> Redemption:Phase 3-A day with nature
>  by Brian Sheil
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A day with nature
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wearing a bright yellow flannel shirt, blue jeans, and hiking boots, Lightning Dust is ready for the next part of her redemption. Strapping on her backpack, she heads out the door, she makes her way to her next destination.
“Going to see Fluttershy?” Lightning’s mother asked.
“Yes, I am.” Lightning answered. “Fluttershy said that she wants to take me out for a nature hike.”
“I thought you had enough of the outdoors after helping Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres.”
Lightning Dust raised an eyebrow, then gave her mother a reply. “A farm is very interesting. This time, I’m going to a forest. Fluttershy is a good guide in this area. And, I’m bringing my camera to take pictures.”
Lightning’s mother was very surprised to hear that. “No doubt, to prove that you’re on the straight and narrow. Go ahead, Lightning.”
Lightning gave her mom a kiss, then she was on her way. “See you later, mom.”
As Lightning Dust made her way to Fluttershy’s house, the nature lover was waiting for her, with a backpack of her own strapped on.
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Fluttershy said calmly.
“Thanks for helping me.” Lightning replied. “I have to do something to curb my recklessness.”
“Glad to help out. Follow me.”
Fluttershy leads Lightning Dust to a nature park on the outskirts of the neighborhood. 
“There are plenty of peaceful activities in this park.” Fluttershy informed. “Nature hikes, horseback rides, there’s even a lake where people do some fishing.”
“Too bad we didn’t bring fishing poles.” Lightning Dust said. “But, you wouldn’t hurt any animals. Including fish.”
“You know me very well.”
The two girls start their trip by hiking through a forest. Lightning Dust was amazed by the environment. Soon, they see a deer grazing nearby. Being as quiet as possible, Lightning took out her camera, focused on the deer, and took the picture.
“What a great shot.” Lightning said quietly. She and Fluttershy looked at the picture. “That’s a beautiful deer.”
“Oh my. You’re right.” Fluttershy replied.
The two travelers continued their walk. Lightning took pictures of the forest, various animals, and horses at a clearing.
“Those are the horses for people to ride.” Fluttershy informed. “Right now, they are grazing on the grass.”
“Those horses are beautiful.” Lightning cooed. “Reminds me of a trip I took to my uncle’s ranch.”
“You rode horses before?”
“I sure did. When I was younger, I visit my uncle’s ranch just to see the horses. I would sometimes ride a horse.”
“Sounds like fun. I hope you were careful on those horses.”
“Believe me, I may be reckless, but even I don’t hurt any animals.”
Fluttershy smiled hearing that. Soon, the two girls came up to a lake.
“I never saw a lake like this before.” Lightning said. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Fluttershy praised. “Not everyone can adjust to change as well as you can.”
Lightning got out her camera to take a picture of the lake when she heard some quacking. She spotted something heading for the lake. “Check it out. Ducks!”
Lightning took pictures of the ducks. Fluttershy was very happy. “Aw. Those ducks are cute.”
“Believe it or not, I like ducks.”
Fluttershy was surprised. “Really?”
“It’s true. They may be loud with their quacking. But, I think ducks are the most fun birds ever seen.”
“I wonder how your soccer buddies would react to that.”
Lightning shrugged. The girls found a dock near the lake. They went onto the dock, took off their boots, and sat down. They looked at the majesty of the woods.
“Beautiful scenery, isn’t it?” Fluttershy asked.
Lightning felt a nice breeze as she admires the woods. “I have to agree. This is a good idea to have me join you.”
“I thank you.” Fluttershy replied as she blushed slightly.
Suddenly, a green skinned girl with braided red hair, wearing a yellow shirt, orange vest, and a long marigold skirt made her way to the girls.
“Greetings, fellow nature lovers.” The girl greeted. “What happening?”
Fluttershy recognizes the girl. “Tree Hugger! What a pleasant surprise.”
Fluttershy and Tree Hugger hug each other. Lightning Dust was surprised. “Tree Hugger? The groovy hippie girl?”
“Hippie?” Tree Hugger yelped. “I’ve been called worse.”
Tree Hugger took off her shoes and she and Fluttershy went to the dock, getting back together with Lightning Dust.
“Hey, Flutters.” Tree Hugger said happily. “What’s with this rough soccer girl?”
“Me and my friends are trying to help Lightning Dust curb her reckless behavior.”
Fluttershy explained.
“She’s right.” Lightning Dust added. “This way, I don’t get kicked off the soccer team.”
“Whoa!” Tree Hugger yelped. “That’s heavy. Even I like to watch CHC’s soccer team do good.”
“Even me?”
“Even you, Lightning Dust. So, what brings you here?”
Lightning explained everything. “Fluttershy figured that a trip to nature could help me calm down. It’s doing it’s job. And, I took some pictures.”
The soccer girl showed Tree Hugger pictures of the park and the animals. She was amazed. “Cool! You did a good job. These are groovy.”
“Thanks, Tree Hugger.” Lightning praised.
Later, Fluttershy and Lightning walked back to the neighborhood.
“Too bad Tree Hugger has to go home early.” Lightning stated. “I was so used to her company.”
“So was I.” Fluttershy replied. “But, sometimes Tree Hugger has her own agenda.”
The two girls arrived at Fluttershy’s house. 
“Thanks for the good day, Fluttershy.” Lightning Dust said. “That park we went to was very relaxing.”
“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy praised. “I’m happy that you went along with me. Your mom will love those pictures.”
The girls gave each other a hug. Then, Lightning Dust went home. She showed her mom pictures from her day.
“These pictures are beautiful.” The mother chirped. “Especially the ducks. You always loved ducks. Don’t you?”
“I sure do.” Lightning answered. “As I told Fluttershy, I think ducks are the cutest birds ever seen.”
Lightning’s mother gives her an envelope. “While you were gone, the young socialite, Rarity, brought this over. She asked me to give it to you.”
I wonder what Rarity gave me. Lightning thought.
She opened the envelope, and unfolded a piece of paper. As she began to read it, her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh!”


TO BE CONTINUED....