4) This isn't what I Wanted...

The noon sun shone brightly over the Ponyville Literature Festival, the first of it's kind. A bit thirsty from the summer heat Tuff Bolder wandered the tent filled park. Among the stretched tarps were a variety of ponies; Rich, poor, smart and not-so-smart. Each tent he passed by advertised some author's newest book or additions to a series. The colt didn't much care for books, even with Twilight's tutoring he could barely read. He passed a mellow drama series about a misbegotten fictional princess and yawned. When he opened his eyes the orange filly Scootaloo was standing in front of him, alone.

"Uuuh...where are your friends?" Tuff asked puzzled.

"Looking at some kids books. Not me! I found one so much more...awesome!" Scootaloo grinned slyly.

"Like what?" Tuff blinked.

"Well...uum," the filly looked around at the other ponies nervously,"Promise you won't tell anypony I saw it?"

"What book is it?" The colt sniffed nonchalantly.

"It's back in the grown ups spot...it's called Forces," Scootaloo said quietly.

"That's the book Auntie...er...Boatswain is writing. I know her pretty well," Tuff nodded but was interrupted.

"Really?!" Scootaloo gasped with amazement,"There's a lot of ponies looking at it!"

"I don't see why they find it amazing...I've done some cool things too..." Tuff huffed.

"Like what?" The filly asked bright eyed.

"I...I...saved a princess and beat up a dragon!" The colt puffed out his chest.

"Really? Wow...you must be really strong!" Scootaloo beamed.

"Yeah," Tuff brushed off his arm casually,"I might have to write a book about my adventures."

A familiar voice came from behind him,"Quit it Bluff. I won't have you making an ass of yourself."

"Aaw...what?" Tuff groaned,"I thought you were showing off your booky thing."

Standing behind the colt was Tuff's aunt with a tired look. She was wearing the cloak Rarity made her and her mane was tied back away from her face. The long fabric covered her metallic legs easily. Tuff scuffed the grass below with his hoof.

Pea rose an eyebrow,"I am...or was. I'm just taking a breather and found you telling tall tales to Scoots here,"Pea put on a maternal look,"And that she was in a part she's not old enough for."

Scootaloo stiffened,"N...No way! I was b-back here, I didn't see anything about Forces!"

"Mmhm, I'd buy that for a dollar. I can't be gone for long," She glared at Tuff then at Scootaloo," Stay outta that part of the Fest. Tuff, you keep her from it too."

She drew close to Tuff and spoke in a harsh whisper," Remember, Pea Gravel isn't real here. She lives in a book, your Boatswain's nephew as long as we're here now. Okay?"

The colt nodded with a bead of sweat on his brow.

Pea turned and walked briskly back to the 'Grown Ups' side of the Book Festival with an annoyed look. Scootaloo groaned once the grey mare was out of ear shot.

"Come on! This isn't fair!" Scoots pouted.

"Why? She told us and you not to go back there,"The colt snorted.

"But it's such a cool story!" Scoots buzzed,"I skipped through a bit but once Pea Gravel got into that Ridge Dog fortress it got CRAZY!"

"Yeah I know, a big gnoll was killing Count Dobervitch's mercenaries left and right, blah blah." Tuff turned and began walking.

"That was so...hey! Where are you going?" Scootaloo called after him.

"It's boring here, I'm going somewhere else," Tuff said sourly.

"But books aren't boring, well...some aren't," Scootaloo said as she trotted up beside Tuff.

Tuff ignored her. He kept walking as Scootaloo followed. They made it through a few alleys of tents before bumping into Sweetie Bell and Applebloom. They seemed surprised to see Tuff.

"Well lookie here, it's Tuff!" The farmer filly giggled.

"We haven't seen much of you since we met you at Sweet Apple Acres. Whacha been doing?" The young unicorn asked.

"Bleh...Twilight's been 'tutoring' me. Reading, writing and some other stuff like that."

Hearing this the three fillies giggled playfully. Tuff took a defensive air.

"What's so funny?" He squinted.

"You're a little old to be learning to read aren't you?" Scootaloo snickered.

"Aren't you a little old to not be able to fly?" Tuff asked harshly.

The fillies' smiles faded. Scootaloo seemed shocked and became teary eyed. She took off running away from the quiet festival. Sweetie Bell ran after the hurt pegasus and Applebloom gave Tuff a look of disbelief before she followed her friends. The colt stood angry for a moment...then crestfallen. He slumped like a wilted flower.

"What did I say...why did I say that?"

He couldn't muster the courage to face them so he wandered back to find his Aunt and ask for advice. He eventually found the way by looking for odd looking ponies reading odd books. Ponies who read tragedies or extremely violent ones. He eventually found the tent and even in his saddened state he was surprised.

Standing behind a counter was 'Boatswain' and A.K. Yearling with business pony smiles as curious ponies looked at copies of the grey mare's book. Tuff remembered about something involving Twilight copying the words from the original to more paper, she was ready to teach him but he was an earth pony...he'd have to use a printing machine for the same results.

In small clusters ponies noses were stuffed into the book copies as they sat near 'Boatswain's' tent. Tuff navigated through them and silently moved behind the two mares.

"Auntie...I think I messed up," Tuff whimpered.

Pea spun around,"You bet you did. I thought I told you not to be back here," She paused," Where's your friend?"

"That's just it...I think I hurt her feelings. Real bad..." Tuff slouched to the ground.

Pea knelt beside the colt,"What did you say?"

Tuff rubbed his shoulder,"I was talking with Scoots and her friends. When I told them Twilight was teaching me to read they laughed at me...said I was too old to be a beginner."

"Ahh...I'm sure they didn't mean anything bad by it," Pea said reassuringly.

Tuff leaned on his aunt, hiding his face in her cloak,"Then I said Scoots was too old to not know how to fly."

Yearling gasped,"Tuff! That's a horrible thing to say to a young pegasus!"

"I know, but...but how can I fix it? I hurt all of them."

Pea stroked the colt's mane with a heavy hand,"Tuff you're going to have to apologize. It may be...well tough but I know you can do it. Your names Tuff Bolder, live up to it!"

Tuff stood up timidly,"Okay...I'll try."

Pea stood up as well,"There's my little stallion! Go on now, before they get too far away."

Tuff scampered off through the crowd, feeling more confident with his aunt's reassurance. Navigating through the alleys of tents and out into the open space of the park, the air grew sour somehow. He looked around at the open field and trees in desperation. His eye caught a sea green shape sitting in a tree whistling like a song bird. The eerie whistle grew louder as Tuff trotted up to it.

It looked like a pony but instead of hooves it had hands and feet like a monkey, even the tail was a monkey's. The fact that it had five or six fingers on each hand and foot intimidated him. It's head had wide ears and a bald scalp, it's eyes were closed. It sat upright like a cat sitting on a branch ten feet up the tree. Tuff reached the base and looked up at the stranger. It continued whistling, eyes closed.

"Excuse me," Tuff called,"Have you seen three fillies run by here?"

The stranger stopped whistling, keeping it's eyes closed it sighed,"Why?" It's voice was male with a sound of sour carelessness.

"Well...I made one upset and I need to apologize," Tuff replied,"Can you please help me?"

"It'd be may you but yes. Yes I can," He reached behind his back.

A blue green hand like his slid out of the ground like a groundhog a few feet away from Tuff. It pointed to a hill in the distance with a feint sign of a tree house,"Your little friends went that way, now run along Tuff."

"Thanks mister," Tuff smiled as he started off,"Wait...how do you know my-"

He turned around to see that the whistling stranger was gone. Tuff shuddered and headed for the tree house in search of the fillies. In the park a small breeze blew over the festival. It did little more then flip pages much to the reader's dismay. It glided gently through the tents, a feint cheery whistle could be heard. Pea stood with Daring in their tent rather bored of how slow the day was going. The breeze finally crept to them with the whistle in tow.

Yearling gazed at the ponies reading the paper backs of their new book. It had already sold twelve copies in a few hours, much to Pea Gravel's surprise.

The tan pegasus sighed happily,"This is one of my favorite parts of being an author, seeing everypony so happy with my work. Say, you see that unicorn mare in the suit?" Yearling pointed to a very official looking white mare with a bun in her blonde mane.

"Yeah, is she a mortician or something?" Pea grimaced.

Yearling giggled,"No silly, she's a famous book critic. She's given honest reviews on all of the books she's made articles about...some not so nice, but fair. She even wrote a review on my first Daring Do novel."

"Did she like it?" Pea asked.

"I'm famous aren't I?" Yearling laughed.

"So if she liked your stuff...them maybe she'll like mine?" A greedy smile crept on the grey mare.

Yearling nodded childishly. The two mares held their breath as they watched the mare flip through a copy, her eyes went from word to word behind a small pair of reading glasses. She stopped at a point near the end of the book and a small, almost undetectable smile was on her lips. Pea and Yearling sighed with relief. In a moment she was walking to the tent.

"Excuse me ladies," Her educated voice said,"My name is  Golden Word and I have a question or two for you about your most recent novel. Do you have a moment to spare?"

Pea grinned,"All the time you need, mam'."

"Splendid!" Said the suited mare,"Now, I have been looking though your book. The title Forces fits in with the struggle you portray in the novel. I do have a comment though..."

"Go right ahead, The Boatswain is ready for what you say," Pea said proudly.

"The idea of ponies like us being well...on the bottom of the food chain. It's a frightful thought, and the idea of pigs being smarter then ponies is outrageous..."

Pea and Yearling looked to each other hopelessly. Golden straightened her suit collar,"...but not unwanted. You've brought up something few other books I've seen do. Not the violence part, that's a genre of it's own. Oh, and one more thing."

"Yes Miss Golden?" Yearling asked.

"The ending. The protagonist, after defeating the gnoll creature, is known by many to be a fighting pony...but that's it. It just stopped."

"Are you requesting a sequel?" Pea asked smoothly.

"If there is more I'd like to read it, I'm wondering where Pea Gravel will end up in the world you made," Golden smiled.

  Hearing her name like that made Pea's stomach churn. She kept a smile on her face but felt a sinking feeling.How will I end up? she asked herself,Will I end it with me showing up here?

"Thank you very much, Miss Golden," Yearling's voice broke Pea's trance," If somepony like you want's more, then there's no reason not to write it."

"Excellent," Golden said turning away,"I'm looking forward to it."

Once she was out of sight the mares celebrated. Pea wrapped her arms around Daring and hugged tight, both were giggling like school fillies. Some of the readers looked up at the two but then returned to their books.

Pea released Daring and sighed,"We did it! Forces is a hit!"

Daring was elated as much as her friend,"It's great! I know this sounds funny but when you were hugging me I felt something poking my chest, do you have a necklace on?"

Pea smacked her forehead,"I knew I forgot something!" She reached in her cloak and slid a simple necklace with a blue gem of her and into her hand. Daring gasped when she saw it.

"It's that gem, The Tear of the King! You're wearing it?" She asked bright eyed.

"No, you are," Pea said as she slid the necklace over the pegasus' head," You look great with it."

"Pea...that's so sweet! Even though this gem has had some bad history..." Daring smiled meekly.

Pea bumped Daring's shoulder playfully,"Then make some good history for it."

Daring looked at the small crowd around them,"Okay, Miss Gavel. Sweet Celestia I'm hungry! What do you say about some food?"

"Just sit tight, I'll get us some," Pea crinkled her nose," I hope it's any good out here."

"Alright, I'll hold the fort then," Daring giggled.

Pea couldn't help but smile at her. The grey mare said good bye and set off in search of food. She followed different scents of cooked goods for some time, but couldn't find them. She eventually found a pretzel stand that was less then busy. It almost looked empty but she heard ponies at work inside, walking up to the counter she found a platter with one little pretzel and a note with a goofy font ; "Free mini pretzels!"

She picked it up gingerly with her mouth and munched down the whole thing. It tasted wonderful...for a moment. Time seemed to slow with noises and smells blurring. She wobbled for a second then her sight went black.  Rubbing her eyes, she fought to regain sight. First came hearing and smell. The air was still and cold with a sour smell. A feint whistle could be heard when her sight finally came too.

Around her was cavern walls glittering with gems. They shown because of an oil lamp, sitting in the far reaches of the lantern was a sea green figure.

The grey mare froze when she saw the blue green stranger. The stranger smiled and leaned back on the rock he was sitting on. Instead of falling he disappeared and slid up in front of Pea's counter. He stood in front Pea for a moment, a dark blue shadow.

The stranger's eyes opened, revealing the small amber pin pricks of irises. He smiled slyly,"Did you enjoy the snack I left you...Pea Gravel?"

Pea's shock turned to rage. Her green eyes turned mint with a wrathful blaze at the stranger,"You...you motherfucker. How did you get here? Where did you take me?"

The stranger winced playfully,"Tsk! Such a mouth on you," He slid his seven fingered hand on the gem encrusted wall,"So you've got some attention with your little biography I see. Have you mentioned me yet?" The stranger's voice dripped like a corrosive poison in the still air.

Pea was shaking. Every muscle in her body and every carbon fiber tendon strained and tensed. She wanted to wrap her hands around his neck and tear his head off. Relief herself by ripping out his still beating black heart. The stranger smiled up at her with crooked teeth as if nothing was wrong.

"Hmmm...I can tell you aren't to happy to see me. I wonder why..."

"Volm...how did you get here?" Pea gritted her teeth.

"It's easy really, just slip the princess' awareness and poof! A paradise island! You did it too," He looked up at the sky dreamily.

"I came here to keep my nephew safe, you're probably here to rape mares or eat children," Pea spat at the creature's demonic smile.

"Only the naughty ones," Volm chuckled,"Speaking of children, I saw yours. Tuff was it?"

Pea lurched forward and grabbed his neck, Smashing him against the wall. She fumed,"If you touched him I'll rip your fucking guts out!"

Volm smiled besides the bone crunching strength of Pea's cybernetic hands. The mare squeezed tighter,a few veins bulged on his head and neck but not a single note of pain shown on Volm's face. Pea's thought became clouded with rage to the creature.

"Quite the sadist these days," Volm wheezed,"Don't stress your pretty little head, I help him find his filly friends. That's all."

He looked from Pea's tensed arms to her eyes,"It must suck hard, not being able to kill me. I don't think you can do it yet," His smile was still plastered on his face.

Pea jumped with her hind legs onto Volm. Her weight toppled him over and she sat a top of his chest, fists clenched in deadly steel bludgeons.

Volm rose a hand up casually,"Calm down lady, I didn't even bring a condom!"

The mare had enough. Her left fist swung down and cratered into the creature's face, knocking out several teeth. He licked his lips with a dark blue tongue as inky black blood oozed from his mouth. He was about to make another remark but a fist kept his mouth from moving again. Each blow lifted the mare's spirit disturbingly. The mare kept swinging her fist's into Volm's head, inky splats covered the grass and Pea. She kept battering as Volm's head turned into wet black mush and her fists hit rock. She stopped eventually while the blue green creature's legs twitched the last bit of life out of the still warm corpse.

She leaned back, breathing heavily. She looked down at her hands stained by Volm's blood, her cloak was ruined by the black ooze. Her breath was uneven and timid. In her euphoric state she didn't notice that the world was still frozen in time. Pea's shoulders shivered with a sick pleasure. Her mint eyes were fixed on the tranquil cavern space. Her cybernetic fingers twitched randomly, unable to detect what the mare wanted to do with them. Minuets, hours passed? She couldn't tell. The fact that he was dead, smashed into mush left the mare with a unequaled elation.  Her breath steadied and she finally looked around carefully at where she was.

"I need to find a way out of here, I just hope he didn't take me out of Equestria..." She stood up shakily and grabbed the lantern handle with her jaw. Pea began tracking down the cavern in hopes it would lead to the surface. Noticing the incline motivated the mare, she tread on through the darkness of the cave.

"What did he want? If someone like him can sneak in this kingdom, then maybe others have..."

Pea's thought's spiraled dangerously as she ventured alone. Around a corner ahead, a hint of light could be seen. She moved cautiously around the corner, she shrunk back. An opening in the cave was where the sun's light was coming from, but was it a trap? Pea shook her head, Volm was dead, his tricks were all but gone. She marched to the exit way, squinting her eye's in the sudden bright light. Once her eyes adjusted she found a dry desert mountain range overlooking a small town. She blinked in surprise,"Is this some kind of joke?"

She scaled down the rocky outcropping easily with her cyber fingers, she decided it'd be best to explore the town and see if she could find a way back. Off the rocks she made her way to the town and a sigh came into view; "Appleloosa"

"Sounds like an Equine town," Pea smiled to herself,"I guess he didn't drag me too far...for once he did something generous."

Pea was near the town and as a cowpony walked by she realized how much of herself was stained. She knew it was blood, but he didn't.

"Say there missy, did yall just strike oil?" He asked with a booming voice.

Pea felt relieved,"Yessir Ah did!" the mare said with a convincing Applejack impression," Ah need tah tell mah friends in Ponyville the good news, it there a way Ah can contact 'em?"

"Sure is," He pointed down the wide main street to a small building," Ya can get a train ticket. It's a very reliable thing, I'd say you'd be there by tomarrah."

Pea nodded a thank you and made her way to the building casually. She saw a few ponies waiting for a train. Realizing she had no money on her she decided to bum a ride on the next train. The grey mare sat out of view next to the ticket post and waited like the others for the next train. The sun lowered over the mountains she scaled down earlier.

"A proper tomb," she thought to herself,"I still can't believe he's really gone...and I did it..."

The sun left a parade of orange and purple across the clouds in the sky as it finally sank behind the mountains, letting the blanket of night cast over the sky. A faint train whistle could be heard and all of the passengers-to-be stood up for the train. In the commotion of the conductor calling, steam hissing and ponies moving; Pea crept silently to the top of the caboose car. It had roofing that was easy to grip onto and few prying eyes. Crawling over to the front edge she locked her fore fingers in a clamp over the roof's edge.

The train's whistle blew and the vessel trudged off into the night. Once at full speed, the wind from it flew around Pea. Her hands didn't release their grip and for once...she felt relaxed. She thought up wild plans and ideas;

"Now that he's gone, I can look for the others. Tuff will be safe here and he's got the princess to look after him. Everyone's going to be so excited! I know, what if I brought my friends here, then we wouldn't have to fight for food and noooo holy wars," The idea felt like a message on Pea's stressed mind. She became so comfortable  she began to fall asleep.

She awoke a few hours later with a late night sky above her and the train was still racing down it's course. Her confused mind was calmed by the idea of seeing Tuff and her Ponyville friends again. With Twilight's castle towering over the quaint huts the train approached the town quickly without signs of slowing. As the train rattled on the grey mare realized she had to jump off the train. She targeted a grassy knoll with a tree next to the station and released her grip on the caboose roof. She flew off to the right and hit the ground, rolling back several feet she stopped in front of the tree.

She looked down at her brown and black stained cloak,"Rarity is going to have a cow when she sees what I've done with this," she chuckled to herself.

She looked around at the quiet night in Ponyville with the castle looming over the roof tops. She slipped the hood over her head and walked quickly through the streets, avoiding lit windows and open doors. She wasn't really sure where she was going, Twilight's maybe? She continued walking and she came to a street corner, around it Pea spotted the sight of a panicked tan pegasus with a deep red colt next to her. They were looking, searching for someone. Pea walked out in front of them, the now stained cloak and hood made a menacing look.

They stared wide eyed at her for a moment, then she threw back her hood. Both Daring and Tuff rushed to Pea and hugged the grey mare tightly. All three were happy, though one felt more comforted then the others.

"Did you miss me?" Pea joked.

"Of coarse we did!" Daring said still hugging Pea,"We didn't know where you were, we looked every where!"

Tuff sniffled,"I thought you had forgotten me!"

Pea knelt down and hugged the colt,"I'd never forget you, ever. You can always count on your Auntie G."

Daring shed a tear at the sweet sight,"It's getting late...well it's been late and I'm sure were all tired."

Pea and Tuff simultaneously yawned in agreement. Daring laughed,"Well then, let's get you two back to the Castle."

Tuff looked extremely tired, stressed from several hours away from his aunt. Pea waited for him to catch up then lifted him onto her back and after a few steps he was snoring quietly. The two mares walked trough the remainder of the streets until they were faced with the castle's doors. Daring stepped forward and knocked.

Twilight answered the door after a moment or so of waiting,"Ah Daring, you're back!" She looked over at Pea with a elated smile,"And you found our Boatswain! Come in, both...er all three of you." Twilight corrected herself when she was the sleeping colt.

Daring and Pea followed Twilight inside and the princess led them to her guest rooms Pea had used before. The princess looked at the two sleepy mares,"Pea, you take Tuff in this one over here," She motioned to the left door with a nod," And Daring you can stay in this other one if you like," She blinked sleepily,"I'm very tired too, so until tomorrow...or later today, goodnight!"

Daring placed a wing over Pea's shoulder before the grey mare could work her way to the guest room. Pea looked to the pegasus with puzzled eyes. The cyber mare noticed that the tan pegasus was wearing nothing except the sea blue necklace that Pea had given her earlier.

"Yes Daring?" She paused thoughtfully for a moment,"You're probably wondering what happened to me, eh?"

"And how you got your new cloak so filthy!" Daring teased.

Pea grinned,"I was just playing in the dirt! Let me put Tuff here to bed then I'll catch up with you in your room, okay?"

Daring yawned and nodded. She went left for her room and Pea went right for her's. Pea pushed the door open gently and made her way for the cushy bed. She pulled up next to it like a train at a station.

"Choo choo," She whispered playfully as she rolled Tuff of her back carefully. Once on the bed Pea pulled up the blanket up to his little chin.

"Night, little bolder," Pea said placeing a kiss on the top of his head. Before leaving the room she looked back on him one more time, she smiled at how peacefully he slept.

She closed the bedroom door behind her and tip toed across the all to Daring's room. Her eyes lit up when she saw the cyber mare, patting a part of the bed next to her she smiled. She opened her's and found Daring, sitting on her legs, at the head of the bed. The air seemed comforting and still with a small lamp warmly lighting the room.

"Take that off before you sit here," Daring said,"You've gotta tell me what happened to you today."

Pea slid off her cloak and left it on the floor, it was already dirty anyway. Pea walked to the foot of the bed and rolled the covers on her back over. Pea sighed at how relaxing it felt, Daring looked at her intently,"Well?"

"Oh, oh right!" Pea rubbed her forehead,"I was looking for some food for us to eat and I got mixed up with this mare transporting oil-"

Daring scoffed,"Don't lie to me. I know what that is on your knuckles."

Pea shot a look at her hands, a faint stain of black was still there. Pea looked up at Daring with shocked eyes,"W...what do you mean? This is crude oil Daring, nothing more!"

Daring looked hurt,"It's blood. I may have not seen as much as you but I know what it smells like, and it's not crude oil. I could smell it off your cloak and now a bit from you," She leaned over the grey mare solemnly,"Who was it?"

Pea shoved her back in her old spot on the bed,"Quit being so uptight. We've got nothing to worry about."

Daring seemed confused,"Why, what's not to worry about?"

Pea folded her arms behind her head,"Someone's gone that was a BIG problem," she giggled.

"Like Auizotal?" Daring asked grimly.

"Worse then him," Pea waved a hand,"He's the reason for these."

Daring gasped,"You mean..."

Pea smiled,"Yep, Volm."

The pegasus grimaced,"If he's gone that means you can go back out there and look for your friends?"

Pea sat up exhilarated,"I know! I was planning on leaving in a few days, maybe less. Tuff's safe here so all I have to do is find them."

Daring was crestfallen. She stammered,"Oh...well I, um...I"

Pea leaned closer to her,"What? Aren't you happy? He's gone...that's a good thing!"

Daring patted the cyber mare's arm gently,"I know, I know. It's just that..."

Pea scooted up next to the pegasus and put an arm over her shoulder,"Just what? You can tell me, can't you?"

"Well, I was going back to my cottage this week and..." Daring's word were choked up with crushed tears," I was hoping you...and Tuff could come stay with me..."

Pea's hand shrunk back to it's owner,"Stay...with you?"

"It'd be great!" Daring looked over with desperation,"We'll finish writing your book, it's out of the way so ponies wont be frightened of your metal legs," her gaze almost begged Pea,"I have plenty of books we could read to Tuff and there's places near there he could explore and play in."

Pea was wide eyed and shaking. Here was a mare willing to share her home with her and her nephew, no questions asked. This mare who was opening her heart towards a foreigner. The mare who she had killed once for and who help her story become known.

On the other hand, the friends she had known for over twelve years and had killed countless times for, were missing still and she needed to find them, or at least give a proper burial to what would be left of them. Pea Gravel's heart was being tugged in two directions.

Pea's fingers twitched. Daring came over and tried to comfort the torn mare. Daring saw the look of utter confusion and guilt in Pea's emerald green eyes, the pegasus wasn't sure what to do. Pea sat like that for several moments until, with a shaky hand, she reached into an interior pocket of her vest and pulled out a small green fruit. Her favorite narcotic, Jade Cactus Fruit.

Daring blinked in puzzlement as she watched Pea slip it into her mouth and chew softly. Her shocked eyes became much, much more relaxed. Her entire body slacked and her head flopped lazily on Daring's lap.

Her green eyes were half closed and her tongue stuck out through a ditzy smile,"I'll entertain your offer. You know how my day went, fly girl. How was yours?"

Daring's face went a little red,"Minus looking for you? There were a few more book-smart ponies that came by and talked about our book and the money we could make off it. About two hours after you left for grub I grabbed Rainbow Dash and put her in charge of sales. I checked on her around the fest's closing time...and she had to have Twilight make more copies!"

Pea raised an eyebrow,"But we had like...two hundred of them. No way we sold them all!"

Daring poked Pea's muzzle,"Yes way! We made over four thousand bits!"

Pea rubbed her hands together greedily,"Heh heh heh, we sure made a bundle! Think of the new type writer we could get you."

"Or an upgrade for your metal parts?" Daring offered,"Or should we visit a mechanic to spruce them up?"

Pea held out a hand daintily,"I suppose. It's been awhile since I've seen anypony with skills for this kind of stuff. I've probably mangled up the carbon fiber muscle it 'em by now..."

Daring thought about the way her friend's legs worked. She was about to ask but heard a quiet snore from the mare, who lay passed out on her lap. Daring wasn't sure if she should leave Pea there and use her for a pillow or chance waking the cyber's much needed rest to lay down herself. She sat for a moment stroking the grey mare's sun-set orange mane thinking of how her life had been flipped upside down by this very strange mare.

She laughed to herself,"How did I end up with you, Pea?"