In The Beginning: Petrified Honesty*

It was a beautiful spring morning. The sun was shining brightly, the birds were chirping and the flowers were blooming. A pleasant breeze rolled through the land and gently rustled the hair of two travelers. These things were completely ignored by a pair of travelers as they struggled with their burdens.

“Sis,” a girl in blue overalls, red sneakers, and a yellow shirt whined as she strained to carry her two baskets full of apples. “Are we there yet?”

“No Applebloom,” a woman in blue jeans, brown cowboy boots, a stetson hat, and a flannel shirt groaned as she struggled with four baskets of her own. “You’ve been askin’ that all mornin’ long an’ we ain’t getin’ ta’ town any faster with you whinin’ like that.”

“Ah’m not whinin’! I’m complainin’,” Applebloom whined.

“It don’t matter what ya’ call it. Just stop it an’ keep movin’.”

“Are you still mad about the cart?” Applebloom asked sadly.

Applejack sighed heavily. “No Applebloom, Ah’m not mad. I’m glad that you an’ yer friends are safe. Ah’m just frustrated that we have ta’ buy a new cart is all.”

“Like Ah said, Ah’m real sorry sis. An' do we really gotta buy a new cart? Can't we just fix the one we already have?"

"No Applebloom we really can't. Big Mac took a look an' said that the back left wheel snapped off an' broke the axle. Whut were you girls thinkin'?"

“We thought we could get our cutie marks in daredevilin’.”

“So you an' yer friends decided ta' push the cart down a huge hill an’ try ta’ jump the swimin’ hole?”

“We didn’t think we’d break it sis, honest! We thought we’d be able to clear the water no problem.”

"Yeah, well it turns out ya couldn't." Apple Jack said. "An' ya know what yer gonna do ta' make things better?"

"Whut?" Applebloom asked.

"Yer gonna help me sell all a' these here apples. Think ya' can do that?"

"You betcha!" Applebloom smiled broadly, happy that her sister has finally calmed down.

"Glad ta’ hear it'." They pressed forward up a small hill and stopped to rest under a shady tree. From where they sat they could see the Ponyville skyline.

“Hey sis?”

“What is it Applebloom?”

“How much longer is it ta’ town?”

“Not too much longer.” She pointed to the town hall building that towered above all the other buildings. “Ya’ see the town hall?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s about a half hour away.”

“A half an hour?” Applebloom asked incredulously. “But we’ve already been walkin’ fer ever.”

“An now ya’ know why we left early.”

“It never felt this long before.”

“That’s cuz we had the cart ta’ carry you an’ the apples.”

“Ah helped,” Applebloom interjected.

“Only when you weren’t busy fallin’ back asleep,” Applejack teased lightheartedly.

“Ah didn’t fall asleep.” Applebloom said defensively.

“Ha,” Applejack snorted. “Not ta’day maybe, but yer usually sawin’ logs by the time we head out fer town.”

“Well Ah’m just a little kid sis,” Applebloom argued. “Miss Cherilee says that Ah’m s’possed ta’ get ten hours a’ sleep a night.”

“Then tell me why ya’ go ta’ bed at eleven when ya’ know full well that ya’ have ta’ be up at six?”

“Cuz’ Ah’m not sleepy till then.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well it’s summer sis, Ah should be enjoyin’, mah time offa school by stayin’ up late an’ stuff.”

“You get that idear from Pinkie Pie?”

“Maybe,” Applebloom said slowly.

Applejack just shook her head with a smile. She leaned back against the base of the tree and let out a sigh. "Sure is a nice day huh Apple--" Applejack suddenly stopped as an icy shock went down her spine like somebody laid an icicle across her back. She whipped her head around and stared in wide eyed horror at the silhouette of a stranger.

"Sorry," he apologized and stepped into the shade of the tree, revealing his tall, muscular build. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh," Applejack breathed. "Ya didn't scare us, just caught us off guard. Right Applebloom?"

"Ah'll say," Applebloom said, impressed. "Ah didn't even hear ya walkin over here."

"To tell the truth," the stranger smiled, showing his bright white teeth, "I was taking a little break from walking on the other side of this tree when I heard you guys coming over here. I wanted to ask you a quick question but I didn't want to scare you. Looks like I already spooked ya' though. Sorry again."

"Well," Applejack smiled nervously. "Ya certainly got our attention. Whut didja wanna ask?"

"That town over there," he pointed at the town hall on the horizon. "Thats Ponyville, right?"

"The one an' only stranger." Applebloom beamed.

"Awesome, thank you. Hey, since we're all going to the same place, I could carry those baskets if you'd like."

"Gee stranger," Applebloom began. "That's--"

"A very generous offer an' all," Applejack interrupted. "But me an' mah lil' sis can take care of this on our own. You just run on ahead into town."

"Speak fer yerself sis," Applebloom interjected. "Ah'm not as strong as you. Mah arms are doggone tired.”

Applejack turned to her little sister with intensity in her eyes. “Applebloom not now,” she hissed. She then quickly turned back to face the stranger, her nervous smile returning. “Pay her no mi--” She stopped when she realized that the stranger had moved out into the road and was carrying all six baskets, three in each hand.

"Nonsense," the stranger smiled. "Ill let you girls rest your arms a bit."

"But--" Applejack began.

"Thanks stranger!" Beamed Applebloom as she walked ahead of him. "Just follow me an' Ah'll take ya to our stall."

"Lead the way then," he said, his smile growing.

“Now wait just a darn minute,” Applejack said as she scrambled away from the tree. She got out onto the dirt road and leapt to her feet and watch the stranger and her little sister walk on down the path into town. “Hold on,” she shouted and began jogging after them. “Yall better wait up now, ya’ hear?”

“Hurry up sis, it ain’t polite ta’ keep people ya’ just met waitin’.” Applebloom said over her shoulder.

"How about you walk slower then?" Applejack said as she hurried to catch up to them.

"Oh sorry," the stranger apologized as he slowed down. "I was following your sister and I guess I didn't realize you weren't with us." He turned around and flashed another brilliant smile. That was when Applejack got a good look at the stranger.

He was tall, looked to be over six feet tall by a few inches, had a muscular build and looked to be a few pounds heavier than her brother. He wore a white button up shirt that was covered in tears and dirt, much like his white pants and shoes. He had long white bangs that stopped right at his chest, making the black glasses that hugged his face stand out.

What stood out to her the most was just how pale his skin was. It was almost indistinguishable from his clothes. She didn't know why, but she had a strong feeling that his skin was ice cold too.

“You feelin’ ok sis?” Applebloom asked, concern heavy in her voice.

“Uh, yeah. Ah’m fine. Guess Ah’m just a little light headed is all.”

“You probably just stood up too fast.” The stranger said with a soft smile. “You gonna be ok?”

“Yeah. Don’t you worry ‘bout lil’ ol’ me. You two just go on ahead.” “Whut am Ah sayin’?” She thought. “Ah don’t want her ta’ go with this creep.”

“Ya’ sure sis?” Applebloom asked.

“Eyup, just get on out of here and get to our stall ‘fore everyone else shows up an’ steals all a’ our customers.” Her brain was practically roaring at her. “Whut are ya’ thinkin’ girl? Git over there an’ protect yer sister.”

“You got it sis,” Applebloom smiled. “C’mon stranger. Let’s go!” Applebloom turned and ran for town. The stranger took a few steps after her but stopped and turned back to Applejack with a smile.

“Cute kid,” he said, chilling her to the bone. Then he turned and started jogging after Applebloom. Applejack watched in horror as Applebloom and the stranger raced each other toward town.

“You better not hurt her.” Applejack mumbled, her knees giving out and dropping to the ground. “Ya’ hear? Don’t you dare hurt mah lil sis er else.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Been a while since I’ve been here last,” the stranger said with a smile, looking around Ponyville’s Farmers Market. A few other people had already begun setting up shop.

“You’ve been here before stranger?” asked Applebloom as she escorted the stranger through the many carts and booths. “Ah’ve never seen ya ‘round here before.”

“It was probably before you were born,” he replied. “Things sure have changed though.”

“In whut way?” They had just gotten to the Apple family's stall with a big wooden sign on it that appropriately read Apple’s apples.

“Well, for one thing,” the stranger began as he set the apple baskets down and began sorting the apples by kinds into bins in front of the apple stand. “It’s a lot bigger than I remember it being.”

“Really?” Applebloom asked confusedly.

“Yes really,” he said as he set the last Yellow Delicious into it’s bin. “There, now that that’s done, do you have anything else you need me to take care of?”

“Woah!” Applebloom stared at the organized apples. “You got those sorted out right quick stranger.”

“Well I’ve had a little experience with apples once upon a time,” the stranger said with a grin. “So, like I said, anything else for me to do?”

“Oh yeah.” Applebloom reached into her pocket and brought out a folded piece of paper. “Mah sis gave this ta’ me before we left the farm this mornin’. She said that Ah would have ta’ run a few chores before lunch ta’day. But if you took care of mah chores Ah could stay here an’ help sis sell a bunch a’ apples.”

“Thats very kind of you Applebloom, plus I can see what all has changed around town.” The stranger took the list with a kind smile and began walking out of the market.

“Hey wait just a minute stranger,” Applebloom called. “Ah just realized that Ah never caught yer name.”

“Oh yeah.” The stranger smiled and glanced back at Applebloom. “Name’s Little D.”

“It’s a real pleasure ta’ meetcha then str-- Ah mean, Lil’ D.”

“Likewise.” And with that, Little D walked out of the market and set out to complete his list of chores.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Applebloom was sitting attentively at the apple stand, patiently awaiting the arrival of her sister and the first customers of the day. The former was the first to show. Applebloom spotted her big sister running into the market square, making a beeline directly toward her.

“Hey sis!” Shouted Applebloom. “Whut took ya so long?”

“Sorry lil’ sis,” panted Applejack. “I was feelin’ right queasy there fer a bit there.”

“Are ya feelin’ any better now?”

“Yeah, just a bit.” she said, hoping her relief didn’t sound too audible.

“Glad ta’ hear it,” Applebloom beamed. “Now we kin sell these apples ta’gether. Ah gave that list of chores ta’ Lil’ D an’ he said that he’d take care of those chores no problem.”

“Was that his name now?” Applejack sighed in relief. “Thank Celestia,” she thought. “He might be comin’ back but at least it won’t be fer a coupl’a hours.” She walked over to her sister and ruffled her hair. “Good job on sortin’ out these apples lil’ sis.”

“That wasn’t me. Lil’ D did that.”

“Really now?” Applejack asked curiously.

“Eyup. Took care of it right quick too.”

“Interestin’.” Applejack leaned on the cart and took a deep breath. “Ah got a funny feelin’ bout ta’day. An mah bet is that things are only gonna get weirder.” She thought back to when that stranger, apparently named “Little D”, snuck up on her. She shuddered

Author's Note

This Chapter has been re-worked since it's April 2013 release.