Waiting for the Elements

Aleu had been taken out of the hospital and back to the library. Things weren't the same as all Aleu did was look through the balcony as he took care of his wound. The injury stung not because it was there, but the fact that Shade, his best friend, had made that wound. Aleu could no longer cry as he now accepted the fact that his friends had betrayed him. What he hoped for was Eris's information. She said she was being controlled by someone….something. Aleu was thinking about all kinds of curses to the one behind this, while fearing the fact if his friends were really being under control…or not.

Downstairs, Balkin came in with Pinkie, Lucy, and Rainbow.

"Oh yeah! I'm starving!" Rainbow said as she rubbed her stomach.

"I don't know why you came with me." Balkin said. "I was really just going to read."

"Come on Balkin! You know you want that great break-" Pinkie stopped as she saw the breakfast table had only Twilight and Spike with a simple as can get breakfast.

"Hey…" Rainbow Dash started to complain. "Where's all the food!?"

Balkin sighed as he went to the shelves, grabbed a book, then read.

Twilight glared at the three for their intentions.

"In case you've forgotten, Aleu needs more then rest as he's handling the fact that his friends had turned against him just yesterday!"

The three girls looked down shamefully. In surprise, Aleu came downstairs maintaining a fake smile.

"Don't worry Twilight…I think…I can still do something." Aleu said somewhat slowly.

Twilight felt worried for him while the other three jumped for joy. "Are you sure Aleu?"

Aleu could only give the faint smile and nod yes as he headed his way for the kitchen. Pinkie, Rainbow, and Lucy were awaiting by the table gnawing at the imaginary food Aleu would be sure to cook. It was shattered however as a loud clanking and clattering noise fell into the room, grabbing Twilight's attention to help. The others were too hesitant and surprised to get up and check. Twilight entered the kitchen as Aleu groaned and shed even more tears.

"Man, I really am useless…" Aleu said hopelessly.

"Don't say that Aleu! It's alright! Accidents happen!" She attempted to comfort him.

Aleu cried a bit more and lied his head onto Twilight.

"I miss them!" Aleu said to Twilight. "I…I really want to see them! But they want to kill me!"

Aleu was beyond sad. Twilight could see how lost he was knowing he had just lost his best friends. Placing her hoof onto Aleu's shoulder, she said, "We’re here to help you."

Aleu stopped crying and got up slowly. "I'm sorry…I guess I really can't make breakfast right now." he said with his fake smile as he sat down on a chair.

Balkin came in closing the book he just started reading. Walking up to Aleu, he said, "Don't kid yourself."

Twilight looked at Balkin shocked to see him use such direct words.

"Your friends wouldn't act like that. Even if I never met them, I know you wouldn't have befriended a monster like that."

Aleu looked at Balkin and his strong will.

"Their brainwashed like Eris, but if we beat some sense into them, then they'll be back to normal." Balkin reminded him.

Aleu looked down as he slowly regained his composure and looked back up with a small grin.

"Y-Yeah…your right." Aleu said now more sure of himself. "If we try, maybe we can get them back."

Though still weakened by his thoughts, Pinkie came on right when she was needed with her upbeat attitude.

"Don't worry! We'll still be your friends!" Pinkie said to Aleu.

"…Yeah, you're right…" Aleu grinned. "I guess I should go out and do something then."

Rainbow Dash then flew in next to Aleu's shoulder.

"Hey, how about you show me those cool kicks?" Rainbow suggested.

Aleu chuckled as he said, "Foot work is something you need to get ahead on. I watched a certain anime, which showed me how to fight like that."

Aleu showed both his hands to his friends. "As he said, a chef must be careful not to lose his hands, therefore, the only way for him to fight is his legs."

Twilight seemed a bit interested in his fighting style. Pinkie jumped up at down at the thought of his style.

"Wow! That makes sense! But us ponies have four legs anyways." Pinkie pointed out.

"Then you use your hind legs to fight if you do my techniques." Aleu explained.

Rainbow then turned to Balkin as he looked back to Rainbow directing his attention on him.

"How about you? You seem to fight with your hands." Rainbow pointed out.

"I'm a boxer. We throw strictly punches, no kicks." Balkin explained. "Our feet are only used to move and dodge, but our hands are what we use to go into the offensive."

Rainbow couldn't decide what to go with. As she was thinking what style she would rather have, Pinkie then had an idea to Aleu.

"Oh! I know! Aleu! You should show Applejack your moves!" Pinkie suggested.

"AJ? Why?" Aleu replied in curiosity.

"That's…actually a good idea." Twilight agreed. "Applejack often bucks apple trees, so it would only be natural if she had your techniques."

Aleu tilted his head at the information. "Really? I guess I should pay a visit to her."

"What!?" Rainbow complained. "What if I wanted to learn how to fight by kicking!?"

"Well, you could come with us." Aleu suggested. "Or you could learn to fight hand style."

Balkin gave a small wave at Rainbow as she looked over. Unsure what to do, she kept looking back and forth.

"Ugh, choosing sucks!" Rainbow complained.

Aleu laughed as he headed for Sweet Apple Acres with Pinkie. Entering the farm, they see Applejack nearby the orchard. She turned to see her friends had come over.

"Howdy Aleu! Hey Pinkie!" Applejack greeted. "What brings you over?"

"Well, we were helping Aleu feel better earlier, then we were talking about kicks or punches, then I thought you would like Aleu's fighting style since you kick every day, then we came over so he could show you! Right Aleu?" Pinkie explained too fast and too much in less than a minute.

"Um…I think?" Aleu responded unsurely. "So, anyways, I was wondering if you wanted to learn how to fight by my style."

Applejack smiled. "Well, your abilities did save us many times. I think I could find some use in that." she replied.

"Alright then! When should we get started?" Aleu questioned.

"Hold on, I still gotta buck all these apples until their all in the barn." Applejack replied.

Without any warning, Aleu jumped up high, then thrust his foot onto the ground.

"Quaking Kick!"

The quake of his attack had knocked all the apples off their trees. Applejack was once again stunned by that technique. Looking back to him, he then asked, "Alright, let's gather all these apples so we can hurry up on our training!"

A while later after collecting all the apples, Aleu stretched his legs before starting off.

"Okay, if you can answer this, then I'd say you're halfway through your training already." Aleu told Applejack, which surprised her a bit.

"What body part do you use everyday no matter what?" Aleu questioned.

"Uh…your mouth? To breath?" Applejack replied.

Aleu laughed as he nodded no. "Though that is technically true, it's not the answer I'm looking for." He pointed at Applejack's legs. "Your legs! You have four, so it's only natural that you use this the most. walking, holding, hitting, all kinds of things! If you keep your feet off the ground like pegasus though, then you're not getting the everyday exercises for your kicks."

Applejack grinned and nodded. "Well, I'm not a pegasus, so I can assure you that I'm a walker."

Aleu grinned then turned to the open space. "Well, it's important to give the strongest push with your foot. If you do that, then you can get around anywhere." Aleu explained to Applejack. "For example…"

Aleu kicked the floor and suddenly he bounced up in the air.

"Push your foot onto the ground hard enough, then the reaction you'll get will be the ground pushing back on you, making you fly up in the air, the recoil effect" Aleu informed her as he then looked down again. "Now if you kick in the air hard enough…"

Aleu pushed out his foot to the ground and was sent flying to the floor incredibly fast.

"Your leg will lead you to wherever your kicking at, thrust effect." Aleu finished his demonstration.

Applejack was very impressed that such skills came so simple. She then started to prepare herself to do the same tricks as Aleu.

"So, I just kick the ground hard enough?" She made sure.

"Remember, you need a lot of power! Don't hold back until you get this technique mastered." Aleu warned her.

Applejack kicked the floor with her hind legs, and shot up into the air. Pinkie who was nearby was astounded, but Applejack seemed to be uncertain as she couldn't do the second technique.

"Whoa! H-How do you do the second one again?!" Applejack called out.

"You have to kick where you want to go!" Aleu answered.

Applejack kicked over and over, but she was not going anywhere except down. Aleu managed to jump and grab her before she fell down. Putting her on the ground gently, she tapped her hat with a bit of frustration.

"Aw shucks! I really thought I got it down." Applejack spoke. "Why didn't it work?"

Aleu held his chin and responded, "Those kicks were kinda flailing. If you don't pull your leg back enough, you won't be able to use all of your power, and without enough force, you won't be going anywhere except where the gravity takes you."

Applejack looked at Aleu with determination. "Alright Aleu, if I got the first one down, then I'll be sure to get this one too!"

She again started with the recoil effect. After flying in the air, she tried to keep calm and put her hind legs in then during her flip, she kicked. The technique actually worked, sending her flying to a tree. After hitting it, she fell down with the tree shaking a lot, which would have definitely dropped apples if hadn't for Aleu already taking care of them.

"Wow!" Applejack applauded. "I can't believe I did that!"

"Twilight was right, you have the perfect kicks for this!" Aleu stated to Applejack. "I have a feeling you still need a bit more versatility on your moves, but for now, it'll work whenever you need it!"

Applejack smiled and said, "Thanks Aleu! You really know how to make a pony smile!"

Suddenly out of surprise, Applejack give a small kiss on Aleu. Immediately, they step back a few feet. Pinkie Pie gasped and jumped into the scene.

"Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" Pinkie said again and again.

"I-I didn't mean that! It was just- out of excitement!" Applejack inquired as she blushed.

"Are you sure you're just not in l-o-v-e~?" Pinkie said slowly.

"No way! Aleu just became my friend for a few days, and I have not made any feelings further than that!" Applejack claimed.

"Then why'd you kiss him?" Pinkie questioned.

"I told you! It was a reflex from the excitement!" Applejack answered.

Aleu laughed at Applejacks answer. "You're so weird! If you don't want to kiss, then just don't do it!" He said as he continued to laugh hysterically.

"Is it uh, okay if you two don't tell anypony?" Applejack asked sincerely. "Even if it was an accident, I don't want them to make a fuss about it."

"Alright, sure!" Aleu casually responded. "If you don't want anyone to hear about it, then I know nothing about it."

"Me too!" Pinkie said as she gave the expression, 'zipped tight'.

Applejack gave a small grin as Aleu snickered at her. He had no response to what just happened whatsoever, almost as if it never happened.

A while later, Aleu had walked backed to town with the two walking alongside him.

"So, what are you planning to do now?" Pinkie asked.

"Hmm, maybe we can go get some grub?" Aleu suggested.

"I don't mind to that." Applejack replied.

"Alright then, let's go eat at that restaurant." Aleu pointed to the building.

The restaurant had tables outside with other ponies sitting at a few. The three sit down on by the table and opened up their menus. Aleu was having a troubling time sitting down on the floor, because the table would be too high. Standing up was no good for when he did so, the table was too low. Applejack and Pinkie giggled as Aleu tried to find the right height.

"This is annoying…" Aleu said. He then looked over to a hay pile, then pulls it over to the table making a seat. It was the right height and now Aleu was able to focus on his menu.

"Alright, now-" Before Aleu could read, a hand grabs his menu and takes it away. Aleu looks up to see Balkin checking out the menu.

"Wow, of course they have 'hay fries', as if there were any real fast foods." Balkin belittled the menu.

"Dude! I was reading that!" Aleu groaned.

Balkin snickered as he politely hands it over to Aleu. Aleu then sees all the others coming to the table, especially Eris. They all sat down and looked over the menu.

"What is this stuff?" Aleu questioned. "Dandelion sandwich? Aren't they toxic to your stomach due to the high levels of potassium and magnesium?"

The others had their heads twitched except for Balkin, Twilight, and Eris.

"Well…Maybe, how do you figure?" Twilight questioned.

"A chef should know toxic ingredients when he sees one." Aleu replied as he looked down further into the menu.

Balkin looked up from his menu and up to Eris, then asking, "Where were you?"

"I was resting at the hospital." Eris answered. "Rarity and Fluttershy were kind enough to offer me to eat with them."

She seemed to smile a bit but was insecure about all of them. Aleu then asked, "What's with you? you don't look happy at all."

"It's just…I never have been able to spend time with people like this is all." Eris explained. "Back where I came from, all we did together was practice our archery and go to class."

"What kind of school was it?" Lucy asked.

"It was a private school. Our skills would excel to let's say, Balkin's and Aleu's skill level at a young age. The only drawback is that you never spend time to be yourself, not even in class since you had to be silent."

"Sounds like a boring school." Rainbow thought aloud.

"Well, why didn't you leave?" Rarity questioned.

"I had nowhere else to go. My parents left me there and never came back for four years." Eris replied.

The news shocked the ponies and Lucy. Balkin seemed a bit angry at her parents just doing such a thing. Aleu crossed his arms as he then said, "What a bunch of jerks."

"B-But they can't be all bad." Eris said to Aleu. "Maybe there was a reason, or-"

Aleu sighed as he said, "No, I know how you feel because…I went through living alone a couple years too. Probably the worst time too!"

Eris looked at Aleu believing what he was saying was true.

"So since you're out of that place…" Aleu continued. "We'll be you new friends and show you how to have a good time!"

Eris widened her eyes as she asked, "Y-You really mean that?"

They all grinned and nodded yes. Eris seemed to shed a small tear as she said, "Thank you…I…want to know how to be a good friend, so…please teach me along the way."

Aleu laughed as he said, "If you just stick by us, you'll learn on your own!"

Eris seemed to have smiled greatly as she could now embrace her first new friends.