Hit the Ground Running

by Flash_Game

Side Quest Pt.1

I approached the bulletin board rubbing my hands, It's starting to get colder now, just browsing all the miscellaneous tasks others need help with, then, "What... the..." I spot a paper that has a green CRT filter over it, examining the task and the reward I notice something unique about this one, it was written by a kid, I chuckled and thought, It's like my handwriting

EMERGENCY: need help finding my ball
I was playing with my ball and the wind took it to the
EVERFREE
when i kicked it too hard

Reward:    Cool stick i found while looking for my ball and 2 00 000 0 bits
				(Auntie told me that's all i can give)
-Scootaloo

"Scootaloo, huh? And 'cool stick'... I'm interested," I said to myself and thought Maybe somehow my powers brought some sort of rifle here, then someone crashed with my leg

"Ow"

I turned to the source of the voice, only to see Scootaloo on the ground next to her scooter. Kneeling down, I asked, "Are you okay, Scoots?"

She shook her head and looked at me, "Oh. Hi, Mr Luis. Yeah, I'm fine!"

"Scoot, what did I tell you?"

"Not to call you prince or mister? Yeah, yeah, I know. But you're the dad of one of my best friends, it would be weird not adding the mister"

"I... can't argue with that. Okay, fine"

"Scootaloo! Are you okay?!" Nimble came barreling down th road on his scooter and came to a stop in front of us, "Oh, hi, dad"

"Hello, um... What are you guys doing?"

Scootaloo got up and dust herself off, "We wanted to see if anypony took my request"

I bent down and showed her the paper, "Oh, you mean this?"

"*Gasp* Yes! That one!" She jumped in joy

Nimble grabbed my arm and very enthusiastically said, "Can I go?!"

I ruffled his mane, "Yeah, no. You can't convince me otherwise"

"Aw, come on dad," he whined, "Why not?"

"Too dangerous for a little foal like you," Did I really just use foal? *mental sigh* Never mind...

He crossed his arms in annoyance, "I'm grown pony!"

"I'm I grown pony too, can I come?" Scootaloo interjected

"Not quite. Yes, you both have grown sure, but... haven't quite grown up yet. It takes time and most importantly: experience. Before you ask me 'how am I supposed to get experince if you won't let me?' Well, let me tell you that you first need to walk to learn to run," I stood up, "I guess you could come with me to the edge of the Everfree though"

"We can?!!" they both asked with very subtle squeeks

"But on one condition"

Both, "Yes?"

"Let's go get Noctis," I said turning my body

"What do you need me for?"

I finished my turn and was face to face with Noctis, HOLY SHIT WOMAN!!

"What is it?" Noctis asked again

"You... actually..."

"Why do you need.. me?"

Nimble ran up to her and gave her a huge hug, "We're going to the Everfree forest!"

Noctis gave me a death glare, "What?!?!"

"Wait! Wait! Wait! I didn't say that!"

She raised an eyebrow at me, "Then what did you say?""

I took a deep breath, Relax... "What I said is that the could come with me to the EDGE of the Everfree. The reason I wanted to find you was to make sure they didn't followed me nor gone into the forest on their own"

Noctis eyed me suspiciously before turning to Nimble, "Is that true?"

"I don't know. Dad said we could come with him to the edge..."

Scootaloo jumped in, "Yeah! Then he said we needed to find you"

"Yeah, see?" I said with relieve

Noctis winked at me and then turned back to a small scowl, "Why do you need to go to the Forest in the first place?"

Is she toying with me?? "Well, Scoo-"

Scootaloo jumped in excitedly, "I lost my ball the other day and he took the comission I left here," she pointed at the bulletin board

Noctis nodded, "Alright, lets go so he can get your ball"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo did a small air punch, "Follow me!"

And so we followed the little pegasus down to the park south of Ponyville, past Rarity's boutique, and then took a small path to a clearing bordering the Everfree

"I was playing here and then kicked my ball high in the air. There must've been some wind because it just went flying into the forest very fast,"

I put my hand under my chin, It couldn't have gone very far, "Scoots, quick question, how heavy is your ball? Is it light like a beach ball? Or more like a hoove ball?"

"Definitely like a beach ball"

I ruffled her mane, "Alright, I'll be right back," I turned to the forest, I need perfect timing for this... Jumping up as high as I can, I activate a perception check for the ball, Over a kilometer away??! What the hell? I do a quick superhero landing and turned to the trio, "It's a bit further than I was expecting," I directed my gaze to Noctis, "Why don't you take them for ice cream? This is going to take a while"

Noctis sighed, "Sure, why not"

"Yay!!" both foals exclaimed

They all started heading back to town after a quick 'see you later,' but I grabbed Noctis by the arm and whispered to her, "If I'm not back tonight, tell him I had to leave for royal business"

"Is it that far?" I nodded unsurely, "Just... Please come back safe"

"I will, don't worry," I looked as she caught up to the children and went out of view, then turned back to the forest, "Why am I getting a bad feeling? I literally hunt in there every other week..." I whispered to myself as I headed into the foreboding shade of the trees

Author's Note:

Your eyes aren't deceiving you, this is a short chapter. Mostly to make up for the previous chapter being somewhat filler episodes, not the full reason though

I wonder, what am I planning?

PS
In case you didn't read it, I'm going to be uploading the chapters as I 'finish them' (Grammar is fixed and stuff). Although, I'm still going to have the next chapter almost finished before releasing a chapter

Comments

[Bones_]

didn't make sense not to live for fun