//------------------------------// // Chapter 30 // Story: Long Distance Friendship // by Drag Orion //------------------------------// “It might have been a good idea if you mentioned there was going to be dragons,” Rainbow Dash whispered. “Slipped my mind,” admitted Gale. “I just wanted to get here so badly I couldn’t think of anything else.” “You’ve known about the dragons and you’ve come back here several times before?” asked Starlight. “It’s why I made these coats?” April explained. “We blended in with the dark and so long as we were quiet and well hidden they never noticed us.” “Fashionable and functional,” praised Rarity. “Very nice. I approve.” “It might be better to talk about this after we’re out of danger,” suggested Applejack. “But we aren’t in danger,” Twilight replied taking a few steps towards Garble. “Dragon Lord Ember ordered dragons to be nice to ponies and we’ve done nothing to provoke you. So, you have no reason to lay a claw on us.” “That would be a problem,” cackled Garble approaching her with a villainous grin on his face. “But I won’t tell if you won’t.” “I don’t think anypony will have to tell her. After all, she’s right here.” “That voice,” gasped Twilight pushing aside Garble to see behind him. “Spike?” “Hey, Twilight,” Spike waved as he and Ember came into the light. “I didn’t expect you all to be here.” “Oh, it’s so good to see you!” cried Twilight pulling Spike over to her with magic and hugging him tight. “I missed you so much!” “T-Twilight,” he flailed about getting squeezed more than hugged. “You missed me? It hasn’t even been two days yet.” “It felt like a lot longer than that,” she smiled and loosened her grasp on him to give him a gentler hug. “Uh, about all those scrolls and quills you gave me,” Spike mentioned while Twilight was in such a good mood. “They all got burnt into ashes. Sorry about that.” “That’s not important,” admitted Twilight, shocking Spike. “I’m just glad to have you here with me.” “Uh, while they are doing… that,” Ember said to Garble. “I guess I should handle your punishment for attempting to disobey the Dragon Lord’s orders.” “But you are supposed to be a part of the show,” he argued. “Why are you over here?” “Spike wanted to see the show with me and as Dragon Lord I make the rules,” she answered. “Now, for your punishment. Give every dragon here a hug… also, every pony a hug too.” “Ugh, why is it always hugs?!?” he complained and started to carry out his punishment, hugging the dragons nearest him first. “Cause you actually feel like you’re being punished,” she remarked and watched him hug a few more dragons before reaching the ponies. “Ugh… gotta hug ponies now too,” he grumbled and hugged Pinkie first. “Yay! Hug!” she cheered and hugged Garble back with a vice-like grip. “So, this is a part of the Festival of Flames?” concluded Starlight from what she overheard. “Yup,” nodded Spike once Twilight finally let him go. “Ember says that on the second day the adult dragons do something called the ‘Second Sun.’ It’s supposed to be really neat and this is the best spot to watch it from.” “I guess that explains why the ground is burnt all over here,” commented Starlight. “I’m really surprised that all of you are here,” Spike told her. “This place is really out of the way and I didn’t think any ponies knew anything about it in the first place.” “Looks like a few did,” Starlight replied as April and the rest of their new friends gathered around Twilight excitedly. “Wow, so you know the dragons here?” April asked Twilight excitedly. “Maybe a couple,” Twilight answered. “We managed to make friends with Dragon Lord Ember so the dragons are starting to become a little more friendly with ponies.” “Hmm, I’m not usually too good with placing pony faces,” admitted Ember as she approached them. “But those coats look familiar. Aren’t you the group of ponies that have been hiding out here for a few years now?” “Wait, you knew we were here?” asked Rocky. “Well, I definitely did, but not sure if any of the other dragons noticed,” she answered. “But then why didn’t you do anything?” wondered Gale. “Guess I was just impressed that you had the guts to come back after we chased you off the first time,” she admitted. “This is so awesome!” sobbed April happily as she hugged Ember. “We finally are getting to talk to a dragon! I am so happy!” “Uh, is this one okay?” questioned Ember. “She says she’s happy, but she’s crying too.” “That’s just April,” commented Fire Wheel. “Wow, sounds like quite the friendship mission,” Spike said after Twilight and the others filled him in on what had happened. “I never thought about what life would be like if you or any of my friends were to ever leave me,” she admitted. “I now know how important it is to treasure every moment we have while we can.” “That’s great, but don’t worry about me,” Spike assured her. “I’m your number one assistant and I plan on being it for a very, very long time.” “And you’ll always be a friend and a member of my family too,” added Twilight. “Twilight, if you have a moment,” Applejack interrupted. “I have something I have to confess. The truth is, that for a while now I’ve been thinking of starting my own apple orchard somewhere.” “And Spitfire suggested I move back to Cloudsdale to help with my career as a Wonderbolt,” added Rainbow Dash. “And the Cakes want me to open them a second bakery in Canterlot,” added Pinkie. “You already told us that before Pinkie,” commented Rainbow Dash. “I know, but that was before it became a dilemma,” she pointed out. “So, you were all planning on leaving?” asked Twilight. “I wasn’t planning to,” admitted Applejack. “Or at least I was afraid to leave, but if I do end up leaving I think it’ll be okay. We’ll all be okay.” “And I’m not planning on going anywhere,” declared Rainbow Dash. “It might make it easier to become a Wonderbolt Captain if I move back to Cloudsdale, but I’m happy living in Ponyville. Besides, when they hear my cross Equestria Rainboom there’s no way they’ll not promote me now.” “And I’m going to help the Cakes make the biggest and best bakeries all over Equestria,” announced Pinkie. “Is that any different than how you were before?” asked Twilight. “Except now I know exactly how I want to do it,” smiled Pinkie. “Well, I’m happy we were able to go through all this,” stated Twilight looking at Spike and all the rest of her friends. “I guess I always assumed that nothing could keep us from each other, but even if it is because one of us decides to leave for one reason or another, we will still be friends. Nothing can ever change that, not even time or distance.” “Is it time for the group hug?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Yes, Pinkie,” chuckled Twilight. “Yes, it is.” The Mane Six, Starlight, and Spike all came close together and hugged. As they did, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie’s Cutie Marks all started to glow. “Wait, now our Cutie Marks decide to signal the friendship mission is over?” questioned Rainbow Dash. “I don’t get it.” “Maybe the problem we had to fix wasn’t just the one those four had, but the one we were having as well,” suggested Applejack. “If it was,” commented Rainbow Dash not looking too thrilled. “I think that map is a little too all knowing for its own good.” They all coudn’t help laughing at Rainbow’s statement. “Everypony, look!” called Spike pointing into the distance as huge flames began to appear in the sky in many different bright hues. “It’s time! It’s the Second Sun!” “It’s incredible!” gasped Twilight as they all stared in awe of it with all the dragons and their new friends. It was truly a sight as the multitude of flames lit up the sky in the distance and painted it like a massive canvas. As some flames began to die down and die out, new flames took their pace and create a new swirl of flames for them all to admire. “Anypony want some popsicles,” offered Rocky retrieving some of the popsicles in his cooler. “I made plenty.” Happily taking him up on his offer, they all enjoyed the salty yet sweet taste of the treat as they continued to marvel at the sight on the edge of the horizon.