> A sticky situation
>  by Aether Spark
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Stuck together
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The gem caves are a mining dream for gem enthusiasts everywhere! And approaching it was two mares.

One usually accompanied by a dragon is bringing a different friend, but now… they will end up in a sticky situation…

“So what do you need me for again?” Rainbow asked boredly as the two mares made their way to the caverns.

“I require assistance for gem collecting, usually Spike helps me but he is unfortunately off to that Power Con… whatever it is,” Rarity said.

“And I’m not there too, because?” Rainbow asked.

“Because I need somepony who knows their way around gem hunting,” Rarity said as she approached the first batch of crystals.

“Um… I don’t know anything…” RD said.

“Balderdash, I heard you bragging to your friends about it,” Rarity said.

“And that’s what it was, bragging, I just didn’t want to look uncool,” Rainbow said.

“Oh… well you’re already here, not to mention you’re quite fast so we can make our getaway if any Diamond Dogs show up.” Rarity said.

“Ugh… I passed up going to Power-Con…” Rainbow lamented.

“Oh calm down dear, you can have fun with this,” Rarity said “Why don’t you go over there and find me some red garnets,” Rarity said.

“So… red rocks, got it,” Rainbow trotted over to some red.

“Red Garnets! Not Red Opals,” Rarity said.

“How are you supposed to tell the difference?” Rainbow asked as she trotted elsewhere.

“It takes a keen eye for detail,” Rarity said.

“Uhuh,” Rainbow said not really listening and she just started pulling out a few dozen gemstones at a time.

This continued until she was at the cave edge and she saw what looked like a tree growing out of the cave wall… and a pretty blue sap was coming out of it.

“Oooh, bet that’ll blow those Red Garnets out of the water,” Rainbow pulled a branch with the sap off and trotted over to Rarity.

“-and make sure that the details of the gemstone are-”

“Yo Rares!” Rainbow called and Rarity turned and her eyes widened.

“Put that down!” Rarity cried.

“What? Why-” Rainbow stumbled on a gem that Rarity dropped and fell on her.

“Aah!” Rarity yelped as they fell down in a tangle of limbs.

“Ugh, sorry,” Rainbow said trying to get up, only for her to feel a sharp tugging pain on her side.

“Ow!” Rarity yelped and she tried to get up as well but Rainbow found herself being tugged.

“Stop pulling on me!” Rainbow said.

“I’m not! I think we’re-” Both of them paused as they looked down at their sides and saw the blue sap was sticking them together.

“Oh no… QUICK, get loose!” Rarity cried trying to get away from Rainbow.

“Alright!” Rainbow tried to as well but when it felt like they were going to tear a chunk out of their sides they stopped and the sap visibly hardened.

“Nonono! Rainbow!” Rarity shouted.

“What? I didn’t mean to!” Rainbow said trying to pull away.

“It’s no use Rainbow we’re stuck! This is glimmer sap!” Rarity said managing to stand alongside Rainbow.

“What?” Rainbow asked.

“It’s a magical sap that binds two things or beings together, a full power blast from Celestia can’t break it when it’s hardened!” Rarity snapped.

“How was I supposed to know?” Rainbow defended.

“Well… this is just great, I have a party to go to today as well!” Rarity said.

“You think that’s bad, I also have a Wonderbolts performance tomorrow! How long does it take this stuff to go away?” Rainbow said.

“Twelve years…” Rarity said.

“....Your joking…?” Rainbow said looking like she wanted to scream.

“Luckily!” Rarity avoided it by alerting Rainbow of an alternative “There is a way to dissolve it in a day,” She said.

“Why didn’t you say that sooner,” Rainbow breathed a sigh of relief, “what is it?” Rainbow asked.

“Zecora could help us,” Rarity said.

“Let’s go then,” Rainbow said.

“And where do you think you’re going?” Rarity said.

“To get the cure,” Rainbow said.

“Not without the gems,” Rarity said.

“You’re joking…” Rainbow said.

“Nope,” Rarity said.

“Ugh…” Rainbow sighed.





An hour later the two had to do an awkward eight-legged gait towards Ponyville.

After delivering the gems back to the Boutique as inconspicuously as possible, they made their way to Zecora’s hut.

As they knocked on her door Rarity turned to Rainbow.

“Let me do the talking,” Rarity said.

“What? I’m not going to-” Suddenly the door opened and Zecora stepped out.

“Oh hello my friends,” Zecora said.

“Yes, hello, Zecora there’s been a horrible accident and we really need to get unstuck,” Rarity said.

“Unstuck?… Ah I see, come hither into my tree,” Zecora said leading them in.

“Let’s get with the unsticking,” Rainbow said.

“Luckily I just made this today, my special sap acid, at no pay,” Zecora said.

“Acid?!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“You need not worry, it burns not skin but the glimmer sap,” Rarity told Rainbow.

“Ok…” Rainbow sighed in relief.

As Zecora trotted over she accidentally tripped on a stair and fell over and the vial fell to the ground and broke.

“NOOOOO!” Rarity exclaimed as the acid quickly evaporated.

“She… has more right?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh my friends, forgive me, I fear that was all I had in my cabinet you see,” Zecora said.

“Then make more! I have tryout exercises in Cloudsdale tomorrow!” Rainbow said.

“And I have to be at the get-together today, famous fashion designers will be there,” Rarity pleaded.

“I am sorry, but to make more would at the least take a day and a half, there is no time, we must act and hopefully we can look back and laugh,” Zecora said before pushing the two out and closing the door.

“This… just got worse…” Rarity said.





As the two stuck mares trotted through Ponyville Rarity gave Rainbow Dash the situation.

And she didn’t like it.

“Hay no am I going to a sissy get-together, reschedule,” RD said.

“B-but this will be the only day that Emerald Seaside will be in, he must see my fashions!” Rarity pleaded.

“Oh fine, but I’m not-”





“STOP!” Rainbow shouted as Rarity held her still with her magic and applied make-up over her cheeks and nose.

“Hold still!” Rarity said.

“I don’t want this!” RD said.

“You expected to go looking unrefined?” Rarity said.

“No! I just didn’t want to dress up all pretty, it’s gross for an athlete to end up in a frilly dress!” RD bit back.

“I don’t care, we need to look presentable!” Rarity said.

“No pink dresses, or else!” RD said.

“Sorry, but I simply must have you wear this,” Rarity said as she forced an outfit on Rainbow, a pink dress.

“I said no pink!” Rainbow blushed.

“Pink, is in,” Rarity said putting her in high heels and her hooves in white gloves, she then put on her a pearl necklace, golden cuff arm bracelets, and was struggling to put on the pink eyeshadow, black mascara and the flower in her hair.

“Hold still!” Rarity used her magic to shut RD’s eyes and swiftly put on the eyeshadow, she then put a pretty pink flower in her mane.

“Is it over?” RD begged.

“Not quite, now for the mane,” Rarity said.

“Oh no! Not the mane!” RD said.

“Oh don’t be so dramatic, now come here,” Rarity had to wrestle with Rainbow to brush her hair, making long strokes to fashion her mane.

In the end she stood in front of a mirror.

“What the…” RD said.

“Well dear, do you not seem utterly marvelous?” Rarity asked.

“I look like a make-up stand threw up on me… and kinda like you…” RD sighed.

“Critics,” Rarity sighed.





The two exited the Boutique, Rainbow was wearing a pink dress and lots of make-up, and she was grumping.

“I’ll get you back one day Rares,” RD said.

“Oh hush now, we must not mess up the make-up,” Rarity said.

“Let’s just get this over with,” Rainbow griped.





They got on the train and Rainbow tried to cover her face.

“Stop it darling, you’ll ruin your make-up,” Rarity said.

“I don’t want to be recognized, I have an image!” RD said.

“Oh come now, uhm… here, take this,” Rarity passed RD a newspaper.

“Thanks,” RD said and she pretended to read.





As they entered Manehatten they trotted through the streets and eventually ended up at a building, upon entering they took an elevator up and arrived in a fancy hallway.

“Ok, this way,” Rarity said and they made their way to an open room where multiple fancy ponies were.

“Rarity Belle has arrived,” Rarity announced.

“Oh joy! Then we can begin-... who is that?” Fancy asked pointing to the blue mare joined at her hip.

“Uhm… my support for the day,” Rarity made an excuse up.

“Support?” Fancy said.

“Yeah, what?” RD asked.

“I had a terrible fall the other day and need a pony to lean on constantly for support, I hope you don’t mind,” Rarity said.

“I-” 

“Oh… I don’t mind at all,” A green stallion winked at Rainbow.

“Ugh…” Rainbow sighed.

“Well, if he’s alright with it then let’s get this meeting started.," Fancy said.

“Fantastic,” Rarity said and they sat down.

“Well, I think that the fashion line that is in right now, is the exquisite fashions of Magic Pierce, wouldn’t you say?” Fancy said.

“Oh yes,” A gray mare said.

‘Indeed,” Another said.

“And the lace shirts don’t get me started, they could revolutionize the industry if applied right,” Fancy said.

As they talked Rainbow leaned in to Rarity.

“How long will this last?” Rainbow asked.

“About nine hours, why?” Rarity asked.

“Ooooh crud….” Rainbow said looking like she wanted to fly away now.





First hour

“And did you hear about cousin Purse?” Fancy laughed.

“Kill me…” Rainbow muttered.





Second hour

“I think that fashion choice isn’t very unique,” Rarity put her two bits in.

“Kill me… please” Rainbow looked like she was dying inside.





Third hour

“I want to propose types of buttons,” A blue mare said.

“I want to die…” RD said losing her mind with stir-crazyness.





Fourth hour

“Hahahahaha!” They laughed at a particular joke.

“No need to kill me after all, I think I died already and this is my punishment…” Rainbow muttered.





Fifth hour

“Now we should adjourn-”

“Please,” Rainbow begged.

“-This topic and move onto the second list of topics,” Fancy said.

“Very good sir,” A butler commented.

“KILL MEEEEE!” Rainbow screamed in her head.





Sixth hour

“Rares…” RD said quietly.

“Yes dear?” Rarity replied.

“I am about to go awol on these snobby know-it-alls, please for the love of all that is holy get me out of here!” Rainbow whispered.

“Rainbow, no! We’ve just moved onto the next topic,” Rarity said.

“I’m dying inside here!” Rainbow said.

“Is there something you want to share?” Fancy asked.

“No,” Rarity hurriedly said.

“Then I’ll continue,” Fancy said.

“Suddenly losing a chunk of my flank doesn’t sound as bad…” Rainbow sighed.





Seventh hour

“Heey,” the green stallion said.

“Huh?” Rainbow said.

“Wanna get out of here?” He said.

“Hay yes!” Rainbow sighed in relief.

“Cool, hey Fancy me and this cutie are going to take off early,” The green stallion said.

“Oh? Are you sure? We we-”

“Yes, we’ll be back, eventually,” The stallion said and he took Rainbow’s hoof and pulled her along.

Along with Rarity.

“Whoa!” Rarity yelped.

“Rarity? Where are you going?” Fancy asked.

“Um… just a quick trip to the powder room!” Rarity said before following the others out.





As they got out to the lobby Rainbow sighed and fell to the floor... Along with Rarity unintentionally.

“Ooof!” Rarity grunted.

“Thank Celestia! I was dying in there!” Rainbow sighed.

“Oh come now it was just a few more hours,” Rarity said.

“Not. Another. Minute.” RD said.

“I wasn’t expecting the plus one but I can make it work,” The stallion said.

“Wha?” Both mares said.

“I was bored too, but watching your pretty face made it worth it, how about a kiss,” He leaned in.

“Whoa whoa buddy, I’m thankful, but not that thankful,” RD said getting up but he pinned her to the wall.

“Hey!” Rarity cried as she was slammed as well.

“I don’t take no for an answer,” He said before he pressed his lips to RD’s… and she shoved him off and punched him, knocking him out.

“Nopony… kisses me without permission,” RD said spitting.

“RAINBOW! What have you done!?” Rarity said.

“Relax, I just knocked out some player,” RD said.

“That ‘player’ was Emerald Seaside! You realize what he could do to me?!” Rarity said angrily.

“Oh… well still, he came onto me!” RD said.

“Oh this is bad… so long as nopony notices-” Rarity said

Crash

They looked to see a maid had dropped a platter and was looking at the two.

“Run…” Rarity said.

“On it…” They bolted for the elevator and got in.





They got back on the train and panted heavily.

“Are they following us?” RD said.

“No… now I can do this,” Rarity said and she smacked Rainbow.

“OW! What the hay?” Rainbow said.

“I am possibly ruined now thanks to you! I’ll be lucky if he gets amnesia,” Rarity said.

“I get it, sorry,” RD sighed.

“If my business takes a hit, it’s on you,” Rarity said.

“Ok ok,” RD said.

“Let’s just get home…” Rarity said.





Nighttime 

Rarity kicked the door open and walked in with Rainbow in tow.

“Look, I said sorry, but I’d do it again if he tried,” RD said.

“Well not that it matters now I guess I should be preparing to close doors,” Rarity said before taking off her dress and trotting upstairs with RD in tow.

“You can't let one guy ruin your whole career,” RD said.

“He can and will, just let me sleep in peace,” Rarity said climbing into bed and Rainbow did too.

“Ok…” Rainbow muttered.





The next morning Rarity and Rainbow woke up and decided to just head downstairs rather than get ready. Rarity knew she could be ruined anyway, when she got there she was surprised to see a note under the doorway.

“Perhaps it's my termination of business notice,” Rarity muttered out loud. 

“...” Rainbow started to feel guilty.

Rarity opened and started reading it and her expression changed and she became excited.

“What?” RD asked.

“I have good news, the good news is he's not going to boycott my Boutique, he says that he likes mares that take no guff and is willing to let me off the hook….” Rarity trailed off.

“I'm sensing an 'if' coming…” RD said.

“If you date him next week,” Rarity said.

“... So have you ever thought of a career change?” RD asked.

“Please Rainbow this could save me!” Rarity begged.

“....fine, but you let him know it'll be a one-time thing, and no kissing or funny business,” RD said.

“Thank you thank you thank you,” Rarity hugged her the best she could.

“Now we do my thing,” Rainbow said.

“Oh…” Rarity said, knowing what she was talking of.





“AAAAHHH!” Rarity cried holding on for dear life as Rainbow swooped through the air.

“Whew! Feels nice to get airborn again!” RD said.

“Get closer to the ground!” Rarity said worriedly.

“Oh relax, you should be glad to have this experience,” RD said.

“I’m not a pegasus! I prefer the ground!” Rarity said.

RD sighed and landed with Rarity slamming into the ground.

“You're going to need to work with me, tryouts are in a few hours,” RD said.

‘I cannot even fly, how am I supposed to help?” Rarity said.

“Hmm… good point… wait, I got an idea,” RD said.





“Alright, this should help you out,” Twilight said having given Rarity a pair of butterfly wings, and an aerodynamic suit.

“I do find this a tad uncomfortable,” Rarity complained.

“Deal, we got work to do,” Rainbow said.

“Ok,” Rarity said.

“And I cannot stress this enough Rares, do not get too close to the sun,” Twilight informed.

“I know,” Rarity sighed.





The two swooped through the air… barely, with them trying to maneuver their wings around eachother.

“Stop hitting my wing! It’s throwing me off!” Rainbow complained.

“Pardon me for not being born a pegasus!” Rarity bit back.

“Just don’t try to fly the other direction, follow my pull,” RD said and they managed to make it to Cloudsdale.

As they entered, made sure to keep out of the way of everypony to hid the fact their stuck together by magical sap.

After some trekking, they made it to the arena.

“Alright, let’s get moving,” RD said.





“Come on! Show some backbone!” Spitfire called and several recruits were doing infinity symbol movements through the air “Don’t stop until I say you can!” Spitfire said.

“Spitfire!” Spitfire turned and saw Rainbow… and Rarity?

“Why did you bring her? This is a Wonderbolts only area,” Spitfire said.

“Uhm… it’s complicated…” RD said.

“Well, I’m listening,” Spitfire asked.

“Rainbow got us stuck with glimmer sap,” Rarity explained showing their connected hips.

“Rares!” RD said.

“I… see,” Spitfire looked like she was trying not to chuckle before straightening out “You don’t seem to be in flying order, should we call off?” Spitfire said.

“No!/ Yes,” RD and Rarity looked at eachother.

“We’re not able to fly properly!” Rarity said.

“I never call off! It’s part of my rep!” RD said before looking to Spitfire “What’s the performance exercise Spits?” Rainbow asked.

“If you insist, We’re looking for a pony who can do the skyward spin dive,” Spitfire said.

“Whew, that’s gonna be hard… For a chump,” RD said flaring her wings,

“Then get moving,” Spitfire cleared the arena and sat back as they trotted out there.

“Um, Rainbow, I don’t know what a ‘skyward spin dive’ is,” Rarity said.

“Just follow me,” Rainbow said before she took off quickly.

“Eeep!” Rarity yelped as they took off and she tried to keep up but her butterfly wings weren’t suited for this.

RD did several spins as she bobbed up and down in the air, and Rarity screamed as she was spun in circles.

“AAAAAAHHH!” Rarity screamed as she was not being flung solely because of the sap connecting her and Rainbow.

“Alright, now ascend” Spitfire called.

“Got it!” RD paused and shot upwards.

“Yikes!” Rarity flapped her wings uselessly.

“Stop flailing! I can’t keep stable!” RD said before stopping high up and shooting downwards.

“I cannot do this!” Rarity freaked out and grabbed Rainbow in her panic which threw her off and she wound up swerving into a tomato cart that was being pedaled.

“No! My tomatoes!” A stallion cried.

“Ugh…” RD groaned.

“Uuugh… bathroom… now,” Rarity was green in the face.

“Rainbow!” Spitfire said approaching.

“Uhh… sorry?” RD said nervously.

“It’s clear you can’t perform with somepony stuck to your hip, I’ll need you to-”

“BLLLAAAAGH!” Rarity puked… and it was aimed at Spitfire….





“I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!” RD seethed as they landed on the ground.

“I cannot help that my stomach is weak! You practically threw me all over creation,” Rarity defended.

“She kicked us out! I’ll never be able to look her in the eye after this!” Rainbow snapped.

“I am sorry!” Rarity said.

“Forget it,” RD said.

“Let’s just-” Rarity was cut off when they bumped into Derpy.

“Huh? Oh hey! I was just looking for you two!” Derpy said, before hoofing them a message “It’s from Zecora,” Derpy said.

“Thank you Derpy,” Rarity said.

“No prob!” Derpy trotted away.

“Is it the solution?” Rainbow asked.

“Let us see,” Rarity said and they opened the letter, it told them that she was able to fix the antidote early and to come ASAP.”

“Wow, convenient,” RD said.

“Let us go so we can be rid of this sap,” Rarity said.

“I am so ready,” RD said

“Very well,” Rarity said as they made their way to the forest.

“Maybe I should turn down Mr Seaside after this,” Rainbow said as they entered the forest on their way to Zecora’s.

“Y-you wouldn’t!” Rarity said.

“Considering I may be ruined, it only seems fair,” Rainbow said.

“Rainbow! That’s just vindictive! May I remind you that you caused my business to be in danger? You're going to willingly let it crash now?!” Rarity said.

“You puked on Spitfire!” Rarity said.

“ON ACCIDENT!” Rarity said.

“AND I WILL SUFFER FOR IT!” Rainbow said.

“Well, this only happened because you grabbed that sap in the first place,” Rarity said.

“On the trip you forced me into!” Rainbow said, angrily.

“Based on empty bragging you perpetuated!” Rarity countered.

“Shut up!” RD snapped.

“You shut up!” Rarity said, before they could continue arguing Rarity missed a step on a rickety old bridge and she fell off carrying RD with her.

“AH!” They both yelped and they found themself splashing around in water as the stream carried them towards a waterfall.

“When did Zecora get a stream?!” Rainbow demanded.

“You never noticed her building one?!” Rarity demanded.

“I usually fly there!” Rainbow said and they splashed around and headed towards the edge of the waterfall.

“OH CRUD!” Rainbow cried and she grabbed onto a rock and Rarity grabbed onto her.

“I’m slipping!” Rainbow said.

“Fly!” Rarity said.

“My wings are too wet!” Rainbow said.

“Then this might be it!” Rarity cried.

“No it isn’t!” Rainbow said before looking around “Your magic!” Rainbow said.

“What about it?” Rarity asked.

“Use it to grab some rocks and plant them!” Rainbow strategized.

“O-ok!” Rarity said and she used her magic to pick up a large rock and with some strain, she lifted it to Rainbow’s left and planted it in the ground.

“Get it firmly in there,” Rainbow said.

“Ok!” Rarity said and she did.

“Hold it!” RD said and she managed to climb over to the next one “Now use the other one!” Rainbow said.

“I see, brilliant!” Rarity said before forming a chain of rocks that Rainbow used to scale to the other side of the stream, as they made it they both flopped to the ground panting.

“We… almost died,” Rarity panted.

“But we didn’t… that’s good,” RD said and they both ended up laughing.

As they stood and shook off the water Rainbow turned to Rarity.

“Hey… Rares…?” RD asked.

“Yes?” Rarity said as she rang out her mane.

“I… change my mind, I’ll date that play colt if it means your business can be saved… I was just mad,” RD said.

“Thank you, I suppose I should be apologizing for puking all over your hero,” Rarity said.

“... I’m sure she won’t tell anypony,” RD shrugged.

“Friends?” Rarity asked.

“Friends,” RD said.

“That’s good, now let us be rid of this sap,” Rarity said.

“Ready for that,” RD said with a chuckle.





The two stood still as Zecora poured the acid on the sap and the sap began to rapidly dissolve, eventually, the two were freed and the sap fully melted off of them.

“Oh, blessed freedom!” Rarity said hopping around.

“Aw yeah!” Rainbow said.

“There the both of you go, I hope you’ll be more careful next time though,” Zecora said.

“We will,” Rarity said.

“Thanks, Z,” Rainbow Dash said.

“No problems you see, but next time, please don’t call me Z,” Zecora said closing the door behind them as they trotted away.

The two went back to Ponyville.

“Well, now that we’re unstuck, we can go our separate ways for the day,” Rarity said.

“Yep, but hey, next time you go on a gem hunt, maybe I can tag along again, maybe learn something,” RD said.

“That sounds splendid,” Rarity said.

“But no caves that have that sap… got it?” RD said.

“Indeed,” Rarity chuckled.

And they both headed off back to their homes, awaiting the next time they get into a sticky situation.

FIN