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The Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)	By : Haunter_Rayne Category: +M through R > My Little Pony Views: 14327 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own MLP or any named characters/creatures/settings. All story is for parody entertainment purposes only, not for profit

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**Author's Note** Alright welcome back to another chapter. Time for a little teasing and then some Wonderbolts adventure. There has been a lot of build up to this morning at the Wonderbolts Compound so it's time to see how it all plays out. But Cloudsdale isn't the only place having an exciting morning.
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Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)
By Haunter Rayne
Chapter 23 - Passing Hurdles

It was early in the morning at Sweet Apple Acres. The sun had been lifted not too long ago and morning chores were just being finished. The rooster was still crowing at the new dawn and the pigs were snorting away at their trough having just recently been poured their breakfast. It was just then that an orange pony in an old cowgirl hat came out from collecting eggs in the chicken coop. Now that she was back outside she noticed the sound of laughing coming from voices in the barn. “What in tarnation?” She asked herself and started creeping around the side in case there might be scoundrels at work.

As she got closer the laughing got louder and she could hear the sound of something being kicked. Just as she rounded the corner she saw a hay bale shoot right passed her face into a cart outside the barn. Peeking her head in she saw two large stallions, one red and one black, both of which were laughing up a storm. “Ha, ha, ha. OH! Applejack, I didn't see you there. I'm glad we didn't hit you with that last hay bale.” Said the dark pony as both of the stallions looked to her apologetically.

At first Applejack didn't know what to say. But defaulting to her honest self she said, “Don't worry, I'm alright. I'm just confused as to what's going on here. I heard so much snickering coming from the barn that I thought robbers might be taking us for suckers. What are you doing here Rayne?” Applejack took a moment to notice the striking similarities between the two boys. Rayne was definitely large for a pony. He was almost as tall as Big Mac but wasn't anywhere near as heavily built.

Then the two of them just grinned to each other as Rayne replied. “Oh I woke up particularly early this morning but most of Ponyville was still asleep. I managed to get myself a job here in town but it doesn't start for another day. I figured that there'd be someone awake here at Sweet Apple Acres and I know that farmworkers can use an extra hoof. So I figured I'd spend the morning seeing if there was anything I could help out with.” Rayne said happily. Applejack looked a little concerned though but let Rayne go on. “I met Big Mac here right outside and he said he didn't mind. So I've been helping him with chores all morning.”

“Eyup!” Big Mac said, clearly seeming to be enjoying Rayne's company.

“Uh huh.” Applejack said a little apprehensively, remembering the last time that a pony had flirted with her and also been excited about farmworking at the same time. “You aren't all of a sudden totally in love with farm life now, are you?”

Rayne looked up to her surprised but then remembered about the Trenderhoof episode. Knowing this would come up he just laughed and shook his head. “What? Oh no way. I love good exercise and Big Mac has kept me busy but there is no way that I could keep this up on a regular basis. Want to show her Big Mac?” Rayne asked.

Suddenly the red stallion started laughing like he had just remembered an old joke. “Eyup!”

Rayne walked over to where there were some hay bales that had been vertically stacked. “Big Mac told me that he needed to move some hay out from the barn. I offered to help so we made kind of a game out of it. Uh, could you take two steps to the left there Applejack?” Rayne asked. Then he turned around and bucked one of the top bales sending it flying right towards Big Mac. Then he turned and kicked it so that it landed right into the cart. Both stallions laughed like little colts together. Although Rayne wasn't finished. “Buuuuut… that wasn't exactly how it started out. Was it Big Mac?”

Now the red stallion started snickering behind his hoof. “Nope!”

Rayne then walked in front of the bales and bent down to grab one by the twine with his teeth. Applejack watched waiting to see how far he could carry it but then was shocked to see Rayne fall on his face, not even being strong enough to lift the hay bale from the ground. He spit the twine out and grimaced a little embarrassed as he stood up from where he had fallen. “Ta-da!” He said meekly, knowing that his failure was just down right sad.

Applejack just stared at him for a moment, making Rayne wonder what she was going to think. But then was relieved when the mare cracked a smile and just started laughing out loud. “Hahaha, whoooiee that sure was a miserable display of farm work if I ever did see.” She then stepped over and grabbed the twine with her own teeth. She lifted and tossed the hay bale back over her head like it was nothing. It flew through the air and landed into the cart with perfect accuracy. “You boys are clever but you sure got a lot to learn.” She laughed again seeing the stunned faces on both of the boys. But then she turned to Big Mac saying, “Alright now, that's enough horsing around. I'm glad to see that you're ahead on your chores but that hay still needs to head out. I need to see if Granny Smith needs any help with the pies before I check on the orchard for the day.”

Now Rayne saw an opportunity and said, “You know, I wouldn't mind assisting Granny Smith if it would help make your day any easier Applejack.”

Now the mare looked to him surprised again. “You want to help with baking pies? With Granny Smith?” She asked.

“Well sure, I don't mind. I might not have the strength to be cut out for farm work,” he smiled stepping up to Applejack, “but I know my way around a kitchen.”

“Are you trying to tell me that you know how to cook?” She was clearly trying to get a read on this helpful stranger.

“Well sure. You don't think that my answer for everything is bucking it, do you? I can be tactful. And besides, I need to do something to make up for my embarrassing display there a moment ago.” He said while giving her a suave smile.

That was until Big Mac looked over at him while sliding into the harness to pull the cart. “Eyup.” He laughed seeing the playful scowl from Rayne and then walked off with the hay bales.

Now that they were alone, Applejack took off her hat and gave Rayne a tender smile. “Look Rayne, I can see what you're trying to do. You aren't the first stallion to think that helping out with some chores or carrying some things for me will help me to take a liking to you. But this is just every day work for me and it needs to get done. It's nothing special. If you really are just wanting to help out, then I appreciate it. But if you're trying to impress me then you're gonna have to try a lot harder than that.” As she spoke she was pulling some baskets together to catch apples in.

Rayne just grinned as he had not been discouraged at all. “Don't worry Applejack, I give you a lot more credit than that. I would never think that you'd be swayed by such minimal effort. I promise that I'm not trying to charm you with farm work.”

Hoisting the baskets up into a separate wagon she just grinned over her shoulder. “Oh really? You're not are you?”

He had been speaking plainly but then he did drop his voice to a more seductive tone. “Oh no, you're worth far more than that Applejack.”

Now she chuckled to herself. “There it is. I knew you still had that same kind of sense in mind.” She was laughing so Rayne knew she wasn't upset. “You're one smooth talker, I'll give you that Rayne. But if you want to get me to like you, you're in for a world of hurt for what I'd put you through.”

They both heard Granny Smith clamoring around in the kitchen and Rayne took a few steps in that direction showing that he had been serious on helping her. “Then I'm in luck Applejack.” He said simply. “I must be ahead of the game… because you already like me.” He said simply with a smirk.

Applejack turned to him to argue and almost tripped over the harness to the wagon. “Hey now- Whoa!” After she caught her balance she just raised her head and stubbornly fought to not lose the high ground in this dialogue they were having. “Oh yeah, me interested in a pony who can't even lift a hay bale. Hehe, you just keep telling yourself that while you watch these ‘firm’ and ‘toned’ legs of mine walking away as you stay here to help Granny Smith.” She teased, slipping into the harness to start heading towards the orchard.

Rayne's smirk didn't falter though as he was standing beside her at the barn door. “Oh well I can admit that I might be wrong. It is mighty presumptuous of me, it could just be my fantasies about you running away with me... But if you're right then that means there is absolutely nothing embarrassing about the fact that you just had a second hoof kiss to your lips from me by that hay bale you used to show up Big Mac and I." Rayne then slinked around the corner of the barn like a sly cat. But he definitely didn't miss the blush on the mares cheeks before he left though.

- That Same Morning at the WOTC -

One by one all of the Wonderbolts started showing up on the field of the training compound. They were dressed and prepared for the day, however they seemed to have much less confidence this morning. After the previous day’s events and there having been no sight of Spitfire yet, they murmured to themselves at the line.

“What do you think is going to happen?” Surprise asked with concern.

“Do you think Spitfire is okay? Will Soarin have to take over if she doesn't come back? And where are Crash and Flatfoot? They're both missing too.” Blaze whispered, trying not to be too loud.

“I don't know how effective this day is going to be if we can't get passed that eighth challenge.” Thunderlane complained.

“What are we going to do?” Misty Fly asked.

What they didn't know was there was another pegasus hiding around the corner, breathing deep and trying to psyche herself up. After hearing all of this commentary she finally stepped out and yelled over all of their voices. “WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST!!!”

Now all of the Wonderbolts straightened up but then looked surprised seeing Rainbow Dash step out into Spitfire's spot in front of them. It was Soarin who spoke up next, “Good to see you up and about. I was worried when you weren't in the locker room today. But why aren't you in formation and why do you have Spitfire's whistle?”

Dash was standing proud, not wanting to disappoint the respect she had for Spitfire's role. “I was up early and got prepared an hour before so that I could be ready for when you all came in. Spitfire is out at the hospital until further notice so I am going to be filling in as your instructor today!”

But then some of the Wonderbolts looked confused while others just laughed. High Winds spoke up next saying, “Oh come on Crash, get real. You may be ‘one of’ the best fliers on the team but you aren't next in line for when Spitfire is unavailable.”

But before any other pony could respond a loud voice called from the distance. “It's-th true!” They all turned to see Fleetfoot flying onto the field from over the compound. “It's-th really true. Rainbow came by las-tht night before I took Spitfire to the hos-thpital. They mentioned having a new plan and S-thpitfire gave her the okay to take the lead today.”

Now they all murmured again but they eventually all turned towards Soarin. He looked from Fleetfoot to Dash and said, “Well unless Spitfire comes back to say otherwise, that's good enough for me. We're all yours today, Commander.” He said to Dash respectfully. Then all of the other Wonderbolts snapped to attention as if they were in front of Spitfire herself.

Rainbow Dash was taking her role seriously though. “Flatfoot, thank you for that announcement but why are you late?!”

“S-thorry ma'am! I s-thtayed the night with S-thpitfire and fell asleep. I didn't have my alarm there but a nurs-the woke me up. It won't happen again ma'am!”

Rainbow Dash nodded but then dropped to a softer tone. “Don't worry about it. Is she doing okay?”

Fleetfoot smiled and responded to Dash as her friend, not as her commander. “S-thhe’ll pull through. Doctor s-thiad there will be no permanent damage. But really, thank you for what you did Das-thh.” She said heartfully.

“No problem.” Dash smiled back. But then she cleared her throat and returned to her leadership tone. “Alright Bolts! So we've got a big problem here. And that problem is NOT the WOTC! It's us! We've all been looking at this as a challenge, which it is, but we've been doing it with the completely wrong mindset! Wonderbolts, what does the W.O.T.C. stand for?!”

All in unison the Wonderbolts shouted, “Ma'am, the Wonderbolts Obstacle Training Course ma'am!”

“That's right!” Dash shouted. “Now all of you, what does the T in WOTC stand for?!”

Once more they shouted in unison. “Training!”

“Again!” Dash yelled.

“Training!”

“AGAIN!”

“TRAINING!”

Dash suddenly blew the whistle and looked to them all very seriously. “Then can any of you tell me why we have been racing each other?!”

But suddenly none of them had an immediate answer, most looking like they didn't even understand the question. It was Thunderhoof who spoke up first. “Uh, because it's what we do?”

But he wasn't happy to see Rainbow scowl. “Now I think I see why Spitfire was so mad at us. Soarin, please tell us WHAT specifically the Wonderbolts are!”

Soarin stepped up proudly and said, “Ma'am, the Wonderbolts are a team of elite flying-" But suddenly Dash blew the whistle on him.

“Very good Soarin but more than I was looking for! Try it again!” Dash commanded.

Soarin looked less confident now but said, “The Wonderbolts are a team of-" But again Dash blew the whistle.

But just then Fleetfoot stepped up beside Soarin and shouted, “We are a team! Ma'am!”

Now Dash leaped into a loop and then landed back down. “YES!” Looking to all of them she now yelled, “What are the Wonderbolts?!”

“We're a team!”

Louder she yelled, “WHAT ARE WE?!”

“WE'RE A TEAM, MA'AM!”

“That's right you are! Wonderbolts, is the WOTC an aerial competition?!”

“No ma'am!”

“Is the WOTC for a performance so that fans can watch us?!”

“No ma'am!”

“What is it then?!”

“It's for training ma'am!”

“Training for the Wonderbolts?!”

“Yes ma'am!”

“And what are the Wonderbolts?!”

“We are a team! Ma'am!”

“Outstanding!” Dash cheered in response but she was still looking deadly serious. “Now that we know what we are, let's move on to what we do! Think about what Spitfire told us! Think about why we have the WOTC! WHAT ARE THE WONDERBOLTS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING?!”

Now Blaze shouted. “Helping Equestria!”

Rainbow Dash yelled, “Wonderbolts, what is your primary function?!”

In unison they shouted, “TO HELP EQUESTRIA!”

Now Dash started getting to her point. “Well we're never going to be able to do that if we can't help each other through this course!” She shouted angrily while pointing to the field behind her. “Now I believe that I can lead you through this course! Not because I'm great. But because we're great! But I need to know… ARE YOU WITH ME?!”

“YES MA'AM!” They all cheered with conviction. Dash pointed to the starting line and they all took their positions.

Dash walked to the starting line but then called out one more time. “Wonderbolts! One last question and I think this is what Spitfire had in mind for the chopping block.” Now they all looked to her kind of worried. “What are we NOT?!”

Now they all looked to each other. They knew this was important but they didn't know what Rainbow Dash was going for. All except for one of them. Fleetfoot raised her head up over the shoulders of the rest and grinned out with a smirk. “Show ponies!”

When they all saw the smile on Dash's face they all grinned proudly and chuckled together in agreement. Every one of them now knew what Spitfire wanted and they waited on Rainbow Dash's call. The acting commander took her mark and yelled out, “Remember team, together! On my mark… GO!” She shouted and as she took off each pegasi took off one after the other in beautiful formation like a wave, each allowing the pony before them to have the lead.

As they approached the first challenge Dash zoomed around quickly finding one of the tunnels that had light at the opening. Instead of flying through it she stopped at the entrance and yelled out, “Here! Here! The pathway is clear through here!” All of the bolts looked to her with surprise and smiled as they started zooming through one after the other without any of them having to break speed. Seeing that they were getting it Dash zoomed over the piping to cut ahead to the third challenge.

Once they were through the spiralling loops Dash was waiting for them by the barricades. The bolts were surprised to see that pictures had been painted upon each of the barricades. One showed a changeling in its evil form, another showed the Storm King, while another showed Tirek while he was full with power. Even though the paint job was sloppy, all of the Wonderbolts could see a list of defeated villains on each one. “These barricades are attacking your home! They are attacking your families! They want to grab you and capture you! ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM?!”

“NO MA'AM!!!” They all roared and beat into the barricades so hard they instantly started smashing the flimsy paint from the sticky tarps. Not a single one of them got stuck or lost momentum now as they beat their way through.

Next up were the revolving columns and twirling rows. These were where most of them were struggling with. “I'm with you Crash!” Misty Fly shouted nervously. “But I don't know about this!” She gasped charging in. She tried to zip in between two of the columns but one was coming in to fast. She tried to dodge to the side but her natural instinct forced her to dodge upwards where there was only more column to hit her. But suddenly there was a flash of color and Rainbow Dash bumped her sideways and out of the way. Several of the bolts cheered in awe of Dash’s technique. In the next challenge Soarin was attempting the rows and accidentally dodged sideways until an updraft came out of nowhere, lifting him away from harm.

Dash was flying underneath and gave him a gust to support him. Then as all of the bolts saw this they cheered. Dash yelled to all, “All Wonderbolts! Repeat the fourth and fifth challenge three times each, circling back around! Sideways dodgers bump vertical dodgers! Vertical dodgers give a boost to side dodgers! Help each other!” All of the Wonderbolts seemed excited as now these challenges made so much more sense. “These are rocks thrown about from a storm or an avalanche! They are endangering everypony! Are you going to save yourself and let your friends fall behind?!”

“NO MA'AM!”

“That's what I want to hear! Pair up! Opposites support one another!” Dash called, making sure that not a single one of them were left alone without a partner to support them.

Then before they finished their third lap Dash zoomed ahead to the spring trap which had always delayed them all. But before Dash could say anything Soarin yelled out as he flew up in the lead. “Wonderbolts! The exit is collapsing but I refuse to let my friends get trapped in this cave!” Rainbow Dash was surprised but let him run with it to see what would happen. He charged the spring, grabbed hold of it and started the strenuous task of pulling the spring upwards. But instead of darting through he wrenched the spring higher and yelled out, “Go! Go! Go! Get out while I hold it open for you!” In record time the Wonderbolts were zipping through together as a group instead of one by one. They even ignored that there was a second option because one of the pathways were already open as if it were a repeat of Dash helping them with the first challenge.

It didn't end there either as Thunderlane came in at the end of the line. Once the rest were through he stopped and grabbed the spring with Soarin. “We can't leave you behind either! We do this together!” And they both supported the weight as they squeezed through so that nopony got a wing or a limb pinched as it snapped shut. They smiled seeing the other Wonderbolts had all waited for them to make sure they stuck together. “Alright now how do we all get through the wind tunnel?” Thunderhoof shouted over the roar of the wind.

But Fleetfoot jumped in, “Jus-tht like you told S-thoarin! We do it, together!” She immediately flew up under him putting his hind legs over her shoulders.

Rainbow Dash cheered out, loving her idea. “Brilliant idea Flatfoot! Form a chain Wonderbolts! Every pegasus supports the next!” Then while all linked together, like one giant pegasus with rows and rows of wings they pushed through the wind making it through while supporting each other. “That's it Bolts! Even in the face of a hurricane, if the Wonderbolts are needed then we need to push through!”

Once through the seventh challenge they all cheered and clapped each other's hooves. But then they stopped. None of them had ever made it this far together, but they still had no idea on how to make it passed the magical slapping paw. But now Rainbow Dash flew up in front of them as they all watched it levitating before the ring to the rest of the course. “Don't worry, I think I've got this one mostly figured out. Stand ready.” She said as she slowly flew forward. The rest of them prepared themselves but waited for Dash’s lead. The multicolored pegasus took a deep breath and then dove low trying to get passed the paw. It shot down and gave Rainbow Dash a good snack. But as soon as it did she shouted, “SOARIN! GO!!!”

Immediately Soarin shot off and magical paw raised but couldn't move back into place in time. He managed to zip by and fly right through the loop without getting hit at all. Now the applause from the others was extraordinary. Dash flew up and around to the left drawing the paw to smack her down instead as Fleetfoot zipped to the right and through the goal loop. Again applause roared out as now the challenge was no longer impossible. Dash called out, “This monster cannot attack all of us at once. I will be a decoy so you each can make it passed!” But now Dash was slurring her words a little bit from having already been hit twice. She tried to draw the paw to the right but was definitely moving slower.

Right before it hit her though Rainbow Dash got a hard bump from another pegasi to her side and the paw missed flying right between them with no one getting hit at all. Surprise grinned to Dash saying, “No more recklessness huh? Some promise.” She laughed and Dash blushed gratefully.

Suddenly though another Wonderbolt shouted out. “LOOK OUT!” As the paw came turning back towards Surprise. Fleetfoot had flown back and zipped down underneath Surprise right towards the metal bar at the base of the paw. They all watched as she kicked the bar hard which sent it twirling almost to the ground. Two more Wonderbolts made it through the goal before the paw came back up. Again one pegasi drew its attention, another pegasi helped them dodge just like in the fourth and fifth challenges, then a different pegasi would kick the bar stunning the paw. It wasn't long at all before they had all made it through.

After that Rainbow Dash called them back down to the ground. “Fleetfoot, that was genius! How did you think to kick the bar?”

She smiled in between taking a big gulp of water from the stream. “Well, I got to thinking why the bar is-th there to begin with. Everything here is-th intentional. S-tho I figured it mus-tht have a purpos-the. That and, after it hit S-thpitfire I wanted to hit it back for revenge.” They all laughed at that and Rainbow Dash clinked hooves with Fleetfoot.

“Way to go!” Dash praised her.

But then High Winds cheered saying, “Hey guys, guess what?! We did it! We made it through!!!” Then they all gave a large cheer.

Rainbow Dash just gave a smug smile and then blew her whistle. “Alright, alright! We made it through once! But Spitfire wants this thing CONQUERED! GET BACK TO THE STARTING LINE!!!”

“YES MA'AM!” They all cheered excitedly as they sped off.

It was Surprise who again came to Rainbow Dash's support though. “Um, Commander? I know we are all excited but could you maybe stay on the sidelines for awhile? You got hit by that paw two more times and we don't need two terrific instructors in the hospital now do we?” She said kindly.

Dash just smiled and nodded to her before Surprise flew off to join the others who were waiting. It just so happened to be right then Flash Magnus appeared on the field and stood right beside Rainbow Dash. “So, you really did take up leading the gauntlet today didn't you?” He didn't sound cruel or criticizing. Instead he was more curious. “Well, I am eager to see if the Wonderbolts have improved at all.”

Now Rainbow Dash just grinned and hearing this a few of the others snickered as well. Dash took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs. “WONDERBOLTS! WHAT AREN'T WE?!”

“SHOW PONIES!!!”

And with that they all started launching off one after another in a seamless wave formation, looking even sharper than before.

**Author's Ending Note** Alright so, what did you think everybody? I had a lot of fun finally getting this chapter written down. I love how the Bolts come together here and how they end with showing Magnus up in perfect harmony. If you've been enjoying my pages on the Wonderbolts, don't worry about them suddenly disappearing. There will be lots more about them still to come.

As for our protagonist though, he certainly has his hooves full. Yes he is totally trying to hone in on flirting with Applejack now but he is going to have to try pretty hard to get to roll in the hay with this farm girl. He's off to a good start though. Applebloom already thinks he's great and now Big Mac sure thinks that Rayne is a lot of fun. Now it's time to see how things play out with him spending some time with Granny Smith instead. Even though she's old, she might prove to be keener than he would be expecting. In the next chapter we find out! Thank you for reading!
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The Author Jumps Worlds (MLP)