My Little Pony Champions of Justice

Morning rose in Sweet Apple Acres as Applejack got out of bed with the first glimpse of light giving a big yawn while scratching herself as she headed to the bathroom to freshen up. A splash of cold water to the face and a quick fix up of her mane was all she needed before starting breakfast with Granny Smith after checking on Valiant who was still fast asleep on the couch. It seemed he was sound asleep but the dream he was having said otherwise.

"Wha...where am I?" Valiant awoke to find himself in what appeared to be a cathedral and around him were a group of knights he recognized; The Knights of The Silver Hand. Each knight stood at attention while a priest demonstrated his magic as he summoned an orb of light. A warm feeling began to flow through his body as he stared into the strange light and all this was starting to feel familiar to him but as the light brew brighter his dream faded in an instant.

"BREAKFAAAST!!!"

Valiant had been startled by Applejacks Granny Smith calling the whole family down to the kitchen

"Granny! for cryin' out loud! You heard the doctor Valiant needs his rest!" Applejack scolded her grandmother after hearing him yelp from the living room.

"Aw that boy's had PLENTY of rest. What he needs is some good old fashioned home cooking to get his strength back." Granny said waving a hoof as Apple Bloom and Big Mac trotted into the kitchen with Valiant trailing behind at a slow pace due to the bandages restraining some of his movement and the fact that the wounds he received the other day were still fresh.

"See? What'd I tell ya? Boy's lookin healthy already."

"Thanks misses smith."

"Oh such a gentlecolt. But no need to be so formal youngin now have yerself a seat."

Applejack helped her injured friend to sit before handing out a fresh stack of pancakes with a glass of apple juice and in an instant Valiant began scarfing down his entire plate, while the others stared in shock Granny Smith bursted into laughter patting the young stallion on the back with praise.

"Atta boy! Eat plenty so you can get back on yer feet!" The old mare said slapping him on his back slightly.

"Thanks granny. Well I better get going."

"Going? Going where?"

"Back to Canterlot. Master Hard Hammer is gonna split my head open if I'm not back to help with the orders."

"Hold on there sugar cube!!" Applejack shouted as she tugged him back inside the house by his tail.

"Hey what gives?!?"

"The doc said for you to avoid any form of physical activity! That includes long walks to the train station."

"Look Applejack I appreciate the concern but I'm fine!" Valiant shouted as he rose from the couch only to have Applejack give him a quick poke to his chest making him cringe back in pain while the rest of the family continued to watch.

"What was that for?!?"

"Imagine that happening to you while you were at work. You'd probably end up injuring yourself more, now I understand you wanna get back to doin yer job back in Canterlot but you need to rest first." Applejack insisted as she glared him right in the eye with a stern look.

Valiant could see just how worried she was despite the look of anger on her face. Giving a sigh of defeat he simply flopped back onto the couch making her smile with relief along with Big Mac and Applebloom while Granny Smith walked out to the front porch to relax in her rocking chair just as Applejack joined her.

"Applejack why don't ya let yer siblings handle today's chores?"

"You sure about that Granny?"

"As sure as the grass is green. Besides that boy is almost stubborn as you."

"Hey!!"

Applejack yelled resenting her grannies remark while she giggled saying.

"I said: Almost."

"Well I guess I do owe him for getting rid of that timber wolf and protecting Sweetie Belle...sure why not."

Applejack shrugged heading back into the house before getting a red hot blush on her face.

"You lovebirds behave now. Ehh heh heh heh!!"

"GRANNY!!!"

Being a working mare Applejack never had time to go on dates since it would cut into her work time at the farm along with looking after her little sister and granny for that matter, as she slammed the door shut the now annoyed mare stormed into the living room, crossing her arms as she dropped onto the couch grumbling to herself while Valiant rolled his eyes whistling away.

"Lovebirds. Can you believe her?"

Applejack said to Valiant who seemed scared out of his wits. He had faced many dangerous things with his master back on Azeroth but no amount of training or experience could prepare him for the wrath of an annoyed mare until she said something that surprised him.

"I mean who would even consider going out with me? I mean I'm not pretty like Rarity or Fluttershy I mean heck! I'm more of a tomboy like Rainbow Dash!!!"

That last remark almost made Valiant burst into laughing had he not covered his mouth while Applejack was still ranting.

"Besides who would even consider going out with me? I'm nothing special..." She said as she tilted her hat forward, hiding her face.

"Ah that's not true Applejack I think you're a great pony."

Applejack looked at Valiant rather surprised at what he just said, her friends always told her that she was a great pony but this was coming from somepony she just met only a few days ago.

"Y-you really think so?"

"Well yeah you're beautiful in your own right, you run your own business, you're smart, strong and honest I mean any stallion would be lucky to have you!"

A small blush appeared on the farm ponies face after hearing she was called "Beautiful" no pony had ever said that to her before save for her friends and family.

"Gosh....thanks Valiant." She said with a smile as Valiant walked over to the window overlooking the orchard.

"You know...I was a farm pony once."

"You were?" Applejack asked in surprise.

"Yeah when I was a colt. I lived with my mother Brightmane and my older brother Invincible, we were very happy helping our human partners work the soil and harvest crops and my mother and I were more excited when Invincible was given to the crowned prince of Lordaeron; To serve in the royal army! It was an honor I hoped to share with him when I got older."

Valiant seemed to be so excited recalling the days of his youth but his joy was cut short as his ears drooped down in sadness before he continued.

"But one winter...when I was a few years older we found out he died..."

Applejacks heart sank knowing full well what it was like to lose a family member as a single tear fell from her friends face just before he wiped his eyes dry.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be sugar cube. It's natural to miss the ones we love why there are times when I miss my ma and pa. They were taken from us before Apple Bloom could even remember their faces...sometimes the poor filly cries herself to sleep at night."

Applejack sighed as she showed a photo of her parents. Her father was an earth pony with a brown coat and dark red mane, his cutie mark was an apple tree while her mother had an emerald green coat with a golden mane with an apple tied with a ribbon for a cutie mark, it was clear that Applejack inherited her mothers traits while Big Mac received his fathers and Apple Bloom was a combination of the two.

"She's lucky to have a sister like you Applejack..." Valiant said with a bit of contempt showing he still missed his big brother as he returned to the couch to get some rest while she returned outside to join granny on the porch.

"So? what did you talk about?" Granny Smith asked still rocking in her chair, eyes closed.

"Oh you know. The usual stuff; Home, friends....family."

Applejack took the second rocking chair next to her granny as the two enjoyed the sunset but in her relaxation Applejack couldn't help but think about what Valiant had said. He truly thought that she was a great mare and he even called her beautiful and that is something no stallion had ever said to her before with a straight face and that almost made her heart race until she returned her focus to her siblings returning from the orchard with a full harvest of apples.

"That's it for today y'all! Come on and let's have some dinner."

The End.