//------------------------------// // Old and New Friends (Unedited) // Story: Born For Loyalty // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// Back again, sorry for the long wait. It has been a crazy past couple of weeks. First was heading to my folks house and reassuring them that I was fine and told them of my new title. I would have shown them the Element of Loyalty but Celestia took them back to Canterlot. That so sucks, the Element claimed me, it's MINE! So she just took them and pray to God that if something dangerous to need them will take it's sweet time for them to be brought to us or we to them. Such a bad idea. Anywhoo I am still perplexed that me of all ponies was chosen to bear Loyalty. Out of all the ponies in this world it chooses me, a human turned pony that is here solely because of the freak event. What would have happened if I wasn't here. To quote Marty McFly “this is heavy”. Still out of this I've become part of the strangest group of friends anypony can imagine. You already know of Flutters of course, still shy as ever. I quickly became friends with an earth pony mare named Applejack. We have friendly competitions on various things with each other. It's quite fun. Then there's Pinkie if there's one phrase to describe Pinkie it's this from Mythbusters. “I reject your reality and substitute my own.” I long ago stop trying to question how she does what she does for the sake of my sanity. She's a bit annoying but does know how to throw a party. Next up is Rarity, just as me and Applejack are very similar me and Rarity are so different. She's one of those high class kinds of ponies. Everything has to be proper and refined and is a genius in dress making from what I have seen and heard. But underneath that is a generous heart. Heck if I hadn't stopped her she would have cut off her one tail to ease that serpent's issues. Thankfully I stopped her and had her use her other talents. Seriously, hair grows back, just alter your style till it does. Saw it with my sisters all the time. Twilight, now Twilight was interesting. She ended up being Celestia's personal student and gives me a real professor vibe. She's book smart but little real world experience. Turns out me and the others are the first real friends she has ever made. She took over the library which hasn't been manned since old Dusty Tome retired five years ago and has quickly come to like our little town. Though not everything has been sunshine and rainbows, not even in this place. One day I was just doing my job then I saw a crowd of ponies chasing after Twilight and Spike. I saw them like that over two hours. I would have offered my place for them to hide in but they aren't pegasi and I don't think Twilight knows the spell that allowed unicorns to cloud walk. By sun down Twilight manage to lose the crowd and I went in to see if she was okay. It was dark at first then the light went on that she screamed. I couldn't blame her, our four friends had really creepy smiles on their faces. Turns out the whole thing was about a ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala. An event I only knew of because the Wonderbotls showed up during it. Didn't think that be the best way to get their attention so was never a concern for me. In an amazing moment Twilight actually gave up both tickets. Now I may not have an interest in this gala but I know it's a big thing for most ponies so that's a big sacrifice for her to make for us. Then they got a reply that included 6 tickets for the gala. SERIOUSLY!? Celestia had six tickets all along. That's just trolling the poor mare, jeeze. Give her a stressed day she didn't need to go through. Totally not cool. A few days after that we had a stampede of cows that were scared by a snake of all things. Well Applejack save the town and they wanted to reward her for it. However nopony had seen her since and when she did arrive she looked exhausted. After a series of mishaps including my meeting with Twilight's balcony she finally relented and allowed us all to help her out while her brother Big Mac was wounded. We had a nice drink after wards but Spike had to ruin it with those awful muffins. Seriously what's wrong with that guy? Well that's all for now, Rainbow Dash Dash still couldn't believe she was doing this. Then again it was hard to believe that Pinkie Pie could keep up with her speed. That pink pony always manage to be waiting for her where ever she went. Heck she looked back once and saw Pinkie hopping along like Pepe Le Pew. That was a low blow. She eventually gave up and was now moving a cloud around at Pinkie's commands. After a couple of minutes she had had it. “PINKIE!” “There that's perfect!” Responded Pinkie and Dash just sighed. Pinkie then went next to the window by the Town Hall door and watched inside. Dash saw the door open and then Pinkie gave the signal. Dash then bucked the cloud to get a lighting bolt out. Dash heard a yelp and she saw Spike on the ground hiccuping. Dash saw Pinkie laughing her flank off and Dash had to chuckle and even Spike took in stride. “Hey (hiccup) Pinkie (hiccup) nice (hiccup) one (hiccup) totally (hiccup) didn't (hiccup) that (hiccup) one (hiccup) coming.” Spike tried to pick up the pile of scrolls but every time he hiccuped his flame came out and the scroll was sent to Celestia. Especially that big pile. 'Hey Celestia, YOU GOT MAIL!' That image of Celestia buried in scroll really caused her to laugh. “Have you ever seen anything more hilarious?” Pinkie asked still laughing and Dash got an evil smirk. “I can think of one.” Dash replied then bucked the cloud again to get another bolt of lightning. Pinkie screamed and then started hiccuping herself. It was funny seeing Pinkie laugh while hiccuping. “I didn't take you as a pranksters Pinkie.” “Are you (hiccup) kidding? (hiccup). I love (hiccup) to pull (hiccup) pranks (hiccup). It's all (hiccup) good fun and (hiccup) Pinkie is all about fun (hiccup).” With that started an epic partnership of the two mares. They spent days pranking Ponyville. From giving Rarity some flowers with sneezing powder on them, to replacing Twilight's ink with invisible ink. Heck they spent all night painting Applejack's apples all with water paint. Their friends responded in various degrees. Rarity was just confused, Twilight had that annoyed look, and Applejack chased them throwing apples though Dash did hear some chuckling from the earth mare. She must have realized that the apples weren't ruined. It was a lot of fun. * * * * * Dash was on her way home with the sun setting behind her. She spent the day divided between work, stunts and pranks with Pinkie. She just wanted some time at home and crash. She landed in front of her door when she heard a voice say. “Hey Dash!” Dash went into a defense stance till she saw who it was that was on her porch. “Gilda!” Dash cheered and brohoofed her old friend. Dash then unlocked her door and said. “Come in, come in to my place.” Dash quickly moved to the side and allowed her griffon friend to enter her home. Gilda looked around the place and commented. “Nice digs Dash!” “Thank my mom, having been a top racer for years she has a lot of bits in her accounts. She and dad gave me this place as a birthday present.” “That's cool, hey what's with this flag?” Dash looked over and saw Gilda looking at the flag. “That's something I had my firend Rarity make not to long after I moved here. It's from my original home.” “Original home?” Gilda asked. “Remember I'm adopted. It's called the Stars and Stripes and it's important to me, anywho I was going to order pizza for supper, want anything special on yours? Note not sure if the local pizzeria has meat on the menu.” “I'll just have some cheese.” Gilda said with a shrug. Dash wrote down the order before rolling it up and put the appropriate seal on it and burnt it with a magical candle that sent it to the pizzeria. “So G, what brings you to Ponyville?” “Things in Griffonstone have been pretty lameo, so a decided to hang out with the coolest pegasus around. Not to mention the only being able to keep up with my speed.” “I think that's the other way around G.” Dash said with a smirk. “Well if you need a place to hang out, you are more then welcome to stay here. Tomorrow we can do some flying and at some point you can meet my other friends. They are a bit weird but I think they will like you.” "Sounds good. So what have you been up to since camp?" “Well became the Weather Pony for Ponyville and a couple weeks ago saved the world with my friends.” Gilda laughed hard. “Yeah right, tell me another story!” “It's true, remember that time where the sun didn't rise on time? Well that's because a big bad showed up and threatened eternal night. I was part of a group of six mares that beat her. I wish Celestia allowed us to keep the Elements. It was an awesome red lightning bolt for me. How about you?” “Eh, nothing worth note.” Gilda said with a shrug. Dash was going to press on more when the door bell rang. Pizza had arrived and the two friends ate in silence. “BURP!” Well near silence. * * * * * The next morning Pinkie had showed up with the wackiest getup and she and Gilda met but Dash had promised some flying time so they left Pinkie on the ground with a promise to hang out later. She flew through the air weaving and ducking through the clouds as an improvised obstacle course with Gilda close on her heels. She loved this feeling, of wind whipping through her mane and with a friend right behind her. None of the other pegasi in Ponyville could even keep close to her and forget Flutters. Flying was just not her thing. They spent a couple hours enjoying the freedom of flight, laughing often at the joy of it before they both landed on a low flying cloud laughing their flanks off. “Hey guys!” Dash heard a familiar voice say. “It's later.” 'Did I just see a Pinkie head?' Dash thought to herself. “And you said................... We'll hang...........out later!” Pinkie's head kept on disappearing and reappearing in the cloud. Dash looked over the side and saw how Pinkie was getting up to the cloud. She some how manage to get a trampoline under the cloud and was jumping on it to reach them. “Pinkie, you defy reality.” Dash said with a bit of awe and a chuckle. She then looked to Gilda and said. “I know she's a bit on the weird side but she's cool G.” Gilda just shrugged and looked up before a predatory glint got in her eyes. “Hey Dash, race ya to that cloud.” Dash grinned at her and they were off and soon they hit the cloud and Gilda was already bragging about winning. “Oh come on G, I totally won that race.” “No way, I totally beat ya there.” “Actually Dashie beat ya by a nose, literally.” Pinkie interjected floating up to them with a group of balloons. 'How did she inflate those so fast?' Dash thought to herself before pointing to Gilda with a smirk. “See, Pinkie keeps you honest and I will abide by her decisions on who wins.” Gilda didn't looked amused but shrugged. “Hey Dash, any new tricks or just the old ones.” Gilda asked and that got a smirk out of Dash. “Oh I got some new ones. You two are going to be blown away.” Dash took off and began a series of loops, banks, and rolls in unique combinations. This was her element and she enjoyed it. * * * * * After a few minutes she ended her impromptu show to only see her friend Gilda. “Hey, where's Pinkie?” “Oh she had things to do so she buzzed off.” “Really?” She just shrugged. “She could have at least said goodbye. So have you learned any new tricks too?” “HA! Just watch as I dazzle you with my tricks.” With that her friends took to the sky. Her tricks were much like Gilda's race; fierce, aggressive, and cutting. She enjoyed the show her friend put on and both went cruising over the town when she check the sun. “Hey G, I have some work I need to do so why don't you hang out around town and I'll meet you at Sugarcube Corner. No doubt Pinkie has a party planned for you.” “Alright cya later Dash.” With that Gilda broke away and headed for the town. She meanwhile headed for Sweet Apple Acres. It didn't take her long to get there and she surveyed the farm. Several clouds were over it thanks to Everfree and natural conditions. But Aj needed a sunny day today. Normally this would be a simple bucking job but the Carrots need some cover for their carrots and a cabbage guy needed some water on his cabbages. This will take a bit to get all done. With the cracking of her neck Dash got to the work. She first corralled the clouds into two piles. One for the carrots and the other for the cabbage guy. She had this done in a cinch. In minutes she had the clouds gathered she headed for the Carrots place. Once she had arrived she started spreading the first set of clouds to cover the key areas the Carrots wanted. She was detailed in the placement, wanting to get it just right for the farmers. After an hour she was done placing the clouds and looked over to where Danver Carrot was standing. The stallion look across the sky and gave a nod. “HEY DASHIE!” The yell surprised her and she looked around and quickly saw Pinkie waving at her. “Hey Pinkie, what's up?” “Throwing a party for your friend Gilda at Sugar Cube Corner in two and a half hours.” “SWEET! I'll be there no problem.” And with that Pinkie disappears, not run away or even hop away. Nope she literally disappears. Shaking her head at her friends antics she took the rest of the clouds to the cabbage guy. * * * * * * Dash got to Sugar Cube Corner about twenty minutes before the official start. She was still shaking her head from the cabbage guy. They way he was nuzzling that cabbage was very disturbing. She had to brush that away, it was time for pranks. She quickly set up all she had; pepper in the vanilla lemon drops, dribble cup by the punch bowl, can of snakes in with the gifts, and of course the trick candles on the cake. This was going to be a blast. Finally the guest of honor arrives and she race over to Gilda. “Hey everypony, this is my old friend Gilda from Junior Speedsters camp. Please give her that Ponyville welcome.” There was cheering from the ponies attending. “Hey G, enjoy the party.” “Oh I plan to Dash.” Pinkie offered her hoof and for some reason Gilda eyed it before grabbing it. She never thought she actually see a skeleton like that as it seems that Pinkie have the old hand buzzer. More proof that this world has cartoon logic. Gilda looked a little peeved from that and Dash felt concern so asked. “Hey Gilda, don't tell me a harmless prank has got the better of you?” Gilda smoothed herself before replying. “Told ya Dash. I'm always in for a good prank and that was a good one.” Gilda walked up to the lemon drops and Dash fought hard to hold back her smile. It was funny seeing her friend belch fire and even more so that Pinkie was ready with marshmellow on a stick. Gilda raced to the punch bowl and happen to take the dribble cup and pour in the punch leading to the famous outcome of none of the punch getting in. Smirking Dash grabbed a bottle of pop and approached Gilda. “Here G, some root beer for you.” Gilda grabbed the bottle and chugged it down. Gilda then noticed the table of gifts. “Are those for me?” She asked in a surprised tone. Dash rolled her eyes at that. “Of course they are for you. They whole party is to welcome YOU to Ponyville.” Dash almost saw a tear in Gilda's eyes. Gilda then grabbed one of the boxes that Dash had gotten for real for her friend. If she had known Gilda would be coming she could have had something special made, so the best she could do was a talon sharpener. She did manage to meet Rarity beforehand and she magically engraved it with Gilda's name. “Thanks Dash.” She just shrugged. “Hey, what are friends for?” Gilda grab the next present and it was the can of snakes. She looks funny with her feathers puffed out from the surprise. Pinkie brought out the cake before Gilda to react much besides a grit in her teeth. “Cake time every pony!” “OOH!, OOH! Can I blow out the candles?” Spike asked eagerly. “No Gilda should since she's the guest of honor.” Replied Twilight. Then Gilda slid in and elbowed Spike out of the way. That caused Dash to frown a bit. That was uncalled for. Then Gilda blew on the candles and in a second they relight. Watching her friend try to repeatedly blow them out got her laughing again before Dash stopped Spike from getting into the cake. “No Spike. Gilda gets the first piece.” Using her wing she made a slice and hoofed it to Gilda who smiled back and Dash got her own slice and like every Sugar Cube Corner cake she has had it was among the best. After some of the cake was eaten it was time for some games and of course the first on the list was Pinkie's favorite. Pin the tail on the Pony. Dash was rather surprised it was Rarity's favorite as well but Gilda rudely grab the tail and went first. Dash was seriously going to have a talk with Gilda on her attitude later. Pinkie blind folded her and spun her around and lead her to the poster of the pony. “Yeah right, like the poster is here. This is just another prank you guys are pulling on me.” Gilda then tunrs away from the poster only to slip on a piece of cake on the ground and she slides away before crashing into something in the kitchen. When she came out not only was she covered in frosting but the tail was on her beak. “Um Gilda, you put it on the wrong end.” Pinkie commented and that caused the dam to break and everypony was laughing. Their laughter was broken when a roar came from Gilda “THIS IS YOUR IDEA OF A GOOD TIME!? I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A LAME GROUP OF DWEEBS IN ALL MY LIFE! AND PINKIE PIE. YOU! YOU ARE QUEEN LAMEO WITH YOUR WEAK LITTLE PARTY PRANKS. DID YOU REALLY THINK I'D LOSE MY COOL?” Dash was frowning at this but Gilda didn't notice it when she put her talon around Dash's neck. ”Well me and Dash are TEN TIMES cooler then the rest of you. We don't need you lameo ponies.” Gilda started to walk towards the door but stopped when she noticed that Dash wasn't with her. Looking back at her pegasus friend she said. “Come on Rainbow Dash.” “You know something Gilda. I am the one who put those pranks in, so I guess that I'm Queen Lameo.” Gilda looked shocked while she held her disappointment in her old friend in check. “Dash, you're jossing me right?” Gilda asked confused. “Of course that dribble cup had Dash written all over it.” Pinkie commented but Dash just ignored her for the time being and continued. “Nope, I placed them all. I only figured you get the snakes and cake. It's just random luck you hit them all. I'm very disappointed in you Gilda. You were bullied in camp and I defended you. Yet here you are doing the same thing. I had hope to have my old friends meet my new friends and we have an awesome time together. Instead you are acting like a jerk and not the fast, funny, and awesome griffon I know.” “Well when you are done being a lameo Rainbow Dash let me know. I'm out of here.” With that Gilda left the store with a screech and she was feeling really down. One of her close friends had changed so much and not in a good way. “I'm sorry everypony. She was not like that when I met her.” Pinkie came over and hugged her. “It's okay Dashie. We can have a party celebrating our friendship.” Pinkie held out her other hoof and said. “What do you say?” She glanced at the hoof and it wasn't the one with the buzzer. That was the one around her neck. She took Pinkie's hoof in her own and both got quite the shock to the enjoyment of the other ponies. When it wore off they both showed buzzers on their shaking hoof before joining in the laughter. * * * * * * The sun had set by the time she got home. “Gilda?” She called out just on the change the griffon was still around, but all she got was silence. Gilda really left. What a way for a friendship to end. She walked over to a wall that had several pictures on it. One was of her and Gilda back at camp. They were smiling at the camera without a care in the world. She missed that Gilda and while somepony else might have tossed away the picture she carefully placed it back in hope that maybe some day she will see that Gilda again.