//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Home Again // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 20 Rick wished things were simpler, like they were before he became a unicorn. He had alone ever loved one woman in his life. A woman he considered the best he could ever hope to even meet, let alone marry and start a family with. When he first arrived, he was frightened of these talking ponies, then they were the best friends any man would be lucky to have and now this. What could he possibly do? Should he pretend it never happened and let things take their course? Would it be better to choose one to pursue and then isolate the rest? Maybe he should keep them as friends and go after a different interest? At this point, he felt he would have been better off just running into the Everfree Forest and be done with it. For now, Rick decided to settle for a walk through town. On Earth, he would have taken a drive through the back roads to clear his head. Oh well, the walk would have to do. Maybe he would be lucky and find the answer. Instead of an answer, he found a schoolhouse. It was fairly late in the afternoon, but there were still a few fillies playing in the yard. Rick recognized three of them right away as the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. The other two he had never seen before. One was pink with a purple mane and tail with a white stripe through both, she was also wearing a tiara that matched her cutie mark. The other was gray with two-tone gray mane and tail, she had on blue glasses and pearls, Rick couldn’t figure out what the cutie mark was without getting closer, but it looked like a spoon. From the looks of things, the two unfamiliar fillies were causing trouble for the Crusaders who appeared to be simply trying to enjoy themselves. Rick tried to hold of judgment, he hated bullies, but he hated innocents getting hurt more, physically or otherwise. He decided to try to get closer without being spotted. “…blank flanks…” he heard and an extremely snobbish voice that he knew didn’t belong to any of the Crusaders. “Just leave us be…” came the retort form Apple Bloom. Due to the giggling, it would appear they weren’t listening. Worse, Sweetie Belle seemed to be hiding behind her two other friends. The aptly named little filly was always a little more emotionally fragile than her friends. Her apprehension only served to anger Rick. He had to do something, but what? He couldn’t simply torment a foal like he did to Jet Set and Upper Crust. Just then, an idea came to him, it would take a lot of concentration, but it’d be worth it. Rick formed a medium sized force field and started to shape it. Pulling and stretching, expanding and shrinking the bubble till it took on a familiar shape. He then floated it over to the group and hid it behind the two offenders waiting for the opportune moment. As soon as he heard another round of teasing start up, he slid the puppet in next to the gray one. Apple Bloom recognized the orange puppet as Rick’s magic and grinned a little before looking back at the other two. The pink and gray fillies laughed at themselves for another put down. They looked at each other then turned to see another foal they hadn’t seen before. They were about to say something about the little pony being so orange when it started to change. Rick focused all his energy on his puppet. Slowly, the snout stretched and opened, showing extending and sharpening teeth. The mane stood on end and changed into spikes. The orange pony stood on its hindlegs and the front legs turned into arms ending in long claws. There was no sound coming from the creature, but that didn’t matter. The two tiny bullies stared, shaking and holding each other. As the creature leaned over them, they screamed and took off, galloping so hard they actually tripped over themselves, neither stopping to help the other or even looking over their shoulder to check on their companion. The Crusaders would have followed suit if not for Apple Bloom, she had recognized the magic after all. Rick quickly retracted all the fangs, claws and spikes then made the puppet smile and the three little fillies. The puppet then reached down and scooped up Apple Bloom who was giggling like crazy. “Put her down you, you… monster!” Scootaloo cried out. The orange creature looked down at her, then switched Apple Bloom over to one arm. The second arm stretched and widened to form a slide complete with bump in the middle and level platform at the end. It placed Apple Bloom at the top if the slide and let her go. She laughed loudly and waved her forehooves in the air as she went. As soon as she reached the bottom, she started rolling on the ground laughing herself silly. “Ya sure showed them, Rick!” Apple Bloom called out between fits of laughter. “Rick!?” the remaining Crusaders chorused. He stepped out from his hiding place, horn glowing and chuckled all the way over to his puppet and the Crusaders. “What do you think, girls, too much?” he asked indicating to the monstrosity that stood with one arm still shaped like a slide. “Ah think it’s great! Seein’ those two run off like that after they’ve been pickin’ on us fer not havin’ our cutie marks yet, they deserve it.” Apple Bloom offered. “Yeah, but how’d you know it was Rick who was controlling that thing? I mean, you weren’t afraid of it at all.” Scootaloo inquired of her friend. “’Cause Ah saw him do it before at the farm. He made a little one that looked like me. It was so cool.” “I’ll say. It’s almost as cool as Rainbow Dash,” the little fan-girl… er, filly(?) added. “That’s for sure. You really showed Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon what’s for,” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “Believe me, it was my pleasure. Now, why were those two picking on you?” Rick asked the Crusaders. “Because we still don’t have our cutie marks.” Apple Bloom informed as she, nonchalant as ever, stood on her hindlegs and attempted to climb back up the puppet in order to ride the side again. Rick was happy for the extremely cute behavior; otherwise, he might have blown a fuse about the little bullies. Instead, he made the puppet reach down and pick up Apple Bloom and set her atop the slide again. Then he repeated the action with Sweetie Belle and then Scootaloo. “I tell you girls, that really upsets me. I wish I could do something to make them stop but you know I can’t. All I can say is that I’m sure you three have a lot more friends than them and,” he reached down and rubbed Apple Bloom’s head, “much better friends too. Besides, can they say that they personally know a princess? You three can.” “Hey yeah, that’s right. Twilight’s uh princess!” Apple Bloom shouted excitedly. The sudden realization wasn’t lost on Rick. Could a princess truly be interested in a man… pony like him? He cared deeply for Twilight; after all, she took him in and gave him not only a place to sleep, but a room of his own. She even took in Paul and cared for his home while all the others thought he was dead. It was obvious she saw him as a friend and that would be enough for him. But what if she wanted more? Could she possibly even want more? “Are you alright, Rick?” the squeaking voice of Sweetie Belle brought him back to the present. “Huh, uh yeah. It’s just… something… personal. I found out something and I’m not sure how to handle it right now.” “Maybe my sister could help.” Apple Bloom offered. “I tried going to her first and it didn’t work out so well.” “What about Rainbow Dash?” Scootaloo asked. “Saw her too, she sent me to Twilight.” “What about my sister? She’s at her shop right now with Pinkie Pie.” “Those are the only two I haven’t seen today, I might as well go there too.” “Can I go with you? I was going there anyway.” The puppet’s slide arm returned to a human-like arm and scooped up Sweetie Belle. After saying goodbye to the remaining Crusader, he left for the boutique with Sweetie Belle. Chapter 21 The tinkling bell alerted the white unicorn that she had company. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique and magnifique.” As she rounded the corner and spotted the strange newcomer holding her beloved sister hostage. “*GASP* DROP MY SISTER RIGHT THIS INSTANT OR! THERE! WILL! BE! TROUBLE!” The giggling surprised Rarity. She was surprised even more when the strange creature mutated. The arm changed into a slide that Sweetie Belle happily slid down before running to embrace her sister. “Sweetie Belle, just what is going on here?” Rarity demanded as the puppet dissolved rapidly into thin air. Just then, Rick walked in through the door. “Rick here used that… thing to scare off two bullies at school.” Rarity smiled then looked up at Rick with a little skepticism and a raised eyebrow. “I swear I didn’t hurt them, never even touched them, I only scared them.” She smiled at him. At that very moment, the low sun shone in through the open door and made Rarity’s coat positively glow and her deep blue eyes shine like jewels. It took a conscience effort to keep his jaw closed. “While I am quite happy you helped my sister and her friends, I must ask as to what brought you by? Sweetie Belle, Why don’t you head into the kitchen and get a snack or something, Dear.” “Yeah, I need to ask you for some advice. Can we talk?” “But of course, Darling, come into my inspiration room. Pinkie Pie is already in there.” “Ah, good, I wanted to see her too... maybe.” He followed her up the stairs trying his best not to watch her incredibly elegantly styled tail swish with the motion of her perfect hips and flank, but the eyes tend to wander were they’re not wanted, or were they? He would do just about anything to have this all straightened out and made simple for him. “Through here if you please.” A door was opened magically to reveal a room that could be described as, at best, ordered chaos. “Hiya, Rick! What brings you here?! Do you need a dress?!” Pinkie asked, obviously joking, as she bounced happily. “Not exactly, Pinkie,” Rick answered grinning, “I am in need of some advice and I’ve exhausted my other resources.” “And you came to me last? Frankly, Darling, I’m a little offended.” Rarity giggled to herself. “Is she playing with me?” “What exactly did you need advice on?” “Love.” Rick answered singularly. Pinkie Pie stopped bouncing and Rarity joined her in staring in stunned silence. Rarity managed to rouse herself first. “Did you just say you needed advice in… love?” “Yes, I did. With Twilight’s help, I remembered certain mares at the party last night seemed to have expressed their feelings and I am totally at a loss.” “I-I see. And did you bring this up to anypony else?” Rarity forced the question out. “Twilight, Fluttershy and Applejack.” Rarity seemed to be holding something back. “Oh, so that’s what you were… that’s what’s got you so upset. You certainly came to the right pony. Can you tell me which mares?” “I’m not sure I should. Alcohol is said to make one speak their minds truthfully but without any inhibitions. So what these mares have expressed may not have been something they wanted to be made known. I just care so much for all six of you, that I’d do anything to keep from hurting any of you. I’ve only ever loved one woman and I have certainly never had more than one who expressed any interest in me. I’m torn and don’t know what to do.” He fell back onto his haunches in distress. Rarity and Pinkie Pie both came over to where he sat and hugged him. Again, he thought he felt a little nuzzling. Yet again, he also thought he felt a little tingle on either thigh. “You don’t have to worry! No matter what you chose to do, we will all still love you!” Pinkie proffered. “That’s right, Dear. We will forever cherish our friendship with you as we do our friendship with each other.” “Thank you both so very much. I still-” “After all, I could never hate somepony who thought I was beautiful.” Rarity’s words made Rick freeze. “So it was you in the orchard? You heard me and Applejack talking?” “Yes, I overheard you both speaking. I heard what you think of us and it made me happy to hear it.” “I’m glad it made you happy but the whole conversation only served to make me more confused and upset. And now, I still don’t know what to do and this conversation isn’t serving to put my mind at ease any. I don’t know if I should actively pursue one or should I wait ‘til one pursues me. Or even if I should just leave things the way they are and just stay great friends with the six of you. I just don’t know.” Rick’s face was one of complete despair and he stared at the two mares in desperation for an answer, a suggestion, hell, he’d settle for a hint. “Why not just go with all of us?!” Pinkie asked bouncing in place again. “Pinkie! How could you suggest such a thing? I hardly think that’s the answer he’s looking for,” Rarity scolded. Rick couldn’t help but think how that would perfectly solve everything. He knew on Earth, horses roved the prairies in bands of one stallion and six or seven mares, sometimes more if the stallion was strong enough to hold off predators and challenging stallions. He had seen several married couples but they were all one on one. “Look, I appreciate the attempt, but I really think this is something I need to figure out on my own.” Rick stood up and with his head drooped; he started out the door to return home. He didn’t look back at the mares, he therefore didn’t get to see their sad faces. They were very much bothered by the fact that a stallion they cherished so much was so crestfallen by something they themselves may have brought on.