//------------------------------// // 15 - Calling in Reinforcements // Story: Ponies on Bronies // by Ravenmane //------------------------------// I remained there, wondering, planning, waiting for Scootaloo to barge in and ask what Rainbow and I were talking about. I wasn’t met with the last of these, which vexed me even more. I thought I could understand the crusaders enough to ferret out Scootaloo’s actions at least ninety percent of the time, but I suppose that my mind also had the concept of what Rainbow Dash would consider “packing up” as. I picked myself up and checked outside. The storm had been settling and my mind was transfixed on an agenda. “Girls,” I called as I headed back downstairs, “I think it’s time you headed off to the farm.” Hats, scarves and the three fillies trying to open the closet were what awaited me when I got to the front door. I simply rolled my eyes and gave them a hand so I could fetch my coat, gloves, and Rarity’s most recent scarf. It was a strange thing really; she started to work both Dash and Twilight into some stuff with this scarf being no exception. She tried to fade a purple half into a cyan one and I thought she did a good job, while she fretted over it every second as she gave it to me. “We’re going out to Fluttershy’s first, but then it’s off to Sweet Apple Acres okay?” “So, why are we going to see Fluttershy first,” asked Sweetie Belle. “It’s about what Rainbow and I talked about,” I said plainly. Almost as soon as we left my house however, I learned exactly what Dash meant by a lot of ice. “You okay Al,” called Scootaloo from the front door. I gave them a thumbs up from my place on the ground. “Shoulda listened to Rainbow but I’m okay.” It was a painstakingly slow process down the hill, but Applebloom’s nearly all terrain hoof skills helped guide the other crusaders and me to the dirt road that led in one direction towards Fluttershy’s, the other into town. ***** “Fluttershy,” I called as I rapped my hand against the door. “Fluttershy, the storm’s over and we need to have a little talk.” “She’s on her way,” called Sweetie Belle as she skirted around the house. She and her fellow crusaders quickly came into view. “Good hustle girls,” I told them encouragingly. “Just remember I-” “Don’t condone this stuff on a regular basis,” finished Applebloom. “You’ve told us a million times now an’ Ah know we should know better.” “If we should know better then why do we still do it,” harped Scootaloo. “Cause we’re gullible,” answered Sweetie Belle nervously. “The show really sells that doesn’t it?” “Ah think it shows we’re never gonna get our cutie marks,” squealed Applebloom. “Now, now girls,” I said as I tried to remain calm, “you’ll get your cutie marks. You just need some patience. These sorts of things take time.” My ears perked at the slow opening of the front door. “Um yes,” agreed Fluttershy from the tiny sliver of exposed doorframe. “Can I help you with something Alex?” “Having trouble facing me Fluttershy,” I asked her back. “Um no, it’s just that it’s really cold outside. I don’t really feel like going out and doing anything.” “Well, I kinda wanted as much help as I could get. See it’s like this, Rainbow’s gonna try to sell her house and move down and into my place. We’re gonna need help moving things and I was wondering if you’d at least help her pack things up.” Much to my surprise the door fully opened, revealing the demure pegasus with a scarf and boots already on. “You can count on me Alex.” “Why do I get the feeling you’ve been rehearsing this?” “Oh, I’ve um… I hoped you would ask them soon. If Twilight needs some help, I’ll be more than happy to help her too. Right now, I’ll go and help Rainbow Dash pack up.” “Thanks,” I told her awkwardly. I only intended for Fluttershy to help because I’d need Twilight for a cloudwalking spell or a pair of those gossamer wings but I know how much she’d yell at me about some sort of favoritism. This train of thought would be coming from the unicorn who got me a set of How to Please Your Mare books so who could say anymore? “Thanks a bunch Fluttershy, I hope to see you soon.” “Well, what are you going to do Alex?” “Drop these three off and see if I can get help for moving Twilight of course.” I smiled as she slipped outside and closed the door behind her. “I need to be responsible and considerate of both of them Fluttershy.” “Good,” she said calmly. “Be good or you’ll have to answer to momma Fluttershy.” Her tone hadn’t changed but it sent chills down my back. I stood there, frozen in my fear of ‘momma Fluttershy’ would do to me as she flew off towards the skyward home. “Ah think she broke him,” commented Applebloom. “She scared me,” I said bleakly. “Let’s go before I catch cold in my fear.” My first few steps from Fluttershy’s doormat were stiff but I soon regained my stride as the crusaders and I went off towards town. ***** We stopped every few feet after Sweet Apple Acres came into view; something was following us. “How long’s this going to keep going Applebloom,” I asked the eager filly. “Ah don’t know, but it’s creepin me out too.” Scootaloo peered back from behind my legs. “Hey Pinkie Pie,” she called. “Shh, Alley isn’t supposed to know,” the party pony practically yelled back. I was restraining as much as I could to spin around and yell at Pinkie now that I knew she was the culprit. “Pinkie!” “Um oopsie?” I turned to glare at her. “Don’t ‘oopsie’ me Pinkamena Diane Pie.” “Please don’t be mad with her,” pleaded Scootaloo. “It’s my fault too Alex.” My anger boiled over into an idea. “I’ll forgive you both if Pinkie does something for me,” I said with a grin ripe with a cruel plot. “What’s the plan Alley,” she asked me eagerly. I started to head back towards my intended destination, causing everyone to follow along. “Head into town and nab Rarity’s help. We’re moving Twilight and Rainbow in. All of us need to have a talk too.” “You sure Alley? I mean, you guys are ready for it?” “Ready or not, Rainbow’s moving in. If Twilight doesn’t want to then she at least needs to know Rainbow’s moving in today.” “Gotcha, I’ll get Rarity and we’ll meet you at the library.” “And I’ll see if AJ is willing to help as well. If we’re moving Twilight in or not we still have to have a talk, best not to startle all of our friends.” “Oooh, sounds good Alley, see you soon.” Pinkie gave me a wave and darted off towards town. “Sooo, Rainbow Dash is gonna be staying with you now Alex,” asked Scootaloo. “That’s right Scootaloo, but I don’t want you to just up and visit cause she’s living with me. I think she’d consider it a little rude after a while, after her ego’s swollen enough.” “After whose ego is swollen enough,” called a voice from the farmhouse. I’d hardly realized just how far we’d been going both with and without Pinkie nearby. “Well, part of the reason we’re here AJ,” I called back. “Rainbow’s moving in and I’d like a helping hoof in case Twilight wants to move in too. Feel like helping out?” “Ah don’t know, Big Mac’s in town gettin some supplies and it’s just me an’ Granny Smith here. Maybe if you three decide to act a little civilized around her then Ah can.” ***** After a little begging, a dash of pleading, and the assurance that the three fillies could use some time cuddled up near a fire if we conversed for too long AJ was more than willing to come along. “So, stuff’s goin all right,” Applejack asked me as we started heading into town. “That it is AJ,” I replied pleasantly. “Rainbow’s trying to find a buyer for her house but right now, she’s moving in.” “So you’re enlistin me for what now?” “Well, I think we all need to sit down and talk about something as a group. I mean there’s some stuff the three of us should share with the rest of you and I think we should before it happens rather than after. That said, I think when I go and tell Twilight that Dashie’s moving in she might also want to move in. I mean, we’ve been talking about it for a while and-” “Sounds like a tough call Alex. Ah mean you’re lettin Rainbow in and just tellin Twilight now? Why aren’t you all talking about it in your little group meetings?” “AJ, we’ve all been talking about it for a while and I think it’s about time. Dash came and visited me already, so let’s see how Twilight takes it. If she wants or needs help moving I wanted to get as much help as I could.” “Do I look like some movin pony to you?” “No AJ, you look like a friend who I can count on when you want to know the truth about something. I mean did you even flinch when you first heard that the three of us were trying to make the whole relationship work?” “To be honest, I gave ya a week before everythin would fall apart.” Hearing her say that made my heart sink a little. “Now, Ah think you three are good for each other. It’ll work an you don’t have to be a genius to see that.” I smiled broadly, hearing her sound confident was far better. “How about we go and meet up with Pinkie and Rarity then.” “What about Fluttershy? Is she helpin Rainbow?” “Yep, the rest of us aren’t able to walk on clouds so it made the most sense.” “Then when we’re all done, you wanna talk about some stuff right?” I looked out in front of us, seeing Pinkie waving her hoof excitedly outside of Carousel Boutique. “Exactly.”