//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 - There Goes My Dignity // Story: Artist's Block // by Hot Dog Jones //------------------------------// I really need to replace this book. I’ve had it since I was what, six? I was observing my sketch book, about to draw. I always loved flipping through the pages, seeing my increase in skill and my different interests at different times. It was a nostalgic practice I did often, almost every time I went to draw something new. And what was I going to draw? I looked around, my eyes stopping at the window. The sunset – that’s perfect. I started drawing, and the hypnotic sound of pencil on paper filled my ears. No better way to spend a weekend. Everything’s just per- “Hiya, Sketch!” “Wah!” I screamed, falling out of my chair. Is that.. Scootaloo? I looked out the window, only to see an orange filly poking her head in. “Celestia, Scoots, you scared me half to death,” I said, standing up. “Sorry,” she said with a chuckle, “I told you guys we should have just knocked on the door!” I heard grunts of objection from below. “Can we just hurry this up, Scootaloo? Yer’ pretty heavy,” I heard Applebloom say. “You’re telling me,” Sweetie Belle said from below, “I’m never carrying both of you again. I laughed and said, “Hold on guys, I’m coming down.” Hurrying down the stairs, I told my mom I was going out and headed out the door. I stepped around my house to the back, where my window was. “Hey, what’s up?” I said to the three fillies. “Come with us, Sketch,” Applebloom said. “Yeah, we’ve got a surprise for you,” Scootaloo added with a wink. “Totally, let’s go,” I said, following them. *** “Hey, what was that?” “You might wanna check it out, Civil.” My father nodded and checked his binoculars. “Sweet Celesia’s hairpiece,” was all he could say back. *** “So, um.. Where are we going?” I said to the Crusaders. “It’s a secret, so shut your mouth until we get there,” Applebloom said, sticking out her tongue. I could see a tower through the thick brush of the trees. “There it is!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle, “Right over there.” The Crusaders ran to the tower, which I could now see that wasn’t actually a tower - it was a treehouse. “Sketch, welcome to the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse,” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. *** “What is it, Civil?!” “I’m not sure, but it’s big, and it’s headed straight for town.” “Is it a monster?” “Nope.. It’s a mob by the looks of it.” “Are they armed?” “I can’t tell.” “What do you want us to do?” “Everypony man your battle stations, and now. I don’t like the looks of this.” *** “Sketch, what we’re trying to say is this – We want you to be a Cutie Mark Crusader,” Scootaloo said, handing me a CMC cape. “I’d be honored, girls,” I responded, taking the cape. “How do ya’ like the cape?” Applebloom asked me. “It’s great,” I said with a smile. BOOM. A large amount of dust flew in through the clubhouse windows, and a deep, booming sound filled the ears of the Crusaders and me. “Whut in tarnation is that?!” Applebloom yelled over the noise. There was only one thing it could be. I went to the windows to check my theory, fighting the dust and shaking of the clubhouse. I saw a large dust cloud around the north entrance of Ponyville, not very far from us. A stampede. I started coughing from the dust – my lungs couldn’t take much more. I tried to warn the girls of the stampede, straining my voice to yell, but I only inhaled more dirt. Suddenly, my consciousness gave and I blacked out, falling over the sill of the window. *** “Sketch? Sketch, can you hear me?” It was a familiar voice, like that of a small orange filly. “S-Scootaloo?” I said, trying to open my eyes. I could see we were no longer in the clubhouse. “Thank Celestia you’re awake,” Scootaloo said, “After you blacked out we split up, and I volunteered to take you.” “Right. Thanks for that,” I said, putting on my glasses. “Any time. But we should probably get home, your parents are proba-“ “Ponyfeathers – My dad! He was on watch near the north side of town! I need to find him- ow!” As I stood up, a surge of pain shot through my leg. “Don’t try to stand yet! When you blacked out, you fell out the window - I wouldn’t be surprised if you broke something,” she said with a frown. “We’re just lucky that clubhouse isn’t very high. Now come on, lemme carry you.” "..Carry me?" "Sketch, you could've broken your leg. I'm carrying you." She put my still body on her back and started walking, while I tried my best not to blush. Being carried by a girl. There goes my dignity. “My dad was working in the north watchtower, over by where the stampede came in. We should go there,” I said to Scootaloo, trying to stay on task. She nodded and we went towards the damaged tower. There’s a lot of destruction.. Must’ve been a big stampede. We arrived at the tower and Scootaloo creaked open the door. “Hello? Anypony in here?” she said into the darkness of the tower. There was no answer. She called out a few more times, but to no avail. Letting out a big sigh, she said, “Well, I guess your dad and the other guards already left.. We should get you to a hospital then.” “No, no – I don’t need a hospital, really. I’ll be fine,” I said in protest. “Sketch, I care about you too much to not get you medical attention. Now let’s go.” As she carried me towards the hospital, I couldn’t help but blush. She’s a true friend, I thought with a smile. “What’s up, Sketch? You’re redder than a tomato,” she said, laughing. I quickly covered my face. There goes my dignity. Again. Horseapples. *** When we finally got to the hospital, I was super happy. Sure, it was a tad embarrassing to be carried by a filly half my size in public, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to get this mishap with my leg settled. I quietly sat in the waiting room, doing nothing but, well.. Waiting. I heard a nurse call my name, and I did my best to limp over to her with Scootaloo as my crutch. “Right this way, Mr. Sketch,” she said with a smile, “Your father is in room 15, if you’re wondering. Pay him a visit if you have the time.” I nodded and followed the nurse. It looked like I was in room 20. “You’ll get daily visits from the doctor and I, and no doubt your marefriend here will want to visit,” she said with a wink. “Oh no, we’re not dating,” I said in protest, “Just good friends.” She giggled and said, “Sorry, you just look like a couple. Please, lay down in your bed and we’ll examine you.” I limped over to the bed and layed down. “Wait right here, I’ll go get the doctor. It may be a bit of a wait though, he’s with another patient.” She left, and Scootaloo and I were alone once again. “So, um.. Thanks,” I said to her. “Thanks? Thanks for what?” she replied. “Thanks for, well, everything. I really don’t know anypony else who would carry me to a hospital,” I said back with a chuckle. “Really? You must be a lonely person.” She paused and thought about what she said, and stumbled over her words trying to catch herself. "Oh Celestia, sorry, I didn't-" “It's okay. I am kind of, yeah.. I’ve never been a guy with a huge amount of friends really, just a few good ones. Sure, I’m kinda solitary, but I find comfort in my art.” She sat down on the bed and looked me in the eyes. “Really? Cause you’re like, one of my best friends now, besides Sweetie and Applebloom of course, but y’know.. The thing is, sometimes I feel that we’re more than that.” “More?” I said, surprised. “Well, yeah. I mean, like that time at the sleepover, and the carrying you here.. I just think I, well, kinda.. Like you.” “Me? Why me?” “There’s just this.. thing about you that I can’t explain. You’re one of the best ponies I’ve ever met. You’re always nice, and you can be kinda quiet but really outgoing at times, and.. I like being around you.. Is that ok?” “Of course it’s ok, Scootaloo. I’ll admit that I’ve had some similar feelings.. I mean, you did carry me on your back for around an hour,” I said with a chuckle. “Yeah, I suppose,” she said back, laughing as well. There was a bit of a silence. After a while she started looking into my eyes again, and I felt my heart beating faster and faster. She smiled and put her hoof on top of mine. I love it when girls do that. She then started leaning in, and I knew what was coming next. Our lips touched, and we passionately kissed.