Cheese slowly closed the door, taking in one last glimpse of the blue eyes staring at him. He took a shuddering breath and turned away from the door, his rucksack swinging with him. He held back the tears in his eyes as he whispered to himself, “It’s for the best.”

“Look out!”

“If you got your hooves out of my face I might just be able to!”

Cheese turned as he heard the commotion and saw an orange and pink blur coming toward him. He took a deep breath and put on a smile as he started to wave. He was promptly slammed into by the mares on a scooter. Looking behind him, Cheese pulled out a large balloon and started to blow into it as they neared a cabbage cart.

“My cabbages!”

Standing up, Cheese saw Scootaloo glaring down at Diamond Tiara. “What were you thinking?”

Diamond Tiara shook the cabbages off of her and plucked some out of her mane. “Well lets see. My exact thoughts were, ‘Too fast! Someone get me off of this screaming metal death trap! We’re going to die!’ Or something like that.”

The two glared at each other as Cheese paid for one of the destroyed cabbages, deciding it would be good for his trip. Scootaloo turns as Cheese is paying for it though and says, “The least you could do is pay for this guy’s cart before Cheese gets roped into it.”

Diamond Tiara blushed slightly as she remembered they were in public and that she had just caused an accident. “I suppose that is only fair. Here you go sir, and please, let me pay for your cabbage Cheese.”

Cheese nodded and sighed to himself. So much for me just leaving town quietly “Thank you. Now what were you two crazy kids up to?”

Scootaloo started munching on one of the cabbages as she walked over. “I decided to pick Diamond Tiara up this week to hangout, instead of simply waiting for her somewhere. Apparently someone doesn’t like speed though.”

Diamond Tiara huffed as she scowled. “I’m fine with your speed. It’s your reckless driving and tricks that cause my stomach to churn.”

Cheese smiled at them, enjoying the playful banter. “Well, if you two don’t need me any longer, I have places to go and parties to plan.”

Scootaloo rubbed her chin. “Where are you going?”

Cheese smiled wide as he glanced sideways. “Now now, it isn’t like you could come with me. I’m sure you two have important things to take care of.”

Scootaloo laughed as she said, “After blowing up one of the engines in the lab, I could use a vacation, and so could my boss now that I think about it.”

“My dad is visiting mother at the hospital right now, so I’ve got at least a couple days to kill as well. Besides, it could dow you well to have some younger company other then just Pinkie.” Diamond Tiara and Scootaloo laughed as Cheese huffed.

“I’m only thirty two!” Cheese suddenly looked about eighty-two. “You whipper snappers need to learn to respect your elders already.”

“See, we already let you have some fun. Besides, I bet Boneless Two would like the company.” Diamond Tiara smiled at Cheese

He blushed and looked away. “Actually, it’s Boneless three. I gave Pinkie Boneless two... recently.” Cheese looked at the two, his chest hurting. “You know what, why not? Let’s go on an adventure!”

“Can we rest already?” Diamond Tiara collapsed on the ground, her hooves feeling like any time she had to wait too long for coffee, only a hundred times worse!

“Suck it up Dia.” Scootaloo smiled to herself as she glided along on her scooter. “We’ve only been walking for a few hours and the sun hasn’t even set. Why would we-

Gurgle Diamond Tiara started laughing as Scootaloo wrapped an arm over her stomach and blushed. Cheese smiled at the two. “Told you two you should bring boots. However, we could stop now. Sunset is in a few hours and we can make camp early to eat. Sound good?”

The two mares nodded as Cheese laughed. “Alrighty then. Bust out your packs and I’ll get to cooking.”

Scootaloo opened her mouth and then smacked herself. “I forgot to bring a tent.”

Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes. “You need to prepare better Scoots. Luckily for you, I have a tent that can hold all of us.” She jumped as Cheese hugged both of them.

“I didn’t think you two were close enough yet for that type of relationship.”

Diamond Tiara blushed hard as Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “And what about you and Pinkie Pie?”

Cheese got out a force chuckle as he shoved his head into his rucksack., “So, what would you all like to eat. I have beans, hotdogs, and... thats it.”

Diamond Tiara did a gagging motion as Scootaloo licked her lips. Then Diamond giggled and said, “Sounds good. I wish my dad and I still went camping like this. I haven’t been out like this since mom got put in the hospital for the first time. I was four at the time I believe.”

Scootaloo turned to Diamond Tiara who had just finished laying out the parts to the tent. “Your mom spends a lot of time in the hospital, doesn’t she?”

Diamond shrugged as she started moving tent poles and the like. “I have a sickly mom. I don’t mind seeing as she is around these days almost as much as my dad. Better then you I suppose.” Diamond Tiara rubbed her arm awkwardly before asking, “Maybe we should find a different topic?”

Cheese poked his head up from his rucksack. “I need sticks for the fire. Think you could handle it Scoots?”

Diamond Tiara grinned as Scootaloo nodded. “Gonna use that fool proof calling method?”

Scootaloo blushed hard as Diamond Tiara laughed and Cheese raised an eyebrow. “How do you know about that?”

Diamond Tiara smirked at Scootaloo. “Well you know I’ve been talking to Sweetie since I got her and Button together. After three months of that, you start running out of topics and go with stories about people you know.”

Scootaloo smirked back at Diamond Tiara and said, “Maybe I should talk to Sweetie about you then?” Scootaloo chuckled as the pink mare paled.

“Well, I don’t know how to respond to this.”

The two mares turned to Cheese who was now surrounded by branches. The two looked at each other and asked, “How?”

“Well Diamond Tiara mentioned calling for them, so I tried it out.” Cheese turned away from the two as he started the fire. He sighed as he turned back to the two who were slack jawed. “That, or I’m hungry enough that I did it while you two were enjoying your talk.”

The two blushed and looked away as Cheese got the fire going. “Now, anyone want melted cheese on their hotdogs?”

Both mares’ eyes widened as Cheese started slicing off part of his hoof. “What are you doing?”

Cheese chuckled and passed the hunk of orange cheese between his hooves. “Just a little punny humor girls. No reason to get upset.”

Scootaloo breathed a sigh of relief. “That is so good to hear. Now, let’s get to chowing down already!”

Cheese smiled as he sang, “Eat it! Eat it!” He looked down at the two mares who were staring at him. He put a hoof up to his mouth. “I have absolutely no idea where that came from.” The three laughed as Cheese doled out the beans and Scoots stuffed a hot dog into her mouth. “Not hungry Diamond Tiara?”

Diamond Tiara gulped as she looked at the bowl in front of her. “Well, I may have gone camping before, but we still didn’t eat like this.”

Cheese chuckled. “Come on, trying something new won’t-” Cheese suddenly became silent for only a split second before finishing with, “kill you.”

Scootaloo continued to eat but Diamond Tiara turned to Cheese as she lowered her bowl. “Cheese?”

Cheese shook his head. “Sorry, cliched advice is cliched so I thought about stopping myself.” Slipping back into his old man impression, “Then again, I ought-a be teaching you youngens some lessons seeing as you can’t even respect me enough to eat my slop!” Cheese smiled as Diamond giggled and started to choke down the food, and then devour it as she remembered how hungry she was.

Don’t give advice you won’t take Cheese. Now, don’t slip up again, and maybe you’ll manage to have a peaceful journey. Cheese turned as Scootaloo pushed her bowl towards Cheese. “Think I could get some more? Long day and all.”

“Of course Scoots, but if you might lose that pretty mare’s eye if you suddenly get fat.” Cheese smirked as Scootaloo glared at him.

“And what would Pinkie think if you suddenly came back as the king of cellulite?” Scootlaoo smacked herself as Diamond raised an eyebrow. “I have been spending way too much time with Sweetie recently.”

Cheese however had looked away from the two and now was walking away from them. Scootaloo furrowed her brows. “Cheese, I’m sorry. I know you and Pinkie are as tight as two ponies can get. Now come on back.”

Cheese looked back and bit his lip. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go think for a bit.” Cheese slowly trotted away as he put his hat on.

Scootaloo looked to Diamond Tiara who was now attempting to set up the tent. “Want some help?”

“Seeing as you recently blew up something you’re familiar with, no. However, it might get cold tonight if that fire dies, so can you actually get some sticks this time?”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and nodded at Diamond. “Alright, will do. Good luck.”

“Good luck!” Diamond Tiara did not notice the rope already around her hind hoof as she continued her grueling task.

Cheese sighed as he realized he no longer could see the campsite. Maybe it would be best of I left now. I’m used to these trips by myself, and it would give me plenty of time to think. Besides, it would be a little stupid of me to have told Pinkie no, and yet allow them to come along for my whole trip. Maybe tomorrow, then I’ll tell them we need to go our separate ways, before we actually end up talking about her.

Cheese started poking at the ground as he wondered what he would do for his next party. There were plenty of options, but none of them felt right to him. Come on man, you need to get it together! You are the party extraordinary, nothing can stop you. Cheese halted dead in his tracks as he heard a bloodcurdling scream for one thing.

“Help!”

Scootaloo heard Diamond’s call and dropped her sticks immediately. She may not be able to fly, but few would have debated if you were told Scootaloo had hovered that day as she galloped back to the campsite.

Bursting out of the clearing, Scootaloo would have normally busted out laughing. Diamond Tiara was strung up within the ropes of the net, struggling to get out of her self made prison. However, Scootaloo’s blood chilled as she saw the jaguar that was slowly coming closer and closer to Dia.

“Get away from her!” Scootaloo tackled into it’s side and knocked it away. Scootaloo huffed at it as the jaguar started to circle her. Her heart was hammering in her chest, but something forced her to always be between the jaguar and its prey.

“Scootaloo, move!” Scootaloo jumped out of the way as Cheese threw something under her hooves. The jaguar pounced and bounced off of Boneless. Or to be more accurate, was launched like from an air cannon fifty feet into the air and a hundred feet away. Scootaloo looked at Cheese with wide eyes. “Is it okay?”

“Of course it is. At least, I hope. Just remember little mares, don’t buck with Boneless.”

Scootaloo decided not to touch that subject, even with a ten foot pole, and instead moved over to Diamond Tiara and started disentangling her. “You’re an idiot, you know that right?”

Diamond looked down and nodded. “At least I didn’t just try to get myself killed.” After a long pause between the two she added, “for some mare you don’t even like.”

Scootlaoo bit into her lip. “I would do it for any friend Dia, so don’t think about it too much.” She watched as Diamond looked down and her eyes drooped. “There may have been just a little more then that though.” Scootaloo blushed as the pink mare looked at her with tears in her eyes. “So I’ll let you take me out for dinner or something to make us even. You can even call it a date if you want.”

Diamond tackled Scootaloo, and the two started to get tangled in the mess of ropes that made up the tent. The two recovered and sat against each other, watching as the sunset slowly faded from existence. Scootaloo wrapped a wing tentatively around Diamond who immediately went for a full hug but was then pushed away. Scootaloo then scooted a little closer to Dia and wrapped her wing around her marefriend.

Cheese watched it all, tears slowly building in his eyes. He had heard plenty about the two, and the little time he had spent with them proved to him how much of opposites they were. However, here they were, snuggling, laughing, falling in love against all the odds. Cheese closed his eyes as he felt tears begin to fall.

And what did I do? In fact what am I doing now? He looked back at the two and for a moment saw the fights they would have, the hate and pain they would go through. See Cheese, you chose your path for a reason. You didn’t want the pain that would eventually come. He looked at the two for another moment before turning away, his boots softly pressing into the ground. But what about this ache you feel now?

Cheese yawned as he walked into Ponyville, the sun coming up behind him. Cheese stretched himself out, his eyes drooping as he continued to walk forward. He needed to make it to Sugarcube Corner soon, or else he was going to simply collapse. Then again, sleep is sounding pretty good right now, even on hard cobblestone.

Coming up to the entrance, he hesitated as his hoof hovered just over the door. He looked at his boots, remembering all the adventures, all of the fun. He would miss them, could he even live without them. I know I was the one who asked her out the first time, but I hadn’t thought it through. Pinkie knows I never meant to hurt her. She understood my lifestyle, understood that I might leave one day. Besides, I already made my decision yesterday. It would simply be cruel for me to come back and give her false hope. Cheese lowered his hoof and started trotting away, looking back one last time.

He was shocked as he saw Pinkie come down from her room in Sugarcube Corner, her hair flat. She moved with a lethargy he had never seen before. She even stumbled on nothing as she started cleaning the store. Tear stains streaked her wonderful pink fur, and the lack of sleep was obvious underneath her eyes.

But can I promise to always be here? What if I just reopen the wound again, but by then I can’t take it back and I’ve gone too far? Cheese looked one last time at Pinkie and thought, But since when have I worried about the future?

Pinkie looked up as Cheese walked in the front door without any boots on and said, “I’m home.”