//------------------------------// // Party // Story: Farmhand // by MLP-person //------------------------------// Quill woke up from the dream back on the couch and frowned to himself. He was tired of going through his time in Manehattan during his nighttime wanderings. He was also tired of waking up on this damned couch! Grunting in preparation for pain, he sat up quickly and pushed himself down to the floor. Much to his surprise, he didn't feel the ache he had almost grown used to by now. Confusing, but very welcome. Now if he could just get the bandages off... He slowly walked to the door and pulled it open with his teeth-it was dark still-a pale orange light was slowly flooding across the yard. It was embarassing to have fallen asleep in the clubhouse like that, but he supposed he didn't have any kind of stamina built up yet. That was alright, though. "Tut tut, out of bed? I said you're supposed to be resting!" Fluttershy had walked around the side of the cottage, toting a large bag of what appeared to be birdseed. She was a bit of a mess and smelled like she'd been hugging a grizzly, but she was still graceful in her own sort of way. Quill was reminded of those old stories he had gotten his hooves on, of the princesses who lived with animals in the forest-dirty and busy but still graceful, retaining their own beauty. "Sorry, Fluttershy. I'm tired.." "I don't think you mean exhausted, do you?" She giggled;it wasn't a question. "No, I don't. I'm tired of passing out whenever I think I'm doing well. But-it's weird-my side doesn't even hurt, now." "Well, yes, I drugged you." Quill blinked. Surely he hadn't heard that right? "I mean, not in a bad way! D-Don't be mad.." Suddenly she was nervous and wouldn't meet his eyes. "Um...what did you do? Exactly?" He filled his voice with as much calmness and tranquility as he could, trying to put her at ease. Why was he doing that?? Hadn't she just confessed to drugging him somehow. "I'm sorry...that was a really, reeeeally, bad choice of words.." "Mhm, it was, but that's alright, just tell me what you did. It wasn't a steroid, was it? Is that why I'm not in pain?" "No, no. See I have this friend, Zecora. She's a zebra, very nice..." "Okay, Fluttershy? You just told me you gave me some sort of drug, I need you to get with it and tell me." His voice wavered on the fine line between calm and anger. "Now." Fluttershy squeaked and obeyed at once, in spite of the age gap that would have made any other adult angry at his nerve. "My friend Zecora is a great alchemist-potions and brews, all that-and I had her concoct a healing remedy. I...I'm sorry...I thought it would help..s-so I slipped it into the watermelon juice, the other day. The potion itself tasted like strawberry, she said, I was worried you would guess something was up..but I held my b-breath and it turned out okay...I'm so sorry! Please don't hate me for lying!" He looked at her-she had sunken into a concillatory gesture, bringing herself down to his height. It was astonishing, really, how scared she looked. Even if he'd wanted to be mad he didn't know if he'd have been able to manage it.. "Side effects?" Fluttershy blinked up at him. "W-What?" "Are there any side effects?" "Well...it will act like a steroid of sorts, she says, but no negative effect-ts. She says that it'll be a lot harder to break bones and such, but don't expect anything bad to happen." "Alright. So...this happened..it'll take a minute or two to absorb." Fluttershy nodded. "Sooooo....you're not mad at me?" He shook his head. "I did taste the strawberry, yes, but I didn't expect-no, I'm not mad. You promised me you'd get me back on my hooves and you did exactly that, with unorthodox methods or not." Fluttershy nodded happily like this was wonderful news, perking up at once. "Wait!" Quill blurted out, "If the pain is gone, does that mean I don't need the bandages??!" Fluttershy nodded slowly as she draped a wing around him protectively. "Come on inside, we'll get them off of you..now, there will still probably be some scarring..." He nodded-he didn't care in the least. Not if it meant he could stretch his wings again! "Just as long as I can fly!" "Quill," She sat him on the couch and took a pair of medical scissors;to cut the bandages. He could feel the air hitting the fur just under the edges of the bandages-the most beautiful thing he'd felt in a while. "You can't go nuts. You've been weak for a while, and I expect you need more food." It was true, he was starving, but he could wait until after he had flapped a bit! "Yeah, but I can wait. I need to fly, Fluttershy! You should understand, you're a pegasus too!" Fluttershy sighed. "I don't...rely on my wings very much." He tilted his head-he'd have to ask her about that later. "But I can imagine. You can fly for a bit-but stay in sight of the cottage, then you're coming inside for breakfast." Somehow her voice brooked absolutely no argument, having been scared and shy only moments before. Now that it came to the well being of someone she was all business. "Thank you! I won't go far. As much as I hate to admit it I probably can't go very far yet." All at once the bandages fell away to the couch, blood-up. He anxiously turned to look down at his side as Fluttershy left the room. There was no visible scars, but he could feel a small-no tiny-bulge when he pressed his wing down. A light fuzz of coat had grown over the wound, already. Grinning, his wings snapped up straight to either side, sore from being pinned for so long. He was still underweight, but he was clean, he was safe, and he wasn't going to die. It was a huge step forward from a week ago. "I'm supposed to slip you the rest of this, but since you know about it I'll just have you drink it." She was holding a pink bottle and a chewed cork in her teeth, the former of which she passed to Quill. He nodded and drank, the taste of strawberry exploding through his mouth and turning his throat to ice-it tasted a lot different when undiluted by the watermelon juices. Hecould feel the edge come off the hunger, and the last of any wariness chased out of his mind. The more he drank, he felt like he could have flown a marathon. Fluttershy watched his side, his wings still up. She then walked over and felt. "Scar isn't gonna go away, but it's hardly noticable. How do you feel, Quill?" He chugged every last drop from the bottle and set it on the table, feeling bigger and stronger than some fourteen year old. He wasn't bigger, that was his imagination. But he was sure as hell stronger!" "I feel incredible!! Can I get more of that stuff??" "No." was the simple response. "To much of a good thing, you know? And that stuff is very, very hard to make, but without it you might have been bound to a wheelchair for a long, long time.." He nodded-he had expected as much but it had been worth asking. "Now can I go outside??" "Of course! Have fun, but come back soon-don't overwork yourself." Quill nodded and trotted to the door, tugging it open and darting outside into the yard, the scents of the animals hitting him like a speeding bullet. He shook his head and gave a few experimental flaps-his wings felt like they were those of an highly-trained athlete. Why had such a wonderful thing been used for him, he had to wonder... Shrugging this off-it didn't matter at the moment if it meant he wasn't going to be crippled for life-or did that mean it made all the difference in the world? Eh, he shrugged these thoughts off, too. Beating his wings down hard, he lifted off the emerald grass, a delicious breeze ruffling his feathers and blowing through his fur. The best kind of freedom, better than any magical cantrip the unicorns could come up with, was to be able to go through the air. There were entire compounds built solely for flight purposes, and it was no wonder. He couldn't manage it for long, though, potion or no. He really did need food, and he wasn't anywhere near full strenth, though. He sighed and alighted back down in front of the cottage, looking around. Fluttershy was either inside or working somewhere in the back, but he couldn't see her. He shrugged and grabbed the doorknob in his teeth, pulling the wooden door open and walking into the cottage's main room. Fluttershy was there, talking to Twilight. "-nd nothing came up. We can't find a Quill Fletch anywhere, and there's no criminal that matches his profile anywhere in the books. In effect, he doesn't exist." Twilight looked deeply trouble and Quill was only amused. Had her books failed her? Poor mare. Not really, of course. Both of the mares were sitting on a couch, but Fluttershy was the one facing the door. While Twilight was distracted with her string of words she raised a hoof for him to be quiet and listen. He nodded and silently shut the door behind him, listening to Twilight. And Fluttershy, now. "But, Twilight, what foal would come up a match with the criminal files?" "You'd be surprised Fluttershy. A lot of adults know that ponies think that, then they recruit kids to help them through empty promises or force, because it furthers themself from the crime that they sent the foal to do for them. It's sick, really, but...it happens." Fluttershy was about to get sidetracked, unless he was mistaken. "But Twilight! What happens to the foals who are caught doing those things??" "They're usually taken to a corrective facility-or an institution if they need it-and are eventually released back to parents if they can be found. If not then an orphanage." Fluttershy frowned deeply at this news. "Well, that's not healthy for any foal that I can imagine. There's no way Quill's going into one." "That's the thing, Fluttershy. You're not his mother, you can't decide that. He doesn't have parents in the system, and that means that he belongs in an orphanage." "You can't make him!" Fluttershy blurted out. "Well then you better try and get him to talk, Fluttershy." "You're a princess Twilight! Surely...surely there's some strings you could pull?" "I could, Fluttershy...but how do we know he didn't escape from a psych ward somewhere? How do we know we really want to help him? don't get me wrong Fluttershy, I don't want to see a colt put through that any more than you do." Her face softened and she sighed, looking down. "Fine, Flutters, but only for you. But you're going to be his caretaker, until we get something else figured out." Fluttershy nodded. "He's been such a sweetheart...and I did get him to drink all of the potion. I know I owe Zecors hugely for letting him take that...maybe it's a debt that I won't be able to repay for a few years, but I just c-couldn't let him die. I know there are others like him, others who have been injured and who died, some of them alone and scared." She stated this cold fact with the most tender of tones, "but Quill is the one who was brought into my cottage, and Quill's the one I had a chance to save. Do you get it, Twilight?" Twilight nodded. "Of course I do, Fluttershy...it's just that...nothing, really. I'm only being paranoid, that's all. Quill can stay with you, I'll write to Celestia and Luna." Fluttershy and he both let out a huge sigh of relief and Twilight whipped around with surprise. "Sh-Sheesh Quill! You came in quietly!!" She laughed awkwardly, looking like she was praying he had only just stepped in. Quill didn't know whether to glare at her or thank her. He decided on neither, and just stood there looking at her. "So, um...you're going to be staying with Fluttershy, Quill, but you'll have to start attending the school-it's against the law in the Ponyville Law book edition one point seventeen, (There weren't enough laws to call it edition 2, this really is a friendly place) for a minor to reside in Ponyville between the ages of five and seventeen, without attending school." "School." Quill repeated. Twilight nodded. Quill blinked. Twilight tilted her head as they shared a long, intense stare. "Alright!" He grinned, wings fluffing up with excitement. Twilight looked down at him with surprise. "Well, I'm going to take you to the school and get you registered so they don't question your parentage, okay?" He nodded. "I didn't expect you to be excited about school, honestly." "Well, see, I've never been to one. But don't get me wrong, I can read and write and do plenty. I used to sneak into a school and steal the textbooks so that I wouldn't be some teenager at a tiny foal's level. You'll see! I'll do well! And, Fluttershy, thank you for letting me stay here!" He thought;for arguing on my behalf. "Of course, Quill." "Alright Quill, if you get tired you can hop up on my back" "I don't know...I'm almost the size of an adult." "Right. That was dumb. Dumb me. Nothing a good read wouldn't have solved, though. Anyway, do you think you can walk that far?" He nodded excitedly. Fluttershy walked up and held out some kind of bar in her teeth." "Eat dis, it'll hlp wth enrgee." She mumbled, and Quill took it, biting half of it off at once. It tasted bitter but sweet, like oats mixed with chocolate and some kind of berry-maybe a blueberry. It was a bit bitter still, though, but it dropped into his stomach after he chewed and swallowed like a small stone and he immediately felt a bit more full as he slowly worked his way through the second half of the bar. It wasn't a meal, but it helped, and he felt like he could definitely do some walking. Apparently satisfied, Fluttershy said her goodbyes-which Quill happily returned-and watched as Twilight walked off with Quill. He felt so happy to have the bandages off and his wings freed that he held them half-open as they walked, as though he might take flight at a moment's notice. Twilight looked at his side curiously. "There's virtually no scarring...Fluttershy was right-you're a lucky colt." This was her only comment for some time as they walked through the town, passing the boutique and a large shop that looked suspiciously like a gingerbread house. Out of this bounced a pink ball of something or other that smacked into him and pinned him down to the ground. Out of instinct he bucked up and twisted, throwing the pony off and pinning her down tightly with a hoof on her throat before beating his wings and lifting off, his pulse thudding in his neck. There lay a very startled looking Pinkie Pie. "I-I'm sorry! Sheesh..." Quill's breath had gone off, his heart beating in overdrive. Twilight was standing there in surprise, her horn pointed in his direction in case he did anything like that again. "Sorry, Pinkie...sorry...reflex...sorry..." She blinked and stood up, not looking phased in the least anymore. "It's fine! I just saw you walking and wondered if you were ready for your welcome to Ponyville party!!" "Well, like I said, I'm not really the party type..." Pinkie looked down. "What if I threw a small party? Just my friends and I, and some of the teens around your age?" He thought about that. "A small party?" "A small party." He shrugged and nodded, folding his wings down. The bandages might be off but the feathers were ruffled and messy-he was in bad need of preening. "Yay!!! I'll warn you before it happens maybe!" And she zipped away back into her gingerbread house. "That's Sugarcube Corner-" Twilight told him, "but what was that about? That was...sudden." "Reflex." He laughed nervously. "So how about that school, huh?" She frowned and walked off again, her wings shuffling awkwardly. He followed along behind her. "Now, we have a schoolHOUSE for little little foals, but at age twelve they move on to the mixed middle and high school. It's probably one of the biggest buildings in Ponyville and only so because it has to house so many ponies." He nodded as they walked, looking around at the various shops and houses, the occassional gated off garden. Eventually they arrived at a large, two story building of brick and mortar that could only be the school-he could see the fillies and colts-older, younger and about his age but all teenagers-in classrooms through the windows, and he could see a plaque mounted on the side of the stairs up to the doors that read; "Ponyville High". Twilight walked up the steps and pulled the doors open in that rosy pink aura he doubted he would forget in years to come, and walked inside. He slipped inside as the doors were released and slowly closed behind him. They stood, then, in a long hallway of tiled flooring and tiled ceiling, though the tiles were made of different materials. In the ceiling fluorescent lights were set, casting a white gleam down on the tiles below. On the right side was a very slim hallway with the word POOL stamped on the wall beside it. To the right were three evenly spaced sets of double doors that led into a cafeteria of sorts, from the outside. A fourth set very near the entrance he could not imagine the purpose for. "Been a while since I came here, but I still remember the layout. I read the blueprint." She told him and walked out of this hallway and into a broad room walled with trophy cases that were chalk-full of gleaming plaques and trophies. He followed her through a door at the end of this room and into a broad room with a few counters and it's own little waiting area. The fluorescent lights and the tall windows both made the room bright and sunny, and he was reminded of days past by the windows and lighting. Twilight walked right up to the counter-and he followed-to talk to a white mare with a raven mane and brown eyes, a set of black glasses perched on the tip of her muzzle. "Hello? Princess! What brings you here?" she gave a nervous little titter, probably younger than the young purple alicorn. "Hello, there, I'd like to register a new student." "O-Okay!" She yanked a huge book over telekinitecally and jerked it open to a fresh page, pulling a quill out as well and dipping it into a small pot of ink. Quill let them do the talking. "Name?" "Fletch, Quill." "Parent or guardian(s)?" "He stays with Fluttershy." "That's his mother?" "No, but he has the princess's permission to stay with her and attend school with her registered as his caretaker." The raven-maned mare didn't look like she liked it, but she nodded and wrote Fluttershy's name in the books. "Age?" Twilight looked at him and he spoke. "Fourteen." "Grade?" At this Twilight and both froze-he did some quick counting in his head and answered. "Ninth." "Freshman, huh? There's a lot of good kids in you're grade-we tend to get the least trouble from them." Quill stifled a yawn and sat down in one of the many chairs. Twilight looked at him with concern, leaning on the counter. "Okay, then. In an emergency, who should we contact?" "Add me as his emergency contact." "Has he had his vaccines?" "No. We'll take him for that after this." The mare nodded behind the counter, satisfied. "Gotcha, Princess. I mean, okay. That's all. I'll have a student take him for a tour, if you don't object?" "Of course. I'll wait outside." Twilight said and retreated from the office. "Come out the way we came in when you're done, Quill!" And she was gone. Glasses pressed a button and spoke into a speaker mounted to her desk. "Excuse me! Pardon the interruption, please. Can I get Pipsqueak to the office, to give a tour? I repeat, can I get Pipsqueak to the office for a tour? Thank you." She released the button and sat back. Where had he heard that nam-right. A few minutes later-well after he had his energy back and breath caught-a small white colt with brown spots all over walked in, looking around. "Ah! You're the new guy, then? I'm Pipsqueak!" His voice was high-pitched and squeaky-he truthfully didn't look like he could be any older than eleven or twelve. Maybe he was a lower classpony...? "This is Pipsqueak!" glasses told him. "He's a freshman like yourself and he'll be showing you around school." Quill blinked, Pipsqueak laughed. "I know I look young, I do. But I'm fourteen, so about your age. Anyway, let's get going then!" He turned and walked off through the door. Quill followed-Pipsqueak barely stood at chest height to him. "So! Where ya from, new guy? And I'm assuming you're the Quill Sweetie Belle an' Apple Bloom told us about-you match the description." "I match what description?" "Blue colt, looks older than his age, pale green eyes and 'chocolate mane'? That's you, no mistaking it. Sweetie said ya were tired all the time, though." "Well I only talked to her for like an hour, and I was reecovering at the time." "Recovering from what, mate?" "A...run-in with Timber Wolves." "Whoa! I mean-no, really, wow! You were attacked by the timber wolves and lived??" Quill sighed. "I guess, yeah." Pipsqueak started the tour, showing off the highlights of the school. There was a large water room that Pipsqueak said was used for exercise and recreation, an enormous gym, countless classrooms and a cafeteria that was the size of a few buckball fields. And that was nothing to the grounds, which contained to buckball fields and a half mile track all to themselves. By the time they were done with the tour the bell had rung for the next class and ponies were flooding the halls. He'd only seen schools at night-he'd never seen such a huge tide of fillies and colts of so many colors, so many heights and weights. It was...a bit overwhelming. "What, have you never been to school before?" Pipsqueak looked at him curiously. "I've always been...ummmmm..." He swallowed. "H-Home schooled." "Ah! Well that explains it, then." And he stretched his back legs. "Well, that's all for the tour. When will you be starting?" "Starting? Oh, um...I'm not sure." "Well, if you're registered, then you can start up anytime. But can I ask you something, Quill?" He nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, sure...what's up?" "You came in here with Princess Twilight, yes?" "Yes." "Okay, well I was just wondering how come a...-bucking royal!-is getting you registered for school instead of..." "Instead of...?" "Well, you know, a parent or grandparent." Quill didn't know if he wanted to answer that, really. He looked down, thoroughly hesitating, trying to state the obvious without actually being forced to say it. Pipsqueak nodded solemnly. "And somehow you've gotten in good graces with a princess...I'd beg to know how but I assume our friends will want to know as well. So prepare to be hounded at your first lunch with us." "Our friends? I don't really-" "Oh can it buddy. I'm your friend. And you certainly seem to be in Sweetie Belle's good graces, while Apple Bloom is more than willing to see how a friendship would work out. The others haven't even seen you but they're willing to give you a chance, see what you're like. So, um, yes. Our friends." Quill blinked at the tiny pony with more than a little surprise. He sounded deadly certain, and Quill nodded-why shouldn't he believe Pipsqueak? "Well, I've got to get to my next class, then. I'll see you, Quill, hopefully soon." He gave a little bow of the head and left the area, quiclly disappearing into the huge throng of ponies going this way and that. Quill was left, there, to find his way back to the exit. Which he did, and when he had left the building it hit him just how tired he was from the excessive walk. Or anyway, excessive compared to his usual strain of late. But he wasn't about to collapse as he might have a few days prior-or without the help of a certain potion. "There you are." Twilight had sat on one of several benches on either side of the broad concrete walkway leading up to the school. "I was wondering how much longer...should have brought a book." "Sorry, it's a big school." "No no, I didn't mean-blegh. So, you're all set to come back tomorrow? Fluttershy agreed to pick you up some school things. Was I wrong? Have you had shots?" "Yeah, I have." "Okay, then. Wait-how'd you talk to Fluttershy?" "She was passing on her way to the market-said something about picking up a cherry for Angel." "Ah. Well...thank you, princess, for getting me registered for school." "Oh don't bother starting with the formalities now. But it's no problem," She added fondly, "I'm happy to help. Now, let's get you back to Fluttershy's, then I really have to go back to the castle." He nodded and fell into place beside her as they walked back through the town the way they had come. "So. Were you really going to have me put in an orphanage?" Twilight looked away for a long moment, suddenly very interested in the house they happened to be passing at that moment. He hadn't meant to blurt it out-but the thought disturbed him so deeply that he couldn't help but to ask her. "Well...technically that's where you should be. And while she hasn't adopted you or anything of the sort Fluttershy stuck her neck out for you-and so she's in charge of you. I know that doesn't sound pleasant but she's really very easy to get along with. Anyway, just remember that since she's responsible for you if you do something you shouldn't...it'll reflect on her." Quill nodded. He really, honestly and truly, didn't understand Fluttershy's drive to keep him safe and happy. He could see the animas-they were cute and fluffy and helpless. But he wasn't any of those thin-well, he was helpless. But that was it. And if he couldn't keep himself safe then why should she? He couldn't wrap his head around it no matter how hard he tried..."But. Since she has, you can stay with her. Not to sound full of myself but you're lucky that I have the authority to make those sorts of calls." He nodded-while irritated with her, he was still grateful-and kept walking in silence. "You're not mad, are you Quill?" "No." "How much did you hear, anyway?" She looked over at him. "I walked in when you were saying that I didn't match any criminal files. Is that really something to worry about, often?" "Yeah, it is. Like I told her, adults recruit, bribe or bully kids into doing their dirty work with threats or bribes to remove themselves from the action. Nopony used to suspect a kid, but now there are kids who've killed just the same as adults have. My only worry was that you were one of these kids and had showed up in Ponyville for some dark reason that I wasn't aware of. But if you're trying to get settled into school and stay, then it isn't very likely that you're going to commit a crime and then vanish. Can you see why I worried, from what I said?" He nodded at once. "Sick, but it makes sense." Twilight nodded happily. "I'm glad you understand." They walked on, hooves cruncing the dirt underhoof and crunching the dead leaves. Most of the snow from Winter had melted, but trace amounts still lay around. The air was chilly but crisp and refreshing-he couldn't complain. His fur kept off the worst of the cold, and his wings were warm enough that they weren't bothered. He fluffed them up-it still felt so good to have them uncovered, now-and folded them back down. "Messy wings. You need to preen, Quill." She stated it like a simple fact-neither as an insult or a praise.(obviously) He nodded as they left the town-Fluttershy's cottage was visible in the not-so-distance. "Well, I'm gonna leave you here, Quill. The cottage is just there-will you be okay walking the last little bit?" He nodded. "Thank you again, Twilight." She smiled and nodded. "Of course!" And she turned and walked off, her tail swaying. He looked away from her and her swaying tail and walked back up to the cottage, rapping on the door. It was only a few moments before Fluttershy pulled open the door and let him in. At once he knew:Pinkie had kept her promise of a small party. On the coffee table were platters of sweets-small cakes and literal sweets-and there were ponies scattered around the room. At once he spotted Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, and Pipsqueak-there were also two colts-brown and gray-and a light purple filly who looked to be a tad younger than him. There was Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity, as well as Applejack and a cyan mare with a rainbow-hued mane and brilliant magenta eyes. She was sleek and well built, and he was curious. Was she an athlete? But other than these ponies there was no one-far from the whole-town party he had worried Pinkie might throw. "Twilight couldn't make it, dear, I'm sorry. Pinkie did say you wanted to keep the party small, though, so I suppose the world won't end, hm?" Quill nodded-most of the ponies in the room had turned to look at him. He was suddenly very aware that he was still a bit underweight and probably scrawny looking. "Relax darling, you're fine. You're a strong little colt, you don't need to be worried." He relaxed some even as the words annoyed him. It was the little things in life that really helped-and kind words from a beautiful mare were one of these things. "Quill! Ah was wonderin' if ya were okay!" Apple Bloom walked over, grinning. He smiled back as Pinkie started stuffing her face with cupcakes off of the table. "I am, thanks. Just was...very tired." Apple Bloom laughed. "You're alrigh' Quill. So anyway, Pipsqueak said you killed some timber wolves? That's not the way I heard it from Fluttershy and Sweetie." "Apple Bloom! Don't hound him so soon." Applejack scolded from across the room, and her sister's ears folded down with embarrassment. "Anyway, ah suppose introductions are in order eh? That's Rumble," she pointed to the gray colt with deep violet eyes. "-and that's Button. He's Sweetie's ex but the two of them seem to get along even better since that ended. You probably know how it is-" she told him, brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "-, and that over there is Rainbow Dash, jus' about the fastest flier in the town, maybe in all Equestria! I hear ya already know the rest of the ponies, here?" He nodded in affirmation. "Alrigh', then. Again, glad you're okay. Oh yeah! And thas' Dinky Hooves." She pointed at the light purple filly with the blonde mane and yellow eyes. With that, she walked back over to where the other teens were, while Sweetie Belle and the gray colt whom Apple Bloom had introduced as Rumble walked up. Hadn't someone said something about him being a pervert? Or was he remembering wrong? "Quill! I was worried when you passed out in the clubhouse!" Sweetie said in a voice chalk-full of emotion. She was sweet, he mused. "But I see you're okay, so I won't hound you to much." He appreciated that. But still, he was touched by the worry. Again, why was she worried? She wasnt going to start to acting like Fluttershy, was she? "And I'm Rumble! And I hear you had some bonding time with Sweetie~" Yep. He was a pervert. "Shut it Rumble!" Sweetie's voice went high pitched and embarrassed, her cheeks a certain shade of rose. Rumble just laughed like ths was the answer he'd been looking for. Quill could feel his cheeks burning but held his tongue. "Anyway, welcome to Ponyville Quill." Rumble said jovially-Button had wandered over, now. "Yeah!" The brown colt tossed in as Dinky joined them. "Yeah!" Pipsqueak walked over-Quill was starting to feel claustrophobic but he dealt with it silently. Dinky had spoken. "And Pipsqueak told us you're signed up to come to our school. And he said Princess Twilight signed you up herself! Explain that!" "It's nothing really-she was only doing it as a favor to Fluttershy." "Oh. Well still-" Apple Bloom. "She's a princess-" spoke Sweetie. "And you were just talking to her like a buddy." Pipsqueak. "It's really no big deal, although it is interesting." Sweetie seemed to sense his discomfort and stepped in. "Yeah," Apple Bloom added, "-the princess is friendly with everypony. It's no big shock that she was willing to help Quill." "Especially if it was as a favor to Fluttershy." Sweetie Belle rounded off their thoughts. Quill was mollified, and the other foals seemed to see truth within this. "Well, we'll let you enjoy the party man." Rumble waved his wing and retreated with Button and Dinky to the table, where they promptly took a hoof full of sweets each. Pipsqueak, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle stayed. "Sorry about Rumble, Quill. He's always making jokes like that.." Sweetie's cheeks were still pink-his face still felt uncomfortably warm. He knew all to well what Rumble had been implying. After she had stated this though they both wordlessly decided to pretend that nothing had been said by the guy. "So...I don't really know what to say now." Pipsqueak said in his squeaky little voice. "Me neither." Quill admitted, the fire in his face finally dying down. "Well, we'll see you at the school tomorrow-go eat some food. You're thin as a stick.." Sweetie said worriedly, eliciting a snicker from her yellow-coated friend. "What?" "Nothin' Sweetie. I'm sure he'll be back ta a healthy weight soon enough." Sweetie shrugged and gave him a little telekinetic push towards the food. He relented and walked over, admitting to himself that he really was ravenous. He tossed a handful of some kind of sandwich cookie into his mouth, thoroughly chewing it up and swallowing, then reaching for another. For a few moments Sweetie stood there with him, but when neither of them could think of or wanted anything to say, she shuffled off to rejoin the other school foals. Now Rarity and Fluttershy walked over. "Pinkie really, really wanted to throw you a huge party." Fluttershy told him. "But I made her keep it simple, somehow...I'm just so glad to see you've already made some friends Quill!" Her voice rose in pitch but not volume towards the end. "Yes, well, don't get toooo dreadfully close with my sister or anything.." Rarity mumbled in her graceful voice, making it sound like a request rather than a command. But what did she mean? "To close? What do you mean?" "Well, you know, Quill, just...don't get to close." He didn't get it. "Anyway, Quill, we kept it small. Now, I'll go, you enjoy the party." And as Fluttershy walked off with Rarity, he got it.