Chapter 3: Running

" Here, take this and run, run as far and fast as you can" Mom said.

"But why, what's happening? a 10 year old Burst Steam asked.

"Son there's no time, please just do as we say and we'll see you soon."

"O-Okay, but, do you promise?"Burst Stream said with worry.

"We promise." both Mom and Dad replied.

But he couldn't leave, he wanted to know what was going on. The small part of him that realized he was dreaming told him not to and pleaded for him not to look while trying to stop himself. But, he stayed and hid behind the wall and looked through the peephole he had discovered when they first moved in.

" I hope he'll be okay." Mom said.

" He'll be fine." Dad said to comfort her "And so will we." Just then the door was burst open by two normal enough looking stallions with malicious smiles etched on their faces.

"We've finally found you." one of them said with a rasping hiss in their voice.

"You thought you could hide from usss forever did you." said the other one with a slightly deeper but otherwise identical voice.

"You plans will never work and we've made sure you'll never find it, so I suggest you leave." Dad said with a confident voice.

"Ah but, you ssee, we've gotten a slight alteration to our orders." the first pony said with a new edge in his voice "The thing iss we have permission to kill you and to sstop you from ever...interfering...with our plans...AGAIN!." And with that he and his partner leaped at Mom and Dad.

As the ponies struggled, Burst Stream watched with terror and desperate hope that his parents would win. And, for a moment, it seemed that his parents were getting the upper hand...but then, in an instant much to fast for him to react to, but that would last a lifetime in his mind. A new stallion with acold stare walked into the room and fired 2 shots of green light at his parents, killing them instantly. Burst Stream saw his parent's motionless and breathless bodies and he finally heeded his mother's words, and ran. He ran and he ran and he ran, to Celestia knows where, but it didn't matter to Burst Stream, as long as he got away from that horrible scene and that terrifying stallion with a cold stare.

Present-day burst stream woke up with a jolt and a cold sweat. It had been nine years since that day, but every moment was clear to him in his memories, and his nightmares. He tried to brush the memory away as he got out of the tangle of blankets and bedsheets and got ready for the day as the sun rose on Apple Jack's farm. "G-mornin' mister sleepyhead." Apple Bloom said as she saw Burst Stream walk down the hall to the kitchen where he would have breakfast and start his first day of work on the farm.

"Good morning Apple Bloom" Burst had met briefly with the Apple family before heading off to bed since it was already so late.

"So is it true that you don't have no cutie mark?" Apple Bllom asked.

"Ya, it's true." Burst then turned to show her his blank flank "See?"

"Ah sure do." Apple Jack said, startling Burst and then sending deep tinge of red to his cheeks.

"Oh hi Apple Jack, I didn't see you there." he said averting his gaze so as to hide his embarassment.

"I'ts no big deal." she said as she headed out the door "Come on, it's time to see what you can do."

"Now then, here's how we're gonna see just how good y'all are at apple buckin'." She said in the morning light. " Now ah know y'all are fast, but let's see what ya' can do with a test a strength and endurance." Burst nodded his head. "Ah wantcha to buck these first ten rows a apple trees as fast and as well as ya' can, alright?"

"Alright, by the way, do you have any more buckets?" Burst queried.

"We got plenty in the barn, but what do ya' need all them for?" she replied.

"You'll see." he said with a knowing look in his eyes.

After he had laid all of the buckets under each and every one of his ten long rows of apple trees, he then stepped up to the first one. His first kick was much to light and didn't even knock any apples off the tree. His second kick had too much power in it and left a dent in the tree and knocked the apples off wildly. "Y'all be careful with mah' merchandise ya hear!" she yelled, but he didn't respond. After picking up the apples he stepped over to the next tree and kicked with just the right amount of force that the apples fell right into the buckets. Now that he had figured out how much power he needed he was ready to kick things into high gear. He leaped to the next tree. landing on his forehooves and kicked with one hoof, knocking al the apples off and leaping to the next ree with his forelegs before they had even reached the buckets. He continued in this way, leaping from tree to tree and punching and kicking each one with restrained power and percision, for 10 minutes in which case he was already halfway done. Apple Jack merely sat there, mouth wide open, completely dumbstruck at his overwhelming agility, speed, and power. She was also extremely relieved and felt blesed to have found this stallion who would make the blooming harvest actually manageable. Burst Stream himself was also feeling good for he enjoyed working hard and the physical activity helped push the depressing dream and embarassing moment out of his mind. There was one more pony who was watching this performance who watched from a cloud with a competitive gleam in her eye. Rainbow Dash was wondering how fast this stallion really was, and how awesome it would be to finally have a challenger in Ponyville to test her mighty speed.

After around 30 minutes Burst had bucked each and everyone of the trees in those ten rows and had carried them to the barn. Apple Jack, having gained some of her composure, told Burst that he was definitely hired and that he could stay in the guest room and eat his meals here as long as he kept up work like that. "Now how about y'all take a break and explore the farm a bit while ah get some work done maself and tell everypony the good news." Burst agreed and headed of in the direction of the entrance to get a bearing of where to start. Now what he didn't know was that Twilight Sparkle was also heading to the entrance of Apple Jack's farm. She wanted to ask her about the abundance of apples on the trees and whether or not she was hiding her problems from her friends again. But, when she got to the entrance she was surprised to see that new stallion Burst Stream at the entrance as well, looking like he was figuring out where to go next. Twilight then remembered that Burst had walked off with Apple Jack at the end of the party and she reasoned it made sense to give him a job if she really did need help with the farm. "Hi." Twilight said causing the stallion to jump slightly and turn around to see the mare that had awestruck him with her beauty and stood up for him when he needed it.

"Uh, hi Miss Twilight." he said as he tried to collect himself while being in her presence.

Please, just call me Twilight. So are you here to help Apple Jack?"

"Yeah." he said still a little nervously.

"You know, I don't think we ever formally met." she stated " Hi there I'm Twilight Sparkle, student of Celestia and the town librarian."
"Um, hi I'm Burst Stream general wanderer and current farm worker, I'm pleased to meet you Mi- I mean Twilight."

She giggled slightly at his akward and intentionally odd greeting, which only served to send his heart aflutter as he heard her marvelous laugh. "I've actualy heard a lot about you and your friends' adventures during my travels." "Some of the things you've done really are amazing."

"Well, I could never have done any of that stuff without my friends their to help and support me."

"Of course. So, what brings you here?" he asked hoping she would stay longer.

I'm actually here to see Apple Jack, do you know where she is?"

"Well she's just started working and it may take her a while." Twilght was alittle disheartened at coming here for nothing "But,' she looked up "Apple Jack did say that I could look around the farm, i-if you don't have anything better to do you could show me around since you probably know this place pretty well." Twilight pondered for a moment and then decided "Why not?".

"Sure, I guess I could show you around while I'm waiting for Apple Jack." Burst's brain went "Yes!" as he filled with joy at getting to spend more time with the gorgeous mare.

Author's Note

This one was extra long because Ireally wanted to get to Twilight and Burst's conversation before ending it. This was also a chance to give a little insight into Burst's personal problems, who's chasing after him, and his abilities.

Once again, any and all tips would be apprecited and I would love to here what you think of the story so far.

Next chapter:They..are getting closer.