//------------------------------// // The Old Gang // Story: The White Phoenix // by Quick Fix //------------------------------// December 21st Sweetie Belle stretched herself out along her seat and gave a soft sound of content. She'd never realised just how comfy the train seats were, but after a few minutes of meet and greet with the other ponies lucky enough to be in the same carriage as her they felt extra good. It had been the same story over the last few days, when she hadn't been rushed off her hooves helping in the boutique she had been approached with offers to perform in just about every corner of Equestria. She'd taken each proposal and promised to give them thought, but for now she was simply going to make the most of her Hearth's Warming break, relaxing and seeing her family and old friends. Manehatten may have been where she lived, but Ponyville would always be her home. At least the weather was holding up as she took a look out at the view. The snow was a lot heavier out in the countryside but the skies were clear for now. Sweetie had never been the biggest fan of the snow, not after she had tried playing hide and seek one winter when she was still a filly and ended up being found hiding in a snowdrift two hours later. The other crusaders had made it up to her though, once she'd recovered from her cold. That was what she liked most about Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, no matter what happened between them they always made sure things would be smooth afterward. As many friends as she had, those two would always be her best and in just a few minutes she was going to see them again. "Is this seat taken?" A familiar voice asked behind her. Sweetie looked back and saw Deep Note standing there, grinning softly. She smiled back and shifted up to let him clamber onto the seat next to her. "Hey pal." She said happily, moving round to lean back in her own seat. "Hey to you too, mate," He replied. Neither of them could remember why they'd adopted those greetings for each other but it had been going on for so long that using anything else just felt weird. "So, I got some good news, bad news and somewhere in the middle news." "Okay, your choice on which one first." "Bad news, I maaaay have accidentally let slip we were on this train and there's a chance that there's going to be a flood of paparazzi and fans waiting at the station." "Somehow, I'm not surprised." Sweetie stretched her legs out and checked her saddlebags that she'd stored under the seat. Deep had always been the type who enjoyed the limelight and even if he hadn't intended for it to happen, he was probably set for it. She'd brought some of her autograph pictures from Manehatten as well, just in case. "Good news, I know I'm not meeting anypony there so, if it helps, I could go out first and get their attention while you slip past and see anypony waiting for you." "That would actually help, since I'm meeting friends and family there. Thank you, Deep Note," Sweetie smiled warmly at the offer, getting a friendly smile back from Deep in response. "And the in the middle news?" "Oh, yeah. We both had a twenty," Deep commented nonchalantly, looking over Sweetie raising an eyebrow in confusion. "That card game at the stadium, we both ended up totalling twenty." "You sure about that?" She asked, giving him a good natured nudge as she did. "Come on, would I lie to you?" He replied with a knowing grin. Before Sweetie could reply they were both lurched forward slightly as the train started to slow down on it's approach to Ponyville. The two of them both moved to the window and watched as the train passed through the outskirts of the town. The station was just about in sight and even from here they could see the platform was packed with ponies, most likely the crowd that Deep had anticipated. The two of them were silent for a moment before he grinned and offered his hoof, she took the hint and hoofbumped him before getting up and lifting her saddlebags onto her back. Deep nodded his farewell and headed into the next carriage up the train while she headed for the next one further down. If she could slip out the back, find her friends and get away from the station quickly, odds were the rest of her trip would be calm enough. She reached the furthest door just as the train came to a stop and hesitated. There was only one other pony in this carriage and they'd elected to use the other door. A few moments later the sound of dozens of ponies and cameras indicated that Deep had stepped off the train and was drawing the crowd's attention. She opened the door up and stepped out, looking up the platform to check she was in the clear. Most of the gathered ponies were indeed distracted by Deep's presence but a trio nearby were looking straight at her, an orange pegasus, light yellow earth mare and...A walking fur coat, though given the presence of the other two she had no doubts who it was. At that moment, something deep inside Sweetie just, clicked. The reality of the moment set in at the sight of her big sister and closest friends there waiting for her, the first time they'd seen her in about eight months. Words were failing her at just how good it felt to see them again and only a squeak of joy escaped her as ditched her saddlebags without thinking and ran over to Rarity, hugging her tight. She hadn't realised just how much she missed her, missed all of them, until now. Her hoof went out and made a misguided swipe before managing to get it round Apple Bloom and Scootaloo and pulling them into the hug as well. The feeling was almost overwhelming as she held the moment, feeling the slightest hint of happy tears in her eyes. "Oohhhh I missed you all! I was going to get gifts but I got a rush at the store so I thought you wouldn't mind me getting something local." She gushed, so excited that her voice squeaked slightly as the others hugged her in return, Rarity slipping a caring nuzzle in as well. "I already have the best present I could ever get." Rarity replied softly, tightening her hug a little bit. Though she was trying to keep a level head for this reunion, the hints of emotion creeping into her voice showed just much she'd been waiting for this moment. "We all have." Apple Bloom added as she and Scootaloo managed to extract themselves from the hug and let the two sisters have this one. After what felt like a small eternity, they finally brought themselves to break the embrace and step back. Sweetie looked at the other two and grinned slightly as she remembered the act the trio had promised to make if they were ever separated for more than six months at a time. Scootaloo quickly caught on and put her hoof out, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle doing the same as they gave each other a three way hoofbump and called out as one. "Cutie Mark Crusaders, reunited!" The moment lingered for a moment as each of the crusaders silently savoured it. Sweetie glanced around her friends to see if any of the crowd there before had spotted her yet but thankfully they seemed to be following Deep Note iyt and the rest of the platform was regular commuters for now. Satisfied that they were in the clear, she brought her hoof back down subtly motioned toward the exit. All of them caught the hint and they moved out, Rarity tailing behind once she'd picked up Sweetie's saddlebags. "So what've you been getting up to back here?" Sweetie asked, figuring that the others knew well enough what she'd been doing, either from her letters or the news. "Where do you want to start, my high intensity training or Apple Bloom's adventure to the south?" Scootaloo answered with her own question, grinning eagerly at the chance to tell the tale. "Actually, it was more south-east," Apple Bloom commented, getting a look from Scootaloo in response. "What? I was stressing out, I'm gonna fumble details in that situation." "Stressing over what?" Sweetie asked innocently, though to her surprise, Apple Bloom looked away without replying for several seconds. "I'll, explain later." "I'm sorry to interrupt but..." Rarity suddenly said as she caught up, glancing round to make sure nopony else was around as they exited the station. "I think it might be best if you had some sort of disguise while you were in town initially, just to make sure you're not disturbed unduly." "That's, a good idea. Thanks sis." Sweetie stopped and waited as Rarity took off her fur outfit and handed it over. Despite looking like it would be too small for her, the outfit managed to adjust relatively well for her different body shape as she put it on, stretchy but not clingy, the fur itself clearly fake up close (something Sweetie found a surprising amount of relief in) but looking real enough from a moderate distance. Once she'd manage to wriggle comfortably into it the group set off again, Rarity still content with carrying her sister's bags considering they'd already agreed to head for the boutique and it wasn't far. Thankfully the pathways into town were clear of snow due to the regular hoof traffic and Sweetie was able to focus on the sights. Manehatten had been loaded to the brim with Hearth's Warming decorations, but the ones in Ponyville had a certain elegance that couldn't be found in the big city and she knew which she preferred. Beyond that, it still looked just as she remembered it. "So, what's new around town?" Sweetie asked even as she tried to take everything in around her. Rarity stepped up next to her, umming and ahing as she tried to think of anything. "Well, you'll never guess who won the mayoral election." Apple Bloom interjected, getting a chuckle out of Scootaloo and a look of realisation from Rarity as she remembered what most ponies in town considered mundane by now. "Wait...Caramel actually lost? To who?" Sweetie asked in surprise, the last time she'd been in town, the mayoral election was coming up and everypony was expecting Mayor Caramel to earn another term, Night Shade had been an outside contender but the only pony that had a realistic chance was... "Diamond Tiara. Though as you can see, 'Mayor' Tiara's been doing pretty good." Rarity concluded. As much as she didn't like the mare for how she'd treated Sweetie Belle in the past, she couldn't deny that Ponyville had been doing pretty well for the months that she'd been in charge. "But, doesn't she have a filly to look after? That can't be easy with such a serious job." Sweetie said after a moment's thought. "You can ask Scootaloo about that one," Apple Bloom replied. "She's the one who's friends with DT and Stellar Nova. Right Scoots?" She looked back expecting an answer, only to see that Scootaloo had fallen back slightly, her expression deep in thought. The others stopped and looked back as well as the pegasus silently blinked and looked up at her friends again. "Hey, I'll catch up with you all at the boutique. I got something I need to do." Scootaloo said, waving to the others as she headed off with a driven look in her eyes. "Well that was...Unexpected." Apple Bloom finally remarked. "Sounded important though." Sweetie Belle said, letting the issue go already. They could always ask her about it later after all. For now, she was about to get moving again when an ice blue filly trotted up to her. Sweetie knew that it was one of Big Mac's foals but hadn't been acquainted enough to learn her name. From the look on her face though, she seemed to have caught on to who she was already. That was just something else she'd missed in a strange way, another part of the old atmosphere of Ponyville that she couldn't help smiling at. As crazy as home was, it was good to be back.