//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11 
// Story: Scootaloo's Guardian 
// by Dirty Bit 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 11


Setting Out


Back at Appleloosa, Braeburn was laying in his bedroom with his injury from yesterday. It was good to know it was healing nicely, but it still hurt to move and eat whatever food that was presented to him. He gave a sigh and looked out at the window, where his fellow townsfolk were busy with their jobs. The cowpony smiled to know they were at least getting on with their lives and not mourning for his little scar, especially Little Strongheart, who still seemed miffed after their meeting with Zasalamel 'I wonder where that guy came from exactly...Surely not anythin' commonly seen 'round these parts, let alone all o' Equestria! Whoever he was, he sure was strong an' brave enough takin' on that buffalo! I wonder if I should go out o' town, look fer 'im, an' see if I can't find any connections about that little shard he found inside o' that buffalo...' It did sound crazy, but he couldn't ignore something this big even if it happened a day ago.

As he laid in his bed, his sister Apple Bumpkin came in with a tray containing a bowl of tomato broth, a side of crackers, and a tall glass of apple juice "Lunch time, Braeburn! Sit up an' enjoy yer sister's cookin'!" The cowpony did as he was told, but moved slowly to spare himself extra pain. He took notice of the tray and its contents in front of him and gave a deep whiff at the broth, followed by a content sigh "Definitely smells nice, sis! Thanks for takin' th' time t' care for me like this. I'm mighty sorry that y'all had t' cancel some o' your work days, though..."

He hung his head down a little in shame, and felt a forceful bump on his head as he looked up to see his sister giving him a stern look "Now don't ya get all mopey with me, Braeburn! Yer my brother! Of course I'll take th' time t' care fer ya! Besides, business is doin' fine even without mah help, an' y'all went outta yer way t' help Little Strongheart with her problem! Ah'm sure they wouldn't want ya actin' all sad like this!" She then gave a warm smile "So do me a favor an' lighten up. Yer sure t' recover sometime later thanks to yer friend's medical skills an' my TLC! I'll be downstairs iffin' ya need me, so gimme a holler, okay?" She made her way out of Braeburn's room, leaving the cowpony with his meal.

Braeburn turned to his bowl of broth and took the spoon next to it with a hoof, scooping up a spoonful of the broth and carefully blowing on the steaming liquid. He sips it and gave a smile with how it coursed down his body. There was a slight pinch in his chest with how warm the broth was, but it was nothing. Then came the crackers with the broth and how they helped to sate his appetite, followed by a cooling sensation of washing it all down with his glass of apple juice. It was indeed another good meal prepared by his sister to help him back on his feet. While he ate, there was a faint sound of knocking downstairs.

When Braeburn finished his lunch, he went to go call his sister, only to have her come up with a smile "Hey, brother. Ya got a visitor!" The cowpony was curious about this, only to have a familiar buffalo calf trot inside with a smile, to which Braeburn returned upon seeing her face. Apple Bumpkin made her way to the bed "I'll jus' take this an' give y'all some time alone." She takes the tray containing the empty broth bowl and juice glass and then trots out of Braeburn's room, closing the door in the process.

Braeburn and Little Strongheart were now alone in the room as the buffalo calf trotted over and inspected his wound "It's healing well, I see..." She looked up and showed an expression of relief "I was worried that what had happened yesterday may have caused you so much harm. I'm glad that you're okay, Braeburn..."

The cowpony gave a warm smile "Well I gotta hoof it to yer medical skills! That an' my sister keepin' me company. That girl really cares about me healin' in this household, even if I'm not in that much pain." He gave a chuckle, and was content to know that his friend had felt better about his little statement. He decided to converse, knowing there wasn't much else to do in his condition "So, is th' rest o' th' tribe okay? I'd be mighty sad to know they've suffered a good deal o' pain..."

Little Strongheart gave a sigh and looked down "My fellow buffalo won't be stampeding for a while with their injuries, especially my father..." She looked up with a smile "But it's good to know that they're recovering. We buffalo are strong in both body and spirit!" She proudly declared, though she was still saddened at their pain.

Braeburn gave another chuckle "That explains how y'all were able t' take a hit from that rogue buffalo! I never thought he'd best us all...Not even that, th' families of th' stallions I rounded up are a bit peeved at me fer what I put 'em through..." He sighed and frowned a little, and Little Strongheart placed a reassuring hoof on the cowpony's back as she gained his attention.

The buffalo calf gave a sad smile "It is my fault for putting your townsfolk in danger...but I'm thankful that you and your friends came in my time of need. Please do not be sad, Braeburn..."

Braeburn noted the expression on her face and gave Little Strongheart a hug, surprising her a little "Aw, shucks, Li'l Strongheart. I won't be sad if ya won't yerself! T'ain't no one's fault that all o' this happened." She was reluctant to return the hug with the cowpony's injury, but she welcomed the embrace nonetheless with a better expression.

After breaking the embrace, The cowpony turned to Little Strongheart "Actually, now that I think about it...What're yer thoughts on that strange fella with th' scythe yesterday?? Ya think there might be somethin' deep about 'im pullin' out whatever was inside o' th' buffalo?"

Little Strongheart remembered her little audience with Zasalamel and was still a little miffed with how he shown disregard towards her tribe's condition after the battle. She huffed and showed a soft glare "While he himself is considered to be the real hero of that day, I'd figure he would at least show more compassion and assist me. It was hard to care for my entire family alone!"

Braeburn smiled at his friend "Well, y'all showed real fire with yer treatment towards th' tribe when they needed ya most. Kinda like my sister, even though I can tell she's not too happy with my company like this..."

He heard her yell downstairs "I heard that!" the two shared a chuckle at her response.

The cowpony continued "But anyways, th' reason why I wanted t' talk about this was cuz' I was mighty curious about his shady background. Lemme tell ya, I ain't NEVER seen anythin' like him roam around Equestria in all my days! That's why I figured, since the town don't need me at th' moment...I'd go out on a journey an' see if I can find that fella and learn more about 'im!" Little Strongheart gasped at this with a shocked expression "Yeah, yeah, I know. It sounds 'bout as crazy as snow in th' summer, but it's really been buggin' me, an' he's connected with what has happened to yer tribe!"

Little Strongheart was now worried "But your wound! A-And what if he attacks you!? Braeburn, you musn't do this!" She already witnessed her friend suffering from a mortal wound, and she couldn't risk losing her to something so mysterious.

Braeburn nodded to the buffalo calf's concern "I wouldn't worry too much, Li'l Strongheart. Like I said, yer medical skills and my sis' TLC're bringin' me back on my feet real quick like! I'll be up an' at 'em later today. Heck! Maybe I can walk fine after that little meal!" He threw the covers from himself and gently hopped down from bed. He grunted a little after feeling a small twinge in his scar, but was happy to know he was able to walk again. He trotted around his room a little and chuckled "Well, would ya look at that! Guess I'm gettin' better by th' minute!"

The buffalo calf, while happy to see Braeburn walk again, was still aware of his injury and felt it best to interject "Braeburn, you shouldn't be walking like this while your scar is still healing! What if it were to bust open right now?? I cannot fathom what would happen if your sister were to catch wind about this!" The door bursted opened to reveal Apple Bumpkin glaring at her brother, startling Little Strongheart "Oh dear..."

Apple Bumpkin trotted over to Braeburn and got in his face "What in tarnation do ya think yer yappin' about, ya big lummox!? Are ya tryin' t' get me angry or somethin'!?" Little Strongheart could feel just how angry Braeburn's sister was without her sentence as she watched the siblings talk.

Braeburn recoiled a little at his sister's remark, but came back up "Now, don't y'all make a fuss about me, Apple Bumpkin! I don't mean t' make ya angry or nothin', I jus' wanna-"

He was interrupted as she spat another outburst "Then' why th' hay do ya wanna go so far as t' openin' yer wound an' makin' more jus' t' leave town in search o' whatever it is y'all are talkin' about!? Are ya that dense with what goes on in that head o' yers, Braeburn!? huh!?" She was hyperventilating as she glared at Braeburn. It seemed to be raw anger, but the cowpony knew that his little sister was worried about him as much as Little Strongheart.

Little Strongheart was crestfallen when she caught wind of Apple Bumpkin's hidden worry, and then trotted over to her side "Umm...Apple Bumpkin? If I may speak to you, please?"

Apple Bumpkin turned to the buffalo calf and tried to settle down a little "Yes, what is it?"

The buffalo calf looked down and kicked at the floor a little, and then looked up "I just want to say that I feel the same amount of worry for Braeburn's life as you do. And that I wish to help see to it that his recovery shall be properly met..."

Apple Bumpkin nodded with a knowing smile and turned back to her brother and glare "There, ya see? Now doncha think it's time t' use yer brain fer once? Jus' climb on back int' bed and let yer injury heal!"

Braeburn loved his sister and would do anything for her, but he just could not let the issue involving Zasalamel's passing die. He wondered if there was something big going on with what he had gained from his battle, and it felt stupid of him to ignore it and lay in bed. Frowning with a calm expression, the cowpony shook his head towards his sister "Sorry, sis...My mind's made up. I jus' can't let this whole thing go! I dunno who that fella is, but he's involved with my friend's tribe, and could possibly know somethin' really important that could put th' rest o' Equestria at stake!"

Apple Bumpkin couldn't believe her ears "Oh, so that's it, huh!? Yer jus' gonna waltz on out int' th' sun, find this shady creature that saved you AND yer friends, an' act like some kind o' hero!? Do ya not even care about yerself anymore!?" She was hyperventilating again, but this time, Braeburn heard some faint shuddering.

The cowpony kept a calm and firm expression as he trotted forward and wrapped his neck around his sister in a hug "Guess not...But I know that y'all care 'bout me too much t' let me go. Apple Bumpkin, ya gotta respect my choice in th' matter...I jus' wanna know what's goin' on in th' world so I know that nopony else would suffer what we did yesterday." He broke the embrace and looked his sister in the eye with a serious face "An' if I don't...Who will?"

Little Strongheart watched the two stare at each other, and couldn't help but feel touched at Braeburn's valor 'Braeburn...I...' Perhaps it was time for her to come to a decision as well.

Apple Bumpkin stared, and then rapidly shook her head as she went back to a glare "The Princesses can handle it! I don't want ya t' go out in the world and end up gettin' hurt or killed!"

Braeburn went to go speak, but was then interrupted by Little Strongheart "I don't want to see you get hurt either, Braeburn..." He turned to his friend, along with his sister as she looked at him with sad eyes "I couldn't bear to lose a friend as he travels by himself on a journey, especially when he still has to recover...That's why..." She looked down and paused, and then looked back up with a determined glance "That's why I'm coming with you! I won't let you undertake this task alone, even if you want to! Somepony, or somebuffalo needs to look after you while your wound heals, after all..."

Both ponies never expected to hear this from the heir of the Buffalo tribe herself, especially since her kind are still in recovery, but then Braeburn gave a smile and a chuckle "Well I'll be...I guess maybe I do need an extra set o' hooves to handle this situation. I'd be happy t' have ya tag along iffin' y'all can handle it, Li'l Strongheart!" Little Strongheart looked at her friend with a smile of her own upon hearing his words.

Apple Bumpkin turned to his brother "I can't believe yer own friend is backin' ya up on somethin' so stupid like this..." The two stared at the mare with sad frowns from what she had said, but then she sighed "...But I guess it can't be helped with how plum stubborn y'all can be..." Braeburn and Little Strongheart smiled, but then the cowpony recoiled as her sister glared and blurted out "But don't go an' do anythin' reckless, ya hear!? I ain't never gonna forgive you if ya even so much as kick th' bucket without me knowin'!!" She then gave another sigh as she trotted out of the room and spoke in a softer tone "May as well get packed fer this heroic journey o' yers..."

Braeburn saw her sister leave, and felt a bit torn at her expression, but was happy to know she was willing to respect his decision. He turned to Little Strongheart and the two shared a smile as they prepared for their adventure. There was no time to waste if they were going to do this together.

The buffalo calf galloped back to her tribe settlement to gather equipment of her own, namely medical equipment to help with Braeburn's scar. The cowpony simply packed his belongings as well as some food, courtesy of Apple Bumpkin, in his saddlebags. When he was ready, he reached the door with his sister standing by it looking at him. The two shared a glance, and then hugged as Apple Bumpkin shut her eyes and spoke in a whisper "Be careful out there, ya big oaf..."

Braeburn smiled and nodded as they hugged "I will, sis'...Doncha go cryin' fer me now..."

Apple Bumpkin broke the embrace and glared at Braeburn "Who's cryin!? Jus' don't do anythin' stupid, okay!?" She kept her glare as the cowpony only showed his dumb smile, and then trotted out of his home. When he saw Little Strongheart waiting for him in the distance, he galloped over to her side and nodded. The two then trotting off towards the train station, about to leave behind Appleloosa.

It was a good thing that Braeburn had not taken noticed of Apple Bumpkin shedding her first tear as she watched her brother leave and begin something big that could put his own life on the line...


End of Chapter 11