Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

Kingdom Hearts of Harmony
Chapter 68

It was quite the spectacle to witness two equally elegant yet distinct mares strolling through the polished marble halls of Canterlot Castle. Rarity walked side by side with Princess Celestia, the smaller mare flashing a warm smile toward her nation's sovereign.

“I simply cannot thank you enough for allowing me to stay at the castle while I work on my new project,” The unicorn mare spoke, her tone of voice more than a little excited, “And allowing me a run of your royal library as well. Cannot forget that, Princess.”

"The pleasure is mine, Rarity.” Celestia responded, “Though I cannot help but be quite curious about why you needed access to the library as well."

“Well, you see, Princess,” Rarity began, “I’ve decided that simply fashioning a new ensemble for Sora wouldn’t be enough. After all, he is a Keyblade Wielder, and he faces dangers that most of us couldn’t even imagine! No, no—this creation needs a touch of magic, something to enhance both its function and its protection.”

Celestia tilted her head ever so slightly. “Ah, so you’re thinking of enchanting your design? Though I thought for sure Twilight had helped with that on his current clothing.”

“Oh, Twilight most certainly did help with his current clothing, and I trust her spells are as impeccable as her studies,” The fashionista answered, “ But..." she trailed off, her gaze falling downward

Celestia tilted her head, intrigued. "But?"

The mare shook her head. "It was twice now…Twice that I watched Sora get hurt nearly to the point of no return. What he has isn’t enough. Not by a long shot.”

Celestia’s warm expression softened, her gaze growing more thoughtful as she took in Rarity’s words. The weight behind the fashionista's usually dramatic tone was undeniable, and something she couldn’t help but relate to after what she had to tell Sora after his last little adventure.

"I see," The princess spoke after a short while. "Sora means a great deal to you, doesn’t he?”

Rarity placed a hoof over her chest. "Of course he does, Princess. The little ruffian has honestly grown on me more and more each time I see him.” She shook her head. “He’s reckless in the most heroic way possible, always throwing himself into danger without a second thought, and I couldn’t help but be drawn into him." She paused, a heavy breath escaping her lips. "So…it hits much harder when I’ve seen him come far too close to losing it all."

“The first time, in the Crystal Empire was devastating…and now just recently…he only survived by the skin of his fur due to both luck and that boy that was within him…Ventus I do believe his name was.” The unicorn sighed. “I know there isn’t a pure spell that can protect everything…but…I have to find something close to it.”

“That…I can understand all too well.” Celestia mused softly, “And while I will allow you access to the tomes, please do come to me before trying anything dangerous. Knowing Sora, he would blame himself if you got hurt on his behalf.”

Rarity smiled softly at Celestia’s words, feeling a warmth of reassurance settle over her. “Of course, Princess. I wouldn’t dream of putting myself in danger unnecessarily. Still, if there’s anything I can do to make sure Sora is safer, I simply must try.” She paused. “Also…there is a third reason I am here.”

Celestia raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “A third reason?” she repeated gently, encouraging her subject to continue.

Rarity hesitated for a moment, her usual confidence flickering with a hint of vulnerability. She glanced up at Celestia. “Yes, well... it’s not just Sora that I’m concerned about. There’s... there’s something else, something I’ve been meaning to ask you, Princess, and I suppose now is as good a time as any.”

Celestia’s warm smile remained, though her gaze grew more attentive. “You know you can ask me anything, Rarity. I’m here to help in whatever way I can.”

“I…want a trainer.”

Celestia’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “A trainer?” she repeated, her tone gentle yet curious. “Are you thinking of improving your own magic, or is this about something else?”

“Fencing training actually.” Rarity answered. “I did a little fencing back when I was a filly. It was, after all, considered the martial art of the upper elite, and I was thinking…that…I should pick it back up.” She placed her hoodie upon her head, the feather within it, bouncing with each step. “I was inspired to think about it due to my outfit actually. It is based on your magic knight’s garb after all…with a mix of Sora’s own style of course.

Celestia’s expression shifted from surprise to admiration as she listened, a fond smile forming on her lips. “Fencing, you say? It seems fitting for someone with your grace and poise, Rarity.”

Rarity blushed slightly but kept her composure. “Yes, well, I’ve always believed that elegance and strength need not be mutually exclusive. And after everything we’ve been through... I realized that having a way to defend myself—beyond my magic—might come in handy. Plus, I do miss the thrill of a good duel. It’s an art I’ve neglected for far too long.”

“If that’s the case, I might have a few ponies in mind for you.” Celestia mused. “I’m sure they would love to find time for a determined student such as yourself. But…what about your shop?”

Rarity’s eyes widened slightly at Celestia’s question, the thought of her beloved boutique causing a flicker of concern to cross her features. “Ah, yes… the shop,” she murmured. She Its not like she had forgotten about her other responsibilities but with everything going on it did slip her mind after everything that has happened.

Carousel Boutique was not only her livelihood but her passion, and the thought of leaving it unattended was not something she took lightly. Still...

“I won’t lie, Princess,” the fashionista admitted, “the boutique is a priority, and I could never abandon it. But… I believe I can balance both. After all, I’ve managed to juggle my fashion empire with our many adventures. With a little organization and help from my friends, I’m sure I can carve out the time to pursue this.” She tapped a hoof to her chin. “Perhaps it is time I hired an assistant.”

“Whatever you decide, Rarity, I promise to help you in whatever way I can.” Celestia told her. “In fact, I’ve been keeping my eye on Manehatten and I do believe there are some ponies there that would jump at the chance at working with somepony with your skills.”

Rarity’s eyes lit up at Celestia’s words. “Manehatten, you say? Oh, Princess, you’re absolutely right! The city is brimming with talented and ambitious ponies. I’m sure I could find an assistant who’s not only capable but also passionate about fashion.”

“Glad you are quite taken with my idea.” Celestia mused. “I’ll see if can make arrangements for you to visit Manehatten and explore the possibilities.”

“Oh, thank you, Princess! I’ll make the necessary arrangements on my end as well. I can already imagine meeting potential assistants and finding that perfect fit for the boutique.” Rarity nodded to herself. “And to let any evil doer know that you won’t stop me from achieving any of my dreams or helping my friends.”

~~~

Rainbow Dash opened the door to her cloud house, gesturing for Gilda to come in. "Alright, G, make yourself at home. You can crash in one of the guest rooms upstairs.”.

Gilda slipped inside, glancing around the airy interior. "Still never not surprised how you ponies can just take a cloud and make a home out of it," she remarked.

Rainbow chuckled, closing the door behind Gilda. "Yeah, well, it’s a pegasus thing. Gotta know how to make the most out of all this cloud stuff," she said, giving the wall a light tap with her hoof, causing the fluffy texture to ripple slightly. "Besides, it's not just any cloud—this is prime cloud real estate right here. The best of the best, for the best!" The pegasus floated towards the couch, landing on it with a soft flump. “So…ah…I mean…” She rubbed the back of her head. “What do you wanna do?”

Gilda set her bag down near the door, turning to face Rainbow with a raised eyebrow. For a moment, she seemed caught off guard by the question, but then she smirked. “Wow, Dash, since when did you get all awkward on me?”

Rainbow huffed, “Yeah, well, it’s been a while since we just... hung out, you know? Figured I’d leave it up to you this time.” She offered a sheepish smile before adding, “But hey, if you wanna take a look around town or just crash and catch up here, I’m game.”

Gilda’s smirk softened into something closer to a real smile. She studied the pegasus for a moment before replying, “You know what? It’s kinda nice seeing you like this, Dash. All adorable and stuff.”

Rainbow felt a bit of heat rise in her cheeks, but she quickly waved a hoof dismissively. “Pfft, don’t get all sappy on me, G. It’s just… Well, things have been different since the last time you visited, okay? I guess I’ve learned to chill out a bit.” She shot Gilda a playful grin, adding, “But don’t think for a second I’ve lost my edge.”

Gilda chuckled, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Chilled out eh? Is it because of your hero, Dash?" she asked, her tone dripping with playful sarcasm. "Guess all that time you’ve spent around Sora’s been rubbing off on you, huh?"

Dash rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the slight flush in her cheeks. “Ugh…Shut it Gil.”

Gilda burst out laughing. "Ha! That ain't a 'no,' Dash," she teased, grinning from cheek to cheek. "You're not even denying it!"

Rainbow Dash's wings flared slightly in embarrassment as she shot Gilda a half-hearted glare. "Oh, come on, Gil! Always with this with you," she huffed, though the blush on her cheeks betrayed her. "We’re just... friends, okay? Teammates. I have his back and he has mine.”

Gilda waved a claw dismissively, a knowing smirk still on her beak. "Oh, come off it, Dash. You’re acting like having a thing for somepony would be all that complicated," she said with a casual shrug. "And don’t pretend like I don’t know how things work around here. Herds are still a thing, after all. It's not like a stallion always settles for just one mate."

Rainbow sputtered, her face now turning almost as red as Applejack’s prized apples. "Gilda, come on! It’s not that simple!" she protested, flapping her wings in exasperation. "He’s got... Gah!” She groans. “Seeing as you don’t want to drop this like I told you to, I’ll lay it out simple. Sora is just…he’s just a friend. And he’s dating my best friend. And he’s already dealing with other stuff too. Bothering him with stupid stuff like this or anything else is stupid right now, okay?”

Gilda raised an eyebrow, her smirk fading slightly. "Alright, alright, I hear you," she mused softly, "I just thought maybe you were letting something slip by without even realizing it." She smirked again. “Though I did just hear you say you didn’t want to bother him with it right now…Does that mean you plan to in the future?”

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes at Gilda, her wings twitching in frustration. “You’re not gonna let up on this, are you?” she muttered, flopping back onto the couch with a groan. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, feeling the familiar pull of the clouds beneath her, trying to find her usual confidence amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

Gilda, for her part, stayed quiet for once, waiting for Dash to continue.

With a heavy sigh, the pegasus rubbed her temples. “Look, Gil… It’s not like I haven’t thought about it, okay? I mean, Sora’s… well, he’s Sora. He’s brave, stupidly heroic, always throwing himself into danger, and I…” she hesitated, her voice dropping a little. “I get it. I get why Fluttershy likes and and I get why he reminds me so much of Locke.”

Gilda remained quiet, her usual snark replaced with a rare moment of understanding as Rainbow spoke.

Rainbow took a deep breath, her eyes still on the ceiling. "Sora... he's a lot like Locke was, you know? All that reckless hero stuff, throwing himself into danger without a second thought. Always trying to protect everyone else. An idiot goofball taking on the world himself. It’s like looking at a reflection of him sometimes, and I guess that’s why I feel this weird connection to him. And... it’s probably why it feels so complicated."

Gilda sits beside her friend,. "So you finally admit it? That he and Locke are kind of the same"

The pegasus scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, well, there are a few differences, you know. Like how Locke was a bit of a thief." She shot Gilda a pointed look, as if that fact alone made the comparison less valid.

Gilda smirked, shaking her head. "Oh, come on, Dash. Didn’t he always say he was a ‘treasure hunter’? Big difference, right?"

Rainbow snorted, sitting up on the couch. "Yeah, he said that, but let’s be real—he was a thief. He just liked to dress it up all fancy-like. Sora’s… well, Sora’s more straightforward, you know? He’s got that whole Keyblade-wielder, save-the-world thing going on, and even if he messes up, his heart’s in the right place."

Gilda laughed, the sound rough but genuine as she leaned back against the couch. "Ha! You know, if I didn’t see it all myself, I’d think you were talking about one of those dumb fantasy video games I’ve seen the young ones play. Keyblade-wielder, saving worlds, magical powers—he sounds straight out of some made-up story."

The blue mare couldn't stop the laughter this time, her body doubling over. "Ahahaaha! Yeah, I know, right? If somepony had told me all this a couple of years ago, I’d have thought they were crazy. But that’s just Sora’s life.”

Rainbow sighed, her wings drooping slightly as she landed back on the floor, the initial frustration giving way to weariness. "Think we are getting off topic though…Right now Fluttershy really cares about him and she was first, okay. Messing something up with them would be stupid on my end. I want them to be happy right now.”

Gilda’s expression softened, her usual smirk replaced by a more genuine look of understanding. She leaned back against the couch, nodding slowly. "Yeah, I get that, Dash," she said, her voice carrying a gentler tone than before. "You’re not the type to put yourself first…well…when it comes to your friends at least."

Rainbow managed a small, wry smile, her wings twitching slightly as she rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, well, it’s not like I’m doing anything special. It’s just... the right thing to do, you know?"

Gilda watched her for a moment, then shrugged. "Hey, I respect that…at least from you Dash. Doesn’t mean I’m not gonna give you a hard time about it, but I respect it." She gave Rainbow a small nudge with her wing, a faint grin tugging at the corner of her beak. "Just make sure you’re not putting your own happiness on the back burner forever, alright? Even if you think it’s 'stupid.'"

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Rainbow waved off with a hoof, "But I’m fine, really. I’ve got my friends, I’ve got my flying, and I’ve got the whole saving Equestria thing left to do." She met Gilda’s gaze, her eyes brightening a little as she changed the subject. "Besides, if I need somepony to give me grief about my love life, I know exactly where to find you, right?"

Gilda snorted, rolling her eyes but clearly appreciating the shift in tone. "You bet, Dash. Someone’s gotta keep you on your hooves, after all. But seriously... if you need to talk about this stuff—or if you just need to punch something—I’m here, okay? It...It's good to have a good friend back."

Rainbow's usual cocky grin returned, albeit with a softer edge. “Yeah, thanks, G. It’s good to have you back, too. And, uh, I’ll hold you to that punching offer if things get too crazy.” The mare jumped to her hooves before turning towards her friend, "But don’t think I’ll go easy on you because you’re being all sappy right now. Gotta keep my win steak with you in the skies after all."

Gilda let out a laugh, the sound lightening the mood between them. "Oh, please! You wish you could keep up with me! Just try not to let all those feelings slow you down, huh?"

Before either of them could make a move toward the door, there was a rapid, almost panicked thumping that echoed through Rainbow Dash's cloud house. She blinked, her ears perking up in surprise. “What the—?” she muttered, quickly trotting over and opening the door.

Standing there was none other than Fluttershy, her wide eyes filled with worry and her normally calm demeanor shattered. She was panting heavily, wings slightly disheveled from her frantic flight.

"Fluttershy?!" Rainbow exclaimed, the blue mare stepping aside to let her friend in. "What happened? What’s going on?"

Fluttershy rushed inside, her breaths coming in short, panicked bursts. "Stallion... black... Keyblade..." she gasped, her eyes wide with fear as she struggled to get the words out.

Rainbow Dash's heart skipped a beat as she processed the fragments of Fluttershy’s explanation. "Wait, slow down, Fluttershy. A stallion with a Keyblade? You mean Sora?" She asked, her voice a mix of confusion and urgency.

Fluttershy shook her head frantically, her wings fluttering in agitation. "N-no, not Sora... A black stallion... he looks like him, but... different! He’s got a Keyblade too!" Her voice trembled as she spoke, her worry clearly overwhelming her.

Rainbow’s eyes widened in shock. "A black stallion with a Keyblade?" She frowned. “Calm down and start over from the beginning.”

~~~

Before Scootaloo had left the house, the morning had started like any other, the scent of freshly baked muffins filling the air. She stood at the doorway, adjusting her helmet on her head while glancing back at her aunts, who were busy tidying up after breakfast.

"You sure you don’t want to take a muffin for the road, Scoots?" Aunt Holiday called from the kitchen, her voice warm and motherly.

Scootaloo grinned and shook her head. "Nah, I’m good, Aunt Holiday! Apple Bloom always has snacks at the farm. Besides, I’ve got a busy day with the Crusaders! You know, important Cutie Mark business."

Aunt Lofty trotted over, giving her niece a playful ruffle of her mane. "Busy day, huh? Just don’t go getting into any trouble like last time, okay? I don’t think I’ve quite recovered from pulling you out of that mud pit."

Scootaloo laughed, her wings giving off a gentle buzz. "Hey, that was so last week! Today’s gonna be totally different. We might even help somepony new with their Cutie Mark!" She puffed out her chest, proud of the Crusaders' ever-growing reputation.

Holiday and Lofty exchanged knowing smiles, both clearly used to Scootaloo’s energy and boundless enthusiasm. "Alright, Scoots," Aunt Holiday said with a chuckle. "Just be careful out there, okay? If anything happens, you know where to find us."

Scootaloo gave them a quick salute. "You got it! I’ll be back before dinner!"

With that, she opened the door and stepped out, the warm morning sun greeting her. The clear skies and gentle breeze promised a perfect day for crusading, and she was ready to get started.

Scootaloo grinned, waving back at them before turning to head down the road. Her wings buzzed with excitement as she thought about the day ahead, imagining all the possibilities of what they might do with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle.

But the moment she turned the corner, her day took an unexpected turn.

Something—or someone—suddenly collided with her, knocking her off balance.

"Whoa!" Scootaloo gasped, barely keeping herself upright as she stumbled back.

She blinked in surprise and looked up to see none other than Sweetie Belle, her eyes wide with panic and her mane slightly frazzled. She was breathing hard, clearly having run all the way to find Scootaloo.

"Sweetie Belle?!" Scootaloo exclaimed, brushing herself off. "What the hay was that for? You almost knocked me over!"

Sweetie Belle, still panting, grabbed Scootaloo’s shoulders, her hooves trembling. "Scootaloo, we need to talk. Right now!" Her voice was frantic, and there was a look in her eyes that Scootaloo rarely saw—pure, unfiltered fear.

Scootaloo’s wings twitched with concern. "Whoa, whoa, calm down, Sweetie. What’s going on? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost."

“It’s worse.” The white filly squeaked. “It’s about Apple Bloom’s love life!”

Scootaloo blinked, her concern quickly turning into confusion. "Wait... what? Apple Bloom’s love life?" She tilted her head "What does that have to do with—"

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof over Scootaloo’s mouth, before she began to talk. "Quiet and I’ll tell you…” She released a deep sigh. “Okay, so I was having breakfast with Spike at Sugarcube Corner, right? And then I saw Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Gilda enter and we all had breakfast together. We were talking and talking and I forget how but the conversation turned towards Fluttershy’s love life. She has a coltfriend now!”

Scootaloo’s jaw dropped. “Okay, hold on. Fluttershy... our Fluttershy, the quietest, shyest pony we know, has a coltfriend? Who is he? And what the hey does it have to do with Apple Bloom?”

Sweetie Belle took a deep breath, leaning in closer. “That’s the thing. It’s Sora.”

Scootaloo stood frozen for a moment, processing the information. Her mouth opened and closed as if trying to form words, but nothing came out right away. After a few seconds, she finally managed to speak.

"You mean Sora, Sora?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief. "As in, Keyblade-wielding, saves-the-world Sora?! The one Apple Bloom likes Sora?!"

Sweetie Belle nodded quickly. "Yes! That Sora! I couldn’t believe it either, but Fluttershy said it herself." Her voice lowered. “What do we do? When Apple Bloom finds out…not sure how she’s gonna take it…”

Scootaloo’s wings twitched nervously as she processed the situation. "Yeah, this is... not good," she muttered. "Not sure how AB is gonna take this..."

Sweetie shifted anxiously as she looked around, as if the farm filly would pop up out of nowhere at any time, “So... what are we gonna do? We can’t just drop this on her out of nowhere. But we can’t keep it from her either.”

Scootaloo let out a long sigh, her wings sagging slightly. "I dunno, Sweetie. This whole thing is a mess, and honestly, I don’t have a clue what the right move is." She kicked at the ground in frustration. "And of course, this has to happen on a day I was actually looking forward to."

“Yeah, same. I was having a nice time with Spike and everything.” The white filly added.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow, her earlier concern momentarily replaced by curiosity at her friend’s words. “Wait…that's right! You said you were at Sugar Cube Corner with Spike? What the hey is that about, anyway?”

Sweetie Belle squeaked before she quickly waved a hoof dismissively. “Oh, you know! We were just... having breakfast, talking. Nothing special.”

“Uh-huh.” The orange filly smirked. “You know you don’t need to distract him anymore. We got the notes back to Twilight’s place and everything.”

"I know that!!” The white filly huffed, “We were just... hanging out and stuff. He’s a cool dragon when he’s not trying to hit on my sister or anything!" The filly shook her head. “Anyway! Now’s not the time to talk about that! We’ve got to focus on Apple Bloom, remember?”

Scootaloo chuckled, shaking her head. “Alright, alright, I’ll drop it... for now. But you’re not off the hook that easy, Sweetie.”

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’ll talk about it later. Right now, let’s get to Apple Bloom and think of a good solution while we’re at it.”

~~~

Fluttershy sat at the kitchen table, her hooves trembling slightly as she held a glass of water within them. The room was unusually quiet, save for the sound of her shaky breaths. Across from her, Rainbow Dash and Gilda sat, trying to process everything Fluttershy had just told them about her encounter with Vanitus.

Rainbow rubbed her forehead with a hoof, clearly trying to make sense of it all. "Okay, let me get this straight," she began, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern. "A black pegasus that looks like Sora just walked up to you, taunted you, asked if you’d seen his brother, and was about to leave—but you stopped him and, without hesitating, asked what his plans were?"

Fluttershy nodded weakly, her eyes wide and filled with worry. "Y-yes... I didn’t know what else to do. He seemed... dangerous. I thought maybe if I asked him directly, he’d—"

Gilda leaned back in her chair, raising an eyebrow. "You thought he'd just spill his evil plan because you asked him nicely?" she asked, her tone half-amused but mostly surprised.

Fluttershy flinched slightly but nodded again. "I-I know it sounds silly, b-but if he was going to hurt Sora I…” She trailed off, looking away from them. “And…um…he kinda did…Right?”

Rainbow Dash's expression softened as she looked at Fluttershy, understanding the fear and concern behind her actions. "Fluttershy," she said gently, leaning forward, "I know you were just trying to protect Sora, but you can't just put yourself in danger like that. If this guy is as bad as he sounds, you could've gotten seriously hurt."

Fluttershy’s ears drooped, her gaze falling towards the cup, her reflecting within the clear liquid. "I know…I know that more then anypony... I just—I…I had to know…If he was going to hurt Sora..."

Gilda whistled softly, a hint of respect in her tone. "And here I thought you were just a scared little filly... I mean, you still are," she added with a teasing smirk, "but I won’t say you don’t got guts, facing down some creepy guy like that."

Fluttershy’s cheeks flushed a light pink, her gaze still cast downward as she murmured, "I-I wasn’t trying to be brave..."

“In any case we gotta warn the Princess if nothing else.” Rainbow spoke up. “If he knew where you lived he must have been in town for some time. He may not be working for Grogar but I don’t like him hanging around unchecked.”

The seriousness of the situation weighed heavily on the three friends as they considered their next steps. Rainbow Dash was already formulating a plan in her mind, her brow furrowed in determination.

“We tell Princess Celestia.” The blue mare spoke. “Maybe even double the guards around Ponyville.”

“What about Spiky and the others that are on their way to the Diamond Dog place?” Gilda asked.

"They’ve got their own mission,” Rainbow told her, “And we can’t pull them off it just because of one creepy pegasus. We can handle this. Sora’s not the only hero after all. Push comes to shove I’ll take down that jerk myself!"

Fluttershy's eyes widened in concern, “Are you sure, Rainbow? You’ve seen what Sora could do with his Keyblade. What if…what if he’s just as strong.”

Gilda scoffed. "Doesn’t matter how strong he is; cause she gots me to back her up," she said confidently, flexing her talons for emphasis. "Between the two of us, no creepy look-alike is gonna stand a chance."

Rainbow grinned, puffing out her chest proudly. "Exactly! With me and Gilda, this guy won’t know what hit him. Besides, we’ve dealt with way worse jerks before. Besides...” She pulls her necklace out, her Element of Harmony. “I got this. It saved the day with Sora so It has to have some kind of magic juice in it right?”

Fluttershy nodded slowly. "Well…it did help you with reaching me and Sora back then…still…please promise me you'll only fight if there's absolutely no other option. I don't want anypony getting hurt if we can avoid it."

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. "Alright, Fluttershy, I promise. We'll try to handle things without resorting to a fight. But if that guy makes a move, we're not just gonna stand around. Anyway, first things first. Princess needs to know ASAP.” The blue mare turned towards her gryphon friend. “Hey G…Mind keeping an eye on Flutters while I go update Spike?”

Gilda gave a roll of her eyes, smirking as she crossed her talons. "Yeah, yeah, I got this. No one’s gonna mess with the hero’s girl while I’m around." She gave Fluttershy a wink. "Consider her protected."

Fluttershy blushed brightly at that. "Thank you, Gilda... I appreciate it."

Rainbow Dash flared her wings, ready to take off. "Alright, I’ll be back as soon as I can." With a powerful flap, Rainbow shot into the air, leaving a colorful trail behind as she headed for Twilight's library.