Rumble wouldn’t normally mind a walk around Ponyville, especially going off to see his friend. However this time was different. The little colt was amazed he could actually walk. He was covered in soft padding and a helmet. The reason why he was like this was trotting beside him with a protective wing around his midsection.
“Don’t you think that’s a little much, Flitter?” Cloudchaser, her elder sister, spoke up. “He looks like he could fall over at any second.”
“Nonsense,” Flitter snorted. “This is just extra precaution. We don’t know what dangers lurk about Ponyville.”
“We’re in the middle of Ponyville,” Cloudchaser swept her hoof to encompass the whole town. “Filled with all sorts of guards and stuff. The home of the Elements of Harmony. No one’s going to do anything to us here.”
“Aside from Nightmare Moon, a dragon, cultists, and the occasional monster.” Flitter pointed out.
Cloudchaser was silent for a moment, “Okay, you’ve got me there. Still, that stuff usually happens on Tuesday. It’s Thursday.”
“Usually,” Flitter shook her head. “There’s that word. ‘Usually’. We sometimes got monsters or such things going wrong on other days too. I’m not taking any chances when it comes to Rumble.”
“Just promise to take that stuff off him when we get back home,” Cloudchaser sighed. Her sister was hard to deal with sometimes.
“I make no promises,” Flitter’s response caused Cloudchaser to sigh even harder.
Rumble almost wished they were heading home that very moment. Then he could actually move right. For now though, he had a mission. If he couldn’t get a cutie mark yet, he’d take his friend. There was power in numbers. ‘That’s a guard saying.’ He proudly walked up to the door once they made it.
“Oh do be careful,” Flitter called out to him. “She could swing the door and hit you.”
“The door opens inwards,” Cloudchaser pointed out.
“It’s just a precaution,” Flitter responded.
Rumble didn’t pay her any mind as he knocked on the front door. It didn’t take long before it was opened by a very familiar mare. She was a tall pale unicorn with a blue striped mane. “Oh Rumble, I didn’t expect to see you here.” She was none other than Alleyway, Strike’s older sister. She was wearing a boller’s shirt.
“Is Strike home?” Rumble asked.
Alleyway nodded and looked back into the house, “Strike! Rumble’s here!”
“Coming,” Strike called down to them. The little earth pony smiled up at Alleyway as he came to the doorway. “I just got my bags packed up, sis.”
Alleyway smiled, “Good job, squirt.” She ruffled his mane as she went back inside. “I’ll finish up while you talk with your friend.”
Strike nodded and looked to Rumble, “Hey Rumble, what are you doing here?”
Rumble frowned, “The party, remember? We were going to go there together. You know… since we’re both blank flanks.”
Strike frowned, “Well.. you see…” He turned to show off his cutie mark. It was a bowling ball knocking over a pin. “I got it earlier today when I challenged some ponies making fun of my big sis.” He grinned. “I showed them and now my big sis wants to take me with her in the junior bowling league.” He started to jump up and down in excitement. “I always wanted to go with her.”
Rumble lowered his head. His ears flopped downwards, “Oh, I’m really happy for you.”
Strike heard the tone of his voice and he stopped bouncing, “Hey, we’re still friends Rumble. I won’t be gone that long. Just a few months. When I get back, we’ll do a bunch of stuff together.”
“Yeah…” Rumble nodded and slowly walked away. He couldn’t help but feel the last bit of hope he had for today wither and die. ‘Scootaloo and Silver Spoon are never going to let this go. They’re going to hound me for being a blank flank for the rest of my life.’
Flitter could sense his distress and hugged him, “It’s alright, Rumble. Everything’s going to be alright.” He didn’t believe a word of that.
_________________________________________________________________________
Scootaloo wasn’t normally one for dresses. She preferred her jacket, but this was a party. She had to look her best. How else was she going to show up everypony? This was her day to shine and shine she would. It was a red, simple dress with dark red jewels adorning her collar.
“Oh you look simply smashing,” Rarity crooned as she combed Scootaloo’s hair into a pleasing shape. “You’ll be be the star of the show, as it were.” Coco Pommel trotted over with a little case of perfume. “Oh thank you, Coco.” She used her magic to spray it over Scootaloo, who coughed slightly. “There, now you smell heavenly.” As she was adjusting the dress, she heard a knock at the door. “You can come in.”
The door creaked open and an elderly earth pony stallion walked in. This was Night Watch, the chief of the local police. He smiled down at his granddaughter, “My, my, my. You fill out that dress perfectly.”
Scootaloo smiled and brushed a little dust off it, “Yeah, I know. I’m awesome.” Night Watch chuckled and gazed at her. He didn’t say anything. He just looked at her with a pleasant smile. A tear seemed to well up in the corner of his eye. “Grandpa? Are you alright?”
“Oh it’s nothing,” he rubbed the tear away. “You just remind me of your mother when she was your age. She loved that dress.”
Scootaloo rolled her eyes with a smile. Her grandpa didn’t like to show his soft side with anyone outside of her, so it was a little weird to see it on occasion. She went over and hugged him, “Thanks for finding it. I love it too.”
Night Watch hugged her back. He nuzzled the top of her head, “I’ve got everything ready for your cute-ceañera. You’re going to have a great time, that much I assure you.”
“Is Thunderlane going to be there?” Scootaloo’s tail wagged in excitement. She imagined him wearing his form fitting armor and.. ‘I don’t know what this funny feeling is, but I really like it.’
Night’s jaw tightened, “We’ll see.” He grumbled. He and Thunderlane never got along, which put a damper on Scootaloo’s attempts to get the Captain of the local Militia to notice her. He sighed. “I know he saved your life, Scootaloo. I thank him for that… I don’t know what I’d do without you.” He pursed his lips, “But he and I have trouble seeing eye to eye. I don’t want you hanging around him.”
“But grandpa-” Scootaloo started.
She was cut off when he stomped his hoof, shaking the room slightly. She got a bit of her strength from him. “No buts, am I clear?” Scootaloo was silent. “Am I clear?” She nodded slowly. He smiled and gave her another nuzzle. “Good. Now try to not get your dress dirty before the party, okay?”
“Yes grandpa,” she grumbled.
“Now see here,” Rarity got up in his face, glaring at the stallion. “That is no way to talk to your family. Thunderlane may be a little crude at times, but he is a noble stallion when he puts his mind to it.”
“Oh of course you of all ponies would stick up for him,” Night Watch scoffed. “Seeing as we all know what you two are up to on your little patrols.”
Rarity’s eyes widened, “Good sir, are you insinuating I am having an affair?” She gave him a narrowed glare. “Well if I was, it is none of your concern. Besides, there are plenty of ponies that are rather fond of Mister Thunderlane themselves. So please do try and be civil while in my shop, or I might have to throw you out.”
“You and what army?” Night felt a large paw clasp his shoulder. He looked over to see a few large Diamond Dogs, wearing armor and carrying a few weapons. Coco was in their midst.
Rarity smirked, “That one.”
“Is he messin’ wit ya, Miss Rarity?” One of her dogs asked. It was none other than Rover, her second in command. He wasn’t the most muscular, but he was probably the smartest of the bunch.
“At the moment, no. So let him go, Rover.” Rarity said, waving them off. The Diamond Dogs took up positions around the room, glaring at Night Watch. “Thank you, Coco.”
Coco blushed slightly at the praise, “Well I didn’t want you to get hurt and you two seemed like you were going to argue, so I just did what I thought I had to. Sorry if I just made things worse.”
“No Coco, you were right for doing so,” Rarity pulled her into a comforting hug. “Now, back to the filly of the hour.” She turned and whispered into Scootaloo’s ear. “Thunderlane will be at your party. I promise that.”
Scootaloo gasped and grinned up at her, “Really?” Rarity nodded. The little filly hugged her. “Thank you!”
“You’re very much welcome, Scootaloo.” Rarity smiled.