A/N: Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!
I've been very busy with work and school. Oh my faithful fans. Please forgive me for my absence! T-T
But do not fret, as our story will be coming to a close shortly. I admit, I've enjoyed writing this story for you all. But don't worry! I'll be coming back to The Stallion Six in the near future!
Disclaimer: I sadly do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and Hasbro. I will never own them(though I would love to be close friends with Lauren Faust one day).
Chapter 10: The Dates
"They went where?" asked Twilight.
Scarlet sighed again, taking another small breath. It was almost 12:00 in the morning, and it seemed like another beautiful day once again for the citizens of Ponyville; save a few clouds in the air. The morning sun filled the sky with warmth and beauty as Ponyville began to hustle now. As Twilight had predicted, the stallions that stayed within her library were early to rise, almost as early as the Apple family. Twilight had come down(out of curiosity mainly) to find that everyone besides Scarlet Rider was gone, Rider being busy with reading one of the maps.
"As I said. Goodwill went off to pick more flowers for his aroma's. Stronghoof is...well being Stronghoof. Probably gonna go and train a bit. Gibstrum went to visit Big Macintosh. Nestor said something about promising to help...what's her name again? Rarity?" Scarlet said with a slight confused face. Twilight nodded to him.
"Right. Anyways. Crazy said something about...'Pinkie Promising' to help Pinkie with some sweets." Scarlet said, though Twilight could detect some worry in his tone. Scarlet looked up, seeing Twilight's skeptical look.
"Well...Crazy isn't allows to have any sweets. He tends to get more...insane...if he does." Scarlet said. Twilight didn't quite get it, but only shrugged it off as nothing. She turned and walked to the kitchen, where she could see Spike and Owlowiscious busy cleaning the kitchen. She knew that the Grand Galloping Gala would start tomorrow night, and with both Spike and Owlowiscious coming this year; the two had been busying themselves with making their home clean for when they left. Twilight didn't understand why they wanted to do it, but knew it wouldn't make a difference even if she asked.
"Hey Twilight." Spike responded to seeing her as he finished cleaning the floor, setting the wet rag down on the table. " Don't me and Owlowiscious have suits to wear?" Spike asked, a bit excited. Twilight could already tell why the baby dragon had asked the question, but she really could decline him an answer.
"Of course! In fact I was just about to head over to Rarity's to pick them up." Twilight said as she turned and made a simple stride. She could hear the faint sound of "Yes" coming from the purple dragon, shaking her head as she walked back into the front room. Scarlet seemed to be packing something within his own satchel. When he noticed her look, Scarlet put another map in his satchel before he closed it with his mouth.
"So, where are you and...Spike...heading off to?" he asked.
"We're heading to Rarity's. We need to pick up some of the last minute suits and dress for the Summer Sun Celebration." Twilight said, noticing how Scarlet's face seemed to tighten in confusion.
"The Summer Sun Celebration?" he asked finally, looking at Twilight for answers. Twilight suddenly realized what his tone meant, and seemed to gasp.
"You...don't know what the Summer Sun Celebration is?" she asked him. In response, Scarlet seemed to look away in shame.
"Well...no actually. I've only heard it once before...but that was the day before we were; Banished." Scarlet stated, turning back to Twilight with a blank look. Twilight bit her lip, wondering how anyone could not know what the Summer Sun Celebration was. After all, it was the single most important party of the year! Besides the Gala of course.
"Maybe..."
Her mind trailed off to an idea, one that she seemed to try and play in her head. What if she asked him to go with her, maybe to teach him about the it. Or maybe even a; 'date'. She then instantly shut it out, hiding a blush as she turned to face away from the still confused Rider.
"Well...it's supposed to celebrate the coming of Summer as well as Celestia's power over the sun. It's one of the most magical celebrations in all of Equestria!" Twilight said excitedly, wanting to go on explaining about the summer celebration. She turned to see that Scarlet was getting the idea, his smiling flowing back onto his face.
"Sounds rather exciting. And this would be...tomorrow night?" he asked.
"Oh yes! And like last year, it's being held right here in Ponyville." Twilight said as she walked past the scarlet stallion, heading over to her saddle bags which sat neatly on a hanger. "I bet that maybe...Uhh..you guys could come?" she seemed to ask more than say. Scarlet produced a worried look now, seeming to shift his hooves.
"Uhh..well..I don't really..." he stuttered, but Twilight was too excited to hear him.
"Come on. Let's head over to Rarity's. We can meet Nestor there as well. Spike, let's go!" she said, enthusiasm in her tone. The baby dragon didn't hesitate as he ran out of the kitchen, his a wide smile on his face.
"Sweet!" he said happily as he hopped onto Twilight's back. "I told Owlowiscious that we'd be back soon. So he could rest up!" Spike stated with a proud smile, earning a giggle from his owner.
"Thanks Spike. Well, let's go. Come on Rider!" she said as her horn shimmered purple, the door opening as she headed out. Scarlet only followed, but his worried expression seemed to stay put on his face. And why would he not? He had limited time to stay in Ponyville, and seeing as Twilight seemed very excited that he and the others were coming; he didn't like to ruin someone's good mood.
"We'll just have to wait and see." he thought.
A soft breeze blew as the bright sun warmed the skies below it. Tree's grew far and wide, flowers seeming to scatter across the road sides. It was close to the beginning of summer, and tomorrow would also be the day of the Summer Sun Celebration.
Not that a certain country pegasus knew what that was.
Gibstrum seem to float about in the air, relaxed and content filling his face as he flew down the road. His eyes stayed ahead of him, his guitar strapped to his back in a comfortable fashion. It had taken him some time, but he finally remembered where the Apple family farm was again; and began his track there. Ahead of him, he could see the impressively large barn itself, apple tree's taking the place of regular tree's in seconds. Gib smiled happily as the crisp smell of the apples, fond memories of his last playing through his head.
"Been too long since ah' been to date farm." he told himself, softly landing on the ground below him. He began his trot down the road, nearing the barn even more as he spotted the small house and fields that grew close by. He wasn't even at the farm yet when he spotted the large, crimson figure of Big Macintosh. The huge stallion seemed to be carrying barrels of apples in the barn, working hard and without a moments rest.
"Seems Mac hasn't changed much either..." Gibstrum as as he walked down the path through the fields, coming up past the fields to the barn as Macintosh came out. It took him a bit of time, but the apple sibling looked up to see a smiling Gibstrum standing a few feet away.
He frowned at this.
It was already bad that the entire team was here, and the fact that he had found out Applejack had been talking with Nestor of all ponies. But now they sent in Gibstrum to talk to him!
"Well howdy there Mac." Gib said, his southern accent much close the the apples. Mac didn't say anything, staring down the green pegasus pony with a frown. He couldn't hide the fact that he was quite happy to see Gibstrum, seeing as he was the only one out of the six who truly knew anything about Big Mac. In fact, he was trying his hardest to keep from smiling. The two had been close back when they were younger, the two having almost the same personality as each other. Both were calm, both didn't speak much; and both were hard workers when they were needed the most.
"Eeyup." Mac said, his head held high as he kept staring at his former friend. The two shared an awkward silence with each other, neither making a move to strike up a conversation. It was only when another cool breeze blew by the two that Big Mac spoke up first.
"Can ah help ya Gib?" he asked. He mentally slapped himself now, wondering why he said that. Sure he was a pony of few words, and rarely spoke unless needed, but he was trying to stay mad at Gib and the others!
But with Gibstrum; it was impossible to stay mad.
"Ah you know Mac. Just came by to visit while I'am around. Maybe even...settle a few old sins." Gib said, noting that he always got to the point just like that. Big Mac became irritated now, walking out of the barn and nearing the stallion.
"Settle? There ain't nothin to 'settle' wit any ah you. You almost destroyed half of the barn, almost got ma kin harmed, and we haven't talked in Celestia knows how long." Big Mac said as he came in front of Gibstrum, looking down at him. The large stallion, thought intimidating as he appeared, growled as he again got the blank state of Gibstrum.
"Well, I reckon that apologizen ain't gonna solve this bit. But neither is blamin." Gibstrum said, his eyes casting off to the right for a bit before he stared back at Macintosh.
"Blame! It was y'all who went and woke up a dragon in the first place!" Big Mac said, his anger rising though he was suppressing it. He had always hated what had happened many years ago, and could only put blame on six ponies for it. "Which, by the way, is wha my ma and pa are dead too!" Big Mac finally said, his voice loud and angry now. This was all it took for Gibstrum to look down now, the guilt panning against the pegasus's heart.
"That's right"
He remembered how the rest of the six only heard the story on how the barn got damaged. That was the story for them at least, but to everyone else; it was different. The barn had been damaged worse than they could have imagined, and most of the tree's had been burn down from the flames of the dragon's rampage. But what stung worse, was the fact that during the rampage, Big Mac's parents were [in] the barn at the time. They had been trying to get all the animals out in time, and they greatly succeeded at it too; but at the cost of their own lives. Gibstrum sighed now, knowing that forgiveness was going to be incredibly hard to get from this crimson stallion.
Gibstrum looked up now, staring into the angry stallions eyes. Unlike before, Gib's were full of shame and suddenness, but also a hint of bravery as well.
"I know what we did was wrong Mac, and I speak for da whole six of us when I say that. We've made a lot er mistakes, and so have ya. We were colts Mac, and judgin from our past, you've done the same thing with us." Gibstrum began. Mac grew more furious by this, opening his mouth and raising a hoof to begin his own argument.
Nothing came out.
His anger began to subside as the sudden realization of Gibstrum's words began to take hold. He knew he was just as adventurous as the six were back in the day, and if it hadn't been for his chores, he probably would have gone along. If it would have been that, then it would be him also, who would have been guilty as well. He lowered his hoof down, though the hidden irritation still within his eyes. Gibstrum felt relived at this, having taken a risk at telling Mac something that would have made him even angrier.
"Tat bein said, the past is the past Mac, there's nothin we could ah done to make it any easier. I'm sure y'all still be mad at us, and askin for y'alls forgiveness would be to big to ask fer. All's me and the rest just want ter do is apologize, and maybe help out as much as possible." Gibstrum stated, looking straight at the larger stallion with sincere eyes.
The two stood there for minutes, their gaze never breaking from each other. All the while, both having mixed feelings about what was to come.
Finally, Mac sighed and looked up.
"Ah forgive y'all." he said.
Gibstrum would have probably jumped in the air out of pure happiness from this, if not for Mac looking back down on him.
"But before I truly forgive ya, I need to ask ya a favor." Big Mac said.
"Anythin Mac." Gib said with a slight smile. Mac could only chuckle at this, his smile turning into a sly grin.
"Yah!" yelled a stallion, and within the next second, a large boulder came crashing down onto the ground. It landed with a loud crash, cracks appearing at the bottom of it as it rolled a bit. The stallion inhaled and exhaled softly, appearing as if he had just got done working out in some way. He then clenched his teeth, slamming his bulky hoof onto the ground.
"Horseapples! You can do better then that Stronghoof!" he yelled with anger, quickly trotting over to the boulder again. He was close to the Everfree Forest, but still quite far from Ponyville itself. The place was a secret training field for the stallion, having found it himself years ago. Large boulders were stacked high towards his right, moss covering some of them as they hadn't been used in years. Large dents scattered the ground from where previous boulders had landed, some old while some looked fresh.
"Let's see here." Stronghoof said, patting the boulder to see if it was still usable. And smirked as the boulder remained intact.
"Alright. One more try." he said as he stood up on his hind legs. He wrapped his hooves around the large boulder, his smirk becoming a clench of teeth as he grunted.
With one grunt, the boulder flew off the ground in an instant, flying straight into the air at an impressive height. Stronghoof watched this, smiling as the boulder seemed to slow down as it reached it's peak.
"This is gonna be good." he said, spinning around and tensing his muscles.
"Doesn't anything fun happen anymore?" questions a cyan mare, lazily laying on a cloud she had found.
Ever since that day yesterday, Rainbow Dash was becoming more skeptical on the stallion six. Sure Gibstrum was a Pegasus, and like her, had a knack for flying. But he has seemed to-
Boring
Yeah. That was the word. He was [too] relaxed, [too] calm, and definitely [too] boring for her! She just couldn't take it! As nice as he was, he just didn't seem like someone Rainbow would hang out with.
"Yah!"
Rainbow immediately looked up, looking around to find where the yell had come from. It didn't sound like somepony was in trouble, more like somepony was yelling at something.
"Maybe I should check it out." she thought, her curiosity getting the better of her. She swooped off the cloud, speeding straight towards she heard the sound coming from.
No sooner as she gotten closer, than she heard the same voice again.
"Horseapples! You can do better then that Stronghoof!"
Her mind reeled, finding the name and voice very familiar to her. Rainbow shrugged it off as she sped up a bit, finally flying towards what seemed like an open field. She could see the ground dented, large boulders standing off to the side laying on top of each other. All around, she could tell that the hills kept the place hidden from Ponyville. What caught her attention though, was the brown stallion below her that was walking towards a huge boulder. She looked at him closely, noticing his spiked black mane and light brown coat. She recognized him instantly as Stronghoof, one of the members of the Stallion Six.
"What the hay is he doing here?" she asked herself, wondering what such a famous pony like him could possibly be doing. She noticed how he eyes the boulder; the large rock seeming as if it would take about four to five stallions to pick up. Suddenly, a thought broke into her mind.
"Is he really gonna pick that up?"
There's was no way he could. The boulder was three time his size and probably weighed a ton! Heck, it would probably take more than five ponies to lift it.
Her suspicions were answered when he stood up, putting his hooves halfway around the large rock. Rainbow could only snicker, wanting to see the look on Stronghoof's face when he failed. She had to admit though, he was much looked a lot like Big Macintosh, though more bulkier if one looked closely.
Not that she was looking closely.
Suddenly, as if instantly, the boulder Stronghoof had wrapped around moved up a bit before it soared straight into the air, passing an awe struck Rainbow Dash. Her mind couldn't comprehend what just happened. But it only got better.
No sooner had the rock passed her than it began its descent down towards the large stallion, a smile creeping on his face. He turned around quickly, rearing back his right leg as he turned his head. She could see as he calculated the rocks fall, but she just couldn't believe it.
"He's not seriously gonna break that huge rock with one hoof is he!"
What came next shocked her greatly.
The rock fell quickly, making it's way to the ground. Just a few inches away from the ground, the stallion released his right leg, his hoof impacting the rock with a loud 'THUD' sound. No sooner than that, the blunder gave a jolt before simply exploding. Dust kicked up, causing a temporary blindness to ravage the small land before Rainbow Dash. She growled and flapped her wing hard, using a small gust of wind to scatter the dust away from it. Her mouth suddenly fell open, and if not for her joints, would have probably fallen off.
What was once a large, regal boulder was now nothing more than millions of pieces and chunks of rock. They were scattered everywhere across the field, but the stallion seemed unimpressed by this.
"Still could have done better." he murmured to himself. It was then that he caught site of something above him, squinting his eyes as the bright sun made it hard to see.
"Who goes there!" Stronghoof yelled. The figure in the sky began to descend, Stronghoof finding it to be a cyan coated pegasus with shock in her eyes. She looked vaguely familiar to him, her rainbow mane and magenta eyes catching him off guard as he awed at her beauty.
Wait.
He instantly kicked his own mind for thinking such things, shaking his head as she stared at him. He was a fighter! Why would he think such things about someone he has just met! He hit back a curse as she sighed deeply.
"Uhh..hello?" Stronghoof said, only to be surprise as she swooped towards him and smiling.
"Whoa! That was amazing! How did you- Why did you- I mean! Wow! That was sooooo totally cool!" Rainbow Dash said, flailing her arms around. Stronghoof only watched, his mind confused at her but seemed to understand what she was talking about.
"So...you saw that..? It wasn't anything." he asked.
"Anything! You just went a broke an entire rock. With one hoof!" Rainbow managed to say, still excited over what she just saw. Stronghoof smile a bit at this, a new found confidence rising in his chest.
"Well, It's easier than it looks. My name isn't Stronghoof for nothing." he said, his boastful voice making Rainbow smirk. She suddenly caught herself, coughing before she crossed her arms. She couldn't act like this! She was Rainbow Dash! The fastest flier in all of Equestria!
"Yeah well, it's not that amazing. Not like your fast though." she said, with good results as Stronghoof raised an eyebrow.
"T's that so? Well these powerful legs aren't just for breakin things ya know." Stronghoof intimidated, pounding his powerful hooves on the ground. Rainbow became immediately attentive, smiling her usual sporty smile.
"Really? You wanna race me? Rainbow Dash! The greatest flier in all of Equestria!" Rainbow said as she swooped in the air, doing a few loops with impressive speed.
Stronghoof has to admit, she was quite fast. But he would never back down from a challenge.
"How's about this. We're pretty far from the town as it is. You. Me. Race." he said, snorting a bit as he drew his hoof back.
"Oh your on!" Rainbow Dash said, swooping down and floating neck and neck with the bulky stallion. The two looked at each other, Rainbow's magenta eye meeting with Stronghoof's dark brown eye. They stared at each other for seconds, not one of them making any sudden movement.
"1"
"2"
"3!" they both said in union, the two suddenly gone in a flash. Though Rainbow was ahead by inches, Stronghoof was close behind. What was interesting though, was the fact that when the two had locked eyes with each other; something odd had happened at their stares. Though they couldn't see it, it was something that would change them forever.
A small spark.
"Oh I can't thank you enough Nestor! You are indeed a much helpful stallion."
Rarity, as usual, had been producing dresses for the Summer Sun Celebration. All of Ponyville was getting ready today, since tomorrow was the festival itself, and many last minute clothing items had been made. The many pony's of Ponyville we're all hampering to prepare for it, and Rarity was no different. Like last night, she had remained up all night to perform her duties of dress making and finishing touches. She herself was feeling ever more exhausted from the lack of sleep and tireless hours of working. But she could not stop now! This was all for the sake of...
FASHION
"..."
Knock! Knock!
"...huh?.."
Rarity's thoughts were interrupted by the loud knocking of her door. She immediately guessed it was going to be one of her friends coming to tell her to sleep. And as usual, she was reject the idea and begin working. The beautifully white pony slowly backed away from one of her in-progress works, trotting towards the door with a suspicious look. She knew it was coming; the worried looks, the pleas, and probably even the forcing of her to sleep for a few hours before working. But as a pony who's generous fashion work could not stop for even an hour, she was going to have to forget about anything to do with sleep.
Knock. Knock
"Coming!" she said as she neared the door, hearing the knocks again, though this time, much softer than what her friends would usually do. She shrugged it off as she opened the door, being caught by surprise at the appearance of a navy blue coated stallion smiling back at her.
"Miss Rarity. Nice to see you again." Nestor said with a slight bow. Rarity stood there for a moment, giving wonder to why such a well known stallion would come to her own Boutique. Unless...
She face hoofed.
Stupid! She forgot that after Stronghoof's 'help' around her store, she probably might not have been able to finish the clothing line. It was then that Nestor, as her friends were walking to Twilight's, proposed that he could probably help her. She had to admit, out of six adventurers, he was probably the most handsome of them all. His well cut mane and the beauty of his coat made Rarity happy almost immediately. She generously accepted, seeing as help would make things to far smoother for her.
"Oh the pleasure's all mine deary. Please come in." she offered, stepping aside. The historian nodded happily as he stepped into the messy shop. Rarity noticed that he stopped, aweing at the tatters of fabrics and strings that inhabited the floor. Rarity mentally face hoofed herself for not cleaning up a bit, wondering what such an interesting pony would say to this. Her heart beat quickened as she closed the door, speeding towards Nestor's side with an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry about the...er..mess Nestor dear. I meant to clean up a bit. But being too into 'the zone', I neglected to um..." she managed to say, her cheeks flushing as Nestor began to chuckle.
"On the contrary my dear Rarity, such messiness when faced with the pressure of work is something me of all people finds quite lovely." he said, his statement making Rarity blush.
"I must say though, I can tell this is going to be an exciting afternoon." Nestor said as he turned his light orange eyes to meet Rarity's azure ones. She immediately looked away out of sheer will, hiding a blush that appeared on her face. Even in her condition, she could still register the handsome stallions compliment.
"But I won't allow another Prince Blueblood!" she told herself, shivering at the memory of the Prince himself. As good looking and dashing as he was, she found him to be the most unbearable of all stallions she had ever met.
"Well! Shall we get started then!" Nestor said with a blissful tone, raising a hoof up to shake Rarity's. She looked stunned for a minute at the gesture, but soon wrote it off as she also raised her hoof to meet his.
Then, something unexpected happened as their hoofs met. Both jumped back from the sudden surprise, looking at their hooves with a confused look. All the while, both wondering the same thing.
They both felt a shock, or in better words.
A spark.
Whew! Good chapter. Review and flame away my MLP companions!