The Beginning

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Amethyst Star's muscles were drenched in sweat, weighing down her muscles that much more. The aura around her horn flickered in a sporadic tempo. She had been stapling up papers all across town for the past three hours, hoping that somepony would notice them. This was an important project she had been working on for the past year. Finally, after begging the mayor for hours at a time, letters to the local government, and going to Celestia herself, she had finally gotten permission to open up the Ponyville Volunteer Fire Department.

She knew that many ponies took residence in Ponyville, but just who would turn up was bothering her. She knew many a pony that would be great for the job, but there were also many that would just bury the project in the ground. If anypony were gonna help, she at least hoped that some were able for the job.

As she was walking down the dirt path, she had realized that she was about to come to the place where she first put up her poster. Standing near that first poster were two pale blue pegasi, one with a mint green mane that caressed its way down her arm, the other with a white-blue mane that was spiked out in several places. Amethyst was nervous - and excited - that somepony was reading her poster. She went up to them and introduced herself.

Three Minutes Earlier

Cloudchaser and Flitter had just gotten back from a rough job. Foal Sitting Rumble was easy on a daily basis, but today was different. Today he had gotten some sugar cubes from Pinkie Pie. He was on the highest sugar rush of his life so far. One can imagine how it went.

Either way, they were positively exhausted. They trudged down the street, only picking their heads up to say hello or to ask a question to one another. As their dejected mood implied, they were not paying much attention to where they were walking. Flitter, being the klutz that she is, walked right into a pole. "Smooth, Flitter," said Cloudchaser duly, half amused and half hurting himself. Twins as they were, they could feel one anothers' emotions. Loosely stapled to the wooden pole was a flyer, so they presently read it.

To all who may want to help out ponies for the greater good, come down to Amethyst Star's (more widely known as Sparkler) house at sundown tonight. A meeting will be held for all that may want to join the newly opened Ponyville Fire Department.

An address hung at the bottom of the paper with some directions. "Can you remember those directions Flitter?" asked Cloudchaser. She really wanted to be a part of something to help ponies out, and she was perfect for the job; winning in the 100 meter dash in the central Equestria division, she was an astounding athlete, and for once she wanted to put those skills to use.

"Why should I? Working in the Fire Department... isn't that dangerous?" Flitter shifted her weight from side to side as she spoke. She had no intention of doing something like that. Risking her life for the good of others, she wanted no part in it. What if she screws up? What if she doesn't make it out?

"Flitter, it won't be that bad!" scolded Cloudchaser, trying to calm her down. "Whatever you do, just don't let your anxiety get the best of you. You could be, like, a watch guard or something. You could monitor over the city, alerting us for problems or small fires that aren't detected. You won't have to do that much." Flitter seemed to calm down, but Cloudchaser could still tell that Flitter didn't want to go. "Please just do it," implored Cloudchaser, like a puppy begging for her bone. "For me?"

Flitter took a second took think about it. "*sigh* Fine, but only because you want to." Flitter had already memorized the address, it wasn't that hard. "I know you won't be able to do this without me." Flitter didn't wish that statement was true. They were twins, they had been together their whole lives, and being separated was like losing half of their personality. Flitter knew that it Cloudchaser went without her, it would not end up well.

"Pardon me," came a sweet voice from behind them. They turned around to see a hot pink unicorn with a violet and lavender streaked mane. "I am Amethyst Star, but you can call me Amy. May I have your names?" Amethyst was trying to act as professional as possible. Cloudchaser and Flitter saw this, and Cloudchaser matched her posture and tranquility.

"I," stated Cloudchaser, pausing for effect, "am Cloudchaser, a winner of the Central Equestria Division 100 Meter Dash two years back. You may call me CC for short." Her chest was puffed out as much as she could handle without toppling over. CC tried to make it seem like a big deal, and it surely was important to Amethyst Star. That was what Amy was looking for; talent.

"I am Flitter," said Flitter in a slightly less powerful tone. "I placed tenth in the Equestria National Spelling Bee." Amy thought it was good enough. If she can do anything, it's memorize a map of the city and give us directions and things like that, thought Amy. Better than nothing.

"So, are you two planning to go to the meeting tonight?" questioned Amy. It was one she pretty much had to ask. If she didn't, how would they know she was that enthusiastic about it. She had been wearing a mid-sized friendly smile the whole time, but that wasn't enough to win somepony over.

"Heck yeah!" exclaimed CC. "It seems like a great opportunity to help other ponies, and we are definitely up for it." Flitter nodded in agreement.

"Great," declared Amy. "I'll see you tonight at sundown." Amy started to slowly walk away, waving her hoof in the air to signal goodbye.

"See you there, too." Cloudchaser started bouncing on her hooves. "Oooohhhh! I am pumped already! I can't wait for tonight.!" Flitter slowly started building her nervousness up again. As her twin sister was frolicking up the dirt road toward their house, Flitter was just another step away from balling her eyes out.

Noteworthy was tired of living in Appleloosa. Even though it was his hometown, the lifestyle there was just... not right. He liked it here in Ponyville. There was so much more technology, more food, and less annoyances like Braeburn. If anything, he was happier here. But when he got here, the only thing he could do was deliver goods. He was strong and all, but he wished there was something more to do than just tug carriages around. His muscles were sore, he was tired, and his house wasn't in the greatest of conditions, but it was life.

As he dragged his hooves along the ground, he saw something. A... job offer? He got a little closer to find out if it was something he was interested in. He finally read the poster. He thought about it, thought about it... It seems like a good idea, but will it interfere with my work and income? I really like this place, and helping out by fighting fires seems like the right thing to do. I think I will! He recorded the directions in his head and immediately went to his job office to call off work for the next couple days. It was gonna be fantastic doing something for this city.

Do I have to remind people EVERY TIME!! Minuette was tired of being referred to as a stupid toothpaste brand. 'Oh, hi Colgate...' Every day she would go through this. It was getting her to the point of literally exploding. Just because she was a dentist didn't mean she was supposed to be a professional. For Celestia's sake... I have a stinking hourglass as my cutie mark! What am I supposed to do with time! If only she could actually figure out what her cutie mark meant.

"UGHHH" she screamed as she walked down the street to her friend's house. At least Amy realizes my problems. She had been somewhat friends with Amethyst ever since she had moved to Ponyville. Amy had been the one to get Minuette to stay in Ponyville after seeing the place during the Summer Sun Celebration, and she was glad she did so. Of course, Twinkleshine was back in Canterlot, but Lyra Heartstrings moved to Ponyville as well, and the three unicorns have been happy ever since.

Of course, she hasn't been too happy as of late. She needed somepony to help get her mind off things, and Amy had offered to help. They were going to talk about gossip and things like that, and Minuette enjoyed it, but something was off. Amy wasn't usually the first to help Minuette in that situation, she also preferred Lyra to help solve her problems. Minuette couldn't help but get the feeling that Amy was up to something, but she was in sight of her house. Minuette took the final steps into Amethyst Star's house as the sun set behind the rolling hills that overlooked Ponyville.

"Minuette! Oh I'm so glad you could join us." As Minuette walked in the house, she saw four ponies sitting around a table in the center of the polished wood floor. She saw Amy at the head off the table, two pale blue pegasi on the side facing the door, that turned around. And on the other side there was an open seat near a big stallion, the open seat closer to Amethyst Star. Minuette knew all of their names and could tell that they knew her. This is going to get nowhere fast.

"Hello Amy! Hello CC and Flitter, and hi to you as well Noteworthy!" Minuette took a seat as all of them replied in unison.

"Hi, Colgate!" Well, all of them but Amy. Amy did chuckle a bit, however, and that just made her steam. Sure Minuette was a little bubbly, but that was just...

"You may know her as Colgate," said Amy, her smile turning into an emotionless face, "but her name is Minuette, and you will call her that. Noteworthy, I don't believe you have met the twins, Cloudchaser and Flitter, and me. I am Amethyst Star, but you can call me Amy. CC and Flitter, this is Noteworthy." They exchanged greetings. "Now, Minuette," stated Amy, turning to Minuette, "I know this was supposed to be the time where I helped you talk about your problems, but I think this will help as well. I have gathered you all here to become part of the new Ponyville Volunteer Fire Department."

"That's it, I'm out of here." Minuette stood up and made her way to the door, but Amy wouldn't have it.

"Minuette, WAIT!" She came to a halt three steps away from the door. "Please, just hear me out." Minuette let a few fumes of anger go and turned around. "The reason I have brought you all here is because you have talent. CC, you were a track star. Flits - and yes, that's your new nickname - you have a photographic memory. Noteworthy, I have seen you pull over two-thousand jewels for Miss Rarity herself. And Minuette, I have never seen anypony able to do as much with so little than you. You can mend gums using just your magic abilities and are able to make great decisions under pressure. With all of us working together, we will be able to prevent deaths and fires in Ponyville. So what do ya say?"

Minuette thought about what Amy had just said. It was all true, they all had talent. But getting a fire department together... they were going to need one. Especially with Twilight Sparkle moving here; it seemed as though wherever she went, crazy things happened. If anypony could handle Twilight's messes, it was herself. She couldn't find a reason not to, so she complied with Amy. This was gonna be good.

"I have made my decision," declared Minuette, everypony's eyes on her. "I will be on the team." A gasp came up from the group as Amy started towards Minuette.

"Oh my gosh! Thank you!" screamed Amy as she embraced Minuette with a strong hug.

"A little-" she gasped for air "-too tight Amy," Minuette managed to choke out.

"Oops," said Amy, a little disappointed in herself. "I am just so happy that you decided to stay. We're gonna make a great team." Amy and Minuette started back to the table where all the others were waiting. "Alright, from now on, we are proud ponies of the Ponyville Fire Department. Hands in everypony!" Amy extended a hoof across the center of the table, followed by Minuette, then Noteworthy, and last the twins. "Ponyville on three! One, two, three!"

"PONYVILLE!" they shouted in unison. The neighbors had some choice words to say back, but Amy didn't care. She was in charge, and she couldn't have anypony die in her hooves.

Not again...

The Stories of: The Ponyville Fire Department
Story created by Techno Flare

The Great and Powerful Mishap

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"Everypony RUN!" A very upset Lyra burst through the doors screaming. Noteworthy and Cloudchaser were sitting at the slightly worn couch, in front of which sat a small wooden coffee table, the ponies set up for commuting and just to be cozy. Cloudchaser was just starting a conversation about the time Flitter learned to fly when Lyra entered the refurbished house that was intended for the Fire Department. "An Ursa Major is attacking the town!"

"Lyra, calm down," consoled Cloudchaser. "Now tell me, how long has it been and where is it attacking?" Lyra sat down next to them, her chest pumping air in and out faster than she could handle. She would've passed out if it weren't for them.

"Okay. It was almost two minutes ago when the first siting of it was, but it just recently starting attacking. It was down near Sugarcube Corner, if memory serves right."

"Alright," said Noteworthy flatly. "We have to rally up the team."

"The suits are in the closet, and the transmitters should be on the counter near the fridge." Amy barged into the Fire Department raging to go. Flitter was the last to enter as she was groggy and had just woke up. "Remember, the transmitters are magic, but very fragile. If one of them even clips another pony's clothes it will stop working,, so hide it inside your suits. Minuette and I have tried to make them as fireproof as possible, and we got wing sockets that extend to your wings' lengths, alright twins?"

"Got it," they replied in unison. Flitter was a little less upbeat, but agitated all the more. If there was anything they needed, it was her radar skills. She now knew this town inside and out, and if anything went wrong she was there for backup.

Minuette and Noteworthy were the first ones ready for action. "Where to, Amy?" Minuette questioned. She put effort and a scruff tone in her voice, to make her sound at ease, but she was practically bouncing off the inside of her neon green reflective suit.

"You two head to the fire right up on Town Square. Noteworthy, you're gonna need the Water Wagon." Amy waved a salute and they headed out.

"Flitter can you fly up real quick and see if there is anything else worth mentioning?" Amy and the twins were ready to go.

After a quick look across the town from forty feet in the air, she came back down with news. "Well, there seems to be two houses that have collapsed. One is near Sugarcube Corner, like Lyra said, and the the other is on the intersection of Breezy and the road to Everfree Forest."

"Thank you Flits," Cloudchaser said earnestly. "And remember," she said trying to console her, as Flitter did get when Cloudchaser went off without her, "if anything happens, your Twin-Sense will tell you. You can help me if something does." She backed away and reassuringly added, "But we both know that won't happen." Flitter then took the skies as Amy and Coudchaser ran to the aid of whatever pony needed their help.

-o-O-o-

Amethyst Star arrived at the house within a minute. The house was surprisingly close to HQ, which was placed almost in the center of town. The house's roof was collapsed in on itself, like a bomb shell landed on it and then rolled off. It wasn't completely in ruins, but something told her that it was almost hopeless for anypony to be alive under the amounts of ruble. Don't think like that! she chastised herself. There's always a chance of somepony staying alive. Always a chance...

She made her way through a hole a little smaller than her stature, but she squeezed through, even with the immense amount of gear on. "This is Amy," she spoke into her transmitter. "I have entered the house on Breezy. No sign of life yet, but the house wasn't totally destroyed." She walked into what seemed to be the kitchen area. Nothing still. She had to go through every piece of debris to make sure nopony was dead.

Meanwhile, Flitter was up above, like the radar she was. She heard Amy's transmission, which brought her back to that area where she was searching. The house seemed so familiar to her, yet it was just another in a sea of houses. She forgot about it when she heard Cloudchaser's message. The voice was fuzzy, but it was clear she was disturbed. "There is blood everywhere, and I can only fear the worst has happened. I must admit, I would feel really bad if it was one of the ponies we knew."

Flitter's mind drifted away to her friends. Everypony in Ponyville were familiar with some of them, but some of her friends got much less attention... Oh no.. Flitter just thought of the memories she had at the house Amy was in. The laughs, the screams, the snores, and yet they all snapped before her. It was like Celestia was playing with Flitter. She knew that house. Cloudchaser knew it, too.

Her friends. They were in danger.

She shifted her wings. She aimed her body at the house Amy was in. There were tears coming out of her closed eyes. She shook her head, imagining the worst.

"RUMBLE! He's in danger, we have to save him!" Her voice was broken up by chronic gulping down the lump in her throat.

"Get a hold of yourself Flitter!" Amy shouted into the transmitter. At that moment, she walked into a first story bedroom that was half collapsed. In there she saw what Flitter was mentioning. A light gray coated colt, no older than nine, was lying in the room, unconscious. There was blood dribbling down his torso from a wound where the wood had splintered him. Above him was a large wooden beam on the verge of breaking. It was the support the house was resting on.

At that moment, Flitter came flying in and knocked the beam over. Amy had to move swiftly or both herself and the child would be flattened. She leapt towards the child, a solid thirty feet away from her. There was a puddle of water lying on the hardwood floor, and she used that to her advantage. Using a slide tackle technique, she slid across the room at a breakneck speed.

Like a motorboat, there was a wake behind her. Not only of water, but falling supporters and shingles. In front of her, the child zoomed into reach. Rapidly running out of time, she swooped in for the child, the crashing house catching up with her. She ran out of water. Soon the suit tore and scrapes covered her hind legs.

Using all the arcane energy she had stored in the transmitter, she threw up a magical force-field. The crushing weight of the house caused her to exert too much strength. She staggered, but got back up before anything drastic occurred. The use of the transmitter's energy made it send a distress call to the others, but she didn't regret that.

Rushing to find an exit, the child started moving in her arms, slowly waking as the burden on her mental capacity increased. There was a window to her right, a part of the house that was still standing. Crashing through the first story window, she landed on the lawn without making a sound. The only thing she could see while running away from the spot - to get to the hospital - was rubble.

There wasn't even a trace of Flitter.

-o-O-o-

Minuette raced up to the only house with enough heat radiating from it so that she could feel it from behind her suit. It was hard to conserve the air from the thirty minute tank she hoisted upon her back, but Amethyst Star had trained Minuette and the rest of the crew to the point where this task was simple. Her magic carried alongside her a metal tube, one that was supposed to last under the harshest of circumstances, even fire itself. This would be important, as she didn't feel like wasting her magic on lifting so much water at once.

Noteworthy was waiting, but it couldn't have been for long. The hookup to the "Water Wagon" was not undone. He was admiring the fire, and as she arrived, he relaxed slightly. Behind him, he kicked a few chinks in the set upwards. It unchained him from the luggage and walked up to Minuette. "Why do you need that thing?" He pointed his snout towards the metal tube.

Minuette rolled her eyes, but explained. "I'm using it as a hose of sorts." She raised the tube, which reflected the fire's color, and positioned it just above the wagon. "I'll start trying to get the fire to die down, you go inside." Noteworthy let out a sigh, but soon motivated himself enough to travel inside.

After about two minutes, the fire was barely slowing down. It might have even been accelerating in its aspiration to consume the building into a pile of ashes and dust. Minuette was obviously frustrated, but she kept her cool. Half the water was gone, and Noteworthy had been complaining the whole time. He had finally given in by saying, "There is just no way 'round this damn flame. Every turn I make, there it is again."

"If you really can't move around let me help." She dashed inside, bringing her metal tube and some water. Behind her neon green clothes were clusters of bystanders, even at two in the morning. Soon enough, she was by Noteworthy's side, spraying any area of the house that was blocking their paths.

They got to the second story faster than expected, and were soon tracking their way to the corners of the house.

They searched in one room, only to find that its remnants were broken areas of flooring and a couch against the wall. The next room was the master bedroom, which was still staying suspended for the most part. They searched the room, but couldn't find anypony. The flooring was solid, so it didn't amount massive time to get in and out. At the end of the narrow hallway, there was another bedroom. The floorboards were much less sturdy, but this was the last part of the house.

A distress call rang from their transmitters, but they ignored it after finding a pony that was hacking out coughs and smog like an energy plant's towers. Noteworthy sprung into action. It was only a few steps away. The wooden planks cracked. They crumbled and collapsed.

Noteworthy fell.

He hit the floor hard, and couldn't get up without injuring himself any further. Minuette was in total shock. The only thing that snapped her out of this confusion was the pony on the other side of the seemingly gaping hole. If Minuette didn't move quickly, the bed would go down, taking its passenger with it.

She couldn't just leave Noteworthy there to die! He would surely burn up in the fire. But if Minuette didn't save the pony, she wouldn't be doing her job. She swiveled her head as if it were in permanent motion. Her thoughts were broke by a shout coming from the mare on the bed. The floor boards creaked underneath her as she lie in despair. She thought the end was coming. Minuette thought otherwise.

Minuette unhooked the gas tank, which was still half filled with air, and hefted it over the hole with her magic. She did the same with her metal tube. She jumped across the crevice, landing with a hard THUMP near the bed. She grabbed the innocent mare moments before everything crumbled underneath her. She jumped onto the two pieces of metal, floating her self down to the ground, the floor above her breaking away. She grabbed Noteworthy by the neck, heading full throttle to the door. Her lungs felt the smoke like a knife to her abs, and soon she was dazed. She stumbled outside, letting go of the two ponies she held.

Minuette blacked out.

Cloudchaser was speeding to where Flitter was last seen by Amethyst Star, but she passed by the building on fire. She saw Noteworthy and another mare heading towards the hospital, but Minuette was passed out on the dirt in the Town Square. Cloudchaser knew something was wrong, but had Flitter been the one to send out the distress call?

Cloudchaser went over and shook her fallen comrade. Minuette woke with a start, bolting upright. However, she drifted back down slowly, choking out black tufts of smoke. "Oh no," Cloudchaser mumbled, fearing the worst, "what happened in there?"

Minuette was almost out of smoke, so she said quickly, "Fire not going out. Mare in trouble. Noteworthy fell. I got them and-" she coughed "-got out of there." She had another fit before rising up to see just what she was dealing with. "We have to douse that fire!" She got to her hooves steadily, but was shaking from a lack of adrenaline and energy.

She thought of what might be able to get a lot of water to one place quickly. She thought of the time all the pegasi in Canterlot sent water up to Cloudsdale... "CC, go down to the river and fly in a circle as quick as your wings can take you."

Perplexed, but not finding a better solution, she agreed and did so. A funnel started to form, picking up the river's streaming water. Like a tornado, it slowly lifted the water towards the house a few yards away. Soon, with Minuette's added effort of aiming the water through her metal tube, they doused the fire.

They did a quick run through of the place, but couldn't find anypony else. In vain and frantic panicking, Cloudchaser asked Minuette quickly, "Have you seen Flitter?"

What came through the transmitter wasn't just a distress call. It was clear, loud, and abrupt, but Cloudchaser was on her way. Flitter had been able to shout three simple words before she cut out.

"S.O.S.! Trapped! Rubble..."

-o-O-o-

Flitter new that she wouldn't last for long. She had somehow reached the cellar, and she had no light to guide her. In the pitch black, she was starting to question her sanity. She thought she heard her sister up above, but couldn't find a trapdoor nor steps leading to the place. Her wing was injured, so she couldn't tell how high up the ceiling was. Her legs were trembling, and she was scared out of her wits.

She tried calling for help through the transmitter, but she feared it was broken due to her actions before the house collapsed. No matter how much she hollered, nothing came back. Even her Twin-Sense wasn't showing any signs, so she hoped Cloudchaser was alright. She leaned against a concrete wall.

It was hopeless. There was no way of her to fly around, and she wondered if she was even in a cellar of the correct house. It felt like Celestia decided she was of no use and shoved her down to hell.

This was pretty much torture. She didn't have anypony to talk to. She couldn't see anything: no windows, cracks, or even seams of a door. If she was even alive, it didn't matter to her anymore.

A beep rang through her ears. She was running out of air. If there was any air left in the cellar, it wouldn't last for jack. Everything was lost.

No, she couldn't just give up like that. She banged on the walls, she searched for any openings, and she went through all of the cellar rooms.

The formation of a wooden stair ran under Flitter's hoof. Scurrying with glee, she started up the steps quick as a rabbit.

When her hoof hit thin air, she fluttered her wings. They cramped with pain, and soon the rest of her body was full of a powerful shocking sensation. She lain there, prepared to die. She cried herself to sleep.

Cloudchaser searched through the rubble frantically. Her Twin-Sense stung like crazy, and she kept hearing Flitter's voice. When she was done with every square-inch of building, she fell to the ground in pain.

Her Twin-Sense struck her with the same pain that Flitter had experienced, just a shock filling her body. She was there, in the eyes of Flitter. She felt the stone concrete. She saw the black emptiness in front of her. Tears came out of her eyes.

Then she came back to herself. Cloudchaser had found a cellar door, and knew exactly where it was. She rushed over to the center of the debris, brushing of the unvarnished wooden trapdoor. She opened, and as soon as she saw, she looked away.

"Guys, I found Flitter!" She beckoned the other ponies in neon green to come over. Together they carried her and got her to the hospital. She wasn't breathing. Her suit was drenched in a puddle of blood.

-o-O-o-

Amy was out of her suit, and her head was in her hooves. She had been waiting for a solid five minutes, and she had told the rest of her team that the hospital was rendezvous. When the others arrived, she was in complete shock.

She was in the ER's waiting room, and bursting through the doors came two fireproof suits, one in the other's arms. Behind them were the others, who came in slowly. Noteworthy and Minuette quickly unzipped, for they were the ones behind what Amy presumed were CC Flitter, and walked up to her.

"What are they doing?" Amy asked, a little irritated. She sat down,and the other two followed.

"CC found Flitter injured in the basement, and she carried her here." Minuette saw the look of distraught that followed her explanation.

"I should've came back and helped," Amy thought out loud, reluctantly. "I know that Cloudchaser went back, I should have followed."

"Where did you see Cloudchaser?" Noteworthy asked.

"She was rushing back from the hospital, something about her Twin-Sense acting up." Amy looked at the twins as CC put Flitter on a stretcher. She could only imagined what was going on in Cloudchaser's head.

"That's when she must have found me unconscious," Minuette said, slightly taken aback.

That's when it hit her. "Oh, this whole thing could've been avoided if I just went back. I could've helped you two and CC would've gone back and saved Flitter before she hurt herself. Ugghh! I feel like such an idiot!"

Minuette knew it was of no use to try and calm her down, so she left Amy to herself. Cloudchaser had finally come over.

"Well," she started, wiping away the tears, "Flitter's gonna be alright, but she'll need a few stitches in her foreleg and a cast on her wing." She sniffled again and sat down before asking, "How is Rumble doing?"

"He's going through surgery at the moment," Amy said, dry as a desert. A hush fell over the room.

"Hey Noteworthy," Minuette asked, breaking the silence, "who was that mare we got out of the fire? Is she alright?"

"Actually, her name was Octavia, and she was fine after she got me to the hospital." Noteworthy showed them his cast, and then explained. "After the fall I took, I had only slightly sprained my ankle. I got a cast and came back just before you took off to find Flitter."

The doors opened before them, a bright light shining on the bed. A doctor had taken them to Rumble's room. What they saw was a perfectly healthy colt. They had performed surgery on his skin, but it was a deep and wide gash, almost down to the bone enamel. Fortunately, they closed it up before it became infected.

Everypony joined in the festivity, even Flitter on the crutch behind them. Then, Cloudchaser was filled with a bit of guilt. After they argued with the doctor about signing out Rumble for his mother, they walked out into the hallway.

"Cloudchaser, what happened when you went to the house?" questioned Flitter. Clouchaser took a shaky breath and then began.

"Well, when I first arrived the house was on its side, The only entrance was through a second story window. In the rooms of what should have been the second story, I found no pony.

"The first floor, however, was completely demolished except for a few rooms. I walked into the living room, and all I could see was blood scattered everywhere. It gave the room a haunted feeling, and what I saw next is sure to scar me.

"A stallion, older than us by some years, was put through the wall. All I could see were his head, coated red, and his brown eyes staring into my soul. I didn't know what do with the body, so I took it to the hospital." She began sobbing.

As Flitter and Minuette tried to comfort her, Noteworthy and Amethyst Star walked into the next room over. "Noteworthy, you have to bring the Water Wagon from now on." She elaborated, "You are the only pony strong enough to pull the weight when it is full. Your muscles are very sculpted."

"You really think so," Noteworthy said, flexing and showing off a bit. "Why don't you come over my place after this is over."

Amy gave a seductive nod, and walked into the next hallway where the other two were, showing off her "good side".

"Alright team, back to Headquarters."

-o-O-o-

Amy stood in front of the building, already done with the tidy work. Minuette and Noteworthy were still due for another three hours on shift, but she had to make sure everything was in tip-top shape before she left. She also had to have a little talk with somepony.

When Cloudchaser walked out, ready to go attend to Flitter, Amethyst Star stopped her. "CC," she said, trying to console her best as she could, "you did the right thing today. I am proud to have you a part of this team, and even though I know you'll be worried about your sister, I hope you'll stay."

Cloudchaser gave Amy a reassuring nod and said confidently, "I'm not leaving anytime soon." Then, with a flap of her wings, she was gone.