//------------------------------// // Preparation // Story: True Friendship // by BlazingAngel //------------------------------// Chapter 10 Preparation Next day later at the school, Red actually get to see who is the rest of the competitors for the Leader event; Mercury Burnside have a darkish-hair and seem to be a quarterback on a football team. Red had seen Mercury with a bunch of girls all day. Red also thought Mercury is going to get all the girls in the school to vote for him, except for the Equestria Girls. Next is Douglas, Red can`t explain what he look like because Red can`t tell what color he`d using. There were rumors about Douglas, though, people says he is the dumbest person in school and seem to do nothing at all. Why did he join anyway? After knowing who his competitor are, Red went back to the classroom to sit down like usual and think what he going to do next. My potential, he thought, what in the name my potential will be? The more he thought about it, the longer it`ll take for him to realized it. Probably in the future, it`ll come to me, he thought and looked out of the window from the desk. Outside of the school, in the middle of town, in a dark alleyway, Ace was watching as Lighting Wind and his gangs as they were walking down the sidewalk. Ace can hear Lighting complaining, "The next time I see that guy and girlfriend again. I will going to kill them big time!" I guess I was right, Ace thought smiling, Red do have a girlfriend! When Lighting and his gangs passed by the alley Ace was in, Ace smile faded and called out in a deep voice, "Hey, you want revenge on the guy who got you suspended?" Lighting stopped on his track and turned to look at Ace. "How do you know?" Lighting asked, walking up to Ace. Ace still have half of his face cover under darkness and replied, "I know him more than you do. Now, let get this straight. You want revenge, I wanted that medal." Lighting just looked at him and said, "What up with you for that stupid medal." Ace went and grabbed Lighting by the shirt and said, "Look pal, its my business to get that medal. Beside, it will lead him to you , right?" He dropped him and turned back to the alley. He then called over his shoulder, "If you don`t want to join me, have it your way." Lighting got up from the ground and thought for a minute. "Wait," he yelled and ran up to Ace, "I will help you, just to get my hands on that freak. So, what the plan?" Ace grinned and explain for tonight event. " So, what the plan?" said Red, walking out of the school with Twilight and Spike. The day has gone by so fast and Red is still wondering what his potential is. "Well," began Twilight as they walked down the sidewalk that led downtown, "We all need to dress up for tonight and…." she paused. "And what?" said Red. "Oh, nothing." she replied. They took a turn on a next corner and walked up to a fashion shop. "Well, here we are," said Twilight and went inside. When Red went in, he saw all the other girls were there, picking out clothes for the event. "Finally! There you are." said Rarity, pulling Twilight toward with the rest of the girls. "Hey, what the rush?" Twilight asked Rarity. Rarity picked up a dress and held it up to Twilight and said, "We have to get you ready for tonight. Also, I want you to dress you up like a princess, which you are one." "Well, let get started." said Red, walking up to them. But he was stopped by Rarity who said, " No, we girls don`t like guys watching them changing. So, you have to go to the waiting room." "The waiting room?" he asked and was pushed toward a door. The door shut behind him as Red sat down on a chair in a boring old waiting room. He then heard scream and someone yelled, " Get out Spike! The door swing open and out came Spike flying out of the door. He landed with a thud and said, "Ow! Talk about watching." "You get kicked out too?" Red asked as Spike got up and walked over to him. "Yeah," says Spike, hopping on a chair beside Red, "The last time I was here, they didn`t kicked me out and let me stayed in." This make Red interested. "Was it awesome?" he asked, hoping for an answer . Spike was about to says something but then turned to Red and said, "Dude! Are you out of your mind? What do you expect me to think while watching them changing." "Just wondering." said Red, looking away. After what seem like three hours of waiting, the door swing open and came out Twilight looking like a beautiful girl Red had ever seen. "Well? How do I look?" she said. "You look like one heck of a princess!" Red replied. "Spike?" Spike thought for a moment and says, "You look a lot better than last time." "Thank." said Twilight. Rarity came in and told Red its his turn. "Finally! Why does it take forever for you girls to change?" he asked, walking in the changing room. "Oh, you know how girls are." she answered him. Red saw the rest of the girls appearance and said, "Wow, you girls look fantastic!" They all said thank and Rarity handed a black suit and black pant with a white tie. "That ought fit you fine." said Rarity, leaving the room. After changing his outfit, Red was looking at himself in the mirror and said, " Now, I looked like James Bond." He mimics James Bond voice saying, " They called me 007." Then, someone knocked on the door, "Are you done in there?" Red turned and open the door. It was Twilight. "How do I look?" he asked. "Real nice. Come on and let show it to the rest." They walked to the waiting room and the girls made a remark about Red. Then, a limousine drive up outside. "Oh, here our ride!" said Rarity, opening the door. Everyone exit the store and got in the vehicle. After Red got in and sat between Twilight and Rainbow, he looked at his watch and said aloud, "It is 1800 hours or 6 o` clock in civilian time. What time do the award start?" " 7 o` clock. We`ll make it." replied Applejack. Red noticed that everyone in the limousine is quiet, very quiet. Something is bothering them. Then, Red broke the silence, "Look, I know you all are wondering what is going to happen next but hey, we still have each other, right? I know Ace is dangerous person and something unexpected is going to happen but remember this, always look out for yourself and those around you and you`ll have a possible chance victory. 'Always stay together no matter what kind of combat situation you`re in', that what the army told me. I know we can do this and we will win. Understand?" They all says yes. "We`ll take Ace down, right?" asked Spike. "What do you think Spike," says Applejack, lending over to Spike, "We`ll take him down for good!" "Yeah! and we`ll teach him a lesson or two." said Pinkie Pie. "Hoorah." said Red. "What that suppose to mean?" asked Rainbow, looking at Red. "What? Hoorah? It's a military word mean 'Heck yeah!'" "Oh." Red got what he wanted. He has raised everyone morale high. That the good thing, he thought. The limousine has arrived at the school and pulled up to the main entrance. While everyone is getting out, Red counted off everyone to make sure they`re together. Red then realized someone is missing. When Fluttershy got out, Red asked her, "Where is Little Joe?" "Oh," she began, looking around, "he said he`ll be ready and get here as fast as he can." When she finish her sentence, someone yelled, "Look out!" Red pulled Fluttershy out of the way as someone sped past on a skateboard and crash into a bush. Red went to see who it was. It was Little Joe. Red helped him up and said, "You alright?" "Yeah, I`m fine." said Little Joe and hold up a bag, "I got something for you guys. I only got two items only for you and Flutter Shy." He reached in and pulled out a small glass globe that said 'We salute you' and handed it to Red. "This is the only item I can find in the store. I thought you might like it." "Wow, thank." said Red, taking the globe. Little Joe reaches in again and take out a letter and a small box attached to it. When he was about to hand it to Fluttershy, he said with a remark, "Wow, Fluttershy! You look prettier than ever! Anyway here." Fluttershy blushed then took the letter and read it aloud, "The membership board congratulate you for becoming a member of the National Animal Service. Along with this box." She opened the box and take out a collar that read 'Animal Rescuer'. "Thank you Little Joe." she said. "Anything for a friend." he replied. Red put his globe in his pocket and said, "Okay, enough with the gifts. We got work to do." "Right." said Little Joe who ran up the steps and went inside. Red and Fluttershy looked at each other, shrugged and went in. Hopefully, Red thought, No one would bother asking why I smell like dead fish.