Twilight sat in the Central Meeting Room, listening as Flash Sentry went on about his plans for the Crystal Empire. As the sister of Shining Armor, Twilight was a high-ranking member of the rebellion, and so was required to attend these meetings.
"So in a few days time, we'll send our task force to the Crystal Empire on an airship. I've already written to Princess Cadence about the matter, and hopefully she'll send a reply my way soon."
"A letter?" A stallion spoke up. "Why not just call them?"
Technology had greatly improved since Equestria became the Lunar Republic. Writing letters had become a rarity years ago when the radio was first introduced. Then as technology improved even more, phones were set up all over the Republic, and soon even relaying a message from Everfree to Vanhoover was a simply video call away.
"The Crystal Empire isn't a part of the Republic." Flash reminded the Earth Pony who spoke up. "Naturally, Emperor Midnight has chosen not to share information of the technological advancements the Republic has made to other nations, so the Crystal Empire has only recently developed radios. Unfortunately, their signals are not strong enough for us to reach them."
"General Flash!" A pony galloped into the meeting room. "A group of Republic airships are heading towards the mountain!"
"Activate the alarms." Flash commanded. "Get as many ponies to the lower levels as you can. If they plan on bombing us the upper levels of the bunker might not survive. The rest of you, get down as far as you can. I'm going to make sure everypony makes it!"
The attack alarm began ringing as Twilight and the rest of the ponies in the meeting room got up and made their way to the nearest elevator.
"Sweet! An bombing drill!" A pegasus hoof-pumped as she flew out of another room towards the elevator.
"This isn't a drill!" Twilight said. "There are airships heading towards us."
"Airships, huh?" The rainbow-maned pegasus smirked. "I could probably deal with them."
"Nobody is allowed leave the bunker." Flash said. "If the airships aren't targeting us, attacking them could blow our cover."
"Fine." The pegasus landed on the floor and walked beside Twilight.
"I haven't seen you around before." Twilight said to the mare. "What's your name?"
"Name's Rainbow Dash." The pegasus answered with pride. "I just finished cadet training."
"I'm Twilight Sparkle." Twilight walked into the crowded elevator with Rainbow. "I'm Shining Armor's sister."
"Nice to meet you Twilight. Sorry for your loss. Shining Armor was my hero." Rainbow sighed.
"Thanks." Twilight said simply. Looking down at her hooves.
The elevator arrived at the lowest floor of the bunker, which was specially designed for emergencies. The entire floor was one big huge room that was meant to keep everyone in the entire bunker safe from attack. The thick metal walls could endure even the strongest explosives the Republic had to offer, but first they'd have to break through the face of the mountain to even make a dent on the bunker.
"The blast doors will be closing in 1 minute." A voice boomed over the loudspeaker. Ponies were beginning to settle down and the crowds entering the floor were noticeably smaller.
"I always imagined a Republic attack on the base would be a lot less.... boring." Rainbow said as she sat down beside Twilight. "Waiting down here wondering what's going on sucks."
"Honestly, I feel a lot safer down here than I do upstairs, Shining Armor always told me that even the Republic's strongest bombs wouldn't make a dent on the walls."
"Safe? Joining the rebellion means tossing your safety out the window. Fighting for what's right. Why did you even join if you don't feel safe?"
"Well, I-"
"The blast doors will be closing in 10 seconds." The voice over the loudspeaker announced. Two unicorn guards were already preparing to pull the heavy, re-enforced doors shut."
"WAIT!" A pony cried as she ran down the hallway from the elevator to the blast doors.
"Don't tell me." Rainbow facehoofed.
A white unicorn with a purple mane narrowly made it through the doors before they were sealed shut. She was pulling behind her several racks of new rebel uniforms.
"Rarity." Rainbow walked over to the unicorn. "Did you seriously risk your life just to save these clothes?"
"Oh, but Rainbow Dash, I've been working so hard on these new uniforms since General Flash commissioned me to design them. I simply couldn't leave them behind to be burnt to a crisp. Surely you must understand." Rarity explained as she moved the racks of clothes against a nearby wall.
"Rainbow's right." Twilght joined the conversation. "If you didn't get here when you did you would've been locked out, once the doors are closed there's absolutely no exceptions."
"Pardon me." Rarity turned to Twilight and Rainbow. "But, you are?"
"Twilight Sparkle." Twilight answered.
"Twilight Sparkle!?" Rarity gasped. "Shining Armor's sister? Oh, I'm so sorry for how I just spoke to you, how rude of me. I promise I'll make it up to you."
"I didn't think you were very ru-"
"Oh, I know, I'll make you a nice ensemble in case you ever need to go on a dangerous mission. Oh yes, I'll get started as soon as we're out of here." Rarity began to sketch her design on a piece of paper.
"Really that's not necessar-"
"Nonsense. Ever since I heard about your brother's... unfortunate passing, I thought I should do something just for you to show my condolences." The unicorn smiled.
"Really? But we don't even no each other." Twilight said.
"I don't want to hear another word about it, I'm making you an outfit and that's final." Rarity shushed Twilight.
"Thank you?"
For the next half hour everybody was kept in the emergency level until the threat was clear. Flash had made an announcement over the loudspeaker saying that he didn't want to resume operations until the airships were out of site.
"Ugh! I can't take this anymore!" Rainbow moaned. "Could they not at least put a couple TVs in here or something?"
"So we could listen to Republic-controlled news?" Twilight asked. "I hear that's all that's ever on now."
"To be honest, I quite like it down here. It's warm, has a nice color scheme, and the lighting is just perfect for me to put my finishing touches on these uniforms." Rarity had also brought a sewing machine with her and after making sure the floor was clean, continued working on her project.
"Do you ever take a break?" Rainbow asked.
"Not really, no." Rarity replied without even looking up from her work.
"Alright everypony, the airships are out of sight and you're all free to get back to work." Flash announced over the loudspeaker as the blast doors opened and pones began to pile out."
"Finally!" Rainbow stood up and stretched. "I hope we never have to come back down here again."
"Need some help Rarity?" Twilight walked over to her new friend, who had began to pack away her things.
"Oh, if you don't mind Twilight. Just, don't crease them please." Rarity winced.
Eventually everypony had moved back upstairs. Besides a small argument about Rainbow Dash allowing one of the uniforms to drag along the floor on the way upstairs, everything went smoothly and ponies were soon back to work.
"We should go check on the Animal Center." Rainbow said as the three ponies left the room where the new uniforms were being stored. "They're probably all shook up after this and Fluttershy could use some help."
"Hm, I didn't take you for an animal pony, Rainbow Dash." Rarity chuckled.
"Tank is down there." Rainbow replied sternly. "I know the little guy doesn't take well to loud noises, and he's probably worried about me."
"I need to get back to the meeting room." Twilight said. "Flash was briefing us about a plan for the Crystal Empire and it's pretty important so I think he'd want to resume as soon as possible."
"That's fine, darling." Rarity smiled. "I understand Flash Sentry must be overworked lately, what with his new position and all."
"Rarity and I are meeting up with some other ponies in the dining hall tonight for dinner. There'll be an extra seat if you wanna join us." Rainbow offered.
"Thanks Rainbow, I'll try to make it." Twilight replied "I don't know how long this meeting's gonna go on for."]
"Oh I do hope you'll come!" Rarity said. "I'd really like you to meet the rest of our friends, they're really nice ponies and I understand that you might be feeling a little... upset lately about your brother, and we just want you to know that we're always here for you Twilight."
"Thank You." Twilight smiled. She'd only known these two for a little over an hour and they were being so nice to her.
"Could Twilight Sparkle please report to the Central Meeting Room. Twilight Sparkle." A voice announced over the loudspeaker.
"Better go." Twilight said as she stepped into the elevator. "I'll see you all later, I hope."
"We hope so too, darling." Rarity said as she and Rainbow turned to walk down the hallway to the Animal Center.
Twilight had never met ponies who'd been so nice to her after such a short time knowing her. Hopefully the rest of their friends would be this kind.