With the start of the new day, came a new challenge. It was the day of The Running of The Leaves. Ponies were signing up and getting their numbers. Others were there to observe or offer support.
"So you two aren't entering?" Twilight asked from her spot in the line.
"Pinkie's still being an announcer, and mom's working on a big order," Pound explained. "So dad needs us to help with the refreshment stands. Make sure there's plenty of water and that everypony gets some when they need it." He smiled. "So we'll get to see you run and keep you going. Could probably cheer you on a little too."
Twilight appreciated the thought, but she could not help noticing that Pumpkin Cake was distracted for some reason. Moving the best she could, Twilight tried to see where Pumpkin was looking.
Standing in one of the other registration lines was the recognizable brown and white form of Pipsqueak.
"Why don't you go talk to him?" Twilight asked.
"What?" Pumpkin said, jumping slightly. "Who?" She shifted, ears twitching. "What are you talking about?"
"Pipsqueak," Twilight said. "I see you looking at him. Go over there and say hi."
"What?" Pumpkin cried out, eyes wide. She took a step back, ears dropping as she shook her head. "No. No-no-no-no. I can't do that. I mean... I don't know him."
"...don't you get to know him by talking to him?" Twilight asked, tilting her head. It was a little strange for her. She had never seen Pumpkin Cake flustered or nervous like that before. Normally, the filly was pretty calm unless somepony was giving a pony she knew a hard time (like when Twilight first met Pound Cake).
"No," Pumpkin blurted out. "I mean, yes that's how it works, but no. I can't do that. I mean... I can't." She shook her head.
"Sure you can. Just go over there, introduce yourself, and invite him to do something after the race or so."
"Right," Pumpkin said as she turned around. "Right. Okay. I can do that. What's the worst that can happen? He says no. That's all."
Twilight bit her lip to keep from speaking out. At that question, Twilight's own mind started creating a far worse worst case scenario: one that had Pumpkin humiliated in front of school and forced to go into hiding until she could move to another city where nopony had ever met her before, living the rest of her life as a hermit that spent her days among books doing nothing but reading.
A small part of her thought that last part sounded kind of nice actually.
However, that was not the point, nor would it have been helpful. In point of fact, it would be counter-productive and make Pumpkin Cake all the more nervous about talking to Pipsqueak.
"I can do this," Pumpkin Cake repeated. "I can do this. I can do this. I can do this." She took a deep breath and let it out. "Can you give me a push or something?"
With a faint sigh and roll of her eyes, Twilight reached out, placed a hoof on Pumpkin's flank and gave it a little shove.
Pumpkin Cake stumbled slightly from the push, but caught herself quickly. Using the momentum, she continued to walk forward, heading toward the colt. As she went, she repeated to herself that she could do this.
Pipsqueak turned and looked at her, and Pumpkin froze.
He was shorter than she thought, having to look up at her with those big brown eyes. Also kind of cute. Pumpkin had the urge to just pull him close and snuggle him like a stuffed toy or something.
"Hello," Pipsqueak said with a smile. "You're from my class, right?"
Pumpkin stood there, looking down at him. She tried to reply, but for some reason could not. Her mouth would just not move. Maybe she could at least nod.
Turns out that she could not.
From the way Pipsqueak was starting to shift, it was probably starting to make him uncomfortable.
Say something. Say something! SAY SOMETHING!
"So..." Pipsqueak started.
"SCONES!" Pumpkin blurted out, causing Pipsqueak -- and several of the other ponies in the line -- to jump.
"What?" Pipsqueak asked brow furrowing.
"Scones!" Pumpkin repeated. "You."
Pipsqueak just stared at her. She was pretty sure that he was nearly ready to bolt.
"Sorry about that," Pound said as she suddenly landed beside his sister. "I'm Pound Cake, and this is my sister Pumpkin."
"Oh," Pipsqueak said, relaxing a little. "Nice to meet ya."
"You too. Anyway, what my sister was trying to ask is do you like scones?"
"Sure," Pipsqueak answered. "Haven't had many of them, but they were pretty good."
A smile spread across Pound's face as he moved closer to his sister, wrapping a hoof around her.
"Well, our parents own and operate a bakery called Sugar Cube Corner," he explained. "We make all sorts of treats and snacks. Maybe tomorrow afternoon you can come by have try a scone or two. First one will even be on us." He pulled his sister closer. "Right, Pumpkin?"
This time, Pumpkin managed to nod. She glanced over at her brother from the corner of her eyes as she did. One part wanted to smack him for coming over and interfering in her attempt to talk to Pipsqueak. Another part wanted to thank him for saving her from being a complete and total idiot, unable to say anything coherent. At the same time, a part of her wanted to smack herself for needing saving in the first place.
"That sounds like fun," Pipsqueak said. "How 'bout I drop by 'round three?"
"Great," Pound said. "Well, we'll leave you to your registration. See you on the track. We'll be at the water stations."
Pound then took a hold of Pumpkin and pulled her away. The two of them walked away from Pipsqueak, heading back to where Twilight was standing. As they went, Pumpkin Cake dropped her head, letting out a massive groan.
"Don't worry," Pound said with a grin. "I'm sure you'll do better next time."
"I can't do worse," Pumpkin grumbled.
"Sure you could," Pound replied, getting an immediate glare from his sister. "You could trip and fall, stumbling into him and knocking him over. If you had a drink, you could spill it on him. That would be especially bad if it was something hot." He perked up and grinned. "Oh. Or you could fart!" He chuckled at the thought. "Like a really loud wet one that just--"
"OKAY!" Pumpkin shouted, turning toward her brother. "Okay. I get it! It could have gotten worse. Thank you, dear brother, for making that quite clear."
"You're welcome, sis." Stretching out a wing, Pound wrapped around Pumpkin and pulled her into a hug. "I'm always happy to make you know that you could have done far worse and humiliated yourself more than you actually did."
Pumpkin grumbled, a few choice words under her breath. She was now even more inclined to smack him, even if it was only playful teasing. Still, she was grateful that he was there for her, and trying to get her mind off of what happened... even if it was by trying to come up with possible scenarios of how it could have gone even worse.
At the other line, Twilight was at the table, getting her number. After putting it on, she walked over and joined the Cake twins.
"So, how did it go?"
"Pumpk-OW!" Pound yelped out as he got jabbed in the ribs.
"Fine," Pumpkin said. "He's coming to Sugar Cube Corner tomorrow at three for scones."
"Good for you," Twilight said with a smile.
"Attention ponies," a voice called out. "We're about to start The Running of The Leaves. If you are finished registering, please make your way to the starting line immediately."
"That means me," Twilight said. "See you two later."
"Good luck," Pound called out as Twilight turned and headed off.
"And we should probably go help dad at the refreshment stand," Pumpkin suggested.
"Yeah," Pound replied. "And don't forget we need to ask him about making scones tomorrow."