The Auction

“Did you open up a new tab?”

“Yes I did.”

“Are you refreshing the pages?”

“YES.”

“What about the clock? Did you check the clock? Remember, it has to be placed wit—“

“Within ten seconds. I know.” Fray swiveled around in her computer chair to face her mother, Rainbow Dash. She took one of the ears off of her headphones, the sound of Vinyl Scratch’s recent hit blaring through its speakers and permeating the air. She looked at Rainbow Dash with a tinge of annoyance. “Look, if you’re so worried about this, why don’t you do it?”

“Well… um…” Rainbow Dash started to stare down at the floor as though there was something interesting down there. A light blush creeped onto her cheeks as she scratched her head embarrassingly. She looked up at Fray with a pleading look in her eyes. Fray just rolled her eyes and swiveled back to face the computer.

“Whatever. Just as long as I’m not the one getting into this mess. You and I both know the repercussions of doing this. We’re stepping onto royal territory now. Are you sure you still want to do this?”

Rainbow Dash nodded her head, determination as straight as an arrow. “Definitely.”

Fray knew from that look in her eyes that she was absolutely serious and that nothing else would convince her otherwise. With a small sigh, Fray hurriedly clicked on the “place bid” button. It was done. There could be no going back now. After a few seconds passed, the computer screen flashed up with excitement, announcing that BattleRoyal97 had officially won the auction for the “Nightmare Sailor Moon (ULTRA RARE) Figure” and that it would be shipped in a few days. The total came out to be 250 bits including shipping, making a pretty heavy dent into Rainbow Dash’s wallet, but she didn’t care. After all, it was anime, and anything anime was worth it in the end. She jumped up and fluttered her wings with excitement, accidentally breaking one of the nearby vases.

“Honey, what was that? I hope that wasn’t the vase again.” Quibble Pants said from the kitchen.

“No it wasn’t!” Rainbow Dash said, guilty sweeping up the vase pieces under the rug. She whispered to Fray, “If you don’t tell, I won’t tell your father about ‘the incident’” she said, doing air quotes with the tips of her wings. Fray’s back immediately stiffened up “deal.” Rainbow Dash smiled. “Good. Now if you excuse me, I’m going to go to the nearby thrift store to get a new vase. If your father asks anything, just tell him I got bored of sitting around in this house all day and decided to go on a casual flight.” With her mouth, Rainbow Dash grabbed a small sack containing bits from the surrounding table. See you later.” She saluted at Fray with her wing and winked mischievously. Before she could make it out the door however, the door broke off from its hinges and landed with a thump on the living room floor. A darkly colored alicorn sat on top of it, looking at both Fray and RD with a look of surprise and then anger. She pointed her hoof accusingly at Fray.

“ART THOU BATTLEROYAL97?” She said in a royal Canterlot voice. Suddenly, a circle of clouds started to form around the room, and lightning bolts started to strike. ‘Storm clouds do not form that way’ Rainbow Dash thought to herself, looking bewildered at her daughter. She only looked expectantly back at RD.

“I told you this would happen.”

“Yeah but you didn’t tell me that this would happen! I mean, holy Celestia! I didn’t know she was this nuts!”

“QUIET! THOU AREN’T SUPPOSED TO SPEAKETH OVER A ROYAL!” More lightning struck, and the alicorn’s hair seemed to turn just a bit darker. “NOW… ANSWER ME.  ART THOU BATTLEROYAL97?” She pointed her hoof to Fray but was eyeing both of them suspiciously. Instead of being scared like Rainbow Dash was, Fray just sighed. “Yes. I am BattleRoyal97, but I did not purchase that item. It was her.” Fray pointed her hoof to Rainbow Dash. A flash of sadness and betrayal formed on her face.  

“H-how could you do this to your own mother?” Fray looked at her mother like she already knew the answer to the question.

“It’s not my fault you’re too embarrassed to order your own stuff.”

“AM NOT.”

“ARE TOO.”

“AM NOT.

“ARE T-“

Before they could finish their unending argument, they became incased in two separate magical bubbles. No matter how loud they yelled, nothing could be heard. The Princess of Dark Energy had quite enough of this nonsense. Though the levitating magic they were incased in did tire her out some, it would have to do for the time being until she got some proper answers. She popped the smaller bubble first. Fray Seams dropped down on the floor with a thud. Rainbow Dash laughed mutely in her bubble, looking like she was about to keel over from lack of oxygen. Fray dusted herself off. ‘Yeah, whatever. At least I’m not the one still in the bubble,’ Fray griped to herself. She turned her head to focus on the princess before her. “Princess, I sincerely apologize for my mother’s behavior.” She bowed at her feet.

Umbra looked back at her, smiling a little.  “That is quite alright, younger one. At least it hasn’t been passed on…” she looked back at Rainbow Dash who was guiltily smiling back at her. Shifting back to her focus on Fray, she regarded her with a friendlier composure, and her royal Canterlot voice had dissipated along with the storm clouds. Fray wasn’t sure she saw it right, but she could have sworn the Princess almost looked… relieved. “Now then. I see that one has recently bought the newest Nightmare Sailor Moon figure. How much would thy want for it?”

“Hmmm…” Fray Seams considered her options. She could let RD and Umbra negotiate the pricing, but she could also get that one custom blade RD never let her buy because it was too expensive… Hmm… Fray scratched her face with her hoof, scrunching up her nose in deep thought. In her peripherals she noticed Rainbow Dash banging on the walls of her own bubble. She turned her attention to the older mare. With a bone chilling stare, Rainbow Dash whispered the phrase ‘I’ll tell her’ from the bubble. That was enough to shut her up completely, her body becoming slightly rigid. “Nevermindshe’lltellyouwhattopay.” Rainbow Dash smiled with victory. At least this blackmail would last a little bit longer. Umbra, slightly confused as to what had gotten over the young pony, silently nodded her head, popping the remaining bubble.

“I’M FREE!” She said, swooping in the air and doing a victory pose. Her right hoof collided with another nearby vase.

“Honey, what was that?”

“Nothing dear. It was the wind.” ‘The guy doesn’t hear Umbra yet he hears a vase breaking? I swear, this guy must have selective hearing,’ she thought to herself as she cautiously landed, trying to avoid more vase pieces.

“Aaaanyways,” Rainbow Dash said, looking at anything other than the princess, like that vase she just broken. “I guess I could resell it back to you…” Rainbow Dash said cautiously, slowly bringing her eyes up to meet Umbra’s. The once murderous face changed immediately to pure bliss. Umbra snatched RD up in a full on bear hug.

“Aaah! Thank thee so much! We will cherish it greatly!” Rainbow Dash’s face turned even bluer than her fur from lack of circulation.

“No… problem,” Rainbow Dash croaked. “I only ask… one thing..”

“Ah yes! What is it?”

“Could you stop hugging me?”

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