Chapter 3.

The Apple farm was filled with ponies from Ponyville who gathering around the many stalls playing the games or eating food. Matthew sat in his stall with Apple Dumpling watching over his shoulder in what he did. She was impressed with his skills.

“I think you can handle everything on your own.” Apple Dumpling said giving him a smile as she got up. Matthew continued to paint some colts and fillies faces.

Applejack stood by watching and keeping an eye on him after what happened. She notices how happy he was painting and sketching. It was like the world faded away and he could be himself.

“Shocking how the man you see now was scared before.” Sawdust said making Applejack jump.

“H-He seems so different.” Applejack said looking at Sawdust.

“These are the moments I like to see with him.” Sawdust said “It’s his escape from the world.”

Before Applejack could say anything she spotted the royal carriage coming down the road and to her farm “Ah see that she has made it!” Granny Smith said with joy in her voice.

The carriage stopped and two guard ponies stepped out and walked up to the door and opened it. Matthew notices the ponies and that’s when he saw her, her mane was blue and long with stars within her mane. Her eyes were light red and her smile felt familiar to him “Mind if ah ask for a picture?” Matthew snapped out of his trance and looked at the pony in front of him and saw Apple Bloom standing there.

“S-Sure, what would you like?” Matthew asked grabbing the sketch book Apple Dumpling left him to use.

The Queen looked around with a worried Luna by her side “Are you sure you're well enough for this mom?” Luna asked stepping out of the carriage.

“As I told your sister, it’s just a cold, I’ll be fine.” She said giving Luna a smile “Now, relax and have some fun! It is a festival after all.”

Luna tried not to worry about her mother however with how she’s been acting just made her worry more and more “I will try mom.”

“Queen Moonlight! It is so great seein’ ya again!” Granny Smith said walking up to the Queen and giving her a hug. The Queen hugged her back “It is so good to see you too Granny!” The two pulled away and that’s when the Queen saw Applejack standing there “You’ve grown up since the last time I’ve seen you Applejack.” Moonlight said noticing how much she took from her mother Pear Butter “When I heard you helped defeat king Sombra with the elements of harmony I wish I wasn’t out of the country.”

Applejack was confused by the Queen’s word “Ah don’t follow.” Applejack said rubbing the back of her neck.

“Your mother and I were the best-est of friends, I asked Granny to let me tell you when I was given the free time, I’ve been wanting to see all for so long.” Moonlight said smiling. Luna was standing there shocked by her mother’s words along with Applejack “Where are Apple Bloom and Big Mac?”

“Big Mac is around here somewhere.” Granny said looking around for Big Mac when she notices Apple Bloom over by Matthew “And Apple Bloom is over at the Art booth gettin’ a picture.”

“What can ya tell me about my mom?” Applejack asked.

“Why don’t we find somewhere to sit and I’ll tell you whatever you want.” Moonlight said with a smile. The four found a nice spot to sit “What would you like to know?”

“How close were you two?” Applejack asked.

“Very close, my father sent me to Ponyville to understand my subjects in order to help better our nation. When I met your mother, she made me laugh and from that day we became friends, I would help her with chores which was new to me and I got to learn so much about Ponyville through her eyes. Your mother's light still shines bright within you.” Moonlight said remembering Pear Butter always helping someone “Her values I taught my own girls, I know if your parents were still here they would so proud of you.”

“Thank you.” Applejack said smiling “Ah try to make them proud.”

“Your father would be gloating about how amazing his little girl is.” Moonlight said chuckling “When you were born he was already saying how you and Big Mac would do such great things.”

“He was always saying how great his family is.” Granny said chuckling “Ah remember when you two butted heads over who Applejack looked like the most.”

Moonlight chuckled “I still see so much more of Pear Butter in Applejack then Bright Mac, however he was right about the eyes, that’s the only time I’ll agree with him.”

Apple Bloom walked up to the three “Applejack! Look at what Matthew made!” Apple Bloom said holding up a picture of Apple Bloom with Applejack standing on Apple Blooms right side and Big Mac standing on her left side and that’s when Applejack eyes widen as she saw none other then her parents smiling proudly behind them with their hands on their shoulders. Applejack felt a tear fall down her cheek.

Moments earlier.

Apple Bloom pulled out an old picture and handed it to Matthew who looked at it. In the picture was a stallion with bright red hair with a light brown stetson hat on, he had his arms around a mare with brilliant gamboge hair and she was holding a foal in a blanket in her arms. In front of the two were a filly and a colt and Matthew notices they were Applejack and Big Mac when they were younger “Could you update this picture to have them standing behind us smiling?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Sure.” Matthew handed her the picture back.

“Don’t you need it?” Apple Bloom asked.

“No, I got what I need.” Matthew said as he took out his pen and started sketching away.

Present.

“This is really good.” Moonlight said looking at the sketch.

“I asked Matthew if he could update the picture you gave me Applejack. He did an awesome job!” Apple Bloom said with a smile.

Applejack was just stunned by how he captured their smiles and joy in their eyes.

“This stallion is indeed talented.” Luna said “Could give Tia a run for her bits.”

“Matthew isn’t a stallion.” Granny said “He’s Sawdust's human.”

“Sawdust has a human?” Moonlight asked shocked.

“Her kids bought him, she wasn’t happy with the idea of him being a slave.” Granny said “Ah wonder where she ran off to?”

“I went to get everyone some drinks.” Sawdust said making the group jump as she placed down some beverages “It is good to see you two again, it has been sometime since I’ve last seen you both. Where’s Tia?” Sawdust asked taking a seat.

“Tia wanted to get some things done, so it’s just us and a few of my guards.” Moonlight said smiling at her old friend.

“How’s teaching going?” Luna asked.

“I have a new student, he picks up everything I teach him quite easily.” Sawdust said.

“Teaching humans to read again?” Moonlight said chuckling as she took a sip of the beverage Sawdust brought them.

“You know me too well.” Sawdust said chuckling.

“Ah’ll be right back.” Applejack said getting up and leaving the four alone.

“Does she not like it?” Apple Bloom asked out loud.

“I think she loved it.” Moonlight said looking at Apple Bloom “I think she just needs a bit of fresh air.”

“We’re already outside.” Apple Bloom said confused.

Moonlight chuckled “Your father thought the same way when it came to things like this.”

“You knew my dad!?” Apple Bloom asked looking at Moonlight.

“I did, why don’t you sit down, I’ll tell you everything you wanna know.” Moonlight said with a smile as Apple Bloom took Applejack’s seat.

Apple Dumpling walked up to Matthew who was finishing up a sketch for a couple who couldn’t keep their hands off each other which Matthew just ignored the couple.

“Why don’t you take a break after this.” Apple Dumpling said to Matthew as he sketched.

“A-Are you sure? I can keep going.” Matthew said.

“I’m sure. you need a break.” She said.

Matthew nodded as he finished the sketch and handed the couple their picture as they were very happy and thanked him as they went to enjoy the night.

“Thank you again Matthew for this, come back in about half an hour.” Apple Dumpling said counting the bits that were given to Matthew.

Matthew notices Applejack walking into the orchard. He decided to follow her into the orchard. After awhile Applejack came to a clearing where two trees were wrapped around each other as they formed a heart as one tree was a pear tree and the other was an apple tree. Applejack took a seat on a nearby bolder. Matthew was in awe at the sight before him “This is beautiful.” He said out loud making Applejack jump and look at Matthew.

“W-What are ya doin’ here?” Applejack asked.

“I-I’m on break and saw you walking out h-here alone, I-I wanted to make sure everything was alright.” He said “I-I can leave if you want.”

“No, yer fine.” Applejack said “Come sit.” Applejack said patting the a spot next to her. Matthew took a seat next to her and looked at the tree before him “My parents planted two seeds, one a pear tree and one an apple tree.” Applejack said “They may have came from different worlds but their love was strong.”

Matthew looked at Applejack who had tears in her eyes as she stared at the trees “They would be proud of you.” Matthew said making Applejack looked at him “When Apple Bloom showed me that picture of you all together I could see how happy they were with you all. When I was sketching the picture she wanted I knew in my heart they wanted you all to know they were proud.”

Applejack smiled “Thank you for that. Ah haven’t seen them in so long and seein’ them with us again just.” Applejack felt the tears escape some more as she tried to control her emotions.

“It brought you joy and sadness.” Matthew said “You knew them for so long and the day you lost them still stings.” He said “A friend once told me, no matter how hard it is, the ones you love will remain in your heart forever.”

Applejack wiped the tears away as she looked at Matthew “Ya full of surprises.” She said chuckling “You can cook, you're an artist, you're good at buildin’ and now you're givin’ advice.” She chuckled “How anyone could hurt you makes no sense to me, your heart is too kind.”

Matthew blushed “I-I’m just trying to help.” He said rubbing the back of his neck.

“You did help, Matthew.” Applejack said giving him a smile “Thank you.”

“A-Anytime.” He said with a smile which made Applejack happy.

“Can I ask you somethin’?”

“S-Sure.”

“Do you miss your parents?”

Matthew looked away from Applejack and looked down at the ground “I-I don't know my parents, I was abandoned."

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Applejack said feeling guilty for asking.

“I-It’s alright, I may not have known them but I met some great people who I say are my family.” He said looking up from the ground and looking at Applejack with a smile.

“I’m glad, maybe one day ya’ll be free and be able to live a normal life.” Applejack said.

Matthew gave her a half smile “That won’t happen in my life time, but maybe one day.” He thought.

“C-Can you draw them again? In front of this tree?” Applejack asked.

Matthew dug in his bag and pulled out his sketchbook “Sure.”

A few hours later

It started to become late and the fair was beginning to end. Some of the stalls were beginning to close up for the night. However Apple Dumpling was a bit angry as Matthew never returned after his break which forced her to shut down earlier than she wanted. She walked up to the group of ponies at the table and asked Granny Smith where Matthew was which then caused them to wonder where Applejack was as well.

Luna took her guards and her captain to look over near the Everfree Forest while Sawdust, Moonlight and Granny Smith look in the orchard for Matthew and Applejack. They looked for a good few hours before Moonlight notices a clearing with the two trees forming a heart and that’s when she saw the two sitting on a boulder and she notices Applejack was laying on the human’s shoulder and she notices his head resting on her head “The two fell asleep.” Moonlight said chuckling. This brought a smile to her face, a flash of a young man’s face with brown eyes and blond hair came to her mind and her smile faded and turned to sadness “I-I found them!” Moonlight called out to the others.

Applejack heard the yell, causing her to slowly open her eyes to see she was resting on someone’s shoulder. She went to lift her head when she felt something resting on hers and that’s when everything started to come to mind. She started crying again and Matthew let her cry into his shoulder and must have fallen asleep and he must have fallen asleep too.

Matthew felt something moving underneath his head causing him to lift his head “Uh? W-What’s going on?” He asked trying to wake up.

“I-I must have fallen asleep on ya shoulder.” Applejack said feeling her cheeks heat up.

“O-Oh.” Matthew felt his cheeks heat up.

“Oh thank the Gods ya alright.” Granny Smith said walking up to the two “When ya didn’t come back Ah got worried.”

“I’m sorry Granny, Matt and Ah were talkin’ and lost track of time.” Applejack said still feeling tired.

Matthew felt a hand touch his shoulder making him look to see Sawdust “Glad you're alright too Matthew.” Matthew smiled as the group started making their way out of the orchard he stopped in his tracks as he saw the Queen standing there smiling at them.

“Y-Your highness.” Matthew said bowing.

Moonlight watched as Matthew looked back up and that’s when she notices his eyes. His right eye stuck out the most, it was black with a red line around it. She quickly un-panicked her mind as she greeted him “I’m glad to see you both safe and sound.”

Matthew for some reason felt comfortable near her. He felt a strange force within his heart that he didn’t understand. He figured it might have been the funnel cakes he had earlier messing with him “T-Thank you.”

With everyone counted for they returned back to the house. Moonlight looked at Matthew one more time before she left with Luna and her guards by their side.

Matthew walked into his room as he placed down his sketchbook. He drew a few things for Applejack that he needed to finish tomorrow. He was about done to till Applejack started crying again. He felt bad he made her cry, she really misses her parents. He took a seat on his bed as he looked out at the night sky from his window “I never really had parents growing up, just caretakers as they called themselves. Only person I really called family was Amber and she was sold off before I was sold of too.” He looked at the moon shining bright “I wonder if my parents even loved me?”

Moonlight sat in the carriage with her daughter next to her. Moonlight’s mind was on the young man named Matthew “His right eye, its just like his. The child I once held in my arms. The true king of Equestria. C-Could he have lived?” Moonlight looked at her right hand, a long scar ran across her hand “If the boy is him then we must help him become the true king.”

To Be Continued.

Author's Note

Let me know what you all think!