Mutual Attractions

Chapter 3

It was morning again, and Braeburn felt decidedly better than he had the previous morning. Today, the rooster’s crowing was bearable, and his bed didn’t cling at his mind as much. Pushing himself up, he stretched out his sleep-stiffened limbs, and jumped off of the bed. He straightened his covers, and grabbing his hat and vest, proceeded to the bathroom. After running a comb through his tangled mane and tail, he went downstairs.

He found the three siblings and Granny Smith still eating breakfast. He served himself a bowl of steaming oats, then took a seat on the side of the table between Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. Opposite him, Applejack sat next to Applebloom, who was talking happily about her plans for later in the day. Thankfully, there was no mention nor hint (yet, anyway) of any plans to cook, bake, boil, broil, stew, stir, or otherwise concoct anything of the edible *cough* nature.

“Ya sleep well Brae?” asked Applejack cheerfully, looking across the table at him with an expression that seemed friendly enough.

I hope that means she’s not upset with me about last night. “Yep.” he said. “That bed sure beats sleeping on the train.”

“It certainly does.”

The rest of the meal proceeded in relative quiet, with the exception of an occasional burst of conversation. Once he’d finished, Braeburn cleaned his bowl and put it away. He waited for a moment, then decided he might as well get started on the day’s work. He stepped outside, taking a deep breath of the fresh, cool air. As always, the breeze carried the faint scent of apples upon its invisible currents.

He went to the barn, and pulled open the doors. With great difficulty, he managed to get the wagon outside of the barn. He loaded it up with empty wooden buckets, getting it ready for Big Macintosh to pull out into the orchard. The older two siblings soon joined him, assisting in preparing for the day’s work.

“Yer certainly into it today.” said Applejack. “Ya got out here faster than either of us.”

“Ah feel better than ah did yesterday.” he said, placing the last of the buckets in the wagon.

“That’s nice to hear.” said Applejack, helping Big Mac hitch himself to the wagon. Big Mac nodded in thanks when she’d finished, then started pulling the wagon out into the orchard. He did so without any apparent effort, a demonstration of his untold strength.

“You think we’ll be done by seven?” asked Braeburn, as he and Applejack followed after the red stallion.

“Ah think so.” said Applejack. “There still aren’t many apples that are ready. We may even finish sooner that, maybe five.” She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Ah’m gonna meet up with someone ah met yesterday. Said ah’d be free by then.”

“Who is it?” she grinned smugly. “It’s a mare, isn’t it?”

“Actually-”

“If that’s why ya turned down Rainbow Dash, ya could’ve just said so.” she continued, ignoring his attempt to correct her. “Ah’m just glad yer expandin’ yer horizons.”

Like I ever had the chance to find a mare by myself.

“Where are you taking this mysterious mare?” asked Applejack.

“I don’t know.” said Braeburn. He didn’t even bother trying to tell her who he was really meeting. She’d never give him a chance to get a word edgewise now anyway. And besides, it wasn’t totally a lie. He didn’t actually know where he and Soarin were going to go.

“There’s plenty of fancy restaurants here in Ponyville, if she’s that type. And if she’s a bit more on the casual side, there’s always Sugarcube Corner.”

“Thanks, cous’.” he said. “Ah’ll think on that.” Definitely casual.

“Yer welcome.”

Big Mac brought the wagon to a stop in the middle of a patch of trees, whose apples were definitely ripe, all of them shiny and bright red. The three ponies fell back into the rhythm they’d been in the day before, the work day flowing by.

______________________________________________________________________________

Soarin’s morning wasn’t nearly as pleasant. When he got up, he had to shower and eat as quickly as possible so the team could make it to a press conference at town hall. He was exhausted, having barely slept the previous night. He was to tired to even argue when Spitfire exaggerated his pie cravings as an obsession, in front of a room full of camera ponies and reporters. When that was over, they had just enough time for a short lunch, before heading off to practice for a while at the gorge where they’d done their show.

“Soarin!” shouted Spitfire, startling him. He’d dozed off, and missed his cue to take off. “What is up with you?”

“I’m sorry.” he said, yawning and wiping a line of drool off of his chin. “I couldn’t sleep last night.”

“Well, you’re no use to me if you’re going to be falling asleep during practice. Go and take a nap.”

“Thanks, Spit.” he said, dragging himself into a standing position.

“If you wake up in time, come back and join us, alright?”

“Will do.”

He returned to their hotel, avoiding several news ponies on the way. He flopped down on his bed, and this time, had no problem falling asleep, helped along by sheer exhaustion.

When he woke up, the bedside clock said it was 4 o’clock. He shoved himself upright, stretching out his wings. He felt a good deal better than he had that morning. He forced himself to stand; he might still had time to join in the remainder of the practice.

He flew back to where they’d been practicing, but they were already gone. He flew over Ponyville, looking for something to do with himself. An answer quickly presented itself when he spotted a pegasus with a camera, following him surreptitiously in the distance. Soarin tilted his wings, sending himself into a steep climb. The camera pony followed him, so Soarin slowed, letting them get closer. Then he dove sharply, leaving his follower far behind.

Unfortunately, he dived straight into a whole crowd of camera ponies and reporters. He increased his speed, until he was just a blue streak to a pony standing on the ground. He flew west over Ponyville, desperate to get away.

______________________________________________________________________________

Braeburn was just finishing up on another tree, when he heard a loud thud behind him. He whirled around, to see Soarin, who had just landed at high speeds.

“Hide me!” Soarin panted, looking around frantically.

“In the tree!” said Braeburn, who could now see why Soarin looked so panicked. A large group of camera-wielding pegasi was approaching at high speeds. Soarin flew up into the tree, hiding among the branches. When the pegasi landed, Braeburn had returned to bucking the trees. He was glad that the tree Soarin was hiding in had already been taken care off.

“Have you seen Soarin?” asked the lead pony excitedly.

“Who?” asked Braeburn, not looking at them. He hooked himself up to his cart, and started pulling it towards the next group of trees.

“Soarin. The Wonderbolt.”

“Never heard of him. He some sort of singer?”

“Er… never mind.” Braeburn waited until he was sure they were gone, before returning to the tree where Soarin was hiding. He tapped the trunk lightly with a hoof.

“They’re gone.” he said. “Ya can come down now.”

“Thanks.” said Soarin, dropping down to the ground.

“Yer a bit early.” Braeburn looked up at the sun. “It’s only four-ish.”

“Sorry. Didn’t really think about where I was going.”

“Well, if yer here,” said Braeburn, turning back to his work, “ya might as well hang around. Ah’m almost done anyway.”

“Okay.”

Soarin sat, and watched as Braeburn walked up to the next tree in line. He turned away from it, then with his front hooves firmly planted on the ground, he bucked the tree. It shook, and apples fell from the branches, landing in the buckets placed in a circle around the tree. Braeburn started collecting these, carrying them on his back to the cart. Soarin watched him do this several more times, growing steadily more bored. When it was finally too much, he stood, and started helping Braeburn carry the latest group to the cart.

“Ya don’t need to do that.” said Braeburn. “Ah can handle it.”

“It’s no problem.” said Soarin. “And besides, if I don’t do something, I’ll go insane from boredom.”

Braeburn shrugged, and let him get on with it. When they’d finished with one section, they moved on to the next. They continued for about an hour, until he’d determined that they’d covered enough of the orchard for the day. He pulled his cart back to the barn, parking it alongside the other cart and the large wagon.

“Ah’ll go clean up.” said Braeburn, who was considerably more sweaty than Soarin. “Then we can go into town, get a bite to eat or something.”

“Sounds good.” said Soarin.

Braeburn walked into the farmhouse. As he was headed up the stairs, Applejack appeared at the top.

“Done?” she asked, as he joined her on the landing. “Sorry we left, but Applebloom and her friends were up to something.

“It’s fine.” said Braeburn. “Mah friend’s here a bit early, so I’m gonna clean up real quick then we’ll be off.”

“I’d like to meet her.” Inside his mind, Braeburn sighed exasperatedly.

“Not now. Maybe later.”

She rolled her eyes. “Fine.”

After he’d cleaned up, he rejoined Soarin outside. Soarin nodded in greeting, and by silent agreement they started down the path to the road.

“So, Soarin.” said Braeburn. “What was that you were saying about the Equestria Games last night?”

“Well, you see…”

They walked together down the dirt path. Soarin explained how Spitfire, his co-captain, had convinced Rainbow Dash that he was too injured to compete in the qualifiers. Rainbow Dash had gotten caught up in the ‘coolness’ of competing with her heroes. But when she’d been given a choice between staying with her friends or joining the Cloudsdale team, she’d faked injury. She’d discovered Soarin’s injuries weren’t as bad as they’d been made out to be, and the two of them had confronted Spitfire. In the end, Rainbow Dash stayed with her friends, and Soarin got his spot on the Cloudsdale team back.

“That wasn’t really nice of her.” said Braeburn. “Takin’ Rainbow Dash over you, just ‘cause she’s faster and younger.”

Soarin nodded. “But enough about me. What happened in Appleoosa?”

Braeburn told him about how the settlers and buffalo had fought over the land Appleoosa was built on, specifically the orchard. He explained how, when Applejack had come to visit, bringing an apple tree for the orchard, the buffalo had hijacked the train car carrying it. It had been difficult to get everyone to sit down and talk, but after the buffalo’s chief got a taste of apple pie, they’d come to an agreement. The settlers could stay where they were, as long as a small path was cut through the trees, and the buffalo got a share of the apple harvest. When he’d finished the story, they’d made it to Ponyville.

“What’re ya hankerin’ for?” asked Braeburn.

“I went somewhere last night.” said Soarin. “It’s called… Sugarcube Corner.”

“Sugarcube Corner, eh?” Braeburn looked around, then pointed. “It’s that way.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Inside Sugarcube Corner, delicious smells wafted through the air. The two stallions’ mouths watered in response to the olfactory pleasures they were experiencing. There were several other ponies inside, all of them enjoying delicious desserts of all varieties. As they approached the counter, a pink mare with a ridiculously curly mane popped out from behind it.

“Hey there!” she said happily, wide grin plastered across her muzzle. “What can I get you today?”

“I’d like one of your apple fritters.” said Braeburn, pointing it out.

“I’ll have a slice of your awesome apple pie.” said Soarin. He’d enjoyed the slice from the previous night so much, he found himself wanting more.

“Coming right up!” said Pinkie. “Go ahead and take a seat!”

“Thanks.” They found an empty table, and pulled out their seats. Pinkie came by shortly, carrying their requests.

“That’ll be eight bits, please!”

“Here you go.” said Soarin, handing her the money. She bounced over to the cash register, and deposited the coins inside.

“Ah can pay for myself.” said Braeburn.

“My treat.” said Soarin. “My way of saying thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

They dug hungrily into their food. While Braeburn chewed his fritter carefully, Soarin just gobbled his pie down. Braeburn stared at him, eyebrow raised.

“What?” said Soarin, through a mouthful of pie. “I’m hungry.”

“Ah’ve been working in the orchards all day.” said Braeburn pointedly.

Soarin swallowed before speaking again. “But I’m not as strong as you.”

“Hmm.”

After they’d eaten, they headed back out. They exchanged stories, Braeburn about the early days of Appleoosa, and Soarin about his experiences travelling with the Wonderbolts. As they chatted, the sun grew inexorably closer to the horizon, gathering the twilight colors about itself like blankets.

“Look at the time.” said Braeburn, as they passed the clocktower. “Ah’d better head home.”

“Alright then.” said Soarin. “This was fun. We should do it again.”

“You busy tomorrow?”

“Not really.”

“Same time?”

Soarin grinned. “See you then.”

He watched Braeburn trot off towards Sweet Apple Acres, sighing contentedly. He’d had a good day, and hopefully, he’d be able to sleep better tonight. He made his way back to the hotel, moving quickly in an attempt to avoid drawing attention.

“Where’d you go?” asked Spitfire, as he entered their section of the hotel. “You didn’t come back.”

“I came back.” said Soarin, opening the door to his room. “But you guys were already gone.

“We must’ve just missed each other.” said Spitfire. “We came right back here after we’d finished practicing.”

Soarin grunted in acknowledgment.

“Where’d you go after that?” asked Spitfire.

“I hung out with a friend I made yesterday.”

“What’s their name?”

“Braeburn. Could you go now? I’d like to shower.”

“Sure. Sleep well.”

“I’ll try.”

Spitfire left, and Soarin locked the door behind her. He went to the bathroom, and turned on the water. Once he was satisfied with the temperature, he stepped in. As the hot water washed through his fur and feathers, he grabbed a bottle of shampoo. After squirting some of the clear gel onto his hoof, he lathered up his mane and tail. Rinsing it out, he then repeated the process on his coat. He rinsed one last time, then he shut off the water. He dried off, and stepped back into the main room.

He snuggled under the sheets, clutching the pillows with a hoof. Feeling oddly peaceful, he fell asleep quickly.

______________________________________________________________________________

When Braeburn got back to the farmhouse, he wasn’t surprised that Applejack was waiting for him. No doubt she wants to hear how it went.

“So, how’d it go?”

See?

“Fine.” he said. “But, cous’-”

“Ah really am glad yer finally found yerself a good fillyfriend.” she said, cutting him off as usual. “Ah can’t wait ta meet ‘er.”

“Yeah.” said Braeburn half-heartedly. “Night, cous’.”

“Night, Brae.”

He clambered upstairs, and took a quick shower. Then he retreated to his room, burying himself under the blankets and nuzzling into his pillows. Sleep was soon his.