Holy shit that’s cold! I screamed in my head as my body hit the water. Just need to keep going...
I started to swim. I knew that I was in last place, that it wasn’t going to get any easier, that water was my biggest weakness. I knew it all, but I refused to let it set me back. I had re-learnt how to swim, Lavender had trained me practically to death. The hours and miles of anguish I put up with... there was just no way I was going to lose! No way! I wasn’t about to let myself get defeated.
No. Way.
On and on I kept going. Stroke, stroke, stroke, stroke.
My lungs burned. My face ached. I hated swimming. This was the worse thing I’ve ever done. And the buoys floating by my face did nothing except remind me of how slow I was. Each one of them bobbed in the water, mocking me, letting me know that I wasn’t getting anywhere fast. The feeling of frustration made me was to scream. If only I could run!
I paused to peer out ahead of me. Still a long way to go, and I couldn’t let up. Concentrating on each stroke, on and on I swam, the cold water no longer bothered me as my body acclimatized to it. The only thoughts that went through my head at the moment were of everyone waiting for me back in Canterlot. Expecting me to cross the finish line first. Could I do it? Could I make it?
No. I had to. This was my life on the line. I needed those wishes!
Come on, Forest! Just like how you learned on the lake. Kick with your legs. Kick with them! Kick harder you fool!
I egged myself on. I willed myself on.
Then, just like that I saw the next pony in front of me. I was catching up! That gave me hope. It gave me strength! I turned around on my back, and did the backstroke... that was it! It was the backstroke that gave me the speed. I stretched my arms out to my sides, feeling them helping me float. Then I kicked. Hard. Faster. My legs sending large splashes as I picked up speed. It felt like I was skipping on top of the surface!
I saw the pony next to me go by. Yes! Second last pla-
Something hit me on the head. It was a buoy! The damned course curved around and I had swam into the barrier. Turning my head I saw the direction change and I had to compensate, but I continued to swim on.
From here I saw the next three ponies swimming in a group. I had to catch them. I had to reach them. I turned onto my back once more and kicked. Kick, kick, kick!
The Pegasus pony with the camera kept right on top of me. And I did my best to ignore him. I dunked my head in the water, the goggles showing the deep, blue, calm water under me. A saw large fish swimming around, fish that would make any fisherman on Earth giggle with glee. They were huge! Big enough to swallow me whole!
Great. Just what I need. Another reason to worry...
Again I felt my head hit something. Another buoy! Turning my body again, I aligned straight once more and began to kick again. I had no idea how far I had swam. No idea how far I needed to go. No idea about anything!
Just swim, Forest.
Water got into my ears but I ignored it. Couldn’t let every little thing bother me. The hoop was still securely around my neck. I kept checking, ever fearful of the fact that it might fall off at any second and I’d have to swim back to retrieve it. Every single doubt and fear making my mind think of a million other things, trying to ignore the importance of what I was trying to do. What I had to do...
My back hit something, and I turned around. My mouth dropped. I had done it! I had... this was... I was at the end! The ponies on the shore were cheering, pointing up the road where the three ponies from before were running as hard as they could. In the far distance I could make out the leaders of the pack rounding the bend way off in the distance. They were dots, barely visible now. And they were moving fast.
No time to lose!
Starting my run, I felt my legs suddenly spring to life, as if the dirt under my hooves revitalized them. Strength was coming back to me, and I felt my body rearing to go. To run. To chase. To move.
Running towards the nearest boulder, I placed my rear hooves on it. The last pony passing me by, looking over at me wondering what I was doing. I aligned myself with the road and bent my knees. I felt powerful. The tension, the spring, or whatever it was seemed to increase. It felt as if all my energy was being shoved down into my legs, my thighs filling up with something... I don’t know what, but it made me feel... good. Real good.
Go! I barked in my head.
It took me by surprise. The momentum. Unlike the time with the Ursas, this was far more... potent. Was my desire to win so strong that I’d just ascended past my usual strength? Did I manage to push myself already beyond my limit? The answer was simply: yes.
As I pushed, I launched myself through the air. My forehooves were bent at the elbows by my ears, the hooves themselves above my head. As I came down from my explosive start, I came down towards the ground shoving the forehooves into the ground as hard as I could. Then I pulled. Pulled with all my strength, as I brought my rearhooves forward pushing them into the ground as hard as I could as well.
Somepony screamed. I didn’t care.
I kicked with my legs again, shooting me forwards, the ground under me a blur. A haze of rubble and sand, I couldn’t make it out. I didn’t want to. I needed to go. To run. To move! Go! The cheering had stopped, or if it had gone silent, I don’t know, but I had to keep going.
The three ponies in front of me were there, then gone. I had passed them by as if they were standing still. I don’t know what happened to the last place one, but I didn’t care. I needed to catch up, and catch up was what I was going to do. Up the mountain I charged, my momentum aiding in my ascent. The ponies that were crowding the beach below were long gone, as I rushed through the mountain track with one word on my mind.
Win.
My forehooves pulled the ground in front of me again as I took another gallop-step forwards. My muscles burned, especially my shoulders, but I loved this burn. It felt good. It made me feel alive. I wanted this pain. The pain reminding me just how important everything is. My life, my wishes, my everything was riding on this. I had no choice, I must win.
The wind roared in my ears, and I couldn’t hear anything. The hoop around my neck was secure and firmly set where I had placed it. The only thing that I didn’t understand was why I couldn’t go any faster. I wanted to, and I tried, but it felt like a wall was holding me by. Nothing I could do let me run any faster than I was running now. Even so, I overtook several more ponies in the struggle, weaving around and through them easily.
The course weaved around the edge of the mountain. The sign in front of my indicated a sharp ‘S’ bend, and I readied myself. Rushing as fast as I could, I tried to take the turn at my current speed, but I was too fast. My hooves slipped on the pavement and I slammed into the side of the mountain, a steep cliff-face. I felt my lungs burn as the air was forced out of them. I wanted to stop. Catch my breath. No. I had to suck up the pain. I had to get past this. I had to push. Couldn’t allow even a moment to go by without me pressing onwards.
Slowing down at the next turn, because if I hadn’t I might’ve fallen down over the side of the mountain, I pushed myself on. Once again I charged upwards towards Canterlot. The road kept on twisting around the slope, winding its way around the edge, the steep drop to my left, and the mountain to my right.
It was not long before I caught up with the other runners. I watched the distance between us shrink and I barely noticed them flit by as I overtook them. I wanted to watch their expressions as I thundered past, but I couldn’t afford even that simple pleasure. There was one pony I had to catch, one pony that I needed to overtake, one pony that I needed to beat. One pony that stood between me and my future!
You’re not getting away from me, Fleet Hoof! I screamed in my head.
The next curve took me by surprise. I hadn’t expected it to turn that sharply, and I shoved my hooves into the ground as I tried to stop myself before colliding into the railing. Didn’t work.
Ow.
Picking myself up, I looked around. I could see the way I had come, the trail of fire slowly dying down on the road. It took me a moment to realize that I was standing in the flames and leapt out of them. Luckily the costume didn’t burn. I would hate to think what Rarity would have said if I had ruined it. Two camera Pegasi were hovering over me, and it was clear that they were out of breath. This guy was different from the last one; must have left him behind back near the lake.
No, couldn’t dwell on it. I had to continue. Every second wasted is a second I couldn’t afford. I took a step and stumbled. My hooves were killing me. Literally. The pain that throbbed through the hooves and into my legs was immense.
Ignore it. Amethyst shrugged it off, you can too.
I started to run, slowly gaining speed as I went along. Unlike before when I used the stone to accelerate, this time I had to build up speed one step at a time. Each step literally felt like my hooves were burning, but I didn’t care. There was much more at stake here, much, much more, and a little pain was a price I could afford.
Onwards, I ran. Then I spotted a large entrance to a tunnel in front of me. As I entered into it, I felt my ears stuff up. Instinctively I swallowed some air to ‘pop’ to clear them. Took me several attempts, but eventually I could hear normally. There was a lazy turn in the tunnel and ahead of me I spotted some more ponies. These guys were way, way ahead of the last bunch I had overtaken, and they moved out of my way as I approached them. Again, I heard a yelp, and again I ignored it.
When I exited the tunnel, my ears popped again. This time a little harsher than the last time. Not sure why that was, but I swallowed some more air to stabilize them. Didn’t work. I did it again, but this time my hoof slipped out from under me and I found myself spiraling out of control. As I spun around I tried to get myself to run straight by digging my hooves into the... ice?
Ice? What the...
My flank met with the wall of the mountain, and I glanced around. Some ponies were here waving and cheering, and I looked back the way I came. The fire that was under my hooves had ended at the mouth of the tunnel, and instead steam was rising up from the ice from where I had taken the few dozen steps before slipping.
Standing up, I tried to run, but the ice kept making me slip. Undaunted, I started swinging my hooves left and right so that I skated on the surface. This time the going was slow, but I was going. That was better than the alternative. Ice, it seemed, was another surface I didn’t do well on. Slippery surfaces were just bad in general.
Whatever! Just keep on going!
On and on it seemed to go. The slippery annoyance got me angrier and angrier with each second I spent on it. This couldn’t have gone on for longer! There was no snow or ice in Canterlot! When will this...
And as if to answer my question, I saw the ice end at the entrance to a second tunnel. Continuing, I counted the distance in my mind, mentally trying to gauge the distance. Then, success! This time my ears didn’t pop. Wasn’t going fast enough, I assumed...
Get on with it!
With everything I had, suppressing the pain in my hooves, ignoring the pack of ponies behind me, I thundered onwards. My hooves echoing within the tunnel’s walls. As I started to pick up speed, something whizzed by me. Then another. And then another. Stalagmites! Where had I seen this before?
Oh yeah.
I remembered the caves with the Ursas, and how in pitch-black darkness I had managed to avoid these things out of pure dumb luck. But now that I could see them, it wasn’t a problem. I wove around the obstacles while trying to maintain my speed. It was easy... that was until I felt the familiar dread of my hooves slipping.
Ice? Again? You’ve got to be kidding me!
I screamed in anger as my hooves slipped once again. My body and momentum spun me round like a helicopter’s rotor, before coming to a sudden and painful halt as I collided with one of the stalagmites, hitting it sideways with my stomach in a way that rear hooves boxed my jaw. Worried about my ribs, I was happy that this time no serious harm had come to them. Guess I really did heal fast. As I got to my feet, I could see the next few ponies ahead of me exiting the tunnel. It wasn’t far, but it wasn’t close either.
Jamming a hoof on the ice, I pull myself again, but slipped. Angry, I let out a cry of frustration. This was going to cost me... but... but...
An idea came to mind, one that made me chuckle a little. Placing my rear hooves against the stalagmite that I had crashed into, I bent my knees and aligned myself as best I could with the exit. Then, I pushed, with the same explosive power that I had done before. My body lurched forwards and I sailed through the air a few feet before landing clumsily on my front hooves. I did the pony equivalent to a split, as my forehooves pushed to either side of my head and found myself sliding on my chest towards the exit. Hell, I was moving, so I wasn’t going to complain — not that I had anyone to complain to...
Get your mind back in the game! I scolded myself.
Sliding along, I was impressed with how fast I was moving. Raising my face at the last moment, I felt the rough ground scrape against my chest as I exited the tunnel. No more ice.
Fuck yeah!
Standing up, I looked around and checked to see if the hoop was still around my neck. No problems there, just the fact that I was now in... wait, what was my place?
“Go on!” somepony shouted at me from the sidelines, “You’re almost there! What are you stopping for?”
I didn’t need to be told twice, and bolted off. As I came around the corner, I could see the tops of the towers of the Canterlot palace. Ahead of me were another group of runners. A large one. It didn’t take me long to catch up, but I had to slow down as they were blocking my way. They didn’t do it intentionally, as they were trying to fight for position. Well, so was I. But how to pass them?
Squeezing around on the outside, I pulled ahead of the first few and slowly matched their speed as I tried to find my way past the next pony. He moved a little to the left, and I took advantage of it pulling up alongside hi-her. Her. She was a girl.
Putting my head down, I waited for the next chance to get ahead. There were only four more ponies and they had blocked the entire road off, each one trying to fight for... I don’t know what position, but I still hadn’t spotted Fleet Hoof, and therefore I knew that I wasn’t with the front pack. Not yet, at least.
But how to pass? I couldn’t touch them. At our speeds, that would hurt really, really badly if they lost balance and fell. Not to mention I might get penalized, or worse! Disqualified. Couldn’t risk it.
Who cares! Just go! I cursed myself for getting distracted once again. But... how... to... pass...
The pony in front of me suddenly slowed down and swung to the right. I was about to take advantage when I too, swung to the right out of instinct. It was a cloud. A couple of the Earth ponies had collided with in, and passed through without much of a pause, but they did stumble slightly as they tried to regain their momentum. The pony in front of me had a light blue uniform. Cloudsdale. That would mean that he or she was a Pegasus. No wonder she darted aside to avoid the cloud... well, at least I thought that was the reason.
Then the ponies in front swung to the left, but I was too late and ran full on into the cloud. I pulled myself away, a little dazed. The thing that had saved my life the previous day might now be the reason that I’d have to leave this wonderful place. Two Earth ponies rushed past me through the cloud, breaking it apart.
Gritting my teeth, I sped around the cloud and after them. It didn’t take me long to catch up, but I had dropped behind the pack again. Now the road had started to descend. A brief reprieve from that uphill struggle we’ve had to endure. The ponies were using this time to let their legs recuperate. They were maintaining their speed without having to exert too much effort. It was my time to make my move. Sliding behind the ponies, I cut my way through them, nimbly moving myself from left to right, passing a pony each time I did.
Then I spotted him. Fleet Hoof! He was at the bottom of the downhill part and on his way uphill where the road curved towards Canterlot. And he was far, far, far away! Much further than I had thought. There was no way I could catch him... no... way...
“Fleet Hoof!” I roared. “You better run!”
He glanced over his shoulder, I could tell. Then he put his head down and began to run harder. Oh no you don’t!
My ‘warcry’ had alerted the other ponies to me, and they had all moved out of the way, a little surprised or intimidated, I do not know, but when the moved aside, it gave me a clear path to run. And run I did!
My hooves felt like jelly, but I ignored them. My body felt like it was burning, but I ignored it. The only thing on my mind was the finish line and crossing it first. On I ran. Faster! Faster! Faster! I yelled in my head. Uphill, downhill, level... it didn’t matter... as long as it wasn’t ice.
More and more ponies were now along the route. I heard their cheering, their stomping, their applause. I don’t know if they were cheering for me specifically, but their noise encouraged me. It helped me. And I needed all the help I could get...
Into Canterlot I went, the large banner overhead said something, but I missed it. Couldn’t take my eyes off the route. Didn’t dare. Not when I was this close. So close. Then, I saw him. Them. But more ‘him’. Fleet Hoof. He was running down the large main road that we had paraded on earlier in front of one other pony. The black uniform was unmistakable. Manebourne. The stadium now visible in the distance.
Catch up, catch up, catch up... I chanted in step, concentrating on the red uniform ahead of me.
“Forest Fire!” Somepony shouted. “Go, go, go!”
I wanted to grin, smile, wave... but no. Had to concentrate. Had to keep my mind on the game. Had to keep my mind on the front. The finishing line was right there! No time to think, just run! Sprint!
Third. Third place. Somepony had shouted it. I heard it. Faintly. That confirmed it. Only the two in front.
The pony in black rushed by.
One. One pony. The one. The only one. Fleet Hoof. My nemesis. My rival. The only pony that stood in between me, victory and my freedom.
As I burst into the stadium, I saw him. He was curving around the edge of the track, a red blur. Without even the slightest hint of hesitation, without even taking in the spectacle of where I was, I lowered my head and pushed. Pushed with my legs. Pushed hard. The crowd was going nuts. The ponies stomping hard. It was going to be close. I knew it. He knew it. We all knew it. The ponies at home knew it.
The finish line was at the third-quarter mark of the track, and the distance was quickly disappearing. I was running out of time. Desperately, I willed myself forwards, harder than I’ve ever done before.
Something started to hit me in the face. Like before, something was pushing me back. Like some sort of invisible wall. I tried to push through, but it was impossible. I couldn’t. I put my nose down and pushed. Whatever it was pushed back. Undeterred, I pushed again, even harder. Whatever it was pushed right back.
Fleet Hoof was right there. I had caught up and was right next to him as we continued the last few yards towards the end. The crowd was going ballistic. Neck to neck. Nose to nose... it was going to be... so... close...
The line. The end. It was over. It was finally over.
As soon as I crossed the line, I gradually slowed down. My lungs ached and I drew in deep breaths, gasping for air.
“I can’t believe this! I can’t believe this! From dead last right up to competing for first! This has got to be the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen!” Loud Speaker’s voice echoed in the stadium, “All the way from last place! Fire... Forest Fire... with hooves... the roads... tunnels... that... you... I can’t even... Wow! I don’t even know what to say! Can you believe it? Can. You. Believe. It?”
I looked up at the large projected screen above me.
“I can’t say that I can, actually...” Princess Cadence said her eyes wide, “Auntie?”
The camera panned over to Princess Celestia who was sitting to the side, a knowing smile on her face, “Let’s just say that I didn’t count him out.”
The roar from the crowd was intense as I stumbled to a halt. Fleet Hoof was next to me, his head down breathing heavily. I was too.
“You... you’re... really... fast...” He said in between gasps of air.
“You... too...” I replied, grinning.
We both started laughing. The third place pony crossed the line after that, and I saw his name appear on the large board next to the number three. First and second were still blank.
“We apologize for this, everypony, but the finish for first place was too close. We’re having to result to a photo finish, and we’re still developing the picture.” Loud Speaker announced. “Please bear with us.”
The crowd suddenly started chanting my name.
“Fo-rest, Fo-rest, Fo-rest...”
“Wave to them, you idiot,” Fleet Hoof shouted, throwing his forehoof around my neck, “They love you!” He then started waving to the crowd vigorously.
After a second, I raised my hoof and gave a weak wave. My body felt numb. Some of the audience cheered when they saw my feeble wave, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Fleet Hoof clicked his tongue, and took my front leg and raised it above my head. This time the audience exploded, and I felt my cheeks flush. In that moment, even though we were rivals and competitors, Fleet Hoof and I were also like brothers, I guess. It felt like we had just accomplished a monumental task together, not as ‘enemies’, but as allies. It felt as if we’ve been friends for ages. And now I understood why in sports competitions athletes wouldn’t hesitate to hug their opponents. It was a mutual respect for the talent each one possessed. But was this my talent? I wanted to see my flank, to see if my Cutie Mark had appeared.
If it did, I shouldn’t tell poor Applebloom. She’d be furious.
The other racers were coming in, their placements on the race showing up on the board. In the end I noted that Baltimare did beat Coltumbus. I couldn’t help but wonder how Stormy and her family were taking that. Most of the other teams were content with their positions, with the exception of Windsoar, who were not very pleased about finishing three places under their Cloudsdale counterparts. The crowds cheering had died down as the final pony crossed the line. By now everypony was waiting on the final decision.
Who had won?
Fleet Hoof and I still stood there staring at the screen, our eyes never leaving it. Next to the placement board, or screen, there was a live feed of the two of us holding each other, as if letting go would mean we’d wake up from this dream... or nightmare, in my case. If I had lost... if...
No. Don’t think about it.
“Well, the photo has been developed. Our Princesses are looking at it right now and a decision is still being made. I can’t tell you folks how exciting this has been. Let’s take a look back at the today’s greatest moments.” The screen reverted back to the Pegasus race. It showed the crashes, the clashes, the speed, the tricks, the turns, the twists, and finally Scootaloo passing on the hoop.
Then the Unicorns, as they went through the puzzles, their levitations, their attempts at solving each quiz and numerous repays of poor Amethyst hitting the ground hard. The crowd did a collective gasp, as did I. I winced at the pain she must have felt. Then her struggles with her injuries as the ponies rushed by her. It was amazing how much pain she must have endured.
After that, it was the final race. The Earth ponies swimming together. Fleet Hoof and his group were already halfway across the swimming part of the race by the time I had actually got the hoof on over my head. The video of me and Amethyst was prolonged for some reason as she slipped the hoop over my head, and I held it in place with the two flags.
Come to think of it, the hoop was still around my neck. The little flags had long since gone.
Then the swimming part. I was barely halfway when Fleet Hoof and the others started their run up the mountain. That made me cringe. I was really, really far behind. But as I approached the shore, ponies started cheering again. They applauded me as I got out of the water and made my way to the large boulder at the base of the mountain and placed my rear hooves against it.
Then... ‘boom’! The camera couldn’t keep up as I exploded from where I was. The replay showed it from the sky, and I saw myself shoot from the boulder past the ponies, a trail of fire much bigger than before erupted behind me. As I climbed the mountain, you could see the fire light up the way I had come. You could see it, an orange and red snake twisting its way up behind me. Every pony I past, jumped out of the way when I zoomed by.
The camera cut to Fleet Hoof who had now passed every pony and was relishing his lead. The next place pony, the one from Manebourne was a close second, but could not catch up. Then me again, as I charged into the tunnels, slipping on the ice, crashing into the stalagmite. Everything.
Then the last part of the race. The look on Fleet Hoof’s face when I had shouted at him. The shock. That was the greatest replay.
“You scared me there,” Fleet Hoof admitted, laughing, “had to start working harder...”
Then the race through Canterlot, and finally the last lap around the stadium, and out blurred video across the finish. No matter how many times the video replayed, you could not see the difference. We were literally nose to nose at that point. The video switched to several different angles, and still we were equal. There was no way to see who actually one.
“If it’s any consolation, Forest, I had a lot of fun out there. No matter who wins, friends?” Fleet Hoof said looking at me.
I grinned, “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”
He gave me a nod and returned his gaze to the screen.
The large video feed stopped showing us the replay of the race and switched to a still image of me and Fleet Hoof crossing the finish line. It zoomed in. Closer. Closer. Closer! No clear result.
A second photo, this time from the opposite side appeared. Closer. Closer. Closer! Still no clear result. It was excruciatingly close! Did we really tie?
A third photo, this time from above us. Closer. Closer. Closer...
Time stood still. Somewhere, I heard someone scream. In glee, I think. But all I heard was a muffled silence as the name at the top of the board read: Ponyville.
I won.
I had fucking won.
Me. The loser, who’s never done shit in his entire life, who’s never amounted to anything in his meaningless existence, won. Somepony was shaking me. Somepony was slapping my back. But in that moment, I could only stare at the screen and that third photograph, where the tip of my nose was less than half an inch, no less than half a centimeter ahead, no less than a hair a ahead.
“You did it, Forest!” Spike screamed in my ear.
My eyes flowed with tears and I raised my hoof in the air and shouted in victory. Fleet Hoof laughed and shouted with me.
Somepony screamed, and I looked. Fluttershy’s face was covered in blood. How’d that happen?
“Forest... your hooves!” Fleet Hoof said, letting me go and stepping backwards.
Indeed, my hooves were red. Really red.
“Quickly, take off your race-suit,” Rarity demanded.
I did as she asked. As I pulled it off, I grimaced in pain. The skin had completely gone from around the edge of my hoof. It was bleeding a lot and it hurt to stand on them. So I plopped myself on the ground and grinned up at my teammates and Rarity.
“Never a dull moment, right?” I said, laughing.
Scootaloo shouted for a doctor, and three ponies in white rushed over. I recognized the doctor as the same one from before. That huge mustache was unmistakable.
“Heya, doc.” I said, grinning.
The doctor shook his head, “You like getting hurt?”
“Love it,” I laughed, “Makes me feel alive!”
The doctor just shook his head and took out something from a bag. A gel-like substance in a tube and rubbed it over my front-left hoof before wrapping it in a bandage. He was working on my front-right hoof when my team walked over to me.
Poor Fluttershy was wiping off my blood from her face with Rarity’s help. She was a little shaken from it, but nothing major. Poor girl. I’d have to be extra nice to her for that.
Amethyst was still limping. Her front hoof was wrapped in a bandage, and the lower part of her rear leg was in a cast. She had a crutch-like device tucked in under her rear leg to help take the weight off, a small wheel to help her move around. She walked up to me as I stood up to greet her and she kissed my cheek, “Thank you. Thank you so much.”
I grinned. The kiss was a sweet gesture, but it didn’t mean anything more than just that. A gesture. Scootaloo hugged me from behind, “You did it! You did it! I can’t believe it!”
“Nor can I. I’m expecting to wake up any moment now...”
I felt a sharp pain in my flank.
“Ow!”
“Nope, you’re not dreaming.” Scootaloo grinned.
I looked at my rear and felt a little disappointed. There was no Cutie Mark there. Guess this isn’t my talent. Shame, really. I thought I was good at running.
“Forest, I can’t believe it!” Applejack stated as she hugged me, “You were amazin’!”
“Thanks, Applejack,” I said looking into those beautiful green eyes. Oh, how I wanted to kiss her right then and there! “that means a lot to me.”
Atom walked over and patted my back, “I never doubted you’d not win.”
“Liar! You were screaming louder‘n everypony else,” Applejack said, bumping him with her shoulder, “You were goin’ a little butty t’wards the end there.”
“I guess I was...” Atom laughed to himself, “Well, regardless, that was simply amazing, Forest.”
My hooves still hurt to stand on them, and I was surprised when Fleet Hoof, and some other ponies hoisted me up on their backs.
“Since you can’t run the victory lap, let us run it for you!” He said, and started to jog with the other ponies under me. “Wave to them!” he insisted. So I did.
The crowd were already standing up, but their applause was a little stronger than before. Tears were in my eyes. How could I even think about going back? I didn’t want to leave here. This world, everything, this was where I wanted to belong.
I don’t want to go...
The audience were waving their flags, throwing confetti down. Somewhere in the stands I spotted Stormy and her gang waving at me, and I waved to them specifically. Thunderbolt was hovering above his parents yelling at the top of his lungs.
Soon we were back at the finish line, and the ponies gently put me down. It was overwhelming, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from leaking! No matter how many times I wiped them, they just kept falling. Nothing could have made this moment any more magical than it was. Nothing at all.
“Forest!” A voice shouted, and I turned to see Twilight running towards me.
“Hi, Twili-” My voice was cut off as she ran straight into me knocking me down on the ground. “Hey, I’m happy to see you too.” I laughed.
Then, without warning, she planted her lips on mine, in the middle of the stadium, in front of everypony, in front of the cameras, in front of the Princesses... and in front of Applejack. My eyes must have been the size of saucers, I was so surprised.
Ho-ly shit...
She pulled away, her face crimson, “Congratulations.”
“I... the... it’s... I’m...” I was speechless.
“Forest, the thing I wanted to tell you... if you won...” She said, her face still had that wonderful shade of pink, “The spa... that time...”
“That was you! You were the mystery pony that kissed me?” Of course! No wonder nobody saw anyone leave. Twilight must have teleported out of there. “You’re a very, very naughty girl, Twilight Sparkle.”
She just grinned coyly at me.
“But...”
She put her hoof against my lips, “I know, Forest. Really. I know I’m being selfish, but I don’t care. I’m not Rarity, I’m not the Element of Generosity. But I’m still a mare and although I know it’s wrong, I can’t help how I feel.”
“But... how? We’ve... never... I mean... well... we’ve only had one date...” Then I remembered and grinned, “A ‘not-date’.”
We both shared a laugh.
“You really are clueless, aren’t you?” She said, and helped me up, “Completely.”
The Princesses arrived then, back on the stage. The video feed as still going through, and I wondered how they did that. Perhaps some unlucky group of Unicorns had been asked to do so?
“How... how is the live video happening with the princesses here?” I asked no one in particular.
“My brother,” Twilight replied, “He’s also strong when it comes to magic, y’know.”
Made sense. You don’t get to be Captain of the Royal Guard if you’re weak.
The Princess walked onto the stage, as did the Elements of Harmony. Rainbow floated down from above landing next to her five friends as they stood there.
“My little ponies,” Celestia said in that extra loud, extra gentle voice she had, “Please welcome to the stage the winners of this year’s Race Across Equestria: Ponyville!”
The cheering never ended, instead it grew to a crescendo as my teammates and I walked onto the stage. The five of us completely overwhelmed. We stood there and waved to the crowds cheering.
The sound of music drifted throughout the stadium. It was beautiful. It was like a fusion or classical music with an electronic twist. At the far end of the studium was another, smaller stage. On it were four ponies. Two of them were on stringed instruments, the third was on a piano, while the fourth was on drums. The pony that was on the cello, a gray Earth pony, seemed to be in charge of the group, leading the rest with her music. Their music was dramatic, powerful, it sent shivers down my spine and seemed to envelope the cheers of the crowd, amplifying them, and electrifying the mood with their sound.
As the music subsided, the cheering calmed down with it.
Loud Speaker’s voice blared over the system, “And that was the Classical Trio, accompanied by the very beautiful and talented Octavia on the cello.”
Octavia stood up and bowed to the audience.
“Clopin on the piano.”
Clopin stood up and bowed, I noticed that a couple of ponies were trying hard not to laugh. The pianist just remained stoic and impassive, but there was a gleam in those eyes.
“Fiddle Sticks on the violin.”
The pony stood up and bowed gracefully, pushing his long blonde mane out of his face when he did so.
“And Graceful Rhythm on percussion.” A mare stood up from behind a complex series of drums and other percussion instruments and bowed.
I’m sure that if everypony was sitting down, they would’ve got a standing ovation.
“And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for...” Loud Speaker’s voice blared.
“Po-ny-ville, Po-ny-ville, Po-ny-ville...” The audience chanted once again.
“... our racers from the small town of Ponyville. Scootaloo!”
Scootaloo took a step forwards and waved, walking around the stage to make sure that she had waved to every stand in the stadium. She turned and looked at Rainbow, who grinned in return.
“Amethyst Star!”
Amethyst limped a little forwards, and waved vigorously to the crowd.
“And last, but certainly not least... Forest Fire!”
Holy shit! I muttered in my head. These ponies were going to bring the stadium down. They were going nuts! Nuts, I tell you! And I loved every moment of it, waving both my bandaged forehooves in the air.
The Princesses stood in front of the three of us and placed small crowns on each of our heads. Celestia placing one of Scootaloo, Luna on Amethyst, and Cadence on mine. She looked at me and grinned, “I knew you were Twilight’s special somepony.”
My face exploded.
“Now everypony knows...” She taunted, as she walked off with Celestia and Luna.
“Hey, everypony, look over here.” Somepony shouted, clicking away with a camera. More and more camera-ponies were there, clicking away.
Eventually the cheering and roaring died down and ponies started leaving the stadium. The racers were also heading out, most probably heading back towards the palace for the ‘after-race’ party. The large screen was now blank, the live feed having been cut off.
“Forest! Forest!” I heard a voice call.
“Thunderbolt!” I exclaimed. “What, you get lost again?”
“No, doofus. Just wanted to congratulate you. That was the most awesome thing I’ve ever seen... well, except for Rainbow Dash being herself...”
“Obviously.” I replied, winking at Rainbow. She just rolled her eyes at me, but she had a smile on her lips.
“Anyway, yeah. That was awesome!” Thunderbolt shoved a quill and paper in my face. “Please?”
“Sure thing, kid. You’re the third pony I’ve had to sign for.” I said, putting the end of the quill in my mouth. As I signed it I noted that for some it looked a lot better than when I tried with my hoof.
“I’m sorry about him, Forest,” Stormy’s voice said from above her son. She pinched his ear and they both lowered to the stage, “but he really wanted your autograph.”
I laughed and ruffled his mane, “Try not to give your mom too hard a time.”
He just grinned at me, which earned him a sharp look from his mother.
Spyglass and the others walked over to us, a few other ponies followed behind them. Most of the crowd were just leaving the stadium. Even though I had won, Fleet Hoof was by far more popular one and everypony wanted to go and meet him. And I was really, really thankful about that. I wouldn’t know how to react to such a huge crowd anyway.
“You did great, Forest.” Spyglass said extending a hoof. He looked at my bandage, and sighed, “Oh. Sorry, I forgot.”
Spitting out the quill, I smiled, “No worries. Hey, ladies. How’d you like the race?”
“It was so cool!” Stargazer bluntly stated, “You were on fire!”
“Yes. Yes I was. Can’t deny that.” I said, laughing at the double-meaning.
“Can we get a photo?” Strawberry asked, “With everypony?”
“Sure. Of course.” I stood there grinning. Suddenly, Stormy’s group were on my left, and the rest on the right. My team and the Elements of Harmony. “Can I have a copy of that photo?” I asked.
“No need, Forest. Let one of the photographers take one of all of us.” Twilight said, and she waved her hoof to one of the Pegasi camera-ponies. “Can you take one of all of us please?”
“Of course! Everypony, say cheese!”
“Cheese!” Everypony said.
“Cheddar!” I shouted.
Everypony let out a groan before laughing at my stupidity. Hey, I was having a great time.
“Well, Forest, it was a pleasure meeting you, and an honor meeting you, Miss Dash, Miss Sparkle, as well as the rest of the Elements of Harmony. Thank you for doing what you do for all of us.” Spyglass said.
“You don’t need to thank us for doing our duty, Spyglass.” Twilight replied, “We do it for everypony.”
“Regardless, I just want to let you know how grateful we all are.”
Twilight blushed and nodded, “Then... you’re welcome.”
“Forest,” Spyglass said reaching for my hoof again before remembering. As he drew it away, I placed my hoof in his anway.
“See you around. You have an amazing family.”
He grinned, “That’s because I have an amazing wife.”
“Just ‘amazing’?” She asked.
“There are no words that come close to describing you, Lightningbug.” He nuzzled her.
“That’s better.” She purred.
Thunderbolt and Stargazer pretended that it was the grossest thing ever, and made expressions to relay that emotion.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Goodbye, Stormy.” I said and held a hoof out to her, “Was nice meeting you.”
She looked at my bandaged hoof and instead gave me a quick, friendly hug, as did Stargazer. That took me by surprise.
Thunderbolt was too cool, so I ruffled his mane again. He rolled his eyes, before flying over to his idol and hugged Rainbow across her neck. “When I grow up, I wanna join the Wonderbolts and fly with you!”
“I’ll be waiting, hot-shot.” She replied, “Keep practicing, kid. We only take on the best.”
“I’ll be better than the best!”
“That’s the spirit!”
Aqua, in the meantime, was chatting with Twilight along with her mothers. The Element of Magic was blushing furiously and I couldn’t help wonder what they were talking about. It intrigued me.
“Time to go, girls.” Spyglass shouted, starting to walk towards the exit.
“Aw.” Stargazer sighed, “Can’t we stay?”
“We’ve got a train to catch, sweetheart,” Stormy said gently pushing the filly along, “we can’t miss it.”
“Aw.” Stargazer sighed again.
“Don’t worry, Starry,” Pinkie beamed, “we’ll see each other again! I Pinkie Promise... and I never break a Pinkie Promise.”
Stargazer grinned and nodded.
The two families made their way together. We all waved after them, especially me. This would probably be the last time I’d ever see them again.
“Forest!” Thunderbolt shouted just at the entrance to the exit, “You’re still a doofus!”
I roared in laughter and waved. Then they were gone.
“What a nice family.” Twilight stood next to me. “I’m glad we met them.”
“What did Aqua and her mothers talk to you about?” I asked.
“N-n-n-n-n-nothing!” Twilight took a step away from me.
“Nothing?”
“Nothing!” She took another step back.
“You’re not acting like it’s nothing...”
“They.... they asked me if I was... I was... your...” She mumbled something.
I leaned in and turned my head to one side so that my ear faced her, “What was that?”
“They asked me if I was your...” She mumbled again.
“Sorry. Didn’t quite catch that.”
“Marefriend!” She yelled in my ear, making me take a step back. “Marefriend. They asked me if I was your marefriend.”
“And... what did you say?” I replied grinning from ear to ear, enjoying this way more than I ought to.
She looked away and mumbled something.
“Sorry, I must be hard of hearing. I didn’t catch that either.”
Her face was as bright as Pinkie’s. “I said... yes.”
“You said what?” Aiden exclaimed. He looked mighty pissed off. Not just angry pissed off, but ‘out for blood, I’m going to kill you’ pissed off.
Whoah. Not good.
“Aiden!” Twilight exclaimed.
“What did you say?” Aiden demanded.
“I-I said that Forest is my coltfriend.” Twilight replied, then stood up tall, “Yes, I said it. Forest is my coltfriend.”
“Wouldn’t that be stallionfriend?” I asked.
“Shut it.” He barked.
Ooh boy...
“Twilight, you don’t know him. None of us know him. You can’t have him as your coltfriend because we have no idea who he is!” He glared at me.
“You didn’t seem to have a problem when he was with Applejack.” Twilight countered. Flawless logic, as per usual.
“Just because I didn’t say anything, didn’t mean I didn’t have a problem with it... just that I didn’t...”
“He’s jealous, Twilight,” Rarity interrupted, “and you know how jealous stallions get.”
“Actually...” I began.
“Now wait just a doggone minute.” Applejack stood in front of Aiden, also not very please, “Twilight, Forest told me that he has to go look for his special somepony... and I told you that yesterday. Why would you do somethin’ like this?”
“Because I like Forest, Applejack. Even though he’s an idiot sometimes...”
“Sometimes?” I muttered.
“Okay, most of the time...” She replied looking into my eyes.
I just made a face, but couldn’t help plaster a wide smile across it. This was me she was talking about, of course I felt happy.
“Anyway, I really like him. Besides, you’ve got Atom.”
Atom was talking to Derpy and wasn’t paying attention. Thank Celestia.
“That’s not the point!” Applejack said, a little more aggressively than I think she intended. “Forest and I ended things because of this ‘Tutela’, you can’t just... force your way into his life like that. It ain’t civil.”
Twilight shrugged, “Well, if she wants him, she can come and get him.”
Oh wow!
“Forest, say something!” Applejack looked over to me.
Well, all good things have to come to an end...
“She’s right, Twilight. As much as I appreciate the thought, I’ve got to find Tutela first.” Again it felt like a wave of nausea threatened to empty my gut when I said that.
She wasn’t having any of it. “Well, then we can cross that bridge when we come to it. Together.”
The way she leaned up against me made me shudder in ecstasy. I felt the heat in my face rise as her body touched mine. It felt like my body was on fire. Especially... my... right... hoof...
Shit!
“Aiden!” I yelled, instinctive looking over to the Unicorn. His horn stopped glowing, his eyes had an evil glint to them.
“Forest Fire!”
Inside my mind clicked, like before. It sounded like the button on a computer mouse being pressed, and I could feel the magic in the bracelet flow into me.
“Stop!” I pleaded.
“Please-please-please...”
Not the want spell!
“Tell everypony the truth about your past!” Aiden shouted.
My body froze. My mouth opened itself up. Everything seemed to feel fuzzy.
No! No, no, no!
“Forest Fire! Show me where you are, show me where you are, show me where you are!” Twilight shouted.
Automatically, my hoof raised itself in the air and exploded in a tower of light that destroyed the cloud above us where the Pegasi starting line had been. Ponies in the stadium saw this and stopped to watch the commotion. The magic passed out of the bracelet and I dropped to the ground.
“My hoof!” I moaned in agony.
“Stop it, Twilight!” Aiden demanded, casting another wave of magic onto me.
“No!” Twilight said, and both of them started saying the spells again.
Another blast of magic roared into the sky; the ‘detection’ spell overriding the ‘want’ spell.
“Please...” I whimpered, “make it stop...”
“You’re hurting him!” Pinkie shouted rushing over to me.
“Stop it, you two!” Applejack demanded.
But Aiden wasn’t listening and again his horn glowed, and Twilight automatically cast the ‘Detection spell’. The pain! The utter agony! The torture! The torment! The misery!
“This... sucks... so bad...” I moaned.
Aiden who was panting heavily glaring at Twilight.
“Why won’t you let me cast that spell on him?” He demanded, “If he’s faking his amnesia, then this is the best way to know!”
“Because it’s not fair on him.” Twilight replied.
Aiden smirked, “No, that’s not it. You just don’t want him to remember this ‘Tutela’ because that’d mean that he wouldn’t be your coltfriend anymore! That’s it, isn’t it?” He shouted at Twilight.
“This guy’s got some serious jealousy issues...” I mumbled to nobody in particular.
Pinkie helped me up from the ground, “Oh, are you okay, Forest?”
“Fine. Thanks, Pinkie.”
Atom came up behind Aiden and placed a hoof around the back of his head, and his other hoof around his neck before sitting down pinning him to the ground easily. “Take it easy. I’m not going to hurt you. Just calm down.”
“Get off me!” Aiden roared.
“Come on, Aiden! It’s Forest, for Celestia’s sake. He’s harmless! And not only that, he’s a moron! Hasn’t he been there for us all along? Even when he didn’t want to be?”
The green Unicorn remained silent, still pinned down. He let out a sigh after a moment, “Yeah. You’re right.” Aiden looked over at me, “He is a moron.”
“Hey!”
Atom let Aiden go, and I pushed Pinkie aside, just in case he tried to go for me again. But he just looked at me, then over to Twilight, then back to me again. “I think I need to take a walk...”
“Yes. You do.” Twilight stated. It wasn’t a request.
Aiden gave one last look at Twilight, before turning around and walking away shaking his head.
“I’ll... stick with him for now. You guys go on ahead.” Atom said, and trotted after him.
When they were far enough away, I turned to Twilight, “He does have a point, you know. You don’t know me... wouldn’t it have been better to... not do that? Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful that you stopped me, but still... why?”
“It isn’t because I’m afraid of you finding out who you are, Forest. What I’m afraid of is that if you do remember who you are, you’ll stop being the Forest we know.” She looked at me, “You’d stop being you.”
“I’d never stop being me, Twilight. Ever.”
Twilight looked at me and smiled, but something about it seemed... off. She walked up next to me and placed one of my hooves over her shoulders and together we started our walk up towards the palace.
“Ow.” I said without any emotion.
“Sorry, just wanted to make sure that the new shoes fit properly.” The Doc replied, his big bushy mustache rubbing my shin was annoying me.
I sighed, “Why must I wear these?”
“To prevent further damage!” he replied exasperated. I know I’ve asked the question at least a dozen times now, but it didn’t change the fact that it annoyed him.
“You done yet?” Applejack asked walking into the tent. “Everypony is waitin’ on ya.”
“He’ll be done in another five minutes.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll jus’ wait then.”
She stood there in silence for a few minutes.
“There’s a seat over there.” I gestured with my hoof, with the strange black shoe on it. If rose up just above where you’d expect the wrist to be... or ankle... whatever.
“Forest... about Twilight...”
“I know, okay. I know. It’s silly, really... but she did just kiss me in front of Equestria...” I looked at her, “For now, let me play the part. It’ll humiliate her if I just... ended things with her now.”
“Oh. So yer plannin’ on endin’ it with her too?”
“Kinda have to, no?” I replied.
“I know it’s none of my business, but I think what Forest suggests is the best thing. After all, who knows what kind of social repercussions she’d experience from that. She is the Element of Magic, after all.” The doctor stood up, “There. All set. Don’t take these off for another week, and you should be fine.”
“One week. Got it.”
“And no running. You shouldn’t even really be walking, but considering your... advantage, I guess it should be alright.”
“Advantage?” I asked.
“Your healing ability.”
“How’d you find out about that?” I asked. I hadn’t told him.
“Princess Celestia told me. She was informed by Twilight, I think.” The doctor packed up his things and started to leave, “Oh, and one other thing, Forest. You should get rid of that bracelet as soon as you can.”
Wholeheartedly, I agreed. “Tell me about it.”
With that, he left.
“So... let’s join the others.”
Applejack stood aside and followed me as I exited the tent.
The party was nice. The racers were all in their normal attire (which included no attire at all) and were drinking and socializing.
“Hey.”
“Hi, Twilight.” I smiled at her. She handed me a drink, which I gratefully took and slugged it down.
“Got some good news. Princess Celestia says that she can remove that bracelet. Isn’t that great?”
“That’s awesome!” I exclaimed. The sooner I could get rid of it, the better. Especially considering how close I came to losing everything, again.
A fanfare sounded and the Princesses came onto the garden. At once they were mobbed by everypony. Princess Celestia greeted each one with a warm smile and a friendly word. Princess Luna greeted them with a kind word, but didn’t smile. Princess Cadence just smiled, happy that she wasn’t the focus of the mob’s attention. Her husband, Shining Armor, followed close behind.
“Forest, I need to see you.” Princess Celestia gestured towards another tent, “Privately.”
Oh yeah! Gonna get this bracelet off!
Walking into the tent after the Princess, I sat down and waited.
“Do you know why I’ve asked you here?” She asked.
“To... remove my bracelet?”
“Correct. Twilight had informed me of the little... scuffle at the stadium between you and Aiden.” Princess Celestia sat down on a large lounge chair, “So, my question is, do you want me to remove Aiden as your guardian?”
“I’m going to still need a guardian?” I asked.
She just looked at me.
“Uh... he’s done a great job so far. And... to be honest, before this Twilight incident, he’s always had my back. So... I guess... no. If that’s okay with you.” I sighed, “I dunno. He’s just... I think he’s just really annoyed considering that he has a crush on Twilight and all.”
“What if I told you that I can make Twilight be your guardian?” She asked, taking a cup and sipping on it, her eyes keenly looking at me.
That took me by surprise. I didn’t know what to say.
“I... I don’t know. As much as I’d love that, I’d feel real bad for Aiden... and I don’t know why that is. Twilight is kinder, gentler, sweeter... everything about her is amazing. But I feel that if she were my guardian that I’d be distracting her from her... life.”
“I see.” Celestia put the put down. “Forest, do you like Twilight?”
“Of course!”
“Do you love her?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but I couldn’t find the right answer. “I... don’t know. We’ve only had one night out together, and I don’t know if you know about what happened between me and Applejack...”
“I’m aware.”
“... well, I’d feel real guilty if I suddenly accepted as my special somepony Twilight when I had told Applejack no. It would make me feel that... well, I don’t know. This is real difficult. I’ve...” I looked at her, “I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I’m such an idiot.”
“Oh, your bracelet’s off, by the way.”
Indeed it was.
“How?”
“I needed to distract you long enough while I worked my magic.” Princess Celestia gave me a knowing smile, “The reason why I haven’t tried before is because I wasn’t sure how to. It took me some time to think it over, but eventually the answer was obvious. You may be allergic to magic, but the bracelet is not. It isn’t about how much magic, but what kind. Think of it like a key. While you were distracted, it was easy for me to... ‘feel’ my way into it, making it expand.”
“Ah! Makes sense.” I nodded, not getting it at all.
“By the way, I cannot make Twilight your guardian. She’s one of the Elements of Harmony, she already has enough on her plate as it is.”
I heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you, your highness. For everything. Even... ‘that’...”
She looked at me for a moment, wondering what I was talking about until she realized. “Oh. Well, I apologize for...”
“It’s okay. I understand why it had to be done. It hurt like... like nothing else I’ve ever felt before, but... but... it also gave me a chance to learn a little bit about myself.”
There was a long moment of silence between the two of us.
“About those wishes,” Celestia began, breaking the lull, “on your crown you have three stones. One for each of the Princesses. The middle white diamond is mine, the left blue sapphire is my sister’s, and the right pink morganite is my niece’s. You must know what each one of us are able to and cannot do, and how wishing magic works. You might not like what I have to say.”
“I understand.”
“First off, since you’re allergic to magic, I ask that you do not cast any magic on you. These stones contain very strong magic, and with your condition you will not survive.”
“At all?”
“At all.”
Hopelessness filled me. What was the point? I couldn’t wish that curse off of me! I was stuck with it! All that effort for nothing! Well... no. Actually, I was still kinda happy I won.
“Secondly, each of the wishing stones has a certain kind of magic in them. Since I have power over the sun, I can grant you the power to fulfill your heart’s desires, so long as it does not harm others. Luna has the power over the moon, and just as the moon can shift and change its shape and the ocean tides, she can change that which cannot be changed. Cadence has the magic of love, the power the heart. She can help you earn somepony’s love, but she cannot make that pony love you. Do you understand these wishes?”
I nodded.
“The magic is stored in each stone. Whenever you want to wish for something, just hold it in your hooves, and then say your wish and it shall be granted, but be wise in your choices. Once a wish has been made, it cannot be undone.”
“So... I can make a wish anytime?” I asked.
She nodded.
“How about if I make a wish a year from now?”
“That’s fine. They don’t expire. You can even hand them down to your children if you desire.”
Taking the crown off my head, I stared at the gems. I could make buttloads of money if I sell them.
“Can I keep the bracelet?” I asked.
Celestia nodded once. “Well, if you don’t mind,” She gestured to the door of the tent, “but I must allow others some of my time. Perhaps we can chat in length in the future.”
Picking up the bracelet, I did an awkward bow before leaving. I knew that she was just saying that to be polite. At least, I think so. Well, why the hell would the Princess want to talk to me?
Minding my own business at the side of the party was a nice change of pace. Ponies were dancing on the floor to the music played by that Octavia pony and her trio while I was content in not moving whatsoever. Had to rest my hooves.
The day was now ending, the sun sinking in the distance as Luna was showing her powers off raising the moon. Well, showing off might be the wrong term for it, but she was definitely relishing the attention.
“There ya are.” Applejack said, finding me. “We’ve been lookin’ fer ya.”
“What’s up?”
“Mind if we took a photo? Everypony’s getting their pictures done with us. Thought you’d like to be in it.” She said, smiling.
Pushing myself from off the chair, I nodded, “Sure. And, might I add, you look stunning in that dress.”
Applejack twirled, “Ya like it?”
“Very much so.”
“Rarity made it...” She stopped and looked at me, “That was kinda obvious, wasn’t it?”
“Eeyup.” I replied, imitating her brother.
Scootaloo, Derpy, Amethyst and Lavender were standing on a slightly raised platform behind the Elements of Harmony. They all waved to us gesturing us to hurry.
“Where were you?” Twilight demanded.
“Over there,” I pointed with my hoof, “just relaxing.”
“Look this way please.” The photographer requested.
The camera clicked, and the bulbs flashed. “One more!” I belted before anypony moved.
The photographer looked at his camera, then nodded. “Okay, I have one more picture in this roll. Please wait a second for the flash to recharge.”
I spotted a Unicorn using his horn to recharge them. I didn’t know what they were, but they looked like crystals with some sort of dim pale light in the middle.
Nudging Derpy, I put a my two front hooves together behind Twilight’s head. Not getting it, but understanding that it was funny, Derpy did the same to Fluttershy who sat in front of her, Scootaloo followed my lead and gave Pinkie the same treatment. Amethyst did it for Rarity, and Lavender did it to Applejack’s head. It was then that I noticed that Rainbow wasn’t around.
The photographer did a doubletake when he saw us, shaking his head before retreating back behind the camera. “Smile!”
When the photo was done, the Elements grouped together and started chatting, while my teammates surrounded me.
“What was that for?” Derpy asked.
“You’ll see. When the photo is developed.” I grinned.
The party continued on. Twilight and I didn’t really get to spend time together, but everytime she saw me, I’d wave to her with a wide smile. She’d just blush and wave back before continuing whatever it was that she was doing. I couldn’t decide if I was annoyed or relieved.
“Forest!” Spike shouted at to me.
“Howdy, Spike.”
“How’re the hooves?”
“Could be better,” I chuckled, “how’re things on your end?”
“Atom and I were just trying to calm Aiden down. Atom’s really good at that. I had no idea he liked Twilight that much.”
“Well, she is one of a kind.” I grinned.
We chatted for a bit, before Spike headed off for the ‘little dragon’s room’.
“Heya!” Pinkie bounced out from behind me, making me drop my drink.
“Stop that! You’ll give me a heart attack!” I said, clutching my chest.
“Oops. Sowwy.”
“What can I do for you, Pinkie?”
“Let’s dance!”
“Can’t. Doctor’s orders.”
“Aw.”
“How about you dance, and I’ll watch you?”
“Naw, that’s boring.”
“Better than hanging here with me doing nothing...”
“Oh. Yeah. I guess.”
Just then I saw Spike walking really quickly to me.
“Forest. I... can’t...” He said, tears streaming down from his eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
He gestured with his head, and I saw Rarity smooching somepony.
“It’s Fancypants. I can’t stay here, Forest. I... it...”
“Now?”
He nodded.
“But...”
“You promised,” He said, gritting his teeth.
Sighing, I nodded, “So be it. Let’s go.”
“Where’re you going?” Pinkie asked, looking between Spike and me.
“Away. For a while.”
“Okee dokee lokee... so, when do we go?” Pinkie said, suddenly perking up.
“Pinkie... you can’t come with us...”
“Why not?” She asked.
“Because you’re an Element!”
“So?”
“So... you can’t come!”
Spike touched my shoulder, “You can’t stop Pinkie once her mind’s been made up. Let’s just go. Now. Before I do something really stupid.”
“Lead the way.”
We slipped out of the party without being noticed, thanks to Fleet Hoof and his antics. Pinkie wasn’t exactly being inconspicuous as we headed out the palace gates. As we left, we headed down the hill and when we reached the bottom, we spotted two familiar faces outside the ruined bakery.
“Forest? Spike? Pinkie?” Atom looked at us each one at a time. “What are you guys doing here?”
“We’re running away!” Pinkie announced.
Aiden looked at us, “What? Why?”
“Well...” I began.
“I saw Rarity kissing somepony. Somepony that I really, really didn’t want to see her kissing.”
Pinkie stopped smiling when she saw the pain on Spike’s face. She started to go to him, but I stopped her.
“I have to leave before I do something I’ll regret.”
“And Forest?” Aiden asked, glaring at me.
“I promised that I’d go with him.” I replied truthfully, “And it was a Pinkie Promise, wasn’t it?”
Spike forced a smile on his face, “Yeah...”
“Well. Since I am your guardian, Forest, I’ll have to go with you. But this doesn’t mean that I like you.” He said walking towards me. He looked down at my leg. “You got your bracelet removed!”
“Oh crap! My bag!”
“Right here.” Spike said, pulling out my saddlebag from his backpack.
I seized it and plonked it on my rear. “My bracelet!”
“Here ya go, silly billy.” Pinkie said pulling it out of her hair.
“Wha-?” I took it anyway, and dropped it into one of the pockets.
“You coming, Atom?” We all looked at him.
He stood there for a moment looking at us, then back up at the palace. “I...”
“We’ll see you around then.” I said, cutting him off, “Go.”
Atom looked at me, and gave me the widest smile yet, “Thanks, Forest. Take care of yourself, okay?”
“Will do.”
“And Aiden, try to forgive Forest, okay?” He then looked at spike and gave him a hug, “I’ll keep an eye on Rarity while you’re gone.”
“Thanks, Atom.”
Atom watched the four of us head down the road before we disappeared round the corner and headed down the main Canterlot road. The very one that led to the massive stadium in the middle. It was dead now, the confetti still littered the place.
“Aren’t we going by train?”
“No. Twilight will suspect that.” Spike replied to my question. “We’re going back to the Intrepid.”
“Figures.” I muttered to myself. Oh how I hated heights.
Blue Breeze was by the docks pushing some crates onboard. He spotted us, and paused, “Why, hello there.”
“Hi, Breezey!” Pinkie squeaked, “Can we get a ride?”
“A... ride?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “Where to?”
“Away.” Spike said simply.
“Sure... but we’re not due to leave till dawn.”
“Can I talk to the Captain?” Spike asked.
“I guess. Come aboard.”
The three of them went aboard, while Pinkie stayed with me on the dock. She grinned at me as I stood there gazing at the gangplank.
“I’m going!” I protested.
“I know. I’m just waiting for you, scaredy pony.”
I grumbled and took one step. Pinkie was right behind me, smiling sweetly.
“You wouldn’t!” I cried.
“Would what?” She asked innocently.
She would. She so would! And she did. She shoved me onto the gangplank with her head. Then she started to shake it. I bolted so fast off that thing, I wondered for a moment if I suddenly had wings on as I lay on the deck hugging it for dear life.
“See, that wasn’t so bad.”
Standing up, I shook my head, “Pinkie, the doc said not to run! Not to mention giving me cardiac arrest...”
At those words Pinkie delightful demeanor dropped and I instantly understood why.
“Oh, Pinkie, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you.” I said running over to her and hugging her. It killed me to see her like that.
“It’s okay, Forest. I... I don’t feel like smiling right now. I’m going to sleep, okay?” She looked so, so unhappy.
I’m an asshole!
As she descended into the deck below, Spike walked up to me, “The captain’s agreed to leave once we get the items on board. Aiden’s gone to help. You... what’s wrong?”
“I made Pinkie sad.”
“It’s okay. She’ll be fine in the morning.” Spike looked at me, “You should probably get some sleep too. You must be exhausted from today.”
“Now that you mention it...” I was. I was exhausted.
Going down to the lower deck, I walked into one of the rooms and saw Pinkie folding her dress and draping it over a chair. She looked over to me.
“Sorry, Pinkie... I’ll...”
She grabbed my hoof before I could leave, and pulled me into the room. “Stay with me?”
The way she looked at me. That sad face. How could I say no? How could anypony say no? So I nodded and took off my saddlebag and draped it over her dress on the chair. She had pulled the sheets back and I laid sideways on the bed. As she got in on the other side, she pulled the sheets back over us and snuggled me from behind. A feeling of electricity ran down my spine. A warm, wonderful feeling.
“Forest?”
“Yes, Pinkie?”
“Good night.”
“Good night, Pinkie. Sweet dreams.”