//------------------------------//
// Words of Encouragement 
// Story: Tales of the Battle Foals 
// by Sirdubya 
//------------------------------//

The once toasty makeshift abode within the ruins was now cold and unwelcoming as if their air conditioner went haywire, if they actually had one. The only thing keeping them warm was Fire Fight’s heat spell. They all gathered in the room where they dined together before the incursion. All they could do now was wait and hope.

“So, uhh… Nice to meet you, Valkyrie. Don’t think we’ve said that yet.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Oh! Yeah, you too, kid.” Valkyrie said. “Hey. How’d you find those cannons anyway?”

“The ghost showed us!” Scootaloo answered.

Everyone looked at them like they were crazy. “Ghost? But we didn’t hire any dead butlers!” Crazylocks said.

“Really? ‘Cause it wrote on the wall and told us where to go.” Applebloom said. 

“Sure you’re not talkin’ about Shadow Sh-” Valkyrie said but was promptly cut off by Spiral Galaxy practically strangling her with a gravity ring around her neck until the armed fowl started turning blue. Spiral vigorously shook her head while cartoonishly grimacing. “Huh?”

“Shadow who?” Scootaloo asked.

Valkyrie’s eyes widened. “Oh! U-U-Uhh… Sh-Shadow… something or other, full name’s not coming back. Yeah, he’s the ghost of… the warden that ran this joint! W-Well, that was his nickname anyway. Super nasty dude! Yeah…” Even under her blanket of fur and feathers, Valkyrie could be seen sweating more bullets than Kickback has ever fired. She could practically feel a certain ninja staring kunai into her soul. “<Rip…>” she whispered.

An inquisitive stare from all three fillies pulled on the tension in the room like a game of tug-of-war. “Okay…?” Sweetie Belle said. “So why did he bother helping us?”

“Ah, well. You know… Probably didn’t want to see his precious prison get turned into a freezer.” Valkyrie said. “Oh, hey! There he is right there!” She pointed to a random empty space in the courtyard outside. I uhh… can see his spirit with my Valhalla! Heh. Stay feathered my brother!” she flashed a peace sign.

Turf War internally facehooved. “<Did this b**** really just do that?>” he thought.

“A-Alrighty then…” Applebloom said. “Well… Reckon all we can do is wait.” She solemnly sat down.

“So… on a brighter note, you guys were all kinds of awesome!!” Scootaloo said.

“Thanks…” Fire Fight muttered. 

“No, really! I know those two guards died, but… I honestly thought we were doomed! You guys really are heroes!” Scootaloo said.

“We’re flattered…” Quantum Tech muttered.

“Jeez! Enough being such debby downers! We just slew a titan, my dudes. Just gotta move on sometimes.” Valkyrie said.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Fire Fight said, suddenly reminiscing the trying events of both Gene Splice and Greensprout discovering her parents.

“The princesses are gonna be really happy to have y’all helpin’ to put down whatever varmint’s popped up.” Applebloom said.

“All of Equestria at that!” Sweetie Belle said, smugly winking at her friends.

“Oh, sure. Everypony will be so happy to reward the violent little delinquents.” Bullseye said.

“Ugh! Didn’t we tell you that they felt sorry?” Sweetie Belle said.

“How much of a difference does it make? It’s not like all of us are gonna be very welcomed back all that much anyway, even after we defeat Mystery Enemy X.” Tidal Wave said.

“Now ain’t that just some o’ the biggest pig butter Ah’ve ever heard!” Applebloom said. “Ponies just didn’t see behind… how admittedly dangerous y’all can be. Who said all you could ever do with yer skills is fight?”

“Fire Fight, do you remember when we first met and you showed off your skills?” Scootaloo asked.

“Yeah, I remember.” Fire Fight said. “I beat up a bunch of thugs and got made into an outcast for it!”

“No, no, no! I meant before that when you put on that little fire show for us. That was freaking rad!” Scootaloo said. 

“Even when you protected us from that actor, you were so brave! Much braver than any of us would’ve been. You should be proud. I’ve heard that most of Celestia’s guards can’t even look a manticore cub in the eye… Err… bad time to mention that.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Besides, yer parent’s n’ that Film Noir lady r’ awful worried about ya, amongst everypony else.” Applebloom said.

Fire Fight gazed at the flaming drake upon his flank. Now that he was free from the confines of civilization, he thought he’d be able to look at it proudly. Now that he was… he felt it almost glaring at him, as if disappointed. He’d been having the greatest adventure he could ever have asked for; and yet he couldn’t shake a feeling of emptiness, that same emptiness that has crept into his heart the night before he ran away.

The CMC then turned to Turf War. “And you’re Turf War, right?” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, it’s yo’ boy.” He answered.

“We haven’t heard a ton, but mah sister said you were real brave too in Detrot, going up against gangs n’ all by yer lonesome.” Applebloom said.

Turf War rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I did. Then one o’ the cops had to turn out to be a li’l bi- er… you know what, I ain’t even gonna tone that down! I ain’t saying it in front o’ y’all, but ya know.” He ranted. “How I’m supposed to care for a city that don’t even care for itself?”

“Got some news for you, dude: that cop was caught and arrested; probably because of you!” Scootaloo said.

Turf War perked up. “For… For real? Curfew got put in the doghouse?”

“He sure did!” Sweetie Belle said. She went on to explain how he was found with the gang members knocked out in the warehouse where they had fought him.

“Damn… How’s the city been after that?” Turf War asked.

“Can’t say we know, but I remember reading a statement from one of the other officers over there that they wished you were still around. Guess they were too embarrassed that they needed your help.” Scootaloo said.

“Ya see? You were a big ray o’ hope in that city even nopony ever said. You always put everypony’s well-bein’ before yer own, and you were never afraid of anything. Ah couldn’t imagine a better hero. Maybe you’ve inspired Detrot more than ya realize now.” Applebloom said, causing the normally boisterous bastion to silently ponder to himself.

“Spiral Galaxy, right?” Sweetie Belle asked, turning to the unicorn.

Spiral sighed. “This oughta be good…”

“You’ll know once you listen.” Scootaloo said. “Not many ponies our age, or even just ponies in general can master magic like kosm… comoso… cosmamon…”

“Cosmomancy, darling.” Quantum Tech said.

“Yeah, that.” Scoots said. “The fact that you were able to take control of it is a freaking miracle! You could help all of Equestria better understand how space works and stuff.”

“You have gotten better control of it, haven’t you?” Applebloom asked.

Spiral shrugged. “Yeah, but… I’m not sure I wanna see everypony in Hoofington again.”

“They wanna see you again though.” Sweetie Belle said. “If you give them another chance, maybe they’ll do the same for you. Your parents and Princess Twilight sure will!” All she got was an unsure smile from the cosmic mage.

“You’re Air Slash?” Scootaloo asked the samurai.

“Correct.” He answered stoically.

“Ain’t you a proud member o’ the Bladerunner clan? You’ve already got plenty o’ respect from all of Equestria.” Applebloom said.

“Sadly my father is not amongst them…” Air Slash said.

“But we told you he was sorry! He wants to have an open talk with you.” Sweetie Belle said. “Besides, you’re already a hero in the making. Even if Equestria is usually peaceful, that doesn’t make warriors like you any less important; I’d be able to sleep a lot easier knowing somepony like you would be ready to protect me. I mean, you like being a Bladerunner, don’t you?”

Air Slash solemnly nodded. “Very much so. I… suppose I should humor him if what you say is true.”

“And you, Kickback…” Sweetie Belle said. The calm cowboy ever so slightly turned his head to them.

“You’re loved by everypony in Dodge City! And not just ‘cause… well…” Scootaloo blushed furiously. “You’re about the handsomest colt in all of Equestria…” she mumbled.

“Yeah! Yer a wonderful showpony that everypony loves to watch. Plus, yer just a right gentlecolt anyhow.” Applebloom said.

Kickback gazed at them for a moment before lowering his hat. “Ah reckon that ain’t so true any longer now that word’s gonna get out about mah mama…”

“Uh-uh! Yer papa never said it, but everypony’s been real supportive of him once they found out. They really want you back and to not feel like a criminal.” Applebloom said.

“As mildly extreme as that sounds.” Sweetie Belle said.

Kickback slowly lifted his hat up. “Well, I’ll be…”

“I don’t think we need to say much about you, Quantum Tech.” Scootaloo. “The only that held you back was your parents. You wanted to use your know-how to make all kinds of crazy gizmos to help ponies if you’re not already fixing stuff, right?”

Quantum impatiently fixed her glasses. “Quite so, but do you actually expect me to return to those toxic swines?”

“We saw them get hauled off by the guards after we figured what they did to you.” Sweetie Belle said.
Quantum perked up. “R-Really now?”

“Yeah! That coupled with your disappearance really got ponies talking about you. I’ll bet you’d get lots of help from Canterlot University or someone. Heck, there’s a scientist in our hometown, Ponyville who’d be interesting in working with you!” Sweetie Belle said.

“Oh, yes; Dr. Hooves! I’ve heard of the chap. Well… thank you for the kind words, I suppose.” Quantum said.

Applebloom turned to Zebota and his beast. “What’s yer story, Zebota?”

Zebota sighed as Shrapnel lightly licked the back of his neck. “Well you see…” He went on to explain his troubled past and how he eventually met the Battle Foals.

“Oh, wow…” Applebloom said. “Real sorry to hear all that. But you’ve already made friends with these ponies. Who says you can’t make friends with any others, even other griffons or dragons r’ whatnot?”

“My native culture is strange to many.” Zebota said. “I am blessed that the Battle Foals are so ready to accept me where others may fear me.”

“Ah don’t think ya give us enough credit, Zebota. We’ve really become less scared o’ outside stuff like that lately. Heck there’s a real nice Zebra lady where we live.” Applebloom said.

“Yes. I believe she is called Zecora? How did she come to live amongst your folk?” Zebota asked.

“Oh, wow!” Scootaloo said, not expecting him to know her. “Ok, admittedly, she’s never told us anything about her, so-”

“So perhaps she left our homeland to escape from it as well for whatever reason. I confess that my people can be overly strict for ridiculous reasons.” Zebota said.

“Then don’t worry about them so much. Besides, Zecora’s really accepting herself. Even your whole Beastcraft shtick is supposed to cursed or whatever, I’m sure she’ll look past that. You’re one of her own, dude. Besides, Shrapnel’s been a really good boy!” Scootaloo said, prompting the wooden titan to reward her with an affectionate lick.

“And how about you?” Scootaloo asked Greensprout.

“I’ve suffered no ill will from anypony, sister. Rather, I chose to follow Fire Fight and his friends on a quest of understanding.” Greensprout said.

“Oh, yeah! You n’ all them folks in Gardenia are real peaceful-like.” Applebloom said. “Did ya learn somethin’?”

Greensprout nodded. “I have. It’s not something I can explain well in summarization, so please bear with me.” She cleared her throat. “In short, hoping for peace isn’t enough. One must work towards it through whatever means you deem necessary so long as you keep the idea of peace in mind and at heart, no matter how tough and painful the journey ahead may be.”

“Ah’m sure that Abbot Meadow feller would love to hear that.” Applebloom said.

“So would Equestria! I bet it’d put a new spin on the idea of friendship.” Sweetie Belle said.

“Perhaps it would, sister…” Greensprout said.

“And Bullseye…” Scootaloo said.

“I already said I was sorry, didn’t I?” Bullseye said.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “And I already said I forgive you.” she said. “But whatever. You were a huge hit back in Trifectown. Lots of ponies loved watching you hit the… the ‘bullseye’ every time.”

“Tch! And they didn’t care if that wasn’t the only ‘Bullseye’ getting hit.” Bullseye said.

“That’s because they didn’t know. If you had said something sooner, you would’ve gotten help. When the princesses exposed them, the whole town just about booed them into oblivion as they were being hauled away.” Sweetie Belle explained. “You love archery, don’t you?”

Bullseye’s good eye glistened while her swollen one twitched. “It’s the only thing I know.”

“Not anymore. Now you’ve seen lots of Equestria with your new friends that’ve helped you heal along the way, haven’t you?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Yeah… Yeah, I guess you’ve got a point.” Bullseye said.

Crazylocks suddenly popped up next to her. “A point to be made is a friendly point indeed!” she said, getting a smile and chuckle out of the angsty archer.

“You’ve even gotten close with her! Imagine other foals like you. No, not ones that you run away with and go on scary adventures. I’m talking about foals that just need a good friend or at least somepony to look up to. You two are more than qualified to stand as reminders that the best medicine is being together.” Scootaloo said.

Bullseye looked at Crazylocks, who just looked back with that same cutely manic smile and proceeded to scratch with her hind leg like a dog. She smiled. “Wouldn’t solve world hunger, but what the hell.”

“I hunger for fresh milk again!” Crazylocks blurted.

“Maybe after she gets some much needed help…” Scootaloo mumbled. She then turned to Tidal Wave. “And you, sir…”

Tidal Wave gulped. “Uh, y-yeah?”

“We know you were bullied a bunch, n’ we’re real sorry about that.” Applebloom said.

“You and your dad both had it pretty hard, but you shouldn’t ever blame yourself for it.” Sweetie Belle said. “I don’t think I need to tell you that you’re pretty special. Not very many ponies like getting in the water anyway, but you’re made for it. You like it don’t you?”

Tidal Wave’s nerves eased as he thought about his aquatic affinity, and he gently smiled. “Yeah, I… I’m actually pretty happy with it.”

“Then you never had anything to be ashamed of to begin with!” Scootaloo said. “Look, I know what it’s like being a flightless pegasus- it sucks. But even if I’ll never be able to take to the skies, I’ve still been able to help lots of ponies with my friends. Who knows? Maybe you’ll grow up to be some foal’s swimming idol one day!”

“You… You think so?” Tidal Wave said. “That’s uh… really nice of you.”

They then finally turned to Frostbite, who was picking at his teeth. “And what’s your story, big feller?” Applebloom asked.

“Got made fun of for breathing ice and not fire, so I dipped. Simple as that.” Frostbite said. “Sorry if you thought I was a romantic.”

Applebloom giggled. “We weren’t. So maybe ya didn’t get along so well with other dragons. Well, now look how many friends you have! They didn’t have to be dragons, now did they?”

“Um, no duh.” Frostbite said.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Ok, bad example. But still, maybe you’d be a happier person if met more nice people. Ponies and dragons have started getting along a little better, so it’s worth a try.”

“There’s even a dragon working for Princess Twilight, and those two are inseparable!” Scootaloo said.

Frostbite noticeably perked up at that statement. “Oh, uh… cool.” He said, trying to play it off.

“Don’t you see? You guys all have so much more to offer to Equestria than you realize! We can’t tell you what your future’s are gonna be like, but if you stop running away from everything, maybe you’ll discover great new things about yourselves.” Scootaloo said.

All the Battle Foals could do was glance back and forth at each other. It felt as if that they no longer knew what they were running from or even accomplishing in spite of the disasters they’ve prevented.

“Just think about it while we’re waiting for Luna.” Sweetie Belle said.

Fire Fight suddenly felt a drop of water fall onto his head. When he looked up, he saw Shadow Shroud hidden on the ceiling, her face uncloaked and looking at him with tearful, lonely eyes…