wannabolt | 13

[Well, now that the possession insanity is over with, maybe it's time for Dash to address something that's been bothering her for a while. So here, Luceti, have a view of one colorful, cartoony pony chilling in the sky somewhere. Probably one one of those clouds she loves perching on so much.

She takes a quick look around, wipes her forehead with one of her hooves, and lets out a great big sigh.]

Okay, so I know that a lot of you guys are from worlds where fighting's... kinda routine. You might be warriors, heroes, knights, whatever... I guess to you guys, going out and fighting the Third Party's no big deal. Just another war to add to your resume.

Buuuut here's the thing. Equestria's really peaceful for the most part. Sure, I've helped save the world from eternal night, but when I went out to fight in that last draft, things got ugly. Fast.

[She winces, looking the other way.]

How do you guys deal with it? Especially if you've gotta kill to keep moving. My speed kept me in shape for the most part, and I KO'd some cultists, but that's about as far as I could go.

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A book? C'mon, Twilight, you know I don't read.

[She flops on her back, cradling her head with her front legs.]

But cider? Yeah, I could go with that.

I'm telling you that you should give it a shot. You read from the time I'm from. Sometimes it's nice to remind yourself that this isn't the only world there is.

[ She settles down next to Rainbow, close enough so Rainbow doesn't feel alone, but not so close that Rainbow gets uncomfortable from sappiness. ]

But aren't books just made up?

[So it's not really another world, right? She huffs, though her posture relaxes a little once Twilight sits down. It's appreciated.]

John Clopson from one of my mystery novels showed up here in human form. I think that rule has officially been broken.

...Okay, I was going to say that's the craziest thing I've ever heard, but you know what? I've seen weirder now. Much weirder.

[She used to know a talking creampuff, for crying out loud.]

Luceti almost makes Discord seem reasonable sometimes. At least he hasn't tried turning me into something else.

[ She unfolds a wing and draws Dash into a hug with it. ] But at least we've got each other to help us get through it all.

[Dash is totally down for a wing hug, and she returns the favor after a few seconds.]

Heh, you've got that right. We might be missing some of the others, but I think we can tough it out.

{ Twilight squeezes Dash a little tighter - she's continually reminded how lucky she is that some of her friends came with her - and eventually lets go. She knows Dash gets self-conscious about sappy stuff like that before too long. ]

We'll see them again before long. And there are plenty of friends to make here.

And, Dash... you don't have to kill. Even if they put you on a draft. There's places you can be, like in the medical bay or working strategy. And I was fighting, but only to stun, or to inconvenience.

[Twilight's words definitely do ease her concerns. After all the people talking about how drafts are a kill or be killed situation, hearing Twilight's approach lifts some of the weight off her back. She responds with a quick nod.]

See, that's kinda how I went about it, too. It's just that so many people here seem to think that killing's the only option if we wanna get outta there in one piece. I can't really grasp that kinda thinking.

[ Twilight shakes her head. ] I can't either. If the only way to get out of this place truly is to submit to violent acts like that, maybe we won't be able to leave it at all. Killing is just... [ She shudders. ] Well, I couldn't do it.

Anyway, I don't think that's the case. I think we can be ourselves, and I think there are alternatives.

Man, there's always gotta be some kinda alternative. It'd be pretty lame if we had to stick to one or two options.

[She shrugs, giving her wings a light flick.]

I'm telling you, some of the people here could seriously learn a thing or two from us ponies.

That's the spirit, Rainbow. Thinking outside the box! There's a letter to Princess Celestia in here somewhere...

Maybe we oughta make some kinda drop box. Having others write letters could actually be pretty neat, if they take it seriously enough.

[There are definitely people who could use the lessons, really.]

What if we taught everypony what we know? I've been studying this for long enough, I might be able to impart some of what I've learned.

Hey, we could even teach it to newbies, too. Everyone who needs it. Fact is, this place gets so mopey sometimes.

[Plus, there are grumpy folks who just don't see how awesome friends are.]

Yeah, people can be sort of jaded around here sometimes. [ She looks down at the city from their perch. ] Friendship lessons could do them some good. I'll make you the physical activity trainer!

Physical trainer?

[Heh, heh. Dash rubs her hooves together. She's very fond of that idea...]

You think they can handle it?

[ Twilight raises an eyebrow. ] After all the Shifts, Missions, and Drafts they've gone through?

... Luceti won't know what hit it. [ Grinning ]

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