I looked out the dusty window of the barn attic. Applejack had been gone for quite a while now. Along with everybody else. Only Carrot Top came to feed me. But I missed Applejack. That and the fact that I can't play outside. Did Applejack forget how I must burn out my energy? Today was the third day without Applejack. The third day without going outside. Felt as if I could push all of the ox in the world! Of course, the ox wouldn't like that. They hate everything. You probably didn't know that. Us pets know a lot more than you ponies do.
I should introduce myself. It is polite to do so. I am Winona, Applejack's dog. I work here on the farm everyday. No weekends for just chillin, but I honestly don't mind. Working gets out the energy. That's why I was feeling jittery while looking out that dirty window.
I removed my paws. They left a mark in the dust, showing that "Winona's been here!". Applejack may scold me later. That will be when I regret it. But for now, it did not matter. I dashed down the creaking old stairs. I had seen nothing new in front of the barn. It was still all organized and in place. Applejack still wasn't back. She must have gone on vacation, along with Applebloomm and the others. I hoped it was not for a week. I padded up to the door of the barn where Applejack had locked me up. "Hello? Anyway there?" I barked. All I heard was the echo of my bark. Nothing replied. I started to pace back and forth in front of the barn door. I was eager to get out. To see Applejack. Even Applebloom, Big Mac, or Granny Smith would be fine. I just wanted to be free again. I was pacing when I heard a clicking at the side of the barn. There was a door there, one for ponies. I could hear it slowly opening, groaning each second as it did.
"Applejack?" I barked to the visitor. I ran over as fast as my long legs could carry me.
"Please let it be you," I muttered. I could feel my muscles screaming at me. They were stiff. I made it over to the door, my tongue sticking out and myself panting.
"Oh, hello there Winona," a familiar voice greeted. It wasn't Applejack. It was Carrot Top. I whimpered a little in disappointment. The yellow mare trotted over to my food bowl, which I had barely touched. She shook her orange mane.
"Oh you poor dear. You must miss Applejack and the others."
"Yes!" I whimpered. Carrot Top rubbed my head a little. She was gentle and kind to me, and even though she wasn't Applejack, she was still a great pony.
"Applejack warned me about this. It is never good." Carrot Top thought for a moment. I could tell she was thinking, for she was looking up. Her eyes were transfixed on one object. They stayed there for a couple minutes. Carrot Top was thinking hard.
"Maybe I could bring you a friend. Would you like that?" Now it was my turn to think. This friend would be a pet. What pets does she have access to? Only her pet squirrel, Flyer. He was a nice friend, but his high pitched squeak drove me insane!
"Sure!" I replied, but I knew she could only hear my bark. Carrot Top laughed gently.
"Alright then. I hope that's a yes! I'll bring you a friend tomorrow. Now try and eat your food."
Tomorrow slowly came. I did eat some food, if you are wondering. I spent the rest of the afternoon pacing and looking. It was quite boring. The next morning, when Carrot Top came, I was ready.
"Winona, I brought you your friend!" No need to introduce. I already know who it is. But she went on anyway.
"Winona, meet my pet squirrel, Flyer. I believe you have met before." We did, one other time. That was during Pinkie's party. Let's just say there was karoke and end it at that. Flyer scurried over to me.
"Hello again, Winona. Been a while," Flyer greeted. He was smirking.
"Just don't start singing karoke and I won't try and eat you," I answered. His smirk stayed, and I think I heard him laughing a little, but I ignored it. I was glad to have someone to talk to. Who understands me. Carrot Top is okay, but, again, she's no Applejack.
"Well, it is nice to be able to talk to someone. I've been going insane!" Flyer nodded.
"I would too, if I was left alone with no one but myself. Although, I do like to pratice karoke sometimes when Carrot Top's not around." Typical Flyer. He dreams of flying. Of becoming the greatest singer known. Those things won't happen, but he still dreams about that. Flyer has a good imagination.
"So why is everybody gone?" I asked. I was sure Flyer would know from the latest squirrel gossip. Squirrels pick up on a lot of things. He thought for a moment, the same way Carrot Top thinks.
"I heard there is a new princess. Twilight Sparkle is her name." I knew who he was talking about.
"Twilight Sparkle? She's the Element of Magic! Greatest magic caster ever known! That's honestly not a surprise." Applejack told me all about the Elements of Harmony. She's the Element of Honesty. And yes, she's very honest. You can tell when she is lying.
"I wish I could go outside," I mumbled. Flyer hopped up onto a rail. His bushy brown tail flicked a little.
"I could help you out." I stared at him.
"How?" There were only two ways out. The front and the side.
"Hidden holes. I am great at finding them!" Hopefully not like the karoke great. Cause that's not great. Flyer scrambled down the pole he was resting on and began running along the side. I looked over at Carrot Top. She was organizing some hay stacks. Carrot Top used to own a farm, but was more interested in the herb business. I looked back to where I last saw Flyer. He had gone some where else. Where, I did not know until he returned.
"Well?" I asked.
"I found a hole. It's about as big as a hay bale. The hole is hidden behind a hay stack." That would be perfect. It was big enough for me, and it would lead me outside. Then I would search for Applejack.
"Great!" I was excited. I wanted to go out there right now!
"Wait! We have to wait for Carrot Top to leave!" Flyer yelled as I started to the hole. I had forgotten about her.
"Right. When should we go then?" Flyer thought, this time pacing while muttering.
"How about at night? That's the best time. Hardly anybody will notice us." Night was far off, but I also did not want to be caught.
"Alright then. We will leave tonight." Tonight I will find Applejack.
Author's Note
Please leave helpful comments! Enjoy!!
I waited impatiently all day. It seemed as if someone had stopped time immeaditly. I tried hard not to look at the time on the clock tower that is visible to everyone, but I always ended up doing just that. Eight thirty. Since it was summer, the sun stayed out longer. Nights were shorter. "Oh come on!" I yelped, losing my mind. Eight thirty one. Time slowly went by. I took up the lame game of chasing your tail. I lost interest not long after. Eight thirty three. I tried running around. Up the attic stairs, around the attic, down the attic stairs, around the barn, and back up again. Eight thirty five. I disliked this very much. I tried howling. The echos creeped me out. It would creep you out too, even knowing it was your own. It makes you think that maybe there might be a timber wolf responding to you, hunting you down. Timber wolves are our worse enemy. They enjoy eating little pets. Timber wolves see us as cream puffs. It's terrifying! I looked at the tower for what seemed to be the millionth time today. Eight forty. Five more minutes! I almost jumped with joy, but remembered that Carrot Top doesn't come until eight fifty. I was doomed to be drowned in boredom. I returned to my running game. Except now I kept checking the time. Eight forty two. Eight forty five. Eight forty six. Eight forty six again. I was getting faster. No longer did my runs take two minutes. They took only thirty seconds. That, and I was taking short cuts in the barn. I stopped to rest, my tongue hanging out, myself breathing hard and panting. I needed a drink of water. I trotted over to the barn door. There my hardly eaten food lay along with my warm water. I suppose it was better than nothing, but it left a bitter taste in your mouth. I spitted out some of the water.
"Bleh," I muttered to no one because there was obviously no one here. I dashed back up to the attic window, which was covered in pawprints now. Eight forty nine. ONE MORE MINUTE!!!!!!!!! I ran down toto the barn door as fast as my long legs could carry my brown body. I halted right in front of it, tail wagging with great speed that I was sure it was going to fly off. Sure enough, the barn door began to open.
"Winona? Oh my! You must be excited to see us!" Carrot Top greeted me. Flyer hopped off her back and landed next to me. I winked at Flyer, who winked back.
"It took forever for you guys to come!" I barked. Carrot Top rubbed my head and went to go feed me and hopefully replace the warm water. Preferably with ice cubes in it. Cause it won't last long without them.
"Are you ready?" Flyer asked me. I barked with joy.
"Yes! Of course! Why wouldn't I be ready? I have been ready since you first visited us!" It was true. I had plans to find Applejack, even if it meant riding all the way to the capital of Equestria, Canterlot. I was willing to do just that to see Applejack, my wonderful and honest owner. Carrot Top trotted over to us.
"It was nice seeing you Winona, but we must get home." That might be a problem. Flyer was going to go with me. I growled in disagreement, ignoring that Applejack taught me that it was rude to growl at a guest. I did it anyway. And with great protest. Carrot Top looked at me, her eyebrow raised.
"What was that, Winona?" she asked, her voice still sweet but slightly cold. I contunied to growl and added a bark.
"Flyer stays here!" I nosed Flyer to show her. Carrot Top looked between Flyer and me.
"You want Flyer to stay?" I stppped growling and barked instead, letting my tail wag a little. Carrot Top went into her thinking stage, looking at the ceiling.
"I don't know... Flyer gets homesick without his little blanket." I let myself laugh a little at that fact.
"Hey!" Flyer chirped up, embarrassed. I nudged Flyer lightly with my left paw. Flyer punched me back, but it didn't hurt.
"Alright you can stay, but just for tonight." I danced around her merrily. She laughed and once again rubbed my head before going out the door. Silently, just in case she was still around, we made our way to the haystack covering the hole. Slipping through with little noise, I saw a hole big enough for me to fit through. Jagged wood planks surronded it. This was the gateway out. It was now or never. Flyer went out first. He slipped through with ease because of his size. I was next. Slowly, I began my way through. The blanks cut my fur and my skin. I almost yelped, but remembered to keep quiet. I could feel some blood soaking my fur. I would lick it later. I embraced the fresh air. The sweet smell of farm grown apples. The delight of having the wind on my face again, blowing my fur around. I had made it. I had escaped.
Author's Note
This took longer than expected. I was away at camp, so I could not write another chapter. Luckily I made it back with only annoying bites. Hope you enjoyed!!
