The Search

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong looked at get with a raise eyebrow, "If course not. It's not you at all.... It's just..." he sighed and continued, "What the billboard said... About how everyone has a special somepony... I think they're wrong"

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali rolled her eyes, making sure Strong didn't see.

 

'Great, I'm going against what I told myself about not pressing the matter. Way to go Ali, you're the best!'

 

She thought about it for a minute, and came to an idea. 'Well, I can't stand to see him moping like this, and since nothing I say will convince him otherwise, I guess there's only one other option.'

 

"Well gee Strong, if you feel like you don't have a special somepony, then you must be crazy! Everypony has a special somepony, it just takes longer for some ponies to find their match! Plus, you shouldn't pity yourself about it, it's really not worth it."

 

Hesitating, Ali continued by saying "Besides, I think I know something that'll brighten your day!"

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong looked at her unconvinced. "And that would be?" he asked slightly curious.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali hesitated briefly, then quickly leaned toward Strong, and kissed him lightly on the cheek.

 

Smiling, she playfully asked "Better?"

[Strong Hooves 289]

At first Strong could only gaze wide eyed at Ali, he blushed slightly from being kissed and a small smile appeared on his face. "Yeah.." he said, his smile getting a little wider, "Better"

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

The duo continued along the road until they reached ((surprise!)) another town. The sign on the side of the road said "Welcome to Fil....."

 

"Welcome to... the last word's faded off the sign. I can't read it." Exclaimed Ali.

[Strong Hooves 289]

"That's weird" said Strong, "Well should we head in and check it out? Or does the creepy faded sign make ya change your mind?"

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

"Puh-lease, it takes more than a run down old sign to creep me out!" Ali retorted, flying into the town to check it out.

 

However, before she got even 10 feet, she heard a foal's voice behind them call out "Ali? It IS you!"

 

Turning around, Ali saw an elderly merchant pony with a grin as huge as Cloudsdale Colosseum. It took Ali a minute to figure out how this foal knew her name, but she soon realized it was one of the ponies from the caravan that raised her.

 

"Gertrude?" Ali asked, in shock. "What are you doing here? And are you here alone?"

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong trotted after Ali, looking at the mare that called her. "Friend of yours?" asked Strong with a kind smile at Gertrude

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

"Oh she's more than a friend, she pretty much acted as my mother when she found me." Ali briefly replied to Strong, before rushing up and wrapping Gertrude in a giant bear hug.

 

"Oh it's so good to see you again Gertrude!" Ali exclaimed.

 

"As it is to you dear," Gertrude replied. "And to answer your earlier questions, we're all here, minus Coin and Cash, and we're here because we heard you'd be here. You see, you and your friends actions against, well, certain ruffian troublemakers, as I recall, have caused quite a stir among ponies. You two are somewhat regarded as town heroes! When we heard what you'd done, and where you were going, we thought we'd catch up and have a nice little reunion!"

 

Leading the duo as she talked, they rounded a corner to see quite a large caravan of ponies of all sizes and talents. With many happy greetings and reminiscences all around, from both Ali and the caravan, Gertrude continued to lead the two towards a small tent set up near the edge of the group.

 

"You said Coin and Cash left?" Ali asked. "Did they set up shop in St. Hoovis ((St. Louis spinoff)), like they always dreamed?"

 

"Oh yes, dearie, they did. Quite the entrepreneurial duo, they were. I've heard they've become quite successful!"

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong looked out among the caravan, "How did word travel so quickly?" he wondered out loud. He then thought back about the news pony taking pictures of him back in Witherton.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

"Why the paper of course!! You're right on the front page!!" Exclaimed Gertrude, pulling a copy out of her tent and handing it to Strong.

 

"There's also a side column about your run-in with that 'Troublesome Trio', as the paper says!"

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong looked at the paper, his eyes widened with surprise. "Wow" he said. He turned and showed the paper to Ali, "Seems like we make a pretty good team" he said with a smile, pointing to the news column.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

(( oh sure, leave me with coming up with a newspaper article -_- ))

 

Ali started reading the article. "New Heroes in Town: Ponies from Witherton and the surrounding area know of an infamous stallion named Tom De'ville, resident Crook and all around No-Good. Usually, at the mere mention of his name, townsponies would frantically scramble into hiding, so as to prevent being in harms way. However, two brave travelers stood up against Tom, the towns best interests in mind. Soon a grueling fight broke out between Tom and the larger of the group, named Long, according to witnesses. The fight contained many broken chairs, tables, and bones, with the hero in light prevailing, as....."

 

Ali stopped reading, tossing the paper back to Strong. "Figures they'd stretch the truth a bit. They even got your name wrong."

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong chuckled and shook his head. "That's media for you" he said. He looked out at the caravan once more, "so, this is the caravan that raised you huh?"

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

"Yep, until I turned 10, then I started moving on my own, searching for my parents."

 

Turning to Gertrude, Ali asked. "By the way, did you remember what I asked you?"

 

Gertrude suddenly averted her gaze from Ali, seeming somber. "That's actually why we needed to meet with you, dearie."

 

Ali, suddenly worried, responded with "Why, what's wrong?"

 

Gertrude looked into Ali's eyes, handing her a letter at the same time.

 

"What's this?"

 

"Just read it, dearie." Gertrude said, as Ali began to do so. "I'm sorry we kept it from you, but we all thought it would be best if you didn't know until you were ready, and 10 just didn't seem like the best time for...."

 

Gertrude stopped talking as Ali looked up, tears in her eyes.

 

"How could you?" Ali questioned, distraught. She then dropped the letter, turned around, and galloped back into town.

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strongs eyes widened, "Ali! Wait!" he called to her. He picked up the letter and placed it into his bag, looked at Gertrude one last time, then galloped off after Ali.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali heard Strong's call, but paid no mind to it, instead opening her wings and soaring to the top of what appeared to be the town's main hall, where she curled up in a ball, sobbing.

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong saw where she had landed, immediately he galloped after her, bursting through the doors and climbing the stairs to the roof. He finally saw where she was curled up, he walked up to her, and saying gently "Ali?" as he placed a hoof on her shoulder.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali slowly stopped crying, lifting her head to look at Strong. The sight of him somehow calmed her, and she stood up, wiping the tears from her face.

 

"I'm fine, I'm fine." she said. "And I know where we're going to go next."

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong gave a gentle smile, he didn't respond just yet, he pulled her into a hug instead. "We will find them Ali... no need to cry... I hate to see you upset" he said quietly.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali hesitated, then gratefully embraced the gesture, her nuzzle buried in Strong's shoulder.

 

"Oh no, the letter!" she exclaimed, quickly pushing back from Strong. "I dropped it when I left!"

 

She quickly spread her wings, preparing to race back to the caravan.

[Strong Hooves 289]

"No need" Strong quickly called, "I have it right here!" he reached into his saddlebag and pulled it out to show her.

[Parties like Pinkie 385]

Ali turned, noticed the letter, and quickly placed it in her own satchel. She then, once more, embraced Strong in a hug.

 

"Thank you Strong."

[Strong Hooves 289]

Strong returned the embrace, while he did he kissed her on the cheek. "Better now?" he asked with a smile.