Saturday Morning

As Strong woke up from his hangover, he remembered he had a picnic to go to. Groaning to himself, he flopped onto the floor beside the bed and dragged himself to the bathroom. He went through his usual morning routine: brush, floss, mouthwash, then shower. Instead of a good breakfast, Strong decided to put the beans to good use and make coffee. He listened to the dripping of the caffeinated drink as it fell into his cup, which already had its three blocks of sugar. He mixed it up with a spoon and drank a portion of it.

He glanced out the window of his kitchen and saw the sun nearing its high point. There was still some time to get to the picnic, which in his mind meant more time to drink his coffee. He chuckled as he remembered the last Saturday's events, and how it was he was going to this picnic. With a shake of his head, he drank the last of his coffee and went to the pantry. Twilight had told him a day later he would need to bring something, so he offered to bring hay, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches. He got to work preparing a dozen of them, then packing them in a small box.

Before he left, he glanced at his reflection, then slicked his mane back. "There," he smiled.

Putting the keys in the box, he rested it on his back and made way for the open fields near the Acres. It was a short trot before he spotted Lightning walking towards him. "Strong! What's up?" he smiled.

Strong bumped hooves with his buddy and shrugged. "Eh, going to a picnic," he grinned.

"A picnic?" Lightning said with a brow raised and a smirk. "Finally met a mare worthy of you."

Strong slugged him playfully in his shoulder. "Dude, just relax. We're friends. 'Sides, I'm not sure somepony like me can really date," he sighed with a roll of his eyes. "So, where you headed off to?"

Lightning smirked as he walked past him. "Some of us do have marefriends," he said in a gentlecoltly fashion. "Some of us new more than others."

"Congrats, then," Strong said in the same accent. "Do be a good chap and tell her I said g'day.

"Aye, sir," Lightning chuckled. Strong laughed as he continued his way to the fields, but something in the sky caught his attention.

He saw a rainbow streak zooming through the sky, and below it, he saw Pinkie, Twilight, Fluttershy, and two mares he didn't recognize. The rainbow streak turned out to be Rainbow Dash, of course, and she slowly descended to sit with them. He chuckled and made his way closer to them.

"Hey, girls," Strong called. They all turned to him, and three of the six faces smiled back.

"Hey, Strong!" Pinkie waved madly.

"Sup," Rainbow said coolly.

"Hey, Strong," Twilight smiled. "Glad you made it."

Strong sat between Twilight and Fluttershy on the quilt. "Um, Fluttershy, right?" he asked. She hesitantly nodded her head, and hid behind her bangs. "My friend Thunderlane said thanks for taking care of his pet goldfish."

"Oh, it was my pleasure," she smiled softly.

"So, you're the stallion Twilight spoke about," Rarity smiled. "I am Rarity."

Applejack reached over and shook his hoof with a strong grip. "Name's Applejack," she winked.

"Strong Spirit," he nodded with a strong shake of his own.

Applejack smirked as she felt her hoof being the one shaken. "I like you already," she chuckled. "So, what was all that chat about you gettin' arrested?"

Strong sighed and smiled at the same time. "Oh, yeah. Um, y'know Mean Greens?" he asked. The mares nodded in unison. "Well, he was closing up shop early, and there was this guy complaining. Greens is kinda old, so I didn't want for him to deal with that mess. So I tried to calm him down by talking to the guy."

"A lotta good that did," Rainbow huffed.

Strong nodded. "Yeah, well I guess he got pretty offended when I touched hun," he said. "He hooked me, I did the same, then I tried to keep him down 'til the guards came, and they thought we were just fighting."

"So you were just helping Greens?" Applejack asked. "Ah know the guy. He helped mah farm out when I was a filly."

"Then Twilight, Rainbow and me went to go help him!" Pinkie exclaimed. "Remember?"

Strong nodded. "Yep, and thanks again, Twilight," he said to the mare. "You cannot believe how much I would have heard from my boss."

Twilight smiled sweetly. "It was nothing. I don't think I'm even allowed to do that, but it was just a misunderstanding," she said, giving him a small smirk. "I was only gone for two hours before you got into that mess."

"Well, maybe I just wanted to see you again," he teased. Twilight's cheeks flushed as her friends giggled. "But enough gossip. Let's crack open the goods!"

They all agreed together, and Pinkie Pie opened the box of muffins she brought. Strong opened the box with HLT sandwiches, and Fluttershy brought regular sandwiches. They ate and spoke together, and asked questions about Strong Spirit, which were asked by Rarity most of the time.

She asked about his hobbies, his job, what kind of house he lived in, his interests, and basically anything she could ask about. Strong answered each, of course, but they were oddly specific. At least, for somepony he'd just met. As she spoke, he couldn't help but notice something unusual. After another slew of questions, he decided to get an answer.

"Okay, Rarity," he smirked. "Why in Celestia's name are you wearing a hat when it's, what, 80-something right now?"

She smiled and gently pushed the brim of her hat up. "Well, darling, a lady, such as myself, should always looks fabulous, rain or shine," she countered.

Strong forgot that she was a dressmaker, but it made some sense. At least, her answer for having the hat, not why she was wearing it in this weather.

"So, I heard a couple of days from now there's supposed to be this huge storm," Strong said to the pegasi of the group. "What's it for? I thought you guys were up to date with the downpours."

Rainbow shrugged. "I guess it might be to help refill the reservoir," she shrugged.

"Well there was a large amount before Cloudsdale used it for the rain this season," Twilight reminded them. "It would make sense since after Manehatten next year it'll be Ponyville again."

Rainbow shrugged once again, then got up on her hooves. "Hey Twi, could you help me with this trick? It's super complicated, and I was wondering if you could score me with Flutters and AJ," she said.

"Ooh! CanIhelpcanIhelpcanIhelpcanI-" Pinkie rambled on as she hopped in place wildly.

"Okay, okay!" Rainbow said as she shoved her hoof in Pinkie's mouth. "But you can't always give me tens like last time, got it?"

"Mhm!" she squealed through the hoof.

The five of them went to go watch Rainbow Dash practice, leaving Rarity and Strong on the blanket. "Aren't you going?" he asked as he stretched his hooves back.

"No. Rainbow Dash's stunts may be amazing, but I think I'll rest for now," she smiled. Strong nodded and turned to watch Rainbow Dash doing a few stunts.

Rarity looked at him, running her eyes down his fit figure. It wasn't all muscle, that much was clear, but it was just as obvious that he still packed quite a punch. What made her smirk was that she noticed his gaze falling from time to time. Her gaze went down, and she gasped softly as she looked to his flank. Where his special talent was supposed to be.

"Strong," she called to him. "What happened to your cutie mark?"

Strong turned to her, then used his tail to cover the scar. "It was when I was little, just an accident," he said in a flat tone.

"What's your special talent?" she asked.

Strong shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't know," he muttered.

Rarity scooted closer to hear better, making him sigh once again. "It's alright if you don't feel like talking about it," she said softly, placing a hoof on his shoulder.

Strong nodded softly and exhaled. "Thanks. The past is the past," he sighed. "So, what's the real reason you're so interested in me?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, feigning an innocent tone.

"I've been with enough mares to know when they're here for somepony or another," Strong smirked. "So many questions, you did a poor job of acting like you were impressed with me."

Rarity smirked and sat back. "Well, I am searching for a stallion that could meet my standards," she giggled, winking at him. "But you're very perceptive. And here I was thinking you were all bulk and no brain."

"Yeah, I get that a lot," Strong chuckled. "So who're you asking these questions for?"

Rarity glanced to the judges of Rainbow and saw they were still occupied with her stunts. She scooted closer to Strong and gestured for him to come forward. "What do you think about Fluttershy?"

"She's pretty cute," Strong shrugged. "But she's, well, shy."

"And Pinkie Pie?"

Strong chuckled. "Crazy mare, but I know she's real friendly. She threw me that welcome party a couple years ago like she does with newcomers," he smiled.

"And the others?"

"Rainbow's pretty cool to be around, I guess. Applejack's... well, she's a dependable pony, and she's got a thing or two about her looks," he grinned. "You're, how do I say, sophisticated."

Rarity giggled some. "How so?" she grinned.

"Well, I can't really get a read on you," Strong smirked and shook his head. "But so far I can tell you're very helpful, and like your Element says, generous."

Rarity nodded her head with a smile. "And what about Twilight?" she asked with a grin.

Strong looked away in thought, then smiled warmly.. "Honestly, she'd look way better with glasses," he chuckled. "I don't know, ever since I met her I've thought about that. Still, she's got a way with her looks. And her hooves." He chuckled at the last part, thinking back to the nights ago. "Seriously, she needs to loosen up more. I can't imagine what her coltfriend has to do to-"

"Twilight isn't seeing anypony," Rarity interrupted.

Strong arched a brow at her. "Really? Because, aside from you, she looks like she has stallions lining up practically," Strong said. "She's seriously single?"

Rarity nodded sadly. "I said the same thing. She certainly catches stallions' eyes, and I daresay a few mares," she giggled. "But she always turns them down, and she never says why. Even Big Macintosh mustered up the courage to ask her, but she let him down easy."

Strong was surprised somepony like Big Mac got shot down. "Really?" he said a little lower. "Like, no coltfriend, or marefriend?"

Rarity shook her head. "None."

"Wow... so... do you think she... never mind," Strong chuckled.

"What?" Rarity asked a tad eagerly.

"Nothing," Strong waved his hoof. "Nothing, Rarity."

"Strong Spirit," she said a bit seriously. "What did you have to say?"

He sighed before shrugging. "Don't you wonder why? She's a good-looking mare, but she doesn't want to date. It's weird" he chuckled. "But, if Mac got shot down, there isn't another pony that could take his place."

Rarity's flat mouth curved into a smile. "I'm sure she'd have to give it some thought, should the right stallion ask," Rarity grinned. "You were the only pony she ever danced with, and you've kissed already."

Strong laughed softly. "Yeah there's that," he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Did she say she smacked me?"

Rarity giggled but nodded. "I would have done the same if it means anything," she smiled. "But you're the first stallion she's ever really taken notice to."

Strong's eyebrows rose, and he went to speak just as Rainbow shouted, "And that, is how it's done!" The mares watching clapped their hooves and stood back up. "Okay, I think I need a shower."

"Ooh, it's so smelly!" Pinkie laughed. "Gummy loves smelly mud! But then when he gets in the house the smelly mud makes a muddy mess, then the Cakes get mad at him for making a smelly muddy mess, then I have to clean up the smelly muddy puddles, and take Gummy a goodie smelly soapy bath!"

"You've gotten better though," Twilight commented. "The last time you tried that triple loop corkscrew you crashed. You barely grazed that puddle."

"Oh yeah," Fluttershy added. "You were almost perfect. It would have been better if you missed that puddle, u-unless you weren't trying to."

"And next time, try not to get mud on us," Applejack chuckled.

Strong and Rarity shared knowing looks, then retreated to their original positions. "That was some good flying ace," Strong smiled. "But you need a shower, big time."

Rainbow shrugged boastfully, flaring her wings and getting some mud on him. Rarity practically used him as cover from the mud. "And now so do you, dude," she laughed.

"C'mon," he groaned playfully, "I just got this coat clean."

They laughed a little and looked at the mess of the picnic. "I think it's time to go home," Twilight said. Her horn fired up and lifted the leftovers into the basket, while the quilt folded itself. "We're really glad you came Strong."

"Yup," Applejack tipped her hat.

"Yepperooni!" Pinkie smiled.

"It was nice meeting you, Strong."

"See ya later," Rainbow waved.

Strong and Rarity gave each other knowing nods and waved each other off. "Bye Twilight," Strong called after the lavender mare.

"Bye, Strong," she waved to him with a smile.

Seriously though, glasses. Perfect on her

Author's Note

Jeez, editing these mistakes is rough. But that's beside the point! Hope you're all enjoying! And I'll say again, this is my first clopfic, so any criticism is welcome :twilighblush: Remember to like, fav, comment, and have an awesome day or night! Peaces!