The skate park opened with a sign announcing it to be a municipal park, open to all comers. There were rules posted on said sign, but most were fairly straight forward. Keep to one's area. Don't knock others down on purpose. And of course, don't take others stuff.

Toots, Comforting, and Sunny all attended, each with something to skate with.

Comforting adjusted the helmet on her head, as unrequired as it was or not. "Toots, I love that you're here, but I didn't figure you'd be that interested in skating, let alone with a board. Where'd you even get that?"

Toots laughed at that, holding his skateboard up for inspection. His wheels had been heavily modified. "I made it! I couldn't find one in blue, so I had to make one. I used to shred things up when I was a foal." He dropped the board and hopped on it, just to end up on the ground an instant later as the board zipped away from him.

Sunny giggled into her hooves. "I suppose it's been awhile since you did much skating?"

Toots got back to his hooves. "Something like that." He chased after the board. "Come back here, you!"

Comforting looked out over the park and its residents. "I didn't think the griffons would be so eager."

Sunny grinned at the griffons that were rolling around on their own skates and boards. "Hey, they're welcome to enjoy themselves. I'm glad that they found a place they like to be." She raised her skate-adorned hooves to clap. "Just another way we can find common ground. I've heard some pegasi like it, maybe for the same reason. It's like flying, without actually flying."

Toots zipped by with a "WhoooaaaaaaOOOoooooooo!" He was still unable to manage it well, but he was having fun. "Come on, slowpokes! Or I'm going to get there first."

Comforting pushed forward, rolling on her inlines smoothly. "There is no 'there' to get to first, you silly stallion." That didn't stop her from giving chase after him with a big smile.

Sunny started with a giggle, looking out over the skate park. "I'm glad they have so much fun with this." She started forward at her own pace, enjoying the breeze flowing through her mane. "And I have a place to practice right next to the Boardtrot. Thanks for the idea, Toots!"

Toots managed a little bow, only to have the board zip out from under him again, dropping him on his rump. "Dang it!" He rubbed at his sore spots.

Comforting rolled up next to him. "Keep your eyes on what you're doing." She slid to a top and gathered him into a hug, as if her kiss would chase the pain away. "You're getting your skill back quickly enough."

Toots held her tight. "I'm trying, at least. It's not so bad when I have someone watching who likes me."

Sunny rolled up beside them with her hooves on her hips. "Are you two skating or smooching?" She had a laugh in her tone. "Some creatures."

Toots shrugged. "A bit of both? I have to practice my moves." He winked at her, "And I have to make sure Comforting knows how much I care."

Comforting laughed at that, leaning gently against him. "As if I could forget, though being reminded is still nice." She reached impossibly far to snatch his board and bring it back. "Now let's get you back on this."

He smiled at the two of them. "I love it when the two most amazing creatures are right next to me."

Sunny giggled at that. "You are so silly, Toots." She hit an incline and balanced on the edge before hopping off back to the smooth lower platform without pause. "Woo!"

Toots managed to get back on his own skateboard and moved back and forth smoothly, the board rolling without much trouble. "You know, I could get used to this. I remember learning to keep my balance."

"And you'll remember how it works." Comforting clapped as she floated around Toots, her skates doing little practical. "You just have to keep at it if you want it. Like most things, really."

Toots bobbed his head from side to side. "Yeah. Yeah! You're right. If I want to get better at this, I need to practice. I just want to do it right now, not tomorrow!" He pushed against the ground, propelling himself and the board away and through the park. Fortunately for him, the others there seemed to know to avoid him rather than counting on him to avoid them.

Comforting shook her head with a smile and sped off after him. "Still need to watch where you go!"

Toots waved off her concerns. "I'll be fine!" He saw movement out of the corner of his eye. He leaned to turn, and almost managed to avoid the creature he'd nearly hit. Unfortunately, he ended up hitting the next creature instead.

"Ow!"

Allura stared up at him from her place on the ground, her skateboard nearby.

Comforting caught up quickly. "Kitty on a board! Oh, wow, that is; You like skating?" She clasped her hands. "I support your sporting decision."

Allura growled low, picking herself back up. The wing that she had fallen on was sore at the shoulder. "This had better be a dream." She retrieved her board and skated off without giving them another glance.

Toots rubbed behind his head. "She's still prickly, on a board or not. She's, uh, actually not all that bad." His eyes followed after Allura as she hit a ramp and went up into the air, the board twirling beneath her before she landed. "Wow, she's good."

"Very good." Comforting agreed with a nod. "I think I'm surprised."

Toots shrugged. "She has claws on her paws. Maybe it's easier to grip the board for her?"

Comforting prodded Toots at that. "Ponies are actually better grips with their hooves these days. That's not an excuse I'm accepting. You just need more practice."

Sunny hit a ramp and went flying through the sky. "Wooo!" She spun a few times before landing back on the ground with barely a wobble. "That's a perfect way to do it!"

Toots colored at the peer pressure from all sides. "I'm practicing, promise." He kicked forward, resuming his journey of getting used to his board.

***

In the distance, Sunny waved. "Hi Twitch! You enjoying yourself?"

Twitch waved back, and gave a thumbs up.

Allura sighed. "You're enjoying yourself entirely too much. You are forgetting why we're here."

Twitch blinked up at her and pointed to her board. He held up a hand for her.

"I don't have any bits for that, so you'll have to wait." She picked him up anyway, placing him on her back. "These ponies like their money a lot more than the others." She rumbled low. "I miss those pesky arctic ones."

She spun in place, her board spinning with her. She hit the ramp and launched up into the sky, flipping around before landing on her board with ease. She skated along, sliding her paws to make her board turn and roll in the direction she wished. "At least they have this distraction."

Twitch yammered in her ear. "What?" She turned an ear towards him. "Like your teacup? Hardly. You passively ride in that thing. I am the one controlling this."

That got a renewed stream of excited dialogue out of the rabbit. "Yes, yes, I've seen you twirling that thing in the center. That's not the same thing. You don't decide where, ugh. Are we really arguing this?" Twitch nodded. "Sometimes I hate you." She stepped free of her board, her tail lashing it to kick it up into the air where she caught it in a paw and folded it in the crook between her torso and front right leg. "That work has left me with a thirst."

The pair headed off to the nearby juice stand. It turned out to be a smoothie stand. The pony working behind the desk paled when he saw her, but her smile grew in reply. "Oh, look who we have here." She leaned in. "What was your name? Starstreak? Flying rock? Oh! Comet. Yes, hello, Comet."

The stallion gave an uneasy laugh, looking around for anyone who might save him from his predicament, but finding none. "Hello, Allura. Can I help you today?"

"I'd love a smoothie." She pointed a claw at her selection. "I've been skating, and that works up a thirst, little auroracorn. Mmm, why are you here? Shouldn't that Sunny be here?"

Comet gave another uneasy laugh. "I took over the shop so Sunny could enjoy a little time to herself. I'm sure she'd be here otherwise." He didn't sound sure, not at all. "But one berry blast coming right up!"

Twitch raised his hand. "What is it, Twitch? You want one too? I'm hardly surprised." She held up two claws to Comet. "That's two berry blasts, please."

"On it!" He rushed from place to place, getting everything in order expediently. "So, uh, turned a leaf? That's nice. We didn't like worrying about you." He shuffled from foot to foot. "Better to be friends, right?"

Allura narrowed her eyes at him, lips curling into a smile. "Oh, but I like when others worry about me. Keeps them on their toes." She plucked her smoothie up to take a sip. "Thanks." She turned away, leaving Twitch a precious moment to snag his own before they were gone. He yammered something at her, pointing back.

"Pay him? I have no bits left to do that, Twitch. What do you want me to say?" She turned around and batted her eyes. "Sorry, we have no money, I'm afraid. We'll be off." She turned and marched off. "I doubt he'd be happy about that. Not that I care all that much about his happiness."

She took another drink of her smoothie. "I'm sure he'll get over it, or not. Whatever he wishes." She took another drink. "Mmm, this tastes really good." She glanced at Twitch. "Are you going to drink yours? I went through the trouble of getting it for you."

Twitch drank from his cup. His ears shot up. "So it's good? Well, I am happy I got it for us, then. It was worth the effort, I think."

Comet walked up behind Allura and coughed.

Allura twisted around to face the small pony, at least compared to her. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be at your stand? Sunny will be so very upset with you."

Comet fiddled with his hooves, his voice soft. "I was just wondering when we'll get paid, Allura?"

Allura set her drink aside, placing it on a table with her claws. "I am not a pony." She leaned in, teeth visible with a faint growl. "I don't have a job. How do you expect I get any money to give to you?"

"Well, um." He shrank back a step, ears folding. "The griffons manage to pay, and they're not ponies?" It all came out in almost a squeak, clearly terrified of being there.

"You have them pay to use something that is free?" Allura snarled, but got back to her full height. "Disgusting behavior. No, I will not be paying you anything." Her tail twitched angrily. "Some ponies are even more aggravating than others."

"But it's not free." He didn't try to follow her as she stalked away. "Oh well." He scampered back to the stand, but not before putting Allura's abandoned drink in the nearest trash bin.

Author's Note

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