Defend with me

[orbislife]

Who: Zenyatta, Rainbow Dash, others
What: Rabitten quest
Where: General Store, Domina
When: Day 17, midday
Other: If you are taking part in the quest, hop in if you'd like to

Having taken to occasional long walks to the town, Zenyatta hums as he browses the marketplace. He is not alone. Curled around his neck is a tiny flowering vine. It is actually a newly hatched Lullabud, dozing away, very still. Jennifer's grumbling does not go unnoticed, and soon Zenyatta has an earful (if he had ears) of grievances. Bothi (the Lullabud) is surprisingly resilient towards staying asleep.

"I would be happy to help. I will head to the general store to look." Zenyatta gives a shallow bow and makes his way toward the store.

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

Rainbow had one heck of a branch clutched in her hooves and another smaller one gripped firmly in her teeth. She offered both of them up very carefully to Zen, staying well out of nomming distance.

[orbislife]

He quickly takes the small branch from Rainbow Dash and allows her to move away. Holding out it our toward the rabit, Zenyatta keeps the branch at an arm's length and still. The rabit stops investigating the new smells in favor of something it can actually eat. (Besides the boxes.)

"Place the larger branch just outside the door but still in view, please."

[elementofloyalty]

"Oooh, I get it." With her ears and tail perked up now that she saw how this was gonna work, Rainbow zipped back outside, dropping down the bigger branch right outside the door. "Branch in position!"

[orbislife]

The rabite takes a rather large bite of the branch Zenyatta is holding, and as it is chewing, Zenyatta moves back towards the door. It finishes chewing and then looks for the branch again... which is a few feet away from where it sits. The rabite follows.

The "trick" works for the first two bites, but then the rabite sees the larger one outside. It hops with amazing speed towards it.

Rainbow Dash should have the opportunity to slam the door shut once the rabite is outside.

[elementofloyalty]

The only delay came from Rainbow quickly getting on the inside of the shop. The door banged shut behind her as she kicked at it with a hoof. "All right! That's one evicted bunny! Great plan, Zen!"

[orbislife]

Bothi jerks fully awake at the door slam and curls their vine legs tighter around Zenyatta. He pats their blossom head and whispers comforting words.

"Thank you. You did well, Rainbow Dash. Jennifer and Mark will be pleased to know the rabite has left their shop." And Zenyatta is pleased that they were able to come up with a peaceful solution to the problem without harming the rabite.

[elementofloyalty]

Rainbow wished Fluttershy were here -- she'd have scolded or coaxed the rabite out no problem at all.

But hey, the two of them had done really good! And that definitely went a long way towards making up for the disaster that had been the whole cutie mark swap thing. Flitting over, she stuck out a hoof for Zen to slap. "Looks like we're the heroes of the day!"

[orbislife]

And give a high five/hoof is what Zenyatta does, though the impact is very light and barely enough to make a sound. He did not want to risk hurting Rainbow Dash. "We should look out the window before we leave. It would do no good to let it back in after evicting it."

(Of course, it is possible that the rabite will wander back in for another group to deal with.)

[elementofloyalty]

"If I know rabbits, it'll get sick of waiting and wander off once it eats that branch."

But, in a rare moment of honesty, Rainbow added after a moment, "...not that I really know them that well. I'm more of a tortoise lover myself."

[orbislife]

"A tortoise lover? I would not have guessed." There is a smile in his voice. He really would not have guessed that such a speedy pony would have a pet that was not. "I am partial to butterflies and birds."

Bothi stirs and nuzzles the side of Zenyatta's head. "And plants, of course."

[elementofloyalty]

"You and Fluttershy would totally get along." Maybe that's why Rainbow liked Zen, she mused; he reminded her of her pegasus PFF a little. "But if you ever saw Tank you'd totally see why he's my pet."

[orbislife]

"Do you think so? I am honored." He tilts his head slightly, not quite a bow but a kind humble all the same. "Tank has a good caretaker."

And he does not doubt it. Rainbow Dash liking a creature so slow means she looks beyond surface characteristics to the true self inside. A good trait to have.

[elementofloyalty]

"So, how 'bout we go see how grateful what's-her-name is now that we saved the day?" Rainbow said, zipping back over to the door to check for the rabite. Nope, all clear!

[orbislife]

"Yes, let us do that. I am sure Jennifer is eager to get her store back in order." And maybe they can offer the advice of luring the rabite out with food.

[elementofloyalty]

All but slamming the door open, Rainbow shot off at speed!

...then returned, sheepishly, a moment later, having gotten way ahead of herself. Heh heh, whoops. They ought to go together.

[orbislife]

Zenyatta does not have a chance to even move forward before Rainbow Dash is back. He gives a soft, lighthearted laugh but draws no further attention to the oversight. She is eager, and fast. He is slow and knows this.

They leave the store together, and Zenyatta makes sure to close the door behind them. Their hard work would be for naught if they left it open, and the rabite returned.