PONE-OREGAN TRAIL

PONE-OREGAN TRAIL - 5/27/11
http://arch.413chan.net/co26292492.html#26292647
Someone asked for a heated wagon chase with drunk ponies trying to cross a river with someone coming out?
The arrows were coming rather close. Who'd have known cloven hooves could draw bowstrings?

"'S not fair!" moaned Braeburn. His whiskey breath made Rarity's eyes water nearby. His limbs tried, lamely, to ford the water harder. The wagon lurched sympathetically in response - but hardly any further.

The river was swift but shallow. If they were lucky they could reach some bit of solid ground on the other shore, hopefully a ways south of the buffalo raiding party. Everyone was so terribly worried their precious cargo would be stolen and used by savages for inscrutable purposes.

Dash tapped her hooves together nervously, down a paddle and without any place to grasp firmly and beat with her wings to buffet them along. She'd tried, but now she was worthless-

An arrow whizzed by one ear. Her eyes closed tight, so tight they hurt, she could see starlight.

"OhgodI'mgonnadiearen'tIbuffalohuntbirdsan'stuffiwhtarrowsandjunkandI'MGONNADIE!"

Twilight rolled a free hoof from the side of the wagon over, patting Dash on the back. Her other continued to paddle best she could. (Thank goodness she hadn't quite realized the oar was Gummy; they really needed to keep up the pace on the left rear corner.)

"You're not gonna die, Dash. We'll make it through okay!"

"There's so much I wanted to DO with my life!" blubbered the cyan pony, "The Wonderbolts! Drinking real Appaloosan Ale, not the crap they sell tourists!"

Braeburn huffed at this. Life and death was one thing. Town pride was another.

"B- but if I do die ..." stammered the blue streak of coward.

"Yes, Dash?" Twilight's eyes were eying a nice solid bluff the front wheels were very nearly up to.

"Tell Pinkie I love her."

"We all do, Dash! She knows that!" The wheels gained purchase.

"No, Twilight. I. Love. Her."

Twilight's head turned, eyebrows shot up to nearly her horn. From the corner of her eye were a group of angry tribesbuffalo, still slinging the occasional arrow.

Clear purple eyes fixed on Dash's pink, now sheepish as the wagon pulled into safe terrain again. For the wagon and for her friend, there wasn't any turning back.