Beat stuck with a small group of friends that she met on the Crystal Heart's first anniversary. They had done some exploring and adventuring. The three girls had found her trustworthy, interesting and fun. For these reasons, and a few more, she kept company with them. She poked one in the side. "Why do you bother my brother so much?"

"Because your brother is a cutie, and fun." She grinned at Beat. "Besides, he loves me bothering him."

Beat tried to get past that answer, only to shake her head after a moment. The worst part had to be that this aligned with Pulse's answer so very well.

"What did your brother do? Have a crush on a boy?" One of her other friends nudged her. "Anything you wanna share with us?"

Beat opened her mouth to object, only to stop. "I am uncertain. He made friends on his living day. I lost one." She rubbed behind her head with little metal taps. "He is still good friends with that colt." Beat kicked at the ground, tossing up dust and gravel. "Why would he keep talking to that one?"

The filly beside Beat rolled her eyes. "Do we mean Quartz? Because, yes, your brother is close friends with Quartz" She giggled at the thought. "Maybe even more than friends."

Beat shoved the filly away. "Why would you say that? And why would this Quartz have any continued interest if that was the case? Pulse is incapable of physical romance until the next living day."

"So? Colts can just like each other." The filly brushed at her coat, taking care of the dirt left by Beat. "Besides, Quartz likes everypony and wants everypony to have a nice day. Your brother is no exception. Unless you are jealous?"

Beat reeled. "Jealous? Of my brother?! We have nothing but love for each other."

The filly pressed in. "You can love someone and be jealous at the same time. You're funny sometimes." She nuzzled Beat's cheek. "One more reason I like hanging out with you."

Beat felt a wave of calm wash over her. "I should talk to Quartz," Beat admitted aloud. "If I see Pulse has a crush on a boy, then why shouldn't that boy see?"

The filly crossed her arms. "Hold it! If they have a good thing going, you might ruin it with some awkward questions that sends him running away." She pointed off. "Besides, you'd have to find him and catch him without Pulse being around." She folded her forelegs, looking proud. "Sounds a bit impossible, doesn't it?"

Beat huffed with annoyance at that. "That does sound difficult. What do you suggest then?"

"Relaxing, for one. If Pulse is in trouble, he'll come running to his awesome older sister. He trusts you, so you trust him a little, okay?" The filly spun about with a light laugh. "Hey, have you been working on any adventures lately? Last time, we went up into the caves, remember?"

Beat chuckled at that memory, warming slightly at the praise of herself being worthy of her brother's trust. "The caves proved to be dangerous. Do you have an adventure in mind that is less potentially lethal to my friends?"

"Don't be such a scaredy-pony." The filly grinned and cantered about with a chuckle. "There are the mountain trails, maybe an old mine, we can visit an abandoned village."

One other filly leaned in. "I'd love to go for a hike. Just remember your cold weather gear this time."

Beat snickered at that. "Good luck. Cold weather gear? Do you forget who I am?" She stepped back and turned around twice. "I don't need cold weather gear. Besides, mom wants us back by sundown."

The first filly waved that away. "I didn't mean today, but how about three days from now? We'll go for a nice hike. The scenery's great, and the odds of sudden cave in are pretty low." She put a hoof at her chest. "I'll pick up some books about camping tomorrow. Meet me at the library?" She grinned, hoping to sway the opinion of the other two.

Beat stood, then put up her hooves. "I will ensure those odds remain on the safe side." Still, she hadn't argued the idea, which was as good as a yes. The other two fillies scurried way with happy smiles on their faces.

Beat remained behind to consider things. "Pulse would never trust anypony untrustworthy." She sat and looked towards the school grounds. "He wouldn't befriend anypony who would hurt anypony else, either."

***

Quartz pinned Pulse to the ground, but both were smiling. "I win again."

Pulse vibrated beneath Quartz, then warmed a little, then more, becoming a hot little engine that Quartz had to release. He sprang to his hooves with a laugh. "You thought you did."

Quartz climbed to his hooves with a laugh of his own. "Wow! You get better with your powers every day. Good work!" He came over and patted Pulse's shoulders.

Pulse glowed and closed his eyes, feeling warm and safe. When Quartz was near, the world was a happier place, even with what happened to his sister. "I have a question." He glanced away. "It involves a filly."

Quartz blinked with surprise, leaning in. "Is there a filly you like?"

"I do like her, but not that way." Pulse shoved Quartz, both laughing. "She's my sister."

"Oh! Uh huh." Quartz dropped onto his rump. "What do you need help with?"

"She was friends with a colt. More than friends. Something happened." Pulse hung his head and sniffled. "She was hurt, and I don't understand. What would a colt do to a filly that would hurt her?"

Quartz pulled back, shocked. "Ah'm so sorry. Maybe you should wait until she can tell you? Are you sure it's a good idea?"

Pulse stamped angrily. "Why won't anypony tell me?" He let out a long sigh. "Is it that big of a secret?"

Quartz pulled Pulse closer with one arm. "Telling you no is hard, you know that? Look, I'm just guessin' here, I'm not neither of them, but maybe the colt said somethin' to her that wasn't very nice. He hurt her feelings, and fillies hate when anypony hurts that."

Pulse considered this possibility. "Why would a colt hurt a filly's feelings?"

Quartz squeezed Pulse's shoulders and shrugged. "Colts are dumb, and kinda jerky? I think it gets better with age."

Pulse peeked at Quartz, then giggled. "You are a jerk." He went in to touch noses with Quartz. "I like it."

Quartz blushed at the words. "I, uh. Kinda." He managed to giggle. "Yeah, Ah like ya too." He cleared his throat. "But, yeah, fillies are special ponies, and deserve the best, okay?"

Pulse hugged Quartz tight. "Thank you for helping. My sister is cool and deserves better." He smiled and cuddled tighter. "That colt was stupid. He coulda had my sister as a friend, and he ruined it."

Quartz hugged tighter. "Some colts are just bad 'uns, Pulse. That ain't right, but they're out there. I hope your sis is doing better now."

Pulse bounced up and down, away from Quartz. "She looks happier now. I was just curious if I could make it not happen again."

"Sometimes things happen we don't want." Quartz smiled and waved. "But we gotta let the ones we love go and be themselves, do what they need to do. We'll just be there to catch 'em and tell 'em we still love them so dang much anyway."

Pulse snuggled up to Quartz. "I feel good now." He grinned. "Better than good, perfect." His whole frame vibrated as he squealed.

Quartz laughed at his mechanical friend's expression of delight. "Glad ah could help." He leaned back against Quartz, the two quieting down in mutual companionship.

Pulse broke the silence first. "So, my sister got invited to go camping in a couple days." He giggled and poked Quartz's belly. "Do you wanna go too? Maybe with me?"

Quartz flicked his tail, poking Pulse back. "That's a filly party. If they didn't invite us, we aren't invited."

"Did you ask? I'll ask." Pulse cycled his forehooves in the air. "I bet they'll say yes if I ask nicely."

Quartz lifted an eyebrow. "Alright. Invite me, and let me go shopping for supplies tomorrow, assuming they say yes."

Pulse let out an ecstatic whinny. "Tomorrow! Let's start planning!" He looked about. "My house is closer. Race you!" Then, he was gone, kicking up dust and rocks behind him.

Quartz blinked at the spot that once held his friend. "No fair!" He scrambled after him with a laugh.

***

Beat inclined her head at her brother. "You wish to accompany us? Why?"

Pulse looked at her and blinked innocently. "Because camping is fun! Why not?"

Beat felt a flutter within as she realized just how innocent and full of light her brother truly was. "One question."

"Yes?" He perked up eagerly to see what his sister wanted from him. "I'd like to hear it."

Beat studied him, and saw that he honestly only wanted to come along because he thought it'd be fun. "Will you be coming alone?" Her mind ran through every possible way she could figure out to uncover his true intent, and she chose to go for the direct route.

Pulse shook his head. "Nah." He stood tall, eyes sparkling with pride and anticipation. "Can my friend come along too?"

Beat frowned and spoke her words carefully. "Who's your friend?"

"Quartz." Pulse breathed out the name happily.

Beat nearly jumped out of her figurative skin. She managed to hold steady. "Of course."

Pulse hopped about with glee. "Great! Oh, sis, we'll have a fantastic time! Quartz is a great friend. He is always eager to do things like this, so I bet he's gonna love the idea too."

Beat ruffled her brother on his head. "I'm sure this is true. You are both permitted to join us." As he fled, squealing, she sat back with new thoughts. Perhaps this would be a chance to interrogate Quartz, a little. On the other hand, she realized that she'd be stuck with Pulse watching her every move, making this a prime opportunity for him to meddle.

Beat eyed her mother as the elder construct moved about the kitchen. "Mother, Pulse will be with us, on that camping trip." She eyed her mother's backside, but Tempo continued to prepare food and drink as she usually did when guests visited. "Along with one other guest." That made her halt, but only briefly.

Tempo closed the oven door and turned around. "A guest? Another child or adult?" Her tone gave away nothing, and Beat had trouble reading her metallic features, though she thought that the older pony appeared pleased.

"He said the colt's name was Quartz. Supposedly, they are good friends." Beat leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper, "I intend to examine him and discern his true motivations."

Tempo smiled at her words. "Excellent. I will entrust this task to you. Return with the information, my child." She winked before turning back to the kitchen. "Now, I must complete preparations for tonight. Will you ensure the house is cleaned?"

Beat nodded, moving towards her tasks. "Of course, Momma." She searched for dirty dishes, surfaces and floors while clearing the table, then went about tidying. Their home wasn't terribly messy, considering. Still, it wouldn't do to welcome guests over to a dirty house. Before she knew it, everything was ready and the sun had begun to dip below the horizon.

The knock on the door signaled guests had arrived. She watched Tempo open it, then greeted the guests in kind as they filed in. "Welcome."

But her own thoughts had wandered off towards the camping trip and what she planned to do with it. Her chores completed, she trotted off to consider her plan of attack.

Author's Note

Pulse wants to camp too, and bring his new friend along. Nothing could go wrong. Nothing, at all, ever. I will hear no arguments!

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