Love on the Orchard

“Mom….mom my head hurts.”

Luna turned her head towards me and a soft smile appeared across her muzzle.

“Come here my little Rio and let me take care of you.”

She removed the bandage on my head and her horn began to glow. She placed it upon my wound and the scab began to heal over with renewed blue fur covering it as though there never was a wound in the first place. I’ll be honest I truly thought I was just going to heal it myself but for some reason I just wanted to be held by some pony. My mom was that some pony tonight.

“Get some rest my little Rio and tomorrow morning will be a new day of adventure.”

I looked upon her with tired eyes and a sleepy smile across my face. She opened a wing to let me snuggle close to her body for warmth while she continued to read her book. Every once in a while she’d nuzzle my mane with her nose to comfort me.

I felt like such a mamma’s pony but I didn’t really care. I was hurting in more ways then one and so I did this to ease my pains. Tomorrow I would do what I did today minus hurting and embarrassing myself in front of a pony that I had just met and had feelings for.

“Goodnight mom. I love you.”

Luna looked over to me with a loving look and spoke softly in my ear.

“Goodnight little Rio I love you too.”

That night I had no dreams and yet my body was sad and tears had found there way from my eyes during the night which Luna took notice of. I also began speaking in my sleep. I was begging for my father Rio. I called out to him softly.

“Daddy….Daddy I miss you so much…. please daddy I want to see you again.”

I awoke the next morning with no pain what so ever and Before I made my way to Ponyville to see what good I could do for the citizens there I gave Luna a kiss to her cheek while she was still asleep and flew off from her balcony.

When I reached PonyVille I was greeted by the construction worker ponies who were still working on the town hall and so I decided to go and help them once more. when that was done I went out to the merchants area to see what they were selling.

The flowers, the oranges, the various toys that they sold for foals to play with. My mind was filled with happy thoughts of the things I could eat tonight. For some odd reason though I could not get Applejack out of my mind all day as well.

“Excuse me mister might I interest you in a bushel of apples today to calm that craving you may be having.”

I knew the voice sounded familiar but even so I turned around and made my way to the apple stand. Low and behold Applejack and her sister Applebloom were standing there. As soon as Applejack saw my face I knew that I might in for some trouble.

“Oh hey there Rio….how is yer head feeling?”

I thought she’d be angry with me but instead her voice was just that of worry and I noticed that she was blushing slightly. Granted I blushed every time I saw her.

“Um its uh… its fine thanks. How are you today?”

“ah'm fine….listen ah'm sorry about yesterday ah was just so worried that ah didn’t want to let you leave without being completely fixed up first.”

“Thanks Applejack but I just couldn’t let myself be a problem for you.”

Her voice relaxed a little to that of calm friendly chatting again.

“how could ya think you’d be a problem fer me?”

“I’m not sure to be honest I just like helping everypony and not being a problem for anypony. I guess I don’t really know how to explain myself to you AJ….sorry.”

“It’s alright sugarcube. Do ya still feel like helping out though?”

“Ya of course I do.”

She tossed me an apron and beckoned me over to help her out at her apple stand. I was there for hours but it only felt like minutes. Every once in a while I would glance over at Applejack. Her smiling face, those glorious emerald green eyes and that beautiful blonde mane. I couldn't help but be distracted by her.

When all the apples were finally sold and the bits were stored I helped Applejack put the chest of bits on the wagon and strapped myself to the wagon to pull the chest to her house. She was a little shocked by my helpfulness toward her but it just felt right in my heart.

“Rio its okay ya don’t have to do that.”

“AJ if I’m helping you out it makes me feel better. It’s okay really I want to.”

I spoke under my breath so as to not be heard by her.

“If it’s for you then it makes me even happier too.”