//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Tales of Valor: A New Pony in Ponyville // by NobleValor //------------------------------// Noble rubbed his forehead in frustration, closing his eyes to the massive tome of print that laid in front of him. The trip to Fluttershy's cottage hadn't worked out as well as he had hoped it would. While he didn't get any useful information, the trip itself hadn't been entirely wasted: he managed to help a charming young mare and even managed to have some tea and cookies. Unfortunately, there was still the fact that he still had research waiting for him. He opened his eyes, skipping the side effects of the 'Mahogany Dandelion' to continue with the 'Maiden's Folly.' "Hey, Noble!" a trio of familiar voices shouted. Noble turned to where the sound originated, finding the Cutie Mark Crusaders beaming up at him. "Hello girls," he replied, ruffling their manes, "How are my three favorite fillies today?" "Oh," Sweetie Belle chirped, "We're fine." Noble noticed them sneaking sly glances at each other. "Okay girls," Noble replied, crossing his hooves across his barrel, "what are you three hiding?" "What make you think we're hiding something?" Scootaloo asked in feigned innocence. "Because you three look like the cat that got into the cream. That's why." "Well," Apple Bloom drawled, "we were heading to the clubhouse when we saw this!" She pulled out a rolled newspaper, unfurling it in front of him. He glanced the headline, his eyes growing wide at reading 'Hero in Our Midst.' He took it carefully, scanning the story and realizing it was his. "We were pretty excited too," Scootaloo replied at his expression, her eyes brightening. 'Not the first word I would have chosen,' he thought. As an afterthought, he glanced beneath the headline, reading the four words he was genuinely happy to see: 'Written by: Printing Press.' "I bet you were amazing with that manticore!" Scootaloo exclaimed, barely able to control herself. "Weren't you frightened by the manticore?" Sweetie Belle asked concernedly. 'A knight of Equestria doesn't get frightened,' he thought immediately, 'then again, I'm not a knight.' "Yeah," he answered, his ears lying flat as he did, "I was." "So I was wonderin'," Apple Bloom started, "exactly how did you manage to outrun a manticore?" Noble was about to answer when the words Printing Press had said to him the other day hit home. 'There aren't a lot of ponies who can do what you did,' he had said and he was right. Even Noble was a bit perplexed as to how he did it for as long as he did. "I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "What do you mean 'you're not sure?'" Scootaloo asked incredulously, "How can you not be sure?!" Rather than answer, he sat in thought. 'I wonder if my time in the Everfree Forest...' he thought, hitting upon an idea. "Girls, mind helping me with something?" "Is there a cutie mark in it?" Sweetie Belle asked hopefully. Noble thought for a second. "There might be." ************************************************************************** "Well," Noble replied, seeing the rocky terrain, "this was better than I had hoped. "Yeah," Scootaloo replied, buffing a hoof on her chest, "we're good like that." Noble smiled at her confident manner. "And you three are certain that there isn't anypony else around?" "Yep," Sweetie Belle replied cheerfully. Noble nodded. "Well, thanks for bringing me here. You three can go." "Ain't there anything else we can do?" Apple Bloom asked with big pleading eyes. "Well," he replied seeing their faces light up in joy, "I could use some help searching for a rock." "A rock?" Scootaloo replied her face dropping in disappointment. "What'cha need a rock for?" Apple Bloom asked inquisitively. Noble was about to tell them, but the look of surprise on their little faces was too good to pass up. "It's a surprise," he replied jovially, seeing uncertainty pass between them. Seeing this, he instantly shifted his tone to one of indifference. "But, you don't have to. If you want to back out, you can. No hard feelings." "Oh, no you don't!" Sweetie Belle squeaked with a determined look in her eyes, She hopped onto a rock, her face level with his, and began poking her tiny hoof into his barrel. "You asked for our help and you're getting it, buster!" Noble looked to the other two, seeing them nod in agreement to Sweetie Belle's sentiments. He had to admit their devotion was pretty touching and absolutely adorable. "Fine," he replied with a smile, "and after this, we'll do something that you three want to do. Fair?" The fillies smiled and began searching vigorously. That was until after a few seconds Apple Bloom asked, "Uh, Noble, what kinda rock did ya want?" Noble, managing to stifle his laughter, answered, "It doesn't matter as long as it's big and heavy." Several minutes and rocks later, they had finally found one to suit his purpose. "So what did you need this rock for anyway?" Scootaloo asked, crossing her hooves in front of her. "You'll see," Noble replied confidently. He began to examine the rock. He didn't know what kind of rock it was (aside from the fact its size qualified it as a boulder), but that didn't matter. He did know that it was a bit smaller than he was, even accounting for what might be buried beneath the hard earth. "Wish I knew how heavy it was," he thought out-loud. "Given that it is sedimentary, it is approximately 300 pounds or 136 kilograms," Pinkie announced, arriving from nowhere. "Where did you come from?" he asked, wonder written on his face. "From Ponyville, silly!" she answered, smiling her customary smile. "No, Pinkie," he clarified, placing a hoof on his forehead, "I meant what are you doing here?" "Oh, I check on the rocks once a week, whether they need it or not," she answered. Noble blinked a few times, uncertain if he had heard her correctly. After a moment, he replied, "Well, thanks Pinkie." "You're welcome," she replied, skipping away humming happily to herself. Noble watched her leave for a few moments, wondering what color the sky was in her world. "Where was I?" he asked, turning towards the Crusaders as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. "You were gonna do something cool with the rock," Scootaloo replied, still doubtful about his claims. Noble remembered as a small smile appeared on his face. Without preamble, he walked to the boulder and sat on his haunches. He placed his hooves on either side of it and, With a grunt of effort, he began to lift it. It was a slow process at first, but as it become dislodged from the ground, he lifted easily over his head. "Wow!" Sweetie Belle whispered. Noble turned his head to find the three fillies jaws agape. "Would you say this was cool, Scootaloo?" he asked, a hint of humor in his voice. The filly in question nodded her head eagerly in reply. He then smiled, retorting, "Then this should be, I think the word is, radical." With that said, he turned and threw the boulder. It sailed several feet into the air, landing several yards away with a heavy thud. "Oh, my gosh!" Apple Bloom replied excitedly, lifting her forelegs into the air, "That was amazing! Almost as good as my brother!" Noble blushed at that. After hearing stories from both Apple Bloom and Applejack, he knew that was high praise. "How did you do that?!" Sweetie Belle asked, still in awe. "Well," Noble clarified, "I guess, with all the time I spent living in the Everfree Forest, my physical condition improved." The Cutie Mark Crusaders wore confused expressions with tilted heads. Noble smacked himself mentally, remembering who he was speaking to. "I got faster and stronger living in the Everfree Forest." "Ohhhhhhh," the Crusaders replied. "Okay," Noble replied smiling, "you three helped me. Now, it's my turn. What do you want to do?" "It's probably a little late to do any crusading," Scootaloo replied, glancing at the afternoon sky. "We could play tag," Sweetie Belle offered with a small smile. "Boy, I haven't done that in years," Noble replied with a chuckle. "There is one thing you should know before we start," Apple Bloom said with all the seriousness a little filly like her could manage. Scootaloo turned a questioning look to Apple Bloom, who responded with a wink. Sweetie Belle, who watched the silent conversation, grinned mischievously. "It's not something bad is it?" Noble asked, watching their expressions with caution. "Of course not," Sweetie Belle chirped. "But it is a secret," Scootaloo continued, her voice dropping in volume. "Yeah," Apple Bloom continued her voice even lower, "so come close so we can tell you." Noble lifted an eyebrow, but did as he was asked. He lowered himself so his eyes were level with theirs. Apple Bloom approached him cautiously, eyes darting from side to side. She took a deep breath and bopped him in the nose. Noble blinked and saw the trio running as fast as their little legs would carry them. Between the sound of little hooves running, he heard the sound of the three of them yelling, "You're it!" "I can't believe I fell for that one," Noble berating himself. He straightened himself out and gave chase to the little fillies.