"We have a lot of work to do over the next few months." Twilight said dismissing the crew from the farmhouse. "They're going to strike again and we're going to be ready."
But months passed, and nothing happened. Time crawled by slowly as leaves fell and eventually snow. Christmas came along and the group met for the first time in weeks. Seasonal aromas spread across the apple residence from pies to fritters. The girls had agreed to spend the entire week of Christmas together in the farmhouse.
On Wednesday: Christmas Eve, they gathered around the large dining room table accustomed to fit a large number of family members. They exchanged gifts and smiles. That night, they crowded in Applejack's room.
"So Dash." Lyra said without looking up from her board game. "Are you and Soarin not a thing yet?"
"If there's one thing I won't miss after high school, it's rumors." Dash said concentrating on the video game she was playing with AJ. "Me and Soarin are not and never will be a thing. Yeet!" She added, slamming a button on the controller at nearly the same time as AJ shouted. "Horse feathers! Was that you?" Dash simply chucked in response. "The rainbow ninja strikes again."
"You can't avoid rumors." Vinyl said, trying to shove a single ear bud past past Octavia's protective arm. "It's like trying to avoid stupidity. Take that game for example. Every time you turn a corner. Someone's waiting to kill you. No amount of skill or luck can keep you away from it."
"She's right." AJ said standing up. "Let's play a real shooter." She walked toward the console and removed the disc. She removed another disc from its case and installed it in the console. "You wanna fly or gun?" AJ asked. Dash responded with a raised eyebrow. "You'll see."
"What do you mean 'after high school'?" Octavia asked, finally giving in to Vinyl's stubbornness. "College will be exactly the same concept."
"Oh. Well, I haven't told you four, but I'm not going to college. I'm joining the Air Force."
AJ maneuvered the game's menu with a concerned look. "I still don't like that idea. I'm sure you'd be great at it an all but that's a dangerous job."
"Duh." Dash responded with a smirk. "It's the military. But I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. I'll visit you on holidays."
"You better. You know where I'll be."
"Didn't you fix up that truck?" Twilight asked from from her seated
Position on the bed.
"Twi, if I weren't around, that truck would be a cube of metal the size of your head."
"So you're good with engines. You could be a mechanic. Maybe even a flight mechanic. You could work side by side with Dash."
"No sir-ee. I'm staying right where I belong on this here farm."
"I wish we could all stay in Ponyville." Fluttershy said quietly.
"Me and Octavia will be all over the place with our professions." Vinyl said.
"If my business keeps growing how it is." Rarity started with a sigh. "I'll inevitably have to move headquarters to a bigger city."
"Ok." Lyra said stretching. "I think we've all had enough of this mopey talk. We better get to sleep any ways."
"She's right." Bon Bon added taking the last slice of pizza. "We haven't even made sleeping arrangements."
So the girls set out to make arrangements. Essentially each girl would take a turn getting dressed and return to find less space available. Within a half an hour everyone was semi comfortable in the floor or on the bed. In another, the room was filled with the soft sound of heavy breathing.
