I am not reformed.
The thought was simple. Tempest watched as her body careened across the threshold between life and death, the first pony that had ever considered her a friend behind her - the evil creature she had thrown so much trust to in front of her. Oh, glorious it was to make that final leap - to do something that very few ponies could do, but for her it felt almost too easy.
Pain purifies the soul. At least it does for some. For tempest it always had, there was simply something about it, the feeling, the emotions, how it out the sudden clarity when the adrenalin surged. She watched in Wonder and in awe as the spell reflected off her armor, spreading to the storm king she stood above. Oh it was even better to see this, this little magical device, guaranteed not her death alone, but his as well. It was a nasty little spell, self contained, it ripped flesh into crystal, easily made and easily broken, but not for those it overtook. Oh, the only small - itty bitty little problem is the victim - at the slightest impact would be shattered forever.
Perhaps. She thought. Perhaps that was not really that much of a disadvantage after all...
As the crystal started to spread from her to the Storm King, the Creature she let her mind wander towards despair and hatred. She had done so much for him, fierce loyalty and service, and yet from that he had only seen her as a tool. She was not even a servant, but merely a tool disposable replaceable and only useful for a time. She reflected in sorrow, how much precious time had been wasted on this worthless excuse, the ape StormKing who failed to recognize her own talent, his acts that appeared to acknowledge it were merely an act. To have him throw this all in her face in their moment of triumph, the moment of triumph that he would not have had without her, it was beyond insulting!
Oh she was so glad to have this little slice of revenge. As her vision started to get clouded by crystals, she wondered how might the Purple Pony... Twilight... her one and only friend would remember her. It began to sink in, that this was witnessed by the other five, not just the purple one, and untold numbers of ponies down below, gazing in wonder at the epic battle happening over their heads. It began to worry her. The word ‘Hero’ floated in the mist, a word she began to fear and dread. Heroes were good ponies, she was no good pony, she was Tempest Shadow, the Storm King’s right hand mare. The opinion of the rest of Equestria was not relevant, she would not be there to think on it anyway, but... Twilight and her friends... it gave her more than pause. Not that it was the time to change such things.
It was no heroism to her though, it was merely that Twilight proved to her she was the rightful ruler of Equestria, her and the princesses perhaps. Whichever one deserved the most, Tempest did not care to argue, it was simply that virtue shown against such odds and such great adversary, it proved what they were made of. It was then, that Tempest changed who she was loyal to. That is why she jumped, it was not Heroism, it was simply the same order she would expect the Storm King to give, the very same order - she simply took it, projected it onto her pony friends, and let is be as it was. It was not heroism, but...
Something told her they would not see it that way.
To her, Twilight and her friends were the real heroes. Flawed, perhaps, but heroes can be flawed. Nopony could be perfect, anyway. They were strongly bonded - they respected each other, there were failings but they set out on a journey and then - they succeeded against all odds because they had each other and could leverage their skills to the benefit of the whole unit. They showed daring bravery, wit, intellect, and guts. To see Twilight bare herself against the Storm King who even wielded her own magic, incredible, to see how Generosity, Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Loyalty were weapons more powerful than anything made of wood and steel - it showed just how powerful those ponies were, and just how fit they were to lead. Yet, she knew something else - she could sense it, without needing much evidence, they did not want to lead to lead. They wanted to lead because they felt a purpose to do it, a sense of duty and service to their land, a sense of pride in doing so. The Storm King was merely an overgrown foal, he desired nor had such things, he would sit upon a golden throne while Equestria toiled to serve him - and all for not.
In the Blackness she found peace, it was it did not matter what Equestria would think of her, be it hero or villain, be it savior or tyrant, be it merely good or bad. It was their choice anyways, not her’s, and it was not like it mattered much did it. Sadly, she had never gotten to show Equestria what she could really do, only that she could be used as a tool of terror and horror, but only one that did the Storm King’s bidding. It was not much of a legacy to leave. At least, some ponies knew she had done something, Twilight was enough. She stopped fighting the feeling of darkness that overcame her, as the crystals began to cloud her eyes, as the feeling of crystalizing started to sink into her leg bones, it would be over more than soon enough. Her body became cuddled by the cold embrace, the ground was coming up quickly now, but even so: she knew that by the time it would come she would be too far gone to know it. Strictly speaking, it was better than the alternative.
Then, she felt warmth. She felt her thoughts enduring. She felt a strange tingle of magic on her flesh, her thoughts continued, and continued. This gave her pause, as she swam in the blackness, surely, surely there should not have been this much time to think before becoming dashed into a hundred shards, and yet... it just kept on. When would the ground come? When would the ground come? The warmth grew stronger, and it came with the feeling of a gentle breeze fluttering against some fur on her forelegs, and the pressure of the ground on her hooves.
This was hard to comprehend, there was no afterlife: not one she believed in, and surely it was no place for a pony like her, even if there was one. She contemplated, and then it came to her, the realization, of what had happened, though she did not want to believe it, it had to be so, it was the only logical explanation. Sound began to tickle her ears, and then, all of a sudden her body was freed from the cling of crystals, she stumbled forward her eyes flying open, and there was Twilight gazing back at her. The purple one looked at her with as much wonder as she stared in return, and then she took a moment to simply admire the surrounds. The smashed castle, the Storm King destroyed on the marble flagstones far below, the silence of a stunned world. The words “That is what friends do” echoed in her head as she admired.
Coming out of the crystal was like rebirth: to have one's entire structure down to the atomic level jumbled like a jigsaw puzzle only to be realigned. It was rejuvenating to her, though she conceded to herself that most ponies she would likely only find it painful and intimidating as an experience. It would probably not be a profitable sort of spa treatment anytime soon. Oh, but for her, it was like having the piercing stab from the sword of time wiped away for a while, to be forged anew and brought to the world feeling freshened and purified. All of the nuances and details she cared not for, understanding them, but she felt different. She gazed back to her friends, and gave them a smile, but Tempest would not smile like that, no, she would not smile like that at all.
To her, it was almost disappointing to watch how quickly the ponies of Equestria managed to fix the mess they stood in. Hours? Was it even hours? It was as if everything was cleaned up in an instant, back on schedule, and everypony joined the party instantly. She stayed for a moment to watch, from the very very back, hoping to stay to merely observe without being noticed, or fawned upon. Thankfully, the music helped. Unfortunately, Twilight just had to but in. A sigh was earned, but the music sparked an idea. From the secluded place, next to her friend, she found confidence to try her horn for something not violent. Oh, the effect was marvelous, a display of exploding light and sound that chained across the sky from one burst to the next.
It was lovely to watch her own magic being used for something so oddly harmless. Oh, it was a testament to her power as a unicorn, and yet she still felt a pang of sorrow in seeing it. Magic in Equestria was wasted on parties so, it was like the ponies were blissfully unaware of the crushing poverty beyond their borders. She was sure most of them, in fact almost all, were entirely unaware of it. Even so, this was not a thing that...
“Tempest!” She heard the high pitched pink one cry out. “That was amazing!” She squinted and glared in that direction, Pinkie Pie, that was her name. Pinkie Pie. Without thinking it, she let her next words just slip out, using a name for herself that she had not used in many years, letting for the first time, the mask of Tempest Shadow fall. There was a pang of fear - followed by the cringeworthy squealing, well: it did make her cringe. She felt no joy in revealing it, Pinkie Pie was the last pony in the world she should have revealed it to in direct line of sight of, and for a moment there she floated between fight and flight.
Yet there was no joy in staying Tempest Shadow either. It was not her name, it was just a mask to hide the facets of her that were injured, but hiding such things only made her vulnerable. Weak, weak in a different way, easily led down self-destructive paths, easily abused, easily manipulated. So alone was she as Tempest, that she even considered Grubber to be a friend, and if any creature in the world she knew was more annoying and offensive to her than Pinkie Pie, it would have to be Grubber.
The party dragged on, and she distanced herself further and further as Songbird Seranade began to really attract the attention of the ponies. The plan was working oddly perfectly, to make good on her escape. To pretend that she had no intention to leave, and then to leave anyway. It was almost good enough, that when nopony was watching, when not even Twilight’s eyes or suspicions seemed to be set on her, that she simply turned tail and trotted off, armor softly clinking as she took those steps out. Alone was the way she was meant to be, as Tempest or as Fizzlepop, it made little difference. Equestria still did not feel like home. The Celebration was for Twilight and Celestia’s ponies: not for her, she was not right to take part in it anyway, she rationalized as the town’s gate was approached - and all too easily passed.
Heading for nowhere in particular was the easiest direction to go. Four hooves and nothing to carry but her armor, her strength and her oddly useful magic by her side. It would be enough. The world opened up to her beyond the city walls - and out she trotted - admiring the glow of Evening as it painted purple hues across the night sky. Then, her ears twitched, and swiveled to behind her. A sound, the thud of hooves landing on the ground behind her,
the piercing call of a familiar voice. The hairs on her neck stood on end in realization before she even managed to process the words that came.
“Wait!” Twilight cried out. Fizzlepop halted and spun about. She stiffened her neck and stood there, rigid and standing proud and tall. Twilight had the courtesy to come alone, she recognized that and admired it.
“I will wait. I owe you that much.” She replied, admiring and perhaps wondering how Twilight had noticed. It did not matter that much, but it was something to wonder. “To the pony I owe my life, I do owe you at least to hear what you need - but out with it, I don’t have all night.”
“Tempest, I saw you leaving, I don’t know - why?”
“Please call me Fizzlepop.” She answered. “Why? Because I do not feel welcome here. Is it so hard to understand? I suppose I should have said goodbye, but I knew you were going to ask me to stay, and I’m not much a pony for goodbyes. Is that all you wanted?”
Fizzlepop turned back to the way she was heading and took a tentative step, only to hear the flutter of wings, and to have Twilight land in front of her. Bold, the princess was. She replied to this bravery with a simple smile, though her eyes were still set on the woods beyond the Alicorn, her brain still rearing to head down that path.
“But - Fizzlepop, Equestria will forgive you! Equestria has forgiven you already! You’re a hero to us.” She argued. “You saved us. Why would you want to turn your back on us n-”
She raised her hoof up and slammed it into the ground, her armor clinking against the rocky soil as it put a small dent in the dry, dusty dirt. She narrowed her eyes to Twilight and took an offensive posture, glaring down at the other like she was ready to fight.
“I am NOT a hero! I am not a hero and I do not want to BE a hero!”
Twilight scooted back in fright. The angled, focused eyes, the sparking horn, the way her sparks of magic swirling around the broken horn reflected on that suit of armor, intimidating was a word, Fizzlepop Berrytwist was beyond intimidating and she knew it.
“I I don't understand. I thought you wanted to show Equestria what you could really do?!” Twilight argued and questioned.
“And I do, I'm just not sure I'm ready to be hero yet, and I know I am not one anyway - and I never deserve to be one.”
Fizzlepop relaxed her stance. Twilight blinked to her, she wanted to ask why, she could see that in those inquisitive eyes of the scientist, but knew she was too chickenshit to ask.
“If other ponies want to think that of me I can't really stop them can I? I could try but I can tell if any Ponies as stubborn you are it seems to me...” She sighed. “I do not like it. I’m not a hero. What equestria thinks, what you think, that is your decision but I - am - no - hero.”
“It's not a choice.” Twilight argued, smiling to her friend “Heroism is Equestria's decision and I'm pretty sure we both know what it will be in your case.”
Fizzlepop twisted her hoof against the ground and gritted her teeth. She took a deep breath, calming herself, and then let out a sigh. Twilight was right, she had no control of it, like it or not, Equestria was going to make the decision for her, and with enough witnesses of the act, it was likely impossible to stop a legend from spreading unless she went around killing the Citizenry as quickly as possible. This would be a most improbable goal.
“That only makes me want to leave more, you know.” She grunted.
“I know it does.” Twilight replied. “But I really do wish you would stay, I think a equestria needs a pony like you around.”
“I don't think it does.” Fizzlepop resigned, and then an idea came. She smirked, genuinely, and winked to Twilight. The princess did not understand at first. “I don't think I'm going to let that be my decision. Princess Twilight, if you think that Equestria needs me, then order me to stay: I have to imagine the doing your bidding is better than doing the Storm King’s.”
Fizzlepop stood there, letting her smile fade into a stoic gaze, staring at Twilight like a military pony would stare at their leader. In truth, Twilight to her deserved respect enough that perhaps being ordered by her would not be so bad, and after all: if the Princess was so desperate for her, perhaps she had reasons. Perhaps.
“Uh... I - I don’t order ponies around?” Twilight argued, blinking and gazing to Tempest. “That’s not really - the point of a princess? I don’t think it is - not anymore. We are servants to the public as much as we are...”
“That I have to leave. It really is that simple. I do best aligned to a pony who is a great leader - and no great leader is afraid to give orders.”
“Then why not Celestia?” Twilight asked.
“Because I defeated her, and the other ones as well. You are the only one I did not defeat, which makes you the only one I think is worth doing the bidding of.”
Twilight gritted her teeth and grunted. “Fine!” She barked. “I order you to stay. I order you to help me make Equestria better place, and I order you to never - ever - ever say that you're doing my bidding ever again.” She glared to Fizzlepop with an equal defiance and spread her wings out, and then after she was done, she took a momentary look at herself, a tick of introspection, and receded.
Fizzlepop caught it just in time. “Don’t you dare apologize. Don’t do it.” Twilight had opened her mouth, but Fizzle shook her head. The princess slowly closed it and gazed to the armored mare in wonder. Did she really like taking orders like that?
She grinned and gave a bow once Twilight was standing there silently. “I will do as you ask, Princess Twilight - but I must defy you for tonight - Enjoy your party, I will watch from here.”
It all happened so quickly. Next thing Fizzlepop Berrytwist knew, she had ended up in the castle of friendship, which was to her an outlandish, gigantic, magical crystal treehouse. The very ludicrous nature of the thing was exactly the sort of waste of magic that Equestria was known for to her: and yet here it was, right in the middle of Ponyville.
“This doesn’t clash with the architecture of this quaint town at all!” She gruffly commented to a pinkish-purple mare across from the gigantic table that rested in the middle of the grand hall. She set her mug of Cider down atop it and belched, patting the chestplate of her armor afterwards.
“Pfft, I know right?” Starlight answered, crinkling her nose slightly. “You know, I think Twilight will have your head if she finds out you’re using her map without a coaster.”
Fizzlepop grunted and stumbled slightly as she picked the mug up with her hoof and shot a dismissive glare to the mare she had almost instantly become friends with. It was basically friendship at first glance between the two of them. When she laid eyes on Starlight she was already half soused, but something with that pink one was just too familiar. She picked up her mug and downed it like only a professional alcoholic could.
“Yeah right.” She grunted, adjusting her armor. “I’ll probably just get chewed out, I’ve been chewed out before.” She grinned after and gave Starlight a wink. “Chewed out by the sort of creatures that would think knocking you across the room : literally was an appropriate response if you got their drink order confused. You know - that kind of shit.”
Starlight cringed. “Yeah - maybe - maybe we should talk about something else.”
“Oh - of course - yeah - yeah! Starlight, I like you Starlight, you’re cool as shit not like these other losers. You know, I think you could use a pony like me, a bit of combat skills to back up your *hic* radical ideas.”
Starlight blinked slowly. “You know, I’m trying to be reformed here.”
“Eh, I’m not.” Fizzlepop argued. “I mean, yeah, I’m gonna work for ponies now, I guess, I dunno, you ever want to take over the world or whatever or a small portion of it again, we’d make a great team I can tell... you and your leadership *hic* skills, me and my military strategy, think about it, it could work.”
Starlight piqued an eyebrow at the inebriated military pony, but couldn’t help giggling. “Of all the ways to make a first impression.” She muttered to herself, rolling her eyes.
“BESIDES, you little shits call this cider huh? Back where i’m from we - “
Fizzlepop Berrytwist slumped over onto the floor. Starlight shook her head and rolled her eyes, then carried the mare off to bed, being careful to lay her on her side with her head positioned off the bed and pointed towards a trash can for good measure. Credit where credit was due, Fizzlepop could probably drink anypony: even Rainbow Dash under the table, she had consumed a whole 18 glasses of Cider from when the evening started: and Starlight was sure to keep count, just for fun. Herself, she had enjoyed about two and was halfway with her third, though now that Fizzle was passed out, she just dumped it out before she went downstairs.
The warpony awoke at an inordinately early hour despite her last evening, though she woke up with a groan and a disgusted look on her muzzle. She rolled out of bed, plopping onto the floor and looked about the room that was already becoming familiar to her: a bit too familiar. Twilight had graciously agreed to give her a room in the huge castle, though she rather suspected this was out of the Alicorn’s desire to keep her around.
Keep your mind open. She reminded herself, and she trotted downstairs to the kitchen to make herself a meal. The bountiful quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables astounded her. She sighed, there was really no option but to enjoy a delicious meal, it was so very different here. She made herself a simple salad, preparing it with almost no care or sense, and yet it was still frighteningly fresh and crisp.
Nopony was up or about: it was the crack of dawn. She groaned and slipped out into the early morning mist that surrounded Ponyville and went for a slow trot, to admire the quaint town, and as she trotted and looked about, a voice came from behind her, calling out in its folksy tune.
“Mornin’ Fizzle. Ain’t you up early!” Applejack greeted her, pulling a cart laden with apples behind her as she made her way towards the town square. She paused and gave Fizzlepop a tip of her hat.
“You know - there’s no real need to wear armor around Ponyville.” The orange one bluntly commented. “No immediate threats from what ah can see.”
Fizzlepop’s neutral expression suddenly drifted to a glare. Starlight had commented on her armor as well, though she had made sure to call it ‘bad-ass’ before questioning why exactly she was still wearing it. The simple answer: her cutie mark, she didn’t really fancy it much, and well, her armor felt like a second skin.
Applejack backed up a few paces. “Oh... ahm sorry if it - if it’s a touchy subject uh - uh well its just that I don’t think ponies here will understand or appreciate the whole storm king logo thing you’ve got plastered on your sides - you know, i’m sorry: i’ll be going now.”
The applecart left with a hurry, and Fizzlepop leaned against the bridge railing she found herself on. She sighed and gazed down at the water, looking at the scar that crossed over her eye, the broken horn. She thought about the stares that attracted to her like a magnet, she knew she was scary, wasn’t it obvious. Already, she was regretting being here for the very reasons she thought of the other day, and knew of before that: long before that.
Perhaps Applejack was right though, Perhaps the armor did not help at all, though she did like the look... no, Applejack was dead right. She would call out to the mare to apologize for her harsh glare, but she was already gone. A look about the town revealed that things were beginning to start up, get ready.
She sighed and headed somewhere, somewhere she already knew where she needed to go. The one pony that could help... well, maybe.
“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is Chique, Unique, and Magnifique!” The marshmallow mare greeted her first customer, before internalizing the sight of the mare that stood at the door. Fizzlepop looked around and then let the door close behind her. The dresses and things on display held no interest, but... this was the town Dressmaker, surely she could come up with something.
“I - forgive me for asking but you are still wearing your armor Darling, it - it looks nice but it isn’t exactly...”
“Welcoming?” Fizzlepop asked. “Yes - I know. I need to change it. To what, I don’t know.”
“I’ve got just the thiiiii-iiiing!” Rarity chimed, trotting off and returning with a flowing gown. Fizzlepop narrowed her eyes before the piece neared more than twenty paces from her, and delivered a flat-toned.
“No.”
“Oh. How about...”
“No.”
“Maybe?”
“No.”
“What if...?”
“No.”
Rarity zipped about the Boutique a few times, pulling things out only to have Fizzlepop reject them at first glance, and not just sternly but: remarkably sternly. At last resort, she pulled out the only remaining example she kept of the Midnight-themed princess dress. “And what if...?”
“No.”
“Oh... I see, Darling. You - you must have a clear picture of what you want then?” Rarity asked hopefully, offering a smile to the odd pony. “Or something? You - you do want something to wear, right?”
“I need something - practical. Close fitting. Black looks good on me. I was honestly thinking about a cape, maybe but... ugh. I don’t know. This - stuff - you make, you know, it really is too...”
Rarity looked Fizzlepop over and smiled. “It’s too much for you to handle. I can tell.” She winked and twirled her hoof in her mane for a moment, thinking it over. “No, I get it Darling, I really do. Honestly I could see you being a pony that never wears...”
Fizzlepop narrowed her eyes and sent enough of a message that Rarity’s thought stopped right there. She didn’t even realize she was doing it. She did her best to stop, but already Rarity’s train of thought had been broken and turned right around. I need to work on that.
“Right, but you are obviously more comfortable in your armor, but it scares ponies. What we need is something simple, perhaps a touch stylish but not - fancy. Elegant but not showy. Have you considered leather? I don’t often get to work with it, most ponies find it distasteful but...”
“Go on.” She encouraged, sitting down and tenting her forehooves. Maybe dress horse isn’t so bad?
“I could maybe make something that is - armor like, but not Armor. Subtly decorative, uh - please tell me we aren’t keeping the Storm King emblem?”
Fizzlepop shook her head. “Of course not.” She answered. “I want to keep as much distance between me and him as possible. I tried painting over the letters but...”
“So... forgive me for being so bold, Darling, but why are you still wearing the armor, then?” Rarity asked. The warpony answered with a stern glare, that turned icy and frigid and hateful all at once. “Oh, I see... w-well, would you be willing to take it off at least - so I can take your measurements? Whatever it is that you are trying to hide - I - your secret is safe with me. You wouldn’t believe how many pregnancies I’ve helped keep secret over the years.”
She grunted indignantly and glanced over her shoulder. “Shop - closed. Secret - between us. Not even Twilight - Especially not Twilight.”
* * *
Just the thing - from Rarity’s point of view, was an odd blend of stylishness and yet forced minimalism. Fizzlepop insisted upon it - after the design phase was underway - that no colors other than black were to be used: black and a few tastefully placed zippers and buttons in a natural silver tone.
Simple enough as the garment was, the effect was striking. Black leather with raised squares and ribs sewn into it and padded from underneath, giving almost the impression of containing armor plates, almost offering a little bit of protection on their own: though not a lot. Two pockets up front - bordered by silver zippers, a single zipper running down the belly - hidden by a flap to make it almost seamless. A stiff collar, designed only to be popped and frame the neck. The sleeves were short, not down to the knees even, but the cut was long, like her armor, it shrouded her flanks quite nicely.
She spun around in the mirror and gave more than a satisfied nod, well, after a few moments she lept forward, picked Rarity up, and held her in a tight hug for a moment, before dropping Rarity back to the floor, standing straight.
“That will also be a secret.” She grunted. “Hugs are usually not my thing.”
“I - if you - if you Insist, Darling... I” Rarity blinked and took a breath to regain her composure. She was on the verge of calling Fizzlepop strange - if outright cold in a way, but she restrained herself. It was not her place to make such judgements onto a pony who was trying to be a force for good, if in her own way.
Fizzlepop briefly primped her collar and then scooped her armor up, and with merely a nod to Rarity, and a “Thank you,” she swept out of the boutique and hurried back to the castle. Merely trotting through the town of Ponyville felt oddly hard, without the mask to hide behind, without the authoritarian air of the Storm King to stand and hide herself behind. She still felt bare. She swept into the main room of the castle... and
“Fizzlepop oh my gosh it is so great to see you out and about and making friends! How many friends did you meet? I’m so excited for you!” The princess of friendship could hardly contain herself, bubbling with such excitement, it made the warpony’s heart jump.
Panic!
Starlight had just opened a door into the room when she witnessed the tall mare in a leather jacket suddenly leap into the air like a click-beetle and launch herself into a wall, jumping against it, she did a perfect flip through the air, her combat skills put to the highest use. In a moment of pure adrenaline fueled rush, she sailed from one wall to the other, almost in the same time that it took for her armor to crumple into a pile on the floor. She landed beside Starlight and launched herself down the hallway at breakneck speed.
Panic!
The second panic was far more straightforward to explain than the first. The floors of the castle of friendship were made of very polished crystal. Normally, a pony could walk on them just fine, but running in the halls, it was not the best of ideas. Fizzlepop attempted to stop with her hooves, broke into purely sliding friction, and slammed into a wall hard enough to make the throne room shake. Starlight winced, Twilight cringed. Before they could inspect the damage though, Fizzlepop was gone, leaving Starlight looking to Twilight and Twilight looking to Starlight, both equally bewildered in their own way.
“I think you might have overexcited her...” Starlight commented.
“You THINK?”
Twilight sighed and shook her head. She bit her lip in worry for a moment, and then stepped forward, softly muttering to herself “Maybe I should...” Only to find that Starlight stepped right in her way.
“No, you shouldn’t. I - I think I should handle this.”
Starlight trotted down the hallway to Fizzlepop’s room, Carrying her armor on her back. She knocked at the open doorway, though she couldn’t help but already peer beyond it to see the warpony there, sitting on the bed, looking rather distraught, slowly bandaging a cut foreleg with gauze that she held in her mouth.
Fizzlepop glanced up to Starlight and nodded. “Come in. Close the door.” She muttered, and Starlight - to her delight perhaps, did exactly that.
“D - do you want any help?” She asked, setting the armor down. “I’m pretty good a-”
“Mffrhtnnngh!” She answered angrily, tying the bandage off as she shot a quick glare, the sort of glare not to show hostility exactly but a ‘I’ve got this let ME do it’ look. Starlight recognized it immediately and sat on her haunches, smiling.
“Right.”
To her credit, Fizzlepop finished the dressing with a grace and speed, and she made the wrapping tight tight tight - just how she liked it. A bit of blood soaked through, but it quickly came to a stop as the clotting began. She flexed her leg, testing out the bandage, and then gave it an approving nod, before finally giving attention back to her friend.
“She’s a pushy one.”
“You’re telling me. I’m her student of friendship, I mean, don’t get me wrong I like it but sometimes - come on...”
“H-heh...”
“SooooooooOooooo...”
“So?”
“So!”
The two mares sat there, silently staring at each other for a longer time than either was comfortable with. Finally, starlight cleared her throat and stated. “That’s a pretty cool jacket.”
“Thanks.” Fizzlepop answered bluntly, killing the conversation right where it stood. Back to staring, it was. Starlight let her forelegs swing, tapping them together. Starlight tried to think of friendshippy things. Learning more about your friends, a friendship lesson she took to heart. She glanced the warpony over, trying to think of something that wasn’t broken-horn related, that would just be too offensive.
Of course, her brain worked its own sort of magic, and before she could think about the ramifications of the question, she asked.
“So, ever killed a pony?” Oh gosh did I just say that aloud? This is bad.
“You want that question answered?” Fizzle snorted, giving her mane a toss. Of course, even saying that was a big enough hint. She figured most ponies would freak out and start saying ‘no, no’ or something like that.
Starlight shook her head. “I - I guess I don’t... not right now.” She sighed, though that had already basically answered the question, she could deny it, plausibly.
“Starlight. You don’t need to work hard to be my friend. I can be a little bit of a hard case, but you’re alright.” Fizzlepop answered, smirking and giving Starlight a wink. “Lets leave this emotions crap at the door and go do something!”
Starry jumped up eagerly. “Yeah!” She smiled wide. “Let’s!”
