Friends in Pairs

"Hey, Minuette, wanna go to a movie?"

"Nah."

"What? Why not?" Twinkleshine rolled over. She and Minuette were sitting on Minuette's couch one Saturday afternoon.

"You know what I'd like?" Minuette paused. "I'd like to join the choir."

"Really?" Twinkleshine squealed. "We're always looking for new members! Let's go! It'll be so exciting!" In the next second, she was dragging Minuette out the door.

"Twinkleshine, I think you're overreacting," Minuette gasped as Twinkleshine towed her through Ponyville.

"This is all so sudden, Minuette!" Twinkleshine responded happily. "Remember when we sang that duet for Piña Colada's birthday? You have a beautiful voice! I'm sure they'll let you in!" Minuette didn't smile so she wouldn't get dust in her mouth.

"I hope so," she said through gritted teeth.

~

"I'm sorry, Minuette, but we don't need anymore members," Cheerilee said apologetically.

"But there's got to be something I can do!" Minuette exclaimed. Cheerilee shook her head.

"Why can't she sing?" Twinkleshine asked, ears flattened.

"We simply don't have enough space," Cheerilee deadpanned.

"What if we got the space?" Minuette asked hopefully.Cheerilee cocked her head to the side.

"You'd need to get some new choir chairs, but they're specifically made and costly," Cheerilee warned. "It wouldn't be worth it, Minuette." Twinkleshine grabbed Minuette's hoof.

"My friend wants to sing in the choir, and I'm going to help her!" Twinkleshine exclaimed. "Come on, Minuette!" She led Minuette away.

"Alright, so what are we gonna do?" Minuette asked.

"We're going to raise money!" Twinkleshine exclaimed in determination. "Come on, Minuette, how can we earn it?"

"We could sell our houses?" Minuette suggested jokingly. Twinkleshine smile was accompanied with an eye roll.

"Very funny, Minuette."

"Alright, I think first we need to know how much the chair costs. So," Minuette explained, "we should talk to the carpenter pony."

"Great idea!" Twinkleshine exclaimed. "Let's go!" Minuette sighed as Twinkleshine dragged her away.

When they got to the carpenter store, Twinkleshine was the one who asked the questions. Minuette's head was still spinning from being dragged all around.

"14,000 bits?" Twinkleshine repeated incredulously. "For a chair?"

"Cheerilee said it was pricey," Minuette reminded her. The carpenter shook her head.

"It's made from wood located deep in the Everfree Forest, even farther than that castle those mares found. "Somepony needs to go get it. Then the etchings need to be carved. They're very detailed. The chair needs too be polished and moved to the other chairs. Nopony's going to volunteer for any of that, right? Especially getting the wood." Twinkleshine and Minuette nodded.

"How about we get the wood?" Minuette suggested. Both ponies stared at her in shock.

"Minuette! We've not professionals!" Twinkleshine cried. "We can't do that!"

"Well, we can't earn extra bits of that amount either!" Minuette responded. "I'm not even sure choir is worth it!"

"Of course it is!" Twinkleshine sounded shocked. "You like to sing, right? You just have to try and get in!" Minuette walked out the carpenter shop, Twinkleshine at her tail.

"There's just a chair in my way. Cheerilee says I have to have a chair. Why can't I just stand?" Minuette asked. Twinkleshine shook her head.

"Minuette, you're a really good singer. If you really want this-"

"Let's just catch a movie, alright?" Minuette interrupted. "I'm sorry I ever mentioned wanting to join your choir." Twinkleshine opened her mouth, then closed it again.

"Are you sure you don't want to join choir?" She asked one last time.

"Not if it means going through this hassle," Minuette replied. Twinkleshine sighed.

"Alright. Let's go catch a movie," she agreed.

~

The next day, Minuette sat in the kitchen drinking chocolate milk.

"Minuette?" Twinkleshine called from outside, not bothering to knock on the door. "I have a surprise!" Minuette set her cup down and opened up the door.

"What is it?" She asked. Twinkleshine looked really excited.

"I got Twilight Sparkle to duplicate one of the chairs! Now you can join the choir!" She exclaimed, hugging Minuette.

"Really?" Minuette asked hopefully. "That's great! Thanks, Twinkleshine. That was a great solution!"

"You're welcome," Twinkleshine responded happily. "Now we can sing together!"

"YAY!" They shouted in unison.