Rainbooms and Royalty

Seriousness and Statues

Rainbow Dash was awoken by a slight bump. She yawed and opened her eyes, getting a face full of Applejack for her troubles. “Yaah!” She yelped, shocked awake. They had fallen asleep sitting up, propped up against each other up for support.

Applejack blinked, surprised to find a pair of rose-magenta eyes less than a foot away from her face. “Gyah! Rainbow!”

“Why’re you shouting at me?” Rainbow Dash rubbed her head with her hooves. “You’re the one who fell asleep against me!”

“No way, yer the one who—” Applejack began.

“Is there something amiss?” They looked up to see Zecora calmly walking her way down the spine of the sea serpent, his upper body now perched on the riverbank (which had caused the bump that had woken them). “Have I interrupted a moment of bliss?” She winked, a small smile upon her striped face.

The two ponies flushed red as they immediately backed away from each other. “You got it all wrong!”

“No way!”

Zecora chuckled lightly and raised her hoof. “Forgive my jest, merely something I had to get off my chest.” She nodded to the shore as the others started to rouse themselves and stretch. “Come, our ride on the river is at an end. We must journey forth on hoof, our destination is just around the bend.”

“Ah huh.” Rainbow said evenly, eager to move past the awkward moment. “Zecora? What was with the whole sleep business?”

“I figured that you needed rest, in order for you all to be at your best.” She answered breezily. Rainbow Dash and Applejack exchanged a glance with each other. They nodded and looked back to Zecora with an identical look of ‘pull the other one.’ The zebra guide relented with a sigh. “In truth, the land around the castle of the royal is warded by charms. No waking pony can set hoof on the grounds without causing alarm.”

Applejack gulped. “So ya mean the second we get down offa this here sea serpent, Nightmare Moon will know we’re here?”

“She will be aware that somepony has come by, yes.” Zecora admitted. “But just who has arrived, she can only guess.”

Rainbow flexed her wings. “Then let’s get a move on. Fast.”

“Hang on a minute there Rainbow.” Applejack nodded to the others. “Let’s fill them in before we go rushing ahead. We need a plan.”

The pegasus grunted. “Fine.”

As Applejack went to tell the others about what was going on, Zecora turned to Rainbow Dash. “Such a troubled look upon your brow. Tell me, what are you thinking about now?”

Rainbow whickered unhappily. “Nothing. Everything! It’s--” she exhaled roughly before starting again. “If Nightmare Moon is going to know we’re here as soon as we get close to the palace, then that’s just one more reason why I should go myself. I’m faster than anypony here. I could get to the palace and find the Elements of Harmony before the Nutmare even knew what hit her.”

Zecora clucked her tongue. “Ah the impetuousness of youth! Truly, do you think your friends would appreciate being left behind? So uncouth.”

“Ugh, don’t give me that!” Dash snapped. “If I had just picked you up and flown here we could’ve just gone straight over the forest and not had to go through that business with the swamp and the creatures. It would’ve taken us, what, five minutes?”

“There is a difference between accomplishing a task with speed…and doing with the care you need. Your friends have been there through thick and thin. Are you then so sure you do not need them to win? They shouldered a mighty burden and did so well. They have a right to be here, can’t you tell?”