//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Life is an Adventure // by Floozer //------------------------------// When it comes down to insults I can safely say that I can take most verbal abuse and simply walk away from it, only a fool jumps into a rage at simple words or petty actions such as a slap or a poke to the chest. I have taken many hits and verbal abuse over my life and have simply walked away if it was the correct action. However, no matter how calm someone might appear you have to remember that everyone has a breaking point. For most people it is going after their friends and loved ones that will send them over the edge. I don’t have a family, I don’t have friends…but I do have a hat that I have cherished for years and someone has made the mistake of taking it from me. I know it sounds stupid to get worked up over a something as simple and minor as a hat, but this hat holds a special meaning to me…sentimental value if you will. It was the first thing that I was able to buy for myself using money that I earned from doing honest business. So here I am, nearing Sugar Cube Corner and hopefully whoever was stupid enough to steal my hat. Upon reaching the building I noticed nothing out of place and when I entered I didn’t see anyone looking suspicious or holding my hat, so I approached the counter. “Hello Mrs. Cake, how are you today?” “Oh! Daddy legs! Just the guy I was looking for! I have a letter for you.” “A letter? From who?” “I don’t really know, it was left on the counter while I was in the kitchen, it has your name on it though.” “I see, thank you and sorry for taking up your time.” With a final nod to Mrs. Cake I opened up the letter and began reading: Daddy Legs, If you are reading this then you are on the right track, go North West from Sugar Cube Corner. You will know when to stop. Whoever is toying with me sure has a way of pissing me off. I crumpled up the note and threw it away as I left the store and started northwest out of Ponyville. The walk took me to a small forested area, that is to say it had more trees than normal but certainly wasn’t the Everfree forest. As I continued walking I eventually came to a small clearing and much to my surprise saw my hat laying there on the floor at the base of a tree. I admit it should have looked suspicious but my hat took priority and I ran over to pick it up. The moment I picked up my hat this is what I heard from above: “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER HUMAN SPECIALIST TEAM!” All at the same time I was hit with not one, not two, but three lumps of hyperactive fillies all landing on my shoulders. Mind you that they are far from too heavy for me to hold them but when they suddenly fall on me I can’t vouch for being able to stay on my feet. In ten seconds flat I was on my back with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom standing on my chest looking rather proud of themselves. “You can’t be serious right? It was you three that did all this?” “That’s right! We are earning out cutie marks for being specialists on all things human!” Cheered Scootaloo. “By you following all of our hints this proves that we know how to provoke a human to action!” added Sweetie Belle. “Yup! All we had to do was get the right bait and sure enough you showed up!” said Apple Bloom The only coherent thought in my mind was to twitch my left eye at the mere thought of what was going on. I sat up quickly throwing the three of them off before giving them a stern look. “Now you three listen good, what you just did was so far from ok that I feel that words are not enough to express it, however it is all I am going to do for your sake. First off, stealing my hat and using it to lure me all the way out here for whatever purpose is bad. Second, using the right bait for anyone or anything will work so that doesn’t apply to humans alone. Lastly, I was there when we watched that movie with Twilight last night, you simply copied what the protagonist did from there.” All three of them looked crestfallen as what I said sank in. In one simultaneous movement all three of them gave me an apology hug and said “we’re sorry”. I may be a business man who can harden his heart for the sake of making money but I am not evil, even I melted a bit at the cuteness of it all. I returned the hug briefly before putting them down and returning to my feet. “With that out of the way I am honestly curious, what is the Human Specialist Team?” “Well, when you got here we were going to write down everything you could tell us about humans and memorize it so we could be specialist on humans! Then we would get our cutie marks! Squeaked Sweetie Belle. “Wow…um, I hate to tell you girls this but, to be a specialist on something you have to know almost everything about the topic in question and while I know a lot about humans…I don’t know everything.” “What?! So this was all for nothing from the start?!” shrieked Scootaloo “I’m afraid so, sorry girls.” All three of them just stared at the floor for a while letting that information sink in. I thought they would be down and out for the rest of the day at this but instead they all just sprang to their hooves and started passing new ideas around. I was happy that they were moving again but some of the ideas I was hearing sounded dangerous and I wanted nothing to do with it so I slipped away while they were talking about trying hang gliding again…yea, those three are something special. As I walked away from the Cutie mark crusaders my mind began to wander again. Am I really who I used to be? Before this place I wouldn’t even think of giving a hug. If I went back to Ponyville or Twilight’s house I am sure I would forget but…I am not sure if I want to. So I turned away and started walking back to where this all began, Everfree forest. What is it about this place that is making such an impact? Sure I can kick just as much butt as I could before I came here, heck maybe even more, but I don’t feel as…spiteful? I don’t even know what my own emotions are any more. Back on earth I didn’t care about anyone but me and my clients and even then I only cared about my clients being able to pay me and not so much as their wellbeing. I was looking out for number one and didn’t care if anyone though I was being a monster in the process. Everyone was out to get me, even if they said they weren’t I knew they were lying. Some would call that paranoid but I know how greasy people can get and I wasn’t going to risk anything on petty trust. However I no longer feel that way here. No; instead I feel like I can actually let my guard down and no one will swoop in to take me down. Every pony I have met has either become close to me in a way that I actually went through the trouble to remember their names. Others would simply state that they don’t like me but would rather avoid any fighting so they simply ignored me. There is no under cutting here or shady works, everyone is exactly what they appear to be on the surface…and that scares me. This world is not better than earth, it is different, and depending on how you think it might be a better different or a worse. I don’t know what to think any more. As I moved aimlessly through the forest I found myself in familiar territory, to be more precise I was back into that creepy lion, scorpion, bat things land. Twilight called it a manticore and warned me to try and avoid them but it would seem my subconscious mind has leaded me right into the middle of it. As if on cue the manticore in question walked out of the bushes in its hunting stance. I was about to get ready to kick it again when recognition clicked in its mind and it sank back a bit holding its nose. I couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit bad about that, I did kick it pretty hard. Rubbing the back of my head I gave a simple apology and to my surprise it seemed to understand. Slowly the manticore walked up to me and cocked its head to one side. I gave a chuckle and reached my hand out to pet its puffy mane and sure enough it leaned into my hand. This seems like one of the most unlikely things in the world but here I was petting a carnivorous hunter like it was a simple house cat. Eventually it broke away from my pettings and left after giving me a firm lick to the face…ok, I could have lived without that part. I could only smile as the manticore, which was now another creature I had managed to befriend through violence, walked away. I don’t even remember why I am out here; just goes to show you that this place can help you forget…the…past. Well, I certainly remember now! So off I went walking in no direction specifically as I mulled over my thoughts. Either fate is messing with me or my feet a dirty traitors as I eventually found myself at the small clearing that held Zecora’s house. Why not, let’s see if Zecora can help me figure out my mind. I approached and knocked on the door. “Well hello my human friends, to what does your visit intend?” “Yea, hi Zecora, can I come in?” With a short nod she stepped aside and I stepped inside her small home. Not much has changed here except there are more potions on the shelves and the caldron was bubbling with something that smelled of lemons and lavender. I walked over to the side and slumped against the wall and Zecora came over with a worried look. “Before anything I got to ask you to stop the rhyming things, it doesn’t help.” “Very well, for you I will stop, so tell me what brings you here in such a state as to slump on my floor?” “I don’t even know, my mind is moving a mile a minute and I have no idea what to think any more. Ever since I showed up here I have felt odd, like I am changing from who I really am. Can you lose yourself for real?” “Hmm, are you sure you are losing yourself and giving into the world? Or are you finally acting the way you have always wanted now that you have the chance? “Do what?” “Well, here you are in a world that knows nothing about you as a person and species thus meaning you have a clean plate to work with. Rather than lose who you really are, you might be acting in a way that you have always wanted to but never got the chance to before.” “So you are saying that I’m expressing a side to myself that I have been repressing because of the environment I was in before?” “Yes, exactly that.” “HAHAHAHAHAAHAH! Oh man! You had me going there for a minute Zecora! That’s funny, like I would ever want to be some relaxed, friend hugging chump! That’s hilarious!” “You asked for my opinion and I gave it, however it seems you plan to disregard it after hearing the entire thing and understanding it. I would hope you will consider it more than that. Being a “relaxed, friend hugging chump” is actually rather nice.” “Right, sorry about that, I didn’t mean to laugh, I just didn’t expect that. Yes, I will think on what you said but I think that laugh is what I needed most, so thank you for that.” “You are welcome, I would ask that you keep the fact that I do not rhyme a secret from the ponies, it is kind of my thing.” “Your secret is safe with me Zecora, thanks for the help again.” With that I quickly left Zecora’s and headed back for Ponyville. The sun was setting and I bet Spike was already cooking up dinner while Twilight either wondered where I am or buried her face even deeper into a book. Talking with Zecora did seem to help, got a good laugh out of it as well. For some reason though I couldn’t disregard what Zecora had said…while I think it is ridiculous her words still ring in my head. Something tells me that I have even more thinking to do before any of this will make any form of sense.