//------------------------------//
// Ch. 2 Ramble On 
// Story: Over The Hills And Far Away 
// by Closer-To-The-Sun 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2: Ramble On

Within the blink of an eye, Pinkie Pie and Rob had arrived outside of Sugarcube Corner. The blue colt was confused and bewildered, how as it even possible that Pinkie Pie could do such a thing? Seeing how thinking hard about himself was painful, he settled on the fact that thinking hard about how Pinkie defied logic would have the same result.

Setting the basket of honey on the ground, Pinkie turned and took Rob down from of her back. "Now," she began, "let's get you some yummy sweets to eat, Robbie!"

"Um, alright," Rob replied, trying to hide the fact he was blushing at her words. It wasn't that hard for him to admit that she was cute.

Pinkie grabbed the wicker basket and led the way inside of the bakery. Following close behind, Rob was hit with the aroma of sweets that filled his lungs. Looking around, he saw other multi-colored ponies in all different shapes and sizes. There were other earth ponies, like himself, as well as unicorns and pegasuses. He was surprised about it all. He continued to look around until he was startled by a familiar pink pony that was popped up right in font his line of sight, her face only a few inches away from his.

"Why haven't ya sat down yet, silly? C'mon!" Pinkie Pie pulled Rob over to an empty table and forced him to sit down. Then, seemingly from out of nowhere, she pulled out a plate of cupcakes for them to eat, "Dig in!" she exclaimed as she sat down across from him and did just that.

Rob, however, was a little more cautious as he reached for his cupcakes. Grasping one with his hoof, he took a bite of the green frosted cupcake. To his pleasant surprise, it was delicious. He continued to eat happily. Pinkie, who had frosting coat the area around her mouth, smiled as she paused between bites.

A few cupcakes later, Pinkie Pie spoke, despite her mouth still having food in it, "Ya knoo, ah havn't seeen wat yer cuutie mark is yet." Her words were jumbled and food flew out as she spoke.

Rob, still enjoying his cupcake, didn't quite understand what she said. But before he knew it, Pinkie Pie was looking at his blue flank from underneath the table, "Pinkie Pie!" he shouted in embarrassment.

The pink pony paid no mind for his concern. "Hmm," she said from below the table while looking at the cutie mark, "A red circle with a yellow ring and a black line through it? What could that be mean?"

Rob moved himself out of Pinkie's line of sight. His cheeks were red as he went to the other side of the table and pulled the mare out from below the table, "I already said, I have no idea. But whatever it means, I think I'll be stuck here for a while until I don't have amnesia anymore."

"That's a super-duper idea!" Pinkie exclaimed, "but where?"

As she rubbed her chin, she didn't hear the trotting behind her of one of her friends.

"Howdy, Pinkie Pie," the orange mare greeted.

Waving her limbs in front of the orange pony, Pinkie Pie responded, "Shhh! Not now, Applejack! I'm trying to think." Her head didn't move as she talked.

"Uhh….alright then, ah'll let ya do that then, Pinkie," Applejack replied to Pinkie. She was used to Pinkie Pie's randomness.

Suddenly, Pinkie had an idea, "Wait, Applejack, that's it!"

"What's it?" Rob spoke.

"You can work on Applejack's farm!" Pinkie seemed very happy to have came up with the idea.

"Um, that's might fine an' all, Pinkie, but aren'tcha gonna introduce me to yer friend here?" Applejack asked with a titled head.

"Right! This here is Robbie! We met earlier today!" the party pony mused.

Rob was quick to interject "Erm, Rob is just fine, Miss…."

"Applejack. Applejack is jus' fine as well, partner," Applejack nodded and gave a tip of her hat to the blue stallion, a bit more of her blonde mane being revealed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rob smiled

"Oh, please, the pleasure is all mine," Applejack smiled back, her cheeks a slight tint of pink.

"Yay!" Pinkie busted out cheerfully, ruining the greeting, "Everypony knows everypony now! This calls for a party!" She had a limb around both of them in for a group hug.

"Actually, I would like to see if I can't get a job doing something. I mean, seeing how I don't even have a place to stay right now." Rob stated with concern.

"Shoot, ya don't even have a roof over yer head? Well then, let's see about you gettin' a job on the farm. Just as long as yer a hardworker," the orange earth pony spoke.

"I totally will! I promise!" Rob spoke with vigor.

"He does seem like the pony that is a super-de-duper-ee hardworker!" Pinkie vouched for him.

"Then let's just go ask Big Mac. He's got the final say and this."

---------------

The three ponies went to Sweet Apple Acres. The night sky had quickly swept over Equestria when they arrived. Pinkie made a few comments about how it was all spooky now that Luna's time of the day was at hand. After sharing a laugh, Applejack went inside to talk with Big Macintosh.

While she was away, Rob seemed nervous, "I do hope I can get a job here."

Pinkie Pie patted Rob on top of his head, "Don't you worry your pretty head off! Applejack is good with convincing her brother!"

Rob was puzzled, "What?"

Pinkie looked back and gave an innocent look, "What about what?"

Before Rob could say anything else, Applejack returned, "Ah got some good news, and ah got some bad news. The good news, is that ya start tomorra. The bad news, we ain't got a spare room in the house."

"Oh, alright," Rob said with a bit of sorrow in his voice.

Pinkie saw Rob crestfallen and made her frown. However, she got another idea, "IDEA! How about Robbie sleeps in the barn?"

"The barn?" Applejack echoed.

Rob seemed to be happy with the idea," Yeah! That will work. I'm not picky in the least!"

"Well, um….ah guess ya could…." the orange mare spoke. Her words were cut off by a flying Pinkie Pie hug. "Pinkie….mind gettin' offa me?" She did so, letting the orange mare stand back up.

Rob was very grateful, "Thank you so very much, Applejack!"

At his words, Applejack's cheeks had a pink tint added to them, "Shucks, it's nothin', sugarcube. Ah'll have Pinkie show ya where it is on her way out."

Pinkie saluted to Applejack, "Yes, ma'am! Let's go, Robbie!"

As the pink and blue ponies walked away, Applejack smiled to herself and blushed. She wasn't one to believe in love at first sight, but her heart said otherwise.