The things I put up with...

Chapter 3
Bad news spreads like wildfire

'Oh shit! Who in the whole wide world of Equestria knows where I am?' You walk downstairs following the yellow pony.... 'I still need to learn her name.'

The pony glancing around the room didn't look like anypony you had seen before. He was cobalt blue with a red and orange mane. An envolope was brandished on his flank. 'A courier?' You approach him very cautiously hoping this wasn't a trap. You and the law just don't get along to well.

"Uhm... Hello?" You ask rather quietly.

"Hmmmm...?" The pony turned and studied you for a bit. "Ah! It is about time I found you. No doubt, you are wondering why I am here, aren't you?" You nod slowly. No one had ever come looking for you without a significant reason. "Well, I have some good news, and some bad news, for your ears only." The yellow pony took a hint and stepped outside.

"No, you don't have to leave. We will go outside." You say, motioning the stallion to follow you. As you walk outside and close the door, the stallion steps in front of you, blocking you from advancing any further.

"I don't have much time so I'm going to make this quick." You look at the pony with questioning eyes.

"No." You stare at him accusingly. "First I'm gonna ask a question. Who are you and why are you looking for me?"

"Well, first off that was two questions and second i might as well asnwer them both. I am Long Strider a courier of messages. Which answers your second and dim witted question of why I am here." You don't break the gaze from him.

"Just another quick question. How did you find me?" This seemed to take the stallion aback.

"Well, your older brother told me you that you were somewhere in Ponyville, on an errand of some kind and that i should track you down to tell you what you need to know." He said with one breath which amazed you.

"Well out with it. You don't have much time to be chatting." you say with fire in your words that seemed not to faze him in the slightest.

"Well, I have good news and bad new for you." He looked at you and cleared his throat. "The bad news is, there was a fire at your estate..." Your eyes widen immediatly in terror. "The good news is that almost everyone got out." You leap at the pony, smashing him to the ground. "Ow!" he yelled, his head hitting the ground with a loud *Thud*. The estate could be repaired but lives couldn't. 'Who died?' Your mind was racing flashing images of each of your siblings and mother. Not a single image of your father ever popped into your head. 'Please, oh please. Celestia please!' You shake the pony you have pinned under your weight.

"Who didn't make it out!?" You scream at him. Your eyes had grew very bloodshot and they just screamed murder to the stallion.

"I... I... It was... was your parents and sister!" he screamed in terror. Your eyes widen as much as they possibly could. 'PLEASE, OH PLEASE!' Your family had never been close to you, but your sisters had always been there for you.

"WHICH ONE!!!!!" You shouted in his face. You planted your hooves firmly on his shoulders keeping him from squirming away.

"I... I... The li~ittlest s~sister." His voice was hushed, and tears streamed down his face as you slowly lifted a hoof above your head. Not breaking eye contact, you raised it ever higher. As it has finally reached as high as you could possibly get it, it shook fiercely. You tried to steady you hoof for the punch. The stallion eyes slammed shut as your hoof came down.

"No! Don't!" Your heard a scream from behind you. It was to late you closed your eyes as the hoof hit with a sharp *CRACK!!!*.

*CRACK!!!* "Woah slow down there filly!" you said playfully pushing your little sister lightly with your forehoof. *CRACK!!!* "Your going to give yourself a tummy ache." She wouldn't listen and you knew. She still munched on the carrots like pieces of candy. You sigh and shake your head smiling at the little filly Your older sister walked behind you and wrapped her hooves around your shoulders.

"You should know better by now, Amathyst doesn't listen to anyone when she has her mind set." You both laugh. Windcaller was your older sister by a few years but she seemed to be as wise as an oldern pony. "Amy dear, stopping eating all those carrots you'll ruin your cake!" Her eyes perked at the word and she immediality dropped the orange stick.

"Oh now look what you did." Your mom trotted into the room at that moment. "It may be her birthday but can't you at least keep some surprises?"

"Yeah, Windy why don't I tell you your getting cake for your birthday?"

"Because I know better!" she said shaking your head side to side with her hooves. She got up to hug your mother. You look up and see two warm smiles staring at you and your sister. *DING*

"Oh! The cake is done." Your mom giddily trotted over to the oven grabbing some mits. The door opened with a puff of steam and smoke. Amy dashed over and bounced up and down in exictment. The brown pastery was very warm. "Okay! Who wants to frost it!?" Your sister kept on bouncing. For just a young filly she was full of energy. Windy pulled out the bowl of home-made frosting bringing it over with a few spatulas. You all laugh as Amy grabs the first one and globs as much as she can onto the cake with a proud smile.

*SLAM!!!* "Oh... Your fathers home. Quick! Windy take your siblings into your room."

"What about the cake?" You ask knowing the time that your mom had put into making it just for Amy's birthday party.

"There is no time quickly." Amy looked up with scared eyes. You rushed her behind Windy as you hurridly make your way to her bedroom. You heard muffled yells as your father fought with your mom.

"Hes drunk again." Your sister whispers into your ear as you both lean up against the door.

"Where is that pethitic excuse i call a son?" Your eye pop with fear. 'Please not agian!' The last whipping had left multiple welts on your ass. Amy was softly crying in the corner.

The yells subsided as you look back to your sister comforting Amy. You sigh in relief as you think the worst is over. Just as you wipe the sweat from your forehead the door was bashed in. The three of you scream as your father grabs you and drags you down the hall, wailing all the way.

Your open your eyes to see you hit just on target. The stallion was wimpering as he watched your hoof very carefully. You pull it up out of the stone and admire the large hole you had implanted into it. You back off the scared pony and offer a hoof for him. He rapidly backs up and gets on his hooves to run away as fast as he could. You felt a soft touch on your side and look to see the yellow mare's hoof on your shoulder.

"You sure your okay?" You hug her tightly as a tear runs down your face. 'Don't let her see you cry.

"I need a drink," You whisper into her ear. "Really badly." She nodded and broke the embrace looking at your face nodding once again.

"I got something." Your eyes wince when you turn back into the sun. "A hangover is just your body's way to say you shouldn't have quit grinking' mom was right.' As you enter the small cottage you see a small bunny hop up to you. You stare at it and notice it sway in behavoir. It crossed it's arms and stared you down while thumping its foot repeatedly on the ground. "Well, you seem to happy." You say sarcastically. The mare turns around and smiles.

"Hi Angel." She says softly as the bunny hops to her. "Hungry?" That sparked his attention to the bowl on the counter. "Oh, sorry... I forgot." she reached into the fringe to pull out a can of Brewsons. She left it on the counter while she ran to the cubboard looking for the rabbit food. "Oh, Fluttershy your so forgetful." Se huffed. 'Fluttershy, that was it!' You begin to stare at the can. 'Something about it.' "Oh! Are you ok?" She quickly dumped some food in the bowl and trotted over to you. Your focus on the can you didn't notice you were swaying side to side.

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine." You say looking into her eyes. Your gaze slowly goes back to the can. The swaying returns and soon you find yourself falling backwards.

"OH!" Fluttershy screamed. The pounding returned extremely quick. The void soon after that.

You could hear the music going on as you aproached the house. The pink pony led you to the door rambling on about adventures with some ponys named Rarity, Twilight, Rainbowdash, Fluttershy, and Applejack. Having met Applejack before there was at least one pony you knew at the party.

"Oh! I totally forgot to tell you my name!" She seemed to exicted about anything. 'Applejack had said that was her for ya' what ever that meant. "I'm Pinkie Pie!" If a smile could engulf a face it was hers. Ear to ear her lips seemed to touch as she looked you dead in the eye. "Well, what are you waiting for everpony will be in here!" As you enter the place call Sugar Cube Corner you notice it was a bakery and had a nice assortment of diffrent pasteries. As Pinkie leads you upstairs the music becomes a loud mesh of hip-hop and techno.

Upon topping the stairs you see almost everypony in Ponyville had showed up to welcome you. 'All this just for coming to town? I might have to come here more often.' You spot the DJ upon her high pedastal scratching record this way and that making the beat bend to her will. This made all the ponys jump and scream along with the jam. You spotted Applejack along with a white unicorn with a curly purple mane, a blue peagus witha rainbow colored mane, a purple unicorn witha a purple mane that had a pink stripe in it, and a yellow pegaus witha a pink mane hiding in the group. As you two walk over their conversation stopped.

"Well howdy partner. I see Pinkie got you here in one piece." said Applejack.

"Yes and must I say you look absolutly dashing." the white unicorn comlemented.

"Why hello, I'm Twilight. and these are my friends. You've met Pinkie and Applejack." pointing to each one as she spoke their names. "This is Rarity, Rainbow, and behind me is Fluttershy." she said moving to the side. The yellow pony squeeked and hid behind Twilight again. "Oh, Fluttershy say hello to him." She popped her head around Twilight's plot long enough to whisper a "Hi." that you couldn't hear over the music.

"So how long are you staying?" Rarity asked.

"I truely don't know. Hopefully long enough for the party!" everypony laughed along with you.

"I like him already!" Rainbow said jumping into the air and hovering just above the group. As if on que the music swapped and the blue pegaus began to dance. A few other pegasus jioned her above the crowd.

"This party is crazy!" Pinkie screamed as she blew her 'party whistle'. A few ponys showed up with some barrels just a few minutes later. "Oh goody! The kegs are here!" The pink pony raced off to meet the stallions with the barrels of booze.

"Its not a party without beer!" Rarity said nudging you. "Would you like a drink?" she asked with a wink. 'I really shouldn't i don't know what could happen.'

"Sure, why not." The white unicorn smiled and walked off swaying her plot to give you a good view. 'Of course.' You felt a hoof tap your shoulder making you turn. Fluttershy was standing there with a half-hearted smile.

"Uhm... I'm Flutt.... " You couldn't hear the rest as she got quiter when she spoke.

"I'm sorry, what?" You knew what she was trying to say, but you enjoyed her voice. Very melodical.

"I'm Fluttershy" She said clearer this time.

"Hi." You say giving her your name. She nodded and walked off to jion her pegasus friend by the keg. You also caught eye of the white unicorn again looking at you as she asked for the booze. She winked when she noticed you were looking her way.

"Don't mind rarity shes full of herself." you turn to see Twilight staring at her friend. "She thinks a new pony means a new 'friend'." she said quoting with her hooves.

"Ditzy! what are you doing!" You turn to see a gray pony with blonde hair getting scolded by Applejack. "That don't go like that!" She pointed to game of pin the tail on the pony. The gray pony who you presumed was Ditzy frowned. "Try again. just a little more to the left." The gray pony nodded and backed up spinning three times and trying to hit the ponys plot. "Ow!" Ditzy hit the plot but not on the paper. You and Twilight bust up laughing as Applejack rubs her rear. Ditzy smiles at her and shrugs. Applejack looked furious, but calmed when she noticed Twilight and yourself laughing too hard. Her cheeks turned rosy red. She hugged Ditzy and whisered something you couldn't hear. Ditzy backed away and blushed to.

"I got beer!" Rarity had returned with a few cups of the numbing liquid. Taking your cup you down it in one gulp. 'It's gonna be a short night!'

*Thump*

Your rear hit the groud roughly and Fluttershy laughs but quickly aplogizes as she looks again.

"So what was that pony wanting?" She asked. You sigh as you look up with a sad face.

"Can I have that beer first?" You ask with a faint smile.