//-------------------------------------------------------// A Diamond in the Rough -by Colt in the Moon- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// I Stand Alone //-------------------------------------------------------// I Stand Alone Imagine a perfect Summer's day. The birds singing, the flowers blooming, everything was perfect. The ponies thought so too. Every pony was frolicking. Whether it was playing ball, or resting under a shady oak. Everything was peaceful           Spike thought so too. "OK bye twilight". "OK bye....Wait bye?! Where are you going"? Spike sighed, "I'm going to that cave I found yesterday. Maybe there will be jewels in the walls." Spike licked his lips.         Twilight just rolled her eyes. "Well I'd like to come with you but I got studying to do." "Oh man your always those dusty books. Go out and get some fresh air". Twilight just sat there with her nose buried in the book. Spike grumbled and slammed the door. Twilight gave a huge sigh.             Spike tried to forget about Twilight as he trudged up the hill. "Oh man i can't wait to get to all those jewels, and diamonds, or..." Spike stopped. He could have sworn he heard something. He shrugged up and started to enter the cave. "Wow it's even bigger than yesterday. In fact it seems a little different. Oh well, I guess caves do that".           He started to dig at the wall. He could just smell the jems when a voice called out "Stop! What are you doing"?! "Huh, Is some pony there?" Spike rounded a corner and saw a silhouette of a pony. It ran off before Spike could get a good look at him         "TWILIGHT!!!" Spike ran frantically down hill. He rushed into the library and slammed the door. "Spike! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Twilight was nervous for her friend. He looked like he was spooked out of his scales. "I saw something in the cave." Spike whispered. "What did it look like?" "Well it uh..it um.. looked like a pony". Twilight got a puzzled look on her face.             "Well than maybe it was another pony Spike."              "No way he got scared when i dug at the wall and then ran off. I'm telling you, it's weird". Rainbow Dash suddenly burst into the room. "Spike are you OK?" "Yeah Rainbow, hes fine. He just got a little scared".        Spike got annoyed "You should have been there Rainbow it was like a pony, but different".         Rainbow flew up to the ceiling "Well whatever it is we'll find out tonight. Round up the other ponies and meet me at the cave entrance tonight.           That night, Twilight, Spike, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Apple Jack, and Fluttershy all met at the cave entrance.            "Ugh, I should be getting my beauty sleep," Whined Rarity, "Why are we out here"? "Because Spike saw something and we're gonna catch it". They all entered the cave and found something very odd. "That's so weird, it's like some pony was making a home." "Yeah, and does it seem bigger in here to ya'll?" added Apple Jack. Spike started to realize this. "Y'know it was bigger when i came here earlier. Maybe some pony WAS trying to build a home." "But why would any pony want to live in a cave? I mean really?!" declared Pinkie. Then they heard it, outside. They galloped out of the cave and saw the bush move.           "Show yourself!" demanded Rainbow. The same pony(still in shadow)Spike saw leaped out from behind. But before they could say anything, he bolted faster than lightning. "He's not getting away that easy." Rainbow took chase. Half-in hour later she came back. "I don't believe it, he was too fast". //-------------------------------------------------------// Friendship is Magic //-------------------------------------------------------// Friendship is Magic "I can't believe it. No pony can go faster than me!" complained Rainbow Dash. "Ah don't think that's the big issue right now." AppleJack stated "We need to figure out whay in the hay he ran off". "I have to admit," Twilight added, "It does seem weird."                   "See? I told you!" said  Spike with a smug look on his face. "Well I say we try again tonight." "Oh I don't know Rainbow," whispered Fluttershy, "Mabye we should just let him be".                  "No way! If you guys aren't coming, I'll do it myself!" and with that, she left the library. "Ah hope that pony don't git herself into any trouble." AppleJack sighed              That night Rainbow waited at the cave entrance. After about fifteen minutes, he finally arrived. Rainbow Dash jumped out of the bushes. The two began a chase. It was hard to lose Rainbow Dash.        He thought he could lose her in the trees, but she just flew over them. Eventually he made the mistake of rounding a mountain. Rainbow cut him off. "GOTCHA!!" She snatched him up and brought him towards the library              Back at the library, the girls were talking when Rainbow burst in. "Fillies and gentle-colts, I give you: the mystery pony!               She dropped him on the floor. He was a white Earth pony with an orange mane similar to Spitfire. His long orange tail looked as though it had not been combed He had dark blue eyes behind square glasses. His cutie mark was a comic book. "Ow! You didn't need to drop me like that. What do i have something in my teeth"?            "Listen you! We want answers and we want'em NOW!" "Well I....uh...heh heh..um". He started to back away slowly but accidentally backed into Fluttershy. "Oh man I'm sorry." he said "No i was in your way, I'm sorry" "Oh no it was my fault, I'm sorry" "No I'm sorry" "Yea but I wasn't looking so.." "Enough!" yelled Rainbow, she had enough of this. "Alright now what's your name"?                   *SIGH* "My name is Quicksilver.I...I grew up alone with no friends." "WHAT!!!! What kind of pony grows up with no friends?!" yelled Pinkie. Twilight looked at Quicksilver "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" "Two brothers," he replied, "Speedster and Fast Track. But uh, they're not exactly the nicest fillies. But..."                Suddenly a hawk-like screech rang out from outside. Then a bird made of fire flew in and started shooting fire. "Oh man! Ash stop!" The bird stopped and landed gently on Quicksilver's shoulder. "What....is THAT?" Fluttershy had great fear in her voice. "Oh him? This is my phoenix friend Ash. I found him when i was just a filly and hatched him myself. He's been my only friend in life". "Well at least you have ONE friend. You know besides us"!               Quicksilver got a concerned look on his face. "I didn't know we were friends. I mean now that you found me, I'll have to move some where else." All the ponies gasp. "But aren't we your friends?" asked Pinkie Pie.               "Well I usually stand alone. I have trouble trusting ponies." "Tell ya what," Pinkie declared, "I'll show you around ponyville. If you like it stay. If you don't then you can leave." "Well, OK" //-------------------------------------------------------// It all comes Down to This //-------------------------------------------------------// It all comes Down to This Pinkie Pie paced around in Sugar Cube Corner in anticipation. "Ugh, is it noon yet?" she asked. "Pinkie, for the hundredth time, no!" snipped Twilight.          "Well too bad. I just can't wait any longer. I'm going to see Quicksilver and start the tour now!" "That doesn't sound like a good idea." "Well TOO BAD!" and with that she closed the door. "She sure does like those tours of ponyville." Twilight said to Rarity as she walked in. "That's because it has been such a long time since a new pony showed up".            At Quicksilver's cave, he was busy making adjustments. "Alright so I could probably put the couch here, and my bed here".... Suddenly Pinkie burst out of nowhere. "Hiya!" "GAH!" Quicksilver jumped back.           "Ready for your super-fantastical tour of ponyville?" she asked with a smile.    "Sure. C'mon Ash let's go"! The fiery bird flew out of the cave and landed on Quicksilver's shoulder. "Tee hee, you look like a pirate." stated Pinkie. "Let's just go." Quicksilver said grimly.                "OK so this is Sugar Cube Corner. It's my most favorite spot in all of Equestria". They entered the establishment. "Well hello Pinkie dear," said Mrs. Cake, "Who's your friend?" "This is Quicksilver. He's new."              "Who's new?" asked Mr. Cake as he walked in. "Me, my name's Quicksilver. What's yours?" "I'm Mr. Cake, and this my wife Mrs. Cake." "A pleasure." Pinkie Pie started to drag him out. "Well we got places to go so let's go." "Oh take this for the trip." Mrs. Cake gave him a candy cane. "Thank you good-bye"!           "Next stop, Sweet Apple Acres. It's where my friend AppleJack lives." "Sounds nice." said Quicksilver. They soon arrived at the front gates. "Well Ah'll be. Howdy Pinkie, howdy Quicksilver." "Hello." replied Quicksilver. AppleJack turned to her family. "This is the Apple family: Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, and little Applebloom." "Well you all seem nice." Quicksilver said with a smile. "OK so let's go. Busy,busy,busy." As they were leaving, Ash took an apple and ate it in one bite.             "This is Rarity's boutique. She makes really pretty dresses." As they entered Rarity came right up to them. Oh darling I'm so glad you're her. I've been needing a colt to model some outfits for me." Quicksilver got nervous. "Well I'm not exactly a..." "Oh nonsense you're fine. Come on then"! She dragged him towards a stand with three mirrors behind it. "Now try this on." Rarity demanded. After he managed to get it on, he looked in the mirror to see what exactly he WAS wearing. It was a blue shirt that was opened near the top. With sparkling blue pants, and a big blue hat to match. "It's uh..." "Yes?!" asked Rarity nervously. "It's....It's...Fabulous!" "Do you really think so?" Quicksilver had a big smile on his face. "Yes of course!" "Alright next stop. Let's go." demanded Pinkie.                    "This is Fluttershy's cottage. She just loves animals." "I can tell". The place was crawling with animals. Like usual. They stepped inside and saw Fluttershy talking to Angel. "Just one more bite"? The rabbit shook his head and ran off to cause more trouble. "Oh, hello Pinkie Pie." Fluttershy quietly said. Quicksilver spoke up. "Hello, my name is Quicksilver. We met last night?" "Oh yes, I remember you," Quicksilver could just barely make out what she said. "Honestly, I'd like to see more of your phoenix friend. What was his name again?" "Ash." Quicksilver replied. Ash flew over to Fluttershy and landed safley on her shoulder. "Oh my. I've never seen a phoenix before. They're so beautiful." Ash got a smug look on his face. "Alright, Alright," said Quicksilver, "We get it Ash you're great now let's go". Ash knew he was only joking and returned to him.            "Next stop Rainbow Dash". They found Rainbow resting on a cloud, as usual. "Hey Rainbow, you remember Quicksilver right"? Rainbow suddenly swooped down in front of them. "Of course I do! He's the only pony who ever beat me in a race!" "It wasn't that hard," Quicksilver said with a smirk, "After all my name is QUICKsilver." "Oh really tough guy? Try doing it again!" "Ready set go"! The two took off like lightning. After about two minutes they came back at the same time. "I totally won!" Quicksilver panted. "No way! That race was mine!" "You both won now let's go. We have one more stop". Pinkie whisked him away.             "Our final stop is Twilight's." Pinkie said. It was quiet on the walk there. She decided to break the silence. "You seem a little reluctant to live here," she said, "How come?" "Well you guys seem nice and all it's just....I have trust issues. When I was a filly I tried to make as many friends as possible. But they rejected me. So I decided to just not try anymore and save myself the pain". Pinkie tried to hold back the tears. "That's so sad. But you won't have to worry about that with us. We like you and will gladly be your friend." "I just don't know Pinkie".             They soon arrived at the library. Twilight was reading when Pinkie burst in. "Hey Twilight, you remember Quicksilver right?" "Of course I do. How have you been?" "OK, I guess." He looked around at the endless rows of books. He than spotted Spike. "Hey I remember you! You're the little dragon who found me out." Spike's cheeks turned red. "Yeah, sorry about your wall." No biggey. What's your name?" "Spike!" he said with a smile. Quicksilver looked at Twilight. "So what's YOUR name?" "Twilight Sparkle. Have you gone insane spending all your time with Pinkie?" "Not yet." he chuckled.                   That night the six ponies met up at Quicksilver's cave. Pinkie walked up to him. "So, will you stay?" He looked around at the six ponies before him. They all had welcoming smiles on their faces. "Yes".