//------------------------------//
// Should I Stay or Should I Go 
// Story: Extremely Loud, Intensely Bright, Drastically Tense, Exceedingly Tight 
// by h4ns 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 36: Should I Stay or Should I Go

It had been a week since Bryce had had his party, a week and a day since his return to the farm, and more than two weeks since he had saved Applejack from the blaze which had destroyed the barn. 

It had also been more than two weeks since Bryce had done work of any kind around the farm. For whatever reason, Applejack allowed him the privilege to spend time with Apple Bloom and Dinky whenever she came over. It wasn't that Bryce didn't enjoy spending all this time with them both, it was just that Applejack had told him before that if he were to be staying with them then he would have to 'pull his own weight'. Bryce wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but he doubted it meant wasting time with the fillies.

Even though it was a particularly warm that day, Bryce was wearing the sweatshirt Rainbow had gotten him for him, as wel as the pair of gloves Rarity had made. When asked he would only state 'he liked the way it felt'. 

Both Amethyst and Dinky had arrived rather early that morning. By now it was getting close to noon and every game the four of them could possibly imagine was played out. In the mean time, the three girls sat back and watched as Bryce knocked tin cans off a fence with the slingshot he'd made from a perfectly shaped stick, a couple of asparagus rubber bands, and a piece of leather from his old gloves.

Bryce pulled back the pouch of the slingshot and lined up the can between the prongs of the slingshot. This can was showing to be a tedious one. After three shoots Bryce felt the fourth one would be it. He was sure this would be the one to send the can falling off the post. Holding his breath he extended arm once more and released the rock. 

This time the rock hit its mark and the can fell off the fence and hit the ground. 

Bryce sighed. "Well, that's the... thirtieth one, and there's not that much more to it," he said wiping the sweat off his forehead. "Should I... do it again?"

Dinky said, "No, it's boring now."

"Now Dinky," Amethyst scolded.

"Well it is. Even you think so. Almost every time he hits a can and picks it back up you groan. I saw you." Amethyst turned to Bryce and gave a guilty smile. "Amy, can we go home?"

"NO!!!" Amethyst burst out startling everyone. "Sorry, what I meant... Hey, why don't we go and play a game?"

"We've already played every game. They're all boring now."

"Come on. There's... catch?"

"We did that two days ago," Dinky replied.

"Oh, right. Then how about... hide-and-seek?"

"We did that three days ago."

"It gets real boring too since Bryce is so good at it," Apple Bloom added.

"Yeah, I still can't get over how he was hiding in the pond for over an hour before we found him. Ha ha." The fillies weren't as entertained by it at the moment. "Fine, how about-"

"Oh my gosh, did you all just see that!?" Bryce asked as he pointed behind them.

"What!? What is it!?" 

"It's- Oh my gosh, I can't believe those things exist here too."

By then the fillies were more than eager to find out what Bryce was acting up about. "What is it!?"

"It's... a cacca beffa!"

They all looked at Bryce in confusion. What's a... that thing yuh just said?" Apple Bloom asked.

"It's a small, furry creature that's about the size of a cat. It's brown with a little bit of black in it."

"So, why are you so excited about it?"

"Well, it's said if you can catch it then it'll grant the captor one wish in exchange for its freedom."

"REALLY!?" Dinky asked in excitment. 

"Yeah, but they're quick so you better go on and catch it before it can get away."

"How will we now where it is?" Apple Bloom asked, a little unsure about his claim.

"You'll be able to find it by its smell. It smells really, really bad." They both stood there as if waiting for something. "Well, go on. Get it!!!" They both immediately shot off to try and capture the creature Bryce had told them about.

Amethyst, on the other hand, wasn't the least bit fooled. "What exactly did you send them after?"

"I sent them on a snipe hunt. Hopefully it'll keep them distracted long enough for you to tell me what's going on with you?"

"Actually, I glad you did this. I needed to tell you something."

"Okay, what is it?"

"We're having Dinky's party this evening... You are still coming, aren't you?"

Bryce nodded. "Of course I am. I wouldn't miss it."

"Good, and you got her a gift, right?"

"I made her something, yes."

"Great, then once Ditzy gets here we can all go to our house and-"

"Wait, what do you mean go to your house?"

"What do you mean what do I mean? We're throwing Dinky her party at our house. You're acting like this is the first you're hearing about it."

Bryce looked away from her and scratched the back of his head.

"Wait, where did you think we were having her party?"

Bryce ran his foot through the dirt. "Well, I thought... it was going to be here."

"Here? As in at the farm."

"Well, yeah."

Amethyst sighed. "Bryce, the party's going to be at our house. It's at least halfway put together by now."

"Well, I thought it was going to be here. I kind of figured it was today, but I didn't see any party stuff going in or out."

"Look, you still need to come... You promised her you'd be there."

"I- I know, but... I..."

"What's the problem?"

"I just don't know if... I want to, but... I just don't want anyone else to see me. I don't want anyone who hasn't seen me to freak out, or- or get touchy feely, or attack me... Again."

"Oh come on, that's not going to happen."

"Well everyone of you little horses I've met since I got here they've either done one of those things or a combination of the three the first time I met them."

"Yeah, well... It won't happen this time."

"How do you know?"

"I... don't... But if you stay with us... maybe they won't..."

"You don't sound so sure about that."

Amethyst thought for a second before stomping a hoof into the dirt. "Maybe I'm not, but I do know you won't not go. You're a good pony, Bryce, I've seen how you work. Sure, at times you're nothing but an ass, or a buzzkill, or absolutely and utterly ridiculous, but in the end you always try to do what's right. Take for instance 'your' party. I saw the way you looked whenever everypony brought out their gifts for you. You weren't expecting it and I could tell you were about to say 'no' to everypony right there." 

"But then I saw how you looked after my sister wanted to give you her present. I don't understand how you work. Not then, not now, and probably never will. But I could tell you couldn't say 'no' to her. I myself was surprised to see what it was. I even saw how you acted when she finally gave it to you. Any other pony would have just accepted it and think nothing else of it. Instead you, Bryce Smales, 'you' were the one who showed her it was better than even I thought it was. Ditzy and I thought it was nothing but a pretty rock."

"Now I want you to look at that little filly out there and tell me you wouldn't go, no matter what other ponies might think or do." The magenta mare pointed out into the field 

Bryce walked over to a tree and grabbed on to a branch. He looked out to where she had indicated. All he could see of Dinky was her white and blonde striped tail sticking out from under a bush with Apple Bloom's red one. He sat down and exhaled. "Amethyst, I... I just... don't... know if I can."

Amethyst walked over and scowled at the human. "Look at me."

Bryce didn't do as she said.

"Bryce, look... at... me!"

Bryce could feel the anger in her voice, but still didn't turn to meet her gaze.

Feeling frusterated, Amethyst reached forward, grabbed Bryce by the chin, and turned him to face her. "Bryce... you can... and you will," she said without a single doubt in her mind.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Because it's in your nature."

Bryce bit down on his lower lip. "I... I need to think about."

Amethyst felt prepared to strike him for that, but felt that wouldn't help matters. Laying a hoof on his shoulder, she said in a calm voice, "I know you'll make the right choice."

At that moment a foul smelling odor filled the air. It was a bad odor that was almost on par with the smell of cat urine. "Bryce, I think we found that thing yuh told us about," Apple Bloom said, "but yuh mustah forgot that it can make yuh stink too."

As both of the fillies came closer the source of the smell became more and more apparent. 

"Yeah, and it was black with white stripes."

Bryce quickly stood back up. "Well, it looks like we found something else to do. It's called 'rubbing tomato juice into a pair of skunked fillies.'"

"How do we play?"

"Y'all just come on with us and we'll show you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The new game Bryce had showed them proved to not be too enjoyable, and neither one of the fillies could think of a single pony who would find it fun. But they went along with it if it meant getting the smell off of them.

When they were both cleaned and dried the group decided to try and bide their time by playing catch with the dogs. It was more fun then they'd thought it'd be. They even made a contest to see which of the two dogs could catch the tennis ball the fastest. While Winona had proven the faster of the two, Corn was able to do a longer stride. In the end it was shown to be a tie. By the time they were finished Applejack had already come back in from the orchard and was inside washing herself off.

After a while the moment of truth arrived. From the direction of Ponyville everyone could see the gray furred, blonde maned Ditzy flying up towards the farm. The gray pegasus misstepped her landing and came skiding to a halt a short distance in front of them. 

"Ditzy, are you okay!?" Bryce asked in shock.

Ditzy stood up and brushed herself off. "It's alright, everypony, I'm fine." She said with a smile. 

"Are you sure, that looked like a hard fall?" Amethyst asked.

"Sure, after a few times I've learned how to fall in all the right ways. So, is everypony ready to go?"

Dinky said, "Yeah, I'm ready. Are we still having veggie stew tonight."

"Of course, Muffin. Actually, I made a little more than usual. Bryce, Apple Bloom, would you want to come along and have some?"

"Ah would, but Ah need ta ask mah sister first." Apple Bloom ran off to find Applejack.

"Well, Bryce, how about you?"

"I... I do want to come, but..."

Amethyst saw his hesitation. "But...?"

"Well, I... need to go to my room and... change first. And get something as well."

"Okay, well hurry back. We wouldn't want it to get too cold, now would we?" Ditzy said.

When Bryce got inside he could see Apple Bloom coming back out with Applejack close behind. When the elder Apple saw Bryce she stopped. "Apple Bloom, you go on ahead." The yellow filly did as she was told. "So... Ditzy and them are wanting yuh ta go along with them, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well you can go on if you want, Ah still don't have anything Ah want yuh ta do in the morning. Have fun." 

Applejack began to walk back inside. Bryce came in after her and shut the door behind them. "Hey, what's the deal with you?"

Applejack stopped suddenly, surprised at Bryce's question. "Uh, beg pardon?"

"Why aren't you giving me any chores or jobs or whatever you call it to do?"

"What do yuh mean? Ah just have nothing Ah want yuh ta-"

"That's bullshit!'

"He- Hey now, we've talked about that kinda-"

Bryce cut her off again. "I don't care. I know there must be something for me to do. You seem to be doing to this to me on purpose."

"A- Ah really... really don't..."

"Whenever I started living here you said I had to 'pull my own weight.' I'm not completely sure what that means but I don't see why I would have to do more than you just because I'm heavier."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. Is he... being for real?

"Regardless, I haven't been pulling any weight around here lately."

"There's just nothing Ah want yuh ta do."

"There's the burned down barn," he refuted.

"Ah... Ah'm saving that for that varmint that burned it down... Yeah."

Bryce shook his head. "What did I do right?"

"What do yuh mean by that?"

"Nothing, I have to go decide if I'm going with them or not." Bryce brushed past Applejack and went up into his bedroom. 

When he got to his room he set about changing his clothes. After Bryce was dressed he grabbed Ditzy's satchel and grabbed his gift to Dinky inside. 

Just the thought of Dinky brought Bryce back to why he was up here. In a short while he would either be heading into town with Ditzy and her daughters, or he would be spending the rest of the evening here, at home, alone with no one but Corn, Winona, and Jack to keep him company. 

If he went he could have all the inhabitants of Ponyville gawk at him, if not do worse.

But if he stayed he might lose Dinky's trust, but she was just a filly. Surely she would understand his predicament.

Right?

Bryce placed his present to Dinky in the satchel. As he clipped it shut he noticed the gifts he acquired a week ago on the chest across from his bed. It was the smallest one that peeked his interest. It was the prism Dinky had given to him. Even though Dinky told him it was her most prized possession she had still been so ready to part with it. 

For him.

Seeing it made Bryce berate himself on thinking of even doing something so cruel to the filly. 

But the still lingering thought of being around a group of total strangers made him cring. Not only that, it could be an entire crowd of them. All of them looking directly at him. And what if they had to pass through a big open field to get to their house. The meer possibility of being in something so big, so open made Bryce shake so much he had to sit on the edge of the bed to steady himself. 

It was then Bryce saw another of his gifts. It was the Magic 8 Ball Bon Bon had claimed was 'childish'. He hadn't been lying when he told her he liked though, and mosrt of the time he had asked it a question it had proven to be correct. 

"Well, no harm in trying," Bryce said as he picked up the orb and shook it in his hands. Shaking it a few more times he asked his question. "If I go with them, will I have a good time?"

The ball settled and gave its answer: Better not tell you now.

Bryce shook the ball again. He didn't care whether it was good or bad. He was going to get an answer, damn it!

Allowing the ball to settle once more, it answered: Very doubtful.

Bryce bore down on the ball in his grasp. He had hoped it would give a better answer. 

Standing back up, Bryce dropped it down on the bed and walked out of the room. 

Bryce had made his decision. He could only hope it would be the right one.