Dashing sticks

>You should have known better than to accept a bet from Pinkie Pie.

>To be fair, you've won your fair share of bets against her, but you really should have cued in on the shit eating grin on her face this time.

*clack*

>The dare was simple, Eat a whole bowl of haynoodles. Easy right?

*click*

>She even gave you a week! How's that for an easy challenge?

*clack*

>If you win, you get free servings of pastries for a month AND Pinkie's share of the next seasons apple cider.

*click-clack-click*

>If you lose. You have to teach Pinkie how to become an alicorn.

>Yeah, you don't get it either.

*CLICK*

>It's been three days.

>And you are not even close to done.

*cli-Snap*

"BUCK!"

>you throw yet another pair of broken chopsticks across the room in a fit of righteous rage.

>And that's the kicker. You had to eat the whole bowl using Neighponese chopsticks.

>How in the ever loving light of Celestia's plot they eat with these you will never understand.

>Picking up fresh pair of chopsticks from the pile to your right you begin the tedious task of separating them to try anew.

>Even that is a challenge. You've lost count of how many chopsticks you've managed to break just by trying to separate them.

*Snap*

>throw away

*Snap*

>throw away

*Clack*

>And on to another agonizing try with these Tartarus loving pieces of woodchips

~

>You are worried. It's been three days since you made that silly little bet with Dashie, and you haven't seen her since.

>Of course, you knew she wouldn't be able to do it. After all, it took you at least five whole minutes to learn how to use chopsticks yourself. And that's a looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time

>To be entirely honest you were convinced she was going to give up after an hour.

>Now you and your friends have been looking for her for almost a day.

*Dashieeeeeeeeeee*

>Your voice rings out across Ponyville, echoing off into the distance.

>There is no reply.

~

>You will not give up. Almost half the bowl is done now.

>It's either the fifth or the sixth day now, you are not really sure.

>After an agonizing amount of chopsticks you've finally managed to get into a sort of rhythm.

>You can now separate the chopsticks without breaking them, by using the table as a sort of leverage.

>It still hasn't made eating with them any easier.

*click*

>By using your wings, tongue, and hooves. You've so far managed to get a few strands of noodles into your mouth every couple of hours.

>The fact that it's taxing your strength makes it a lot harder though.

>Each try makes your body sore, and you need to take long breaks.

>And the success rate is very low, but you are going to do it.

>Because you never lose a bet. Well, almost never.

*clack*

~

>It's been almost two weeks since anyone has seen Rainbow Dash.

>The Ponyville locals have made several search parties looking for the elusive pegasus, but to no avail.

>Pinkie Pie has been locked into her room crying for days now.

>Applejack and Rarity have been searching non stop for their friend.

>While Twilight has been researching all kinds of spells trying to scry out the location of her dear friend.

>So far, there has been no trace. Twilight is fearing the worst. Her spells should have worked, the only other alternative is too gruesome to even consider.

>Now with even the other princesses getting involved, the matter is truly becoming a serious issue.

~

>You sit at the table, waiting for the waitress to bring out your tea and pastry.

>It's been several years now since the event. And, while you did grieve, you have at this point mostly gotten past it.

>Reflecting about it, you know she always was stubborn about her bets. If she made up her mind she wouldn't quit for anything.

"Miss Pie, here is your cheesecake and your tea. Please enjoy your food."

>You thank the waitress and take a small sip of your tea. In your earlier days you would have downed the cup in one go, but you have learned to appreciate life's little gifts more now.

>The sweet taste, the wonderful aroma. You take it all in.

>Manehatten hasn't changed much over the years. It's still crowded and bustling over with frantic ponies galloping this way and that.

>Looking around yourself at the other patrons, you see familiar faces and strangers abound.

>Over there is Grim News, the scraggy old journalist for the Manehatten Daily.

>And over there is Miss Orange, with her new husband. It really was a rather sad tale of events that led to their divorce, but such is life.

>There are strangers as well, A couple of Neighponese ponies eating haynoodles at the further end of the cafe towards the street.

>A brusk pony drinking down a scalding cup of coffee.

>And a rather elegant mare sipping delicately at her afternoon tea.

>Something is tugging at your mind. Almost like a recognition.

>Turning your head back towards the Neighponese couple you look closer.

>Both having almost finished their bowls, you marvel at the elegant skills they display as they eat.

>The furthest pony glances up at you, smiling slightly and nodding. Before resuming her meal.

>You smile back, feeling a surge of pride.

>Leaving behind a tip, you rise from your chair and leave the restaurant and go back into the bustling crowd that is Manehatten