[Open] Another day where I think I'm giving up the fight

[shiningkindness]

Who: Fluttershy and anyone who happens to be around
When: Mid-April
Where: Anywhere on school grounds
What: There's a duel happening, and Fluttershy is trying to keep tabs on it.

While it seemed like a normal day at the academy - as normal as a school of magic could be, anyway - every once in a while some students may feel a slight rumble through the ground. Or they might hear the faint clang of metal against metal, or catch sight of a tail or dorsal fin before it disappears back under the ground.

Some rather unlucky students might even be startled by the blade of a sword or the point of spear suddenly jutting up from the earth nearby, but those too disappear back underneath the earth.

And as quickly as the moment comes it's gone, and the grounds are still once again, for the moment at least. But soon after they might come across Fluttershy. She seems to be making her way quickly, though stops every so often to glance around.

And when she notices someone nearby, she heads over to ask, "E-Excuse me...I don't mean to bother you, but...have you seen a whale or dolphin pass by?"

Comments

[woo_oo]

"Let's go to the library and make sure neither of them are there!"

She's already started running!

[shiningkindness]

Fluttershy started to follow after her, but stopped as another rumble shook the ground before everything fell eerily still.

When Ballet finally rose from the ground nearby, she gasped when she noticed the scratch along the whale's side. She also saw another fin - slightly smaller - over by a bush of flowers before darting away, moving through the ground before the spear-carrying dolphin breached the surface, jumping high into the air.

"Ballet...!"

[woo_oo]

"Oh no you don't!"

Webby whipped out her wand - she wasn't sure how far her magic could aim, but it was worth a try.

"Nobody hurts my friend's... magical shape-shifting sword-wielding flying land whale... and gets away with it!"

Boy, that was a mouthful. Anyway, using the knowledge she gained from the concert, she aimed her wand at Tango's direction and tried to shoot out lightning magic!

[shiningkindness]

Somehow, despite being in the air, Tango managed to dodge the lightning - though just barely - before diving back underneath the ground, swimming towards the flower bush.

Meanwhile Fluttershy quickly ran over to Ballet, looking at the scratch in concern. "O-Oh, Ballet...Are you all right?"

The land whale gave a low rumble in response.

[woo_oo]

"Yeah, you better run! ... Fly. Swim. Some combination."

This was confusing. Any, she kept her wand out, ready to defend her friends if need be. "How's he looking?"

[shiningkindness]

"Sh-She's all right for the most part. It doesn't look like she's cut too deep." Still, Fluttershy couldn't help being worried.

Especially since Tango was still around, though seemed to be darting back and forth from the flower bush.

[woo_oo]

"Is there a way you can sneak her out of here? It doesn't look like Tango's ready to retreat just yet."

If Webby had to keep fighting to get the girls to safety, so be it!

[shiningkindness]

Ballet gave another low rumble, this one sounding a bit agitated, and Fluttershy gave a worried sound in response.

"I-I don't think she wants to leave yet."

[woo_oo]

"Maybe she wants to see this duel to the death."

Which would be cool to see, but probably not something Fluttershy wants.

"And Tango might want it too."

[shiningkindness]

It definitely wasn't what she wanted. "That's what I'm afraid of," she replied, her hand gently resting on Ballet's back.

[woo_oo]

"Well, in that case... we have to stand firm!" Webby replied, hands on her hips, defiant to the last. "We are allies! Like the three musketeers! ... Did you know technically there were four? It's actually a very interesting book."

Wait, no, she needed to focus... actually, was there an idea in her tangent?

"Tango! Would you be interested in an offer of friendship to be our fourth musketeer?"

[shiningkindness]

The dolphin didn't seem too thrilled, as it gave a reply that, while Fluttershy couldn't understand at the moment, certainly sounded agitated. But with her hand on Ballet, she felt something pass through the whale, almost like a slight jump of surprise.

Then suddenly Tango dove off, disappearing into the ground. As he left, though, a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. Curious, Fluttershy rose to her feet and picked it up, unfolding the note.

"....What...?"

Suddenly, with a low rumble, Ballet took off, and with a gasp Flutterhy followed after her.

"W-Wait...Ballet...!"

[woo_oo]

Intrigued, Webby leaned up to try and read the note. "Wow... I have no idea what this means. That is fascinating and also very frustrating!"

No time to analyze, apparently. "Hey, don't leave us behind!" Off she chases!

[shiningkindness]

Luckily Ballet's dorsal fin remained above ground, so it was easy for them to follow her to an old tower, run-down and crumbling from age and neglect. As Ballet slowed to a stop, Fluttershy glanced around for any sign of the dolphin.

And it was only a chance glance up at that she noticed a figure up on the roof.

"...Oh...I think that's him."

[woo_oo]

"Okay... friendship is a no, and us joining the duel is a no. And our only lead is this very confusing note."

Oh boy. She really wished the other boys were here, or Uncle Scrooge. Maybe they'd have a better idea.

"Do we really have no choice but to let Ballet decide?"

[shiningkindness]

Fluttershy glanced at Ballet; despite the land whale being mostly underneath the ground, she could tell that she seemed a bit agitated, almost in a nervous way.

"...maybe," she replied thoughtfully, glancing down at the note she still held. Between it and the flower bush, she was beginning to wonder. "Maybe friendship wouldn't be too out of the question after all."

Glancing up at the figure on the roof again, Fluttershy called, "Tango...! I'm sorry about earlier. Won't you please come down? We'd...like to just talk, if that's okay?"

[woo_oo]

"You think so?" Webby was confused, but if Fluttershy had an idea, she wasn't going to fight it.

"I'm putting down my weaponry and going into a submissive position!" She shouted, putting her wand away and holding up her hands as if she was being robbed. That helped, right?

[shiningkindness]

That did seem to help a bit...or at least Fluttershy thought so, but it was hard to tell as Tango chirped and whistled. He didn't sound angry, at least, but he still had yet to come down from the roof. And even now, she wasn't sure what he was saying.

Thinking for a moment, Fluttershy then retrieved her wand, holding it up for Tango to see. "I...I'd like to try something, if that's okay! A spell, that might help us communicate better. But I won't use it unless that's all right with you."

[woo_oo]

"A communication spell! That's genius!" Wasn't communication one of their classes? Webby made a mental note to pour extra studying into that one.

But she needed to help, so she shouted, "Fluttershy is super trustworthy! She also really stinks at lying, so you'd see right through her if she was!"

... Helpful.

[shiningkindness]

Honestly, Fluttershy didn't really mind all that much. Especially as Tango - slowly, begrudgingly - started making his way down the tower, before diving into the ground.

When he resurfaced, he came up in front of Fluttershy, looking at her almost expectantly. So with a nod, Fluttershy concentrated on the spell she had learned from the books she'd read to connect with him.

And once she did, Tango started speaking in more chirps and whistles and clicks, just a dolphin would. But the meaning was clear in his mind, which made it clear to Fluttershy too.

...which, for some reason, had both her and Ballet blushing.

[woo_oo]

This would have to be explained to Webby, however, who kept looking back and forth between everyone.

"What? What? What are they saying?"

[shiningkindness]

After a moment, Fluttershy cleared her throat. "T...T-Tango is saying that...while he had been planning on dueling Ballet until one of them was victorious...afterwards he had wanted to...ask her to be his date to a...a dance that's coming up next month?"

Tango gave a few more clicks and whistles.

"I'm sorry, the Twilight Ball, he says. I guess it's a really big thing here. B-But he'd wanted to ask Ballet out once the duel was over."

1/2

[woo_oo]

"... So, you're telling me, we went through this madcap chase, nearly got stabbed and crushed and attacked, went through all this trouble and all those spells, just because he was too shy to ask out a girl to a dance?"

Webby inhaled.

2/2

[woo_oo]

"... THAT'S SO ADORABLE! BALLET, YOU GOTTA SAY YES!"

[shiningkindness]

Ballet gave a low, unsure rumble, and seemed to glance at Fluttershy, who responded with an uncertain sound of her own.

"W-Well...it's...It's up to you, Ballet," she replied softly. "I'm not as familiar with the history between you two. But...I want you to be happy. So if that's what you want, then I'll support you."

Then she glanced at Tango.

"A-Although...maybe you could try asking without using your weapons?"