private Door to Vehiculia (Part 1)

[Aureity 3,055]

Rainbow Dash rocketed into the air heading straight for Cloudsdale, her bad mood taking a noticeable toll on her flying as she swerved to avoid a couple of pegasi who were frolicking on a nearby cloud.

 

"Lousy Twi...making me miss the Wonderbolts..." she grumbled under her breath, fuming angrily. "If only I hadn't..." she continued, her mind already formulating her next rant about the opportunity she had missed, and not at all concentrating on her flying, which resulted in a spectacular head injury on the side of the Cloudsdale Candle Shop.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

Rip Tide mumbles as he opens one eye and shifts his head to see Rainbow Dash, who had been hit onto her head, amidst having a blurred vision as he cannot see the pegasi clearly. "Heh. Crash and burn. Awesome." Rip Tide slightly chuckles. "Now, to resume flying for some..." Rip Tide yawns. "Z's." he then snores as he resumes to sleep.

Edited July 21, 2012 by Jon the VGNerd

[Aureity 3,055]

"Hey!" yelled Rainbow Dash, having heard the snide remark. Her anger needed an outlet, and she found it in this lazy-looking pegasi. For a second, she considered bucking him into a nearby cloud, before spotting a rusty old bucket lying discarded beside the candle shop that she had collided into earlier. With one swift move, she seized the bucket and jammed it onto the pegasi's head, smirking slightly.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

Rip Tide is then hit inside the head as she jammed it inside, his head being completely covered from the rusty old bucket by Rainbow Dash. He gets up in a startling manner as he looks around, inadvertently dropping Techie's book onto the cloud. "What the--? Who turned out the lights?" Rip Tide's voice muffles from his head being covered from the bucket by Rainbow Dash. "Eh. At least I'll try and wake up tomorrow." Rip Tide lays down onto the cloud once more, crossing his front hooves, as if he was holding onto the book, not aware that Techie's book is no longer in his possession.

[Aureity 3,055]

Rainbow Dash fumed as Rip Tide settled down to sleep, acting as if he was completely unperturbed by just being blinded by a bucket. Dash cou;dn't let him get the best of her just like that. She looked around for anything else to use, but couldn't find anything more interesting than a feather. Scowling, and looking for a way to get even, she spotted a book lying by the arrogant little pegasi, and immediately dived to retrieve it. She flipped through it uninterestedly - she really didn't care what was inside. But snatching it up triumphantly, she laughed to the bucket-headed pegasi, "This will teach you to mess with me. I'll have fun dropping this little book into the first pool I find!" Her desire for revenge satisfied, she flew off quickly with the book before he could respond.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

The male pegasi simply lies there, completely unaware that Rainbow Dash has snatched Techie's book as an act of revenge from making negative remarks after her accident as the snoring is muffled by a bucket that was wedged inside his head by Rainbow Dash herself.

[Aureity 3,055]

Rainbow Dash soared over Cloudsdale, letting the gentle breeze blow over her face as she flew. WIth each wingflap, her thoughts drifted further and further away from the missed opportunity with the Wonderbolts, and she felt more and more at ease. By the time she had landed at the Rainbow Factory, she felt her normal, perky self. Trodding gently on the clouds, she blinked, wondering what exactly she was doing in the Rainbow Factory, before remember the small book she was holding in her hoof. She frowned as she held it up, the horror becoming suddenly apparent to her. I-I'm not a thief!

 

Frantically she swivelled her head, trying to remember where she had come from, but her head, which was still pounding slitghly from her collision, proved unhelpful, and finally Rainbow Dash gave up with an irritated groan.

 

I know! I'll give it to Twilight and she might be able to make use of it! With that idea fresh in her mind, she dropped through the clouds, heading straight towards Ponyville.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

As Rip Tide sleeps, he becomes restless and struggles to free himself from the bucket, eventually doing so, which causes his head to slingshot back onto the cloudy ground, 'causing his eyes to roll around in a dizzying manner before shaking his head to regain his consciousness and trying to remember what has happened. "Ow, my head... what just happened? Its like a ghost just bashed me in the head all of a sudden... or something." Rip Tide mentions to himself. "Plus... every time I sleep, I just get more restless and..." he pauses, and realizes that the book has become missing. He quickly looks at the sky and sees that its still partially dark. "...well at least Techie's still asleep, though I need to find the book, just to be safe." Rip Tide then flies off of Cloudsdale in search for Techie's book of Vehiculia, while trying to keep himself from being worried too much.

[Aureity 3,055]

Rainbow Dash landed carefully with a thud in front of the familar-looking tree library, still holding onto the strange little book. Awkwardly scuffing the ground outside the door for a few seconds, she gave a gentle knock on the wooden doorframe.

 

It creaked open slowly, and Twilight poked her head out of the entrance. "Who - oh, it's you, Dash." She looekd upset, and her eyes were red, almost as if she had been crying.

 

"Look," said Dash, beginning to feel guilty. "I-I'm sorry, Twi. I shouldn't have yelled at you. You were just trying to do the right thing for-for Fluttershy, after all."

 

Twilight searched Dash's face for a few silent moments, before glancing down at the ground. "It-it's alright. I shouldn't have worried so much, either. If I hadn't, you could have met the Wonde-".

 

"It's alright," said Dash, now slightly more cheerful. "I'll get another chance someday, I know it. But friends are more important, anyway. Which reminds me - I found this book a while ago," she said, handing over Rip Tide's battered old book. "I thought you might want it."

 

"Oh," said Twilight, taking it from her and flipping through. "Well, it sure does look interesting."

 

Dash smiled. "I've gotta go check on Fluttershy now, but I'll be back later with a big ol' apology cake, okay?"

 

Twilight looked up, startled. "You don't have to d-" she began, but Dash was already gone.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

As the aquamarine pegasi colt searches around, he spots Rainbow Dash, who had already left Twilight's library, and flies down in front of the door from Twilight's library and knocks at the door, hoping if someone has the book. "Hello? Anypony home?" Rip Tide asks.

[Aureity 3,055]

Twilight frowns at the strange-looking book and shrugs as she flipped through it quickly, the name "Vehicula" not ringing a bell to her. She dropped it on a table and yawned widely, thinking of how nice it would be to go to bed. Especially considering that the sun had set quite a while ago. Tired, she trotted up the stairs, closing the door behind her.

 

Rainbow Dash flew back to the library as quickly as she could without dropping the large chocolate cake that she had balanced precariously on her backside, stopping dead when she saw a familiar-looking pegasi already standing in front of the door, waiting patiently.

 

"You?" she asked in surprise. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

The male pegasi then turns his attention to Rainbow Dash while waiting for Twilight to answer. "Huh? Oh, I was looking to get my book back my awesome friend in Canterlot gave me to read it." Rip Tide said with a small chuckle. "Oh! I'm Rip Tide, by the way, newpony in... erm..." he pauses for a moment, trying to remember the town he's residing in "Cloudsdale, I think? Yeah! Cloudsdale! Flew all the way to Ponyville just to meet up with my cool friend Techie, who's in Canterlot. Heh, who'd knew my pal would be in a fancy place in Equestria?" Rip Tide finishes his introduction. "Now then, who you might be?" Rip Tide asks Rainbow Dash's name.

Edited July 22, 2012 by Jon the VGNerd

[Aureity 3,055]

"I'm...uh, Rainbow Dash," said Dash quickly, hoping to draw his attention away from the library and the embarrasing scenario that would occur if Twilight gave the book back with an explanation that Dash had been the one to give it to her. "Wh-what makes you think the book's here, though? This is just a library...and it's closed, by the way," she added. "They're always closed by sundown."

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

"Oh well. Might as well call it a day, then. If you find the book of an 'alternate dimension of Equestria' book, known as Vehiculia" Rip Tide then says to himself, "that's what Techie used to say, or the book itself" he turns his attention to Rainbow Dash. "tell him or her to bring it to Canterlot, 'cause Techie, my awesome friend and bro, has a really, really, cool machine that takes you to... ehh, I'm no techno-geek or anything, but he'll pretty much explain it all." Rip Tide explains to Rainbow Dash. "Catch ya later, Rainbow Dash! Oh, and bring your friends with you, cause they don't wanna miss this kind of opportunity!" He flies off from the ground as he soars into the sky. "See ya!" Rip Tide said in the distance as he flies back to Cloudsdale to rest for the day.

Edited July 23, 2012 by Jon the VGNerd

[Aureity 3,055]

"Yeah, cool," said Rainbow Dash quickly, glad to see him gone. After a bit, when she was sure that he had disappeared over the horizon, she gave a gentle knock and opened the door with a gentle creak.

 

"Hey, Twi," she said, looking over towards the studious purple pony that was hunched over a battered old oak desk, seemingly asleep beside a glass of apple cider. Somehow, most of it had dripped down her front. "Here's a nice big chocolate cake for you. As, uh...apology for the, um...yelling. Um...Twi?" she asked, as the purple pony made no motion to indicate that she had heard Rainbow Dash.

 

"Twi?" she asked, trotting over to the table. "Hey, Twi, are you asleep again?" She prodded the pony, and with a crash, Twilight Sparkle flopped to the ground, causing Rainbow Dash to trip over backwards in surprise and drop the cake on the floor. Chocolate frosting flew everywhere.

 

"Hey, Twi!" Dash said angrily, wiping frosting off of her muzzle. "Not cool! WAKE UP!" She gave the purple pony a vigurous shake, then rolled her over on her back. And that was when she figured it out. Even in the dim candlelight, any filly could tell that the gentle liquid congealing on Twilight's chest was not apple cider. It was blood.

 

"AHHH!" yelled Dash in fright, her wings frantically flapping and her hooves skidding across the ground as she bolted towards the entrance. The bookshelves zoomed by in a flash as she pelted full-speed towards the doorframe that promised freedom, her heart beating frantically against her ribcage.

 

"Going somewhere?" asked a sinister voice from the shadows, and Rainbow Dash whirled around, startled. She opened her mouth to scream again, her heart skipping a beat momentarily, but before she could, a strong muscular hoof descended upon her head. Her entire world shattered.

 

~~~

"I should really check up on Dash," murmured Fluttershy worriedly, watching from her cottage. "She's been so depressed sice she came to see me a few hours ago. That fight with Twilight really put her down...and it's all my fault," she added, hiding her mouth behind a lock of long pink hair. "Ohhh...but she might get even more mad if she sees me again."

 

Dancing around in agonized indescision for a full half-minute, she finally made her choice, rushing out of the door quickly before her brain had a chance to pull her back.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

As Rip Tide arrives to Cloudsdale, he has an odd feeling about this and decides to double check on the library just to be sure. He didn't seem to be bothered checking on Techie as he does not want to disturb his friend as he flies back down to the library. "Why in the hay would I get an odd feeling about this? It's like... somepony's disturbing the good stuff or something like that..." He arrives at the library, but quickly lands onto the balcony to avoid being seen by Fluttershy. He takes a peek at the window and is shocked to see what he is witnessing; he sees a shadowy figure already knocked Rainbow Dash onto her head.

 

He quickly turns around, trying to not scream as he tries to keep himself calm. "If this is some sort of some sick nightmare... then this is what happens when I flew solo without getting a proper good night's sleep for ten straight days." Rip Tide thought before sneaking inside the library to avoid being seen. He then spots Twilight, who was stabbed before covering his mouth, doing his best to not lose his appetite from his previous lunch with Techie in Canterlot. "Ugh... sick... I gotta hod onto my brunch and help that Rainbow Dash pony out." Rip Tide says in a thought as he stealthily approaches to try and rescue Rainbow Dash, but, to his misfortune, a slight creak noise is released from the wooden steps. Rip Tide becomes startled from the noise. "Aww hayfeathers..."

[Aureity 3,055]

The shadowy figure looked up as Rip Tide clumsily causes the floorboards to squeak. "Best not to draw attention, we have what we want," it said in the calm voice of an unknown stallion. "I'll be seeing you..." Clutching a familiar-looking book to his chest, the shadowy figure nodded his head, and was instantly surrounded in a cloud of mist, vanishing in a few seconds and leaving not a trace behind.

 

~~~

 

Fluttershy stopped, confused, by the doorway, where she could hear distinct muffled thumps and thuds. "Twilight doesn't allow noise in the library," she murmured. "Something's wrong!" Anxiously, she rushed into the door, only to be repelled by a strange cloud of mist that made her eyes water and sting. Coughing, she retreated a few steps as the mist dissapated, her suspicions heightened. Peering through the doorway, she saw, by candlelight, a strange-looking pegasi in the library, Rainbow Dash lying on the ground, and Twilight crumpled in a heap. And was that...Fluttershy had nursed enough animals to know blood when she saw it.

 

Rage as she had never felt before welled up inside of Fluttershy, instantly silencing her timid, shy feelings, as with a roar of anger she leapt at the strange pegasi, attempting to bring him to the ground.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

"Ack! Wrong pony, wrong pony!" Rip Tide exclaims as he was tackled onto the ground by Fluttershy while attempting to rescue both Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle, much to his shocked expression from Fluttershy's rage as he tries to reason with the angry pegasi.

Edited July 24, 2012 by Jon the VGNerd

[Aureity 3,055]

Fluttershy glared at the intruder pony. "I don't know you! And I saw you go in! And...and Twilight," she spluttered as she continued wrestling with the strange pony.

 

Twilight opened one groggy eye as she ever-so-slightly swiveled her head. Her head was pounding fiercely, and she could only manage to budge it a few inches before the pain made her eyes water, and nearly caused her to black out again.

"Hey, ponies," she muttered weakly to the wresting pair of Fluttershy and Rip Tide. "Cut it out, will you? This...this is...a li...brary." Her eyes closed again as the effort of expelling that single sentence drained her energy, and she fell asleep on the desk once more.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

Rip Tide takes a deep breath before telling Fluttershy, "I'm Rip Tide and I'm a newpony in Cloudsdale, I just flew in to see my childhood friend Techie, who's in Canterlot and told me to safeguard it so I could read the book about an alternate dimension of Equestria known as Vehiculia! I wasn't harming your friends, but was trying to rescue them from harm and Techie's book got stolen! Please, I'm being honest with you for once!" Rip Tide closes his eyes in fear as he refrains from resisting Fluttershy as he is still wrestled by her.

[Aureity 3,055]

Fluttershy scowled. "Why are you in the library, then?" she asked suspiciously, but nonetheless stopped attempting to pin Rip Tide to the ground.

 

"Hey, Rainbow," an orange mare with a yellow ponytail and a cowboy hat said eagerly, running through the doorway. "Ah saw ya carryin' a great big chocolate cake, and it sure looked delic-" Applejack stopped midsentence, her eyes widening as she took in the scene of destruction.

 

"Well, boy howdy. What in tarnation happened here?" she demanded, stamping a hoof on the ground.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

"I was trying to stop that shadowy-looking pony who has Techie's book before he vanished and I tried using stealth... well, tried to, until he saw me and then dissapeared before I had the chance to stop it." Rip Tide finishes explaining Fluttershy after he was no longer pinned down by her. "How am I supposed to explain this to Techie when he finds out his book was stolen..." Rip Tide thought with worry.

[Aureity 3,055]

"Likely story," said Fluttershy furiously, her rage still pulsing throughout her body, though beginning to subside. "Well, I tell you what! You're going to stay right here until Dash wakes up and can tell the full story, and we'll see if you're a criminal or not! That is...if...if it's okay with you," she added timidly. Applejack simply looked nonplussed.

 

"Well, then, we're in a bit o' a pickle, ain't we," Applejack commented, still looking around the wrecked library. "Erm, hang on - ah'll get Nurse Redheart." She turned and rushed right back out the door, nearly slipping on a piece of chocolate cake on the way.

[Jon the VGNerd 894]

Rip Tide, who wasn't even planning on leaving the library in any way, promptly stays inside the library under Fluttershy's harsh comment towards him, staying silent and not saying a single comment at all as he can only wait until Fluttershy tells hims so.

[Aureity 3,055]

Rainbow Dash blearily opened an eye, ignoring the pounding headache that made her want to snap them shut again.

"Ugh..." she groaned, articulating her feelings at the moment. "Where...?"

 

"Oh!" said Fluttershy, jumping up off the ground and anxiously fluttering to Dash's limp form. "Are you okay, Rainbow Dash?"

 

"Where am I, Fluttershy?" Dash asked weakly. "I was...somewhere...and then...I got clonked over the head by someone."

 

"DId that someone look like him," asked Fluttershy, pointing accusingly at Rip Tide.

 

Dash looked confused. "Sheesh, how am I supposed to know?" she asked in irritation. "Can't a mare wake up without going through an interrogation? All I want is a headache cure..."

 

Applejack skidded back into the library with a gang of medic ponies behind her, panting hard. "Record...timing," she stammered, breathing heavily. "Over...there," she added weakly to the medics behind her, who instantly swarmed the unconscious Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash waving them off as they approached her.

 

"Don't worry about me, worry about the pony that got stabbed," Dash said irritably.

 

Fluttershy cast Dash a concerned look before turning back to Rip Tide. "So...this 'shadowy figure'. Who was that? And what's this book you're talking about?" she asked suspiciously. Rainbow Dash turned bright red at the last sentence and tried to look uninterested.