//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Portals Are Sometimes Fun // by Delta //------------------------------// I awoke, sitting up lazily. I lifted the blanket off of me and sat up. I stretched my arms out wide and they started popping. I picked up my jacket and put it on. I zipped it back up to where it usually is. I stood up and noticed that Twilight was on the floor, asleep. Hehehe. Silly filly. I grabbed the blanket and gently placed it on top of her. I walked into the kitchen and into the bathroom. I fixed up my hair how it usually is. I walked out the bathroom and back into the living room. I checked the time to see it say 7:35. Shit! I'm gonna be late! I opened the door, quietly, and ran down the streets of Ponyville. Lots of ponies noticed me and some of them tried to wave at me. I waved back, but continued to run. After a little while of running, I reached the spa and it was still closed. Thank.....Celestia....? I pondered on that thought as I sat down, against the wall. It had been about twenty minutes and still no sign of Aloe or Lotus. I saw two pony figures walking up to me, but they weren't either of the girls. One had a creamy coat and a curly mane. The other was the aqua colored unicorn. They walked up to me and the creamy coated pony talked to me. "Excuse me, sir-" The aqua unicorn hit her in the shoulder, causing her to stop talking. "I told you his name is Justin." She said to her, firmly. "Oh, right. Sorry. Justin, do you mind giving me and my friend here the time?" I lifted up my arm and looked at my wrist. "Sure it's half past I don't know o' clock." I said in my smart ass ways." "Really!? You don't even have a watch and you know the time." She said as she grabbed my arm in her hooves. "Is that some kind of awesome human power or magic you have?" "Uh, no. That's not even a real time. I was just being a smart alack. And could you please let go of my arm?" The cream pony grabbed the aqua unicorn by her tail and dragged her next to herself. "Sorry about Lyra. She's been dying to see your arms. That's why we came up to you and asked you the time." "That's okay. Here, Lyra." I held out my left arm and rolled up my jacket's sleeve. Her face lit up as she trotted to my arm and held it in her hooves. She started to inspect my hands. "My name is Bon Bon. And if you don't mind me asking, why are you sitting outside of the spa?" "Well, I woke up a little late this morning, so I ran down Ponyville to try and come here without being late. I made it here before it was time to open and I am now waiting for Aloe and Lotus to come and unlock the doors." "Justin, you do know that they are closed for the day, right?" "What?!" I screamed out, as I stood up, knocking Lyra down. I looked all around the doors and sure enough, there was a note on the door. I read it out loud for the girls to hear, as well. "To whom it may concern, we are closed for an unknown amount of time due to maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience. Signed, Aloe and Lotus." I finished reading and banged my head softly on the door. I felt two hooves on my back. Bon Bon and Lyra were both patting me on the back. "At least you can now go hang out with your friends." Lyra said. "I guess you're right. I'm gonna go pay Rarity a visit. See you two later." I said to them as I made my way to Carousel Boutique. I waved to them and they waved back. She lives about ten minutes away from the spa. I walked up to the door and knocked. Sweetie Belle answered with a tired face. "Good morning, Sweetie." She looked up at me and yawned. Her hair was a little messed up and she was wearing a saddlebag. "Oh, good morning, Justin. What brings you here?" "I came here to fill out an order for Rarity. Is she awake?" "Of course. She got me up and helped me get ready for school." "Okay, have fun at school." "That'll be hard." I stepped aside and let her walk past me. I walked inside and looked around for Rarity. I heard some noise coming from the kitchen. I made my way towards the kitchen and she was cooking herself some breakfast. "Good morning, Rarity." She got startled and jumped a little. "Darling, you scared me." "Sorry. I came by to place an order. Since we're all going to Canterlot for the whole week, I thought I should at least get a tuxedo and look nice for Octavia's recital." "That's a wonderful idea. You would look dashing in a tuxedo. When I'm done eating, we can talk about what you would look best in." When she finished talking, my stomach made the loudest growl. "Hehehe. Someone's famished." "Yea, I didn't eat anything this morning, because I thought I was gonna be late for work," I said, as she walked over to her kitchen table, carrying her food in her magic aura. "I ran as fast as I could to the spa, and I made it there before opening hours. I sat down against the building, waiting for Aloe and Lotus to come. They didn't come, but Bon Bon and Lyra did. They made an excuse to talk to me, so that Lyra can take a look at my arms and hands. She told me about the note on the front door, that I some how missed seeing. I read it and got pretty upset, until I realized I have a day off. I came here, so I can place an order for a tuxedo. And all that time I have forgotten I haven't eaten." "Well let me make you something to eat." "You don't have to make me anything. I just need cereal and milk. If you can levitate both of those objects to me, that would be great." Without even looking, she levitated both the cereal out of her cabinet and the milk out of her fridge. She placed them on the counter. I started opening random cabinets for a bowl. I finally found one, and of course, it was gonna be in the last cabinet I look in. I started pouring the cereal in and then the milk. I carried the bowl and spoon and sat at the table. I started eating her cereal and watched as she started cleaning the dishes. "Is it hard taking care of Sweetie Belle?" "It's sometimes a bit challenging. She does get muddy a lot and accidentally messes with things she's not suppose to. But, other than that, no." "So, where's her father?" "Our dad is in Manehattan with our mom." "Oh~. I thought she was your daughter." "What?!" She yelled, as she dropped a plate. "Why did you think that?!" "Well, before you start getting yelly at me, you never said she was your little sister. I assumed she was your mother, because your both white-coated, have nice curly hair, and look adorable. Plus, she never said about you being her big sister. Sorry." I drank my milk, finishing my small rant. "I could've sworn I told you she was my little sister." "Then I must've forgotten. I got hit in the head hard as a child. When I was little, my dad and I rode on a four-wheeler up a hill. He had to gas then brake, and one time when he gas then braked, I smashed my head on the front of the four-wheeler's handle holder. It hurt horribly. So now, I have a small bit of a brain problem." I set the bowl in her sink and sat back down. "Not to be rude, or anything, but I have no idea what any of those items are." "Yeah, I kinda realized that after I told the story." "Are you ready for me to start measuring you for your tuxedo?" "Yes. I've always wanted a tuxedo. Can I have a neck tie, please." "It's your tuxedo design. What colors do you want?" "Black for the jacket and pants and white for the dress shirt and a red neck tie and a top hat. I really want a top hat." "Alright, your total is 450 bits." I reached into my bit filled pocket and handed her four gold bits and one silver bit. "Wow. You've been saving your bits, haven't you?" "I never had the need to buy anything, yet. Except for a pie and giving Applejack a silver bit. That's about it." "Great, now get on the podium and I shall measure you again." "Kay." I walked over to her podium again, and she started measuring me. She kept squeezing the measuring tapes all around my body and it felt like snakes. She wrapped them around my arms, legs, neck, back, waist, stomach, skull, everywhere. She had been measuring me for about an hour or two. I couldn't tell, because she angled me away from the clock. A few minutes later, the other five girls walked into the boutique. "Hi, girls." I said as I waved. "Hold still!" She yelled at me. I went stiff as a board. "What are ya' doin', Rarity?" "I asked Rarity to make me a tuxedo for when we go up to Canterlot, and see Octavia at her recital." "Oh, okay. We were gonna go ta' Zecora's for some herbs for when we go up there, in case something bad happens." "Can I come?" "Sure. She'd be happy ta' meet ya'." After about another thirty minutes or so, Rarity finally got done measuring me. "Ahh. Finally." I walked over to her lobby couch and laid down, relaxing. "Okay, come on. We have ta' go ta' Zecora's, now." I made a little whine, because I had to get back up. We walked down the streets of Ponyville towards the entrance of a forest. Fluttershy quivered a bit and hid behind Pinkie. "Welcome ta' the Everfree Forest" "What a lovely place." I said, sarcastically. "Hey, Justin. Wanna race to Zecora's hut? It's just a straight run." "Sure. I love running." We readied ourselves at the entrance of the forest. "Three. Two. One. GO!" She took off faster than anything I've ever seen. I ran as quickly as I could, but could not catch up to her. I couldn't even see her. I ran for about five minutes, and out of nowhere, a tree branch comes out of nowhere and knocks me on my back. The pain in my head hurt so bad, I passed out. ********************************************************************************** "Oh my gosh,oh my gosh,oh my gosh!" Cried Rainbow Dash, as she looked at the unconscious Justin. She flew back towards her friends to tell them what happened. She had finally reached them, panting. "Girls! I accidentally hit Justin with a branch and knocked out! Come on!" The six ponies ran towards Justin's body to investigate. Once they got there, Twilight levitated Justin's body off the ground and ran to Zecora's hut along with Applejack and Fluttershy. Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie stayed behind and looked at the are where Justin landed on top of. "Uh oh," the three said in unison. They ran towards Twilight, trying to catch up. Twilight busted through Zecora's door. She got startled and jumped and yelped a little. "Twilight, why did bust open my door, and cause an uproar?" "Sorry, Zecora. Our friend is really hurt and needs help." "Put him on the bed, and let me examine his forehead." Twilight levitated Justin to Zecora's bed and set him down. The other three girls had finally caught up and ran towards the bed. "What took you girls so long?" Twilight asked. "Um. Sugarcube. Justin fell down onto a patch of Poison Joke." Applejack said, not answering Twilight's question. "What do you think will happen to him?" Fluttershy asked a little worried. "We'll just have to wait and see." ********************************************************************************** Author's note: For how long this took and how long it is............................I regret nothing................NOTHING!!