The things I put up with...

Author's note:

As you know the story is coming to an end and I would just like to say I thank you for the support!

Also, I haven't decided on a sequel so leave comments if you would like to see an extension to the story...

One last thing before you start reading, I would like to thank Ice, Fearanger and Phoenix for supporting me against the Grammer Troll... If you see a message from Blood, Please give him a good STFU, Stop trolling for unicorns...

That is all...

Chapter 8
Sealing the deal

You march out the door only to run into an orange pony. "Oof!" Falling to the ground you look up to see Applejack.

"Woah there partner. What's the rush?" Applejack said as she backed up and held a hoof out to you. You take it and haul yourself up. Nodding your thanks you get ready to move on again when you heard a yell.

"Hey! Wait for us!" Rainbow dash screamed as she bolted through the door. She stopped and looked at the orange pony. "Uh, hey AJ. What are you doing here?" She looked very confused.

"Well, I hadn't seen Fluttershy since the party and I went to check on him," She pointed back at you. "But he just wasn't were he said he was. So I figure if i come here to check on Fluttershy then maybe I could find out where he was. I see something went on here though." She looked around you. You turn and see Fluttershy with two saddlebags of her own.

"Oh, hay no! You are not coming along!" You protested. Applejack looked over to you.

"Where ya going?" She said with half-hearted a smile. You didn't have time for this!

"None of your, or any of you girl's buisness. Just let me go on my way." You said coldly as you start off again.

"What's his problem?" Applejack asked. Rainbow shrugged and landed on the ground next to Fluttershy.

"I don't know but ever since He came back from the forrest he's been acting unusual." Fluttershy said and gave Rainbow the second bag. "Come on Rainbow..."

"Ya'll don't mind if I tag along do ya?" Fluttershy looked sideways at her but then nodded.

Slinking along the pathway, you worked on the extremely long journey to your estate. You heard the girls chatting behind you. Glancing back with a frown you see Rainbow give her saddlebag to Applejack. After which Rainbow bolts off leaving a rainbow in her wake. Shaking your head you focus back on the path to Ponyville. You heard a rush as the two ponies caught up and began to slink along with you.

"Sorry sugar but you ain't getting rid of us that easy. Your gonna want some help with this." You grew annoyed just a bit. 'Why do these ponies always meddle in buisness that clearly doesn't involve them?' You listened to AJ scold you with Fluttershy chiming in every so often. Tuning them out for a second you tried to think of what Windy meant by 'next to the box'. It just didn't make sense. 'There could be a few hundred boxes and crates in our house!' You look up and sigh in relief as you reach Ponyville. 'I'm gonna need some more supplies just in case.' Walking towards the market you search around for food and raw materials for the road. You glance back to see the girls stood at the edge chatting. 'Ugh... I'm not gonna be rid of them are I? I could just yell at them or be rude. No, not to Fluttershy.' You turn back to the vendor and buy a few apples. Heading back to the girls you hung your head. 'This is gonna be much longer than I want it to be. I have to get to Amy as fast as I can!' You finally approached the girls with a finally sigh.

"Lets go..." Still staring at the ground you continue on.

"Yay! where are we going? I always love a good adventure! Can we have a party when we are done?" You stop dead in your tracks. 'Wait... That wasn't Fluttershy or Applejack.' Turning back around you jump as you see not two but six ponies geared up and waiting.

"Well what are you waiting for sugar? Aren't we in a hurry?" Shaking your head again you head for Buckingham. Toning them out as best you could you thought of your family and the fun you had. Flashes of picnics and wrestling pop up first.. They were follow by images of each of your siblings. Although you didn't get along well with your brothers they still were a big part of your life. Always there to give you advice and help you when you couldn't finish all of your chores. Before dad became a drunk they teased you and pulled a few pranks. After it was they same but when dad didn't look they were always looking for a way to help you. Once they both admited they couldn't stand you being beat. They watched not even trying to stop it when you were beat.

Next came mom. She alwaus knew somwqay to make you feel better in your current state. Even if it was a small thing like dropping your ice cream cone on the ground. She gave you another, with an extra scoop on top! You stopped thinking of your family as you felt a tear in your eye. 'Stay strong and remember what is at stake here.' You finally tune the girls back in when Twilight asked exactly why you needed to go home so soon.

"Well, it was really none of any of your buisness. But if you must know, my dead sister told me to find our other sister in the rubble of the fire because she still lives. Don't think I'm crazy, If you do just leave now." They all fell silent, even Pinkie stopped bouncing and chattering on about parties. Finally having some peace and quiet you pick up the pace. 'At this rate we won't make it till noon tomorrow.' You could've made it by tonight if you didn't have tag alongs. Without saying anything you break out into a full blow sprint. The girls lept off after you and kept pace rather well. Keeping at a hard run you watched as the sun lowered on the horizon. 'Getting closer!' Reading a sign that said 'Buckingham 20 miles'.

You keep an eye on the sun and check the ponies following you. They were slowing down a bit. You stop where you were and let them catch up with you.

"You... run... way... to... fast..." Twilight said panting. Rainbow had been flying the whole time so she looked like she was ready for round two. You chuckled at the thought. Applejack had barely broke a sweat. Fluttershy had been flying as well but was still a little ways off. Rarity freaked out about her sweat soaked mane. Digging out a brush from her bags she began the long process of grooming the purple curled mane. Pinkie bounced around the group singing some traveling song apparently. You looked at them for a while. Fluttershy had long since caught up. Pinkie went silent when she saw you staring at them. You broke the silence when you could muster a few words.

"I... I feel real bad. I know I was harsh back in Ponyville, but I was real worried for my sister." You paused thinking of what to say next. "Seeing you all keep up with me and put up with my rudeness really touched me. I just really didn't think you would want to help with something so personal to me." You turned to stare at your hooves. Rubbing one on the other you spoke in a hushed voice. "I wouldn't be mad if you guys hate me now. I probably deserve it." You look away cursing yourself for looking weak. They all stared at you silently absorbing your words. Finally Rarity spoke.

"Now darling, if we really hated you do you think we would still be here?" You shake your head. "Of course not! We knew something was wrong and came rushing to help." Rarity said with a whole hearted smile. You felt even worse than before. They may have tagged along, but just to help you through it felt like it was to much. 'Now I owe them. I just know it.' No pony was ever this kind here in Buckingham.

"Rarity's right, ya can't just go assuming no one is following ya to bug ya. We came on our own. Ya didn't force us. Well, ya did try and force us to leave. Still, we care for ya even if we just met ya." Applejack said with a hearty smile. You felt a tear well up. Clenching onto it so it doesn't fall you look to Rainbow.

"No matter what happens We will be here for you. We are friends now. Remeber that! Friends help each other out in times of hurt." Rainbow finished with a nod. You look at the rest of them. No pony spoke. Well that is until Pinkie jumped out in front of you. Jumping back yourself you look at the pink mare wondering how she had possibly got in you face from where she was.

"Ya! We can help you out! Even on frowny-mc-sadfacedays. If you need a good cheering up I know just the pony to do it!" Everypony turned to regard Pinkie. "What? I meant me." They all laughed making you give a quick chuckle.

"Your problems aren't just yours. If your feeling bad everypony feels bad. Celestia knows how hard it was for me to learn that. Friendship is a magical thing. Use it to your advantage. Don't abuse it though." She smiled and looked at her friends. Each gave her a cheek-to-cheek smile. You looked to Fluttershy. She let out an *EEP!* which made you laugh a little.

"Uhh... I will always be here for you." All but Rainbow turned to look at Fluttershy. They looked surprised at what she had said. You didn't think it much more then her already confessed feelings for you. 'These ponies must not have ever heard her say that to a stranger.'

"What happened last night Fluttershy?" Twilight asked.

"Uhm... Well... About last night..." You interrupted her before she went any further.

"We kinda... Uhm... We kinda hooked up..." Now all eyes were on you. "Lets talk about it later... Now can we at least get to Buckingham before nightfall?" You looked to the sun. Still a few hours of day light. Settling down for a while to help some of them catch their breath and eat dinner you explain more of what happened in the forrest. They all had a hard time believing it. Your body language spoke otherwise. You had a hard time when you got to the part about your sister fading away. You stopped the story there composing yourself to go on. Just before you spoke a word a breeze passed by. You thaught you heard a faint. 'I'm here with you.' from your sister's voice.

Having finished with dinner and your story you set off with your new friends.

You arrived in Buckingham with at least a few hours of light left. Your house was only fourty minutes away. "Alright, I know you all are tired because I sure am, but we need to get to my house as soon as possible. It's only fourty minutes away from here so at least we can have a little bit to search the rubble for my sister." They looked at you with about the same expression. The 'What the fuck did he just say?' and the 'More walking?' "Please, can we just get to my house as fast as possible? I don't want to leave my sister there any longer. The more time we waste just means less time she has to live."

"Well, what are ya waiting for? Lead on." You turn to Applejack with a smile beaming 'Thank you'.

"We are here for you." Rainbow said putting a hoof in the middle of you all. You watch as each pony in turn raises their hoof to add it to the pile. After each one had their hoof in you heard Rainbow say. "Come on now. We can't do this with ou you. Your the reason we came in the first place. You smile at their willingness to help you. Throwing your hoof in on the mix Rainbow counts down. 3...2...1... You all raise your hooves up to the sky. Turning quickly you run off onto a path motioning for them to come along with you.

"It's this way. Hurry we don't have much time." Racing in the direction of your house you look to your sides to see each pony keeping up with you perfectly stride for stride. Taking another glance back at Pinkie you wonder how she could possibly keep up while hopping. Shrugging it off you give yourself a boost of speed. Out in front now you smile. Heart racing you let out a yell of exictment. The others look at you for a second before yelling themselfs. 'Don't worry Amy! Here we come!'

Author's note:

Ok guys I didn't really want to end it here, but it seemed like a good cut off point... 'Like I know how to make a good cliffhanger :(...' Anyways I hope you guys have enjoyed it so far. I had a hard time writing some parts. Some of what you read was based on personal experience. Some dreams I had. The rest? Well, Mainly filler but all of it came together... *man tear*

And lastly a shout out to all the readers who gave me rates... I know I'm not the best writer ever but seeing that you put up with some of the errors to read my fic really puts a smile on my face!

-Dashie