Being Brave Part I

"Is the air conditioner checked darling?" asked Rarity "I told you I'd like the air conditioner on."

"Yes it is Miss Rarity." replied Cory as he checked the little fan next to his seat. "I'm not sure why you'd need it though."

"Oh, and I think your'e going a tad too fast." she added

"Miss Rarity, I think we're driving at a very normal speed." Said Cory

"Yes, well I prefer driving under the speed limit. My mane gets quite frizzy during the harvesting season."

Cory was escorting Rarity through the local Ponyville market via carriage. Here the usual hustle and bustle was seen from tent to tent. The customers we're buying their basic goods, the owners presenting every item. The street vendors we're displaying their latest items and gadgets to the next intrigued passerby, mostly attracting the little fillies. To the left, the two of them could spot a Pegusi haggling with a baker over the price of a cinnamon bun, while to their right, a tarot reading with a special discount. While this seemed a typical place to folk, Cory, on the other hand, thought he and Rarity we're entering some turn of the century world's fair. At that moment, he noticed Rarity looking outside her window and letting out a big sigh.

"Something wrong Miss Rarity?" asked Cory

"Oh nothing." chuckled Rarity. "It's just that my neighbor Lyra Heartstrings said the most outlandish thing at the party back there."

"What did she say?" Asked Cory

"Well, she was talking about how I'm the luckiest pony in Equestria to have you."

"She did?"

"Mmm hmm, oh, I assumed you would know her by now."

"Can't say I have Miss Rarity."

"Well, ever since that little adventure Twilight had in your world, Lyra's been dying to know what your species is like: Where you come from, what you're into, what mechanisms you humans have, and how.." she cleared her throat "helpful you all seem to be. I think it's wonderful the way things are changing with you around here. Oh, here's our stop. You may park here Cory."

Cory steered the carriage to a halt as Rarity lightly stepped off. The hustle and bustle of the Ponyville market's food section was in full swing. Everypony was selling or buying their edible goods by the bit. Fillies we're roaming the street goofing off. With the exception of Cory's presence, nothing seemed to be eventful or out of the blue today. Suddenly, Cory noticed an argument between a Unicorn and an Earth Pony over the price of food. The quarrel triggered a flashback in head of a very dark part of his life.

When he was about 9 years old, a week before his parents left him, and about 4 years before the tyrannic principal took over his school, an argument ensued between his mom and an educator during a parent teacher conference. He remembered sitting outside the classroom hearing the whole conversation through closed doors. While the teacher, whom he liked, insisted that a good role model be best fit for the students, His mother thought otherwise, insisting on more discipline and coordination. He remembered how violent it almost got as the argument evolved into screaming and pointing. Cory covered his ears and crouched down to a fetal position, as he did back then, almost making a scene among the Ponyville residents.

"Something wrong Cory?" asked Rarity.

Cory shook his head and went back on his feet.

"Excellent." she responded as she took out her grocery list. "Now then, we'll need about two or three large jars of strawberry jam, five large jars of peanut butter, five or six long stalks of celery, Eleven home decor plates, a glass case or two of oats, an...." she noticed Cory still shaking and with sad, shifty eyes. "Listen Cory, if you have a problem please don't be afraid to speak up."

"It's nothing Miss Rarity." Cory responded.

"Are you sure because you seem to be..."

"I said it's nothing!" he insisted.

A worried look fell on Rarity's face. "Well if that's the case," she said "Lets move forward."

As the day rolled on, Cory found himself carrying an impossibly large supply of items. Each one ranging from food to silverware to place settings. As strenuous as it sounded, Cory didn't seem to mind the hard work. It was a way to keep his mind off that terrible memory. But still, the thought seemed to creep into his subconscious, distracting him from a few of the tasks at hand. Soon, Rarity noticed the spacey look on his face and a parental worry grew on her.

"Cory dear, listen." She said as she rubbed her hoof on his back. "Let me just take it from here."

"But this is a lot of stuff Miss Rarity." he responded.

"Oh, Cory I just needed somepony to load these onto my carriage, that's all. Say, I think the Apple Family is in need of assistance over there." She pointed towards the Sweet Apple Acres tent who's selling of their good's was now in full swing. Behind them was Cory's gargantuan creation as their centerpiece.

"Are you sure you'll be alright Miss Rarity?" he asked

"Of course." Replied Rarity as she hopped back on the carriage. "Besides I have two sturdy gentlemen to help me unload anyway. Have fun." And with the tap of her hoof the pair of stallions escorted her back to her Carousel Boutique.

Applejack noticed Cory walking towards them and waved her hoof in the air. "Hey Cory, come over here!" she shouted as he jogged towards the Apple Family Booth. "Yer just the feller we need."

"What is it?" asked Cory.

"Could you help Applebloom write with paint some catchy slogans to attract more customers?"

"Write?" he asked with a stunned look on his face.

"You do know how to write do you?" asked Big Mac

Cory's eyes shifted back and forth trying to come up with a correct answer.

"Well, I was..." But he couldn't think of what to say. Finally, he gave in and went behind the booth where Applebloom was working.

"I guess that's a yes?" Said Applejack as the two gave a puzzled look.

"Howdy Cory!" Said Applebloom. "You're just in time. Me and Sweetie Belle are paintin some signs for the apple stand and our clubhouse."

"You have a clubhouse?" Asked Cory quietly.

"Yeah." squeaked Sweetie Belle. "You can't have the Cutie Mark Crusaders without a clubhouse. You should really see it sometime."

"Well don't be nervous." Said Applebloom. "There's some paint over there and a billboard to get you started."

Applebloom pointed to her right towards a stool, paint buckets, a brush and a pile of billboards to which Cory promptly walked towards. As he stared at the blank canvas and the brush in his hand, he began to remember those bad episodes he had when it came to finding the correct words. For Cory, writing was as hard on him as quantum mechanics. Sure, he knew his ABC's, sure he knew how to read, but when it came to putting a sentence down the correct way, it was a challenge. It's not that he knew what to write, it's that he didn't know how to express it on a piece of paper. Whenever he tried to express himself this way, it would end up as nonsensical gibberish. This often got him in trouble with the teachers, who would scold any classmate for a simple grammatical error, not to mention the many detentions he had for getting a bad a grade on a written homework assignment. So, he would express himself through pictures rather than words, although he never showed it to anyone, believing he would get in trouble for it

As his brain almost suffered another anxiety attack, he noticed how the paint he was using had a fruity smell to them. So, realizing he wouldn't be judged here, he took the various paints and with the delicate stroke of his brush, began to bring to life a series of paintings. First, he started off with a few simple still portraits: a barrel of apples, a bucket of oats, and a few jars of apricot jam. Then, he moved onto more complex subjects: A pony customer trotting by, a tomato seller haggling with a buyer, and the marketplace tents from near and far. Within an hour, he had completed about 8-9 finely crafted works of art.

"Cory! Are you done with those signs yet?" Asked Applejack as she clopped towards his work station.

"Yes. I think so." Cory answered.

"Well that's super." she said. "Now lets just nail them to the supporting beams and we'll..."

Applejack stopped mid sentence as stared in awe at another one of his art creations. Each painting was based on the material used: One painting was made out of squeezed apricots, another, out of mushed apples.

"Boy Howdy." Said Applejack as she scratched her head "You don't ever cease to amaze us."

"Uhhh thanks?" Cory replied.

"Hey, You mind if we sell some of your paintings or at least display em?" she asked.

"Uhhh, sure I..I guess." he answered.

Then she picked up each of his paintings with her mouth and placed each on on the counter top of their booth.

"My, those paintings look just as good as they smell." Said a magenta coated customer who happened to passed by. "Did you make those?"

"Nnope." Replied Big Mac

"Our new stable colt Cory did." Answered Granny Smith who pointed towards Cory in the corner.

"Well, it is very nice to meet you Cory." Said the customer. "I'm glad to know that you humans are a very talented species. Would you mind if I bought one of your works?"

Cory shrugged as if giving an approval signal. She then gleefully threw a bag of bits on the table and placed his painting on her back.

"Oh, where are my manners." She said as she approached him. "My name is Miss Cherilee. I am a teacher over at the local schoolhouse here in Ponyville."

"Yeah." added Sweetie Belle "She's the best teacher anypony could ever hope for."

"She's also sweet and kind, and very beautiful." added Applebloom

"Now you girls." chuckled Miss Cherilee. "You don't have to flatter me in front of everypony else.

"Well, I'd better get going. I'll see you two girls at school tomorrow." and off she trotted away as Sweetie Belle and Applebloom two waved her goodbye.

By midday, The Apple Family managed to sell all his paintings to the highest bidder.

"Hot Diggity!" Said Granny Smith as the Apple Family began to dismantle their booth. "I don't think we've had such darn tootin good business since 35 moons ago."

"Hey Cory!" said Applejack. "Me and my pal Rainbow Dash have an engaging activity we're doing this afternoon. Wanna tag along?"

"Ok." Answered Cory with a soft voice.

"Great." answered Applejack. "Hop on." Cory sat on Applejacks back as she trotted over to the open field.