Blooming Talent 2: The Apple Falls Far

"So Vinyl is setting up, Bon Bon is on board, and the blacksmith is crafting your swords now?" Rainbow Dash asked, masking sure all bases so far were covered.

"Yup. Everything is going OK in our end." Trunks replied, leaning back on the bench he and the blue pegasus were sharing near the park in Ponyville. "How about your side? Things getting sorted out with the other Elements?"

Dash rubbed her neck as she put on an uncertain face. "Well, Pinkie Pie said she didn't really want to possibly fight her friends...she's going to stay with Maud on the family rock farm until this all blows over."

Trunks nodded, his eyes watching a pair of birds in a nearby tree. The two were building a nest, but it seemed they had different types of builds in mind.

"That's OK." He said, still watching them. "What about Rarity and Fluttershy? They seemed really unsure about the whole thing."

"Its...not good." Dash admitted. "They're both pretty unwilling to see Luna as an enemy. They keep trying to defend her decisions saying it was for the best."

"How could they think that? Aren't they the least bit concerned about what else she might possibly do 'for the greater good?'"

Trunks watched as one of the birds put down a stick into the nest which didn't sit well with the other. The two started chirping at each other rather loudly.

"That's what I said!" The rainbow maned pony declared. "But it apparently doesn't mater to them. I think they're too scared to go against the grain...even when it means doing the right thing."

One of the birds hopped into the nest and pushed the other away. This angered the other bird into pushing back. In a few seconds, they fighting over the crudely constructed bird home.

"What about all those adventures you went on together? Surely something that happened then must motivate them to see clearly now." Trunks said, watching the birds quarrel.

Dash sighed and rubbed her face. "If it did, they don't remember it. I swear, their like puppies who need to be told by momma what's right and wrong."

"Or maybe they just have a strong sense of loyalty to their beliefs." A rough, familiar voice spoke from behind the two.

Trunks and Rainbow Dash turned around to see who had interjected into their conversation. As they did so, Trunks caught a glimpse of the birds nest falling apart as they went at it in the air.

Piccolo stood there, arms crossed and white cape flowing in the breeze. "Hello, you two."

"What do you want, Piccolo?" Dash venomously asked. "Can't you see we're having a conversation?"

"I see that." The namekian replied calmly. "Right now I'd like to have one with Trunks...alone."

The question of whether or not Piccolo had heard their whole talk or not instantly popped into Trunks' mind. If he had, why was he acting so calm? Was he planning something?

"Maybe I'm not done!" Dash spat.

"Or maybe you are. Major Scootaloo wants you to be by her side at this time." Piccolo said.

"Wait..major?" Dash asked.

"She's being promoted right now. She got out of the hospital yesterday and wants you there to see."

"Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh!" Dash spewed, lifting off the ground. "She's getting that big of a promotion?! Woah! I gotta--"

She stopped and looked over to Trunks as if asking him if it was OK to go. The purple-haired half-saiyan nodded, and Dash was off on a rainbow jetstream. After a few seconds of silence, Trunks noted just how empty the park had suddenly become. No foals were out playing, no more birds...not even an elderly pony in sight. It was just Piccolo and him now.

"How have you been, Trunks?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." Trunks said.

"I do. I'm worried about you."

"And why is that?"

"You've been upset ever since Goten and Apple Bloom were banished." The namekian elaborated. "I wanted to see how you were...holding up."

He stared at Piccolo in disbelief for a moment, and then without warning, he started to chuckle. A second later, he put his hand to his face and laughed. Piccolo looked on in confusion at the display.

He laughed for a good half minute and then, as he started to calm down, he started speaking.

"Holding up? How..hah...how am I holding up? Oh I'm just fantastic, Piccolo. I've never felt better!"

"Is that a fact?"

"Yes!" Trunks said, standing up and raising his voice a bit. "And you know why? Because I know that somewhere...deep down in your heart, you know. You know it was wrong to do what you and Luna did. You do! But somehow...the thing that gets me..is you still did it anyway, knowing that. Why?"

Piccolo looked down at Trunks as he spoke. "Why? We did what needed to be done for the good of Equestria. The threat of war is a very serious thing, Trunks, you know that."

"Somepony once said; 'every time somepony tries to start a war before it starts, innocent ponies get hurt. Every time.' You tried to stop a war before it started, and a whole family was torn apart."

"Its sometimes unavoidable."

"Sometimes...so is war." Trunks growled nudging past his former teacher.

Piccolo turned and watched the half-saiyan fly off into the sky with a pensive look. No doubt about it; there was a conspiracy after all. He'd hoped Flash Sentry was wrong, but after hearing that...it was undeniable now...

***

Rainbow Dash whistled in amazement as Scootaloo showed off the golden badge on her chest.

"Wow, look at that, squirt!" She said excitedly. "A major! And at your age!"

"Rainbow," Scootaloo laughed. "You'd think you were the one who got promoted the way you carry on."

Dash laughed along with her. "Maybe, but I'm just so proud of you, Scoots!"

The blue pegasus pulled the orange one into a tight embrace which the latter returned without hesitation. Once they separated, Dash thought of a question.

"So, what were you promoted for? Battle injuries in the line of duty?"

"Nah, my injuries weren't nearly severe enough for that." Scootaloo explained. "Though, I don't know what else it would be for. I would actually have expected to be demoted for trying to help Apple Bloom back when Emperor Midas was here."

That was true; even Dash had to admit it was a little strange they were rewarding Scootaloo even after that debacle. So why had they made her a major? Had it been some kind of delayed thing? Or was it something else?

Her thoughts were cut off by a loud thud which drew both pegasi's attention. The source of the thud was none other than the Wonderbolt Derpy Hooves. The gray pegasus pulled herself from the sign shed flown through and shook her head to remember why she was here.

"Hey, Derpy." Scootaloo greeted her, waving. "What's up?"

"Hello, sir! I mean ma'am! I mean...major!" Derpy tried, saluting as she did so; her lazy eye drifting out of focus.

Scootaloo chuckled. "You can still call me Scoots, Derpy. What's up?"

The mare reached into her mailbag and pulled out a letter. "Its a summons from Princess Luna."

"Princess Luna wants to talk to me?" Scootaloo questioned, taking and looking at the letter with Rainbow Dasdh reading along.

The letter said it was a matter of urgent importance and that Major Scootaloo was to come alone. This made Dash a bit uneasy for some reason, but she couldn't quite place it. Something in her gut just screamed something was up.

Scootaloo folded the letter into her uniform pocket and put Derpy at ease before turning to Dash.

"I'd better go." She said, unfolding her wings. "If its urgent, I shouldn't keep her waiting."

"Yeah." Dash agreed hesitantly. "Watch out for yourself, kid."

"Always do."

With that, the newly appointed major lifted off into the air headed for Canterlot. Dash watched as she flew off into the distance, still mulling over what it could be. First Piccolo at the park wanting to see Trunks, and now Scootaloo being summoned by Luna. What were they playing at here?