Journey 1 / Chapter 9 Look Before You Rest
Hello everyone, sorry for the late posting, but I've been busy with stuff and I got a new idea for a story. But I need your help a little. To understand, please look at Kamen Rider Ideas on my author page. Now on with the story.
In the town square as the Weather Teams were putting storm clouds into the air. On the ground, Ralts was helping Ponies and Pokemon take loose branches down. Rarity was supposed to help too, but she just put the branches back onto the tree and even turned them into art because they didn't look good. Applejack then used her rope to take them down. Applejack then said to Rarity as their Pokemon partners joined them. "Just take the broken limbs down, Rarity. Don't y'all care about nothing other than prettifying?"
"Somepony has to. All of you are making an absolute mess of the town square."
"Yeah, well, the storm's gonna make an even bigger mess if we don't prune all these loose branches so they don't tumble down on anypony." Applejack said as everyone else started to go home. Rarity looked up and said. "I simply cannot imagine why the Weather Teams would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day."
"Think more practical-like, will ya? They accidentally skipped a scheduled sprinkle last week, so we need a doozy of a downpour to make up for it, is all." Applejack said as the storm started. Rarity then said to Ralts. "Oh no! Ralts, please teleport us back to the shop."
"Sorry Rarity, but I can only teleport us to the last place we visited."
"And that wouldn't be the shop." Rarity said before Applejack said. "You should have finished faster."
"Taking them down or prettifying?" Electrike said and Applejack looked at her. Rarity then started to panic and look for cover. Applejack found a park bench and said to Rarity. "There. Hunker down to your heart's content whilst we finish things." Rarity ran to the bench, but she didn't want to hide under it. As Ralts and Electrike finished the job, Applejack looked at Rarity and said. "Oh, now what?"
"I'd prefer not to get my hooves muddy." Rarity said, pointing at the mud under the bench. Applejack put her right hoof on her head and said to Rarity. "There is just no pleasing you, is there? Everything's got to be just so."
"Oh, well, and how does muddying my hooves serve any useful purpose?"
"Y'all wouldn't know useful if it came up and bit you."
"That doesn't make any sense." Rarity said before Ralts and Electrike go in between them and Electrike said to them. "Ok, that's enough, we don't want somepony saying something that somepony will regret."
"Yeah, let's go home before the storm gets worse." Ralts said and Applejack and Rarity agreed, and everyone was trying to go home. But it was too late. The storm was in full swing and they were all caught in the middle. While Applejack and Electrike took cover under the bench, Rarity and Ralts tried to return home using Ralts her power to make some cover, but the storm was too strong for her. Luckily for them, Twilight saw them and called and opened her door to them. They all ran to Twilight's house, but when they got there, Applejack said to Twilight before she and Electrike entered the house. "Whoa, nellie. Is inside a tree really the best place to be in a lightning storm?"
"It is if you have a magical lighting rod protecting your home like I do. Come on in." Twilight said as Beldum put away the book Twilight had on the floor and Noibat standing next to a book. Rarity then said to Twilight. "We are most grateful for your invitation."
"Thank you kindly for your hospitality." Applejack said before she and Electrike entered the house, but Rarity stopped them and said. "Uh, do be a polite houseguest and go wash up, please, won't you?"
"Come on, partner." Electrike said as she knew that Applejack was at the end of her wits with Rarity's personality. Inside, Twilight said to Rarity and Ralts. "Some storm, huh? The Weather Teams sure have outdone themselves this time. I hope all of you don't have any trouble getting home."
"It may, indeed, be a problem." Rarity said before Beldum said to Ralts. "Can you use Teleport to get you guys home?"
"I can't. Teleport transports me and whatever I'm touching to the last building I entered." Ralts said and Twilight and Beldum figured out that this was the last building Ralts entered. So Twilight said to them. "Well, you all are more than welcome to stay if need be. Spike is staying at Fantomu place for a guys night. So it's just me, Beldum, and Noibat tonight." Twilight then had an idea. "You four should totally sleep over! We'll have a slumber party! I've always wanted one of those."
"Didn't you and Fantomu have slumber parties, when you guys lived in Canterlot?" Noibat said and Twilight said. "Actually, I didn't want to do one when I was in Canterlot, but after coming here I wanted to have one. Oh, wait." Twilight said as she started to look for a book. She showed it to Rarity and Rarity read the cover to the Pokemon. "Slumber 101: All you've ever wanted to know about slumber parties but were afraid to ask."
"Fantomu gave me this after I told him I wanted to have a slumber party. And let me tell you. It's a fantastic reference guide. You should see the table of contents. I've been waiting for a chance to use it, and today's the day. This is gonna be so great!" Twilight said with a big smile. Rarity was going to say no, but after seeing how happy Twilight was acting. Rarity agreed and a few minutes later, Applejack and Electrike entered the house with clear feet. "What in tarnation?!" Applejack said as she saw green mud on everyone's face. Electrike went over to the Pokemon as they were reading the book and Applejack said to Rarity. "Now wait just a goldarn minute! You make me and Electrike wash the mud off our feet, but it's okay for y'all to mud all over your faces?"
"Silly. This is called a mud mask. It's to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion." Rarity said before Twilight said. "We're giving each other makeovers! We have to do it. It says so in the book." Twilight then took the book from the Pokemon and Applejack read the cover. That surprised her and she tried to make an excuse, so that she didn't have to hang out with Rarity. But with the storm still ragging, so Applejack had to hang out with Rarity. Twilight then took the book back and said to everypony. "Isn't this exciting? We'll do everything by the book, and that will make my slumber party officially fun."
"Did you hear that, Applejack? You certainly would not want to do anything that would ruin Twilight's very first slumber party, would you?" Rarity said to Applejack and Applejack said to her. "Of course not. And you wouldn't, either, I reckon."
"So, do we have an agreement?"
"You betcha."
"This is gonna be the bestest slumber party ever!" Twilight said as put Rarity and Applejack into a hug. After Twilight let Rarity and Applejack go, Ralts said to Electrike. "So how long do you think they'll last?"
"Hard to say. They are already at the end of their robes for each other, but they don't want to ruin Twilight's slumber party." Electrike said as they started the slumber party. The first activity was makeovers. Everyone with hair had hair rollers in their head and Rarity said to Applejack. "So… How are you getting along over there, Applejack?"
"Just fine, Rarity." Applejack said, but she wasn't happy. Twilight then said with a smile. "This is so awesome! Makeovers, check." Twilight then used her magic to remove the hair rollers from everyone's hair and their hair returned to normal. As Electrike gave Applejack her hat back, Twilight said to them. "Ooh! It says here we have to tell ghost stories."
"Too bad we don't have any Ghost Pokemon." Noibat said before Beldum and Ralts said together. "No Ghost Pokemon please."
"How about you let me tell you a ghost story." Applejack said before telling them her ghost story. "I'd like to tell y'all the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost who drove everypony crazy with their unnecessary neatness." She then made ghost sounds. "I'm sure y'all are familiar with that one."
"Never heard of it, but I have a much better one." Rarity said knowing that Applejack was talking about her, so she made a ghost story about Applejack. "It's the horrifying story of the messy, inconsiderate ghost who irritated everypony within 100 miles!" Rarity then made ghost noises too and Applejack knew the story was about her. As Applejack and Rarity started to fight over their ghost stories, Electrike said to Ralts. "You know, couldn't they get along like us, Ralts?"
"I wish, Electrike." Ralts said as they all heard thunder crash and the lights went off. But it was Twilight who turned off the lights and said to them as she turned on a lantern "I've got one."
"What Twilight?" Beldum said before Twilight said. "This story is called "The Legend of the Headless Horse." Twilight then told all of them the story. The story was about how a headless horse attacked a group of ponies who were having a slumber party on a dark and stormy night. With the light's off, and the sound of thunder in the background, Twilight story was scaring all of them. And at the end of the story, Twilight turned off the lantern and covered her head in a sheet that made her look headless. So when the thunder crashed, the others saw her and thought they saw the headless horse. That freaked them all out and after Twilight turned on the lights, which calmed them down. Twilight then looked at the book and said. "Ghost Stories, check."
"Man, that was a scary Twilight, right gals?" Noibat said as everyone was still in a hug. Applejack and Rarity looked at one another and let go. But Twilight pushed them back into the hug and said as she joined them. "Now, who wants s'mores?"
"Me!" The Pokemon said togther as Twilight used her magic to grab the s'more ingredients from the kitchen. As the Pokemon cooked the marshmallow. Rarity was putting the ingredients together and Twilight and Applejack were watching. Once Rarity was done with only one, she expected them to admire the s'more she made. But Applejack just took the s'more and ate it. Rarity looked at Applejack with an angry look and after Applejack belched, Rarity scoffed and said to Applejack. "You could at least say, "Excuse me."
"Oh, I was just about to, but you interrupted me. Pardon." Applejack said, as the Pokemon finished cooking the marshmallow. After they all had finished the s'mores, Twilight said to them. "S'mores, check. Now the next item of fun we have to do is Truth or Dare."
"Uh, oh." Ralts and Electrike said together, knowing this activity was going to push their partners to the edges. And it started when Rarity said. "I dare Applejack to do something carefully and neatly for a change."
"Oh, yeah? Well, I dare Rarity to lighten up and stop obsessing over every last little detail for a change."
"I think the truth of the matter is that somepony could stand to pay a little more attention to detail."
"And I think the truth is somepony ought to quit with her fussing so the rest of us can get things done."
"Um, I don't think this is how the game's supposed to work. You have to give an honest answer to any question or do whatever anypony dares you to do." Twilight said while reading the book. Twilight and the Pokemon then watch Rarity and Applejack do dares that would drive the other one crazy. Ralts and Electrike got in between them and Ralts said to them. "I think that is enough Truth or Dare."
"Yeah, check off Truth or Dare Twilight, and tell us the next activity?" Electrike said and Twilight looked at the book. "Ok? The next fun, fun, fun thing is…? Hmm, what does this mean? "Pillow Fight?"
"Not that!" Ralts and Electrike said together, as Beldum and Noibat brought over a bunch of pillow's. Rarity wasn't going to fight, but after Applejack hit her in the face with a pillow. That caused Rarity and Applejack to have a full out pillow fight, each using their skills against the others. In the middle of the fight was Twilight and the Pokemon. "Oh, I get it. Pillow… Fight. Fun!" Twilight said before she was hit with pillows from both sides of the fight. The Pokemon were able to dodge the pillows and Beldum said as Ralts and Electrike stopped the fighting. "Are you ok Twilight?"
"Yeah, but that is enough fun. Let's call it a night and get some sleep." Twilight said as ducks appeared over her head. After a few minutes, everyone was trying to fall asleep. The Pokemon were all sharing Beldum bed, which was a big circle basket bed, and Twilight was in her own bed, all of them were doing ok, but not Rarity and Applejack. Rarity and Applejack were sharing a spare bed Twilight had, however they were still at odds with one another. "Keep your muddy hooves on your side of the bed." Rarity said to Applejack and Applejack said to Rarity. "My hooves ain't muddy."
"There might still be a little on them."
"There ain't. See?" Applejack said, showing Rarity her front right hoof. Applejack's hoof didn't have any mud, but it was very low for Rarity's opinion on how once hoof should be. "Now who's being inconsiderate?" Applejack said as she took the blanket from Rarity. "I have to make the bed again so the blanket will be right. Get out" Rarity said as she took the blanket back and pushed Applejack off of the bed. She then made the bed again and Applejack was going to go back to bed, but Rarity stopped her and said. "Unh–unh-unh. You'll ruin it, you have to do it like this." Rarity then entered the bed and the bed looked like it was made with Rarity already on it. Applejack wasn't going to do what Rarity just did. She just jumped into bed, causing Rarity to get kicked out and the blanket to cover her. Rarity got up and said to Applejack. "You did that on purpose."
"Um, yeah."
"Get up so I can fix it again."
"Can't hear you. I'm asleep." Applejack said as she imitated shoring. Unknown to Rarity and Applejack, because they were starting another fight, Twilight and the Pokemon woke up. But they did care. Rarity took the blanket with her mouth and Applejack said. "I ain't bugging."
"You will if you want this blanket!" Rarity said before Applejack pulled on the blanket with her mouth. That started a tag-of-war between them and the longer they fought, the louder they got. They only stopped when Twilight yelled at both of them. "Enough!" She then pulled out the sleepover book and pointed to a line in the book. "It says right here that the number-one thing you're supposed to do at a slumber party is fun. And thanks to you two, I can't check that off." Twilight said as she closed the book. Applejack let go of the blanket and said. "I've been trying my darndest to get along."
"No, it is I who have been trying my best." Rarity said before Beldum said to Electrike and Ralts. "Will you two talk to them?"
"Ok." Electrike and Ralt said together before they walked over to their partners. Electrike was the first to speak. "Applejack, you haven't been trying at all to make this fun."
"The same can be said about you, Rarity." Ralts said and both of them looked at their partners. Electrike and Ralt then told them how they were just fighting the whole time and they tried to prove that it wasn't true, but that started another fight. They stopped when Twilight said. "I hope you're happy, both of you. You've ruined my very first slumber party, the makeover, the s'mores, truth or dare, the pillow fight! I mean, is there anything else that could possibly go wrong?!" Then lighting struck the tree a few feet away from them. "Sorry I asked." Twilight said as Noibat hit the lights and they looked at the tree. That tree wasn't on fire, but the top was going to fall on a pony's house. Applejack looked at Rarity and said. "You see? That's why we need to take down all of those branches in town, not spiffy them up."
"But I–"
"Out of my way, missy! Time's a-wastin." Applejack said as she opened the window and grabbed her robe. Rarity tried to stop Applejack, but it was too late. Applejack wrapped her robe around the tree and pulled it away from the house, but that caused the tree to crash into Twilight house through the window. It knocked Noibat out, and the other Pokemon helped their partner out of the tree. Rarity then said to Applejack, very mad. "I tried to tell you it would come crashing down in here!"
"Well, you should have tried harder!" Applejack said before Electrike said. "Now is the time to be fighting, we need to figure out how to get the tree out of here. Twilight, any ideas?"
"No. I don't know. The book doesn't say anything about what to do with a giant tree branch in the middle of my bedroom. Or at least I haven't found that entry yet." Twilight said as she opened and looked through the book. Beldum tried to talk to her, but a gust of wind knocked Beldum into a bookcase and that caused books to fall on top of her and knock her out too. Applejack knew Twilight wasn't going to help with this, so she had no choice but to ask Rarity for help. But Rarity was putting away the books that were on the floor. That made Applejack mad and she said to Rarity. "What in tarnation are y'all doing over there?!"
"Cleaning up this mess somepony made! Who was that again? Oh, right, that's you!" Rarity said before their Pokemon said at the same time. "Well you two stop fighting and actually listen to one another!" They both looked at their Pokemon and Applejack said. "Look… I'm sorry, all right?"
"What was that?"
"I said, "I'm sorry"! I should have listened to you when you noticed where this branch would end up. Your annoying attention to detail would have saved us from this whole mess. But right now, you need to stop being so dang fussy, picking up all those little things, and help me move the one big thing in here that actually matters! Please!"
"But I'll get all icky."
"Consarn it." Applejack said before Electrike looked at her. Applejack knew what Electrike wanted to say, so Applejack said to Rarity. "I mena, yes, sickness is often a side effect of hard work. But y'all need to get over it on account of I just can't fix this mess I made myself. I need your and the Pokemon's help." After thinking for a few seconds, Rarity joined Applejack and the Pokemon to remove the tree. As Twilight was still reading the book, and thinking it was like camping, but Applejack had a plan. Ralts used her physic powers to lift the tree up, Electrike cut the tree up with her fangs, Rarity turned the branch and a few pieces into figures, and Applejack gently got rid of the remaining pieces before closing the window. Noibat and Beldum woke up and they, along with Twilight, saw the figure. "Ooh, pretty. Where did these come from? They're not in the book, either." Twilight said as she looked at the book again. The following morning, after getting some sleep and before the sun was up. The girl was trying the sleepover again, but this time everyone was having fun, and they were playing 20 Questions. Applejack was ask Twilight a question. "Is it bigger than a barn?"
"Nope." Twilight said and then Rarity said. "Is it smaller than a saddle?"
"Nope." Twilight said and then Electrike said. "Is it in this house?"
"Yes." Twilight said and then Ralts said. "Is it a book?"
"Nope." Twilight said and then Noibat said. "Is it for the ears?"
"Nope." Twilight said and then Beldum said. "Is it for our eyes?"
"Yes, only 3 of your 20 questions are left." Twilight said before Applejack said. "We're never gonna guess what you're thinking of. It could be anything."
"Are we getting warmer?" Rarity said to Twilight and Twilight said. "Why? Is it too cold in here for you? I can turn up the heat."
"She means, are we getting any closer with our guesses?" Beldum said and Twilight said. "Oh! No. And that technically counted as a question. So only two more left."
"I got it! The telescope!" Noibat said as she flew and landed on the telescope. Twilight clapped her hooves and said. "Nice job Noibat. Oh and I'm so glad you two are finally getting along."
"It just took a tree in your bedroom to start having fun." Electrike said and they all laughed. After they were all done, Applejack said to Rarity. "If only somepony hadn't been so persnickety."
"Well, maybe she wouldn't have been if somepony else hadn't been so sloppy." Rarity said and the tension did build up between them again, but it was quickly released. Applejack then said to Rarity. "Sorry for being such a pain in the patootie."
"Oh, no. I'm sure I was much worse." Rarity said before Ralts said. "Sorry to say Rarity, but you and Applejack both were not being cool last night."
"Yeah, I agree with Ralts." Electrike said before Applejack and Rarity laughed again. Twilight then gave everyone a hug and said. "I declare my first slumber party a success." As the others cheered, Twilight checked for fun from the book. As Applejack, Rarity and the Pokemon were playing more games. Twilight, who was excited for another sleepover, was writing a letter to Celestia that said. "Dear Princess Celestia, it's hard to believe that two ponies who seem to have so little in common could ever get along. But I found out that if you embrace each other's differences, you just might be surprised to discover a way to be friends after all."
