Friendship is Magic

“Bye-bye, kitty.”  Fluttershy called and promptly let out a squeal as I embraced her.

“Fluttershy, it's incredible.”

“Don't scare me like that.”

“I'm sorry, but you're someone I've been looking for.  You're a Bearer of Harmony!  Oh, this is so exciting!”

Fluttershy blinked, “I don't think I understand.”

“Oh, don't worry about it.” I grabbed her hand and began to pull her along behind me. “You need to meet my friends, up at the school.  I'll explain everything on the way.”

x----x

“Well, you've certainly proven yourself, Rainbow.  I'm always happy when I have the right hunch about an athlete.”  Descent said when they had finished training. “The rest of the team just got here.”  He gestured to a slim woman with well-defined muscle, “This is Nightingale, the de facto leader of our group.”

Nightingale crossed her arms and gave Rainbow an appraising eye. “You're the little girl Descent's been raving about.  I figured you'd be taller and older.”

“Size doesn't matter.” Rainbow shot back, “I can win any competition, anywhere!”

“Whoa-ho.  I like the fire in this one.”

“Don't tease her, Nightingale.  Rainbow's a tough act.  That's Haze, behind you.”

Rainbow turned to find what was, quite possibly, the largest man she had ever seen.  Each of his massive dark-skinned arms were about as big around as her entire torso and he stood her height plus half.  His gaze was completely expressionless as he watched her.

“So, Rainbow,” Nightingale said, “Descent tells us you're into Parkour.  Are there any other sports you do?”

“Yeah.  I surf in the summer and, during the winter, I snowboard, but I've been concentrating on Parkour for the Wonderbolt's tournament.”

Nightingale took Descent's notes and started reading through them, “You've got a good record here but I'm the kind of girl who has to see it to believe it.”

“Well, then, what are we waiting for?  I'm more than ready to show you that I'm more than just hot air.”

“You might be but we're not.  It'll take us a couple of hours to get set up.  Come back in, oh, two hours or so and we'll see what you can do.”

“Yeah, sure thing.”  Rainbow turned and took off for the park.  Two hours would be more than enough time to help Fluttershy.

“Did you give her the necklace?” Nightingale asked Descent as they watched the girl leave.

“Yes.  She's wearing it right now, as a matter of fact.  I don't agree with the plan, though.  It would be so much easier to just take her to Luna against her will.”

“Luna wants Rainbow as an ally, not as a slave.  We must be patient.  The necklace's spell will do its work soon enough.

“By the way.  Luna wants to speak with you.  Be sure to contact her immediately.”

They both turned as Haze started to wander away.

“Where are you going?” Nightingale called.

“I have things to do.  I'll see you two tomorrow.”  He rumbled, giving a wave of one massive hand.

“Do you ever get the feeling that he's hiding something?” Descent asked.

“I do.  We should watch him carefully.  He's very good at what he does and I don't think he's stupid enough to cross Luna.  That would be like crossing Death itself.”

x----x

“YAY!  Another new friend!”  Pinkie cried as she picked Fluttershy up and spun her around. “I love making new friends!”

“Oh, please.  Please, put me down.  I'm terrified of heights.”

“Twilight, darling, I can understand your enthusiasm to gather Element Bearers but are you certain Fluttershy is one of the ones we're looking for?”

“Yes.  The jewel was glowing and the jewels never lie.  You should have seen her calm a cat that had its leg tied up in fishing line.  It was great!  I have no doubt that Fluttershy is the Element of Kindness.”

“If you say so.”  Rarity replied, eying Fluttershy doubtfully.

“Was I really a pony in another life, and can I transform?  I've only ever seen magical girls transform in Anime.”

“Yes, Fluttershy, you can transform.” I assured her. “We all can, but we have to find someplace safe to do so.”

“Oooooh,” Pinkie squealed, raising her hand and hopping excitedly, “I have an idea.  Why don't we have a slumber party?”

“That's an excellent idea, Pinkie.”  Rarity replied, “A slumber party would be the perfect opportunity to show Fluttershy that we're telling the truth and to coach her through her new abilities.  Oh, we can have it on Friday!”

“A slumber party?” I asked.

“Twilight, haven't you ever had friends over for slumber parties?”

“Well, considering that I've never had friends before, no.  No, I have not.  I wouldn't even know what to do at them.”

“Oh, it's very simple.” Fluttershy assured me. “We get together for a night at somebody's house.”

“Oh, and it's so much fun.” Pinkie squealed. “Especially with games like Karaoke and snacks.”

Everybody winced at the thought of Pinkie Pie doing Karaoke.

“Have you ever had a slumber party, Fluttershy?” asked Rarity.

“Yes, with my friend, Rainbow.”

x----x

Rainbow crossed over the threshold of the school's front gate and wandered across the empty courtyard.  Fluttershy hadn't been anywhere in the park. “I hope she's not still waiting for me in front of the school.”

She rounded a corner and spotted Fluttershy talking with three other girls.  One of which was Rarity, one of the popular girls. “Oh no, not again.”

x----x

“Did you have slumber parties when you were little, Pinkie?”

“Yes, I had them all the time but my guests were a bit quiet.  I guess that wouldn't be unexpected.  They were rocks, after all.”

I blinked and scratched my head. Rocks?

“FLUTTERSHY!!”

Fluttershy started and turned to the source of the voice. “Rainbow!  There you are!  Hello!”

The tiny rainbow-haired girl marched up and poke Fluttershy in the chest. “What are you doing with these girls?”

I tried to step in and introduce myself. “Are you Fluttershy's friend?  My name is Twilight-”

“Shaddup!  I wasn't talking to you!” Rainbow snapped.

“Rainbow, be nice.  These are my new friends.”

“No!  I am your friend, your only friend.  Do you hear me?”

“Don't speak to people like that,” Rarity admonished as she stepped up.

“Shut up, grandma.”  Rainbow responded.

Rarity stood in open-mouthed shock. “She...she called me 'grandma'.”  An inferno leaped into her eyes as she launched herself forward, only to be restrained by Pinkie.

“Rarity, calm down.”

“She called me 'grandma'!  That insolent little whelp!  I'll tear her apart!”

Rainbow gave a contemptuous glare over her shoulder before returning her attention to Fluttershy. “Them or me.  You decide!”

“I...I, uh.”  She stuttered.

Without waiting for a full reply, Rainbow seized Fluttershy's hand and began to drag her away.

“Fluttershy?” I called.

“I...I'm sorry, Twilight.”

x----x

Rainbow kept up a furious pace as she marched away from the school, dragging Fluttershy along behind her. “I don't want to see you anywhere near those girls again.  Ya got me, Flutters?  They will never be our friends.”

“If only you knew them.  You might see that they aren't that bad.”

“Not that bad?  Are you kidding me?  Rarity's one of them and she's the most popular girl in school.  Don't you remember what happened the last time those popular girls were your friends?”

Fluttershy remembered those girls and how they seemed to take a genuine interest in her life.  They had invited her to sit with them at lunch, picked her to be on their team during Physical Education, and included her in their group.

Until one day, after school, they dumped a bucket of soiled water from a backed-up toilet onto her.  She was an absolute mess, smelled horrible, and was a laughingstock.  She had fled from the school in tears.

She remembered standing on an overpass, staring at the street below, and wondering if dying hurt.  It certainly couldn't hurt worse than the humiliation she had received at the hands of those girls, or the humiliation she would receive for years to come.  She climbed over the railing, closed her eyes, and was prepared when a hand grabbed her arm.

That was the same day she met Rainbow.

“If I hadn't been there, at that moment, you would have taken your own life and only because of some idiots' mockery.”  Rainbow sighed, “I'm the only one you can trust.”

“These girls aren't like those other ones.  I'm sure of it.”

“No!”  Rainbow whirled on Fluttershy and grabbed the straps of her coveralls. “They're all the same!  I only want to protect you but you keep insisting on trying to get hurt like before!  Why?  You know that nobody at that school likes us and that we can only depend on ourselves.

“That's going to change really soon.  I know some good people and they're going to help us get out of here.  I just have to do something really quick and we can go.  It's going to be okay, Flutters.  I promise.”

“I don't understand.”

“Don't worry about it.  Just trust me.  I gotta go, I'm meeting them now.  Wait for me in the park and I'll come and find you as soon as I'm done.  I'll make up for not being there earlier, I swear.”

“Okay, Rainbow.  Please be careful.”

Rainbow nodded and rushed forward, pulling Fluttershy into a tight embrace.  She was startled by this show of emotion from the normally stoic athlete.

“I love you, Fluttershy, and I won't fail you, like I did with Gilda.”

x----x

“Little cat, my princess tells me that you possess the soul of a powerful Equestrian beast.”  Descent declared as he picked up the cat.  He pulled a Discord jewel from his pocket. “It is time to reveal your true form for all of the world to see.”

x----x

Fluttershy sat in the rays of the fading sun, wondering what was keeping Rainbow.  Her friend had been acting strangely and, frankly, it scared her.

A finger slipped along the back of her neck, gentle as a breeze. “Fluuuuuutttterrrshyyyy.”

Fluttershy snapped around to look but saw no one.  “H-hello?  Is somebody there?”

Something gently tugged on her hair, “Fluuuuuutttterrrshyyyyy.”

She snapped around again to find no one.  Something told her to look down and she saw Pinkie staring up at her from beneath the bench.

“Why did you leave?”  The girl asked with a frightening grin on her face.

Fluttershy's shriek echoed off of the nearby buildings as she rocketed up from her seat and fell back into the grass.

Twilight marched up and collared the pink-haired girl, “Idiot!  You're scaring her.”

“I just wanted to play a joke.” Pinkie objected.

“What are you girls doing here?”  Fluttershy asked.

“We were passing through and saw you sitting here.”  Rarity explained, “We thought it was a little odd that you would leave us to go sit by yourself.”

“Yeah, besides, you looked all saddy-waddy.” The pink-haired girl chimed in.

“I'm waiting for Rainbow.” Fluttershy explained. “Please leave, I don't want anymore trouble with her.”

“She can't forbid you to see other people.” Twilight objected.

“She just doesn't want to see me get hurt again.”

“What sensible friend would?”  Rarity asked as she sat down next to Fluttershy. “That's no reason to isolate yourself.”

“Please don't make me choose between you and Rainbow.”  Fluttershy begged.

“We'd never make you choose.  We just wanted to talk with you and Rainbow both.  We want to be her friends, too.”  Pinkie explained.

“You'd really do that?”

“Oh, look at the cute kitty.” Pinkie squealed.

Twilight glanced over, “Fluttershy, isn't that the cat from earlier.”

The cat growled menacingly and began to glow.

“What's that?”  Fluttershy cried.

The shape grew and grew.  Great leathery wings sprouted from its back.  Its tail lengthened and hardened, growing an armored carapace and a large spiked tip.  It's claws grew and sharpened and its fur darkened.

Fluttershy shrieked again.  Pinkie immediately began to change into that ridiculous outfit that Rarity made.

“I recognize this creature.” Twilight announced. “I saw a picture of it in that book Celeste gave me.  It's a Manticore.”  She glowed as she transformed.

Fluttershy's jaw fell open as she witnessed the transformation. “It's all true.  You are powerful warriors.”

“Yes, yes,” Rarity interrupted a little more brusquely than necessary. “Now, if you'll please stand back so that we can take care of this, there will be plenty of time for amazement later.”

“Oh, of course.” Fluttershy retreated to a safe distance.

Twilight turned to Rarity, “You ready?”

“But, we have class tomorrow and I'll get all icky.”

Twilight rolled her eyes, “Whatever.  I'll do your laundry if it'll make you feel better.  Pinkie, are you ready?”

Pinkie was busy pulling on her boots, “Just a minute.”

The Manticore decided to take that moment to attack.  It leaped at Pinkie, who barely rolled out of the way in time.

“I said in a minute, kitty.”  She cried as she hobbled away.

“Do you see my point about the costumes?”  Twilight asked Rarity.

“Yes, it seems these creatures grow ruder by the day.”

x----x

“Excellent Rainbow.  You followed my instructions without stopping.  That has to be some of the best work I've ever seen.” Nightingale complimented

“Was there any doubt?  Where's Descent?”

“He had some things to take care of but my decision will be upheld by the team.”

“And what is your decision?”

Nightingale paused for dramatic emphasis, “Congratulations, Rainbow.  You can now consider yourself a Shadowbolt.”

“YES!  This is great!”

“Now, I'm sure Descent told you we're currently operating out of Cannes.  If that's acceptable, we can begin drawing up the paperwork.  We'll talk with your father and have you in France for training by next week.”

“Awesome!  Fluttershy's going to be so psyched!  She's always wanted to go to Europe.”

Nightingale's brow creased, “Who's Fluttershy?”

“My best friend and personal trainer.  She's going to be coming with me.”

“I'm sorry, Rainbow.  This invitation is open to you and only you.”

Rainbow stopped celebrating. “No way!  I promised her that she could come with me.  I can't leave her behind.  She's like a sister to me.”

Nightingale shrugged, “Take it or leave it, kid.”

“I...uh...I.”  Rainbow felt a strange sensation come over her.  As if something was compelling her to accept Nightingale's offer.

She sat on the edge of a rooftop, next to her idol and crush.

“I need you to  promise me something.” Soarin said.

“Anything.” Rainbow squeaked.

“I want you to promise me that you'll never change.  Always be loyal to your friends.  They're all you'll ever have in this world.”

She lifted a pinkie and smiled when he hooked his in hers, “Promise.”

“No!” She snapped.

“No?”

“I'm not going to leave Fluttershy.  I'm her only friend and she needs me!”  She pushed back her hood and met Nightingale's gaze. “Thanks, but no.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn you down.”

And, with those words, she stalked off into the sunset.

Nightingale felt her anger rise.  Never before had she been turned down. “Her loyalty for this Fluttershy is greater than the necklace's spell.  Descent was right.  It'd be easier to take the brat by force.”  She called her magic, a simple stunning spell would do.

“Nightingale, stay thy hand!”

“Princess, you can see me?”

“I can see everything and I know what you're thinking.”

“Luna, Rainbow's loyalty for Fluttershy is really strong.”

“And that is the reason that her loyalty will be in our favor in the end.  Whether it's the sadness of seeing her dead friend or her rage at seeing that same friend with others, her loyalty will be what brings her to us.”