Chapter 8

Prey’s slowly opened his eyes to find himself in his room. He found himself lying on his bed with several bandages around his arms. He sat up from his bed and looked around his room. The door to his room soon opened as a purple pink mare with a violet purple mane with teal streaks walked in with a bowl of soup. To her surprise she found Prey awake and sitting up. “Oh good, you’re awake.” She said setting the bowl of soup on the table. “How are you feeling.”

“I am feeling okay. Who are you?”

“Oh well I thought Twilight talked about me, guess not.” She shrugged. “My name’s Starlight Gillmer, I’m a friend of Twilight and one of her graduated pupils.” She introduced herself as Prey bowed her head.

“Hajimemashite.”

“I’m assuming that’s the japoneighs Twilight’s been studying non stop about.” Prey nodded as Starlight levitated the bowl of soup and a spoon on his lap. “Here eat up, it’s a medicinal soup with healing properties.”

“Arigatoo” Prey thanked and soon started to eat the soup. After finishing his meal he felt his body’s injuries slowly start to numb and heal. “Starlight, if you do not mind me asking. Why have I not seen you around in the castle before?”

“Oh well usually I hang out with my friend Trixie or Maud. But Twilight is out of town right now visiting Canterlot. So now I’m watching over the castle until she gets back.”

“How long have I been unconscious?”

“Just a few hours. It’s about nine at night right now. So just rest up and you should be fine.” Starlight then reached into her pocket and pulled out a yellow stone, she placed it on the nightstand beside Prey’s bed. “If you need anything, just tap on this stone and I’ll be here within a flash.” She explained as she soon left the room leaving Prey to his privacy.

Prey looked at the table to find his sword and stone that Twilight gave him was still there. There was also another set of clothes with a note on it. The note had said “From Rarity.” on it. He laid back down and relaxed until sleep soon came down upon him.

Prey found himself waking up in his bed. He looked at his clock to see that it was four in the morning. He got up from his bed, took a shower, and put on a fresh set of clothes to wear, courtesy of Rarity. Before heading out to Sweet Apple Acres, he made sure to place the stone for his sword in his pocket, should he need it.

He soon left the castle and started walking through the dark morning towards Sweet Apple Acres. After some walking he reached the farm, there he found Applejack standing by the main entrance with two mugs in her hands. “Mornin Prey, made ya some coffee.”

Prey took one of the mugs and looked at the strange black liquid. “Coffee? What is coffee?”

“Something much better than tea. Try some, but be careful because it’s hot.” She said as Prey took a sip of the piping hot liquid. Suddenly he felt his whole body full of energy. His eyes felt like they were much more open, and his whole body felt like he had just been rejuvinated. The only problem was the taste.

“That is….very bitter.” He commeted sipping more of the coffee. Applejack couldn’t help herself but giggle.

“Well that’s because it’s straight black, some ponies like ‘em with sugar and cream, but I prefer it the way it is.” She said taking a big gulp of her own coffee. “Anyways, once we finish coffee A’ll show you the works around here.” Prey nodded and continued to drink his coffee.

After coffee Prey followed Applejack into one of the orchards of apple trees. “Alright Prey, it’s pretty simple. All you gotta do is buck the apple tree to make the apples fall out and into a bucket.” She then demonstrated the work by lifting up her foot and kicked the tree causing it to shake and have the apples fall down. “Now I want you to try.”

Prey nodded as he stood in front of the tree. He stood in a battle stance as he raised his foot and launched his foot to the tree like a spear. His foot collided with the tree’s bark as all the apples of the tree rained down into the nearby buckets scattered around the tree. Applejack’s Jaw dropped at his performance as he did that with just one kick. “Is that good Applejack?”

“Good? GOOD!? You’re a natural at this!” She complimented. “Alright just stick with me and we can get this whole orchard done early.” Prey nodded as the two continued to work until the morning’s end.

After a hard day’s work Prey was already sweating from all the kicking and bucking he did for Applejack. Yet he wasn’t complaining, the more work he had done for his master the more respect and honor he could feel emanating from her, making him more satisfied.

After bucking the last apple tree, Prey lifted up the last bucket onto a wagon. He lifted the handle and started to drag the wagon filled with buckets of apples back towards the farmhouse. Applejack was still with him, she admired his hard work and dedication a lot, yet that wasn’t the only thing she was admiring. She took a good look at the now sweating changeling, who was polished by his sweat, she blushed at his appearance.

After reached the farmhouse and storing the buckets into a nearby barn, Prey as ready to leave. “I hope I have served you well Applejack. Should you have me do this more, I will have no complaints.”

“Oh you did serve very well Prey. Here your payment.” Applejack reached into her pocket and pulled out a small bag of bits. She gave the bag to Prey who only looked at it in confusion. “You’ve earned it.”

“This is the currency of Equestria I assume?” She nodded as Prey then bowed towards her in grace. “Arigatoo Applejack.” He place the bits in his pocket. “I assume my work is done here, unless there is some more work you want me to do?”

“Well, You pretty much helped me finish my shift early. How ‘bout this, why don’t you join us for dinner? It’ll be our treat and you can introduce yerself to mah family properly.”

“If you wish for me to, I will. May I ask one thing?”

“Sure!”

“Is there any place where I could sit down and rest for a time? After all this work, I am feeling tired, and if I am being honest I do not feel like walking all the way back to Twilight’s castle.”

“Oh yea sure.” Applejack pointed to a nearby hill with a lone apple tree sitting at the top of it. “Ah usually go there whenever I feel like resting or taking a nap.” Prey nodded in acknowledgement as he proceeded up the hill and towards the vacant spot with a tree. Upon reaching the spot, he took a deep breath and opened his senses, taking in the silence around him.

He sat down under the tree’s shade and placed his legs criss cross. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his stone to summon his sword. After summoning it, he slowly and gently pulled out the blade from its sheath. Pointing the tip of the blade away from him, he gently and smoothly ran two fingers across the side of the blade from the handle all the way to the edge. He felt his blade being very smooth like silk but hard as metal. The smoothness stopped as he flipped over the side of his blade and rubbed his fingers on two engravings on his sword.

He then firmly gripped his sword with both of his hands and pointed it downwards towards the ground. He slowly forced his blade into the soft soil in front of him, he stopped once his handle was at the same height of his face. He placed his hands on his laps and let out one long deep breath. He closed his eyes and continued to take long rhythmic breaths as his mind slowly wandered away from reality.

He sat there for hours, doing absolutely nothing but breathing. He soon woke up to the sound of grass ruffling behind him. He turned around to find Applebloom who had a shocked look on her face. “How’d….how’d you know Ah was behind ya?”

“I heard you coming. Is there something you need?”

“Y-yea, how long have you been here?”

“Hmmm.” He noticed that it was evening, Celestia’s sun was slowly sinking into the horizon. Prey hadn’t been paying attention to the time of day, instead he thought about his time spent in his mind. “I believe since around twelve o’clock.”

Applebloom’s jaw dropped at the answer. “You’ve just been sitting here for five hours!? Didja even eat?”

“No I have not eaten all day.” He answered causing Applebloom to grasp his wrist and pulling him upwards.

“Listen mister ya need to eat. Plus it’s almost time for supper. Applejack told me you’d be here, ah didn’t imagine that you’ve been here the whole time.” Prey soon pulled his wrist back.

“Chotto matte Applebloom. I must do something first.” He plugged his blade from the ground and gently placed it back in it’s scabbard. He sent a pulse of magic to his stone as his sword soon flashed and vanished into thin air. “Okay, I am ready.” The two started to walk down the hill and towards the farm house.

“What did you just do?”

“I teleported my sword back to Master Twilight’s Castle.”

“Master Twilight? Ah thought mah sister was your master or somethin.”

“Ah you see, your sister and her friends are all my masters. I am to follow their commands with my life.”

“Are you like their butler or something? Ah’v kinda dreamed of having a butler like Diamond Tiara.” The two arrived at the farmhouse as Applebloom led Prey to a table where the rest of Apple family sat, along with an assortment of foods on the table.

Prey sat down next to Applejack and was presented with a plate of food. Apple then spoke up for Prey. “Well Prey Ah’d like for you to meet the rest of mah family. Of course you know who Ah am.” She pointed at a tall red stallion across from her. “This here is mah big brother Big Macintosh. Though folks just call him Big Mac.”

“Nice to meet ya Prey.” Big Mac said in calm deep tone. “Ah heard that AJ hired you the other day. Glad that you'll be working for us.” He said as he shook his hand over the table. Applejack then pointed towards Applebloom.

“This here’s Applebloom, mah little sister.”

“Thanks again for helping Scootaloo mister.” Prey only smiled and nodded at Applebloom.

Applejack then pointed at Granny Smith. “This here’s mah granny, Grannzy Smith.”

“It’s good to see another new face around here.” Granny smith said with a simple shaky nod. Applejack then pointed to a brown and white dog who was looking at Prey and shaking her tail.

“And finally this here’s Winona, she’s the family dog.” Winona barked cheerily at Prey who only returned a smile. “Alright dig in everypony.”

The Apple family including Prey started to eat their meals. In between chews, bites, and gulps, some of the family members started to indulge Prey into conversation. They asked where he was from and more about his changeling background. More importantly Applebloom asked what the deal is between Applejack being Prey’s master. Applejack and Prey explained everything about his samurai changeling race and his literal blood bound contract to Applejack and her friends.

Applejack further explained his whereabouts on where he was in the past during the various changeling incidents. “So is he like our butler or something sis?”

“Not exactly sis, he’s more like a personal bodyguard type guy. But he takes in every command me or the girls give him. Watch.” Applejack turned to Prey who was still eating.

“Prey Ah want you to stand up and do five push ups.” Prey bowed towards Applejack as he did as commanded, he dropped down doing five push ups and soon sat back down at the dinner table. “He’ll still do stuff by himself but he serious about taking commands from mahself or the other girls.”

“I will do anything keep my honor and gain more from my masters or others.” Prey commented as he and the rest of the family continued eating.

After finished their meals and Prey assisting in cleaning up, he was ready to leave. “I thank you Applejack for inviting me for dinner. I must return back to the castle to rest for the night, unless there is something you want me to do.”

“Nope, Ah ain’t got nothing. But yer going out there in the dark?”

“Yes, I must return home to sleep. Farewell Applejack.” Prey then started to walk outside towards the night stage of Equestria. Onlye a couple of minutes walking out, he stopped in his tracks when he heard a sudden howling. He summoned his sword as he held it out, ready for anything. Around him was pure darkness and trees, only making outlines of trunks and leaves around him. Applejack listened to the howling, it was all too familiar to her what was nearby.

“Prey get inside! It’s to dangerous out here!” Applejack screamed from her front door. Suddenly the sounds of growling and aggressive barking was drawing closer to Prey. He still couldn’t see clearly, Luna’s moon wasn't at it’s peak for a hue of light to help him. The only source of light around him, was the house lights emanating from the Apple family house. Applejack then soon saw several timber wolves spring from the shadows of the farm and surrounded Prey in a circular fashion.

One wolf launched itself as Prey slashed him in one quick strike, shattering him to mere twigs and leaves. Unfortunately the shattered remains formed together and reshaped the timber wolf. “Kuso” He whispered under his breath as the rest of the wolves launched themselves one after another at Prey. His efforts to defend himself were becoming fruitless, the more he defended and slashed against the wolves, the more frustrated he became.

Luckily he hit a break in the fight, he managed to find himself in a pause of the wolves attacks. He quickly stuck his sword in the ground and sat down on his knees. He placed his hands together making a hand sign as his horn began to glow making a green bubble soon surrounded him separating him from the timber wolves. The wolves bit down and gnawed at his bubble but to no avail, he was fully protected.

Applejack couldn’t stand by and watch this. She retreated back inside her kitchen and brought out a pan and a ladle. She ran outside and repeatedly clashed her two metal instruments creating loud bangs for the wolves to hear. Their looks soon turned from vicious to frightful as they whimpered and ran back into the dark woods.

Prey sighed in relief as he released his shield and stood up. He retreated back inside the farmhouse where he was greeted by a relieved family. “You alright sugarcube?” Applejack asked placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Yes. I am okay.” He said panting to regain his breath. “What were those? I have not seen those creatures before?”

“Those’re timber wolves. Wolves made from magic and wood, they’d tear you up if they get’cha.” Applejack answer as Prey looked back outside. “Aw no you don’t, you’re not going back out there.”

“As you wish Applejack. Do you wish for me to stay here for the night?”

“Yes Ah WANT you to stay here for the night so ya won’t get hurt, ya hear me?”

“Yes Applejack. But Starlight Glimmer does not know I am here. How am I going to tell her that I will be spending the night here?”

“Ah’ll take care of that. I can just call her and tell her what happened.” Prey nodded as Applejack took a look to his shoulder and noticed green liquid slowly oozing from his shoulder, yet he had a straight and flat expression on his face. “Prey are….are ya bleeding?”

Prey looked to his shoulder to find his blood slowly running. “Ah, I suppose one of them got me when I did not notice. But I should be okay.”

“Here, lemme take you up to a guest room and patch you up. Don’t want that thing to get infected now.” Prey nodded as Applejack took a medical back with her and led Prey to his room. A simple room with a bed and a drawer. Applejack sat Prey down on the bed and she closely examined his shoulder, but the cloth from his shirt was in the way. “Let’s get this shirt off of ya so I can get a better look.”

Prey nodded as he slowly took off his shirt making the farmer blush a little bit. She took a wet cotton ball and slowly rubbed it against Prey’s wound, making him hiss a little bit from the sting. “Sorry, it kinda stings a bit but you’ll be fine.” Apple assured making Prey nod. She finished up by applying medical tape around his shoulder to prevent any further bleeding or infection.

“Arigatoo Applejack.”

“Don’t mention it. Now you get some rest while Ah called Starlight and tell her what’s happening.”

“Do you need me tomorrow for work?”

“No Ah’ll give you the day off tomorrow. So Ah guess you could go to the others see if they need a hand in something.” Prey nodded as something crossed his mind making his face uncertain. “Somethin wrong sugarcube?”

“I am feeling strange right now Applejack.”

“How so?”

“Well I have had these strange feelings recently ever sinced I have left the Bad Lands with you ponies. I get these strange feelings that make me feel good around my heart region, and also make me feel a little bit ill in my stomach region. I am uncertain if it is a good or bad thing.”

“Have you ever thought about seeing a doctor about that?”

“I considered asking Master Twilight about it, she said she would explain it at another time. She said that it is difficult to explain as well.”

“Well, do ya know when these happen?”

“These strange feelings happen whenever I am around you.” This made Applejack shocked as her cheeks turned a little bit redder. “I do not know what this feeling is, but the past incidents of you sleeping on me have caused strange affects to me. I would feel a sense of hotness around my face and my mind would become uncertain. Since it only happens when I’m around you, do you have an idea as to what these feelings are?”

“W-Well….W-What do you think about these...uh...feelings?” She asked stuttering through her blush.

“I do not know how to explain it very well. But I mostly like the these feelings when I am around you. Yet I do not know why they happen, they just happen.” He stopped and looked at Applejack’s face. He didn’t know it but his cheeks were slightly more red. “Even right now I am getting these feelings, do you know why?”

“Ah Ah-Ah-AH….. Ah d-don’t know yet s-sugarcube. Um….” Her thoughts trailed off trying to process what he had just explained. “L-Let me think about it with the girls some other time a-and we can tell you alright?”

Prey noticed her uneasy speech, he knew something was wrong was his master. “Are you okay master? You are speaking uneasy and you are sweating alot.” He pointed out, he placed his palm on applejack’s forehead making her blush even deeper. “You seem to be a little bit warmer than usual, are you sick master?”

“N-N-No Ah’m not sick Ah’m just…..uh…...Tired that’s all. All that bangin with the pot and ladle kinda tired me out. That’s all.” She lied, scrunching her face. This time Prey examined her face which looked very discomforting.

“Are you sure master? Well if you say so. But what about this feeling of mine? Do you know what it is?” He asked again, but she could not find an answer. She began to blush deeper trying to think of some sort of magic word to make her dissapear. When she suddenly realized that she is still his master, a master that can give commands.

“Prey, Ah want you to go to bed please. Like I said before, Ah’ll discuss it with the girls later alright? For now just….don’t ask or speak about these feelings to anyone else.”

“Yes master I will not-”

“Promise me!” She quietly exclaimed with a soft and stern tone making Prey react slightly shocked.

He gave a heavy sigh and bowed his head. “You have my word master. But what if the others command or ask of me to speak the truth. I must by my code.”

“Then you won’t. Tell them you cannot because you made a promise to me. In fact, make a Pinkie Promise.” She commanded as Prey raised an eyebrow.

“P-Pinkie Promise? What is that?” Applejack explained the pinkie promise rules and consequences if you broke one. She showed him the hand gestures as instructed. “If I understand correctly, Cross my heart hope to fly stick this cupcake in my eye.” He said with the correct hand motions as he paused mere centimeters before literally sticking his finger in his eye.

“Good, thank you Prey.” she huffed with relief as Prey simply bowed his head.

“Doo Itashimashite Applejack, it is my duty.”

“Alright well Ah’m gonna turn in tonight. Ah’ll see ya in the mornin.”

“Alright, Oyasumi Applejack.”

“Ah’m asuming that means goodight right?” He nodded. “Alrighty then, g’night.”

Applejack left and closed the door behind her leaving Prey by himself in the guest room. He lied back down on his bed. He felt a very powerful essence around him, it was quite magical. He took in a deep breath and tried to understand these feelings he continues to have with Applejack, and the power aura surrounding him at the moment. It almost felt familiar.

He sat back up and started to smack his lips to taste the air around him. He could taste something sweet yet also savory in the air around him. He was almost certain that he has tasted it before, yet it brought him no satisfaction in the past. He thought harder as to what this familiar taste was, and then he realized it.

His mouth slowly opened at that moment of realization. The aura he was tasting, was love. Love that extremely plentiful, yet he could not be magically or physically satisfied with. But he unaware that he could feel love, emotionally from within himsef. “Is this….what love feels like?” He slumped down on his bed with a battle of confusing thoughts in his head. He struggled with his thoughts as he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep.

Applejack quickly retreated to her room and closed the door to her room. She slumped back against her door and slowly slid down to the ground. Her face was red as a rose as she soon buried her face in her hands. She screamed into them muffling most of the powerful volume emanating from her embarrassed state. After her scream, she started to tear up a little bit. “He likes me...and he doesn’t even know it.” She sniffed and wiped away a few tears.

“Even Ah don’t know how to feel about this.” She gave a heavy sigh and stood back up. She walked up to her mirror and looked at herself. All she saw was a pathetic and weak looking pony, she didn’t want to be like that. She slapped herself in the face and regained her determination. She looked again in the mirror with a serious look in her face. She saw herself again, the proud pony she knows. She slumped down onto her bed and slowly went to sleep, but not without the thoughts of Prey slowly swimming into her thoughts.

Author's Note

Chotto Matte = Please wait a moment (Short and casual version)

Took me a while to get this chapter together. Managed to finally finished this before I go to bed. Anyways, Hope you enjoyed the read.