[TFE] March Event: Celebration of Friendship: Chapter One: Sighs and Snickers

There was a crisp chill to the early Spring air - a cold that caused many to bundle up and Belle was no exception. Her brow furrowed as she hunched, nuzzling into the warm embrace of her cloak and mumbling something under her breath.  Sure, she was happy that the School of Friendship was reopening. She was happy that everyone was coming together to celebrate. But-

 

Another soft gust of icy wind brushed over the mare who shivered from snout to tail, cursing into the cowl of her cloak as she heard snickering from the stallion next to her. Glancing over, she caught a glimpse of Pas, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he snickered again.

 

“Belle Feé!” He chided playfully, “language.” He turned his head to fully look at her mare who was glaring forward, her face barely peeking out from her cowl and her hair was already a tad disheveled from the (however brief) walk.

 

“I am cold, Pas - how are you not cold?” She scoffed, pulling her muzzle free and giving him an unamused look. The stallion let out a quiet laugh as her eyes narrowed before he waved it away with a hoof. 

 

“I’m a little used to it from all of the patrols, by now.” He sighed, causing her to relax. She wasn’t used to her brother giving a serious answer - usually she had to drag answers out of him while he made playful remarks.. Though given his job, she couldn’t blame him for wanting to try to stay in high spirits all the time.

 

“Aaaand if you exercised with us, you might have some muscle to keep you warm too~” There it was. She found herself pouting as she looked forward again, a montage of images of herself sparring with Pas and Brave flashed briefly in her mind, all of them ending with her knocked out and the two fretting worriedly.. It was a bit comical, and true if not a bit of an exaggeration of what she thought would happen.

 

Pas snickered again, shaking his head as they neared the school grounds. The smell of different foods and the distant murmuring brushed their senses and he cast a glance at her again.. Smirking softly at the childish pout she still wore.

 

“You know the offer stands, right?” He looked at her again, his smirk replaced by a soft smile. “We’d be careful-”

 

“Oohhhhh no. No no nonono.” She shook her head, looking up at him with a frown. “The two of you being careful still ends up with the two of you needing ice packs or gauze at the end of the day.” She eyed him as his smile never faltered. “I don’t understand it, I really don’t.”

 

“We get carried away sometimes-”

“Sometimes?” She eyed him again, trotting forward with a soft huff.

 

“Oookay, we do tend to get carried away, but it’s fun - really!” He sighed, catching up and looking around at the different stalls that had been set up. The school grounds looked like a fair - there was music, food and games, it looked like everyone in the city was here.

 

“So what do you think of all of this?” The question caught Pas off guard as he looked over. Belle was looking up at the building, eyes tracing its outline before she turned to him and stopped walking.

 

“About what?”

 

“About the school reopening, doofus.” Her voice broke into a chuckle as she shook her head. Pas looked up at the school, then back at her as he grinned from ear to ear, placing a hoof on his chest.

 

“I'm the BEST at making friends, they should hire me when I retire.” Belle stared at him for a long second before bursting into a hearty laugh.

 

“You, work there when you retire?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

“Pas, you conversationally ask people to fight you.”

 

“Yeah, then we bond - it’s great!” He laughed, causing her to stare at him in disbelief, shaking her head as she let out a snickered sigh.

 

“What the hell am I going to do with you?” Her snickers turned into chuckles as she started walking again, eyeing a stall that was selling scarves. They looked well made and - more importantly - warm.. She knew one stall that would be doing well during today’s event.

 

“Spar with me?” While a question, his playful tone and smirk out of the corner of her eye told Belle that it was, in fact, not a question but a statement.

 

“What is your obsession with that?” He sighed at her question this time, seeing her giving him a genuinely curious look. 

 

“When sparring, there’s only the fight - playful or otherwise.” He began, stopping to look at her. “You’re both on equal terms - no magic, just your strength against theirs. You learn a lot about someone when sparring.” He noticed her raise an eyebrow in amusement before continuing. “Like how somepony might favor their right side or their left - that sort of thing.” She nodded slowly, watching him with a smirk before turning her attention back to the stalls.

 

“Alright, I can see it.” She let out a playful sigh, “maybe.. Maybe next time.”

 

“Really..?” Pas looked at her a little stunned before smiling and quickening his pace again to catch up. “I think you’re going to have a lot of fun, I mean the bruises take a little getting used to and-” He was gently shushed with a hoof as she smirked, shaking her head again.

 

“Not a selling point, Pas..” He thought about that as she pulled her hoof away to continue walking.

 

“Ok, BUT.. Hear me out..” She rolled her eyes as he began again. “Nothing beats a warm shower then heading to your favorite chill spot afterwards for a meal or a treat~” She smirked, glancing back at him.

 

“Better~" She chuckled as they continued to make their way through the celebration, enjoying some festival food and music here, browsing stalls there..

 

“While we’re on the topic of friends..” Belle bit her tongue, thinking for a moment as Pas snorted.

 

“Well, the place makes that relevant..~” 

 

“I’m pretty sure your one friend is evil.” She glanced at him, seeing him visibly pause a moment to think. 

 

“Brave?” He asked, looking at her as she stared at him.

 

“No, the unicorn.. I don’t think I’ve met him formally.” He stared at her before his eyes widened a bit, mouthing a silent “ohhh..”

 

“You mean Frost.” He scoffed, snickering and waving a hoof. “Pfft, nah, he’s just a bit eccentric is all.”

 

“Pas..” She stared, following after him. “You’re a knight.”

“Aaaand knights can’t have snowball fights with a friend? Ouch~” He stuck out his tongue before taking off with a laugh.

“H-hey!!” She hollered, giving chase.