//------------------------------// // 3. The girls // Story: The cool children // by therandomone95 //------------------------------// Chapter 3: The girls. It was a lovely afternoon in Ponyville, and now everypony was starting to relax since it was an authentic Friday afternoon; specially the fillies and colts started to get excited since this was the last stressful day of the week. We now will follow four specific fillies in their school day. These four fillies were just going out of the school and they agroupped next to the door to chat about their day and about that horrible Pop quiz. "Ugh! I still can't believe Miss Cheerilee thought about a Pop quiz today of all days!" Said the orange filly named Scootaloo. "Yeah, no kidding, I think my think hurts from braining too hard." Replied a purple filly named Dinky Hooves, rubbing her forehead with her front hoof. "What are you girls talking about? I'm the one that should be worried." Pointed out a yellow filly with a pink bow on her mane, named Apple Bloom. "Yeah, you never fail a Pop quiz, Dinky, and I don't know how but you almost never fail too, Scoots." Said the white filly named Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, but did she have to do it in a Friday of all days?" Exclaimed Scootaloo. "I would be worried for you, but you always somehow manage to get a good grade. Besides, this was mostly about Math, and you're almost flawless in Math." Said Apple Bloom bluntly while raising her eyebrow. "W-well, I study really hard?" Said Scootaloo shrugging with a nervous smile on her face. "Hey, why don't we just go to the club house to chat there?" Said a nervous looking Scootaloo. "That's fine, I don't think Rarity will mind if I arrive an hour or so later." Said Sweetie Belle with a smile. "Well, I was planning on doing some of my chores right now, but I guess they can wait a tic." Said Apple Bloom with a small shrug. "I just want to relax, I don't think my mom will mind; I bet she must still be delivering something right now." Finished Dinky before all four of them started to walk towards Sweet Apple Acres. ------------------------------ Fifteen minutes later ------------------------------ Now the sun was starting to set in, meaning that Princess Celestia was starting to lower it and Princess Luna was starting to raise the moon. There was still a bit of time before it was dark though, so that meant that the four fillies still had a fair amount of time to chat in their club house, which now they were in. "I still can't thank you girls enough for letting me in the Cutie Mark Crusaders." Said Dinky with a big grin on her face. "Aw shucks, don't speak of it, the Cutie Mark Crusaders are always looking for new members!" Replied Apple Bloom. "Yeah! And we could use some help getting our cutie marks too." Said Sweetie Belle from the other side of the room. "Girls, I think we should start focusing on the talent show, we all signed and we should at least know what we're going to do." Said Scootaloo, who afterwards put a thinking pose, just like Sweetie and Apple Bloom. The three of them thought about the possibilities of what to do in a talent show, but they were fresh out of ideas. "Am I the only one who isn't getting anything?" Asked Sweetie Belle, to which Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked at each other, and then looked back at Sweetie. "Nope, I think that Pop quiz took our brains out of us." Said Apple Bloom. "Ugh, should we just do what we did the first time?" Asked Scootaloo, to which Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at her with a raised eyebrow."But this time it will be actually good." Said Scootaloo, making Apple Bloom remember how it went last time. She remembered perfectly how it went last time; she had decided to dance in her performance but she actually ended up destroying half the stage while "dancing", she also remembered Sweetie Belle doing the costumes and the props for their performance, but they were more like dawings of a three year old in badly cut cardboard. She specially remembered Scootaloo singing, which for some miracle didn't left anyone deaf. But all of this remembered her that now they had Dinky with them, so now things could very well be different this time. Speaking of which, Apple Bloom noticed that their new fourth member had been unusually quiet, which wasn't very normal for Dinky. Apple Bloom remembered how Dinky was the first one to sign the sheet for the show, so she thought that Dinky would've been more excited or at least, she'd be paying more attention to the matter. Apple Bloom looked towards Dinky and she saw that Dinky was looking outside the window, perhaps she didn't even hear any part of the conversation at all. "Dinky? What the hay are you thinking? Are you even listening to us?" Asked Apple Bloom, to which Dinky turned around and blushed when she saw that her three friends were staring at her. "Oh sorry, I was just distracted, that's all." Replied Dinky, still distracted. "Distracted with what?" Asked Apple Bloom with the apple-characteristic raised eyebrow. "Oh, she's just thinking about boys, that's what." Teased Sweetie Belle with a giggle. Dinky's blush became stronger. "Hey! That's not true!" Replied Dinky with a frown. The three other filies laughed a bit afterwards. "W-w-well you wouldn't understand either way! I'm starting to think none of you actually care about love!" Blurted out Dinky, not quite realizing what she said. After Dinky blurted out those words, silence reigned over the club house, the four fillies had a blank stare for a couple of moments which seemed like an awkward eternity for them. Luckily for them Scootaloo broke the silence first: "Oh crap! I just remembered!" With that said, Scootaloo put on her saddlebags and rushed to the door. "I was supposed to meet Rumble after school! I hope he's not too mad at me! See ya girls later!" Said Scootaloo before trotting off to see her coltfriend, her friends looking at her as she ran away. "See? She gets it." Said Dinky with a smug smile. Apple Bloom groaned. "Look, I think we're busy enough to think about that right now, don't ya think, Dinky?" "Oh come on, Don't tell me neither of you have thought about having a coltfriend! Not even once?" Said Dinky, loking at Apple Bloom and then at Sweetie Belle. Said fillies refused to make eye contact with anyone, instead, Apple Bloom looked at the wall in silence with a small blush she hoped her friends didn't notice. Sweetie Belle just looked away, rolling her eyes and whistled a little tune, hoping to look as innocent as possible. "Oh my Celestia. You HAVE thought about it." Said Dinky giggling, to which her friends blushed even more and turned towards her with frowns. "Pffft, whatever. So what if we have? There's more important stuff we have to-" "Apple Bloom, I think it's fine if we talk about it, even if it's just for today." Dinky interrupted Apple Bloom, who just looked down. "Well, if it makes you comfortable we can all say who we like and maybe things won't be so awkward." Said Sweetie Belle, putting a hoof on her friend's shoulder. Apple Bloom sighed. "Okay, let's get it over with. Who wants to start?" Said Apple Bloom with a small smile. "Oh! I'll start!" Said Dinky clapping her hooves. "I like Pipsqueak!" "You like Pip?" Asked Sweetie Belle, surprised. "Yep." "Huh, since when?" Asked Apple Bloom, very curious about it. "Well, it all started when we entered school..." ------------------------------------------------------------ I remember it was a sunny day, and we were just tiny foals getting ready to meet new friends, I was specially excited to see just how many friends I could get in the first day. But when I arrived at school I was really nervous, I felt like I couldn't talk to anyone because I would ruin it, but then I saw him, all on his own. Pipsqueak was just wandering around the school yard; he looked really cute, I swear he looked like he was just born then. So I went to talk to him and see how he was like. "Hi, my name is Dinky Hooves, and what's yours?" "M-my name is Pipsqueak." "That's a cute name. Do you wanna hang for a bit?" "O-okay." After that we started hanging out in recess and after school, and I just knew we had something special; I really like everything about him! He is kind, gentle, smart and a cinnamon roll who must not be harmed. But after a while he started to hang out more with guys like him, and I started hanging out with you, so we kinda parted ways there; I still like him though, I wish he paid more attention to me. ------------------------------------------------------------ "... And I think I'm done." Finished Dinky, her friends looking at her with smiles on their faces. "Aww, that's really cute!" Said Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, I think you should talk to him! Maybe you're the one who should make the first move." Said Apple Bloom, now intrigued in the conversation. "I don't know, isn't it wrong when a girl makes the first move, though?" Asked Dinky to her friends, who shrugged. "I mean, as long as you think it's okay I don't think there's anything wrong." Said Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, anyway, what about you, Sweetie?" Asked Dinky to her friend, who looked very nervous when she heard the question. "Me?! Oh... Um... I..." Sweetie tried to get some words out but failed. "Don't be nervous, just use your words." Said Dinky with a small giggle. "I... Unf... Okay, it's Button Mash." "Oh? Button?" Asked Apple Bloom, who turned her undivided attention towards Sweetie Belle. "How?" Asked Dinky, who lied down on her stomach and put her hooves on her cheeks to listen to her friend. "Well, it's kinda similar to yours, Dinky..." ------------------------------------------------------------ I met him when we entered school like you, Dinky, but unlike you, I wasn't excited to go to school, I was actually worried, I thought that maybe I would be forever alone; I never thought I could make friends. But my sister and my parents kinda forced me to go anyways. The first day was awkward as heck, I remember that Miss Cheerilee forced us to introduce ourselves in front of everyone, and it was horrible because I almost froze up. I think I still embarassed myself in front of everypony there. But then I saw him, he introduced himself like no one did; he looked so sure of himself, like he was the ruler of the world and he didn't care what others thought of him. Anyways, when it was time to go home we all walked out of the school at the same time, he and I were the last ones to leave that day, but just when I was leaving the classroom behind Button, he tripped and he fell hard to the floor. So I hurried to help him get up. "Oh my, that must have hurt." "Yeah, ow, that was just my face." "Are you okay? Do you want me to get help?" "No, no, I'm fine. My name is Button Mash by the way, and yours?" "My name is Sweetie Belle." "That's a beautiful name." I guess I had a thing for him since day one, and I'm pretty sure he likes me too! But one can never be sure with guys these days. His gamer side is bittersweet though, because he pays more attention to videogames than anything else; but on the bright side, when he is playing he shows the side of him I really like! It displays his tenacity and optimism in the face of adversity, not to mention how handsome he is. And you know what's funny to me? I tried to get into videogames to spend dome more time with him, I even went into the comic store! And to this day I still like buying comics every now and then. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have discovered how much I love reading Supermare or Iron-mare, I owe him that. ------------------------------------------------------------ "Wait, you really like comic books and videogames that much because of him?" Asked Apple Bloom to Sweetie Belle, who blushed and turned away. "It's embarassing! Please don't tell anyone!" Said Sweetie frantically. "Don't worry, Sweetie, nopony will know our friend is a nerd." Replied Dinky while supressing her laughter. Sweetie Belle just frowned with a deep blush on her white cheeks. Apple Bloom put her hoof on her friends's shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile. "Oh, don't worry Sweetie, we think it's actuallt really sweet that you discovered something you like because of him. And we won't tell anyone you like comics and videogames if you don't want us to, right Dinky?" Apple Bloom said that last part glaring at Dinky. "Of course we won't! We're friends and friends don't do that." After Dinky finished, Sweetie Belle looked at her friends and turned her frown into a small but true smile. "Thank you girls, it means a lot to me." Said Sweetie Belle, hugging her friends tightly. "Well, it's just you now, Apple Bloom. Who do you like?" Asked Dinky to her friend who hadn't spilled the beans. "I... would rather keep it to myself." Said Apple Bloom, turning away. "What? Why? We said who we liked, now it's YOUR turn." Said Sweetie Belle. "Yes, this doesn't seem fair to me!" Exclaimed Dinky. "It don't gotta be fair." Replied Apple Bloom, still turning away. "What?! But why-?" "Because you wouldn't understand!" Apple Bloom snapped back at her Sweetie, who was surprised at Apple Bloom's reaction. "Why do you think we wouldn't understand?" Asked Dinky. "Because... I... kinda like someone who isn't a colt." Said Apple Bloom, blushing and looking down. "Wait, you like a girl then?" Asked Sweetie Belle. "No! It's just that... well... this guy.... Ugh, this is more complicated than I thought." Said Apple Bloom, trying to come clean to her friends. Dinky started to connect the pieces, Apple Bloom definitely likes someone given her blushes, and she just said that it isn't a girl, but she also had said that it isn't a colt, and Apple Bloom surely wouldn't be in love with a plant or some genderless pony, besides, it has to be someone they know. It all suddenly clicked inside Dinky's mind. "Wait, do you mean you like...?" Started Dinky. Apple Bloom sighed, knowing that there was nowhere to hide. "Alright, I confess, I like Spike." "You like Spike?!" Asked both of her friends in unison. Apple Bloom cringed at their response. "See? I told you you wouldn't understand! Just go ahead and laugh!" Apple Bloom dropped to the floor and waited for the laughter to start; but she was surprised when she heard no laughter coming from her friends. She looked up and she saw Sweetie Belle and Dinky with reassuring smiles on their faces. "Apple Bloom, how can you possibly think we would laugh at you? We're your friends!" Said Sweetie Belle, stepping closer to her friend and putting her hoof on her left shoulder. "Yeah, we were just surprised, I never imagined you would like Spike, but I think you guys would make a cute couple!" Said Dinky, who also stepped closer and put her hoof on her friend's right shoulder. Apple Bloom sniffed back the tears that were starting to come to her eyes as she stepped up. "Thank you, girls, I mean it." The three of them hugged afterwards. "So, what's your story with Spike? Did you also meet him when we entered school?" Asked Sweetie, paying attention to whatever Apple Bloom had to say. "Don't you remember? Spike came along with Miss Twilight to Ponyville some time after we entered school." Replied Apple Bloom. "Then tell us what happened." Said Dinky, also paying attention to her. "You're not gonna believe it..." ------------------------------------------------------------ When I first met Spike I was a bit afraid of him, my family had told me some pretty graphic stories about dragons terrorizing their villages, destroying their crops and taking their treasures, so I was afraid he was going to be the same. But all that changed one day at the school. I was just on my lonesome, Sweetie and Scoots were absent, I hadn't met Dinky yet and it was recess time, meaning I was alone and I had nothing to do; it was just my luck that two very special brats were passing by. "Oh, look who it is!" Said Silver Spoon. "Looks like the blank flank is all on her own this time!" Said Diamond Tiara. "I don't have to put up with ya'll today, just leave me alone." I tried to get away from them but they just kept following me. "Oh look! The blank flank turns out to be a crybaby too!" "I guess now she has no friends, no cutie mark and no guts!" Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon kept laughing at me, and I could feel myself actually about to start crying, but in that moment Spike stepped in. "Hey! What are you doing to her?" "You mind taking care of your own business?" "Look, Diamond Tiara, if you and your little minion don't step away from Apple Bloom I'm gonna have to tell Miss Cheerilee or your parents about it!" After Spike said that, Diamond Tiara just turned away indignated, nodding for Silver Spoon to do the same, but before they left, they took one final low blow at Spike. "Fine, but just remember; just because you live with Princess Celestia's apprentice doesn't mean you're anything special!" "Yeah, I mean, just look at yourself! You're like a horrible lizard thing in a cage full of cute bunnies!" "I'm pretty sure you'll die alone. I mean, who would wanna hang out with a monster like you?" "Oh, I'll tell you who: Losers like him!" With that, they walked away, leaving me with Spike. "H-hey, Spike, are you okay?" "Y-yeah, I-I'm fine." Spike was turning away from me but I could definitely tell he was starting to tear up. After that, he walked away. I don't know about you, but I feel like since that day Spike was not the same, like he was dragging himself to school everyday. I felt really guilty after that, I misjudged Spike, he is not a monster like the dragons my family told me about, he has a very kind soul and he is very loyal to his friends. I always see him running errands for Twilight or doing something to help his other friends, he is very strong to carry all of those books and things Miss Twilight asks, he is always very optimistic, and no matter in what sort of issue he or his friends are in, he will find a way to help! Besides, he's gotten more handsome since I met him. But there are just little things that keep me from asking him out, like my family's prejudice on dragons, I don't know what I would do if they don't accept us! Or maybe what if he doesn't like me? He used to have a crush on Rarity, maybe I'm not beautiful enough for him... ------------------------------------------------------------ "...And I think that's waaay more than you needed to hear." Apple Bloom got out of her own thoughts to look at her friends; they looked really sad, but Apple Bloom couldn't tell for who or why, that is, until Sweetie spoke: "Apple Bloom, that's so sad! You need to have more confidence and faith in yourself!" Said Sweetie. "Yeah, I'm sure Spike likes you too." Reassured Dinky. "I'm just not sure, for now I'll just stay back, I don't wanna ruin my friendship with him." Said Apple Bloom. "You know, I would recommend that you just come clean with him; but if it's so important to you then I guess you're right." Said Sweetie Belle. "Yeah, I would also say that you should confess, but you do what you think it's right." Said Dinky, nodding in agreement. "Thanks, girls, you're the best." The three of them looked like they were about tonhug, but Sweetie Belle didn't join in because she had taken notice of something important. "Oh my Celestia, girls! It's getting dark!" Said Sweetie Belle, pointing out of the window. "How did time go by so fast?" Asked Dinky, also freaking out. "I don't know, but I'm more worried about you, I live around here!" Remarked Apple Bloom. "Rarity is going to kill me!" Said Sweetie Belle before putting on her saddlebags and trotting out of the door, waving goodbye to her friends as she was leaving. "Well, I guess I'll see you around, then." Said Dinky before grabbing her saddlebags. "Yeah, I guess so." Said Apple Bloom. Just before Dinky left the club house Apple Bloom stopped her. "Hey, Dinky!" Dinky turned around to see Apple Bloom looking at her with a relieved face. "Thank you and Sweetie for listening, I needed to get that out of my chest." "No problem, what are friends for, right?" Said Dinky before waving goodbye to Apple Bloom and leaving the club house. ------------------------------------------------------------ Rumble was just leaving the spot where he had talked with Spike, before remembering his date with Scootaloo, then he turned to the entrance to the school, where he patiently waited for his fillyfriend to arrive. He waited for what seemed like an eternity, he was starting to consider leaving since Scootaloo wasn't arriving. But just when Rumble was about to leave, he saw an orange filly trotting towards him. Rumble was quite happy that Scootaloo didn't cancel on him, once Scootaloo reached Rumble, they hugged before Rumble gave Scootaloo a small glare. "What took you so long? I thought you cancelled." Asked Rumble, raising his eyebrow. "I'm sorry, I just had a lot in my mind and I accidentally went to Sweet Apple Acres." Replied Scootaloo, still catching her breath. "And why didn't you just use your scooter to get here faster?" Asked Rumble, wondering how Scootaloo was apart from her most preciated object. "Oh, I kinda popped two of its wheels yesterday, I was trying to jump over five meters of trash cans. It didn't go well. I'll have it back tomorrow in the morning." Replied Scootaloo, giggling at her own clumsiness doing stunts like those. "Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway, you're here and that's all that matters to me." He replied. They sat in the grass in silence for what seemed like an instant, but were actually whole minutes, both of them being really comfortable with each other. It wasn't an awkward silence, but rather a loving one. "You know, it's funny." Said Rumble softly, hoping to not ruin the mood, he was relieved when Scootaloo smiled back at him before asking back: "What?" "We've been a thing for so long, yet I still haven't asked you." "Asked me what?" "Who does yours look like?" Asked Rumble, his eyes glowing in the softer glow of the afternoon. Scootaloo looked away with a small blush before answering. "Rainbow Dash. It's embarassing, I know." Scootaloo's eyes also had a strong glow. "No, no, I think it's a good one." Reassured Rumble. "And yours?" Asked back Scootaloo. "A cooler version of my brother." "Thunderlane?" Scootaloo didn't imagine that Rumble's vision would be of his own brother, she despised the guy for being a general jerk most of the time with everyone. "I know, he can be a complete piece of crap sometimes, but I still love and respect him." Said Rumble while shrugging. "Well, and what does he say we should do?" Asked Scootaloo. "He says I should invite you to get something to eat." Replied Rumble. "Oooh, he is very perspective." She said with an arousing voice. "Hey, don't get too cocky, I'm the one that got you one." Said Rumble with pride. "By the way, have you talked to your friends about it? Do you want me to get them one of their own?" "Nah, I don't think they would ever accept it. Can we go now? I'm starving." Replied Scootaloo while rubbing her stomach. Afterwards they both got up and finally they went to get something to eat. it was going to be a very interesting afternoon indeed.