I trotted into Ponyville my saddlebag full of belongings bouncing against my flank. I stopped for a minute and looked around. Ponies of all different sizes, colors and cutie marks bustled from place to place. I took out a map from where I'd been holding it under my wing. I stared at it for a minute then looked back up. I tossed my long black mane out of my face and put my map back under my wing, starting off again. Soon I stopped in front of a very large tree. A lantern dangled near the door. I pulled the map out and looked at it once more. "This must be the place," I mumbled putting it away again and knocking on the door with one hoof. After a few seconds the door opened and a purple unicorn with a diamond cutie mark on her flank answered. She smiled. "Good, you made it! Princess Celestia told me that you were coming." She stepped aside and I walked in. She closed the door and continued, "Did you find the library alright? You didn't get lost did you?"
"No. I found it easily enough." I replied. "And actually, I work more for Princess Luna than Celestia, but it doesn't matter."
"The princess told me that you were studying to be a first response guard, is that true?" She asked using her powers to take a book down from the high shelf.
"Yes, I specialize in hoof-to-hoof combat."
"I'm sorry, I didn't properly introduce myself." The pony said trotting over holding the book with her powers. She held out her front hoof. "My name's Twilight. Twilight Sparkle. My assistant, Spike would normally be here too, but he's off on a few errands and won't be back for a few days."
I shook her hoof, but bowed a little also. "Karate-ka. Third gup. Brown Belt. Princess Celestia told me I had to come here to continue my training; and that you had a book for me."
"Yes I do." Twilight Sparkle replied dropping the book into my hooves. "Here it is."
I looked it over. It didn't look very impressive; just a simple red hard-cover book without even its title printed on it. "Thanks. I'll look it over more later." I told the unicorn putting the book into my saddlebag. "Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me how to get to the nearest hotel?"
"I could, but you wouldn't have any luck getting a stall." Twilight replied. "All of the hotels all over Ponyville are booked for the Festival of Friendship."
I rolled my eyes. "Figures. What kind of holiday is that, anyway?" I sighed. "Well thank you for everything. I'll be on my way to the next town then I suppose."
I turned and began walking toward the door, but Twilight trotted over to stop me. "No, you don't have to leave so soon. You can stay here with me! I have a spare stall you could stay in."
"No, really, I…"
"No, I insist." Twilight interrupted me, pushing me toward the spare stall. "Princess Celestia told me that you were to stay here for a while and I couldn't in good conscience turn you away now."
She guided me to the stall. It was a quant little room in that large tree. An oak bed frame with a straw mattress stood on the opposite side next to the open window. "Make yourself comfortable." Twilight said with a smile. "I'm in the stall over there. If you need anything, don't be afraid to ask." With that she turned and left the room.
I dropped my saddlebags on the floor near the bed and went over to look out the window. I stared over the streets of Ponyville. All of the ponies seemed so happy. They all traveled in groups of two or more, all smiling and laughing and chattering like a bunch of squirrels. I sighed and laid my head on my fetlocks. "Why did you send me here?" I asked Princesses Celestia and Luna in my head. "There has got to be a thousand better places than this one to continue my training!" I turned back around and walked over to were my saddlebags lay. I pulled out the book that Twilight had given me. I flopped onto the bed and opened the front cover, flipping a few pages, trying to find the title. Finally I found it. "The Elements of Harmony, and the History of Friendship." I read aloud, then slammed the book closed, disgusted. "Seriously? There must be some mistake! I came here to learn more about martial arts; not….read all up on this friendship junk!" I threw the book back onto my saddlebags. I got up wearily and walked over toward the door. "I might as well get to know my way around." I decided. "The time isn't going to go any faster by moping in my room." I opened the door slowly and tiptoed across the wooden floor; trying to not let my horseshoes make the click click click as I walked. I didn't want Twilight to hear me leave, or else she might have invited to show me around. I didn't want her to do that. So, I slipped out without a sound.
I found myself once more in the dirt street. I began walking, hoping to find a dojo, or someplace to rid my mind of my frustrations. But as hard as I looked, I couldn't find one. I continued to walk. As I continued on to the edge of town, I suddenly saw a humongous grove of apple trees. My tail and ears perked up and I trotted over to them. This place would be as good as any. A trotted into the grove of trees until I couldn't hear Ponyville anymore. Then I knew I would be safe. I grinned and looked around me. The gnarly tree trunks would make the perfect sparring partners. I closed my eyes for a moment and just stood there letting the light breeze blow my mane and tail; a short moment of peace, before I suddenly lashed out with my hind legs. "KAIYA!!!!" About a bushel of apples fell to the ground. I turned and reared up kicking with my front hooves at another tree nearby. With each hit, another bunch of apples fell to the ground. I grinned. This was fun. I ran over to a tree across the way. I jumped straight into the air and turning, struck the trunk with my hind legs; my favorite move, the buck-kick. When my hooves made contact with the wood I heard a powerful snap, and saw the tree rip as it crashed to the ground. I laughed and did a hoof-pump. "YES!!! A perfect 10 point kick!!!"
"Hoo-wee, I reckon that's the strongest kick I've ever seen! You're a natural at apple-buckin'!"
I jumped and my ears flicked up as I looked toward the voice. There I noticed somepony had been watching me; a palomino with a thick golden mane and tail. Her mane was pulled lopsidedly into a red scrunchie. A number of freckles on each cheek suggested of days out in the sun. Her big green eyes stared out of her golden fur back at me. A cutie mark of three apples adorned her rump. She smiled and trotted over to me. "That last kick was a little strong though. You don't wanna rip the tree down…We just want the apples."
"I'm sorry, but who are you and what are you talking about? And why were you watching me?" I asked twitching my ears and flicking my tail. I was a little bit embarrassed that someone had seen my practicing.
"Well, my family owns this orchard. This whole grove of apple trees; it's been in my family for generations! But right now, just me, my brother, Big Macintosh, and my little sister, Apple-bloom, farm it. And my name's Applejack. Please to meet ya!" She replied in her southern accent. She held out her right hoof for me to shake.
But now I was really embarrassed. Not only had I been being watched by somepony else, but I had trespassed and ripped down another pony's apple tree! I bowed on my front legs. "I'm sorry for killing you're tree. I didn't realize this orchard was owned by somepony."
"Hey, it's ok." Applejack said. We've got thousands of apple trees. And that there that you just did. That was mighty impressive. Hey, you wanna help with the apple-buckin'? Like I said, you're certainly a natural at it, and we could really use the help."
"I'm sorry, but I can't." I told her standing back up. "I have to get back to…….I have to get back."
Applejack looked disapointed, but shrugged. "Alrighty. Well if you ever done change your mind, we can always use extra hooves!" She turn and trotted away. I faked a smile and watched her leave. Then I turned and galloped out of the forrest of apple trees.
After I got back out onto the main road I stopped to catch my breath. I still couldn't shake my embarrassment. Somepony had seen me training! I hate it when ponies watch me practice!
My breathing finally started to slow down. I took one last sigh through the nose as I tried to calm myself. Suddenly,
"Hi there!!!"
I screamed and reared up, almost falling backward.
A pony and come up to me. She was a pink morgan. Pink mane, pink fur, pink everything. Her blue eyes just screamed excitement. Her curly bright pink mane and tail bounced all over the place as she jumped up and down. A trio of balloons proved to be her cutie mark.
"I'm Pinkie Pie! I've never seen you before. Which is strange because I know EVERYPONY in Ponyville! Which can only mean that your new! I just LOVE new ponies! What's your name! My name's Pinkie Pie but I already told you that." As she spoke, she kept getting faster and faster and faster, and started leaning into my face so much that I had to lean way back on my hind legs to keep any distance whatsoever. "I like throwing parties. Do you like throwing parties? I like parties SOOOO much because they're the funnest thing in the whole wide WORLD! And that's why my cutie mark is balloons see? I always have a party for every new pony in Ponyville. I like welcome parties. They're the bestest!" She paused only long enough to gasp. "WE SHOULD TOTALLY THROW YOU A PARTY!!!!!!" She screamed in my face, making one final invasion of space, forcing me to fall onto my hind quarters.
"Pinkie Pie, darling, what is all the commotion?" A Lipizzaner unicorn asked trotting over to us. Her white coat was blemishes. Her periwinkle eyes were like crystal, accented by light blue eye shadow. Her horn sparkled. Her violet mane and tail were curled into perfect ringlets. Her cutie mark consisted of three blue diamonds.
"I must apologize for Pinkie Pie." The unicorn said to me, pulling a very excited morgan away a little, allowing me to stand up again and shake off. "Quite often she can tend to be a little eccentric."
"I get so EXCITED when new ponies come!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "New ponies mean new friends! And EVERYONE likes friends! Friends are even better than PARTIES!!!"
My countenance turned a little sour when she said this. I snorted, blowing my black forelock out of my eyes.
"Well, either way, darling, my name is Rarity. I happen to be a seamstress. I take pride in making absolutely dashing outfits for ponies even in Canterlot," the unicorn said in a prideful tone.
"Karate-ka." I replied simply brushing myself off slightly. "I was sent by Princesses Celestia and Luna to continue my martial arts training. Soon I will become the princesses's own personal hoof-to-hoof fighting unit."
Pinkie Pie gasped. "You do karate! And you're going to work for the Princesses?! That's so cool!!!" She started bouncing up and down again.
"Yes, that is quite impressive, darling." Rarity replied tossing her mane. "Since you work for the Princess, perhaps do you know a pony by the name of Twilight Sparkle?"
"I do, but that's only because I'm staying with her for the time being." I said.
"We-e-e-e-e-ll, since you already know Twilight, we have to introduce you to ALL the rest of the ponies!!!" Pinkie Pie screamed again. "What better way to do that than with a party!!!" She started pulling Rarity in the other direction.
Rarity groaned as she was dragged away. "I suppose I will be seeing you later, darling…!" She called.
As she disappeared I groaned. Had Pinkie Pie really been serious about having a party. I hoped not. I hated parties. And I really didn't want to meet any more ponies OR hear any more about this 'friendship' stupidity. My purpose in life was solely to do karate and protect the princesses at night. That was it. I had no time for this 'friendship', nor did I want it.
I galloped off again heading toward the library. I was still thinking about how ludicrous friendship was when I suddenly smashed headlong into somepony. We both fell onto the ground.
"Oh….I'm sorry….Pardon me, please…." The other pony said very quietly and in an almost sickeningly sweet way.
I groaned and looked up. My eyesight began to clear, and the world stopped wobbling. As if her voice wasn't sticky-sweet enough, she had pastel coloring, which is repulsive to a pony of the night like I. Her long pink mane draped in one of her eyes, which were very big and looked as if she were always going to cry. Her yellow coat was well brushed. Three pink butterflies adorned her hindquarters. Her ears pulled back, making her look very timid and sheepish. "I'm sorry….I hadn't seen you….Are you injured?"
"Other than that my head is pounding right now, I'm fine. I replied standing up, and holding a hoof to my forehead.
"My apologies." The pastel pegasus repeated again. "I was helping these new bunnies cross the road…"
I looked down at the ground and saw a white rabbit with about seven tiny bunnies around her. "Riiiiiiiiight…." I replied. "Well…then I guess I'll let you get back to that…"I said slipping by her and starting back on my way.
I had only gotten a few feet before my mane was suddenly blown foreword with a huge gust of wind. I looked up, but all I could see was a flash of color. I shook my head. "Weird," I thought before galloping off again to the library.
I finally got to the large tree and snuck through, closing the door behind me. I sighed in relief. "Finally, some peace and quiet!" I thought as I turned around and flipped on the light.
"SURPRISE!!!"
I was bombarded by six ponies. Pinkie Pie blew a party favor in my face.
Safe to say I was displeased. My black forelock fell over my left eye. I blinked and blew it out of my face again.
"Surprise!" Pinkie Pie said again with the party favor still hanging out of her mouth.
I snorted and looked around the room. Pinkie Pie was there of course, so was Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, and the pastel pegasus that had been helping the rabbits cross the road. There was another pegasus there too. Her coat was a bright sky blue. Her shabby rainbow tail and mane fell in layers around her hind legs and face. So this was the rainbow that blazed by me earlier.
"I hope this was ok." Twilight said, taking a step forward. "Pinkie Pie was just so excited, and…."
"Yeah. Fine. Whatever. Why would a PARTY not be ok with me." I said sarcastically.
"Well, then I'll introduce you to everyone. " Twilight said, not picking up on the sarcasm. "This is Pinkie pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash."
"Lovely. Really lovely." I replied sarcastically again.
"Well, now that we've got the introductions out of the way, lets get this party STARTED!!!" Pinkie Pie screamed putting a record on the phonograph. She started dancing crazily. Some of the other ponies joined her.
Rainbow Dash trotted over to me. She leaned in, stared me in the eye, and walked slowly around me looking me thoroughly over. "I guess you'll do." She finally said, plopping down on her hind quarters holding out her hoof. "Rainbow Dash. Fasted flyer in the world, probably. And defiantly the coolest. Someday I'm going to be part of the Wonderbolts!"
"Karateka." I replied unenthusiastically shaking Rainbow Dashes hoof. "Third gup. I'm part of the guard for Princess Luna; part of the night shift."
"That's cool I guess." Rainbow said looking closer at my wings. You didn't need to be a unicorn to know what she was thinking. "I'm so much cooler than her. I can defiantly fly WAY faster."
A few minutes into the party, I managed to sneak into my room. "Finally!" I thought as the door closed. "I didn't think I'd ever get out of that. I mean, what's their deal? Pinkie Pie is annoyingly hyper. Fluttershy is sickeningly sweet, innocent, and soft-spoken. Rarity is a total snob. Rainbow Dash is conceited. Twilight is too friendly. And Applejack is…WAY too country. Why do I have to stick around with these ponies? " I trotted over to the window and pulled the blinds shut. But as I did this, Twilight opened the door and stepped in.
"Are you ok? You're missing the party." She asked.
"Ye--ah…I just…sorta have a headache. I came in here to rest a while. I may not come out. Just have fun without me." I lied.
I expected Twilight to leave, but she didn't. "Are you ok? Do you want something? I know somezebra named Zecora that is great at making medicine; I'm sure she could make you something."
"No. I'm alright." I replied. "It's just the stress of travel. I'll be ok tomorrow."
Twilight paused. "Well, ok then." Finally she closed the door and I heard her hoof-steps fade.
The next morning I left the library, hoping to find a quiet place to get some practice in. I trotted into a park and found a nice secluded pond. I looked around, and after seeing nopony, I smiled and began my warm up of Tai Chi. I stood on one hind hoof with my eyes closed slipping into a quiet state of meditation, when suddenly a herd of ducks ran quacking and flapping and all rushed past me into the pond, Fluttershy of all ponies running after them calling quietly, "No, please, wait a moment. Slow down, please!" The ducks rushed past me, knocking me off balance and causing me to fall into the cold water with a splash. The splash startled the ducks and they all few away to the far corners of the pond.
"No, friends, please! Wait!" Fluttershy called out.
I wiped my wet forelock out of my eyes as Fluttershy crept toward me. "Oh, I'm sorry." She whispered. "The young ducks just got so excited, you know, they're hard to control after they have spotted water. You don't mind, do you?"
"No; of course not. Everything's just peachy." I replied sarcastically, whipping the water from my face with my pastern.
"Oh, good." Fluttershy sighed, smiling, not picking up on my sarcasm. "You may continue with you're practice now, nevermind my little friends."
I looked at her, then looked back at the ducks, quacking very loudly in the pond. It was clear that there was no way I could practice in these conditions. I sighed and climbed out of the pond. "No, it's fine. I'll find somewhere else." I shook the water out of my mane.
"I'm sorry if we disturbed you." Fluttershy said quietly. Suddenly she got distracted. "No, please my friend, don't swim over there!" I rolled my eyes and walked, still dripping, away.
By the time I'd gotten back into town, my coat was almost dry. I looked around for another potential place to practice. Then I thought of something. There was a place by Rarity's boutique shop that was secluded, wasn't there? It was worth the shot anyway. I galloped over there as fast as I could. But the second I came into view of the boutique, Rarity rushed out of the door. "There, you are, Darling! I've been looking all over for you, you would be the perfect model for my new line of clothing!" Before I knew what was happening, I was shoved into the boutique and was thrown into a flowing, half finished dress. Rarity stood me on a tall pedestal and held a cushion full of pins with her powers as she walked around me, pinning something here, unstitching something there.
"Oh, you are going to look absolutely smashing, my dear, SMASHING!"
"Look, Rarity, your enthusiasm thrills me, but…OW!" I called as Rarity accidentally stuck me with a pin. "But I REALLY have something I need to do! Can't you find some other pony who actually LIKES this stuff?"
"Now, hold still, Dear, I can't work when you keep moving around!" Rarity replied, ignoring what I had just said. I groaned and stomped my front hoof as she continued to make her endless changes. Finally, she stepped back. "Now, don't you just look DARLING! Hold, on, I've got the perfect finishing touch!" She ran off and soon returned with the biggest, and frankly, most hideous and gaudy hat I had ever seen in my entire life! She thrust it onto my head, took out a case of makeup and to my horror, began to put it on me. I whinnied and tried to pull away.
"Now, hold still! I can't do this if you don't cooperate!" Rarity ordered.
"You're not listening…I don't WANT you to do this….!" I replied, pulling my neck as far away as I could. But it was hopeless; she still managed to get the dark mascara and bright red lipstick on me.
"There. That's perfect!" She proclaimed, stepping back. She turned me to look at the mirror. "Now, don't you just look ADORABLE?"
I winced. It was worse than I had even imagined. I tried to fight my urge to kick the mirror, and bent my head to wipe all the makeup off with my hoof.
"Now, don't do that, darling, you're going to get it all smeared!" Rarity whined, picking up a rag to fix the makeup again, but I pulled back. "No!" I ordered. "Just get away from me!" I jumped off the pedestal and dashed out the door.
I slipped into the ally near the pastry shop. I hid in the damp, dark alleyway then ripped off the dress and the hat. Throwing them onto the ground, I reared up and stomped on them. Gasping from exasperation, I fell onto one knee, just enjoying the silence.
After I had let the reality of escape sink in, I looked around and the thought occurred to me; this place was secluded enough to practice in. It was by no means the most ideal, but right now anything seemed better than before. I sighed quietly, standing up on my hind legs again, and had just found perfect balance on my left hind leg again, when who should just so happen to open the side door but Pinkie Pie; the most ANNOYING mare to have ever walked the face of EQUESTRIA!!!"
"Oh! Hi, Karateka! I didn't see you there!" She exclaimed, trotting over. "It's funny that you would be here! Not many people like to hang out in the allies, but if you like to, then that's cool! I'll just stand here in the ally with you!" She stood right next to me and began jumping up and down. "What'cha doing? Practicing Karate? That's cool! I always wanted to meet a karate pony. But you see, my special talent is parties! I love a good party. Parties are the most fun, fantastic thing ever! EVERYPONY loves parties! That's why I work here in the pastry shop with Mr. and Mrs. Cake. That's so I can here about every party thats going on! I also like baking! Baking cakes are best. I love baking...!"
Pinkie Pie was getting on my nerves terribly. There was no end to her talking. I groaned and turned to walk away. But Pinkie Pie followed me, continuing her story about how once, she catered an entire party while the Cakes were gone. I noticed she kept following me, so I sped up to a trot. She continued to follow, moving on to a story about a time when she had thrown a party in Canterlot. I sped up to a gallop. She also began to gallop after me continuing her story. "And then Twilight was so afraid that the party would be a disaster and that the upper class ponies would think badly of us Ponyville ponies, but it turned out to be the best party EVER! The princess said so herself! She said that most parties there were boring and dull, but this one was the best party ever! And then…!"
I suddenly stopped, and whipped around, my ears pinned. "Would…you…STOP IT!" I screamed. "Just STOP IT! Stop talking! Stop following me! Why does everypony want to try to be my friend! Just LEAVE ME ALLONE!!!" I turned on my hind hooves and galloped away through the crowd of staring ponies, leaving a, for once, silent, Pinkie Pie in the dust.
I galloped as fast as I could into the Ever-free forest. I HAD to get away from all these ponies. They were trying to brainwash me, make me loose my focus! Well, now I was going where nopony could bother me! Monks had gone into desolation to train before, and that's what I was going to do! I galloped further and further into the density of the forest. The dark mud flying up from my hooves stuck to my dark purple fur. I finally paused to catch a breath. When I looked up I realized how dark it was in this part of the forest. I could hardly see. Suddenly, I heard a noise from somewhere around me. "Who's there?" I ordered, trying to hide my shaking fetlocks. "Come out and fight like a horse!" I slapped my tail against my thigh as my eyes darted around. Suddenly, in front of me, two glowing red eyes appeared from the bushes. My ears flicked foreword and my head jerked up. An evil smile appeared in the underbrush, along with a growl/snicker. I panicked. The Ever-free forest is nothing to be messed with. Strange, unknown, vicious creatures prowl the underbrush, looking for innocent victims. Magic resides everywhere, and nowhere is safe. I knew immediately that it had been an irrational decision to hide in there.
So, I spooked. The eyes were so big, I knew that the creature had to be at least ten feet long with dagger like fangs and power bend belief. And even a black belt in Karate knows when it's simply foolish to fight when it's obvious your going to loose. Thus, I did the first thing that came to my head. I reared up with a shrill scream and turned on my hooves, running and kicking as fast as I possibly could! I glanced behind me as I ran. The bushes behind me still moved. The creature was gaining! I became desperate and spread my wings and flapped, but before I could get leverage, I burst through the thick brush, slipped on the muddy ground, and flew off the side of the cliff. Before I knew what was happening or could get my wings unfolded and in the right position, I hit the hard rock wall and bounced off, flung into a tree. I managed to open my eyes just in time to see the tree totter and then fall on top of me before everything went black.
Back at the library, Twilight lay reading another book. Rainbow Dash flew in, Rarity soon after. "Hey, Twilight, do you have the new 'Daring Do' Book yet?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I sure do." Twilight replied not getting up, just using her powers to pull the book off the shelf and hand it to Rainbow Dash. "Here you go."
"AWESOME!" Rainbow squealed, hugging the book, then falling down onto the floor to start reading it.
"Also, do you happen to know when Spike is supposed to be back?" Rarity asked. " I have something for him; a diamond. I needed it for a new outfit but unfortunately it was cut wrong, so I thought that Spike could have it."
"That's very thoughtful of you." Twilight replied. "He should be back any day now. I could take it and put it on his bed, so he'll see it when he gets home."
"Oh, if you could, Darling, that'd be absolutely wonderful!" Rarity continued, using her powers to pull out the blue diamond and placing it on the table if front of Twilight.
As Rarity turned to go, Applejack suddenly burst in with Spike on her back, a look of urgency written all over her face. "Twilight! We've got a problem!"
"Applejack, what's the matter?" Twilight exclaimed getting to her feet. Rainbow Dash rose also.
Applejack stepped aside and looked back toward the door while Big Mac, a large red Clydesdale with a straw-yellow mane and tail and a half of an apple on his hindquarters, stepped in with me draped limply over his back. My legs hung pathetically over his barrel, and my wings dangled hopelessly from my shoulders, one bent at an unnatural angle.
All the ponies in the room gasped. Big Mac walked slowly into the room and laid me down gently.
"What happened? She looks simply horrid!" Rarity exclaimed.
"Spike here witnessed the whole thing." Applejack replied turning her head to look at the little purple dragon on her back. "He was the one who rushed to tell me and Big Mac what happened."
"Thank you so much for bringing her here, Big Mac." Twilight thanked the Clydesdale.
"Ee-yup." Was his only reply, with a small nod, before he turned and walked out of the library.
"Spike, you can tell us about what happened later, after Karate-ka wakes up. For right now, look for a book on pony medicine." Twilight instructed.
"Got it." Spike replied, jumping off Applejack's back.
"Rainbow, you go get Fluttershy. She'll know what to do." Twilight continued.
"I'm on it." Rainbow Dash said before zooming out a nearby window.
"Rarity, you should go find some rags we could use to bind up these injuries. And Applejack, go get some water."
A few hours later, my mind started to clear up. I heard ponies talking around me.
"Is she ok?"
"That's really all we can do right now."
"Doesn't the book say anything else, Twilight?"
"No, not really, that's about it."
"Oh, I do hope I bound her wing tight enough…! Oh, but not too tight…!"
"When is she going to come to?"
"Any minute now, probably."
"Maybe we should get a surprise party ready for her for when she wakes up?"
"I don't think that would be a very good idea, Pinkie. I think some peace would be better."
"Now wait a darn second, I think she's comin' to…"
My eyes fluttered and opened slowly. As my vision focussed, I saw Rarity closest to me.
"Welcome back, Darling, you had us all worried sick there for a moment." She said gently.
"How are you feeling?" Fluttershy asked from where she was lying on the other side of me.
"To be honest, lousy. And really, really sore." I replied, barely above a whisper, trying to stand up. But the second I did, my hind foot gave out and I collapsed back again with a whimper.
"No, please don't try to stand up just yet." Fluttershy begged sweetly.
"You took one nasty fall there." Applejack told me, stepping up from behind Fluttershy. "Got hurt pretty bad."
"What….happened…?" I asked, trying to stop the world from spinning again.
"Spike, now you can tell us. What exactly DID happen?" Twilight asked turning to a small purple dragon with green spikes.
Spike stepped foreword, sheepishly tapping his two dewclaws together nervously. "Well, I was coming back from those errands you sent me on, Twilight," he started, "When I must have taken a wrong turn or something. Anyway, I somehow ended up in the Ever-free Forest. I didn't quite know where I was, so I sat down on a rock to think about what to do. That's when I heard somepony coming. I got up and looked, to make sure it wasn't a hostile creature, but no, it was just this purple pony." Spike continued, pointing to me. " I got excited and laughed because I was so happy, and I went out to ask for directions back to Ponyville. But then she suddenly spooked and ran off. I ran after her, not wanting to lose the chance to get out of the forest, but she just ran faster when she saw I was following her. Then suddenly, she burst through the bushes and fell down the cliff. She hit the tree, the tree fell, and after I saw she was unconscious, I realized I was close to Sweet Apple Acres, so I ran to find Applejack."
"And I ran off to find Big Mac." Applejack finished.
"So that was YOU?!!!" I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. "YOU were the big, terrible, evil creature?! YOU were what I was so freaked out about?! OW!!!!" I whimpered and collapsed back onto the pillows.
"Um, yes?" Spike replied shrugging. "I'm sorry I scared you so badly."
I opened my eyes and looked at the little dragon again. The 10 foot monster I had imagined was in reality, just a 2 foot baby dragon that didn't even have wings, and just had humongous eyes. "Well now I feel completely stupid." I mumbled my ears dropping. I changed the subject. "So how long am I going to be an invalid?"
"Well, your wing is broken, your ergot is sprained, you have a slight concision, swelling around your fetlock--" Fluttershy began.
"And a whole bunch of cuts and bruises and some minor whip-lash" Applejack put in.
"All that added together would add up to at least 2 months…" finished Fluttershy.
"TWO MONTHS!!!" I exclaimed.
"Two months." Fluttershy replied calmly.
"At least." Pinkie Pie added.
I groaned, burying my head under my fetlocks. "What am I going to do?!" I whined. "If I can't practice Karate for TWO MONTHS--"
"At least" Pinkie Pie added in again"
"Then….then….I'll die! I don't know what to do with myself! Karate is my life! What am I supposed to do?!" I finished, ignoring Pinkie Pie.
"Who says you can't continue your training?" A voice asked from somewhere behind the crowd of ponies. All of them separated turned toward the door. Princess Celestia stood there in the doorway. All the ponies knelt down on their front legs in reverence as she walked in. I tried to struggle up to kneel also, but Celestia held out her hoof to stop me. "Please, Karate-ka. I understand. You don't have to get up." I bowed my head and laid back down.
"I've heard you are confused as to why I sent you here," the princess continued.
I looked up. "With all due respect, your majesty, I haven't the slightest clue why you sent me here. I don't see any way to continue my training. There must have been some sort of mistake."
"I made no mistake, Karate-ka." Princess Celestia continued.
"And how am I supposed to practice if I'm like this?!" I interrupted. "You sent me here to get my next belt; there's no way to do that here; in this place….There's….there's….NOTHING!"
The Princess held up her hoof, stopping me. "There was no mistake, Karate-ka. I did send you here to continue your training. The next lesson for you to learn was not in a temple in Canterlot. It was a lesson you could only learn here; and the only sensei who could teach it to you are these six ponies." She gestured to all the ponies around me.
I looked around the room, then back at Princess Celestia hopelessly. "These six?!" I exclaimed. "No offense, but they no NOTHING about martial arts; how could they teach me anything?!"
"The Princess sent you here to teach you about friendship." Twilight said, stepping forward. "Like me when I first came, you were so wrapped up in your training, you couldn't see what was right in front of you."
"Karate-ka, you are the most devoted pony I've ever seen." The Princess continued. "But your devotion takes away from your ability to enjoy life. Life isn't martial arts, or whatever your special talent might be; that's more of a benefit. Life is getting along with other ponies, making friends, and living like there is no tomorrow."
The Princess walked back to where all the ponies stood. "You may recognize these six ponies from the castle in Canterlot." She continued. "They are the legendary Ponies of the Elements of Harmony. They are the ones that taught Equestria the value of friendship. If anyone can teach you the same lesson, I'm sure that they can. Your next lesson is the same as Twilight's was when she first arrived. Learn all you can about friendship. You do not have life if you don't have love and friendship."
"Yes, Princess Celestia." I replied sheepishly. "I will do my best."
Princess Celestia smiled and nodded, then turned and began to walk away. I called out to her, "But when I recover, may I make a dojo in Ponyville so I can keep up with my Martial Arts training?" Princess Celestia stopped and turned. "As well as teach my new friends all that I know?"
The Princess smiled. "Yes, Karate-ka. You may open your dojo, as soon as you have recovered. And I shall anxiously be awaiting a report from you about how it goes."
I smiled and bowed. "Arigatou, Sensei."
The Princess smiled and nodded. Her horn began to glow, and in a flash of light, she disappeared.
After the Princess left, I was silent a moment, but then turned to the other ponies. "You knew all along, didn't you. You knew that the Princess sent me here for this reason." I pointed at Twilight. "That's why you were so anxious for me to stay and not go to another town when I first arrived!"
Twilight nodded, and Applejack chuckled. "You're a mighty fast one, aren't you."
"Either way, it wouldn't have mattered if we knew about you coming or not, darling, we would have acted the same way." Rarity added.
I sighed. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk before. I know I was overly obsessed."
"It's quite alright." Twilight replied walking toward me. "We all have our faults."
"And we're ALWAYS ready to make new friends!!!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed right into my ear. She started bouncing on her hooves.
"Pinkie Pie, if you would please calm down just a little, that is…if you don't mind…." Fluttershy said quietly.
"It's ok. I think we can accept you into our little group. You're cool." Rainbow Dash told me landing nearby and slapping me on the shoulder. I winced. "Oops…sorry."
"Well, now, since we're all FRIENDS now, we should have a PARTY!!!!" Pinkie screamed again.
"Actually, if you don't mind, Pinkie Pie-chan, I've had enough excitement for one day. I think I'd prefer to have a quiet afternoon in my room reading the book Twilight gave me." I struggled to my feet. Fluttershy was quick to help me up. "But how about after I get better and get my dojo in order, we can have a 'Grand Opening Party'; how's that?"
Pinkie Pie gasped and jumped straight into the air, clicking her hind hooves together. "YAY! A PARTY!!!!!! I'll get to planning RIGHT AWAY!" She began dancing on her hooves, giggling ecstatically.
"For now, you just rest up, Sugarcube." Applejack said, walking up on the other side of me. "Ain't no need to rush anything."
"And no matter what, you'll always have your friends to help you through." Twilight continued. "There's nothing you need to worry about."