//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Sugar and Shy // Story: The Path of Six Life // by Raikiry //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Sugar and Shy Written by: Raikiry Edited by: MrDerpFace The sound of various voices and bustling bargainers echoed in the open air. Amongst the sounds of a normal day, the obvious noise of an empty stomach startled just about half of those whom were enjoying the sun. Some eyes fluttered to the one who had made such a sound, and like someone had snapped their fingers, they switched back to what they had been previously doing before. With a blush, and a tight face, Andrew clutched his gurgling voice and sighed nervously, flipping his hoodie over his face. Good hiding spot most of the time. If he had planned on crashing in a forest, turned into a pony, then he would've made a snack. Or even better, a five star lunch! But since they landed in a strange place, everyone had different ways of handling it. Andrew was hungry, his friend, Dennis was taking it alright by his point of view happily humming to himself and bobbing up and down, trying and failing to take everything thing in all at the same time. Amongst the Great Divide, of friends, Dennis and Andrew had taken a slightly different path of everyone else. That path, had taken them straight into the heart of his brightly colored and pony infested town. Andrew had no idea what to do, or even say. And Dennis… If anything, Dennis thought this was just one big adventure, and admittedly, he was interested to see what this place had in store that was called… Fun. A three lettered word that abided his persona oh-so very well. Another gurgle caused Dennis to chuckle and turn his head towards his companion. Their ‘adventure’ at the moment, was to find a bite to eat, ASAP! Andrew was in need of food, and slowly, was withering into a foodless coma. “Um… Dennis, how are we going to find a place to eat if we don't have any money? My wallet is back home in my pants!” Andrew said awkwardly. Dennis hummed thoughtfully, “Maybe they take I.O.U’s? I could dish those out if you'd like.” Andrew grumbled silently, “This is serious Denver… We have nothing.” Dennis pointed out, “You have wings.” “Yeah but-” “And a tail.” “Okay…” “And a brain! So think!!” Dennis swooped beside Andrew and threw his hoof out in an arc, “How do we two get a big ol’ plate of steak without paying?” Andrew said nonchalantly, “Maybe we ask.” Dennis stuck his tongue out as they dodged and weaved in between carts, “Ew… Asking is sooooo boring. Why ask…” He produced an apple, “When food is all around?” Andrew gasped, but drooled hungrily, “Did you- Dennis, you didn't steal that did you?” Dennis sputtered, “What? Pfft, no! There is a whole honking orchard over there filled with these succulent babies!” Andrew questioned, “So you…” “Took one right off the tree!” Andrew said loudly, “BUT HOW?!” Blushing after several more heads glanced their way, he grew a smidge silent, “You were right next to me the whole time!” Dennis threw his buddy the apple and smiled, “Aww come on man… MAGICIANS NEVER REVEAL THEIR SECRETS!!” With a sigh, Andrew looked at the apple and decided it was best, not to ask. Since birth Dennis has been the strange one. Appearing at the most random times, and the most craziest places you could imagine. It wasn't his fault, as most of his friends know, and frankly, almost everyone thought it was absolutely comedical how he would do stunts from time to time. Like for example, in Andrew's lifetime, Dennis had appeared in his bathroom. There was no explanation, no doors opened or any windows cracked. He was just, there. And once Andrew saw him, the guy in question left without a word. Strange right? “Oh...my… Celestia!” Both boys freeze and do a 180 before blinking in confusion. An oddly strange, -double negative- pink pony, -repetitive alliteration- had called out amidst the jumble of crowd noises. It drew the attention of the only two who turned, which was a feat in itself. However, in regards to the two who were still confused, one of them dropped their frowns and waved enthusiastically, “Hiya!” Give your bets as to who it was. The ball of pink fur hurled herself forward and stood on her back legs, throwing her front two up into the sky, “Areyoutwoarenew??!’CauseI’veneverseenyoutwobeforeandImeanIknoweverponyinPonyvillesothatmeansIdontknowyousoitmeansyou’renewandthatmeansonly-onething-only!” She screams only louder, “aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” And dashes away, disappearing in a cloud of pink smoke. What made one of the two stunned boys scared, was the fact that the pony who had disappeared, not only Houdini'd while doing so, but didn't BREATHE while saying that sentence!!? The two factors made Andrew gulp and say in a whisper, “Dennis? How about we uh… How about we just go before she comes back…” He looks at Dennis who, in his own world, had a sparkle glittering in his eye. Realizing how the character that had just poofed from existence shared similarities to that of his friend, made Andrew gasp in terror, “He's gone mad…” Dennis looks at Andrew and huffs, “Oh you worry too much.The day I go mad, is the day we run out of Energy drinks.” Andrew stuck his hoof out, looked at it, frowned and then proceeded to create words, “Great! Let's go.” Dennis laughed, “Now hold up, I think I just found my new bestsuperultrabestfriend! Don't know about you, but I wanna know where she's going!” “Um….then what does that make me and the others?” Andrew said getting worried. “Oh well you guys are my… mega-ultra-best-best-beeeessssst-” He wiggled a hoof, “-friends.” Dennis said while nugging Andrew, getting him to smile. Although the apple was good, it did nothing to ease his hunger. So Andrew's response was another growl of his tummy. But with pride, the two continued on, undeterred by their hunger, and searched for more food. Unfortunately, when there's a market place, there are stands. And on those stands, lay various thing-a-mo-bobbers and several knickknacks. And some of those thing-a-mo-bobbers and Knickknacks… Was food. And not your average, here's an apple, some carrots and veggies; buy some. It was more of Candy, MORE candy, of course veggies, and pie! Glorious, HEAVENLY PIE!! The smell smacked Andrew in the face, almost literally, and seemed to coax him from his friends shadow from time to time. But once he'd lock gazes with a stranger, Andrew would slowly crawl back to his hiding spot. That is, until he met with a pony who asked him a question! A very, obvious pony, who wore a signature stetson, ponytail, and had the cutie-mark most would know her by. Except for these two of course. “Oh? Takin’ a gander at mah apples?” Andrew licked his lips, but once his ears registered the use of verbal communication, something clicked, and the shy pony blushed, “Oh… S-sorry… I was just, yes, looking at um… Your apples.” The stall keeper laughed, “Aww, come on now, don’t b’ shy! There's a reason these apples drew ya to me.” Andrew took a bait, “Really?” “Yessir! It's because these apples were homegrown back there, at our own Apple Orchard! Kicked by yours truly.” Andrew started to drool again, the action becoming a bad habit, which actually passed to Dennis, “Oh my…” Was all both boys could say. The stall keeper chuckles, “Stop droolin’ and take some colts! Applejack’s apples. Only a bit a pop!” She murmured quietly, “That's kinda catchy.” Record scratches, both boys freeze, “Now, I bet you're wondering how they got there.” “Um… Dennis? Wanna… Tell her what you told me?” Andrew says as Dennis scratches his head in confusion. “Tell her what?” “Oh y’know… How empty our pockets are?” Dennis snorts, “We don't have pockets silly!” “How shallow our fund pool is?” Dennis cocks his head, “I didn't know there was a-” He gasps, “FUN POOL?!” Andrew facepalms- ...He hoof-faces? Face-hoofs? Facehoofs. Applejack blinks, “Ahm lost at the moment.” Dennis smiles, “We don't have any money!” Andrew sighs, “Thank god…” “Aw shucks! You two shoulda told me that off the bat!” Applejack kicks her stand, throwing a couple of apples towards the hungered ponified humans, “Y’all look like the honest type. It's on the house.” Andrew and Dennis clumsily catch the falling apples, but maintain enough coordination to not drop any, “Thank you miss Applejack!” Andrew looked at the apples in awe, but didn't have the courage to say anything. Applejack hummed to herself in humor, seeing as how one of the two reminded her of one of her friends, “What's your name,” Looking at Dennis, she chuckled, “Name's, sugarcube?” Originally, the question was directed towards someone other than Dennis. But he answered anyway because no one could stop him, “My name’s Dennis! I would say, I like warm hugs, but then I'd be sued and copyright infringed!!” Before Applejack could question, He then wrapped a fetlock around his friend, “This here is Andrew!” Applejack rubbed her chin, “He don't say much.” Dennis shrugged, “Not his fault. He’s just shy. But don't tell him I said that.” Andrew sighed hopelessly, “Dude… I'm right here.” Dennis blinked and slowly leaned to Applejack, “...I think he can hear us.” Applejack rolled her eyes, but maintained a healthy smile, “I can see that sugar. “He warms right up to you, if you talk to him long enough. Andrew just don't like new people.” Dennis said while poking the one in question. Applejack laughed and cocked her head, “People?” “Um…..he meant...Pony” Andrew said awkwardly. Dennis cackled, “AND HE SPEAKS!! PRAISE THE ALMIGHTY SPONGE!!!” “My oh my… You two are even stranger than some of the ponies who live here!” “Yeppityyepyepyep, DON’TCHA KNOW IT!” Dennis says whilst jumping up and down. ‘There it is again…’ Applejack thought, ‘...First them Kyle and Richard fellas, now these two! Who next? “Hey, Dennis…” Applejack begins as both boys take over quantified bites into their apples, “You wouldn't have by chance seen a pony with pink hair… Would ya?” Dennis swallows an apple whole… Somehow… And shrugs, “There's alota ponies with pink hair Miss Applejack! Like the one over there!!” Applejack chuckles, “I'm talking pink all over sugarcube.” Dennis sticks his tongue out and closes his eyes, “I'm thinkin… thinkin… OH!! WAITWAITWAIT!! DOYOUMEANTHATONEPARTYPONY?!” Applejack nods, “That’s the one.” “Oh yesyesyesYES we have! She was with us a moment ago and I have a great feeling she has a party planned straight out for us and the guys!” “Wait… How would you…” Dennis said mystically, “I can sense these things…” Andrew spoke up from eating, “We call it his, ‘Dennis Sense’.” Dennis nodded, “Oh yeah! That. I think Richard came up with it!” Andrew snickered quietly, “Nah, it was totally Sylvie. He was the one who almost dropped a curtain on you.” Dennis finished the sentence, “And I dodged it with meh sense.” Applejack blinked, “Wait, Richard? Big fella with a hat like mine? Country accent?” She laughed, “Well wrap me up and call me Winter! Y'all are friends with him an’ that other fella?” ‘Aw well apples and sprites. Who was that other guy…’ Applejack dwelled as Dennis nodded aloud, “Yeppers!! Richard definitely, I don't know anybody by the name of ‘other fella’.” Andrew scarfed down another apple, “She might be talking about Kyle.” Dennis shrugged, “He's pretty easy to forget.” Andrew agreed whimsically. “Yeah they're our best friends! We were with another two, Sylvester and Dan. We came here just a couple of minutes ago! Wanted to split up and meet up later.” Dennis said. Applejack nodded and was about to ask something but got interrupted by a loud belch that came from the quietest one. “I’m sorry” Andrew said while hiding behind Dennis. “It quite alright, partner” Applejack commented quietly, Fluttershy for some reason, coming to mind. “Where did our friends go, Miss Applejack… If um.. You don't mind me asking?” Andrew said, peeking out from behind cover. Applejack tipped her hat up, “Whelp… I tended to Kyle an’ Richard a tad bit earlier, showed them the way to the park.” Dennis said with a grin, “Really.” Applejack shrugged, “Yep. So, if that's where ya two wanna go, you gon’ right ahead. Down that path over there.” She pointed down a road where the park was, “But. I got a feeling you two might wanna head over to my friend's.” Dennis gasped, “Gasp! Why.” Applejack smiled, “Just a hunch.” “APPLEJACK!” “OH FOR THE LOVE OF- GOSH TARNIT DASH!!” Dennis chuckled, “She sounds like Richard.” A speed of spectrum later, followed by a landing that stirred up dust, Rainbow Dash stood in front of everyone in a pose only she could do. Once everyone had finished coughing, Dash said stoically, “APPLEJACK… are you done yet.” Applejack sighed, “Colts, meet Rainbow Dash, Dash this here is Andrew and Dennis. They're friends with Richard and The Other Fellah” ‘Darnit AJ…’ “Oh cool. What's up?” Rainbow Said with her cocky voice. “Oh. OOOOOOOHHH I KNOW THIS!! Dennis bounced up and down, “The sky!” “Huh.” Dash looked up, “So it is.” When she looked back down, Dash glanced from AJ to the ponies in front of her. Suddenly a thought crossed her, “Oh App-le-Jack. I'm gone what, ten minutes and you've gathered a crowd?” Andrew frowned, “Two people? Hello?” Dennis shushed his cohort, and started bouncing, “Shush cohort! I want to see where this is going!” Applejack blinked once and said silently, “Dash. I want you t’ rethink about what you're going to do.” Dash laughed, “Oh come on! You can't tell me you're not a stud! Totally a S-T-U-D.” Everything grew silent. Deathly so. All eyes went to Applejack who was shrouded muzzle down in a shadow that grew as she turned to Dash. “Dennis, I’m scared” Andrew said. “HA! Me too!! She looks like an anime character!! Isn't it awesome!?” Dennis said still jumping up and Down. “What are you two talk-” Rainbow was cut off when she felt Applejack’s hoof by her shoulder, making her color drain from just about everything. Swallowing a lump in her throat, Dash glanced towards her friend to see only a fire burning in one of her green eyes. “Fellas... Ah would like to speak with mah Friend here in private. You should head towards the Library and meet Twilight. Or see your friends. Your choice. Just tell Twilight ah sent yah if you go to her.” Applejack said whilst dragging the almost white pegasus away. Dennis let out a singular, “Aw… And we're leaving before we see Rainbow Dash change colors! “You don't wanna see the spectrum ah'm ‘bout to make…” Applejack said while showing a set of pearly whites, making Rainbow just about crap herself in sweat. Dennis and Andrew bid adieu after witnessing a mighty hoof slap, followed by a phrase that was not so pony-like. It was funny to one, and not so much to another. Regardless, both boys, now full of apples and heart, trudged to this, Twilight. As the two aforementioned friends walked in direction towards Twilight's castle, that was very noticeable... since it’s the only castle in the village, Dennis and Andrew decided to have a nice conversation on the topic of which the latter began to become confused upon. It was a mixture of gibbers a garbles that reached his ear holes very late, causing a reaction of the facial function, Frown. Andrew blinked every few sentences and tried to pay attention. Speaking of whom, Lo and behold, Andrew was the only one who noticed that they arrived at the overly large castle and still, Dennis was having that random conversation with him. “And that’s why you never ask a Zebra, to do the Carlton Dance.” Dennis said, finishing with a smile. But the smile was turned into a line, pigmented on verge of being a frown as well once the ecstatic bro bonked his Honker into the Castle door. It looked painful, “Oh, come on Andy! As Lo-La, our GPS, you're supposed to say we've arrived when we get somewhere important!” “Well- I would've told you if you hadn't been talking about a Zebra named Carlten!” Andrew stated. “It wasn’t for you.” Dennis said who slightly waved at something off-centered, “It was for the readers!” Which then made Andrew look in the direction where he was staring. To a slightly creepy outlook, there was no one there. “Dennis you worry me.” Andrew said. “Aww... don't worry! The only thing I'd worry about, is how long until Twilight realises that Dan doesn't know how to use magic yet. That worries me!” Dennis said while bouncing up and down. “Wait…” Cue the confuzzled pony, “W-what do you mean….” Andrew noticed Dennis entering the castle “Wait Dennis!” He looked around in caution, “Shouldn’t we knock first? It's...well kinda rude entering somebody's house without permission.” Dennis stopped bouncing and chortled, “Oh you silly-billy! This is a Library! And a castle too. They're suppose to be public for everyone! Or in our circumstance, Everypony! Heh… It's a joke cus’ we're ponies…” Watching as Dennis disappeared from his sight, Andrew gulped, “Oh um….Okay.” It was a library… And a castle… A Clibrary? A Lastle? ‘I'M A PON-’ Andrew stopped mid thought and realized that he'd already established that. Placing a foot, turned hoof, forward, Andrew started to follow in Dennis's footsteps. But alas, this world filled with ponies, bright colors and scary food had one other thing to throw at our poor protagonists… “Oh...my lord…” Andrew's eyes grew wide as something small… fuzzy… (not pink) and white hopped into view. As his mind went blank, natural cuteness instinct took over, and made the sod squeal in delight, “IT’S A BUNNY RABBIT!!!” The question here, is should you feel sorry for the rabbit? Or for Andrew himself? Because apparently, the sudden formation of hooves wrapping around the tiny, helpless rabbit confused one of them to the point of growing limp. “Are you lost little fella? Aww… what's your name?” Andrew said softly. Extending his head so he could see the little guy, Andrew raised a brow, “You look like you belong to someone…” After cuddling the furball, something drew out someone else, “Oh, his name is Angel Bunny. He’s… my companion.” Said a voice that would put silk to shame. Turning with a lump in his throat, Andrew prepared for the worst, “S-sorry… I uh-” There was a mare with a soft pink mane. If anything at all, she seemed less vicious with her green shirt and blue jeans to match. Andrew finally swallowed the lump in his throat, but tried to grasp his hoodie strings. After a few failed attempts, he was able to tug them downwards in an act of trying to hide his embarrassment, “I am… So sorry. It was just, he was there, and I was also there… And then he was in my arms…” Andrews voice grew into a whisper, “Don't be mad…” Moving a lock of her mane away, the contrite mare smiled askewedly, “Oh… It's okay. Angel loves to be petted.” Angel responded with a loud squeak. But no one layer him any mind, other than Andrew who laughed quietly to himself. The mare caught that and stooped down to pick up her bunny, “Do… Do you like animals?” Andrew blinked, and looked up slowly, a smile, unbeknownst to him, starting to crescent, “Huh? Oh, why yes! I have a bunch of little adorable friends back where I live. Most people-” Andrew corrected himself with a blush before this mare could catch on, “Ponies keep their friends in cages… I like to let them run around.” Andrew slowly let himself out of the cocoon he had let himself into, “I also have a companion like yours! Her name's Angela, white fur, blue eyes, like Angel! She's kinda hard to befriend though. But when you're around her, she grows on you. I'd like to think she's overprotected...” Andrew realizes his little outburst a fraction too late and begins to grow even redder than before, “Oh dear… Um…” But the mare lapped it up as though she were kitty on milk, “Really? I thought I was the only one! Not to many ponies realize that your animal friends aren't supposed to be in cages or on leashes!” Both were breathless for a moment, each caught in a loop of whether or not the other was real. Only known each other for less than five minutes, and already both have something in common. Andrew swallowed, hard, and said with a stutter, “D-do you mind… if I ask your name?” “Oh… my name?” The mare blushed, “Fluttershy…” Andrew, the Stud, mouthed her name a few times as Fluttershy hid behind her long hair, “Fluttershy… That's a beautiful name.” Blushing even harder, the before mentioned mare smiled, “Thank you… What's yours? If you um… don't mind me asking that is.” “Oh- my name's A-andrew…” Fluttershy smiled, “Your name is nice too.” There go the butterflies again. Both looked absolutely shocked towards the others revelation of name. In truths, they didn't exactly know what to do next. They knew the other's name, Angel was pissed at being held for so long, Andrew was slowly suffocating because he hadn't loosened his hoodie strings- What could go wrong? “CRASHING PONY INCOMING!” Fluttershy and Andrew broke their necks looking upwards to try and see what was causing a commotion. Lo and behold, what looked like a colored bullet, was flying towards them at breakneck speeds. Andrew squinted, and scratched his neck, “Is that… Is that Kyle?” The screaming reached their ears once the bullet -now identified as codename: Kyle- came closer. The next was what a sane being would do, and that is diving out of the way so that the object that is in motion, won't bounce into them. That and Kyle looked pretty scary going over the speed limit. So both Andrew and Fluttershy split in the same direction and cowered behind a low hanging object, just in time to see Kyle crash through one of the castle's open windows. As comedic as it sounds, Andrew was fearful for his friend's sudden appearance, and life. “Oh, I hope that colt is alright…” Andrew nodded slowly, and opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted again by another voice cutting through the air, “Andrew!” Turning, the he who had been named cocked his head, “Richard?” Richard nodded, but blew out a heap of air, doubling over onto his knees almost. Or… Whatever replaced his knees, “Th’ one and only. Howdy miss…” Fluttershy jolted slightly at the mention of her name, but dipped her head when she saw Richard noticed her. The loud yelling and screams that came from inside drew everyone's attention to the front door, in which Richard whistled, “Ah give ‘em about fifteen seconds.” Andrew blinked, “How about twenty this time?” Richard thought, “Well… Alright. Twenty.” Fluttershy spoke up, “Twenty seconds until what?” Richard laughed, “Oh, until my buddy gets his behind kicked out from there.” “What… Happened to Kyle anyway?” Andrew asked, tearing his eyes away from the entrance as a chair broke out one of the windows. “Well we were in the park and he decided to try out some daredevil shenanigans and then tried to tell me, ‘Hey richard I'm going to this awesome trick!’, Long story short, he flew off over here and ah had t’ chase him down!” Richard said as he mimicked Kyle, making all of them laugh for a brief time, “He called it his… Ari-El… Whatchamacallit. It was some kinda fancy trick he came up with on the spot.” Fluttershy said quietly, “Ooooh… Sounds complicated.” “Its called an, Ariel Flip.” Richard and Andrew glanced back noticing Applejack and Rainbow Dash walking towards their direction. Well, Applejack had the decency to walk. Rainbow Dash was being lazy and decided to float in mid-air, which by the way, mesmerized both boys, “It’s something I came up with on the spot. My question, is how that idiot knows what to do.” Richard scratched his forehead, “Well, ah wouldn't say he knows how to do it. But Kyle's got the gist of it.” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, “Pfft… Keep telling yourself that.” Richard smiled nonetheless, “Rainbow Dash,” He tipped his hat, “Applejack. Nice to see y'all again.” Applejack chuckled, “Nice to meet you too cowpony. Sorry if interrupted your, conversation. Dash and I were about to get real proper and then we saw your buddy doing some fancy-schmancy flying maneuver.” Applejack shrugged, “Honestly it looked like he was dying.” Richard smirked, “Glad to know you cared. I'm more worried about who owns this place,” He said, throwing an open arm to the castle-tree thingy behind them, “Kyle's in a world o’ hurt if he broke anything.” “What? Twilight? Aww plums. Don't worry, she's the nicest pony ever!” Off to the side, Fluttershy whispered to Andrew, “Yes, until she finds out a window is broken.” Applejack smiled, “C’mon let's go inside! We'll see if your friend is okay. Judging by how loud it is in there, I'm pretty sure he is.” Applejack said while leading the way inside. As everyone enters, being as they may ladies first, Richard didn't go in for a moment. He hesitated, and had instead gasped aloud when he saw what was inside, “Well call me a mule, I never knew a Library could be this huge!” Richard said while smiling. His footing found their way to the edges, and his eyes had peered inside. Applejack giggles towards his remark and simply rolls her eyes, “C’mon Casanova. You can goggle the tree later.” Richard sighed in vain, but decided it were best not to argue. He walked himself to the front door and waved, “Applejack, after you.” Applejack smirked, “Well I never. Cowpony… you keep this up and you might be invited in the next rodeo.” She said while entering the castle.. “I might have to take you up on that. I'm pretty damn good at rodeos...” The door shut as Richard followed Applejack inside. There was a shadow… Faint, but apparent. It watched as the newcomers ducked into the tree-dome, counting the seconds until it could make a move. What better time than now, you could suppose, considering there was a lot of commotion, breaching the world as of now. Through the inky blackness that one could call a hole, a thin line of white broke through the haze, curving into a crooked smile. The shadow, as one could nickname it, spoke within those seconds of the line appearing. It wasn't loud, nor was it soft; it's voice. You would have to break you neck ten times over just to try and repeat what it had said. One thing was for certain, this shadow was waiting for this moment for a long time. The action of gathering what it wanted, was very...very soon.