Chapters Another fight over nothing. Growing up in Ponyville is normally peaceful as a dream, unless your name happens to be Bush Whacker. Bullied constantly at school for not being an athletic pegasus, for not being as good as the others, for not having his mark, being constantly told he should have a horn instead of wings, it would suit him better. This wouldn’t be so bad if he had somewhere to find respite, his home life often got him into fights with his father, Dusty Gasket, over nothing at all while he waited for his mother, Loyal Heart, to get home from her job in the guard. The hard days were when she couldn’t come home. Today had been another of the bad days, his mom wouldn’t be coming home for a few more days, bullied again, and getting in another argument with his dad. Bush Whacker had had enough. Knowing after these arguments Gasket would be in his workshop for hours he grabbed his still unpacked and half eaten lunch box and went for the the only place besides his mother’s embrace where he could find some solace, the Everfree Forest, this time though, he didn’t look back.
Bush Whacker had no idea why this forsaken forest gave him a sense of ease. Maybe it was that no one was here to pick on or argue with him, maybe it was something about all those Survivor Pony books he had read. Finally he found what he wanted, a nice clearing close to a stream, for the first time in a while the colt felt at peace, his mind slowing and recounting his experiences. With no pony around to hear him or tell him to be a stallion and stop, he finally let it all out and cried. He laid in that clearing for over an hour, stopping only when he noticed it was in the afternoon and he had nowhere to sleep, nothing to shelter him, and only a little bit of food. Wiping his face of tears with his hoof and sniffling a last time he got to work as best a young colt who didn’t want to go back could.
The sun was setting as Bush Whacker looked at his new home, a small lean-to against an old tree, a log for him to sit on, and a bed of leaves and plant matter. For now it was enough. After eating the rest of his meal and some plants he found near the stream he decided this was enough for the day and went to his shelter to rest as he watched the moon rise into the sky. As the colt was falling asleep the sound of somepony yelling his name reached his ears, it sounded like his dad but to the tired pony it felt more like his mind reminding him of the day and dismissed it as a dream.
He didn’t remember waking up or expanding his campsite but apparently he did. He saw a well maintained fire in the middle of several logs, one of them with a pillow and a bottle of cider nearby, and a large canvas tent with numerous supplies inside. Even the stream was different, it looked like it had fallen a few feet into the ground, a large field of plants was on the other side, and a sharpened rock was lying in the soil next to him. When he was here last he felt at peace, like he was on a vacation, but now he felt different, something he had sorely missed, he felt at home. Smiling lightly he knelt down to take a drink before jumping back at the most unfamiliar thing so far. His reflection was no longer that of the young red colt, but was now a large stallion with a somewhat shaggy beard and a cutie mark that looked like a map in a speech bubble from one of his comics.
Bush Whacker awoke suddenly not only from the remnants of a flash of light inside his shelter but to the sound of that same voice shouting his name much louder and closer. He had barely risen to a sitting position when his father entered the clearing with notable tears in his eyes. The colt didn’t have time to say anything before he found himself in a tight hug from his dad, Bush Whacker simply closed his eyes and hugged back.
As far as Bush Whacker is usually concerned the Everfree Forest provides for him when it comes to life's basics, though when his friends are busy at school or unavailable it does little to relieve his boredom. Grabbing his bags, he decided there’s still one place he has a friend or two. Walking through Ponyville is something Bush Whacker has always enjoyed, everypony, whether they knew him or not always smiled warmly as he passed, some faces he would recognize as ones who lost their way in the forest and he always made sure to smile back and wave. After only a few minutes walk he reached his destination and pulled open the door.
Hearing the door open the mulberry mare at the bar turned to face the new customer as she repeated her mantra. “Welcome to the Cloven Hoof Bar and- oh, hey Bush Whacker have a seat.”
“Hey Berry.” Bush Whacker smiled and waved slightly as he took his spot at the bar, Berry Punch resting her forehooves on it opposite to him. “Could I get a lemon-limeade and a roasted apple please?”
“Absolutely,” The mare moved to go for just a second before stopping and turning back to the stallion. “I know you probably get this a lot Bush and I already said it but thanks again for finding my sister… I don’t want to…”
Bush Whacker raised a hoof to silence the trailing off bartender. “We’ve been through this already Berry, it’s fine, she’s ok now, she knows not to do that again. Your gratitude is welcome, though I think you’ve made that known. It’s just my job.”
“That’s not how a lot of others see it.” She quickly cleared her throat after saying that, shifting the conversation. “Anyway what brings you in here? Aren’t you usually with your friends?”
“Yeah. But Starsoul, Char Opal, Flood Plain and Wombo-Combo are all at school, Vapor Wave works late, and Short Circuit has been out of contact recently, I think she also got a job.”
“Ah, so you’re lonely then.”
“Well we’re getting together tomorrow night for a game but yeah… I guess I’m a little lonely and came to the bar.” Bush Whacker retorted with a playful and joking tone at the end.
“You know what you need Bush?”
“What? What do I- oh no.”
“You need a marefriend.”
“Berry, I don’t exactly live in the best location to date somepony. I don’t want to have to go to their rescue when they get lost just for a visit. Besides, I live my job the same as you do.” He pointed towards the stairs leading up in the back as he said this. “I love living out there, I doubt I’ll ever change it, though admittedly it isn’t without some issues.”
“That’s no problem, I know the perfect pony.”
The red stallion’s eyes shot open. “Berry no, we’ve talked-”
“Your neighbors with Fluttershy, kinda. Get her to introduce herself to that friend of hers. What was her name? Tree Hugger I think.”
Bush Whacker put his head in his hooves with a slight groan. “No.”
“Why not?” There was only the slightest hint of jest in Berry’s tone. “She loves nature, she’d gladly visit you out there. And besides, your name is Bush Whacker, part of your name is a plant. I bet she’d be into you.”
The pegasi’s hooves didn’t leave his face. “No, no thank you. I‘m sure she’s nice, really. But I don’t need my chakra’s realigned, or my soul straightened, or… whatever. We’ve talked a bit and I don’t think she’s my type.”
“Fine.” The mare’s voice had a heavier tone of jest before returning to normal. “What about Fluttershy, she’s single right?”
Bush Whacker’s face hit the bar with an audible thump and a mumbled groan into the hardwood.
“She loves woodland critters and knows her way around a bit. You could stay at her cottage sometimes without being too far away and she would probably love to spend time at your camp. She dog sits Back Up for you. I bet you’re the pegasus type too.”
“Berry.” His voice still muffled by the wood of the bar.
“Hmm.” She sounded almost proud of what she had done.
“I’ll forgive you if you change the drink to a cider, if I’m going to be here for a while I think I’m going to need it.”
Everypony has a time they love. For Loyal Heart it was early in the morning, right as Celestia’s sun began to rise, for Dusty Gasket it was as the sky turned brilliant with reds and oranges. To Bush Whacker it was a time that didn’t come daily, it came once a month or twice if Luna was generous. To him, it was when Luna’s moon was full and high in the midnight sky. A time when the air is cool and crisp, when the only sounds come from the occasional hoot or howl and trees shifting in the wind. The world is at peace and Luna’s silver light creates beautiful scenes in the creeks and streams. For Bush Whacker there is no better time to hike and clear the mind.
The stallion considered the Everfree to be many things, a home, a danger, a job, and in times like this, a sanctuary. Unknown to even his closest friends Bush Whacker had a small hoof-ful of other clearings around the forest he took refuge in, sheltered in the deepest parts of the forest where only a pony as experienced as he could find. The walk could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, it all depended on how much was on his mind. Upon finding the first of these the pegasus made a vow to himself, to only use these at one time in the month and to never take his problems there. His mind needed to be clear when he arrived.
‘I’m fine. I’m ok. I’m normal again. I feel great.’ All the past lies he had told not only others but also himself slowly surfaced in his mind after a small glide across the stream closest his camp. ‘I feel like myself again, I promise. I can do this.’ His hoof falls grew slower, his stride shorter, this would not be the short walk he always desired. ‘I’m just taking some time off.’
Bush Whacker slumped against an old, knotted, oak tree. The rest of his walk would have to wait. “Why can’t I do it? Why can’t I open up more? I can’t keep this as hidden as I try…” His gaze moved from the dirt and grass below him to the radiant silver above. “I know they all care, even dad but I can’t let them think I’m weak. I can’t let them know my limits.” Slowly the stallion’s wings and hooves folded around himself. “I can’t let them know they’re better… No pony.”
His eyes spoke more as if pleading for an answer rather than simple fascination. “No pony can get me here.” The beginnings of tears reflected in the soft light. “This is my home, my place, where I can let my guard down. I don’t want these limits, I don’t care if they mean I’m normal. I hate them!” Bush Whacker looked down again, a few stray tears rolling their way down with the sudden shift as his voice carried slightly in the night. “I hate them… I hate that I can’t do some things, I hate that others can do so easily what I struggle to do, I hate my mistakes… I just… I hate that I’m not as good as others.”
Bush Whacker felt a small weight on his shoulder, it could have been a leaf or something he was imagining, but whatever it was it felt almost comforting to him, making him look to the moon again. “I know everypony has these faults but they always get used against me. I was always the mistake, the hornless unicorn, the target. All I wanted was them to stop, to go away. If I couldn’t kick a ball as well as them I knew it was only a matter of time. When I couldn’t jump a rope it was the same thing. I don’t want to go through that again, on any level. Even if my friends won’t use it against me they will always know ‘Bush Whacker can’t do it.’ ‘Bush Whacker can’t do what I can.’ ‘I’m better than Bush Whacker.’ The weight on his shoulder grew, too much to be a leaf, maybe a fallen twig.
He let out a deep breath, one he didn’t realize he drew in and closed his eyes. “Yeah, I know. I know they wouldn’t do that to me, they know some of what I’ve been through. It’s just… I’m afraid of it happening again, and if I hide it maybe it won’t happen again you know? Maybe I’m just paranoid because of what happened all those years ago. I just don’t want others to know…” Bush Whacker opened his eyes and looked to the shoulder that only a moment ago he swear he felt something only to find nothing there. Slowly he stood up, splashed some water from a one of his bottles onto his face, and continued on his walk.
It was exactly how he left it and yet it felt better every time he arrived. A hammock was strung between two bare trees, arranged with a perfect view of the stars in the sky, a gently flowing creek winding its way only a few feet to the side reflecting that silver Bush Whacker loved so much down it’s entire visible length. As he lay into the hammock Bush Whacker reached under the blanket and pulled out an old and somewhat worn plush of a shark, holding it close as he looked above the canopy, slowly closing his eyes. “Thanks for listening Luna, I’m fine now. I promise.”
“Back Up! Get back here!” A shout could be heard to all in the reception at Ponyville General before a small light brown dog bolted through the entrance doors and into the Patient Recovery wing in what could best be described as a blur. A few seconds later a panting red pegasus with a white-gold mane came bursting through the doors to the baffled looks of the waiting ponies.
“...My bad.” Bush Whacker troted up to the white mare at the counter who was still suppressing a bit of a giggle. “Hey Redheart, just here to sign in… and apologize for Back Up tearing through.”
Nurse Redheart slid a clipboard and pen over the counter after composing herself. “You said ‘visit’ again didn’t you?” She asked flatly.
“I… yeah. I thought I could keep up better.”
“Room three, you know the way.”
“Thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Bush Whacker calmy walked around the corner before another shout could be heard in the lobby. “Next time you’re going on a leash!”
As he entered the room Bush Whacker was greeted with the sight of a familiar orange earth pony filly with a hind leg in an elevated cast, a pink unicorn mare, and Back Up with his front legs on the bed and his tail making audible thumping sounds against the frame.
“Hello Tiger Lily, hope you’re feeling better today. Sorry for not knocking Ms. Blossom, but I think my presence was already known.” The pegasus immediately shot a glare at the dog next to him, one that seemed to go ignored.
The mare smiled warmly at him. “Bush Whacker, after what you did for my daughter, please, call me Tulip. I truly can’t thank you enough for your help. Is there anything I can do in return? Something I can help with?”
“Not for me, thank you though. Just please don’t be too hard on her when she’s out of here alright? Lily was just scared is all.”
“I was not!” The young filly spoke up, finally having her attention taken away from the needy dog at her side.
“That’s not what you told me.” Bush Whacker sat down so he was at eye level with the foal. “Did you lie to me?”
“No! Just… you didn’t have to say it infront of my mom…” Tiger Lily’s face immediately shifted to an expression somewhere between being caught red-hoofed and pouting.
“I’m sorry for telling your secret, but she is your mom, she has a right to know. But if it will help make it up to you I have a small present for you.”
A massive smile crossed the filly’s face making a sound almost akin to a squee.
“I know it may not be the best gift ever but I know hospital food can get a bit old and bland quick, so…” He opened one of the pouches on Back Up’s sack and pulled out a small bag, setting it on the tray next to Tiger Lily. “I brought you some homemade trail mix, it’s all the stuff I find in the Everfree. I’m not sure how much you’ll like it but it’s gotta be better than hospital food right?”
The little filly’s face was still glowing with that smile. “Thank you Mr. Bush Whacker. I got a present for you too.” Tiger lily looked towards her mother who handed her a sheet of paper from a nearby table.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“But I wanted to.” She handed Bush Whacker a crudely drawn crayon picture of a red pegasus with a white-gold mane kneeling down next to a small orange pony in a forest. “It’s a picture of you, to remember me.”
Bush Whacker had to fight back some tears at the sight of the picture. “Thank you Tiger Lily, if I had a fridge I would hang it right there. Tell you what, I’ll hang it inside my tent so that when it rains it won’t get wet. I’ll look at it everyday.” He carefully rolled it up and placed it in one of his own bags. “So, what did the doctors say about your leg?”
“They said it’ll be fine, but I’ll have to stay here for a while so I can’t go outside with my friends.” Her face seemed to droop a little as she said this.
“Well I guess I’ll have to come visit you more than. I’m going to go wait in the other room, I think somebody may have intruded on your mother's time.” Bush Whacker shot another glance at Back Up and while it was noticed this time, the dog did not seem to care in the least. “I’ll come back as soon as she’s gone, ok? I’m gonna let you two continue chatting.”
Bush Whacker turned to leave and was about halfway to the door before he heard a tiny voice behind him.
“Mr. Bush Whacker, would you be my daddy? You could hang the picture on our fridge.”
While Tulip Blossom wasn’t so lucky, Bush Whacker had never been more thankful that his coat hides his blush so well.
Canterlot was never Bush Whacker’s kind of place. The uptight atmosphere, the countless restaurants that charge far too much for far too little, everypony trying to impress or one up each other. It may look beautiful and have some amazing views from above, but on the ground Bush Whacker is almost as out of his element as he could be. Very few things take Bush Whacker from Ponyville, his half-sisters happen to be four of them, especially for birthdays and today was Wishful Thinker's. It took him a little while to find the place but eventually he found the restaurant in question, the Food Prance. From the moment he stepped inside Bush Whacker’s senses were assaulted with the sights and smells of fresh baked bread and house made pasta, some for sale in the waiting area. The roof and floor were made of the same dark hardwood, the kind that lets others know when somepony is coming, live music could be heard coming from the dining room, the lights were dimmed just enough so menus could be read, and a coat rack was visible behind the hostess. ‘Oh goddesses, I am horribly underdressed for this.’
“Welcome to the Food Prance,” The light pink unicorn mare behind the podium greeted Bush Whacker warmly and with a smile that came from enjoying others company. “Will you be dining alone this evening?”
“Uhm, actually I’m here with the Wishful Thinker reservation.”
“Of course, right this way.”
The tables were hidden away in a corner, four of them pushed together to make room for the entire party. The table itself was next to a massive window overlooking the surrounding area, Ponyville could be seen in the far distance and just beyond it was that forest Bush Whacker called home, a small field of green in the distance. The windows also had a great view of Celestia’s setting sun and soon, Luna’s rising moon. ‘At least if conversation dies I have a view.’ Around the table were Loyal Heart, Dusty Gasket, one of Wishful Thinker’s uncles Bush Whacker didn’t know, Wishful Thinker diagonally across from a seat with his name on it, and her pegasus fiance’ Copper Badge, all wearing rather nice outfits and having had their manes done. Wishful Thinker rose to her hooves the moment she saw her younger brother approach and embraced him in a hug, it had been over a year since they last saw each other.
“Oh my goodness Bush Whacker, it’s so good to see you again little big brother!” The squealing in her voice was almost audible. “I don’t think you’ve met my Uncle on my mom’s side, this is Pious Hooves.”
“No, I haven’t, good to meet you sir. “
The older earth pony stallion simply nodded his head at Bush Whacker.
“Well, have a seat brother. How have you been?”
He sat down at his seat, thankfully next to Loyal Heart but across from two empty seats. “I’ve been good. Are there others coming?”
“Oh yeah just my best friend and her husband.”
Bush Whacker had barely picked up the menu before the waitress came over to take drink orders. ‘I can’t even name half of these, I’m not sure Berry Punch can either.’ His thoughts raced as he quickly looked for something familiar, finally spying something.
“And for you sir.”
“I’ll have a glass of Sweet Apple Acres Cider please.”
“Excellent, I’ll have those right out to you.”
Breathing out a slight breath Bush Whacker went back to the menu before being nudged in the side by his mother.
“You couldn’t have cleaned up a little nicer?” Her voice was barely audible to him, much less to any other pony at the table, all of whom were talking about Pious buying a second house in Coltorado.
“I didn’t realize I’d be coming to Canterlot today, and I don’t exactly have the best facilities to do it in.” He didn’t expect that answer to have worked with her but apparently it did as she jumped right back into the conversation leaving her son to look over the menu and try to find something. Most of the menu was filled with foods the pegasi had never heard of, much less had any idea how to eat except for one section. It was near the bottom of the page, a very small section but there, his favorite, hayburgers. They even had one with bleu cheese. Bush Whacker could feel his stomach growl at the words, his mind was made up, it may not be sophisticated but it’ll do. With the conversation still going though having moved to yet another topic he had little context for Bush Whacker turned his attention to the ever sinking sun, it felt like Celestia was teasing him, not letting him see one of his favorite sights just yet. A few more minute passed as he heard the sounds of hoof steps approaching and turned to look.
If Rarity didn’t design and create the outfits on those two she probably knew the pony who did. Their walk and way they held themselves was the kind that simply said ‘Money is no object.’ The lavender unicorn mare looked like she was about to go down a runway while the light tan earth pony stallion next to her looked about the same in his full suit.
“Wishful!” The lavender mare exclaimed as though she had not seen Bush Whacker’s sister in a lifetime.
“Precious Gem!” Wishful Thinker had the same tone in her voice, the two of them embracing in a tight hug and a small squee. Wishful turned her attention to Bush Whacker, still side-hugging the mare. “Brother this is Precious Gem and her husband, Gold Vein.” He couldn’t even get a hello in with this mare.
“You’re her younger brother?! Oh my goodness Wishful, he’s so tall.”
“I know, sit down, have a seat. How have you been?”
The waitress seemed to have chosen this moment to sneak up on the group with their drinks. As she set down Bush Whacker’s, which seemed to have come in a brandy sniffer, Gold Vein piped up.
“What do you have there? Bourbon? Bee’s nectar?”
“Just cider tonight, don’t know quite the reason for the glass.” Bush Whacker took the opportunity to have a sip of his drink, and got a hint of blueberry with the familiar apple flavor. ‘Applejack, if you’ve been hiding this from me, we’re gonna need to talk.’
“Ah, it’s too allow you to savor the scent of the drink. Quite kind of them really.”
After this was said Bush Whacker barely spoke at all. Much of the conversation seemed to have steered towards Wishful and Copper’s upcoming wedding. Loyal Heart giving her the speech about family traditions as the mother-in-law and about wedding plans as the pony behind the scheduling. Precious Gem chimed in about how they’ll need a shower, a bachelorette party, an after bachelorette party, and a day before party. This later devolved into their discussions about planning a “Flirty Thirty” party at some point soon. A few minutes later the waitress came back with a prepared speech about tonight’s specials that seemed to go on for two or three minutes. Once everypony had ordered and she had left Bush Whacker went back to watching the setting sun, now just touching beginning to sink below the horizon and turning the sky all manner of wonderful shades of red and orange.
“-been doing Bush Whacker?” Wishful’s voice could be heard just within his realm of attention, snapping him back to reality.
“Huh, what? I’m sorry I was… distracted. What were you saying?”
“How have your friend’s been doing?”
“Oh, they’re doing just fine. Most of them have gone back to school but Vapor Wave and Short Circuit got jobs nearby. We still hangout and talk and get with the others when we can.” He was trying so hard to turn the social part of his brain on, the part that can hear what anypony at a table is saying and have a witty retort ready at a moment's notice.
“That’s good, always nice to keep in contact with friends.” His sister wrapped a foreleg around Precious Gem’s shoulder, a gesture that was soon returned. “So what have you been up to? Still living in the Everfree?”
“Oh, absolutely.”
Gold Vein nearly spat out his cocktail and his wife’s eye’s snapped between Wishful and Bush Whacker rapidly. “You live where?” The tan earth pony’s voice sounded as if he had heard Celestia had yet another sister.
“Oh, didn’t I tell you. He lives in the Everfree. He helps other ponies who go inside… tell them little brother.” Wishful only had a massive smile as she spoke while it was clear from the other two ponies’ faces that they could not believe what they were hearing.
“Yeah, I live in the Everfree Forest, it’s actually better than you would think. Every night has a clear view of Luna’s night sky and the fresh air just feels great.”
“Yes, but… Why live there my boy?” Gold Vein seemed to have regained control of his jaw, taking a moment to recompose himself. “Why not just live nearby? Or vacation there?”
“Well I work Search and Rescue. No matter how many times you tell a foal not to go in there will always be the dares, or a scared filly who runs away from bullies, or a little colt who just wants peace and decides to run away. Sometimes a pony falls and gets hurt while on a walk and no one is around to hear their cries for help. It’s my job to make sure they get home safe, to make sure they’re ok.”
“... So what’s it like out there? Do you have a house in the forest? How often does this kind of thing happen?” From the tone in her voice, it sounded like there would be no end to Precious Gem’s questions.
“On average, it only happens once or twice a month, but I’ve had as many as three or four. And no, I don’t live in a house. I have a clearing that I have set up as a camp, I use my tent as dry storage and spend every night looking up at the beautiful stars in the sky trying to find shapes and patterns among them. To be honest, it’s incredible out there, sure it has it’s dangers but the water is crystal clear and there are enough wild edibles out there that I never go hungry. It’s a kind of serenity I can’t describe. Besides, Fluttershy and Zecora are wonderful neighbors if I ever need anything.”
“Well I think that’s extremely noble of you Bush Whacker.” Seems it was Gold Vein’s turn again. “It isn’t the kind of life I would live but I’m glad somepony is.”
‘Finally, conversation I can be part of.’
“So what do you do for fun out there? Any hobbies?”
Even though his mane was still disheveled and he probably smelled of pine and oak, Bush Whacker was beginning to think a little less about how he didn’t fit in here as he and Gold seemed to continue talking about one thing or another as conversation at the table bounced back and forth between everypony. Going so far as to sing Happy Birthday when Wishful’s meal arrived with a candle in it. Bush Whacker took one last look out the window, finally seeing Luna’s moon begin to rise above the horizon as he focused back to the conversation at hand and gladly accepted a role in Wishful and Copper’s wedding as an usher.
To most ponies the night means crawling into a warm bed to sleep and dream, time to relax and rest from the day. For Bush Whacker it was when he often found himself being needed the most, the Everfree is already a maze during the day but at night even grown mares and stallions can get turned around and lost, night is typically when Bush Whacker was most awake and alert. Every danger had their own unique sound that tended to carry for a ways in the undergrowth, the most obvious was a pony calling for aid, but the occasional animal growling or smoke from a survival fire weren’t uncommon to him. It couldn’t have been long before midnight, maybe an hour, when one of the worst sounds reached his ears, falling rocks and debris followed by the sounds of somepony in pain.
A landslide or bad fall over a cliff often leaves ponies with broken legs or wings, making getting them back to ponyville somewhat of a challenge. In some cases he had to send his dog, Back Up, to the hospital with a note for help. Bush Whacker grabbed his bags with his first aid kit and sped off into the direction of the sounds. After the initial pained screams had died down he heard the other pony’s voice calling, it sounded like a stallion, at least Bush Whacker knew he wasn’t unconscious, that makes things easier.
“Help, somepony, anypony!” The voice called in the distance, growing louder with each step Bush Whacker took. “I heard somepony lives out here right? Please, help me!”
The pegasus had finally come to where he could see what had happened, a pony had been walking along a cliff face before stepping on a loose step and falling, debris burying a leg on it’s way down. However it was the trapped earth pony that made Bush Whacker stop in his tracks still in the brush and undergrowth. A dark tan coat and a mane bleached from having dyed it too many times in youth, Dusky Star, a pony Bush Whacker never thought nor wanted to see again.
The memory came back to him in an instant, as clear as it was when it happened, and just as haunting as every time it wormed its way back into his thoughts. It was just after a sports class in school, Bush Whacker was already avoiding any kind of contact with his classmates as much as possible but that wasn’t enough forever. He couldn’t even remember how it started, what triggered it, but he remembered it with a clarity that would make even crystal ponies jealous. Young Bush Whacker suddenly found himself pushed against a wall of lockers as he was changing, no less than three locks jabbing into his wings and back. Reeling away from the wall in shock and pain he found himself on the floor, being kicked and stomped by three other colts, Dusky Star being the ringleader and antagonist. It may have only been seconds but to Bush Whacker it felt like an eternity, crying endlessly in a defensive position on the floor as he was beaten and none of his classmates got help. They just stood there, shocked, and watched.
The memory had haunted Bush Whacker since he was a blank flank, it was part of the reason he lived here now. The red stallion could feel his jaw clenching and his hooves tightening, his anger rising beyond whatever it was before. His breath stopped being the normal quiet as it turned deep enough to flare his nostrils. The pegasus learned a lesson that day not many know, a lesson that should be reserved for the likes of Nightmares and tyrants. That day Bush Whacker learned what true hatred was. Not to simply dislike something or somepony, but to despise something so entirely, to want nothing to do with it, to learn a shade of burning red that very few should ever see and even fewer deserved to see; to well and truly hate. A hundred scenes played out in his mind, some worse than others. Dusky hadn’t seen him yet, he could leave the earth pony, at least for a little while…
‘No! You can’t have those thoughts, that’s not you! “On my honor I will do my best to help other ponies at all times; to be trustworthy, helpful, friendly, kind!” You made those promises, you swore that oath! You can’t leave him here, he’s hurt! Who are you if you leave him? What does that make you?’
Another call for help and his recent thought snapped the pegasus back to reality, taking a deep breath he ran forward as fast as he could to where the accident occurred.
“Oh thank the Sisters!” Dusky shouted out between breaths of pain. “I knew somepony would help, you’re the one who lives out here right? The one that helps ponies get out?”
“... Yeah. Why were you out here so late anyway?” Bush Whacker immediately began digging Dusky’s leg out of the rubble. ‘Either he doesn’t recognize me or he isn’t acknowledging it, fine by me either way.’
“I wanted to get a gemstone for my marefriend, I-I wanted it to be special so I went here to get one myself.”
“How chivalrous.” It was getting hard for Bush Whacker to mask his feelings with sympathy, the only thing helping was his concentration on first aid. “Tell me when and where this hurts the most and how bad.”
“Thank yo- ow. Buck, that hurts!.. That’s not as bad… You look kinda- Ah, please stop touching me there.” Dusky’s voice was more of a panting at the sudden jolts of pain.
“Well it’s not the worst I’ve seen but your hind leg has a stress fracture, a small crack on your bone. It’s not broken yet, but I need to get you to Ponyville General. I’m going to get a splint on it and I’ll help you up, use your good legs and I can get us there alright?”
“Yeah, that… that’s a good idea. I think I can do that. Hey uhm…”
“Keep that leg off the ground as much as you can and as high as you can.”
“What’s your name?”
“... Bush Whacker.”
The walk to Ponyville General was long and silent save for the occasional pained moans from Dusky Star. The two had trekked the entire way in silence towards each other, Bush whacker keeping his word to get Dusky to the hospital. A few feet from the doors Bush Whacker put the wounded earth pony into a wheelchair outside, Dusky finally broke the silence as Bush Whacker turned to leave.
“Hey Bush Whacker!”
The pegasus simply stopped in his tracks and turned his head slightly to look back over his shoulder.
“I just wanted to say thanks for helping me out… and about schoo-”
“Dusky.”
“Yeah?”
“Nothing between us has changed.” He didn’t wait for a response, Bush Whacker took flight towards his home before he could hear anything else.
“When I have foals one day I’ll make sure to treat them better than you!” The door to the young pegasus’ room slammed shut, echoing down the hallway. A small thud of something being propped up against the door from the inside followed.
Bush Whacker’s eyes opened slowly to the afternoon sun shining on him and his favorite log. Sadly it wasn’t just Celestia keeping him from a restful nap, his mind seemed to be pushing all the fights and arguments he had with his father to the forefront, all the ugly things he had said. He breathed out a long sigh trying to push the memories back farther but to no avail as another floated it way to the top.
“I know it hurts you to hear these things mom but while he’s my dad, he’s not my father.” Loyal Heart looked equal parts hurt and confused by her son’s statement as he continued between light sobs. “We always fight over nothing, we have nothing in common. He has destroyed numerous breaks from school, including a summer! He’s just not a father to me.”
The red stallion’s head fell back into the pillow between him and the log, his hooves rubbing his face. “Oh Princesses…I said some awful things didn’t I? He never was a bad dad… we’re just too similar and I never wanted to be like him. He was always trying to teach me things or building things for my convenience… Tartarus, I still have that workbench and writing desk…”
Bush Whacker’s attention was switched from his thoughts to his surroundings by a rhythmic sound all too familiar to the pegasus, his own hoofsteps on the forest floor. After a quick look around found him an old, knotted, dead standing oak, a small pile of moss covered rocks, and a fork in a creek. The only way this path leads is back towards town, back to Ponyville. Yet another memory surfaced, making the somewhat short walk even shorter. It felt like his subconscious mind was forcing him to remember everything he didn’t want to. Everything he had regretted and tried not to think about.
It was shortly after he had decided to drop from college in the Crystal Empire, too many failed classes and a pulled scholarship didn’t leave him many options. It was still early in the summer when Loyal Heart checked on Bush Whacker, he was still in their basement, somewhere between moping and sulking. “… It’s not the failing that’s the worst part, it’s that dad and everypony on his side expects me to graduate. Especially Grandpa… They’re going to constantly remind me of how I had ‘so much potential’ and just make it worse. Grandpa even told me that without that degree I’ll be flipping hayburgers. Dad has never been supportive of me, never been one to encourage me to do anything… I just want to go back to my friends but I can’t even do that… This doesn’t feel like home.”
The drab earth pony mare looked her son straight in the eyes with as best a caring look as she could give. “Your father didn’t graduate either, yeah he has a lot of credits but he didn’t graduate, neither have a couple of his brothers. He will absolutely support you, no matter what. And I will tell you right now, that stallion will be the first to chew your Grandpa out if he starts.”
Bush Whacker only half smiled. “I’d love to believe you but I can’t. He’s never been supportive of me. I don’t expect it.”
“He talked to me the next day… and he got Grandpa off my back…” Yet another deep breath left Bush Whacker as he found his steps had reached an intersection on a cobblestone road through Ponyville. His voice barely audible to anypony save himself. “Yeah… Guess I’m doing this, a bit overdue but better now than never.” There weren’t very many turns he had to make. Only one or two due to the layout. His steps took him farther from the Everfree and closer to the edge of town nearest Canterlot, until eventually he was able to see it. That deceptively large one floor house with a basement as big the main floor, built to entertain a large crowd. Just what Loyal Heart always wanted, the two stone manticores still stood out front, she never could get rid of them as much as she wanted to. One of the last things Bush Whacker had done with his father was help them move out of storage and into the new home, they had even paid him an hourly wage to do so and that was Dusty’s idea. It was those bits that really allowed him to have the necessary supplies to live in the Everfree. His hoofsteps stopped in front of the darkwood door, his mind still somewhat racing and he could feel a cold sweat on the back of his neck. After a few seconds Bush Whacker finally raised his hoof and knocked.
“I’ll be right there!” An older, very familiar voice called from inside. It sounded like Bush Whacker probably would in a few decades time. The door open after a few moments and the pegasus found himself at eyelevel with the aluminum gray stallion, his mane still had that distinct light yellow even in his age. “Oh, hello Bush Whacker. Didn’t expect you today; if you’re looking for your mother she’s out and about right now.”
“Actually dad… I was hoping to talk to you… can I come in?”
When the wilderness is your home, very little goes unused. Edible plants and fungus dot the landscape, hardened brackets on the trees make for wonderful tinder, vines can be used as cordage. Bush Whacker made use of all that was available, his camp and clearings being good examples but there was one tree in particular, slightly taller than the rest and with a rather flat top that he had always liked. It made watching the night sky and stargazing so much better for some reason.
The day was fine enough, it had its merits, visibility being highest among them. But everypony was so busy, rushing from one thing to the next or being busy indoors. Nopony seemed to take their time during the day. The night was something different, it was a time of relaxation, a time to slow down, an opportunity to refresh. To a younger Bush Whacker days were tartarus, they represented the time when bullies would be close enough to him and when he and his father might fight about nothing. Night was one of the only times he could find solace, an opportunity to decompress. Time he didn’t have to worry about what might happen next.
To the red stallion the night was something beautiful. Proof that for all colors available to ponykind sometimes less is more. With only silvers, whites, and a deep, dark blue, the night sky was an amazing work of art, and Luna was a master artist. Every night the stars would reappear, but never quite the same. Small shifts in location and arrangement made each night special, after every sunset a new work of art was formed. The sky only seemed to get better and better as time went on, at the beginning when Celestia’s sun had set but it’s light still reached Equestria Bush Whacker could see the dusky yellows slowly fade to that midnight blue. After that the stars would seem to only grow in number. His eyes adjusting to the darkness and seeing the subtleties Luna put into her latest masterpiece. Sometimes a stray, wispy cloud high above would ever so slowly be blown around by the currents, masking some stars and highlighting others as it moved.
If the sky above was a masterful painting, the world below was an incredible orchestra. The sounds of insects chirping in the night, some continuously while others would go in sets of two, made their own rhythm. The gentle blowing breeze causing the sound of rustling leaves and branches was ever present in the background. Sometimes an owl or another night bird might pitch in with it’s own unique sound. This wonderful mixture of sound was always present in the forest, echoing throughout no matter where you go. Even the air itself was refreshing, during the day it’s soft and warm, great for naps, but as the sky darkens it becomes cool and crisp. Every breath becomes refreshing and welcome.
To Bush Whacker the night was a beautiful thing, rife with hidden dangers, but to a pony with the right training and mindset it was something otherworldly. Something so at peace and yet so alive it felt almost indescribable to him. It was always a shame when sleep overtook him while he was stargazing. The peaceful serenity lulling him to sleep, the different elements combining to make his eyes heavy. Often he cursed his body’s automatic responses, wishing and willing himself awake for just a little longer. On more than one occasion had he heard some pony joke that bat wings would suit him better.
Bush Whacker had heard that Princess Luna sometimes felt that nopony understood her night, what it truly means. While that may be true, maybe only its ruler could understand all there is, the stallion still liked to think that he might have at least something of an idea.
Bush Whacker softly rolled over in his sleep, blanket curling over him and his head settling into the pillow even farther than normal. His forehoof reached forward and found purchase on something soft and furry, his face tickled by something similar. ‘Guess Back Up wanted to cuddle, always wants attention.’ His thoughts still groggy and slow, the stallion was content to simply lie in bed and let sleep overtake him. ‘Wait… I don’t own a mattress…’ slowly he moved his forehoof down the fur of whatever was next to him, hearing what sounded almost like a contented sigh. Bush Whacker’s mind immediately decided to start functioning as best it could past the slight headache that spoke of a night likely spent drinking. ‘That’s not Back Up… Where am I?’ Ever so slowly his eyes opened to reveal that not only was he not in the Everfree but that his face was rather close to a cerise mane and the mulberry mare it belonged to.
‘Oh buck.’
While his mind was busy putting two and two together his body had betrayed him, letting out a deep yawn and alerting the mare next to him, causing her to slowly roll over toward him, their faces mere inches apart.
“Well good morning to you to Bush Whacker.” A small, welcoming smile accompanied her greeting.
Words failed him, they kept getting stuck in his throat. Speaking took incredible effort. “Good… good morning Berry Punch… how…what did we do last night?” The throbbing in his head flared up again, getting slightly worse.
A small giggle left the mare. “Nothing you’ll regret.”
At least his pounding heart seemed slightly calmed by this. “What happened?”
“Well, I learned a few things. First, why you don’t order wine. All your barriers just disappear Bush, you open up a lot. Second, that you can do a lot with an open stove flame.” Berry’s coat did little to hide her blush. “So when did you get to be an artist?”
“Wait what? I’m not sure I follow where you’re going, did- did I drunkenly paint something?”
“No. You insisted, to my protest, that we go up to my roof.”
“Oh… sorry about that.” The pegasus’ face drooped downwards.
“Don’t be, it was beautiful. You went on for at least half an hour about the night sky, about the stars that hide until your eyes adjust, the sky as a whole, and about Luna as an artist. I’ve never seen you get that deep, it was cool…”
Now it was Bush Whacker’s turn to visibly blush, despite his red coat. “Thanks… I usually just keep that stuff to myself you know? No real reason to tell other ponies about it. I just like to keep those kind of thoughts private…” His face hid itself even more, his voice slowly trailing away.
“Why? It’s a side of you nopony gets to see. You opened up about a lot actually… You should really stop hiding some of those things.” Bush Whacker felt the pressure of a hoof on his chin, lifting it to look back at the mare next to him. “Why do you hide parts of yourself? Why do you reject so much of who you are? You almost sounded angry last night before we went to the roof.”
Bush Whacker took a deep sigh and closed his eyes momentarily before looking the mare right in her own, his filled with sincerity but with the slightest hint of doubt or fear. “Berry, there are some parts of me that I just despise, I know they’re a part of me, I know I should accept them but I can’t. I shouldn’t feel the way I sometimes do. I shouldn’t know those emotions or thoughts. I can’t be like that and I won’t. I need to push them away. The more other ponies know about my limits or about the parts I don’t present, the more it leads to pain, it always has. I need to present myself as some paragon, flaws are picked and made worse, any weakness is exploited. I need to be better than what I am, I need to be something else. If I can make them think I’m perfect or that I don’t have limits then they won’t be used against me.” The doubt and fear in his eyes slowly began to take over, his body shaking lightly despite the warmth of another so close, his voice equally as faulty. Barely a second had passed before he felt a pressure encompass his torso and wings, two hooves finding their way to his back and his head in Berry’s shoulder.
“Bush Whacker listen to me. I like that you opened up like that with me. I don’t care about your flaws, I like the fact that I got to know the you that you always hide. You’re a great stallion, stop beating yourself up, please. Pressure can make diamonds but it also makes dust. I won't tell anypony what you said, but you need to lighten your load. Talk with somepony, get this out.”
It took a moment for it to all sink in, but when it did Bush Whacker immediately returned the hug, letting out a deep breath, contented to know there was at least one pony he could tell everything to, who wouldn’t judge him too harshly anyway.
“Thanks Berry.” His voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not used to opening up like this.”
“You’re welcome, anytime you wanna talk, be it as a bartender or something more I’ll be here.”
Their hug lasted for a few more seconds before they pulled apart and just watched each other. “So… are we… a couple now?”
A giggle and light kiss on his forehead sent his heart rate skyrocketing again. “Well I think we should talk about that. Preferably over those apple pancakes you said you’d make me.”
When Bush Whacker wanted to sleep he wasn’t exactly the easiest to awaken, often sleeping ten hours or more and being awake for half again as long before repeating. Other than direct contact one of the few things that woke him was Celestia’s sun. The bright yellow light of noon shined down on the sleeping pegasus, slowly stirring him from his slumber. A long yawn escaped his mouth as he stretched his back against his sleeping log, multiple pops and cracks leaving his back. No matter the time he woke Bush Whacker’s routine was always the same, stretch, prepare his tea, take a wash in a nearby stream, and finally update his daily calendar.
“Aw, buck.” Notable emphasis was put on his curse as he saw the date, but more importantly, the print under it. Hearts and Hooves Day . “Nice job Bush Whacker,” The stallion spoke almost belittlingly to himself. “What is this now, two or three years you’ve forgotten? Smooth.”
When it came to holidays Bush Whacker usually loved them. During Hearthwarming he went to extremes at times to find that perfect gift for his friends to let them know how much they mean to him. During Nightmare Night he would turn the Everfree into his personal hunting grounds, playing games with other ponies to see who could escape him the longest. He loved almost all of them. Hearts and Hooves Day was never one he seemed to really get in the spirit of. Memories of his school days flashed through his mind, sure he got cards and the like from his classmates, as was standard. But while others were looking at the personal gifts some foals got each other, Bush Whacker simply made do with his lot, the standard fare, the kind you get for showing up. Truth be told, dating isn’t that easy when you live in a forest. Mares often don’t want to journey into it’s dark depths and he couldn’t blame them, the Everfree is dangerous. Just a simple visit would require a twenty minute walk through the forest, and that’s if they didn’t get lost. Not to mention the one marefriend he’d had broke it off years ago, the feelings were only one way. Bush Whacker knew he had to at least go into town today, last time he hid in the woods his friends kept asking where he was all day.
‘Maybe my luck will change and I’ll actually meet a somepony nice today.’ A small list forming in his head as he walked along the almost worn in path. ‘Doubt it though.’
As every time this holiday comes around, Ponyville was bustling with happy couples, more ponies than usual filling the streets. The park was littered with blankets, each with a couple sharing a picnic in the gorgeous weather. Restaurant windows showed the same thing at tables, as did Sugarcube Corner, even the stage in the town center was home to the musical couple of Octavia and Vinyl's impromptu concert.
‘I swear, every Hearts and Hooves Day the population of this place triples only for the day. Alright, let’s think.’ His slow walk now passing a familiar storefront, one with decor that belonged more in Canterlot than Ponyville. ‘What about the Elements? Well besides the fact that they are all out of my league.’ Bush Whacker took to the skies momentarily, his gaze sweeping across the town. ‘Pinkie Pie looks to be on a date with at least ten other ponies, no surprise there. Rarity is not only miles out of my league but she doesn’t seem the type to be interested in me, too clean. Twilight is a Princess now so no. Rainbow Dash is out in Cloudsdale. Applejack is probably, as usual, busy with the farm. Fluttershy… maybe, but Discord scares the Tartarus out of me.’ Slowly he descended back to the ground, resuming his walk through Ponyville so as not to look out of place, slowly approaching the town’s square.
‘Alright then. Who else? Tulip Blossom would probably say yes, she’s single… But that might get Tiger Lily’s hopes up, I can’t go out with her mom just because I’m lonely. I don’t know Starlight well enough yet… Maybe there’s somepony single around I recognize?’ The day held its trend, everypony Bush Whacker saw was holding hooves with or under the wing of another. With an exasperated sigh he continued on, moving slightly faster now, just above a walk, a speed nopony would really question. It was a pretty good day for a walk anyway and there’s a nice old tree that’s good to rest under just before the edge of town. As he got further away from the bustling streets he even saw Starsoul and Flood Plane out of the corner of his eye cuddled closely together near a small pond. ‘Damn it you two, stop being cute. Gonna get cavities with how sweet you two are.’
At last he reached the tree, he had napped under it a few times so ponies probably wouldn’t question him about lounging there and the nearest couple were a little ways away on a small hill. Resting flat against the ground with his gaze looking up through the leaves and branches, Bush Whacker closed his eyes and just let himself take in the now late afternoon sun, it would be dinner time before too long. His mind wandered once again from one thing to another until his trance like state was broken by the sound of somepony lying under the tree as well. ‘Plenty of room to go around, nice choice of spot.’
“Hey Bush.” A mare’s voice spoke up from about where he had heard the sound, her voice not only well known to Bush Whacker but the tone was like that of a casual greeting between friends.
‘Huh, well alright then.’ “Hey Berry.” Bush Whacker’s tone was a near identical match to hers.
“Where’s your ‘very special somepony’?”
“Nonexistent.” The pegasus replied with a slight chuckle, opening his eyes and moving slightly to see his bartender friend, alone. “Where’s yours?”
“Also nonexistent.”
“I thought you’d be running the Cloven Hoof all day, thought it’d be packed.”
“I didn’t open. Took the day off.” all throughout the conversation, neither pony had changed their tone.
‘Buck it.’ Bush Whacker stood up slowly, turning his full attention to the mulberry earth pony mare at his side, watching as she began to do the same. “Wanna get a drink or something to eat?”
“I’d love to. In fact,” Her tone changed slightly, getting a touch lower and quieter. “I have a bottle of riesling chilling in a bucket at the bar.”
Bush Whacker felt his face heat up just a bit before his face immediately contorted into one of slight confusion as he took a second to dig through his memories. “How did you know I like that wine? I’ve never ordered riesling.”
Berry Punch had already started walking back into town, Bush Whacker following next to her. “You have your mother’s sweet tooth Bush.”
His eyes darted around the sides of his vision, seemingly avoiding the mare to his side, his mind still sifting through memories of all the times he had been to Berry’s bar. “... You planned this, didn’t you?”
