Second Chances II: Love and Courage

Second Chances II: Love and Courage
By Hero541
Chapter 9: Foalsitting and Flowers

Josh and Vinyl’s show in Las Pegasus had gone very well, considering they’d almost completely lost all their money at that casino. Vinyl forgave Josh fairly quickly after that fiasco, saying that it truly was hard to resist the temptation to gamble sometimes. She did also say, however, that if he ever did anything like that again, she’d make him sleep on the couch for a year. Josh happily agreed to those terms, simply glad that she wasn’t too horribly upset by what had happened.

A week after the show, Josh simply sat in the house, a book in his hands. He didn’t really have much to do today. They didn’t have a show for awhile now, and Vinyl was away at Octavia’s house for the day. The human didn’t normally like to read, but Rainbow Dash had managed to talk him into starting up the Daring Do series, saying that it was one of the greatest stories ever. Josh agreed, asking her which one was the best to start with, to which she took him to the library and tried to convince Twilight to allow him to check out every single book in the series.

As Josh was finishing a particular passage in which Daring Do escapes the clutches of the evil Ahuizotl once more, he heard a knock at the door.

“It’s open.” he called, not taking his eyes off the book.

The door soon opened and an excited little voice called his name.

“Joshie!”

Josh looked over his book and saw a little white unicorn filly run inside the house. A wide smile came across his face as Sweetie Belle rushed up to him, jumping up onto his lap.

“Hey there, Sweets!” he said excitedly, setting the book on the table next to his chair and hugging the tiny unicorn, “How’s my favorite little filly today?”

“I’m really good!” she said, giggling as Josh tickled her warm, white belly.

Josh was so distracted with playing with Sweetie Belle on his lap, that he never saw Rarity even enter the room. She didn’t mind though, as she stood there, a huge smile on her face as the tall human cradled her sister in his arms.

“Hello, darling.” she finally said after awhile, causing Josh to finally take notice of her.

“Hey there, Rares.” he said, placing Sweetie back on his lap, “How’re you?”

“I’m quite well, actually.” said Rarity, making her way over to the nearby couch and taking a seat, “Just rather tired is all.”

“You been getting a lot of orders and stuff?” asked Josh, stroking Sweetie Belle’s mane.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” said the white mare, rather dramatically, “But, it always gets like this when the Gala comes around.”

“Is that really coming up so soon?” inquired Josh, trying to think back to when he’d last heard about it.

“It’s still quite a ways away.” said Rarity, mentally checking the date herself, “However, most ponies like to get their requests for gowns and other things like that in very early.”

“Hmm.” grunted Josh, “So, what can I do for you two lovely mares today?”

Rarity blushed a little at his compliment, turning away so as to not show the bright red bleeding through her white coat.

“Yes, well…” she said, clearing her throat, “I have to head out to Canterlot today. I need to get some more of my special fabrics for some particular orders. And, since Sweetie Belle here doesn’t have school today, I was wondering if you’d like to foalsit her for a day. I’d go to our parents, but they’re not in town today, and everypony else has been busy so far who I’ve asked.”

Josh looked down to Sweetie Belle, who looked back up at him, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Well, I don’t know…” he teased, smiling at the little filly and running a hand across her back, “What do you think Sweets? Would you wanna spend a day with me?”

Sweetie Belle nearly started jumping up and down on his lap in excitement.

“Of course I would!” she said excitedly, eliciting a huge smile from both Josh and Rarity, “Why wouldn’t I ever wanna spend a day with you?”

“Well, that settles it then.” said Josh, cradling Sweetie once more in his arms and standing up, “I guess you’ll be stuck with me today.”

Sweetie giggled loudly as Josh began to play with her some more, lifting her up from under her tiny forelegs and lightly tossing her into the air. Rarity almost told Josh to not do that to the little filly, afraid that he might drop her. However, she quickly stopped herself when she saw how much fun the two were having.

“I guess I’ll be off then.” she said, turning and making her way towards the door, “Have a good day you two. And behave yourselves!”

“Bye, Rarity!” called Sweetie as Josh placed her back on the ground.

“So,” said Josh, looking all around for some king of idea as to what to do with Sweetie Belle, “what do you wanna do first, Sweets?”

Sweetie Belle placed a little marshmallow hoof to her chin, contemplating her next move. She opened her mouth to suggest something, but was quickly cut off as a loud rumble came from her little stomach. She smiled sheepishly at Josh, the usual squeaky noise sounding.

“Maybe we ought to get you some lunch first.” he suggested, smiling and making his way to the door, “Come on. We’ll go to Sugarcube Corner.”

Sweetie Belle happily took her place next to Josh as he exited the house, making for the confectionary. As they made their way, Sweetie Belle began talking all about some of the things she’d been doing with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.

“So,” she continued, taking a breath after explaining some new plan the three had concocted, “we were wondering if you’d teach us how to make music like you some time.”

Josh stifled a laugh at her words. He truly loved the CMC, their playful nature and curious minds always intrigued him. However, he knew they could be pretty overzealous from time to time. More than once, he’d seen the disaster that had occurred from one of their failed attempts at a scheme, most of which ended in property damage of some kind. He loved the fact that they had taken a liking to his music, but he also valued the fact that his equipment was still functioning at this moment in time.

“Maybe…” he said, hesitating a little as he thought about what three fillies could possibly do to his and Vinyl’s setup, “I’ll think about it.”

Sweetie Belle beamed at his words, continuing to trot alongside her favorite human. After awhile of more walking, the sweets shop known as Sugarcube Corner came into view.

“Come on, Joshie!” called Sweetie, rushing towards the establishment.

“You head on inside, Sweets.” he replied, noticing a nearby flower stall, “Tell Pinkie that I’ll be in shortly. I’ve got something to do real quick.”

Sweetie nodded, making her way to Sugarcube Corner as Josh turned and headed for the flower stall. As he approached, a tan colored mare with a long, straight, bright red mane and tail popped up and smiled at him.

“Afternoon, Roseluck.” he said warmly, beginning to examine all the flowers at her beautiful stall.

“Hey there, Josh.” she said, continuing to smile at him, “Can I get you anything today?”

“I’m looking to have a really big bouquet made for mine and Vinyl’s first anniversary.” he said, looking to the mare, “You think you can help me out there?”

“Of course!” replied Roseluck excitedly, “What all are you looking for exactly?”

“Well, her favorite flowers are roses…” said Josh, thinking about what would be best to put into the bouquet, “How many different colors of roses do you have?”

“As many as you could imagine.” said Roseluck, beaming at Josh.

“Then I’ll take one of each.” he replied, pulling out a sack of bits to pay the mare.

“Don’t worry about paying me right now.” said Roseluck, waving her hoof upon seeing his money, “I still haven’t even gotten all the flowers cut or anything like that. Once I have it ready for you, you can pay me.”

Josh smiled as Roseluck winked at him.

“Thanks for this.” he said.

“Anything for you and Vinyl.” replied Roseluck, continuing to smile at Josh, “I almost wish I could have a special somepony like you…”

“I’m not all that special.”

“Obviously you are.” said Roseluck, busying herself with some nearby flower pots, “Otherwise, why else would she be with you?”

“Good point.”

“Oh! I almost forgot.” said the mare, facehoofing a little, “When would you like this delivered?”

Josh thought for a second, knowing that he and Vinyl would be on the road again by the time their actual anniversary came around.

“How about… two weeks from now?” he said, causing Roseluck to nod and pull out a pencil and pad to write down the information.

“I’m assuming you’ll probably want a card to go along with it too?” she said through the pencil in her mouth.

“Sure.” said Josh, watching her write something else down.

“What do you want it to say?”

“Uh…” Josh said, wondering what would be best to put on the card.

“Joshie!”

He looked behind him and saw both Pinkie and Sweetie Belle standing at the entrance to Sugarcube Corner.

“Tell you what, Roseluck,” he said, turning and making for the sweets shop, “I’ll send you a message with Spike or somebody like that.”

Roseluck merely nodded, placing her pencil away once more and waving to Josh as he made for Sugarcube Corner.

“Have a good day, Josh!” she called as he made his way.

Josh simply turned back for a second and waved to her, before continuing towards Sweetie and Pinkie Pie. He knew that he and Vinyl’s anniversary was a ways off, but he was more than willing to give her a gift like that early. Besides, Vinyl didn’t always have the best memory. And what better way to jog it than with a huge bouquet of her favorite flowers?