Crystals Return

Drifting into sleeps embrace was an over-statement. The whole night was filled with constant shivers, aches, and sweating. The thought of his entire situation had been eating away at him from the beginning. All he remembers is ...white. Nothing but a big, white, open space. Was he crazy? has his mind tricked him yet again? These constant internal flames were just being fed the more questioned he pondered. In fact, an inquisition he feels should be more prominent is who is the black unicorn that's been haunting his memory? Maybe he has something to do with this whole situation.

The questions went on until he heard the trotting of hooves clopping away from the barn in which he lay. He darts up, in hope of catching the suspected brigand. He started into a sprint, a sprint that he didn't think he was capable of. Where did he learn to run with such perfection? Ohh this isn't the time for pondering, the only question he should be focused on his catching the assailant.

He finally managed to catch up with the pony, only to end the chase in an unexpected tackle. The moonlight had revealed the pony to be none other than the blonde-headed Applejack. Yo much of Branded's surprise, she didn't seem angry with his tackle, but fearful. He didn't hit her that hard, just enough to be over-top of the mare. Was he really a frightening individual? This is not the place nor time for questions he thought, visibly announcing his internal distress via facial expressions. Time to figure out what she was doing he thought.

"What were you doing Applejack? I didn't mean to hu-" Branded was cut off with the abrupt caress of her lips.

She had embraced him wholly at this time. Had Branded been more prepared for the encounter, he would have reacted much more quickly, and not let it escalate into a full-scale tongue strangling.

She finally let loose to breath and prepare for round two when Branded gasped for air.

"What are you doing?!" Branded exclaimed, shaken by the encounter.

"Well you wer' just so nice and *hiccup*...." She managed to spurt out.

Now he understood. She had been drinking cider. Nothing more than a mistake. Good. He didn't want her to be the cherry on the pie. He already has enough problems to deal with without having to worry about her, she was his friend and that's all he asked for.

"Applejack, I think you've had to much cider, you should probably go to bed..." He trailed off.

"I ain't had that much! And I was goin' to go sleep with you, you sount' scared, all I could hear was whimpering and thrashing around...you needed a friend." She responded, less affected by the cider than Branded had thought.

"Well...thankyou for your concern, but I'm okay. Now, can we *uhm* can we please put this behind us? You're one of my only friends here and I don't want that to change." He barely managed to spurt out, all the while tears sneaking up from behind. What drew these tears here? Possibly his sincerity over the problem, possibly his fear to admit that he had admired the mare since he first lay eyes on her. He knew he was right on this, though. If wanted any chance at figuring out who he is, he needed friends, not lovers.

"Well, alright, if you say so. If you want though, you can sleep in the house, we have a guest bedroom, it's just a little dirty is all..." She trailed off.

"I'll just stay in the barn, I think some of the chickens have made friends with me, can't disappoint, right?" Branded said, trying to lighten the conversation.

"Well I'm a little disappointed." She replied, maybe more intoxicated than previously believed.

"OH, well, look I'm really sorry, I just don't feel like this should happen. At least yet-"

"Ah'm not disappointed in you sugarcube, ah'm disappointed in myself. I knew I shoulda' stayed in my room, It's not just the cider, sure it helped give me a push to do this, but I really just....I feel bad for you! You seem so undeserving of this punishment, what could you have done to be left alone in the cold with nothing? I was just going to come in the barn, and sleep next to you. I didn't mean for it to get to this level, and for that ah'm sorry."  She said teary eyed at the whole situation.

Luckily she didn't know just what he has done before to deserve this. He moved in a little closer, as to comfort her in her tears. He began rubbing her back and neck in a pitiful attempt to cheer up a friend.

"Well look, if you want you can come lay with me in the barn." Branded said with ease of mind.

"Really? that'd be fantastic.." She whispered softly whilst leaning against his chest in an upright position.

"Let's just not let it escalate into anything else, okay?" Branded replied a bit more harshly then intended.

"Ah promise." Applejack responded.

She followed him until they arrived at the barn, where Branded had set aside some hay to sleep on earlier. It was hardly big enough for him, let alone two ponies. She didn't seem to care, the closer she was to him the better. For her at least. Branded being the awkward stallion he is doesn't know what to make of the entire situation, so he just lied down, and was soon followed by Applejack who then presumed to wrap her fore-arms around his diaphragm. It was rather cosey, and welcomed through Branded's eyes. He didn't feel as alone as previously thought. The body heat from the mare was well welcomed into Branded's cold existence. He finally managed to break free of thought long enough to fall asleep to the constant pattering of Applejack's soft breath.