Read It and Weep
Pony's Log Number 216: It is so cliche to think only eggheads like to read. Anypony can love to read if they find an interesting book...or book series...
Somewhere out in the open, Rarity and Pinkie had some smiles on their faces as they were watching somepony whoosh about in the sky. They were even moving their heads and bodies to the ponies momentum, which included a counterclockwise loop-de-loop.
"Hey, Rarity, Hey Pinkie Pie," said Twilight as she arrived with Mario right behind her.
"What are you looking at?" Mario asked as he and Twilight looked up at the sky.
"Rainbow Dash!" said Pinkie Pie, "Isn't she the most daring devil? I mean, the most devilish darer? I mean-" The four ponies then lean to the right, then to the left and then straightened up as they continued to watch Rainbow fly through the sky.
"She's dazzling!" said Rarity as they all tilted their heads to the right before they had their entire bodies facing the same direction as their heads were tilted to the left.
"Ooh, yeah, that's a good word," said Pinkie Pie, "She's dazzling!" They all then turned their bodies to the left and watched her with O shaped mouths.
"She has certainly improved her flying skills," Mario remarked, "I would even admit that her flying puts most of my parkour moves to shame."
"Nah, I find your parkour moves very dazzling," said Twilight.
"Thanks, Twilight," said Mario with a light giggle, "you're very sweet." Twilight giggled to herself as they continued to watch Rainbow fly about. Pinkie then turned to the right to watch her. She then twisted her neck a full 360 degrees clockwise and then repeated it again, leaving her neck into a twisted knot. Twilight and Rarity awed as Mario noticed how uncomfortable Pinkie looked as he tried to see about un-twisting her neck. He had just put a fore-hoof on Pinkie's back to keep her steady when...her entire body spun about to untangle her neck.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa! UGH!" Mario yelped as he was sent spinning about and then tossed away onto his back, stunned and very dizzy. Twilight and Rarity just rolled their eyes at Pinkie and Mario before the three girls gasped in shock. Apparently, Rainbow Dash's last trick had left her spiraling out of control.
"Oh not good, not good!" said Mario once he recovered and rejoined the group.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no!" said Twilight nervously since Rainbow was too far away to be caught before she crash landed...for most ponies.
"Ai yi yi yi yi!" Pinkie yelped as Rarity and Twilight flinch back and Pinkie covered her eyes.
"Dashie!" Mario called out as he took off at high speed to catch her when...
CRUNCH!
While Mario had managed to catch Rainbow before she hit the ground, she was still going too fast for Mario to break her fall properly and she landed on one of her wings as she crashed right onto his back...hard.
"Ooh," the three girls groaned painfully when the Pegasus used Mario's back as a literal crash pad.
"So much for dazzling," said Pinkie as they exchanged worried and concerned looks with each other.
(Main theme)
It didn't take long before somepony went to get the medics and Rainbow was brought to the hospital. On the bright note, Mario had suffered nothing but a very sore back. But poor Rainbow was knocked out and had suffered an injury to her right wing. Everypony was there waiting anxiously for Rainbow to wake up.
The view was black for a moment as Rainbow slowly opened her eyes as a heart monitor was beeping in the background.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Applejack asked, her voice muffled to the pony waking up as she blinked several times. Everypony else that spoke also sounded muffled to her.
"Oh, I'm so worried!" said Fluttershy.
"Is her face gonna stay like that?" Pinkie asked as Mario gave her a glare.
"I'm so sorry everypony," said Mario sadly.
"You did your best," said Rarity. "Rainbow would be in much worse condition if you hadn't caught her. How's your back, darling?"
"Stiff, but nothing I can't handle," said Mario as he looked at Rainbow with worry.
"Why not try reviving her with one of your mushrooms?" Applejack suggested before smirking, "Or maybe a good kiss? I hear she's secretly been wanting one from you."
"Forget it!" Twilight snapped angrily as she and Mario glared at the orange pony. Applejack just chuckled to herself as Rainbow's vision cleared. Rainbow still looked a bit dazed until her face relaxed a bit and sat on the bed, with her wing bandaged as well as a smaller band aid on her forehead.
"Awwww," Rainbow groaned as she rubbed her head and winced as she realized that her wing was injured. The others just looked at her with worry and concern.
"Glad to see your awake, Dashie," said Mario, "Aside from the obvious, are you alright?" Rainbow just leaned back and groaned loudly as her reply.
"How is she, doctor?" Twilight asked as she turned to face the doctor who is standing near the edge of the curtain divider and examining an X-ray of Rainbow's right wing. The picture showed that she had definitely fractured a bone in it.
"She's going to be fine," said Doctor Horse with a smile, "Luckily she has friends like you who got her over here in a jiffy. Thought I must admit your male friend here seems to be the most relieved. Never saw a colt cry so much..." Mario blushed before he snorted.
"Doctor, these six girls are my family," said Mario, "Somepony's got to look out for them."
"Even though none of us need him too," Fluttershy remarked.
"Thanks alot," Mario replied sarcastically.
"You're welcome," Fluttershy replied cutely as Mario rolled his eyes.
"Huh, how long do I need to lie in here?" Rainbow Dash complained with a glare on her face and her fore-hooves crossed, "I've got things I need to do!"
"Well, that all depends on your recovery," said Doctor Horse, "but I'd say a few days minimum."
"You guys have gotta get me out of here!" Rainbow pleaded as she leaned forward into Fluttershy's face, "I'm gonna climb the walls!"
"Ooh, just like a spider!" said Pinkie as she rushed up to Fluttershy and then turned to the doctor, "Did the crash somehow give her super-duper spider powers?" Pinkie put her fore-hooves on the doctor to get into his face excitedly.
"Nnnno," said Doctor Horse flatly as he made a 180 turn from the pink pony and made her lose her balance, "nor did it give her amazing healing powers."
"Yeah, Pinkie," said Mario, "Rainbow would only get spider powers after being bitten by a spider enchanted with strong magic."
"Sure, you were never bitten by a magical hedgehog?" said Applejack, "You can curl into a ball like one."
"Nnnope," said Mario firmly, "I learned the skill all on my own. Same with my speed and jumping."
"We're getting off subject here," said Doctor Horse, "Miss Rainbow simply needs to stay in bed for a few days."
"Few days?" Rainbow exclaimed as she slapped her fore-hooves on her forehead and leaned back onto her pillow, "Might as well be a few months, or a few years!"
"It's not so bad, Rainbow Dash," said Fluttershy as she and Applejack approached her bed.
"I bet the chow in here is hoof-lickin' good," Applejack added.
"Doubt it," Mario muttered, "No hospital serves Horsetucky Fried Hay." Mario only got a jab to the shoulder by Twilight for his remark.
"And the hospital gowns," said Rarity, trying to sound optimistic, "they...match the curtains!"
"And look!" said Pinkie as she pulled back the side curtain, "You have a roommate!" The pony on the other side of the room was in a near-full body cast. All the pony could do was look over to the group, but was unable to speak. Rainbow just pulled her blanket up and turned away to sulk. Applejack made a gesture to the others to think of something to cheer up the blue Pegasus. The five ponies just looked at each other before Twilight began to ponder to herself. Mario's ears then caught the sound of something wheeling by. He then turned to see that it was rolling cart loaded with books. Mario tapped Twilight's shoulder and tilted his head towards the rolling book cart. Twilight smiled excitedly as she rushed over to the cart and returned with a book being held by her magic and tapped Rainbow with it.
"What's this?" said Rainbow rudely as Twilight smiled and lifted the front of the book to the blue Pegasus's face, ""Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone"."
"This is the first story in the series," said Twilight excitedly, "Mario and I own all of them!" Twilight gave an "excited" squee as Mario smiled with just as much excitement. Rainbow just looks at them unamused before she tossed the book aside.
"No thanks," said Rainbow indignantly, causing Twilight and Mario to flinch in surprise, "I so don't read. I'm a world-class athlete. Reading's for eggheads like you, Twilight and Mario. Heh, no offense, but I am not reading. It's undeniably, unquestionably, uncool." Mario and Twilight gave shocked and skeptical looks at Rainbow for the egghead remark. Rainbow then looked away indignantly. There was two seconds of silence before everypony burst into laughter.
"Is she serious?" Applejack chuckled, "Who doesn't like to read a bang-up tale from time to time?"
"Why, a good book is almost as magnificent as silk pajamas on a Sunday morning, heh!" Rarity added as she leaned against the edge of the bed and smiled in agreement.
"Reading is for everypony, Rainbow Dash," said Twilight as she put the Daring Do book back in front of Rainbow as the blue Pegasus just pouted to herself.
"Yeah! I love reading, and my head isn't even close to the shape of an egg," said Pinkie as she bounced twice and sat on the floor and put her fore-hooves in the side of her head, "It's more the shape of an apple, or maybe an orange, but a big orange! More like a grapefruit really..."
"I think watermelon would be more accurate," Mario remarked as Pinkie gave him a glare.
"And you're head is more like a coconut," said Fluttershy remarked, "Hard and hallow." Mario stuck his tongue out at her and she returned the gesture, making Pinkie and Twilight chuckle to each other. It was then Nurse Sweetheart peeked inside.
"All right, my little ponies," said Nurse Sweetheart, "Rainbow Dash needs her rest. You'll have to come back tomorrow." All the ponies minus Twilight and Mario take their leave.
"I think you'd like Daring," said Twilight as she leaned her fore-hooves on the bed, "She's alot like you. Adventurous, fierce, undeniably, unquestionably, unstoppable." Twilight couldn't resist narrowing her eyes in determination as she described Daring Do before walking away.
"Just give reading a try, Dashie," said Mario, "We know you enjoy a good adventure and all you have to do to get it is open the book." Rainbow said nothing and continued to pout as Mario went to catch up with Twilight. The two ponies just smirked to each other as they closed the door.
Rainbow just continued to look rather miserable as she seemed to just stare at the wall clock and listen to the ticking for a bit. She then found herself a small bouncy ball and began to bounce it back and forth across the wall in a rhythmic fashion. Then she missed and the ball was left on the floor with nopony around to retrieve it for her. Rainbow just slumped forward in defeat. Later on, she was served some food. Rainbow then tried to drink her juice when the cup got stuck on her nose. She tried to pull the glass off, but it refused to budge. Only when she let go did the cup finally come off and clinked as it hit the floor, leaving her with a deflated nose. Once her meal was over, she went to just clicking her lamp light on and off continuously. She even started pounding the button in frustration due to feeling completely bored. Next, she tried making conversation with her roommate.
"...to get to the other side! Get it?" Rainbow replied as she answered the joke. But her roommate didn't answer. Whether Rainbow was aware that the fact the pony's mouth was bandaged up was probably the reason they didn't answer was debatable, Rainbow just glared at the pony since they didn't respond.
"Never mind..." Rainbow retorted as she angrily closed the curtain and turned away to sulk once more.
As time passed, Rainbow was growing more and more bored. There were now bags under her eyes as she was watching the wall clock tick away once again. Rainbow soon reached her breaking point as she buried her face into her blanket and growled angrily. She sighed to herself before banging her head against the back of her bedrest for a moment when she noticed the Daring Do book still sitting quietly on her bedside table. Rainbow just glared before turning away and started to pout again, but then something inside of her began to fight her stubborn nature. Her curiosity. She suddenly found a part of herself wanting to check out the book as her left eye started look at it. Rainbow then ponders to herself, trying to think of something else she hadn't tried to entertain herself, but then sighed in defeat and rolled her eyes. She reached out for the book and just eyed the front cover for a moment before she finally opened it to starting reading.
""As Daring Do trekked through the tropical jungle"," Rainbow read with an unenthusiastic tone, ""the wet heat sapped her energy and slowed her every step. If only she could escape this oppressive atmosphere and fly up to the cool blue sky. But her crash landing in the jungle had injured her wing and she was grounded for a few days. Few days...it might as well be a few months, or a few years!" Huh..." Rainbow remembered how she had said the exact same thing about her own wing and the fact that Twilight had mentioned that she and Daring Do has alot in common.
"I'm right there with you, sister," Rainbow said to herself as she continued reading, ""The mosquitoes buzzed loudly. The macaws cried from the high trees. Yet all of these distracting noises were not enough to cover the sound of the predators following her every step...""
As Rainbow continued reading, the view showed some mosquitoes flying about what appeared to be a jungle. It was then a tan colored Pegasus with salt and pepper colored mane and tail was trying to navigate the area. She quickly ducked behind a log with a confident smirk on her face until she saw a tiger near her. The tiger tried to take a bite out of Daring Do, but she managed to avoid the attack by backing away from it. Just then a jaguar appeared on one side of her and then a bob cat appeared on the other. Then a leopard appeared so Daring Do was surrounded in all sides. But then a fifth cat appeared, which turned out to be a cute white kitten, who only meowed at her. Daring Do jumped over the small kitten, despite its effort to hiss at her, to escape, but the other large cats growled and gave chase, even trampling the small kitten so that it was hanging into the jaguar's back for dear life. Daring Do moved as fast as she could through the jungle, looking back to see if she was gaining any ground when she was forced to stop. There before her was a large chasm. She noticed that the cats were gaining on her. After a slight hesitation, she took a leap of faith and the cats stopped chasing her when they saw Daring Do swinging on a vine. Daring Do waved them off before landing safely on the other side.
""Safely landing on the other side"," Rainbow read aloud, now with more enthusiasm, "Daring Do finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She turned around and found herself face to face with the long lost temple that she had sought tirelessly for over sixty days and nights!" As Rainbow continued to read, Daring Do was continuing to breathe heavily as she smiled confidently to herself. She then gasped when she saw a temple with the head of an ancient creature with ruby red eyes before her.
Back in the Hospital, Rainbow's eyes were flicking with excitement.
"I hate to admit it to myself, and would really hate to admit it to my friends, well...except for Mario since he can keep a secret, but..." said Rainbow before she hugged the book to her chest and sighed, "...I love this story! I...I...I love reading!" Rainbow just let herself fall back into her back contently before her eyes blinked and shrunk in size.
"I'm an egghead," Rainbow admitted with a sense of dread and worry on her face. Once she had shaken this realization off, she went back to reading the book.
""The smell and decay of danger hit Daring Do as she peered into the dimly-lit entrance of the ancient temple"," Rainbow Dash read aloud.
The view returns to the interior of the temple, which had a long hallway lit up by ancient and ominous looking fire lamps. Darling Do approached the entrance to the hallway and took a sniff. She winced a bit before gazing down the treacherous hallway. As she narrowed her eyes in determination, Daring Do ventured forward. As she passed a skull lantern, three sets of red glowing eyes peeked in at her and several creepy looking beetles crawled about as well as a couple of slithering snakes. Suddenly her fore-hoof hit a switch and quickly ducked to avoid three metal axes that came flying at her head. She looked at the axes anxiously when a trap door opened between her fore and hind legs. She quickly pushed herself forward to prevent herself from becoming barbecued. She then squatted low to the ground as some alligators began to chomp at her from above. By crawling, she was able to get out of their range and then jumped to avoid a passing saw blade and then weaved herself through some flying darts. As she reached the end of the trap, she did a back flip and stood on her hind legs to avoid a ground spike from piercing her from behind. She quickly made another jump to another platform as spikes continued to poke out from the floor. It was then she saw the exit of the hallway and that the door was slowly beginning to close. Moving as fast as her four legs could carry her, Daring Do made a charge and then slid on her back to get under the door, but she hadn't expected her momentum to stop right underneath the closing door. Daring Do silently yelped before zipping out of the way of the door to prevent herself from being crushed.
"Phew," she sighed with relief. It was then the room she was in began to rumble and she found herself at the mercy of even more traps. She gave an exasperated and irritated sigh as she began to navigate the room. Various noises, including pots clanging, monkeys screeching, and even some kazoos tooting could be heard as Daring Do came out of the room with her hat in her mouth. Her hat was covered in darts as she quickly brushed them off and looked about the room. It was then a beam of sunlight guided her towards a nearby pedestal, where a sparkling sapphire statue was sitting on top of it. Angelic music could be heard as Daring Do eyeballed the statue in amazement...
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK
Rainbow's little adventure was interrupted when she heard somepony knocking on her door. She had gotten so into the book that she was now sitting against the front edge of her bed with the book on her fore-hooves. As the door slowly began to open, Rainbow hid the book under her blanket and sat on top of it with an over the top smile on her face.
"Hi Rainbow Dash!" said Fluttershy and Twilight excitedly.
"Uh, hey, guys..." said Rainbow, trying to sound casual.
"We thought we'd come and cheer you up!" said Fluttershy.
"We brought your favorite board game!" said Twilight as she used her magic to present the game box to Rainbow, who gasped silently at the sight of it. It was basically a Pegasus version of the game Battleship.
"We know how much you like to win," said Fluttershy as Rainbow looked at the game uneasily when Mario walked inside carrying a Monopoly board game box with his magic.
"Phew, sorry I took so long," said Mario before glaring at Fluttershy, "Somepony thought it funny to toss the board game I was bringing and I had to spend the last twenty minutes picking up scattering paper bits and cards in the wind!"
"Oh good your here," said Fluttershy with a smile, ignoring Mario's rants as she grabbed the game box and tossed it into a corner.
"Fluttershy!" Mario exclaimed angrily, "It took me forever to organize everything in that box!"
"You and Rainbow will be against me and Twilight," said Fluttershy as she still ignored his rants, "now move along and help her set up." Mario grumbled under his breath about annoying sisters as he set up Rainbow's game panel while Twilight and Fluttershy set up theirs. It wasn't long before they were ready.
"You go first, Rainbow Dash!" said Twilight as Fluttershy stood beside her. Mario then tried to sit beside Rainbow when he felt something under the blanket.
"What is that under...YAH!" Mario didn't get to answer as Rainbow shoved Mario away, knocking him off the bed with a THUD. Rainbow just gave a nervous laugh.
"No, no, you first," said Rainbow as Mario glared at her as he stood beside the bed. Fluttershy and Twilight just exchanged skeptical looks with each other before taking the first turn.
"Alright, uh..." Twilight pondered with reluctance, "cloud three."
"Aw, shucks, you...rained on my culmulus, heh," said Rainbow as she put a fore-leg over her fore-head. Mario glared.
"There wasn't any...OOMPH!" Mario was cut off again as Rainbow slammed her other fore-hoove hard into his chest. Twilight and Fluttershy just looked at each other puzzled.
"Go again!" said Rainbow, ignoring the death glare Mario was giving her.
"Um...sky five?" Fluttershy said after pondering for a bit.
"Whoa, you found my seagull," said Rainbow as she tossed the piece aside and a cry of a seagull was heard. Mario just continued to glare.
"Uh...cloud two?" Twilight asked.
"You zapped my weather pony!" said Rainbow in a dramatic way that Mario knew was fake as he just rested his head on a fore-hoof and watched her literally let Twilight and Fluttershy win.
"Uh-huh, you stung my bumblebee!" Rainbow called melodramatically as the two ponies made their calls, "Oh, my thunderbolt! Aw, that my last cloud. You found it. Guess you win, I lose." Rainbow then faked a pouty face and horse snort. Mario did the same, but only his pouty face and horse snort were genuine since he didn't even get to play and was shut out.
"But Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy protested as Rainbow grabbed their game board, causing all the pieces to tumble out of it, "you, you didn't even get a turn! And you didn't even let Mario help you!" Rainbow was struggling to force the game box closed when she looked at the two girls and saw that Mario was clearly upset.
"Sorry, Mario," said Rainbow, "I didn't mean to ignore you. Guess I just got too competitive. You win some, you lose some." While Mario could tell her apology was sincere, her reason for pushing him aside and forfeiting the game didn't. He knew she was hiding something, especially since he could see the lump she was sitting on. While Twilight had yet to see the lump, she could tell something was up as well.
"But you don't lose some," Twilight protested as she approached the bed, "I don't think you've ever lost a game of-" Twilight was then cut off when Rainbow lifted her head back and yawned loudly.
"Thanks for coming!" said Rainbow.
"But yesterday you were desperate for things to do!" said Twilight sternly.
"Do? Who said anything about Daring Do?" Rainbow interjected, "I told you I'm not interested in reading." Rainbow then yawned, "It's nap time for me!" Rainbow then turned her lamp off and started to mock snore. Mario looked at her suspiciously before taking a deep breath.
"Dashie, is there something bothering you that you want to talk about?" Mario asked her, "Did you want me to have Twilight and Fluttershy leave so we can talk one on one? I know you're more comfortable talking to me about stuff..." Rainbow didn't answer and just continued her charade of snoring. The three friends just exchanged looks with each other three times.
"Glad we could...cheer you up?" said Fluttershy with uncertainty on her tone as she walked away. Rainbow opened one eye and saw Twilight just glaring at her suspiciously and Mario was just looking worried.
"Talk to us, Dashie," said Mario, "What's on your mind?" Rainbow just yawned loudly again irritably an goes back to sleep.
"Alright then," said Twilight as she left.
"We'll talk later I guess," said Mario sadly as he followed Twilight out of the room. Once they had left her room, Rainbow leaned forward from her bed and watched the shadows outside her room disappear. She could hear Mario's concerns about her as he, Twilight, and Fluttershy walked away.
"Sorry, buddy," said Rainbow quietly so hardly any sound left her lips, "I'll tell you when I'm ready." Rainbow then excitedly grabbed the book underneath her bed sheets and continued reading.
""Daring Do stood at the entrance to the central temple chamber," Rainbow Dash read aloud, ""At last, she was face-to-face with the legendary sapphire statue"!" As Rainbow read, Daring Do looked at the statue curiously and then her eyes grew bigger with excitement at the sight of the treasure she was looking for. She was then brought to a stop when she noticed some tiles with animal pictures on them and well as holes in the walls to show that there was a hidden trap. She quickly kicked a rock towards a tile and it caused a fast barrage of darts to shoot straight across, forming the shape of a pony against the opposite wall.
"Hmm, there must be a pattern here," said Daring Do as she sat down and examined the pictures, "What do all the animals have in common? Ah-ha! These animals are predators...except...rats!" Daring Do took a nervous step on the tile with the picture of the rat on it. Once she saw that nothing was going to happen, she breathed a sigh of relief as she fit all four of her hooves onto the tile. She then carefully hopped from one tile to the next, even wobbling on her hind legs a bit when one hop almost came up short. She quickly recomposed herself and continued on her way, even performing a handstand jump and double flip as she finally reached the platform where the statue was located standing on just her hind legs. Now that Daring Do was by the pedestal, she nervously crawled up the statue and stared at it in awe. As she examined the pedestal the statue was sitting on, she waved her fore-hoof above it for any traps, then wiped her brow and rubbed her fore-hooves together. She then glared at the statue...
...before grabbing it with her mouth.
...
What? Did you expect her to grab a sack and swap it for the statue?
The consequences were the same regardless. As Daring Do put the statue into her hat, she heard the sound of something moving and turned to see a center spoke rise out of the space where the statue had been and then the spoke dropped down into the pedestal. Suddenly, the entire place started to rumble, Daring Do looked about with worry before turning to leave, but the tiled floor broke apart as molten lava started to fill up the interior of the room. She quickly tried to climb to the top of the pedestal to see what she can do. It was then some of the pillars that were against the walls tumbled into the lava and created makeshift platforms toward a hole in the ceiling. Gritting her teeth, Daring Do did some platforming from one fallen pillar to the next until she got as close and as high as she could near the hole. However, the exit opening is still too far out of reach. She hopped in place a bit before she opened her wings a bit to let herself glide up the exit and grabbed the edge with her mouth. Just as she was about to climb up to safety, a huge gust of air sent her flying upward as the lava spewed out of the temple like a volcano. Daring Do landed hard a good distance away from the lava filled temple, but the landing made her drop the statue from her hat and dropped a few feet in front of her. It was then an ape-dog creature stood before Daring Do. His name was Ahuizotl.
"Hello, Rainbow Dash!" said Ahuizotl in...Pinkie's voice?!
Rainbow flinched in surprised as she raised her head to see Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity entered the room. Rainbow quickly hid the book under the bed sheets and tucked herself underneath them as the three friends walked up to her bed.
"How's our patient doing today?" Rarity asked cheerfully as Rainbow said nothing and just began to sweat nervously.
"Ugh, we need to get some fresh air in here," said Applejack as she walked past the bed and toward the window, "You're lookin' sweatier than a pig wrangle on a hot summer's day."
"Uh, well, guys," Rainbow stuttered, "thanks for visiting, but-"
"Okay, now, dinner time for Rainbow Dash," said Nurse Snowheart as Rainbow grabbed the tray of hospital food and set it before herself.
"Oh just in time," said Rainbow, "I am sooo hungry."
"Oh, well, don't mind us," said Rarity as she and the other ponies leaned forward to watch Rainbow eat.
"Yeah, just go ahead and eat up," added Applejack. Rainbow just looked indignant as the three ponies just stared at her with smiles on her faces. Rainbow then began to devour her food sloppily, getting it all over her face, chewing with her mouth open, and making exaggerated eating noises. All three ponies looked rather disturbed and grossed out.
"Uh, on second thought-" said Rarity uneasily.
"Uh, we'll see you tomorrow, Rainbow Dash, heh," Pinkie added in the same tone as the three ponies left Rainbow to eat alone. Once the door was closed, Rainbow, her mouth stuffed with hospital food, spat the contents out of her mouth beside her bed and then picked up her book to continue reading.
Back with Daring Do, she was now at the mercy of Ahuizotl, who had collected the blue statue with his forehand.
"And now, you shall meet your doom!" said Ahuizotl. Daring Do tried to extend a fore-hoof to get the statue back, but to no avail as the ape-dog blew a cat whistle and summoned the four wild cats. The kitten nuzzled the leg of the jaguar as they surrounded the Pegasus. Ahuizotl laughed manically in triumph.
"Whoa! Who is this dude?" said Rainbow in shock as she continued reading.
By now, Daring Do was tied up with the four wild cats surrounding her as they were inside the room of another ancient temple.
"You won't get away with this, Ahuizotl," said Daring Do, panting as she struggled to break free of the thick bounds holding her down.
"But I already have," he remarked deviously as he used the claw at the end of his tail to trigger the trap and open an exit for himself and his kitty minions. The four wild cats, kitten, and Ahuizotl quickly left Daring Do alone as the room began to rumble.
"Not again..." Daring Do remarked in exasperation. The walls beside her left and right generated extra sharp spikes as they began to close in on the Pegasus. As Daring Do continued to struggle, spiders began to crawl out of the holes the spikes had come out of and some snakes began to slither onto the floor and crawl about. But wait, there's more!
"Quicksand!" she exclaimed as the room began to fill up with the dangerous dirt. A snake then crawled on top of her and hissed at her face as she tried to break out of her binds.
"Rainbow Dash?" said an echoing voice in the background, which brought the blue Pegasus out of her story once more. She was not only sitting at the edge of her bed, but had buried herself under her blanket and was using a lantern filled with fireflies for light. The voice belonged to Doctor Horse.
"Rainbow Dash," he repeated, his voice muffled since Rainbow was still under her blanket, "Rainbow Da-ash!" Rainbow struggled about a bit before she finally peeked out of her blanket.
"H-oh, good evening-" said Rainbow.
"Morning," Doctor Horse corrected quickly.
"-morning, Doc," Rainbow repeated as she looked out her window and saw that the sun was rising.
"Have you been up all night?" Doctor Horse asked.
"Uh, of course not," Rainbow denied as she blew the fireflies out of her lantern and smiled sheepishly.
"Well, I'll be quick," said Doctor Horse, "Congratulations, Rainbow Dash. We're checking you out of the hospital."
"What?" said Rainbow in shock as she began to chew her fore-hoof, "Later today?"
"No. Right now!" Doctor Horse answered.
"Right now?!" Rainbow exclaimed as she leaned forward from her bed, ""Right now", right now?"
""Right now" right now," Doctor Hooves confirmed as Nurse Sweetheart and Nurse Snowheart ran over the Rainbow. After some struggling sounds were heard, they had removed Rainbow's hospital gown, taken off the bandages on her wing and had sat her down in a wheelchair.
"But I don't feel better," Rainbow protested as Nurse Sweetheart started wheeling her out of the room.
"Now take it easy, Rainbow Dash," said Doctor Horse, "Remember to stay off that wing for a week." Rainbow looked back in devastation as the book was left under the blankets as Nurse Snowheart waved her goodbye. Once they reached the exit door, Nurse Sweetheart pushed the wheelchair so it simply rolled a few feet away and then the doors were slammed shut. Rainbow was left alone.
"How will I ever find out what happens to Daring Do?!" Rainbow cried out.
"Is Ahuizotl going to get away with the statuette?" said Rainbow as she paced back and forth, "What's going to happen to Daring?" Rainbow then got an idea.
"Ah-ha! Twilight has a copy of the book!" said Rainbow, "Uh, but I can't ask her after I called her an egghead and all...I could ask Mario for his copy, but...I just don't think I ask him either...(sigh)." Rainbow then just let herself fall into her back with a THUD and lay there.
"Ugh, this is making me sick all over again!" said Rainbow as she lay on her side. Then she smirked deviously as she got an idea. It was a few minutes later she walked into the waiting room of the hospital.
"Owww..." Rainbow grunted as she holds a fore-hoof over her head, "Oh, the pain...the pain..."
"Rainbow Dash!" Doctor Horse exclaimed curiously. "What are you doing here, a-anything wrong?"
"Well, uh, my wing!" Rainbow stuttered, "It's still hurtin', Doc." Rainbow took a seat with face buried into a seat cushion as the doctor raised her right wing into the air and look it over.
"Oh, ouch!" Rainbow as she looked at him and twitched in pain, "Right there!"
"I was touching your good wing," Doctor Horse said as a matter of fact.
"Uh, right. Well, I think that's one's hurting too," said Rainbow quickly and gave the doctor a whimper. Doctor Horse looked at her suspiciously and then smiled.
"I think I know what the trouble is," he said with a chuckle, "A severe case of lazy-itis," He then pushed her out of the hospital, making her plop to the ground.
"B-but, you got me all wrong, Doc!" Rainbow protested, "I'm not being lazy!"
"You're fine, Rainbow Dash," said Doctor Horse firmly, "Give it some time and you'll be back in the swing of things."
"Good day, Rainbow Dash," said Nurse Sweetheart.
"Take care!" Nurse Snowheart added before they all headed inside and shut the door.
The sun was beginning to set as Rainbow was still pacing back and forth just a short distance away from the hospital.
"What am I going to do?" Rainbow asked herself, "I'll never get to sleep without knowing what happens to Daring Do! ...Which may not be such a bad thing..." Rainbow smirked once more as she walked away. She had gotten another idea.
Nighttime had fallen as an owl hooted in the distance and the moon was high in the sky. The lights to the hospital were starting to turn off when Rainbow popped out of the bushes wearing an all black suit with a mask to cover all but her face. She slowly began to sneak up to the entrance when she noticed some light coming from the door. Rainbow flinched before a security pony poked their head out of the building holding a flashlight in their mouth. Rainbow took cover on the tarp above the entrance when she noticed an open window on the third floor.
Rainbow quickly snuck inside and peeked around from behind various potted plants and even a cabinet before she quickly hid herself as Doctor Horse came walking past her location. Once he had disappeared, Rainbow crawled out of her hiding spot and looked about the hallway. As if something greater was guiding her, the moon shined through a sunroof and the light showed Rainbow the very room she was looking for. She couldn't resist giving a squee and a smile as she quietly sneaked into the room and tip-toed toward the bed she had stayed in, which was already occupied with a new patient. It didn't take her long to find the book hidden underneath the bed. She quietly sat down and began to read again.
As said before, Daring Do was fighting to get herself free as the quicksand was filling up the room and the spike covered walls were getting closer to her. Let's not forget the crawling spiders and slithering snakes.
"Feels like the harder I struggle," She grunted, "the tighter the ropes get." It was then a spider crawled beside her.
"Help! Burglar! Burglar!" the spider cried out.
Suddenly Rainbow realized as her head bumped the bottom of the bed above her that the voice wasn't from the spider, but actually the pony sleeping in the bed above her. Ironically, his name was Fuzzy Slippers.
"Someone's trying to steal my slippers!" the pony shouted.
"I'm not trying to steal your slippers," Rainbow retorted annoyingly, "I'm trying to steal this book!" Fuzzy Slippers replied by tossing the side table lamp at Rainbow. She quickly ducked as the lamp hit a wall, put the book in her mouth, and jumped out of the room to make her escape.
"Stop, thief!" shouted Nurse Sweetheart as she jumped in front of Rainbow. It was then Nurse Snowheart, Doctor Horse, and a cute little nurse filly in training called Nursery Rhyme appeared to surround the blue Pegasus. Rainbow narrowed her eyes and took off into the air to make her escape, but her flight was short lived when her left wing, which was still recovering, crunched. This sent Rainbow, with the sound of an airplane, crash landing into the rolling book cart, which caused Rainbow to drop the Daring Do book. Rainbow tried to search for the book when the security alarm began to buzz as Rainbow made a run for it out of the hospital. However, Doctor Horse, the two nurses, and the night security ponies gave chase with flashlights in their mouths and barking dogs to track her. As Rainbow was continuing to be chased about the town, some ponies nearby began to turn on their lights inside their homes.
"Hey, nopony invited me!" Pinkie shouted with a blue sleeping nightcap on her head. Rainbow did her best to get away until she found herself at the edge of a large stream with only a single rope dangling in the middle. Rainbow looked back before quickly swinging on the rope and continuing to run off. However, her chasers simply used the nearby bridge to continue pursuing her. Rainbow then ran around Carousel Boutique, waking up Rarity as she popped out wearing a floral night robe.
"Huh! Hasn't anypony heard of beauty sleep?" Rarity asked indignantly. Rainbow then passed a nearby house, banged the door for someone to let her inside, until she noticed her pursuers were gaining on her and took off. As the group chasing her ran by, Mario opened his door, wearing a pastel yellow night robe that had toy trains on it.
"What in the name of Celestia..." Mario remarked as Rainbow ran past the Grand Oak Library. The lights turned on inside as Twilight opened her door, looking very drowsy as Rainbow dived in front of the purple pony.
"Rainbow Dash, why are you stealing slippers?" said Doctor Horse sternly as Nurse Sweetheart stood next to...the watch dog? Apparently it was actually another patient named Screwy, who was making a face similar to Twilight when she went insane. Screwy just barked again and took off.
"Hey, get back to the hospital!" shouted as security pony named Night Watch and went after the pony. It was then Applejack arrived. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Mario were already there wondering what all the fuss was about.
"What's all the ruckus?" Applejack asked out loud.
"Mmm, I'd say it's more of a fracas, then a ruckus," said Pinkie as she popped up before the four ponies.
"What's going on, Rainbow Dash?" Twilight demanded. Rainbow just looked uneasy and insecure. Mario approached her.
"It's going to be alright, Dashie," said Mario sympathetically to calm the blue Pegasus down, "Just talk to us." Rainbow just looked at him, her body trembling a bit. He could see she was afraid to talk but he gave her a smile. Rainbow then slumped forward in defeat.
"I'm an egghead," said Rainbow quietly with a sigh.
"Pardon?" said Rarity as everyone else looked puzzled.
"See, I was trying to get back into the hospital to finish the last chapter of-" Rainbow explained.
""Daring Do and the Quest of the Sapphire Statue"!" Twilight finished excitedly.
"You got me," said Rainbow with her head down. Mario just sat next to her.
"Rainbow, why were you so...worried...to tell us that you like to read?" said Mario, "Did you really think we would make fun of you just because you do?"
"You laughed at me earlier," Rainbow admitted.
"We laughed at what you said," said Mario, "not directly at you."
"We didn't mean to hurt your feelings," Fluttershy added.
"Or make you think you couldn't tell us you liked reading either," Applejack added.
"Liking to read isn't anything to feel uncool or embarassed about, Rainbow," Mario continued, "We're all happy that you found reading something you can enjoy. There's no need to feel embarassed or secretive about it."
"True," said Twilight, "But...Wow, I knew the book was good, but I didn't know it could drive a pony to petty theft."
"Good?" Rainbow exclaimed, "Try awesomely amazing. That book is undeniably, undoubtedly, un-put-down-able! But then I had to put it down; I was sent home before I could finish it." The doctor gasped quietly when he realized that was why Rainbow was so resistant about leaving the hospital.
"Why didn't you just ask me or Twilight for our copy?" Mario asked, "we would have given it to you?" Rainbow just sighed sadly.
"Because of what I said to you guys," said Rainbow, "And let's make this clear. I had no problem admitting I was wrong about reading, but...you remember how you felt when Rarity helped you realized that you enjoyed sewing and dress-making?" Mario hummed in understanding.
"Yeah, while it was something I liked," said Mario, "I still felt embarassed because it was out of my comfort zone. It was really hard telling other ponies about it for a while, even our own friends. So you feel the same way about reading? It's something you like but it's hard to tell others about it?" Rainbow nodded.
"Well, I'm glad that's all this is about," said Twilight.
"There's no reason to go around causin' a ruckus-" said Applejack as everyone gathers around her.
"Fracas!" Pinkie shouted.
"...causin' a fracas," Applejack continued with an eye roll at the pink pony, "just because you like to read." Rainbow smiled, but she still felt rather embarassed as Mario hugged her.
"Does the embarrassment go away?" Rainbow asked him quietly.
"In good time, Sis, in good time," Mario told her and Rainbow smiled, feeling a little better.
Once they were inside the library and Rainbow Dash had removed her black outfit, Twilight showed Rainbow Dash a shelf that held every Daring Do book that had been released so far.
"Like I said," said Twilight as she handed Rainbow the first book, "Mario, and I have every book in the series, and you can borrow them all anytime you like!"
"Uh-huh," said Mario, "Maybe we can even have book reading nights where the three of us can read one of Daring Do's adventures together." Twilight giggled excitedly.
"Oh! We haven't done a book reading night in years!" said Twilight giddily as Rainbow smiled.
"Ok thanks, Twilight. You too, Mario," said Rainbow, "I'm sorry I made such a big deal about all of this. I thought reading was for smart ponies like you."
"Rainbow Dash," said Twilight, "just because you're athletic doesn't mean you aren't smart."
"True, the whole idea that you are either "brains OR brawn" is just so unrealistic these days," Mario added.
"Yeah, just look at me!" said Spike as he raised an arm and fluxed it and gave his "muscle" a kiss. Twilight, Rainbow, and Mario just look at him unamused, making Spike glare at them as he walked off to do some sweeping.
"Reading is something everypony can enjoy," said Twilight, "if they just give it a try."
"Yeah, I get it," said Rainbow, "I shouldn't knock something until I tried it."
"That's a great lesson," said Twilight, "and it would make a great letter to the Princess!"
"Didja get all that?" Rainbow asked as she leaned over to Spike, who was doing some sweeping.
"Yeah?" Spike asked curiously.
"Great!" said Rainbow, "You write the letter, I've gotta finish this book." Rainbow then grabbed the book and ran off. Twilight and Mario just smiled to each other until Rainbow returned.
"Oh! And let me know if we're going to do that Daring Do reading night!" said Rainbow and then took off once again. Mario and Twilight just chuckled to each other.
Now after such a long delay, let's get back to Daring Do's little predicament.
Rather than keep trying to break free, Daring Do managed to set her hat on her stomach, using her mouth and one of her hind legs. She tugged her hat and launched it into the air. The hat ricocheted about the room as the quicksand began to submerge the Pegasus. She quickly took a deep breath as she went under and her hat managed to bump the lever. This caused the sand to drain and the walls to retract as she gasped for air and broke her binds.
"Another day, another dungeon," she said confidently as she put her hat back on her head.
Meanwhile, Ahuizotl was sitting at his throne, which was surrounded by the wild cats. He laughed evilly as he stroked the white kitten and held the statue with his tail claw.
"With Daring Do out of my way," Ahuizotl bragged, "the world will suffer at my mighty hands! I am victorious!" He began to laugh again when suddenly a blur whooshed past him and snagged the statue.
"I'll take that!" said Daring Do as Ahuizotl turned and saw the Pegasus swinging away with the statue at hoof.
"Huh? Wha-? Noooooooo!" Ahuizotl cried out once he saw the statue was gone.
"Better luck next time, Ahuizotl!" Daring Do said confidently as she landed on a ledge far away from the ape-dog.
"Curse you, Daring Do!" he cried out angrily as Daring Do made her way out of the jungle as the sun began to set nearby.
""...The world was safe and sound once again, thanks to Daring Do"," Rainbow read aloud as she sighed in admiration and hugged the book to her chest while laying on her bed. She was glad that she finally got to finish the book. She then reached out for another book since Mario had let her borrow the next eight or so books from his own collection.
""Daring Do and the Griffon's Goblet"," Rainbow read aloud before squealing, "Awesome!" Then she opened the book to head off into another adventure.
And that concludes this adventure!
Peace Pony Fans!