A Distant Light, A Close Calling

A Long Discussion

            Starstride was outside, enjoying the late afternoon air. Celestia’s sun was glittering high above the clouds, emanating like a jewel. The birds and ducks were out and about, tending to their own worries. She sighed, and smiled as she closed her eyes. Wow, such peace and quiet, nothing could break such a nice moment. She thought.

            “Starstride!” Twilight called out, exhausted.

            Starstride turned, surprised by the outburst; she saw the seven ponies in the distance; they were galloping towards her, Twilight ahead of them all. I just had to say it, next time Starstride, don’t say that you don’t want a moment like this broken...Starstride thought furiously to herself.

            “Girls, what’s wrong, are you alright, did something happen, because if something did, I can help!” Starstride fretted, her eyes darted back and forth nervously.

            “We’re fine.” Twilight said with the last of her breath.

            “Fine? Oh yeah, we’re fine, but this sure isn’t!” Dash said, holding out the note they found earlier.

            “What’s this?” Starstride questioned.

            “Read it, it’ll tell you everything.” Sunspeed blurted out.

            Starstride was puzzled by the sudden arrival of the note; she looked at it, and raised an eyebrow to the others. She shrugged, sniffed, and began to read, slowly. As she was reading, her eyes narrowed awkwardly, and then that expression changed into a confused look. As she reached the last paragraph, her eyes lit up in distress. Her mouth gaped open, unable to respond in the slightest manner.

            “Uhh, ya’ll okay there Sugarcube?” AJ asked after a while.

            “Huh? What, yeah I am okay, I am just…horrified. Now we fully understand what the SDEH wants to do to you all, I am frightened by what may happen next.” Starstride said, hesitating.

            They all nodded in agreement. The eight friends stood around the porch, looking at each other in silence. Fluttershy suddenly broke the silence with:

            “Sorry to interrupt but um, what do we do now Starstride?”

“I, I don’t know. I would say that your best bet is to stay here where it is safe until further notice.” Starstride replied, looking away towards the forest.

            “I agree. You never know what may happen out here, somepony could be evil, like Rarity!” Pinkie said, poking Rarity’s cheek.

            “Pinkie that is THE most preposterous thing you could ever say!” Rarity said, aggravated.

            “What? Hey, it’s better than when Zecora first came to town!” Pinkie pointed out.

            “What? You make no sense, I agree but at the same time… I don’t even know.” Rarity said, confused.

            The six others rolled their eyes, and went inside to discuss more on their next plan. As they shut the door behind them, they could still hear Rarity and Pinkie talking, none of them could tell if it was an argument, or a discussion.

            “Okay, so, what should we do next?” Twilight asked, slouching down onto the sofa.

            “Well, I honestly think we should stick here and play it safe.” Fluttershy said timidly.

            “I have to disagree, maybe we should move to a different location.” Sunspeed mentioned, looking at her still gauzed wings.

            “Ah honestly don’t know if we should stay here an’ try to stay safe, but ah don’t know if we should move out either, the only thing we need to know is if the SDEH knows where we are.” Applejack said open-minded.

            “I agree with AJ, if we knew that information, we would have a decision.” Starstride said calmly.

            “I know this is off topic, but can I use my wings now Fluttershy, it’s been three days since that crash!” Sunspeed whined.

            “I don’t think so, give it at least until tomorrow and you can try, sound fair?”

            “Yeah, that sounds good.” Sunspeed perked up.

            “Great.”

            “Okay, so back to the topic. So, what are you all thinking about right now? Should we stay, or go?” Twilight asked her eyes locking with everyone’s in the room.

            “I vote that we stay.” Fluttershy smiled.

            “Ah agree with ‘Shy.” AJ said, looking at Fluttershy.

            “I vote we stay. I haven’t said much, but in a matter like this, I am better at listening.” Dash said.

            “Stay.” Sunspeed responded.

            “Starstride, what about you?” Twilight questioned.

            “I vote we stay, although, I just have a strange feeling…It feels like something is going to happen soon.” She said quietly.

            “I see… I am sure everything will be alright.” Twilight said grimly, but reassured Starstride by putting a hoof on her shoulder and smiling.

            “Thank you Twilight, I shouldn’t think of such awful thoughts.”

            “No worries. Now, we just need Pinkie’s and Rarity’s opinion on all of this.” Twilight stood up.

            Rarity and Pinkie stepped into the home, still into a deep discussion.

            “Pinkie, the next time I let you use my sewing machine, is the next time I ruin your Party Cannon!” Rarity sneered.

            “Don’t you dare try to hurt my Party Cannon, Gummy would be really upset, and he won’t be such a nice guy after that!” Pinkie said, gritting her teeth.

            “Gummy? He doesn’t even have teeth; I don’t see how his bites could hurt!” Rarity laughed.

            “Rarity, just you wait.” She growled.

            Ho there, hold up you two, let’s get rid of the nasty comments!” Dash stepped in, pushing them away from each other.

            “Calm down ya’ two, ya’ll need to be nice to each other, we’re all best friends!” AJ cried.

            “Please stop arguing.” Fluttershy said.

            Rarity and Pinkie turned to the others, and then looked at one another.

            “Rarity, I’m sor-“Pinkie started.

            “No, it was my fault, I started this whole argument, I’m the one whose sorry darling, forgive me.”

            Pinkie nodded, tears started to show in her eyes, and they embraced in a hug, a sense of everlasting friendship seemed to flow in the room.

            “Pinkie, I am sorry for acting like- like a brute. I couldn’t ask for another good friend like you.” Rarity said sympathetically.

            “Neither could I.” Pinkie replied.

            The six others sighed in relief. Twilight approached them both and motioned for them to sit down. Rarity and Pinkie sat down on the sofa, and Twilight stood in the middle of the living room and looked at them both and said:

            “While you two were outside, we were all in here discussing whether or not we should leave Hoofsdale and move to some other safe location, or stay here until further notice. We all have chosen to stay, but we still need your opinions on the subject.”

            The two ponies glanced at each other. Rarity rubbed her neck with her hoof, and Pinkie was thinking deeply. Rarity raised a hoof to respond, but then lowered it. After a few minutes of silence, Rarity came to a sudden conclusion.

            “I say that we stay, after all, Hoofsdale is a charming little place.”

            “Pinkie, what about you?” Twilight leaned in.

            “I want to stay, Starstride makes THE BEST cupcakes!” Pinkie exclaimed.

            “Okay then, it is settled, we are all staying here until we get more info on the SDEH.” Twilight turned to the others.

            “Yes indeed. Oh my, looks like it is getting late, I think we all must get to bed, you all must need your rest after that journey. Before I forget, did you bring my blueberries?” Starstride said, looking out the window.

            “Oh, Ah have them, let me fetch them real quick, they’re outside.” AJ said, trotting to the door.

            Starstride nodded, and continued to gaze out the window. Celestia’s sun was now setting, and the sky was a pinkish-orange color. Overhead, you could see the moon shining faintly.

             "Okay, here ya’ go Starstride.” AJ said with the basket in her mouth.

            “Thank you, now I think we all need to go to bed.”

            “I couldn’t agree more.” Twilight added.

The eight ponies all got settled in and climbed into their beds. They all had trouble sleeping due to the fact of the note they read. As the thought of a Demon being summoned in Equestria wasn’t enough, they all had other troubles on their mind. Luna’s moon shone brightly throughout the dark house, and the stars twinkled with it. It was strangely quiet tonight. They all tried to ignore the bad thoughts, and tried to relax, as the night went on, they all eventually went to sleep peacefully.