route_1065 | The Fire of Friendship Lives in Our Hearts

Entry tags:

The Fire of Friendship Lives in Our Hearts

Who: Twilight Sparkle (

friendyousohard), Fluttershy (

3_butterflies), Rainbow Dash (

bestofthebest), and Imogen (

for_realsies)
Where: Violet City Pokecenter
When: ~~Christmas~~ Hearth's Warming Eve
Summary: Pony holiday celebrations. Be warned, ye who enter here. There will be cuteness.
Rating: G.
Log:

Everything is set up. The room is decorated to look as festive and shiny as anypony could possibly want. Not that it's surprising, really. Just about everywhere was already decorated, and the differences between Hearth's Warming Eve decorations and Christmas ones was barely even noticeable. Which is pretty surprising if you think about it.

Twilight's mind is elsewhere, however, as she sets the last of the presents into the pile, humming a carol to herself. It's just about time to start the celebration, and if things are going to be a little more low-key this year than most, well... having only three ponies and one human to celebrate the holiday is going to put a bit of a damper on things.

Still, she hopes everyone enjoys themselves. It might be small, but she's certain the celebration can be just as meaningful.

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"...I couldn't do that! I'm an athlete, and putting on public displays isn't my thing...well, n-not when it's about love and affection! And it wasn't too hard figuring it out; you said it happened when everypony went back, so it had to be somepony in our group."

Rainbow caught herself, realizing that she did enjoy the spotlight when it was on her and she could show that she was the best. At least she wasn't like Trixie and bragged constantly about it. Finding out exactly who Fluttershy had fallen for however, really threw Rainbow for a loop. It took her a moment or two to respond.

"...Ha, Applejack. If it had to be anypony, why not one who had her hooves on the ground, knew what she wanted and took time out for her?"

"Well, you weren't involved, so that's completely irrelevant, though honestly I agree with you." Twilight's reasons were completely different from Dash's, but the conclusions were the same. If and when she got into a relationship, no PDAs. Then again, she pretty much lived under the assumption that it would never be relevant for her anyway.

"Frankly, after the initial shock, it seemed kind of natural, the two of them together like that. It's the sort of thing I almost never think of, but if I did, I probably would have guessed at it before. Of course, that just made it even worse when she left..."

"Hold on a minute! Just because I wasn't involved doesn't mean I never wanna find my special somepony! Sure I have responsibilities, but maybe someday..."

Rainbow barely even realized she was getting off track, crossing her arms and listening to the rest of Twilight's tale. "Long as she was happy, I guess I could live with it. Still, you were right - she shouldn't have had to suffer when AJ and everypony else left..."

"Well, no, but we weren't talking about-" Twilight sighed about halfway through her response, realizing that trying to keep the target of conversation focused on Fluttershy and Applejack, and only Fluttershy and Applejack, was an exercise in futility.

Her muttered comment got a raised eyebrow. "Live with it"? What could she possibly mean by that? It wasn't like the relationship they had with the rest of them was going to change. Once again, though, her mind was going off track. She shrugged in response to Rainbow's more audible statement.

"No kidding, but what can you do? We don't control how things work here, much as I really do wish I could... All we can do is make the most of the time we do have."

Rainbow pouted once more but nodded, hating that she couldn't do a thing to help Fluttershy out except for...just being there for her. It wasn't like she hadn't done so before, but those were different situations.

"...You're right, Twilight. Maybe I'll stay around longer than I did last time. And we can help Fluttershy feel better!"

"You're already doing that. The best thing you can do is just be here, and recognizably yourself. Remember, we're at our best when we're together."

That, really, was the long and short of it. It wasn't what they did when they were together that was important, it was the being together in and of itself. Anything else was just a bonus.

"Which reminds me... there may be times at which I'll be leaving you two alone for a while. I have... responsibilities, that I've agreed to here. I can tell you a little more, but you have to swear to me that what I say never goes further than you."

She gave Rainbow her strictest, firmest glare at that. Her best serious business face. This was important. The PGC's security could not be compromised.

Rainbow nodded and smiled lightly. That was the Twilight she enjoyed seeing - the determined pony who did her best to remind themselves and others about their power of friendship.

And then she listened intently to what Twilight said, about having...responsibilities. She suspected they might revolve around Team Rocket, and if so...!

Responding to Twilight's glare with a stern look of her own, she nodded while giving her the usual salute. Only this time, it wasn't with a hoof. "You got it! Nopony will break me, and I'll never rat out my friends!"

She wasn't sure if Fluttershy knew what Twilight was about to tell her, but Dash wasn't about to betray her friend's trust.

"That's what I wanted to hear." She took in a deep breath, remembering how Fluttershy had reacted when she'd told her about her involvement in the Corps... then remembered that this was Rainbow Dash, and the reaction would be anything but the same.

"I'm a member of a secret group dedicated to bringing down Team Rocket." She explained, her voice dropping to a hushed whisper. She didn't want there to even be a chance of them being overheard. "And if we get wind of an opportunity to strike them, or notified of an attack from them before it comes... it's going to be my duty to be part of the group that goes to deal with that. Even if that means leaving you two behind while I go."

And she was extremely grateful that it was "you two" now, and not just Fluttershy. At least with Rainbow around she wouldn't be leaving a friend alone to do this.

"I can't go into much detail with anyone who's not a part of the group, even you, but there's a chance that soon enough, there will be just that sort of opportunity. I may be leaving soon after the new year starts."

Rainbow didn't even try to interrupt, waiting until Twilight was finished before seemingly bouncing in her seat.

She was that excited to learn one of her best friends was in a super-top secret organization dedicated to bringing down Team Rocket.

"OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!" She might've said it really quietly, but Twilight was close enough to hear Rainbow's variation of a 'squee.'

"That is so....AWESOME~! Does Fluttershy know?"

"... You would think that."

Of course Rainbow wasn't worried. Yet. Later on, when it all sank in, Twilight was pretty sure Rainbow would start being upset that she couldn't be there to watch her back. But right now? The sheer coolness of the thought that one of her best friends was in a top-secret group like that would just be too much awesome for her to take.

"Yes, she knows... she's a bit less enthusiastic about the idea, but that's to be expected with her. She doesn't know any more than I've told you, and I plan to keep it that way. The less you know, the less of a target you are."

"Of course I would! Our little egghead, part of a super-secret group dedicated for justice, truth and what's right - what's not awesome about that? Except that I can't be there, but maybe after I've gotten stronger...!"

Rainbow was upset she couldn't go, but at the moment she knew it was best that she stay with Fluttershy instead of going off with Twilight.

"Yeah, that's a smart way to see it. You wouldn't be much use to the group if you had to worry about us geing targeted."

"You might be able to be there later, when you're more ready to take them on... that's a strong might, though. It's not up to me. I'd have to bring you to the commander and get her to approve."

The commander. She sounded like she was in the royal knights or something. Just like...

She shut down that train of thought before it could get going. This was no time to be getting wibbly over her BBBFF.

"I'm just glad you understand the situation. I have to admit, I was a bit worried you'd demand to be able to go with me right away."

Which would have been a disaster.

A commander. That sounded an awful lot like...

Rainbow shook her head quickly and simply nodded in acknowledgment. She couldn't remind herself of Spitfire or the Wonderbolts right now. Being here meant she couldn't join their ranks, but she was needed in Johto. Again, from the looks of it.

"Psh, of course I understand! I'll help you kick some Team Rocket flank when I've got the best team of well-trained Pokemon in Johto. Until then, Team Dash is strictly recon."

Rainbow, it's highly unlikely that you'd even get to join a simple recon team at the moment.

"More support than recon, really. I'm counting on you to keep things safe and secure whenever I have to leave."

"Things" in this case more or less meant Fluttershy.

"And to keep morale up. I know that's usually more Pinkie Pie's job, but honestly, I think daily parties would be kind of counterproductive here anyway."

She paused a brief moment before adding in: "Don't ever tell her I said that if she shows up again, though. She'd either try to prove me wrong, or get depressed."

"You got it! I'll keep things and everypony safe when you've gotta go."

'Things' in her case meant Fluttershy, too.

Rainbow had to laugh when Twilight mentioned Pinkie Pie, as well as the fact that having daily parties would be counterproductive.

"Hahahahahahahaha~! I'll keep it from her, but then she'd just throw a 'can't have a party everyday' party!"

"She really would." Sighing and shaking her head, Twilight could only agree with Rainbow's assessment.

"Well, it's irrelevant for the moment anyway, since she's not here and I don't have to leave yet. I just thought you should be prepared."

Rainbow nodded once more while grinning confidently.

"Yeah, I'll be prepared to handle things when you gotta go. Thanks for trusting me, Twilight..."

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The Fire of Friendship Lives in Our Hearts

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