Roots

Grass Roots awoke the next morning, not feeling better physically, but feeling uplifted mentally. Applejack had finally noticed, and seemingly enjoyed his presence. He wasn’t getting his hopes up, but at least she knew who he was.

After about ten minutes of looking at the window, Nurse Healing Heart came into the room with a fresh I.V. bag and some painkillers.

“Good morning, dear”, she said, “How are you feeling?”.

“I feel about as fine as I can right now. Thank you for what you’ve done”, Grass Roots finished with a smile.

“It’s my job, but thank you. It makes me happy to see our patients be happy”, Healing Heart said as she changed the I.V.

He took the meds and Healing Heart left the room, leaving him to his thoughts. He sat there for a good hour or two, thinking mostly of Applejack, when his door opened to reveal his three best friends Noteworthy, Caramel, and Stitch.

“Hello Roots, how are you feeling? That was a pretty rough hit”, Noteworthy asked.

“I’m feeling decent, Notes. Thank you for asking”, Roots said smiling back.

“It’s good to see that you’re positive, Roots. Celestia knows Ah couldn’t deal with what you’ve been through”, Caramel piped up sympathetically.

“Well Mel, you’re tougher than am, so I think you’d be fine”, Roots said back.

“Well, I for one think that he’s very brave. Saving a little filly like that isn’t easy, you know? Bravo, Roots!”, said Stitch.

“Thanks, Stitches. It’s always good to hear your encouragement”, Roots laughed.

He smiled at the three of them. They always knew how to cheer him up. Whether it be Noteworthy’s witty humor, Caramel’s infectious positivity, or Stitch’s flamboyant banter, it always brightened him up.

“Say Roots”, Caramel spoke, “Ah heard Big Mac talkin’ about how it their cart than ran you over, and that Applejack had come to see you”.

“Wait, really? Applejack came to see you?! That’s wonderful!”, Stitch said in his usual manner.

“My my, it seems that our boy was finally noticed. So, how’d it feel?”, Noteworthy asked.

Grass Roots looked very embarrassed, but spoke anyway.

“If I’m honest, I was in a daze. I’ve thought so much of her for so long that hearing her say my name was like a dream come true. I’m not getting my hopes up, but it sure made me feel good”, he said with a bashful smile.

“Oh my, that’s so fantastic! I’m so glad she finally noticed”, Stitch congratulated him.

“Thanks Stitches, but she was just checking on me”, Roots said back.

“Roots, Ah’ve know Applejack for quite a bit, and the way she looked this morning when she talked about you was very unlike her. Ah couldn’t read her, nopony could actually. Ah don’t like makin’ assumptions, but something’s up”, Caramel informed.

Roots face changed to faintly hopeful expression.

“Roots, my boy, I think things have changed for you. Remember what I told you? That good things come to those who wait? Well, the wait might be over”, Noteworthy encouraged him.

He thought it over, and a small smile came on.

“You might be right, guys”, he started, “ Anyway, how was Guy’s Night?”.

———————————————————————

His friends had certainly brightened Roots up after their visit. They told a hilarious story about Stitch and a waiter that nearly made Roots spit his water, and in the end they left laughing. They had been gone for about three hours when Healing Heart entered the room.

“Hello Grass Roots, how are you feeling?”, she asked as she removed his current I.V.

“I feel good, thank you. My friends were here to check up on me, so that was fun”, he said happily.

“That’s great, dear”, Healing Heart said, “You know, I saw Ms. Applejack entering the lobby when I was on my way here”.

He peeked up, causing the nurse to giggle.

“She’ll be here any moment”, she said.

It was at that time that the door opened, revealing Applejack. She smiled as she entered the room, filling Roots’ heart with light.

“Howdy there, Grass Roots. Howdy, Nurse, how’s he doing?”, Applejack asked.

“He’s doing fine, Ms. Applejack. Say, I have to tend to more patients, I’ll be back in a little while”, she winked at Grass Roots as she left.

Applejack then sat beside his bed and began to speak.

“Well, Ah hope you’re doin’ a little better than yesterday”, she said to him.

“I feel a bit better, my friends were here earlier to check on me. They were full of laughs, as usual ”, he chucked.

“Say now, tell me about your friends. They sound very funny”, Applejack asked of him.

They talked for about twenty minutes, laughing about various wild stories, until Applejack spoke up about something.

“Listen Grass Roots”, she said gently, “Ah talked with the market owner, and he gave some news Ah think you might want to hear”.

“See, he said that due to the destruction of your booth, he was terminating the position. In other words, sugarcube, he fired you”, she said with disgust.

Grass Roots looked very shocked.

“Ah gave him a piece of mah mind, but he was very sure of himself. He said that your booth wasn’t a priority, and he was going to lay you off yesterday in person, but all of this happened. Ah’m sorry, Grass Roots”, Applejack apologized.

“Why are you apologizing, Applejack? He was going to fire me anyway. Sure, it hurts seeing as how I’ve had that job for a long time, but it doesn’t bother me much”, he said calmly.

“You’re a very strong stallion, taking this all in stride. Ah have a proposition for ya, if you’d like to hear”, Applejack said.

He nodded, and she began.

“Ah heard from your boss that you were always good for tending to fruit. One of our farmhands quit, and mah family decided to offer you his position after you recover. It’s the least we could do after all this happened”, Applejack said.

“So what do you say, Grass Roots”, she asked, “You willin’ to work for us after you’re better?”.

He thought it was a dream at first, but realized it was reality. After an awkward pause, he spoke.

“I’d love to work for you, Applejack. I’ve always enjoyed your family’s apples, so making sure they grow right would be a pleasure for me”, he said back with a smile.

“Ah’m glad you agreed, sugarcube. Ah have to say that ah was nervous to come here, and to ask you if you wanted to work. Ah still feel so bad, hurtin’ you like this. If there’s anything Ah can do, Ah’ll do it”, Applejack said honestly.

Grass Roots nodded the spoke.

“Well there’s one thing I’d like, actually”, Roots said.

“Sure, what is it?”, she said asked.

“My friends call me Roots, you can call me that too I’d you’d like”, he said with a grin.

She smiled too, making him feel great.

“Ah’d like that, Roots. Ah better get going, work has to get done. It was nice to see you again, Roots. Ah was actually hopin’ we could end up friends, looks Ah don’t have to worry anymore”, She admitted.

He was over the moon when she said that, and quickly took to answering her.

“I’d like nothing more, Applejack. I’ll be your friend”, he said happily.

She smiled, tipped her hat, and walked out. Smiling, he looked outside to the outdoors, where the afternoon sun bathed a flower bed in sunlight, feeding them the nutrients they needed.