//------------------------------// // Preparing to Leave // Story: MY LITTLE YAMATO // by RDFan1701 //------------------------------// Following the council meeting Equestria was thrown into a chaotic rush. Ponies far and wide were called upon to gather at the Canterlot Barracks. Scientists, Soldiers, Engineers, and Ponies who specialized in Astronomy all swarmed the small barracks. The chance to not only travel the stars, but to even have a a chance to bring about Equestria's revival, well even a foal could even see how big a chance that was. So they came in droves. However... "Oh...oh...but...it's so big...and dark." Fluttershy said as she cowered underneath her small bed. Her ears flopped down over her pink mane as she tried even harder to scoot under the bed. "Oh for the love of- Fluttershy, this ain't open for discussion." Applejack said dragging a hoof over her eyes, "Princess Celestia said that we ALL are going. Not jus' Twilight an the rest of us. Besides, we'll need someone to come with us that knows how to take care of pets on board a space ship." Fluttershy looked up a little, "You're...you're bringing pets into space?" she asked with a small sign of warming up to the idea. "Ah course we are! Where else would we leave 'em? Can't have some stranger watching over our pets now can we?" Applejack said offering out a hoof to help Fluttershy out from under the bed. "But what if something bad happens?" Fluttershy asked out of the blue. Applejack was momentarily stopped by the question, even she hadn't thought of that. Applejack took a moment to ponder it, "Fluttershy, you know I wouldn't lie to you. It is going to be dangerous that's for darn sure. But we'll all be together, and you know when we're together we always make out ok. Now, come on, don't you want to play in the grass and fly with all your animal friends in the sun again?" Fluttershy took Applejack's hoof and slowly emerged from the bed, "Yes I do." she replied with a bit more confidence than before. Applejack smiled and let her hoof drop back to the floor. "Now that's the spirit! Come on grab your stuff!" Applejack said walking around behind Fluttershy and giving her a soft kick with one of her hooves. Fluttershy jumped but nodded as she started moving about the room and gathering her things. Down the hall however things were in a total opposite swing as Rainbow Dash and Twilight scrambled to gather their things. Despite having lost her brother, Twilight pressed on. In fact, if anything, Twilight's heart was set aflame by her brother's passing. Rainbow watched her as she went around the room stuffing books and other such items into her small bag. Twilight's horn glowed as the 'Make-it-Small' spell worked in rapid succession with each book being piled inside. "Twilight, are you ok?" Rainbow Dash asked for what seemed to Twilight, the hundredth time. Twilight sighed out in reply, "I'm fine. I'm going to be fine, and I will stay fine." Twilight closed the bag and turned to face the door, "I wish you'd stop asking that. It's really starting to bug me." she concluded by opening the door with a swift kick instead of a gentle tug with her magic. Rainbow looked as if she swallowed nails as she opened her mouth to speak but snapped it shut again. She couldn't help but worry about Twilight. Not even a week had passed yet and Twilight all but seemed back to normal. Perhaps a little quieter but other than that nothing seemed out of her ordinary. Wake up, visit the Library, eat, read, more visits to the Library, speak to Princess Celestia about the mission, then back to the lunch room to eat, then spend the rest of the day reading or practicing flying where she could and then back to bed. Even still, Rainbow didn't like how easily she slipped into her old routine. Even Rarity had commented once, 'She's coping in the best way she can but...it's strange that she's so quick to ignore what happened.' Rainbow watched the door for a few moments before it hung loosely after it was assaulted by Twilight's hooves. She snapped out of her moment of daydreaming. Then proceeded to walk over to the small footlocker in front of her bed. That was when she heard the door open, without looking back she asked. "Forget something Twilight?" "I'm afraid you've got the wrong Pony." Responded a regal voice that was both young and nervous. Rainbow turned with an eyebrow raised as she looked at the Pink Alicorn standing before her, "Princess Cadance! I'm so sorry, I thought you were..." "I know Rainbow Dash. Don't worry yourself about it." Cadance replied as she stepped inside the room. Looking around curiously as if searching for something. Rainbow rubbed a hoof on the back of her neck, "So uh...what can I do for you Princess?" she asked once Cadance was inside completely and breaking the brief but awkward silence that had fallen across the room. Cadance remained silent as she looked down at the desk, her eye catching sight of a small piece of paper on the floor next to it. She lowered her head down closer to it, noticing a shine to the back of it. Her horn glowed as she lifted the paper up off of the floor and turned it around in front of her. A small smile formed on her lips as she saw what was on the paper. On the paper was a clearly editted photo of the six friends surrounding the newly married Cadance and Shining Armor. The photo was made shortly after the wedding and Cadance had given this particular one to Twilight herself before setting off to rule the Crystal Empire Fiefdom. A tear formed in her eye as she remembered giving it to Twilight, Shining Armor waiting on the train platform waiting for them to- "Princess? Are you alright?" Rainbow Dash interrupted breaking Cadance's thoughts off of the past. "I'm...well I miss him." she said quietly replying to Rainbow Dash's question. "Though I'm sure she misses him more." Cadance turned the photo to show Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash in turn blinked and sat down on the bed with her ears dropped. "I didn't even know she had that." Rainbow sighed, "How does she go on?" she asked concerned, curious, and quiet. Cadance placed the photo down on the desk next to Rainbow Dash, "Probably because she knows that it's what he would have wanted. Shining Armor constantly drove her forward, taught her never to give up, even when things seem the darkest and when things will never be the same." Rainbow looked at her hooves as Cadance spoke, "You should have seen them both when they found out that their parents had died in a planet bomb attack. They became even more inseparable...if that was even possible to begin with." she giggled remembering what she had heard when they had found out that Canterlot had been bombed, "BBBFF and little sis as they liked to call themselves. They helped each other get through the tough times and now..." she paused, "Twilight is all on her own." "That's not true." Rainbow said stopping Cadance. She pushed off the bed and put a hoof on Cadance's shoulder, "She has you, me, and the rest of her friends." Cadance smiled and nodded slowly, "Yes, that she does." Cadance lifted the photo up again with her magic and placed it on top of Rainbow Dash's bag. "Hold onto it for her, give it to her when you think she would need it the most." Cadance said stepping away from the embrace. Rainbow Dash nodded and gripped the zipper of the bag and zipped it closed. "And another thing." Cadance said as Rainbow turned to face her again. "Yes?" Rainbow asked, curious as to what Cadance had to add. "Keep an eye on her?" Cadance asked with a tone that both carried worry and sadness. Rainbow nodded, "Always have, always will." With that and a nod between the two, Rainbow exited the room and headed towards the transport rotunda.