//------------------------------// // To the Ground Again // Story: Adventures of Obie // by Psycho2cool //------------------------------// Adventures of Obie To the Ground Again Obie felt very good about his encounter with Pinkie Pie. He found himself flying high. That is, he flew upwards to exhaust his excitement. His wings beat hard so he rose fast but his smile wouldn’t fade. This was a new and exciting kind of happiness! His hopes were that he’d make many good friends and learn as much from them as possible and they were coming true! Obie flew blind over Ponyville as his grinned so wide, his cheeks forced his eyes closed. Once he managed his eyes open, the blue pegasus examined the town proper. The town was just as good looking as it had been from the ground. Busy ponies were doing various chores and socializing with each other. It seemed far too busy for such a small town but the energy was nice and welcoming. Which was quite opposite from the last few villages. They were small as well but were tight-knit and unwelcoming. The size of the town from this height made the party seem less overwhelming. There would not be so many ponies to remember. All the sights and sounds of the town below and the grand conclusions of Obies mind about the town only heightened his spirit. He began to do dives and turns and small, easy tricks. It seemed he forgot that anyone could be watching. Some ponies caught the laughable spectacle from the ground. They mocked him for the most part, some were confused, but nopony recognized the fairly large pegasus performing laughably simple and half hazard stunts. Most all were curious as to who he was and why he would make a scene of himself. He continued on, completely unawares for the greater part of a quarter hour until he was finally interrupted. The interruption didn’t come from a pony watching from below but from one above. At the sound of a ‘What the hay are you doing?’ Obie reigned in is inhibitions immediately and turned to face the unexpected pony with blushing cheeks. “Oh! Uh… Just got a little excited I guess.” Obie rubbed at the back of his neck and smiled so wide it forced his eyes shut again. “Well I could see that!” a mare responded with an overtly judgmental tone. “And that was a really pathetic show. It looked like you barely sustained flight.” In response Obie smiled dumbly. He lowered his grin enough to open his eyes. Then he dropped the smile completely and gaped at the pegasus as he got his first good look at her. Never before had he seen a rainbow colored pony! Her coat was a very light blue but her mane and tail detailed the all the colors he’d ever seen. She even had a matching lightning bolt as part of her cutie mark. He thought of how he didn’t notice Pinkie Pies cutie mark. Which led his mind to the party invitation and then to a particularly fitting name. “Are you Rainbow Dash?” The whole scene made Obie appear as that of a fan boy who immediately recognized his idol but couldn’t believe it and that’s exactly how the rainbow pony interpreted it. With a smug smile, she spoke; “That’s right! The one and only Rainbow Dash! Perhaps you heard about how I single hoofedly save the Wonderbolts from certain death by breaking the sound barrier and performing the Sonic Rainboom? Not to brag but it won me the Young Fliers Competition” She laid her hoof on her chest and continued to smirk at Obie. “I’m lost,” he responded simply, “I didn’t know about that.” She gave him a puzzled look and Obie thought he offended her somehow so he added, “I’m sure that it was an amazing feat and that the, um, ‘Wonderbolts’ were very happy you saved their lives.” “What?” she roared, “All of Equestria was talking about it!” Rainbow Dash furrowed her brow in confused disbelief. “Oh, then it was something I probably should have known.” Obie began to feel nervous and eyed around for a nice place to land so he could escape the situation. The mare obviously disliked him. “Then I guess you’re not from around here?” The rainbow mane pony began to calm. “No. I mean, yes. I’m from Equestria! Just not around here, Ponyville.” “Well what’s your name?” She was obviously annoyed. “You know, since you mysteriously know mine, even though you’re not from here.” “I’m sorry. Call me Obie.” He began to think up excuses to get away from her kindly. “I’m starting to feel tired of flying, may we land?” He was hoping she would not want to so he could do so alone. Rainbow Dash looked down at the town. A small amount of ponies had been watching the ordeal for a while and she realized that she had become part of the lame scene she had happened across. She blushed and said, “Yeah, sure. Let’s go sit over there.” She hurried off to a nearby cloud and plopped on it. Obie fought to hide a grimace; he didn’t want to spend much more time with her. The thought of sitting on the cloud did make him frown however as he would rather be on ground. Reluctantly, he sat on the cloud a comfortable distance from his host. His wing almost hit her in the head as he did so, prompting a “Watch it, big guy!” “I’m sorry!” he hurriedly said, “I’m not a very talented flyer.” He could feel his uneasiness in his gut. “I’m fine, it’s cool.” Rainbow Dash flashed a halfhearted smile. “But I’d think that with wings wide as yours you’d be a great flyer.” “That so?” Obie wanted to be off the cloud and back on the ground as soon as possible. “Yeah, it’s not every day I meet a pegasus with the wing span of a griffon, either.” “Really?” he asked, intrigued, “I’ve never met one.” “Did they not let griffons into your flying school?” “I’ve never been to a flying school.” At that Rainbows mouth gaped but she quickly regained composure. “Geez, I’ve never met a pony like you! Never been to flying school and you don’t know about the Wonderbolts? You’re a pegasus, for Celestias sake! How sheltered are you?” Her somewhat condescending and speculative tone made Obie uncomfortable. Then, she thought for a second and added, “What kind of a name is Obie, anyway?” Obie made no attempt to hide his annoyance. His voice deepened to a tone he hated to take when he had to. “My name is Obsidian Shield. I’m as proud of it as my mother was when she gave it to me! And I like the name Obie. Everyone I ever cared for calls me that! And I’m not so sheltered to not know when I’m being insulted! Good-bye.” He stood and extended his wings, just missing Rainbow Dashes head again. He then proceeded to jump off the cloud with an audible “Hmmph.” As he began to glide to the ground, Obie felt a pang of guilt in his stomach. He’d never lashed out at anypony like that before. Not even when he was picked on as a colt. This overwhelming feeling like she had insulted his father just enraged him. In hindsight, however, it was probably an innocent question. Like when Pinkie Pie asked. Her manor of asking just seemed rude. “Hey! Wait up!” Rainbow Dash called. Obie ignored her. She was on him in a flash, “Hey! I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to insult you!” She sounded sincere. Obie responded in a hot silence. He forgave her already; happy to hear an apology, but he wouldn’t show it. He held onto his pride in an attempt to keep face. Rainbow steamed. “You know, I don’t even know you! I don’t have to apologize but I am! So, just get over it already.” They touched ground just to the south of Ponyville together but Obie still clung to his pride, even though it made him feel bad. He didn’t respond. He started to trot off. “Woah, hold it!” She blocked him. “Now I know I sounded mean. I was just surprised a pegasus would be… well, like you.” She stopped to think, not wanting to seem rude again. “Look, I know you’re mad but I can’t just let you go off thinking I’m a bad pony. I just think I struck a nerve by mistake, uh?” Obie stayed silent but his face gave away what he was feeling. Guilt over getting upset over something he should’ve overlooked. “From what you said,” Rainbow Continued, “it seems to me like your protective of your family. Is that why you have that shield for a cutie mark?” She was being careful with her tone. “Yeah…” he trailed off, thinking back about home. “I’m sorry. I knew after I did it I was wrong to snap at you. I really don’t know what got over me.” Obie began to feel better, like letting go of his pride made being happy easier. He made a mental note not to do it again. “It’s okay! I’ve got a friend who can get that way sometimes. I’m kind of used to it.” Rainbow smiled at him. This made Obie smile back uncontrollably. He was beginning to feel a lot better about this pony. Maybe he’d judged her too harsh before. “Thank you,” he said slowly, “for accepting my apology. I still feel ba-“ Rainbow Dash cut him off. “This whole conversation’s starting to get drawn out. I mean, saying sorry back and forth won’t get us anywhere.” At that, Obie laughed. Rainbow beamed. She was glad to have changed him back into an oaf. “So how long will you be in town? I’d like to get to know you more.” “Oh yeah!” Obie fumbled about his saddle bags and found his invite and presented it to the mare. “I met your friend on the way into town. She gave me this. That’s why I knew your name.” She inspected the paper. “That makes you far less creepy. Leave it to Pinkie Pie to invite a total stranger.” “She did come off as being fun-loving.” Said Obie, oblivious. “I like her.” “You mean she didn’t scare you or intimidate you? She can get pretty out there sometimes.” “Not at all. She was very pleasant to talk to. I really liked her attitude.” “Oh yeah? Give it a while; she can get on anyponies nerve.” Obie nodded and hoped Rainbow was wrong. But he didn’t know Pinkie Pie as well as she did. “You know where you’re staying tonight?” “Does this town have an inn?” “Yeah.” Rainbow thought for a moment and said, “You know what? Why don’t you crash on my couch?” Obie was immediately taken aback. He barely knew her! “That’s really not necessary! I’m fine in an inn.” “No way. I’m going to make it up to you. You know, for getting you mad at me.” “I’m not sure.” Obie thought hard. What bad could come out of this? Nothing came to mind. “That’s too bad because I’m not taking no for an answer.” She gave him a sly smile. With that simple logic, she had won. No way around it. “I suppose I have to then,” said Obie. Defeat could have been worse. “Alright then,” Rainbow hopped into the air and began to hover. “My cloud-home is about a half-mile east of Ponyville. It’s just above the cloud layer most of the time. I’ve got some weather stuff I need to catch up on so I’ll see you there!” But the weathers perfect, thought Obie as he gave Rainbow Dash a good-bye. She began to fly higher and leave when suddenly a thought hit him. “Wait!” he exclaimed. “What?” She stopped, confused. “You live in a cloud-home?” “Yeah. Don’t tell me you never heard of those either.” She groaned. “I have.” Obie shifted his hoofs nervously. “Then what’s the problem?” “I uhh,” he coughed, “I don’t like being on clouds.” His voice died away and he stared at the ground. Rainbow Dash face-hoofed.