The Bond

Chapter 20

Maero’s Normal Day

It was dark...

Everywhere in sight was dark, and if you tried to look at anything, you'd only find yourself staring into the black deeps that shrouded the world around you, especially on other side of the thin window. This monotony was broken by the tiny lamp posts that lined up and down the roads and shone up the commercial districts of the Ponyville.

Yet still, it was dark...

But not for long.

Over in distance at the top of the snowy mountains bordering the land, the sky suddenly lit up in an aspiring light show that penetrated through out of the clouds and laid its heavenly rays throughout the whole world, from the mountain capital of Canterlot to the skyscrapers of Manehattan, ultimately ending up at the countryside town.

Now, as the whole Ponyville was waking up from their slumber  (bar a certain chestnut Earth Pony over in his lair) so did a certain pattern of events, all tied together, began to play out.

Events tried to three human beings, who aren’t even supposed to be present in the magical land of Equestria and most certainly not as three stallions.

Now a week has passed after the dreadful events that took place upon at the Ancient Castle and, moreover, inside the library of Ponyville.

In between those seven days, much has happened.

Located just on the edge of Ponyville and over the vast orchards of apple trees lay Sweet Apple Acres, the titular provider of finest apples to the whole of Equestria and its neighboring lands since the early days of the town.

Close by them is also located the Carrot Family Farm, the titular provider of everything else besides apple products, and in fact their farm land is almost double in acreage.

But although one might guess wrong, these two families have been in steady relations for years, at least as long as neither one decided to compete in the market or bother the other.

But now these two estates are connected to one another, and that is through our lone maroon friend.

* * * * *

Although the sun had barely rose up from behind the mountain, the whole Apple family had already arrived in the kitchen to enjoy their morning meal of sweet apple products.

Everypony had their place over the beech table; the crimson red Big Mac sat on the end of the table and drank dark coffee whilst enjoying the latest edition of the Ponyville Times. On his left sat his little sister Applebloom, enjoying her oat cereals and glass of apple juice, and as he turned to look to his right, he saw his other sister Applejack finish off the apple jam toast. With a chuckle, the crimson red pony took a sip of his coffee and watched as Granny Smith joined the three of them to eat her porridge.

However the stallion then turned to look at the opposite end of the table.

Big Mac didn’t say anything as he folded his paper and stared down at Applejack.

“Will you go and git our guest for food?” He questioned, and watched as the orange pony rolled her eyes, but left the kitchen, grumbling a bit. Big Mac smiled as he returned to his breakfast.

In a flash she walked past the colorful living room and arrived at the start of the steps. As her hooves trotted their way up to the second floor; vast in space and also the floor where every bedroom of the house was located.

Applejack noticed that a specific one was open.

As she walked down the corridor, the mare didn’t need to even walk down to the guest room to confirm her assumption. Instead, her attention turned to the ajar bathroom door, from which a dim light shone to the hallway.

Applejack quietly approached the other door and as the distance grew shorter, she heard the sound of running water alongside with what sounded like splashing. Finally, she got to the door and carefully opened it up.

Her immediate reaction was confusion.

Over by the white sink stood the maroon brown stallion, his huge body leaning over it whilst the golden mane had drops of water dripping down to the tile floor. The massive Earth Pony continued to stare down at the running sink and, seemingly unaware of the mare’s presence, used his two front hooves to splash the water across himself, bathing in the cold liquid like in a shower.

Is he trying to wake himself up? Applejack wondered, however her line of thoughts stopped as the maroon pony turned off the water and quickly scooped up last of the water to the hanging towel.

But his otherwise swift movement came to a dead end as he turned over.

Maero looked rather surprised, something Applejack hadn’t seen, but in a blink of an eye his look changed to normal in her eyes.

Applejack nervously laughed “Ah... There’s food waiting downstairs.” she said and tried to not look at the stallion, who obviously wasn’t happy over her discovery.

Maero stopped only inches away from her before turning to stare down at her, something that Applejack found extremely unsettling. The emerald eyes didn’t blink as the stare off continued for a moment before coming to a stop as the maroon stallion lazily shrugged and walked past the mare.

Yet Applejack couldn’t help but to wonder what he had been doing here in the bathroom.

In the end, she also shrugged before closing the door and walking after him.

* * * * *

"What’s the matter, sweetie? Not hungry anymore, hmm?"

I leered to my right to see the green pony, oldest out of all, smile to me whilst offering me a basket of freshly baked bread. Not wanting to be rude, I said my thanks as I took the smallest one of them, however the old mare noticed this, huffed and exchanged the bread to a lot larger one.

"Ah shucks, you ought to eat properly colt. Just take an example of Big Mac; that colt eats like a proper workhorse." At the same time, the granny of this family passed her basket to the younger generation, specifically to the little filly next to her. Now my eyes wandered to the other end of the table, to where the only stallion besides me sat, secluded from the rest like me. He must have noticed my look, although it didn't seem to bother him.

Big Mac...

Now there's a mystery pony.

I recalled our first meeting and the odd look he gave to me as he literally rubbed his eyes out of disbelief whilst I stopped in front of him and offered my... hoof for a shake. As Applejack, the mare with the cowboy hat, explained my situation, the rest of the family, by that I mean that little yellow one and the old green one, had took same kinds of looks as the crimson red stallion.

"Like two berries," the old mare had commented and winked to me "Expect you've got maybe an inch on our Macintosh."

I snapped back to this reality as he stood up "Ah got to get to the fields," he said and briefly brushed his little sisters red mane, generating a giggle, before walking out of the room and soon I heard the front door bang.

Then again, one cannot make friends in mere days.

Even if I'd be looking for one.

Even the little filly jumped off from her seat, after finishing her glass of milk, and basically charged out of the room.

So now as I looked over, there were only two ponies left; the old granny and Applejack.

The orange mare shook her head, "Applebloom just never learns, does she?" she questioned and turned back to her food, same as I.

Now food...

It had took me awhile to understand the basics of pony cuisine, and it had been a pleasant experience to try my cooking skills. By far, it had been a surprise just how tasteful pony food could be; hay toast, oat fries and the many baked sweets, mainly apple related ones.

But there still was one kind of substance I refused to eat.

I cringed as I saw that there were flowers mixed with the flour.

Ugh, no thanks.

I thought as the bread fell down to the dish and stood up, losing my appetite for food. Just then, Applejack did the same as she pushed up and met me by the door.

A light chuckle rang out and both of us turned back to see the green mare grin.

"Well, off you two go," she said whilst beginning to gather the leftovers "Ah hate to see you love birds stay indoors on this beautiful day."

Applejack planted a hoof to her face and the old mare laughed again, this time as she watched us leave the kitchen. But it faded away by the time we got to the front door and there Applejack let out a relieved groan whilst I merely rolled my eyes.

"Ugh, Granny Smith can be just a little filly all she wants," she said whilst taking her hat from the crook and placing it on "Hopefully it doesn't bother you, Maero. She's just teasing me, not you."

"It's okay." I let out my first words for the day and was surprised to have my straw hat being handed over by the smiling cowpony.

"Glad to hear," Applejack laughed and proceeded to walk outside through the open door, most likely preparing for some apple harvesting she loved so much, or that's at least what I recall Tom, nowadays Nucleus, mentioning.

So I took deep breath and put my hat on, ready to meet my upcoming day.

At least the trip’s relaxing.

But then a sudden shiver rocked my body, out of the corner with no warning. Although it did only last for a short amount of time, and by the time it stopped, I’d already crossed the gates of Sweet Apple Acres.

Strange...

As if somebody mentioned me.

* * * * *

Past the low hill tops which are like cuts out of the surface and make up for the vast fields of emptiness which Ponyville’s surroundings consist of, lay the Carrot Family Farm. With its vast plowed fields, the estate stretches outwards to every possible direction anypony might lay their eyes on. In fact, it is the largest farm of bordering lands, just showing off how well even a small place like Ponyville can prosper, although the main reason has been titled to Sweet Apple Acres with their zap apple products.

But it wasn’t like the Carrot Clan cared over this minor fact.

At least that’s what Golden Harvest, current leader of the farm, had inside that green head of hers over what Pa’ had told her over and over again.

And Golden Harvest believed it as she continued to eye the fields from over the front porch, leaning onto the railing and holding a cup of coffee between her hooves. A smile was painted over her face, as she knew that over there, for miles and miles, lay the growing seeds of her hard effort.

Her whole life, in a sense.

The mare took a sip out of her mug and watched as the shadows danced in front of her. But she already knew that it’d only take a minute for the sun rise up from over those hill tops up there and lay the golden rays that allow her work to start.

But there still was one thing to do.

The coffee mug dropped down to the wooden railing as Golden Harvest turned round and walked back inside the farmhouse, build out of stone bricks that were piled up for couple of floors height before ending in a wooden pitched roof.

As the olive mare entered to the main hall that made up of all of the first floor, except for the bathroom and storage that lay under the stairs, her eyes turned towards the long table near to the other end of the room and where the kitchen area began.

It was empty.

Golden Harvest rolled her eyes and now headed directly of the stairs, however as she stepped on the first step...

“Oh,” the voice from the top rang “Guess I could try this out.”

Now the olive mare cocked her eyebrow and as her first hoof touched the second floor, substantially smaller than first floor however it cut out to five different rooms and to new steps leading to the third floor. But that wasn’t what she was focused on; at first Golden Harvest walked down the hallway, passing the different rooms until stopping by a certain orange coated door.

A couple of knocks rang out as the green hoof fell down to it “Carrot, are you awake? I heard some noises coming fr-”

“Nono,” her little sister cut in between and Golden Harvest swore she heard something ‘cling’ inside “ I’m awake, and just brushing my mane, so I’ll be down in a minute.”

Golden Harvest purchased a questioning expression, however she obliged and headed back.

But she did wonder, just how much of an effect did-

*Knock knock knock*

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, as she was halfway down the stairs whilst loud banging echoed over from downstairs.

“Come on in, the door’s open.” she shouted whilst coming to end of the steps.

And soon enough, the front door opposite to the steps opened up in slow fashion to reveal the maroon coated Earth Pony in all of his glory, as the first lights shone down and were overshadowed by the stallion’s massive frame.

And even Golden Harvest had to admit that he didn’t look half-bad as Maero stopped a few feet away ahead of her and she got a look of his fine toned muscles.

But he still cannot beat that certain pony...

She thought whilst looking back at the stallion’s eyes.

“Howdy! Great day isn’t it?” she smiled and got a regular nod as an answer from the short worded stallion, so she proceeded on with a nod towards the sofa.

“Tell you what, Carrot’s taking a bit of time, so why don’t we sit down for a minute?”

So both of them sat down on the lemon green sofa, side to side and Golden Harvest saw the stallion’s eyes wandering over the walls tilted with all sorts of photos with different ponies. She smiled and leant back onto the padding whilst keeping her own pair of eyes locked on him.

On that matter, it had bothered her for a while.

As Maero settled down, he turned to look at the olive mare “What’s up for today exactly? Or is it just the usual plowing of the field?” he quietly asked.

Golden Harvest swung a hoof “Sorta; today’s a special day actually,” she told, then pointed her hoof towards the side window “First off, yes, you’ll need to plow the east side fields so that they’ll be done by the start of the week and we can get last seed batch done before Fall begins.”

But she then turned her hoof at other window which opened a view up to the bright orange barn “But that won’t happen until later this afternoon as you’ve got another job to do.”

Maero looked fine with this, perhaps a bit staggered to say the most. It wasn’t like he despised work, this Golden Harvest knew perfectly well; if she’d ask, he’d perhaps even fully paint the barn. Twice.

“Sounds fine, but just what-”

But rest of his ‘long’ speech was halted as a pair of yellow hooves suddenly, out of the corner, fell over his eyes whilst leaving the stallion in the depths of darkness. Back on the outside world and next to the stallion, the olive mare lazily turned to look back and, even if sounding a bit odd, wasn’t that surprised to see her sister all make up dandy with her mane tied up to the back.

A giggle rang out while the yellow mare leaned closer to the maroon pony, specifically towards a perked up ear sticking out from the under the hat.

“Guess who?” Carrot Top sultrily whispered and the ear twitched as a respond.

On the side, Golden Harvest sighed and stood up “Okay Carrot, break it up now,” but she turned to see her little sister glare at her, so she added; “You don’t want to be late from the trip, don’t you?”

Now Golden Harvest watched as her enthusiastic little sister led a lot larger stallion by hoof outside foractual work; something the farm mare was more than pleasant to see for a change of her lazy sister’s attitude over.

So much in fact that Golden Harvest was ready to withstand any talk about Maero that Carrot Top would start out, and even the childish nature she overtly presented out nowadays; she even herself had admitted it was getting creepy that they hadn’t had a good fight in a while.

But still, the olive mare couldn’t help but to smile as she watched, from over the porch, as the pony pair trotted outside of the farm, walking side by side.

I might have done a bad thing...

Golden Harvest though as she grabbed her still warm coffee mug and turned back to eye the fields with the same still going on, even widening a bit.

But they do make a nice looking couple.

* * * * *

“Umm.... miss I-”

“NO! Now you listen to me! I decided whenever this will work out or not. Stallions like you should know your place.”

“B-but-”

“Just what did you think when you did THIS?!”

With that, Carrot Top slammed the piece of paper down to the counter and under the muzzle of the frightened shop clerk, now trying to hide behind his huge cash register from the wrath of the yellow mare. But she merely leaned over it and gave a cold glare to him.

“Talk...” she whispered and the stallion finally broke.

“OkayIadmitIhavesoldvegetablesnotcomingfromyourfarmjustpleasedon’thurtme!” With that said, the stallion then hid under the counter, but soon a shaky hoof took a hold of the contract and tore it to shreds in front of her eyes “Look, I swear that I’ll only use your products and not these other ones.”

“Oh, I know you will honor our contract,” A huff rang out as Carrot Top backed off away from the counter and turned her back towards it “Just consider this as a friendly reminder. If Golden Harvest would have been here, things would have turned out... perhaps better not to say.” she ended as she heard a whimper over her shoulder and opened up the door to the grocery store.

“We’ll deliver your goods in few days,” the mare smiled as she looked back to see the pony stare at her and winked to him “Have a nice day.”

But Carrot Top did let a sigh come out as the door banged close, just out of the fact how stupid that shop pony had been to try and fool anypony with those third-grade products straight out of some magically enchanted farm from somewhere out of Equestria, most likely imported from the zebra land, Zefrica. Really stupid, in fact, to even think that nopony wouldn’t notice the sudden change from sweet, succulent carrots to the almost double in size ones that tasted like pine cones made out of glass.

“So you’re finished?”

But then a joy overtook her, like a little filly stumbling upon candy shop, and the latter experience completely vanished as her thoughts turned, and eyes, turned at the source of the voice.

To her sweet pony.

“Yes, I am finished up,” the mare commented whilst looking at the sitting stallion, now moving to stand up.

“Some ponies just have the nerve... remind me to tell GH that we need to deliver a couple of bags here and to re-write the supply contract.”

However as he got up, she noticed his amused look and she knew instantly what he was thinking. So she scooped the distance with a single leap and pushed herself up close to him, rubbing her body against his while feeling warmness of him wash over herself.

“Well... you know; GH won’t be expecting us back for couple of hours,” she calmly explained before wrapping her hoof around his “Come on, I know this just perfect restaurant that-”

But then Carrot Top saw Maero’s look.

Those pure eyes, capable of drilling into deepest parts of her soul, pointed at hers like two freshly cut emerald jewels, flashing in all of their glory.

Yet... even though this:

Carrot Top loved it, to be watched by him.

“Now, don’t you dare say no before at least tasting Sweet Aroma’s stuff. Besides;” she proceeded to smooth his brown chin groove “I think you deserve a treat for your effort on our farm.”

So she gave him a quick nudge before leading him away and down to the streets of Ponyville, fantasizing over the upcoming day with Maero, even if he was acting all hard to get to too.

But it didn’t matter to her, because she had already achieved her goal before other mares and, oh boy, wasn’t she going to enjoy that to fullest.

My coltfriend; and nopony elses!

Especially Applejack!

------

To be honest, the place here Carrot Top took wasn’t half bad at all. It was situated on the corner of a lone boulevard, somewhere close to center of town, next to some glamorous shops with lots of ponies crammed up to, don’t know really why they’d be interested in sofas or flower vases, and to a plaza of sorts.

As me and Carrot stopped, I was greeted with a blue walled and round roofed structure that had glass windows rounding over itself and giving a look of happy ponies to passersby. It didn’t look too fancy, we had passed by what looked a lot like a French restaurant type, although without snobbish type of waiters around.

But I really didn’t get a much look of the inside, as me and Carrot Top were soon greeted by an apron wearing pony, excited to see new customers as she literally pushed us two over to a table on the front porch, which was merely a fenced out area with couple of tables packed close to the door.

Not a bad one.

But they do say that you shouldn’t judge the book by-

A cough rang out.

“Sir,” I looked up from my menu to see the apron pony smiling to me and levitating a notepad “What would you like to have besides your drink?”

“Umm,” I staggered and looked back to my menu of so called food, going through the sections in a fast pace.

“.... I’ll have... perhaps... wait...”

Then, a light laughter chimed and I leered over my paper to see Carrot Top laughing over on opposite side of the round table. After she calmed down, she proceeded to yank my menu away to the waiting waitress along with hers.

“Sweet Aroma, me and my coltfriend will have the same meals, isn’t that right Maero?” she asked before smiling to while the waitress looked at me for an answer.

I shrugged, and she then proceeded to scribble down more words before finally grabbing the menus and her notes with her orange magic.

“Thank you for the orders, and as you might know, couples get a ten percent discount so do consider re-visiting us here in Olive Garden .” Sweet Aroma said and finally left us alone, walking past the flip doors leading in the restaurant, under the umbrella laying its shadow over the table.

So I just lowered my head down onto the table surface.

Last night....

No, all nights.

My eyes closed.

Can I just have a minute nap?

Nothing more, nothing less...

But then I felt something warm fell over my head, swooping up and down from the tip of my blond... mane to base of neck..

And it, oddly, felt awfully good.

“Oh what’s the matter, is my stallion feeling a bit weary?” I heard Carrot’s feminine voice soothing over whilst her hoof moved over to my ear and began to systematically massage , nibbling all over it with (un)healthy strokes. But I did keep my eyes closed, only because what she did actually helped me out as I felt myself relax over. In fact, I even though that I heard Carrot say something but it was blurred out by my dizziness.

This changed though as I let out a whiff.

“You youngsters ought to be ashamed of yourselves!”

Now my eyes popped open, only to see an old mare with wrinkles all over herself and grey mane styled up to a ball above her head, looking out towards my direction with a demeaning look of anger as she pointed her hoof at me.

“Doing something like that in public is disgraceful and sickening.” the mare kept shouting and just then I noticed that a crowd had started to form around the premises, following out on her words as she now slammed the hoof down, meagerly raising no dust off from the dirt.

“Youngsters these days, don’t know anything about clarity of their actions; there’s little foals around here, you know, and I don’t want to have my grandfilly to-”

A loud huff cut out on the granny, much to her visible dismay, and I felt how the pressure over my head lifted away. But I didn’t even need to turn, as I watched how Carrot Top jumped out between me and the old mare, now backing away couple of feet away from her.

“And just what is wrong with me and my coltfriend spending a lovely morning together?” Carrot Top wickedly smiled and looked over rest of the crowd “At least even I know that there’s nothing wrong with helping your mate relax...”

On my end, this got my brain on high alert.

Mate?!

What the fu-

Every single pony in the crowd turned to look away with a blush of Carrot’s statement.

Well... if you discounted those couple ones that fainted upon hearing word ‘coltfriend’ leave Carrot’s snickering mouth.

But the granny rethrorespectibly snorted out “Young rascal like you ought to show respect for a somepony experienced like me.”

“Experienced?” Carrot smiled to the mare and slowly turned round at...

In not much of an amusement to me, Carrot Top gently walked over to me and used her hooves to raise my head up. As our eyes locked up, I could see the look over her expression.

With a single push, Carrot Top pushed our lips together, forming single object of passion.

That’s at least what I thought she was thinking about...

But for me:

Oh boy...

This thing ag-

However, the kiss didn’t end like it should have.

Instead, Carrot dropped her hooves down to my neck and pushed even forward, so much in fact I needed to grab my stool in order to stay up. Next thing I noticed in her sultry look was how her green eyes shone in an abnormal rate. Although this wasn’t anything new, it still managed to catch me off-guard, and of course in front of an ever growing audience enjoying the show.

But then my eyes shot open.

Our tongues had just met in the middle...

Oh...

Oh God...

Thankfully she stopped there and as our mouths separated with both of us catching our breaths.

Instantly the crowd around us burst in cheers and stomping hooves, echoing all over the nearby buildings while I saw that the old mare had disappeared.

Carrot Top giggled and leaned closer to me “See just how much they like to see us together.” she whispered and sat down next to me. She then proceeded to fully lean into me, something she had loved to do with me ever since that sunset by the base of the tree...

The whole crowd burst in long ‘dawws’, followed by yet another wave of passing out ponies, soon dragged away by the leaving crowd.

So I just sat there.

In this land of equine beings capable of sentient thoughts and based on toy series for little girls.

Except Tom, but he’s a nerd for liking this stuff.

Next to me sits a female, yellow pony with a bright orange mane and three carrots tattooed on her rump who just had given me a meager French kiss, perhaps first for both of us. I still could feel her breathing warming my neck whilst her head rested on my shoulder.

My first experiences on females...

And it’s a pony.

My thoughts:

Is this just my life I’m living here?

Why couldn’t I just go to Heaven?

A sigh took over me as the waitress arrived bringing out our food, bearing a smile along with her metal tray, two white plates with sandwiches served along with green drinks.

This is going to be a long dinner.

And ugh, a flower sandwich.

* * * * *

“Ungh, phh...”

I felt how the leather straps, from the collar around my neck, scratched against me as I pushed onwards, pulling the steel plough and leaving a straight plowed line behind. I had, at least according to Golden Harvest, improved a whole lot and she also praised just how well I managed to perform my job, although she did question this natural draft-pony talent.

To that, I had no clear answer and she had proceeded to joke about how perfect worker I looked, and Carrot Top nodded the same.

But it did feel good; to be able to perform something so well.

And to be honest, working on this farm wasn’t half as bad as I had first thought after the first day. This outside environment wasn’t anything close to ones back in... home.

I stopped for a moment to readjust the wooden yoke and take a look at my work whilst also wiping my burrow clean from sweat that had been formed from the hard labour.

Well hard and hard, not at all.

Guess having this kind of body does have its advantages

But damn, isn’t this land big!

In the past of these seven days, Carrot Top and Golden Harvest had given me a meticulous tour of their used land. But they still had left out over half of the land, not currently used for some unexplained reason, which now my eyes looked over. It was a bit saddening vision; barren brown land with occasional grass and hay fields it like patch spots on an used cloth.

And now my job was to try and cultivate little part of it, for someday called Running The Leaves that marks the start for winter and happens to be nearing in few months. In fact, this current sunny weather was all in start of the Fall, much to my surprise and shock.

As I turned back, now little bit fresh from my break and ready to start plowing, a shout rang out.

“Maero! Maero!” I turned over to direction of the voice and to see Golden Harvest wave over to me with her hoe. So I unplugged the straps off from the wood collar and headed over towards her, my boss pony.

The olive mare dropped the tool over her back as I stopped a foot away from her. “There you are, just wanted to inform that your day’s done. Just drop your stuff by the barn and ask for Carrot to give you your pay.”

I nodded “Okay.” then I turned to look back over to the steel plough “I’ll be leaving that there. Makes it easier to continue after weekend.” I explained, and Golden Harvest shrugged before walking away, likely to check on her saplings and cabbages, so I did too leave for the orange barn on the distance.

And wasn’t the barn big; it was so tall it could be seen even from over Ponyville’s edge areas and, for example, it was fully visible even from over the other farm, Sweet Apple Acres, whenever you’d look over to the hills. Applejack had claimed that once when she was a filly, her father had said that for longest while, it had been the tallest building in Ponyville since the establishment, however nowadays buildings like town hall stood at even higher.

And now I stopped by the base of this monstrosity, by the flip door leading in but not actually stepping in quite yet.

Instead I turned to take off my hat, leaving on a nail sticking out of the wall, and proceeded to pull the wooden collar off...

And just then I was presented with a bickering trouble.

Shit...

Why won’t you... come...off?!

No matter how I tried to, it simply refused to leave my neck. It’d only hit my muzzle whenever it got up and even when I tried different angles and approaches, it’d got stuck on the same spot of trouble. For minutes this went on until...

“Geez, stop with that ruckus, whoever pony that is! Here’s a simple mare trying to live her simple dream-”

In the following silence I turned over towards the now open barn door with Carrot’s head sticking out of, and proceeded to nod at my neck collar. “Care to help out? This thing seems to be stuck.” I muttered out loud.

She proceeded to give me a tired look, obviously due to the sudden awake from her nap, although enough soon her ‘normal’ look resurfaced, forming an unbreakable mask as she walked out over to me.

Carrot then smiled “Well, you could always leave that on. It honestly does look very good on you and it-” she let the end unfinished as Carrot now leaned over me, coming ever so close to my head.

“-does look very sexy on you...”

….

…......

…....?........!

I felt how the weight left me along with the yellow body, now backing off over to the barn and struggling to keep balance under the heavy object. I kept watching as Carrot Top simply dropped the thing down to the floor, next to what looked like a never-used workbench with rusty handy, or rather hoofy(?), tools.

“Hmm...” she then questioned and proceeded to look over the room “Now where did I leave those hardbits?”

Just then she leant over, leaving her back high up in air.

Then, whilst Carrot proceeded to search over the floor, her rump began to move up and-

A slap.

Just what I needed, for then I looked away from that sight and grabbed my hat.

Although, it didn’t really matter over if I’d had stared at the waving back as Carrot saw me leave and suddenly shot up and laughed, sounding a lot more nervous than usual.

“Oh here it is...” she continued to laugh and threw the bag over to me. While I placed my hat, along with the money bag now inside it, on, I saw that Carrot Top continued to eye me by the door.

“So, I guess I’ll see you after the weekend.” I said and turned over.

But before I got even couple steps away...

“Maero, wait!”

I stopped and looked back to see Carrot Top standing a few feet away from me and looking down to the ground, out of...

Shame?

No.... it’s gotta be something else. Carrot Top doesn’t feel shame.

She nervously dragged her hoof on the dirt before saying “Umm... So it was fun to be with you today. You know, at the cafe.”

“Oh,” I responded before shrugging “Guess it was okay, although the dessert was screwed up.”

“How come? At least I enjoyed the Rainbow Rose -icecream; mmmm... those rose petals sure do add flavor,” she responded, whilst I felt sick over the memory, and took a meager step at me. “But... that’s not what I wanted to ask...”

She stopped just under my muzzle, which was odd as I my head hung low, and stared up on me.

“Maero, do you like me?”

Now, this question should have caught me off-guard.

However, it didn’t dazzle me a one bit, perhaps due to my mind knowing in advance that she’d ask this from me at some point. But rather more near the start of her endorsement, not near a point like this.

“Cause...” she paused for a moment before shaking her head and weakly giggling “You must already know how I see us. My actions speak for themselves.”

You don’t say?

In a like a blitz, she took me for a hug.

However this wasn’t anything like we’d done before; no unnecessary rubbing or voices, just a plain hug. It was more of a simple, merely a hug two friends could share with one another without any awkward thoughts forming up.

As if any would form with a pony.

Her head rested on me, green eyes closed. “But I need to know, do you like me?”

Then, a struggle deep inside my head.

Just how messy is my life in these days?

My hoof fell over her head, snapping her awake and turn to look over to me.

To my surprise, a genuine smile formed on my face.

“I do like you, however I’d-”

But before I got to finish, she shut my mouth up with her hoof and leant ever so closer as our foreheads now touched each other.

“Then, I guess we're an official couple now, right?” Carrot Top warmly smiled.

“Oh dear...”

All of my thoughts stopped.

Our mouths were a mere inch apart, as both of us had stopped.

And now both of us turned slowly to look to the side, where now Tom, or rather the silver grey unicorn Nucleus,  was standing and gawking at us.

For what seemed like an eternity, nothing happened.

Then, finally, Carrot Top turned back over to me.

“I’ll take it as yes,” she whispered and pecked my cheek “So I’ll see you after the weekend, coltfriend.”

Carrot Top ended the embrace and walked away, giving Tom a look, although I didn’t see it as she had her back turned on me, before walking inside the barn with the door banging close behind her. At the same time, I saw how Tom approached me.

“Well look at you; playing all Casanova on the mares?” he said with a grin, like it was a big joke what he had seen.

Anger.

It filled me with its poison as I turned over and walked away.

But this didn't satisfy Tom, as I heard him sigh and walk after me, soon appearing on edge of my vision. “Anyways, how are you doing?”

Take a dandy fucking guess...

“Okay, again; how’s your day been like?”

Well I had a lunch with a pony that has fallen in love with me and has now misunderstood me, now thinking we’re an official couple? Oh, and did I forget to mention that she French kissed me in front of a crowd before then after dinner force-feeding me awful ice-cream from her spoon, like to a little baby?

So yeah, fine day. How about you, my dear friend?

“...At least the weather's nice, isn’t it?”

Like every fucking day in this wonderland for little girls...

“Very well then; what’s your thing with that pony?”

I honestly didn’t know from where my anger towards Tom came out from, but as we stopped under by the gate for the Fields, I felt like punching my friend over to the guts.

But I knew better than that, and proceeded to look upon him for a bit, to see his ever so good poker face.

Which I thankfully knew to read.

“Friends, just friends.” I answered after having turned back, away from the unicorn

But Tom then once more spoke; “Look... Would you happen to be free later this afternoon? Me and Alto are having our regular meeting at the cafe for, you know, talks and stuff.”

Should I? It’s not like anything is stopping me.

But then I noticed in the distance first of the long rows of apples.

And knowledge over it saddened a bit, as I slowly shook my head to him.

“Cannot do; gotta work to do.” I muttered and took first step forward, down on the dirt path leading away from the farm and trailing over to left side.

And honestly...

I’’m... not yet ready.

I saw how Tom opened his mouth, however he seemed to back off from it and instead turned to face the opposite direction, the one path leading back over to the pony town.

“Very well then, if that’s how it is. Just remember to have the basket ready for tomorrow.”

“I will.”

And we separated, both walking on our own separate paths; him back for the town for God-knows-what, or if he even does exist, whilst my hooves took me away my own path. By the time Tom disappeared out of view, so too I had walked into the small patch of woods in between the two farms, acting like as a natural border between the two estates although I recall Golden Harvest saying that at one spot the two farms fences do cross, however it’s by a really unused spot. It serves no purpose to neither of families.

Although it didn’t really matter a whole lot to me, as I simply gazed down to the sides.

The place was... simply put; naturally beautiful. To me, that was one thing I’d always appreciated over everything since I was a little kid.

Jesus, I even recall I had a pot plant when I was a kid.

I laughed over to my memory of how I used to get up every morning, ready to give some water for the seeds. But even as I got older, I’d still continue to take care of those few plants I had either gotten or bought, and although it was really a silly hobby Mike joked over with any chance, it still was enough to keep my mood up on otherwise dull environment.

And now these plants reminded me of home.

So I looked away.

In about ten minutes the forest came to an end as the trunks on sides formed an opening for the road to push through, out of the green patch. As I stopped by there, trying best to not to get blinded by the sudden light from the sky, I saw just how the road continued on.

But I still saw my destination in the distance; the dark red barn and the wooden farmhouse besides it.

So I continued on.

Front right, back left, front left, back right.

And stopped by the entrance, as I saw the two workers of Sweet Apple Acres chatting to one another but I didn’t really hear what they were talking about, due to low tone of the speech, and the fact Big Mac stopped in the instant our eyes crossed. Applejack too turned over and waved a hoof at me.

“Howdy Maero! Glad to see ye back,” she said, in her ever so eccentric sounding accent, while walking up to me. “Anyways,so you’re ready for work? Me and Mac we’re just... umm...”

“Talking. About farm work of certain somepony” the crimson stallion cut in between, as he passed by the two of us, giving a look at me, and carried couple of buckets along on his back.

Applejack nodded in agreement “Yeah, that’s right... Anywho, we ought to get back on working; there’s one tree that fell over the fence and it needs to be dragged away by you and me,” she explained before pointing back over to the front porch  “There’s som’ rope by the porch. Go and grab it, would you?”

I nodded and walked past her over towards the farmhouse, that now also acted as my current dwelling base. In sight, it looked like it was copied straight from some old western film, in comparison to Carrot Family one which is more of an English type manor.

But as I walked up there, I stopped as I saw how the rope suddenly dropped down about a feet away.

“Here colt,” I turned to look up to see the old green mare sitting on her rocking chair and knittin something obscure “This is what you’re after, ain’t you?”

“Yeah.” I answered and lifted it up, leaving it hanging around my neck like a tie before turning over to take my leave, however I then recalled something.

“Oh, is there something more ye need, colt?” the granny asked whilst her hooves continued to clap the metal sticks.

“In fact yes,” I started “You see, me and my friends are having our first day together tomorrow. We decided to go on a picnic and-”

“Atta, say no more.” she quickly said and laid her knitting equipment down next to the chair, which she had just wobbled up from. “Ah’ll have your basket ready by next eve'in' and you'd best prepare yerself, I think we’ve got some zap apple jam leftovers by the cellar. Or... did we already eat them...?"

"Granny Smith?"

"Wait, now I 'member. APPLEBLOOM, GET YOUR HINY OVER HERE! WE'VE GOT SOME BAKING TO DO AND MAH BACK ITCHES TO HIGH HEAVEN!”

Her voice continued to sound over, even as she entered inside and closed the door behind, as sounds of banging pots and pans echoed all over from the open kitchen window. As I turned to look back, I saw that Applejack was smiling to me and tipping her brown hat deeper on.

“Well whatcha waiting for? Let’s go get that tree so we can get to some sweet applebucking. Yeehaw!” Applejack cheered and galloped into the orchard, passing by Big Mac taking his stance under a tree before disappearing behind the vast rows of trees.

Guess I’ll hit the orchards for now....

I thought and followed after the enthusiastic cowpony.

* * * * *

It wasn’t a day anymore.

The blazing sun had already set down on the horizon, falling to a sleep behind the mountaintops to the west from Ponyville.

Now, the only thing left was the meager light of the crescent moon that tried to shone across the skies, supported the by millions of stars on the black canvas to every imaginable direction. Although of this, majority of land was set on immense dark and everything seemed dead.

In short, everypony was sleeping away, tucked deep to their beds and under the covers, embracing their dreams and hoping for yet another beautiful, productive day to have.

This was also in the case of Sweet Apple Acres, its residents slumbered inside their respective rooms from hard days work in the fields and crusading for your Cutie Mark with as little havoc humanely as possible.

And everypony was sleeping quiet;

Applejack with her friends on adventures.

Applebloom receiving her Cutie Mark.

Granny Smith reliving old times.

Big Macintosh... confidential.

So everything was being its normal, fine self without no worries.

A muffled groan came out from one of the rooms.

Well... Nopony mentioned what kind of dreams they’d have

A drop of sweat rolled down the maroon stallion’s neck.

Or nightmares...

* * * * *

Vast field.

From here

Right

Left

To every direction.

It’s empty.

Nobody is around.

I stand up.

On two legs.

The sudden realization strikes me, as I looked upon myself

Myself.

One body; two legs and hands along with clothes fit for me.

Just like me.

My original self.

Now I turned to look up around me, for more of the surroundings. I was on a field from the looks, green under my sneakers and blue above my fedora, with long, thin hays waving across back and forth under my vision. By the distance there laid woods and behind me was a tiny pond, with a rowing boat pulled over to the shore

I knew this place.

Then I noticed a lone three, over by top of a hill alone like it on otherwise flat surface.

That too, I knew too well.

And I took my first step towards it.

Then, out of nowhere, a figure ran past me like a bickering bolt of lightning and over towards the same tree like me. From first glance, I saw how it was a human, just like me, although a whole lot shorter than me and lighter in frame with pure white clothes and-

My eyes darted open.

“No...”

-pure platinum hair that waved over as the figure ran away.

And then I recognized it as a girl.

“H-hey! Wait!”

Instantly, I followed after her. But even as I ran at highest speed possible, she still was easily able to outrun me and soon she disappeared by the tree, out of sight. And by the time I got there, I was panting away like crazy and had to catch my breath.

“Oh, hi Big Bro!”

But the exhaustion vanished up, as my gaze fell over to base of the tree and at the young girl sitting by there, on a large root.

My legs gave upon me and I just fell over her

“Oh Rosie!”

I hugged her whilst kneeling there in front of her and I felt how she returned the embrace, her hands hitting against my sides.

Just as the tears of my happiness started to pour, Rosie turned to look up at me and laughed with her bright tone.

“Why are you crying big bro? You aren’t sad or anything are you?”

But it didn’t matter to me, as I continued to keep her close to me.

Suddenly she pushed herself off, somehow throwing me to my back, and ran away, screaming from laughter.

“Tag!”

So I stood back up, and was ready to go after her.

But then, I saw somebody else in the distance.

This figure was odd, clenched in what looked like an armor of sorts from tip to toe and it also stood up on two legs. However nothing close to a human being, the limbs were really thick and they all were same in length while its head perpetuated outwards, like its nose was an oversized potato.

But it wasn’t that which caught my attention.

It was what it held, that mattered.

A longsword.

And then the figure began running towards us.

Closing the distance in matter of ticking seconds.

I tried to run down the hill, however I stumbled and rolled down until hitting the rock bottom, all rugged up and winded out.

As I struggled to get up, I saw how Rosie was still jumping around without knowledge of the sword-wielder.

“ROSIE! RUN!”

She stopped and looked over at me with confusion before turning around.

Too late.

The sharp edge cut her by neck, spilling blood all over the ground as the veins kept on pumping the blood out from her.

A pool of blood formed underneath.

And soon the two halves of her fell over it, spreading the blood everywhere possible, and I saw how her head rolled away couple of feet.

An anguished cry left my mouth and I buried my face down to the grass, soaking it wet from my pouring tears.

“Oh God why?!”

But then I looked back.

I saw how the creature wiped its sword clean on the white clothes.

“You.... YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!!!”

I charged at the thing, that now turned to look over at me and proceeded to point the blade at my direction, it’s tip shining in the light like silver.

But it didn’t matter.

Anger.

As soon as I was about ten feet away from the armored monster, it suddenly threw its blade away before we made contact.

Better for me.

Rage.

As we rolled down to the ground, I began landing hits on the being. It’s armor didn't matter, as it crumbled away like glass on every impact and soon it resembled cheese, expect that blood soon dripped out from underneath the metal plates and chainmail combination suit.

By the time I gave a quick look over my hand work, I was honestly terrified.

From every possible place, there dropped out blood, and in most cases at vast amounts.

But the thing was still very much alive, as it’s rising chest showed off.

So I grabbed its helmet with both of my fists.

Revenge.

I pulled the helmet off.

And it dropped off from my grasp.

It was me.

...As the pony

Fear.

* * * * *

*Thump*

“Uhh!”

Instantly a surge of pain cut through me as my lungs emptied out of air. In the following minute, as I desperately tried to catch my breath in midst of hyperventilation, my eyes tried to establish my surroundings, soon forming the conclusion of that I had dropped down from my bed.

My hoof fell over my burrow only to feel the wetness of my sk...coat, red maroon coat, mainly all over my backside.

A grunt left me as I limberly stood up and headed out of my room, out to the narrow hallway and down it, thankfully not too far as the floor tended to creak under my weight until coming to a stop in front of the open white door.

Soon, I found myself leaning over the white porcelain sink whilst my hoof turned the valve on, allowing the cold water to fill it up.

As this happened, I stared down at my reflection.

No...

No it isn’t...

I felt my eyes moisten up, as even more water poured down.

Time passed by quite fast, as my lingering thoughts wandered over the barren wasteland called my head.

Then I felt horrible.

This isn’t me...

I don’t... know me.

The first tear dropped down on the pony’s mirror image.

A/N

Not gonna lie, I hated to write this chapter and I blame that on why this is so late from the schedule. There was just this lack of... motivation for me to grab myself over to the Google Document and type out perhaps my most darkest chapter ever, in my opinion even stronger than chapter three with... it.

*sigh*

Look, people, I don’t really think this needs to be addressed, however I’ve got to admit something.

I’m starting to burn myself out on The Bond.

Up to this point, my morale has been really high, but now...

Glad that’s over, now I shall focus on my other stuff for a needed change.

Carrot Top love face by *Eruvon.

Hoping the fellow will do the best pony soon.

And finally, woot for the longest chapter thus far (however not the longest I’ve ever typed out).