.
"Uh, can we let her do that?" Dash asked.
"Well, technically we never made a rule against it, so..." Twilight shrugged.
"Alright, then." Applejack said. "Somepony think of a Truth, and somepony else think up a Dare."
Things were quiet for a minute as everypony thought about it. Then suddenly, Dash spoke up.
"I got a Truth!" She said. "Pinkie, have you ever been in love?"
Harmeless enough question.
"Well, of course, silly!" Pinkie giggled. "I'm in love now! I have been for a long time!"
"That was easy." Dash commented.
"Do tell us about it, darling!" Rarity said, smiling.
"Well, ok." Pinkie grinned. "Its a really sweet relationship." She grew dreamy eyed. "There's nothing like it..."
"Well, tell us!" Dash huffed. "What's his name?!"
"Not his name, silly!" Pinkie said, grinning.
Dash's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.
"Ah, Pinkie, perhaps you should clarify..." Rarity said.
Pinkie giggled giddily. "Its BAKING, ya silly fillies!!"
"Oh tartarus..." Dash mumbled. "Thought she was gonna say something else...ugh, my heart."
"Yes, well, ok, then." Twilight said. "Um, anypony have a dare?"
"I dare Pinkie to tell us the recipe for her Secret Cupcakes." Starlight said.
Pinkie smirked. "Nice try, Starlight. But nope!"
"Ugh!" Starlight groaned. "I will get that recipe..."
"Ok, since that was not actually a dare," Twilight said, rolling her eyes. "Pinkie Pie, I dare you to...to...to do the weirdest thing you can think of."
"Ooh, that's easy!" Pinkie giggled. "Dashie, will you give me a feather?"
"A what?" Dash said.
"A feather."
"Yeah.....no. I don't want any part of me being part of...whatever you're gonna do." Dash muttered.
"Okie dokie lokie! Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy looked confused, but she extended her wing and allowed Pinkie to gently pluck a feather.
"Thanks, Fluttershy!" Pinkie held up the feather. "Ok, everypony. Be right back!"
She bounded off, only to return within thirty seconds, still holding the feather.
"Everypony, meet Frank. Frank, say hi!" She said.
"Frank the Feather." Dash said flatly. "Yep. Sounds exactly like Pinkie."
"Now come on, say hi!" Pinkie insisted.
The others slowly obeyed, each greeting the...ahem...feather, currently resting on Pinkie's hoof.
"Good! Now that you've met, Frank and I would like to make an announcement!" Pinkie said. "We are now dating!"
Every jaw dropped, all eyes widened.
"You...you...you're dating...a feather?!" Dash finally shrieked. "But...but...you just met a minute and a half ago! You can't possibly be dating it that fast! Wait....WHAT AM I EVEN SAYING RIGHT NOW?!"
Pinkie giggled as she nuzzled her feather.
"I know! That's what I said! I told Frank we were moving too fast, but, you know, oh well!"
"Is anypony else disturbed that Pinkie seems to be in love with Fluttershy's feather?" Applejack asked, blinking.
"Um...actually...yes." Fluttershy blushed.
The Crusaders, recovered from their initial shock, were now hooting with laughter. Dash looked like she was about to have a heart attack. The others simply sat in stunned silence. Pinkie Pie looked from one pony to the ither, grinning.
"I think we'll be very happy, don't you Frank?"
The feather sat there silently, unmoving. Pinkie giggled.
"Oh, you charmer!!"
And proceeded to kiss the feather repeatedly. And with passion.
Dash collapsed in the grass, forelegs clasped to her chest, gasping and grunting as if she were breathing her last. Fluttershy hid her head behind her wings as her poor little feather was robbed of its previous unruffled innocence. Everypony else still sat, mouths agape, too shocked to speak or move.
Pinkie finally looked up, taking note of their looks. She giggled.
"How's that for the weirdest thing I can think of??"
"Somepony kill me." Dash moaned. "I will never get this out of my head!"
"My poor feather..." Fluttershy whimpered in mournful sympathy.
"That was so disturbing..." Starlight muttered, shuddering.
"Ah think she passed her dare with flyin' colors." Applejack said lamely.
"Uh huh." was Twilight's only answer.
Pinkie giggled. "Ok! Let's keep playing!" She frowned. "But will somepony kindly tell Frank I'm breaking up with him? I haven't the heart."
There were collective groans as Fluttershy grabbed her rumpled feather. Pinkie bounced excitedly, squealing.
"I'll go next." Starlight offered, almost instantly regretting it when several wicked grins were aimed her direction.
"Truth or Dare?" Twilight asked, leaning forward in eager anticipation of the answer.
Starlight gulped. "Uh...I...guess...both?"
Everypony exchanged looks and shrugs. Pinkie had done that, so, ok.
"I got a good one for Truth!" Pinkie said, wriggling in excitement. "What's the absolute goofiest, silliest, craziest thing you've ever done??"
"Uh, you mean besides enslaving a town and messing with time travel?" Dash spoke up, her tone light and playful as she gave a big wink at Starlight to let her know she was teasing.
Starlight chuckled a little. She wasn't as bothered by the completely non-malicious teasing anymore. Everypony took care to ensure that their rare jabs about her past mistakes were kept short and extremely light hearted.
"I think that falls under the category of the dumbest and meanest things I've ever done." She returned, with a small smile.
"Soooooo....what's the silliest and goofiest?" Pinkie asked eagerly.
"Well..." Starlight thought on it for a minute. "I guess the silliest and goofiest and craziest...would probably be that time I freaked out over my friendship lessons and, um, kinda turned you guys into mindless ponies programmed to do whatever I told you to." She blushed.
"Oh yeah. That." Dash said, rolling her eyes.
"Ah still remember feelin' like somepony put me through the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000." Applejack said. "An' then hit me over the head with somethin'."
"Yeah...not one of my finest moments." Starlight agreed.
"On the bright side, at least you didn't have a mean meany evil relapse and tell us to go out and conquer Equestria for you!!" Pinkie piped up. She frowned. "Although you did make me burn cake...which is way, way worse than making us conquer Equestria!"
She gave Starlight a brief glare before giggling.
"How is burning cake worse than-?" Dash started, then stopped. "No, you know what? Never mind. I am not going there."
"Well, you learned your lesson," Twilight said, grinning at her student.
"Yes, I did." Starlight said, winking slyly at the others. "Pay attention to how you mix a spell."
"Exactly!" Twilight said. "I'm so glad you learned...wait, WHAT?!"
Her completely shocked and horrified expression sent Starlight into a fit of giggles, and everypony else joined in.
"Oh, that was rich!" Dash panted. "You should see your face, Twilight!"
Twilight huffed. "Yes, well, I'm glad you're amused." She said drily. "I know she's joking."
"Oh, sure you do!" Dash giggled. "That's why you looked ready to have a heart attack!"
Twilight sighed. "Ok. Point taken. Now, does somepony have a dare ready?"
The group sat in silence, frowning as they tried to come up with one. Suddenly, Dash grinned.
"I got one!" She said. "Starlight, I dare you to eat a spoonful of Super Spicy Sauce and not drink water for one whole minute!"
"Well, that's mean." Spike commented.
"Especially since she hates really spicy foods." Rarity added, glaring at Dash.
"Well, if you have a better one...!" Dash huffed.
"I dare you to eat a bite out of a Pinkie Pie Shocking Surprise Special Sandwich." Spike offered, smirking.
All eyes went to Pinkie, who had graduated from giggling to outright hysterical laughter, and shuddered. With the exception of Starlight and the Crusaders, everypony had been on the recieving end of one of those sandwiches.
It had been a miracle that any of them lived to tell the tale.
Pinkie's method of making them was to completely let her randomness take over and put whatever ingredients on them she could get her hooves on. The result was always a very shocking disaster...that usually left the pony who tried it swearing they would never, ever eat any kind of sandwich Pinkie gave them again. Ever.
"Oh, come on, how bad can it be?" Starlight asked. "Its just a sandwich!"
"No, Starlight. It is not just a sandwich." Rarity said, shuddering as she looked at Pinkie and lowered her voice a little. "Its the Sandwich of Near Death Experiences!"
Dash snickered at that...only to grimace at the remembrance of her own run in with the sandwich. It had not been at all pleasant.
"Oh, it can't be that bad." Starlight said. "It sounds fun! Pinkie Pie! Make me one of your Pinkie Pie Shocking Surprise Special Sandwiches!!"
"Okie Dokie Lokie!!" Pinkie giggled, whipping several items from her mane and bouncing over to the picnic basket for some bread(thoughtfully packed by Fluttershy).
Twilight gazed at Starlight for a moment, shaking her head sadly.
"Oh, my poor, poor naive student." She said mournfully, as if said student had just been condemned to execution.
"We shall miss you dearly, darling." Rarity said, with a sniff.
"Yeah, its been nice knowing you." Dash offered.
Starlight rolled her eyes and looked over at Pinkie, who had somehow just made the sandwich in ten seconds and put it on a plate. She gave it to Starlight, who eyed it. It looked pretty ordinary. She picked it up with her magic and took a huge bite(at which point Fluttershy covered her eyes and the others grimaced).
"This isn't so bad." Starlight said around the mouthful, chewing.
And then her eyes grew impossibly wide and she started turning greener than a purple unicorn could be thought to turn.
A mix of awful flavours had just assaulted her taste buds. A strong mint, combined with mustard, ketchup, what tasted like strawberry frosting, bannana, berry, chocolate....and a host of other things. Including pepper. Lots of spicy pepper. She dropped the sandwich and spit her half chewed mouthful out.
"GAAAAAAAAAGH!!!" She screeched, staggering back. "HOT! SWEET! YUCK! WATER! HELP!"
Twilight hastily levitated over a bottle of apple cider, and Starlight snatched it up and downed the entire contents in less than six seconds while the others shook with silent laughter...and simultaneously winced in sympathy. Starlight collapsed on the grass, gasping.
"What...was in...that...sandwich??!" She demanded.
Pinkie giggled. "Here's all I used!" She said, holding out a collection of items.
Chocolate syrup, ketchup, mustard, strawberry frosting, mixed berry jam, pepper...all kinds of stuff. But what got Starlight was the last 'ingredient' she laid eyes on.
"YOU PUT TOOTHPASTE ON A SANDWICH?! WHY IN EQUESTRIA DID YOU DO THAT?!"
"Silly filly!" Pinkie giggled. "So you could clean your teeth while you eat, duh!"
And to the absolute horror of all those watching...particularly Starlight...Pinkie Pie threw the remaining sandwich into her mouth and ate it. She frowned.
"Hmm...could use more chocolate and frosting next time!"
Starlight very nearly lost the contents of her picnic lunch. Dash looked a bit green, and the others didn't look much better.
"Ok..." Rarity said weakly. "Who goes next?"
"That'd be me. I'm actually last." Spike said.
Starlight grabbed another bottle of cider and drank some, still trying to rid herself of the horrible taste of the sandwich. She glared at the dragon.
"You will regret this, Spike." She promised, sourly.
"Hey, nopony made you pick my dare!" He retorted. "You had another option! It's your fault you chose the dare I gave you, not mine!"
Starlight only glared harder, as if she was trying to glare him into an early grave. He rolled his eyes.
"Alright, Spike. Truth or Dare?" Applejack asked.
"Dare!" Spike said, then caught the absolutely evil grin that spread across Starlight's face. He sighed.
"Ooh, I got one!" Scootaloo piped up eagerly. "Spike, I dare you to hold a gem in your teeth for ten minutes and not eat it!"
"Scoots, that's so mean!" Sweetie Belle gasped. Then she giggled. "But I second it!"
"Me too!" Apple Bloom yelled.
"You guys are terrible." Spike said flatly.
"That was pretty good, actually." Twilight said. "We all know how much you love gems, Spike. And I just happen to have packed one for you..." She grinned deviously.
"Hey, that's not fair!" Spike said indignantly. "But, um, can I see that gem?"
Twilight giggled as she pulled it from her saddlebag and levitated it above his head. It was a good sized green gem(Spike's favourite), and his mouth instantly started watering.
"Soooo yummy..." he moaned. Then he shook his head. "Anypony else?"
"Yeah, I have one." Starlight said. "Spike, I dare you...." She paused for dramatic affect.
Spike waited. And waited. And waited. After a full minute, he finally exploded.
"Ugh! Tell me already!"
Starlight grinned wickedly. "I dare you take that gem and-"
Before she could finish, Spike had nabbed the gem from Twilight's magic and was...cuddling it?
"Oh, my sweet, sweet gem!" He moaned, hugging it tightly. "So sweet, so juicy! So delicious! Oh...how I love the way the light sparkles on your crystal green surface! Oh, sweet, precious gem!"
"Well, I was going to tell him to give it to somepony else." Starlight said. "But this...this is gold."
"No, Darling, its an emerald." Rarity said. "And a very, very fine one at that. Spike has impeccable taste."
"Oh, precious gem!" Spike moaned, oblivious to the mixture of incredulous, shocked, and disgusted looks he was getting. "Sweet, tender, succulent, delicious, juicy, amazing, delectable gem!!"
"Oh for Celestia's sake, somepony snap him out of this!" Dash groaned. "This is getting really awkward!!"
"Why?" Twilight asked, grinning.
"Why?! Because he's having a Celestia-darned love affair with a gem!!! A gem, Twilight!!" Dash burst out. "Its even more disturbing and sickening than Pinkie and her short-lived love of Frank the Feather! He's your dragon, Twilight; make him stop!"
"I actually find it quite amusingly adorable." Rarity said, smiling.
"Yeah? Ah'm kinda surprised, Rarity, after your intense affection for...Tom." Applejack smirked.
Rarity glared daggers at her. "I thought we were never going to speak of that hideous, Discord induced incident ever again!" She growled.
"Forget Tom!" Dash snapped. "Focus on Spike! He's the one with the problem now! He's....Sweet Celestia! What the hay?!"
Spike had switched from moaning over his gem to tasting it. He had his eyes closed.
"Mmm...tastes like lime." He mused as he gave it another lick.
"I can't watch this!" Dash groaned, looking ill. "Twilight, please! Make. Him. Stop!!!"
Twilight giggled. "Ok, Dash. Ok."
She reached out and seperated the gem and the dragon.
"Hey!" Spike exclaimed.
"You can have back it later, Spike." Twilight giggled. "Meantime, I don't think this counted as a dare, so we need to give you another one. Without gems involved."
"How about I dare you to drink a bottle of hot sauce?" Dash said.
"Fire doesn't really bother me, Dash." Spike said. "I breathe fire, and I also have the ability to swim in boiling hot lava. Hot sauce doesn't faze me."
"Then I dare you to eat a bite of one of Pinkie's sandwiches!" Starlight said.
"Nope. Had one before."
"Well...then...I dare you to...to..." Starlight tried to think but came up empty.
"I dare ya to tell us a secret about ya nopony knows!" Applejack supplied.
"Good one!" Dash said.
Spike looked a bit ill. "Do I have to?"
"Hey, you picked Dare! You gotta do what you're told!" Dash said.
"Well...ok." Spike said. He thought. "Um...I never told anypony this one. I, um...I'm not really a dragon." He sighed mournfully. "I'm really...a reformed changeling. I replaced the real Spike ages ago."
He looked dead serious. All eyes were fastened on him, all mouths hung open in shocked silence. Dash nearly fell over and Twilight looked ready to stroke out on the spot. Spike looked around and then snickered.
"Gotcha." He collapsed in a fit of hysterical laughter.
"That...was so...mean!" Dash gasped.
"Oh, but your faces!" Spike howled.
He continued to laugh while everypony glared at him. Once he finally calmed down, he took a breath.
"No, actually, one secret that I have that only Pinkie knows, is that sometimes, I show off my muscles in a mirror and tell myself I'm looking real good." He blushed a little.
"Ok, then." Dash muttered. "Spike is officially as weird as Pinkie Pie. Sheesh."
They all sat in silence for a bit, then Twilight spoke.
"If Spike was last, do we want to quit now, or start over?"
"I say we call it quits." Dash said. "Its getting late in the day."
The others agreed and started cleaning up, laughing and talking about today's dares and truths. They had almost finished when a familiar voice rang out loud and clear.
"Just one minute!!! The Great and Powerful Trixie has been listening! I demand a chance to play!!"
Everypony turned, and there, in all her smirking, arrogant glory, stood the blue coated magician. She grinned in Starlight's direction.
"That is, may Trixie please have a turn?"
"Well, since you asked nicely..." Starlight answered, and they all settled back down for a final round of the game.
"So, Trixie." Starlight said, eyeing her friend. "Truth, or Dare?"
Trixie pondered the question only briefly before answering.
"Trixie chooses Dare!" She announced. "Any dares you want! There is no dare Trixie won't do! Providing it's not deadly or completely against the law, of course."
"Says the unicorn who enslaved an entire town and surrounded it with a magic force field all because she put on an amulet she was not supposed to have, and stole, and got possessed by dark magic." Spike muttered.
Dash snickered. Starlight glared.
"Valid point." Trixie said, nodding at Spike. "But Trixie is reformed now and no longer breaks the law. Except in teensy matters where it suits her purpose..."
"Trixie!" Starlight scolded.
"Just kidding!" Trixie said hastily. "You should know Trixie is a model citizen now!"
"Well...that's true." Twilight admitted. "Other than the usual complaints about your rather annoying behaviour, I haven't heard anything bad about you since you showed up here in Ponyville permanently."
Trixie scowled. "The Great and Powerful Trixie can't please all ponies." She said. "It's not possible. Unless, of course, she could convince Starlight to cast a spell that makes everypony like her."
"What? Trixie! No!" Starlight sputtered.
Trixie giggled. "Gotcha."
Starlight huffed. "Not funny, Trixie."
"Ok, ok, she chose Dare, so let's let her have it!" Dash interrupted, eyes gleaming.
"Hey, you make her do anything too crazy, and you answer to me!" Starlight said warningly, moving to sit down next to the magician.
Trixie grinned. "Trixie appreciates you having her back."
"Anytime, Trixie." Starlight replied, throwing a foreleg around her. "Anytime."
"Oh good grief!" Dash muttered. "Is the Sappy Disease going around today? Twilight, throw a protection spell up around me before I catch it too!"
"What can we dare Trixie to do?" Applejack asked, rubbing her head.
"Ooh, how about we see how many teacups she can replicate from one teacup in two minutes??" Pinkie squealed.
"Yeah, fits her perfectly." Starlight said with a smile.
"To a T-ea." Dash couldn't resist throwing out, smirking. "And I don't think that's smart. She's liable to have us all swimming in teacups. Not my cup of tea."
"Oh, haha, very funny." Trixie said, rolling her eyes. "The Great and Powerful Trixie enjoys challenges. Hmmm...how many teacups in two minutes? Alright, consider the challenge accepted! Along with whatever other dares you want. Would anypony happen to have a teacup?"
"Ooh, me! Me! I do! I do!! I carry a spare in my mane!" Pinkie squealed, producing said teacup and holding it out.
"Of course she does." Dash said flatly.
Trixie blinked. "You carry a teacup in your mane??" She said, completely befuddled.
"Yeppers!" Pinkie giggled. "And all sorts of extra party stuff, and cupcakes, and Gummy, of course! Ooh! Cupcake?"
She held one up after pulling it from her poofy mane. Trixie looked at Starlight in confusion.
"Trixie is confused. How does she...?"
"Its Pinkie Pie." Starlight said. "Her logic and reasoning defies all normal laws of logic and reasoning. Anypony who tries to figure her out eventually drives themselves crazy."
"So...how do you understand what she does?" Trixie asked.
"You don't." Starlight said. "Just let it go, Trixie. Trust me on this. Your sanity will thank you."
Trixie shrugged. "Fine. Now...behold the magic of Trixie!"
Spike started the timer and Trixie concentrated on the teacup. By the time the timer dinged, stacks of teacups sat around them, and Trixie was panting for breath. Twilight was counting.
"Forty five!" She exclaimed in astonishment.
"Wow!" Dash said. "I'm actually very impressed, Trixie."
The magician beamed triuphantly.
"Well, shall we each take another turn? Or should we let Trixie catch up and just give her a bunch of turns now?" Dash asked.
"Trixie could do a few more dares." Trixie said.
"In that case..." Dash said with a smirk.
Trixie came to regret her words as the dares started coming. Dash dared her to down a large spoonful of hot sauce, which she did...resulting in her having to down two bottles of cider faster than Applejack had downed hers.
Rarity dared her to let her give her a makeover, which she agreed to do, even though she grumbled the whole time.
Applejack dared her to tell one thing about herself that nopony knew. Trixie had to think on that briefly.
"I never had a family." She admitted. "Not really. Spent most of my growing up years in an orphanage. I started learning magic when I was twelve, and ran away three years later to have my own show."
The others noticed the lack of referring to herself in third pony.
"Wow." Starlight said. "That's really sad, Trixie."
"Well, you have family now!" Twilight announced firmly.
"I do?" The puzzled pony said.
"Eeyup! Us!" Applejack grinned. "No matter how annoyin' ya might be sometimes, we're your friends. An' we're also family."
Trixie grinned. "I'd like that." She cleared her throat. "Now, any more dares??"
Fluttershy, shockingly, dared her to spend ten minutes with a bunch of animals, just enjoying them. Trixie balked, but eventually did it. To her amazement, the animals seemed to like her, and she made several furry friends.
Twilight dared her to pull of a perfect disappearing act(something she had always had trouble with), a dare Starlight and Applejack seconded. To her own amazement, she succeeded.
Spike had to think a while, but he finally dared her to pretend to be the pony on her left for ten minutes. That pony, unfortunately, happened to be Dash, who was less than thrilled at the dare. Trixie wasn't happy either.
"Oh come on!" She said. "Why her?! Trixie doesn't even have wings!!"
"Valid point." Dash said. "You can't be me without wings. That is the very oppisite of awesome."
"Not only that, but Trixie can't possibly match her level of arrogance." Trixie said, waving a hoof.
"Actually, I was thinking you would probably out match her arrogance." Spike said, smirking.
"Hey!" Both mares exclaimed at once, glaring at him.
"I am not changing my dare." Spike said.
"Fine!" Trixie said. "The Great and Powerful Trixie shall be Rainbow Dash, and she shall be a better Rainbow Dash than Rainbow Dash is!!"
"Puh!! Impossible!" Dash scoffed, crossing her forelegs. "Nopony can be a better Rainbow Dash than me! I'm the only Rainbow Dash in Equestria!"
"Thank Celestia for that!" Twilight muttered, wondering how long Equestria would survive if there were two of them.
"Trixie shall be better!" The magician insisted.
"Yeah, right! Good luck!" Dash snorted. "Just don't forget that, unlike a certain pony, I don't refer to myself in third pony!"
"Trixie knows...I mean, I know that!" Trixie huffed.
"Ok, time starts now!" Spike said.
Trixie took a deep breath and straighted up. She looked from one to the other, then flopped on her back and produced a pair of sunglasses, which she donned.
"Ha. I am Rainbow Dash. And I...am...totally...AWESOME!" She said, waving one leg. "I'm just chillaxing in the sun, after a hard day busting clouds. Ahhhh...this is the life."
Dash stared at her with one eyebrow raised.
"Are you serious right now?" She demanded. "I don't sound like that! Although, yeah, I am totally awesome. And I do like chillaxing. But the point is, I do not go around saying that!!!"
"I am just thinking about my first time at the Wonderbolt Academy." Trixie pressed on undeterred. "I made a pretty bad first impression. Fell right into a trash can. Heh heh...taught me to pay better attention. For the most part."
"Trixie..." Dash said warningly, eyes narrowing.
"And I still remember what happened right after, too." Trixie said, her devilish grin indicating she was enjoying this and intended to make the most of it. "When I crawled out of that can...heh. I heard laughing, and my teammates were grinning. Gave me a nickname, too."
"Ah, Trixie, I wouldn't..." Starlight warned.
"A very interesting and appropriate nickname, too." Trixie said, ignoring it.
"Don't. You. Dare." Dash snarled, eyes blazing.
"Rainbow Crash." Trixie concluded, smugly.
Dash might not have minded it from her team, or even her close friends, but from anypony else, it was unacceptable. With a yell, she flung herself on the azure unicorn.
"Gah!" Trixie yelled, unprepared for the sudden attack.
The two of them grappled and wrestled and rolled, Dash trying to knock Trixie's lights out and Trixie trying to fight her off.
"Ok, ok, enough!" Twilight shouted.
Her magic encircled Dash, while Starlight's enveloped Trixie, and they pulled the two apart.
"Lemme go!" Dash shouted. "I'm gonna..."
"You're gonna nothing!" Twilight scolded, putting her down between Scootaloo and Apple Bloom. "You're going to sit and behave yourself! She was only joking with you!"
"Which you shouldn't have." Starlight said, putting Trixie down next to her.
"Eh, it was too enticing." Trixie said.
"Why, you..." Dash started to lunge for her, only to be stopped by Rarity's magic. "Hey!"
"Now, Rainbow Dash, don't make us put you in time out!" Rarity said, eyes twinkling slightly.
It was sufficient enough for Dash to stop struggling and hush up. Momentarily.
"What?!" She shrieked. "I'm not a filly!"
"Well, then, stop actin' like one." Applejack said, smirking. "Even them fillies you're sittin' next to are actin' better than you!"
Dash huffed and crossed her forelegs, scowling. Scootaloo giggled at her sister's behaviour.
"You gotta admit, she did do a pretty good job acting like you." The filly said.
"Hmph!" Dash said in reply.
"She's got five minutes left." Spike pointed out.
"Trixie forfeits." Trixie said.
"Well, then, there's a consequence." Spike said.
"Name it." Trixie's eyes narrowed.
"Uh...I didn't think that far..." Spike muttered.
"Luckily, I did." Twilight said, grinning.
"Of course you did." Trixie muttered.
"Trixie." Twilight went on, ignoring her. "Your consequence is to...apologise to Rainbow Dash for making her mad. Oh, and then do the craziest dance you can think of."
Trixie got up, thought a second, and started dancing around in a goofy fashion. She threw in some moves from Twilight's earlier chicken dance for good measure. Once she collapsed in the grass, everypony applauded.
"That was pretty good!" Dash said, laughing.
"Glad you enjoyed it." Trixie deadpanned. "Trixie has had enough of this game."
"Agreed!" Twilight yawned.
"Well, then let's declare it over already!" Dash said. "And have some more cider."
The group grabbed the remaining bottles of cider and chatted merrily, laughing at the antics of Trixie and Dash as they argued goodnaturedly over who was a better Rainbow Dash. Finally, they all rose to go their seperate ways. As they said goodbye, Scootaloo waved a hoof.
"I can't wait til the next picnic!" She said. "More Truth or Dare! Yay!"
"The truth is, I don't know if we dare to do it again!" Dash supplied, and everypony groaned at the bad joke before bursting into laughter.
