Blank Flank

Golden Blush entered the town looking around cautiously. She wasn’t afraid, just wary of how the inhabitants of the town would treat her. In every other town and city she had lived in she was constantly teased for her “missing piece”. While making her way through the town she noticed ponies looking her way, warm smiles gracing their faces.  The day was beautiful, the sun high in the sky, a few clouds looking as if they were painted on, a warm breeze swaying the grass and newly blooming flowers.

“Maybe here will be different after all. Everypony seems so nice.” Blush sighed softly as she continued her way through the town, right to the outskirts. Thoughts whirling through her mind. As long as you always wear your cape. Nodding her head as if to encourage herself she soon found herself leaving the town center. Apple trees beginning to come into view, Blush had bought a small cottage just across from the towns orchard. The home soon came into view along with the bit of property with gardening area. The area bringing a smile to her face.

“Everything is just so perfect, Im sure I will find myself here. I just know it!” Trotting over to the cottage, Blush opened the door looking over the interior. The cottage wasn’t very large, though it had a wonderful kitchen for baking, a small sitting area was just to the other side of the kitchen. Down the hallway were two doors, one that led to a bedroom, and the other a bathroom. “I couldn’t have asked for a more lovely place to make my home.” Busying herself with setting everything up she hung her cape, rushing around the home.

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After setting up the multiple rooms to her liking Blush settled herself in the kitchen deciding upon baking. When she opened the fridge she frowned softly. “Not a single fruit...” Shaking her head she turned towards the door, the apple orchard across the dirt road visible. “I’m sure I could probably go buy apples....” Nodding her head she turned away from the large kitchen to head out the door, grabbing her cape before heading out. Walking through the small front yard she made it to the road, crossing cautiously. Once reaching the farm house she paused. Was she really going to just ask to buy apples... that was so unlike herself. Oh Golden Blush, I’m sure they don’t bite. Just knock on the door.. Explain you have no fruit to bake and that you would like to buy apples. Blush took a deep breath to calm her nerves, lifting her hoove up and knocking on the door. She waited a moment before moving to turn. Silly me, it is so close to dinner time they are probably eating. Shaking her head she turned to leave just as the door opened. Turning she saw a orange bodied, yellow maned mare wearing a tan straw hat.

“Well howdy, ah don’t think ah’ve ever seen you round here before?” The mare spoke, a thick country accent accompanying her words. “How may ah help ya out miss...”

“Oh please.... it’s Golden Blush.” Smiling softly Blush felt as if her hearts pounding could be seen from her chest. She had never really talked to many ponies, other than her sister, and parents. “I’m new here, that may be why you have never seen me around.. I just moved in across the road.” Motioning towards the small cottage she glanced back to the mare.

“Well Miss Blush, ah am AppleJack, it’s nice to meet ya.” The orange filly lifted her hoove to shake with Blush. “Why don’t ya come in? We was just about to sit down to dinner, ah would feel mighty bad if ah didn’t invite a newcomer in for food on their first night in Ponyvile.”

“Oh well I don’t know...” Backing up slowly Blush felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment. “I don’t wanna be a bother to you and your family.”  She wasn’t very comfortable around new people, especially when there are ton of them, and by the looks of the farm there were at least a dozen ponies.

“Nonsense Miss Blush.” Walking closer AJ grabbed Blush dragging her in with her. “Take off your cape, and come join us, ah insist.” Turning away from Blush AJ walked over to the door way between living room and kitchen. “Granny we got ourselves a dinner guest, will ya set an extra plate for her?” The mare smiled kindly at Blush motioning her to follow her into the kitchen.

She stood frozen for a moment, if she was going to stay there was no way she was removing her cape. Taking a large breath in she forced herself to calm before stepping forward and following AJ into the kitchen. Surprised at the fact there were only two other ponies sitting around the table. This calmed her nerves further though she couldn’t help but feel the eyes of everypony on the fact she hadn’t removed her cape. “I’m just a little cold, I guess the chill still hasn’t left my body yet..” Attempting to laugh it off she took the empty seat next to a young yellow bodied, fiery red maned filly who kept smiling at her.

“Ah’m AppleBloom, what’s yer name?” The young filly seemed excited for a new pony to be their dinner guest.

“Oh uhm, my name is Golden Blush... I like your name AppleBloom. It is very pretty.” Offering a soft smile she looked around at the rest of the ponies in the room.

“It’s nice to meet ya Golden Blush, this here is Granny Smith, and that over there is ma big brother Big Macintosh, and of course you already know ma sister AppleJack.” Freezing at the mention of a third name she turned to look at the large stallion making his way into the kitchen. His presence made her heart race once more. Not only did he live up to his name of Big, but he was beyond handsome. His crimson body was far larger than any stallion she had ever seen, not that he was overweight. No he was pure muscle, which was easy to tell. His mane matched his siblings orange body. Though it appeared to be unkempt, it suit him. Walking closer her took the seat just across from her, Apple Jack to his left sitting in front of their younger sibling AppleBloom.

“Well it’s nice ta meet ya Golden Blush. I hope ya like apples, cause we eat a whole lot of them here.” The elder pony smiled at her passing over a plate. Filled with food, all of it looking delicious. She would love to learn to cook like this. Maybe I can ask... Pushing the thoughts out of her mind she smiled kindly back to the Elderly pony.

“Thank you Mrs. Smith.” As everyone around her began to chow down on their own food she started to take small bites of her own. “This is amazing, how do you cook like this?”

“Oh please, just call me Granny. Any friend of AJ’s is family.” Granny smiled once more before digging in herself. “Ah could teach ya if you so desire.”

Looking up shocked that she had just said that, let alone Granny offered she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment one more. “Oh that would be amazing, only if ya don’t mind.” By the time the dinner conversation died down, she had finished a good portion of her plate before feeling herself near explosion, though she continued to eat not wanting to seem rude. Everypony had already finished, BigMac had ever gone for seconds, and were now cleaning up the kitchen around her. Finishing shortly after everyone she brought her plate to the sink. “Thank you so much for having me, but I think I should be going now.”

“AppleJack deary will ya bring Golden Blush here to get apples for her baking?” Granny smiled at the two Mares left in the room. “That was yer original reason for coming on over here wasn’t it?” Nodding her head she followed AJ out to the barn to get a basket of apples before heading on home.

Just as she was reaching the road she turned back smiling. “Thank you!”

“No thank you for coming to dinner, don’t be a stranger! and welcome to Ponyville. We hope ya stay!” With that she turned away and walked across the street and up into her cottage just as the sun was setting. Packing away the apples she felt a yawn take her body over.

“I’ll just bake tomorrow.” Glancing out her windows at the sky she nodded. “Yes tomorrow, it looks like it might rain.” Turning away she headed off down the hall climbing into the bed, her head barely hitting the pillow before she fell into a deep slumber filled with wonderful dreams for once.