Don't Mind The Sheep Pig

by An Angry Green Boss

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Little Strongheart, Applejack, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Comedy
Length: 6806

While dealing with the memories of her parents, Applejack finds help from an unusual sheepherder

After finishing a delivery for Big Mac to the town of no name, Applejack tries to get her head straight after meeting Sugar Belle who bares a familiarity with her mother. On the road back home, she encounters some unsavory characters but soon, a sheepherder comes to her aid. Both with her bullies and her troubled thoughts

Published 2017-08-15 22:30:10 UTC
Last updated 2017-08-25 23:11:15 UTC

Smokey and the Eye

In the uncommon deserts of Equestria, The sun was the biggest threat of all.

Sure, you have your outlaws and predators that prey on unsuspecting travelers that dare to gallop on the dirt roads but the sun is the killer of the desert. If you were dumb enough to not bring water when venturing out to the wild west, Kiss your flank goodbye and consider it tanned and rugged for a coyote's taste of a rustic cave.

Hence is why the train was invented as it kept its passengers cool from Celestia's most loving but unknowingly deadly bulb in the sky.

Unfortunately, trains can't be occupied for all of Equestria, most notably for earth ponies with carts full of heavy goods.

Which is why the dangers of the desert are relevant for these travelers. But the earth ponies are a hardy group and are brave enough (or foolish enough) to journey through the wilds of Equestria!

….

…Or also stubborn enough like Applejack was, who was pulling a big but empty cart on a bleak trail with nothing but the barren desert to keep her company.

The stetson wearing, country pony was coming home from a delivery to a town called……"The town with no name."

Applejack reminded herself to ask Starlight if they could give the town a real name. They couldn't call it Starlight's village as she doesn't live there anymore.

Applejack was done delivering a buck load of apples for her strong but quiet brother, Big Mac as he had caught a terrible flu. Applejack took over his usual delivery route for "the town that needs a name" while her friends offer to help with the farm until she gets back.

The apples were for a unicorn baker named Sugar Belle, whom she remembered that had cooked muffins that made shed rattlesnake skin taste like Pinkie Pie's "Super Duper Chocolate Filling Cinnamon Frosting Cupcakes." Luckily, ever since she got her cutie mark back, Sugar Belle made treats that made traveling though a scorching desert to a lame named town worth it.

Of course, the pony herself was worth it for Big Mac.

Applejack heard of Big Mac and Sugar Belle being together from Applebloom when she and her filly friends snuck aboard his cart and helped him win her heart.

So there was a double reason for Applejack to deliver the apples. To meet the pony that her brother had fallen over hoofs for.

Applejack was eager when she arrived at "Dang nabit! This town needs a name!" to meet Sugar Belle. She was very happy that Big Mac finally found a mare. Both for wanting her brother to be happy and finally stopped being sought out by other mares back at Ponyville….She somehow doubts that it'll stop. Doggone snippers or whatever they're called she had cursed in her head.

When she arrived at Sugar Belle's shop and explained to her that Mac was feeling ill hence why she is delivering in his place. They caught up and Applejack saw the dreamy look on the unicorn's face when Big Mac is mentioned. She told her about how Big mac made her a brand new display case for her treats. After he had stopped being ridicules and did something that truly showed his love for her.

Applejack enjoyed her time chatting with Sugar Belle but midway through, she noticed how eerily similar she is to someone. Someone that belonged from Applejack's past.

She kept it to herself and helped Sugar Belle unload the apples. She then heads for home after Sugar Belle gave her a girlishly pink letter covered in hearts to give to Applejack.

After walking miles on the road, Applejack is alone with her thoughts. Troubled by pictures from happy times but somehow gave feelings of sadness.

So distracted by her thoughts, She failed to notice a strange sound. A noise that sounded like a whirling machine falling though the sky. She didn't noticed it getting louder until it was too late when the object the sound belong to painfully crashed in to her.

Painfully lying on her back, she shook her head to get rid of the flying Winonas….She then noticed that she can't move as she felt a great weight that even Bulk Biceps would have trouble lifting. She looked to see the dumb grin from the fattest pegasus that she had ever seen that sat on top of her, pinning her hooves under his giant brown fur rump.

He looked behind him, excitingly shouting,

"I got her pinned, boys! I got her pinned!" His voice clearly showing his low IQ.

Applejack struggled to look behind the possibly inbred pony as his number of teeth matched his brain level and saw two other pegasus that were in much better shape. One had silver fur with red hair and was mostly lanky while the other was very muscular, covered in fiery orange fur and a short cropped black mane. She noticed that they were clearly dressed up in desperado clothes and realized what was going on.

This was a stick up!!

"Why you no good sons of decaying vultures! Blindsiding and robbing ah mare on her way back Home!" She shouted angrily.

"Yer lucky that this embodiment of gluttony pinned me down or otherwise, Ah buck you so hard that y'all grandchildren gonna need wheelchairs." She threatened.

Said sin just gave off a brain dead look at nothing.

The way more smart ones weren't scared by the threat and laughed at the mare. Or really, the lanky one did, as the muscled one just gave a steely look that send a small sliver of unease though Applejack's skin.

He then went to the crashed cart while the lanky pony kelt down near Applejack's head and suddenly snatched her stetson hat and replace it from his own hat on his head.

"Hey! That don't belong to ya!" she yelled.

"Ya, thats why I stole it. ya know, being desperado." Teased the Pegasus, his voice an obnoxious surfer pony kind. Might've been a pony from the East coast that thought robbing in the desert was more fun.

He did a poor attempt at country dancing, clearly mocking in front of the now hatless mare, when the muscular pony came back with Applejack's saddle bags.

"There's nothing in the cart but she might have something in these bags." He said to his partner in crime. His voice matching a wendigo's cold wind.

The two outlaws rummaged through her bags. She tried to lift off the fat pony but couldn't move the dumb brute an inch.

"Hey, lookie here." The lanky criminal said as he pulled out a heart shaped locket with an apple on it. He opened it with his more intimating partner looking over his shoulder. In the locket was a old picture of a family of earth ponies. The biggest one was a pale yellow colored stallion with a matching stetson on his head. On his side was a beautiful mare with a pale tanned fur and a bright yellow mane tied in a pony tail. She was carrying a bundled filly whose fur and mane matches her father. Standing in front of the two adults were two younger ponies, one a mare and the other a colt. The colt was red as an apple with dark blond spiky mane and few freckles on his face. The mare the outlaws figure was their current victim as she had the same features but with her mane tied in pigtails.

The wannabe-outlaw surfer just kept focusing on Applejack's mother.

"Wow, thats a fine mare! you think she dig me if I had the hat instead of the loser she's with?" He asked the his partner.

He then looked over at Applejack. "Of course, you didn't fall from the apple tree yourself. Pun totally intended." He finished the painful sentence by clicking his tongue at her suggestively.

Applejack was just disgusted by his reaction and statement to both her and her mother.

The fiery pegasus was not amused but for different reasons.

"That locket won't fetch a good enough price. I say we take the mare as ransom. She could fetch a good price." Applejack was horrified by his statement.

Gluttony was still looking stupid.

The crude pegasus on the other hand was static by the idea. "Great idea! Blaze Rocker. Hand me some rope and a gag. Cant have some predators come for us when they hear her screams." Lanky ordered.

Blaze Rocker didn't complied as he looked ahead of the group. Lanky and Applejack, who had to look upside down from her position, followed his view and saw a lone figure standing on top of a small hill. The figure stood there until he slowly walked toward them. As he got closer, his features became clear. His cloths were only a red poncho that covered his upper body while on his head was an outback hat with golden cylinders on his band. He wore no boots but had black coverings with spurs on his heels. He had a belt with two holsters carrying two revolvers. Sticking over from behind his shoulder was the stock of a rifle. Applejack could barely see the carving of on the wood which was the cartoonish face of a dead timber wolf what with Xs as eyes and tongue sticking out, comically dead.

The real outstanding feature of the stranger was his race. He had military green colored scales, covered in dust and scars all over. he walked bipedal on his long legs, making him tall as Celestia, maybe even taller.

There was no doubt to Applejack that the stranger was a dragon!

Granted, he was no way the size of a giant dragon but she could tell that the dragon was no child as his green eyes were filled with hardship and firmness.

He stopped a few feet away from the group, With the two outlaws eyeing him with unease and coldness while Applejack looked with hope and yet confusion at who is this stranger.

Gluttony was licking a rock.

The dragon looked at the scene before him with calm but threatening eyes as he pulled the cigarette out from his mouth and smoothly breathed out the smoke from his nostrils.

Only the wind dared to speak over the tension of this stare-down.

Suddenly, some sheep are heard bawling in the distance from over the hill.

"Whats with the jeering thats bothering my sheep?" The dragon spoke as the sheep ruined the moment. But his voice didn't show it as it was low toned, gravelly, and firm.

"….What?" Lanky replied.

"My sheep, the noise over here is unsettling them." The dragon confirmed.

…..Lanky then laughed like a mad pony as he figured that this cowboy dragon has a herd of sheep.

"Well what do ya know. I think our luck has double with a mare and some sheep. Thank Celestia for this day." Lanky cockily praised.

The dragon's glare deepened and put the cigarette back into his mouth.

"I recommend you take fatso and the boot camp reject with you and get out of here or you'll have some a problem." He threatened.

Lacky's smile went away and replaced with a nasty scowl.

"You mean you'll have a problem when I let Blazing Rock deal with you." He threatened back. Stepping aside for him to stand in front of the group.

Blazing Rock gave off the most evil, terrifying look that would make even Tirek cower in fear, Nightmare Moon crying in terror, and Ursa Major's leap out of their fur. A look that made Applejack fear for this stranger's life.

The dragon calmly grabbed his cigarette and held it in his claws.

The Duel was set and the stranger didn't even look ready to pull out a gun, making it, to Lacky's reason, a win for sure.

Applejack watched, sweat on her face from the tension and weight from still brain dead pegasus.

CRACK!!

A sound like a gun shot echoed through the plains but the stranger didn't have a gun in ether hand. It looked as if he didn't move at all.

But Applejack noticed that his cigarette was gone.

She looked over to Blazing Rock. He also stood still like a statue until she noticed the cigarette on his eye with the burnt end on it.

Blazing Rock stood as if he didn't notice the smoking hazard in his eye until he started to shake and did something unexpected.

Run around and scream like a little girl.

The group' eyes followed him in shock at the result of the dragon's cigarette slinging skills. Blazing Rock screamed like a lunatic when tried to ease the pain by franticly rolling around in the dirt.

While he was panicking, The dragon sharply whistled. Applejack then heard thundering hoof steps that were getting closer and closer until she look into her left and saw a big, dark brown mass stampeding towards him.
Gluttony, who manage to react to his now pitiful outlaw friend by staring dumbly, also noticed the hoof stomps and looked toward where Applejack was looking but only ended up getting a face full of tusks. The blow was so strong, it made him fly off of Applejack and crashed landed on Blazing Rock, knocking them both out.

Lanky stood there stunned at what happened as look over the stranger where by his side was what only he could described as a Hogzilla.

He flew straight into air and got into a fighting stance.

"Now look here Dude-" he was interrupted as another loud bang was sounded and the stetson flew off of his head.
More bangs kept coming like a raging thunder storm and it made the hat glide through the air until it safely lands on Applejack's head. She grabs it in shock and saw that the hat was in one piece. Lanky looked back to the dragon to see that he had his winchester rifle out, smoking coming from the barrel. He lifted the barrel straight at the flying pony, clearly daring him to try something stupid. Seeing no way out, Lanky flew away like a bat out of heck. The dragon looked at the two unconscious thugs and back at the still in sight retreating pegasus. He gave another whistle and the Hogzilla charged at the down ponies and rammed his head upward at them, sending them flying. They sailed through sky until they hit Lanky and they all go down to the earth with a gigantic crash. If one would carefully listen, one could hear a faint ow.

With his work done, The dragon quickly and smoothly reloaded his rifle and placed it on his back. He turned toward the blond mare that had a look of pure awe plastered on her face.
The only question running through Applejack's head is this,
who the hay is this dragon?!
….And also how fast she can run away from the pig monster that was giving her the stink eye.

Author's Note

Howdy. To any that had come, I welcome you to my domain of insanity. I also appreciate it if you be honest about what I did right (Yay!) and what I did wrong (Aww). Polite but honesty is the policy here and those that don't follow it will suffer a fate worse then death….A viewing of the Emoji Movie! I know horrifying.
Anyway, stay tune for the next chapter of this abomination I call a story.
…..God Help Us All.

Why Get A Dog When You Can Get A Hogzilla

Pigs are uncommon animals in a farm. They don't give milk like cows or give eggs like chickens and ducks. Most ponies keep pigs as company and even use them as their own living garbage can.

Then theres the wild counterpart of pigs, The wild boar. They are what happens when its decided that a pig is given a rough, thick coat of fur, a set of razor sharp tusks, and top that off with an attitude that would make a manticore blush. It doesn't help their reputation when ponies tell of sightings where boars can grow to be the size of bears, Earning the name Hogzilla.

Applejack and her family never had the misfortune to deal with wild boars as they prefer to live in the southern part of equestrian in swampy forests. But she had heard horror stories from granny smith when she was a young teenager, about how wild boars have a taste for ponies.

So imagine her increasing terror of seeing a legitimate Hogzilla standing next to the dragon that had saved her from the potential foalnappers. Granted, the hog did helped her by bulldozing the pegasus that had pinned her down but the desire of wanting to run grew when the hog stared at her with its red beady eyes.

The dragon must've noticed the mare's discomfort as he petted the hog with his fingerless glove hand.

"Easy there boy, its alright. She's okay." His words had eased the boar but it still stared at the sitting pony.

The dragon walked up to her and she noticed the threatening aura on his face was gone and instead is replaced by a calm and warm look in his green eyes. He hold out his clawed hand to her and she took it, letting him help her up.

"You alright, Ma'am?" he asked, concern laced in his voice.

Applejack just stared at him back with her awed expression, remembering the incredible gunslinging skills he displayed against the outlaws.

"Y-You..That-That was..The smoke…Hog." She stammered, clearly trying to express her amazement.

She shook her head and became more clear. "That was amazing, Stranger! The way you showed those no-good tooting outlaws whats what was incredible. Wait till Spike hears this."

She then remembered where she was at. "Sorry, where are my manners. My names Applejack." She greeted, tipping her hat.

The Dragon tipped back. "Mr.Northstone." He gave his name. "Now do you mind asking why a mare like you was pulling an empty cart in the middle of the desert?" He gestured at the now smashed up cart. "Hope the reason was worth it for you to get jumped by a bunch of mama boys."

"Oh, ah was just coming back from delivering some apples to for a baker from a town that way." She explained, pointing behind them the general direction of where it was.

Northstone frowned at the direction and gave a suspicious look back at Applejack, adding a raised scaled brow for good measure.

"Does this town have only one street?" He asked with a questioning glare.

"Y-Yea, it does. Is something wrong?" She repiled, caught off guard by the dragon's sudden unease.

He didn't answered, instead he analyzed her and the more he did, his unease switched to confusion.

"Huh, usually when ponies enter that town, they never leave and somehow got their cutie marks removed. But you still look bright as sliver in a mine." he said.

Understanding the confusion, She explained "Ah well that was before me and my friends came in and got the town ponies marks back. Their former leader had some…interesting philosophies regarding cutie marks." She internally cringed from the memories of the past Starlight's views. But she made up for it and now is growing into a good friend.

"Well that was mighty decent of you and your friends. That makes me feel better as some of my friends are looking to head up there."
He replied, sounding relive and went back to his relaxed stance.

"Oh, theres more of ya?" Applejack asked, surprise the dragon has company. Minus the sheep and the killer tank with tusks.

"Well they're not ugly dragons like me." He joked. "I left them with the sheep when we heard the commotion over here. I better go back to them to let them know that things have cleared."

He then gives Applejack a concerned look. "I actually would like to come with me as I'am not fond of you going out alone after what happen. My friends and I can help take you where you need to go."

But Applejack brushes it off "While ah thank ya for the concern, Those rattler suckers caught by surprise. I'll be more careful. Now I have to get going to ponyville, thank ya for ya help Mr. Northstone." She then starts to moseying along on the trail she stopped dead when a coyote howl pierced through the desert. A horrifying sound that manage to come from a scrawny canine.

Applejack then rethinks her situation. As much she doesn't like the idea of relying on traveling with another for safety like a damsel from those sappy novels that Rarity likes to read, She remembered her stubbornness had gotten her a lot of trouble in her life. She didn't want have more trouble while alone in the desert because she denied the offer from a dragon that had saved her.

She turns sheepishly back to Northstone. "On second thought, There is safety in numbers." She said with an embarrassed blush on her face.

Northstone looked satisfied from her choice and motioned her to follow him up to the hill. While they walked up the mound, the monster pig walked in between them, still giving Applejack a stink eye.

She wanted get this out as the pig was unsettling her. "Um, you said you have a sheep herd, right?" She asked the dragon, whom she can still see his head over the hog.

"Yep thats right, Its something of a hobby of mine. The wandering thing can make one go crazy so I decide to be productive when I travel." he answered

"Not to be rude, but whats a sheep dragon doing with a hogzilla?" She cautiously gestured toward to said glaring hog.

Northstone gave a proud smirk. "This here is my sheep pig, Ricardo. No offensive to sheep dogs but with all the monsters in Equestria, you need something with a bit more bite if you want keep your cotton balls." He said, petting the hog who was pleased with his master's petting.

They finally reached the top of the sheep dragon's previous entrance and Applejack saw another field but this time was occupied with a decent sized sheep herd, no more then 30 sheep, and on the left side of the herd is what Applejack remember as buffalo teepees.

She looked back at the dragon. "Your friends are buffalo?" She asked.

"Is there a problem?" he gave a raised eyebrow with that question.

"Oh No, Im just surprised to see buffalo this far out as they usually stay near Applelousa." She reassured

"Like I had said before, they came here to try some apple treats from the baker in the town." he said, seemingly glad there wasn't gonna be some pony/bison problems.

When they reached the camp, the buffalo came to greet them. Applejack had forgotten about how big and muscular the buffalo can get, which made her glad that they and the Appleoosa ponies had stopped fighting. Otherwise, things would get really messy.

A red furred bison who looked fairly young but was the biggest of the group came up to greet them.

"Northstone, glad to see you still living. We had heard thunder cracks from your weapon. The others wanted to rush in but I knew you still be with us as you are strong like the buffalo." He said confidently with his deep, fierce voice.

"Nice to see you cared, Fierce-Horn" The dragon jabbed in good natured. He took off his hat and they gave each other a hard head-but. They then laughed joyously.

"Tell us, who was your foe that you claimed victory against." Fierce-Horn asked eagerly, with battle lust in his eyes.

Northstone nonchalantly waved off. "Oh it was just some pony outlaws that were given this fine mare trouble."

Applejack gave a small blush

"Applejack!" a young female voice shouted from behind the buffalo.

They moved to make way for a young female bison calf wearing a feathered attached headband around her bushy mane.

Applejack immidently recognized the calf.

"Well, cover me in carmel and call me an apple treat! Little Strongheart!" she shouted while rushing toward her. They gave each other a good hug.

"I'm so glad your alright. If I knew it was you there, I would've join with Northstone to fight off those dishonorable snakes from you." Strongheart declared.

Applejack gave her friend a reassurance pat on the shoulder. "Its alright Little Strongheart. Thanks to Northstone here, i have a feeling those varmints won't go back to being outlaws for a loooong time."

"Thank you Northstone for saving my friend." Little Strongheart said gratefully.

Northstone simply tipped his hat with a warm smile.

"But what are you y'all doing here, Appleloosa is miles upon miles from here." Applejack questioned the buffalo.

"When your brother Big Mac came to Appleloosa, we heard of how his spirit mate makes some of sweetest apple treats. We the buffalo want to try some for ourselves so our chief assigned me and Fierce-Horn to take the treats for the tribe back home." Strongheart explained.

"Well yer in luck! I was just heading back to ponyville after delivering a bunch of apples to Sugar Belle before ah got jumped by those outlaws. I'm sure she would be delighted to make some treats for visitors like y'all." Applejack said with a smile on her face.

Her face quickly fell as the image of her mother replaced Sugar Belle in her head. She looked down sadly as she pawed the ground with her hoof.

"Maybe its best that we all rest for the night as it was a long day for all of us." Northstone suggested, probably notching Applejacks mood.

The group agreed and head to camp to rest with Applejack and Little Strongheart in the rear.

"Are you okay Applejack?" The young buffalo asked concernedly.

Applejack just gave a sad smile. "Yea I'm fine. Northstone right, I just need some rest is all." She reassured

She hurried to the camp while Little Strongheart looked at her friend's back with worry.

Author's Note

Glad the first is gotten some decent views. Like I said before, Tell me the things I did right and wrong with this chapter. I want to write stories with quality for you guys.
Keep on living lads and enjoy.

Thieves and Apples Attract Each Other

One Month Ago

Little Strongheart enjoyed the feast that was set after the buffalo's annual stampede. Stampeding can work a huge appetite for her people. The feast was also a good way to relax after a days worth of running. The today's feast was what she was looking forward to thanks to the added addition to the apple pies from their former enemies and now friends from Appleoosa.

She and her tribe sat around the campfire in a tight circle with loads of food mixed with the buffalo's tradition food and the apple pies from the cowponies. The buffalo chatted with each other in good fun about their day and their excited anticipation of trying out the apple pies. They waited as it was Chief Thunderhooves who starts the feast when he receives his pie which he waited for patiently. The Chief's pie was extra special as it was received as a gift from Appleloosa's sherif in the anniversary of the bound between buffalo and ponies.

Little Strongheart was listening to Fierce-Horn's chatting about how he won a fight between two of his brothers to show who was the strongest when until…

"STOP THAT HARE!!!!" a buffalo shouted.

They turned to see a couple of buffalo chasing a hare who managed to steal a pie. It wasn't just a pie but a pie that was meant for the Chief. Needless to say, he was not happy.

"CATCH THAT THIEVING HARE!!!" he roared.

The tribe obeyed their leader as they chased after the hare around their camp. The thieving long eared pest had did all sorts of tricks to increased the buffalo's fury. Making them run in circles when then they realized that the hare was gone. Running around a teepee chased by two buffalo until one stopped and waited for the chaser and the chasie to come around to surprise attack the hare but only ended up hitting his brother. The hare even did a dastardly move when he had snuck up on one bull and lit his tail on fire with a stick on fire from the campfire. The chase then left the camp and into the desert with the hare chased by a horde of angry bisons with Little Strongheart in the lead.

She looked ahead to see a hole that is likely to be the hare's hideout and pushed further ahead to catch it before it can reach it. But then she saw another hare ahead running towards their direction also being chased by what she can only describe as a giant boar with face of anger that would make Thunderhooves jealous.

The rabbits had reached their escape but the charging forces didn't seem to stop. Sensing an incoming clash, Little Strongheart jumped to the side for safety. Unfortunately, her bulky brothers and the hulking pig weren't as graceful as they tried to skid in the dirt to stop but the result still ending in a huge crash. The Bisons and pig were sent to the air and land back to the earth and ended in a disgruntle heap of fur, horns, and the singular tusks.

Little Strongheart looked at the group with a grimace, having felt that crash despite her quick escape. She looked to her right and saw that out of nowhere, a dragon, as tall as her chief and dressed in a cowpony getup, standing next to her, calmly looking at the pile of buffalo and the lonesome boar.

She stared in surprise at him when he turned towards the female calf and simply tipped his hat to her.

"Evening." was all he said.

Present

"..And thats how we met Mr.Northstone and Ricardo." Little Strongheart told Applejack, who laughed hileriously at the story.

Applejack had settled in the buffalo camp after her mood went downward to depression but was back in good spirits when Strongheart told her the story about how her dragon rescuer and the buffalo tribe first met.

Mentioned dragon was sitting with them near the camp fire, laying down on his with his head rested on a log with a smirk on his scaly maw.

"And also how the war between buffalo and a hog almost started with the way Thunderhooves was more mad then fire ants being poked by a stick." he said humorously.

Applejack looked to Little Strongheart in shock, seeing if it did almost happened. The calf smiled sheepishly.

"The Chief and Ricardo almost had a duel when they recovered until me and Mr.Northstone calmed them down." she confirmed.

"Your Chief really needs to stop making wars because of his temper." Northstone added with a deadpan tone.

Wanting to change the subject, Applejack directed her attention to the sheep dragon.

"So Northstone, how did ya managed to get a hog like Ricardo and make it your sheep…pig?" She asked, pointing to the giant pig who narrowed his eyes at her for being mentioned.

Northstone gave a humorous snort from his nostrils. "Two years ago, When I was hanging about in this some small town that i don't remember the name of, I took a job as a bodyguard for these small group of ponies that were running this cryptic creature documentary. You know, those ponies who go on and on about how they search for the monster of the day only to end up with nothing but zilch and wasting your time. Monster adventure or something along those lines I think they called it." He explained

Despite the different fields of work, these ponies remind Applejack of some certain con brothers. She nodded her head for the dragon to continue.

"Anyway, after they left and with me had wasted two weeks of my life, I was about to leave for Manehatten until I discovered a young piglet, alone in the forest. Poor little guy was shivering. I didn't know what happened to his parents so I took him in and fed him until suddenly we found ourselves inseparable when the week was done." He said, smiled while he petted his boar companion.

"It was only until Ricardo was one year old when I found out that he was no simple boar. He was already the size of bull and the attitude of one. He then killed his first timber wolf when we started sheep herding. I never lost a sheep when Ricardo is around." Northstone said in a proud tone.

Applejack was touched by the story and her respect for Northstone increased. She could see that he was dragon of experience and character, reminded her of ponies like Princess Celestia, Zecora, and her father. But she then noticed that in his eyes that there was a small amount of loss and pain. It wasn't really there but her element helped her saw that his calm facade was a mask as she noticed that when he wasn't talking, he had deep thoughtful, if almost somber look. He would stare at his hands when he wasn't part of the conversation.

She stopped her analyzing when he stood up and stretched, shaking his joints awake.

"Well, I think its time to hit the sack, you girls get some sleep, especially you Applejack as we need to leave early." He said.

He and Ricardo left the campfire and headed towards their herd. The while the opposite gendered pair entered a small teepee that belonged to Little Strongheart. They organized the rugs to get ready to sleep. But before they could, Little Strongheart spoke up.

"Applejack, is something bothering you? you seemed a bit dishearten after you mentioned Sugar Belle." She said, concern laced in her voice."

Applejack was surprised by the sudden question and thought about brushing it off. But she didn't want to do that to a friend who was only concerned about her. That, and she remembered her poor lying skills.

Giving in, she signed and handed Little Strongheart her locket from her bags. The calf looked at the picture of a happy family.She already figured that the two older ponies were the apple pony's parents. She looked back at the mare for clarification.

"That picture was taken after my mom gave birth to Applebloom. Things were looking bright for all of us, us as a family raising the orchard together." She sadly smiled at the future that never came true.

"But after my parents…were gone, it was hard on me, my brother, and granny smith. We had gotten in bits trouble along the way but in the end, we had endured and made Sweet Apple Acres lived up to its reputation." She said, with her smile switching to a sad look for what she was going to say next.

"But then Big Mac met Sugar Belle and ah was pumping excited to meet her. She is very sweet and is very passionate about her work. Ah can easily tell that she and Big Mac love each other." She then paused, getting her bearings.

"But the more Ah think of her and Big Mac, the resemblance that they are to my parents, this painful feeling comes inside of me. Ah want them to be together but Ah can't bare this terrible reminder of that..my parents aren't here." She finished, laying down as the sadness was weighing her down.

Little Strongheart looked at her friend helplessly. She didn't know what to say as she has no idea what Applejack was going through. She almost was being dragged by her own sadness until an idea came to her mind, bringing a smile to her face.

"Im sorry, Applejack. I don't know what to say to you in your time of grief but I know someone who can." She looked outside of the teepee. Applejack followed her line of sight to see it was directed at Northstone who was gathering some leftover food near the campfire, unaware of whats going on in the teepee. Applejack then suddenly gotten a weird feeling as she stared at the dragon, almost as she seen this before.

Little Strongheart looked back at Applejack. "Mr.Northstone had helped me get through some trouble thoughts of my own, I bet he can help you of what you're struggling with." Little Strongheart said encouragingly.

Applejack went into thought for a bit before she answered. "Alright, ah'll talk to him but first, we need to get some sleep." The calf agreed and then they went to sleep.

The odd feeling in Applejack lingered in her for a bit until sleep took her over.

This was Applejack's favorite part of the apple family reunion. When her older members were making apple fritters, she would sneak under the table and wait for them to not be looking before she would grab apple flavored pastries. The table cloth hid her from confused eyes when the adults were wondering were the fritters had gone too. Applejack quietly giggled when she saw the familiar green colored furred hooves of her grandmother, grumbling at the sudden mystery of the hoofdinie treats. But Applejack's mischievous smile formed into confusion when two scaled feet with spurs appeared next to her grandmother.

"Howdy Smith, whats wrong? You look like a rattlesnake looking for a pony that threw a rock at it." A deep toned voiced had said.

Her granny anwsered "Hello Onyx. Im just looking for the wipper snapper that had took the fritters." Her voice came with small amount of frustration.

Applejack watched their feet walked around the table, failing to see the thief. Her granny then sighed contently.

"Thanks for coming over Onyx, I appreciate the extra help for the reunion. Things have been going rough with Buttercup being a bit depressed lately.

"Is it about her father?" The male said with a somber tone.

"Yes, seeing all these family members together must've reminded of her how she can't get these moments with her own family now. Ah swear, if ah see that no good Grand Pear again, Im gonna give him fistful of apples." she said angrily which made young Applejack winced.

Her scaly companion laughed good naturally. "I find it beautiful that you had took in Buttercup as one of your own. I remembered you saying that apples don't fraternized with pears you had eloquently said, last time I was here." He said with humor in his voiced.

"Ah'll admit, it was strange having a pear living under the same roof with us apples, but later on, seeing the love she and Bright Mac have and them giving birth to two foals ah am proud to call my grandchildren. It helped me see the good it had brought." She said, a loving tone replacing her previous one."

Suddenly, Applejack heard some shouting in the distance. She couldn't make out what was said but apparently, Granny Smith's friend did.

"Huh, looks like Braeburn is trapped in the well again. I better go in and help. We'll catch up later, Maria." The spurred feet then headed towards the problem, leaving Granny and Applejack alone. The former not aware yet of latter.

Granny signed longingly, "Ah can see how ah went out with you back when we were youngin's "

"Ewwww." A little voice said, surprising the middle age mare.

Granny looked under the table from the voice came from and saw a little orange filly covered with fritter crumbs on her face.

Granny gave a deadpan stare at Applejack. "Now, what you got to say for yourself, Missy?"

The filly's only response was a sheepish smile.

Applejack woke up from her dream and sprung up from her rug bed. She looked around the teepee and saw that Little Strongheart was asleep. She looked outside to see it was dark out with nothing but the occasional baww from the neighboring sheep.

"….What the hay?" Applejack said, her confusion up to 100.

Author's Note

Alright, the next chapter will defiantly be the last as originally, I meant for this to be a one shot but this….thing became longer and longer. Anyway, Like I said before, give me your honest but polite opinion about what was good (If there is any) and what was bad. Also, I would like to shout to Bloody Khan and Sparrow40 for following me to their deaths-I mean for just following me…thats what I defiantly meant to say.
Keep on living bronies. I know I can't, what with me being a skeleton :ajsmug: