"That was AWESOME!"
Blinking dirt from her eyes as the cloud of dust settled Twilight risked glancing at the new crater in the ground. Six feet deep she could still see the clear impression of where its creator had landed. The previous occupant appeared to have vacated it in favour of swooping around the sky whooping.
"You did that right? I mean it had to be you. Unless you're hiding another superpowered unicorn behind there?" Zooming across the field, the new bane of Twilight's existence circled her, apparently searching for the aforementioned nonexistent unicorn.
Watching the pegasus as she began to hover upside down, Twilight resisted the urge to roll her eyes. At the unmistakable feeling of somepony lifting up her tail, however, scepticism quickly turned to irritation.
Throwing a look back at her new, more pleasant, acquaintance Twilight began to once again question just how many crazy ponies there were in this town. Fluttershy's awkward shrug appeared to give no evidence either way. Her shuffling hooves, however, clearly demonstrated there would be no help from that corner in the immediate future.
Twilight suddenly missed Spike. Intensely.
Luckily for all involved the chromatic pegasus chose that moment to finish her 'inspection'. Twilight couldn't have guaranteed her back hooves would have remained non-violent for much longer.
"You know Purple Blast, can I call you Purple Blast?"
"No."
"Blasty, it's a compliment. I only give nicknames to those who register high enough on the Coolometer." Reaching out to wrap a hoof around Twilight's shoulders, she continued. "Right now I'd say you're a solid seven. I'm at the top of course. Rainbow Danger Dash. And the Wonderbolts of course. Fluttershy of over here is an eight. She might not look it on the outside, but secretly she's a total badass. That's without the way she brings that spawn of Discord to heel as well. Trust me you do not want to get on her bad side. Speaking of which where is..."
"Flutters." Rainbow froze, staring at her friend in horror.
Fluttershy forced a smile. "I'm fine Rainbow I promise."
Rainbow sighed. "They came back again didn't they?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"I should have been here."
"You couldn't have known."
"I should never have left you on your own."
"You needed the space and time to practice."
"What's the point Flutters. I can't leave you here with those rockheads hanging over you. The Wonderbolts will just have to wait."
"But..."
"Fluttershy I couldn't leave you with those two still here; so don't ask me to."
"But Twilight got rid of them!"
"Twilight? Who's Twilight?"
Twilight waved awkwardly.
Rainbow Dash's eyes widened in realisation. "Wait, THAT was Hoops and Dumbbell? YOU got rid of Hoops and Dumbbell? That was you? That means..." Rainbow struggled for words. Her face passed though a range of emotions from frustration to relief, and finally to awe. "Thank you".
Twilight shuffled uncomfortably. "It wasn't a big deal really."
Rainbow shook her head. "No, it was. You don't know what this means to us." She hesitated. "To me. If there's anything I can do in return, anything at all, just name it. "
"I don’t know it doesn’t seem right."
"Seriously anything. Carte blanche. There's gotta be something I can do. Bust clouds. Beat the soundbarrier, you name it I'll do it. Heck, you need me to work for you all summer I'll do it."
"I guess there is one thing."
"Lay it on me Blast."
"Rainbow, please!" Fluttershy implored. "Don't throw everything away just for me. Whatever Twilight wants I'll be more than happy to do it." She smiled weakly. "You shouldn't have to give up on your dreams for me."
"Don't sweat it Fluttershy. I'm sure Twilight won't ask me to sell my soul or something. Besides, you're my best friend. Of course I'm going to be a Wonderbolt one day." She smirked. "They'd have to be blind not to tap this. A small delay to that is a small price to pay. Your happiness is priceless."
Suddenly uncomfortable she shifted from hoof to hoof. "Besides I can always sign up again next year."
Bluster returning she tossed her mane, fixing Twilight with a look of determination. "So Twilight was it? What can I do to repay you?"
"Well I don’t want to impose, and I doubt its something that really works that way anyway, but Princess Luna asked me to make some friends, and I haven't really had much success today." Twilight babbled.
She smiled nervously at Rainbow. "I really don’t want to disappoint her, so if you could just pretend to be my friend, just for today, it would mean a lot to me. I promise I'll try to put in a word for you with General Spitfire in return."
"Look Twi," said the speedster bluntly. "Anypony who helps Fluttershy the way you did is a friend of mine." At Twilight;s unconvinced look she shrugged. "Besides I'm pretty sure by the end of today you'll have more friends than you can levitate."
"Huh?"
"Pinkie Pie." said Rainbow dash, as if that was all the explanation required.
Fluttershy nodded knowingly.
"She's been planning you an extra special welcome party all day. Something about you needing friends." She shot Fluttershy a guilty look. "It's why I was so late she wouldn’t let me go till I accepted my invitation to the 'super duper double welcome and apology party for Twilight Sparkle and Spike'. But, hey, if you can put in a word for me with General Spitfire I'll talk to princess Luna for you myself."
"Rainbow…" Fluttershy said warningly.
"Not that we wont be friends either way," amended Rainbow Dash quickly.
"Where is this...party?" Twilight asked apprehensively.
"The library of course!" Rainbow glanced up at the sky. "Pinkie said it was starting an hour before sunset.. We'd better yet a move on! You don't want to be late to your own welcome party!"
Tugging Fluttershy after her Rainbow began to zoom back towards the town.
A tentative smile beginning to blossom on her face Twilight followed.