(Night time)
Rainbow Dash has packed the things she needs to take with her. She is wearing her Wonderbolt uniform, and has her backpack on her. Adorabella also had to remind Rainbow Dash to grab her goggles. After that, they wait patiently in the living room for the CMC to arrive.
"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I- I can manage," Adorabella replied, nodding. Her voice sounds reassuring enough to Rainbow Dash.
"Thank you, I really appreciate it," Rainbow Dash smiled and pulls Adorabella to her and hugs, and squeezes.
"Ah- ah- ow-" Adorabella winced. Rainbow Dash immediately let's go.
"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hug you that hard. It... you just took a lot of pressure off me," Rainbow Dash apologized. She hugged Adorabella a bit too tight.
"It's okay... I just wanted to do something in return. What you've done for me... it really means a lot. Even this, I really don't know how I could ever repay you fully," Adorabella smiled, looking at Rainbow Dash. From the right, the white pegasus leans onto the light blue pegasus.
"Those are good traits to have, wanting to not take things for granted. But I know you're not taking me for granted, no need to worry," Rainbow Dash nodded, resting her chin on Adorabella's head.
Knock knock knock...
Adorabella cringes at hearing the door, tensing up. But she didn't flinch this. It didn't startle her as much. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash got up and walks to the door. Adorabella stays where she is, shyly staring at the door.
"Stay strong..." Adorabella whispers to herself. Rainbow Dash glances back, and sees something odd. Usually, Adorabella's wings would be extended when in tense situations. But they remain folded. Rainbow Dash can tell Adorabella really trusts her just by the posture alone.
Rainbow Dash glances back to the door. It opens, and there's 3 fillies, one yellow, one white and one orange, it's the CMC, with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom been given a cloud walker spell prior. All burst their way inside and they all hug Rainbow Dasg, especially Scootaloo. They're all smiling, happy to see each other, while Adorabella shyly stands where she is.
"Sorry I won't be around for a bit, but I need to pop off. Let me introduce who will look after you," Rainbow Dash reassuringly said. Adorabella respostures herself as she stands up, putting on a forced smile.
"Hi there, m'name's Apple Bloom," The yellow earth pony introduces herself, smiling.
"H- hi," Adorabella's soft voice quietly squeaks out. She doesn't feel so on edge now. They're all females, not males. Although somepony like Ralph shown he's trustable, bad ponies like Rock and Catch get in the way of Adorabella's mind.
"Nice to meet you, I am Sweetie Belle," The white unicorn gently introduces herself. Her name ticks in Adorabella's head. It is the other pony who was not too long ago harassed by Rock and Catch.
"And I'm Scootaloo," The orange pegasus introduces herself aloud while stepping forward, making Adorabella flinch and step back.
"H- hi there," Adorabella shuttered slightly.
"CMC, this is Adorabella. Adorabella, this is the CMC..." Rainbow Dash said as she looks at the CMC and gets down to their height.
"I want you three on your best behaviour. You know the rules, don't do anything silly and all that. Adorabella is a good pony, be nice to her," Rainbow Dash whispered, in a slightly stern tone. The CMC nod in response.
"I'll see you all around later," Rainbow Dash said as she walks through the door, closing it behind her. She then flaps her wings and takes off. She needs to quickly go somewhere else before she meets up with Spitfire. Rainbow Dash could tell Adorabella isn't all that okay, she's doing it to help in return. Rainbow Dash respects that, but she's not sure if Adorabella will manage the CMC on her own.
Immediately, the CMC and their interests in cutie marks, are curious about Adorabella's cutie mark. Feeling more comfortable to show as the CMC are fillies, Adorabella shows them her cutie mark.
"Ooooh... your cutie mark is... amazing!" Sweetie Belle said in amazement.
"The main bit looks like a map... are you good with knowing your whereabouts?" Apple Bloom inquired.
"Yes... yes actually," Adorabella replied as she returns her whole body to face the CMC. She definitely tells the CMC study cutie marks.
"What is the Z-looking thing in the middle though?" Scootaloo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh... that is a symbol to do with memories. I can retain memories really well... although... I don't really have anything nice to remember back to," Adorabella replied. The CMC nods. They don't want to intrude on what happened to Adorabella, but they do want to test her memory.
"Are there any opaque cups... and some paper?" Scootaloo asked. Adorabella nods flapping her wings and taking off, only for her to be back a few seconds later, giving them 10 plastic cups and a piece of paper. Sweetie Belle tries levitating the objects.
"Huh, my magic ain't working." Sweetie Belle is near Adorabella, who is wearing the necklace with the shard attached. They don't know about the shard. Adorabella picks back up the 10 cups and piece of paper. She is still afraid of anypony finding out about the shards properties.
"That was quick," Apple Bloom said in surprise, the other 2 being equally surprised. Adorabella appeared to be as quick... or even quicker than Rainbow Dash. Adorabella nervously chuckles, hoping they don't find out how fast she really is. All 4 walks into the living room, to the table by the sofa.
"I wonder why my magic chose not to work today..." Sweetie Belle wondered to herself, still puzzled. Meanwhile, Adorabella finishes lining up the cups, all being upside down. Scootaloo grabs the paper and screws it into a ball and puts it under one of the cups, the 9th one on the right.
Knock knock knock...
"I'll get it," Apple Bloom said as she walks into the foyer, over to the door. Meanwhile, Scootaloo starts mixing the cups while Adorabella is looking.
"I'm just curious to see how good exactly your memory is," Said Scootaloo.
"Ah ha ha.. it's fine," Adorabella lightly chuckled. Adorabella is happy to know none of the 3 fillies are living good lives.
"How did you earn your cutie mark?" Scootaloo started asking questions while mixing the cups.
"Well... I um... I..." Adorabella tries to think of how to explain without bringing up all the things she went through, but she may have to at least a little bit.
"I um... I ran from home after... after some stuff happened... nothing... um, important. I remembered what my teacher said word for word and worked out where I was... and that's how I earned it," Adorabella explained.
"What were everypony else's thoughts? What did they think about your cutie mark?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I earned it with nopony around me," Adorabella replied.
"Oh," Sweetie Belle nodded. It must have been depressing, earning something big like a cutie mark without anypony there applauding or giving praises.
"Can I ask questions of my own?" Adorabella asked.
"Fire them away," Scootaloo smirked, still mixing up the cups.
"Do you study cutie marks... like, is it a project of sorts?" Adorabella asked.
"Eh, me and my friends help other ponies earning their cutie marks, or help them with their special talent if they're having any trouble," Scootaloo explained.
"I see, that's nice of you three," Adorabella nodded. Scootaloo nods back.
"How did you earn yours?" Adorabella asked.
"There was a pony who used to bully us, but we're on good terms now with her. She came to me and my friends, she wanted help with having a better understanding of her cutie mark... and then us three got ours. That's the very short story anyways," Sweetie Belle explained, summing up the events of that day in a very simplistic way.
"Ah, right," Adorabella nodded. Now, Scootaloo stops mixing the cups around. Adorabella 'fell' for the bait. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle wonders if Adorabella forgot which cup the screwed-up paper is in as they were talking about cutie marks. But Adorabella immediately picks up a cup, the 4th one on the left, and in there is the screwed-up paper, the correct cup.
"That's... that's insane..." Sweetie Belle stammered. Her jaw is dropped down, shocked, stunned, but very impressed. Scootaloo is equally impressed, and has no words. Adorabella's memory is very good.
"I did say I have good memory," Adorabella smirked.
"Tell me about it, that's crazy. You were able to talk while remember which cup had the paper inside while simultaneously talking with us," Scootaloo nodded. Meanwhile, Apple Bloom is back, with Fluttershy.
"Hey, what are we all doing?" Fluttershy asked, confused as to why there are 10 cups and a screwed-up piece of paper on the table. There was only 4 ponies, now 5.
"Just testing Adorabella's memory and... it's pretty good, let's just say that," Sweetie Belle stated.
"I see... um, Adorabella, are you alright?" Fluttershy asked, getting slightly closer. Adorabella is looking down, looking disappointed at herself.
"Can we talk... outside?" Adorabella requested of Fluttershy, who nods. The 2 pegasuses walk into the foyer. Meanwhile, the CMC found a chess board, and started playing chess against each other while the 2 adults go outside.
Now outside the door, Adorabella and Fluttershy sits down on the cloud.
"What's wrong?" Fluttershy asked, showing a sad expression on her face.
"Did Rainbow send you here?" Adorabella asked. Fluttershy nodded.
"I see... I just... I just want to do something for Rainbow... she's helped me greatly... and I can't do anything for her in return! What kind of friend does that make me!?" Adorabella exclaimed, while retreating her head back and looks down, weeping from her eyes.
"No no no, it's nothing bad, Rainbow really appreciates you. She just asked me if I could help you. She doesn't doubt you, she just cares about you," Fluttershy gently reassured, lightly smiling. She shuffles closer, gently putting her left forehoof on Adorabella's right shoulder. The warm, gentle yellow hoof feels reassuring.
"I know... but I just feel as though I can't do anything to help her back. I feel like I'm taking advantage of her, and- I just want to help Rainbow back..." Adorabella murmured.
"I know exactly how you feel. When Rainbow and I became friends when we were fillies, I was worried I'd lose Rainbow because I couldn't do anything for her. But no matter what, she stood up for me. A decade later, we're still great friends," Fluttershy shared a bit about her story. The story sounds reassuring for Adorabella.
"Rainbow greatly respects you for who you are," Fluttershy added. Adorabella looks down, the looks back up, smiling, feeling reassured.
"Oh again!? Scootaloo you're too good at chess!" From outside, Fluttershy and Adorabella hear Sweetie Belle moan.
"What'd you expect? She even beats Rainbow," Fluttershy and Adorabella hear Apple Bloom comment.
"Ugh my magic still isn't working," Sweetie Belle moaned.
"Um, maybe we should go back inside," Fluttershy suggested. Adorabella nods.
Scootaloo is reorganizing the chess pieces. Both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are now bored. Scootaloo remains undefeated at chess. But hope shines as Fluttershy and Adorabella come back.
"Can either of you play chess?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I know how to play," Adorabella nodded.
"Do you think you could uh... beat Scoots? For us? Please?" Sweetie Belle grinned while opening her eyes wider, Apple Bloom doing the same.
"I can try to..." Adorabella agreed, and walks to the table by the sofa, where Scootaloo is standing on the armchair of the sofa. The CMC had moved Adorabella's backpack that has the 8 shards inside of.
"I can beat Rainbow, just a heads up," Scootaloo smirked, low-key bragging.
"I can as well," Adorabella responded. Scootaloo's smirk grew, as a worthy opponent stands before her. Adorabella is playing black and Scootaloo is playing white. Everypony meanwhile gets ready to watch the game.
(An hour later)
Everypony but Adorabella was yawning, it was well late at night. Scootaloo was up 3 pawns, but her eyes started closing and opening, closing and opening. Adorabella was perfectly fine on the other hoof. Scootaloo was originally at an advantage, but the tables had turned. Adorabella managed to win the 3 pawns back. But seeing Scootaloo look so tired, Adorabella wanted a draw. It wasn't fair to her, taking a dub when your opponent's half-awake. Both shakes forehooves with each other.
"You're good," Scootaloo complimented while yawning.
"You too," Adorabella complimented back. While Fluttershy takes the CMC upstairs to bed, Adorabella puts the chess pieces back on their original squares. Once done, she gets on the sofa and lays down. She then sees Fluttershy coming back down, so she got up, so Fluttershy can sit down.
"Are you alright?" Fluttershy gently asked as got to the sofa and sits down.
"I'm okay," Adorabella nodded.
"You?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"I- I didn't think just one hour would be this hard... it was good Rainbow sent you here. I didn't do well at all..." Adorabella sighed, looking away from Fluttershy, feeling disappointed in herself.
"I think you've done very well Adorabella. Sometimes... a pony needs help with things. Even Rainbow needs help with things. There's no shame in needing help," Fluttershy gently reassured, lightly smiling.
"D- do you mind if I lean on you?" Adorabella asked, shuffling closer. Fluttershy nods. Adorabella weakly starts leaning over, onto the side of Fluttershy's body.
"It's been overwhelming... so much has happened. Recent days have been overwhelming... it's crazy, for me. A week ago, I was living how I was living for the past decade. Alone... never expecting to have friends... and I was okay with that..." Adorabella starts mumbling about the past few stressful days.
"Rainbow changed all that... and my head is now in a... a much better place, although I still got much to do. That's why I want to do something to help her. She's done so much for me... but I've done little for her in return," Adorabella added, sighing after.
"You're already helping her by looking after the three. She told me you took a lot of pressure off her," Fluttershy gently responded.
"True... I remember her saying that too," Adorabella quietly responded and nods.
"But... I feel like I could do more, you know," Adorabella added in the same volume.
"That's of course a good thing. That's really nice of you. But you don't need to overwork yourself for others... although, I can't talk much myself," Said Fluttershy, lightly giggling, Adorabella lightly giggling too.
The door opens, and Rainbow Dash walks in. She closes the door behind her and walks into the living room, where Fluttershy and Adorabella are. Adorabella stops leaning and sits up right. Rainbow Dash still has her Wonderbolt uniform on.
"Hey, I'm back. How well-behaved were they? Were they good?" Rainbow Dash asked. Fluttershy and Adorabella nodded.
"Adorabella and Scootaloo played chess... and they drew," Fluttershy stated.
"Nice. Scoots is quite good," Rainbow Dash nodded to Adorabella.
"Oh um, Adorabella, I encountered Rarity on the way back and... she said that the authorities have Rock and Catch detained at the moment. But we have no news on when the trial is going to take place," Rainbow Dash updated. Adorabella shivered as she heard those 2 names, but quickly relaxes at hearing they're detained.
"So the show you're going to do... as is in two days... could I come? I wanna be there to show my support. You've um, you've supported me and... and I wanna support you back," Adorabella requested.
"Of course you can Adorabella. Thanks, I really appreciate that," Rainbow Dash nodded, smiling. Adorabella smiles back too.
"But... there's gonna be a massive crowed of ponies. Are you sure you're gonna manage?" Rainbow Dash double checked. Usually large audiences attend Wonderbolt shows.
"Will they allow me to um... bring my shards? I've um... um, I have to tell you something about them," Adorabella trusts the 2 pegasuses a lot. They'll be understanding of what the shards really are.
"Do they possess something? They might let you or not. It depends what they are," Rainbow Dash replied.
"These shards stop ponies using magic around me... not like um, disabling the magic within somepony. But um, they stop things like casting spells around me... and... and it stops somepony using stuff like telekinesis on me... I found these abandoned in the shack. It's not like they disable it permanently forever or absorb it... it just stops ponies using it near the shards. They were what kept me safe... and... and they... protected me..." Adorabella explained, looking away in guilt. They were the things that didn't allow Sweetie Belle to use her magic.
"Thank you for being open about the shards. No wonder you wanted to bring the shards with you. I now also understand why you always wear the necklace," Said Rainbow Dash. Adorabella nodded.
"Well... about bringing them... as long as you're only using them for self-defence... I don't see any issue. But... I wouldn't take all of them, just in case," Rainbow Dash suggested. Adorabella nodded.
"Where's the show going to take place?" Adorabella wondered.
"Fillydelphia," Rainbow Dash replied. Adorabella looked down.
"What's wrong?" Fluttershy gently asked.
"It... it was the place... the place I was born..." Adorabella shuddered. She looks at Fluttershy, then at Rainbow Dash.
"But if it means I can show support... I'm willing to go," Adorabella starts breathing in deeply and breathing out heavily.
"If it's too much for you to go, then you don't have-"
"No. I'm going," Adorabella firmly interrupted. Adorabella speaking firmly like that caught Rainbow Dash and definitely Fluttershy off guard. They know there's no changing Adorabella's mind.
"Well then, um, Fluttershy, you can go if you want. Again, thank you for helping Adorabella out," Said Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy nodded as she went to get off the sofa, only for Adorabella to cling onto her, hugging, before quickly letting go. Fluttershy smiled.
"Bye Rainbow, bye Adorabella," Fluttershy said her goodbyes as she walks into the foyer, to the door. She opens it and walks out, shutting the door behind her.
"How was the practice run?" Adorabella asked.
"It went well, thanks. It was fun doing the practice run," Rainbow Dash replied, nodding.
"Tomorrow at the Wonderbolt academy they're doing an open day, just before the show. I was gonna suggest you to go- not to join the Wonderbolts... but so you can get used to crowds... for if you do go to the show tomorrow. Also it's good practice to meet more ponies. How does that sound?" Rainbow Dash suggested. Adorabella looks down, thinking about it, then looks back up.
"Sure."
