//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: A New World, A Fresh Start // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 11 “What’s going on? Pinkie? What is all this?” Rick was shocked by the loud music, the balloons, the games and the huge crowd of ponies that managed to cram themselves inside the library. “Silly! It’s a surprise party! We have to have a proper welcome party for you! How else will you make friends?!” Pinkie replied while hopping nonstop in front of Rick and Twilight. Twilight giggled, “I should have warned you, this is how Pinkie welcomes everypony to Ponyville. Just try to enjoy yourself and meet some of the townsponies.” Rick nodded, he was just glad to see Twilight cheerful again. He went into the crowd and started to introduce himself. “…name is Rick. I’m a human from…” “…never been to Canterlot, I would love to visit…” “…haven’t gotten the chance. The Wonderbolts sound amazing…” “…Celestia and Princess Luna? I would be too scared to…” The night included good food, great stories, lots of questions and many new friends. Thankfully, it didn’t include any screaming, yelling, panicking or passing out, Rick was especially grateful about the last bit. He couldn’t believe just one day ago, he was panicking about and running from all these friendly ponies simply because they could talk. He also couldn’t believe just two days ago, he had no will to live. The party was the most fun Rick had had in a year. It was getting late and the party was dying down. Rick helped Spike, Pinkie and Twilight clean up after. Spike dragged out a makeshift mattress made from blankets sewn together and stuffed with straw. Rick was pleased to have it and expressed his joy with a fist bump. Pinkie left for her home and Twilight went upstairs to her room with Spike. It didn’t take long for all to fall asleep. It had been a long day, good but long. “…you two, enjoy your vacation. I’ll be waiting for your return.” Rick told his wife and daughter. “I love you, Daddy. I’ll miss you.” Annie hugged her father’s waist. Rick jostled her red hair. “I’ll miss you too. What about you? Will you miss me?” He turned to his wife. Hanna leaned in and pressed her lips against his, running her hands through his hair. “Is that a yes?” Rick smiled and gave her another peck. “Of course it is Rick…” Hanna’s voice was fading. “…Rick! Rick! Please wake up!” Twilight was trying to shake Rick awake… again. “Twilight? I did it again didn’t I? I hate to keep asking you to pretend like none of thi…” “Please, let me help you,” she begged. “I know you want to keep this to yourself, I understand, but it won’t get any better like this.” Twilight’s eyes were starting to water. “No. It-it’s private. I know you have my best interest at heart, but I-I can’t. I promise, I will tell you everything when I am ready.” Rick stood up and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Okay, Rick, but please don’t wait too long,” Twilight replied. She understood, but she didn’t like it. “Then, what do you want to do today?” she asked while wiping her eyes. “I would like breakfast, and then I was going to visit Fluttershy. Last time, I did shout at her and run away, I wanted to meet with her and not do that.” “Okay, do you want me to go with you?” “I think I’ll be okay. I’m sure you have some things here to take care of. I can’t monopolize all your time.” Rick grinned, trying to lighten the mood, but it was no good. “Alright.” Twilight was a little reluctant, but he was right. “I do have some studying to catch up on.” “Okay then, I will see you later, Twilight.” Rick headed out the door and into the day. “Now, what am I going to do for breakfast?” Chapter 12 “Hiya, Rick!” Rick jumped, cringed at the pain in his back and buried his anger. “She didn’t mean any harm. 1, 2, 3,…” “Good morning, Pinkie. How are you today?” “Pinkie-keen!” She was hopping with excitement. “Where ya goin’?” “I was going to Fluttershy’s house, but I was hoping to get something to eat first.” “Ooh, ooh! I have lots of leftovers from the party! You could have some if you want!” “That sounds good, lead the way.” Rick held out his arm indicating his wish for Pinkie to progress. “I could use a little energy right now.” The two arrived at Sugarcube Corner. They building looked like a gingerbread house, complete with icing molding, candy cane trim and cookie shingles. There was even a sign with a picture of a cupcake. Rick couldn’t help but smile. “So this is where you work, Pinkie?” “Yep! I live here with the Cakes!" “I like it here, it reminds me of story books from my childhood. Did you grow up here, Pinkie?” “Hehehe, nope! I grew up on a rock farm! It was boring and no fun at all! Then I saw the sonic rainboom and knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life spreading laughter and happiness!” Rick was confused, “rock farm?” He figured that one was easy enough to figure out. “What’s a sonic rainboom?” “Oooh, it's this super-duper, awesome, load, pretty explosion thing that Rainbow Dash does! She flies super-fast and there’s this huge boom and a rainbow shoots out everywhere! You should see it!” “I think I would like to see it. It sounds amazing.” The two enjoyed their leftover cupcakes and doughnuts. They also enjoyed a nice conversation, even if half of it was unnecessarily loud. After a while, Rick decided he should be on his way before he gained ten pounds and started missing Tylenol. “Well, Pinkie, I think I should be going. I need to make my way to Fluttershy’s house.” Rick stood up off the ground and headed toward the door. “Now, which way is it?” Chapter 13 Once Rick deciphered Pinkie’s directions, he came to the little tree house by the small creek. He recognized the bird houses and neat gardens. “This is the place.” He knocked on the door. “H-hello? Oh, Rick, what brings you here?” The timid little pony asked Rick as she opened the door. “I came to properly introduce myself. Last time I was here, I screamed and ran away. We did talk the night before last but I would like to get to know you better. May I come in? “Yes, of course. Please make yourself at home.” Fluttershy indicated for Rick to enter in her usual quiet way. Rick ducked into the entryway, “thank you, Flutter-SHIT!! Run, Fluttershy! A Bear’s gotten in!” Rick brained himself on the doorframe and fell backwards onto the floor banging his head again. The darkness came for him once more. Well, going two days without being knocked out was too much to ask for apparently. “Rick, ar-are you alright?” Fluttershy’s face came into focus. “Fluttershy? What happened?” Rick was suddenly reminded of his head injury. “Oh yeah, I got hurt again.” “You tried to run when you saw Mister Bear and hit your head.” “Mister… Bear? Who’s Mister Bear?” Rick rubbed his head as he sat up. He looked around the room then felt the blood drain from his face. Again, his brain yelled at him to run but his body wouldn’t respond. Seeing a brown bear twice your size within a few feet of you inside a house will do that. “Um, this is Mister Bear.” Fluttershy walked over to the bear despite Rick’s brain yelling at her not to. She patted the bear on the shoulder and to Rick’s surprise, the bear smiled at her. Not in the bare your teeth way, but in the friendly, not-going-to-eat-you kind of way. “He is one of my animal friends. He’s very nice and I’m sure he would like to meet you.” “RUN!!!” “I can honestly say I’ve never had the opportunity to meet a bear.” “RUN!!!” Rick forced himself to approach the bear and hold out his hand, the bear reached out for Rick’s hand and, to Rick’s relief, shook it. Fluttershy smiled at the exchange. “Oh, this is Angel, I think you met him before.” “I believe we’ve met, but that was about the point that I ran like a scared little chi… filly.” “Hehehe, I think you're right.” Fluttershy’s giggles and gentle smile made Rick almost forget he was within arm’s reach of a great big carnivore. “Would you like to join us for a picnic?” “Sounds good, thank you.” The group headed out of the cottage and headed for a small hill with a tree at the crest. Rick carried the basket, still dumbfounded at the fact that he was not only going to have a picnic in one of the most beautiful settings he’d ever seen, but he was also going to do so with a bunch of woodland critters, including a bear. “So, Fluttershy,” Rick began, “you take care of the critters around here?” “Yes. They need help sometimes when they get sick or when they get into a dispute about something. What about you, Rick? What do you do?” “Well, I used to do a lot of odd jobs. I would help one family on their farm during harvest or planting season, I would patch potholes for the city and I even got to build a playground for the local school. I kept myself busy. I got a lot of experience and skills that I was able to apply to my own home. When I bought it, the place was a dump, but when I was finished with it, it was perfect.” Rick couldn’t help but smile when he thought back to his once happy home. “Do you miss your home, Rick?” Fluttershy asked, snapping him out of his trance. “Hmmm? No, nooo there’s nothing left for me there. I’m much happier here with all my new friends.” Rick responded as he reached over and gingerly rubbed Fluttershy’s head between her ears. “Oh, okay. It’s just that, you were crying.” The revelation shocked Rick, he wiped his eyes. “Is something wrong, Rick?” Fluttershy’s concern was growing. “Please, don’t worry about it, Fluttershy. It was just… I miss what my home used to be. As I said, there’s nothing for me there now.” Rick’s words didn’t do much to quell her worries. “You know you can talk to me about anything,” Fluttershy told Rick. “I promise I would keep it between us if you needed.” “I really appreciate that, Fluttershy, I do, but it’s nothing you need to worry about.” Rick stood up. “I should probably start heading back. I don’t want Twilight to think I got lost and send a search party.” Fluttershy giggled, which made Rick feel better. He turned to leave when… “Rick, what does ‘shit’ mean?” Rick almost tripped while standing still. “What?!” “I heard you say it when you first saw Mister Bear.” “Fluttershy, that word… it means… look, it’s not a nice word. I shouldn’t have said it around you and I really don’t want to hear that word come from a pony as gentle as you. Please forget you ever heard it.” Rick was almost pleading. “Oh, alright.” Fluttershy complied. Rick waved goodbye to her and all her critter friends and made his way back to the library.