//------------------------------//
// The fourth day 
// Story: My little Pony: Uncommon Connection 
// by Spitfire16 
//------------------------------//

The fourth day

Sweet Apple Acres

"Try it again." Applejack coached while chewing on hay.

André wiped the sweat off of his forehead while panting, "I-I don't think it'll work."

Applejack spat out the hay, "Just try it." She encouraged.

Babe was sitting underneath one of the apple tree's spectating, "Come on, Dré. Give it one more go."

The CMC's were also there to watch André, "You can do it!" Apple Bloom yelled out while holding up her hoof.

Scootaloo turned to her fellow member's, "Let's cheer him on!" her wings started to flap from the excitement as Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom agreed.

Applejack giggled at the three, "Ya see? You've got little fans just watchin' ya. Ya can't let em down." André smiled as the three started cheering his name.

Even Babe started to cheer, "André, André, he's our man if he can't do it GREAT!" well, sort of…

"Eeyup." Big McIntosh walked by with a lazy facial expression.

André ignored Babe's cheer and focused. He inhaled then exhaled, looking straight ahead before and charging forward. The fillies looked on with smiles hoping their cheer had worked. Babe was shaking his head with his casual 'this is going to be funny' look.

André tackled an apple tree and stood still waiting for results, "Did he do it?" Apple Bloom asked.

"OOOW!" André screeched in pain.

Babe shook his head, "Nope." answering Apple Bloom's question after the obvious the just happened.

Applejack, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle rushed to André's side, "Are you alright, Sugarcube?"

"I'm fine but dang it. My shoulder…" he slowly rubbed his aching shoulder.

Babe walked over to the group, "You can't buck apples for nothing." he teased.

"Apparently." André sighed in disappointment, "Sorry, AJ. I guess I couldn't help you even if I wanted to."

Applejack placed her hoof on his arm, "Aw, don't feel bad. You tried yer best."

He started thinking of his best efforts, "That's what makes it worse." Which failed in the end, it didn't help him feel better.

Apple Bloom walked up to him to help, "Cheer up. You can still help out around here if you'd like, pulling the apple wagon back and forth." She was looking up at his face seeing that his expression still hasn't changed.

André shook his head, "Can't even do that Apple Bloom, the wagon is too heavy."

Babe tapped André's back with a little force, "Don't stress it." This was the most support Babe has given today, unless one included his usual joking attempts to cheer his friend's up.

"I'm not." André sat back against the tree he just tried to buck, "I just wish I could do a little more than just stay at Twilight's house and attempt to do things I'm not good at." He looked down to his shadow, "I don't think I'll ever be good at anything here other than waiting."

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all looked at each other. What he said really spoke to them because they could relate.

"How 'bout we go out and find something yer good at?" André noticed Apple Bloom's shadow standing in front of him, he looked up at her, "You would make a perfect addition to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle nodded behind Apple Bloom with smiles, "Thanks for the kind offer guys but Humans-"

A hoof met André's lips, quieting him, "Don't get Cutie Marks but even so!" Apple Bloom stated as she stopped him.

Scootaloo stood beside Apple Bloom, "We'd like to help you find out what you're good at here!" Apple Bloom lowered her hoof back to the ground.

André took a minute to think. He didn't want to reject them and decided to go along just for kicks, "Ok. Sure, sounds like fun." He agreed."

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle all jumped for joy. Scootaloo faced Babe, "Hey, Babe, why don't you come with us?" she asked, not wanting to leave out their other Human partner.

Babe huffed, "Like I'm gonna say no?"

"Then it's settled!" Sweetie Belle looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle in a decreeing manner, "We've got two extra members added to the CMC!"

"Members?" André asked with a chuckle, "You guys are just so cute when you get ideas."

Babe placed a hand on André's shoulder, "I think they mean it." André turned to Babe.

"Why?" he asked.

Babe pointed forward, "Because they're already heading for the town. We'd better catch up." Babe walked down the dirt road following behind the three young fillies.

André faced Applejack, "Later AJ, I'll see you soon ok?"

"Thanks a lot for all yer efforts today." Applejack walked up to him, "You may not have managed to buck any apples but you still made yer way out here in order to help me. That shows a lot and Ah just really wanted to thank you."

André picked up his temporary habit of rubbing his slightly sore shoulder, "It's no problem. I just really wish I could've done something. I know it is what it is but still."

"Buck up." AJ looked directly into his eyes, she didn't want him feeling as if he was useless, "You've shown that ya care and Ah'm really grateful for that." She was being truly sincere and meant every word, André understood but still felt as if he was in the way. He didn't show it.

"Come on, Dré!" Babe yelled out from down the road.

Applejack and André looked in the direction Babe yelled, "You'd better get going." she looked back up at him, "Keep an eye out for Apple Bloom and her friends for me, will ya?"

"Gotcha." André waved goodbye to Applejack and went to catch up with Babe and the CMC. While things continued on as they would like any other day for Babe and André they were unaware they were being watched. The two humans and the CMC's were shown walking down the same road but in a reflection pool.

Around the reflection pool were dark pony figures. The shadows all had large blue eyes.

"So those are the 'Humans' that arrived in Ponyville not too long ago, huh?" a voice observed, "They actually managed to fit into Pony society and make friends."

"They were off to a little rocky start but they were immediately able to catch themselves and fix their problem." Another voice spoke.

"It's only natural." A third said, "They made friends with Celestia's student."

"Boy does that name ring a bell." The first voice stated, "Troublesome lot, how dare they treat our queen with such disrespect?"

"But that's not all." One last voice spoke, "We've still gotta figure out what we're going to do about these two 'Humans'."

"Not to worry…" a strange female voice softly said.

The room went quiet as soon as the female voice spoke up. Large dark green eyes and unusual white fangs were identified as she stepped closer to the reflection pool which was the only object giving off a source of light in the dark room.

"These Humans could prove very useful to us. There is a very powerful connection between them and the other six."

All the blue eyes looked back and forth to each other.

"We should give them thanks for what they did for us." The feminine voice continued, "The relationship they hold with their dear friends will be their ultimate downfall. With the newfound trust everypony found in those two things are sure to become very interesting." The green eyes looked down upon the pool, "Can their friendship overcome what's in store for them or will it be the very thing that breaks them apart?"

In the reflection pool André and Babe were doing pushups while Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were on the side laughing and giggling.

"They're proving to be quite useful to us either way."

In an area near Ponyville André and Babe continued their push-ups, both of them staring each other down. André, however, grew weak. Rainbow Dash descended from the sky and landed beside Scootaloo, "Hey, what's going on?" she asked upon arrival.

Scootaloo's eyes sparkled, "Oh, Rainbow Dash!" she squealed at the sight of her hero.

Rainbow pet Scootaloo's head, "Hey, squirt." She looked back at André and Babe, "What are those two doing?"

"We're trying to find out what Babe and André's special talents are." Apple Bloom explained.

"They don't get cutie marks, you know?"

"Yeah but still." Apple Bloom turned to Rainbow Dash, "André was a little upset about not being able to help buck any apples and thought he wouldn't be good at anything in Ponyville."

Sweetie Belle joined in, "But we're going to show him that there is! Maybe he's better at outdoing Babe in competition."

Rainbow huffed, "I'm sure André can handle-" before she finished they all saw André lying on the ground. Babe was looking down at his exhausted friend.

"Hey, guys, who won?" Babe asked in anticipation.

"Ah counted 20."

Rainbow Dash walked over to the two, "You both tied it in for 20 huh? Not bad!"

"Pfft! Tied? Apple Bloom was keeping track of MY score. Scootaloo, what'd André get?"

Scootaloo stood at Rainbow's side, "I counted 10½." revealing his score.

"WHAT!?" Rainbow asked in an uproar, André is picked up by Rainbow Dash and is placed on his feet, "10½? What kind of count is that?" for some odd reason she was disappointed in André losing the friendly competition.

André raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Rainbow pointed at her other Human friend, "How could you loss to Babe? I thought you were cool!"

Babe's face lowered slightly, "Well…that didn't hurt."

"You let him outdo you in push-ups, we've gotta get you some training!" she was starting to sound like a drill sergeant wanting to put some energy into her troops.

André just looked at her, "Rainbow, push-ups aren't my thing. They aren't yours neither." He claimed.

"That is true." Babe added on, "You were in the same situation as André when you were going against Applejack to prove who was better."

André shook his head in disappoint, "Using your wings was really cheating by the way….I might not have won but I didn't go out as a cheater."

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped, "What!? How did-that was-I-I did not cheat! How do you guys know about that?"

Babe placed his hands in his pockets, "Word got out." He turned in the other direction trying to cover up for his knowledge of events he wasn't present for.

"Actually, Applejack won that iron pony event fairly didn't she?" André placed his finger and thumb on his chin, thinking, "I'm surprised Twilight and everyone who was spectating just sat back and watched that happen. I was actually really disappointed that you did that Rainbow. It was truly unfair to Applejack."

The Pegasus rolled her eyes. "Ugh!" she groaned annoyingly, "Here we go again with the Applejack. Applejack this and Applejack that. Is that all you know?"

André backed his head and turned to Babe, "Sounds like you hit a nerve." He pointed out

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dash's attention was now on Babe though less annoyed than she was with André.

Babe took his hands out of his pockets, "Rainbow, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

Babe pointed at André with his thumb, "Are you jealous that André is more interested in Applejack than you?"

Rainbow Dash's eyes shot open. Yeah, she knew where this was going, "That's ridiculous! What would I need to be jealous for?" she asked trying to recover.

Babe knew she was backing into a corner and fast, "Whenever André talks about spending time with AJ or whenever he IS around AJ you get on the defensive. Do you want to spend some time with him?" he wanted to make things interesting.

She shook her "NO!"

"Really?" She turned to André after realizing what she just said, "I thought we were cool." He stated in a sad yet teasing tone.

"No! I meant yes! I-UGH!" she quickly flew up into the sky and disappeared.

Babe laughed and patted André's back, "Looks like someone has a secret admirer."

The CMC's joyfully skipped around in a circle as they sung, "André and Rainbow Dash sittin on a cloud!"

André didn't show it but he was a bit embarrassed at where his friends were going with the teasing, he concealed his face to keep evidence of his shyness away, the fillies continued," K.I.S.S.I.N.G!"

The three fillies all grabbed each other's hooves and were happily spinning around in a circle. Babe was laughing on the side. André smiled at their friendly playfulness, "You guys are the biggest bunch of trolls I've ever seen."

"Trolls?" Apple Bloom asked curiously.

Babe knew she'd want a definition, "A joker who jokes too much, in a nutshell." He explained quickly.

"Oh." Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom, "Apple Bloom, you're a troll." She claimed with a smile.

Apple Bloom gasped, "Am not!"

"Kinda are." Babe assisted Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom turned to Babe after hearing him, "Am not!"

"Oh yeah?" Babe questioned with a cocky grin, "How would you call a chicken again?" he directly asked Apple Bloom before coming up with his own answer, "Oh yeah! I remember! Scootaloo! Scoot, Scoot, SCOOTALOO!"

André cracked a laugh but stopped and quietly, chuckled, Apple Bloom was surprised at what Babe said, "How did-"

"Word got out." He quickly answered her using the same cover up he used for Rainbow Dash.

Apple Bloom frowned, "That's so funny Ah forgot to laugh…" major Déjà vu.

Scootaloo tapped Apple Bloom side, "Is that so?" she asked sarcastically.

Scootaloo, Babe, André, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle couldn't help but to laugh. Babe and André weren't even sure if they couldn't be considered members of the CMC's anymore. They loved being around the three lovable fillies and the fillies loved being around the two Humans.

"You guys are great!" Scootaloo complimenting the two boys, "why didn't we hang out sooner?"

"We were a little tied up with…other plans." Babe hesitantly said, referring to both his and André relationship with Rainbow during their arrival, "We had to get settled into life in Ponyville first."

Apple Bloom placed her hoof on chest, "Ah met André earlier than you two did!" proudly referring to herself, "Ah met him the first time he was looking for Sweet Apple Acres and that was almost a week ago."

"And I spent some time with Babe when he had moved in with Rarity and me." Sweetie Belle mentioned after Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo felt left out, she was the only one in the group who didn't get to spend as much time with them during their initial arrival, "So I was the only one who didn't meet them earlier…" the sadness in Scootaloo's voice was apparent.

"Yeah but the important thing is that we've all managed to become friends anyway right?" André asked the small Pegasus but she was still a bit saddened by her lateness, André crouched down and raised Scootaloo's head with his finger supportively. "Even if we don't that just means we've got more time to spend with each other so let's go find us some adventure!"

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were moved and inspired by André's words. They all jumped for joy and in spirit. Babe smiled at their cheerfulness and Scootaloo's mood change, "You know, even though you think you're not good at anything in Ponyville you're certainly spectacular at being a good friend." Scootaloo's words made André smile, "We may have only known you two for a few days but I'm glad that we actually got the chance to meet you both in those few days."

Scootaloo leaped forward and hugged André, the sudden hug surprised him. He put his arms around the small filly and hugged her back.

"That was beautiful…" Babe flinched at the sight of Pinkie Pie. She randomly appeared beside him wiping her eyes with a tissue, "Encore!" she applaud.

André looked back, "Pinkie? When'd you get here?"

Pinkie thought for a second and cheerfully threw away her tissue, "I don't know." She said innocently.

Pinkie Pie's response, while not making sense, made sense anyway to Babe. "Of course," He shrugged "Why do I bother asking?" he asked himself.

Water began hitting the top of Babe's head. He rubbed his head and felt his wet hair, Babe and the other's looked up and saw Rainbow Dash rubbing her eyes dry, "Darn it!" she yelled as she noticed her friend's seeing her cry, "Now you got me all sappy…!" she crossed her arms and held her head up, eyes closed.

Twilight, Applejack, Fluttershy and Rarity all showed themselves and approached them all, "Ah must say…even though it was short lived it was truly a beautiful moment."

"It was heartwarming." Rarity's mouth started to squiggle, "we just had to spend this day with you guys. We all know that tomorrow is the day, right? How could we not come? That moment will certainly be in the memory book"

Babe rubbed the back of his head, "What did I say about that last day thing guys?" The mane6 and the CMC's couldn't help it. Even with smiles on their faces they couldn't help but let a few tears go.

"Let's not just sit around! Let's celebrate with a PARTY!" Pinkie suggested yet demand at the same time.

André turned to Pinkie and held up his hands, "W-Whoa…no need to go that far, there's no special occasion."

"What're you talking about?" Rarity tapped André's back, "That doesn't sound like you!"

Babe laughed and turned to André, "It's our, probably, going away party! Let's make this the best day ever!"

Pinkie Pie grabbed André's hand and happily pulled him down the road, André laughed while trying to resist Pinkie's grab, "H-Hey, hold it…!" the others happily followed. The following events were shown in pictures. They went in order as:

Pinkie Pie and Babe making a cake.

Fluttershy singing with her bird friends.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle exchanging sisterly love.

Rainbow Dash and André play fighting.

The CMC's making funny faces with cake icing.

Babe trying a new kind of food with Twilight.

Scootaloo approaching Rainbow Dash as she is getting a drink.

André whispering something to Applejack.

Rarity nearly fainting as she is covered in cake icing from Pinkie Pie.

The final image shows everyone together for a group shot.

Pinkie Pie was being thrown into the air by Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and André. Babe was sitting at a table watching them. Twilight walked over to him and stood by him.

Twilight looked out to all her friends as they caught Pinkie Pie, happily sending her back into the air with laughs.

Twilight thought to herself, "I don't know if tomorrow will truly be the last day…but what I do know is that while our worlds can take us apart our friendship will keep us connected, never lost or forgotten."

"Twilight, Babe! C'mon!" Spike called out, "We're going to go out and catch a flight show performed by the Wonder Bolts in Cloudsdale!"

"Let's just go without em!" André jokingly said aloud, causing Spike to laugh.

"André, don't forget I know where you're currently staying!" Babe stood up and turned to his friend with a smile, "Come on, Twilight. Let's go."

She nodded, "Of course!" Babe ran ahead. Twilight took one more look at everyone together. She closed her eyes and smiled. She put her thoughts to rest and went over to the others. Together they all left as a group.