Chapter V

"Hoof-Fighting action overlord!" I grunted as I finished putting another piece on to the massive robot head that sat in front of me, and it was big enough to match... I'll tell you once we get to the Grand Galloping Gala, when I reveal it to all of Equestria's nobles. "She was like a stunt superstar, flying higher and higher, and then Rainbow Dash swooped down -- swoosh!" I glanced at the ranting Pinkie, shrugged, and looked back at my almost finished project. "And right before she hit the ground -- she pulled up, vroom!"

I gave a absent nod as I adjusted the lenses. "Uh-huh."

"And then she looked around and around, like WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO! WHOO!" I smirked at Pinkie's adorable childish heart.

I then looked up and sent a small wave. "Hey, Rainbow!"

Rainbow stopped at my voice, and smiled shyly. "Oh, hi, Ethan! What are you doing?"

I grunted as I finally pushed in a wire. "Trying to finish up the preparations on my greatest achievement. I plan to reveal it at the Grand Galloping Gala."

Rainbow flew down and was at my side now. "Anything I could do to help?"

I nodded and pointed at the other side. "Grab that wire over there, and when I say 'go' I want you to plug it in."

She nodded quickly with a slight dreamy sigh. "Sure, Ethan."

She grabbed the wire, and I slowly put my wire over a nearby plug. "Alright. Three... Two... One... GO!" We both plugged the wires in quickly, and the blue visor of the head went on. This made me smile widely. "HAHA! It worked!" I then examined it a bit. "Now I just need to give him that voice, and his original speeches."

Rainbow nodded, and leaned over my shoulder as I began to go to work. I then smirked slightly. "Did you want a kiss before you leave?"

Rainbow's cheeks were a deep maroon as she quickly pulled back. "Who, me?! Nah!!" She then blushed slightly. "But would you have if I said yes?"

I chuckled lightly. "I might, but we'd have to go on a date first."

Her eyes lit up. "Is that an offer?!" I nodded, making her squeal like a little filly. "WOW!! REALLY?!" She then went wide eyed, cleared her throat, and seemed to have cooled down. "I mean, cool. Pick me up this Friday night."

I nodded in response, and waved as she flew away, while spotted Pinkie rush after her.

...

I began to drag the massive robot head through town, which gained the eyes of many ponies who were confused upon seeing me, and they stared in awe at the head. I then brought the head with me to the bookstore, and was about to head in, until I heard Pinkie behind me. "Ethan, have you seen Rainbow Dash anywhere?"

I thought for a moment. "Not really, not after earlier today. Though I think she would be somewhere in the sky, don't you think?"

Just then I saw Rainbow Dash bolt away from the area, which made me groan. So that's why Pinkie can't find her. Explains that loud thud I heard. I then saw Pinkie bounce after her, making me call out. "Um, Pinkie!" She looked at me. "I'd suggest leaving Rainbow alone for a while. She has to be hiding for a good reason."

Pinkie shook her head, making me groan, rush over, and bit onto her tail to try and stop her, but quickly fell to the ground as she trudged forward, dragging me along and making a small ditch in the ground.

...

Pinkie dragged me through Sweet Apple Acres, my house's branches, a long plain of grass, and into the water, before she finally caught up to Rainbow, making Rainbow speak. "Oh forget it."

I grunted as I was dragged out of the water, and spat out Pinkie's tail, while speaking in anger. "WHY DOES YOUR TAIL TASTE LIKE COTTON CANDY?!?!"

Pinkie raised an eyebrow at me, bit on her tail, and hummed softly as she began nibbling on it. I then dragged myself further out of the water, and collapsed next to Rainbow as I spoke. "I can see why you're running from her... she's relentless."

Rainbow nodded as she continued to catch her breath. And Pinkie spoke when she took a break from her tail. "I totally promise it'll be totally fun!"

Rainbow sighed. "Okay."

...

I floated next to Rainbow as we both put the cloud in place, while Pinkie spoke. "Over to the right." We pushed it that way. "No, no, a little to the left." We did so. "Oh, wait, back to the right."

I looked at Rainbow. "I got this, take a quick break."

She nodded and laid down on a cloud, while I gently pulled it to the right. "Now a little left-ish while staying rightly."

My eye began to twitch. "That makes no sense."

I pushed it slightly left. "STOP!" She hummed slightly. "Maybe a few inches to the south."

"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOUR MIND?!"

"Now a couple centimeters north. Okay, one more smidgimeter to the--"

I let go of the cloud. "THAT'S IT, I GIVE UP! THERE'S NO PLEASING YOU!" I then stomped on the cloud, and it separated into four pieces, taking up the four spots Pinkie mentioned.

"Perfect! Now, wait for my signal!"

I grunted, and got on top of the cloud, before she nodded, and I kicked the cloud. The cloud made a loud crack, and I went wide eyed upon hearing Rex's voice. "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

I looked down and saw Rex picking up parchments while hiccuping every once in a while, then glared at Pinkie. "I swear on my ancestor's scales, I will come to your house when you're sleeping and slit your throat."

Pinkie and Rainbow began laughing with so much amusement. I then floated down and wrapped Rex's lungs with my magic, and ceased the hiccuping. Rex then gave a small nod. "Thanks, Ethan, that will let YOU off the hook... for now."

I nodded and patted his back, which made her clear his throat, and spoke. "Now, if you will all excuse me, I have to get these parchments home... and rewrite my new ideas for Ethan's project." And with that, he picked up all the parchments, and stormed off.

Rainbow then kicked the cloud again, and Pinkie began hiccuping as well, all the while laughing. Rainbow then smirked. "I didn't take you for the prankster, Pinkie Pie."

I snorted as I sat down. "You don't even know about me, so it's not much of a surprise."

Rainbow blushed slightly, and floated down next to me. "Hehe, right... So... Tell me something."

I thought for a moment. "Well, five years ago, I auditioned for the Fastest Flyers Competition." Dash went wide eyed. "The Wonderbolts were the judges, so it was a pretty big deal. Anyways, I was number 12, and from my appearance, they thought I didn't stand a chance."

Rainbow stopped me there, wide eyes and a large smile. "Wait a minute, YOU were number 12?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

She squealed again. "Oh my gosh! You're number 12! THE Number 12! He was the--"

Pinkie got in our face. "He was what? What? WHAT?!"

We leaned back from her, as I continued. "Anyways, I was Number 12, and on the final competition, there was only me, and this Griffon who were left. The judges were leaning towards the griffon, but the crowd cheered for me. So, we got ready, and I blasted ahead upon the start of the bell, with the griffon far behind. We were going fast, she caught up to me, and nearly past me, but then I did something she couldn't. The VoidBoom. It sent me through all of Equestria, passing by many towns and cities, until i was back at the start, and the entire crowd was silent." I then smirked. "And then they cheered, and I got 10/10."

I then laid my forelegs behind my head. "I was even offered a place as the Wonderbolt's Captain."

Rainbow was squealing like a fanmare! "OH MY GOSH! THAT WAS AMAZING! I SAW IT FROM FLIGHT SCHOOL! IT WAS SO AWESOME!"

Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "What's the VoidBoom?"

I chuckled slightly. "An old trick I perfected on my eleventh year here in Equestria. It's impossible to beat, and the only thing that comes even close is a Sonic RainBoom." I sighed. "But I gave that up long ago, and even refused the Wonderbolts. I don't plan to do it again, because that almost killed me. One of the dangerous speeds in flying, and I wouldn't suggest trying it until I create a machine strong enough. That speed was never meant for a living being, so don't try."

Rainbow was still excited, while Pinkie was confused. I simply shrugged at this, and looked at Rainbow. "So, what do you think of Pinkie now?"

She had very dreamy eyes as she asked in a soft voice. "Huh...?"

I waved my hoof in front of her face, but she didn't respond, which made me shrug, get to my hooves, and waved at them as I began trotting away. "I'm going to head to the bookstore before it closes. See you girls around!"

I heard Rainbow cry out with much happiness. "Sure thing, Ethan!"

...

Next Day

...

I plugged one of Rex's ideas into the machine as I spoke. "So, Pinkie Pie. You mentioned somepony new was hanging out with Rainbow, somepony, mean?"

Pinkie nodded as I flipped on a light. "Um, yeah! She keeps stealing Rainbow Dash away, she popped my balloons, and she told me to buzz off! I've never met a griffon this mean."

I raised an eyebrow. "She's a griffon?"

"Yeah, though I never met a griffon before, I bet she wouldn't be as mean as Gilda!"

I stopped in my tracks, my ears pointing at Pinkie. "Gilda?"

Pinkie nodded. "Yeah!"

I hummed slightly, then sighed heavily as I adjusted another lens. "Should have known I'd hear of her again."

"Huh?"

I sighed as I stepped back from the head. "Gilda, that rude, female griffon that can't even take a joke. We were both the last competitors in the Fastest Flyer Competition, and I beat her easily. After that, she grew a grudge and tried to deface me in front of everypony, even going as far to say I cheated. Though to be honest, she cheated by messing up the other competitors' tricks. I found a way to outsmart her though, which I'll say now, was very easy. Now she tells other ponies she comes across that I'm a wimp, a loser, and that I don't deserve to be in any position."

I sighed heavily. "Typical Gilda, honestly."

Rex tossed a apple into the air, and caught it. "Man, I remember her, and she was an annoying bitch." He then tossed it up again, but it didn't come back down, making him look up, and saw ED-E holding it with a new arm attachment I added inside the body. Rex growled and tried to catch it, but ED-E went higher up and made beeps in the form of laughing. This made Rex snarl and leap into the air, missing ED-E, and began chasing the poor robot around the room.

I then gave Pinkie a smile. "Just take a few deep breaths, and try to relax for the day. Don't hang out with Rainbow for a while in case Gilda's with her, alright?"

Pinkie slowly nodded. "Alright, Ethan! Thanks for the advice!" Then she zoomed out of the library, making me sigh heavily and went back to my project.

...

I trotted through the Market place, and trotted up next to Fluttershy upon seeing her. "Hey, Fluttershy, what's going on?"

She looked at me with a smile. "Hi, Ethan! I'm just looking at some carrots, today is Angel's birthday."

I gave a grunt as I remembered that devil rabbit, before nodding and smiled at her.. "Alright, would you like some help?"

She nodded. "Yes, I could use help in--EEP!"

She looked behind herself as I heard a voice I wasn't much of a fan of. "Hey!"

I turned to the voice, and spotted Gilda, who saw me, and pushed Fluttershy out of the way, snarling at me.

  She then pushed her head against mine as she spoke. "So, looks like we find each other here again, Number 12."

I sighed at this. "I don't go by that anymore, Gilda, I go by Ethan now."

She smirked. "THAT's your name? That's one of the dumbest names I've ever heard!"

I rolled my eyes. "And for a griffon, your name is stupid too."

She snarled and grabbed me by the throat. "Is that so? How about we make a bet?"

"No thanks."

"What's wrong? You chicken?"

"No, I remember. Now walk away, before this gets messy."

She huffed and pushed me a little. "Still the same wimp who's too cautious. And not smart enough to have joined the Wonderbolts either. I bet you don't even got a marefriend."

"You'd be surprised how much they prefer ponies like me over bitches like you."

The crowd around us gave out low 'Ooh's while Gilda scoffed,  and flew off. This made me shake my head in disappointment, and trotted off.

...

I sighed as I entered the party that Pinkie made for Gilda. I honestly don't know why she did this, but maybe she's just trying to be a good mare. Heck if I know.

I then spotted Rainbow trot over to me with betrayal in her eyes, making me raise an eyebrow. "What's wrong, Rainbow?"

She sniffled as she pointed at me. "YOU! You're what's wrong!" I raised an eyebrow. "Gilda told me everything about what you did at the competition, as well as how you treated her in the Market!"

I rolled my eyes at this. "Sure, and I bet she told you how I cheated, and how I beat her up or something. That's so Gilda." She raised an eyebrow as I turned away from her. "Look, I came here for one reason, and one alone." I looked at her. "I came here for you." She went wide eyed. "And just so you know, if you really believe Gilda on something that I bet all of Ponyville, who were all there by the way, would say about it, then I say that date, it's over, and the whole we're friends thing, it'll be over too if you take Gilda's side."

Rainbow went wide eyed as tears began to form in her eyes, and I began trotting for the door. "Since I know you, I'll be outside, waiting for your choice."

I then left.

...

I spotted Gilda fly off in the distance, making me roll my eyes. Dash still has yet to choose.

I then heard said mare's voice. "Hey, Ethan."

"Prank party?"

"Yeah."

"Gilda lost it and you saw her true colors?"

"Yeah."

I sighed heavily and looked at Rainbow. "I'm sorry for how I acted, Rainbow, I was just angered because I thought I'd..." I looked away. "Lose you."

She blushed at that. "Oh... well... I guess I would have over reacted if you acted differently."

I slowly nodded. "Yes, but I went too far, and for that I apologize."

Dash smiled as she sat down next to me. "It's fine, Ethan, and, to tell you the truth, you weren't going to lose me."

I smiled slightly, then felt her lean against me, which made me wrap my wing around her, and spoke. "Just so you know, even if you chose Gilda, I would have stayed with you. You're my favorite mare in all of Equestria."

Rainbow looked up at me. "Really?" I nodded, making her smile and got closer next to me. "And you're my favorite stallion in all of Equestria."

I smiled as we sat there in silence for a long time, then looked at her. "Special Somepony?"

She smiled with her blush. "Special Somepony."