Author's Note

Here you go lads. Another chapter done and in good quick fashion as well.

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The day was slowly dying with the sunset fading into the horizon. Walking to the orchard, Prey wanted to see Applejack one more time before the day’s end. With some time walking through the town, he arrived at Sweet Apple Acres.

Arriving at the entrance, he looked around to see if Applejack was anywhere to be found. Unfortunately she was nowhere to be found, but he figured she would be in her house. He walked up to the front door and knocked on the door.

He waited patiently as the door opened with Applejack at the door. She gave Prey a confused looked, but smiled. “Well evenin’ Prey. What’re you doin’ here?”

“Well...I came here to talk to you Applejack. I just needed some advice.”

Applejack smiled and opened the door fully. “C’mon in Prey. We can talk after supper.”

Prey smiled and walked inside. “As you wish Applejack.” He said as the two of them giggled. Applejack lightly punched him on the arm for that little joke.

Prey entered the dining room to catch Applebloom setting up silverware on the table. “Hello Applebloom.” Prey said surprising Applebloom.

Applebloom dropped the silverware on the table and ran over to Prey. “Wah hi Prey!” She exclaimed hugging Prey around his waist. “What’re ya doin here? I thought you were off today.”

Prey smiled and rubbed his head on the top of Applebloom’s hair with his hand. “I did Applebloom, but I came here to talk to your sister privately.”

“Talk privately? About what?”

Prey closed his eyes, smiling sheepishly. “Anoo…..well it is private Applebloom. I cannot talk about it with you. You are too young.”

Applebloom’s ears drooped along with her eyes tearing and her lips quivering. “Pleaaaassee?” She begged, hoping to know what Prey and her big sister were going to talk about.

Prey simply shook his head. “Gomenesai Applebloom. I cannot.” (I am sorry)

Defeated, Applebloom pouted and resumed her chore of setting the silverware. “Oohh alright. Oh wait, Prey are you joining us for supper?”

“Yes, he is.” Said Applejack coming into the kitchen from around the corner. “He just wanted to talk but I ordered him to have supper with us.” She said with a smirk.

“Great! I’ll set up another plate for you Prey.”

Prey gave Applejack a smirk, who in turn smirked back. “You know you did not have to do that for me master.” He said modestly.

“Ah know that sugarcube. But you are my coltfriend y’know that? You’re almost family.”

“Family…..right.” Hearing the word family was unsettling for Prey. His expression changed to a sarcastic joyous one. Applejack noticed hi expression change immediately and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“You doin alright sugarcube?”

“Yes….and no. I have a heavy decision on my mind and I just wanted to talk to you to gain some insight or advice.” Prey then felt a kiss on his cheek, he flared and felt the warmness of Applejack’s lips on his chitin cheek.

Applejack grinned at Prey. “That good enough sugarcube?”

Prey felt his cheek and could still feel the warmth of the kiss. He smiled and looked at her. “It is something.”

“Good boy, now c’mon and help us get ready for supper. Big Mac’s commin back from the east field, Granny Smith is washin up, and Ah need to get Winona’s food from the barn. Can you help Applebloom set up the table?”

Prey nodded. “Of course Applejack.”

“Thank you Prey. Ah’ll see ya in a bit.” Applejack said walked off outside.

Prey waved to Applejack in small farewell, knowing he would see her momentarily. He turned around to assist Applebloom, and saw that her assistance was already needed. He saw her tipping her toes upwards trying to reach for a cabinet above her. Her hand was reaching out for the handle but she could not reach it.

Prey couldn’t help but chuckle at her struggle and used his magic to open the cabinet door. “What do you need Applebloom?”

“Ah need to get the apple syrup from the cabinet. It’s a big brown bottle.”

Pey looked inside the cabinet and found the bottle she had described. He took the bottle and gave it to Applebloom. “Here you go Applebloom.”

“Thanks Prey!” He placed the bottle of syrup on the table. “Y’know….can I tell you something Prey?”

“Go ahead Applebloom.”

Applebloom put the tips of her index fingers together. She looked away from Prey, biting the bottom of her lips a little bit. She walked to Prey and looked up at him. “Please kneel down.” Prey was a bit confused but complied and knelt down to her level. She then wrapped her arms around Prey, embracing him in a soft and passionate hug. “This is a little hard for me to say this, but I’m glad you’re in our life. You’ve protected us, helped us, and made me feel safer.”

Prey could feel more warmth from her hug. In fact, he could feel traces of ‘honor’ mixed with feelings of love pass through his body. He hugged her back making her squeeze tighter. “Thank you Applebloom. That means a lot.”

After dinner, which consisted of eating breakfast for dinner instead of breakfast in the morning, Prey and Applejack walked upstairs, heading into Applejack’s room. They both sat down on her bed, Prey had his hands together, looking down at his hands. His sin committing hands, still visible with transparent blood. “So….what did you want to talk about Prey?”

He sighed, and looked her straight in the eyes. “Today I trained a new pupil of mine. Before you ask, it is Sergeant Razor from the changeling kingdom. I am training him and he is doing okay, but that is besides the point. After I had finished his session today, I was summoned to Twilight’s castle and I had been introduced to Princesses Luna and Celestia.”

“You met the princesses? How’d that go?”

“It went well. I had lunch with them, I told them what I do. Who I am with,” He said smugly, placing a hand on Applejack’s hand which made her giggle a little bit. “And overall having good conversations with them.”

“Alright, so…. so far so good right?”

“Hai. But, things changed when Princesses Luna and Celestia wanted to see a fully armored samurai. It was no problem, and after a moment of dressing in my room, I came back only to find the general of the royal guard. He seemed okay, strong, honest, and decently mannered. But then he wanted to fight, I refused and Twilight did not want me to fight.”

“Well Ah mean Ah can see that. I wouldn’t want you to fight neither. It ain’t always the answer.”

“Hai. But then the general questioned my loyalty to Twilight. I had told him of my oath to her, you, and your friends. I had also told them the meaning of samurai, and revealed more culture of the samurais’ past. Culture that I must follow.”

“Alright then...and then things started to go down right.”

“Hai….unfortunately. Then, I mentioned what it feels like to dishonor someone. I described for them as asked, and soon the memories came back.”

“The ones about the ponies?”

A small tear was forming on in Prey’s eyes. Applejack leaned in and brought him into an embrace. “Hai….” He said lowly. “Those memories caused me to lash out at the general, showing aggression and disrespect. I was glad that Twilight understood and sent me off with no dishonour.”

“Glad Twilight understood.”

“Hai. I am glad too. After that little stunt, Princess Luna herself wanted to talk to me privately. So we talked with some alcohol on the side. I shared her my guilt and struggles, and she understood by sharing her past as Nightmare Moon. But she told me how to recover, or at least find closure. She told me to directly face my fears, or in this case, face what is causing my guilt.”

“So what will you face Prey?”

“I want to find out the names of ponies whom are related to the ones I killed. If I find those names, and the families of that family, then I want them to judge me. Or face them in any way possible.”

Applejack patted him on the back, along with a few comforting rubs. “Ah’m not gonna lie Prey. That’s very admirable that you wanna do somethin like that. And frankly, Ah’m worried if you can handle it.”

“I would like to believe I can. I must face all challenges with bravery. But I must ask you Applejack. Do you think it’s a good idea? For me to be facing the families of those whom I had murdered in cold blood.”

A moment of silence was between the two for Applejack to think. “Prey. Ah believe it will be a good idea. Although it isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Heck, it might be the hardest thing you might face, and nothin in life is easy. But Ah believe this is best for you because I can see how painful rememberin’ the past can be.”

“How so Applejack?”

Applejack took off her hat. “Remember when you first admitted your sins and we all shared some bad thing we did in the past?” Prey nodded. Applejack kept looking at her hat, gently rubbing her hands across the old stetson. “Theres a pony in mah family that made a pretty bad mistake as well. You see a long time ago before myself, Applebloom, and Big Bac were born, mah family were in a feud with a another farm called the Pears.”

“Pears...I believe those are spiritually the opposite of apples.”

“Yup, so back then when the family was havin a feud with the Pears, Granny Smith was runnin the show of the Apple family. Mah pa, Bright Mac, was a born Apple, while mah ma, Pear Butter was a Pear.”

“Your mother was a Pear?”

“Eeyup. So, long story short those two fell in love. Fighting many obstacles like Granny smith and Pear Butter’s dad, Grand Pear. So in retaliation against the feud, mah ma and pa married, to try and have the two families become one. Grand Pear was furious because of this and moved away, leaving his only child behind. Practically disowning her.”

Prey was shocked. He did not know how to respond to abandonment. “So he left, how did your mother react to this?”

“At first she was devastated. Her family leaving her like that. But in time, she healed and accepted her position. But unlike Grand Pear….he held that grudge for so long. Too long.” Applejack stopped herself, taking a deep breath to tell Grand Pear’s side of the story.

“My mah would send letters frequently. She would tell them how happy she was and how much she would still want all of us to be a family. By the time Applebloom was born, was the last letter she sent to Grand Pear, or anypony at all. And then she disappeared, along with mah pa.”

“What happened to them?”

“Nopony knows. But all we know is that they’re gone.”

“I am sorry for your loss Applejack.”

“Thank you kindly Prey. Now back to the story. Mah ma sent so many letters to Grand Pear before she disappeared. With the last one being sent when Apple Bloom was born, that was about ten years ago. Do you know when Grand Pear finally started reading her letters? He started reading them last year….reading through so many years of happiness he passed up on.”

“So….that means…”

“He missed out on having a family. It wasn’t until a few months ago he finally came back to Ponyville. After nearly twenty five years of leaving my ma. He regretted so many things, only because he did not face his problem sooner than he should have. With that, the consequences were deep for him. He remembered mah ma’s face, and the acts he committed separating himself from his family.”

“Painful memories I assume.”

“Exactly, he remember her sweet face. But that was too painful because of the last face he saw about her. Was a painful one he caused. It wasn’t only until recently he came back to make amends with not only Granny Smith, but us, his grandchildren. He faced us directly...trying to at least find closure for his daughter’s disappearance. He did, finding her reflection in us, and seeing that we were beautiful the way we were, part Pear, and part Apple. But he will always miss his daughter, our ma.” She finished, with a small tear running down her cheek.

Prey took his hand and wiped off the tear off of Applejack’s face. “That is a nice story Applejack.”

“Thank you Prey.” Applejack said as the two hugged. “Did mah story at least help ya?”

“Yes….it helps a lot. If I may ask something? If your parents had disappeared, were there any graves or memorials built for them?”

“Well...no graves were dug for ‘em. But there is something they left behind for us. Why do you ask?” Applejack wondered what Prey had in mind.

“Well...I now feel saddened of your parents passing. And I want to do something for your parents…”

“Ah mean….why? You don’t have to.”

“I insist Applejack. It would bring me great honor, honoring the parents of an amazing pony like you.” Applejack blushed deeply from Prey’s kind words and pecked him on the cheek.

“Alright sugarcube. Ah’ll tell ya where they are.”

“Good...but first I must look through your kitchen. I believe I know something that would….act as a replacement suitable for your parents’ likeness.”

Dusk was slowly approaching, blending into the sky with a gradient of blue and orange. Applejack and Prey were walking down the road, hand in hand. Floating above Prey with his magic was an odd set of objects. An apple, a wax candle, a set of matches, a cinnamon stick, and a slice of apple pie. “Through here.” Applejack said leading Prey through an unfamiliar passage through apple trees.

Walking past more trees, Applejack finally stopped at the sight of something made from both nature and magic. Prey looked on at the project Applejack’s parents had made, a pear and apple tree, both fully grown, and trunks intertwine and fused together with its leaves, bushes, and fruit. In the middle of both trees was a opening in the shape of a heart.

“Sugooiii…..” (Amazing)

“What was that sugarcube?”

“I mean uhh….amazing. This is….really beautiful.”

Applejack giggled, remembering that phrase. “Now you’re startin to sound like Granny Smith.”

Prey walked over to the fused tree. He saw the large boulder in front of it and noticed that a heart was engraved in it. The heart had the two pictures of a jar and an apple inside of it, along with a plus sign in between the two symbols. “Applejack...are these their cutie marks?”

“Yea….they are.”

“I see… then I shall begin my ritual.”

“Ritual? You gonna do something you’d regret?”

“No, nothing involving magic Applejack.” Applejack sighed, releasing any predictions of the dead rising. “This is a spiritual and respectful gesture towards the dead.” Applejack raised an eyebrow, still puzzled from Prey’s words.

Prey started his ritual by placing his array of objects on the ground in front of the engraving. He then knelt down on both of his knees and he began taking the cinnamon stick, and slowly piercing the candle with it. He made sure that the candle’s wick was weaved through the cinnamon stick’s hollow trunk. He then took the apple, and with his magic, he split it in two pieces and placed them in front of the tree. With the matches he ignited one and lit the wick of the candle, not only making the wax surrounding it melt, but primarily scorching the cinnamon stick making it release its significant fragrance around the area of the tree. After releasing the cinnamon stick’s fragrance, he then pplaced the last object, the apple pie, on the ground next to the candle.

After using all of his objects, he then slowly and gently placed his hands together and began to whisper a few words in japonese, unknown to Applejack. Applejack didn’t know what Prey was doing, but the surrounding smell of cinnamon was filling her nostrils, easing and filling her mind with bliss.

After a few minutes, Prey then stood up from his silent chanting, and bowed formally towards the tree and engraving. He walked back to Applejack and noticed her eyes were closed, she was too occupied with the smell of cinnamon in the air. “Applejack.” Prey called out making Applejack open her eyes and smile sheepishly.

“Oh uhh...ehehe sorry. So...what did you do Prey?”

“In samurai culture...whenever a master or one of high importance has passed, samurai would honor their lords with a spiritual ritual. One would bring offerings, or items that had please them in this life. With the lighting of an incense, you are passing on a sense of reality to the afterlife.”

“So how do they receive these gifts or such?”

“Well...they do not physically of literally take the gifts. But the view of offering them gifts and remembering them of any signature items of bliss or passion shows that you are remembering them or honouring them in a very respectful manner. It is an old tradition passed down to me from several samurai records. I have done this before, for older samurai who came before me.” Applejack started to understand his motive, of him paying respect to her parents by offering them items of joy. She walked over to the rock and saw all of his offerings displayed in an orderly fashion.

She then took her hand, gently placing the tip of her fingers on the carving of her parent’s cutie marks. The smell of cinnamon made her feel as if she was feeling the presence of her parents, in a small physical sense. She turned to Prey, walking over to him, and leaned in for a passionate kiss.

Surprised by the kiss, Prey wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in, making the kiss last longer. They let go after a few moments as Applejack started to leak tears of joy from her eyes. She smiled at Prey. “Thank you Prey. This is the nicest thing anypony has ever done for me, or mah parents.”

“You are welcome Applejack. I only hope that they take these gifts well.”

“If Ah like it...Ah’m sure they would as well.” She said with another hug.
After a few moments of silence to enjoy Prey’s gifts towards Applejack’s parents, the two set off to go back home. Once they had reached the main road, Prey turned to leave for Ponyville, but Applejack stopped him in his tracks by grabbing him by the hand and tugged at it, pulling him towards the her family house.

Upon reaching the house, Applejack put a finger to her lips. “Shh” She hissed at Prey who nodded in return. She then slowly turned the knob of her front door and slowly tiptoed inside her house. “Follow me and stay quiet.” She said to Prey making him nod once more.

The two of them tiptoed through the house, up the stairs, and eventually inside Applejack’s room. Applejack sat down on her bed, looking at Prey with a smirk. “Close the door.” She commanded with a quick exhale of breath.

Confused but curious, Prey had slowly and quietly closed his door with his magic. Applejack then made him sit down next to her by patting the bed space right next to her. He sat down as commanded.

Placing a hand on his chest, Applejack forced Prey down, making him lie down on his back. “Stay.” She commanded seductively as she took off her hat and threw it off to the side. She then climbed on top of Prey, sitting on his pelvis. He was fortunate for his strength not feeling any pain from down there. She then reached for her hair tie and pulled it, releasing her golden locks of blond hay hair having it slowly and smoothly brush on Prey’s face. “You like what you see?”

“Do I answer honestly?” His answer was in the form of a smirk from Applejack. “Yes. I like what I am seeing alot.” He said staring into her emerald green eyes.

“Good boy.” Applejack said reaching over and turning off her lamp.

The next morning came and Prey was in bed, Applejack’s bed to be more specific. He slowly got up and left the bed, trying not to make too much noise.He started to get dressed as, he heard shuffling coming from Applejack’s bed. He looked over to find her rustling and slowly waking up.

He sat down on the bed next to Applejack, shaking Applejack with his hands. “Wake up Applejack. It is morning.”

“Hmmmm…..five more minutes.”

Prey couldn’t help but chuckle at her stubborn sleep needs. He shook her more until her eyes finally opened. She sat up and saw her changeling cute buggy face. “Ohaiyoo Gozaimasu Applejack.”

Applejack stretched out her arms and moaned, exhaling any tension. “*Yawn* Good mornin.”

“How did you sleep?”

“Slept well, thanks to you.” She said leaning over and nuzzled her nose on his cheek.

“I am glad you have slept. But now we have to get to work, it is almost six o clock.”

“Really? Oh hay biscuits! Quick pass me mah-” Applejack was quickly interrupted by a full set of farm cloths levitating in front of her courtesy of Prey. She took the red flannel shirt and smiled at Prey. “Heh, thanks Prey.”

Prey nodded and got up from the bed. “I will meet you downstairs. I will prepare us something small for breakfast.” Prey said leaving Applejack room and closing the door behind him to give her some privacy. Not like it mattered to him now however.

He walked down the stairs and entered the kitchen. In the kitchen he noticed Applebloom was sitting at the table with a pencil and a blank sheet of paper. “Ohaiy- I mean, good morning Applebloom.” Prey said forgetting the filly would not know what he would say.

Applebloom looked over and smiled. “Oh ‘morning Prey. Ah didn’t realize you slept over.”

“Eh heh….yes I did sleep over.” Prey said sheepishly with a blush on his face. “What are you doing Applebloom?” He asked as he used his magic opening all of the cabinet doors.

“Ah’m tryin to write a paper. Ms Cheerilee wants us to write a paper about makin friends with other things besides ponies. And Ah don’t know who to write about.”

Prey listened as he looked through the open cabinets. He found a bag of coffee grind and levitated it to the counter. “Well, have you made friends who are not ponies?”

“Ah made one. Her name is Gabby and she’s a griffon. But all Ah know about her is that she’s a griffon and that she likes helping folks. Ah don’t know nothin else besides that.” Applebloom dropped her face to the table, moping to herself. “Who am Ah gonna write about?” Prey did not know the answer, he could not help Applebloom...or could he? Applebloom peeled her face off the table, and looked up at Prey. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head with hey eyes lighting up. Her answer was standing in front of her the whole time. Prey wasn’t a pony, he was a changeling who she knows right now. “Wait a minute, Prey what if Ah write about you!?”

Prey, who had already made two cups of coffee during the duration of Applebloom’s struggle, gave her a confused eyebrow. “Uh...nanda? Why...why me?” (Why)

“Well, Ah know you pretty well, and you don’t live far from here.”

Prey took a sip of coffee and thought for a moment. I suppose it should not hurt. “Okay Applebloom, I can help. When is your paper due?”

“Next week, so we got a lot of time.”

“Ah okay, then is it okay if we do it in a few days? I have a lot of things on my mind that I must take care of first.”

“Sure, no problem Prey.” Applebloom said gleefully as Applejack then entered the room fully dressed.

Prey passed a cup of coffee to her with his magic. Applejack took the coffee and drank the caffeine enhanced fuel with grace. “Ahhhh, thanks sugar cube.”

“It is my pleasure Applejack.” Prey said sipping his coffee. “Now, what work do you want me to do today?”

Applejack just simply stared at Prey. Then she looked over to side looking at multiple photos encased in glass frames. She remember the conversations she and Prey had last night. He was very kind to her parents giving them offerings of respect. She wanted to give something back to Prey. “Prey….for the next few days Ah don’t want you to work.”

“Nani?” (What?) His eyes widened with question.

“This is something Ah want you to do fer yourself.” Prey then gave her a raised eyebrow. “Ah want you to take the next few days off so you can take care of your business.”

“My business?” At first he was confuse. But after a short thought, he knew what she had meant. “I see...then could you perhaps tell the others. I would like to leave immediately if possible.”

“Yea I can tell the others. Where are you gonna go first?”

“I do not remember their names, only their faces. But the first place I can go to is the new Changeling Kingdom. I could ask for records of the past.” He said trying to hide specific details from Applebloom.

Applejack leaned in closer to Prey and kissed him on the cheek. “Here’s a good luck charm. Promise me you’ll come back safe ya hear?”

Prey smiled and held her hand. “I promise to come back safe.”

“Awwwwwwww.” Applebloom adored to the side. Both Applejack and Prey with a little bit embarrassed and quickly separated. “Ah hope you come back soon Prey.” She said, wishing him luck as he placed his coffee mug inside the sink and bowed towards both of them.

“I hope I come back soon as well Applebloom. Goodbye.” Prey said walking out the door with the intention of arriving at the train station.

Back inside however, Applebloom tugged at her big sister’s shirt. “Hey Applejack, can I ask you a question?”

“Shoot sugarcube.”

“Last night I heard strange noises from your room last night. I heard thumps and moaning. Are we haunted?” She asked making Applejack blushed a very bright shade of red.

“Err um…...Ah’lll uh….” She looked around trying to think of an honest answer. “Ah’ll uh….tell you when you’re older sugar cube.”

“But why?” She groaned, desperate for an answer.

“Ah...Ah can’t tell you sugarcube. But I can tell you we aren’t haunted.”

“Oh wooh, that’s a relief.” She started walking outside. “Anyways, Ah’m gonna go hang out with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Ah’ll see you later.”

Applejack slowly sank to her knees, spilling her coffee on the floor. She didn’t care however, knowing that the real coffee nearly spilt out of the room.