>Day Summer Camp in Equestria.
>”It’s alright Little Dude. The water’s just fine.”
>Tree Hugger spins in the lake water to show you.
“I don’t know, Ms. Hugger. I didn’t bring any swim wear.”
>The pony grabs on to a floating log and looks at you.
>She blinks slowly, one eye closes before the other.
>”None of us wear any clothes. It’s like, so freeing, you know?”
>You watch as she dips into the water and spins so her hind legs barely peek out.
>After a moment she returns to bobbing at the surface.
>You look down.
>For some reason you’ve always worn clothes.
>It’s for a reason right?
>Even Ms. Fluttershy never made you undress.
>She said all ponies are different, and wearing clothes is alright.
>But she only wears things on special occasions.
>Tree Hugger lazily floats on her back and kicks so she floats toward you.
>”It’s cool, Anon. You don’t have to like, do stuffs that’s makes you feel bad.”
>Some water gets in her eyes and she brushes it away.
>A big drop clings to an eyebrow and she has to shake it off.
>”But you wouldn’t want to get your clothes all wet, right?”
>You have another set of clothes, but then you’d have to walk back to camp soaking wet.
“It does look like fun.”
>She smiles at this.
>”Yeah man. Your auras been all out of wack. Trust me, this will put you back in balance.”
>Tree Hugger leans on the dock.
“Maybe you’re right.”
>You grab your shirt and slowly pull it over your head.
>Ms. Fluttershy wouldn’t like it if you ruined your clothes.
>Tree Hugger watches a little too closely as you unbutton your pants.
“A little privacy please?”
>She closes her eyes.
>”I’ll just go into my special place while you change.”
>She starts making those weird hippy noises.
>You kick off your pants and quickly dip into the water.
“Alright, I’m in.”
>She pulls up next to you.
>”That wasn’t so hard, was it Little Dude?”’
1/2
>You turn toward her.
“I guess not.”
>She offers you lazy smile.
>”Radical. Now just close your eyes and say your mantra.”
>She taught everyone that mantra’s help you center yourself.”
>Most of the ponies had something interesting.
>All you could think about was food from home.
>And that’s how you came up with your mantra.
>You take a deep breath.
“Haaaaaaaammmmmmmm.”
>”Groovy.”
“Haaaaaaaammmmmmmm.”
>She starts making her hippy noises again.
>”Eeeeeeeeeeeee.”
>Her hooves rub your shoulders.
>You feel your troubles flow into the lake water.
>”You’re so tense, Little Dude.”
>One by one your muscles relax under her soothing touch.
>All of a sudden your eyes feel heavy.
>You needed this.
>Tree Kickers hooves go lower and you have to hold on to the dock so she won’t push you.
>”See? I knew you’d like this.”
>You just nod.
>A hoof strays from you lower back and touches your underwear.
>You instinctively move away.
>”What’s wrong, Little Guy?”
“I… I don’t know…”
>She pulls herself closer so she’s leaning against your back.
>Her face presses against yours as she hugs you.
>Her mane tickles your neck.
>You turn to look at her.
>She raises a single eyebrow.
>”You trust me, right?”
>You feel your heart beating.
>She nuzzles into you again.
“I…”
>In the distance you hear some music.
“They started without us.”
>”Aw man…”
>You grab the dock and pull yourself up.
>You don’t want to miss the campfire songs.
“You coming?” you ask as you put on your shirt.
>Tree Hugger frowns.
>”Not yet.”
>And then she dips into the water again.
2/2
 
>Day Summer Camp 2 in Equestria
>Ms. Heartstrings plays her lyre and you and the others sing along.
>You sing all the hits.
>After an hour or so Rumble is wobbling beside you.
>He tries to fight to keep his eyes open, but it’s a losing battle.
>A few other ponies have the same idea and yawns spread among them.
>Ms. Hugger approaches with her guitar.
>”Hey guys, did I miss anything?”
>Ms. Heartstrings puts her lyre aside.
>”We just finished singing, but I think it’s time for bed.”
>A couple fillies protest, but their sleepy eyes betray them.
>”Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“But I’m not tired, Ms. Heartstrings.”
>She just smiles at this.
>Tree Hugger sits beside you.
>”We’ve got so many cool activities tomorrow. You don’t want to be tired for that do you, Little Dude?”
>Lyra gets up and the others follow her lead.
“Please, I just want to stay up a little longer.”
>”I don’t know. What do you think Lyra?”
>The mint pony looks around.
>”It’s up to you, but I’m bushed.”
>Tree Hugger puts her guitar into an open case.
>”Tomorrow’s going to be awesome. I bet I’ll be great at canoeing,” Scootaloo says to her friends.
>”Maybe we’ll get our cutie marks doing that,” her friend responds.
>You don’t remember her name.
>Apple something.
>Tree Hugger stretches out a bit.
>”I’ll stay for a little bit. We can talk about stuff.”
>Lyra yawns before answering.
>”Alright. Try not to make any noise when you go to your bunks.”
>Tree Hugger nods.
>”We’ll be like, you know, with the universe.”
>”Com’n Rumble. It’s time to sleep.”
>Lyra guides the colt to his cabin.
>”So how’re you doing, Little Dude?”
>You look up at your camp counselor.
“Pretty good.”
>”Righteous. I was worried about you earlier. You were all uptight.”
>You look away and shrug.
>She puts her foreleg over your shoulder.
1/3
>”You can talk to me about whatever, you know?”
>Your foot nudges a rock that looks out of place.
“Nothing’s wrong.”
>You look up at her.
>”It can be hard to open up sometimes. I know I had that problem growing up.”
“So what happened?”
>”I just realized, that I had to be myself, you know?”
>You both sit in silence for a while.
“I don’t think the other ponies like me.”
>Tree Hugger makes a confused look.
>”What do you mean?”
>You put the rock back where it was.
“Rumble is the only one that hangs out with me.”
>She thinks about this for a bit.
>”Maybe he is the only colt you hang out with…”
“What?”
>This makes her smile and she pulls you closer.
>”It’s like this, Little Dude. You can’t expect other ponies to do all the work.”
>After a moment she adds, “You came here to make friends right?”
>You don’t know where she’s going with this, but you agree to be polite.
”Yeah.”
>”You don’t get friends, you make them. Do you understand?”
>Your brow furrows as you think.
>”Tomorrow, instead of spending time with Rumble, why don’t you join Scootaloo’s canoe?”
>You sway a few times.
>Fluttershy said the same thing.
>That’s why she sent you here instead of letting you stay home.
>You have to open up more.
”What if she doesn’t want to hang out?”
>This makes your counselor laugh.
>”You’ll be fine, trust me.”
>You put an arm around her.
“Maybe you’re right.
>Tree Hugger takes a deep breath.
>”Do you feel that?”
“Feel what?”
>”Your aura’s getting better. You’ve just been too uptight.”
>You close your eyes and try to find your center.
>It’s easy to find this time.
>You lean against Ms. Hugger.
>She places a hoof over your hand.
>You feel so comfortable with her.
>She nuzzles against your neck.
>Her breath is so warm.
2/3
>Without realizing it you turn your head to meet her.
>She nods twice before turning slowly so your nose is touching hers.
>Her half lidded eyes gaze into yours.
>That feeling is back.
>You can feel your heart racing.
>Is this normal?
>Tree Hugger looks at your lips, and offers a weak smile.
>Does she like you?
>Not like, normal like, but like like.
>No, that’s not possible.
>She’s way old.
>Besides, Ms. Fluttershy said you should spend time with fillies your own age.
>She said that if you ever feel strange you should find someone you trust.
>But Tree Hugger is your counselor.
>And she’s so soft.
>What are you supposed to do?
>You hear glass breaking.
>”It got loose!”
>A few more things crash in a nearby cabin before a chicken pops out.
>”I told you not to keep it!” Sweetie yells as she chases the animal.
>”I thought it was cool,” Scootaloo responds as they try to corner it.
>Tree Hugger pulls away.
>”Aw man…”
3/3