Chapters Brownie Hoof was never a bad pony. He wasn't all smart, but he the energy, tough hooves, and the mind to do things right. Brownie Hoof was a dark brownie color, and his mane was milky chocolate. Brownie Hoof's cutie mark was a picture depicting half a thundercloud and half a cloud. Nopony understood what it meant. His eyes were as blue as the sky, although he couldn't fly. He also loved brownies, hot or cold. His mane was tousled because he hadn't had enough time to sleep. His future had looked bright in Canterlot, but yet here he was leaving a train for the Ponyville Train Station.
It was a muggy day, and the station was wet with spilled water from a vendor. He was counting his money and snickering. "Ten bits a pop for Auto-Spilling water," He chuckled, putting away twenty bits. The day just kept getting hotter and the sun went up for high noon. The vendor was getting more money than ever. "If I keep this up I'll get enough for that Sugarcube styled cake!," He neighed in selfishness. More water spilled on purpose and the floor was soggy wet.
Finally, Brownie Hoof figured out what the vendor was doing. He worked up the courage to pounce on him, and he worked his nerves up to the vendor. He raised his hoof up to the vendor and slapped him on the flank, when the vendor tried to dodge it. "I know what you're doing," Brownie Hood groaned, gritting his teeth from a whack to the muzzle. Brownie Hoof managed to overturn the vending table. An empty 6-pack that had held prank water bottles lay on the ground.
The first head turned and a pony's eyes widened. She fainted in horror, and the other ponies came to help her. The ponies who had bought water took back their bits and took their trains or scattered.
Brownie Hoof grinned in triumph, and then he was hit in the flank. It was too painful, and he blacked out.
The Pony Emergency Care group was taking care of Brownie Hoof incautiously. Brownie Hoof winced when they lifted his flank, or accidentally prodded him with their fancy machinery. Right then, he wished he were home with his friends and family again. Brownie Hoof wished he could go back, but to his dismay the Brownie family hated him. He sighed and paved the way for more sharp machinery.
A week later, nobody still had wanted to talk to him. His mane was still twisted and he craved a brownie of sorts. At the information desk run by a stallion, he picked up a map. When Brownie Hoof finally had it straight, the most appealing store was Sugarcube Corner.
"Hi! How may I help you?" Mrs. Cake asked, looking Brownie Hoof in the eye.
"I would like a warm brownie as quick as possible." Brownie Hoof replied, fidgeting and tapping his right hoof on the ground.
"Pinkie? I need a warm brownie! Now, please!," Mrs. Cake hollered at the doorway behind her. "That'll be ten bits." Mrs. Cake told Brownie Hoof.
"No problem." Brownie Hoof replied, busily grabbing ten bits and passing them on the counter.
Pinkie Pie trotted out of the kitchen with a fresh, dark brown brownie. When she saw Brownie Hoof, she gasped and dropped the fresh brownie. It fell onto the counter and it was fine.
Brownie Hoof put it between his front hooves and ate it all in two bites at a table outside the Sugarcube Corner. "So much for another hater," He mumbled, walking on the road until he wasn't on a road anymore. It was just paved dirt and trees for miles. Brownie Hoof had lost his map, so until he found it he would ask someone.
"Hey Big Mac! We've caught our hooves a visitor!" A bright orange, yellow maned pony yelled. She walked down to Brownie Hoof, who was looking for someone. Another red, big stallion was right behind the orange pony.
"Oh, I'm lost. Can you tell me where I am?" Brownie Hoof asked, jumping in surprise when he saw an orange pony and a red stallion next to him.
Applejack was kind of disappointed he wasn't visiting, but nonetheless she spoke, "Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! Mah name is Applejack and this is my brother, Big Mac!"
Big Macintosh just told Brownie Hoof, "Eeyup."
Brownie Hoof thanked them and he turned around and went back to Ponyville.
"Ya'll think he a nice feller?" Applejack asked Big Mac. His response was the same as always, and she just shook her head, bucked a field, and went to bed.
Brownie Hoof hadn't ever met such an energized pony. She showed it off when she was able to yell, loudly. On the way home, he stopped by a cottage full of animals to check it out. Maybe it was empty and he could get some peace.
Brownie Hoof had never been so wrong. There was a mess everywhere. He used his sense of logic and figured out he should clean some of it up. With his muzzle he picked up the lying kibble and leaves, and other debris. When he didn't notice, another pony came in.
Fluttershy came in her cottage to see a brown stallion cleaning up the mess she had made. "Oh, dear," She whispered quietly, and flew upstairs. After she processed the idea of the stallion downstairs, she went back down to confront him.
Brownie Hoof was almost done with the cleaning. He was tired, worn out, and dirty. When he looked up to see another mare pegasus with a yellow body and a pink mane, he just let it go and kept cleaning.
"Ahem," Fluttershy spoke quietly, turning the stallion's head. "Why are you in my house and cleaning my mess?" The stallion immediately stopped what he was doing, and Fluttershy wished she could take her words back.
"I came here because I thought it would be empty, and the door was left open. I went in to see a mess and cleaned it up myself." Brownie Hoof replied, politely lowering his tone.
When Fluttershy found no words, she squeaked, "Eep!" and bolted upstairs.
Brownie Hoof felt guilty, and went up the stairs cautiously. He could hear the pony hiding under her bed with something else. He went into the room and checked the bed. There was a little bunny under there too.
When she had lost her hiding place, Fluttershy pulled herself out from under her bed and sat on it. "My name is Fluttershy. I'm sorry for making you come up here, and this is my bunny Angel." Fluttershy announced, softly and barely spoken.
Brownie Hoof shook Angel's paw, and Fluttershy's hoof. "I'm sorry for scaring you, and my name is Brownie Hoof." Brownie Hoof apologized. Fluttershy nodded, and Brownie Hoof didn't feel guilty anymore. Brownie Hoof exited quietly, leaving Fluttershy alone. Then, he marched home to a cottage that he had bought for most of his bits.
Brownie Hoof flicked the light switch on, to his dismay.
"Surprise! Do you like my surprise party new pony?" Pinkie Pie rambled, none of which Brownie Hoof listened to.
He went upstairs to his fluffy new bed and rested. The noise in the middle of the night is what set him off, though.
"I'm trying to sleep here!" Brownie Hoof yelled, scattering anyone close to him. When his eye caught the brownies, he took a stack and headed up to call it a night. The noise wasn't as loud, and sleep was easy to accomplish.
Brownie Hoof was planning what to do for the day. He checked off the cottage he had seen last night, Sweet Apple Acres, and Sugarcube Corner to load himself with a brownie. Oh how he loved the rich taste of it all.
At his first stop, Brownie Hoof rang the doorbell to the cottage. "Yes? Oh, it's you again. Hi there," Fluttershy whispered, inviting Brownie Hoof inside.
The cottage was looking new and shiny, thanks to Brownie Hoof and Fluttershy.
Fluttershy poured two cups of tea and then fed her animals, one by one, in a soothing voice that Brownie Hoof loved.
Over tea, Brownie Hoof talked about the random party somepony gave him.
Fluttershy muttered that it was Pinkie Pie who did it. Brownie Hoof heard her, too.
They made small talk, until Fluttershy started talking about her friends.
Brownie Hoof tried not to lose it when she said the word. It hurt when he remembered his folk. When he knew he could trust Fluttershy, he would tell her. When that was, he wanted to do it now to get it over with. "Fluttershy, I don't have friends or family with me right now," He began to explain, intriguing Fluttershy. At the end, Fluttershy felt bad, and slowly approached her newfound friend and dragging her hooves and thinking useless things.
When Brownie Hoof saw her coming toward him very slowly, he knew she was stalling. When she looked distracted, he came over and hugged her. It was for no good reason, but it was a first, anyway.
Brownie Hoof left Fluttershy, the shyest pony in all of Equestria, to contemplate what just happened. What she figured was, "Eep!" and she hid under the covers of her bed. Well, until Angel pulled her out by the scruff of her neck. "Ow!" Fluttershy yelped, gently picking up Angel and giving her a carrot.
Brownie Hoof was feeling delighted with himself by the time he came across Sweet Apple Acres. In fact, he would have missed it not have he been interrupted in his thoughts by the dark red stallion with an orange mane who bumped into him. That was saying something, because the Acres was a really giant place. "Hello, mister?" Brownie Hoof asked, tapping his back right hoof waiting for a response. He felt frightened by the other stallion's size.
"Big Macintosh," Big Mac replied politely, offering a hoof.
Brownie Hoof gladly accepted it, reminding himself of the question he had been waiting to ask. It didn't seem like a good time, but he was bracing himself anyway. With one last gulp, the words came out, wrong. "Do you have a sister?"
Big Mac was already prepared to answer. He always knew what was coming, from some fine days in Sweet Apple Acres. "Why yes, you just met one yesterday. Her name's Applejack. The other one is Applebloom. She's probably over there," He spoke in a deep voice, pointing at the direction of a treehouse. "Applejack is over there," Big Macintosh pointed again, at an apple tree field. There were hints of apples on all the trees.
"I don't think it's Harvest Season, is it?" Brownie Hoof questioned, wondering if he was forgetting the time.
"Eenope." Big Mac replied, walking away to inspect another field.
Brownie Hoof shrugged and galloped over to Applejack. She was saying nothing and walking over to each tree of the field. Once, twice, and over again. "Hello?"
Applejack was terrified of the stallion behind her. As terrified as Fluttershy facing a dragon. Nor did she show it. She just stopped jittering, stood up tall, and put her grand front hoof on top of the other. "Yes?"
Brownie Hoof didn't get that far in the mirror at his cottage. He was going to invite her out to talk. Just to talk, but that might have been awkward. "My name is Brownie Hoof." When Applejack nodded, he labored on about himself until two minutes later he stopped. "So, do you want to come to a picnic with me?," He stuttered, leaving a trail of utters.
Applejack didn't expect that to happen. Nothing even near that. She had nothing better to do, and she had already triple inspected her fields of apple trees. She could probably get time from her brother later. Besides, it wasn't a date, right? Finally, she answered the question long in orbit. "Sure, I always want ta look after ya'll Ponyville folk, after all.
Brownie Hoof was pleased with himself and was about to trot home. Before he forgot, he yelled, "Meet me at 5 here!"
Applejack chuckled and shook her head. She went off to Big Mac to buy some time from Granny Smith and then to pack.
Brownie Hoof was walking down the Ponyville street until he heard running sounds.
"You ruffian!" A white unicorn with a beautiful purple mane and tail screamed, running away from a thundercloud which was being steered by a blue pegasus with a rainbow colored mane and tail. The white unicorn tripped over a puddle and Brownie Hoof had nothing to do but help her. When she got up and running, the blue pegasus stomped on the cloud that she thought was over the white unicorn.
Unfortunately, Brownie Hoof was under it. When it rained Brownie Hoof just ignored the wet and walked out, glaring daggers at the blue pegasus. "Oh, uh, sorry." The blue pegasus spoke, falling into a fit of laughter. The white unicorn walked back, glaring at the blue pegasus. "Oh dear, you look like quite a mess. Let me fix you up," The white unicorn muttered, grabbing her curtain to cover him up. "Here's everything you need!" She yelled, tossing a luggage over the curtain.
Brownie Hoof used all of his willpower to change in the middle of the street. Although he just combed his mane.
"By the way, my name is Rarity!" The white unicorn yelled. "Oh would you stop laughing! You just ruined another pony's day! Stop it Rainbow Dash!" Rarity yelled, making the blue pegasus stop.
"Your such a bum," Rainbow Dash groaned, flying into the sky leaving her cloud behind.
"Brownie Hoof," Brownie Hoof absently spoke, trying to clear his mind of distractions. He didn't have time for disasters. He galloped home to clean up some more for his picnic. He would have to hurry, had it been 4:30 and he not done.
When Brownie Hoof doubled his pace, he was done by 4:55. He grabbed the basket by the handle and almost got lost while galloping.
Applejack was early to her post, waiting for the Brownie Hoof stallion to come. She had bought brownies from Sugarcube Corner, to Pinkie's delight. "Ah hope he hasn't gone through any o' this trouble just fer' a picnic." Applejack spoke, digging her hoof into the ground. When she caught sight of the Brownie Hoof that had asked her for the picnic, she stopped digging the ground. "Howdy sugar, how ya'll do?"
Brownie Hoof stopped panting. He hoped that Applejack didn't notice, and replied, "Fine," and he motioned her over with his hoof. She followed, and he brought her to a deserted area with tall wheat and grain plants.
"It's so quiet..." She spoke quietly, not wanting to interrupt the silence.
Brownie Hoof felt happy knowing she liked the spot. He'd gone here many times by himself. Brownie Hoof almost lost his train of thought until he remembered Fluttershy's friends.
Applejack could almost see through his head. "I'm friends with Fluttershy, if ya'll wanted ta know."
"How are you reading my mind like your brother?" Brownie Hoof questioned, nearly losing it.
Applejack chuckled and explained, "We're siblings."
Brownie Hoof laughed, and munched on one of his sandwiches.
"I packed brownies, Brownie." Applejack whispered, nudging the brownies toward Brownie Hoof.
"Thanks," Brownie Hoof replied as quiet as Applejack, and his eyes widened. When he looked from the brownies to Applejack and back, she nodded. He nearly devoured them.
"Heh. So much fer ya bein' named Brownie," Applejack chuckled, taking Brownie Hoof's open hoof. "Thanks," She muttered, and she decided she needed some of these breaks just a bit more.
When the evening came, Brownie Hoof and Applejack agreed it was time to go. They split up so it didn't look awkward, but not before they both gave and recieved a friendly hug. "Just like with Fluttershy," Brownie Hoof whispered to himself.
When he looked back at Applejack, she was gone in the wheat.
Suddenly, Brownie Hoof found himself in the middle of the forest. He recalled, the Everfree. Just when it seemed hopeless, Brownie Hoof found a light and headed for it. It seemed like forever, and then he was mobbed. By something he didn't even know was there.
Author's Note
I am not quite sure this will work out currently.
Timber Wolves and The Stare
Just like the beginning of his adventure in Ponyville, he was back in the Emergency Pony Care Center. "Great," He moaned, being forever prodded by rods and other things. The curtain moved, and in came Pinkie Pie. "My Pinkie Sense tells me one of my new friends is unhappy, that it is about to rain, and that you ate a whole stack of brownies!"
First, Rainbow Dash mishandled a thundercloud and rain started pouring on Brownie Hoof.
Second, he was very unhappy, and also mad about all the dumb stuff that were prodding him.
Third, the brownies he ate last night added up to nausea.
"I...I feel sick." Brownie Hoof uttered, and he grabbed a bucket Pinkie Pie was holding and threw up.
"Ew!" Pinkie Pie screamed and tossed the bucket away. She hopped away, saying, "Wee!"
The curtain rumbled again and in came Fluttershy. "Oh, I came once I heard. Are you all right?" Fluttershy spoke, shyly investigating Brownie Hoof.
"I don't think just any animal did this," A purple unicorn spoke, and Brownie Hoof guessed it was Twilight. She was the only one who hadn't met him yet.
"Hey sugar cube, I brought you a brownie." Applejack yelled, coming in from the curtain. "No thanks Applejack," Brownie Hoof replied to her, nodding at the bucket.
Twilight paced herself around Brownie Hoof as if he was a science project. She was flipping through the pages of a book again. Fluttershy almost forgot to feed her animals, and absently yelped "Oh, um, I need to go..." "Eep!" Fluttershy quickly hugged Brownie Hoof and took the brownie from Applejack. "Sorry..." Applejack noticed she run away quicker than usual. "What was that about?" She asked, bringing the other ponies to attention. The others shook their heads in question.
"I finally figured out what hit Brownie Hoof!" Twilight screamed, making Rarity jump.
"Oh, dear, my hair!" Rarity yelled, grabbing the nearest comb.
In the distance, a group of Timberwolves ran toward the town of Ponyville.
"Did anyone hear that?" Pinkie Pie screamed, coming back to Brownie Hoof. "It sounded like a pack of Timberwolves are going to raid Ponyville and destroy it!"
"Now, sugar, that's impossible. Er, right everypony?" Applejack questioned, wondering if the Pinkie Sense would prevail.
By the time everypony shook their heads, rumbling noises were heard outside. A growl or two, and then an all out storm. "It's everypony for herself!" Rarity gasped, galloping away.
Brownie Hoof finally slid out of his bed and got on his hooves. The first pony to notice was Applejack, who was reluctantly stepping back.
"No! The doctor hasn't let you-" Applejack started, Brownie Hoof shockingly shoving his hoof to her mouth. "Mmf!" Applejack mumbled, and Brownie Hoof let go. "A simple sign woulda been just all fine n' dandy, Brownie." Applejack sighed, stepping out to watch the wolves. "Winona!" She cried, Winona coming to her side immediately. They rushed out of sight, the last words from Applejack calling, "Put em' up Winona!"
Twilight finally spoke, "A Timberwolf attacked you, Brownie Hoof." Twilight sighed and went outside to use her magic on the wolves.
Rainbow Dash rolled off her cloud that was mistaken for a decoration and yelled, "I think I'll be going too." As she headed off to bust the Timberwolves.
Brownie Hoof was left with Pinkie Pie. She scrunched her face and screamed, "Ohmygosh Ohmygosh Ohmygosh!" Without leaving time for Brownie Hoof to ask anything, she yelled, "My cupcakes are in danger! Don't worry cupcakes! Auntie Pinkie Pie is coming!" With that, she dashed off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner.
When Brownie Hoof came outside, the town was a mess of dirt and powder. He leaped onto a Timber Wolf, missed, and was tackled by two others. Applejack pulled him out of the heap.
"Ya got some nerve messing with these demons," Applejack explained, emphasizing by knocking down a row of Timber Wolves. "Winona! Take em' out!" She hollered, pointing at the Everfree Forest. Applejack galloped away to catch up with Winona, leaving Brownie Hoof distraught.
When Brownie Hoof restored his will and courage and thought about a wonderful reward of brownies. Which, of course, he would have to buy. He steadied his hooves, positioned himself, and lunged at a Timber Wolf. His timing was perfect, and he landed straight onto the back of a Timber Wolf.
Due to the sudden weight on his back, the Timber Wolf shook himself to no relief. His shaking paved way to a traffic jam and five other Timber Wolves crashed into him.
Brownie Hoof jumped out of an aura of smoke and was covered in dirt. "Oh my, you look terrible!" Rarity yelped, immediately dragging him to her Boutique. Brownie Hoof only stayed to fix his mane and tail. Until he was granted to take a warm bath. His worries vanished once he stepped in the warmth of the water.
Later, he was done and wiped himself off. "Oh my goodness, I almost forgot! Clothing!" Rarity remembered, rushing away for materials.
Brownie Hoof snuck out of the giant thing he was in, and strode home. He didn't get far until bystanders started looking at him. Applejack joined him and he slowed down. "Did ya'll really attack the Wolves?" She whispered in his ear, repeating a rumor.
Regardless of the audience, Brownie Hoof nodded proudly, and almost forgot about his brownie reward. A sharp turn towards Sugarcube Corner and Applejack knew what he was going for. She winked and he strode away.
"Did you-" Pinkie Pie started, Brownie Hoof nodding to stop her. "Do you want the regular?" Pinkie Pie asked, trying to stay as normal as possible. "I'm sorry I can't stay quiet I'm just so excited you took down a group of wolves like this!" She clapped, and continued, "And then you were just out of the pile like nothing even happened!" Pinkie Pie swayed, and gave him a free pile of brownies.
"Just call it a sample! Auntie Pinkie Pie always likes to make ponies smile!" Smile is just what Brownie Hoof did when he recieved the stack, savoring every soft, crunchy, chocolate bite. It was the most bliss thing he had ever tasted.
When he was done rubbing his stomach, Brownie Hoof travelled back home, trotting overly quick. Most of every pony felt an aura of willpower whenever Brownie Hoof came along. Most ponies would never even face a Timber Wolf. Even Applejack had only done it a couple times.
At his house, Brownie Hoof was doing some cleaning. Every thing from chairs to crumbs were scattered. Brownie Hoof came up with the wits to get it done quick. A paced catnap was the perfect answer to the exhausted Brownie Hoof.
When he was done, a quiet knock on the door called for his attention. Fluttershy was there, absently staring at the ground. "Welcome Fluttershy," Brownie Hoof politely whispered, inviting Fluttershy in. The room was as shiny as gold due to Brownie Hoof's cleaning.
"I, um, wanted to ask if you'd come with me to the Trotting Truffle restaurant?" Fluttershy squeaked, wanting to hide under one of Brownie Hoof's tables. "Er, just as friends?" She stated, nearly losing it. When Brownie Hoof nodded, she sighed in relief and handed him a note.
"I've already invited Applejack out once, this'll be fine," Brownie Hoof assured Fluttershy, patting her on the back.
Fluttershy left his house quickly, but positively trotting all the way.
The note read,
Meet me at Sweet Apple Acres during the sunset,
Brownie Hoof was surprised. "Why there?" He muttered, tucking himself into a smooth, furry blanket.
The sky was a shade of purple and orange, indicating the sunset. Brownie Hoof was awaken by a loud alarm clock that was smacking his Everfree wood table. "Dammit," He groaned, moving off the couch.
By the time he got to Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy was already there, hiding behind an apple tree. "Fluttershy, git outta there!" Applejack yapped, making Fluttershy wince. Applejack did her 'be honest' look, and Fluttershy was out of there like she was stung by a bee.
"Uh, oh I have to feed my animals!" Fluttershy whispered, flapping her wings to get out of her situation.
Applejack jumped on her, the result being an "Eep!" from Fluttershy. "Alright, now ya'll gotta go somewhere now, right?" Applejack asked, pulling Fluttershy up.
"Mhm," Fluttershy stuttered, nodding.
"So then git!" Applejack yelled, shooing them off.
"So, uh-" Fluttershy started, handing Brownie Hoof a pass.
"I've got this handled," Brownie Hoof interrupted, walking ahead. When a bystander walked by, Brownie Hoof dismissed them like nothing and pulled Fluttershy ahead. By the time they were at Trotting Truffle a rumor had started like a fire.
Everywhere they went inside the restaurant a face poked out of the scene and was pulled into the rumor like quicksand. "Why are they looking at us like that?" Fluttershy asked quietly, trying to shed herself.
"It's nothing," Brownie Hoof assured, taking her clean hoof from across the table.
"Are...Are you sure?" Fluttershy questioned, waiting for an answer.
Outside, Brownie Hoof could see the mare that fashion designer Rarity had yelled at a few days ago trying to pass off staring for kicking invisible clouds. Then, he saw her lie down in the sky, laughing. He shook his head and dismissed the thought.
Fluttershy was unfortunately looking the entire time. "Is she-"
"Yup,"
"Is it because-"
"Yes,"
"And-"
"Mhm."
"Can I-"
"After dinner," Brownie Hoof finished, leading to a calmness that would last until the end of their, in Applejack's vision, 'fancy' dinner.
When they finished, Fluttershy flew out slowly and Brownie payed and tipped. "RAINBOW DASH!" Fluttershy hollered, making Rainbow Dash quickly fall to the ground and sit to attention. "DON'T STALK US! EVER!"
"Uh, yes Fluttershy!" Rainbow Dash spoke, flying away as fast as lightning.
"If you come back, I'll give you THE STARE!" Fluttershy added, Brownie Hoof catching up to her.
"What's the stare?" Brownie Hoof asked, emphasizing 'the stare'.
"Oh, I insist I shouldn't show you. You would be too scared." Fluttershy mumbled, turning away.
"Show me!" Brownie Hoof exclaimed, facing her face.
"No!"
"Do it!"
"Please, no!"
"Come on!"
"Okay, but it might be too scary," Fluttershy finished, preparing her stare.
Brownie Hoof's world was focused onto Fluttershy, free of distraction. Her face glowed, and it was almost too bright. But years of too much light in his home had prepared Brownie Hoof for that moment. When it looked like he was about to blink, he stopped.
Nearly five minutes later, Fluttershy gave up. Panting, she gasped, "How...are...you...immune?"
Brownie Hoof had absolutely no answer to that question, so he shrugged.
"How can you shake it off like that?" Fluttershy questioned, shaking his body. She put her hands to his face, and asked, "How did you do that! I must know!" Fluttershy was so close she was breathing on him.
"I just don't know!" Brownie Hoof yelled, nearly blowing Fluttershy's face off.
Fluttershy let go, and stepped back. "Oh well, I'll just figure out myself." Fluttershy mumbled, and in a louder voice, spoke, "I'm watching you..." To emphasize, she Pinkie Promised. Then, she ran off to her cottage.
Brownie Hoof had absolutely no idea what she did, but he guessed it had something to do with a promise. Brownie Hoof galloped off to his cottage home. His home was still as glossy as Rarity's clothes. At the least, he thought so. He was still stuffed from the restaurant and tucked himself onto the couch. He grabbed a nearby blanket and rested from a long day.
Author's Note
The next chapter is already written.
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Princess Celestia, and the Gala (To Brownie Hoof)
The new day was as humble as ever. Brownie Hoof stirred up a sugary substance and drank it down for breakfast. "What do I have to do today?" He mumbled, staring in a mirror. "Nothing special," Brownie Hoof assumed, already taking things for his stand. Brownie Hoof took a brownie or two, and then put up a stand outside like always. His first customer came an hour later, being Twilight.
"Oh hi Brownie Hoof, my assistant Spike wanted a brownie and didn't have enough bits or energy to get it. He has a free day, so I came to get his brownie. She put her hoof in her backpack and retrieved two bits. "One brownie cold, please." Twilight asked, putting the bits on the counter.
Brownie hoof traded the bits for a cold brownie, and trotted off the fetch another bucket. He put it in his mouth and chomped on it, dumping the contents into a square compartment. He put the empty bucket down and admired his work. "Perfect," He mumbled, with a new compartment of brownies.
Business was casual and smooth, the earnings small but good enough. Brownie Hoof had to travel to the store for a new backpack. His mark would definitely cost extra. His current backpack had a hole in it, and was tattered in several places. There wasn't even a mark on it anymore.
Apparently, someponies had the same idea as Brownie Hoof. As in, there was a giant line to the counter. Somehow, he managed to get to the front quickly. Maybe because Brownie Hoof was dreaming of a renewed backpack.
Brownie Hoof was brought in the back where several artists started painting his cutie mark, making him turn a couple times.
Pinkie Pie was there, too. "Ooh! You came here too!" She started, Brownie Hoof drowning her voice in his head. Applejack came into his vision and he stopped for a second to hear her.
"Ah'm guessin' ya'll be having problems with miss Pinkie here," Applejack guessed, jabbing her elbow at Pinkie Pie. "Ooh I hear fun!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, grabbing a new backpack and dashing away, leaving behind the bits.
Her artists split the equal bits, and they strolled into the lounge for employees. "I hear they're serving chocolate beans!" An artist spoke, running into the lounge.
Applejack was already gone by the time Brownie Hoof's backpack was finished. It was a brown roughly textured bag, sealed with an emblem resembling Brownie Hoof's cutie mark. Brownie Hoof payed, and walked out of the store, happy with his new product. A unicorn had magically dried it at the store, so it was good to go.
His first stop was Sugarcube Corner, where he bought a muffin for Fluttershy, staying away from Pinkie Pie.
Brownie Hoof's second stop was a bookstore to buy a book so he had something to do before the couch.
Brownie Hoof's third stop was Fluttershy's cottage to hand her the treat. Luckily the muffin was still hot, and Fluttershy accepted it gratefully, saying, "Oh. Uh, you didn't have to..."
Brownie Hoof was back home as quick as Rainbow Dash could fly. He read his new book, and reread it. It was about animals, specifically reptiles. It was good enough, and Brownie Hoof hit the couch.
Another day passed, and Brownie Hoof hadn't had anything special to do.
Until Princess Celestia, from Canterlot, Brownie Hoof winced, came to town. Brownie Hoof watched from the roof of his house as Princess Celestia spoke with Twilight and her friends.
Princess Celestia made a speech about Twilight and friendship or something, and then everyone around her left. The Princess was flapping her wings toward Brownie Hoof, but then she teleported next to him. Brownie Hood was staring glumly at his hay roof, not able to acknowledge her.
Princess Celestia nudged Brownie Hoof, and he lifted his head to see her. He laid down in allegiance, and stood up again. "
"I understand you've been, as I know, bending the ways of your friendships. I hear you broke one of Fluttershy's strange stares, which almost got me to look away, too. Also, I presume from Applejack that you put some Timberwolves to smoke? Ah, and Applejack tells me you're another fine, how do I say this, Apple-kicker."
Brownie Hoof nodded, and Princess Celestia continued to speak.
"You should feel proud of yourself, young one. I must now go, but you shall continue to do...things. Maybe then you will discover what that strange cutie mark means," Princess Celestia teleported into her ride, and she was off to Canterlot.
Somepony cracked a branch behind him, and a leaf crackled.
"Rainbow!" Applejack whispered, attracting Brownie Hoof's attention.
"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, loudly enough for Brownie Hoof.
"Oh for Celestia's sake get off his roof," Applejack yelled, making Brownie Hoof jump.
Rainbow Dash saw Brownie Hoof and burst into laughter. Brownie Hoof rolled her off the roof and Applejack caught her and set her down to keep laughing.
Brownie Hoof saw that Princess Celestia had left five bits and a ticket to that Gala.
"Greatsz," Brownie Hoof managed to mutter, the bits in his mouth. Brownie Hoof pushed his ticket off the roof and went to get it when he was down the ladder. He rolled away Rainbow Dash and went into his house.
A brownie from the oven and a drink of apple juice later, Brownie Hoof was on his couch and tucking himself to sleep. A long night's nap is what he needed. There would be things to decide for tomorrow and the day after, but for now he could rest in peace.
Like Brownie Hoof planned, the next day was the chaos of going to the store and buying some good fashion that Rarity would approve of.
Of course, to do that, Rarity would have to be there. "Oh dear, that just looks hideous on you! I'm going to teach this artist how to sew... But nevermind that, let us go on our search for your new clothing," Rarity muttered, looking around the fancy store, bringing up new items.
"This one looks absolutely adorable on you!" Rarity stated, moving Brownie Hoof in front of a mirror for the fiftieth time.
"Uh, yeah..." Brownie Hoof replied, Rarity changing the way it looked more than just a couple times.
'It' was a black tuxedo complete with the collar and all. It looked like nothing to Brownie Hoof, too.
"But I may have to make some changes to it at my Boutique. No charge since it's for a special event," Rarity added, going out of Brownie Hoof's way for him to change.
When he was done, Rarity straightened the tuxedo, and sighed. "This is going to be a lot of work, but don't fret, I'll get it done," She muttered, mostly to herself.
"Thanks," Brownie Hoof spoke, leaving the room with Rarity.
"Oh yes, we would like to buy this for whatever the price?" Rarity asked the unicorn pony at the counter, who asked for fifty bits.
Rarity and Brownie Hoof pooled their bits and came up with 50 bits mostly from Rarity. They bought the tuxedo and Rarity brought it home with her. Brownie Hoof could almost hear her saying "Oh, you poor thing," to the tuxedo if he just strained his ear.
At his home Brownie Hoof had absolutely nothing he needed to do. It was sunset, not a good time to sell more brownies. Outside, was a beautiful scenery of cottages and stores lined up and ponies dancing and singing or doing something, occupied. Brownie Hood had nothing to do until then, so he went outside.
Derpy Hooves was carrying a package in circles above him, and Rainbow Dash was sleeping on a rooftop of hay. Applejack was in town with her little sister, Applebloom.
"Howdy sugarcube! This is Applebloom and we've been looking for Pinkie Pie. Have ya'll seen her lately?" Applejack asked, and her sister waved.
"Applejack, me, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle need our cake now!" Applebloom groaned, frowning at Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof saw Pinkie Pie in plain sight. "She's on the err... roof over there?" Brownie Hoof answered, pointing with a hoof.
"Well alrighty, if you say so. Im going to get a ladder now," Applejack told Brownie Hoof, looking at the direction of his hoof. Pinkie Pie was up there, waking up Rainbow Dash.
"Pinkeh Pie!" Applejack yelled, trotting off with Applebloom.
Brownie Hoof went off in a random direction until he encountered a disco. He bought himself a ticket and went inside to hear club music and Vinyl Scratch was playing it. Brownie Hoof had a great time, but not too much fun was had. Just enough to comfort him for a night.
At home Brownie Hoof set himself up for a long day at that Gala. When Brownie Hoof was done he tucked himself into his couch, flipping over the cushions and the blanket again. Brownie Hoof smelled it, and he was going to have to laundry them soon.
A long night Brownie Hoof had, twisting and turning about that Gala thing. Brownie Hoof was thinking about what he would have to do, and the harder Brownie Hoof thought, the less answers he got. What he ended up with was a mystery, and Brownie Hoof was going to have to ask someone to what he thought was you-know-what.
The next day was such a rush it was a daytime nightmare. Rarity had handed Brownie Hoof back the finished product and wished him good luck, he ate another brownie, and his stand was set up. Then all that memory came crashing down during the Gala.
"Shoot," Brownie Hoof muttered, already in the palace where the Gala was taking place. He had just needed more time. That was it, he just needed time. "Why?" He asked the world, staring at the ground. When he looked up, Brownie Hoof was in the garden outside. It was quiet and peaceful, until Fluttershy stomped by, with leaves and twigs in her hair. "
Come to Fluttershy little animals!" She mumbled, the garden animals retreating. "Oh dear," She whispered, stepping closer to the animals.
After an hour of back and forth between Fluttershy and the animals, Brownie Hoof gave up on watching. "Fluttershy, what are you doing?"
Fluttershy, who didn't see Brownie Hoof, jumped and yelled "Eep!" which scared the animals and they hid. "Oh Brownie Hoof, I um, didn't see you there..." Fluttershy whispered, focusing her attention on Brownie Hoof instead of the animals. "Can you um, help me with these animals? I mean, if you want," Fluttershy muttered, talking rapidly to cover up her question.
Brownie Hoof laughed, and agreed to help. His plan was to lure them with food. When Fluttershy told him she had tried that, he corrected himself. "A lot of food," He mumbled, writing it down on a paper. Fluttershy stayed to watch the animals so they didn't get away.
"Howdy Brownie Hoof! Ya here to buy an apple treat?" Applejack asked hopefully, showing off her product.
"Yea," Brownie Hoof answered, putting down half the bits in his tuxedo pockets. "Give me all you got for these bits," He added, looking behind him just to check if Fluttershy had the animals covered. Applejack gave him an apple pie, and Brownie Hoof dashed away to where he came from.
"I wonder what's got him in such a hurry," Applejack muttered, putting away the bits into a large, empty trunk.
"Fluttershy!" Brownie Hoof whispered, searching for Fluttershy.
"Oh, did you bring the food?" Fluttershy mumbled, right behind Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof turned around, nodded, and they went to work.
A few mishaps later, Fluttershy and Brownie Hoof had lured the animals to the bait.
Fluttershy stepped closer to them, and quietly mumbled some things to the animals that Brownie Hoof couldn't hear. Seconds later, Fluttershy was making sure the creatures shared the food, and they were listening. Fluttershy whispered something to her newfound friends, and she flew happily over to Brownie Hoof. "Oh, thank you for making this the best night ever!" She muttered in his ear, enveloping him in a warm hug. Fluttershy went back to her animals to talk and have fun.
Brownie Hoof left the garden to actually go inside the Gala. He was wrong to go in there, and be tortured. Brownie Hoof winced as he watched every other pony dancing with a partner. He was doomed to slump in that corner of the wall and wait.
Luckily after a torturing hour somepony, a mare, came to Brownie Hoof. To his surprise it was Derpy Hooves. At least he though she was heading toward him, because she walked right next to Brownie Hoof. His suspicions were confirmed when she turned to face him. "Do you want to you-know-what?" Derpy Hooves asked, clumsily turning in circles.
Brownie Hoof bit his lower lip, and he acknowledged what she had asked him. The you-know-what part really softened him. Brownie Hoof nodded, and he fixed their arms to adjoin.
Next thing Brownie Hoof knew, he was on the floor, in the position for a slow dance. "Er, this is a slow dance, right?" Brownie Hoof asked, following the cues in the music. Derpy Hooves nodded and took a rose out of nowhere. "It's Derpy time!" She whispered in Brownie Hoof's ear, taking his hoof for a strange out-of-nowhere tango.
An hour later, and Brownie Hoof was exhausted. Same with Derpy Hooves, who brought two drinks of punch. "So what's your name again?" Derpy Hooves questioned, drinking up her share of punch.
"Brownie Hoof. It's Brownie Hoof," Brownie Hoof answered, quickly adding, "But you can call me Brownie alone if you want,"
"I see you have a taste for treats, too, erm, Brownie!" Derpy Hooves spoke, fidgeting in her pockets to find a muffin. She nibbled on it, and had it devoured in a minute.
Brownie Hoof sat there, bored. "I could top that," He absently murmured, loud enough for Derpy Hooves to hear.
"Brownie Hoof, did you just challenge me to a devouring contest?" Derpy Hooves asked, hooves near her hips.
It was close enough for Brownie Hoof, who absently muttered "Yes," to himself.
Minutes later, both Derpy Hooves and Brownie Hoof had plates with their favorite foods on them.
Brownie figured out what happened, but it was too late. "Go!" Derpy Hooves yelled, already starting.
Brownie Hoof was done in two seconds flat, devouring his brownies in two bites.
Derpy Hooves's jaw dropped, with her muffins halfway done. When she fixed herself up, Derpy Hooves politely asked, "How'd you do that?" Almost like nothing had just happened.
Brownie Hoof answered, "I just really like brownies," And shrugged as to prove his point.
Derpy Hooves wasn't going to relax until she had answers. She walked next to Brownie Hoof and turned to barely see his face due to cross-eyes. "How did you do that?" She asked, wobbling Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof felt dizzy, and didn't say a word until his vision came to focus. "I...don't...know." He murmured, putting his hoof on his forehead.
"Tell me!" Derpy Hooves yelled, making Brownie Hoof jump.
"What am I supposed to tell you! I probably just like brownies more than you like muffins!" Brownie Hoof retorted, slamming his hoof on the floor before them.
Derpy Hooves realized that Brownie Hoof might be right, and she laid off a lot more yelling. "Alright, but I have to start training on muffins later," Derpy Hooves spoke, finishing the conversation.
The mares and stallions that were standing before them left to start dancing again, every once in a while giving Derpy Hooves and Brownie Hoof glares.
"What's wrong with them?" Brownie Hoof asked, drinking a fresh cup of punch.
Derpy Hooves shrugged, and answered, "I just don't know what went wrong," While also drinking her share of punch, and a muffin from the snack table.
"Me either," Brownie Hoof agreed, relaxing in his chair. He spotted Rarity acting rudely to a stallion. Whom, was acting just as rudely to her. Brownie Hoof asked Derpy Hooves if he could be away for a second and Derpy Hooves replied with a nod.
"Rarity, what are you doing?" Brownie Hoof asked, surprising the white unicorn, who told him she was running away from 'that monstrosity' and pointed at a stallion.
"His name is Prince Blueblood but he's nothing like a prince!" Rarity muttered, glaring at Prince Blueblood.
"My best night ever is ruined!" Rarity moaned, teleporting her fainting couch under her.
"Um..." Brownie Hoof murmured, patting Rarity's back while she lay on the couch. "Maybe it isn't too late for uh, someone else?" He muttered, looking around for an excuse to leave her.
"You're right," Rarity spoke, formally adjusting her clothes. "I will make this the best night ever if it kills me!" She finished, triumphantly marching off to find a new man.
Brownie Hoof was glad he didn't have to go into bad circumstances, which meant Brownie Hoof would have to dance again. "Phew," He mumbled, going back to his seat with Derpy Hooves.
Brownie Hoof looked at Derpy Hooves's dress for the gala, which he hadn't wanted to look at earlier. Due to the circumstances of being tired, and bored at the same time made him look. Of course, it was decorated with muffins. Brownie Hoof didn't really care about the details, after all he knew it was by Rarity. Absently, he spoke, "D'you want to go outside?"
Derpy Hooves was listening, because after all, wasn't she supposed to respect the stallion that answered her invite? "Uhm, sure," She answered, unknowing that Brownie Hoof hadn't asked her, specifically.
Brownie Hoof wasn't expecting for Derpy Hooves to hear that, so it was hard to relax, again. Brownie Hoof had to lead her outside because he was the one that asked, and then start a friendly conversation. He was in the garden with her, because Fluttershy was gone, somewhere with her befriended animals.
When Brownie Hoof noticed that Derpy Hooves was just as tired as him, he went inside the Gala to get some drinks to keep them awake. The unfortunate part was that part of it could make them dizzy. It also could keep them in a strange spirit of joy, and maybe made them forget things. Like, of course, their pride.
Brownie Hoof took a lead, and asked Derpy Hooves to dance. They danced for about thirty minutes saying nothing, and may or may not have been affected by that drink, because it was half empty. Then Brownie Hoof fetched the bitten rose out of Derpy Hooves's pocket and bit it, while still trying to move in tune.
Derpy Hooves smiled weakly and kept going until they had to stop when the music went off. "That's all you got?" Derpy Hooves asked, confirmed to be affected by the drink after all, or maybe she was just too weak to stop.
Brownie Hoof pulled her into another invisible song, and inevitably they kissed. Under the spell of the drink they danced and showed interest in each other. Brownie Hoof and Derpy Hooves kept at it until they just had to stop.
"Dang, I had a good night," Brownie Hoof spoke, slurring the words, which were still understood.
"Same here," Derpy Hooves mumbled, moving closer.
They shared one last moment of that spell until they had to leave, for the Gala was long over. Derpy Hooves flapped her wings, clumsily flying away, and Brownie Hoof took a train. When they both got home, each muttered under their breath, "What just happened," Before they got to bed, or in Brownie Hoof's case, couch, and leaped into a deep sleep to be awakened to fright the next day.
Author's Note
This never takes long, never.
"I just had the strangest dream." Brownie Hoof muttered under his breath, reaching the clock to stop it from making a racket. He switched it off and rolled off the couch allowing himself to feel the bump of pain. "Maybe I should see Derpy and tell her about this, as a, er, a joke."
As soon as possible, Brownie Hoof found Derpy Hooves outside Sugarcube Corner, practicing how to eat a muffin as fast as she could. Which, to Brownie Hoof, wasn't really that fast. "Hey Derpy!" Brownie Hoof exclaimed, trotting over to her.
Derpy Hooves was taken by surprise and jumped, making her muffin fly through the air and land on her head in perfect condition. After she munched the rest of the delicious muffin masterpiece, she tried to politely reply, "Hi Brownie," leading to a flying crumb mess. Licking her mouth, Derpy Hooves asked, "What's up?"
"I just had the strangest dream about last night at that Gala," Brownie Hoof spoke, adding, "It seems a little hazy, but I can remember seeing you there, too."
"Well, duh. I was there last night, for real, not just a dream." Derpy Hooves interjected, sitting down at a mushroom table.
Brownie Hoof followed, and pulled out a chair for himself. "The last part was particularly interesting. Something about, let's say, the spell of a certain drink." Brownie Hoof wasn't excited about going into details of that certain moment.
Derpy Hooves was nearly clueless. "I don't remember anything from after you took me outside. After that ridiculously long dancing moment." Derpy was putting her front hooves to her forehead, and you could tell she was thinking, hard.
"I'm not quite sure it was a dream, and this was supposed to be a joke. But oh well, we've got nothing quite better to do." Brownie Hoof spoke, concentrating deeply.
Both ponies were lost in thought until Derpy Hooves remembered one key thing. "You don't think it was the-"
"Yea, it was." Brownie Hoof interrupted, a theory nagging against his head.
"So we were-"
"Yep,"
"And what exactly do you think we did?"
"I think you know,"
Both Derpy and Brownie Hoof gagged, but continued on the theory.
"You think we-"
"Heck, we were under a spell,"
"Wait, we did just what?"
"You want an example?"
"Sure, maybe, I dunno."
"All signs point to... Er... yes, I guess." Brownie Hoof finished, taking hold of Derpy's hoof and pulling it towards him. "For the grand finale," He added, using his other hoof to pull Derpy into a kiss, "Is, that." Brownie Hoof broke the kiss, sitting back, relaxed in his seat.
"Wow, that must have been a long night," Derpy spoke, after a long silence.
"You think that was because we were under the spell or was it just a feeling?" Brownie Hoof questioned, leaning forward to stare at Derpy in the eye.
A long, quiet silence was chipping away at their minds, messing with them.
"I'll have to get to that later, but for now let's say, feeling." Derpy ended, honestly looking Brownie Hoof in the eye.
They left the mushroom table in silence, which only allowed real dreams to happen.
"Shoot, it happened again," Brownie Hoof muttered, massaging his forehead. He was standing behind the brownie cart, waiting for customers while also thinking about what Derpy had told him. Why, she just spoke to him straight in the eye saying she loved him. Not straight, but close enough.
"Um, excuse me? I would like to buy a brownie treat for my son. How much?" A pony asked, surprising Brownie Hoof and making him hit his back right hoof on the brownie cart.
"Er, two bits a brownie." Brownie Hoof replied, pulling his injured hoof up and massaging it. The pony passed up two bits, and Brownie Hoof gave her a delectable brownie.
"Mm, this looks good. Thanks!" The pony exclaimed, trotting off on her way.
All through the afternoon, Brownie Hoof earned bits two by two until the noon was over and the sun was setting for the moon. Brownie Hoof had decided to take a walk to Fluttershy's cottage to see how she was doing.
The walk was dark, yet lit with a dim sun and a bright moon. Not a thing was looking busy enough, and everypony was talking, unoccupied.
Brownie Hoof had arrived at Fluttershy's cottage door and knocked. It took a while, but Fluttershy opened the door, tears in her eyes. "Oh, hello Brownie Hoof."
At the state of Fluttershy, Brownie Hoof asked, "What happened to you?"
"I-it's nothing. It's just, poor Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth died today because of an attack." Fluttershy muttered, descending her tone of voice, raising her hoof to wipe a tear away.
"What's that?" Brownie Hoof asked, pointing his ears up and at Fluttershy.
"Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth died," Fluttershy whispered rapidly, not quickly enough.
"Oh, well, maybe I can attend to his funeral, if I'm not too late?" Brownie Hoof questioned, looking around for the poor beaver's grave.
"Oh, well, I was just about to start. You can join if you want," Fluttershy mumbled, happy that Brownie Hoof didn't take her for a fool. She trotted into her house, Brownie Hoof on her trail. Fluttershy locked the door and went out the back, also locking that door. She hovered along a trail, until a dirt pile was under her.
"Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth, even though you were sometimes a bad beaver, you were always a good friend. I know you always shared your dam and your logs with other beavers just like you. Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth, you always were, and will be, a kind, caring beaver." Fluttershy spoke trying not to cry, hovering above the beaver's grave and dropping a flower. Expectantly, she turned toward Brownie Hoof.
"What have I gotten myself into," Brownie Hoof mumbled under his breath, plucking a beautiful daisy and holding it in his hoof while looking down on Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth's grave.
"Mr. Beaverton er, Beaverdam?" Brownie Hoof asked, looking at Fluttershy who was shaking her head, "Mr. Beaverton Beaverwood?" Another shake of the head from Fluttershy was granted in return. "Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth?" Fluttershy smiled and nodded.
"Mr. Beaverton Beaverteeth, I may have not known you well, but from the words Fluttershy spoke, I believe you are a wonderful, gifted animal who had just died too soon. I hope you have a good rest and will come to watch over us someday, even if you aren't perfect." Brownie Hoof spoke, staring down at the grave and dropping the daisy over it.
The two ponies stood still in silence for thirty minutes. Not perfectly, because Brownie Hoof was pawing the ground and digging half the time. Somehow, he kept coming back to his conversation with Derpy earlier in the day. The voice was booming in his head like a drum. It just wasn't subtle, even though he was thinking she was right about 'a feeling'.
"Brownie Hoof, let's go inside my cottage now. I'll prepare a salad and lemonade for us." Fluttershy was whispering, next to Brownie Hoof so he would hear. He shook his head, and agreed to go inside.
"Do you want to talk? About anything?" Fluttershy mumbled, fidgeting with her salad, lemonade still full in the cup next to the food she was eating. Fluttershy was used to silence, but this was awkward. Very, much too awkward for her liking.
Brownie Hoof was shaken out of his thoughts by a fork clanging on his bowl of salad. He heard all Fluttershy had mumbled to break the ice, and was coming up with a topic. The first thing out of his head was, "Derpy?" On complete accident, of course.
"Why, um, sure. I don't know much about her, so why don't you start?" Fluttershy spoke, surprised about the subject. She didn't expect much, but why Derpy Hooves, the mail pony?
Brownie Hoof was snapped out of thought once again to hear exactly what Fluttershy had told him. "Dammit," He muttered, so quietly his nose wouldn't hear him. Brownie Hoof clumsily ate some of his salad, and drinking a little lemonade. The center of attention was currently Brownie Hoof, and at that point he couldn't change the subject.
After trying to speak a lie but to no avail, Brownie Hoof spoke the truth. "Me and Derpy were put in a trance at the Gala last night from those drinks." Brownie Hoof sighed, about to let most of his pride and dignity go. Just by saying a couple of sentences.
Fluttershy gasped, and opened her mouth to speak, but instead shut it to listen.
"Me and Derpy Hooves," Brownie Hoof gulped, "danced, and then k-you know what." Brownie Hoof corrected, speaking slowly, although stuttering, to let the words sink in.
"Today, we had a talk, and the feeling didn't end up being lost."
Fluttershy had her breath taken away, even though she just lost a fellow animal. "Wow, uh, nice story! Can we leave now? I, uh, have to feed my animals!" She flapped her wings and hovered a pony above the ground. Fluttershy was trying to escape, failing.
Brownie Hoof pulled Fluttershy's hanging tail and made her halt and fall to the ground. He put a hoof on her chest, stopping her from getting up. "Do you hate me for what I told you? Are you embarrassed?" Brownie Hoof asked, leaning towards Fluttershy and staring into her eye to find the truth.
"Uh, no. Wait, yes! Maybe? I don't know... Oh, please stop, that's scaring me," Fluttershy whimpered, turning her head so she wouldn't face him.
"Tell me the truth!" Brownie Hoof asked, slightly yelling and stomping his free front hoof on the ground next to Fluttershy.
"Oh, no! Wait, maybe... Yes? Uh, no! Yes, no!"
"Tell me! I know you must be lying!"
"Yes, I, uh, am not?"
"Tell me now!"
"Uh, no I am not!"
Brownie Hoof made Fluttershy faced him and they locked eyes, in an intense contest of the eyes. Brownie Hoof was staring deep into Fluttershy's soul, trying to make her say the truth. Fluttershy was defending, staring only into the pupils of Brownie Hoof's eyes, failing to make a direct contact into the depths of them.
It went longer than any of their other contests, Brownie Hoof and Fluttershy weren't giving up.
Finally, Fluttershy gave up, breaking the contact. She spoke, "Maybe just a little," and sighed, putting her head down, and dragging herself to the couch.
Unsurprised, Brownie Hoof walked over to the couch and sat down next to Fluttershy. "I'm not surprised you think so. I think I understand, so, if you can, don't say anything about the subject?" He pleaded, hoping Fluttershy would understand.
Luckily, Fluttershy understood, from a horrid memory she had about Rainbow Dash. "Oh of course I won't tell, I um, I Pinkie Promise!" Fluttershy did the correct motions, and spoke, "Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Nodding at Brownie Hoof, he repeated, cautiously.
"Oh, good. Thank you tons for understanding. That could've gone worse. Do you know what I mean?" Brownie Hoof exclaimed, breaking the frost between him and Fluttershy.
"I know, of course I know. But still, I may have understood, but just you watch! I bet somepony isn't going to like what you told me." Fluttershy warned, Angel hopping onto her stomach. "Right, Angel?" She quickly added, seeing the white bunny nod, and growl in hunger. "I told you, I have to feed my animals!" Fluttershy finished, dashing off to go feed her animals.
Brownie Hoof took the sudden dash as a sign it was time to leave. Correct he was, as the sky was dark, illuminated by a friendly white moon who was staring down at him.
His dinner was a warm, toasty brownie served with clear water. He quickly lunged at the food gobbling it, and swallowing. The water was only half-drank before Brownie Hoof tossed it in the sink.
After taking a long, warm shower Brownie Hoof snuggled himself into the couch, flipping over the pillows and not using the blanket. "Tomorrow, that's when I'll change these beddings, and then I'll see about Derpy. She can be real-" He was interrupted by abrupt sleep, and off to Dreamland Brownie Hoof went.
When Luna's moon went down for the day, and Celestia raised the sun, Brownie Hoof was awoken by the clock. "I have to change this couch, but first I need more bits. Then I have to talk with Derpy, and finally, I have to start eating real food from the marketplace." He reminded himself, clumsily putting the thoughts in his brain.
With no breakfast, Brownie Hoof set out and set up his stand outside.
When Brownie Hoof was done, Twilight the purple pony caught his eye. She was walking towards him with one of her front hooves, giggling. "You do know that stands are only popular at the marketplace, right? When I say stands, I mean all stands. Vending machines, carts, stands, mostly everything!" She questioned, emphasizing her thoughts by speaking loudly.
When Twilight's words turned to rambling, Brownie Hoof was wheeling his cart to the marketplace. "I guess she was right! This place is a great way to sell my brownies! I'll have enough bits to get my new couch!"
Brownie Hoof's stand was popular that day, for many ponies and stallions came to buy brownies. Brownie Hoof was earning more money than he could handle, which could be small by other standards.
At sunset, a rich colorful group of colors filled the sky. That indicated Brownie Hoof to close down his stand and head over to Quills and Sofas. He still had to buy a couch, and his bits would probably be enough.
"This one is too small, and this one is way too-" Brownie Hoof started, looking around at couches. He hit one and it made him wince. "Bony." Brownie Hoof ended, pacing back and forth the store looking for a good couch he could afford. When a couch was good, Brownie Hoof couldn't afford it.
At last, after what was maybe hours of pacing, Brownie Hoof found a great couch he could afford. It would seat three people comfortably, didn't rock, and had a smooth, furry texture.
The stallion at the counter asked what Brownie Hoof wanted help with, adding in sales while rambling. "Hi, my name is Davenport. How may I help you?"
"Hi, my name is Brownie Hoof. I would like to buy a couch." Brownie Hoof replied, shaking the stallion's hoof.
"Alright then. Show me which couch and I will see if it's on sale. If it is, you pay me back here, sign this form, and then I will ship the couch to your cottage. Sound good?" Davenport explained, pulling the form out of a drawer along with a pen.
Brownie Hoof walked him over to the couch, and it was luckily on sale. There were two of those couches left. Brownie Hoof read the fine print on the form, signed, and payed.
"Thank you for your purchase," Davenport spoke, typing things on his computer. "Business has been going slow without many quills. Alright, your couch should be mailed in a week. I sent a truck from Canterlot's finest couch factories to bring your new couch. Have a good day!" He explained, pressing a final key on his keyboard and turning to Brownie Hoof.
Brownie Hoof happily cantered out of the store, walking around town for Derpy. She was n't in town, so he looked around in the fields around Ponyville. Derpy Hooves was sitting on a bench staring at the table which had a plate with two muffins and a pie. Sitting away from the two was a small plate with a brownie on it. She had been waiting for him.
"Hey Derpy!" Brownie Hoof yelled, trotting toward the bench.
Derpy Hooves looked up, and waved him to the table.
When Brownie Hoof took the opposite bench, Derpy asked, "Is it time we settle the incident?"
Brownie Hoof nodded, and muttered, "Yea, almost forgot about that."
"You didn't even come close," Derpy Hooves guessed, halfway reading his mind.
Brownie Hoof tried not to reveal anymore things, so he focused his eyes on Derpy's forehead, breaking the eye contact. "How does everyone read my mind," He muttered, under his breath.
Derpy Hooves strained her ears to hear Brownie Hoof, and replied, "You must be new here. If you get used to it, maybe it won't be so hard as to hide your feelings."
Brownie Hoof heard her clearly, and focused on making his feelings unclear.
It barely worked, as Derpy saw right through it. She didn't dare say so, as it would most likely hurt. "So, what do you think? About the incident." Derpy Hooves asked, choosing to switch her attention from Brownie Hoof's feelings.
Brownie Hoof coughed, thought some things in his head, and came up with, "Er...I decided on..."
"What?" Derpy Hooves asked, leaning closer and straining her ears. She tried to see his feelings but he covered them up.
"Feeling..." Brownie Hoof whispered under his breath.
"What did you say?" Derpy asked, leaning even closer and straining her ears harder.
"A...feeling..." Brownie Hoof murmured louder, looking into the wheat plants feet away to take his mind off the subject
Derpy Hooves was tired of repeating the same thing. She unexpectedly jumped over the table and pushed Brownie Hoof into the dirt. "I'm asking you one more time. What did you say?" She warned, putting a hoof on Brownie Hoof's body and staring at him sternly.
As Brownie Hoof worked up his courage, he thought back to home. "It would have been better there," Brownie Hoof muttered absently, finally earning his courage.
Gulping, Brownie Hoof spoke, blocking out all sound. "That feeling...you were right." He nearly escaped, Derpy holding him down to counter.
A long silence followed, for Derpy Hooves couldn't find an answer.
"Well then. You found an answer." Derpy Hooves spoke, raising her hoof off Brownie Hoof and rolling her crossed eyes. Looking silly was not some way to describe her at the moment.
Brownie Hoof was going to kill his brain after their conversation with the way it was headed. "Er, yeah." He still had mixed emotions, but it was becoming clear what his intentions were during the incident.
"If you want to settle this now, it's fine with me." Derpy Hooves still had to eat that muffin on the table. She looked at it to block her thoughts, which wasn't working.
"I've had enough of these conversations," Brownie Hoof told Derpy Hooves, making her turn around to face him again. He quickly added, "Let's settle this." While walking around Derpy and to the table.
Derpy Hooves cleared her mind of muffin distractions. She sat opposite of Brownie Hoof at the table, trying to focus. "You told me it was a feeling?"
The conversation was made up of mostly neutral words, sometimes angry, but usually with no hurt. It might have went on for thirty minutes, as the sky was only slightly different.
When the situation cleared up, Brownie Hoof finished off, "Wow." While relaxing far enough to make him fall off the bench.
Derpy Hooves giggled and ate her muffin. She watched Brownie Hoof sit back on his chair, and asked accidentally, "Do you want to go out?" And quickly added, "I mean, just to see how it turns out?"
Brownie Hoof didn't believe what Derpy Hooves just asked. "Come again?"
Derpy Hooves almost neglected Brownie Hoof, but instead repeated, "Do you want to go out to see how it turns out?"
Brownie Hoof had to hold his jaw so it didn't fall out. He agreed to go with some doubt. "Sure."
Even though Derpy Hooves was taken by surprise, she resolved to responding. "Meet me here sometime during the evening tomorrow."
Brownie Hoof shrugged, and walked off thinking about what happened.
By looking at Brownie Hoof, Derpy Hooves could tell she had taken him by storm. It was getting dark, and Derpy still had to go home. She flew home, spinning in midair a bit.
Decisions
The next day, Brownie Hoof awoke in bright yellow strands of hair. "What the-" He started, muffled by the hair. The memories of the previous were perceived in his head, and he sat up to find Derpy Hooves still snoring under him. Brownie Hoof quietly chortled and shook Derpy Hooves awake.
Derpy Hooves awoke under a stallion that was shaking her awake. "Huh? Wha-" She muttered, the events of the previous night appearing in her thoughts. "Oh, uh, hi Brownie Hoof. What's up?" Her eyes were crossed, the effects of not drinking the potion. "Can I have my potion back?"
Brownie Hoof quickly remembered the potion, and replied, "It's been destroyed. You should ask Zecora, or whoever she was, to get you another one. I have some things to do. See you around."
Derpy Hooves understood and flew off, slightly turning the same time Brownie Hoof galloped off.
In town, Brownie Hoof bought a brownie from Sugarcube Corner then rushed home to eat up a big breakfast.
Later when Brownie Hoof was done, he went to the market. Brownie Hoof bought oats and fruits to keep his energy up.
When there was nothing Brownie Hoof needed to do, he trotted to Sweet Apple Acres to meet up with Applejack and have a small conversation. During the trip, he hummed, looking at the nature of spring. There were beautiful blossoming trees when Brownie Hoof passed through the park, same as the scurrying squirrels that passed him by. Brownie Hoof didn't want to, but the thought of Derpy Hooves with him came to mind. Signing, he carried on along a path.
All the thoughts came to an abrupt halt when Brownie Hoof bumped into a tree and fell onto the ground. "Ouch," He mumbled, getting up and going off back toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Somewhere in the sky, a dark grey, fiery maned pegasus laughed on her free day watching a stallion bump into a tree, which later caught fire and she blew it out.
When Brownie Hoof was finally near Sweet Apple Acres, he lingered, enjoying the stillness and tranquility. Brownie Hoof trotted toward the barn, knocking on the door.
Big Macintosh opened the door, looking down on Brownie Hoof. "Howdy, you here for Applejack I suppose?"
Brownie Hoof nodded, and Big Macintosh went inside. "How do they do that?" He wondered, shrugging to see Applejack in front of him.
"Howdy Brownie Hoof!" Applejack greeted, walking out of the doorway to talk to Brownie Hoof outside. She galloped off, and Brownie Hoof followed.
They ended up somewhere near the Everfree Forest, and Applejack sat down. "Tell me if ya'll want to keep going sugarcube."
Brownie Hoof answered, "Sure," and followed Applejack into the Everfree, looking around. Suddenly, he heard a crash followed by crunching leaves.
Applejack was already way ahead of Brownie Hoof. "Rainbow Dash! What are ya doin' here?"
Brownie Hoof took a detour, going around Rainbow Dash and Applejack through the leaves until he found a clearing and galloped to the nearest rock seat. He saw Applejack galloping behind him, and she sat down.
"Phew, Ah'm glad ah got that over with, that kinda surprise coulda stirred up trouble." Applejack spoke, wiping her forehead with her hoof.
Brownie Hoof was surprised by the quiet that followed, and he asked a question absently. "D'you have a special somepony?" It was on accident, for Brownie Hoof shut his mouth knowing the answer would cause trouble.
Applejack was about to lie, but remembered she was the element of Honesty. "Well, ah'll have to say the truth, no I don't. D'you have one?"
Brownie Hoof was toast. The one thing he wouldn't do was run away, and that left only a few options. He chose the right one. "I guess so, even though I didn't ask her to be 'it'."
Applejack was waiting for an answer, and hurried it up. "Well, then who is it? If ya'll don't tell me now, ah'm going to keep bugging you 'till I get the answer."
Brownie Hoof gulped, and responded with a low tone. "You know the mail pony?"
Applejack shrugged it off. After all, he was a friend, and it was rude to gasp, right? "Wow. Ah'd say more, but Ah shouldn't."
Brownie Hoof was glad Applejack didn't take it seriously, or at least she didn't show it. "Thanks for not making me say more,"
"It's no problem sugarcube. Ah'm happy ah don't have to say more, same for ya'll."
Applejack fell back on the rock she was sitting on, and looked up.
Brownie Hoof looked at Applejack laid on her rock, shrugged, and collapsed onto his.
Meanwhile, somewhere up there the gods were having dirty thoughts.
By the time Applejack got up and poked Brownie Hoof, it was sunset. "Ah'm sorry Ah had to do that, but it seems it's mighty past the time we should git home." The sky above was sky blue, but the corners seemed to rise in an orange color.
"Well, you're right anyways. Thanks for waking me. I'll see you later." Brownie Hoof was about to leave, but instead was pulled back by Applejack.
"Hold on there sugarcube." Applejack licked her lips and fidgeted. "Do you think Ah should give Rainbow a chance?"
"Do you mean Rainbow Dash? That pony that chased Rarity with a rain cloud?"
Applejack nodded, shaking her head a bit. "Yea, that one."
"What do you mean by a chance?"
"Ah mean, a date."
With the slightest bit of surprise, Brownie Hoof replied. "I'd guess everypony gets a chance, I mean, I got two!"
Applejack was determined Brownie Hoof was going to say no, and she sighed. "Ah already talked to mah other friends 'bout this, and they told me yes. I guess I'll have to."
Brownie Hoof asked a last question. "Why are you giving her a chance anyways? I mean, you should, but why?"
"Ah found her in a tree muttering my name and Ah bucked her. Then she asked me on a date."
"That's an answer for me. See you later!" Brownie Hoof walked away, leaving Applejack behind.
"What the buck did I just tell him." Applejack muttered, shaking her head and walking in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
Brownie Hoof knocked on the door to Fluttershy's home, and nopony answered. He knocked again, and noticed a paper hung on the door, trembling to the rhythm of the door. It read that Fluttershy wasn't home, so Brownie Hoof shrugged and walked home.
At home, Brownie Hoof saw the familiar grey pegasus, standing next to his door and knocking on a wall. Brownie Hoof snuck up to her, and spoke. "Why're you at my door?"
Derpy Hooves jumped, and flapped her wings to land safely. "I, uh, need to ask you something? Privately?"
Brownie Hoof opened the door to his home, letting Derpy Hooves in. "The best drink I got is milk."
"Gimme some of that." Derpy Hooves muttered, having a cup dropped next to her. Searching for it, Derpy grabbed it and walked to the table, turning slightly.
Brownie Hoof sat down at his two-person table and asked a question. "So, what did you want to tell me?"
Derpy Hooves sipped her milk, and quickly exclaimed something. "A pegasus crashed into me on my mail route and told me to watch where I was going! I told her sorry, but she didn't even care! She just flew off and tackled some birds!"
Brownie Hoof nodded, and asked a question while drinking his milk and wiping it with a handkerchief he found on his counter. "And who was this pegasus?"
"I didn't catch her name, but she is grey and has a fire colored mane and tail!"
"Alright then, if you can find her and get her name, or trick her into coming here, I can probably make her talk."
Derpy shrugged, and thanked Brownie Hoof for his time. "By the way, you're free tonight?"
Brownie Hoof laughed, and replied, finishing his milk. "I'll do the honors. Meet me here tonight."
Derpy left, and Brownie Hoof went upstairs to take a shower.
Brownie Hoof took a warm, relieving shower, and hopped on his couch to nap.
Brownie Hoof woke up to a sequence of knocking and tapping near his door. He opened it, and there was Derpy. Oh great, I have no plans. I'll just take her to that place I've been hearing about. "Hi Derpy, come in. I'll get you a drink and we can talk before we go." Brownie Hoof quickly raced to the kitchen, preparing milk. "Wait here, there's something I need to do." Brownie Hoof put the milk on the table and sped through the back door of his home.
Derpy Hooves shrugged, and sipped her milk. She sat back, falling over and raising a hoof to sit back on her chair.
Brownie Hoof checked the roof of the place, which showed two words in neon lighting. "Shoot, this is Big Al's strip club." He walked over to the next place, not before looking through the window and seeing Big Macintosh. "There, The Singing Mare." Brownie Hoof rushed inside, made a reservation, and dashed to his home.
Derpy Hooves sat on the couch, waiting for Brownie Hoof. "I wonder when he's going to get a new couch."
Brownie Hoof came in through the back door and walked backwards toward the stairs to upstairs. "Hi Derpy Hooves! I was, uh, taking a shower!" He sat down near Derpy Hooves on the couch, coming up with a conversation starter. "Anything happen to you lately?"
Later on, Brownie Hoof stood up and Derpy Hooves followed. "Where are we going?"
Derpy Hooves asked, following Brownie Hoof out the door.
"Somewhere." Brownie Hoof grinned and galloped away, Derpy Hooves behind him.
A lot of buildings passed by, but one caught Derpy's eye because she saw Big Macintosh in there. It was a strip club with neon lighting and dull-looking walls. "I should tell Applejack."
Brownie Hoof halted at the neon lighted, bright place called The Singing Mare. "This is it," He mumbled, walking inside and being greeted by a waiter.
"You are?"
"Brownie Hoof." Brownie Hoof replied to the waiter, who was flipping through a large notepad.
"You're on here, for now. Come on," The waiter spoke, walking ahead to a table in an off side of the karaoke place.
Brownie Hoof looked around for a second, and he saw ponies moving in all directions, and one on stage with headphones on. "She must be listening to music." The only dull looking thing in the room was a hat. "Isn't that Apple-" He was interrupted when the hat was pulled out of view.
Derpy Hooves took her menu in one hoof, and read it aloud, poking Brownie Hoof to read it too. "I'll get some salad and hay fries," She explained to the waiter, drinking the complimentary water she was given.
"I'll get some apple fritters with some of this?" Brownie Hoof asked, pointing at something.
"Ah, that. Okay." The waiter mumbled, leaning to read the menu. "I'll get that ready for you."
Derpy Hooves was watching someone do karaoke on stage, and everyone else with her. Except for Brownie Hoof, who was scanning the crowd.
Every head had either a fedora, some goggles, a plain mane, a hood, or something else. Except for one head. That head was next to a plain maned one, which was colored in a rainbow. Only a few tufts of it was seen by Brownie Hoof, as she was small. Of course, that she was Rainbow Dash, the only rainbow-maned pony around.
Suddenly, a clink of metal and glass signaled the food was at their table. Brownie Hoof returned his gaze to the table, and four plates were passed out equally. Brownie Hoof started nibbling at his food, reaching over to Derpy Hooves and tapping her shoulder.
Derpy Hooves turned around, and saw her food out of the corner of her eye. Not as good as a muffin, she ate it slower. Meaning, not all in a single gulp.
Late in the night, Brownie Hoof and Derpy Hooves were tired. The brown hat was nowhere to be seen, and Brownie Hoof was getting drowsy. Suddenly, a grayish fiery maned pony appeared in sight.
Derpy Hooves immediately saw the grey pony and hid under the table, nowhere near asleep.
The grey pony saw the sleepy Brownie Hoof, and went over to him, boldly speaking. "I dare you to get on the stage and sing."
Brownie Hoof looked at the grey pony, and replied. "Why?"
The mystery pony backed away, and yelled out. "Hey, this stallion is a coward!" Bystanders turned around, looking at the brown pony that was being pointed to.
Just then, Derpy Hooves acted up. She tugged on Brownie Hoof's legs repeatedly, to no answer.
Brownie Hoof shook off Derpy and without thinking, accepted. He stood up and headed toward the stage.
Derpy Hooves gasped after hitting her head on the top of the table. "Oh no. This won't end well."
Brownie Hoof stood on the stage, a random pony tossing him a track. He shoved it into the music player and put on the headphones, listening to the song.
It was jazz, and Brownie Hoof didn't know a lot of that. He muttered the words under his breath, and took off the headphones.
On center stage, every spotlight was turned on him. He didn't care when he saw the laugh on the grey pony's face. "Show time!" Somepony yelled, and the song began.
The spotlights moved, and so did Brownie Hoof. The lights flickered on and off through the song, and slowly but effectively, Brownie Hoof did win over stallions and mares. The latter was of less, when the grey pony held them back.
Brownie Hoof was thinking of nothing but the song, and he didn't know he was about to fall asleep.
Just when the song ended, he collapsed on the stage, and was picked up by two stallions who ended up taking him home with Derpy Hooves by his side. The two stallions tossed him on the couch, put two bits in Derpy's hand, and left.
Derpy Hooves left Brownie Hoof a note, and she left happily.
Certain parts outside of Canterlot were not something to be proud of, nor brag about. Neither were the towns, especially Machine Bump. It was a heated, almost inferno place unless winter came. Machine Bump was situated on a hill under the smothering embrace of Celestia's Sun. Materials were always lying about in the hardest to reach places, and there was no gym or school. It was actually all made just to insult anypony that came by and wasn't rich. The only shops in town were dull, and small. They made you feel like the room was closing in on you. The exception was mansions. Spread out across town, the apparently large houses made anypony who passed by feel bad. The types of ponies who lived there were rich people or poor people who accidentally came across it and decided to stay. Then, they would be forced to stay, or tricked by the rich saying if they stayed for 10 years, the ponies would be paid by thousands. "If you stay, you get paid by us rich, with a thousand of bits for each pony you are with." That was what everypony who was rich had promised, but the time wasn't over yet for anyone who came in the last few years.
Machine Bump never changed, neither did its residents. If, for some reason one such pony did ever find aspirations beyond the day-to-day drudge, they were quickly scorned by the rest. They were a bitter folk who's only enjoyment stemmed from others sharing in their ow inadequacy.
Ponies were either rich or out of the game. Their currency was dust, crushed bits, and it was very hard to get a job.
The architecture was nearly nothing but stores and mansions for until the town ended, not even a hospital. There were not many, but a handful of upside-down bowl shaped homes, made with metal and nails. The only thing they sold were what they called 'petty' gemstones, which gave them the money to keep the town. The gemstones came from somewhere underground, and almost nopony was told of it. The rich liked to keep secrets, and make the poor feel like garbage.
The town never had much of a history, as it was only built by the richest of ponies a few years ago. Machine Bump wasn't the kind of place that saw any outsiders. For all the residents knew, they were forgotten to the rest of ponykind. Barely anyone even had the money to escape on a train. It was inevitable that one day a pony would try to escape and be forced to work in the mines below, or be forced into exile.
The land around the hill of Machine Bump was shadowed and never saw the light, which made it bad for growing crop. The ponies had never eaten their own food, they ate and drank exported food and drinks. The highest point in Machine Bump was a mansion built by a snobby pony who rubbed his money in other's faces.
Brownie Hoof was just a colt when his father was banned from the town of Machine Bump by the Mayor. The Mayor had never treated kindly to anypony. The young colt and his mother, Bella Hoof had shed their tears together until there were no more. From that moment in life, Brownie Hoof knew that his loving mother would be the only one to support and help him.
Brownie Hoof would describe his fellow family as wonderful ponies who seemed to grant his wishes, and always cheer him up. They were like brownies, but much better.
"Brownie, my dear, someday, you will be the one to break free of this evil! I know your father had once been banned, too, but he died shortly after. Besides, it's easier if you're banned. Then we won't have to escape the ponies guarding this town. I know they're mean by rumours." Mrs. Hoof whispered, safe in their metal den. "One day, we will lose the money we have to keep this den, and then you will escape," she murmured, pawing Brownie Hoof's hair. Brownie Hoof eased into a fitful sleep, and so did Mrs. Hoof.
***
Five years later, the young Brownie Hoof was being lectured on how to escape. "I will act as if you tried to escape, and the Mayor will ban you. I will sneak out and hand you your things, and you will leave on a train, detouring the guard ponies." Mrs. Hoof explained, pausing to take a deep breath. "I will stay here, in the hopes my son will find a good home,"
Brownie Hoof was wide-eyed, and really wanted to say "Why ma?" but he couldn't. He hadn't learned how to talk yet, and had to suffer the torture of hearing those words. Brownie Hoof would have to leave the only person he loved in all of Equestria, and then move on, alone. He teared up, and his mother tried to comfort him, which made him cozy and warm, all factors to his sleep.
"Wake up, sleepyhead, it's time to go," Mrs. Hoof murmured, petting Brownie Hoof to wake him.
Brownie Hoof and his mother split up, and the mother quietly stepped to the Mayor's office. She tiptoed on the steps, and opened the door, which creaked.
The mayor turned around in her chair as Brownie Hoof approached her seat.
"Mayor, my son is trying to escape!" Mrs. Hoof exclaimed, bowing to the mayor. In her mind, she was beating out her heart. Letting her colt go was just as hard, maybe harder, than hearing that her husband was banned. It was horrid just to think about, and now it was happening by her own hoof.
"Oh really? Are you not just lying to me?" the Mayor asked, spinning his chair to face the vulnerable mother pony before him. The Mayor was grinning from ear to ear in her head, not knowing that Mrs. Hoof was lying, but yet trying to find the worst thing to do if she was lying. It had to be a masterpiece of torture. It had to be just brilliant.
"Yes, Mayor, I haven't seen him all night." Mrs. Hoof lied, gulping of fear.
"Alright, but if I catch you lying, you're toast," the Mayor spoke, writing Brownie Hoof on the town 'Blacklist'.
Mrs. Hoof, who was shaken up, went outside the Town Hall to breath. She then went back home and fetched her son's backpack, it was worn, but not showing. It was magical just because it was bought, from Canterlot.
Mrs. Hoof snuck outside of the town and gave the backpack to Brownie Hoof, who came to her for one last hug of warmth and comfort that only she could give. When it was shared and there was nothing to shed, Brownie Hoof galloped away, tear stained, onto the brown dirt trail to Canterlot, and it was just a small glint in the distance.
Mrs. Hoof went back inside the metal den, to inevitably be tortured the rest of her life.
Brownie Hoof, on the other hand, was finding ways to survive in the grand city of Canterlot. He went from every door to door, but nobody let him in. Brownie Hoof had to lay down on a broken mattress in an alley, with a stench of cat. Plus, Celestia's Sun still shone above him, making everything sticky.
One day, a poor couple took him in and let him go to school. Those people were Mr. Popsicle and Mrs. Popsicle. They were very sweet ponies who had always wanted a child. Mr. Popsicle was a tall, lean pony who loved children and had a mustache. He was a white pony and had orange hair. Mrs. Popsicle was a caring, chef pony who was white and had green hair.
Years later, Mr. Popsicle and Mrs. Popsicle made a decision that was just like Mrs. Hoof's, it made him shed everything he had in his tear glands a second time. He was very unhappy with the decision, but Brownie Hoof knew it was for a good cause. "Son, we have decided we can't take care of you anymore, because you still aren't old enough for a job." Mrs. Popsicle wept, and embraced Brownie Hoof in a last hug. "W-we just can't afford it anymore, and we're giving you some bits to travel and start a new life," Mrs. Popsicle spoke, bravely finishing her speech. She gave Brownie Hoof his backpack and gave him 10 bits.
"We're sorry," Mr. And Mrs. Popsicle muttered at the same time, and they remorsefully waved him out the door, sadly crying.
Brownie Hoof was waving and crying at the same time. His mixed emotions felt anger, sadness, torture, and confusion. Why did it have to happen again, to him? Why did it even have to happen to him? The main question was always why. Brownie Hoof wished he could do something about it, but it was the way of life. He kicked the dirt, and kicked a pebble, and dropped some tears on the ground that were left over. For a second, he laid on the ground, and looked up, trying to clear his mind to no avail. But he got up and slowly walked to the train station. He wasn't going to waste those bits to not start a third new life. He didn't know why, but at the time it had seemed like a good idea, because usually Brownie Hoof was able to spare at least five years in his new life until travelling again. If he had stayed in Canterlot, Brownie Hoof would be in an alley for a few days. He did not ever want to be in an alley again, no matter what. The countryside was a hard-working place to live, and he wasn't that kind of pony. Brownie Hoof decided to stick to the suburbs, and go to Ponyville.
At the Canterlot Train Station, Brownie Hoof was moping as he looked at the only train available. It cost seven bits, the most he could afford with ten bits.
"One ticket to Ponyville," Brownie Hoof moaned to the ticket vendor.
"Alright, here you go," The ticket vendor replied, passing a ticket to Brownie Hoof for 7 bits in return.
Finding a Job and Applebucking
When his energetic alarm clock woke him again, he did his daily roll off the couch routine. In the mirror, he remembered something he had forgotten. Brownie Hoof needed a job.
Outside his house was for him, a brand new job finder. A hay fries vendor? Nope, and not the water guy again. Cakes and sweets? That would mean extra Pinkie Pie doses. Maybe he could work with Fluttershy. No, that would mean rapid cleaning and feeding. He didn't know how she did it, anyway.
Brownie Hoof had an idea. He brought out a notebook and started running around town asking about work hours and bits per hour. It just went downhill until he caught sight of the brownie truck half into town. It was empty, and just lying there. Brownie Hoof took the boxes and brought them into his house.
Then, he went to the carpenter to craft a stand used for apples.
Finally, he set up a stand next to his house. It was somehow near his friends. Fluttershy's cottage was a gallop away, and he always saw Applejack's stand. Well, at least, when it was there.
"Howdy Brownie Hoof!" Applejack spoke, with the same energy as when she introduced him to Sweet Apple Acres.
Brownie Hoof smiled and nodded. "I've started my own stand with some brownies lying in a truck!" Brownie Hoof excitedly announced.
"Uh, you sure that's a good idea? I don't mean to hurt ya'll but that truck mighta had someone in it," Applejack asked, suspiciously thinking about the truck.
"Oh well," Brownie Hoof shrugged, continuing to clean his stand. Absently, he spoke, "I also broke one of Fluttershy's stares. Is that weird? Because she was shaking me and asking how I did it." He shrugged again, finishing his stand.
"You what?" Applejack was processing what Brownie Hoof just explained and yelled, "How in the hay did you do that? That stare scared even me and Big Mac!" Applejack banged her hooves on the stand. "That...that's impossible! How in Celestia's sake did you do that?"
"It was just a stare, I've been through worse." Brownie Hoof explained, talking about his former home.
"Well, least ya can start over," Applejack spoke, dismissing most of what Brownie Hoof had explained. She finally got over the fact Brownie Hoof ended a Stare and went to work. Then, she remembered something about a rumor. "You and Fluttershy ain't datin', right?" Applejack asked, taking an order from a customer.
"Nah," Brownie Hoof replied, shrugging off the rumor. He saw someone in front of him, and used his wits to ask, "Would you like a cold brownie to cook on a stove?" The person nodded, and Brownie Hoof continued in a salesman voice, all the while checking with Applejack who was giving him thumbs up.
In the end, Brownie Hoof asked for 2 bits a brownie, and his customers obeyed. Luckily, it didn't ruin business for Applejack. She was taking customers, too. Actually, customers went to either his stand or her stand, then the opposite. Both of them got the benefit.
"Today I earned my first bits," Brownie Hoof spoke to Applejack, showing her his 6 bits.
"Heh, well you'll be watching out for tommorow's catch, eh?" Applejack replied, putting down her stand. "I won't be here tommorow, so you get all those buyers," Applejack added, rolling her stand away. "Oh, and meet me at the farm tommorow!" She finished, already gone.
It was near sunset, and Brownie Hoof had to fulfill his needs. He remembered that he had a brownie cart and ate some, took a shower, and went out again to see Fluttershy.
A knock on her door indicated someone was there. Fluttershy opened her door to find Brownie Hoof standing there. "Oh dear, please come in," Fluttershy whispered, stepping aside.
Brownie Hoof had something in his pocket. It was a leftover bit from work, and he gave it to Fluttershy. "Early present," Brownie Hoof explained, and Fluttershy looked up at him.
"Oh, well, uh, thanks." Fluttershy mumbled, going away to stir up a batch of coffee. Fluttershy put in some sugar, and added the coffee into the mugs. She stuck her hoof in one for herself, and balanced the other on one of her wings for Brownie Hoof.
"Thanks," Brownie Hoof groaned, too tired to speak, and drank down the coffee faster than he could say "Hoof!"
Fluttershy giggled because Brownie Hoof had a mustache. Literally, he had a black one.
"Oh, hi guys! We're looking for-" Spike started, barging in the room when Twilight opened the door.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I'm missing a spell that landed on Brownie Hoof's face, or whatever your name is. I'm here to take it off," Twilight Sparkle spoke, initiating a pink spell.
Brownie Hoof's new mustache made a sound and disappeared.
Fluttershy stopped giggling and whispered, "Oh, um... I'm sorry. Wait Twilight!" Fluttershy bounded off, catching up to Twilight. She motioned Twilight back into her cottage.
Brownie Hoof had to stare at Fluttershy again until she gave up. It was going to be a long night.
"Woah! This is exciting!" Spike exclaimed, Twilight using binoculars to see if someone blinked.
An hour later, Spike was out of popcorn. When he turned to Fluttershy, she turned away, and Brownie Hoof stopped staring. "Twilight! Did you see that? Fluttershy just gave up!"
Spike yelled, making Fluttershy jump. An "Eep!" Came from her.
"Wait what?" Twilight asked, looking at Fluttershy. She was either shielding herself from danger or from the staring. Either way, she had looked away. "Well it isn't impossible, but very unlikely. Your lucky I don't have all the instruments I need to test you," Twilight spoke, looking at Brownie Hoof. She and Spike left as the door creaked shut.
"You want to keep talking?" Brownie Hoof asked, and Fluttershy nodded, painfully blinking. "That contest sure took the energy out of me," Brownie Hoof added, Fluttershy agreeing. Brownie Hoof stood up, about to go.
In a hurry to stop Brownie Hoof, Fluttershy was saying, "Please, don't go, I need some company." She also accidentally slapped his flank.
"Ow," Brownie Hoof muttered, feeling his flank.
"Sorry," Fluttershy squeaked, running for a first aid kit.
"No, I'm fine Fluttershy," Brownie Hoof assured, sitting down on a couch near Fluttershy's fireplace. The flames were crackling, the only sound in the silence that Fluttershy and Brownie Hoof were trying to hold. They rested, assured that the fire would still be the only sound in the room.
The next day, Brownie Hoof noticed he was still on the couch in Fluttershy's cottage. He woke her up and thanked her.
"Mhm," Fluttershy mumbled, reaching up to hug Brownie Hoof. Brownie Hoof accepted, and then he trotted off to leave. He snuck off through the weeds until he came to his house. Luckily nobody saw him so they didn't spread another dirty rumor. Brownie Hoof tried to turn on the nozzle to his shower, but it wasn't working.
Then he remembered Rarity had a working shower. Brownie Hoof decided to go to that Boutique and suffer just to get what he needed.
A knock was all it took. "Can I borrow your shower?" Brownie Hoof asked hopeful that she would say yes.
"Do you promise to help me with my new clothing line?" Rarity added, about to swear a promise.
"Sure," Brownie Hoof replied, and the promise was complete. He took a nice, warm shower and helped Rarity with her new clothing. Actually, it was pretty good compared to what Applejack had told him about the clothing.
When Brownie Hoof was done with his help, he thanked Rarity. Then he went back home this time not through the weeds, and set up his stand. Still, nobody saw him.
Brownie Hoof's work was a lazy day, and he earned only two bits for one brownie sold. At least he could still go to Applejack's place.
When Applejack saw Brownie Hoof in the distance as a distinct brown dot, she shooed off her family to their places. When he came up next to her, she exclaimed, "Howdy Brownie! Welcome to the apple orchard! I brought you here because you're an earth pony like us folk and I want to see how you handle apple bucking!"
Applejack was very excited to see how an earth pony did his or her fine work. She had done this with her earth pony friend, and Pinkie Pie had failed miserably. Luckily Pinkie Pie didn't notice. "Ta apple buck, mah friend, you kick a tree with your hind legs like...this!" Applejack explained, apples falling from a tree, falling into the basket. "It's also what you call harvest season, the perfect time for buckin'!" She exclaimed, putting the basket away.
Brownie Hoof steadied himself, and prepared his legs. "C'mon, it isn't that hard," Brownie Hoof mumbled to himself. He kicked at the tree, and a couple of apples fell into the basket. "Good job there, fella!" Applejack cheered, watching as Brownie Hoof bucked all the apples off the tree.
"Ya'll look tired some," Applejack guessed, bringing fresh apple juice to Brownie Hoof. "Try some!" She spoke, handing it to him.
Brownie Hoof nodded, and put his thumbs up while drinking. It was delicious, and he bet it would taste better with some brownies. When Applejack offered another, he put it down to bring home. Then he went to buck some apple trees with Applejack.
Brownie Hoof was surprised how strong Applejack was, to knock all the apples off her trees in one strike. Once, he did it, but the rest of the times it took at least two hits.
When Applejack told him they were done, he went back to fetch his juice. "Ya did good, fellow earth pony," Applejack smiled, patting him on the back. "Maybe I'll invite ya'll again sometime," Applejack exclaimed, offering to take Brownie Hoof home.
Brownie Hoof agreed, but he asked to hide in something. Applejack ended up taking him home in a wheel barrow and covered him when he went home. She left with the wheel barrow leaving Brownie Hoof to think. Think he did, at least after he got a repairman to fix his shower. Then, he could take a shower drifting away in thought.
When the time came, Brownie Hoof got out of the shower, dried off, and tucked himself into the same couch, although with flipped over pillows and no blanket. That's what he called a new bed. A change in his bed.
Author's Note
This is the last chapter I already wrote.
