//------------------------------// // Chapter Twenty-One: A Morning Visit (Edited) // Story: A New Home // by APoeticHeart //------------------------------// Dawn started to break as the crowing of a rooster could be heard on the farm of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack let out a big yawn, smacking her lips as she carefully sat up in her bed. She blinked her eyes open as she climbed off the bed, and onto all four legs. She trotted over the wooden floor to grab her Stetson hat, and put it on. She trotted out of her room, and down the hallway to Applebloom's room. She saw the door slightly opened, and decided to trot inside pushing it open with a forehoof. She saw Applebloom in her bed rolled over onto her side with her back facing her, and decided to carefully trot up to her bed. She reached a foreleg up, and gently nudged at her sister with her forehoof. "Hey, Applebloom, are ya'll awake?" The yellow filly turned onto her side to face Applejack blinking her eyes tiredly, and letting out a yawn. "Yah, Ah'm up, Ah'm up." She stirred in her bed stretching her forelegs, and hindlegs. "What is the big deal sis? It's too early to do any applebucking." She climbed out of the bed, and onto the floor. Applejack shook her head. "Ah' know Applebloom. Ah' am going to go get Toby, and bring him to the farm." She said giving her sister a wink. Applebloom smiled brightly. "Well, that is mighty nice of ya sis. Ah'll keep an eye out here, and help out with anything that Granny Smith or Big Mac will need help with, until ya get back." "Thanks Applebloom. If they ask, just tell them Ah'll be back in a little bit, ah'rght?" "Ah' will Applejack, don't worry. The little guy is just going to love the farm sis." "Ah' know. Now ya get ready for the day, and Ah'll see you soon." Applejack tipped her hat to the filly, and trotted out of her room down the hallway, and down the staircase. *woof..woof* Winona came running from the kitchen up to her owner jumping up on her hindlegs, and licking at Applejack's face playfully. "Haha..howdy Winona." She rubbed at the top of the dog's head with a forehoof. Winona yipped happily, and sat down on her haunches. "Are ya hungry girl? Ah'll feed you before Ah' go out, ah'right?" Winona nodded, and yipped following her caretaker into the kitchen. Applejack filled her food bowl up, and her water dish. She gently stroked along the top of her head down her back with a forehoof. "Now ya be a good girl while Ah'm gone, ah'right Winona?" She leaned her down, and nuzzled at her cheek. Winona yipped, and went to eating at her food. Applejack smiled at her pet then trotted outside of the kitchen door. She took a deep breath of the morning air. "Ah' reckon it is gunna be a wonderful day today. The little feller is going to enjoy his day here at Sweet Apple Acres." She thought to herself as she trotted along the dirt path starting her trek to Fluttershy's cottage. Toby was starting to stir in Fluttershy's big soft bed as he let out a soft yawn, stretched his arms, and legs, and slowly opened his eyes. He reached up with his hands to rub his eyes, and reached over to the nightstand table to get his glasses, and put them on. He carefully climbed out of the bed putting his bedroom slippers on, and walked toward the stairs to descend them. He saw all of the animals waiting down in the den as he looked over to see Fluttershy just starting to wake up. She let out a yawn as she blinked her eyes opened to watch her little colt coming down the stairs into the den. She smiled softly, and carefully climbed off her sofa. She stood up on all four legs as the small child walked up to her wrapping his little arms around her neck, and laying his head against her chest. "Good morning Momma." He sighed happily as he titled his head back to look up at her. She smiled down at him, and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. "Good morning sweetie. My, you are up early this morning." She giggled as she softly nuzzled at his cheek. He giggled, and blushed at the nuzzle. "I know Momma." He looked up at her with a curious expression. "Could I maybe help you feed the animals this morning?" He asked with a hopeful smile. "I know I am young, but I would like to help you more, and not let you do all of the work." He lowered his head again, and laid against her chest sighing softly. She felt her heart melt as she leaned her head down, and nuzzled at the top of his head giving it a tender kiss. "Aww..that is sweet of you Toby. Of course you can help me feed the animals." She reached up to rub up, and down his back gently with a foreleg. He sighed happily as she rubbed his back, and he very gently broke the hug looking up at her with a bright smile. "Thank you Momma." As he turned to his attention to all the animals. "Is it okay if I help Momma feed you all?" They all smiled giving him chirps, and chitters of happiness. Fluttershy squeed as her animal friends decided to let Toby help her feed them. "Let's go into the kitchen first sweetie and I will show you how to fix Angel's special salad that I sometimes fix him on occassion.." She trotted carefully into the kitchen with the little colt following behind her. She looked down at her litlte colt as she hovered in the air to get a bowl out of the top cabinet. It was a light blue porcelain bowl with a yellow rim. She lowered back down to the floor, and set the bowl on the counter while she trotted over to the refrigerator to get the ingredients which consisted of fresh lettuce leaves, whipped cream, a single slice of pineapple, orange slices, nuts, slices of fresh cucumber, and a cherry. She set all of the ingredients out on the counter, and looked down at Toby. She frowned a little as he barely came up to the edge of the counter, so she hovered over to get a chair for him to stand on. "Here you go sweetheart, this ought to be better for you." She gave him a soft smile as he looked up returning it as he climbed up in the chair. He smiled brightly as he looked at all the fresh vegetables, and fruits. "That all looks good Momma. What do we do first?" Asking curiously as he looked over at her as he came eye level to her standing on the chair. She smiled at his anxiousness. "Well, sweetie, first we place a layer of lettuce leaves in the bottom of the bowl." She reached for a couple of lush leaves with her forehooves, and placed them in the bowl one on top of the other creating a thin bottom layer. "Just like that. Now, you just add a layer of orange slices. Would you like to do that sweeite?" He nodded, and Fluttershy took a step back to let him. He reached for three orange slices with his hands, and placed them side by side on the layer of lettuce. He turned to look at Fluttershy with a hopeful smile. "Did I do it right Momma?" She nodded letting out a soft giggle, and bright smile. "Yes you did my precious little one, very good job." She leaned her head over to him, and gave him a nuzzle on the cheek. Next she reached over to the cucumber slices. "Next we will place the cucumber on top of the orange slices." She placed the slices on top of the first layer of orange slices. He giggled. "No wonder why this is a special salad to Angel Momma, it looks so good. Also, these are all my favorite fruits, and vegetables." He smiled happily at her, and looked on the counter at the other lettuce leaves that were left out. "Do those go on next Momma?" Pointing at them with a finger. She looked at the direction of his finger to see the other lettuce leaves. She nodded with a big smile. "That is right sweetheart. Would you like to put the other layer of lettuce leave on?" He nodded as she gave him a tender kiss on the forehead. He reached over to grab at the remaining lettuce leaves, and carefully placed them on top of the cucumber slices, creating a second, and final thin layer of lettuce. "Is that good Momma?" He looked over at her with a hopeful smile. She nodded, and smiled brightly. "Yes sweetie, that is very good." She gave him a playful nuzzle on the nose. "Now, can you guess what goes next Toby?" Asking sweetly as she watched him look at the rest of the ingredients. He carefully reached out for a single orange slice and picked it up in his hand and looked over at Fluttershy. "Is this it Momma?" He giggled and smiled hopefully. She squealed, and nodded. "Yes my sweet little colt, that goes on next." She smiled brightly as she watched him carefully place it on to the second layer of lettuce leaves. She sat down on her haunches, and clapped her forehooves together proudly. "Very good sweetie." She gave him a nuzzle. He blushed at the nuzzle, and looked back at the remaining ingredients. He reached for the single pineapple slice, and looked over at her. "Does this go on top of the orange slice Momma?" She nodded. "Yes sweetie, the pineapple goes on next." She gave him a bright smile as he carefully placed the slice of pineapple on top of the orange slice. "Now, we just add the whipped cream, nuts, and cherry on top, and Angel's salad will be done, okay Toby?" Asking with her soft voice. He nodded. "Okay Momma." He reached for the whipped cream which was in a small bowl, and scooped some out with a spoon. He placed it on top of the pineapple slice, and then reached for the nuts to sprinkle over the whipped cream. "And the last thing is the cherry." He said happily as he reached for the cherry, and carefully placed it on top. Fluttershy beamed with pride as Toby made Angel his special salad. "Oh sweetheart, you did a wonderful job. I know Angel is going to love it." She nuzzled at his cheek, and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead. She watched him carefully climb off the chair, and she reached up to grab the bowl with her forehooves to give it to Toby to take into the den to Angel. She placed the chair back under the kitchen table as she followed behind him. They walked into the den, and Toby walked up to Angel placing the bowl down on the floor in front of him. "Here you go Angel. I hope I did a good job helping Momma make it." He put his hands together, and looked at the bunny with a hopeful smile. Angel looked intently at the salad as he let his tongue slide out of his maw dripping with saliva and licked his lips. He looked up at the child, and nodded vigorously as he stuck out a paw gently grabbing at one of Toby's hands, and shaking it. He let the hand, pulled out his little white big, a fork, and started to chow down on the salad. Fluttershy, and Toby giggled. She looked down at her little colt gently placing a forehoof on his shoulder. "I think Angel loves it sweetheart. Momma is very proud of you." She leaned her head down, and kissed him on the top of his head. "Now let me show you what I feed all my other animal friends, okay Toby?" He nodded as she took him around inside feeding all the other critters their favorite foods before taking him outside. Applejack was trotting along the dirt path, and over the bridge just before going up the hill to Fluttershy's cottage. "Ah' hope Ah'm not too early. Ah' wouldn't want to wake the little feller up if he is still asleep." She thought as she trotted up to the cottage. As she was about to knock on the door she could hear some laughter out in the back. Being curious of what was going on she trotted around to the side of the cottage to the backyard which was also Fluttershy's animal sanctuary. When she got back there she saw a very cute sight. Fluttershy's animal friend Mr. Bear had Toby in a gentle bearhug as he was rubbing the top of his head between the ears. "See sweetheart, I told you Mr. Bear was as gentle, and loving as all the other animals." Fluttershy hovered in the air giggling at the two as she rubbed at the bear's head with a forehoof. "You are just a sweet, and cuddly bear aren't you?" The bear nodded, and made a happy murring sound. "Now time to put Toby down so you can eat Mr. Bear." The bear obliged as he put Toby back down on the ground as Fluttershy handed him a bowl of berries, and oats drenched with honey. Applejack smiled at herself as she trotted up to the two. "Howdy yall. Ah' see that Ah' haven't come too early." They turned to see her, and gave her a smile in return. Toby ran up to her, and gave her a big hug around her neck with his little arms. He looked up happily into her green eyes. "Good morning Auntie Applejack." He laid his head against her soft chest fur, and sighed warmly. She reached a foreleg up, and rubbed at his back with a hoof nuzzling at the top of his head. "Well, good morning to ya too sugarcube." She looked up at the yellow pegasus. "I see he met your bear friend over there Fluttershy." She nodded. "Yes. He wanted to help mefeed all the animals this morning, and he has done a very good job." She smiled down at the little colt, and gave him a kiss on the top of head. "Would you like to come in for a little bit Applejack?" The cowpony kindly tipped her hat. "Well, Ah' thank ya for the offer Fluttershy, but Ah' wanted to come by, and see if it was okay if Ah' could bring the little feller to Sweet Apple Acres, and show him around?" She looked down at the small child as he looked up at her with a bright smile. "Really Auntie Applejack? I can come, and visit your farm?" He asked excitedly with a hopeful smile. The two mares giggled at his anxiousness, and Applejack nodded. "Of course sugarcube. It is up to your mom though." She looked at Fluttershy. "What do ya say Fluttershy? Ah' promise Ah' will bring him back before evening comes." Toby turned around to look up at Fluttershy. "Please Momma, can I go to Auntie Applejack's farm?" Fluttershy smiled down at him, and nodded. "Of course sweetie, you can go to Sweet Apple Acres." She gave him a kiss on the top of the head. "How about you go get dressed, while we wait outside, okay sweetheart?" He nodded, and carefully ran into the cottage to go get dressed. Fluttershy returned her attention to Applejack. "He will love it at Sweet Apple Acres Applejack, I just know it." She squealed. Applejack tipped her hat, and nodded. "Ah' know he will too, but also Ah' want to introduce him to Big Macintosh." She looked at Fluttershy with a smile. "Oh... my. Well, I am sure he will enjoy meeting Big Macintosh, but I just hope he won't be afraid like he has been in the past." Giving a little frown, and lowering her head. Applejack trotted up to her, and reached a foreleg up to gently rub at her back. "Don't worry Fluttershy, Ah' know Big Mac will be okay around him. He might be big, but he is like big ol' cuddly Mr. Bear just as long as ya don't mess with his family." She playfully nudged at Fluttershy. "Besides, Ah' think Toby needs a stallion role-model in his life. The poor critter's father treated him darn badly that it's as if he didn't have a father. Ah' believe Big Mac could be that for him in a way." "You are right Applejack. The poor little dear only had his mother, who really loved him, and now he has all of us girls, but not really a stallion to look up to." She gave Applejack a warm smile, and hugged her wrapping her forelegs lightly around the cowpony's neck. "Thank you Applejack. Toby is going to love being on the farm, and I know he will love meeting Big Macintosh." Applejack reached up, and patted her on the back with a forehoof. "Nah, don't worry about it Shy. Ah' love the little feller, and Ah' think he deserves to have a father figure in his life." She gave her friend a sincere smile. After a couple of minutes, Toby returned outside the cottage dressed in his all chocolate brown outfit with the green, orange, and red plaid shirt. He smiled up brightly at the two mares. "Okay Auntie Applejack, I am ready to go to your farm, if you are ready." He walked up to Fluttershy, and gave her a big hug around her neck with his little arms, and laid his head against her chest fur sighing softly. "I love you Momma, and I will be back later." He looked up happily. She smiled down at him, and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Momma loves you too sweetie. You have fun on your Auntie Applejack's farm, and I will have dinner ready for you when you get back, okay sweetheart?" He nodded as he turned to see Applejack bent on her forelegs. "Hop on sugarcube, and hold on." She giggled as the small child climbed on. She stood back up on her forelegs, and tipped her hat to Fluttershy. "See ya later Shy, Ah'll bring him back in time for dinner." She turned to face the dirt road, and started trotting. Fluttershy waved a foreleg at the two. "Bye Applejack, bye sweetheart." Toby turned, and waved a hand back at her. "Bye Momma." Giving her a big smile as he turned to the path again as him, and Applejack made their journey toward Sweet Apple Acres.