Peach Roll froze in her steps, leaving one hoof right in the mid-motion. Staring in disbelief at her company in the most desolate place she knew, all the light-yellow-and-cream coloured earth pony could do was to slowly shake her head. Being alone was the reason why she came to this place, a narrow valley running through some hills below her village. Too poor and uneven for a farmland, too old to bear enough fruit, it was left to age, to harbour flocks of passing birds and to provide a scenic backdrop for rare family reunions themed "do You remember, dear?" But not in that hour of morning, and definitely not like that.
Little grey-and-blue pegasus was playing a bridge over the creek, running from the steepest wall of the valley down to the shallow pool encircled by old apple trees. His outstretched legs, pressed into barely visible banks, supported fluffy body just above the water. Well, maybe not just above, but still low enough that he could not retract either one without tumbling into the water. He frantically flapped his not yet fully feathered wings and from the side (or from the above, as Peach position was) it could appear as if a cute little colt was flying full speed, leaving ripples on the water surface, except he was obviously in terrible fright, panting so heavily that his cries for help were barely audible.
Even lying flat on his belly in that sparkling stream wouldn't make him wet half way up his sides. He wasn't in any kind of danger, even a danger of dirtying that cute fluff on his chest, but he sure was making it look like a live-or-die predicament.
The situation he has gotten himself into was too silly to take seriously. Peach even looked around to be sure it isn't some kind of prank, with giggling watchers laying in wait for anypony to fall for their bait. There was nothing suspicious in sight and, considering that even she has stumbled upon him alone and by accident, it would have taken extraordinary amount of planning, much more than usual for any local troublemakers.
Telling herself that she can live a couple days being ridiculed by a few pranksters who really should know how to entertain themselves better, Peach trotted downhill, trying to look resolute and serious - or at the very least not to giggle over small pegasus plight. Jumping in to the stream, water barely covering her hooves, she splashed up to tired and frightened colt, still flapping his minute wings like a trapped butterfly.
"Calm down, will You? There is nothing bad going to happen to You now that I am here."
Getting on to her knees, Peach tried to crawl under little winged pony. He has indeed calmed down - or tired out to let her try and lift him with her back. Some more attempts, partly successful, and finally his weight was solidly on her back. Peach just couldn't believe how light that greyish blue bit of fluff and feather was, or how fast was his heartbeat. His legs tried to clench her sides as she stood up and carefully choosing her footing got out of the creek. But even being on a hard soil and away from anything wet it took more than her kneeling down to coax little featherhoof to stand up on his own.
Peach gently shook her shoulders "Hey, You're safe now, can You stand up? Slide off me?" She looked up, bumping his trembling chin with her nose. "He-ey?" He nodded, shaking just a little bit differently, and tried to reach the ground with an uncertain hoof.
Laying down and letting him attempt to stand up on his own whenever he feels ready, Peach entertained herself with some possible names she would be called and jokes to be told if anyone saw her... them like that. Half was amusing, a few would actually hurt, the rest would range between rude and sleazy, depending on who would tell them. At least these thoughts were some pastime - little pegasus was now supporting himself on his own, if unsteady, feet to let her crawl from underneath him.
Feeling a bit shaken by this rescue business, Peach quickly drove away momentary thought of running away as fast as she could manage, shouting good-lucks and am-sorrys over her shoulder and tried to nuzzle her "trophy" as gently as she could.
"What's Your name, cute?"
Waiting for his answer, she realized that with all this flutter she wasn't sure what his mark was and, after a quick glance, understood, why - there was none, just plain and pretty light blue-grey fur, short and a bit ruffed after all that morning business.
"Sum... Summer Whimp... Whisper"
"I am Peach Roll"
Feeling responsible to present her little community as much as herself, Peach tried a small curtsey with as much grace as she could muster. That Summer Whisper wasn't anywhere close to local, of that this filly was all-hoof certain. Okay, she thought to herself, now that this is taken care of, what next?
She still remembered herself from a year before too well - every time she was caught by parents and other concerned adults (or just "older" ponies) while doing something stupid, or silly, it always was for a good reason. Good to her, anyway. So, instead of painful question of what was he doing here or why, Peach went straight for the next, that should have sounded a lot friendlier.
"Hey, what You're going to do?"
It took some more patient waiting, and impatient nudging and even some nuzzling to get little grey pegasus to divulge his plans to go and hid in the shade until the evening. Not understanding this, Peach dropped onto her butt, puzzled. Shaking head and rubbing ear didn't help to straighten her mind either.
"Do You need help getting home?"
Whisper made a little snort of "no". Of course, how stupid she could be, thought Peach. His home is probably where no earth pony would get in a long time, if ever at all by herself!
"Then what would You like to do, Summer Whisper? It's rather... boring here, even not alone. Just a lot of grass, the trees, some water..."
Realising her mistake, Peach quickly tried to change subject away from anything even remotely related to "water" or "creek".
"Not really a place to hide, especially until the evening. You... got lost?"
That little nodding could mean anything. She reached for him, gently rubbing his dropped ears.
"... and You need to wait for evening before coming home?"
This time her new acquaintance nodded much more certainly, and sadly.
"We were going to a play. To see a play, in a real theatre."
"You... like plays?"
Not that she didn't like them herself - it was just too rare to see a show in these places. Across the river, maybe... but here it was a travelling troupe every now and then, during festive season or in winter, when there was not much to do.
Winged foal nodded yet again, sighing before adding somewhat shyly -
"I like dancing."
"Dancing?!"
Why did it make her heart jump a little? What is so exciting about dancing? Never before Peach have thought about it and certainly not before almost shouting
"I like dancing too!"
It was very close to telling untruth. Peach considered herself too clumsy, too "heavy-hoofy" for it. But if You outright refuse to dance, then surely You will miss a significant part of social life in Your village, so... Yeah, she liked to dance, especially with a few friends she has found in her not particularly long life. And once the lid was off, the Peach found herself unable to stop until she has run out of breath. That short amount of time was seemingly enough for one filly to name all and describe a few of the places she used to dance at. Phew!
Amazed at her own memory and talking ability Peach could offer her stunned audience the only option left.
"Want to see them?!"
Whisper nodded, infected with Peach enthusiasm.
"Yes!"
And so they did. They went to the old Barty's place, where there is always music flowing from the worn and beaten horn of a pathephone. She often passed by on her way from school, looking at all the pairs happily trotting in unison through the large shed. This time Peach had a "real pair", not the usual "surrogate colt" for a mare friend who came to dance without a company. Whisper was a quick learner that at any other time would have put Peach to shame. But today it was different.
They visited a good friend of Peach, Rose Petal, rehearsing her new dance music routine, "tormenting gr-gr-grand piano" as Rose would call it. They have cheered and listened and danced to a few tunes and then were treated to a jug of freshly squeezed pear juice by Roses' mom herself. They stopped at Malt's salon, to listen to the piano played by some locals who frequent this place, before being chased away as under-age trespassers. Adults... they are so foalish some times!
They almost started going around the second time, despite her hooves starting to protest a little, asking for a relieve, when Peach heard some disapproving mumble. Stopping her happy chatter, she perked her ears, turning to Whisper.
"Did You say something?"
"Not me", the little featherhoof was looking really embarrassed, "it's my belly!"
Growing in a big hard-working family has its duties as well as benefits. On some days, especially when they were very busy ones, like special occasions where a lot of ponies were expected to come for their crusty and crispy speciality, Peach was working at the bakery, being mare-at-the-till, bringing fresh goods or having more fun that she was supposed to have beating the fluffy dough or spreading the flour on everything and everyone, including herself. She was also being paid for this duty, a bit a day, keeping a running account on the piece of baking paper, pinned to the back door.
Now Peach has crossed a few of these marks herself, filling her usual delivery basket with freshly baked treats for Whisper and herself. Quick-breads and rolls, small-cakes and cookies. Apple jam fillings, sesame seed toppings, carrots and wild berries. She picked all her favourites and a bit for every taste she could imagine. Perhaps, a bit too much for two foals, however hungry they are, especially considering one of them will have to fly with a bellyful of pastries... but at that moment this would have been at the very back of Peach thoughts. She really wanted to be a perfect host, something she never felt the need to be before.
Thus the next hour or so was with crumbs and chews and giggles... and licking the excess syrup off each other mouths. They happily shared their tasty treats with everyone they meet, so in the end it wasn't as heavy on their bellies as it could have been otherwise. They still made some jokes about it, chasing each other around the village before joining other ponies for a bit more dancing and prancing...
And then the evening came, almost unexpectedly and certainly too early for the two young ponies. Sharp profile of a Nightmare Princess stared down at them, sitting on a hill overlooking the spot where they met this morning, with disapproval and even a little menace. Peach shivered uncomfortably, quickly tuning her eyes down, away from the growing moon, hanging low over the darkening horizon. That hasn't gone unnoticed. Comically shuffling his cute butt over the short grass Whisper inched closer, until their sides pressed against each other, trying to protectively wrap his wing around her. It was barely enough to cover her back and a bit of a flank.
"When I grow up a strong pegasus, I'll bring You a special cloud. No Moon will ever see You..."
Whisper trailed off before continuing on a bit... more selfish note -
"... as long as You wait for me here. Deal?"
Peach sighed happily, nuzzling her new friend.
"I will wait for You!"
