//------------------------------//
// But Those Were The Childish Wishes... (Part 1) 
// Story: A Place Among Her Kind 
// by milesprower06 
//------------------------------//

"What do you think? Pretty awesome, right?" Rainbow asked Fizzlepop and Starlight as she held a framed newspaper clipping in front of them.

'CAPTAIN FIZZLEPOP BERRYTWIST HEADS UP NEW E.U.P. DIVISION IN PONYVILLE'.

"Rainbow, I appreciate the sentiment, but, really? Framing it? It's not even the front page." Fizzlepop told her enthusiastic second-in-command. She had seen the article Celestia had published three days ago, but immortalizing it like this seemed a bit over-the-top.

"So? What we're doing here made it into the Canterlot Times!"

"On second thought, Rainbow's right, Captain. I think this is as close as you're going to get to direct approval from Princess Celestia. Why not make a memento out of it? All of you worked incredibly hard this month, and it paid off." Starlight offered.

Fizzlepop let out a friendly sigh, taking the frame in her magic.

"Alright, fine. But we need a place to put this; we can't keep meeting and practicing in the library forever. We need to set up somewhere else in here where we can keep things like this, not to mention a room where we can clean our armor and practice drill. You know, like a barracks. The library is decent, but I feel we should have a place more dedicated. I don't want to keep this in my room forever, this is our accomplishment, not just mine. And I certainly know it paid off, that's why dinner and drinks in town are on me tonight. Speaking of which, we should really start getting ready. There's being fashionably late, and then there's just plain late."

"Yeah well, if you're using the squad's petty cash to pick up the tab, guess what? The party starts when we get there." Rainbow retorted, giving her a playful slug on the shoulder. Fizzle smirked in return.

"Still, let me get this put away and we can get going."  Fizzlepop turned and walked down the hallway to her room. Opening the door and walking in, she carefully set it on top of her dresser, leaning it against the wall. She stared at it for several moments, the pride welling up in her. Yes, they were going to need a wall to put this up on where the entire squad could see it. But that could wait until tomorrow. Tonight, celebration was the only mission they were focused on.

She turned and rejoined Rainbow and Starlight in the hallway. Starlight would be joining them as well, for Fizzlepop considered her a member of the Ponyville E.U.P. as much as the rest of them. Though she didn't have a rank or set of armor, it was thanks to her protection spells that the only mishaps to come out of their numerous sparring matches were dents and dings on their armor; there had been no personal injuries so far. Last but certainly not least, it was thanks to her enchanting expertise that she had the aetherial staff that allowed stable use of her horn again.

"Alright, let's go chow down." Rainbow said, rubbing her growling stomach.

Together, the three of them headed back towards the front of the castle, and they hadn't even reached the foyer before they ran into Twilight.

"Ah, there you are," the Princess of Friendship greeted. "There are a couple of ponies who are here to see you."

"Ugh, we're not that late. I told them we'd all meet in town." Rainbow groaned.

"No no, they're not in the squad. They're from out of town, said they're friends of yours. They asked for you by name."

"Friends? Who are they?" Fizzlepop asked, wondering who would come here for her.

"Their names are Spring Rain and Glitter Drops. They said the three of you grew up together."