AN: OMG! The reviews I get for this story are so great! :D

Sodapop's POV

"WHOO-HOO!" I cheered, as we all raced outside.

Ponyboy was just proved innocent. I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Everyone was cheering and each one of Ponyboy's gang members were slapping him on the back.

"You must be one of the first hoods in history not to go to prison!" Dean shouted.

Me and Darry tackled Pony in a hug. "Whoo! My brother's not going to prison!" I exclaimed happily.

Ponyboy smiled. "Yeah. I guess I'm not."

"So since yer not going to prison, what about the rumble?" Jay asked.

Ponyboy grinned. "I'll think about that later. Right now, lets celebrate! Drinks on me! Come on, Charlie lead us onward!" Pony said loudly.

Darry and I exchanged glances. We didn't like the idea of our little brother drinking, but I guess Darry was letting this one slide. Besides, Pony has done it a million times before. How would one more hurt? We all followed Ponyboy and Charlie to the bar.

Pony's told me about the bar before. It sounds like an okay place, at least better than bucks. He hasn't told me too much about New York, yet. Only about the bar, Chris, and some place called the warehouse. He said that him, and some of the gang stays there. He told me that his gang had a rival gang trying to dominate there turf. Snakes was the leader of that gang, and that's really all I know.

We reached the street and all of us walked down the rode. Ponyboy took the lead and it sure did look like he knew where he was going. Chris walked beside him and it looked like they kept glancing at each other. What was that about? Then I remembered that him and Johnny used to do the same thing. They could understand each other without even speaking. I always thought that was a little strange, but I was also jealous. I wanted to be that close to my little brother. I always told myself I was being stupid, that I was overreacting. I was. I had-have a close relationship with Pony already. Probably closer than Johnny. I hope.

It looks like Pony has found a new friend. Chris is kinda replacing Johnny. Except, Chris acts a lot like Ponyboy. I like Chris. He seems like a good kid.

Ponyboy and Chris lead us inside a small building that must be the bar. When I stepped inside, I was surprised that it was bigger on the inside. In the corner there was a pool table, and there were booths and tables all around. There was a juke box in the corner opposite from the pool table. It was a pretty decent bar. It reminded me of bucks and the Dingo in one.

Everyone sat at the booth.

"The usual, Runaway?" Charlie asked my little brother.

I had no idea what 'The usual' was, but I figured Pony had it often, because he nodded.

"Beers or whiskey?" Charlie asked the rest of us. A couple of Ponyboy's gang members said whiskey, but the rest of us said beer.

Charlie nodded and fixed us our drinks. He handed me a beer, but I didn't drink it. I never drank alcohol. Never had and never will. I really don't need it. I already have a permanent buzz. Darry didn't drink his either. He never approved of any drug or alcohol drink. He had a beer only once, but that was along time ago and he swore never to drink again. I'm not sure what the whole story was, Pony doesn't even know he ever drank a beer.

I watched Charlie mix some whiskey with Pepsi, then hand it to Ponyboy. So that was the usual. I didn't like the idea of Ponyboy drinking, but I didn't stop him. I knew deep down he could handle it. He's probably drunk it before. Hell, he probably drank the same thing every day when he was living here. I think I knew the new Ponyboy pretty well by now, and that seemed like something he would do. He reminds me kinda like Curly now. It was still a little unsettling and strange, but I'd get use to it. Everyone will soon enough.

I watched my baby brother carefully, watching every movement and reaction. He seemed totally at home. He was completely calm. I was happy that he was okay, but I was also worried. He told me he was gonna have to go back to New York, and he did. What now? I'm sure I couldn't force him back home, now that he was already here. He had his whole gang to back him up, too. I cant fight eight well-built teenage guys, from the hard streets of frickin New York. They would break my face.

Ponyboy was laughing and having a good time talking to his gang. I was feeling a little left out, so I decided to join in. I walked over and listened to what Ponyboy as talking to them about.

"… So, the rumble will be tomorrow at dusk. We can practice fight tonight." Pony was saying to his gang, who were listening intently.

"What's this about a rumble?" I asked joining his gang. I was surprised Two-Bit was listening to Pony as well.

Pony looked at me. "We're callin on a rumble with snakes gang. Want to join. Two-Bit is comin along." he asked.

I thought about it for a second. I do want to make sure nothing bad happens to my little brother, so I agreed. I turned around to look at Darry and Steve.

"Hey, guys. Ponyboy is goin to a rumble tomorrow. Ya guys gonna come?" I asked them.

Darry looked at me with a stern glare. "Soda, we're leaving in the morning. Pony too."

"Sorry dar, but I cant. I have my gang. Plus, a rumble to settle everything with snakes is exactly what we need. To good to pass up." Ponyboy told Darry up straight. I was amazed that Pony's voice sounded confident and strong. It wasn't like that a year ago. But things can change a lot in a year, I reminded myself.

Darry looked taken aback. "What?" he asked, shocked.

"I'm not comin home." Pony said flatly.

Those words echoed in my head. I'm not comin home. how could he say that? I want him home! I blocked out the rest of the conversation. Everything stopped for me. My mind went blank. All I could think is what? over and over, in my mind. What? What? What? I dint notice everyone getting up to leave until Steve tugged at my shirt.

"Hey, Soda. Come on."

"I'm coming." is all I said.

I got up, and we piled out the door.

Darry's POV

I was angry with my youngest brother. We argued about him not coming home. Why doesn't he want to come home? He's so damn stubborn. We walked through some ally's until we reached a large fence. Pony lead us down to the far end, and we stopped at an odd looking tree. Then, Ponyboy did something I didn't expect. He climbed the tree and hopped over the side.

I glanced at Soda. Soda glanced at Steve, and Steve glanced at Two-Bit, who simply said, "Tuff." and climbed the tree as well.

Sometimes I wonder if I should take Two-Bit to a doctor.

Everyone else climbed the tree, until it was Me, Soda, Steve, and Chris left.

"Come on. The warehouse is on the other side." Chris said. Then he started climbing.

I climbed over and dropped down to the other side. Pony's gang members were already walking towards a big building. Ponyboy was waiting behind, for the rest of us.

"Come on. We half to practice for the rumble." Ponyboy said.

I agreed to stay until after the rumble. I wanted to keep a look out for my baby brother, while in a fight. What did he mean by practice? We didn't do that in Tulsa.

We waited for the rest of the gang to climb over, and then Ponyboy lead us inside.

The warehouse was huge. We could easily get lost in here if we didn't know our way around. Pony lead us down a long hall way. He reached a door and opened it.

"Ya guys can stay in here over night. I'll let ya settle in, and than come get ya in about ten minutes. We have to practice." Ponyboy told us, and left.

In the room was four beds, enough for all four of us. One for me, Sodapop, Steve, and Two-Bit. The room was old looking and dusty, but I didn't mind for now. I was actually just relieved to rest for only a moment.

Everyone claimed a bed and laid down. It was silent for a long moment until, "So, what's this bout practice?" Steve asked, genially curious.

I shook my head. "I don't know. Things sure are different here." I responded.

Soda drawled, "Ponyboy is tuff, bein a leader of a gang an' all."

I only nodded my head.

Two-Bit was quiet, and then, "I bet this rumble is gonna be rough. New York sure ain't as easy as Tulsa."

Everyone murmured agreements. Then the door opened and Pony came in.

"Its time." he said.

We all followed him out, and to what seemed to be the center of the warehouse. There was a large camp fire in the middle of the clearing. Everyone was there, waiting for Ponyboy.

Everyone gathered around my little brother, included us, and Pony started.

"Here's how this works," he started, "someone throws punches and kicks, and the other dodges. Then vice versa." he finished.

What? This is practice? Well, it seemed pretty easy to me.

"Everyone pair up!" Ponyboy yelled, commandingly.

I was proud that my little brother was brave. But I was a little uneasy. I still wasn't used to it.

Everyone paired up. Surprisingly, Ponyboy asked me if we could partner.

"Sure, Pone." I agreed.

He grinned a bit. "You hit, I dodge. Okay?" he asked

I nodded. It sounded okay. As long as I don't really hit him, but something told me that wasn't gonna be a problem. Oh boy, how right I was.

I threw the first punch, and he side stepped. He was so fast I didn't even notice he moved. I kicked, and he hopped back. Glory, was he fast or what? I couldn't believe he had that much agility! I punched and kicked, but he was impossible to hit. He kept side stepping or ducking, or jumping back. I punched again, but he ducked. Glory!

I stopped, realizing that I wouldn't win. "Golly, Pone! Yer as fast as a cheetah." I exclaimed.

He smiled. "Yup. And yer as strong as Superman." he retorted, playfully.

I laughed. I noticed that everyone stopped to watch us practice.

Ponyboy looked at everyone. "Should we move on?" he asked.

"Yup! Lets move on to weapons!" Dean yelled.

Weapons? What?

"Sure." Ponyboy said. "How about pipe?" he asked.

His gang murmured agreements. What? Pipe! That's dangerous.

"Pone!" I yelled. "Pipes? That's dangerous!" I shouted at him.

He looked at me. "Dar, we're trained. You guys can leave this one out. Ya can just watch." he told me.

I grabbed his arm. "No." I said.

He shook me off. "Yes. Ya cant stop me." he said.

I sighed, in frustration. "Fine. But if ya get hurt, I'm gonna beat the tar outta ya." I threatened, but it didn't shake him even a little.

He smirked. "Ya do that, Dar."

He walked around the corner and came back with a pipe.

"Ya guys stand over there." he told us.

Two-Bit, Steve, Soda, and I walked to the side of the clearing. The rest of Pony's gang stayed where they were. I was getting curious to what he was gonna do with the pipe. I hope he doesn't hurt his stubborn ass.

"Chris, ya swing, I dodge." Pony said.

"Why do you get to go first?" Chris complained.

"Because." is all Pony says. Two-Bit snickered.

"That's not an answer." I heard Chris mutter.

The Rest of Ponyboy's gang moved to the side, with us. Everyone watched with interested eyes.

"What's he gonna do?" Soda asked Jay.

Jay glanced at him, then grinned. "You'll see. Just watch. Runaway has skill. We're proud he's our leader." Jay told him, and Soda didn't say anything else.

I watched Chris take the first swing at him, but Ponyboy did a flip in the air, backwards.

"Whoa." Steve, Two-Bit, Sodapop, and I all stared at Pony is amazement. I remembered teaching everyone gymnastics a while back, but everybody had some trouble with it. But Pony just did a perfect back flip.

It went on like that for a while. Chris would swing the pipe at him, and Pony would do some crazy gymnastic move perfectly. I couldn't even do stuff like he was doing, and I was the one that taught him. When it was over, all four of us ran over to him.

"That was SO TUFF!" Two-Bit shouted, draping his arm around Pony's shoulders.

Pony grinned. "Its all thanks to Darry. He's the one that showed me how." he said, looking at me.

I shook my head. "I didn't teach ya that! That was amazing, Pone! I cant even do it that perfectly!" I shouted, completely proud of my youngest brother.

"Well, I'm tired. Lets call it a night." he announced.

Everyone said goodnight, and left the clearing.

"Ya guys know the way to yer room, right?" Pony made sure.

I nodded. "Yeah. We'll be fine. See ya in the morning."

Ponyboy walked off. I was still stunned at what my baby brother could do. It was tuff. I could tell Soda felt the same way. Everything was overwhelming. What our little brother has become is… astounding. Some of what he could do is amazing, but then some is terrible. Half of me is very proud of the new Ponyboy, and half of me disapproves of him. This is all confusing…

AN: What do ya think? Too much? Did I get too carried away or is it really tuff of what I made Ponyboy?

Please tell me! I really need to know! Review!