How this all started is hard to say, it just sorta happened one day. With a bright flash and a loud sound there they were, standing in the Everfree forest face to face with a group of colorful ponies and quickly figured out they were the same as they. They weren't sure how this happened or how they got here but there they were and they couldn't go back. It had taken awhile but thanks to the helpful ponies on the farm and their friends they learned how to use their new bodies; how to fly and use magic as well as simply stand and walk. In return for the kindness the ponies had shown them they helped with whatever they could and all was calm and quiet, but the peace was not meant to last as a beast from their own world came to claim the lives of the innocent.
Guards came to fight for them but no matter how hard they fought or how much energy they gave it was not enough. Soon one of the Princesses themselves, Princess Twlight, came to their aid. She gathered her friends and they attempted to calm the beast, but he would not listen to their pleas. He would simply growl at their requests and attack with more force and anger that they have never seen anypony give before. After hours and hours of anger and destruction the six friends decided one last try to calm him before they took the beast down, locking him away forever. And that is what brings us to current times.
"Stand down!" the Princess shouted, stomping her hoof as she and her friends gave the beast a narrow gaze. He turned to them and snarled, teeth barred and mane laying wildly about his face, his blue eyes shimmering with fury. "Please, you don't have to do this, let us help you! Stop this, and we'll forgive you." He snarled and stalked towards them, head down threateningly. He growled oddly and raised his head as he glared.
"I know you," came a voice from behind him. The six friends stared as the grey and yellow pony stepped into sight, blonde mane laying messily over his shoulders from all the fighting and blood covering his coat. He stopped and looked at the beast, who growled as he turned halfway to see him. "Maine, please." The beast's ears perked up at this, blinking once in surprise. "I know what happened and I am sorry. I can't change what happened back during the Project and I can never undo the damage that Sigma has done to you, but I know that nothing you did was under your control. And I forgive you."
"Washington, you know this pony?" Twilight asked, baffled. Wash nodded and Maine, as it seemed his name was, stepped forward with head hung, growling softly. Wash smiled warmly and used his hoof to tuck some of the messy hair behind his tall, pony ear.
"It's ok Maine, like I said before, you couldn't control it. And I forgive you, ok? So don't sweat it," Wash told him. Maine looked up. "So, you wanna join my team?" A few heads poked out form hiding places, listening. Maine eyed them all a moment before raising his head and giving a firm nod. Wash smiled and went to respond, but was beaten to it by the happy, dark blue pony.
"YAY!" he shouted, running over to stand right beside Maine. "Tucker! Tucker, come see! We have a new member of blue team!" Twilight and her friends laughed at the boy's enthusiasm. The teal-aqua?-pony trotted over with a welcoming grin, Maine looking at them both with a look of pure shock.
"Aw, yeah! We've got the big guy! What now, Reds?! We've got two Freelancers now!" Tucker stuck his tongue out at the other fire colored ponies who stood off in the distance, glaring at him. Wash laughed in good humor.
"I've told you guys, there is no red and blue anymore," he told them. Tucker snickered and waved him off.
"I know, I know. I'm just teasing them!" Tucker told him. He patted Maine's shoulder. "Welcome board big guy! Glad to have you along!" The other ponies trotted over, the pink one skipping with an even pace behind them beside the purple one.
"Hey, no hard feelings about the cliff thing, right?" the maroon one asked with a nervous smile. Maine shook his head. "Phew, good! I was worried there for a second! And, of course, I hold nothing against you for, ya know, nearly killing Grif." The orange pony glared at the maroon one a bit.
"Gee, thanks Simmons. I thought you actually cared," he said sarcastically. Simmons glared right back at him and the red one gave a laugh.
"To bad he didn't kill 'em! The Blues coulda used the advantage!" he said in a cheery tone. Grif rolled his eyes and Simmons just nodded in agreement. The conversation continued on in a semi-argument about the colors they all held, Maine looking completely lost while Wash just shook his head with a smile.
"Excuse me, Agent Washington," Twilight said in a soft, royal voice that silenced them all instantly as they looked over. "May I speak with you a moment in private?" Wash nodded in a respectful manner as she turned her back to them.
"Of course, Your Highness," he said in a calm tone as he followed her away from the two groups of friends that both resumed talking as they left. They didn't walk to long of a ways, just to the edge of a small pond barely outside of town. The Princess sat down and nodded for him to join her, which he did. "What did you wish to discuss, Your Highness?" She chuckled.
"Please, call me Twilight," she told him. He nodded and she turned to face the pond. "A long time ago was the first time I came to Ponyville, I didn't have many friends back then but, as you can see, that's changed. I've seen you and your team, as you call them, and how you all interact. I see a beautiful friendship blooming between you all and would love to see how it progresses. So, I request that you write me letters about what you learn on friendship." Wash blinked and turned to her slowly.
"Your Hi-I mean, Twilight, I don't quite understand what you mean. Write letters telling you what I learn about friendship?" Wash stated in a puzzled manner, eyebrows furrowed deeply in confusion. Twilight nodded and turned to face him.
"Exactly. Don't worry about when you send them, but whenever you learn something about friendship write to me about it. I did the same to my mentor, Princess Celestia. You don't have to tell me secrets about you or your team, but simply what you learn about the friendship between you all. And your friends are more than welcome to send me letters about what they themselves learn on friendship," Twilight told him. "Think you can do that for me?" Wash nodded slowly. "Great! I greatly await for your first lesson, Agent Washington. Until then, I must return to Canterlot." Wash watched as the Princess trotted off to head back to the castle.
"Of course, Your Highness," he murmured as he turned to head back to his team, trotting a bit faster in fear that they had angered Maine or simply started fighting again. He didn't trot to fast though, so he could think on what the Princess had asked of him. It had to be some kind of sick joke, right? She couldn't seriously want to know what he learned about some silly friendship, did she? Then again he was a unicorn right now in some weird, magical world where two Princesses rose the sun and moon, so it wasn't impossible. He shrugged it off and decided to think on it later as he trotted quickly to catch up to the loud arguing of his teammates.
"Of course, Your Highness," he murmured as he turned to head back to his team, trotting a bit faster in fear that they had angered Maine or simply started fighting again. He didn't trot to fast though, so he could think on what the Princess had asked of him. It had to be some kind of sick joke, right? She couldn't seriously want to know what he learned about some silly friendship, did she? Then again he was a unicorn right now in some weird, magical world where two Princesses rose the sun and moon, so it wasn't impossible. He shrugged it off and decided to think on it later as he trotted quickly to catch up to the loud yelling and shouting of his teammates.
Author's Note
And that's the introduction to this little series. If you have any lessons or scenarios you want to see them in, let me know and I'll do what I can to use it.
Wash hadn't had time to think on what Twilight had requested of him after the battle, he and his team had been far to busy cleaning up the mess after the battle to really think about it much. The clean-up hadn't taken very long but it was very tiring and just as the complaints from his team had started to become unbearable when they had finally gotten finished getting Ponyville in tip-top shape. He had been informed the Princess Twilight had gotten them a home that would fit them all comfortably and they had found it already furnished and ready to be lived in, they would have to get their own food of course but it was all ready for them when they walked in.
After sorting out the rooms, Blues on one side of the hall and Reds on the other, everything began to settle down and Wash finally got to thinking about what Twilight said. It seemed to odd to him, learning lessons and writing letters about friendship. How did someone got about that anyway? What lessons were there to really learn anyway? Friendship is friendship, and he wasn't even really friends with these people, they were his team, nothing more and nothing less. Was that such a big deal?
He had been so very wrong. It all started with a trip with Tucker and Caboose to Market Street for some food, that's where his first lesson started.
"Ok, all that's left is tomatoes, milk, eggs, and...Caboose, for the last time, we're not getting cookies," Wash said with a scolding look sent the younger soldier's way. Caboose hung his head and sighed heavily as Wash crossed out his horribly written request with his levitation. Each of the three male ponies had saddle bags filled with different things from Market Street they had gotten, looking for the last three things they needed.
"Found the milk," Tucker said, the other two following him over to a stand. Wash thanked him and asked for two cartons, putting them carefully in his saddlebag and tossing the bits down on the counter. The mare thanked them for the service and told them to come again. "See you around!" Wash rolled his eyes at the sound of Tucker's clicking tongue that was undoubtedly followed by a wink of his eye, the mare giggling in response.
"You just can't let up, can you?" Wash asked with a smirk. Tucker narrowed his eyes at Wash and the Freelancer just laughed in amusement, using his magic to look at the list again before lowering it and walking over to the stand with eggs. He requested two dozen and put them into Tucker's saddlebag before moving on. Tucker winked at the mare behind the stand before they continued down the street, Tucker being careful not to crack the eggs as they searched for the tomato stand.
"There it is!" Caboose said with a grin as he pointed it out. Wash nodded thankfully and they headed over, getting the amount they needed and heading off. "Yay! That was fun! Can I come next time Wash? Can I please!" Wash turned to him.
"I'll think about it," he responded, Caboose yelling out happily as they came up to their fairly large home. Wash levitated the key out of his saddle bag and opened the door, the trio heading down the hall and into the kitchen. "We're home!" A growl sounded as the large stallion entered the kitchen in greeting. "They behave themselves?" A low growl and a nod from Maine. "Good, glad to hear it. Simmons! Can I get a hand-er, hoof, in here please! Or, well, horn in this case."
"Sure thing, Wash!" Simmons called from his room, opening the door and trotting into the kitchen. Tucker joined Grif in the living room while Caboose rushed outside to join Donut and Doc in the garden. Wash and Simmons walked around the kitchen, using their magic to put things in their rightful places. After a thankful not to Simmons Wash left the house to go for a walk, leaving Maine in charge as always.
"I feel kinda bad," he admitted quietly to himself. "But Maine seems to handle things pretty well, so I guess it's not to bad." Wash shrugged off the worry and continued his walk through Ponyville. He didn't know many of the ponies there but still they all greeted him with smiles and a cheerful tone when they passed by him in the streets and of course Wash always greeted them happily in return.
"AHH!" Wash's ears perked up and he turned to see a blonde mare running from three boys with water balloons. She bumped into him a a swirl of blonde hair wacked him in the face, making him stumble back. "Help! Somebody, anybody, help me!" "ALLISON!" Wash blinked and gasped, stumbling back and stuttering.
"Excuse me sir, but are you all right?" Wash whirled around as someone placed a hoof on his shoulder, looking worried. He backed up and mumbled something that not even he was sure what it was, some sort of apology or something, then ran off in a flash back towards home. He didn't stop until he reached the house, bursting through the door and startling Donut and Caboose who were in the hallway heading towards the door, both yelping and backing up against the wall as he bolted.
"Wash?!" Donut called in worry as he ran up the stairs and into his room, shutting the door with a SLAM! and locking it without a second thought. He could hear them all talking downstairs, confusion in their voices but he couldn't understand them and he didn't find it very important at the moment.
Without hesitation Wash started to pace back and forth in his room, from one wall to the other in a panic-like manner. He was breathing heavy and muttering quietly, telling himself to calm down and that it was just a memory. He kept pacing. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth-a five second long cycle as he stared at his hoofs treading the carpeted ground under his hooves.
"Wash?" He halted at Tucker's voice and a knock on his door. He went stiff as he turned towards the door to stare at it silently as Tucker knocked again. "Wash? I know you're in there." Wash growled.
"Go away!" he snapped. "I don't need your help so fuck off!" There was a silence, then a shuffle of hooves and the sound of Tucker heading back downstairs. Wash sighed and collapsed on the floor as he stared at the door a bit longer before closing his eyes and passing out, the memory haunting him in the rest he gave up on avoiding.
AΩ
Wash ignored the prying eyes of his teammates as he stumbled down the stairs, mumbled some sort of goodbye, and walked out the door and into the town. The town was still cheery and upbeat as always but Wash found it aggravating and irritating. As always everyone greeted him with a smile and he forced one onto his face in return so no one would ask what was wrong, he hated that with a passion. He was just going to get some fresh air and head home, he wasn't going to be out there long he promised himself.
That turned out to be five minutes exactly. He wasn't sure what happened, it was all such a blur and so fast. One second he was walking down the street, the next that mare ran passed him again screaming and he was running in the opposite direction back towards home without a second thought. His only thoughts were to run and never come back, but he tripped over someone then.
"My word! Watch where you're-Wash?" Rarity said in shock, staring as the stallion righted himself. "My goodness, are you alright? You look so pale darling! Please, let me-"
"No!" Wash snapped, surprising the mare. "Thank you." With the added to words Wash was off again, running for dear life towards home with all his might. When he finally reached his home he didn't even pay attention as one of his teammates yelled his name, not caring to see who it was, and ran into his room, slammed the door and locked it once again.
And then he paced. Back and forth, wall to wall, all over again just like last time. He tried to even his breathing as he paced, cursing lightly under his breath as he did so. He stopped as there was a knock at the door and turned to face it, heart leaping into his throat.
"Wash, come on," Tucker's voice said. "What's going on? Come on, Wash, open the door man." Wash's heart was pumping hard and fast as he tried to decide what to do. He just wanted to curl up and hide, he didn't want to talk about this and he never had. What would they think if he started to cry? Or if he screamed in fear or rage? What if he had a panic attack and tried to attack them, what would they do then? He was so scared!
"Agent Washingtub?" came Caboose's quiet voice. "We just wanna help you. Please let us in." Wash swallowed nervously and used his magic to unlock the door with a soft click that had the door opening to allow entrance to the younger soldiers. Wash watched as Tucker closed the door behind him as they entered. "What's wrong?" They stared at him as he stayed silent, after a moment Tucker walking over and gently placing a hoof on his shoulder.
"Wash, please, talk to us. What's going on in that pony head of yours?" Tucker asked gently. Wash sighed and sat down with his eyes plastered to the ground, the two ponies sitting across from him on the floor. "Wash, look at me." Wash glanced up to see Tucker wearing a very kind and assuring expression, one he had never seen on him before. "The others promised not to listen in, so nothing you say will leave this room. I'm not gonna tell anyone and I know that Caboose wont either. Please, talk to us." Wash eyed them both and bit his lip as he held back the tears.
"Just...memories," he murmured. "From Epsilon. I'm not quite sure what triggered it, but I heard her screaming in my head and I just-I just panicked. I didn't know what else to do but run, so I did. I ran all the way home, and then I hid. That's what I've always done, run and hide from it all. But it never works." Wash cursed silently as his voice cracked and closed his eyes as the tears fell. He tensed as he felt a wing drape over him as Tucker and Caboose settled on either side of him.
"Then if it isn't working, stop. Inside of running and then hiding, run and come to us. We want to help you, Wash. That's all we want to do, but you have to open up first. So, please, let us in. Tell us what's going on because we want to know," Tucker told him. Wash glanced up at him slowly, there were so many places he could have said his number one catch-phrase but he didn't and that was the sign that Tucker was serious.
"We really do wanna help you, Wash," Caboose whispered, tucking his head under Wash's chin. "So please, let us at least try." Wash glanced down at Caboose, then back over at Tucker before glancing back at the ground. He sighed and settled down, chin resting gently against Caboose's head and side against Tucker's wings.
"Ok," he whispered. "Ok, I'll try. I can't promise anything, but I will try to open up to you guys." His teammates smiled and Tucker let out a sigh of relief. "But...can I be alone? I just-I just need to think for a moment, and I do that better by myself. I'll be down in a few minutes, ok?" The two nodded and stood, walking out the door but not before giving him a pair of warm smiles that got returned with one from Wash.
The door shut and Wash stared at the door. He could count on them, he could trust them, and all because they were his friends. Wash's ears perked and he turned to his desk where quills and paper lay, his mind whispering to him as he headed over and used his magic to levitate it into the air with a smile. He had learned his first lesson.
AΩ
"Letter for the Princess," the mailstallion said as he handed Twilight a letter and flew off without another word. Twilight levitated the sealed letter to her room and shut the door, laying on her bed and opening it to read it. She smiled as she read.
Dear Princess Twilight,
I write to you today with my very first lesson in friendship. I understand that it has been quite a long time since you instructed me to write these, and I want to apologize for that but in all honesty I didn't take it at all seriously at first but after today I do. I understand now that I do have lots to learn about friendship and although I don't know what that may be I know that I will learn it someday. But, as for today's lesson, I couldn't be more thankful for it.
Today I was stressing over something from my past, a painful something and I wanted to run and hide from it like I had always done in the past and was scared what they might think of me if I showed my emotions or what might happen if I overreacted to something. But they didn't mind, they listened and they didn't mind when I showed my emotions. In fact, they embraced it. They held me close and assured me that I had nothing to worry about.
What I learned today is that you can trust your friends no matter what and can always count on them to be there for you when you need them. You don't have to worry about them judging you because they care enough about you that they would judge you for who you are. This is a fear I've dealt with a long time, and it's not completely resolved but I feel assured that with the help of my friends it soon will be.
Your student and friend,
David Washington
Twilight smiled and put the letter back before putting it in a file she had already gotten ready for his letters months ago. She had been afraid that he'd never send a letter and that she'd never know if he ever learned anything or that perhaps he wasn't learning anything at all. But with this letter she now knew that he had started his lessons on friendship and soon he would know a magic more powerful than any other. The magic of friendship.
