//------------------------------// // The Searchers // Story: Neighpon tales // by Seanzilla115 //------------------------------// Posey giggled as she walked into the bookstore that was located a block or two away from the hotel her cousin and friends were staying at. “Konichiwa, Mr. Tozoki-san,” Posey greeted when she saw there was a certain somepony looking at the mangas, reading over volumes of Sailor Moon almost as intently as Fluttershy would. Posey walked over to Tozoki, who smiled a little. “I told her that Timid is as big a fan as she is. I think they’d get along really well,” Mr. Tozoki admitted. “I hope so,” Posey smiled, “Especially when she finds out who Timid’s brother is…” “So… where is Butterfly and her friends anyway?” “Uh… hmm… they’re staying at the hotel that’s a block or two away from here,” Posey answered The young fily who was reading walked over, said filly having pale pink fur, a pale yellow mane and tail, and was currently wearing a school outfit similar to Ai’s. “...H-here,” she informed, placing down some money for the mangas. “Yosh… arigato, Timid-chan,” Mr. Tozoki smiled. “H-hai… j-ja ne, Tozoki-san,” the filly waved in a near shy manner, grabbing her small pile of manga as she began to leave. “Just like itoko-chan when she was a schoolfilly,” Posey giggled. “Heheh...agreed,” Mr.Tozoki chuckled a bit. “Anyhow… is my Megahero Starwave order here?” Posey asked, with Mr. Tozoki nodding and bringing up about eighteen mangas. “Mind my asking why you got these? You have every issue,” Mr. Tozoki inquired. “They’re for itoko-chan.” “Oh? Really now?” Mr.Tozoki asked in interest. “It’s really something I wanted to show her if she came back, and if we don’t have time to read it together, she can have the whole set to take back home with her,” Posey informed, taking out the needed money to pay for it. Before she took her leave, she saw a unicorn filly a year older than Timid with light violet fur, and a mane that was a soft evening red with a orange highlight in it. She was wearing the same outfit Timid had, but wore a pale night sky blue jacket on top of her school outfit. “Hey… isn’t that the filly who hangs out with the Cutie Mark Searchers?” Posey asked. “Hmm?” Mr. Tozoki blinked a bit before he saw the filly in question, “Ah yes. Dawn Star I believe her name is… though I’m not sure why she likes to wear that jacket all the time.” “...Eh,” Posey shrugged as she headed out. --- “So, what’s this series about anyhow?” Fluttershy asked, being shown the Megahero Starwave mangas. “Well… it’s about a sort of future, and in it, there are these things called ‘data waves’, which store intel. info. and the like. However, there’s a group out to destroy the world, said group also using data waves to their advantage. A loner stallion works with a being made out of these waves, combining with him to form a hero known as Megahero. The “star wave” part, comes from the fact stars are used to power these waves,” Posey explained. “Oh...I see,” Fluttershy noted as she picked one of the mangas up and began to read it. “There are so many allusions to the story of Summer Triangle, it’s amazing,” Posey smiled, “...oh by the way, where are your friends at? There’s something I’ve wanted to show them.” “Oh...well, Twilight and Dash decided to explore the town a bit, same with Pinkie and Applejack. Rarity’s watching Scootaloo and her friends with Spike’s help, and...well that’s pretty much it,” Fluttershy answered. “...Alright,” Posey nodded, “So I guess it’s just you and me today.” “Hai,” Fluttershy nodded, the shy mare still looking into the manga her cousin gave her. --- “Do ya’ll two think the city needs Crusaders?” Applebloom asked Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. “I don’t know,” Scootaloo shrugged, “We haven’t seen anypony without a Cutie Mark yet.” “Do you all think there could be others like us Searchers out there?” a voice asked from an alleyway. “Huh?” Sweetie Belle blinked, the unicorn filly overhearing the voice as she slightly peaked in. “Yeah! I mean, there has to be! And who knows, maybe they’re searching for filly’s like us!” a near excitable voice spoke up. Scootaloo and Applebloom both turned to the alleyway and slowly walked closer,joining their friend. “A-ano, are you s-sure, Q-Quirky-chan?” a rather shy and timid voice asked. “Yup! I know so!” the second voice beamed. Scootaloo looked up and saw a sign that had a “CMS” written on it in their native language, but the rest was written in Neghiponese. “What does it say?” Applebloom asked quietly. “Don’t know. The rest is in Neighponese,” Scootaloo replied quietly. “Minna… we aren’t alone,” another voice added. “What makes you so sure, Dawn-chan?” a fourth voice added. “I hear whispering.” ‘Uh oh...’ the CMC mentally gulped as they quickly jumped into a nearby box to hide. “Do you think they’ll find us in here?” Sweetie Belle whispered. “If you whisper in a way others can hear you, yes,” the third voice, Dawn, informed, opening up the box, “Who are you?” “...wait… Applebloom?” the fourth voice said, walking over, “Applebloom, it’s good to see you,” “Ai, good to see you too,” Applebloom greeted back. “Wait..you know her Applebloom/Ai?” the two fillies’ respective friends asked. “Yea… I met her and her older sister yestdeday,” Ai informed before she coughed a little bit, the first girl going over and helping her sit down. “Ya al’ight?” Applebloom asked. “Y...yeah,” Ai panted a bit. “...Is she alr-” Scootaloo began. “Hi there!” “Ahh!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle yelped when a filly with dark green fur and a baby blue/sky blue mane and tail almost as poofy as a certain pink party pony’s popped up in front of them. “I’m Quirky!” the filly introduced herself, “Who are you guys?! *GASP* Are you friends of Ai’s just like that Applebloom girl?! Oh it’s great t-!” “Ahem, Quirky?” “Yeah, Dawn?” “You’re talking a bit too fast again.” "Oops. Ehehe...sorry." “...huh. Remind you of somepony?” Sweetie Belle whispered to Scootaloo. “Yeah… kinda like Pinkie,” Scootaloo whispered back. “...well, the four of us are called the Cutie Mark Searchers. We’re searching for our Cutie Marks,” Ai informed. “Really? What a...wait. four?” “Yup,” Quirky nodded, “Though Timid’s really shy and stuff.” “...Ah see,” Applebloom noted. “A-ano…” the shy voice spoke up before Timid walked up to the group, a bit of her hair covering her left eye, “Is everything o-okay, minna?” “Yeah,” her friends nodded in response. “Oh. O-okay,” Timid nodded shyly. Ai was abotu to say something before she began to cough more, the pegasus filly falling to her knees with everypony looking on in worry. “...I think we should get her to Onii-chan…” Timid suggested. “Good idea,” Dawn nodded. “Onii...who now?” Scootaloo blinked in confusion with Sweetie Belle. “Timid’s brother is a doctor,” Dawn explained as Quirky helped Ai up, “The hospital he works in is not too far from here.” --- The CMS and CMC soon arrived at the hospital as they hurried inside, seeing a few ponies waiting in line. “Ano...e-excuse me,” Timid tried to speak up to a nurse,only for said nurse to walk by, “Ano..excuse me, miss? ca-” seh tried with another nurse, only to get silence in response once more. Somepony tapped Timid’s shoulder, making the sh filly look behind her to see a Pegasus stallion with snow-white fur, and an Ice blue mane. He was dressed in a normal doctor attire with a small silver pin shaped like a hawk’s wing attached to the left front pocket. “Onii-chan,” Timid smiled. “Is everything okay?” he asked. “Ano...well,” Timid began before Ai began to cough harshly. “...Soka. Hurry and follow me,” Timid’s brother instructed them --- “So who is this guy?” Sweetie Belle asked as Timid’s brother was currently checking Ai’s temperature, “He’s kind of cute,” “That’s her brother, Silver Hawk,” Dawn explained, “Like I said, he’s a doctor that works here at this hospital.” “Eeyup,” Quirky nodded, “A few of the nurses here really like them, but he sorta turns them down gently. If you ask me...” she looked around before whispering to the CMC, “I think there’s somepony he already likes.” “Well… you’re going to be alright, Ai. Were you in your hang out spot again?” Timid’s brother, Silver Hawk asked. “Hai. We were…” Ai paused as she coughed a bit, “Talking on how to find our Cutie Marks before we ran into Applebloom and her friends.” “Applebloom… is that the girl you mentioned before?” silver asked, motioning over to the youngest Apple sibling. “Hai,” Ai nodded. “I see…” Silver noted, “But you all need a new hang-out spot. You know that the area there will make you sick.” “I know. Demo…” “Timid, you and your friends need a new hang-out spot. Why are you even in that alley anyway?” “So we can avoid… you know who,” Dawn answered for Timid. “...Soka(I see),” Silver noted with a small sigh, “Still, you should really consider a new hang-out space.” “Hey. It’s not our fault that meanie Tomoe keeps taking the good spots,” Quirky pouted. “Tomoe?” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo repeated. “She’s a jerk that bothers us on our lack of a Cutie Mark,” Quirky frowned a bit, “She even says some things that go WAY too far sometimes.” ‘Indeed,” Dawn nodded slightly, a frown on her face, “She’s stolen every one of our hang-out spots. The alley you saw us in is the only one we’ve managed to hang on to. And despite the risk it may present to Ai’s health… we really have no other choice.” “Oh...That Tomoe really sounds like somepony we know, but we dont’ want to talk abotu her,” Scootaloo said with a slight frown. “Agreed/Yeah,” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle agreed before the former got an idea. “Hey uh...Ai. Don’t y’all have any trees at yer family’s farm?” “Yea,” Ai nodded. “Well, why don’t y’all just build a treehouse there? that way, Ai’s health won’t be at risk, and that Tomoe girl won’t take it as it’s on yer family’s farm.” “...That’s not a bad idea actually,” Dawn admitted. “Yeah. Why didn’t we think of that?” Quirky asked. “...Who knows,” Timid shrugged. --- “So… you three are looking for your Cutie Marks like us?” Timid asked a bit later. “Yup. We still haven’t gotten them yet, but I’m sure we’ll get our Cutie Marks,” Sweetie Belle smiled. “So…we’re the Cutie Mark Searchers, what are you three?” Dawn Star inquired. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Scootaloo answered. “Ooh~! That’s a cool name!” Quirky awed. “It was my idea,” Sweetie Belle stated. “Wait..ah thought it was mine?” Applebloom blinked. “No. It’s mine..or..was it?” Sweetie Belle pondered, “I know one of us came up with it, but who?” “...Moving on then,” Dawn cleared her throat a little, “So uh...what brings you three here to Neighpon?” “A friend visiting family,” Scootaloo informed, “We’re currently staying at the hotel a few blocks away.” “I see…” Dawn noted, as she stretched a little bit, “Well… thanks for coming you three, It was nice meeting you.” “Yeah!” Quirky smiled excitedly, “Maybe we can see each other again while you girls are staying here in Neighpon!*Squee!*” “...Maybe,” the Crusaders shrugged as they waved and headed on back for the hotel. --- “...So, ya’ll met a group similar to the Crusaders?” Applejack asked later that evening. “Yup,” Applebloom noded before sheepishly rubbing the back of her head a bit, “‘Course, Sweetie Belle’s sister was a bit worried and mad at us for gettin’ lost.” “I’m sorry I lost the girls,” Rarity apologized to Applejack. “It’s fine. As long as their okay,” Applejack nodded. “To be fair, I thought you said we were going to go right, not left…” Sweetie Belle admitted. “She kinda has a point,” Spike spoke up, “I almost went the wrong way before I noticed you were walking to the left.” Applejack simply rolled her eyes for a moment. “We met with Kota’s little sis and her friends,” Applebloom informed. “Yeah. Though...we kinda had to take her to the hospital when she started coughing really badly,” Scootaloo admitted. “But we met Timid’s brother, Timid being one of our new friends,” Sweetie Belle informed. “I see,” Rarity noted, “...Well I’m glad you girls are okay, and that your new friend was okay. ...did you happen to see Ai’s brother at all?” Applejack tensed up a little bit, the blond lowering her hat a bit to hid the small blush forming on her face. “No. He had somethin’ t’ take care of,” Applebloom informed. “Oh...I see, “ Rarity nodded. Applejack shook her head a bit as she lifted her hat up, the small blush gone. She then heard the door open as Fluttershy and her cousin walked in. “Welcome back, Fluttershy. Did y’all have a good day with yer cousin?” the eldest apple sibling asked the shy mare. “Yes. After we read some mangas that Itoko-chan bought me, we roamed around the city a little bit,” Fluttershy informed. “Uh… Fluttershy, did you tell… you know who, where we were going to be?” Twilight asked as she walked into the room. “...No. Why?” Fluttershy blinked. “Letter,” Twilight informed as she held out an envelope to the shy mare. Fluttershy hesitantly took it and opened it, the shy mare pulling out a letter and began to read it. “‘Dear Fluttershy- I came over for our Tuesday Tea Time and I saw a note on your door that said you were on a trip. Where are you? -From’...” Fluttershy paused, remembering some Neghiponese myths about the sender, “‘A friend’.” “Uh… it clearly says it’s from-” Twilight began with Fluttershy quickly tossing a pillow at her mouth to stop her from talking, “H-hey!” “Twilight…” Fluttershy began as she whispered into her friend’s ear, “It’s best Discord doesn't’ come here, or up in conversation.” “Huh? Why?” Twilight couldn’t help but ask before Fluttershy whispered something to her, making her eyes slightly widen, “...I see.” “...What’s up?” Posey asked. “It’s nothing,” Fluttershy told her. “...Soka,” Posey noted as she, “Ano...I’m gonna go now.” “Eh? Why?” “Let’s just say I have to meet with somepony.” “Alright. See you later, Itoko-chan.” --- Posey headed off from the hotel, skipping with a smile as she as she walked down a street before she was within a park. She then proceeded to go to a nearby bench, seeing a familiar snow-white pegasus stallion sitting in it, said stallion wearing a blue jacket on top of a grey shirt, and a pair of black shorts. “Posey-chan, how are ya?” Silver asked. “I’m doing fine, Silver-san,” Posey smiled a bit as she sat next to him. “That’s good to hear. Ano..sorry I couldn’t talk with you the other day. I was busy helping around the hospital,” Silver apologized, “But since we’re free at the moment, what is it do you want to talk about?” “Oh… my itoko-chan… remember her?” Posey asked. “...How can I not?” Silver replied with a sad smile, the pegasus stallion pulling out a ribbon from his pocket, the ribbon having a small imprint of a butterfly on it, “I’ve never forgotten her, even after she left.” “...She sounds like a nice pony,” Timid spoke as she walking over. “..She is, Timid-chan,” Silver said, the sad smile still on his face, “You remind me of her at times, you know.” “Eh? I-I do?” “You’re like her… in a nice way. When I hang out with you… I miss her less…” Posey giggled. “S-soka,” Timid smiled as she giggled a bit. “I mean, heck, you’re as big a Sailor Moon fan as she is,” Posey added. “Heh...Oh yeah. I remember that,” Silver chuckled lightly, “Whenever I saw her by herself, she was always reading one of her mangas,” the sad smile soon returned to his face, “...I truly miss her, Posey-chan...Timid-chan...I’d do anything to see her again.” “...Really now?” Posey giggled. “Hai…” Silver nodded as he looked back down at the ribbon in his hand, “I would.” “...Hey, hey, Onii-chan… What was she like? What was her name?” Timid couldn’t help but ask “...Her name was Butterfly. And to me...she was like an angel,” Silver replied, a small blush forming on his face, “Whenever I saw her smile, my heart would beat like crazy…” he then held up the ribbon to his little sister, “This ribbon belonged to her...I was going to give it back to her before she left, but...I was too late...I’ve held onto it ever since, secretly hoping she’d come back one day.” “...I’m really sorry that she couldn’t, but you know all the laws and stuff that got passed after the war…” Posey reminded. “I know,” Silver sighed sadly, “But...just once, I’d want to see her again…But...” he paused as he put the ribbon away, “She probably forgot me a long time ago…” Posey didn’t know how to respond to this, a sad smile on the mare’s face. “...That’s not true.” “Huh?” Silver blinked a bit at that as he turned to face her, “What do you mean?” “Remember when I asked you if you remember her?” “Hai,” “She mentioned… in a letter, she misses you. And that she wants to see you again…” “...Soka,” Silver noted. “Onii-chan? Are you...crying?” Timid asked as she saw a small tear escape her brother’s eye. “...Heh. I guess I am,” Silver chuckled a bit as he wiped the tear away, “I guess I’m just… really happy, knowing she never forgot me after all this time.” Posey smiled with a giddy look. “...Come on, Timid-chan. We’re gonig home” Silver said as he got up. He then looked back over at Posey, “It was nice seeing you again, Posey-chan.” “Hey wait… before you go, you wanna go to dinner tomorrow?” “Eh?” Silver blinked, “You mean...like a date?” “...hai, but just between friends.” “...Okay. I don’t see why not,” Silver smiled a bit, “What time is good for you?” “Tomorrow at… 8:15pm?” “Sounds good to me,” Silver nodded.