"Please."
"No."
"Please."
"No."
"Please."
"For the last time, Trixie, I said no! You can't join the team." Sunset said to the ever persistent girl who'd been following her through school all day.
"Why not? I'm not bad anymore. Don't you believe me?"
The fiery haired girl sighed as she turned back to Trixie. "Yes I do."
"Then let me be on the team. I could be your next musketeer, your white ranger, your Kato."
"First off, Kato could one inch punch a man through a door."
"Trixie could learn." Trixie said sheepishly.
"Second, it's too dangerous. We have magic to protect us."
"I can do that too," Trixie swiftly pulled out her magician's hat. "Trixie can pull a rabbit out of a hat. No wait, that's too cliché. Trixie can pull a hat out of a rabbit." She paused for a moment to think. "Fluttershy may not want to see that one."
"You really don't have to..."
"No, I can do it. Watch." She pulled a brown rabbit out of the hat and held him by his feet as she prepared her free hand for the trick.
"Okay, okay. Let's...not...do that. How about I make you our honorary vanguard."
"Yes!" the white haired girl cheered before promptly stopping. "Meaning..."
"If anything seems out of the ordinary at school or around town, you'll be the one to give us all a heads up so we can take care of things. I only ask that you don't get actively involved until we find out what we're dealing with. Does that sound good?"
"Of course," she said as she took a dramatic pose. "The Great and Powerful Trixie will be the mightiest vanguard who ever vanguarded...whatever it is she is vanguarding against."
The conversation was interrupted as Sunset's phone rang. "Well, I'll leave you too that. If you'll excuse me." She walked a short distance before she responded to a text from Twilight. "Doing good. What's happening with you?"
"Just hanging out with Indigo at her house, doing some repairs on...well I'm not really sure what it is." Twilight responded. "Sorry we haven't hung out in a bit. Indigo and the others really want to make up for what happened before."
"Don't worry about it. The other girls and I understand." Sunset had to chuckle for a moment, recalling what Pinkie had told her about what went down with AJ and Rainbow. "Enjoy yourself and we'll see you soon."
"See ya." Twilight text as she put the phone away and returned her attention to Indigo Zap who was busy working under a white sheet draped over something in her garage.
"Wrench." the blue haired girl said simply as Twilight complied as she had grown accustomed to doing. She heard Indigo make a few twists with the tool before finally emerging, patches of oil on her white t-shirt, face and goggles. She grabbed a clean white rag from the counter just above her and wiped her face and hands clean as best she could. "And we're finally done. Thanks for the help Sparkle."
"No trouble at all. But what exactly have we been working on?" Twilight was surprised as Indigo tossed her a helmet and pulled the sheet to reveal a blue and yellow motorcycle underneath.
"My new ride." The other girl placed her own helmet on as well as a leather jacket that was in the same colors as the bike. "Hop on and we'll take her for a spin."
A look of hesitation flashed across her face. "Um, are you sure that's such a good idea?"
"Hey don't sweat it," Indigo pulled a small square card from her back pocket with a photo of her on it and numbers running across the top. "See, I'm licensed. Plus, you saw me at the Friendship Games, right? I promise that there's nothing to worry about. So...do you trust me." She extended a hand which, after a few seconds of consideration, Twilight accepted with a bright smile.
Indigo hopped onto the bike and guided it out of the garage before closing the door as Twilight followed behind. "You ready?" Indigo asked as Twilight put the helmet on. She joined her on the bike and wrapped her arms around the blue haired girl's waist before she gave a confirming nod. "Hang on tight then." She revved up the bike and sped off, going from zero to sixty in the blink of an eye. Twilight tightened her grip as the vehicle blazed down the road.
It wasn't long before the two had reached the outskirts of the town and were on the open road. "Indigo, where are we going?" Twilight shouted over the roar of the engine.
"Just hang on. You'll see." Indigo reassured as she raced down the road and around a car. The girl eyed up a spot ahead and made a right in the fork in the road. She then guided the bike off the beaten path and onto an almost unnoticeable path that cut into a wooded area. A few minutes later she halted the bike and cut the engine. "Okay, we're here." She said getting no response from her passenger, who still had her hands tightly fastened around her waist. "Uh Twilight, we stopped."
"Huh? Oh right." She said with a slight bit of embarrassment as the two hopped off the bike and removed the helmets. "Where are we?"
Indigo took a look around before she pointed off through the brush. "This way." She led Twilight on a five minute walk through some thick foliage before finally reaching their destination. "Ta-da." Indigo pushed away some brush from their path and Twilight's eyes opened wide as she took in the scene in front of her; a ridge overlooking a pristine forest setting, complete with a quaint stream and lush vegetation.
"It's beautiful, I never even knew this was here."
"Nice, huh? When I was a little kid my dad took me for a little hike out here. Being the reckless kid I was I got lost. Took them almost a day before they found me. At first I panicked, then I found this little spot. It wowed me so much all I could do is just sit here and take it all in until he found me. With us being so busy, my family hardly ever gets any free time to spend together, let alone take a hiking trip. Soon as I got my bike running I knew this was the first place I wanted to go, and I'm glad I got to share this with you."
Indigo and Twilight sat on the grass and just took in their surroundings for a bit before Indigo placed a hand on her friend's shoulder. "You know... I never did thank you for what you did for me back then."
"Indigo, you don't have to..." Twilight paused as Indigo wrapped her arms around her in a hug then returned the gesture. The two enjoyed each others company for a good while before they headed for home. As they reached the main road, Twilight spotted something, or rather someone, ahead.
"Is that...Rainbow Dash?" Twi asked as the bike stopped at the intersection.
Sitting in Dash's car that was pulled off the road was a rather annoyed Pinkie Pie. The rainbow haired girl took the moment to shout to the other two girls. "I know what..." As she did so a car drove past, muddling any communication between them.
"What?" Indigo shouted back.
"I know what..." As Dash started again, yet another car zoomed past.
"What?"
Dash slapped her forehead and turned back to Pinkie. "Pinkie, megaphone." she ordered as the uninterested girl pulled the device from her hammer space hair. She looked over the device and looked down at the pink haired girl. "Pinkie how do you work this thing?" She asked this, seemingly unaware that she'd already pressed the button echoing her voice through the air. "What button? What do you mean it's already on?"
Indigo rolled her eyes and Twilight had an embarrassed smile as Rainbow Dash realized her mistake. She nervously rubbed the back of her head and put the megaphone up to her mouth. "I know what you're up to and you won't get away with it!" By the time she'd figured things out, Indigo and Twilight were already gone.
"Can we go now?" Pinkie asked as Dash slumped down in her seat, angrily gripping the wheel.
"You're friends are really weird." Indigo commented as the two headed down the road.
"They just take some...getting used to. Once you get to know them you'll see."
The Next Day
"Thanks for taking me shopping." Twilight thanked Sunny as she looked through the racks of clothing.
"It's nothing, really." Sunny said politely. Her phone beeped, informing her of a received text. She pulled it out to see a text from Indigo Zap.
"It's just nice to be able to finally spend some time together. I know how busy your schedule has been."
"Uh-huh." Sunny brushed off the comment as she read the message.
"Are you with Twilight?" it read.
Sunny rolled her eyes as she responded. "Yes I'm with Twilight. For the hundredth time."
The violet haired girl's brow furrowed as she read the message that followed. "You better be nice to her."
"Sorry about that," Sunny had an annoyed look on her face as she tucked the phone back into her jacket pocket before turning back to Twilight with a plastered on smile. "Seems like there's always someone calling for some reason or another."
"That's alright. I know the feeling." A few moments later, Twilight's phone rang as well. She peered down as the screen lit up. Her eyes wandering, Sunny could see a picture of a handsome young man with dark skin and green hairsitting on a log next to Twilight for the caller ID photo.
"Who...who is that?" Sunny asked, struggling to keep herself from drooling over the boy in the picture.
"Timber Spruce, I met him on a trip to Camp Everfree." Twilight's brief explanation was cut short as she excused herself to take the call.
Flare's right eye began to twitch as she gritted her teeth, unwittingly ripping the blouse she was holding in her hands. She looked down as she heard the tear of the fabric and realized she'd just bought the piece of clothing as she sighed.
A few rows of clothing down and hidden behind one of the displays were Rarity and Fluttershy. "There she is." Rarity stated as she peeked over the top.
"Rarity, um, I was thinking that..." Fluttershy whispered before being cut off.
"That we need to look a little more inconspicuous, just what I was thinking, darling. Here." Rarity grabbed some random clothes off of the racks around them to give the impression that the two were legitimately shopping. She piled them up high in Fluttershy's arms as she continued to stalk their targets.
"Rarity? Rarity?" the shy girl whispered as the clothing obstructed her view as she walked forward. "Where are you?" She eventually ran into something ahead of her and lost her balance, sending her and the clothes tumbling to the ground. "Oh, I'm so sorry..." Fluttershy instantly froze as she saw that the person she'd bumped into was none other than Sunny Flare, Twilight only a few feet away.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight had a puzzled look on her face as she helped the girl up. "What are you doing here?"
"I...um...you see..." Fluttershy stammered before Rarity rushed to her aid.
"Oh hello, darling. How are things?" Rarity wore a nervous smile as Sunny Flare stood back with folded arms and a raised eyebrow.
"Great," Twilight replied. "Sunny was just helping me shop for a new wardrobe. What about you?"
"Why we were...um...just doing the same. One never knows what new styles they'll find."
"Like that charming ensemble?" Sunny pointed out, gesturing to a white blouse with red, blue and yellow polka dots accompanied by a red plaid skirt that sat atop the pile of clothing Fluttershy held. Rarity turned and gasped momentarily at the tackiness of the set before turning back to the duo with a nervous smile.
"Like I said, one never knows. Well it was a pleasure seeing you. Enjoy your shopping. Come along, Fluttershy." The two rushed toward the front of the store as both Sunny and Twilight wore confused looks before returning to their shopping.
Later
Indigo was back in her garage, doing some fine tuning on her bike. "That outta do it." she said to herself as she tightened a bolt on the engine.
"Hey." she heard a voice say coldly as she turned to see Rainbow Dash standing in the entry way of the garage. "I think we need to talk."
Indigo stood up, cleaning off her hands with a rag. "I'll say. You really need to knock before entering someones home."
"I'm not here to play games."
"You sure? I just got the new Gamebox 1 and it's a killer."
Dash was none too amused by Indigo's suggestion. "I want you and your friends to stay away from Twilight. Got it?"
"Uh yeah, no."
"Listen, whatever little trick you're trying to pull stops right here, right now."
Indigo began to chuckle before putting on a smirk. "Let's get something straight. Whatever we have planned for Sparkle is none of your business. And I'd appreciate it if you and your little cronies would keep your distance. If she wants to hang with us and leave all of you in the dust there's not a thing you can do about it, so step off." She poked her finger sharply into Dash's chest. "Now why don't you turn around and head out the way you came and next time, not that there will be one, have a little more respect for other people's property."
Dash gave no response and stood her ground as her fists tensed at her side.
"Aww, what's wrong? The baby gonna cry? Because I think I might have my old pacifier up stairs." Indigo's goading got her shoved across the garage and into the tool cabinet. The commotion got the attention of a young, blue skinned woman who appeared in the garage doorway. She sported the same hairstyle as Indigo with the exception that hers was blonde. She was also noticeably heavier than the other girl.
"Everything okay out here, cuz?" She asked as she took a sip of the soda in her hand.
Indigo cast her gaze back to Dash. "Yeah, everything is fine. My friend here was just leaving, weren't you?"
Dash considered her options and realizing all too late that this move may have been ill advised, she turned and headed out. "Guess I was."
The Next Day
"Can you believe that?" Indigo asked as she finished explaining to the other Shadowbolts what had transpired the day before as the group sat in Sour Sweet's room.
The group turned to see a red faced Sour Sweet about to burst with anger. "Why...those...little..."
"She's gonna blow! Quick to the emergency anger room!" Zest shouted as the other girls picked up the pink haired girl and ran out of the room and into a room in the house with glass walls. It was really just a sound proofed music room that doubled as an area for Sour to let off verbal steam. The group chucked her inside and locked the door, unknowingly sealing Sunny Flare, who'd tumbled in by accident, inside.
"Wait, let me out!" She shouted to no avail as she covered her ears as Sour finally let loose with an angry tirade.
Having dealt with that, Indigo continued the conversation. "So you see the problem..."
"Is that you ran your mouth way too much." Sugarcoat said as she cut her friend off. "And now the Rainbooms think we're actually up to something devious when the exact opposite is true."
"Well, Rainbow Dash started it!"
"But you made it worse."
"I'm with Indigo," Lemon chimed in. "I don't appreciate being treated like the scum of the earth just because we made some bad choices in the past. What ever happened to forgive and forget?"
"That all starts on our end. We can't just fight fire with fire, or rather fight Rainbow with Indigo. We show we're above all the..."
"Yeah yeah, great," Indigo cut Sugarcoat off as she began to think. "That's it! Twilight's birthday party! We'll throw her the biggest bash she's ever seen and those losers we'll see we really are her real best friends. That'll teach them a lesson they won't forget."
"That's not exactly what I meant." Before Sugarcoat could get in another word, Lemon noticed her watch.
"It should be about time to let her out." she said as the girls opened the door to the sound proof room as Sour was just reaching the end of her frustrations.
"...with a soup ladle!" Sour panted heavily, her eyes wide as she calmed down, straightened out her clothing and rejoined the others. "So, where were we?"
"I'll explain on the way. Let's go!" Indigo said as she bolted to the front door, Sour and Lemon right behind her with an annoyed Sugarcoat trailing behind. The last girl peered back into the music room, where Sunny was curled up in the corner, her hands still over her ears and her left eye twitching.
"Are you coming or not?"