Chapter 1 (part 1) (A new beginning)
“Hey.”
‘Huh?’
“Are ya alright?”
‘Who is that? Are they speaking to me?’
“Are ya ok, sugarcube?”
‘If they are speaking to me, I should probably say something.’ “Buh-Luh-Duh.” ‘Ah yes well done.’
“Wake up already, Ah’ve been trying to wake you up fer the past ‘alf an hour.”
‘Huh, I’m asleep. Ugh, that light is unbearable. All I can see is an orange blur.’
“Ah understand it might be bright, but ya need to try ‘nd open yur eyes,”
As he opened his eyes, he could see that the orange blur was actually an orange pony. This pony was a mare, and by the look only in her very late teens; she had an orange coat, and a blonde mane and tail which were done up in ponytails, held together with red mane ties. On her head rested an old, worn, brown Stetson, which must have had many years and previous owners behind it. Her eyes were a brilliant shade of emerald green, and on her flank laid her cutiemark of three red apples.
‘WAIT!!! IS THAT A TALKING PONY!!! WHERE AM I?!!!’ He jerked back in shock and started to rapidly look around frantically, confused about his surroundings.
“Woah, calm down there, sugarcube. Yer just at Sweet Apple Acres, Equestria’s number one apple farm ‘nd the original starting home of the Apple family. Mah name is Applejack - it’s a pleasure to meet ya’ll,’ the orange known as Applejack exclaimed.
“Where is Equestria?” the male pony questioned.
“WHERE IS EQUESTRIA?!! It’s only this entire country.” At this, Applejack turned more inquisitorial. “Where are ya’ll from, like?” she asked quizzically.
‘Woah, calm down...’ “I’m from Earth, I’m guessing you have no idea where that is either?” he said.
“Nope,” Applejack answered.
“Anyway, you’re a pony, how are you even talking?” he asked.
“What d’ya mean by ‘how am Ah talkin’? Y’all should know - yur a pony too!” Applejack exclaimed with a tone of anger in her voice.
“I’m not a pony, I am a human,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Ah have no clue of what ah human is, but ya’ll look like a perfectly normally stallion to me,” she claimed.
‘Wait, what?’ As he looked over himself he could see he looked like a stallion, at about the same age of the mare in front of him. He had a bright red coat with a similarly blonde mane to the mare in front of him, but unlike her, his mane slowly faded into black. His eyes were a sapphire-like dark blue and he had two sets of ear-rings, one white and one black. His tail had a similar colour scheme as his mane, and somehow he did have a cutiemark; it was of a scroll with various equations and other material over it. ‘But how is this possible?’ he thought. He could still remember his life all prior to this moment, except for the last few moments - there he was drawing a blank slate.
“Soooo, do ya’ll have anyplace t’ stay whilst yur here, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“Sadly, since I don’t even know where I am, I have no clue of what I am supposed to do, let alone stay,” he answered glumly.
“Well, ya’ll are in luck, for today is the Apple Family Reunion! Reminds me of the time when Twi first came t’ Ponyville from Canterlot. Well anywho, while ya’ll are here ya’ll might as well meet the rest of the Apple family. Ah’ll talk to Granny to see if ya’ll might be able to stay at the farm till yah get settled in, sugarcube,” Applejack proclaimed.
‘Well, I guess it is the most logical thing to do, especially since I might be here for a while,’ he thought. “Sure, why not, I’ve got nothing better to do I guess” he claimed.
“Let’s get ah move on then; the light is wastin’ away ‘nd Celestia will lower the sun soon, and Luna will raise the moon. It’ll be a long time till the next reunion.” Applejack motioned him to follow.
‘So, their sun and moon is controlled by actual people, or ponies I should say. They must be quite powerful if they can raise and lower the stars,’ he thought as he walked along behind Applejack.
Applejack suddenly spoke up. “Ya’ll never told me yur name, sugarcube, so what it is it?”
He pondered for a bit but came to a conclusion that his name should be a representation of his mark. “Dakota, Dakota Scrolls,” he answered.
“Well, it is a pleasure to meet ya’ll Dakota, especially since we will probably be seeing much of each other in the comin’ weeks till ya’ll find a place of yur own,” Applejack mentioned politely.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Applejack was it?” he said.
“Eeyup.”
‘Ah hope Granny doesn’t make a scene, she’ll probably ask me if he’s mah new boyfriend or somethin’. Applebloom will bring it up first more likely, ‘nd Big Mac will be, well Big Mac. Dakota reminds me a bit of him. Tomorrow he’ll either help out on the farm, or Ah’ll take him into town, let him meet RD, Twi and all them; hopefully they don’t act like AB will. Rarity ya’ll better not go all swoony, although it would be quite funny,’ Applejack thought to herself before chuckling at the thought of Rarity swooning over how Dakota might end up being her boyfriend. A light blush became existent on her cheeks at the thought.
As they continued walking through the orchard, Dakota looked up and noticed two contrails next to each other; one had a rainbow hue, whilst the other was a brown and green coloured one. Although he thought of what it could be, Applejack had also noticed the contrails.
“Ah wonder who’s that with Rainbow Dash. Well, Ah don’t know, but they must be fast if they can keep up with her. Ah only know of one other pony who can keep up with her besides mahself, and even then she defies all laws of physics, and mahself can only keep up with her when were both gallopin’,” Applejack mentioned.
“How fast is this ‘Rainbow Dash’?” Dakota asked.
“Although she claims she’s the fastest in all of Equestria, it is apparent she might actually be. She is the only pony in history to do a sonic rainboom, let alone three,” Applejack answered matter-of-factly.
“Sorry for the questioning but, what is a ‘Sonic Rainboom’?
“It is when either ah Pegasus or an Alicorn go fast enough t’ break the sound barrier, and then also shatter the light spectrum. Twi put it together much better than what Ah did,” Applejack answered.
“I understand. Also, who is this ‘Twi’? You mention her a lot.”
“Twi, full name Twilight Sparkle, is the town’s librarian, sugarcube; she used to be ah unicorn ‘nd Celestia’s personal pro-to-ge, after this ‘slight’ escapade when our cutie marks and the Element of Harmony were switched. She was not only transformed into an Alicorn but into a princess as well. Ah must admit she came a long way from the anti-social pony Ah met when she first came to Ponyville.”
“What are the Elements of Harmony?”
“The Elements are what keep Equestria in ah constant source of Harmony. There are six of them: Magic, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness and Laughter. I represent Honesty; me and the rest of the girls have helped save Equestria on at least four different occasions.”
“You must be quite famous,” Dakota mentioned.
“Ah guess, hasn’t helped with business for the farm though. Still, work’s going just fine ‘nd, personally, Ah couldn’t be happier. Oh look, we’re here!” Applejack said quite quickly. She started to quickly gallop towards the mass gathering of ponies conglomerated there.
Dakota couldn’t believe his eyes - he had expected there to have been a few ponies there, but not this many. There must have been at least eight dozen ponies there.
“Well Dakota, let me introduce ya’ll to the Apple Family!” Applejack almost shouted.
After at least ninety names later, Applejack finally slowed down to mention the last few. “Babs Seed, Applebloom, Big Macintosh, and Granny Smith.”
“Uh, hello?” Dakota stuttered.
“HELLO!!!” was the sudden cry of many a different pony.
Whilst Dakota was occupied, Applejack couldn’t help but stare at him and the mass conglomeration of ponies walking over to and surrounding him. A light blush covered her face before a voice alarmed her from behind.
“Well, he sure looks like a young, spry ‘un!” Granny Smith told Applejack, whilst she jumped about six feet in the air, and the blush on her face threatened to burn her face off because of the startling by her Granny.
“Gr-Granny!” Applejack stuttered.
Granny Smith simply chuckled. “Well, ya’ll brought him here, so you should have seen it comin’,” Granny Smith stated matter-of-factly.
“Ah did! What Ah didn’t expect was for ya’ll to sneak up on me like a timberwolf stalking its prey in the Everfree. Anyway, Ah need to ask ya’ll ah question,” Applejack said.
“Well, ya’ll know ya can ask me anything child, so what is it?” the Matriarch of the Apple Family asked.
“Well, Dakota here is new in town, ‘nd well he doen’t have a job, let alone a place t’ stay, so Ah was wonderin’ if he was ‘llowed t’ stay at the farm whilst he gets settled. If that’s alright with ya’ll that is?” Applejack questioned her granny. All the while the blush reappeared on her face burning brighter and hotter than before.
“Well of course he can! He can stay as long as he wants t’; just don’t let me hear or see ya’ll doin’ any funny business,” the matriarch stated whilst chuckling to herself. All the while Applejack had an alarmed look on her face with a blush that felt like her face was turning into a dragon’s stomach.
“Gr-Granny, why would ya’ll say somethin’ like that!?” Applejack stuttered, the blush getting even deeper and hotter as every second of the conversation passed.
“Did ya’ll really think Ah couldn’t read mah granddaughter after all these years? It’s not just your face that’s telling it, yur eyes and face are too, and is yur tail a slightly higher than usual?” Granny Smith chuckled to herself again. Applejack could only stare with utter horror at her Granny’s choice of words; she herself could only question the thoughts that now cycled through her brain, and the new feelings in her heart.
“Granny, Ah don’t even know what Ah actually feel, but Ah may need to think about it. What yur saying might be true, but Ah’ll have to think about it tonight,” Applejack contemplated.
“What are ya’ll talking about?” said the voice of a filly in front of her. This, again, caused Applejack to jump again, as the blush deepened even further.
“Big filly stuff, that young fillies shouldn’t hear or talk about,” Applejack said much harsher than she intended.
“Why? Is Dakota like yur boyfriend now? Is he gonna be mah new brother now?” The curious filly questioned her elder sister inquisitorially as her voice grew to match her excited manner, each question heightening Applejack’s blush to new levels that she never thought possible.
Noticing the brash and curious filly’s barrage of questions, Big Macintosh motioned for Babs Seed to draw the curious Applebloom away from her elder sister.
“Applebloom, let’s try the apple punch and some of the fritters,” Babs Seed said in her Brooklyn accent.
“Ooh, that sounds great! See ya later sis!” Applebloom shouted as she quickly galloped after her cousin. Applejack motioned to her brother a thank you and for him to come over.
“What is it, sis?” Big Mac asked in his low yet firm voice.
“Granny agreed t’ Dakota being able t’ stay till he gets settled and finds ah job. Can ya’ll show him the room he’ll be stayin’ in whilst here?” she asked her elder brother.
“Which room would that be?” Big Mac asked. This question made Applejack’s blush burn even brighter. Big Mac noticed this and had an internal chuckle; he anticipated his sister’s answer.
“W-Well, m-my room i-is the only one w-with a-a-a spare bed s-s-s-so Ah-Ah-Ah guess he’ll be s-staying there,” Applejack stuttered, her blush heightening with each stutter.
Big Mac let out a slight chuckle to Applejack’s despair; he motioned to Dakota, who was currently surrounded by most of the Apple Family, to follow - much to Dakota’s relief.
As they walked to the farmhouse Big Mac decided to speak up.
“So how did ya’ll find the Apple Family then?” Big Mac asked.
“They are... very... energetic... aren’t they,” Dakota panted, whilst Big Mac chuckled.
“They certainly are ah lively bunch. Applejack asked me t’ show ya’ll where yur staying whilst here. The farmhouse is this way; ya’ll might want to accommodate yurself with the farm, barn and farmhouse, since ya’ll be stayin’ here for a while.”
“I...appreciate...it...thank you,” said Dakota, still waiting for his breath to catch up to him. Big Mac could only chuckle at Dakota’s sight.
As they approached and entered the farmhouse, Dakota was surprised to see how it looked - it even reminded him of his home back on Earth. The sudden memory caused him to shudder, something that Big Macintosh noticed.
“Are ya’ll feeling alright?” Big Mac asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.
“Yeah, just...feeling a little homesick. This house reminds me of the one I had before. I should be feeling fine in the morning,” Dakota replied. He couldn’t lie, not with how considerate the family had been to him, especially Applejack.
With the image of the mare in his head he had a slight blush on his face. Big Macintosh, the ever observant pony, noticed the blush on his face, and had an internal chuckle. He knew that Applejack was developing a crush on Dakota, but now he was suspecting the feeling might be mutual. He decided that he might try and confirm his suspicions.
“Ah’ll show ya’ll to yur room.” Big Mac called to Dakota and led him upstairs. After passing several rooms, they ended in front of one. “Ya’ll be stayin’ in Applejack’s room with her,” Big Mac said, as he noticed the blush on Dakota’s face deepen; not even his red coat could hide the ever growing heat in his face.
‘It looks as though mah suspicion might be right,’ Big Mac thought.
“Wha’?” Dakota questioned, still in shock at the knowledge of staying in Applejack’s room.
“Applejack’s room is the only room with ah spare bed. As such, it is the room ya’ll be sharing with her,” Big Mac mentioned, still being able to keep a straight face whilst internally chuckling and noticing that Dakota’s face looked like it was going to explode from the heat that was rising to his cheeks.“Well, ya’ll get settled, ‘nd Ah’ll get back to the reunion - not much time left!” Big Mac motioned for him to enter, still internally chuckling about Dakota’s reaction.
As Big Mac left the Farmhouse, Dakota entered the room that he would be staying in. He noticed that there was a spare bed directly opposite Applejack’s; although it was bare he could see that it was well kept. He felt exhausted - the knowledge of being woken in an entire new world can take a toll on anypony, not to mention the energy that the younger ponies of the Apple Family had could run any lesser pony ragged. As a result, Dakota fell asleep as soon as he landed on the bed.
Big Mac was now back at the reunion and all the ponies were starting to run out of energy. Granny Smith motioned for everyone to get in line for the annual family photo in front of the barn.
Applejack stood ready to take her usual position to the right, but Granny Smith decided for her to go to a new position in the pictures borders.
“Better get some training in for the future,” she said whilst chuckling to herself. Applejack’s face hadn’t been orange since Granny Smith snuck up on her when she and Dakota first made it back to the reunion, and it seemed like her face was permanently going to stay red.
After the photo was taken, the outer family said their goodbyes and left for the far outstretches of Equestria. It was at this moment Applebloom’s curiosity took over again.
“Applejack, why is Dakota going to be stayin’ with us?” Applebloom questioned.
“He’s stayin’ with us because he has no home yet, it’s the right thing t’ do,” Applejack answered.
“OK, so since yur room is the only room with the spare bed, he’ll be stayin’ in yur room, right? Appleboom asked, continuing on her search for answers.
“Y-yes th-that’s right,” Applejack stuttered to answer, her face still a heavy shade of red.
“So are ya’ll boyfriend ‘nd girlfriend?” Applebloom slyly asked, having noticed the stutter in her elder sister’s speech.
“Nope,” Applejack answered, ‘Not yet anyway,’ she pondered to herself, she was starting to suspect that the feelings she thought she had might be true after all.
“Do ya’ll have feelin’s fer him?” Applebloom questioned slyly, she knew that her sister couldn’t lie, effectively anyway.
Applejack knew she had been backed into a corner by the fillies questions, her curiosity made her sly, she could never lie effectively, especially in front of her sister, but she could bend the truth. “M-maybe, but m-maybe not,” she answered; she internally facehoofed, she couldn’t even bend the truth effectively.
“Are ya’ll lying?” the filly asked, she knew her sister couldn’t lie effectively and her stuttering voice meant she was lying.
Applejack froze, her sister had figured her out, there was no escape, she had to tell her the truth. “Y-yes, A-Ah guess ah do have feelin’s fer him,” she answered slightly glumly and slightly apologetically.
“Ah knew it! Ah knew it! Ahhhh kneeewww iiiit!!!! Do ya’ll know if he has feelin’s fer ya’ll?” the little filly asked, rather excitedly.
Although it was out, she still found it difficult to answer the young fillies questions, “A-Ah have no clue,” she answered ‘But Ah pray t’ Celestia that he does,’ she thought internally.
“Well Ah hope he does. Ah like him. He would make ahn awesome big brother,” Applebloom exclaimed, still excited at the prospect of Dakota being her possible elder brother in the future.
Applejack could only chuckle at her younger sister’s outburst. “Ah little over-expectant there aint’ yah AB, ah’ve only just met the poor pony,” Applejack heartedly mentioned.
“Ah know, but even though yur’ve only known him a day, ya’ll already seem much happier since meetin’ him. It would be amazing’ if ya’ll could be happy like this all the time,” the young filly explained, at a slightly lower volume and a less excited tone.
‘Ah seem happier? Ah’ve always been happy with mah life. Is this the pony Ah could make mah own?’ she questioned herself internally, her train of thoughts were halted by the ringing of the supper bell.
“SOUP’S ON EVERYPONY!!! *cough**splutter**cough*” Granny Smith shouted, despite the backfire, so that everypony in all of Sweet Apple Acres could hear.
“Well AB, Ah’ll race ya’ll t’ supper,” Applejack challenged her younger sister.
“Yur on AJ,” Answered the young filly competitively.
“ON YUR MARKS...GET SET...GO!!!!!!!!!!!” both ponies said simultaneously as they raced to the farmhouse, and there awaiting supper. In the case of Applejack, the awaiting of the pony she believed could possibly be ‘the one’.
“SOUP’S ON EVERYPONY!!! *cough**splutter**cough*”
Dakota awoke with a start. He looked at the clock on the bedside. He had been asleep for two hours, he guessed that by the words he heard from downstairs that the Apple Families food must be ready. He was then met with a dilemma.
He didn’t know how to eat as a pony! ‘I’ll have to observe them eating first before I have my first bite,’ he thought.
As he left the bedroom, he was greeted by the sound of panting ponies. “Ah...beat...ya...AB,” was the first voice Dakota heard, and he immediately identified it as Applejack’s.
“Ya’ll...are...taller...Yah...had...an...advantage” was the reply of the younger cream coloured filly.
“Only...ah...sore...loser...blames...other...reasons-” Applejack replied before being interrupted as her gaze rested on the descending Dakota. Her face regained its blush from before. Although Dakota was oblivious to this, the younger filly standing next to her noticed it loud and clear and adapted a sly smile.
“Ah’m sorry to interrupt ya’ll,” Applebloom slyly said, causing Applejack to jump slightly and her blush too deepen. “But supper is on the table, and Ah don’t know ‘bout ya’ll, but Ah’m hungry!” Applebloom nearly shouted to be able to get the older mares attention.
With her attention diverted, Applejack remembered that supper was on the table. She then remembered that Dakota had never eaten as a pony before. ‘Ah’m certain that he won’t know how to do it. Ah’ll have to take him aside, please AB don’t get the wrong idea.’ She thought. “A-Ah’m just gonna talk to Dakota for a bit ya’ll, ya’ll can start without us if ya want,” Applejack said, praying to Celestia that no-pony speaks up.
“Well be quick ‘bout it,” Granny Smith said sternly. “Meal time is family time, ‘nd Ah don’t wanna hear any funny business goin’ on between ya’ll either,” she chuckled.
This caused both Dakota and Applejack to blush deeply, neither noticing the others blush. The rest of the family could see the evidence for them; but decided to no say a word to the potential couple in front of them. Letting them discover the situation for themselves.
Applejack motioned to Dakota for him to follow her to the kitchen. Once there she closed the door and made sure they were out of earshot. Once she was certain no-pony would hear she decided to mention why she had brought him aside. “Ah know that ya’ll have never eaten while as a pony, so Ah’m gonna help yah. All yah need t’ know is that ahn earth pony can’t lift their food with their hooves. Pegasi have wings, and unicorns have their magic. We either use our mouths, like our family, but when bein’ more ‘formal’, we can use our tails. Earth ponies have the ability to move them unlike the other pony races. Ah’ll teach yah how t’ use it one day,” she said informatively.
“Thanks,” Dakota replied. “I was starting to worry of how I was going to eat without seeming to obvious to the others,”
“Not at all, sugarcube,”
At that they exited the kitchen and walked towards the table. Before them lay the workings of a true ‘apple’ culinary genius: Apple Fritters, Apple Pie, Apple Pancakes, and other apple related foodstuff. The rest of the Apple’s had already started and most of the touch had been removed from the table. As Dakota and Applejack sat down, they immediately reached for the same slice of apple pie. This allowed there muzzles to grace the others presence. Applejack instantly pulled back, a very deep blush becoming visible on her red coat. Dakota blushed similarly but continued towards the pie. He couldn’t explain it, but apple pie had always been his favourite, even when as a human.
As he savoured the mouthful, he couldn’t believe the taste that exploded in his mouth. He had tasted great pie before. But this. THIS WAS THE GREATEST TASTING PIE EVER!
“Granny Smith, this is without doubt the greatest apple pie I have ever tasted!” he explained in a burst of joy which reminded Applejack of a certain pink pony.
“Well Ah’m glad ya’ll like it child, and Ah can tell there are where that came from,” she replied cheerfully with a slight chuckle, noticing Applejack’s expression and her blush.
The rest of the meal went silently with the small talk that was generally expected at the usual Apple Family meals.
After the meal, Applebloom yawned. “G-Goodnight everypony,”.
Granny Smith said her goodnight’s and departed as well. Applejack and Big Macintosh winked at each other as Big Mac descended into the cellar. After a small space of time he re-ascended carrying a heavy barrel on his back.
“This is a barrel of Apple Family hard cider,” Big Mac mentioned. “After every family reunion, after AB goes to bed, we get out a barrel of hard cider, which we keep fermented in the cellar away from a young fillies prying eyes,”
“This time ya’ll are joinin’ us, ‘nd we decided for ya’ll t’ have the first mug,” Applejack continued.
“Well that’s mighty kind of you,” Dakota replied.
After a couple of mugs, Big Mac said his goodbyes to the two remaining ponies, who continued to glug down mug after mug of the hard cider and were quickly losing control of their balance.
“A-Ah thinksh wesh might hash had enough” a slightly Applejack inebriated suggested.
“I-I-I’m not ash think ash you drunk I am, but Ish thinking yoush might be right,” A more inebriated Dakota replied.
They both stood, little too quickly, and fell over, with Applejack landing on top of Dakota. Both, even in their inebriated states, being able to blush at the awkwardness of the moment.
“I think we should probably getsh up now,” Dakota suggested.
“Or wesh could stay here a little while longer,” Applejack replied.
After what felt like an eternity, both decided to try and get back to the room atop the stairs.
A few minutes and many failed attempts later, they successfully ascended the stairs and slowly made their way to the room at the far end of the floor.
As they opened the door, both ponies stumbled in and ended up in the same position they ended up in whilst downstairs.
Applejack could only stare into the sapphire pool that was Dakota eyes, becoming lost in its hypnotic trance. Dakota became lost in the emerald ocean that was Applejack’s eyes, becoming lost in its embrace and slowly into a sleep.
Applejack was disturbed from the trance she fell into from a small snore from the pony beneath her, chuckling a little she made the bed that he would be sleeping in for the night, and she prayed for the only night, after completing the bed, somewhat haphazardly due to her inebriated state, she slowly dragged Dakota to the bed.
Laying him on the bed and pulling the covers over him, she gave him a light kiss on the forehead. She turned and made her way to her own bed. ‘Tomorrow Ah’ll tell him how Ah feel, and hopefully he’ll feel the same way back,’ she thought as she clambered into her own bed.
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she instantly fell into the world of dreams. Dreaming of the pony that lay on the opposite side of the room.