//------------------------------// // Staring Contest // Story: My Little Caboose: Blue is Magic! // by DarkWing //------------------------------// Sarge ran to the sink and started scrubbing his tongue as Grif continued laughing on the floor. "You two ain't right in th' head, y'know that?" Applejack asked. "I've been saying that for years." Church said from the doorway. "Howdy Church." Applejack said, tipping her hat ever so slightly. "Hey." Church said. He looked between Grif and Sarge a few times before turning to Applejack and giving her an inquisitive look. "Long story." Applejack chuckled dryly. "What kin ah do fer ya?" "Twilight wanted me to get you for some reason." "She didn't tell ya wha’?" "No, but everybody has secrets and I can respect that." "Gimme a sec t' talk t' these two." "Take all the time you need." Church said, stepping back outside. "Your name is Church, right?" A small voice came from below Church. Church looked down to see the trio of fillies staring at him. "Yeah, why?" Church asked. "Sarge has told us a lot about you." Sweetie Belle said. "Fascinating." Church said sarcastically. "Hey... ya don't have yer cutie mark neither!" Applebloom said. "Your point?" Church asked. "Well it's just that all th' others have 'em, but you're the only one without it. Other ponies must think ya look weird." "Again... your point?" "You don't care?" Scootaloo asked. "No, why should I?" Church scoffed. "As far as I'm concerned I already know who I am, I don't need any tattoo on my ass to tell me who I am." "But... you're not sad that you don't know what your special talent is?" "Not at all. I'm perfectly fine with just having people that I can talk to rather than people that are trying to hurt me." Church chuckled. "Having a need to find out who you are just so you look better in the eyes of others who you don't even know is... well kind of shallow to be honest. You should just be happy with your friends because in the end they're the only people you can count on." The girls looked at each other as the door opened and Applejack came out. "You ready to go?" Church asked. "Yeah." Applejack said. She put her head through the door and looked at Sarge and Grif. "Now play nice with each other." "Where's the fun in that?" Sarge muttered. Applejack rolled her eyes as Sarge and Grif made their way past Church. "Where are they going?" "Well ah'd say they're in a time out fer now. Grif made Sarge angry and now Sarge has t' bring Grif home without, well killin' him ah guess." "Aiming a little high, aren't we?" Church laughed. "Pretty much, let's git goin'." Applejack said, closing the door behind her and nodded. Applejack and Church had started towards the library as the girls ran off. "What were ya talkin' t' the girls about if ya don't mind me askin'?" "They brought up how I'm the only one of us guys without a cutie mark and they also asked if others find it weird." "Sorry 'bout that, I'll tell 'em t' mind their own busines-" "No harm was done so I see no point in it." Church shrugged. "What'd ya say in return then?" "I told them the truth." "Truth?" Applejack echoed. "I told them that they shouldn't care how others see them. The only thing you should care about is how your friends perceive you." "That's quite some insightful advice there Church." "I try." Church said. "So, do you think those two will make it back alright." "Celestia as mah witness, ah'd be lyin' if ah told ya ah thought they would make it twenty paces." "So how do you put up with Sarge anyways?" Church asked after a few minutes. "There ain't much t' put up with. He's helpful, has a strong back, he's a heck of a competitor..." "Right that whole tournament thing. How is that going?" "We're tied at two n' two. I reckon it'll be a big one to figure out who wins." "Well I hope to be there to see you drive his face into the ground." Church chuckled. "Speakin' of face hurtin', I wonder how Grif and Sarge are farin'." Applejack said. Fluttershy was napping on the couch when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and looked outside and saw Sarge looking at the ground with a smirk. She looked down to where Sarge was looking and saw Grif crawling on the ground with a black eye and feathers torn out of his wings. "Grif what happened?" Fluttershy gasped, helping him up to his feet. "Pissed... Sarge off." Grif coughed, spitting up a little blood. "Totally... worth it." Sarge punched Grif in the side of the head. Fluttershy gave Sarge a look of anger and Sarge felt a wave of unease course through his body. "How dare you?" Fluttershy snapped. "Wha-" Sarge started. "What did Grif do to you that would make you do that to him?" Fluttershy asked. "Well he-" "No." Fluttershy interrupted violently. "There is nothing he could have done that could be so bad that you needed to hurt him this much!" "He went out of his way t-" "I do not want to hear excuses. I would appreciate if you leave before I'm forced to do something we'll all regret." "I am not afraid of you." Sarge said boldly. Fluttershy's eyes shot wide as she glared at Sarge. Sarge sank to the ground and started to shake. Grif watched silently, not because he was enjoying it, but because he was starting to grow scared. "Okay, I get it, just stop with that damn stare." Sarge sputtered. "Leave." Fluttershy said simply. Sarge said nothing, but turned tail and fled for Sweet Apple Acres. Fluttershy smiled and walked happily back inside. Grif watched in disbelief as Sarge ran away. "Are you coming in Grif?" Fluttershy asked sweetly. Grif shook the fear off and smiled. "Just when I thought this day couldn't get any better, you go and do that." Grif laughed as he hugged Fluttershy playfully. "That was fucking hilarious." "Oh, t-thank you." Fluttershy blushed. She remembered the condition Grif was in and looked him over. "I think I may need to treat your cuts and bruises..." "That's what tomorrow is for." Grif dismissed casually. "Today is still your day off." Fluttershy smiled and nodded as they made their way to the back yard together.