Hello again! This is my second chapter for this fanfic! I fixed the dialog a little so hope you guys enjoy it! Back to the story!
CHAPTER 2: The Story Behind The Magical Mystery Lake
The scent of cakes and sweets drifted into Leafy's mind during his peaceful slumber. Obnoxious yet soothing, the smell indeed was mouth-watering. It was not just the scent but the warmth of someone close can be felt. The warmth felt comfortable, relaxing. It was like he's in a dream in his subconscious but realistic at the same time.
He slowly opened his eyes as the sun rays shone brightly into his eyes. Blinded by the brightness, he sat up onbed quickly and rubbed the irritating pain. To his shock, Pinkie was sleeping so inches close, just below his chest. Obviously, experiences like this was awkward and embarrassing, why? Because she's a female even though she's... well, A PONY! Realizing the distance between them both, Leafy slowly distanced himself away on the bed. Heck, the scent was coming from her fluffy pink mane. Probably the shampoo she used.
The feeling of her body close to his and the warmth warming him in his sleep was from her. Taking a glance on the sleeping pink pony, it was cute how she slept, kind of like how a kitten sleeps. Quickly, he removed the blanket on his side and softly tucked her in. Shifting his head towards her bed clock, the time showed '7:00 a.m'. "Heck, it's been years sleeping on the ground. Finally, I got myself a real bed!"he spoke to himself quietly and left the room.
Trotting downstairs, his eyes landed on Mr. Carrot cake and Mrs. Cupcake that Pinkie pie introduced, and greeted them with a morning smile.
"You're Leafy right? She told me we got a guest, can't say we're surprised." Mr. Carrot cake said as he rolled his eyes.
"She always had a friend to her room for a sleep-over and party all night. You're a first colt she'd ever invited" Mrs. Cupcake added looking at Leafy with a grin.
Shrugging off the action, Leafy walked outside for some fresh, rejuvenating, morning air. Being an outdoor lover, he liked breathing in the fresh air, looking at how slowly yet calming dews on leaves slowly moves down to the tip and mists still present giving a relaxing view.
"I'm gonna take a jog around the park! Tell Pinkie I'm there if she starts looking for me!" he yelled galloping away from the bakery.
"We'll do!" he heard Mr. Carrot cake yelled back.
By this time, the bed clock showed 8:00 a.m. Pinkie pie woke up from her slumber stretching her fragile yet strong body while hopping casually in glee.
'What a good night sleep!' she thought as she picked up Gummy and nuzzled him.
"Oh yea! Where's Leafy?" she spoke to Gummy which resulted in a bite on the nose. Pinkie set Gummy down, fluffed her hair and skipped out.
"What a lovely day! Everyone will say! Making some cake! Sweet like I'll always bake!"she sang a tune trotting down. Her eyes laid on Mrs. Cupcake making savory cupcakes as usual.
"Morning Mrs. Cupcake!" she greeted as Mrs. Cupcake smiled back.
"Where's Leafy? I was going to give him some cupcakes!" she said hopping up and down like her usual self.
"Oh, he said he went to the park. He was expecting you to ask." Mrs. Cupcake grinned. Pinkie pie blushed, quickly shook her head and asked Mrs. Cupcake if she had an extra cupcake that she can give him.
"Well, this was supposed to be given to a pair of couples in Sugar cube Corner but no worries! I got two extras!" she yanked out two heart shaped cupcakes with heart-shaped sprinkles on it.
"Uhh… Do you have any different shaped cupcakes ? This is a little weird for Leafy..." Pinkie asked Mrs. Cupcake nervously. She gave a 'nope' like how Big McIntosh replies most of the time and ignored Pinkie pie continuing to do some more order deliveries.
"Never mind, He'll probably like it! But..." she talked to herself and quickly ignored bad thoughts. With speed, she trotted out of the bakery and bid farewell.
At the park, she saw Leafy sitting on the soft, green grass with his hoof on his lap. She tip-toed behind him and planned to give him a morning scare, to refresh him.
"Oh! Hello Pinkie! How's your sleep?"Leafy said without looking back. She tilted her head amazed by Leafy's self conscious towards his surroundings.
"Huh? How did you know I was behind you?!" she said in amazement.
"A student must know whether a guy will strike him from behind. Well, that's what my sensei said." Leafy said exclaimed.
"Hey! It's just like my Pinkie sense!" she said as her eyes glittered in awe. A few seconds later, her tail twitched as she quickly pulled Leafy's left hoof. BAM! A large black grand piano fell down from the sky which stiffened Leafy in place. A light gray pegasus yelled "My bad!" and quickly left the scene.
"Phew... That was a close one! Right... Pink..." Leafy said leaving his sentence halfway. He gulped a large amount of saliva when he realized the awkward position he was in. Pinkie pie was directly below him with both of her hooves up on the ground. His brown, gleaming eyes met Pinkie's crystal ocean blue gazing, staring at each other trying to figure out words to break the silence. Sweat started to form on his temple, body stiffened, mind blanked trying hard to reduce the tension. Feeling her heart paced below, red tint starts to form on both of her cheeks. Heck, who wouldn't feel embarrassed if this were to happen in their life. C'mon, he had just known this mare for like, a day and this happens.
"P-Pinkie? A-Are you ok?" Leafy asked her waiting for a response.
"Uhh… y-yea I'm fine!" she giggled awkwardly. Luckily, her words relaxed Leafy's body allowing him to quickly remove himself on top of her.
"I-I'm sorry for that..."he said trying to fix the problem.
"Hah! Pfft! W-What? T-That?"Pinkie pie stammered.
"I-It's okay! Really, a mistake!" she said starting to hop like her normal self again.
"H-Here! Some cupcakes I brought! It's really sweet!"she handed out a heart-shaped cupcake from her bag. Realizing the shape, she accidentally bit her tongue.
"Hmmm? Thanks."Leafy ignored it and chuck every bit of savory sweetness down.
"Hey Pinkie, Do you know why I got teleported here by the lake I told you yesterday?" Leafy asked her with his mouth full.
"Beats me!" she replied, "Oh! There's this mare that can help you with this smagic smhuel!" she smiled and grabbed his hoof.
"Follow me! Her name's Twilight! No time to waste!"she smiled pulling Leafy and galloped towards the big tree a few miles away from the park.
"HEY! Twilight!" she shouted and knocked on the door revealing a purple coated unicorn.
"Oh hello Pinkie, who's your friend?" she said tilting her head.
"Uhh… He needs to ask you something!" she said blushing letting go Leafy's hoof. All of us went into the grandeur tree to discuss about the mystery magical lake.
"Hello? P-Pinkie? L-Leafy?" Fluttershy called out politely knocking the door of the cupcake cottage.
"Oh Fluttershy? It's rare to see you here?" Mr. Carrot cake remarked opening the door to send deliveries.
"Do you know where the two of them went to?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh! They are probably at the park right now" Mr. Carrot cake suggested galloping off into distance.
"Oh, T-Thank you" she thanked him whom probably can't hear the words she spoke as he already left.
"I wonder what are they doing in the p-park… " she wondered flying to the park. Her eyes caught Rainbow Dash midway performing her new flying stunts. Flying higher in altitude, she flew over to speak to his favorite pegasus companion.
"Uh, hi Rainbow Dash" she greeted the energetic pegasi.
"Hey 'Shy! What bring's you up here?"
"Well, I-I was looking for Pinkie and the new colt that entered Ponyville, Leafy" she told Rainbow Dash. This just made that insignificant proud pegasi to just beamed with pride.
"A new pony? Time to perfect my moves!" she yelled while stretching her wings.
"Speaking of which, I saw a red pony with Pinkie just now going to Twilight's place. Looks like they're in a hurry" she exclaimed and flew off.
"Twilight's?" Fluttershy talked to herself and floated north.
"No…, no…, no…, not this…" the purple mare threw each book she took out from the shelf to the ground. For every book she threw, Spike frowned and hissed in anger. Well, he's going to clean everything up right? Not that Twilight realized he's pissed off.
"Twilight… I'm gonna be the one who cleans this…"Spike scowled to himself.
"This lake... I read it before..." She talked to herself grabbing each book and throwing it out to the floor.
"The book of magical lakes…"Pinkie pie spoke to herself as she picked up a book on the floor and read it.
"T-That's the book! Nice Pinkie!" Twilight cheered and clapped her hoof together. Leafy found that amusing; the dragon complaining to himself, the oblivious unicorn that missed the book and the giddy pony picking one up from the ground at random finding the correct one.
"Let's see… Aha! The Dimensional Lake! It's said to be found in the only, other dimensional world. This cursed lake activates when the cries of sorrow are heard, drops of constant tears and the charm gave by someone dear is held tight onto chest. Once you enter, you can NEVER go out. There's a catch, 'Those cries can be heard by 5 who held dear towards the familiar with sorrow and if approached will be sent here as well'. A quote: 'In fear, in pain, in sorrow, in glee, felt by one holding the burden of feelings, supported by 5 who'll endure with thee'"
Twilight squinted her eyes to examine Leafy's situation while Pinkie pie clapped her hooves and cheered. Fogged in confusion, Leafy approached Twilight, asked her to further simplify the meaning which Twilight did and explained in more detailed. Knocking both of his hooves, he quickly understands the passage in the book.
"Leafy… Why were you crying at the lake?" Pinkie pie asked first. Leafy smiled weakly and felt like an invisible knife had just struck deep within his thorax forcing itself towards the heart.
"Well...Both… of m-my parents…" giving himself a last breather, "died…". It's not like he wanted sympathy or that he's asking for it. Reminiscing the incident was the least that he wanted to do. A dark smoke swells inside his heart, eyes went pale like it always was back then engulfing himself in an eerie atmosphere. Nothing can break nor wake him up from the trance, or so he thought.
Warmth started to rekindle within him relighting what seems to be a burnt out candle. The scent of caramel wafting around him getting rid of that musky grim atmosphere. This powerful force crawling out slowly deep within his soul. What is this feeling? What is this tender feeling, no, this sympathetic exposure? There it was, standing in two hooves hoping support from Leafy himself. Embracing Leafy tightly like a fragile newly born baby. That feeling deep down disappeared like thin air thanks to her.
"Leafy… I feel so sorry for you… I had no idea..."Pinkie pie said as she hid her face behind Leafy. The more Leafy tries to move, the more tighter her hug was. Was this the party pony she had been yapping all about? It was like nothing can ruin the pleasant moment of them both grasping each other's body like there was no tomorrow. It was good while it lasted though.
She loosened her constrict and pulled Leafy away."Let's just say you and I have something in common. But don't worry! Right now, We are your Family!" She exclaimed and gave Leafy a gaze deep within the cerulean blue eyes. Leafy responded back with a wide smile.
"Well, you need a place to stay right Leafy? I'll help you find a house that you can settle in." Twilight trotted towards them putting a hoof on Leafy's shoulder.
"Uh... Am I just hearing things or am I just crazy?"Spike asked walking towards the group cupping his ears. Sobs and cries echoed inside the library.
"I think it's from the door..." Twilight whispered pointing the entrance. Spike slowly opened and showed a light pink haired mare tearing up.
"Is she eavesdropping?" Spike whispered into Twilight's ears.
"I-I'm sorry, Leafy! I-I-I didn't know you had such a bad past..." she continued to sob and cry on the front porch leaving all of them dumbfounded.
"H-Hey Fluttershy! I-It's okay! R-Really! I d-don't really mind it anymore!"Leafy said as he approached the crying pegasi trying to cheer her up. A few minutes later, she stopped crying revealing her a fade red on her eyes and cheeks.
"We were just going to go back to Sugar cube corner! Wanna come?" Pinkie asked hopping about being her cheery self.
"*Sniff* U-Uh, I-I would like to, if it's okay with guys…*sniff*" she replied quietly.
"I'll check out the houses for Leafy! Pinkie I need your help, Leafy and Fluttershy can go there first."Twilight ordered while finding a book titled 'Houses for Rent' throwing each book to the ground again. Spike gave a final roar and sighed deeply realizing doing that will have no effect whatsoever.
"Yea! I'll catch up later, I need to help Twi'!" Pinkie said as she picked up the book beside her with that title.
"Sure, I'll go with Fluttershy then! Thanks you guys for helping me out…" Leafy said saluting them all like a soldier.
"Hey, no worries. It's normal for a friend to help each other." Twilight said smiling.
"I'll promise to find you a nice house Leafy! Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" she said hopping happily towards the purple unicorn.
"Well, Let's go Fluttershy!" Leafy smiled helping Fluttershy up.
Leafy was really excited of what his adobe might look like. Tingles came running down his spine feeling the excitement rush. The architecture, the insides, the porch, you name it; he can't wait to be surprised by whatever he sees.
"Hey Fluttershy! What do you think my house will look like?"Leafy tried opening a conversation with her.
"It's probably going to be really interesting, maybe something like your cottage!"he remarked elbowing Fluttershy's shoulder lightly. She looked at him giving soft smile
"You really like houses do you Leafy?"she asked.
"Well of course! This is like the biggest present so far that I had in my life!"he said clapping his hooves repeatedly. Looking at Leafy's antics, Fluttershy gave a tiny giggle covering her lips. It enlightens herself seeing how happy Leafy was in with his eyes sparkling with delight. Continued to gaze the amusing pony, it reminded of the story she overheard at the library. Feelings started to envelop deep within her heart. Heart's beating for every step he made; she wanted to comfort and prevent Leafy from ever having those bad experiences again.
"Fluttershy? Hello, Fluthershy?"Leafy waved his hoof in front of her. She shrieked and jumped upwards realized it was just Leafy and her thoughts, she descended slowly with her wings and avoided eye contact with him to prevent awkwardness, well, it made it more awkward. Her face flushed in red so he thought she has gotten a fever or something. He went closer towards her face and set his hoof on her forehead feeling the temperature.
"U-Uhm?! W-What are you doing L-Leafy?" she rattled, her red face contrast increased by the second.
"Hey Fluttershy, I think you have a fever..." Leafy said stopping her.
"U-U-U-Uhmm... I-I d-don't L-Leafy… I-"she said but Leafy cut her sentence.
"C'mon, hop on my back. You can't walk like this..."he suggested lowering her body to the ground. Well, he don't really know the culture of this realm knowing ponies to be kind and cheery. Fluttershy stammered for words but accepted the offer in the end. She softly yet gently held Leafy's shoulders and rode on his back.
"Heh... this actually reminded me of the time I was sick" Leafy brought up a conversation her. From this point, Fluttershy has already passed out.
"Hey, Fluttershy! Are you awake? Looks like you have anaemia or somethin" Leafy waved his hoof close to Fluttershy's face to wake her up.
"W-Where are we?" she asked sitting up on a bench and rubbed her head lightly.
"We're at the park... well, you passed out..." Leafy said sweating heavily in shame.
"O-Oh no, I-It's not your fault Leafy!" Fluttershy shrieked.
"Well, anyways. I bought you a cherry cupcake just in case you're hungry."Leafy pointed out the cupcake beside the bench as he smiled.
"T-That's... so sweet..."
"What? Can't hear you"
"N-Nothing..."
"Well, anyways. How's your fever?" Leafy asked as he set his hoof on Fluttershy's forehead again. Her face started to flush red again.
"Hmm... I guessed it cooled down?" Leafy remarked grinning awkwardly.
"T-Thank you, Leafy." Fluttershy thanked him and looked down in embarassment.
"It's not like I'm going to leave a sick pony alone." Leafy smiled again patting her on the head.
"Leaf- *pant* y, *Flutter- *pant* shy, good news! *pant*" a small purple reptilian creature approached both of them trying to catch his breath.
Renewed :) This took me hell lot of time...
