Warm Welcome
The sky above Ponyville was painted a beautiful array of oranges as a few weather ponies hurried to clear the last of the scheduled clouds away from the setting sun. A train came to a slow stop at Ponyvills local train station where a tired Applejack waited, yawning as she stood in the train. The doors to the passenger car opened and only two ponies exited. An old stallion and a young filly, who walked by Applejack smiling at her as they went on their own marry way. Applejack looked at both doors of the train’s passenger car and raised an eyebrow. “Where in tarnation is he?” She sighed and looked at the train stations clock. “It’s been an hour an’ two trains with still no sight of that stallion. Hope he didn’t miss his train.” Just then Applejack saw a white stallion step out of one of back door to the car. His emerald green eyes were half shut from what Applejack assumed was a lack of interest. His mane was neatly slick backed, which hid the fact that it was longer than it appeared. His short straight edged tail, like his mane, was a golden hay color much like Applejacks.
“Well I’ll be!” said Applejack happy to see the stallion. “If it ain’t my ol’ cousin Script!” The stallion raised a quizzical eyebrow at Applejack. “Hello there Applejack.” said the pony in a tired dull voice, “You certainly look different since we last met.” Applejack smiled tiredly and approached Script for a hug, which he accepted but did not return. “We’ll sugar cube we ain’t seen each other since we were little. An’ even then you spent that family reunion under a tree reading. Applejack took a step back and yawned still doing her best to hide here exhaustion with a smile. “Yes well I suppose I should have expected that you’d be affected by lives most fatal of gifts.” Script and Applejack stared at each other for a few moments, neither really knowing how to continue the awkward conversation, until the whistle from the train broke the silence. “Oh the trains about to leave!” said Applejack free from her exhaustion induced trance. “We should hurry an’ get your bags.” Before Applejack could turn Script raised a hoof. “Don’t worry I didn’t bring anything with me.” Applejack looked at Scripted who adverted his eye’s to avoid her gaze. “You didn’t bring a thing?”
“No” said Script “I had to sell the last of my items to afford the train ticket.”
“The bank took a lot huh?”
“I’d rather not discuss the subject at this time.” Script closed his eyes and Applejack put a hoof on his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. An attempt Script brushed off, literally.
“Well why don’t we head home. C’mon fallow me, it ain’t to far a walk to Sweet Apple Acers but it’ll be dark by the time we get there.” Applejack paused to yawn “An’ I’m plenty tired.” Script nodded and fallowed Applejack as she started to lead the way away from the train station. “Why do you seem so tired Applejack?” asked script with more curiosity than concern. “Long day of work in the fields, getting awfully close to cider season so we’ve been worken’ like ants to make sure everything perfect.”
“Sounds riveting.” Script replied with a thick sarcasm in his voice.
“Oh don’t worry city boy.” said Applejack as she bumped Script with her flank “You’ll get the chance to be just as riveted as I am now.”
“I can’t wait.” said Script sarcastically. He sighed as they neared the end of town, and Applejack glanced at Script with a mixed feeling. She was tired, and could tell pass the thick layer of sarcasm that Script was too. There was a lot she wanted to talk to him about, but knew for a fact that an argument would not be the best way to welcome him to Ponyville. Script noticed applejack staring and she quickly looked forward again. Script noticed but ignored feeling in a somber mood and not wanting to start any new conversations.
It was dark by the time the two had reached Sweet Apple Acers.
The orchards were black, completely void of any light. The path was barely visible in the dim moon light of the crescent moon; however the distant apple family house was well illuminated. “Well looks we made it cousin.” Script glanced at Applejack with the same tired expression he had kept the entire walk there. “You may not be excited to be here Script, and I wish you were here on better circumstances. You’re here though so please at least try to make the most of it. Will ya?” Script didn’t answer. Instead he kept walking next to Applejack silently, his expression still unchanged. Just before they walked onto the porch of the big house Applejack stepped in front of Script, blocking his way. “Script. Please don’t make this difficult. I know you’re going through a lot right now, but at least try to be happy. We are family after all, and part of family is keeping each other happy.”
Once again Script remained silent, and instead of giving into Applejack he simply stepped around her. “Applejack, I’m not going to promise you anything. I apologize if I seem mean or cold and I appreciate your hospitality. However I will make no promises, especially one as improbable as that.” Applejack looked to the ground with disappointment. “I’m sorry.” Said script as he walked by her and entered the house. Applejack fallowed him into the house. Script looked around to see the place was as he remembered.
A long hallway greeted whoever entered the front door. On the left was the door that led to the living room, on the right the door to the kitchen, and along the left wall were the stairs leading to the second floor. At the end of the hall way was the backdoor which was fairly dark due to the lack of light in the back of the house. “You remember where the guest room is?” asked Applejack as she walked into the kitchen turning off the light. “Yes” said Script heading up the stairs before allowing any further conversation. Script walked up to the second floor and looked down the dark halls.
Script looked at the door to the guest room and walked over to it with the same tired stride he had the whole walk there. He slowly opened the door to find that the room was as empty as he expected. The curtains were open and a bright moonlight shin into the room illuminating it just enough for Script to see. He opened the door a little more and took another step into the room. He glanced over to the bed ready to sleep. However he noticed a small filly was fast asleep in the bed, curled under the covers. Script raised an eyebrow then lowered it and stepped out of the room.
“Applebloom.” whispered Script as he walked across the hall to the guest room door. Opening it slowly he peaked his head inside, being sure to glance at the bed before entering. He saw it was empty and entered the guest room. “I guess they turned the other guest room into hers.” Script slowly climbed onto the bed and slowly lay down. “I had forgotten about Applebloom. Almost” Script corrected himself. “I had almost forgotten about Applebloom.” Script allowed his heavy eyelids to shut and within moments he was completely asleep.
Script woke up the next morning to the sounds of knocking. He slowly sat up in the bed, his hair a mess, and stretched his fore-hoofs. “I’m coming, I’m coming.” Said Script slightly aggravated for being waken up before he was ready. He rose from bed and walked to the door, reluctantly opening it. “Yes?” Applejack stood in the hallway fully awake with a sunny smile. “Mournen’ Cousin, we got breakfast down stairs. Big Mac and Grannysmith are already down stairs, an’ there’s a very excited filly dying to meet her older cousin.” Scripts response was to yawn and nod his head.
After making the bed and combing his hair back Script went down stairs to the kitchen where Applejack was serving breakfast. “Sure took your time com’n down here. Have a seat breakfast is on the table.” Applejack gestured towards the empty chair next to Applebloom’s, the only available seat at the table. Script walked over to it and promptly sat down. He then slowly began to eat the slice of fresh apple pie in front of him. The others at the table began eating as well each with a pleasant smile on their faces, except for two, Script who kept the same expressionless face as he slowly ate and Applebloom who had curious look on her face as she stared at Script.
“We’ll does everypony like the apple pie?” asked Grannysmith in the same old but spunky voice Script remembered her having when he was young. “Eyup!” said applejack with a mouth full of apple pie. Applejack simple nodded her head not wanting to stop eating. Script swallowed and smiled slightly “It’s positively delectable.” Said Script through the napkin he was so politely using to wipe his mouth. “We’ll It’s settled!” Grannysmith continued, “Appleblooms first pie was a complet success!”
Hearing her name broke Appleblooms dreamy state, “Oh thanks everypony but I couldn’t have done it without Grannysmith there to help.”
“Oh pony feathers” replied Grannysmith “All I did was get a few thing of the shelf you’re the one who did all the baking.”
“Who knows maybe you’ll get a cutie mark in pie baken’.”
“Ya’ think?! Really?! Maybe I did get my cutie mark and just didn’t notice!” Applebloom then jumped on the table and began to spin around trying to see her flank. As she did she spun she began to knock everything on the table to the floor. “Applebloom!” shouted Applejack in a somewhat agitated tone. “Stop that now!” Applebloom came to an immediate stop, her ears dropping. “Sorry Applejack.” Applejack stood up and glanced around the room till her eyes landed on Script. “Applejack?” asked Applebloom “Why are you making that funny face, ya’ look like you need to use the restroom.” Applebloom turned to see what Applejack and now the others were looking at.
Script’s face was covered in apple pie with only his green eyes visible. Applebloom then burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter that set the other three into just such a fit. Script simply sat there allowing them to finish as he started to wipe his face off with the napkin. “Now look what you did A-Applebloom!” said Applejack still laughing. “You threw breakfast all over your cousin’s face!” The laughing continued for a few moments and Script put the napkin down. “Very funny.” He said with no real emotion to his voice. “Don’t worry cousin.” Said Applejack putting a hoof around Script “We got plenty of apple pie left we can eat then clean up the mess.”
Applebloom done with her fit of laughter made a curious face at Script. “So you’re my cousin?” she said seemingly surprised. “Why yes, did Applejack not tell you I was going to be staying here?”
“She did, I just couldn’t tell if you were somepony else or not.”
“What makes you think I would be somepony elses?”
“Well I’ve never seen anypony in our family with such a white coat and well your cutie mark.”
“My cutie mark?” said Script as he turned to look at his cutie mark “What about my cutie mark?”
“We’ll there’s no apples on it or leaves or trees or anything to do with apples and farming, it’s just some scrolls and a feather.”
Script raised an eyebrow, “So I’m still an Apple, and it’s not a feather it’s a quill.”
Applebloom rolled her eyes “Pfft they’re the same thing.”
Scipt shook his head, “They are only similar in the fact that a feather is turned into a quill.”
Applebloom just looked at script “See same thing.”
Script leaned forward narrowing his eyes, “It is not the same thing!” he slightly raised his voice in annoyance.
Applebloom walked forward and narrowed her eyes at Script “Is to!” raising her volume above Script’s.
Script leaned over the table getting closer to Applebloom, “Is not.”
Applebloom put her nose to Scripts’ and said in a taunting voice, “Is to.” The two stood there unwavering gazes locked on to one another’s until Script sat up straight and closed his eyes. “This is ridiculous, I know I’m right.” He said calmly. “I don’t need to spend my morning arguing with some little filly, especially my little cousin.” Script than got up from the chair and walked away, the noise from his hoof steps going up the stairs to his room.
“Now Applebloom!” started Applejack “Why did you have to go an’ argue with Script like that?!” Applebloom’s ears dropped and she made an innocent face. “But Applejack I was only teasing him!” Applebloom looked up at her older sister still with as innocent of a look as she could make. Grannysmith walked over and scooted a plate of apple pie in between Applebloom and Applejack. “Now don’t you two fret none. Applebloom just doesn’t know Script yet and Script doesn’t know Applebloom.” Grannysmith turned to Applebloom who had ceased her innocent look. “You see dear Scripts never been much of a social sorts. Ever since he was little we’ve had trouble just talking to him.”
Applebloom blinked and looked at Applejack who nodded. “Even when he and his family came here for the family reunion he’d just walk over to the old apple tree and just sit.” Said Applejack, “Only time he’d talk to any of us is if we would walk over to his tree and offer him some thin’ to eat. He’d do it during the whole reunion and nopony could get more than a few words from him.” Big Macintosh nodded adding an eyup at the end. “Well what’s wrong with him?” asked Applebloom, “Does he just not like anypony or somethin’?” The room was silent as the adults all looked at each other expecting an answer from each other. “Well” started Applejack, “I don’t think that that’s the case. Frankly I don’t know, we’ve always assumed it’s just Script being Script. “
Applebloom stared then looked at the doorway that lead to the stair way. “Well no time for dilly dallying.” Said Grannysmith in a spunky voice “We’ve got a mess to clean up and you two” she said motioning towards Big Macintosh and Applejack, “have a lot of chores to do, it’s getting might close to cider season.” The two nodded and exited the house as Grannysmith walked to a broom closet and brought out a broom handing it to Applebloom.
