Make Your Echo Create A Wave

Friends may come and go, a stain on your life's rug;

But lovers are like your friends, needing more than just a hug.

CHAPTER 6: APPLELOOSA

It was a warm winter day in Ponyville. The snow had melted a bit and the chill of the ending winter season was diluted to a great degree. Having eaten a lovely salad Rarity had offered that morning, I headed back toward the field to meet Dash and noticed Twilight and Applejack galloping quickly towards Sweet Apple Acre. I joined the two as we soon got to Applejack's house, not bothering asking what happened. She broke down and teared up as she made her way to the front door. The windows were broken, glass was scattered, and there was alot missing from the house. We heard muffled moans as Big Mac stepped out the door clutching his chest. He was hurt, but nothing serious. The girls were too stunned so I quickly went to him and stabilized Big Mac with my own body for him to lean on and my wing nearest to him which I draped over his back as I helped him off of the porch. Applejack instantly panted as her heart raced.

"We...we woke up half an hour ago...a...and we heard a crash. Big Mac told me to get help. M...Mac...what happened?" Applejack rushed forward and looks at her brother.

"Granny's fine...and...ah took care uh the looters. They were...unicorns. Levitated a bunch ah our stuff into a bag and rammed me against the wall. I was out fer a bit....and when I woke they er gone." He wobbled slowly off the porch and away from me as he sat and groaned. After checking on Granny Smith upstairs and checking for the missing objects, Applejack comes back down.

"Alright everypony" Applejack begins, "...I need help. Twilight, we need to find those blasted looters, so get everypony who will help...Jacob?" She looks at me and gulps lightly. "I know you wanna help, and I wish I could allow you to help, but I need somepony to go to Appleloosa and tell my cousin Braeburn about what happened. We can't give out the apples we always do to help the town now that were in such dire straights. Here is some money, get the fastest ticket there and help him. I know you won't let me down."

"Of...of course, I won't let you down." I felt I should do what she deemed best, but the pit of my stomach churned as I felt the need to comfort and aid my friends. I didn't know Braeburn, and he wasn't the one who got robbed. I know my actions there will have meant something, and I would be helping more there than here, but it didn't seem right. None-the-less, I accepted, and I didn't want to make any bad moves. Before leaving, Twilight handed me a jar of purple, glowing liquid that she secured around my midsection. She told me if any pain arose from the spell to heal my wounds, to sip the liquid and reactivate the magic. I nodded and headed out.

After procuring my ticket in exchange for the small pouch of coins, I headed to Rarity to ask about Appleloosa. Upon arrival, I noticed that she was lazily lounging on a couch. She wasn't asleep, but she might as well have been. She hopped up and hugged me as she begged to be brought up to speed. It...didn't go so well...

                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"AND I WASN'T BROUGHT IN TO HELP!?" She was obviously irritated. "I've been her friend for just as long as Twilight has, and I'm just left out?"

I didn't want to intervene, but I already had by telling her, so I needed to set things right. "Well, it's the same reason Flutter Shy isn't being asked to help, they may work better with just a small group than too many hoofs to order around." She seemed genuinely hurt by this realization, but she did calm down.

Almost in a whine, she utters "But I would have helped." After the comment, she sat her plot back onto the couch. She seemed sad, and I wished I could have comforted her, but I didn't have much time.

"Um...Rarity? Could you tell me what Appleloosa is like? Applejack needs me to help over there for a while until she can give aid to them again. I also don't want to stand out if it's too different, so...if you had any clothes to match the setting I would appreciate it."

It worked. She galloped away with fabric levitating behind her as I heard snips and tumbling. She re-appeared with a black vest and a cowboy-esque hat. She smiled as I glanced at the time. I only had a few minutes, so I gave Rarity a kiss on the cheek, grabbing the clothes and galloped as quickly as I could out and to the station. Arriving barely on time and handing my ticket to the man, I took a seat and tried to relax my mind and figure the plan out. I hoped to be there as little as possible so I could get back in time to resume my lessons with Dash. I didn't like how I had to leave without saying 'goodbye', and the less time away from her meant the more time to make up for the abrupt departure. It was settled, in...out...back to lessons with the lovely Rainbow Dash.

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I arrived shortly before what I assumed was dinner. My black vest had helping me blend in. As I looked around, I noticed the area was much like an old Western movie, filled with ponies with a wild west style of fashion. Exiting the station I was greeted by a cheery pony with emerald colored eyes. He had a tan, almost golden colored coat and a light orange mane and tail with blond highlights. He had a smile that you would only get from achieving a life goal or something, and he just casually used it at my arrival.

"Well howdy partner, I'm Braeburn. Welcome to my lovely town, APPLELOOSA!" He stood on his hind legs and swung his front hoofs like it was a grand, and very special opportunity for me to be there. His smile was unwavering and I felt a strange attraction to him. The only way to describe it was like when I saw Dash for the first time. But instead of wanting to love him, it really just made me want to get to know him. His natural happy personality made it easy for me to imagine being friends with him, and that smile just made me want to hug him. Suddenly, without warning, he dragged me to the middle of the town and began naming off the buildings. It was a regular old western town with a saloon, town hall, and many amenities one would find in any old timey styled infrastructure. He ended the tour with a quick display of the acres and acres of apple trees in a separate plot of desert land at a slightly lower altitude east of the town. He smiled before finishing with "Now how can I help you on this fine evening? We don't get many visitors. Actually, its been a week since we had a visitor, and he didn't stay long."

His expression faded as he looked down. I knew he must have felt lonely, and there weren't many who seemed to bother talking with him during the tour he gave me. He seemed like nothing more than a big sweetie that wanted a friend. I know I wanted to get back with Dash and the others, but his status made me want to rethink my strategy. He wasn't a bad pony at all, he even seemed genuinely exited that I had arrived, so, if for nothing elts, I made up my mind to help for as long as I was needed. "Well, Braeburn" as I said his name his eyes lit up, "Applejack sent me, and..." as I went to finish my sentence he cut me off.

"My dear cuz AJ sent you? Well ain't she just one big sugar cube. What did she need?"

"Well, her home on Sweet Apple Acre was damaged and looted just today, and she sent me here to help in any way until she can recover what was lost and send supplies like she normally does." At this, Braeburn let out a sigh and turned towards the sun, which was beginning to set.

"Dear me, I didn't know big cousin Applejack was in over her head." He faked a smile as he walked to me and put a hoof on my shoulder softly. "But of course you could help. Now...I don't have much family here, so if for nothing elts, this gives me both company and a better way to feed the people in this town. They don't realize it much, but without me workin' the field, these here settler ponies wouldn't last long." He pauses slightly for effect. "But don't let me get you down, your gonna be my house guest after all, and I always treat my house guests well."

                              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Before I can open my mouth, I'm whisked away to a beautiful two story ranch. Its not a big place, but it is very well maintained. Braeburn must have spend alot of time fixing or maintaining this place, because it showed. He opened the door and let me in as he looked back at the retreating sun and sighed, stepping in and closing the door. What confused me was the fact that he flipped a dead bolt and a few catches to secure that door, which was very sturdy to begin with. It should have struck me as unusual, but I abandoned the idea and looked around. There were lights everywhere to brighten up the place, and I could tell they were enchanted by their aura, possibly to stop them from catching anything on fire.

Checking the purple liquid still in the jar around my waist, I went upstairs and noticed the lack of a guest bedroom. This struck me as odd. He is a happy, pleasant pony who always tries to be your friend...but why wouldn't he invest in a second bedroom? What is he hiding? I thought. Again, I decided it was nothing as I descended the stairs and met him preparing dinner, adding in some for me. It was great soup, and surprisingly good on the account of a lack of meat (since ponies are herbivores). He then sat me down in the living room on one of the couches and asked me about my story. I had no reason to hide it, and he already seemed intrigued. I told him everything (spare any mention of my human life,love interests or jabs from Rarity) and by the end he was practically on my lap.

"Your sayin that before a bit under a week ago...you were completely new to your life? You don't know nothin bout your past or family? It explains why the others took such a liking to being your friend." I looked down lightly, about to turn away before I was met with a quick kiss on my cheek. My eyes went wide as I looked over at him. He blinked and looked down, blushing deeply. My mind washed with revelations to my own assumptions. It explained the communities' view towards him, his loneliness, and the fact that he had no place to have guests. He was gay.

It was such a shock that I could only open my mouth in shock. I myself have always looked at life very opportunistic (Bi-sexual), but I never imagined a person, let alone a pony, could be interested in me. I wasn't bad looking, and my pony form reflected that, but the idea that someone of the same sex could have interests in me was never thought of.

Braeburn quickly apologized and galloped upstairs. After a moment of thought, I knew what had to be done. I trotted slowly up the stairs and opened the bedroom door to hear a light sobbing. I walked over to him and sat at the edge of the bed. He was sitting in the middle of it,his face in his front hoofs as he wept lightly, a slight shaking rocking his body. "L...listen...Jacob...If-in ya wanna leave, go on ahead. I've never boon one to stop ya, and I sure didn't wanna make such a mess with myself. Please...forgive me." He lifted his head and looked at me. I was on all fours leaning over his form, my eyes glowing violet in the growing darkness. "P...Please partnah, I know your mad but don't hurt me...I...I won't do it again...I won't..."

His words were cut off by my lips, pressed against his as I kisses him. He tasted like apples as I felt him press deeper. He was just a sweet, affectionate pony who wouldn't hurt anyone. Why should I condemn him for wanting love. Dash never had an interest in me, and I knew I was the only one who was willing to make a move...so I did, in the opposite direction. I ran my hoofs through his orange and blonde hair as I pressed him to his pillow, kissing deep before lifting up and looking into those pistachio colored eyes. "J...Jacob...you...you..." he teared up again as he realized I wasn't going anywhere, and that I wouldn't be mad at him. We were together and he wasn't alone any more. I kissed him again and felt him shift as he spun me to my back and pressed into the kiss. Our tongues collided in my mouth as i wrapped mine around his and sucked on his tongue softly. He let out a moan as he felt me suck and immediately pulled me into a deep hug. "Ah...ah don't wanna go too fast, if you understand. I want this to last, and I want you to stay with me..." I knew things wouldn't last forever, and that I would be eventually leaving Appleloosa eventually, but not now, and not soon. I nodded and felt him squeak in a light, joyful tone, nuzzling his head into my neck as I slid the covers over us and fell asleep.

                               ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning arose like a tidal wave. A light increase in awareness before being hit with a realization. My mind flooded with the images that led to us being together in bed. Instead of freaking out, however, I sighed contemptibly. I wasn't surprised or embarrassed. I did everything with a clear head. Braeburn and I were an unofficial couple, and I couldn't wait to talk to him about it.

Looking over, I noticed Braeburn. He was curled into a ball like a kitten, snoozing away with a smile on his face. As I nudged him awake, he gave a slight yawn before a scared look crossed his face. He bolted up and panted before looking over to me smiling and giving him a look of comfort. Braeburn quickly leaned into me and pressed his face to my form, tearing up. "A...Ah didn't think...you'd stay." He looked up with tears welling in his eyes. I kissed him softly and sat him next to me,looking into him eyes and smiling. "S...so Jacob...are we...together now?" His eyes looked scared again before melting into calmness as I nodded. He bounced up quickly and headed downstairs. I grabbed his vest and brought it down with me, slipping it onto him as I watched him make breakfast. It was great, and gave me more time to stare at him. He told me that the purple neon thing I could do in the dark just made me look more beautiful, which I countered by saying that his blonde highlights do the same with him. We both shared a deep blush and looked down bashfully before we headed out.

He showed me how to kick the apples out of trees, and what to look for in a good apple. I was fully paying attention, but a sight made me curious as I took a few steps away from Braeburn. He turned and followed gasping as we rushed towards the scene. All that was left was a large pool of blood and a pony with two large gaps in his side. They were about this size of a pair of horns as I heard Braeburn gulp loudly.