Author's Note

This is my last post on this story for a while because of my summer job and limited access to the internet but I will try to post at least every two weeks. Also sorry if the end seems rushed but I wanted to finish this before I left. Once again I am still looking for an editor.

Chapter 3

Broken Shell woke up early in the morning and sighed. “Ugh what time does that flyer say I need to be there?” He mumbled and looked at the sheet then the time. “Well I have an hour so I guess I shouldn’t go to sleep.” He got up and walked over to his dresser pulling out a long sleeved black shirt and a pair of jeans. Walking over to a mirror he combed his hair making sure it was covering his cheek before pulling on his beanie and walking out of his room.

Broken put in his earbuds and walked out of his house heading in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. He looked around as he walked slowly down the street. “There is the school I guess.” He waved at the magenta mare with the two tone pink hair that was walking into the school before looking around again. “Ugh this town is so small how is the farm this far away.”

He yawned as he stepped onto the dirt road leading to the ragged looking farm house. "Hmm I guess this is the place." He looked around at all the apple trees and yawned. "I guess I'm early." He thought as he turned his head. He heard somepony walk out of the front door. His eyes widened when he looked at the large red earth stallion with a red flannel shirt and jeans. He walked over and looked at him. "Hey I take it you are the pony I need to talk to for a job?"

The red stallion looked at him. "Eeyup. You'll be helping mah sister Applejack." He looked him over. "You sure you can do do this? It's hard work. Lotta heavy lifting."

Broken Shell smirked and walked over to a large empty cart and lifted the side of it grunting slightly. "Is that good?"

The stallion nodded and pulled a piece of grass out of the ground and put it in his mouth. "Ah reckon so. You can go inside, Granny is in the kitchen if you’re hungry." He walked to the barn and pulled out a large cart of apples and started down the road.

Broken Shell smiled and walked into the house looking at an elderly mare sitting at the table. "Hello there, the stallion said I could come in. I’m here for the job."

The mare looked at him. "Ah reckon you convinced that grandson of mine then. You'll have a few minutes before Applejack wakes up since she didn't have to get Apple Bloom ready for school. A’m Granny Smith by the way."

Broken Shell nodded and sat down across from her. "I'm Broken Shell. It is nice to meet you." He smiled another one of his fake smiles at her.

Granny Smith's eyes narrowed. "Ah may not be no element o' honesty but ah can tell when I see a fake smile. Ah can tell something ain't right in your life but ah ain't gonna ask bout it as long as y'all work well. Ah can tell you're not a threat."

Broken Shell chuckled. "And I should have known not to try and fake someone who has been around for all of your years." He looked at her. "Thank you for not asking though and I promise I am not a threat to you or your family."

Granny smith nodded. "Well ah guess ah should make some breakfast. I'm sure Applejack will be hungry and y'all look like you haven't ate fer ah week."

Broken She shrugged. "I don't know I can't seem to put on a lot of weight." He moved his hair making sure it covered the stripes oh his cheeks. "So I take it that breakfast will be made mostly of apples?"

Granny Smith nodded. "Ya know it. Unless ya don't like apples ah can whip up a quick breakfast fer ya."

Broken Shell shook his head. "No it is fine. I have heard about this farm's apples some of the best they say. Of course growing up I learned not to complain about where a meal was coming from."

Granny nodded. "Good." She started to move around the kitchen with a speed of a mare a quarter of her age grabbing things and using utensils.

Broken Shell turned to the stairs as he heard a pony walking down. The orange mare had on a plaid shirt and a pair of jeans with a Stetson hat on. She looked at him. "Oh hello ma'am ah didn't know we had company."

Broken Shell chuckled softly hearing it for the hundredth time. "It is fine and yes before you ask I am a stallion I just like long hair." He turned back to look at the elderly mare who was walking to the table with a large stack of what he assumed where apple pancakes.

The orange mare sat down by him. “So uh I'm Applejack, ah guess you are the one who is here to help with the farm work?” She put some of the pancakes on her plate and started to eat them slowly.

Broken Shell nodded. “Yes I am.” He took a few pancakes and poured some syrup onto them. “I just need to make some money so I can pay my rent for the time I'm here.”

Applejack nodded. “How long are ya here for? I haven’t seen ya around town before.”

Broken Shell nodded. “I got here yesterday afternoon, as for how long I am here for I don’t really know. I'm waiting for a friend of mine to come and see me.” He took a bite of one of his pancakes. “Oh my this is one of the best things I have ever tasted.”

Granny Smith smiled. “Thank ya, ah have been cooking since befer you were born.”

Applejack nodded. “Yep Granny here is the best cook in all of ponyville. Why ah reckon she could beat all them fancy canterlot cooks.”

Broken Shell nodded. “Trust me I have traveled a lot of places and this is up in the top five of the best things I have ever eaten.” He finished the rest of his stack fast before looking at the two mares.

Applejack finished and looked at him. “Well lets go.” She smiled at her grandmother before walking out of the farm house.

Broken Shell smiled at the old mare. “Thank you for the meal.” He got up and followed behind Applejack as she explained what she needed him to do over the day.

Broken Shell walked down the street next to Applejack who had insisted on walking with him to his temporary house. He stopped in front of his house. “Well this is the place. I guess Octavia and Vinyl are gone.” He pulled out the key Vinyl had given him the night before and unlocked the door. He opened it and the lights turned on as he did and he heard what must have been half the town yell surprise including one pink earth pony mare who came up from under his beanie sending it across the room and his hair flew back showing his stripes oh his cheeks.