A World Without a Rainboom

The Battle With Nightmare Moon

The fireworks filled the sky as the ponies stomped and jumped in joy at the sight, screaming and whooping at the sky as the fireworks faded. "That's the show! Thank you for viewing, The Amazing Twiley!," she posed triumphantly, "Donations are accepted and appreciated," She struck a stage pose and a last pop was heard overhead as a rainbow of magic fell upon her stage.

I've gotten so good at these show theatrics I should really just start my own show, Twilight thought as she smiled into the crowd of ponies throwing flowers and bits at the stage, stomping and shouting in approval, And I'm really glad that I know how to cast a shield over us, or we'd get bruised from hail of bits being thrown at us. "Thank you, one and all."

The team left the stage and went behind it to collect their donation buckets. Walking around Twilight gathered the bits from the stage and levitated them to a spot behind the curtain before bowing again and posing proudly. The only thing I don't like about these big cities is I have to stand here for so long while they shower us with praise and bits. Bowing again Twilight called to the others to join her and they all bowed again.

"Um, Twilight, how long do we have to keep bowing and smiling? My mouth is starting to hurt and it feels redundant," Fluttershy muttered as she walked past Twilight shifting positions on stage.

"The crowd'll die down shortly, let's just bow one more time then haul the stage away."

Twilight and the others went and started signing autographs while Scootaloo retreated to the roof of the stage wagon.

A few minutes later the show ponies had had enough and smiled as they collected their last bits and hitched up to the cart. Fluttershy and Twilight pulled it away as Rainbow watched the area from the air to make sure there weren't any fillies or colts holding onto the back or hitching a ride. They did it in Vanhoover, they'll try it again somewhere. Fluttershy got a cramp cuz they held the cart up, stupid northern ponies.

Scootaloo was on top of the wagon waiting for the noise to quiet. She had been having headaches for the past few hours and the show was torture on her so she covered her head with a pillow she had stashed there for napping between shows with Rainbow. Applejack walked along the side and kept guard against anypony from the sides that may try to attack or harass them. It happened only once in Tall Tale city, but it was enough to terrify Scootaloo for a couple days.

A pony that had gone mad from the night had seen the show and when Twilight cast the sun illusion she had a mental breakdown. She tried to stab the smallest, weakest member of the group and she was held back thanks to their teamwork, but Scootaloo didn't travel on the ground or alone while in larger cities anymore.

Leaving the show area to the camp grounds they relaxed and gathered in front of the wagon to relax and count their takings for the day. With a few blankets they made a nice tent and gathered together close enough to stay warm from the chilly night without a fire, yet.

"135 bits in the jar and 419 from the floor. Not counting what we left that makes... enough to sleep in a hotel in Canterlot for a week for us all," Twilight smiled as the others giggled. "Our total comes to," doing the math in her head took only 3 seconds, "6,432 bits. In two weeks we've earned almost as much as I earned in the last six months with four jobs."

She stood proud and opened her forelegs for a group hug. With a tight squeeze they all sat back down and started talking about what to do when they worked their way to Canterlot. Where they'd stay and what they'd eat. What they'd see and where they'd visit. Twilight really wanted to see what was left of her childhood home. The others just wanted to enjoy the capitol city.

"Hey, Fluttershy, can I talk to you quick?" Scootaloo asked as she left the blanket, knowing Fluttershy would never say no. "Fluttershy, remember how I told you my mom was the secret leader of the Children of the Night? When we get to Canterlot, I don't know if I can go fight Nightmare Moon if she's there. I can't hurt my mommy, you understand right?"