//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Out For a Walk // Story: Rise of the Element Gang, Book 2: Friendship Adventures // by Power of Six //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Out For a Walk Placing my last dandelion and grass sandwich into my saddlebag, I checked over one more time to see if I had everything that I needed. Water, lunch, a notebook and quill, picnic blanket. Okay, so I had everything now, so it was time to set off. Locking my door as I left, I stepped outside and looked around, deciding to go off to the right, towards the center of town, perhaps take a route towards Whitetail Wood. I rather liked that place. This was one of my hobbies that didn’t involve reading. Every now and again, I would go out on a walk, to get some exercise and to explore the area a little. There’d been some good places in Canterlot, but I hadn’t done one for Ponyville yet. So, that’s what I was going to do today, early on in spring. I thought about the places I could possibly go. There was the mountain where Fluttershy had stood up to a dragon, but I didn’t feel like climbing. The Everfree Forest was definitely out of the question, maybe Sweet Apple Acres…no, the wood would do for today. I thought to myself as I greeted the occasional pony that walked by and waved at me. As I left town, walking back on the country roads, a familiar face was floating along in the opposite direction, humming a tune to herself as she fluttered her wings gently to keep herself aloft. Following behind was the only pony she let stay in her home. “Good afternoon, Fluttershy. Leon.” I greeted as I reached them. “Where are you two going?” “Oh, hey, Dusk.” Leon said. “Me and Flutters are just on our way to one of her favorite spots where the animals play. She thought it would be good if I could come with her.” “Oh, I just love it there.” Fluttershy said when she noticed my saddlebag. “Are you going somewhere…if you don't mind my asking?” “Not at all. I’m just going for a stroll. It’s something I like to do sometimes. Keeps me fit and lets me explore.” I suddenly had an idea. I usually did this on my own or at least with the guys, but now I had more friends so maybe… “Hey, you’re not too busy, are you?” “Um…not really, I suppose. Why?” “Well, if you want to, would you two like to join me? I wouldn’t mind some company.” “It’s fine with us, Dusk.” Leon said to me before speaking to Fluttershy. “Right, Flutters?” “Yes, we would love to. It sounds like a nice idea…if you’re sure you don’t mind.” She said to me. “I told you it’s fine. In fact,” I continued, “I’ll wait here and you go and find some of our other friends, see if they'd like to come along too. You’d better try and bring some extra food too. I only packed for me.” “Alright then. We’ll see you in a bit.” With that, Fluttershy flew off and Leon walked off to find the others. As I waited for her to return, I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of this before. These walks were usually a time when I could be alone with his thoughts along with the beauty of nature. Now, it might be even more enjoyable, if nopony was too busy of course. After fifteen minutes, the cream-colored Pegasus and the white unicorn returned with Applejack, Dog, Shield, and Rainbow Dash in tow, all four of whom were wearing their own saddlebags, though the ones that Applejack and Dog had looked the heaviest. “Sorry the others couldn’t come.” Fluttershy apologized. “Twilight’s studying, Rarity’s busy at the Boutique, and Pinkie’s got a big order of muffins to finish.” “Yeah, we only managed to find these four. Sorry, Dusk.” Leon said, apologizing as well. “It’s fine, the more the merrier.” I said cheerfully before I spoke to the four. “I take it you all weren’t too occupied then?” “Nope, today’s a day off for us and this seems like a mighty fine way to spend it.” Dog replied, speaking for both himself and Applejack. “Yeah and we were just taking a nap. This sounded like a better idea though, so we figured ‘why not’?” Rainbow said as Shield hovered up to me with the cloud he was on. “So, where are we going?” Shield asked me. “You know me. I usually just pick a direction and walk in it.” I replied. “I was thinking of going up to Whitetail Wood, then see where we go from there.” “Lead the way then.” Dog insisted as we set off once more. “So uh…what’s the point of this walk anyway?” Rainbow asked, hovering next to me. “There isn’t really a point, to be precise.” I explained. “I just feel like taking one, that’s all. It’s just something else I do that doesn’t involve reading.” “Yeah, it’s the only thing we’ve mostly ever done with him that doesn’t get us stuck at the house back in Canterlot.” Shield said to her as he hovered with Rainbow. “Well, at least you’re not a total egghead then.” She said to me as she remarked with a grin. “I guess it’s kinda like me and my need for speed.” “Yes, only this is safer. A lot safer.” I emphasized, still shuddering remembering my skyward trip I took. “Well, like I said, it’s good way to spend the day.” Applejack had joined in the conversation. “Me and Dog packed us plenty of apples and apple snacks for eatin’ later, so nopony’s goin’ hungry.” “I hear that the flowers that grow in Whitetail Wood are beautiful in spring.” Fluttershy put in. “I hope they’re in bloom, that’d be great.” “Hey, if this trip is gonna turn into flower picking, I might as well just jet off now.” Rainbow warned. “Oh, um…sorry, Rainbow.” Fluttershy said to her fellow Pegasus. “I guess it doesn’t matter.” “Geez, Dash.” Leon said to Rainbow. “Can you be any more insensitive?” “To each their own, Miss Dash.” I pointed out smartly, smiling encouragingly at Fluttershy and Leon. “Let’s just wait until we get there, shall we?” “Well said, sugarcube. C’mon everypony, let’s get walkin’.” Applejack declared. I found this was even better than I first thought. Now we were on the peaceful country road, it was just me and my friends with the birds chirping happily, and the sun up high in the sky. I would have liked if they were all here, but they were still good company anyway. Fluttershy and Leon would stop, every now and again, to witness a bird or mouse or any other critter scuttle by. Fluttershy would always apologies afterwards though, hoping we weren’t mad. On occasion, Rainbow and Shied would get bored of the pace we were going at and do a trick or two in the sky, sometimes asking if we were there yet. Applejack and Dog strode right next to me, engaging in pleasant chit chat, catching up since Winter Wrap Up a few days ago. “So, Twilight actually used magic at one stage?” I asked Applejack. “Sure did. And it didn’t turn out well, I can tell ya. Not only did she crash the plough, but she also caused an avalanche that we had to clean up.” “You weren’t…too hard on her, were you?” “I guess, maybe. But she had to learn there was no place fer magic in wrappin’ up winter, especially not on my team.” she said firmly. “‘Sides, she found her place in the end. Ya both did. Which I think is just dandy.” “I thought so too. I really enjoyed working with the animal team. Do you…think I did a good job, Fluttershy?” “Oh, yes, you did a wonderful job.” she said eagerly. “He was so gentle with all the little critters, even ones like snakes that most ponies would be afraid of.” “Yeah, he wasn’t really bad at it,” Leon said before looking to me with a smug, “considering the last time I let him help with some animals.” “Eh, heh.” I rubbed the back of my head. “They were harmless…it was no big deal.” “Ya helped to wrap up winter. I’d say that’s a big deal, sugarcube.” the country pony said. “I agree.” Fluttershy voiced. “It’s always nice when somepony says something nice about you. Take a compliment, Dusk…I mean, if you want to…of course…" “No, you’re right as always. Thanks.” I smiled warmly at them. “I find it hard to imagine a time when I didn’t know any of you. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t even imagine a time without knowing Leon.” “Hey, you’re gonna need someponies to make sure you’re kept in check.” Leon said to me. “That’s…nice of you to say so.” Fluttershy said shyly, blushing a little. “Sure is. Thank ya kindly, Dusk.” She tipped her Stetson to me. “For what it’s worth, ya make a fine addition to our friendship.” “Just as much a fine addition to our own.” Dog said, speaking for him and the guys. “Yeah, yeah, enough with the sappy stuff.” Rainbow said impatiently. “Can’t we find some other way to pass the time till we get there? You guys are gonna make me puke.” “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.” Shield said to her before speaking to the rest of us. “But Dash is right. Can we do something to speed things up?” “We could sing.” Fluttershy suggested. “A nice song to put a spring in our step.” “A song sounds good.” Leon said, liking the idea. “Singing does help move things along.” “No, no, no. I didn’t mean…” Shield said before he was interrupted by Applejack. “Yeah, why not? Ya know any good songs, Dusk?” she asked me. I thought for a bit. I had read a book of songs that were good to hum or sing to one’s self while walking. One immediately sprung to mind, a favorite of mine along with Dog’s. We even sang a version he made to make it even better. “Okay, I’ve got one.” I said. “I think you and Shield might like this one, Rainbow. It has a fight in it.” “Eh…all right then.” she said reluctantly. “Let’s hear it.” “Okay.” I said before speaking to Dog. “Dog, mind lending your voice to this song? It’s more like a two singer song than a single singer.” “Well, sure.” Dog said to me. “What song you had in mind anyway?” “Oh, I think you know this song pretty well.” I said to him, remembering the music that was played when we first sang it. With me humming the opening notes, Dog realized the song and struck up this tune as we strolled through the woods, me providing backup vocals: To the town of Appleloosa, Rode a stranger one fine day, Hardly spoke to folks around her, Didn’t have too much to say. No one dared to ask her business, No one dared to make a slip, For the stranger there among them, Had a big pie on her hip. (Big pie on her hip.) It was early in the mornin’, When she rode into the town. She came ridin’ from the south side, Slowly lookin’ all around. She’s an outlaw loose and runnin’, Came the whisper from each lip. And she’s here to do some business, With the big pie on her hip. (Big pie on her hip.) In this town, there lived an outlaw, By the name of Troxas Red. Many colts tried to take him, And that many had pie on their head. He was vicious and a splatter, Though a youth of 24, And the notches on his pie plate, Numbered one and 19 more; (One and nineteen more.) Now the stranger started talkin’ made it plain to folks around, Was a Ponyville ranger wouldn’t be too long in town; She came here to take an outlaw back on a poster she had read, And she said she tracked him here she was after Troxas Red. (After Troxas Red.) Wasn’t long before the story, Was relayed to Troxas Red. But the outlaw didn’t worry, Colts that tried were forced to bed. Twenty colts had tried to take him, Twenty colts had made a slip, Twenty one would be the ranger, With the big pie on her hip. (Big pie on her hip.) The mornin’ passed so quickly, It was time for them to meet. It was twenty past 11, When they walked out in the street. Folks were watchin’ from the windows, Everypony held their breath. They knew this brave young ranger, Was about to meet her death. (About to meet her death.) There was forty feet between them, When they stopped to make their play, And the swiftness of the ranger, Is still talked about today. Troxas Red had not cleared metal, ‘Fore the pastry fairly ripped, And the ranger’s aim was deadly, With the big pie on her hip. (Big pie on her hip.) It was over in a moment, And the folks had gathered around, There before them, Lay the body of the outlaw on the ground. Oh, he might have went on livin’, But he made a fatal slack, When he tried to match the ranger, That they call Applejack! (They call Applejack!) “Awesome! AJ splatted somepony with a pie!” Rainbow laughed. “Now, I can tell ya that ain’t true…but it sure was clever of ya to mix up the lyrics a little.” Applejack said. “I thought so.” I said as I chuckled. “Though the credit goes to Dog. He’s the one who wrote it.” “Dog? You wrote that song?” she asked him, no doubt surprised by this. “Yep.” Dog said with a blush and a nervous smile. “I just thought that you might’ve like it for that ranger does sound like ya, right?” She chuckled a bit before saying “Well…I guess she does kinda sound like me. Thanks, Dog. I much appreciate it.” “I’m glad ya liked it, AJ.” Dog said, feeling less nervous now. “Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been around here.” I said, gazing at my surroundings and remembering them from the Running of the Leaves. “Twilight was right. This place is lovely, even better in spring.” “Never got to see this place in the Running of the Leaves,” Shield said before he got all smug on how he did with that race, “which I totally won and proved I was the Iron Pony.” “Ya run faster than anypony around here.” Dog said, reminding us that Shield only won 1st place because of his speed. “None of us stood a chance. That doesn’t prove anythin’.” “You’re just being a sore loser.” Shield said to him. “He’s actually right, Shield.” I said to the daredevil, getting his attention. “You run faster than anypony in Equestria. You had complete advantage in the Running of the Leaves. Unless you two were on equal footing, you two will have to find another way to settle that Iron Pony dispute of yours.” “Hey, we never really did settle who the Iron Pony was, did we?” Rainbow curiously asked Applejack. “Guess it don’t matter now…unless ya wanna have a little race right now?” Applejack challenged. “You’re on! First to that tree and back!” She dashed off with a gust of wind. “Hey, no wings!” Applejack shouted, sprinting after her. “Those two…” I chuckled. “Now those are some serious rivals. Right, Leon?” Shield said, but he didn’t get a response. “Leon?” the three of us looked to see that Leon and Fluttershy were gone. “Leon? Fluttershy?” “Where’d they go?” Dog asked. “Over there.” I said as I spotted them by a clump of orchids growing nearby. “Look at all of these beautiful flowers.” Fluttershy said, sniffing one of them. “It’s a shame the others couldn’t come, this is wonderful. I know, I’ll pick some for them, show them they haven’t missed out.” “Great idea, Flutters.” Leon said to her with a smile. “Here, I’ll help.” I smiled after them as they picked the flowers delicately with their hooves. “Would you looked at that?” Dog said, smiling at the two animal lovers. “Yeah, the force is strong with this one.” Shield said, using a quote from something I told him about a few years back. “Really? You’re using that quote?” I said to him, surprised that he said that. “I thought you weren’t into that stuff.” “Hey, it was used for something else, right?” Shield asked, reminding me that the quote had been used in a situation that was completely different that the original. “Well, I’m actually glad Leon haves something with somepony like Fluttershy.” I said as I watched the two in question share an awkward moment. “She really is something. All the girls are.” I sighed, thinking of Twilight in the library. “I wished Twilight was here. She would’ve love this.” “Wow, Dusk.” Dog said to me as he chuckled. “Twilight seems to be on your mind lately, huh?” “What do you mean by that?” I asked him, wondering what he meant by that. “Well, ya always spend time with her.” He answered. “Hey, Dog’s right.” Shield said as he joined in the conversation. “You do spend time with her.” “Because I’m her assistant at the library.” I said to them, making a point that it was normal. “Plus, I’m not the only assistant there, remember?” “Yeah, but you’re also the only other pony working at the library.” Shield said. “Also that’s not the only time you spent time with her.” “Yeah, ya almost never left her side in Winter Wrap Up and ya walked with her the whole time in the Runnin’ of the Leaves.” Dog said. “I was mostly around her to help her find her place in Winter Wrap Up, which I did, and we were both pacing ourselves for the final stretch of the race.” I said to them. “Plus, I did that to keep her company.” “Yeah, but ya always keep her company.” Dog said. “Yeah, you’ve been hanging around her more often ever since you beat that Paraserpent thing.” Shield said, reminding me of that moment. “Don’t remind me.” I said to him before speaking to Dog. “Dog, what exactly does all this prove?” “Just wonderin’.” Dog said to me. “Has something happened between ya two?” I was shocked when I saw that smug of his, already knowing what he meant. “Oh, yeah.” Shield said before he got a smug of his own. “You two have been acting different around each other lately.” “What? W-w-what are you guys talking about?” I nervously said, feeling a little heat on my own cheeks. “Come on, Dusk.” Shield said to me. “Tell us: is something going on between you and Twilight?” “What? No!” I said to them. “Really? That blush begs to differ.” Shield said to me, making my face feel more heated. “Ooh!” Dog said, twirling a claw at me. “I know what it is.” “What?” I asked him, worried about what he would say. “Somepony figured out his crush.” Dog said. “What?” I said to him. “Oh, yeah.” Shield said as we looked to him. “I forgot you have that crush on that mare.” “You mean Twilight?” I said, couldn’t believe what they were suggesting. “No! No, I don’t.” “You do!” Shield said, laughing. “You totally do!” “Don’t be ridiculous.” I said to them, trying to put a stop to all of this. “She and I are just friends. Speaking of which, what about you, Dog?” “What’re ya talkin’ about?” he asked me. “I mean you and Applejack.” I said to him, changing the subject. Then it was his turn to start blushing as he lost his smug. “Well, what about it?” he asked. “I mean, the way you acted just now when I told her you wrote that song.” I said to him. “You were basically sweating the whole time. And I can guess what you were thinking when she gave you that smile.” “Well, uh…” Dog said, not knowing what to say. “Well, while you figure out what to say for it, mind your own business.” I said to him as I walked away. “Me and Twilight are just friends.” As I heard Shield starting to question him, I approached one of the flowering bushes, sniffing them. They certainly had a pleasant fragrance. I spotted one of them as some bees flew out of them, a bunch of lilacs. Feeling compelled do something nice, I picked them and put them in my saddlebag for Twilight. I hoped she would like them. “Yes, I won!” Rainbow Dash yelled, making me jump. “Okay, okay, ya beat me this time.” Applejack panted. “Well, don't know about everypony else but I’m famished. Who wants lunch?” “I’m hankerin’ for something to eat.” Dog said, managing to get out of his situation. “I could eat.” Shield said. Following Fluttershy and Leon, who would join us later in the meadow that they were picking her flowers, I set out the picnic blanket I’d bought along, pulled out one of my sandwiches and sank my teeth into it. Rainbow pulled out a pair of sunglasses and she and Shield lounged on the blanket, whilst Applejack hoofed out a few apples for everypony to eat as well, including candy apples. To entertain them while we ate, I made a puppet show for them all, just depicting some animals running around and playing in the long grass, adored by Fluttershy as she chased after them. If I had known how my little talent would make so many ponies happy, I would have shown it a long time ago. Fluttershy soon came and sat beside me, helping herself to an apple, whilst Rainbow and Shield had another nap and Applejack and Dog rest themselves against nearby trees, their hats over their closed eyes, relaxing peacefully. “This really was a lovely idea, Dusk.” she whispered. “Thank you for inviting me and Leon along.” “Yeah, feels good to unwind a bit.” Leon said to me before he started eating his sandwich. “I was glad to.” I said as I casually floated my trilby into the air, glancing at her flowers. "That’s a good bouquet you have there. Who’s the lucky pony?" We then looked at Leon as he started choking on a piece of sandwich he bit out of, no doubt the cause being me mentioning “lucky pony”. “Dusk…” She blushed heavily at my joke. “You know…these are for our friends…” “Don’t worry, I’m just joking.” I assured, right when Leon finally swallowed the sandwich he had and was able to breathe again. “Though, for the record, I think anypony would be lucky if they did ask for your hoof.” With that, Leon looked over my shoulder to look at her. “Um…that’s sweet of…you to say so…” She still blushed, but there was a little smile to her now. “But…I’m not looking for romance…that’s more Rarity than me…” I then looked at Leon as he fell back on the grass, no doubt her saying that being a blow to him. “Fair enough.” I agreed, shrugging. “I’m not saying you have to but, someday, I like to think you’ll find that special somepony…it just takes time.” “I didn’t take you for a romantic, Dusk.” She said to me with some surprise in her voice. “Well…I sort of am, I suppose…” I smiled more to myself than her. “I’ve never really thought beyond making friends, but now…I guess it’s something else to strive for…if I meet somepony, that is.” “I’m sure you will, and she’d be lucky to have you too.” she said kindly, making me blush now. “If you do…and you need help…you can always ask us.” “I’ll bear that in mind…thanks.” Smiling at the Element of Kindness, I placed my hat back on. “Yeah, he would need all the help he could get in that.” Leon smartly said as he got back up, before I punched him in the foreleg. “Ow.” “Are those for Twilight?” she asked as I looked and saw her looking at the lilacs in my saddlebag. Guess she must’ve caught sight of them. “Yeah.” I said to her. “Do you think she’ll like them?” “I’m sure she’ll love them, especially if they’re from you.” She said, making me curious. “What do you mean by that?” I asked a little too quickly. “Oh, um…nothing…” Embarrassed, she lowered her head and became more interested in her hooves. “What’s so funny?” I asked Leon as I heard him chuckling. “Oh, nothing.” He said to me with a smug. Not mentioning the subject again, we enjoyed the rest of the day in that little spot. Once they woke up, the two athletes suggested a game of speed and reflexes, wherein I conjured up color shapes and they had to reach them as fast as they could before they vanished. Shield and Dog joined in as a way to prove who the true Iron Pony was. Rainbow and Applejack finished in a dead heat, so were Shield and Dog. Though Rainbow and Shield insisted that they won. When I went up against Fluttershy, who was nervous at the prospect, Leon stepped up and took her place. Every time we went through it, I would beat him and he would ask for a rematch. Soon, after 20 rematches, he finally ran out of breath and collapsed. We all looked and saw the sun begin to dip lower in the sky, painting the horizon with an orange hue. It was time for us to head off home, I rolling the blanket back up into my bag and picking up our scattered cores. “Wait a sec…” Applejack said picked up one of the cores, extracted the seeds with care and delicately planted them in the spacious patch of the meadow. Dog helped her dig a hole, covering it up a few seconds later. “There. Now there’ll soon be a nice new apple tree in this here spot.” “New life in spring, a wonderful thing.” I mused to myself, making Applejack smile. “Thanks for today, AJ. You too, Dog. It was…memorable.” “Sure hope so.” she chuckled. “No problem, Dusk.” Dog said to me. “We had fun with y’all.” “Can we get home now?” Rainbow called out. “I’m bushed.” “Yeah, me too.” Shield said. “Shield, you and Rainbow were asleep for the past hour.” I reminded them as we set off once more. “Yeah, we know…but still.” He shrugged as he then got on a cloud and he and Rainbow sped off, leading the way back to town. I let Fluttershy and Leon go off ahead of me, her bunches of flowers in his mouth. They gave me a grateful smile and Leon walked with Fluttershy as she floated away like a leaf in the breeze. As they left, I thought back to what Fluttershy had said earlier. Even though she probably just meant it in a friendly way, my mind still whirled at the possibilities that were now open from their previous conversation topic, even as we set up to leave back for Ponyville, at a much gentler pace this time. She’d said that any mare would be lucky to have me. Did she mean that? And Twilight…I’d never thought of her as anything more than my good friend but now…no, that would be stupid, Dusk. I told myself. She’d already made clear her views on romance and love, she would never even consider…well, that…I would just have to stop thinking about it like that, I was just getting these flowers for her because she was my friend… So why couldn’t I stop?