//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 // Story: Poor Little Rich Pony // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// That evening, Mac came down to join them for dinner, vegetables, and mash potato. "Feeling better tonight son?" Granny Smith asked smiling at Mac who wasn't paying that much attention. "What... Oh what was that Granny?" Mac asked turning away from Fluttershy, ears tuning pink. "I asked were you feeling better?" Granny Smith smiled returning to her meal, as all the girls giggled at Mac's ears turning pink. "A bit better Granny," Mac answered getting back to his meal not looking up from it. The attention turned to the other end of the table where Filthy Rich was addressing Diamond Tiara. "You have your things packed so we can go home tomorrow Tiara?" "Yes, daddy," Diamond Tiara said then looked at the Apples. "Thank you for letting us stay here." "Your welcome dear." Granny Smith said smiling down the table. "I have an idea Granny," Applejack said after taking a sip from her juice. "Why don't we have a hay cart ride after dinner around the farm?" "Yeah!" the girls said excitement in their eyes. "What a lovely idea Applejack," Granny Smith said. "Wouldn't you agree Mac? Fluttershy?" "What?" they both asked getting out of the same dreaming state, and looked around the table. "I suggested a hay cart ride around the farm after dinner," Applejack said smirking at how out of it the two were. "Oh, I'd like to but I'll need to get back to my animals." Fluttershy said hiding behind her hair as she said it. "Well what do you think Mac?" Applejack asked. "I think I'll go back to bed," Mac said looking a bit down all the sudden. "Need my rest if I'm to get better right?" The rest of dinner was eaten in awkward silence, the adults giving Mac and Shy looks every now and then. After dinner, Applejack went out to set up the cart and brought out Appleseed. "Pop, I know you know Mac more than I do," Applejack said fixing Appleseed into the harness. "So what gives with him and Fluttershy. I mean one point, their kissing over apple fritters, when the next they're all nervous and shy again." "It might be because we were there," someone said behind her. Turning Applejack saw Filthy Rich who was coming to help with the prepping for the ride. "Maybe," Applejack turned back to the cart making sure everything was safe."But I don't understand, I thought they were finally together, you saw them too Mr Rich, wouldn't you say so?" she asked leading Appleseed and the cart up to the house. "Well Miss Apple, as Granny said, we just have to leave them to it. They'll get more comfy around others eventually." Filthy Rich said putting the hay bales into the cart once they were at the house. Suddenly Appleseed started rearing up and stomping his hooves while Winona came running out barking out towards the forest. "Whoa what's wrong you two?" Applejack asked trying to get Appleseed to calm down, nearly getting stomped on if Filthy Rich hadn't pulled her away. Together, they looked towards the trees and saw the wolves that were in the forest last night were coming out to get their revenge. Fluttershy was halfway home. She was only half way because after every few steps she would stop and look back at the farm. Suddenly.... 'HHHOOOWL......' Fluttershy stopped right there and looked back. Out of the forest she could see three beings moving towards Sweet Apple Acres. "Ohmygoodness!" she said and ran as fast as she could back to the farm to see if she could help. * Mac was up in his room thinking about how that day had gone. For the record, he thought This morning was fine, it was as we were having dinner things got bad. Suddenly he heard Winona start barking so he went to his window to see what got her upset and saw the wolves from last night. "You ain't hurting this family ever again you over grown dogs." Mac said collecting his father's hunting gun and ran down stairs. Outside Applejack was trying to calm Appleseed down, but all he wanted to do was attack the wolves. Winona was doing her best to fight them off and keep them away from her mistress, but she wasn't having much luck. Filthy Rich had gotten hold of one of Granny's beating sticks and threw a new strike each time the wolves got near him. Suddenly Macintosh stepped out brandishing the gun and aimed for and shot at the wolves, making them jump and turn their attention onto him. "Yeah remember me?" Mac asked moving forwards making the wolves step back. "Now, I'm asking nicely here... Leave this farm, and the family alone..." Mac said still holding up the gun aiming it at the wolves. At first, it seemed the wolves didn't understand, then the one in front slowly turned away and ran back into the forest, followed by the others. Mac sighed with relief and let the gun down. "Don't think it over yet brother," Applejack cried still failing to calm down Appleseed. Suddenly... Hush now quiet now, It's time to lay your sleepy head, Hush now quiet now, It's time to go to bed. Everyone turned to see Fluttershy standing there panting a bit singing her lullaby eyes on Appleseed. Drifting off to sleep, Leave this day behind you, Drifting off to sleep, May good dreams come to find you. Appleseed got down on all fours again but still looked stressed. Hush now quiet now, It's time to lay your sleepy head, Hush now quiet now, It's time to go to bed. Appleseed had stopped stamping his hooves and was now looking at Fluttershy curiosity in his eyes. "Fluttershy!" Applejack and Macintosh cried together. "Um... hi," Fluttershy said blushing rubbing her arm, shocked when Mac came forward and held her hand making her blush. "Decided to join us on that cart ride then?" Applejack asked raising an eyebrow smiling. "Um no..." Fluttershy said. "I was half way home when I heard the wolves and saw them going to the farm. So I.... I came back to see if everything was ok." she said tightening her grip with Mac which only he noticed. "Well thank you for being so caring to do that dearie," Granny Smith had just come out the door the girls looking a little scared behind her. "But since your here, would you like to join us anyway?" "Um... Ok," Fluttershy said smiling moving towards Appleseed and seeing if he was ok before she got into the cart. "You... You coming Mac?" she asked blushing over the side of the cart. Mac smiled and went over to the others whispered to them a bit making them all smile and nod. Then got into the drivers seat of the cart, while Applejack shut the cart's door. "Aren't you guys coming?" Fluttershy asked looking scared. "Mac asked if it could be just the two of you, as a way of saying thanks for what you did for him." Applejack explained winking at her friend handing her the gun just in case. "Oh... um.... Ok," Fluttershy said blushing even more and got herself seated. "Ready?" Mac asked over his shoulder. "Yes," Fluttershy answered. And with a flick of the reins Appleseed started walking down the path of the hay cart route. Mac and Fluttershy enjoying each-others company, while everyone waved them on. "See what did I say Miss Apple?" Filthy Rich said lifting his daughter up. "I told you they'd get use to us being there." "But were not there Mr Rich," Applejack pointed out Apple Bloom in her arms now too. "No child," Granny said smiling. "But we will eventually." she said smiling after the hay cart that due to the darkness had just left their sights.