//------------------------------// // Cry until you laugh (part 2) // Story: For the hive, my mom and myself // by Lighting Ace //------------------------------// "Hey Sweetie Bell look, a squirrel" I say with excitement as I point to one squirrel happily munching on a acorn. "Ah ha" Was the only respond Bell gave me before taking a quick picture of the squirrel and then walk away. For the last hours that has being Bell since we start this trip, Miss Cheerlie give the assignment of seem and capture the wild life of this forest so they could study it further in a later class, naturally the opportunity to go outside and take pictures was something that everyone was on board off, more if she even had a special cake bake by Pinkie herself to the pony that have taken the most pictures. Something that made me chuckle at the subtle trap she lay there, since the one with the most picture would have to make the biggest research, but oh well the price for a really good cake I suppose, over all that was a clever move from her. And the students look like they were having a blast in taking pictures…all but the filly next to me that throw all the trip has being really cold and unexpressive. Something I knew why was happening and was eating me alive because of it. "Sweetie what is wrong? you have being like that since we start the trip, don't you like to take pictures?" "No, they are fine" She sit on a near by log and start checking the photos we have taken so far "I'm just not in the mood to take pictures right now" I sit next to her and put my hand on her shoulder "Is there something you would like to talk about it?" "You will not understand, its something personal" she say not even looking at me. I keep quiet for a while before deciding to break the ice once more "Its because of what happen to your friend Apple bloom?" Bell stop and look at me in surprise "Please don't be mad at Pinkie, she only told me because I ask. I was really concern when I notices how sad you look" "Well I don't want to talk about it" she say in a pout and turn around while crossing her arms "That is something personal and you have no right in getting your nose in other ponies business" "Bell please, don't close yourself, I might not know how you feel, but…" "…That is right, you don't!" she turn around and glared at me "One of my best friends just leave without even saying goodbye, how could you know how do I feel when nobody wants to be your friend!" She yells before gasping when hearing her own words. "Kabuto I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" "Its ok Sweetie Bell, I'm used to it by now" I sigh before looking down in sadness "Being the scary freak that can bring a calamity whatever it goes? It's a hard thing to prove wrong, of course making friends would be impossible. But don't you think that is something you can at least count on?" When I look back, I see her just looking at me confused and still sad for her words "Uh?" "Well…because my looks and my origins I have no one to turn to or a friend in who to rely now that I'm in my darkest moment, but you still know have your family, your friend Scootaloo and you even know where Applebloom is, true you can't contact her just yet, its a really delicate family matter what she is now, so she can't respond, but she will come back and will apologies for having to leave so sudden" "…yeah, I suppose you are right" Sweetie Bell say looking down "Just please don't be so hard on her ok Sweetie Bell? Apple bloom is going to throw a really hard time right now and its very sensible, now more than ever is when she will need the support of her friends" Bell nod and sniff while some tears start to form around her eyes. Thinking in what to do I give her a hug witch she soon reciprocate and start to cry openly. "I was really mad at her Kabuto, I didn't though about her feelings, she must feel horrible right now" My throat choke for a second, knowing very well what really happen and not be able to tell her the truth, as much as I wanted to. "I'm sure she will be ok, her family is there no matter what and they will be able to overcome whatever happen to them" She nod under my chest as I let her cry while patting her head. After a while the cries dye down and I see her in the eyes "Feeling better?" She nods and clear her eyes "Y…yeah, much better. Thanks" "I'm happy to hear that, now why don't you go and take some more pictures? I'm sure that, that is what Applebloom had wanted" "Yeah you are right" Bell saying smiling at then standing up with me before giving me another hug "And I'm really sorry for what I say to you" "Its ok, Sweetie Bell, I know you were just sensible and didn't actually meant any of that. Now why don't we go and take some more pictures, the contest is not over yet and you still can win that cake" She separated from me and nod once more, with more determination "Lets do it" "That is what I wanted to hear" I took her hands and we start to walk but she suddenly stop and look at me with some embarrassment "Oh but before that, do you mind if I go talk with Scootaloo real fast? I need to tell her what you just told me" "Oh sure, sure go right ahead" "Thanks Kabuto, I promise this one is not going to take too long" She say with a smile before running toward Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash that were taking some bird photos not to far from us. "That was really sweet of you Kabu" Once again I was force to take a step back and yell in fear before glaring at Pinkie that once again appear next to me. "Would you stop doing that?" she only giggle and put her hand over her mouth "Sorry I can't help, being a bit stealthy" That says a lot consider who train me in stealth I mentally sight before sitting in the log once more "So I gather that you saw my little moment with Sweetie" She nod and sit next to me "I did, it was really nice of you, helping Sweetie Bell feel better, even after she she said something so mean too you" "Ah it wasn't all that bad, other ponies have told me worse things, and I knew that she didn't actually mean it, so I let her bent her frustration" "Je you just sounded like Fluttershy for a second there" "Well I suppose that is me, the kind human with the bad luck" I chuckle a bit nervously at the mention of Fluttershy. "Say Kabu, would you mind come with me for a second into that road over there?" I stand to attention at that and look at her in confusion as she point to a different road not to far from us "Ah sure, but why?" "I will explain on the way" "Wait what about the fillies?" "Oh I already got the cover, I ask Rainbow Dash to look after them while we are gone" In surprise I turn to Rainbow Dash who just winks at me before keeping an eye to the girls who continue to talk with Diamond Tiara joining in. Understanding the implication I simple nod and look to see some of our spies ready for me to give the signal before seeing at Pinkie who was waiting for me. "Come on Kabu, it will be really fast" "Ah…Coming" I stand up and start to follow her into the dirt road ahead of us. After a short walk Pinkie and I reach a clear with a rock on the middle of it where she didn't waste time and invite me to sit next to her witch I comply. "There, now we can talk in peace" "Ah talk about what exactly Pinkie?" "You don't need to keep pretending Kabuto, I already found out" She say with sadness witch make me freeze in place "A…k…know what Pinkie?" "That you are acting" I could feel my heart in my throat as I start to sweat. "What do you mean?" "The fake smiles, the act of good guy, the tears I didn't understand then but now it all makes perfect sense now. I piece together the puzzle" I start to dissipated the illusion in my arms and point the stinger at her back "I see so you found out, eh?" "Yeah" Before I could strike she surprise me into a bone crushing hug "You poor thing, have being holding up all the pain up until this point have you?" "Uh?" Re making the illusion I turn my arm back to normal before she could see it, as she continue her explanation. "You don't need to act tough anymore Kabu, I have seeing it in your eyes, the sudden outburst, the tears, you holding your chest right now" "What?" I look down and in fact I could see myself holding my chest without even noticing "I know why is that happening, something in your mind is actually hurting it, right? something that they told you or maybe you did but didn't want to do?" "I…I don't know what you are talking about" "Please Kabuto, I would understand no matter what happens" she say with a soft smile as she slowly removed my mask "I might have being scare of you before but that is in the past. I have seeing what you truly are and know that underneath all of that act is a nice person trying to do the right thing" As my heart keep pounding I feel myself turning back to my real form without my control, to my other horror. I try to pull my arms away but Pinkie hold them tight and keep looking at me with the same smile. "Like I say, I'm not afraid anymore, you don't have to put a mask for me" "Pinkie…why are you not scare? You just saw me…I…I'm a changeling hybrid" I say with foggy eyes but she only put her hand on my cheek, keeping her smile "You are also my friend and friends trust one another" As her words reach me, I let my guard down and smile before cleaning my eyes, feeling safe and thinking I could really count on her. "Thank you for making me smile Pinkie" The happiness fade in an instant when I notices the spy surrounding us and aiming strait at Pinkie, witch force me to think fast while in panic. "Anytime Kabu" Her smile is replace with surprise when I suddenly hold her cheeks with my hands "Kabu what are you?" I join our foreheads together as tear start to stream down my face "…I'm sorry" I manage to whisper before connecting our lips, making the changelings to stop their attack the moment they see me suck the element out her until she falls unconscious. "Sir?" One of the changelings approach me, as I finish and hold Pinkie in between my arms with some tears in my eyes. "One of you turn into Pinkie Pie right now" "I'm here sir" A female changeling wearing a copy of Pinkie cloths approach me and give me a salute "My name is Eris and I…" "NOW!" Everyone flinch and Eris turn to Pinkie Pie from the scare "Good, you and me are going to get back tell Zuri you are in and will keep your act until further instructions, the rest of you take the element to the barn and inform me when she is put in a cocoon as soon as possible" "Ah yes sir but why exactly do you want to know when she is in the cocoon?" "Do not question my orders" I command them making everyone flinch again as I pass Pinkie to one of them. Admiring her face I was surprise how even despite everything she was still smiling at me, like she was unconsciously forgiving what I did. Shaking my head I address the changelings once more "Just do as I say before or I will demote you a larva duty, now go!" "Yes sir!" All of them leave minus Eris who was still looking at me with some nervous "As for you, I have one question" "Y…yes sir?" "How good are you in organising parties?"