Chapter VIII

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Rex's POV

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I sighed heavily as I walked through the fields of the town square of Ponyville, watching over the Pegasi, Earth Ponies, and Unicorns set up everything for the storm that was requested for the day. I then spotted Rarity putting a branch back on a tree, then turned the leaves into sculptures of ponies.

This made me groan slightly and walk over to Rarity, while speaking. "Rarity, how many times do I have to tell you, branches this long cannot be on the trees. What if the storm knocks the tree over? Then the branches will crash through somepony's window and make a big mess."

Rarity looked at me, a glare on her face. "It won't do something like that. And what do you know? You're not a pony."

I scoffed at her. "I obviously know more then you, fashion freak."

She growled. "Well maybe you should take a few lessons in fashion."

I growled and pushed my forehead against her's, anger in my eyes. "I got more important things to do then dumb stuff like that. And I say this branch goes down."

She pushed me back. "I say it stays up and continues to be a sight of beauty."

We snarled at each other in response, until I heard the branch fall down, and we looked to see Applejack tear the branch away. She then glared at us both. "Both of you knock it off. Rex, you're right, these branches will break through a window." I smirked at Rarity. "And Rarity, beauty is great an' all, but sometimes it ain't best done on trees."

Rarity huffed. "Somepony has to do the beauty work, and you are making an absolute mess of the town square, Applejack."

Applejack rolled her eyes. "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."

I pumped my fist at that. "Told ya!"

Rarity stuck her nose up and away from us. "I simply cannot imagine why the Pegasus Ponies would schedule a dreadful downpour this evening and ruin what could have been a glorious sunny day."

I snorted in response as Applejack scoffed at Rarity. "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."

It began raining, which made me smile. "Ah... something cool to get my mind off you, you wretched fashion freak."

Rarity glared at me. "What is wrong with you and fashion?!"

I snorted slightly. "Nothing, I got a great jacket and pants back home, but you take it way too far."

Rarity huffed, then stared at her mane with much worry. I then grunted and began walking away, while Rarity cried out, galloping after me. "It's coming down too fast!" She then began to make annoying gasps and horrifying grunts.

Applejack then suggested a nearby bench, but Rarity's response was. "I'd rather not get my hooves muddy."

I roared out in anger. "THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS PLEASING FASHION FREAKS!!!"

Applejack grunted at me as she began to talk to Rarity. I simply stared at the sky with a defeated groan, and scratched my head a little. The rain wasn't bad at all, so what was wrong with that mare?! I've dealt with a far worse rainstorm, and that one deserved how she's acting to the rain. God she's annoying!

I looked down at the ground, and saw puddles beginning to grow, which made me think a bit, stick my claw in my mouth, pulled it out, and tested the weather. The wind is going to pick up soon, no surprise there. So, with a grunt, I looked at the two mares who were shouting at each other like fillies, which made me bark out. "SHUT IT!" They both looked at me. "Now, you can both head home now, and keep from getting wet, or you could both keep fighting, and get hit by lightning. Your call."

They looked between each other, before Applejack looked at me. "Um... Rex?" I gave a grunt. "Would y'all mind if we stuck with you and headed to y'all library for shelter?"

I shook my head. "Nope, Ethan's practicing a spell and a new thing he started this morning. He plans to show it to Rainbow and needs the place to be absolutely quiet while he's there."

The two looked between each other, until a crack of thunder went out, and they both grabbed me, dragging me towards the library.

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Ethan's POV

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I played one of the keys of the piano I bought a couple days ago with a claw (Alteration 80/80) and could feel the claw getting much more used to being used on hooves. This spell was a bit hard to control given I started testing it yesterday, but it's actually helping with playing this instrument. I hope Rainbow will like the song I plan to play for her.

Just then I heard the front door open, and looked over to see Rex on top of Rarity and Applejack. This made me raise an eyebrow. "Hello, girls, can I help you with something?"

Rex groaned as he got to his feet and spoke. "Just for the record, I didn't suggest this."

Rarity spoke at that. "Ethan, darling, would you be a dear and let us stay here until the storm passes? We promise not to be a problem."

I let out a small sigh in response. "Come on in, I guess."

Rarity entered, then stopped Applejack from entering, and pointed at the rug. "Uh, do be a polite houseguest and go wash up, please, won't you?"

I rolled my eyes at Rarity as I played another key. "Relax, Rarity." I then heard a clash of lightning. "Huh, that sounds like a strong storm. I guess the Pegasus Ponies went all out on this one." I then looked at the Piano. "Hope you two don't have any problems getting home."

Rarity gave an awkward smile. "It may, indeed, be a problem."

I shrugged. "Well, you're both welcome to stay, so long as you leave me in peace. Just watch out for Rex, he doesn't seem very happy."

Rarity grunted slightly. "That is a bit of an understatement."

I gave a small wave. "Well go on ahead and make yourself comfortable,  it may be a while until the storm settles down."

Rarity nodded in response, then spoke to Rex. "Would you be a dear and fetch me some tea?"

I heard Rex snarl slightly. "Get you're own. I need to lock my room."

I couldn't help but let out a sigh. "I hope this doesn't end badly..."

...

Rex's POV

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I began to rub my temples as I came downstairs, and spotted Rarity who had put some kind of green stuff all over her face. This made me groan and slap my claws over my face. I then spoke. "I SO don't like where this is going."

Applejack then spoke. "Now wait just a goldarn minute." She then pointed at Rarity. "You make me wash the mud off my hooves, but it's okay for y'all to have mud all over your faces?"

She looked at me, making me put up my hands. "Don't look at me! I just locked my door to keep her out of there!"

Rarity waved Applejack off. "Silly. This is called a mud mask. It's to refresh and rejuvenate your complexion."

I looked at her with much confusion, then folded my arms. "Translation, please?"

Rarity grunted. "I'm giving myself a makeover."

I grunted, and waved her off. "Yeah, I'm just going to go over here and watch some TV."

I began walking for the couch, and hopped onto it, before hearing Applejack speak. "What in the world is this for?"

I then heard a sigh from Rarity. "To reduce the puffiness around one's eyes, of course."

"Puffiness, shmutin', this stuff's good eatin'."

I groaned as I flipped on the TV, getting nothing but static. I groaned at this and shut it off. I could then hear the girls speaking to each other in anger, which made me look at Ethan, who was still busy practicing with the keys. This made me nod and look at the girls. "Alright, be quiet if you plan to be staying here for the night."

They looked between each other, then nodded in agreement.

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Nighttime

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"So..." I grunted and looked at the two girls. "How are you getting along over there, Applejack?"

They both had curlers in their hair, making them look absolutely ridiculous, and also made me fall down laughing while Applejack spoke. "Just fine, Rarity."

I dragged myself off the ground, and sniffled from the laughter, before clearing my throat, and looked at them. "You both look ridiculous!"

Applejack then spoke. "Time to tell ghost stories." She then looked at Rarity. "Ah'd like to tell y'all the terrifying tale of the prissy ghost who drove everypony crazy with their unnecessary neatness." She then glared at Rarity. "I'm sure y'all heard of that one?"

Rarity shook her head. "Never heard of it, but I have a much better one." She then gave wide eyes. "It's the horrifying story of the messy, inconsiderate ghost who irritated everypony within 100 miles!"

I grunted. "That's it, I'm going to tell you both a ghost story Ethan told me a long time ago." They both looked at me. "It all takes place in the Mojave Wasteland, when Ethan got a radio broadcast on his Pip-Boy called the Sierra Madre Broadcast..."

...

Rarity and Applejack looked to be terrified as I continued. "The survivors of the Sierra Madre thought about gathering at the fountain and waiting for the Courier, in the end, the collar silence made them uneasy. And the fear of turning on each other made them hesitate, and leave the goodbyes left, unspoken. The radio message at the fountain was enough for them, and there was no need to put down another farewell on all they had suffered."

I then smiled as I sat back. "I could go on, but I think I'll tell you both the rest later."

The two slowly nodded, glad of the happy ending they heard. I then got up and headed for the kitchen. "I'm getting some s'mores, anypony want some?"

...

I bit onto my s'more as Rarity continued to explain how to do it to Applejack. I pretty much muted them out, and nibbled on my s'more. Once it was gone, I let out a small sigh and scratched my ear, until I heard the girls begin playing truth or dare. This made me groan slightly. They began to start fighting once again, making me claw at my ears. They then began a pillow fight, making me growl lightly, and went into the kitchen.

I grabbed a apple, and bit into it, before tossing it into the air, and for some reason it didn't come down. I looked up, and saw ED-E holding the apple again, making me groan. "We already talked about this, ED-E, don't do that again."

*Beep!*

I growled and tried to grab the apple, but ED-E flew out of the room, making me charge after it, and ended up getting a face full of pillows. This made me cry out. "THAT'S IT, IT'S BED TIME!"

I then heard Ethan speak. "Quiet, Rex, I need to get this just right."

I groaned in response.

...

I yawned a bit as I slowly blinked my eyes open, and rubbed them, before I sat up, and looked around.

I then jumped nearly three feet in the air as a loud crash came out from the living room. This made me jump from my bed, and rushed to the living room, seeing the large tree sticking through the window. This made me cry out in anger and dive in the tree, trying to get it back outside.

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Ethan's POV

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I groaned as I heard Rarity speak. "I tried to tell you it would come crashing down in here!"

Applejack climbed up to the room. "Well, you should have tried harder!"

I stepped away from the piano, turned off the spell, and heard Applejack speak to me. "Ah'm mighty sorry, Ethan."

I sighed at this. "This is not okay. There's a giant tree branch in the middle of the living room. And I said to keep quiet while I practiced."

Applejack sighed heavily as she went to Rarity, then back to me. "We gotta do something!"

I thought for a second. "We need somepony outside to drag it out while we push it out."

Applejack nodded and grabbed her rope. "Ah'm on it!"

I then looked at Rarity. "I need you to push it out with me and Rex."

Rex's head popped out of the leaves. "Already on it, Boss!"

I nodded as we got to work.

...

Later

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Once the tree branch was out and the window closed, I smiled as I sat back, and took a deep breath. "There we go, it's done."

The two girls nodded in response, and began laughing together as they spoke with each other. This made me smile and look at Rex, who was nibbling on an apple, and I smiled again. I then spoke. "Hey, Rex, I need to send Celestia a letter."