Friends in Pairs

Sassaflash lounged on a cloud one warm spring day, basking in the sun's warm ways.

"Sassaflash!" Sassaflash jumped as Sea Swirl's voice reached her ears.

"Creep up on a pony, why don't you?" Sassaflash remarked, flying down to meet her.

"Sorry, Sea Swirl!" Amethyst Star replied cheerfully. "I didn't mean to scare you!"

"It's alright," Sassaflash told her. "So, what are you doing?"

"I came by to ask if you wanted to go bowling!" Sea Swirl answered. "So, do you want to?"

"Sure! That sounds great!" Sassaflash did a small flip. "Are we going now?" Sea Swirl answered with a nod and a grin. The pair began to make their way to the Bowling Alley.

"By the way, Sea Swirl, the Ponyville Weather Team is planning a surprise storm right down near your house," Sassaflash mentioned. "In half an hour." Sea Swirl looked up.

"Are you supposed to tell me that?" She asked with a suspicious expression.

"Hey, I had to tell me best friend!" Sassaflash exclaimed. Sea Swirl smiled.

"If that's the case, I suppose I should tell you that the Bowling Alley is giving out coupons for ice cream today, if you know the code from the Ponyville Gazette. It's 'Feather', by the way."

"Is that the only reason you wanted me to come along? To get ice cream coupons?" Sassaflash asked. Sea Swirl giggled.

"No, Sassy. It's part of the reason, though," she admitted. "Plus, I know you don't read the Gazette." Sassaflash giggled too.

"Alright, I would've done the same thing!"

~

After Sassaflash and Sea Swirl arrived, they immediately found their favorite pairs of shoes.

"I don't know how many times I have to say I love these blue shoes!" Sea Swirl exclaimed, holding up the shoes and cuddling them affectionately.

"I love my orange shoes!" Sassaflash agreed, slipping them on her back hooves.

"Ready?" Sea Swirl asked, picking up a bowling ball.

"Ready!" Sassaflash confirmed, copying Sea Swirl in picking up a ball.

The game began as an even match. Sassaflash and Sea Swirl had been playing since they were foals, and it was a normal game for them. Usually, though, one of them would pull ahead right at the end.

"Yes!" Sea Swirl pumped a hoof in the air after her bowling ball knocked over all ten pins. "Strike for Sea Swirl!"

"Three strikes and you're out," Sassaflash teased in good nature as she prepared to throw her ball.

"Wrong sport, Sassy!" Sea Swirl commented as Sassaflash let the ball roll.

Right before the ball reached the pins, there was a clap of thunder.

"I guess that's the storm you told me about?" Sea Swirl asked.

"Yup," Sassaflash responded. She watched her ball knock over several pins. The lights suddenly flickered. Then they went out.

"The storm wasn't supposed to be this powerful!" Sassaflash exclaimed. "I can barely see anything!"

The Bowling Alley was filled with murmers from most ponies, but Pegasi on the Weather Team spoke in more concerned tones.

"Sassaflash, should we go?" Sea Swirl asked.

"I'm not sure," Sassaflash responded, trying to locate her friend. "Sea Swirl, where are you?"

"I'm over here!" Sea Swirl lit her horn up. She was farther away than Sassaflash had realized.

"Well, I'm not sure how long the storm is supposed to last," Sassaflash explained once she had flown over. Thunder rumbled again.

"Maybe we can go to my house and have a slumber party in the basement," Sea Swirl suggested.

"But what about your coupons?" Sassaflash asked as rain started pouring down.

"Attention ponies!" Sassaflash and Sea Swirl heard Allie Way's voice. Everypony quieted down. "If your house is nearby, could you please leave the Bowling Alley? It's safer for you to be in your house than in here."

"Alright," Sea Swirl and a few other ponies responded.

"So what about your coupons?" Sassaflash asked as the two ran through the ran.

"It's alright, I guess," Sea Swirl told her. "It would have been awesome if we had gotten them, but I can't wait for this sleepover!"

~

Two days later, Sassaflash opened up Sea Swirl's door.

"Sea Swirl!" She sign-songed. "I have a surprise for you!" Sea Swirl poked her head out from another room.

"Hi, Sassaflash! What is it?" She asked. Sassaflash pulled one of her hooves out from behind her back.

"Ta da!" Sea Swirl squealed as Sassaflash held upon an ice cream coupon..

"Oh thank you, Sassaflash!" She tackled Sassaflash in a big hug. "You're the best friend ever!" Sassaflash smiled.

"You're welcome, Sea Swirl," she replied.