Being Brave Part I

The residence of the Apple Family was like something out of a children's story. Though Cory couldn't read very accurately, he remembered from his picture books images of a place not too different from the barn. Here the decor resembled a colonial home alluding to the frontier times. The cedar floorboard from which it stood upon felt smooth and light with each step. Cory could even smell it's fresh aroma as it entered through his nostrils. Even the furniture felt welcoming, as if luring any random passerby to sit down from a long stroll. Though certainly no mansion, it was definitely better than his place.

" Here, take a load off and sit on the couch." Said Applejack. Which he promptly did.

"Fluttershy was lucky enough to give me one of them first aid bags o hers. That'll patch ya up real good."

Cory almost forgot the gash on his arm as he took a seat. He remembered how he was barely able to open his left eye and how a few drips of blood were still seeping out of his nose. In short, he was a mess.

As Applejack fumbled through the cupboard and found the first aid bag, Cory wondered as to how she would mend him without the assistance of fingers. What's more, he wondered as to how a society entirely comprised of hooves and manes would be able to make such advanced structures. Then again, she somehow reminded him of one of his five friends: Joanna Deadrie. She was about the same size as he was and just about as gangly too. Her hair was always braided into one solid pony tail, giving her a look of real determination. She always wore a country girl-like giddup consisting of suspenders and a plaid button down shirt, which looked as though she made it herself. Her personality, all in all was a combination between Annie Oakley and Fern from Charlotte's Web, not too fragile, not too tough. But what made her stand out among most girls was her strong sense of determination. Whenever a task or ordeal was presented to her, she would strive to do her best at whatever it was, even though she didn't always succeed. Like Applejack, she and her family owned a farm located in the towns agricultural district, which made her a center of ridicule among the urban dwellers of their school, not to mention the fact that she and her family made most of their clothes. Yet memories of her place consisted of warmth, security and love. He remembered how they used to make games out of her daily chores, how they went up into the barn rafters and made shadow puppets with the lantern, and how every night, after the sun went down, they slept underneath an open roof and gazed at the majesty of the stars while making stories out of their constellations.

"Now this might sting a wee bit." said Applejack as she selected a dap of cleaning cloth with her mouth.

To his surprise it only stung a little. In fact, the cloth had a little tingling sensation, as if he was being messaged in some way. With each dab of the cloth soaked in warm water on his searing skin, he started to feel less and less pain. Then, she carefully moved up to his left eyelid and gently squeezed it with her hoof. The clotted blood slowly burst out and dripped down his cheek and chin, giving him a long awaited relief.

He had never received this kind of treatment before, except of course from his friends. Usually, whenever he got bruised, the school nurse would just give him a painkiller and scoff him off, leaving him in excruciating nausea and loss of balance for the rest of the day.

"There, that wasn't so bad now was it?" Said Applejack.

"Now, lets see if we can mend that arm of yours."

She searched though the bag and found a long string, perfect for stitching. With the ease of her mouth she tied it around a delicate needle and started on the gash on his arm.

"So what's you name stranger?" she said through her teeth.

"Cory." he replied softly.

"Cory, that's a strange name. Then again, what do I know about humans?" she said as she continued sewing up his gash.

"So where do you live?"

Cory stared at her as if unable to answer that question.

"Do you know where your home is?" she continued.

He bowed his head in shame.

The string fell from Applejack's mouth as if she knew what that meant.

"You don't have a home do you?"

Cory slowly shook his head. "I can still leave if you want." he replied.

"Aint no way that's happenin critter." said Applejack cheerfully as she finished stitching up his wound. "You're staying with us."

" But I'm not your..." He took a glance at her physical shape. "...Type" he said shyly.

"Look, this is Harvestin season." she said. " this is the busiest time for the apple family. Two or Four legs we need all the help we can find." "Aint that right Big Mac?"

"eeyup." Said Big Macintosh as he entered the room and put away the first aid kit.

" I think I know just the thing you need to ease down your sore leggings." she continued. And with that, she propped him up escorted him outside.

The day rolled on as the sun set in the west. Applebloom was returning from her adventures in Cutie Mark Crusading, Granny Smith was woke up from her afternoon nap, and Big Mac was tugging the last supply of apples for the day.

"Family Meeting!" She shouted as she set a new bundle of clothes for Cory. He was found in what looked like a large tub of water scrubbing his bruises clean of all the residue. The Apple family dashed in like a group of cadets ready for battle.

"Allright Ya'll, as you may or may not know we got a new stable boy to help us with our busy harvestin season. His name is Cory. Though he may not be of our...species, we're gonna treat him like everypony else. So no pointin, no starin, chucklin or wincin at the way he walks, looks or talks. Do I Make myself clear?"

They all nodded in agreement.

As she said this, Cory struggled to get out of Bath tub, but ended up slipping over and landing head first in the grass. Big Mac started to chuckle at this sight.

"HEY, that there's exactly what I'm talkin bout?" She said as she gave Big Mac the stare.

"Now I may not know much about these so called humans, but Twilight taught me they're living things, just like the rest of us. So were gonna give him some good hospitality and we are NOT ousting him from any of our chores or duties."

"Darn tootin." added Granny Smith "This time o year's far too important for us to pickin on a youngun."

Cory struggled to put on his new shirt and suspenders. It was like trying to learn to tie your shoes all over again. Luckily Applebloom was there to help him fasten it up.

"That's my girl." Acknowledged Applejack.

It was now dinner time for the Apple Family. The table was covered with a wide array of nourishments: fritters, pie, sandwiches, apple slices, soup, apricot jam, bread and grape juice and countless other edible items. Cory made a pile of whatever he found onto his plate and started slamming food down his throat like a wild animal. He didn't care if the Apple Family was watching him at the moment, nor if looked like a slob. All he thought about was putting something in his stomach. He hadn't tasted something so delicious and flavorful in so long. .

"Uhhh... Applejack?" said Granny Smith "Why don't you show him that old sleeping space of yours."

"uhhhh... Sure thing Granny." Replied Applejack with a bit of worry on her face.

As nighttime covered the sky, Cory was guided up the stairs and into the Apple Family attic.

"Me and Big Mac used to play hide and seek and built forts up in here, aint that right?" said AppleJack

"Eeyup" replied Big Mac.

"We usually just use it for storage nowaday, but you're welcome to use it as your sleeping quarters."

The area was quite spacious for an attic. Though not the greatest in the world, it was definitely better than his place. In addition, it carried a smell of fresh cedar and clean mint, and with the exception of a cobweb or two, the floor and walls were neatly dusted. On the right facing the window was an adequate bed and dresser, complete with kerosene lamp and a quilted rug.

"Haven't had this in awhile." he said softly

"Your own room?" asked Applebloom

"a bed" he answered.

"Well anypony's welcome in our barn." said Applejack as she approached the scene.

"Now you go get some shut eye. Tomorrow's a pretty eventful day for you. Goodnight Ya'll"

And with that, the two of them trotted back downstairs. Left to his new accommodation, Cory began to test the bed's durability. He gently rocked it with his body as he swayed back and forth with a hypnotizing gesture. For too long, he'd gotten so used to sleeping on the cold, hard floor in a makeshift sleeping bag. He'd almost forgotten the softness of a mattress, or the hugging sensation of a pillow, or the warm caress of a blanket. As he settled in the confines of the bed enveloped him, as if luring him into a sea of slumber. Just then Applebloom popped her head back up from the floor latch.

"You don't talk a lot do ya?" she said "I like you." Then she popped her head back down as he drifted off to sleep.