Fragile Diamonds

by Kipakuta

Rating: everyone
Tags: Pinkie Pie, Slice of Life, Cheerilee, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Sad, Other, Fluttershy
Length: 9083

Sometimes everyday problems can be just as life-changing as any grand adventure.

Cheerilee, Toola Roola, and Starsong have been friends for a long time, but now they must adjust to the responsibilities of being grown up. Features 5 of the mane six as supporting characters.

Part of a shared fanon with Gabriel Lavedier.

Published 2011-12-25 10:47:25 UTC
Last updated 2012-10-12 01:13:24 UTC

Part 1

993. Ponyville train depot; Midday

Three ponies were gathered in a group hug. A magenta earth pony with a two-tone pink mane, a purple pegasus with a magenta and pink mane, and a pearl pink unicorn with a yellow, orange and pink mane. All three were sharing tears and goodbyes.

"I don't know what I'll do without you." > the pegasus lamented. "I wish I could go with you." She spread her wings, draping one over the earth pony and the other over the unicorn. "You two really are the wind beneath my wings."

"I appreciate that Starsong, but the college that Toola and I are going to doesn't have the resources for a pony of your unique talent." the earth pony replied, nuzzling the pegasus. "Besides, i-it's only for a few years." her voice cracked slightly. "Once we finish our education and get our degrees, we'll come back. I promise."

"Fret not, mon chère amie Stars." the unicorn patted the pegasus on the back. "Cheerilee and I will write to you every week." She reached into one of her saddlebags and pulled out a piece of paper. "This is the apartment number we'll be staying at."

"Fillies." a green unicorn stallion with a red and black mane trotted over. His cutiemark was a white zero inside a lighter patch of green. "The train leaves in one minute. I'd hate for you to miss it." The mares separated, then Toola hugged the stallion while Cheerilee gathered their luggage. "Have you got everything?"

"Oh Papa." Toola headbutted the stallion playfully. "We went over the checklist like you wanted us to. I left nothing to chance." The stallion ruffled his daughters multicolored mane.

"Would you bet money on it?" He grinned.

"Oui, Combien voulez-vous parier?" Toola smirked.

"C'est ce que j'aime entendre." the unicorn stallion replied. "Now go on."

Cheerilee and Toola Roola boarded the passenger car, stowed their luggage then found their seats. The two ponies leaned out the window to wave to their companions as the train started up.

"Goodbye Starsong, Mr Roola."

"Au revoir, Starsong, Papa."

As the train began pulling out from the station, Starsong ran alongside it. When she got to the end of the platform, she waved until the train was out of sight then collapsed and began bawling. The green unicorn trotted over and hugged her. "It's hard for me too, Little Notes." The pegasus snuggled into his embrace as he rubbed a hoof along her back "Sing your pain if you want." Starsong took a deep breath and let out a prolonged wail that ended in a series of hiccuping sobs. "Do you feel better now?" the green unicorn asked. The pegasus sniffled and nodded.

997. Ponyville; evening. >

A purple pegasus idly tapped a pencil against an open notepad. "I gotta break free. From this gravi-ty. Leave the earth be-hind..." She rubbed a hoof along the magenta and pink mane that was braided in narrow rows along the back of her head and neck. "Ok, take five." She wheeled her stool over to a table and started flipping through one of the open books on it. "Ind, ind. Ah, here." She scanned through the list of words that ended with 'ind'. "Hmmm. unkind?"

She wheeled back to the writing desk and wrote in the next line while speaking aloud. "She's been too unkind." The pegasus crossed out the line and tried another version. "She's not been kind." The second line was also crossed out. "She has not been? She hasn't been kind, yes!" Starsong wrote the lyrics down. "There, that gives it a nice symmetry."

Another moment of pencil tapping, then the pegasus doodled a crude sketch of herself and her two friends. "Tomorrow's the day." She said to herself. "Earth, Wind and Fire, flying higher and higher." With a sharp laugh, she wrote the line. "Oh I'm good." she congratulated herself. "Feeling, that things are strange. Riding, the winds of change. Through the deep blue skyyyyyyyyyyy."

She glanced down at her cutie mark: A pair of linked notes inside a pink star with a white outline. "Allegro." she stated. "Half done in twenty minutes." She glanced to a nearby clock. "But I still have a day or two to submit it for the theatre troupe's comedy program." She set the pencil down, then pushed away from the desk. "Time to eat anyways." she commented as her stomach growled.

Cherrywood Apartments; Fairfield, Ohayo; same evening.

A magenta earth pony carefully carried a mug of warm tea over to a table, set it down, then seated herself. She opened a book to where her bookmark was, then sniffed deeply, savoring the new book smell that still lingered around it. "Now where did I leave off? Oh, here we go." She read along the page, then paused after turning it. "Wait, is that the right way for the teacher to handle that situation?"

She reached over, and grabbed her copy of 'The Mentors Management Manual for Common Classroom Conflicts and Stressful School Situations; Sixth Edition.' Flipping through the pages of this 2nd book, the earth pony hmmmed. "Oh." she exclaimed, arriving at the page she wanted. "If a student has any unusual family circumstances, such as being an orphan or having a single parent, it is not within the teachers authority to initiate any discussion, public or private, on the topic." She looked back to the storybook. "I'm afraid that's a mark against you, Mr Snape."

Reading further through the story, she noted other situations that she envisioned herself handling differently. She took notes, then referred back to the manual. "A teacher should not show favoritism or disdain towards any student. A teacher should not single out a student for illustrative purposes. A teacher should avoid arbitrary rules and punishments."

Taking a sip of tea, Cheerilee mulled over an internal debate. Part of her wanted to enjoy this story, to read it without feeling the need to pick apart every detail. Another part wanted to track down J.K. Roanling and chew the author out for taking liberties with what a teacher was. Cheerilee had spent the last four years learning necessary skills, knowledge, and requirements of the job, and these storybook characters were a mockery of that.

"Maybe I'm just too old to enjoy stories like I used to." she looked to the three smiling flowers on her flank. "Though I do enjoy reading to foals." Inspiration struck, and she returned to the book. Reading aloud, she could picture the events in her mind with greater detail. Time passed as Cheerilee shared the story with a non-existent audience, pausing only to take a sip of tea every now and then.

After reaching the end of the book, she closed it then yawned. "That certainly was an entertaining story." Cheerilee thought back to the way the story made her feel in a quiet reading, Verses her oral presentation. "I guess a story really is better when it's shared."

Noticing the time, she frowned. "I didn't mean to stay up so late." Looking back to the book. "And I already finished this. I have nothing to read on the train tomorrow." She put a hoof to her snout. "Maybe I can pick up a two bit paperback on our way to the train station." the earth pony chuckled to herself, blushing a bit at the thought of reading such a novel.

Cheerilee gulped down the rest of the now cold tea, then washed the cup. "I wonder what's keeping Toola? The gallery party should be ending soon." She opened the front door, and looked around, hoping to spot her friend. Seeing nopony in the apartment courtyard, she closed the door. "Well, she has her key." Cheerilee locked the door, then packed the two books in her luggage.

Chestnut Gallery; Fairfield, Ohayo; same evening.

A pearl pink unicorn rested on a small wooden bench, her yellow, orange, and pink dread-locked mane held back by a blue beret, a paintbrush and triskelle cutie mark adorning her flank. Levitating next to her was a tall, slender glass filled with champagne. Along one side of the large banquet room were display tables showing off the various pieces that she and the other graduate artists were presenting. They were busy socializing with various gallery owners from around Equestria. The small talk didn't interest her much.

Already, she saw two of her former classmates negotiating with some of the other ponies. Taking a sip from her glass, she watched as the negotiators made hoofshake deals. She sighed wistfully. Two down, and five more to go, she thought. Her reverie was interrupted by somepony addressing her. "Pardon me, miss?"

"Oh, call me Toola." she replied. "How may I be of service?" She replied in a polite, formal manner, upon noticing a cream-colored unicorn with a dark brown mane standing before her.

"Very well, Toola." the unicorn stated. "I was wondering, could you tell me what inspired this painting?" He pointed to one of an early 800s steamship.

"Oui." Toola walking over with him. "Zat is an otter class paddle ship, used for passenger travel. Otter class was prefered by the extremely wealthy, mainly because of the onboard casinos."

"Interesting, and how does an art graduate like you, know this?"

Toola considered her response for a second. "My family has an interest in the history of such matters." While it was a truthful answer, she excluded just what kind of interest that her family had, and and how strong the interest was.

"Hmmmm, quite. Would you mind if I examined your art kit?" he indicated the box under her bench. Using a second magic aura, Toola slid the box out, then levitated it over for the stallion to look at. "Toola Roola. A beautiful name. From where does it come?"

"It's derived from Perch." she replied.

The stallion nodded. "Ah, that would explain the proverb below your name."

"Toujours bon à vos amis? It's my familys' motto"

"Be good to your friends. An admirable ideal." He leaned in closely, and lowered his voice. "Miss Roola, how would like to participate in a real exhibition? You'd have a greater chance of getting your name out in the field."

"Where and when would this exhibition be?" Toolas' smiled widened.

"The Marevindale Fifth Street Gallery, in three months." he pulled a ticket from a tuxedo pocket. Toola reached out, and took it. "Excellent. let's drink on it." He produced a purple glass bottle, took a sip, then offered it to the unicorn mare. Toola accepted the bottle, took a sip, then another.

Ponyville; The next morning.

Starsong woke up and yawned as the first rays of sunlight spread over the land. She brushed a hoof along her mane, then rolled over to look at the clock. Upon seeing the time, she threw the covers aside, got out of bed, and fumbled around for something to wear. "Looks like breakfast will have to wait a bit." she muttered, putting on a lightweight black denim vest that was decorated with several pins and buttons.

Outside, she flew quickly over to the Ponyville weather department. "I just hope Raindrops isn't too mad about this." The distance from her apartment at the Chateau lands to Ponyville's civic center was usually a fifteen minute flight. She made it in ten. A mustard colored pegasus with a turquoise mane was outside the weather bureau, glaring up at her. "Sorry, I slept in," Starsong said with a sheepish grin.

"Thank you for volunteering for today's special assignment," Raindrops replied. "Now, come inside and I'll go over today's schedule with the rest of the weather crew." The main briefing room of the weather bureau had five benches and a podium on a raised section of flooring. Raindrops walked over to the podium while Starsong took a seat on one of the benches, with the rest of the pegasi grumbling about her tardiness.

"Now, because today's schedule is a little behind right now, we're gonna have to hustle after the meeting." Raindrops began. "As you know, the Apple family is working on last of their spring harvests this week, so we'll need to move the clouds in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Also, we're getting a new pegasus today, by the name of Rainbow Dash. Starsong, it's your job to make sure that she's briefed on how the weather works around here. Once she's passed the probation period, you can retire early." Starsong blushed as the rest of the assembly chuckled.

The rest of the meeting passed quickly, mainly detailing anticipated weather patterns from the Everfree, as well as the summer schedule from Cloudsdale. Once the meeting was over, the pegasi dispersed to their assigned regions. Starsong was assigned to gather up cloud fragments along the southern half of town.

Cherrywood apartments; Fairfield, Ohayo. >

Cheerilee straightened the covers on her bed, then checked to make sure she had packed everything she needed. On the table next to her bed, was a schedule for the train she planned on taking. At the foot of her bed were her saddlebags and luggage, with everything she needed to take with her: Bits, books I.D. clothes, certificates, paperwork for her job, and personal supplies. With one last glance around the room, the earth pony smiled, seeing everything neat and tidy. She then headed into the room across the hallway.

Toola Roola was sprawled out on her bed, snoring. On the table next to her bed, was her art kit, and an empty, purple glass bottle. Strewn around the room were clothes, and the bedcovers. The earth pony walked over, and nudged the unicorn. "Toola, it's time to get up." The snoring stopped, but the unicorn remained motionless. Cheerilee shook the unicorn gently. "We should get going."

Grunting in frustration, the earth pony picked up the bottle, and slammed it into the wastebasket. The sound of glass clanging against metal caused the unicorn to wake with a start. "Aah!" She rolled over, putting a hoof to her head. "Baise ma tête!" She opened her eyes, and looked to the earth pony. "Cheerilee, what time is it?"

"Toola it's eight thirty. The train we want leaves at nine fifteen. How much time does that give us?"

Toola raised her head and rubbed her eyes with a hoof. "Je ne sais et je ne soins."

"The answer is forty five minutes, now down to forty four. I'm sorry Toola, but we need to get going." Cheerilee started picking up clothes, and stuffing them into Toolas saddlebags. "I'll pack your stuff." The unicorn watched wearily as Cheerilee worked. "Now get moving." She said firmly.

"Why do we have to leave today? Why not tomorrow? It's still early in the summer." Toola swept a frontleg upward in a circle. "We graduated, celebrated, I got inebriated..." she let her head fall back into her pillow, the raised leg sweeping back down, bringing her hoof to rest on the floor.

Closing the strap of the saddlebags, Cheerilee looked over to Toola. "The Ponyville teachers orientation is tomorrow morning. If I don't show up, I don't have a job. And wouldn't you like to see your friends and family again? I know Starsong will be overjoyed to see us."

"Can't it wait an hour?" Toola shifted position letting her head hang over the edge of the bed, then blew away some of the yellow and orange dreadlocks covering her eyes. "Mes entrailles ressemblent un vide poche de vin." She groaned.

"You'll feel better after we eat something." Using her mouth, Cheerilee picked up a beret from a lamp. "Here, put this on, and come with me." she tossed it over to Toola, where it landed on the unicorns snout. Levitating it with her magic, Toola got up, brushed aside her dreadlocks and donned the beret. Grabbing a bitbag from the floor, she stumbled out the door after Cheerilee.

Ponyville.

"There's that's the last of them" Starsong stated, placing a small cloudwisp inside a tarp-covered pool. "Now I can eat." She flew over her favorite bakery. Through the front window, she spotted a white, purple maned unicorn already seated at one of the tables. Starsong landed, then entered the bakery. "Sup, Gems?" she called out.

The white unicorn looked up from the menu. "Must you use that nickname? It was cute in school, but it's hardly professional."

"Chill out, Rarity." Starsong held up a hoof. "If you don't like that name anymore, I won't use it." The pegasus took a seat at the table, then looked over a menu. "And I think that hat looks fly."

Rarity removed her hat and inspected it. "You really think it looks like a fly?"

"No no, I mean, it looks good on you." the pegasus lowered her gaze. "Sorry." She tapped the soles of her front hooves together.

Rarity set the hat aside, then levitated a menu. "I'm thinking of going for the chocolate cream danish, but I'm afraid it'll go straight to my flanks. Should I get the walnut muffin instead?"

Starsong's eyes looked left then right. "I think you should, get the danish?" she smiled nervously.

"Oh nonono. It's just too decadant," Rarity replied. She called over to the pony behind the counter. "Oh Mr. Cake, I've decided on the walnut muffin and some coffee." The baker pony wrote down the order, then looked over to the pegasus.

"I'll take this." Starsong pointed to the first line of the menu. Mr Cake nodded, wrote it down. then headed into the kitchen. Turning back to Rarity, Starsong rubbed the back of her neck with a hoof. "Rarity, I'm thinking of changing my style. What's in this year?"

The white unicorn smiled as she reached over to examine her friends mane, The pegasus leaned forward and lowered her head to give the unicorn better access. "Once we undo these corny rows of yours."

"Cornrows" Starsong corrected her.

"We could fluff your mane out a bit, see what we have to work with. I imagine that it would be rather tangled, considering that you've worn it like this for two years now."

"Aiight, I can come by the boutique after lunch." Starsong smiled to Rarity

"Ladies, your food's ready, come and get it." Mr Cake called out. Rarity levitated the tray that he had set on the counter, and brought it over to the table.

"Do you think you'll have time? Don't you have stuff to do today?" the unicorn fretted.

"Don't get your ribbons in a twist, Rare." Starsong waved her off. "All I have to do is get a rookie situated, and meet my friends at the train depot around three. After lunch will give us plenty of time." She picked up a slice of watermelon.

Rarity clapped her hooves together. "Perfect. When I'm done with you, you'll be 'jamming.'" Starsong had been about to eat, but stared at Rarity, her mouth hanging open. "What, you didn't think I could hang out with you, and NOT pick up on some of your slang?" she levitated her muffin, as Starsong continued to stare. "Eat or close your mouth dear, you look like a starving frog."

Esspresso Yourself Coffeehouse; Fairfield, Ohayo.

Toola nibbled on a stack of pancakes covered with a heavy cream sauce, while Cheerilee stabbed at some peach crepes with a hoof fork. The two remained quiet for a while, then Cheerilee looked over to Toola. "So how was the gallery party last night? I noticed that you brought home a empty bottle of champagne."

The unicorn waved a hoof. "Yeah, I finally got a patron, after two weeks of exhibition." she took a bite, chewed, and swallowed.

"A gallery owner or a private sponser?" Cheerilee inquired

"The Marevindale fifth street Gallery has an exhibition in three months. If I do well there, I'll get partial patronage. That gives me a guaranteed spot in future exhibitions around the city for a year. If I do really well, They'll reserve a wall for one year, where I can display my work."

"So tell me about your portfolio?"

"I did a few commissions, most of the display stuff is portraits, still lives, and landscapes. I have a two canvas set of the Chestnut district, and the one that got me the deal, was the steamship."

Cheerilee nodded. "Are your paintings being delivered or donated?"

"Huh?"

"Is someone going to bring them to you?"

Toola gasped in shock. "J'oubliais de emballez? I gotta go!" she rushed out of the cafe, and galloped up the street.

Cheerilee sighed, watching her dash off. "It's always something with you." she muttered.

Ponyville Civic Center.

Starsong landed in front of the weather bureau building, then scanned the skies. Not finding what she was looking for, she hummed a little tune to herself, then began to dance and sway to the music that played in her mind. She started a twirl, when she heard someone clearing their throat. Blushing, the pegasus turned to see who had interrupted her.

"Hi, we're the new weather pegasi from Cloudsdale. Is this where we report in?" a blue, rainbow-maned pegasus called out as she and a yellow pegasus approached from the side of the building.

Holding out a hoof, Starsong smiled. "Overture, ya got names?"

The blue pegasus shook Starsongs' hoof. "The names Rainbow Dash, and this is Fluttershy." the blue pegasus indicated the yellow one hiding behind her.

"Cool, I'm Starsong. Let's get this party started." Starsong exclaimed before leading them into the building. "This is the weather building, where you come every morning." she lead them along the hallway. "This first room is where you go for meetings. There's a bulletin board that's got the schedule, weather plans from Cloudsdale, and any other important notices. The second room here is Raindrops' office. She's the current manager for Ponyville weather. There's two shifts: one in the morning and one in the afternoon."

"So what time's the morning shift?" Rainbow asked.

"That's at six. Hope you're an early riser."

"Eh, that's too early. like to sleep in a bit."

"You might want to get the afternoon shift then, that's from one to seven." Starsong lead them back outside. "C'mon, I'll show you around." She took to the air with Rainbow Dash following, but Fluttershy stayed close to the ground.

"I'll just stay down here and watch."

Starsong descended, landing next to Fluttershy. "First day jitters?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "No. It's just that, I'm not a good flyer"

Glancing up to Rainbow Dash, she chuckled. "You hearing this? Not a good flyer. Where do they come up with this stuff."

"Hey! She's not here to join! Her flying skill isn't your concern!" Dash snapped..

"Ok ok. Chill, filly." Rainbow calmed down a bit. "I didn't mean to set you off." Starsong held her hooves up. "But if she can't fly, then what's she gonna do?"

"Ummm, I could make clouds?" Fluttershy offered. "I'm very good at it."

"Every pegasus here can, it's part of the job, sister. What else ya got?" Starsong gave a quick sideways glance to Rainbow Dash, hoping not to anger the blue pegasus further. Rainbow seemed to let the comment slide.

"I'm good with animals."

Starsong turned slowly in a circle, humming a tune to herself. "o/~ And if I could get all the animals of the world, I'd give them all to you. But where I should I look? o/~" She stopped, facing the door of the City Hall. "That's it! Ask the mayor." She entered the building, followed by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

"Sup Mayor Mare, You got any leads for a pony who likes animals?" Starsong called out.

A beige earth pony leaned out from one of the offices. "I'm sorry. " she said in a flat voice. "But there's no openings for a second town veterinarian."

Fluttershy lowered her head. "It's ok, I can go back to Cloudsdale, if you don't need me."

"No!" Rainbow Dash stood, facing her. "We came here together, and we leave together. I'm not leaving you behind again." She whirled around to face the purple pegasus. "If she goes, I go."

"It's cool that you two resonate, but if she can't handle the breeze, she's gonna get tossed around in the storm."

"Well fine then!" Rainbow Dash turned to leave. "C'mon Fluttershy, Ponyville obviously doesn't need our help!" Rainbow snarked. Fluttershy followed in step behind the blue pegasus.

"Wait, we really do need help!" Starsong called after them, raising a hoof in protest, but they ignored her as they left the building. "Way to crash and burn, Starsong." She scolded herself.

Espresso Yourself Coffeehouse; Fairfield Ohayo.

Toola Roola ran along the street, weaving around other ponies. A wheeled cart rattled behind her as she pulled it along by a strap. Strapped inside the cart, were several canvases, and a large drawing pad. She slowed to a canter, then she entered the coffeehouse "Cheerilee I'm ba-" she stopped, spotting a waitress cleaning the table she had been at earlier. "Scuzemoi. Where is Cheerliee?"

The waitress looked over. "The purple earth pony? she left about ten minutes ago."

"Pas bon. How much was the food?" Toola panted, trying to catch her breath.

"She already paid for it."

She growled in frustration, then left, running back to the apartment. Barging inside, she looked around frantically. Cheerilee?" Toola dashed into one bedroom then the other. "Cheerilee!" The apartment was unoccupied. She hurriedly put on her saddlebags, then turned to grab her art kit. Toola paused, her hoof hovering over the box as she noticed a letter sticking out from underneath it.

Picking up the letter with her magic, Toola read. 'Thanks for breakfast, we're through.' The unicorn slumped to the floor, tears welling up in her eyes. "Pourquoiiiii?!" she cried out, as the letter came to rest on the floor beside her. Covering her face with her front legs, the unicorn began sobbing. "Cheerilee-ee-ee-ee-ee."

To be continued.

Translations

"Mon chère amie" = "My dear friend."

"Oui, Combien voulez-vous parier?" = "Yes, how much do you want to wager?"

"C'est ce que j'aime entendre" = "That's what I like to hear."

"Baise ma tête!" = "Buck my head."

"Je ne sais et je ne soins." = "I don't know and I don't care"

"Mes entrailles ressemblent un vide poche de vin" = "My stomach is like an empty wineskin."

"J'oubliais de emballez?" = "I forgot to pack them?"

"Pas bon" = "Not good"

"Pourquoiiiii?!" = "Whhhyyyy?!"

Part 2

983; LaRoulette Chateau, west of Ponyville; Hearthwarming day.

Three young fillies laughed and giggled as they ran through a hallway. A purple pegasus glided ahead of a pink unicorn and a magenta earth pony, then called back. "I bet I get there first."

"No fair, Starsong, vous avez ailes." the unicorn called out. The earth pony pounced and tackled the pegasus.

"Ack, get off Cheery!" the pegasus yelped. The two rolled for a little bit then wrestled.

Taking advantage of their distraction, the unicorn scampered past them then paused at the entrance to a large room. "Vous deux sont aussi rapides que escargots." she mocked, before purposefully walking into the room.

"Toola, I'm gonna get you!" the earth pony replied, disentangling herself from the pegasus.

"Aide! Sauve-moi!" She dashed into the room, giggling. "La grande derriere Cheerilee is after me!" The earth pony chased after the unicorn with the pegasus following behind.

"What's all the fuss, fillies?" A peach colored unicorn mare, with an orange and yellow mane watched from a lounge chair as the three young ponies ran into the room.

"Aide mama!" The small unicorn scurried around to the side of the lounge chair. She looked back to Cheerilee and Starsong, who slid to a halt just in front of the adult unicorn.

Reaching down to ruffle the unicorn fillies' hair. The older unicorn smiled to Cheerilee and Starsong. "Now fillies, Your parents and I have been waiting paitiently for you." She motioned around the room, indicating an earth pony couple and a pegasus couple. "We were discussing what we should do first. Eat breakfast, watch tv, or open presents?" She pointed to the dining room, a large tv, and a tall Hearthwarming tree surrounded by a sea of brightly wrapped boxes, in succession.

"Presents!" all three fillies exclaimed before diving into the pile of boxes. The five adults chuckled watching their children pass the presents around. Half an hour later the three fillies had opened all their gifts. Toola was molding and shaping blobs of colored dough making unusual critters. Cheeriiee was using her party pals figures to recreate famous battles from history, and Starsong had discovered that the neutral setting on her record player allowed her to move the turntable by hoof. Her parents were worried about her ruining her new records, but Toola's mother had donated her own collection of 970s records, to encourage the young musician.

"Oh ho ho." a green unicorn stallion laughed, as he walked into the room. He was wearing a red suit and cap with white trim, and carrying a large sack on his back. "I hear that there are three little fillies here, who have been good all year, no?"

"Mr La Roulette?" The earth pony filly looked up to the unicorn. "Why are you dressed like Hearthkeeper?"

The unicorn chuckled, walking over to the young pony. "Cheerilee, you may call me Mr Roola. And as for why I'm dressed like this?" He bowed with a flourish "Hearthkeeper is known for his generosity, is he not?" The unicorn unslung the bag and opened it up. "He asked me to make sure these were delivered."

"He even gave you his magic bag?" Starsong asked.

The unicorn produced a pair of dice. "If I roll a ten or above, then yes." With a flick of his hoof he rolled them across the floor. They came to rest under the tree with 'eleven' as the result. All three fillies giggled. They stopped what they were doing and scampered over to look into the bag

Cheerilee pulled out a large wrapped box as did Starsong, while Toola found a small wrapped item. "This one's got your name on it, Stars."

"Why's mine smaller than yours?" the pegasus filly whined trading gifts with Toola. Starsong tore the wrapping paper and found that it was a harmonica with her name embossed on the top. "That's neat!" She played a glissando on the harmonica. "It's even got a full sixteen notes!" She smiled up to the green unicorn. "Thanks Mr Roola."

Toola unwrapped her present next. It turned out to be a cedarwood box, with her name burned into the wood on top, along with the family motto. She undid a latch on the front and lifted the lid. Inside was a stack of pallet boards, a set of watercolors, a set of oil colors, four paintbrushes of varying widths, a set of colored pencils, a set of graphite pencils, a set of crayons, two sharpeners, a rubber eraser, and a kneadable eraser. She dashed over and hugged her father. "Merci, Papa. Merci."

Cheerilee tore the wrapping paper off of her gift. "I hope I got something really neat too." She opened up the exposed white cardboard box, and looked inside. "What is this?" She removed a hoofheld video camera.

Mr Roola chuckled. "That is a Coltdac video recorder, model zero eight eleven. It's made to withstand harsh conditions, so ponies can take it into the wilderness to film on location. Now I don't think you'll be going into deep jungles or raging rapids, but it's still good to have a durable camera, no?"

"So I can use it to record my own movies." Cheerilee beamed in realization. "Thank you, Mr Roola"

The green unicorn rolled up the sack, tossed it aside, then walked over and nuzzled the peach colored mare. "Now that you fillies got all your gifts, how about we get some breakfast? I'm so hungry, I could eat a tree."

997; Sweet Apple Acres.

"When we get back to Cloudsdale, I'm gonna file a complaint." Rainbow Dash griped. "Maybe the weather bureau will have an investigation. I imagine they'll find all kinds of mismanagement. What do you think Fluttershy?" There was no response. "Fluttershy?" Rainbow looked around, but didn't see the yellow pegasus. "Oh no." She turned around, and zipped back towards Ponyville.

"Fluttershyyyyy!" She called out, as she approached the towns northwest section. "Fluttershy where are ya!?"

"She's down here, Rainbow!" a mare called out. Rainbow look down and noticed a large green wagon laden with apples. On one side, was an orange earth pony, on the other side, was her friend. The blue pegasus descended quickly.

"Rainbow, this is Applejack, we were just talking about her apple farm." the yellow pegasus greeted the blue one. "She says that she may have work for me."

"Yeah yeah, later." Dash replied, grabbing Fluttershy's hoof. "We gotta get back to Cloudsdale."

"Now hold on there." Applejack interrupted. "Didn't you want to find work for her?"

"Yeah, but the weather pony here says that she doesn't want Fluttershy around." Rainbow replied.

"Seems to me that you're the one that doesn't want her to be here." the earth pony stated. "Fluttershy's willing to help me out with the pests that steal crops."

"Well yeah, but-"

The yellow pegasus pulled her leg back. "Rainbow, it's ok. I can help protect the farm."

"I still gotta file a complaint against Starsong. She was rude to you."

"Wait." Applejack walked around the cart. "You talking about a purple pegasus, two color pink mane, pink star cutiemark with a note in the middle?" Rainbow nodded and the earth pony burst into laughter.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Dash demanded.

"You're getting chased off by a musician!" Applejack smirked. "Maybe you really don't have what it takes to be on the weather team."

"C'mon Fluttershy, I'm gonna give Starsong a piece of my mind."

Fairfield Train Depot, Ohayo.

"Eighteen, nineteen, twenty. I'm sorry ma'am, ain't enough." A clerk said to Cheerilee.

"Thank you anyways. I'll see if I can get a friend to wire me some money, and take the next train." The magenta mare swept her bits bag into her bag, then trotted out of the depot.

Fairfield Train Depot entrance.

A pink earth pony, with a darker pink mane trotted happily up the steps. When she reached the top step, she hiccuped then coughed. She glanced around, then spotted a magenta earth pony walking slowly out of the entrance, her head slung low to the ground. The pink mare reached into her saddlebags, grabbed a paper bag, opened it, and threw the contents at the other mare. "Surprise!"

Cheerilee skittered back in alarm as she was assaulted with confetti. Taking a moment to regain her composure, she looked to the pink earth pony. "What was that for?"

The pink mare bounded over. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie, and I just threw you a surprise party because first I hiccuped then I coughed and that usually means that someone nearby is in need of cheering up so I looked around and saw you looking all sad; so first I threw confetti at you then I shouted Surprise! to cheer you up so are you cheered up now?"

"Pinkie, I appreciate the thought but I need to make a call." Cheerilee started walking away. Pinkie turned and followed her. "I can make this call just fine on my own, thank you."

"Who ya gonna call? Oh, if you're gonna make a call can I make one too? I know just who I'm gonna call. Mr Cake. See I'm going to Ponyville and-" She was suddenly interrupted with a hoof to the mouth.

"Mr Cake? How do you know Mr Cake?" she removed her hoof.

"The Cakes are good friends of the Pie family; when I went to cooking school Mr Cake promised that he would hire me when I was finished." She reached into her saddlebags again, and pulled out a document. "This says that I finished school so now I can go to Ponyville and work for Mr Cake." She put the document away again.

"I know Mr Cake personally." Cheerilee replied. "Everypony in town does. Sugarcube corner is one of everypony's favorite places, where everypony knows your name. If you work for him, you'll get to know everypony rather quickly."

"Great, 'cause I like making new friends. Can I include you as a friend too? You could come into the bakery every morning and I could throw you a surprise party with a free cupcake for breakfast."

Cheerilee towed her luggage down the ramp, with Pinkie following. "First, I'd have to get back to Ponyville, and I can't do that with only twenty bits."

Pinkie turned her head in thought. 20 bits plus the 62 that I have now equals 82 bits. 50 bits equals either a business class ticket or two coach tickets.

"That's why-"

Pinkie thinks: Business class ticket equals padded bench and one free meal, and 12 bits left over. Free meal is a main dish, a side dish, and a drink.

"-I need-"

Pinkie thinks: Two coach class tickets equals unpadded bench plus friend, and 32 bits for the concession car. [List of concession car prices].

"-to make-"

Pinkie thinks: Giving up a little comfort allows friend to ride home. 32 bits allows at least two meal equivalents EACH for self and friend.

"-a call." Cheerilee stated, as they arrived at the bottom of the ramp.

"We'll eat like royalty. C'mon!" Pinkie turned and ran back up. At the top of the ramp she turned and looked back. "You wanna get home don'tcha?" Cheerilee sighed, then began towing her luggage back up the ramp

Sweet Apple acres.

Rainbow Dash paced back and forth along a section of fence. "Starsong, would you reconsider-? No no, I gotta be more forceful. Starsong, please take us back. No, that's still too wimpy." She turned, and took a stance. "Ok, listen up Starsong. You're taking us back. I'm the best flyer to come out of Cloudsdale, and you're a fool for turning me away!" she turned towards a yellow pegasus. "How was that?"

Fluttershy looked confused for a moment. "Huh? Oh, I'm sorry. Um, it was good, Dash."

"You weren't even listening, were you?" Dash jumped up onto a fence beam. "I'm working on my persuasion speech and you're zoning out listening to that harmonica." She pointed in the direction that the music was coming from. "Wait, harmonica?"

The two listened for a few moments, then Fluttershy stood up. "I know this song." She started dancing in time with the music. "Don't you remember Dash? It's from one of the old Demented Ditties cartoons we used to watch as foals."

Rainbow Dash chuckled nervously. "Yeah, from the, uh, cartoons." She jumped down, then started dancing along as well. The two waited for the right time to join in, then Fluttershy took the first stanza."

"Three pints up and down they go. Follow it up with a dancing row. Raise your mugs up, and shout hey ho. Fill them up again, from the barrel."

Dash laughed "That's pretty good, 'Shy. Let me try." She waited a second, then sang the second stanza. "All fillies out, you pretty little things. Toss your manes and shake your rings. Lift your hooves and stomp the ground. Keep it going, don't fall down. Fillies spread out, and colts come in. Round you go, let's drink with kin. Lift your mugs, lift your chin. Fill them up again, from the barrel."

As they jigged in a circle, The two pegasi shared a smile. Fluttershy began the next verse. "Round again with a left hoof pass. Make a toast and drain your glass. Meet your brethren with a great big smile. Cavalcade, pegasus style."

The music stopped, and a 3rd voice jumped in on the end of Fluttershys segment. "Cavalcade across the ground, sashay on over the mound. Over the mound and into the glade. Everypony Cavalcaaaaaaade." After the stanza was finished, the harmonica started up again. Dash and Fluttershy looked to each-other.

"Was that-?"

"-Starsong?"

In response, the harmonica stopped again, and the purple pegasus presented herself, before singing the next stanza. "Step right up you're doing fine. I'll drink your mug and you drink mine. Drink again like you did before. Follow up with another poooouuuuurrrr."

Grinning widely, Fluttershy started the next line. "Now into the glade and dance all about."

Starsong danced over, and followed her up with. "Jump right in and give a shout."

"One, big, boisterous shout."

"Have a drink and back to the spoooouuuuuut." Starsong played a riff on her harmonica before looking towards Dash.

"Uh, Drink for your old mare, drink again."

"Follow up with another cup of grain."

"Swallow some more, don't be shy." Rainbow sang, as she and Starsong pressed up shoulder to shoulder.

"Lift your mug, and drain it drrrrryyyyyy." they sang in unison. Starsong played the final refrain on her harmonica, then let out a loud whoop.

Fairfield train depot.

A light pink unicorn placed a 100 bit bill on the ticket counter. "One first class ticket." she said flatly.

"Sure. Name?" He took the bill and put it in a drawer.

"Toola Roola." The unicorn replied. The earth pony used a mouthpen to write the information on a ticket, then handed it to her. Toola took the ticket then towed her luggage onto the train, and stowed it in the baggage car before heading to her cabin.

After the train had started and gotten underway, a conductor pony knocked on the cabin door and asked to see her ticket. Toola presented it and the conductor used a mouth-operated hole punch to mark the first class square. The unicorn put her ticket in her saddlebags then walked slowly to the concession car. Though her ticket entitled her to two meals, she wanted something specific.

Northbound train, concession car.

Pinkie Pie was putting together a snack pack for herself and her new friend. She picked out two cobs of roasted corn, two orange creme pies, and two bottles of chilled tea. As she turned to approached the counter, she hiccuped then coughed, nearly dropping the box. "Again?" She set the box down, then looked around.

A light pink unicorn with a dreadlocked orange, yellow, and pink mane, entered the concession car dragging her hooves as she walked. She walked over to a cooler not noticing the pink earth pony approaching her. Toola opened the cooler and levitated a paper cup that held a scoop of shaved sweet ice flavored with chocolate syrup. She turned around and found herself nose to nose with the earth pony.

"Hi. I'm Pinkie Pie. I see you got a chocolate snowball. I like those too." Toola tuned her out as Pinkie began listing other snacks that she enjoyed. The unicorn headed for the counter. "..getting some snacks for my new friend Cheerilee."

Toola spun around and put her hooves on Pinkies shoulders, the snowball cup falling to the floor as the magic aura around it disappeared. "Cheerilee? She is here? On this train?"

"Well duh. I couldn't bring her these snacks if she wasn't on the train." Pinkie thought for a moment. "Unless she was at the destination, but if she was already there I wouldn't have met her and if I hadn't met her, I wouldn't be bringing her snacks."

Toola quickly counted out 150 bits in bills, and slammed them on the counter. "Put Cheerilee-" She glanced over at the rambling earth pony "-and Pinkie Pie, as my guests. Cabin one zero zero." She turned to leave, paused, then counted out three more bits. "And this is for the snowball." She added, levitating the aforementioned item again. "C'mon Pinkie. I wanna set up a surprise for her."

Pinkie tossed a hoofful of bits onto the counter, picked up the box, and bounded after Toola. "Oh goody, I love surprises."

Northbound train, coach car.

"Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee?" The earth pony mare looked up from the book she was reading.

"Yes, Conductor?"

"Would you get your bags and come with me please?" Cheerilee sighed, closing her book, and retrieving her bags from under the bench.

"If this is about Pinkie Pie, I'm sorry. She can be a little enthusiastic." She followed the conductor as he led her through the snack cart, then into the business car.

"No, it's nothing like that. It seems you've been upgraded." They entered the dining car.

"Upgraded? I don't understand, Pinkie doesn't have enough-" They entered the first class car, and realization suddenly dawned on Cheerilee. "No, No bucking way!"

"Cabin one hundred. First door on the right." the conductor stated, then left. Cheerilee stomped up to the door, and yanked it open.

"Surprise!" Pinkie and Toola called out.

"ANTONIA LAROULETTE!" Cheerilee shouted. The pink unicorn flinched, then cowered under her angry gaze.

Sky over Ponyville.

"Wow, I had no idea things were so out of hoof here." Rainbow said, gesturing emphatically to Starsong. "Long term overtime is one thing, but having to draft uncertified pegasi? That's downright dangerous."

Starsong rubbed a hoof along the cloud she rested upon. "The situation wouldn't be so bad if we weren't right next to the Everfree forest. The errant weather from that place throws off our rhythm."

Rainbow stood up. "No wonder flight academy wanted me to take special training." she pointed to Fluttershy. "If I had known, I wouldn't have dragged her all the way out here."

"It's ok, Dashie." Fluttershy replied. "Applejack needed somepony with my talents."

"Sweet Apple Acres?" Starsong perked her ears. "Yeah, usually critter handling is earth pony stuff. I think I could work out something for you though. Border patrol."

"What's that?" Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy asked in unison.

"Your job is to handle any animal related situations. Intruding where they don't belong, being a nuisance, that sort of stuff." Starsong hopped over to Fluttershy's cloud. "You'd be on the weather teams' payroll, but you'd be saving a lot of work for other ponies."

"What about Sweet apple acres?" Fluttershy asked.

"That's included as part of your job." Starsong held out a hoof. "Deal?"

Fluttershy shook hooves with the purple pegasus. "Deal." She stated.

Northbound Train.

"Pinkie, go back to your bench, I need to have a little talk with Toola." Cheerilee announced. The pink earth pony slunk out of the cabin, her mane slightly deflated. Once Pinkie had left, Cheerilee loomed over the unicorn, who cowered on the floor. "Toola, what were you THINKING, dragging somepony else into this issue?"

"Desole Cheerilee, I don't know." the unicorn sniffled. "You just walked out and left me."

"I left you?" Cheerilee fumed. "I'm not the one that stayed out after midnight last night. I didn't drink a whole bottle of champagne. I didn't make you pack all my stuff. I didn't leave you to pay for the most expensive breakfast in the coffeehouse!"

Toola trembled as she opened her bitbag and dumped the contents. She pushed the pile of coins and bills over to Cheerilee's hooves. "Here, all for you."

Cheerilee slapped the money aside, coins bouncing of the wall and bench, while bills fluttered in the air. "Is that how you solve all your problems? By throwing money at them?" The unicorn wimpered. Cheerilee sighed. "Toola, it's not just this morning, it's not just last night, it's the last four years. You've been living it up and leaving me to clean up after you. I'm tired of it. I can't keep being the responsible pony anymore."

Toola wiped her eyes, then looked up at Cheerilee. "Desole Cheerilee. I was not good to you."

"No, you weren't, and owning up to it is a step in the right direction." Cheerilee turned to leave. "Nopony is going to solve all your problems, Toola. Stand up and take responsibility for your actions."

"Cheerilee. Je ne veux pas te perdre." Toola replied, removing her beret. "You've always been there for me. Why leave now?"

Cheerilee put a hoof on the door handle. "As I said before. You have to start handling your own business." she turned the handle.

Toola began to push herself up into a standing position, though her legs were trembling. Cheerilee smiled, then began slowly opening the door. "Wait." Toola stated, taking a shaky step. "My parents are Zaldi and Roani." She said to herself as she took another step, then another. Cheerilee watched. "My family built its fortune in the floating pleasure cruises of Percheron, the casinos of Las Pegasus, and other less than legal means." Looking to the earth pony, she spoke louder. "I may have overindulged on the finer things, but you give me cause to celebrate. I may be impulsive in my actions, but without you, I'd be lost and directionless." She nuzzled under the earth pony's chin. "Toujours bon à vos amis. I may not always do the right thing, but I try because I care about you Cheerilee. Stay with me?"

Cheerilee turned and embraced the unicorn. Toola snuggled into the hug, laughing. Cheerilee gently rocked her friend. "You're a very brave pony, Toola. Now lets go get-."

"GROUP HUG!" The two suddenly found themselves firmly embraced by the pink earth pony.

"-Pinkie Pie." Cheerilee finished.

"See, I knew it wasn't the surprise that went wrong; it was the two of you. But now you're all better and we can all be friends." She walked over and picked up the half melted chocolate snowball. "You gonna eat this?"

"No Pinkie, you can have it." Toola replied. "I don't need it anymore. I got what I want right here." she indicated Cheerilee. The magenta earth pony nuzzled behind one of the unicorn's ears.

Ponyville Train Depot.

"You know, you three don't have to come with me." Starsong said to Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity. "I'd be happy with a small simple reunion."

"No way we're leaving you alone, Stars. Not after you've shown Fluttershy and me just how awesome this town us." Rainbow exclaimed. "You're officially my first friend outside Cloudsdale."

Starsong let out a whoop, then looked to Rarity. "You going adagio, Rare?"

"I've decided to come along, and see if your friends would be interested in a new style." The white unicorn replied. "Especially for Toola, since Perch fashion is is one of the most long lasting styles."

Fluttershy remained silent, following along, as they walked out onto the platform. A red earth pony, and a yellow one were stationed behind a cart, which held apples and pastries. "Hey Big Macintosh, Mr Cake." Starsong greeted them. "What's the news?"

"Howdy folks." Mr Cake returned the greeting. "Big Macintosh and I are offering refreshments to passengers. I'm also expecting somepony to arrive on the same train as your friends." The red stallion nodded. "You two the new weather pegasi?" He pointed to Rainbow and Fluttershy.

"Yeah we are." Rainbow Dash posed, then trotted over. "And, she's also gonna help with the Apple family's critter control." Rainbow added, pointing to Fluttershy.

"Eeyup." Big Macintosh replied."

"So what can I get for you?" Mr Cake indicated the various goods that were on the cart.

Rainbow Dash was about to pick something, but was interrupted as the train pulled into the station, slowing to a stop. After it stopped, a few of the onboard crew disembarked, one taking a clipboard and a large bag inside the dept, while others began helping passengers off the train. One came over and picked out four apples. "How much?" he asked.

"That'll be eight bits total." Big Macintosh replied. The conductor paid, then took the apples over to the pulling team. Spotting two familiar ponies, Starsong whooped, then rushed over to them.

"Hey Cheery! Toola!"

"Surprise!" A pink earth pony appeared and flung confetti at the pegasus. Starsong skidded to a halt.

"Euuughk, What is this stuff?" Starsong complained, trying to brush confetti from her mane. She was soon distracted as her old friends came over and hugged her. "Oh I missed you two so much." She returned the hug.

Mr Cake walked over to a bouncing Pinkie Pie. "Are you ready for work?" Pinkie stopped, turned, and gave Mr Cake a salute. He smiled. "Alright, follow me. Big Mac, can you handle the cart for a while?"

"Can do Mr Cake." The red earth pony replied, while helping customers.

Cheerilee, Toola, Pinkie and Starsong came over to the cart. "How about a round of cider for everypony?" Starsong offered. She counted out a hoofful of coins, then put them on top of the cart. "Seven bottles of Equestrias greatest bevarage."

"And a straw." Rarity added. Fluttershy whispered something to Rainbow.

"Make that two straws." Rainbow said.

Big Macintosh chuckled, put the bits in a box, then passed out bottles. Introductions were made over the juice.

"So. When should I walk you two back to the Chateau?" Starsong asked Cheerilee and Toola.

The two looked to each-other, then to Starsong. "Walk? Starsong, vous AVES ailes." the pink unicorn pointed with a hoof.

"Oui, mais j'ai besoin de mes deux chers amis le vent qui me soulève." The purple pegasus replied with a grin. > Toola and Cheerilee shared a look of surprise and confusion. "What? You didn't think we could grow up around you, and not pick up some of your lingo? Filly give me SOME credit." Laughing, the three of them trotted off together.

The pink earth pony turned to face the remaining group. "This is so exciting, I haven't even been here ten minutes and I've already met several ponies and made some amazing friends. At that rate I'll know every pony in town by the end of the week. Ooh!! I gotta go unpack my stuff bye." She grabbed a rolling cart, and ran off to follow Mr Cake.

"Pinkie Pie, you are so.....random." Rainbow Dash stated. Rarity, Big Macintosh, and Fluttershy nodded in agreement.

The End.

Translations

" vous avez ailes" = "You have wings"

"Vous deux sont aussi rapides que escargots" = "You two are as fast as snails"

"La grande derriere" = "Fat flank"

" Je ne veux pas te perdre" = "I don't want to lose you"

"Oui, mais j'ai besoin de mes deux chers amis le vent qui me soulève." = "Yes, but they don't work without my two best friends to lift me up."