"Ribbons!"
Baby Gusty ran ahead, her feet
becoming coated with mud. The rain was pelting her mane and face but she merely
pushed the wet strands from her eyes and walked on. Starlight and Bright Eyes
followed close. They were close enough to keep her in their sights but far
enough away so that she was out of earshot.
"She's determined, isn't she?"
Bright Eyes whispered to her friend. Starlight smiled and nodded.
"Well, judging from what she said,
she came here just to get her best friend."
Bright Eyes agreed and looked ahead. Gusta had stopped and was
leaning against a tree panting. Bright Eyes and Starlight rushed to her side.
They heard the same thing over and over,
"Ribbons.."
Bright Eyes put her front hooves on
the girl's heaving shoulders. The foal gasped in air.
"Calm down. You're hyperventilating."
Gusta shook her head. "Don't care. I
have to find her!"
That said, she winked out and winked
back in up ahead.
Bright Eyes sighed and ran ahead,
Starlight trailing.
Gradually, the whole of the ponies
regrouped. It was Melody that said it.
"We've been looking for hours. We
should go back in. I'm never gonna get the tangles out of my hair."
Despite the situation, Baby Gusty
smiled. "You and HeartThrob would love each other."
Then her seriousness returned, "I
can't stop. She's insecure, a scared girl. Her faith in herself is seriously
lacking. Besides, I promised I'd always come for her."
Clover smiled at the white girl. It
was Sweetheart that called out,
"Who's there?"
They turned and saw up stream a form
in the river, clinging to a branch for dear life against the rapids. Baby
Gusty's heart stopped. She knew that figure. Even in the dim light she knew it.
She plowed through Bon-Bon and Patch and dove into the river.
"Gusta!"
The group of ponies followed her.
She had reached the form. Suddenly a rapid rushed over them and then they were
gone.
"Gusta!" Patch called out. She had
found a bit of a kindred spirit in the small girl. Seeing her pulled under-
"There they are!" Bon-Bon shouted,
pointing. Everyone immediately rushed over to where she was pointing. Sure
enough, there Gusta was and she was hauling the form they'd seen on her left
front hoof. The rapids, as strong as they were, were weaker than this girl. She
was conquering them.
She reached the edge and handed the
form to Patch.
"Take her."
Patch nodded and pulled the small
cold form to higher ground. Melody pulled Gusta out. The girl immediately
demanded,
"Is she okay?"
Bright Eyes smiled. "I'm not a
doctor but her pulse is strong. She's probably just weak. Is this your friend,
is this Ribbons?"
The white girl smiled and walked
over. She took one look and nodded.
The other took a time to examine
her.
She was smaller than Gusta was. Her
skin was a green shade and she had chartreuse tail and mane, although her mane
had a single orange strip through it. In the center of her forehead was a small
green horn. Her symbol was a single white ribbon. The girl was resting in
Bright Eyes' front hooves.
She suddenly stirred and cracked her
eyes. She stretched a hoof to Baby Gusty.
"Gusta…Gusta."
The foal grabbed her friend's hoof
and squeezed it. She calmed and seemed relieved. But she was obviously weak as
she closed her eyes again, and breathed heavily. Baby Gusty looked at her
friends and said,
"We should get her warm huh?"
The others nodded. Bright Eyes
stated,
"We should hurry. She could get
pneumonia or hypothermia."
Baby Gusty stared at her. Bon-Bon
cut in,
'She'll get sick."
Baby Gusty nodded. She looked
directly at Bright Eyes.
"Ribbons is my best friend. I nearly
thought I lost her when she was flung to this time, that's why I came after
her. She's like my sister. I'm not going to lose her again."
That said, Baby Gusty ducked and
squirmed until her best friend was spread over her back. She fought her way up
but stood, despite the added weight.
"Let's go."
The seven fillies stood a moment
shocked. Then followed. Bright Eyes smiled and said, plainly,
"Now that's friendship."
