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It was a lazy day in Ponyville. By some unspoken consensus, the town had decided to take one big collective day off. Even the hard-working Apple family had knocked off for lunch and somehow not gotten back to work. Twilight had even set her books aside, and studying was her normal definition of a day off. It was just that kind of day.
An eclectic group had gathered by a convenient twist of the river to sprawl out together. Two pegasi, three unicorns, two earth ponies, a dragon, and a human. Lero had his back against a tree and a brush in his hand. Rarity had supplied the brush. Rainbow Dash had settled herself in a branch overhead, her mane and tail substantially less disorderly than usual. When Rarity invited Lero to brush her mane, the cyan pegasus had an ill-timed attack of possessiveness, ending in her taking the first turn laying across Lero's lap while he brushed her, and she was too languid to ruffle it back again by the time he was done. Which, to judge by the smile on the white unicorn's face, was precisely the outcome Rarity had hoped for.
Her mane really is lovely, if she just takes proper care of it, the fashionista thought to herself. Perhaps if I told her the Wonderbolts need to look presentable...
Fluttershy had ended up with her chest against Lero's thigh next, the brush gliding down her long pink mane. She was almost asleep on the spot, and Lero couldn't tell if she was purring, he was imagining it, or she had a kitten hidden somewhere on her person. None of which would entirely surprise him.
"Do you remember when I found you?" she asked quietly. "I mean, I'm sure it wasn't very nice for you and if you don't want to remember it that's all right..."
Lero gently interrupted before she could start apologizing. "Of course I do. I was so tired I couldn't move, and everything hurt, but then I saw your face come into view over me. You looked so worried about me."
"Y'all weren't scared, sugarcube?" drawled Applejack from beneath her hat, laid out on her back in the sun. "Ah mean, Lero ain't exactly the usual kinda animal y'all take care of."
"Oh, no," Fluttershy whispered. "I didn't know Lero was a person, then. But he was so hurt and just needed someone to take care of him, I couldn't be scared at all."
"And that's why you've never been scared of him since even though he's like twice your size and eats meat and lives with two martial artists who've probably been teaching him how to use the Five Point Fluttering Hoof Exploding Heart Technique and comes from a way more violent world!" said Pinkie triumphantly. Though even she didn't get up from her comfy spot on the ground.
"Yes it is," said Fluttershy firmly.
"First impressions matter a lot, even for ponies," Lero commented. "Especially positive ones."
"Oooh! Ooh! I remember my first impression!" Pinkie cheerfully said. She bounced to her hooves, turned away, and then turned back with a black hat on her head and a gray false beard. "Guess who! It's my dad! My very first impression ever!"
Rainbow Dash snorted and woke up just in time to catch the end of Pinkie's comment. "First impressions? Wow, I remember my first impression. I hit that mountain at like top speed and was laid up for a week, but there was this totally awesome impression of my whole body in the rock. I think it's still there, even." She reached up and ruffled her mane, to Rarity's disappointment.
There was an amused snort from under Applejack's hat. "Well, in that case, Ah remember my first impression. Big Mac was showin' me how ta buck trees for th' first time, an' Ah was mighty impressed the way he landed every last apple in the basket in one kick."
Twilight rolled her eyes, but joined in anyhow. "My first impression was the first time Shining Armor came home from the Guard Academy. He told me he was drafting me for a vital task, and Cadet Junior Junior Junior Grade Twilight Sparkle had to help him clean his room. So that was my first impression into the Guard."
"I don't remember my first impression," said Spike, "but you've told me often enough how I impressed on you right after I hatched, Twilight."
"I get the impression you are all very silly ponies," Lyra said without opening her eyes or unfolding her legs.
Lero just laughed and kept brushing Fluttershy's mane.
"I'm really glad I found you and you found a place for yourself where you're happy, Lero," the yellow pegasus said softly. "That's always what I'm hoping for with all my friends. Ponies and animals and everything else."