//------------------------------// // Chapter 20 // Story: A New World, A Fresh Start // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 53 The pair walked through the woods outside Ponyville. Since Fluttershy said she knew exactly where the herbs she needed were, they were just enjoying the walk. It sure beat having to search for them. “I still find it very impressive that you not only care for all the critters, but you can even you’re your own medicine. Very cool.” Rick complimented Fluttershy. “Oh no, I’m nothing special.” She was trying to hide in her own mane. Rick had to admit it was kinda cute. “Are you kidding? You are the Element of Kindness. You know three princesses personally. Most importantly, you have friends who care about you. I promise you are special to them.” Rick patted her head as she blushed deeply. “I don’t ever want to hear you say you aren’t special again. You hear me?” She nodded, “o-okay.” “Good, now where are those herbs?” “They’re just ahead. Around the- Eeep!” Fluttershy squeaked at the sound of thunder. “Uh-oh, we need to hurry.” They ran to get to the needed herbs. It wasn’t long after they got them that the skies opened up. “Under here!” They dove into a small outcropping near the path. “We should be okay here. We’ll just have to wait it out.” “Alright,” Fluttershy curled up next to Rick, she was shivering. “Well, we can’t have that.” “Stay here,” He crawled out and took a look around. He managed to find fair amount of wood and twigs and by digging a little, he found dry leaves. He could now make a small fire and keep it going through the night. He returned to their hiding spot and sat next to Fluttershy who was still shivering. He stacked his findings and set up the fire. “Just hang on, Shy, this should get you warmed up.” He took out his lighter and tried to light it. The small flame refused to spread. “Great,” he thought for a second then reached into his back pocket. “What are you doing?” Fluttershy asked. “The kindling is damp and won’t light, I have to try something else.” He pulled out everything in his wallet that looked like it could burn. “But, don’t you need that stuff?” “I don’t see how my insurance card can help me in a different dimension,” Rick smiled as he answered. “Won’t you need it if you go back?” “Fluttershy, I have no reason to return to Earth. The only family I have now is here in Equestria.” Rick tore the card and threaded it into the stack of twigs and leaves along with a dollar bill and a business card. They lit up and soon the fire was warming the outcropping and Fluttershy’s shivering slowed. “Are you sure you don’t want to go back?” “I’m positive.” He reached an arm around Fluttershy and pulled her closer. “We have to share our body heat to stay warm, alright?” She blushed and nodded, “al-alright.” After an hour or so, they fell asleep in the safety of their found shelter. Chapter 54 “…Rick!... Fluttershy!...” Rick opened his eyes slowly. “…Fluttershy!... Rick!...” The sunlight shone into the outcropping. It was morning, they survived the cold, wet night and now, someone was looking for them. “Fluttershy, Fluttershy, wake up.” He gently nudged her. Fluttershy stirred, “hmm, what…?” She opened her eyes and looked around. The events of the night before sunk in. “Oh, where are those herbs? I have to make the medicine for Pinkie.” “First things first, someone’s looking for us.” On cue, the unseen seeker called again. “…Rick!... Fluttershy!...” the voice sounded like Shining Armor. “Cover your ears, Shy,” he took a deep breath, “WE’RE OVER HERE!!” He stood up and helped her to her hooves. They both walked to the trail they had taken into the woods. “There you are. We’ve been looking all over for you.” Shining trotted over to the pair. “But we were only out here for one night, why send out a search party, and, no offense, why did they send for you?” “You know how Twilight worries, besides, I owe you.” Shining held out a hoof which Rick shook. “That’s true, but you don’t owe me anything. You never did. Oh well, what’s done is done. Let’s get back before she sends for the princesses too.” Fluttershy giggled. When they came out of the woods, they were greeted by Rainbow Dash. “Where were you guys? Twilight was worried sick all night.” “Are you saying you weren’t worried?” Rick smirked are her suddenly flustered appearance. “Bu… yo… well… I-I knew you could handle yourself.” “Aw, she was worried about us, Fluttershy.” They all chuckled. “Well, I better go let everyone know you’re okay.” Dash started toward the sky. “Alright, just have them meet up at my place.” Rick instructed, Rainbow nodded agreement as she flew off. “I have to go home and make that medicine for Pinkie Pie, I will meet you later if that’s alright with you.” Fluttershy added as she turned and started to walk away. “Alright, we’ll see you later.” Rick waved as she trotted away. “Shining, I need your help with something else.” “Um, sure, what is it?” “My truck is dead and I can’t leave it parked in front of the hospital. I need your help getting it back to my house.” Chapter 55 “…and that’s when the rain came. Luckily, we were able to find a place to get out of the rain. We had to huddle together for warmth though, the fire was only able to do so much.” Rick recounted to the amassed group of ponies. “Then everything worked out.” Rainbow said as she looked a little guilty for some reason. “Weren’t the skies supposed to have been clear yesterday, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked with one cocked eyebrow. “I-I-I was… busy.” “That’s right! Dashie was with me in the hospital!” Pinkie, who was feeling much better thanks to Fluttershy’s medicine, offered in defense of her friend. “I’m still curious as to why you all not only sent out a search party but even felt it necessary to have Shining Armor come all the way out here when we were only missing one night.” Rick wondered aloud. “Ya’ll don’t exactly have the best of luck.” Applejack told him with a bit of a smirk. “Besides, your truck was still in front of the hospital. I didn’t think you would have just left it there, so I… er, we got worried about you.” “You know me too well, Twilight. I tore a fuel line and now the darn thing is nothing more than a giant paperweight. “What does this ‘fuel line’ have to do with anything?” Rainbow Dash asked. “The fuel line moves gasoline from the tank into the engine where small, controlled explosions power the whole thing. Without fuel, it doesn’t move. But it’s alright, I was gonna run out sooner or later anyway.” “Hmm, maybe my come-to-life spell could make it run again.” Twilight pondered. “Ah don’t know, Sugarcube. That didn’t exactly work too well tha last time.” AJ said. Twilight blushed slightly. “I know, I just thought it might be worth a try. Rick, what’s wrong?” Rick had stood up and was frantically patting his pockets. “No, no, no, no!” He ran out of the room into the garage. The ponies looked at each other and followed him. He was in a near panic as he tore through his truck’s interior. “Please, you’re scaring us. What are you searching for?” Twilight asked. “My wallet. The picture of Hanna and Annie is in it and I can’t find it anywhere.” “Oh, you had it last night, remember? You took some things out it for the fire.” Horror had started to creep over his face. “I must have left it there! I’ve gotta get it back!” Rick turned and ran as fast as he could toward the woods. He had to get it back. Chapter 56 Rick managed to find the outcropping from the night before and searched for his wallet. “Where, where, where…?” He swept his hands through the leaves and sticks desperation mounting. “Please… let me find it…” A cold sweat had started to form on his forehead until finally, his fingers touched the worn leather. Relief washed over him, “oh, thank Celestia.” He scooped it up and opened it to the photo, he felt… whole again. As he ran his fingers across the picture, a tear started to form. “…Rick!...” Twilight’s voice snapped him back to the present. “This is where I found him.” That was Shining Armor. Rick stood up and wiped his eyes. He was just about to head toward the siblings when he heard something else moving in the foliage and froze. “There he is!” Twilight shouted as she galloped away from Rick’s position. “Wait a second!” Shining galloped after. Rick got to the road as fast as he could, but they were already gone. Rick started to walk after them, no point in trying to outrun two ponies, it just wasn’t possible. “AAAAHHH!!” Twilight’s scream chilled his blood. “Stay away from her!” Rick sprinted after hearing Shining’s desperate plea. “This is bad.” He came around a corner and froze again. Rick’s vision was filled with the largest bear he had ever seen. On the other side of the bear was Shining, he was standing guard over Twilight. Even from as far away as he was, Rick could see she was in trouble. There was a puddle of blood forming around her head. Shining had managed to make a shield; it was small but holding against the bear’s strikes. He had to do something. If not, Twilight would die; Shining could hold the shield OR move Twilight, not both. From behind the bear, Rick waved his arms to get Shining’s attention. When Shining dared to look his way, Rick yelled, “I’ll distract him, you get Twilight to the hospital!” “He’ll kill you!” “I’ll be fine! I’ll meet you there when I get away! Trust me!” Shining nodded. Rick pulled out his pocket knife. He screamed at the top of his lungs and charged. He jumped and brought the knifed down into the bear’s back somewhere near the spine. The bear roared in a primal rage. It spun, lashing with it arms outstretched, Rick barely managed to duck the swipe. “GO! GO NOW!” Rick yelled as he ran into the woods. The bear was close behind him, slowed by the injury, but only slightly. He dared to look over his shoulder just once and saw Shining galloping away with Twilight draped over his back. “Good man.” Rick darted between trees and dove through vines, doing anything he could to slow the monster down. He was hoping, against all evidence to the contrary, that he could find some way out of this. With nothing more than a pocket knife, there was no hope of killing this thing. Climbing a tree wouldn’t work, even adult bears can climb. If only he could find a cliff or a raging river. Just then, the bear managed to connect with a swat of his massive arms, hitting Rick in the shoulder. Rick was sent spiraling through the air. He got back up and stumbled away. He didn’t get far. The bear hit him again, cannoning Rick into a tree. Rick struggled to get back up but only managed to roll over onto his back and leaned against a tree. This was it; Rick could do nothing but accept his fate. He pulled out his wallet and looked at the picture inside again. “Soon girls, soon I’ll be with you again.” The huge bear stood up on its hind legs and stretched its arms to the sky. Everything slowed to a crawl. The giant claws came down. Rick closed his eyes and grinned. He didn’t know why or how he was in this world but he was glad he had come. All the friends he had made, the experiences he had, if this was the price he would pay to have been able to have met them, then that was that. He knew all those ponies were safe right now and he could die in peace.