//------------------------------// // Friendship Always Wins in the End // Story: Bits of Ash // by No one is home //------------------------------// “Yay! Pizza!”  The little white automaton bounced excitedly, “I require pizza and video games for my nutritional and educational needs as a real, not-metal unicorn filly!” “Welcome to Slapstick’s Pizza Circus, how many in… your… party?” The teenage mares voice cracked and faded entirely at the sight of the newest guests. “We’re here to see…” The freak began, only to be interrupted by his tiny companion. “Uncle Slapstick!”  The little filly launched like a tiny white missile, knocking the clown-faced doppelganger to his haunches. “Bullete Belle! You… haven’t grown an inch?”  He shook his head quizzically and cast his gaze to the filly’s giant guardian.  “Good to see ya again, big guy.” The Doppell’s smile was warm, genuine and welcoming.  “What brings you back?” “Just passing through.”  The giant smiled. “We walked into Turves and saw the sign… hell I can’t tell her no when she wants to blow something up, how am I gonna tell her we ain’t got time to eat pizza with ‘Uncle Slapstick’.” “Hell, you gotta meet the wife!”  The Doppel laughed with enthusiasm, “Hey, Cheese Melt, you gotta get out here!  It’s Bullette and the Big Guy!” “What’s this?”  A pretty, plump orange pegasus mare walked out of the kitchen, “You’re Slappy’s old partner?  I’ve heard so much… you know he keeps a spot behind the bar open if you ever decide to settle down?” “One day, maybe,” the freak chuckled. “Is that Bullette?” The mare asked curiously, her eyes drawn to the tiny metal puppet dancing around her husband.  “I thought she’d be older, the way Slappy told it?” “Yeah…” No Name cleared his throat. “Hey since your here…” Slapstick grinned widely, dropping into his carney persona, “HEY!  How many of you colts and fillies are brave enough to take a free ice cream from the serpents from the mouth of the Legendary Nameless Beast of the waste?” “Please don’t…” No Name pawed the ground in embarrassment as foals cheered and rushed forward. “You know you love it big guy.”  The Doppel grinned as his wife chuckled behind a hoof. “Can I sing a song?” Bullete pleaded as she pranced. “And a limited, one time only performance by Bullette Belle!”  Slapstick continued flawlessly, “The Prettiest Little Killing Machine in the Ash!” “I’m gonna get you back for this, I swear.” The mutant could only barely hide his smile. As the Magic School bus pulled back into Equestrian reality Twilight Sparkle stood at the gates with a stern frown.  “Discord, I don’t remember giving permission for a class field trip.” “And as it turns out, I don’t remember asking permission… so that seems to have worked itself out,”  the Lord of Chaos replied with an absent wave and a greasy smile. “Well,”  The Princess turned to the students with a cautious smile, “What did you learn today about friendship?” “Yona learn pony friendship strong,” Yona asserted definitively, ”Even in worst times.” “I think I learned that it’s never too late to start over,” Sandbar said thoughtfully. “I learned that no matter how weird and different you are, you can always find friends who are willing to stand up, not only for you, but with you,”  Silverstream noted dutifully. “I learned that even if you come from a bad place, that doesn’t make you a bad creature,”  Ocellus said with only a little bit of a sad sniffle, “And even if other creatures think you’re a monster, that doesn’t make the good you do count any less.” “I guess I learned that real friends never really say good-bye,”  Galus looked thoughtful, “Even if you go your separate ways, your friends are always out there… somewhere.  And you’re just all waiting until you can get back together one day.” “I learned that robots are AWESOME!” Smolder fluttered in the air in enthusiasm, before looking back and forth amongst her peers.  “What? That was totally a friendship lesson!” “Wow…”  Twilight smiled nervously.  “Good job. I admit I was nervous giving you this kind of responsibility, Discord, but it looks like you really got through to them.  Where did you take them anyway?” “Oh just somewhere over the rainbow…” Discord responded whimsically. Unseen by all, the sun smiled and winked.