//------------------------------// // A New Friend in Need // Story: Good Times in Equestria: Thomas at the School of Friendship // by GoebelTron //------------------------------// The next day, after school ended, Thomas and the Crusaders said goodbye to the Young Six and then went off to their clubhouse. “Okay, Thomas. So here’s how we do the work,” Apple Bloom said. “It’s our job to find out who needs help finding their true talents if they want to know who they really are.” “Wow...” Thomas said. “You’re really hardworking.” “Yep. We enjoy this since the day we’ve got our cutie marks,” Sweetie Belle said. “So, you just find out who needs help or they just come to you?” Thomas asked. “That’s right, or if we see them needing help,” Scootaloo said. “And it looks like...” They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of a little filly crying. She had pinkish gray fur, a curly pale light grayish arctic blue and light arctic bluish gray striped mane and tail with sandy white ribbons, moderate scarlet eyes, and her flank had a cutie mark of a chess rook. “Aww. She looks so sad. We better go see what's wrong,” Sweetie Belle said, and then they walked over to the filly, as she continued to cry. “What’s the matter? Are you okay?” Thomas asked. “Oh. Thank you for asking. But no. I'm having real trouble with...” she replied until she sniffled. “...the School of Friendship.” “How so?” Scootaloo asked. “Well, I'm in Twilight’s class, but...” She sniffed again. “...it's too hard!” She then cried again, before Thomas hugged the filly gently. “Really?” Sweetie Belle asked. “I just moved here to go to school, but everything's so new and different. I don't know anypony,” the filly replied. “Well, now you do. I'm Apple Bloom. This is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. We're the Cutie Mark Crusaders,” Apple Bloom replied. “This is Thomas. Thomas Mercer Shy, our little brother and best friend, and Fluttershy’s son.” The filly sniffed, and then replied, “I'm Cozy Glow. It's very nice to meet you, but I don't know if I'll stay long. I'll probably flunk out. I'm having so much trouble with my friendship lessons.” The Crusaders and Thomas gasped in shock and then came up with an idea. “We can help with those!” Sweetie Belle said. “We know all about friendship!” Scootaloo said. “And studyin' with you would be almost as good as bein' in class! Plus, we’re in class with all the professors, and so is Thomas!” Apple Bloom said. “But why would you help me? What's in it for you?” Cozy Glow asked. “That's how friendship works. When you give from your heart, you don't expect anything back,” Thomas replied, placing his hand on Cozy’s chest. “Well, golly, if you really mean it...” Cozy Glow said. “Uh-huh!” the four kids said in unison. “I could use some help with my homework. I have to do something nice for each of these ponies. But I don't know anything about them. And it's so hard to talk to ponies you've never met,” Cozy Glow said. “Well, you're in luck, 'cause we know all of those ponies!” Apple Bloom said. “Get ready for a friendship A-plus!” Scootaloo said. “Come on! We’ll show you how it works!” Thomas said as they went over to Ponyville. The five kids saw Bon Bon looking for a house plant. “That's Bon Bon. If you wanna do something nice for her, first you gotta figure out what she needs,” Scootaloo said. “Well, how am I supposed to do that?” Cozy Glow asked. “Just pay attention. Friendship is about listening to others,” Scootaloo said. A pony named Roseluck gave a cactus in a gift bag to Bon Bon, and as she was starting to walk home with it, the cactus started poking her face, “Ow. Ow.” “Uh-oh. That cactus keeps pricking her every step she takes. Hmm, if only there was something to protect her from those spines,” Thomas said, then he whispered an idea to Cozy Glow. Bon Bon winced, until she saw Cozy Glow walk over to the mare, “It looks like you need help carrying your cactus, so here's a safe way to take it home. Let me help.” “Thank you! That's so thoughtful,” Bon Bon said, and then she and Cozy Glow helped each other by carrying the cactus safely inside her house, and then Cozy Glow came back. “I did it!” “Good job!” Scootaloo said. “Oh, hello there!” Bon Bon said. “Hi!” the five replied. At Sugarcube Corner, the five were helping with refilling the rainbow sprinkle shakers. “Okay, and... done! Sorting all those took longer than I thought,” Sweetie Belle said. “You really think Mrs. Cake will also like these new sprinkle shakers full of other colored sprinkles?” Cozy Glow asked. “Mm-hmm. Now she won't have to just use rainbow sprinkles all the time. She can just pick the color she wants!” Sweetie Belle said. “Auntie Pinkie Pie will like it, too!” Thomas said, until the bell rang. “Ooh! I'm sorry, I was out to lunch. Were you fillies waiting for me long?” Mrs. Cake asked, coming back from a lunch break. “No. Um, these are for you!” Cozy Glow said, giving the baker mare the sprinkle shakers. “Oh, well, what a lovely surprise! I can't wait to try them out!” Mrs. Cake said as she sprinkled the sprinkles on the cake. “Look! I made rainbow sprinkles! Aren't they wonderful?” “But... she... I...” Cozy Glow groaned. “At least she likes her present?” Sweetie Belle asked, while Mrs. Cake offered Thomas a vanilla milkshake. “Uh-huh...” Cozy Glow said. Big Mac bucked a few trees, but suddenly no apples fell down, until he looked and saw the Crusaders, Thomas and Cozy Glow with the buckets full of apples, until he smiled with a nod and whistled while walking away. “Golly. How'd you know that would make him so happy?” Cozy Glow asked. “Friendship means pitchin' in to help others' chores go faster. 'Specially when their special somepony's waitin' for 'em,” Apple Bloom said, as they saw Big Mac carrying his cart towards the next tree. The school bell rang, and the Crusaders and Thomas walked out of the school, but were suddenly stopped by Cozy Glow crashing into them, “Guess what! I got an A on my homework!” Scootaloo and Thomas cheered. “Nice goin'!” Apple Bloom said. “And I never could have done it without your help!” Cozy Glow said. “No problem!” Sweetie Belle said. “We just wish we could have done more,” Scootaloo said. “Actually, you can. Headmare Twilight is giving us a big test at the end of the week, and I could really use your help studying,” Cozy Glow said, as she made a cute face by placing her hoof on her cheek. “Well, we have the same test too, but why don’t we all study together, and try to help Cozy?” Thomas suggested, and then the Crusaders nodded in agreement. Later on, the five young ones went to the park for a picnic, and then set up a few baskets full of apples and carrots, until Cozy Glow found Angel eating a carrot. Thomas showed a flash card of Rarity’s cutie mark, until Cozy Glow made a guess, “Um... intelligence?” Thomas facepalmed his head. The Crusaders and Thomas, along with Cozy Glow were painting Applejack’s barn until the cans of paint accidentally fell onto Cozy Glow, causing the Crusaders and Thomas to lightheartedly laugh, until Cozy Glow giggled. The five young ones now helped Thomas’s mother Fluttershy feed the birds, until Apple Bloom caught Cozy Glow hiding bird feed underneath the carpet, until they giggled with each other. Sweetie Belle then showed a sketch of Pinkie Pie’s element, until Cozy Glow knew the answer, “Laughter?” “Yes!” Sweetie Belle said, then pointed at Twilight’s element. “Is it... control?” Cozy Glow guessed. Thomas and Sweetie Belle made disappointing looks at each other. Cozy Glow helped Pipsqueak get his kite off the tree and helped make it fly again. Thomas then showed Cozy Glow the elements his mother and aunts represent. Cozy Glow then remembered, “Kindness! Loyalty! Honesty! Generosity! Laughter! Magic!” The five young ones then cheered for Cozy’s excellence. Thomas and the Crusaders cheered for their grades on their test. “Wow! My first A+!” Thomas said. “Yeah! We studied really hard!” Scootaloo said. They suddenly saw Cozy Glow walk out with a sad face. “How'd the test go for ya?” Apple Bloom asked. “Were the essay questions good?” Sweetie Belle asked. Did you remember what we taught you?” Scootaloo asked. Thomas then felt concerned about Cozy’s reaction, “What’s the matter?” “I... failed!” Cozy Glow replied, before running off crying. “But how could Cozy Glow fail her friendship test?” Apple Bloom asked. Thomas then thought of an idea, and then they all went somewhere to get help. Later on, they were at Twilight’s office, until they saw her behind her desk. “Umm... A-Auntie Twilight?” Thomas asked, until they saw her turn around, but suddenly looked at them with concern, as she got off her chair and walked over to them. “Is something wrong?” Twilight asked. “It’s... It’s about Cozy Glow’s friendship test,” Apple Bloom replied. “We’ve helped her study for it, but not like this.” “It was my fault this happened. I’m sorry, Auntie Twilight,” Thomas said, as Sweetie Belle placed her hoof on his shoulder. “Let me see,” Twilight said, and then Thomas handed over the paper to his aunt, and then she looked over it one more time. “This is a pretty bad grade.” Thomas then started to feel more guilty, so he went to her and hugged her chest, but she smiled warmly and then hugged him back, “It’s okay, sweetie. You don’t need to worry about it anymore.” Thomas then looked up at her and nodded back. “We’re sorry, Twilight. We thought if she’d pass her test, she’d be able to enroll here,” Apple Bloom said. “Yeah. After all that studying,” Scootaloo said. Twilight then realized what they were doing, and then smiled warmly about how proud she was, and then she saw Starlight and the other Mane 6 walking over to them, and brought back Cozy Glow. “Twilight, I think I found out how this happened,” Starlight said. “So, it wasn’t our fault?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Not exactly. Just the opposite. Cozy Glow, is there something you'd like to say?” Starlight asked. “This is all my fault. I messed up my test on purpose so we could all go to school together. I'm sorry,” Cozy Glow said, until Thomas hugged the filly. “Thank you, Cozy Glow. Honesty is one of the pillars of friendship,” Twilight said. “And we’re so proud of how well you’ve helped tutor this sweet filly,” Rarity said. “And I’m proud of you, sweetheart,” Fluttershy said. “Thank you, Momma,” Thomas said, giving her a hug. “So, I suppose we have a place for Cozy Glow at this school?” Sunset asked. “Definitely,” Twilight said. “Cozy? Friends?” Thomas asked, reaching out for a handshake. “Yeah. Friends,” Cozy Glow replied. “Why don’t you five darlings go out and get a treat? You’ve earned it,” Rarity said. “But don’t stay out too long,” Fluttershy said. “Okay!” The five young ones said as they ran out of the school and off to Sugarcube Corner for a treat.