//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The First Journey: Feelings of Etherealism // by Kaille //------------------------------// ~Chapter 6: The Bold and the Bashful~ We suddenly hear a shout above us. We all jump under a tree, and then a cyan and rainbow blur crashed into one of the apple buckets, pulverized apples spraying everywhere. A head popped out of the barrel covered in grime. "Heh heh, sorry about that, AJ." Applejack suddenly bristles. "Rainbow, now ya gone an' ruined a batch of perfectly fine apples! Ya' owe me now! Expect tah be payin' that back with this here fella now!" The mush-covered mare turned to me and gets a confused expression. "Hey, who the heck are you?" I chuckle and shake my head. "I'm Ink. I came here to get a job for when Im out of the hospital." Her eyes go wide for a second. "You didn't break a wing, did you?! Trust me, it SUCKS when that happens!" "No, I got a head injury." She exhales explosively. "Ok, good, nothing serious then. I would't want any pegasus pony to go through what I did!" Applejack, the Nurse and I all laugh for a couple seconds. The mare got out of the bucket and saluted. "Well, I'm Rainbow Dash, Equestria's fastest flyer, soon to be Wonderbolt, most awesome mare you will ever meet!" She listed off, with a big grin across her face at the end. We laugh yet again. "Well, it's great to meet you. I'm Ink, Equestria's most out of practice flyer, never to be Wonderbolt, not-so-awesome stallion!" And I saluted in response. Rainbow Dash burst into uncontrolled belly laughing, clutching her stomach and rolling across the ground, working the mush deeper into her mane. "That's- aha- just- ehehe- too- pant- funny!" She finally sighed and recovered, getting back up. Suddenly it dawned on her. "Wait, most out of practice flyer? What the heck is THAT supposed to mean?" I smile. Again. "I have been unconscious in a bed at the hospital for month. I have no memories of being a pony." Both the cyan mare and orange one appear shocked for a second. "Well ya' never said THAT before!" Applejack exclaimed. "Yeah, kinda getting tired of saying it." I said with a little laugh and small smile. "The reaction to it is more or less the same every time. Shock, disbelief, pity. I never did like pity a whole lot." They turn somewhat sheepish. "Sorry about that, Ink. It's kind of hard not to." Rainbow said in response. "Oh, I know. I don't blame you for it." "Besides, who said I pitied you? I just think what your going through sucks, and I wouldn't want to go through it." She said with a wink. "Anyway, gotta fly! Need to get this stuff out of my mane! See ya!" The cyan pegasus took off in a rainbow flash back into the sky. We all watch her fly off for a couple seconds longer before the farm pony shakes her head and chuckles, turning back to us. "That mare is always gittin' into some sorta trouble. But, I oughta' git back ta' work then. I will see ya' around there, Ink! Bye!" "See you Applejack! It was great meeting you." The nurse and I wave, and head off to return to the hospital. However, there is plenty of daylight left. "Maybe we could just take the long route back, if you don't mind? It might be nice to wind down on the way back through the park." The nurse smiled. "Absolutely. The park is usually very nice this time of day." ~ We slow down when we reach the gardens, deciding to enjoy it as we return to the hospital. We look around, gazing in wonder at the beautiful trees, ponds, flowers, and general wild life in the area. The atmosphere of happiness and peace here is friggin' infectious. I think to myself. The only time I was ever this calm back on Earth was when I immersed myself in my art. Come to think of it, I'm going to have to think of how to make that work now. As we walk, I can't help but hear some pony humming, getting louder and louder as we walk. We eventually round another bend to find a pale yellow pony with a light pink mane watering the flowers next to the cobblestone path. 6 for 6! Time to meet Fluttershy. I smile to myself at the thought. Don't want to scare her though. As we walk toward her, she looks up at us and stops humming. "Oh! Nurse Redheart!" She exclaims (hah! Fluttershy, exclaim? At least the closest to that she can) with a small smile. "How are you?" "I am very good Fluttershy. How are you?" "Oh, I am quite alright. Thank you for asking." She said with another of her adorable little smiles. She always looked cute on the show, but dayum, your heart nearly explodes from the sheer, overwhelming adorableness of the quiet and reserved little mare. She turns to me now, and slightly shrinks into herself. I smile reassuringly. "Hello, Fluttershy. My name is Ink." I say in a soft voice, being carful not to overwhelm the easily flustered pegasus. "It's wonderful to meet you." "I-I-It's nice t-to meet you too, M-Mr. I-Ink. . ." She replies, taking a small step back and tipping her head down, also slightly lifting a fore hoof and tightly closing her wings to her sides. I notice a faint blush blossoming in her cheeks. I sit down on the side of the path, still smiling. "Don't worry. I'm new here, but I am not a combative pony. By the way, you are doing a beautiful job on the gardens here. It really is magnificent." I say, gesturing towards the flora and fauna around me, the direction of my gaze following the angle of my hoof. I look back at her still smiling gently, and I notice her start to come out of her shell a bit. "T-Thank you. I-It's hard work, b-but I don't do it alone." She replies. "Well, I commend you and whatever ponies or animals aid you. You make a wonderful team." She smiles sheepishly, blushing again. "Thank you again." She straightens her posture again. "I have to finish tending the gardens, but it was nice meeting you Ink. You are truly a gentlecolt. I'm sure I will see you again." She smiles and waves, picking up the water can and flying back into the woods. All the while Nurse Redheart simply stared at me in wonder. "Yet another surprise. You are an intriguing pony Mr. Ink; so many sides to you, and a seeming understanding of every pony you meet from the moment you lay eyes on them. You should adjust fine to life in Ponyville." I smile to the nurse. Damn! Any other words for that friggin' expression?! Ugh! "Thank you. I certainly hope I adjust to this life well. Shall we return to the hospital now?" She smiled and nodded, and we finished the leisurely walk back to the medical facility.