Chapter Three – Rainbow Dash

Nothing in Equestria could compare to the feeling of flying. Soaring over the heads of ponies below, with the wind racing passed you. It was a rush beyond anything capable of Earth ponies and unicorns, there was just nothing like it. That's why Rainbow Dash loved flying.

As the wind whipped through her rainbow-colored mane, she executed a perfect backwards double barrel roll, and landed expertly on a nearby cloud. "Woohoo!" she cried, hoof-pumping into the air. Another trick completed.

"Hey, Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash!" a voice called out. Dash recognized the voice instantly. Poking her head around the drifting cloud she was on, Dash spotted a pink mare directly below.

"Hey Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash said. "What's up?"

Pinkie giggled slightly before answering. "You are apparently. That was an amazing trick!"

"If you liked that one, then stick around. I got plenty more for you," the cyan pegasus got herself prepared to takeoff.

"Oh, I can't," Pinkie Pie said, stopping Dash in mid leap. "Gotta get back to Sugar Cube Corner and set up for the party."

"Isn't that tomorrow, though?" Dash asked, puzzled.

The pink mare giggled wildly. "I have a lot of decorations," she explained. "And I have to prepare food for everypony in town. Plus the 43 new ponies that arrived today." Pinkie cringed inwardly, and then corrected herself. "Uh, make that 42 ponies."

"Wait a minute. Is somepony not coming to your party?" Rainbow asked, incredulous. Pinkie gave a squeamish look then nodded. "Somepony isn't coming to YOUR party?!" Dash practically shouted.

"Rainbow calm down. I'm sure my 100th party spectacular extravaganza won't need everypony in Ponyville to show up for it to be super fun," but even as she said the words, Pinkie got visibly sadder.

"Pinkie Pie, I'm going to hunt down this pony and make them come to your party! Who is it?"

"Dash, don't worry about. He doesn't want to show up…"

Rainbow Dash wasn't the least bit swayed. In fact, she seemed even more determined. "Oh he's gonna want to, Pinkie. Trust me."

Pinkie Pie, oblivious to the threatening tone in her pegasus friend's voice, perked up when she heard Dash's promise. "Well if that's the case," she said. "He's this pegasus that just came into town, red hair, blue coat, wings that have two colors… Anyway his name's Frostburn." Pinkie spilled out. "But he really seemed like he didn't want to go, Dash."

"Don't you worry about that, Pinkie. He'll be there," Rainbow assured. Whether he wants to or not.

-/-

Her conversation with Pinkie Pie had been four hours ago, and Rainbow Dash still hadn't found the pegasus known as Frostburn. Let alone convince him to go to Pinkie's party.

Thinking a pegasus would be in the clouds, Dash had scoured the skies, looking for anyone who would match the description her friend gave her. No luck there. So then she flew around town, passing over every road and building without seeing a hint of the pegasus.

Frustrated, Dash flew by one last building, which she doubted very much that Frostburn would show up at. Fluttershy's cottage.

Flying swiftly to the door, Rainbow gave it two concise knocks. A high-pitched peep came from inside the house. No doubt Fluttershy was startled by the sudden house call.

"W-who is it?" The yellow pegasus whispered from inside.

"It's me," Rainbow said.

The door to the house opened slowly to reveal Fluttershy, giving her famous shy smile. "Oh, hi Rainbow Dash. What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for this pegasus. He's got a blue coat and red hair. I don't think you would've seen him." Fluttershy opened her mouth as if she were about to speak. Rainbow, unaware, cut her off. "I mean, I fly all over town, and nopony anywhere has seen him yet. It's like he's invisible or something."

"Rainbow…" Fluttershy said, meekly, not wanting to interrupt.

"How somepony can go through town completely unseen is beyond me. It's like he's trying to not be noticed. You know?"

"Yes, I see your point but Rainbow Dash…"

"He must be trying to be incognito. How else do you explain that?"

"Rainbow Dash, LISTEN!" Fluttershy said in her loudest voice. Even so, Rainbow Dash only just heard her.

"What, Fluttershy?" She asked.

"Is that him over there?" Fluttershy said, pointing off to the side. Following her hoof, Rainbow looked over in the direction of the Everfree Forest. To her surprise, a pony matching Frostburn's exact description was sitting on an old tree stump, just by the entrance.

It was strange now that Rainbow Dash could see him. She had built up in her head this angry, almost villainous pony that would be so low as to hurt Pinkie Pie's feelings. But this pegasus just looked so, normal.

"What the?!" The cyan pegasus said, so shocked she stopped hovering. "How long has he been there?"

Fluttershy blushed, embarrassed. "Oh, um… a couple of hours. He showed up and started reading this book. I didn't approach or anything because I didn't want to be rude."

Rainbow gave a determined, and slightly victorious, grin. "Finally," she said. "I've been hunting him for hours!"

"W-why?" Fluttershy asked.

"He's the only pony in the entire town that doesn't want to show up at Pinkie Pie's party!" Dash said angrily. "And I'm going to change his mind."

"Oh my. Maybe he has a good reason for…"

"Don't defend him Fluttershy!" Dash exclaimed, cutting her off.

"Oh, sorry Rainbow," Fluttershy said, feeling guilty. Dash didn't notice it.

"He's going Pinkie's party; he just doesn't know it yet."

"Oh my, that doesn't sound good. Maybe I shouldn't get involved. Sorry Rainbow." And with that, Fluttershy shut her door and refused to open it again.

Whatever. Dash thought. I can do this without Fluttershy. Dash began racing up to the unsuspecting Frostburn. "Hey you!" She called out. The pegasus looked up from his book, startled. Great, another Egghead. Rainbow thought. She continued yelling. "Yeah, you. I've got a bone to pick with you!"

Frostburn looked terrified. And he should be, thought Rainbow. Instead of facing the oncoming pegasus, he shoved his book crookedly in his saddlebag, and ran. Opening her wings for a chase, Rainbow Dash took off. Flying parallel to the Everfree forest, Dash easily caught up to the running Frostburn.

Passing over his head, and landing in front of him, Dash blocked his path to run. Frostburn skidded to a halt, then turned and ran in the opposite direction. Narrowing her eyes, Dash flew up, and prepared to block his path again. As if he was prepared, Frostburn sped up again, though surprisingly didn't try to fly away. When Dash moved down to block him, Frostburn dug his hind legs into the ground, and swung them in a wide semi-circle. Dirt and dust flew into Rainbow Dash's face, temporarily blinding her.

Frostburn seized the advantage and ran… straight into the Everfree Forest! As the dust cleared Dash hesitated in following him; not quite as eager to venture into the most dangerous place in all of Equestria alone. It was too daring even for her, which is why she wondered why Frostburn did it.

About to turn around and leave, a book caught the corner of Rainbow's eye. It was the very same book that Frostburn had been reading. Likely it had been thrown out of his saddlebag during the escape. Dash picked it off and brushed off the dirt, hoping for a clue about Frostburn. The title caught her off guard.

"Curiosities and Oddities in Equestria History?" Rainbow read, confused. That didn't sound like anything anypony would read. Opening up the cover, Rainbow saw a familiar stamp on the inside.

Property of the Ponyville Library. If found please return.

The Library? Rainbow thought. What does Twilight know about this?

Next Chapter: Let the Shouting Commence Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 17 Minutes