Thunderspite

Applejack still had her apprehensions about Thunderspite, but he proved to be a hard worker. The three of them worked all afternoon, with Applejack and Thunderspite bucking the trees, and little Apple Bloom picking up the stray apples that occasionally missed the buckets. Eventually, the failing light forced them to call it a day, and they all began to walk back towards the house, with Thunderspite towing the cart with the day's last haul.

“Great job today, Thunderspite, "Applejack said. "I reckon we took a big ol’ bite out of the south field.”

“Yup,” replied Thunderspite.

Apple Bloom giggled. “You sound just like my big brother.” She hopped around the cart as they walked. “He don’t say much, ‘neither. I reckon you two would get along just swell.”

When they reached the barn, they all helped unload the apples. When the cart was empty, Applejack showed Thunderspite where the cart was to be stored for the night, and he went around to the other side of the barn while Applejack and Apple Bloom stacked the buckets next to the house.

“I like him,” Apple Bloom announced definitively.

Applejack was surprised to hear this. “How can you like him? He’s barely said three words to us today. He ain’t exactly the friendliest pony I’ve ever met.”

“Big Macintosh ain’t exactly the talkative type neither, but that don’t mean he’s unfriendly.”

Applejack supposed that was true enough. “Well…then how come he was bein’ so dodgy when we asked him where he was from? And I happen to know for a fact that there ain’t no apple orchards in Canterlot. What was that all about?”

“Just because somepony don’t want to tell you their whole life story don’t mean they’re being dodgy,” Apple Bloom had finished putting away the buckets, and the two sisters started walking back to the house. Apple Bloom jumped atop a log, stood on her hind legs, and walked its length like a tightrope walker. “Seems to me like maybe he’s just sad about something. And if that’s true—” she jumped down from the log and raised her arms, like a gymnast after a dismount. “—then he needs friends more than anypony.”

“Hush now, here he comes.” Thundespite had put the cart away and was walking back towards them.

“Thunderspite!” Apple Bloom called out to him in a singsong. “You wanna have dinner with us?”

“Apple Bloom!” Applejack chided.

“Oh…” Thunderspite looked even more uncomfortable at the idea than Applejack was. “No, thank you. I’ll just take my apples and be on my way, if it’s all the same to you.”

Applejack thought about what Apple Bloom said. She thought that there definitely was a sort of sadness in his demeanor, now that she was looking for it.

Applejack sighed. “Aw, c’mon now. A bag of apples ain’t no kind of dinner. Why don’t y’all come inside and eat dinner with us.”

“Uh…” Thunderspite turned and looked at the sky with longing, then back at the two earth ponies. “…that sounds very nice, actually. Thank you.”

“Yes!” Apple Bloom exclaimed triumphantly, pumping both hooves before running inside to set the table. “You can sit by me, Thunderspite!” she shouted over her shoulder.

“She certainly is…energetic,” said Thunderspite, following Applejack into the house.

“Mister, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

* * *

Thunderspite’s manners were impeccable at dinner. He still didn’t say much, just a few words here and there, and listened patiently while Applejack asked Apple Bloom about her day at school. He seemed to be enjoying the meal immensely, however.

“Mmm,.” Thunderspite closed his eyes as he savored another bite. “This is really, really good. What did you call it again?”

“Apple quinoa,” said Applejack. “Old Apple family recipe.”

“Delicious,” he said, scraping the last of the sauce together into a spoonful.

“Have some more!” Without asking, Apple bloom plopped more of the stuff onto his plate. “We made plenty. And you worked hard today.”

“Thank you,” said Thunderspite, looking genuinely appreciative. Applejack found it hard to engage him the conversation without asking about his past, so she and Apple Bloom carried the bulk of the conversation, with Apple Bloom regaling the latest adventures of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. A few of the stories left Applejack in stitches. Thunderspite seemed entertained as well, in his own way. He mostly stared at his meal, but he could frequently be seen smiling a bit between bites.

After the quinoa, they all had hot apple pie topped with ice cream for dessert. When everyone had had their fill, Thunderspite stood and started doing dishes, without being asked. Before long, they had an efficient chain going, with Thunderspite washing, Apple Bloom rinsing, and Applejack drying and putting away. All the while, the two Apples laughed and told stories, while Thunderspite remained stoic except for the occasional crooked smile.

When the dishes were finally done, Thunderspite began making his way to the door. “Thank you both very much for the meal. I think that’s the best meal I’ve had in a long, long time. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Where you sleepin’ tonight, Thunderspite?” asked Apple Bloom, trotting between him and the door.

“Hmm? Oh, I’ll probably find a cloud someplace.”

“Don’t you get cold?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Oh…it’s fine, really. I don’t mind. I’m used to it.” Applejack saw a slight panic cross his face as Thunderspite realized where the conversation was going. He began to try to edge around Apple Bloom.

“You should stay here for the night! You’ll be a lot more comfortable. And besides…” Apple Bloom opened the door and looked out. “It’s a clear night, there aren’t any clouds around for miles. You’d have to fly all night just to find one.”

Applejack was annoyed that her sister had offered to let him stay without at least consulting with her, but had to admit her sister was right on that point. “She’s right. We need to get an early start in the morning if we’re gonna finish the south field by the end of this week, and we can’t do that if you’re gonna spend all morning just getting back here. You best stay here tonight.”

Thunderspite considered this. To be honest, he would have preferred to sleep in a ditch, or anywhere before he took the Apples up on their hospitality. They were friendly enough, and that was the problem. He found their attempts to get close to him unsettling. But it was indeed a cold and cloudless night, and a warm bed sounded really nice right about then.

“Maybe just for tonight,” he said at last.

“Great!” said Apple Bloom. She grabbed his pack and, with effort, hefted it onto her back, and led Thunderspite to the guest bedroom upstairs.

When they got there, Apple Bloom dropped the pack to the floor, slightly out of breath. She quickly yanked the dust covers from the bed, desk, and a small upholstered chair. “We usually have breakfast around 6. Anything else you need?”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thank you very much, miss," said Thunderspite.

Apple Bloom made a face. “Name’s Apple Bloom, mister. You may as well quit bein’ all formal-like all the time. You’re gonna be stayin’ here a while, after all. Goodnight!” And with that, Apple Bloom trotted out of the room.

“Well I’m not really planning on staying…” he said after her, but she was gone.

Applejack was a bit embarrassed. “Sorry about her,” she said. “Seems like she’s taken quite a shine to you.”

“I really don’t know how to thank you for your hospitality…Applejack.” He nearly called her “ma’am” again, but caught himself.

“Aw shoot. T’weren’t nothin’. Well, g’night then. I’ll be seein’ you bright and early," she said, moving to the door.

“Goodnight,” said Thunderspite.

Applejack closed the door and began to walk down the hall, to where she and Apple Bloom’s rooms were. “That girl…” she muttered to herself. Pushing Apple Bloom’s door open, she found the young filly jumping on the bed.

“Dagnabit, Apple Bloom,” said Applejack, putting on her stern-big-sister voice. “I would appreciate a little prior consultation before you go renting out our house!”

“He’s not renting, silly!” said Apple Bloom, swinging around the bed posts. “We’re paying him, remember?”

“Er… what?” Applejack shook her head. “That ain’t the point. The point is, you can’t go around invitin’ ponies we only just met into our home.”

Apple Bloom stopped jumping on the bed and stared at her sister. “Applejack, I am surprised at you,” she said, putting on a stern voice of her own. “Would you really let a nice pony like Thunderspite sleep out on the ground someplace? Just because he’s just a farmhand don’t mean he don’t deserve a roof over his head.”

“Well, uh… dangit.” The little twerp is right, she thought to herself. “Well, I just think we should discuss big decisions like this in the future.”

“If I had asked you—” Apple Bloom jumped high on the bed, flipped forward, and landed perfectly on her rear hooves. “—you would have said no.”

“Why you little so and so… go brush your teeth!” Applejack feigned a smack as Apple Bloom laughed and scurried down the hall.