//------------------------------//
// No Pain, No Gain 
// Story: The Adventures of Pitch and Ruby 
// by Nirtha 
//------------------------------//

	Pitch woke to the sound of knocking. Ruby was outside of his house, banging her hoof against the door. She knew it was early for him but she had other plans for the day. She continued to hit the door. Pitch wasn’t exactly a light sleeper, but she knew that he hated continuous noise. Eventually, he would give in and get out of bed. 
“For the love of Luna!” Pitch rolled over in bed. He lifted his pillow and covered his ears.
The knocking didn't stop; Ruby continued to knock until he got up. With a groan, Pitch sat up in bed. A few minutes passed he opened the door. He stared at Ruby with a zombie-like expression. 
Ruby stared back. “Hey.”
Pitch sighed and moved out of her way. She walked in and kicked the door shut with her back hoof. She needed to leave in a couple of hours without leaving him suspicious. She also needed to make sure that he felt sure that she wouldn't return. She pondered as Pitch dragged his hooves to the kitchen. He dug through his cupboard and found his cereal. Ruby used her magic to get a bowl and spoon from the cabinet, and the carton of milk out of the fridge. 
“Thanks,” Pitch said as he took a seat at the table.
“No problem.” Ruby sat across from him. 
Pitch rested his cheek against his hoof as he ate his cereal. Between each bite he swirled his spoon around in the cereal.When he finally finished he let out a long and dragged out yawn. Seeing Pitch yawn made Ruby want to yawn so she did. Pitch stretched his hooves across the table and rested his head on them. He closed his eyes for a moment, but Ruby tapped the table with her hoof. 
“Why are you here so early?” Pitch whined, refusing to lift his head.
“I don’t know,” Ruby said. “I guess I couldn't sleep and got bored.” It was only a half lie. She really couldn't sleep. She was up all night trying to figure everything out. As far as boredom went, she couldn't be bored with all of the work she piled on herself. 
“But I’m tired,” Pitched complained.
Ruby sighed. “Well I’m already here. Besides, I have a lot of work to do today, so I’ll need to get back home soon. I won’t be free again until tomorrow, at the soonest.”
“Why?” Pitch asked. This was the first he had heard of her being busy during that week.
“I was just asked to write an article,” Ruby lied. “They aren't giving me much time either. So, I’ll be really busy until I’m done with it.”
“Oh.” Pitch shrugged, without any doubt in his mind. He wasn’t particularly interested in what the article might be about either. 
Pitch lifted his head and stared out the window. He was bored of staying home all of the time but he wasn’t ready to head out. He didn’t want to walk around in a cloak and he most certainly didn’t want to walk around revealing his blank flank. He sighed and put his head back down. 
Ruby could tell that he was upset, but she didn’t know what to do about it. She knew he could use his company, but she had other things to do. Things that would be better for him in the long run. 
“What do you want to do while I’m here?” Ruby asked.
Pitch shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
Ruby’s ears drooped slightly. “That isn’t very helpful. I can’t stay long, so think of something.”
Pitch looked out the window again. “Want to go to the Forest?”
“Sure.”
Pitch stood and trotted up the stairs. Ruby waited patiently and within a couple minutes, Pitch was back downstairs, wearing the cloak Ruby had left with him. The two ponies left his house and headed for the forest. 
“Have you been working on any magic recently?” Pitch asked.
“No,” Ruby responded. 
“Want to try redoing the leaf trick?”
“No!” Ruby snapped.
Pitch just laughed. “What’s the big deal? It’s really not your fault. I just made a minor error in judgment. I’m sure I could get the timing right next time.”
“There won’t be a next time!” Ruby was infuriated by the idea of letting him try again. “There was nothing minor about that mistake!”
Pitch was still laughing. Ruby didn’t understand why. “You worry too much, Ruby,” he said. 
“You lost your cutie mark to your minor mistake!”
“So I have some serious consequence to a small mistake,” Pitch said.  
“Do you not understand how dangerous that was?” Ruby asked, almost yelling. “You were extremely lucky it was only your hoof that you hurt.”
They had reached the edge of the forest now. Pitch trotted past a few trees before grabbing a corner of the cloak between his teeth and pulling it off. He hung it on a branch and said, “practice makes perfect.” 
“Practice ruined your hoof,” Ruby pointed out. 
“No pain, no gain,” the orange pony said through a cheesy smile.
Ruby huffed and walked up to her friend. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”
“So you’ll let me try again?” Pitch asked.
“Nope.”
“Well, I’m going to fly around for a bit. You have fun down here.” With that, Pitch kicked off the ground with his back hooves and took flight.
“Don’t go too crazy,” Ruby called out as he flew higher. “You’re still injured!”
Pitch didn’t care. He was finally out of his house and for the time being, he was free. He flew circles around trees and dove down at full speed, only slowing down to avoid crashing into the ground. 
Hours passed, and he stayed in the air, loving the feeling of the wind against his coat. He didn’t hear Ruby call him down the few times he passed over her. He was too caught up in his own adrenaline. He was never anypony special when it came to flying, but he did love it. It was especially refreshing after all those days of staying home alone. So when Ruby got up to leave, he was still in his own little world.
Ruby didn’t mind at all. She was happy that he was enjoying himself. Being able to leave unnoticed was an added perk. This way, there would be no questions. Ruby trotted off to Sugarcube Corner, running the details of her plan through her mind. So far, she felt pretty good about it all.
Dusty Trailz was standing outside of the bakery with a small box by his hoof. She gave him a small smile, but it faded away quickly. Dusty Trailz returned the smile, only his looked almost painful. 
“Um. Do you like cupcakes?” Dusty Trailz asked. 
“They’re good,” she said. “I prefer cookies though.”
“Oh.” Dusty Trailz looked disappointed.
Ruby didn’t understand his expression. She didn’t get why it would matter. “Why?” she asked.
“No reason,” he said, a little too quickly.
Ruby noticed the small box at Dusty Trailz hooves. “What’s that?” she asked.
“Cupcakes.” Dusty Trailz facehoofed milliseconds after answering.  	
“Oh.” Ruby smiled. “Well yeah, I like cupcakes, but we should save them for later. Did you bring what I asked for?”
“Yeah.” Dusty Trailz picked up a small voice recorder that he had behind the box and placed it on top of it. 
“Great!” Ruby picked it up and inspected it. It seemed simple enough to manage. 
“So, do we go now?” Dusty Trailz asked.
“No,” Ruby replied. “Pitch was out flying when I left him. He might be home already, but even if he is, he’ll have to get bored before he gives in.”
“Oh.” Dusty Trailz kicked the dirt by his hoof around. “How long have you been friends with Pitch?”
“Years,” Ruby said simply. “I’ve known him since I was a filly.” 
“Oh, so you’re close?”
Ruby looked up at Dusty Trailz again. “Yeah, why?” 
“N-no reason” Dusty Trailz took a small step backwards.
“Are you okay?” Ruby asked. Dusty Trailz seemed to be acting a little odd and he looked uncomfortable. 
“Uh-huh.”
“Alright.” Ruby began trotting away from the bakery and Dusty Trailz followed. “Maybe we should hang out at my house for an hour or so,” she suggested.
“Wha-” Dusty Trailz front hoof bumped into his other and he tripped, crashing into the ground and sliding forward a couple of inches.
Ruby twirled around and was imediatly leaning over him. “Are you sure you’re okay?” 
Dustry Trailz looked up at her. Her muzzle seemed to close for comfort and he inched back.
“You really don’t seem okay,” Ruby said. “I know I was a little mean when we first met, but I’m not going to bite you.”
“I’m fine,” Dusty Trailz said, avoiding eye contact. “I’m just a little...tired.” 
“Should we just put this off for awhile?”
“No no.” He sat up. “Now is as good a time as any.” 
Ruby looked down at the troubled pony. She wasn’t sure if she should let him go on in his state. If he was really that tired, he should go home. Still, if she put it off, she would have to come up with more excuses. The day would have been a waste. Dusty Trailz forced a smile. It almost made Ruby want to laugh, but she knew it wouldn’t be of any help to either of them.
“Alright.” 
“How about we just uh,” Dusty Trailz stood and brushed dirt out of his coat, “just hang out somewhere here.” 

While Ruby ate cupcakes with Dusty Trailz, Pitch was going through some of his old stuff. He was bored out of his mind, and didn’t have the heart to leave the house again. He found some old toys and a couple of attempted projects. There were two unfinished plane models and a few boxes of puzzles that he really never wanted to see again. 
After rummaging through his things, Pitch finally gave up and fell back onto the floor. He stared at the ceiling and tried to think of something to pass the time with. He stayed put for an entire half of an hour before finally deciding to get up. He found his ballad horn under his bed and held it in his hooves. 
This time, Pitch wanted to play something a little more upbeat. He remembered a tune he used to play at his grandfather’s house. His grandfather had showed him one of his own melody’s, but Pitch had adjusted it to fit his own preference. He thought the original was too mellow, so he played it at a faster pace and at a higher pitch.
Pitch ran through his memories. He could vaguely play the tune in his head, but it wasn’t perfect. When he felt he had a general idea, he started playing. It was rough at first, but he kept going. Ten minutes went by, and he was still working on it. It was getting better, but it needed work. Thirty minutes past, and Pitch was playing it just as he had as a foal, better even. 
He got a kick out of it. He had fun without even meaning too. He lost himself in the music and the memories that it triggered. By the time Ruby and Dusty Trailz were standing before his door, he was playing loud enough for his neighbors to hear. A couple had even opened their windows to let the sound fill their homes. 
Ruby smiled. She stood below his window and used her magic to unlatch the lock. Slowly, she opened it, and the volume raised slightly. She took the voice recorder from Dusty Trailz and pressed play with her hoof before levitating it with her magic. She raised it to the window and balanced it on the ledge. All she could do then, was wait. 
When Pitch finally finished, Ruby pulled the recorder away and shut the window, only without the sound of the music to overwhelm other sounds, Pitch was able to hear the click of the lock. He trotted over to the window and looked down to see Ruby and Dusty Trailz. Angrily, he flew down the stairs and to the door. Ruby tossed the recorder into a bush just before Pitch stormed out. 
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
“I-uh,” Ruby was lost for words. She forced a smile as she scratched at the back of her neck.
“I thought you had an article to work on.” Pitch said.
“Well, uh, I do,” Ruby was running her thoughts in overdrive but the only excuse could come up with was, “Writer’s block.”
“So why are you here?” Pitch asked. “And why is he here?” Pitch pointed his hoof at Dusty Trailz, who was standing, paralyzed. 
Ruby felt a pang of guilt for bringing the pony into this, but she hadn’t expected it to turn out this way. Even with this drawback, it was for Pitch’s good and Ruby couldn’t do it alone. She was sure he would forgive both her and Dusty Trailz in the end.
“I ran into him and thought you might want to hang out with him.” 
Pitch glared at Ruby. He didn’t blame Dusty Trailz at all. He was only upset that another pony now knew about the ballad horn. Ruby would most definitely try getting his friend to side with her in convincing him to play the horn more often. He didn’t need two ponies trying to tell him that the ballad horn would bring him a new cutie mark. 
“I’m sorry,” Ruby said. She didn’t think she was wrong, but she still felt sorry for upsetting her friend.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Pitch said. He went back inside and shut the door.
Ruby stood there, unsure of how to proceed. All she could do was hope that her friend would forgive her. She would hope he would forgive her but wouldn’t give up in helping her friend gain his cutie mark. 
Ruby searched through the bush and found the recorder. She placed it down by Dusty Trailz feet. “I won’t be much help with this,” she said. “So you could do that part on your own.”
“You sure this is a good idea?” Dusty Trailz asked.
Ruby nodded. She didn't want to anger Pitch anymore but she was thinking about the future, not the present.