Alone, not Lonely

Chapter 6

“You got really lucky back there, I hope you realize that. I’ve seen Fluttershy stare down an adult dragon before and he didn’t even hurt anypony…Well, badly, at least.”

“Since I am a rather charming stallion, perhaps it was my dashing good looks that stopped her from hurting me.” Ash joked, wondering since when had he become this cocky.

“Yeah, sure. Anyway, there’s just one more pony I want you to meet before your party tonight. Considering her personality, it’s really fortunate you’re in such a good mood. But don’t expect your erm… dashing good looks to have much of an effect on her.”

“Why wouldn’t they…. Ohhhh, I see. No problem, I have nothing against mares like that.”

“Again, why is it you just go around assuming that sort of thing? What I meant was she is more the athletic type. So unless you can beat her in a race, I doubt she will show any interest.” Twilight didn’t dislike the new Ash. In fact she was proud of him, but she worried that he would do anything that could get himself hurt. Again.

Before Ash had any chance to retort, he was hit by something moving relatively fast, knocking him down. When he recovered from the impact, he saw three little fillies on the ground and a blue scooter attached to a wooden box. He recognized the yellow filly as Apple Bloom, Applejack’s sister.

“Ouch. I told you we were going too fast Scootaloo.” ´Moaned a white unicorn, massaging her head with a hoof.

“Fillies, just what are you up to this time?” Inquired Twilight, helping the stallion next to her get on his hooves.

“We were going to try and get our parasprite catchers cutie marks.” Scootaloo said with a mischievous grin in her face.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Parasprite Catchers. YAY!” The three fillies shouted in unison.

“Wait just a second there. I don’t really follow. What is this nonsense talk about cutie marks?” The grey stallion was visibly confused, not knowing what was happening.

“These three fillies are Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and you already know Apple Bloom. Actually Sweetie Belle is Rarity’s younger sister. They created this club where they go around trying all sort of crazy activities to help them find their cutie marks.” Explained the older mare. “But there is no way I am going to let you into the Everfree Forest, much less to capture a parasprite. Don’t you remember what happened the last time?”

“See? I told you it was a bad idea.”

“Who’s a chicken now, Apple Bloom? Besides, if capturing Parasprites is our special talent, we’ll never find it!” The orange filly argued.

“I know. Let’s ask Twilight’s coltfriend how he got his cutie mark.” Suggested Sweetie Belle, causing the couple of older ponies to blush.

“First of all Sweetie Belle, Ash and I are not a couple. And we are in a bit of a hurry. Besides, I doubt he wants to tell you the tale of how he got….” The purple mare was trying her best to come up with excuses in order to get away from the three little fillies and their awkward assumptions, which she feared would lead to very awkward questions.  

“Nonsense, Twilight. I would love to share my story with these lovely curious ponies. I am sure they could learn a lot from it.” The stallion interrupted, stepping forward to better speak to his small audience.

“I got my cutie mark when I around your age. My dad had grounded me because of something I did. When I was allowed to leave he noticed my cutie mark. And that’s how I got it.” He affirmed in a rather unenthusiastic manner, making sure the three youngsters could see his glasses-shaped cutie mark.

“That’s it? So….. Your special talent is being locked in your room? Or being grounded?” Apple Bloom questioned, inclining her head slightly to her left.

“That is the important part. I didn’t do anything different when I was in my room, but my cutie mark is here anyway. Even I don’t know what it means, but I don’t care. Getting a cutie mark won’t make you better ponies; it doesn’t change who you are or what you do in life. It’s just something silly, stuck to your flank forever.” This time he spoke like a wise stallion, a teacher of sorts.

Scootaloo facehoofed, and both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom seemed disappointed.

“Come on, girls, this won’t help us get our cutie marks.” As always, the young pegasus spoke first, picking up her scooter and leading the trio in the direction of their not-so-secret club house.

Twilight was quite surprised to see that their disregard for his advice troubled Ash, even if he was trying his best not to show his emotion.

“Don’t worry. They’ll understand someday that there are some things more important than getting their cutie marks. But at least they are having fun while they do it.” The mare’s advice did lift his spirit, but left him wondering if Twilight (and now him) were equally blind to life’s priorities. Perhaps making friends and having a good time wasn’t that important. Who was anypony to claim to understand the deep mysteries of life?

Soon they arrived at a field, a single cloud hovering above them. Atop said cloud rested a blue mare, seemingly without a care in the world. But her calm state of mind was disturbed by somepony shouting her name, indubitably trying to get her attention.

“What?” Said the slightly annoyed pegasus, looking down from her cloud to see Twilight Sparkle, her good friend, and a stallion she didn’t recognize. She descended in a fast yet strangely gracious manner, landing in front of the couple.

“Hi Rainbow. Meet Ash, he’s new in Ponyville.  Also, Pinkie is throwing him a welcome party at Sugarcube Corner tonight.” Twilight was nervous. She knew this was possibly the last chance to turn Ash’s life for the better, but she needed Rainbow to achieve the good result her other friends did. Dash was friendly and all, but sometimes too competitive for her own good, which could turn into a major turn off for the stallion.

“So, Rainbow Dash, Twilight told me you enjoy racing. Perhaps I could interest you in a friendly competition.” The stallion, while having no interest in sports or racing of any kind, decided it would be best for him to show interest if he were to explore each new acquaintance properly.

  While Dash examined the grey pegasus wings Twilight’s jaw dropped. She was definitively not expecting a challenge coming from Ash. In fact, it frightened her a bit. A few hours ago his behavior had been so consistent, so predictable… Now she was unsure of how she felt about him. She clearly didn’t have any power over him at this stage. The sheer thought that his decisions were his and his alone made her feel strangely uneasy. She could lose him at this rate.

Dash had very little on her mind, other than the race with the stallion. Sure, she had won a lot of races, especially against the less aerodynamic males, but a new challenger was something she never underestimated. Even if she always kept a confident look on her face.

“You’re on! First one to get to Sweet Apple Acres and back wins. OnetwothreeGO!” Ash was certainly not used to this kind of behavior, but as soon as he saw the mare take off he followed suit. Even though he wasn’t in bad shape he couldn’t help but fall behind, the distance between both contestants increasing dramatically with each passing second. By the time Rainbow Dash arrived at Sweet Apple Acres, Ash was already coming back, surrendering in utter defeat.

“Hey, what’s the matter with you? I said to Sweet Apple Acres and back, not give up halfway. At least you could have tried to finish the race.” Rainbow was a proud racer and she did not take kindly to those whom, when faced with adversity, turned back and gave up.  

“You won. Even if I kept going, what was that going to achieve anyway? You’re the better pony, and I hope that, while I was not even close to a fitting challenger, you acknowledge my participation in an activity of your interest.”

The formal way of speaking, instead of assuring Rainbow that he meant no disrespect, only made her give him a quizzical look.

“Look, if you didn’t want to race you didn’t have to. I don’t know what you heard about me but I don’t challenge me if you can’t keep up. I’ll see you at the party, I guess.” With that she flew away, towards her cloud house.

The couple just stared at the skies for a few moments before the male broke the silence.

“You know you could have helped right? I had no idea she was going to react like that. Now I’ll have to say something at the party, aren’t I? At least none of the others were mad at me when we left. Maybe this was just a really bad idea.” Said the grey stallion, now obviously insecure over his most recent failure. And things were going rather well, at least according to him.

“Don’t worry.” Assured the purple unicorn. “I’m sure she isn’t mad at you or anything. She just takes competition way too seriously. You should see her and Applejack. That’s when things can get really ugly.”

“Well, I have met all of your friends, and we still have some time until the party. What should we do next?”

“Hmm… I was meaning to ask you. What happened between you and Applejack? That was the first time I saw you act, well, normally. I mean, you were normal around Rarity, but socially friendly, instead of just polite.”

“Well, I guess I just learned some things while I was working. And things just kind of evolved from there. I wonder what would have happened if I had met them in another order. Maybe I wouldn’t be sorry for leaving.”

“That means you’re still going to leave? I was hoping you could stay. I mean, you’re not going anywhere in particular! Why can’t you just settle down and be with us?” By now Twilight was getting anxious. While her initial purpose was of saving Ash, she now really wanted him to stay, as much as she had wanted to stay in Ponyville after defeating Nightmare Moon.

“See, I just don’t…. I mean…Hurgh.” He was getting frustrated from the amount of focus it was taking him to properly express himself in a way he couldn’t possibly be misunderstood. After exhaling deeply he finally spoke again. “I like it here. I really do, and I wish I could stay longer. But then what? I’d have to get a job and my own place. Not that if I keep travelling bits are going to start falling into from the sky, but it’s easier not having to deal with it. That was kind of my whole approach on life until now. If I don’t care and don’t get involved it’s impossible for me to get hurt. I just don’t know…. Yet.” With those words he began walking towards Ponyville, before Twilight stopped him with a firm hug.

“I understand. But I won’t hurt you. Trust me.”