~* Chapter 3: Applejack *~
I began walking down the dirt path to sweet apple acres, I could clearly see the town from here with pegasus ponies flying about and a distant chatter of the market. There were occasionally bells ringing and the atmosphere around me had a clam and happy aura to it. I was getting really excited, for once what I wanted happened. The impossible happened, and I wasn't going to let it slip anytime soon.
The path I was heading down suddenly became bordered with fencing and then a large sign was above my head the came into view. "Sweet Apple Acres," the sign read. The sign was well designed filled with pictures of apples and a silhouette of a pony lassoing an apple. I admired the sign for a moment then followed the path up to the barn. I couldn't wait to see Applejack.
"She'll have something interesting to talk about and do," I said to myself.
The barn came into view and I sped up rushing down because I couldn't wait any longer. I powered down the road towards the barn. Big Mac suddenly came out of the barn and headed towards the orchard and I began running towards him to ask about AJ. I opened my mouth gasping for breath. Suddenly, a large amount of dirt flew right and me and hit me square in the face. I jolted to a halt and began cleaning the dirt off and spitting it out of my mouth.
"Bleh!" I said in disgust.
"I'm mighty sorry!" a nearby voice called.
It was AJ that was digging in the farm and accidentally threw dirt at me. AJ emerged from a ditch near the path and handed me a towel.
"Hooey! Looks like a we've got a new Stallion in town," Applejack said happily, "Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! Ma' names Applejack how'dya do?"
Applejack happily stuck her hoof out for me to shake. I quickly gave her a bro-hoof instead.
"Hello!" I replied, "My name is Blazin' and I came here to chat and help out a bit and maybe hang around. I'm new to Ponyville and I just wanted to meet the locals."
"Well shoot! I could always use some extra hooves 'round the farm," AJ said excitedly, "it's a might fine that y'all stopped by, I'd love to chat and work togiter' it'll be fine as cream and gravy!"
"Alright, that sounds awesome," I replied smiling.
"C'mon let's get yah prepped for work."
AJ and I entered the barn which was roomy and full of hay. She helped saddle me up with two wooden buckets at my sides to do some apple bucking.
"Couldja help me with my buckets?" AJ asked.
"Of course!"
I grabbed a pair of buckets attached by a strap with my mouth off the wall and set the buckets on AJ's back. She nodded and we walked out the barn together heading towards the orchard. through some light grass.
"People here in Ponyville don't bite at all," Applejack said to me in a nice tone, "don't be afraid to ask fir' directions or help! So where did y'all come from d'yah have a place ta' stay?"
"Okay sounds great, sadly I don't have a place to stay and I don't have any money."
"Oh, that'll be no problem, if ya'd like y'all can stay here for a while 'till yah make enough money to move out!"
"Oh yes! I'd really like that a lot."
Applejack playfully bumped me.
"Alright well let's see yah take these apples down," she said as we approached the first apple trees.
Applejack ran towards a tree and bucked it clean with two kicks. I followed her to the tree beside her and knocked the apples down in three kicks. Our buckets were full of apples.
"Now, ya just unstrap yourself like so," Applejack said mixed with a little panting in her voice. She unstrapped the buckets from her back and clunked on the floor. A few apples fell out but she quickly picked them up and ran towards some trees with more buckets underneath. I followed to do the same picking up some of the fallen apples. I ran towards AJ happily bucking away with her.
We had bucked all the way through evening having small chat breaks in between. AJ was leaning against a tree with a wheat straw in her mouth. My stomach was grumbling and I was panting after all that work. The sky was dissolving into orange and it was starting to become older. There was a distinct smell of hot apple pie coming from the barn and the grass felt really soft. I bucked once more at the tree I was bucking and the apples tumbled into the buckets around the tree. I picked up the fallen ones that were fine and chucked the bad ones away. I sat down for a moment to regain my energy. Applejack spit her straw out into the grass, fixed her hat and got up. She strode towards me.
"Shooey! We almost got all the Apples down, just a few more day and we'll be done harvestin'!" Applejack said excitedly, "c'mon let's get some grub, I bet you're hungry as a horse!"
"Yes please," I replied grinning.
AJ helped me up and we walked together through the field towards the barn.
"So, whered'ya come from?" AJ asked our of curiosity.
"Oh i've come from far away, a bad place you could say."
"Whoa! What happened in there town?"
"Well..." I stuttered, "the ponyfolk there, aren't very nice, I felt abandoned and I wished to leave so I ended up here."
I tried to make my story as believable as possible, I didn't want to tell AJ where I really was from.
"Ponies, always come around, but don't worry you've always got a family here in Ponyville."
We treaded into the house and up the step onto the porch where Granny Smith was napping on rocking chair. She was sound asleep but as soon as I walked past her she smacked her lips and yelled, "Who goes, there!" in an old raspy voice.
"It's okay Granny, he needs a place to stay, he's not from 'ere," Applejack replied covering my back.
"Oh, alrighty then!" Granny's tone immediately changed, "Yah' can have the old cot in Big Mac's room, help yerself to dinner."
I nodded and whispered, "Thanks again AJ"
She nodded and we headed through the door to the dining room where Big Macintosh and Applebloom were seat chewing away at some apple pie and hay.
"Hey! Who's that," asked Applebloom.
"This here's Blazin' he's gonna be stayin' with us for a while, until he can get enough money to live on his own." Applejack replied.
I popped my head into the room and introduced myself, "Hello everypony!" I said as I walked in,
Applebloom spoke up, "Hello there Blazin' i'm Applebloom and this is Big Macintosh, go 'head make yourself at home! We got plenty of stuff ta' eat if you're hungry!"
Applejack shooed Applebloom off to her room telling her that the big ponies needed to talk.
"I am a big pony..." Applebloom muttered and strode off to her room.
Big Macintosh began to speak up, "So, you're going to be staying with us, that's fine, please mind that we'll be wakin' up lot's and gettin' to work."
I nodded and smiled politely, it was nice of them to at least give me a place to sleep, it was already dark now and I was having a dinner with AJ and Big Mac. My stomach growled loudly, I hadn't eaten all day. I began chowing down on everything and drank some cider and lightly chatted with Big Mac and AJ. Everything was perfect. After that little dinner I cleaned up after myself and so did the other ponies and we all walked up the stairs together off to our rooms. Applejack looked at me staring deep into my eyes. But then she looked away and said, "Night Big Mac... Oh and have a good sleep Blazin'..."
"Night,"I replied smoothly.
Big Macintosh opened the door to his room and showed me to my cot, "I hope you don't mind it's not that good of a bed, if ya' need anything don't be 'fraid to wake me up an' ask.
"Alright, sound's good, thank you so much, I--" I stopped mid sentence trying to hold back my emotions.
Big Mac simply nodded and slumped into his bed, he must've been tired.
I proceeded to lye down too, time for a good night's sleep.
Suddenly, I had awoken gasping for breath and felt parched, I felt sweaty and really bad. The chill of the barn started to kick in and I felt cold. I walked up to the window to observe the sky, It was still the middle of night, 3 am. I felt terrible I had these horrible memories of... Home, a seemingly sinister place that just held neglect for me. I didn't want to go back, everyone was so friendly here I didn't want to think about it. But sooner or later I knew the time would come. I promised myself to dismiss the thought and enjoy every moment I could here in Ponyville. My mouth was very dry and I started feeling a need for water. I quietly snuck out of the room and quietly shut the door behind me. I started to watch my hooves trying to time them so I wouldn't make any sound in the wooden hall. Big Mac's room was at the end of the hall behind Applebloom's and Applejack's. I quietly walked past Applebloom's room and AJ's room and quietly descended down the stairs.
I stepped into the kitchen and reached for the cupboard and took a glass out and set it on the counter. I filled it with tap water from the sink and sat down on the bench shivering. I sat down sipping my drink and peered out the window with big gazing eyes. It felt weird, but it also felt soothing so I just continued sitting and shivering. I heard a creaking in the steps, I had somehow awoken somepony. Applejack came down the stairs without her hat and had a blanket in her mouth. She walked slowly towards me and sat next to me closely on the bench and covered us with the blanket.
"Wow, that there's a pretty lookin' sky, it really amazing isn't it." Applejack whispered.
"Yeah, nothing like the sky I knew," I replied.
"I don't understand, where in the hay couldn't you see the sky?"
"The big city."
"Oh right, hehe, well it is gettin' late, and uh you seem lonely, anythin' buggin' you?"
Applejack scooted over closer to me and completely wrapped us in the blanket.
"Nah, i'm fine," I lied.
"Alrighty, well uhm, hey Blazin' if you'd like you could sleep with me..." Applejack said in a soft voice, "I got plenty of room in my bed and your cold an' all."
I thought to myself for a moment, my heart felt warmed and loved in a long time. I felt thankful and joyful.
"Yes please, that's kind of you to offer I replied."
Applejack nodded and smiled lightly. She stood up and I followed, we walked up the stairs together still wrapped in the warm blanket and we got in AJ's room. She jumped into bed and showed me my pillow. I had the blanket and I laid down best her pulling the blanket over us. I felt a lot better now I began to fall asleep, before I could Applejack bunched up on me. I turned on the bed facing towards AJ and put my hoof over her and I began to fall asleep.
The next morning I woke up feeling tired and I rubbed my eyes. Applejack lay beside me and she yawned and she smacked her lips and began to wake up beside me.
"So, ehm, how was sleepin'?" Applejack asked.
"The best one I had in a long time," I replied.
Applejack lay back down on her pillow, "Can you pass me my hat?" she asked.
"Sure!" I took the covers off and stepped around the bed to the rack that held Applejack's rope and hat. I handed her the hat. She sat up in bed, "I had a good sleep too, I feel much better with you around, Blazin'," she said.
"I could say the same."
"Okay I think we should git' at the day, we've got a lot of stuff to do, including more buckin' and visiting the town for some groceries and we can stop by a few other ponyfolk and meet my friends, sound fun?" Applejack said excitedly
"That sound great!" I said happily.
Applejack got out of bed and she made her bed by just flinging the cover onto the bed. I opened the door up and we both stepped out of the room. Applebloom and Big Macintosh had already went downstairs and had a breakfast going. We entered the kitchen and sat down on the bench,
"G'mornin' sis an' Blazin'!" Applebloom greeted us.
"Mornin',"Applejack and I replied.
Everyone sat down in front of the table and we began eating breakfast, which was pancakes (yum.)
"Where'd ya walk off to?" Big Mac asked me.
Applejack spoke up before I could, "He just decided to sleep in a different room!"
Big Mac resumed eating his pancakes, I was just sitting there staring off into the horizon.
"You gonna' eat?" Applebloom asked me.
"Haha, oh yeah," I responded and we ate together. Granny Smith walked into the room and walked up to her indoor rocking chair with a tray and sat there eating her breakfast after she swallowed some of the apple pancakes down she spoke up,
"Applejack, hurry up and hustle over to... Uhm, where was it again? Oh yeah, head over with Blazin' to town and git' all the stuff we need." Applejack nodded and threw a bag at me which I caught with my wing and slung it over my back. She tossed a money bag in and seven apples.
"Today we can have a picnic with some of my friends at the park after were done the chores," Applejack stated.
"Wow! That would be awesome," I replied.
With that, AJ and I walked out the door of the barn and proceeded onto the dirt path together. I turned and looked at the barn where Applebloom, Big Mac and Granny Smith were waving at us, I waved back. THere we were down the road. I admired all the shrubbery and berry filled bushes. We started getting closer to the city and the path changed from a soil dirt path to a rocky one. Up ahead was a white stone bridge leading over a river into Ponyville market. I could see ponies walking around and pegasi flying around the sky tending to their own affairs. We headed straight for the bridge, before we crossed I stepped up to the river and washed my face with the water, which felt extremely refreshing. Applejack giggled a bit and I caught up with her at the end of the bridge. We had finally arrived at the market.
We began by browsing the market stalls looking for assorted ingredients. I had basically followed Applejack the entire time, she showed me around the market and she took money out occasionally and filled my bag with assorted goods.
"We can't grow everythin' at the farm so we just buy a few necessities for cookin'!" AJ explained.
After we finished perusing the stalls my back felt like it was going to give out, "Hehe, hang on Blazin' were almost done!" Applejack giggled. I grinned and my hooves started shaking from all that dead weight.
"Let's head to Sugarcube Corner, we can meet one of my friends there and I got to pick up some sweets that we ordered there yesterday."
"Oooo, I get to meet Pinkie," I thought to my self. As we headed for the sweets shop many ponies exchanged looks and smiled at me whispering amongst themselves that I was new in town and they had never seen me before.
Before we could make it Lyra walked up to me and began to ask, "Hello there stranger, welcome to Ponyville, what's your name?"
"Hello I--" before I could continue somepony knocked Lyra out of the way and grinned at me,
"New pony?" they said, "Hello there stranger i'm the mayor of Ponyville," the mare stated. Indeed it was the mayor in the flesh.
"Here's a warm welcome here into, Ponyville!" The mayor began, everypony one the street began shouting welcome! and began clapping and smiling, it felt great.
"So stranger, care to tell us your name?" the mayor asked.
"Yes, thank you everypony for welcoming me, I am Blazin' Skies and i'm staying here in Ponyville!"
Everypony whispered to each other on the streets shouted once again, "A warm welcome to Blazin' Skies! Woohoo!" Everypony resumed what they were doing and the mayor winked and left.
"Golly! You'll have lot's of friends here in Ponyville in no time, 'cluding me hehe," Applejack replied.
"I'm so glad!" I replied, we continued towards towards the shop. Suddenly Fluttershy flew down and joined me and Applejack, "Hello Blazin' hello Applejack!" she said greeting us.
"Hello," AJ and I replied.
"Ah! Fluttershy just in time I was thinkin' of havin' a picnic altogether with blazin' do you think you can tell Rainbow Dash and Rarity to come to the park, oh and have you met Blazin' yet?"
"Why of course! Oh yes, i've met Blazin' he was helping me get acorns from my tree." Fluttershy responded, "well I should go ask the girls if they're free this afternoon, bye!"
"Later!" Applejack concluded as she began to fly off.
Applejack grinned at me and began to speak, "You'll love my friends they're nice ponies if they're not getting tangled in each other's manes."
"Alright, cool," I replied.
We finally moved along and entered Sugarcube Corner with a ring of the bell. "Coming!" Pinkie yelled from upstairs. There was a thudding upstairs and then hoof steps going down a set of stairs. Pinkie Pie showed up in the main room carrying a large box of baking supplies. Her view was completely blocked and she kept stepping on the Baby cake's toys from the sounds of random squeaks and quacks. Pinkie placed the box on the counter and breathed a sigh of relief.
She turned away from the counter and began to speak up, "Now what can I do for yooooooooouuuuu-?"
Pinkie had noticed me. She was looking at me suspiciously, then she began spinning her head around in circles looking at me in different angles. With one huff her neck untwisted and she gasped really loudly and hid behind the counter. Then with a giant leap she jumped on counter and dumped flour all over the floor
"HUUUUUAAAAA! A NEW PONY IN TOWN! NO WAY! Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi! What's your name friend?!" She grinned.
"I'm Blazin'," I replied, "He's new 'round these parts an' I was introducin' him around town, say would you like to join a picnic with the girls and Blazin'?" Applejack added while coughing from the flour that was on the floor.
"Wow, Blazin'! I've never met a pegasus pony named Blazin'! I haven't even seen a cutie mark like that before!" Pinkie exclaimed, "You must know some Radical tricks, as Rainbow Dash would say, OH MY GOSH! Have you met Rainbow Dash yet? YOU SHOULD TOTALLY HANG OUT! You can have races, play games; hang out and even... Just chill and be cool. Oh and for sure, i'm totally going to go to that picnic AJ!"
Pinkie began doing cartwheels around the room.
"WELL OKAY THEN!" Applejack spoke up, "Uh, I also need that order for the farm I placed yesterday, Pinkie."
"Okie Dokie!"
Pinkie ran off to the back of the room. Before she got back there were various noises coming from the back A welding torch, Drill hammer and even a giant pounding! The aroma of a strawberry shortcake began to fill the room. Pinkie walked covered in strawberry juice and icing with a box all in a wrapped up box. She handed the cake to AJ who immediatly put the cake on my back. I let out a mighty, "HO!" as the cake was slung onto my back. The pains of all the things were returning and my legs began shaking again. AJ snickered at the sight of me.
"'Kay c'mon now wouldn't want you to give out before the picnic, let's head over to Twilight and ask her if she want's to have a picnic." Applejack said to me.
I nodded, before we left Sugarcube Corner Pinkie offered her hoof out to be shaken I accepted, hoping that it wasn't a prank. To my luck it wasn't. Pinkie grinned and waved as we exited the sweets shop, now we were well on our way to the library.
