The Southern Touch

by Rebel Brony

Rating: teen
Tags: Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Romance, Original Character, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Rarity, Big Macintosh
Length: 3065

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom have started dating. However, someone unexpected comes to town.

Edit: I'm sorry I forgot to give this a teen tag, whoops. Well I'm sorry for those of you expecting this to be a everyone kind of story.

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo have grown up and have begun to date each other. However, trials and tribulations meet the duo as the past comes to the present. Not only will they have to deal with past demons, but also new ones. With the help of their friends and family, they're going to have to overcome every obstacle.

Published 2013-02-02 18:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-02-13 21:24:49 UTC

Arriving at Ponyville

Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had made the long walk up to Sweet Apple Acres. They walked in silence, but smiled as they followed the path. It wasn't really cold outside, just brisk. The sky was clear and full of stars. It was close to midnight and the two ponies were tired.

In the distance, they saw the light of the porch of a house left on. The two ponies could see a figure in the darkness as they made their way to the steps. They walked side-by-side until they reached the porch and stopped in front of the pony. The older mare smiled.

“Howdy y’all.” The mare spoke in her typical southern drawl. The mare looked at both ponies and chuckled. Scootaloo looked at the mare and began to speak.
“Hello, Applejack, I just arrived in Ponyville and I need a place to stay.” Scootaloo blushed sheepishly; she couldn’t help but be embarrassed, but the home she once knew was long gone. Applejack raised an eyebrow and smiled again.

"Alrigh’, ya can stay here. Ah’ll even let ya sleep in Apple Bloom’s room, but no loud noises while we’re tryin’ ta sleep.” Applejack’s statement made both younger ponies blush. They nodded in agreement and headed inside.
The house smelled of apple pie and the old floorboards creaked noisily. There were pictures of different ponies hanging on the walls, some of which were family photos. The house had been through so much, even having to be rebuilt on several occasions.

Apple Bloom and Applejack slowly trotted through the house in silence with Scootaloo close behind. They sat down in the living room for a moment before Applejack broke the silence.

“So, Ah am ta assume tha’ y’all like each other more tha’ jus’ friends. Tha’s fine with me, after all, we’re a family, and don’ ya’ll forget that. Now, I don’ wanna know what happened outside fer right now, it can wait till mornin’. Also, Sweetie Belle’ll be comin’ to the train station tomorrah, so Ah suggest y’all get some sleep. We’ll talk in the mornin’. Good night.” Applejack turned around and walked up the stairs towards her room.

The two ponies set there for a moment, knowing they were tired and had a long day ahead of them. They walked towards the stairs to finally get some sleep.
************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The two fillies woke up in the early morning and got ready to go to the train station. They made sure to brush their manes and teeth. Scootaloo also made sure to clean her feathers. Once they had finished, they walked into the hallway and towards the kitchen to eat breakfast.

Applejack had the table set and ready to go. Grass pancakes were stacked high, the smell of syrup was in the air, along with toast to complete the meal. The three ponies set down and began their breakfast.

“So, the two o’ ya like each other?” Applejack asked. The two young mares nodded in response.

“Well, I don’t see a problem with that,” began the mare, adding,” but neither of ya are gonna be a two timin’-hussie.”

The two ponies were taken aback. They had heard Applejack be foul-mouthed before. But this was a bit different.
A moment passed before anypony spoke. Scootaloo looked like she was about to go off but kept her composure.

Apple Bloom decided to intervene and halt the coming confrontation. Applejack didn't know why Scootaloo was so upset.

“Yes, ma’am,” Apple Bloom replied, breaking the silence in hopes of avoiding confrontation. The clock chimed in the background. Applejack looked at the clock and smiled at the other two ponies.

“It’s about time to go wait for Sweetie Belle. Big Macintosh is out working the fields. But I think a few other ponies should be there,” Applejack said in a rush.

The ponies walked out of the house and through the yard. They were in a hurry and didn't want to stop. They passed by the marketplace and town hall before finally stopping at the entrance to the train station. They walked in the front door and looked around noticing there weren't many ponies (but still a fairly large amount) waiting for a train to arrive.

They walked to the ramp in time to see a train pull in. The train approached the platform slowly, then came to a halt. The train was long and filled with passengers, some of whom were reading, while others slept and a small number were getting ready to depart. The doors opened, allowing the passengers to exit.

A beautiful white unicorn walked off the train and onto the platform, looking around until her eyes landed on their targets. She smiled and practically hopped towards her friends. However, not far behind her was a unicorn stallion with a black coat and a dark blue mane. His tail was short and his mane was parted. His eyes were orange-colored in their irises.

The stallion followed close behind the mare. Apple Bloom and the others thought this odd, but weren’t going to say anything. He had a nervous expression and seemed as jumpy as a foal on their first school day. His cutiemark resembled lightning and was a light-blue color.

“Hi girls!” the mare greeted with a sing-song voice. The three friends embraced each other. The stallion stood unblinking for a moment.

“Sweetie, who’s ya friend?” Apple Bloom asked. The white unicorn blushed; she hadn’t told anypony about him yet.

“His name’s Thunderstruck. He’s my coltfriend,” Sweetie said with an embarrassed smile. The stallion faltered but managed a hello.

“He looks like he’s more sheepish than Fluttershy,” Scootaloo said, not intending to be rude.

“Sure, he’s quiet, but he’s nicer than most. Besides, how many unicorns do you know who can project lightning?” Sweetie said, pointing a hoof at his horn. Scootaloo noticed his horn for the first time. It was fairly long and pointy.

Scootaloo was barely listening to the conversation, her mind wanted to wander to everything but the simple gathering of friends. Rarity appeared and began to talk with Sweetie Belle. Something felt off to the pegasus.

As the ponies were talking and catching up on things, Scootaloo began to look at some of the other ponies. There were tourists, foals with their parents, college students, and ponies of every occupation walking around. She could swear she saw an orange Earth pony. As she continued looking, the pegasus noticed something in particular that stood out among everything else.

On the other side of the platform, a pegasus pony stood completely still, his expression devoid of emotion. His mane was a jet black, his coat a fiery red. His eyes were ice-blue, with a cold, piercing stare. His wings were large and looked well-groomed. He stood in a prideful pose seeming almost angelic. However, Scootaloo knew better.

As he began to turn, Scootaloo ducked behind a pony to avoid his gaze. Apple Bloom noticed and went to check on Scootaloo. After all, Apple Bloom knew her better than most ponies.
“Scootaloo, what’s wrong?” the Earth pony asked, her eyes full of concern.
“I saw a pony I recognized. I gotta hide,” Scootaloo responded. Apple Bloom’s grew even more concerned, but she couldn’t just leave everypony. After a moment of thinking, she knew what to do.
“Hey ya’ll, how abou’ we go ta Sugarcube Corner?” Apple Bloom asked the others. The ponies in their party all nodded. Thunderstruck, who had barely said anything at all, merely looked clueless as he followed the others.

Author's Note

This might seem a little rushed. Hopefully, the next won't be that rushed I tried setting a date and so I may have messed up. Um I think I ended it poorly but hopefully I can get better at it.

This is loosely based off of another story I did, but I think both stories can go on their own.

Also, I'm kinda looking to make a team to help me with my writing so pm me if interested.

pre read by The Nonny Mouse, I think that's what he changed his name to here.

So enjoy, be polite or I delete your comment 'cause I'm mean like that.

Anyway please like and favorite and comment, or else you will be visited tonight, But seriously please I might respond to you. But then again I might not. :ajsmug:

Big trouble in little Ponyville

The group of ponies made their way into Sugarcube Corner. They found a table to accommodate all of them and took a seat. They were all quiet at first. Nopony cared to make a sound. The owners weren’t around, and there was no sign of life within the store. Strangely enough, the “OPEN” sign was still on in the store’s window. Then, Scootaloo broke the silence.

“I guess everyone is wondering why I freaked out at the tra-”

“HELLO EVERYPONY! OH MY GOSH, I HAVEN’T TALKED TO ANY OF YOU IN WHAT FELT LIKE FOREVER!” The pink pony came out of nowhere, startling everypony. She gasped as she noticed the lone stallion at the table sitting next to Sweetie Belle.

“Who are you? Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie, the party pony around here! Although, I haven’t got to throw a party lately, which makes me sad. But, I know I can throw a party for you and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom ‘cause then we can celebrate Apple Bloom’s birthday, Scootaloo and Sweetie coming home, and a new friend too! Oh it will be so much fun!” Pinkie finished enthusiastically.

“Umm, Pinkie, could you hold off on the warm welcome for now? Also, he would be Sweetie’s new coltfriend Thunderstruck,” Rarity clarified, shifting her eyes. Pinkie stared blankly back at Rarity for a moment before sniffling.

“But I haven’t got to really hang out with anypony lately, especially with the Cakes’ situation right now,” Pinkie replied with a frown. The poor pony appeared to be on the verge of tears.

“I know, Pinkie, you haven’t been able to get out much due to having to take care of the Cakes’ shop. But, if it makes you feel better, we can have a small party later. Just let us know when and we’ll come,” Rarity bargained. Suddenly, she found herself caught in a bone-crushing hug.

“THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!” Pinkie shouted, before happily bouncing away.

“I think it’s safe ta say she missed all o’ youze. But, then again, I did, too,” said a new voice. The group turned towards the source of the newcomer. There stood a tall Earth pony mare with a mane two shades of red and a dark-orange coat. She smiled and pulled up another chair to the table.

“Hey Babs! We ain’t talked in awhile,” Apple Bloom said. They hadn’t seen each other in almost three years. Bloom’s eighteenth birthday was coming and it made her happier knowing her favorite cousin would be there. The world was changing all around the young pony. Truth be told, she was sad that everypony around her was growing up and moving on.
There was an eerie silence at the table. Scootaloo, her fillyfriend, was not the same filly she once was: poor, abused, neglected, bullied, but that didn’t seem to ever stop her. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were both happy for Sweetie Belle the day she got her cutiemark. However, they also felt jealous, though neither would admit it.

Scootaloo stayed quiet; there was a lot on the pegasus’ mind. The one pony she was terrified of she’d seen today at the train station. If Babs had heard them talking, did he hear them too? The thought scared the pegasus.
The stallion who’d caused her harm so many times was here in Ponyville. Then, there was the fact of her dating her best friend. He was a bigot, that was the fact of the matter, and if he had seen Scootaloo…Scootaloo shivered at the thought. The only thing Scootaloo knew for a fact was that Ponyville, the town where acceptance was the way life, was about to face some serious prejudice.

Sweetie Belle knew something was wrong. She could feel the tension in the air. The unicorn, who was now a rising star in Equestria, felt as if she were being crushed by a huge weight. Her friends and family meant everything to her, and if she lost them she didn’t know what she would do. The white pony would make sure to help her friends no matter what it took. She knew that she couldn’t fix everything, but she would try.

Babs Seed was wondering what was wrong. There was no sound in Sugarcube Corner. It almost seemed deserted, minus the ponies at the table. Something was wrong, and she needed to figure out what. Where are the Cakes? she wondered. There was no sign of any member of the Cake family, excluding Pinkie of course. She had noticed her friends heading here and expected a warm welcome. But all conversation just seemed to stop.

Her eyes landed on Thunderstruck. The colt seemed quiet and mysterious. Babs suddenly felt a shiver she couldn’t explain.

Thunderstruck, who had been friends with Sweetie Belle for a few months before asking her out, sat there in silence. He was nervous but didn’t let it show. He wasn’t smiling at all. In fact, he had a look of intensity. He wanted to speak, but could find nothing to say. These mares seemed nice, but that did little to faze his discomfort.

Applejack, the understanding mare she was, knew there was something bad coming. The orange mare felt stuck. She could break the silence and hope to make the room less tense.

The mare also knew that there was trouble everywhere. With the Cakes trying to recover from a horrible event, and the farm needing more workers than it had, the mare knew was she wasn’t going to have anything easily. She also knew death was the easiest thing to accomplish in life, but wasn’t going down without a fight.

Rarity was thinking about this long and hard. Her sister was back and she couldn’t be happier. However, she also felt betrayed her sister didn’t tell anypony of her coltfriend--not even her own sibling. Rarity was at a loss. The Element Of Generosity couldn’t think of any way to help her friends. Her own sister left the fashionista in the dark. Maybe the good times are all in the past. The funny thing is, Rarity thought to herself, I deserve it.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, a pink Earth pony was trying her best to keep her composure and make her friends treats. Money was running low, especially after paying for medical bills and a funeral. Pinkie imagined her face--so sweet, so young, and beautiful. Or…she would have been. The filly was almost like Sweetie Belle in a respect. Pound Cake cried for days after his sister’s passing. She was gone at the age of nine, almost ten. Pinkie wanted everypony to be happy, but how could one pony do that? Especially with things as they were.

Applejack knew she would have to break the silence. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth.

“So, everypony, it’s been a while. How abou’ one o’ ya’ll tell us a lil’ abou’ wha’s goin’ on?” the country mare asked. After a moment, nopony said anything. Applejack turned her Stetson down and sighed.

“Alrigh’ then, how abou’ Ah say somethin’? Now listen up ya’ll, we go’ somepony new. So, tell us abou’ yerself Mister Thunderstruck, an’ don’ be shy,” Applejack urged. The stallion knew he shouldn’t be rude, and spoke after a moment.

“Well, I’m from Canterlot, but I was born in Baltimare. Umm…I’ve always been kinda shy, and I like sports,” Thunderstruck awkwardly replied. Applejack raised an eyebrow and smirked.

“Alrigh’…well, uhh, Scootaloo, care to tell us why ya’ll ‘re here?”

“Well, at the train station, I saw somepony. The last time I saw him, he tried to kill me,” Scootaloo answered. Everypony looked at her, expecting more information. Applejack merely moved on to the next pony at the table.

“Alrigh’ Rares, what ar’ ya thinkin’ abou’?”

“Oh, nothing, darling. Just business you know, so tiring,” Rarity said. The fashionista noticed Applejack raise an eyebrow. Rarity wondered if the Element of Honesty could also detect lies.

“So Babs, how’s Manehattan treatin’ ya?” Applejack asked.

“It could be betta. I like ta think life’s pretty good,” the Manehattan filly replied. Truthfully, she had no real problems here nor there. Though she dealt with a little prejudice, for the most part, she was fine. Applejack looked towards the kitchen and sighed.

“If y’all excuse me, Ah’ll be in the kitchen,” Applejack stated. The farmer felt like something was wrong as she stood up and walked towards the kitchen. She stopped in front of the door and opened it.
Pinkie was in front of the oven with tears in her eyes. The mare loved the filly like a younger sister. The pink pony didn’t hear the door open and continued sobbing. She couldn’t help herself. The pain was too much. The party pony didn’t notice a hoof wrap around her in a friendly embrace.

“It’ll be alrigh’, sugarcube. Ah know it’s painful ta lose somepony close ta ya.” Applejack spoke in hopes of consoling the mare. It was six months ago, but Applejack knew that nopony ever really gets over losing somepony.

“I know, Applejack, but she was so young…why did...” Pinkie began sobbing harder before she could finish the sentence. Applejack knew there was a lot more than loss going on. Her friends were moving on and doing other things and everypony was busy. Pinkie was pretty much alone. The Cakes were barely ever there, and Pinkie never had a special somepony.
Pinkie Pie, the party mare, was doing her best to help everypony. However, her youth was going before its time. Applejack knew she had to think of something. Suddenly, she had an idea.

“Pinkie, how abou’ me an’ you hang out aroun’ town tonight, jus’ like ol’ times?” Applejack asked the party pony. Pinkie mustered a small smile and nodded.

“Why don’ ya go upstairs an’ get some rest for now,” the farm-pony suggested sincerely. She watched as her friend exited the kitchen. The orange mare sighed once more.

Author's Note

Thanks to Bad_Seed_72 for edits.

Please comment.