//------------------------------// // Chapter VI // Story: Family Trip // by TheKing2001 //------------------------------// Cheerilee “We’re going hiking?” Scootaloo asked worriedly as Sunset put our tent in her backpack. “Out there?” “Yeah?” I said and gave her a confused look. “Are you afraid of the woods or something?” “No!” Scootaloo shouted and we all jumped a bit. “I’m not afraid of anything!” “Okay,” Berry said after a moment of silence. I verified all important belongings weren’t in my car and locked it. We had droven it back to the parking lot of the site so no one would damage it in the woods. My youngest sister handed her daughter a smaller backpack because Ruby demanded she be included. Naturally, we put the lightest stuff in it. “How far of a walk is it?” Diamond asked as she stretched. “About three hours or so. It’s not that bad. We’re stopping halfway and camping, then we will finish the rest the next day,” Cherry answered as we started walking. “We’ve walked this trail so many times, it’s second nature.” “Fluttershy would have liked this. Same with Derpy,” Sunset commented as she looked around. I gave a faint smile and rolled my eyes. Fluttershy was probably the most nature focused of the group. “I know right,” I agreed as I stepped over a fallen tree branch. This place hadn’t really changed since I was a kid. Thankfully at least. Enough is changing around town as is. “So heard you guys got passed up for that nine eleven memorial. That sucks,” Minuette commented as she glanced at Sunset, ducking to avoid a branch. “I was looking forward to hearing your guys songs.” “Me too. Maybe next year. We got passed over for a band from New York. Kinda makes sense they picked them over us.” “I remember that day,” Cherry sighed quietly. “It was like an action movie. We got sent home early from school. We watched the first tower collapse in our classroom. Berry was pretty young back then.” “That I was. I was just starting third grade by then. I remember when you and Cheerilee came to get me from class. I also remember Cheerilee being the most furious out of us all about the attacks,” Berry gave me a faint smirk. “Trust me, angry Cheerilee is a scary sight. I’ve only seen it twice. Once then, second time was when she screamed at the Rainbooms to leave Sunset alone.” “That was scary. I’ve only ever seen Mom mad once,” Sunset said and gave a shuddered. “I’ve made it my goal to never be on the receiving end of her anger. She’s been disappointed in me a few times, mainly when she found out who I was before my redemption arc and me hiding the fact I got harassed after the Formal. In a way, her being disappointed was worse than her being angry.” I turned red as the others laughed. I tried to not get angry. I prefer to talk things out but well some situations you need to get loud. “Let’s get moving!” Cherry exclaimed with a grin and rubbed her hands together. “I got some ghosts stories.” We had finally finished our hours long hike and decided to camp in a clearing we found. Sunset and Cherry had made a spot for a campfire and we were waiting for Scootaloo to return with the sticks to lit it. “Where is Scootaloo?” Berry asked as she rubbed her hands. “It’s freezing!” “I’m sure she’s just gathering a lot of sticks to keep it going through out the night,” Minuette said as she wrapped an arm around Ruby. “Are you cold?” “No. I have a warm coat on thanks to Aunt Cheerilee!” Ruby said and gave me a grin. “Thank you!” I had gotten her that coat almost three years ago and she still thanked me for it. She treated that thing like it was a rare Bible. I was stunned that it had no tears or was falling apart. “I’m back!” Scootaloo shouted as she ran into our campsite with about twenty logs or so. “There isn’t that many fallen sticks around due to lack of trees.” We all gave her confused looks before looking up at the hundreds of trees around us. “Uh okay?” Sunset said as Scootaloo dropped the logs in the makeshift pit she had made. “I’m sure it’s enough. Thanks Scootaloo,” I smirked as she sat next to me and we watched Sunset set it on fire. “So who’s ready for ghost stories?” Cherry asked eagerly with a grin. I gave an eyeroll her direction as she cracked her knuckles. “Who’s heard of the Headless Horseman?” Cherry asked as Ruby hugged her mom. “You might want to give Ruby some headphones. She’s young and this story is scary.” Berry nodded and handed her a phone with headphones and music as Ruby put them in eagerly. Based on the screen reflecting off her face, she was watching Thomas the Tank Engine. “The Headless Horseman was a Hessian soldier who was decapitated by a cannon ball in a battle in these very woods,” Cherry said and held a flash light in front of her. I rolled my eyes and wrapped an arm around Diamond and Scootaloo. She had tried scaring me with this story once. “Every night, he searches for his head riding on a black horse carrying a whip made of a human spine. He chased a school teacher one night and threw his head at him.” “Cherry!” I snapped as she winced. “You should have used the pumpkin instead.” “We have a story like that back in Equestria,” Sunset commented as she yawned. “Called the Headless Horse. I’ve never believed it but I know a lot do.” “Okay maybe now isn’t the best time to finish the story,” Cherry said sheepishly. “Bed time!” She pointed to a large cave and Scootaloo gulped. “What if there’s a bear in there?” Scootaloo asked as I stood up. Berry gave a smirk and patted her bag. “I have a gun. Besides, bears get scared away by loud noises. We will be fine don’t you worry.” We all walked into the cave as Scootaloo Diamond hugged my legs. Sunset poured water on the fire and jogged to catch up. Cherry pointed her flashlight deeper into the cave and sighed. “This works. Goodnight.” We started unrolling our sleeping bags and tossed our pillows down as Scootaloo sat on hers. “Anyone wanna play a game? Or cut up a rug in a cave?” “No. I’m exhausted,” Berry admitted as she and Minuette slipped into their own sleeping bag with Ruby. “Maybe tomorrow.” “Is there a reason you’re avoiding going to sleep?” I asked as Scootaloo laughed. “No! I just wanna hang out with you all some more.” “We have all day tomorrow. See you then,” I said as Scootaloo climbed into her own sleeping bag. I yawned and everything went dark as I fell asleep.