//------------------------------//
// Chapter 56: Vacation Times 
// Story: Quest For Equestria 
// by Skyguy626 
//------------------------------//

Early in the morning, Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac woke up with his bed shaking, looking up he saw Phoenix dressed in a red t-shirt and beige jeans jumping on his bed, now he knew something important was happening today. "Wake up, Big Red! Today is the day we're going on that vacation Celestia paid for us as a thank you for saving Equestria a bunch of times!", Phoenix shouted excitedly before levitating mid air to dodge Big Mac's kick. "I know, just give me a minute...", Big Mac said as he got out of bed.

"Ya know, I have been thinking." Phoenix said through the bath room door while Big Mac was doing his morning routine. "Ah, I hope it didn't hurt to much." Big Mac replied sarcastically. "Haha, very funny. Anyways, So when we are on this vacation I thought we put plan 'HBRUWS' into action!" Phoenix informed him as Big Mac came out of the bath room with a odd look. "Hook Big Red Up With Sunshine, him not good at naming missions. But, I promised that I would help you out with that." Phoenix told him as he helped Big Mac carry his suitcase down the stairs.

"Really? I thought you were joking about that.", Big Mac admitted as he, Phoenix and Applejack made their way to the Train Station. Phoenix gave him a pout as if he felt insulted, "I promised didn't I? And a Phoenix always helps out his friends!", he said as Big Mac gave a nod. "I see. Ya know, you look adorable when you pout.", Big Mac noted making his sister and friend chuckle.

When they arrived at the train station, they could see that everybody, save Skywalker already had arrived. After greeting them, Phoenix noticed that both McGrath and Rarity were having a scowl on their faces, for one it was normal, for the other not so much.
"What's up with them?", Applejack asked. "Well you see AJ, when your significant other takes a long time in the bath room and the other says they don't know why the other bothers, they tend to get mad.", Sutakira explained making Applejack nod. She had thought McGrath would be more sensitive to his girlfriends feelings, especially her appearance.
"Do you even know how much time goes into my hair? It doesn't get this shiny, healthy looking and having this nice scent of coconut by itself!" McGrath shouted defensively, making the other friends broke down in laughter.
"Do you know how I do my hair in the morning? I wake up, remove my head from my pillow, done." Griffifth told them.

Meanwhile over at Canterlot Castle, Skywalker and Shining Armor had returned after a challenging mission, at the coast of Canterlot they was some trouble with three sirens or something, who used their voice to enslave ponies to do their bidding. But between Skywalker and Shining Armor, they warn't much trouble, unfortunately they had escaped through a portal to an unknown destination.
"Thanks for the help, Skywalker. Really appreciate it.", Shining Armor said as they walked through the hall. Skywalker told him it was no problem before his expression turned to sadness. Looking in his direction, he saw the princess of the night with a similar expression before walking the other way. 

"So I take it..." Shining Armor started slowly but decided not to finish it as he saw his friends saddened expression, "If there is anything I can do for you...". Skywalker shook his head trying to reassure him he was gonna be alright. "You sure?", Shinning Armor asked giving him a worried look. The young knight gave him a nod, "Yeah, I think this vacation is just what I need.", he flashed him a reassuring smile before it turned into his 'Oh, crap' face. Quickly bidding goodbye to his friend, Skywalker flew off back to his house to pack his stuff.

Meanwhile on the train who had just left the train station, Celestia herself was accompanying them to the beach resort much to the chagrin of a certain blond. "We're going on a vacation to one of the best beaches in Equestria, I don't care what you guys say I'm getting wasted." McGrath said as he downed another beer. "But with the fossile around, it's like one of our parents is going to watch us during the vacation!", Griffifth complained to Rainbow who had to giggle. "Or Jason's great-great-great-great-grandma.", she pointed out before looking around, "Speaking off... Were is the guy?". Out of the corner of her eye, Rainbow could see Skywalker dressed in a blue polo shirt with a popped collar, black jeans, his usual sneakers and a duffelbag of his shoulder running along side them. "Someone open the window!", he shouted as AJ who was closed to his window opened it to let him in. 

A little while later, after he explained why he was so late. "I see..." McGrath said before declaring Skywalker needed something to get over his heart break. "Guys, I don't need anything to get over it.", Skywalker said but McGrath, Rainbow and Pinkie pulled him into one of the compartment, saying they had a present for him. A few hours later, the cabin was now filled with smoke as everyone was in a good mood. Skywalker gave a soft chuckle, "You know... This present... I like.", he said slowly trying to suppress an all out giggle, "I especially liked how it was wrapped in white paper.".
Pinkie nodded as she patted McGrath on the head, "You really are a good friend, David.", she said, her other friends giving her a puzzling look. "What's a David?", Rainbow asked as McGrath replied that 'David' is his first name. "I thought your name was McGrath." Rainbow said dryly gaining a scoff from her brown haired friend, "I don't think even my parents would have been that cruel.".

As they came out of the compartment, "I don't mind being single, after all now I have more time to hang out with my best buddy", Skywalker said with a reassuring smile as he locked Rainbow in a head lock and messing up her rainbow mane.
Suddenly they heard a load bang as if someone was hit in the head, followed by a loud yell from Phoenix, "Where was that for!?" Phoenix shouted as he patted the back of his head. "Thanks to your shenanigans, I have to share a room with the fossil!", Griffifth shouted obviously not pleased as he grabbed Phoenix by the front of his shirt. "I have no idea what you mean." Phoenix lied badly, it was true he had change the sleeping arrangement for plan 'HBRUWS', if Griffifth had to share a room with a person he absolutely disliked so he can keep a promise to his other friend so be it. "You owe me big time for this, Kyle!", Griffifth said as the train arrived at the station.

After dumping their bags in their hotel rooms and after a short walk to the beach, they saw two changing rooms, one for males, one for females. "Alright, first part of my plan, stand right here and don't move.", Phoenix said when he and Big Mac were the only one on the guys side. "Now what are ya doing?", Big Mac asked as his red headed friend climbed up on his back. "Nothing, just taking a peek.", Phoenix replied with a pervy smile. Big Mac looked up and saw a grate in the wall separating the two changing room, "Dude!" Big Mac said in surprise making Phoenix look down at him. "What? This is an opportunity that will never pass me by again! I get to see a bunch of cute mares change!".
Before responding Big Mac galloped out of the dressing room before they were caught and had to endure the wrath of their female friends.

"You can't do that!" Big Mac said as Phoenix get off him. Phoenix rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms, "Because it's not the right thing to do?".
Big Mac shook his head as the two arrived on the beach, "No, because it's too risky! There were seven mares in there. Odds were, one of them was bound to notice you. Not to mention that one of those mares is Princess Celestia!".
Phoenix opened his mouth to respond but after giving it some thought, "Good point.", he had to admit.

Skywalker was dressing in his blue swimming short, laying down on a towel, close to dozing off when a shadow fell over him. Opening one eye he could see that it was Fluttershy standing over him, "Oh uhm... Hi Jason. Do you mind if I sit with you... uhm if its okay with you." she asked shyly rubbing her front hoof with the other. After letting out a small chuckle, gesturing for her to sit down. With a blush she placed her yellow towel next to him as Skywalker laid back down on his own towel. She knew Skywalker and Luna had broken up, sure she had a crush on him but she wasn't trying to replace Luna, she just wanted to be there for him. And if he was wearing nothing but his swimming short, allowing her to admire his toned body, that just a bonus for her.

Over at the water, Griffifth dressed in a black swimming shorts with a white sun pattern on it as Twilight swam up to him,  "I just want to know, Griffifth. Who is your dream mare?", Twilight asked. Her blond friend gave her an annoyed groan, "I'm not gonna tell you, and it's gonna stay that way." he told her. Unbeknownst to either of them, Celestia was listening in on them from under the water as she had cast a invisibility. She gave an inward sigh, "If only I were Luna, then I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble to get the answer out of him. I could just go in his dreams and find the answer."
"Okay, how about if I guess this girl's name? If I guess right, will you tell me then?" Twilight asked making the princess of the suns ears peek up. Griffifth crossed his arms, "Maybe.".
"Alright... Pinkie Pie!", Twilight said, Griffifth responded almost directly with, "Give me a break!"

After several minutes of guessing, Twilight finally relents. Luckily, she didn't guess the mare Griffifth was crushing on. 
"You sure it isn't Celestia? It's okay if it was. I'm sure she won't get mad or anything." Twilight suggested, she had to hold in her laughter with all her might at the face Griffifth was making, "Ugh! You wish!".

Back over at Skywalker and Fluttershy, both were in a conversation, "Say Flutters? Why aren't you swimming?", Skywalker asked, making his yellow friend blush, she really liked it when he called her Flutters. "Uhm... I don't want to disturb the cute fish.", she admitted as Phoenix, wearing his red swimming shorts with a white flower pattern, approach the two. "Say, Messiah and Sunshine, Big Mac and I need a two players for our two on two volleyball game. You up for it?" Phoenix asked the two, Skywalker didn't mind but Fluttershy had her doubts, she wasn't the most athletic mare in the world, but she didn't see the harm in a friendly volleyball game, especially if she could team with with Jason. "Sure, Phoenix," she said with a smile, much to the surprise of the young knight.

"Perfect.", the excited red heard said as he placed an arm around Skywalker. "You’ll be on my team. Sunshine your on Big Red's. Let’s go and give those two what for.", he told them as they made their way to the volleyball field. Before they know it, Skywalker was about to serve. "Me and Fluttershy can take ya and Phoenix!", Big Mac declared as Skywalker gave him a cocky grin, "Bring it on!", Skywalker retorted as he served.

Over at the side lines Sutakira wearing a purple swimming short and Applejack looked on but she noticed that the blueish haired guy wasn't paying attention to the game. "Are ya looking at my flank?", Applejack asked him, she was slightly annoyed by his staring, though she didn't mind it that much. To her big surprise he replied with a blunt, "Yes.". Applejack's freckles filled cheeks turned red as she shouted, "Stop looking at it!".
Sutakira nodded before responding, "Alright, I stop looking if you stop being so sexy.".

Back over at the game, it had basically come down to a stalemate. Sure, there were odds and ends,  but Skywalker made a comeback as he started to do roundhouse kicks and wushu butterfly kicks that made it very difficult for the other side to counter.
Tired as hell, Big Mac gather up all his remaining strength to beat the tie, "Next point wins!", Big Mac shouted putting all his strength in this final smash. Unfortunately though, because Skywalker miscalculated his reaction time and distance to knock the ball back, it hit him square in the face, still somehow getting him the point since Phoenix had collapsed.

Everybody saw what happened, but Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash were the most concerned. "Oh my Celestia!" They fly over to him and see Skywalker with a confused expression looking up at the sky. "Did someone got the licence plate of that truck?". Big Mac picks him up, brushing the sand off him, "Oh, sweet applesauce. Skywalker, I'm really sorry for doing that. I don't know what happened.", he tried to apologize but Skywalker brushed it off. "Hey, it's just a game right? No harm done.", he told him patting Big Mac on the back.
Big Mac let out a relieved laugh, but his expression turned to shock as suddenly Fluttershy gave him a death glare, "You should have been more careful, Big Macintosh!" she yelled, much to the surprise of everyone, "You could have hurt him! Why do you have to be so reckless!?". Big Mac turned his head down in shame, he was sure he had blew his chance of impressing Fluttershy.

Skywalker's voice brought him out of his train of thought as he told her, "He wasn't being reckless Flutters," Skywalker told her, somehow calming her down, "It's not like he spiked the ball down on me. He bumped it over the net, and I messed up trying to bump it back. In all honesty, it wasn't even his fault. If he meant for the ball to hit me, I'd be out cold right now.", he told her with a small chuckle at the end.
"Fine, I'll let it slide... this time." she then turns around and walks back to her towel. "What the hell was that all about?", McGrath whispered Pinkie's ear as the two came back from the food stall. "I have no idea, David." Pinkie answer as she took a bite from her ice cream. "What did Pinkie just call you darling?", Rarity asked as her coltfriend sat down next to her, heading her her refreshment. "

She called me by my first name.", he answered, Rarity was about to respond angrily, but he raised his hand. What had Pinkie done to deserve to call McGrath by his first name. "Rarity, I know your probably angry and a little jealous about Pinkie calling me David. But you should now, as my girlfriend your also allowed to call me that. As a matter of fact... Would you mind calling me... David? Come on, let me hear how it sounds." he added that last part with a blush on his pale face, making the white mares heart flutter. She knew McGrath had taken Pinkie to the human world and what ever happened it had been good for McGrath.
"Alright... David.", she whispered in his ear, the sides of his mouth turning into a smile. " Thanks... You're the only one I can act this way around. I'll be sure to make you happy.", he said as he moved closer to her as he place his head on her head. Pinkie looked on from the water, she felt sad yet happy at the same time. Sad that she would never be that close to him, but if he was happy for him. She'd rather that he was happy with another mare than unhappy with her.

Later, Skywalker was eating some strawberry cheesecake flavored ice cream as Phoenix approached him. "What do you think your doing?", he red headed friend asked. He stopped his liking for a moment, "Eating ice cream?".
"... Don’t play dumb. I know all about your little fetish, Messiah.", Phoenix said accusingly, making Skywalker's eyes widen. "I don't have a thing for feet!", he shouted defensively as he stood up, taking Phoenix aback. After collecting himself, Phoenix asked slowly, "You have a thing for feet?".
He got a very awkward reply, "... Uhm... No... What fetish are we talking about?", Skywalker slowly said quickly looking to the side. "You have a thing for Sunshine.", Phoenix said accusingly. "Does that count as a fetish? Why are all my friend so weird? Though I can't really be one to judge...", Skywalker thought.