//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: A Squeaky Picnic // by CowgirlVK //------------------------------// Spike dragged himself up the steps, glancing to the sky. He was certain he was right on time, if not... pretty close to it. Might be a tad early... maybe he should sit out on the- “Hi Spike!” Spike leapt three feet in the air. Looking all around, he saw a little grey unicorn filly. “Dinky?” The filly smiled. “Just hiding out here early,” she said. “Are you comin-” “To join in on the picnic,” Spike finished. Dinky clapped her hooves excitedly. “Can you pull me?” Spike stopped, blinking. “I thought this was a random thing?” he asked. “It is, but the colts...err... dragons can trade! Can you trade for me?” Spike was a bit at a loss for this. “We’ll see,” he said simply. “Good!” she giggled. “Because, I don’t want to get one of the mean colts... and you are nice! I’ve seen you play with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom and-” Her face went white as a sheet. “The orange one.” Spike smiled. “Scootaloo,” he supplied. Dinky hid her face in her front hooves. “That one. I can never remember her name.” Spike shot her a friendly smile. “Don’t worry about it Dinky. I’m going to head in, alright? I need to get the card before I can ask you out.” Dinky looked down shyly. “Thank you Spike.” The young dragon blushed. “Don’t mention it. Now I’d better get inside.” He waved as he entered through the large school house door. The one-roomed school house was a frenzy of activity. A few foals were still sitting at their desks finishing up their lessons, but most of them were quickly packing up their belongings. “I’m going to only settle for the best,” Diamond Tiara was bragging to Silver Spoon. “You wish,” Scootaloo huffed. Diamond spun about. “Oh really! Says a looser blank flank!” The Cutie Mark Crusaders rolled their eyes. “Easy, Scoot,” Sweetie whispered. “It isn’t worth it.” “Yeah, it’ll only make things worse,” Apple Bloom added. Scootaloo’s wings rustled, but she turned back to her own work. “Look at that, Silver!” Diamond bragged. “Looks like they really are losers.” “Um, Miss Cheerilee?” Spike squeaked. “Twilight... Rarity,” he gulped. Cheerilee smiled up at him. “Ah Spike, Rarity told me you might join in. Please sit on the bench in the back. Let’s wait for the fillies to leave.” Spike raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t they go-” “Nope!” Apple Bloom giggled. “We’re stayin’ outside and waitin’ for our...” she smirked, “knight to come and ask us for the date.” Sweetie and Scootaloo giggled at Apple Bloom’s act. Spike glanced about before finding a seat, uncertain about the upcoming events. After a few minutes, the other fillies started trickling out the front door. Glancing out the window, Spike could see them all congregating in the play yard to the side of the building. He gulped. “Alright colts... and Spike, let’s get started. Everypony find a seat,” Cheerilee sang. The young colts each settled themselves nervously into their seats. “Alright, I’ll go over this one more time,” she said, pulling a little basket from under her desk. “In this basket, I have every filly’s name. One at a time, I’ll pass out the cards with the fillies’ names on them. Then, if you have a name you don’t want, don’t be afraid to ask around and see if you can get a different date. The fillies are all waiting outside, so once decided, go and ask them out.” Most of the colts looked nervous. Spike wiped his sticky, sweaty claws on his legs. “Anything we need to remember?” he asked. Cheerilee smiled. “Have fun,” she answered. “Alright, if you will get in a line, you may come to the front and choose your names.” -------------------------- Twilight giggled as she read the story. The beginning was a tad rough; the father just died, and the young colt named Little Britches was struggling to support his family. But the adventures he had, trying to support the family! Twilight giggled again, almost wanting to go and see if there were any more books in the series to be read. Suddenly, there was a crash. From high up above, the window shattered as the notorious Rainbow Crash—I mean Dash—came tumbling through it and landed in a heap on the floor. “Rainbow Dash!” Twilight growled, throwing down the book in a particularly interesting part. Rainbow Dash, upon shaking the little glass shards from her fur, leapt to her hooves, squealing and emphatically repeating OMG over and over again. “OH Twilight!” she gushed, pulling a letter from beneath her wing. “LOOK!” she giggled. Twilight caught the letter in her magic. “Dearest Dashie” she read aloud. She raised an eyebrow, cocking her head to the side. “After the events that occurred at Rainbow Falls, I would like to ask if you would like to spend-” Twilight’s cheeks turned bright red. “With love, Soarin Skies.” She gulped and glanced to Rainbow Dash. “Isn’t this, like, so awesome? A Wonderbolt wants to spend the day with me!” She gave a filly-like squeal. Twilight switched eyebrows. “Uh, Dash, I’m not sure...” “Won’t it be, like, so awesome? A full day with a Wonderbolt! Just the two of us!” Twilight rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Maybe you should invite him to the picnic,” she suggested. “Why would I do that?” Dash paused mid-spin. Twilight sighed, chuckling softly to herself. “Rainbow, don’t look now, but I think you have an admirer.” Rainbow’s smile paused. “Well, duh! I’m AWESOME!” Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it. Shaking her head, she sighed, saying, “Never mind, Rainbow Dash.” She handed the letter back to her. “I hope you enjoy your little date.” Rainbow Dash froze, “And who said it was a date? We are just going to hang out.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yeah, and he sent you a letter to hang out?” “Exactly!” Twilight sighed. “Alright, but I’d visit Rarity first.” “Wait, what?” Twilight returned to the story, ignoring Dash’s spluttering, grinning like the cat who just ate the canary. --------------------------- “Oh, but I’m not so sure.” Rarity sighed, laying her tea cup on the table. She and Fluttershy were sitting out behind Fluttershy’s cottage and having a sweet little tea party with a few of the woodland critters. She had stopped by on her way home and had not been able to pass up dear Fluttershy’s offer. “Fluttershy!” Rarity cooed. “It’s Hearts and Hooves! Don’t tell me that hunk of a stallion hasn’t asked you out yet!” Fluttershy swallowed hard. “No, b-b-but, I-I-I... I don’t think I want to... you know, we aren’t exactly serious.” She hid behind her mane, her hoof shaking so much that her tea began to slosh over the sides. Rarity, oblivious, continued. “I must say, as far as looks goes... he’s not bad, but man is he a mound of muscles.” she swooned a faint. “He’s strong, I will say that,” Fluttershy sighed. “But I’m not sure-” “Nonsense, darling! You must do something-” “Rarity!” Rarity paused. “What is it, Fluttershy?” “I just don’t think... I should... you know...” Her face began to flush. “Make the move.” “Oh.” Rarity paused, her face clouded with thoughts. “So, if you don’t mind, when Mr. Biceps is ready to ask me out, he will. Until then, please just... let us do it our way?” Rarity sighed emphatically. “Oh well, but I will say, it will be simply marvelous to make us all matching date outfits.” Fluttershy looked down. “Well, if you want to make us something, I won’t pre-” “But Fluttershy DARLING!” Rarity cried dramatically. “Why make outfits if there won’t be an occasion to wear it?” “Maybe for when it arises?” Fluttershy whispered timidly. “What about you Rarity? Any stallion asked you out yet?” Rarity sighed. “Not a nibble!” She threw her hoof to her forehead dramatically. “Nopony loves me!” Fluttershy smiled. “Don’t worry about it Rarity, there is a special stallion out there for you.” “I do hope you are right, Fluttershy, for I fear I will forever be single! Single and alone in life.” “Oh, I am sure you won’t.” Fluttershy sighed. “Besides, we all have each other. How can we all be single and alone when we are all together?” Rarity rolled her eyes. “You just don’t get it, Fluttershy.” She placed a hoof on her friend’s shoulders. “Having friends is one thing, but having... a special somepony...” She smiled dreamily. “Now that is quite different. Quite different indeed.” ------------------------ One by one, the young colts pulled the scraps of paper from the small straw hat. Pipsqueak stood nervously at the end of the line behind his elder brother Teacher’s Pet. He slowly made his way to the front as the line grew shorter, his knees shaking the whole time. “Pet?” Pip whispered. Teacher’s Pet glanced behind him. “Yeah?” “Um... are you sure I’m old enough?” Pet shrugged. “It’s just a lunch.” Pipsqueak blushed. “With a filly for Hearts and Hooves.” Pet turned his attention back to the front of the class. Pip groaned, scuffing his hooves he glanced about. “So Pet, who do you want to go out with?” Pet raised an eyebrow. “Don’t care, whoever I get is fine.” “You mean you aren't going to fight for her?” “For who?” Pip flashed a smug grin at his brother. “Twist! You two would be perfect for one another!” “Who said?” Pet whispered. “I overheard some of the fillies talking to Twist.” “Twist likes me?” Pipsqueak shrugged, “Don’t know bro, but I heard your name come up twice over lunch.” Pet blushed, then looked to the front, they were now only three back. Within seconds, Pip found that it was his turn. He reached in for the final slip of paper and opened it. Twist ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Twilight!” Applejack entered the large castle, glancing left and right. “Twi, where are ya?” “In the library!” Twilight almost growled. Applejack trotted in that direction. “What ya doin’ sugarcube?” “Reading,” Twilight answered. “What ya readin?” “A book I found.” “What book?” “Stallion of the family,” Twilight replied. Applejack cocked her head to the side. “Can’t say ah’ve read that one.” “I think you'd enjoy it.” Twilight said, closing the book. “It’s a more country style. But AJ, have you ever heard of a Hearts and Hooves tradition that uses a basket?” “As in a picnic?” Applejack sat down. Twilight shook her head. “No, in the story the young colts decide their Ma needs to be included, since their Pa died.” “Ah see.” “Well, something the town does is all the young stallions fill a basket with this and that, then without signing their names, write a note in a little card with the name of the mare it’s intended for...” “So the colts do this for their Ma.” Twilight nodded. Applejack nodded. “Sounds interesten’. Never heard of it mahself, but I do wonder if Granny has.” “Me too,” Twilight exclaimed. “I think it’ll be fun!” “And get yer’ castle filled with baskets?” “They are left on the door step.” Applejack smirked. “Listen Twi, yer’ a princess. Trust me, every stallion in town will be leavin’ ya a basket.” Twilight blinked. “I never thought of that.” Removing her hat, Applejack sat down beside Twilight chuckling. “Who knows, maybe it won’t happen. But I agree, it does sound like a lot o’ fun.  Ah mean, this gettin’ baskets from stallions and guessin’ who our secret admirer is. Not that ah expect ta get any.” “I’m certain you will Applejack. I’m cer-” “Mah cousins, maybe, but outside o’ that, nah. They are all too afraid of Big Mac. But ya know, letting the stallions have all ta’ fun of making ta baskets just ain’t fair.” Twilight cocked her head to the side. “I thought you liked tradition.” “Ah do! But I think it’ll be more fun if we mares can join in. Ah mean, it’s not like our names will be on them.” Twilight raised an eyebrow, studying her friend. “Do-” Applejack glared. “Ah just thought Rainbow Dash would feel left out not gettin’ to-” “You know, Applejack, I think Dash would enjoy making Soarin a mystery basket. Also, making baskets ourselves does sound fun. The foals might be going on a picnic, but we get to pack the basket. One question though: What would we fill it with? In the story, the colts filled their Ma’s basket with candy and flowers. I’m not certain the stallions would appreciate flowers.” “Some do,” Applejack stated. “Shoot, Twi! I know mares who don’t like flowers. Though ah’m thinkin’ we don’t have ta’ do flowers.” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “I’m listening.” “Ya know, there are other thing’s ya put in a basket... like apples!” Twilight laughed. “That just might work.” Applejack nodded. “Shoot, if the foals can have fun with a picnic, then we can have fun with the baskets.”