//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 - The Warmth of Friendship // Story: Pint's Birthday Party - Part 1 // by Yosh-E-O //------------------------------// The two continued to talk about their friendship, Pint’s birthday, and how happy they were to have Fall as a friend all the way to the orphanage. It was here they found Fall waiting for them in the same spot she always did. OOO-WOO Fall shivered as her bare body felt the full chill of the prelude to winter. “Hey, Fall!” called out Pint as he reached the fence. “How are you?” Fall shivered while moving closer towards the fence. “I’m ha-ha-happy to sa-see you ga-guys,” she said as her teeth chattered from the cold. Pint felt very pleased that he had thought to bring the extra sweater he had. So he quickly pulled it out of his saddlebag and, with Bucky’s help, got it over the fence to her. “Tha-tha-thank you,” she said while slipping on the heavy, wool sweater. She was still freezing, but the sweater was helping her to retain some of her body heat while keeping the cold, wind gusts from chilling her to the bone. “They don’t have any scarves or sweaters for you?” asked Bucky. “No,” sighed Fall. Bucky looked about the yard to see how most of the children outside were all wearing at least more than one item to keep them warm as they played outside. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said while gesturing towards the other fillies and colts in the yard. “It does when you’re told you don’t deserve them and are forbidden to go outside,” stated Fall. “What?” asked Pint. “Why would they do that?” asked Bucky. Fall lowered her head and said, “Moonside got adopted last week. He was Rawhide’s best friend and he was very upset when the family took his friend away from him. So he started acting out and got even meaner than he’d ever been to me and some of the other fillies and colts. He then told Ms. Powder Puff that I was the one who started all the trouble on that night you guys slept over. Of course, they believed him and, well, here I am.” Bucky grew a very angry expression on his face as he stepped back in preparation to jump the fence. “Rawhide is that annoying, green Pegasus?” he asked as his eyes narrowed. “I’ll show him.” “No,” insisted Fall. “Please don’t.” Pint put his tiny hoof in front of Bucky and said, “We don’t want Fall to get in any more trouble.” Bucky took a deep breath through his nostrils and lowered his wings. “So, how did you get out here, then?” he asked. “I snuck out the window,” replied Fall as she gestured towards the first floor bunk room. “I didn’t want to miss seeing you guys. You two make my day and seeing you guys is what I look forward to the most.” Pint felt a tear form in his eye as he said, “We feel the same way about you, Fall.” “Hey!” exclaimed Bucky. “Don’t you have something for Fall?” “That’s right!” cheered Pint as he reached into his saddlebag. “Something else?” she asked. “You guys are so kind.” “What are friends for,” stated Bucky as he helped Pint get the sticker covered envelope over the fence. “What’s this?” she asked while admiring the shiny stickers. One of which was noticeably the Backyard Brawler, Faerequine, and the other was the Backyard Brawler that Candy Cloud gave to her, Phoenihatch. “Open it,” Pint smiled. Fall opened the envelope very carefully. She then pulled out a card that featured what had to be a Backyard Brawler that read ‘You’re Invited!’ Pint looked at Fall and gestured for her to open the card. “Wow,” awed Fall as she read the invitation to Pint’s birthday party. “You’re going to be turning seven?” “That’s right!” Pint cheered. “And then my growth spurt will begin!” Fall giggled at her Pinto-Unicorn friend. “I’d love to come,” she said. “It makes me so happy to be out with you guys. Especially since Rawhide has made it so things are pretty much back to the terrible way they were before.” “I’m so sorry you have to go through what you do, Fall,” said Pint. “But Bucky and I won’t stop until we figure out a way to get you free of this horrible place permanently.” “That’s right!” proclaimed Bucky. “And this birthday party will be just another step closer to making that happen.” Fall smiled. The warmth of her friends, along with Pint’s sweater, causing her to no longer shiver. “Thank you,” she said. “I’ve never heard of having a party, or doing anything special, for a birthday, but I know it has to be a fun time if you two are a part of it.” “Oh!” exclaimed Bucky. “You’re going to love it! Pint’s folks always throw the most awesome parties!” “In the meantime,” said Pint as he began to dig around the barren bush until his hoof came upon a burlap sack. “Would you like to play with your school saddlebag?” “Oh, yes!” cheered Fall. She knew bringing it into the orphanage would only result in it being taken away. So the boys found a way to cleanly hide it beneath the bush they used as a marker to find and meet with Fall. Bucky hovered and dropped the saddlebag in front of Fall. “And tomorrow,” added Pint. “I’ll bring you a scarf.” Fall approached the fence and Pint moved in closer to his friend. “Thank you,” she said as she rubbed her muzzle upon Pint’s. “I can’t wait until Saturday.” “And we can’t wait to have you there,” Pint replied happily.