I woke up the next morning knowing what was going to happen. First, I was going to post up a few signs saying that I was taking requests for drawings around Ponyville. Second, I would go to race in the EverfreeForest with my new friends. I was just starting to make some posters when there was a knock on the door. I opened it, and Applejack was there, holding an invitation between her teeth.

"I'm invitin' you to my hoedown," she explained. "I figure you don't know many ponies yet, so I'm throwin' a hoedown this Friday. Everypony and their friends are gonna be there. And don't worry if you don't know many a pony there. They'll be happy to tell you their names." The earth pony came inside, and seeing the printing press, asked, "So what's this?"

"Well, I'm making posters so if somepony wants me to draw something for them, they know who to contact. I am an art pony, you know."

"Oh, right. I forgot." Applejack smiled sheepishly. I then said, "I'm going to post these all over Ponyville, and I could use some help. Can you help me, AJ?"

"Well, sure. I am the most dependable of ponies, y'know." We both laughed, and then headed out to post the flyers. Once we were done, we both headed to the EverfreeForest for the race. I saw all the ponies I had met yesterday, as they lined up for the race. Spike, who held the flag that would start the race, explained the rules. "Alright, girls. I want a nice, fair race. No using your unicorn magic, and absolutely no flying, with or without wings." Rainbow Dash scoffed at these words. Spike continued, "I also want you guys to keep in mind that this is for fun. So there's no advantage to winning, but no disadvantage either. Also, this is the Everfree forest. There are many dangers, and plenty more obstacles."

"Oh, just get the race started already!" Rainbow Dash yelled. She was clearly a pony of little patience. Spike held up the flag, and announced, "Alright, on your mark…"

The ponies got in maximum running positions.

"Get set…"

Rainbow Dash and AJ, both very competitive, narrowed their eyes.

"GO!" The ponies began running. Dash and Applejack ran as fast as they could. Pinkie Pie happily bounced along the path. Fluttershy and Twilight walked town the path merrily. I walked up to Twilight, and asked, "Let me guess: You're sprinting right now, so when everypony get's tired later, you can pull ahead of the pack?" Twilight nodded cheerfully, and I decided to follow suit.

We soon came across a patch of odd, blue leaves. As I was about to put my foot in, Twilight yelled, "Stop!" I stood perfectly still. Fluttershy said softly, "Oh, don't step in those! That's poison joke!"

"What's…poison joke?" I asked curiously.

"It's a mysterious plant that only grows in the EverfreeForest," Twi explained. "When someone touches it, it 'pulls a prank' on that person. For instance, when I stepped in it a while back, my horn flopped down and got covered in spots." Knowing what danger I now faced, I backed up a few inches, and bravely jumped over the patch. I tripped on my landing, but knew I was safe. Twilight quickly jumped over as well as Fluttershy flew over, and we all headed towards the rest of them.

We were catching up to Pinkie Pie, who was hopping and giggling merrily all the way. The cheerful mare stopped immediately hopping and giggling when she saw the large, gaping mouth of a cave, and sneaked passed it. When she got to the other side, she started hopping again. I then asked Fluttershy, "What was she so afraid of?"

"Well, um, this is the lair of the Ursas Minor and Major," she replied with a squeak. Twilight explained in a whispery voice, "We must be very quiet, we don't want to wake them after what happened last time." The three of us slowly walked by, Fluttershy nearly having a heart attack she was so scared. As soon as we were past, Twilight let out a sigh of relief, and we head onward in the race.

We were just about to the other edge of the EverfreeForest, and Rainbow Dash was trailing ahead, followed quickly by Applejack. Though we had started slow, we made it to the rest of the group. I then realized Pinkie was crossing the stream. Oh, no, I thought. What if I don't make it? Twilight crossed, and Fluttershy made it, too, but I skidded to a halt as I got near to the stream. Twi said, "Come on, Doodledraw. It's not that big of a stream."

"Yeah, D.D.," Pinkie said cheerfully. "It's just a hop, skip, and a jump!" She demonstrated, crossing the stream with ease. I prepared myself, readying as I did before. I then jumped over the stream, but as I landed, a great pain spread through my upper right hoof. I cried out in pain, as the three came to my side, ready to help.

"Yes!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. "I won! You may now call me…" She trailed off as she and AJ noticed her friends, and they all ran to my side. They all stared in shock of my pain, and Twilight was the first to say, "Let's get Doodledraw back home, where we can get a professional to look at it." She then ordered, "Rainbow, Applejack, since you two are the strongest, use your combined strength and carry her." They followed, and they carried me on their backs, my front carried by the earth pony, my end carried by the Pegasus.

The walk back to Ponyville was a long one, considering Rainbow Dash couldn't fly, and the rest of the group had to wait for Applejack and RD to catch up. Twilight and Pinkie had decided to make the trip more fun by singing songs and telling of their fantastical adventures. We had finally gotten out of the EverfreeForest, and I pointed out where my house was to Applejack, since Rainbow Dash already knew where my house was.

"Okay, you're going to have to rest this limb for three days," Nurse Redheart said while she was wrapping my hoof in gauze. "By then, you should be able to walk on it." The nurse gathered her things and walked out. I sighed, and told Applejack, "Tell whoever wants me to draw something for them to put it on hold. I'm afraid I won't be drawing any time soon." The earth pony nodded as she walked out.

"Is there anything I can get you?" Twilight asked. I was a little shocked by her notion, and said, "Huh?"

"Do you need anything? You know: snacks, books, games, anything that'll make you feel better."

"Well, I, uh, do have some art books I always read when I'm bored."

"I'm on it!" Pinkie Pie said as she headed over to the bookshelf. She grabbed a random book from the bookshelf, and fell off the ladder she was standing on. I chuckled, "No, that's not it. It's in the box labeled 'Art Supplies'." Pinkie began walking over there, but Twilight blocked her path and said, "I'll get it." She opened the box using magic and carried the books out one by one over to me. They all landed on my lap, and I said, "Wow. Thanks. No one's ever done this for me…"

"Well, you had friends back home, right?" Twilight asked. "Surely they took the time to see you."

"Actually, this is my first time living without my parents." They stared at me, and then Pinkie Pie said, "Good for you! Now if you don't mind, I'm gonna get cupcakes for you!"

"Really? Cupcakes?!" I couldn't believe how excited my own voice sounded.

"Yep! You deserve sweets when you're sick!" Pinkie Pie happily bounced out of the house while Twilight explained, "I might as well keep you company while you're sick. It's the least I can do." Just as the unicorn was done saying that, Spike came running in with medical supplies.

"I came as soon as I can," the baby dragon explained. "I left as soon as the race began, and I waited for you guys to come back. When no one came in the hour, I walked to Zecora's hut and back looking for you guys, but I saw nopony. Then, I saw ponies crowding around to see something coming out of the EverfreeForest. I was Rainbow Dash and AJ, carrying Doodledraw. I went back home, got all the medical equipment I could carry, and came back."

"Good," I said. "I mean, they already fixed up my leg, but I'm glad you're here. Spike, I need you to write a letter to my parents, please." The dragon picked up a piece of paper, and a pencil, and I began telling him what to say, in detail. After he finished writing it, I told him for me to look it over. I must say his handwriting was different than mine. It said:

Dear Mom and Dad,

Today, I learned that true friends are there for you, no matter what. My friend, Spike, will be writing for me today, so this letter's handwriting might be different. I broke my hoof in a race with my friends after jumping a stream (I knew it was a bad idea) and it should be healed up by the time I send my next letter. I don't want to write too much, because there's not much to say, so I'm out.

Until I can write again,

Doodledraw

I handed the letter back to Spike, who almost blew it to Princess Celestia (Twi told me he could do that) but the unicorn stopped him by saying, "Wait, wait, wait! This is for our friend, not Celestia, remember?" Spike then took the letter to the mailbox, and I told him to take the other letter I made, while he's at it. The two left, but they weren't the only visitors I had.

Bonbon saw my injury as well, and brought me a box filled with candy. Golden Harvest brought me some assorted veggies to "keep my strength up," and Pinkie Pie came back with the cupcakes, as promised. Derpy Hooves even brought me a muffin basket when she came for the mail. I ate some of the veggies, then deciding it was time to turn in, although I was already in bed, I put the covers over myself, and fell asleep.