My Little Pony: Friendship is a Miracle

Life on the farm was different for Bromley. Very different. Not in the ways that most people would think though. His muscles were already toned, used to hard labor and long days, but his brain wasn’t ready for the amount of affection he was getting from the strange family he was living with. Meals had never been cooked for him outside of formal parties. People had never stopped him in the middle of his job to offer him a sweet, delicious glass of apple juice. He was never invited to sit in front of a fire to sip apple cider with his employer.

All in all, it was a new experience, but not unwelcome.

“Yall need a break Brom?” The man being spoken to was drawn out of his thoughts by Applejack.

“I am fine. Thank you though.” Bromley replied, pushing his sweaty black hair back, before raising his leg and slamming it into the tree in front of him. The tree shook for a second, apples falling out. He had learned the day before that kicking too hard or too low would break the bark.

“Honestly, do yall always speak so formal? For Celestia’s sake loosen up.” Applejack gently teased the human as she trotted around, catching the apples that Bromley knocked loose, and picking up the few she missed. Bromley shrugged.

“As you wish.” At that, he lifted his black shirt over his head, tossing aside the sweaty shirt.

“That’s it!” Applejack grinned, though purposefully ignored the heat in her cheeks. Her eyes widened though as she spotted the gray, metal part of his arm that was now exposed. Bromley stared into her eyes as she examined the appendage, and was actually surprised when she didn’t shy away, but instead got closer.

“That’s there is real in-erestin’... Didja used to have a real arm?” Bromley offered a stiff nod and she smiled up at him pitiously. Bromley’s still gloved fists clenched at the action.

“Don’t be sorry for me. I only lost it because I was weak.” Bromley seemed to bite out the words, and he turned away from her. Applejack was left speechless, and could only stare as Bromley kicked at another tree.

The bark broke. Off.

Bromley stood in the shower, just letting the hot water pour over his sweaty body and sore muscles. Even after years of constant running and kicking, his legs were not used to the hard work of the farm. The unconventional methods they used for harvesting didn’t really bother him, but they were tiring.

Slowly, his body relaxed, and shortly after cleaning he left the shower. He glared down at the dirty clothes that he had worn that day. He really needed to see if he could get some more, as having just one set of clothes was becoming a nightmare. With a sigh, he scrubbed them using the castile soap in the tub. Content that they were clean, he slipped his towel around his waist, put his gloves on and left the bathroom wearing just that. He hung his clothes outside on a tree, then rejoined the Apple family for dinner. He took his seat next to big mac, who was chowing down on some hay and salad, with some apple dumplings. He helped himself to the dumplings, and grabbed a single slice of bread, keeping far away from the hay.

“How ya liking your job?” Big Mac asked, his face stretching into a grin that belied his intelligence. Bromley smirked back.

“Its a real kick in the pants.” Not a single laugh was given. Everyone just stared at Bromley in shock. Applejack’s jaw was actually hanging open.

“Did you just make a joke?” Apple Bloom said, eyes still wide. Bromley raised a brow at their reactions, calmly stuffing a dumpling into his mouth while nodding.

“Get Nurse Red Heart. We got an emergency!” Applejack yelled, rushing to the sink to get a wet cloth in case Bromley had a fever.

Bromley laid on the couch, now dressed in his sun warmed clothes and basking in the fire’s light. Outside, the sun had almost completely set. He let out a content sigh, listening to the calming noise of the Apple Family laughing and talking. Big Mac wrestled with Applebloom while Granny Smith commentated and Applejack just laughed, filling the room with pure joy. Bromley let a smile stretch across his face. Where he was from, the scene from this very room was so rare. It reminded him of those old TV shows he would watch when he was little, of the perfect family that occasionally had a little squabble but loved each other deeply and would give anything to make each other happy. It was so unlike what he had grown up seeing though.

Every day, the news would describe in graphic detail, a new breaking news story about a father killing his child, or a mother brutally beating her helpless child. Bone chilling tales of grandparents being murdered for their considerable wealth, or sometimes stories of a brother raping his sister, or outright killing his other siblings in a jealous rage would be told, but it didn’t matter. It was obvious. Humans were outright controlled by greed, jealousy, and hate. Bromley’s red gaze turned towards the loving, happy family and for once he made his own decision. For once he decided to give himself a new mission. A goal.

“My new mission is to protect the Apple Family in any way possible with my very life. Mission started: June 6th, 8:00 P.M. Mission Terminates at: Unknown Time.”