The Gathering of an Unlikely Band of “Heroes”
“Oh, come on, Thunder, hurry up!! Twilight said it was urgent!! Besides, the other two are gonna be there as well,” Firestorm called up the stairs. He was pacing impatiently at the bottom of the stairs inside Thunder’s house, which was located behind SugarCube Corner. “Considering they want me around, it seems pretty urgent!”
“I’m coming, I’m coming! Geesh…” Thunder grumbled as he finished packing some items into his magical green saddlebag. He then came down the stairs, sighing. “Dusk, security mode, please.” Thunder’s AI whirred and the robot’s eyes went from sky blue to orange. “Excellent.” Smiling with satisfaction, he turned to Firestorm. “You said Buck was going to be there too? Why would they want him?”
Firestorm shrugged, heading for the door, Thunder close behind him. “I wouldn’t know, dude. All I know is that if we don’t get there when the Princess wants us there, we might get into some trouble. However, the letter said there was a total of eight of us… I wonder who the other four ponies are going to be?”
“Well, I do remember it saying something that we’ll be working with partners that were pre-assigned… What if it’s just some test? Besides, Astro Wolf is flying in from Canterlot as we speak. I couldn’t imagine who else it is…”
As they head outside, Firestorm smirks. “If we’re a little early, don’t start flirting with Twilight, ya here?” He turned to see Thunder’s reaction.
Thunder Volt went wide-eyed, blushing a shade of crimson. “N-now why would I do th-that?! You know I can’t confront mares like that!”
Firestorm chuckled. “Just wanted to see your reaction. We all know you’ve had a crush on her for a while now! Even though Pinkie Pie’s been your best friend for, like, your whole life!”
As the walked, the other ponies in Ponyville went about their business just like every other day, talking, shopping, running around. You know, the usual. Even though Firestorm lived in the Everfree Forest, he popped in and out of Ponyville as he pleased.
The unicorn, being a pyromaniac, had some difficulties growing up. Princess Celestia deemed him a threat to other ponies, especially after he caused the Great Appaloosa Fire about ten years ago. Due to this, she attempted to banish him to the Everfree forest, where he would live his life away from others.
This, however, didn’t turn out the why she expected. Firestorm found a small hole in the spell she used, and managed to slip through it enough so that he was only teleported. Ever since, however, he’s hated the Princess, but has done his best to try and avoid contact with her. He still likes to cause mischief from time to time, even though he’s done better about not causing as much trouble for the Royal Sisters.
Thunder Volt, on the other hand, had a more normal life behind him. He was born in Canterlot, with his dad being a Royal Guard and his mother being an ex-Wonderbolt. However, they moved to Ponyville when he was a foal so they could raise him away from the hustle-and-bustle of Canterlot.
Thunder, being an earth pony, grew up on the ground, fiddling with wires and metals and all the mechanical materials he had around the house. He was always messing with wires and components in electronics. It wasn’t until the circuit breaker blew to due a thunderstorm that he got his cutie mark. He went down and managed to fix it, and ever since, he’s had a 9-volt battery on top of a gear on his flank.
When he was old enough to take care of himself, he had the option of moving back to Canterlot with his parents, or to get a home in Ponyville. Deciding that he didn’t want to leave the few friends he had, he decided to move into town, where Pinkie Pie, his longtime school bestie, got him a place by hers, and he’s lived there ever since.
* * *
It was a cool summer’s day when Buck was heading out of the forest, confused as to why he was supposed to head to Princess Twilight’s castle.
“I can’t imagine why I’m needed… I’m just a simple deer-pony… Why would anypony want me for something? The letter that squirrel gave me said it was urgent… And there’s gonna be a bunch of other ponies there!”
Buck was a deer-pony who grew up in the Everfree Forest ever since he ran away as a foal. His mother was a deer and his father was an earth pony. His mom had gotten hurt, and his dad had taken her in. They fell in love, however that works, and it wasn’t long before he existed. However, when he went to school, he was made fun of so bad that he ran off, and hasn’t seen his family since. However, it hasn’t bothered him, since he’s been able to communicate to some extent with the creatures of the forest.
“Well, at least Firestorm and the other guys will be there… I won’t be completely lost.” He lets out a sigh, soon coming up to a clearing, and sighs, walking up to the middle of it, looking up at the sky. “At least it’s a clear day.”
“It really is, isn’t it?” A voice from behind him added, who had just appeared on the other side of the clearing. She was a white earth pony with a light pink mane and tail, and she was smiling a bit.
Buck let out a yelp and bounced back, caught off guard and surprised. “Gyahh!! Wh-what… What are you d-doing out here?”
“Hmm? Oh, me?” The mare let out a giggle. “I was just coming through and heard somepony talking. I got curious, that’s all.” She smiled warmly and walked up closer to him. “What are you doing out here?”
“W-well I… I uh… L-live out here… I’m a deer pony… And… Well, I’m going to P-Ponyville for some gathering at Twilight’s castle…” Buck said shyly, his cheeks a slight shade of red, and his ears fold down as he looked at the ground.
The mare smiled. “Really? Me too! Say, wanna walk together?” She paused, giggling again. “I’m Light Grace by the way…”
“I’m… I’m B-Buck…” The colt shyly said. “I g-guess it wouldn’t hurt, since we’re both g-going there…”
She smiles and so turns to head in the right direction. “Great! Let’s go!”
Buck nods and slowly walks up next to her, and the pair walks together, mostly in silence, as they go to Ponyville.
* * *
When Firestorm and Thunder Volt reached the castle, there were two other mares already inside, both of them being pegasi. They walked in, but didn’t see Princess Twilight. Just Spike, running in and out of the room, occasionally accompanied by Starlight Glimmer.
“Well, Thunder, we’re here. I’m gonna go say hi. You can just…. Do whatever you normally do.” Firestorm chuckled and walked up to the pegasi.
Both pegasi had mostly white bodies, with the exception of one, whose wings were half white and half light blue. She had a long flowing blue mane and tail, and her eyes were a bright teal. The other mare, on the other hoof, and reddish eyes, and a red-and-blue mane and tail.
“So I’m assuming you two are here for the same thing we are? Some urgent news from the Princess?” Firestorm said as he sat next to the one with the red and blue mane.
“Hmm? Oh, yea. We’re not entirely sure what it is yet, though.” She smiled warmly and looked at Firestorm. “The name’s Heat Flame, by the way.”
“Oh, nice! I’m Firestorm!” He chuckled and smiled back, looking over at Thunder. That’s when he noticed that the other pegasus walked over to him.
Thunder was fiddling with some parts and wires to pass the time and the blue maned pegasus sat by him. “So what’s your name?”
“What?” He looked up, and went silent for a second, surprised by her sudden appearance. “M-my name? I’m Thunder Volt…”
“Cute. I’m Rushing Sky. It’s nice to meet you!” She batted her eyes at him, which caused him to blush. “Are you curious why we were called her all of a sudden?”
Thunder worked as he spoke: “Yea, sort of… I mean, I don’t have a lot of stuff to do anyways.”
“Yea, me too. I spend a lot of free time trying to make myself a faster flier. I really want to join the Wonderbolts.”
“I’m sure if you talk to Rainbow Dash, you might get a chance to!” He smiled, holding a small helicopter drone in his hoof, satisfied.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and Firestorm laughed.“There he is!! Buck!! Who’s the new friend?”
“I’m Light Grace!” The bubbly earth pony said, smiling as she trotted into the room.“I found Buck walking here through Everfree, so I joined him!”
Buck was still blushing a little bit. “Y-yea… She kinda scared me, too.”
Light Grace giggled, then sat down in one of the chairs, Buck sitting by her, leaving a seat in between them.
“So… Has anypony seen Princess Twilight?” Buck asked, looking around the room.
“Nope. We’ve all been waiting for her,” Firestorm said, playing around with small flames in front of him, his horn lit up as a soft orange flame.
“Yeah, that, and our ol’ buddy up in Canterlot is gonna be here soon, too,” Thunder piped in, which made Buck smile.
“Wait, Astro’s gonna be here?!” Buck asked, smiling, his ears up. “Awesome!!”
As if on cue, the doors opened up, and the dark grey pegasus, having black tints at his hooves and on his muzzle, walked in. He had a mostly black mane and tail, with the exception of the thick red stripe going through them. He blinked his light grey eyes, chuckling, folding his wings up to his sides.
“I’m here, guys. No need to freak out,” the pegasus said, scanning the room. “We’re still missing another pony… I wonder where she is.”
Thunder snickered, and Firestorm let out a chuckle. “Dude, you should fix your hearing… And your other observation skills.”
Buck nodded and pointed a hoof to Astro’s left, where the final mare, also a pegasus, was standing, smirking at Astro.
“So, big shot came all the way down here, huh? Didn’t think somepony as high up as you in the Royal Guard would be summoned with all of us…” The mare nudged Astro, letting out a laugh.
Astro’s cheeks heated up a bit and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, Frostbite, I’m here. I didn’t realize you were coming too, or I would’ve flown with you.”
“Oh is that so?~” She lets off a soft giggle and nudges him again before trotting forward and taking one of the last two seats. However, Light Grace, when Buck wasn’t looking, and scooted over to the seat next to him, and Frostbite, the dark, navy blue pegasus with the black mane and tail, took her seat.
Astro, whose cheeks had gotten even darker, walked over and sat next to Thunder and Firestorm.
A couple minutes later, Princess Twilight walked in. “Ah, I see you’re all here! Excellent! That means we can get started, and we’re three minutes ahead of schedule!” She beamed, before sighing and pulling out a letter that Princess Celestia had sent her.
“So, are we here only because you Princesses are too lazy to do it yourselves, so you’re having us lower ponies do it for you?!” Firestorm blurted, snickering a bit.
“Firestorm, can it, okay? Geesh… Show some respect…” Astro replied, glaring at the unicorn.
Twilight rolled her eyes after looking over the scroll for a few seconds. “No, we’re not, hothead…” She glared at Firestorm, then sighed. “No, we have you eight because the sisters are busy with some public connections thing they’re doing with the Canterlot ponies. I’m too busy because my friends and I are traveling to Whinnyapolis for some school demonstrations. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor are way out in the Crystal Empire, so you eight were chosen by the four of us to go on this adventure.”
The eight ponies glanced around the room at each other, before turning their attention back to Twilight, but then Starlight came in. “Well, it was Cadence’s idea that we split the groups up and do half colts and half mares. She said it’d be a good “bonding” experiment for ponies or something like that…”
Astro Wolf suddenly went wide-eyed, blushing. “Wait… Bonding experiment? Or is this… some sort of… match-making thing?”
A couple of the mares giggled, and Thunder and Buck both blushed dark, but Firestorm just smirked. “I don’t need a princess to tell me who to fall in love with…”
Twilight just blinked, confused. “What do you mean, match-mak--” She suddenly stopped, then giggled. “Oh, I can see why you’re confused. No, she didn’t do it for some love experiment… As far as I know, but I do know that she said doing it this way would be something to keep everypony on task. That, and if anything happens, you can thank us!” She beams, then chuckles.
“But not, there’s something much more serious going on here. We just got word that one of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna’s close relatives was spotted recently… At the castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest. She’s they’re niece, and she’s a little… unstable… They want you guys to find her and try to being her back. Well, that, and there’s some relic in the castle they want back before it falls into the wrong hooves.”
Fire sighed. “So an errand run, right… good to know… Well, we have an alicorn Princess to rescue… Sounds good to me… It beats sitting around and messing with Applejack…”
Thunder rolls his eyes, then looks at mares, who have been oddly quiet, but then he noticed they were talking amongst themselves, and they were giggling a bit. Buck looked out of place sitting right next to them, too.
“Oh, and if it makes it better, you’re all being paired in partners!” Starlight exclaimed, chuckling. “Princess Luna got the honor of deciding who’s being paired with who, and lets just say, Luna had a little too much fun playing matchmaker…” She giggled, and mumbling went around the room.
Astro let out a groan and he face-hoofed. “Figures,” he mumbled, and Spike stepped forward with a scroll that had scribbles and lines all over it.
“Let’s see… Astro Wolf! You’re being paired with… Hmm… Frostbite!”
Frostbite gasped in surprise, before flying over and tackling Astro to the floor. “Gotcha! This’ll be fun~” She said to him with a smirk.
“Astro just blushed and yelped in surprise, staring up at her. “Y-yea… So much fun…”
Firestorm snickered. “Aww… How cute… It seems she already likes him… And I can tell he likes her too! He’s always like that around mares he likes!”
“Firestorm! You are being paired with… Heat Flame!”
Heat Flame looked over at the unicorn, and the unicorn returned her gaze, going quiet before finally saying, “Sounds good to me.”
Heat Flame giggled and leaned back in her chair. “Hey, Rush, I bet you’re being paired with the Earth Pony. Besides, he’s kinda cute, and I can tell you think he is, huh?”
“Well, I uh… M-maybe?” Rushing Sky replies, blushing a bit and brushing her mane away from her face.
“Thunder Volt, you’ll be with Rushing Sky, and that leaves Buck with Light Grace!” Spike finished, before rolling the scroll up, setting it on a table, and he then walks out of the room.
“Well, that’s that! Now get out of here, and please… Don’t die,” Twilight said, sighing.
Thunder was the first pony to leave the castle. The others were talking, trying to get to know their partners, but Thunder didn’t really want to talk at the moment. He just wanted to go home and forget about all of this.
“This is just stupid… I don’t even want to help… Why me? I expected to get something or whatever… I’m just gonna go home… Although...” He chuckles, blushing a bit. “My partner’s kinda c-cute, I guess… Maybe I could g--”
Before he could finish his statement, somepony tugged on his tail and giggled. Thunder yelped and nearly fell forward, turning around. It was Rushing Sky, his partner in the adventure, and he goes wide-eyed, blushing.
She giggles and looks at him. “You think I’m cute, huh?” She smiles and lifts his muzzle with a wing to meet his gaze. “Well, maybe the feeling’s mutual.”
Thunder just blinks, blushing bright red, unable to say anything as he stares up at her. “Y-you… I… Uh…”
She rolls her eyes, giggling. “Cat got your tongue, Thunder? It’s okay… You’re a little shy, I understand.” Beaming, she wraps a wing over him, hugging him a bit, and Thunder just stands there, his cheeks as pink as they could go.
A few moments later, Firestorm, followed shortly by Heat Flame, stepped out of the castle.
“Hey, Thunder, don’t get too comfortable!” He snickers and rolls his eyes upon seeing the hug.
Heat Flame elbows him in the side. “Hey, cut it out, okay? Just because he’s a little shy doesn’t mean you gotta pick on him!” She glared daggers at Fire.
Fire gulped, stepping back. “W-well, he knows I’m just messing with him, right, Volt?” He looks over at Thunder, who was no longer under Rushing Sky’s wing.
Thunder just sighed. “Just shut up, dude, okay? Not everyone can stand your hotheadedness as much as the others, okay? Geesh…”
Heat Flame laughed, flying up into the sky, looking around the town, clearly bored. She soon looks at the forest and sighs. “Alright, I don’t want to wait around. Come on, Fireboy… Let’s go.” She then flies off into the forest.
“Fireboy? Oh no… that’s not happening ever!” He takes off, running straight into the forest, closing the gap between the two of them.
Thunder rolls his eyes. “I need to go get something from my place, so do you wanna meet back up with the others in the forest?”
Rushing Sky shakes her head. “I’ll fly out there, but not until you’re back. I’m coming with you, and that’s final. There’s no talking me out of it, Thunder Volt.” She giggles and trots off.
“Urr, Rushing Sky? My place is this way?” He points off in the other direction, shaking his head. “I live behind SugarCube Corner.” He laughs as the pegasus turns and trots past him, Thunder following, as they head to his home.
* * *
Buck sheepishly heads for the door, but Light Grace stops him. “Hey, Buck? Can I ask you something?”
“Hmm?” He turns around and looks at her. “Y-yeah, of course! Wh-what is it?”
She smiles. “I was just wondering… You don’t talk to ponies much, do you?”
He looks down at the ground, shaking his head. “I’ve lived in the forest almost my whole life… I’ve grown fond of the animals… Unlike the ponies at my school before I ran away, they don’t make fun of you… They like me the way I am…”
Light Grace lifts his head up with a hoof. “I think those horns are wonderful, Buck. Just forget about those other ponies that picked on you, okay? Besides, it seems like you have a few friends around here that like you for who you are, right?”
He looks up at her, his cheeks heating up. He glances at Astro Wolf and Frostbite behind Light, but nods. “Y-yea…. I guess you’re right. I never thought about it.”
Light Grave smiles warmly. “And if you didn’t have them, you wouldn’t be the pony you are, would you? Just look at them as a gift, not as a curse, okay, Buck? I want you to be happy and content, not living in fear of rejection.”
Buck blinks, surprised by the sudden comments. “Well, I… I just… I’m naturally shy as is… But… I can try to work on it, I promise, Miss Grace…”
“Please, call me Light or just Grace… Besides, we’re partners in this thing, okay?” She smiles, giggling before trotting outside, Buck close behind her.
* * *
Astro, upon seeing these two leave, sighs. “Frostbite, are you ready to go now?”
Frostbite, after flying around the room for several minutes, inspecting the room, she flies back down, landing next to him, pressed up against him, and she smirks. “Maybe I am, and maybe I’m not, Mr. Wolf. All that matters is that I’m right here with you.”
Astro blinks, looking at her. “Okay, I get it. Come on. The others have already headed off to the forest. I wanna get out there with them before they get too far into the forest.” He steps forward and turns around to face her.
Smirking, she steps close so that she’s inches from him. “But I want to spend some alone time with you, Astro. Ever since we’ve met, there hasn’t been a night that I hadn’t thought of you. I missed you so much, Wolf… ever since flight academy, I just… I don’t know..”
Astro blushes darkly, going silent. After a few moments, he smiles a tad. “Frostbite, stop… I underst-stand… It’s not my fault being a Royal Guard is time consuming. I mean, sure, I understand that it was my choice, but I felt obligated to join it ever since my parents were murdered. I just wanted a chance to protect others from horrible actions and events like that, and I--”
Before he had a chance to finish, Frostbite leans forward and places her muzzle against his, closing her eyes. Astro Wolf goes wide-eyed, his ears perking up, and his cheeks going bright red. He just stands there, not sure what to do. After a few moments, Frostbite pulls back, smiling.
“Hey, Astro?” She says, giggling.
“Y-yeah?”
“You gotta learn to stop talking sometimes… You ruin the situation… But anyways… Hehe…” She rubs the back of her neck, looking at the floor.
Astro just blinks, watching her. “Hey, th-thank you… I… Just…”
“Hmm?” She looks up at him, giggling. “You’re cheeks are red, Astro… You liked it didn’t you?” She paused, then smirked. “You’re adorable when you’re flustered, ya know…”
He blushes darker, turning away. “Well, I…”
She places a hoof on his muzzle, pulling his gaze back to her, but also silencing him. “Hey. Of course you did. You’re bad at hiding feelings. Always have been. Even way back at the academy... But I love you, Astro Wolf… No matter what you say or do, I always will…”
He goes wide-eyed from the confession and stares. He slowly takes a hoof and pushes hers away. “I l-love you too…”
Frostbite goes wide-eyed, gasping in surprise. “W-wait, y-you… you do?!” Happily, she pounces at him, tackling him in a big hug.
Astro yelps in surprise, falling to the floor beneath her weight. “Fr-Frostbite!! You know I don’t like that!!”
Frostbite giggles and looks down at him. “Yea, I know. But I do.” She nuzzles his neck before getting up, flying in the air. “Okay!! I’m ready to go, Wolfie!”
Blinking and blushing bright red, Astro slowly gets up. “Wow… The situation just changed real fast.” He sighs. “Okay, c-come on Frostbite, let’s go catch up to the others… And please don’t call me Wolfie…”
She looks down at him, smirking. “Why not? You don’t like it? I think it’s cute!”
He shakes his head, flying up next to her. “I’ll start calling you Frosty.”
She growls. “Fine. I won’t call you Wolfie. Most of the time.” Smirking, she takes off outside, flying for the forest.
Rolling his eyes, Astro flies after her, catching up to her, chuckling, as they head off to find this lost princess, both of their cheeks a light pink as they flew together towards Everfree.
