13. Bad Timing
The wind was still raging between the worn down apple trees. The door creaked violently when Apple Bloom opened it.
Scootaloo quickly leapt inside so it could be closed. Sweetie Belle chuckled in the corner. She gained a frown from her orange friend.
"Why are you laughing?"
The unicorn shook her head, "Nothing. Insider."
Scootaloo frowned harder, but decided to drop the matter. She sighed and leaned against the yellow planks.
Apple Bloom seemed to have noticed the concern on her face.
"There a problem, Scootaloo?"
There shouldn't be, the filly thought.
She had decided she would tell Stride her feelings. How hard could that be? But now, now her two oldest friends sat near her and her old crush had shown some form of interest, she felt miserable. It was all just such bad timing. She pondered what to answer Apple Bloom and figured she might as well tell her the one thing she was absolutely certain of.
"Rumble asked me to go catch a drink after school."
Her friends both lifted their brows. In sync. Creepy.
The first to react was Apple Bloom, "Wait, Mister McDreamy? You do know he's bad news, right?"
Then Sweetie Belle chose to join in, "Wow! He's like the cutest guy in school! After Pipsqueak, but that's a totally different kind of cute... And after Button Mash of course, but who could beat that? So, what did you say?"
"I said I didn't have time to talk right now."
Bloom bit her lip, "So he expects you to answer him later."
The pegasus nodded, "Probably."
"Well then," Sweetie Belle exclaimed, "You can't turn down an offer like that!"
She was given a scowl by Apple Bloom, who then turned to Scootaloo with a softer look,
"You know what he's up to, Scootaloo. Ah've known ya for a long time and Ah know Stride's the real deal for you, not Rumble."
She didn't expect the scowl she got from Scoots.
"Not being interested doesn't mean I can't have a drink with him, Apple Bloom. Why do you always have to be so black and white?"
They heard a thorough knocking on the door. Apple Bloom opened it and revealed her prized sister.
"Well, Ah hope Ah ain't disturbin' yer crusadin' business here, but Ah've got a package for ya."
She stepped aside and let Stride pass. He gave them a faint smile, then walked into the thinking corner with a troubled look.
"Have fun, kids," Applejack said before leaving the door frame empty, "Don't go too far out in the wind!"
The door slammed shut.
Scootaloo breathed in a huge gasp of air. This is it. I've got to say something.
Now, Sweetie Belle, stick to the plan.
"Guys, I have an idea!" she shouted. Stride was phased by the sudden outburst. Scootaloo appeared startled.
Did I do it wrong? No matter, stick to the plan.
"Oh gosh, Sweetie Belle, what idea would that be?" Apple Bloom said in a manner that could hardly be called subtle.
Sweetie disapproves, Apple Bloom, Sweetie disapproves.
"Rarity told me something you can get you cutie marks in, something we haven't tried yet!" she explained.
Stride scratched his red mane, "Can it be done inside?"
Scootaloo was biting her lip and looking nervous. Did she have something to say maybe?
That wasn't important. Getting them to confess was important.
"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle uttered chipper.
Stride gazed confused at her enthusiasm, "What is it?"
"Well, Rarity once said she thought Big Mac might be a good kisser..."
Apple Bloom made a vomiting move.
"But then she said the best kisser probably has a cutie mark for it!" Sweetie Belle disregarded the motion.
Apple Bloom smiled confirming. Scootaloo and Stride exchanged glances of disbelief.
"I think we should try getting cutie marks for kissing!"
The yellow filly in the room nodded profusely. The others stood concerned.
"Uh, I don't think this is hygienic," Stride answered.
"Wait, who's supposed to be kissing who here? We're one boy and three girls," Scootaloo added. She nervously glanced around, "Are you suggesting everpony kisses Stride, or are you two into fillies?"
Apple Bloom facehooved, "Scootaloo, we aren't all into Stride either, so what does it matter?"
The two scared ponies were still both scared. Now, Scoot's muzzle scrunched as well, as she realised she'd suggested she herself was into Stride. Had he picked up on that? She was planning on telling him but not like this.
"Guys, I don't like this idea," Stride answered.
Sweetie Belle leaned forward, "But do you refuse?"
"Well-" he started, but Sweetie launched her voice.
"I take that as a no!"
"But-"
"So, who goes first?"
Now her muzzle scrunched too. She'd just destroyed the part of the plan where Apple Bloom and her just wait until Scoot's and Stride had kissed before revealing their intentions.
"How about you go first!" the orange filly grinned, seeing a way out, pointing at the earth pony near the door.
Apple Bloom's ears flopped down, "Wow, I'm not sure..."
"Come on, just kiss Sweetie Belle. You said you didn't have a problem with that, right?" The pegasus now flapped her wings in victory.
Sweetie Belle's horn glowed in frustration, "Hey! I've kissed Button before! I don't count!"
Scootaloo remembered that time.
"Actually, he kissed you and he didn't even want to, so I say that doesn't count."
"All right, then why kiss me and not you!" the unicorn exclaimed.
Apple Bloom shook her head. This was ruining the plan entirely.
"Because-" Scootaloo started, but she choked. She had no answer.
Suddenly, a word came from an unexpected corner.
Stride stepped forward hesitantly, "Actually, I've been kissed before, so does that make me not count either?"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle yelled in unison, "No!"
His ears moved down whilst he moved backwards. Nothing was as scary as the CMC.
He'd rather go on holiday with Discord than make them angry.
"I think Scoots should start by kissing Stride," Apple Bloom said.
"No," Scootaloo bit, "You should kiss Sweetie Belle."
Sweetie Belle lifted her chin, "Apple Bloom should kiss Scootaloo."
Stride looked down at the floor, "Maybe nopony should kiss at all?"
The fighting didn't end there. Stride suddenly regretted showing up, but with this harsh wind outside, he couldn't leave safely either.
"Scootaloo Apple Bloom!"
"Stride Sweetie Belle!"
"Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle!"
"Wait, did Stride just say he's been kissed before?"
"Sweetie Belle Scootaloo!"
"Apple Bloom Scootaloo!"
"Apple Bloom Stride!"
"Fine!"
The sequence of bickering came to a sudden end. Stride saw his life flash by when the filly stormed at him.
Apple Bloom had strength, muscle, so if she came running at a pony, most would doubt whether he'd survive.
She grabbed his shoulders with her firm hooves and pressed her lips against his. He had had no time to run away, nor did he have the strength to struggle. He was shocked seeing her face so close to his. Her eyes less than a hooflength away from his. Her moist lips felt alien.
Yes, he had been kissed before. On the cheek that was. He didn't know what to think of this. It felt somewhat pleasant, the strange sensation on his mouth, but it also felt wrong. He didn't want it to feel good. He tried to shut off his senses, like he had done so many times before, but ignoring her was impossible.
When she finally pulled away, her cheeks were a distinct pink. She looked away.
Her front legs were crossed as she stared at him diagonally.
Suddenly, after a long second of silence, she jumped back and scraped her throat.
"So, who's next?" she said as if nothing had happened.
Stride couldn't do anything but watch with his mouth wide agape. His mane hung before his face while he stared into oblivion. Scootaloo noticed his legs were shaking.
Sweetie Belle uttered an exasperated sigh, "Great job, Apple Bloom, you just broke him."
"Hey", Scootaloo cried angrily, "He's not a toy!"
The yellow filly furrowed her brow as she thought of things to say. Evidently, she lacked the words.
Whilst Sweetie shook her hoof in front of Stride's eyes, Scootaloo moved closer to Apple Bloom with an aggressive glare.
"Yeah, you broke him," the unicorn confirmed when she didn't get any response from the colt.
Apple Bloom backed away from the aproaching mare , a drop of sweat forming on her forehead.
She glanced at the twitching wings with fright. Despite being small, Scootaloo's wings could be intimidating when spread.
Especially when paired with that destructive look.
I just had my first kiss, Apple Bloom thought, and now I'm going to be murdered over it.
An abrupt gasp startled them all. Stride's eyes narrowed and he grabbed for his back, crashing down on the floor. Apple Bloom was relieved when Scootaloo's attention shifted and she speeded towards Stride. Worry filled the room however. Bloom didn't want her survival to go at Stride's expense.
Luckily, he noticed their worry, sat up and grinned sarcastically, rubbing his sore back.
"Sorry for that," he admitted, "My back always twitches a bit when I get kissed forcefully."
He met with looks of disbelief. Could he truly joke about such a serious matter?
The colt stretched and smiled, "Hey, guys, I'm fine, really."
They kept exchanging glances. Apple Bloom shrugged.
"See, no big deal!"
She got an unexpected glare from Stride, "Don't think I'm okay with that."
The filly shifted on her hooves, feeling hostility from every corner of the room. S
weetie Belle stepped forward and waved her hoof at Stride again, causing him to frown.
"Jee, Stride. For a second, I thought you were going to die."
His eyes grew and he scratched his mane.
"Uh-"
Before he could speak, Scootaloo shouted.
They all jumped back in shock, stumped by the suddenness and persistence in the filly's voice.
She spoke the words she had been holding back for a long time. She couldn't wait anymore.
"Stride, I like you!"
He lifted a brow, "Of course, we're friends."
"I like like you."
He breathed faster and his heart raced. He felt the pain in his back rise up again. If he would've had his wings, they would've stretched out. Had Scootaloo really just said that? Was he dreaming? No, couldn't be. he would never dream of Apple Bloom kissing him. That thought was just too alien for him.
No, this was real. This was good, right? Or was it? He panicked. He felt his muscles twitch. he knew he'd start coughing again soon.
"Stride," Scootaloo concluded, her wings folded against her body, her beautiful eyes begging for confirmation, her lip quivering at the thought of being rejected, "Would you be my special somepony?"
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were silent. They blended with the shadows. It was as if they weren't there anymore.
This is it, Stride thought, say it. He knew he loved her. He wanted to say yes. He wanted so bad. But would it do her good? Would it do her right? Everything was just so wrong. He was dying. He couldn't do this. He couldn't be Scootaloo's somepony. But what would hurt more, tears of loneliness or tears of loss? She had to know first. She had to know before he answered. But how would he tell her? How could he tell her?
His lungs slammed shut and he gasped for air. He coughed and coughed. No more room for thought, no more room for speaking. he needed to breathe first. The fillies looked at him worried. They stepped forward, but he motioned for them to keep their distance. They wouldn't be able to help. He had to keep control himself. He focused his mind and forced his chest to move properly.
He was in pain and had always been. He didn't want to share his pain. He scanned for a way out, but there wasn't one. He had been put before an ultimatum. Many times had he wondered whether it wouldn't be better to just get out of their lives. To just go away and take a step back. Reality had no need for him.
Princess Luna was right, he didn't value himself. Sitting there, in the middle of the small wood room in an apple orchard near Ponyville, he felt like crying. Bursting into tears, that's what Stride wanted. A little colt who would stay little forever. He had no future with Scootaloo. He had no future but misery and pain and he didn't want to transfer that to anypony.
"I can't do this anymore," he growled at himself, realising he had said it aloud too late.
The eyes before him changed from hoping to disappointed. Tears welled up in them as they closed and turned away.
"I understand," Scootaloo answered. She walked towards the door looking defeated.
Stride gasped for air again, "No wait, I didn't mean... I meant I..."
She turned around. Her ears perked up.
The colt stumbled towards her, "I can't be your special somepony because-"
She stopped him from speaking by putting a hoof in front of his muzzle.
"You don't have to explain, Stride. I understand if you don't like like me."
She ran out the door with a burst of speed, not looking back, straight into the wind. She was crying loudly. The wind blew the door into Stride's face. He pushed away the resilient planks with all his strength. Standing at the top of the stairs, he could see her sprinting away.
Her mane fluttered in the storm.
"Wait!" He shouted, but the howling skies swept away his voice. With one large breath, he made one last attempt to reach her, "I love you!"
Alas, her tears stained the dirt of the orchard. She could not hear him, deafened by the violence of the weather.
Stride fell into another bout of coughing. He crashed down towards the stairs, but was caught by an aura of green light. Apple Bloom pulled him back inside. The door slammed shut on its own. Sweetie Belle panted from the great effort of magic she had just performed. Stride leaned against the wall, his face pale and his breath irregular. Apple Bloom grabbed his shoulders and forced him to look at her.
"Breathe, Stride, like this," she said.
"In..................out..................In..................out.................."
He managed to synchronise towards her example.
He calmed down a bit. Tears were starting to well up in his eyes. He started gasping again. A
pple Bloom didn't let go of his shoulders, "Don't cry just yet. Breathe first."
He levelled his breath. Sweetie Belle looked outside, but Scootaloo had long gone. She turned around, "It looks dangerous out there."
Apple Bloom joined her at the window, leaving the colt to come to his senses. The trees were bending over.
In the distance Thunderlane, one of the weatherponies, could be spotted spinning out between the clouds.
"Scootaloo's a lightweight," Apple Bloom said, panic in her voice, "Stay with Stride."
She pushed the door open and ran outside before Sweetie Belle could've said 'eep'.
Sweetie Belle turned her head towards the sad colt.
"Why can't you be special someponies?"
The colt's beige expression showed consternation, "Because I'm dying."