Spring! Despite her name, Spring was Autumn Blaze's favourite season. So much colour, so many growing things, so many new friends to talk to! Every budding daffodil, blossoming cherry tree or babbling brook was something new to enjoy, and now that she had other ponies to share it with after so many years, Autumn meant to make the most of it.
So when Applejack sent her a letter asking if she'd be free to come and stay for a while, Autumn jumped at the chance. What could be better than spending time with her newest, most bestest pony friend?
Without bothering to pack, with barely a brief farewell, and calling her goodbyes wildly over her shoulder as she galloped from the Kirin village, Autumn Blaze hurried as fast as she could to Ponyville, too excited even to grumble at the lateness of the train. After many long hours of travelling, and having caused a minor kerfuffle while changing trains in Canterlot when she accidentally made off with somepony else's umbrella, Autumn Blaze finally arrived at the simple whistlestop that was Ponyville's railway station.
Bouncing up and down with a mixture of impatience and anticipation, she flung herself at Applejack as soon as the two ponies spotted each other on the platform; while the farm pony was still reeling from the collision she cried, "Applejack! It's so good to see you again! How are you? How are your family? How is Fluttershy? Isn't Spring just wonderful?"
Blinking in surprise, Applejack smiled warmly in return; never had she known another pony so like Pinkie Pie. "Ah'm very well, thank you Autumn! It's lovely to see you again too. And Fluttershy's doing just fi-" She broke off as her friend leant in for a bear hug, wincing as she felt her ribs groan under the pressure.
After the hug-attack subsided, and Autumn seemed to have calmed down a little, Applejack realised there didn't appear to be any luggage lying on the platform. "Say, Autumn, have you left your luggage on the train?"
Eyes widening for a moment in horror before the memory of her journey kicked in, the Kirin gave a self-conscious giggle. "Oh, I didn't bring anything! I was just so excited when I got your letter than I just had to leave right away, and I forgot all about bringing anything with me!"
Applejack voiced her concern at the lack of any spare clothes, toiletries, or any reading material for what must surely have been a highly tedious journey; Autumn hastened to reassure her. "Don't worry AJ, it's Spring, I won't need any clothes! I can buy a toothbrush in Ponyville, and I was too busy talking to the voices in my head to have time to get bored on the way!"
"Right. . ." Applejack didn't bother pointing out that, as Autumn Blaze hadn't brought any money either, buying a toothbrush was going to be a bit of a problem. Rather, her focus was on the slightly alarming reminder of a line from the song Autumn had sung when the two ponies had first met: "Stuck in silent prison with the voices in my head." At the time, Applejack had assumed Autumn was referring merely to having had to keep her thoughts to herself for so long, but now she was not so sure.
But there was not time to worry about that now - Autumn Blaze was already skipping along the path, head turning this way and that, searching eagerly for Sweet Apple Acres. "Where do you live, Applejack? Is it far? How long will it take to walk? When we get there, will your family be there? Where does Fluttershy live? Can we visit her?"
"Whoa there, sugarcube! One question at a time. No, it's not far, and we should be there in a few minutes. Mah family will be there, so you'll get to meet Big Mac, Applebloom and Granny Smith straightaway. As for Fluttershy, she lives over in that direction" - Applejack motioned towards the Everfree forest, looming away to the East - "and Ah don't see why you couldn't drop it to see her cottage sometime. But she's looking forward to seeing you again just as much as Ah am, so she's coming round for tea this evening!"
Autumn gasped in excitement and, spying a large red farmhouse and barn in the distance, asked, "Is that your farm, Applejack?"
As Applejack nodded in response, Autumn took a deep, long breath, and closed her eyes while breathing slowly out. When she reopened them she seemed somewhat more composed. "I'm sorry I'm so over-excited, AJ. I just so enjoy seeing ponies and getting to stay with them! I don't have many real friends, you know, even now. The other Kirin all seem to think I'm a bit odd! I don't know why though. Hey!" The moment of calm over, Autumn squinted her eyes against the light of the sun, now low in the sky, and announced, "I think I can see someone outside your farm!"
Seeing a small, yellowish blob by the front porch of Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack replied, "Sure thing, sugarcube - it looks like Applebloom has come out to welcome you. She's been really looking forward to meeting my new friend!"
Mouth turned in a quizzical line, Autumn tilted her head to the side and asked, "Really? Who's your new friend?"
The orange mare smiled at Autumn's innocent confusion. "You are!"
"Aww, that's so kind of you! Do you really think of me as your friend, really?"
"Of course I do, sugarcube. And whoever's a friend of mine is a friend of mah family's, as you'll soon see!"
With that, the two ponies trotted companionably the rest of the way along the unpaved road to Sweet Apple Acres, Autumn Blaze asking innumerable questions and chatting away constantly. Applejack grinned to herself; it was good to have such a lively friend to stay - a pony so completely different from the stolid Big Mac! All the same, however, she couldn't help but feel concerned at Autumn's reference to 'real' friends - it seemed to imply that the voices she was hearing were more than just her own thoughts. Applejack determined to keep an eye on her excitable, eccentric new friend.
Interesting premise. Looking forward to seeing where you go with it!
9491682
Thanks! :-)
I'm sure Autumn Blaze was chatty before the enforced silence, and the lack of interaction could have hurt her fairly deep...
Well, I approve of the cover art for sure!
9491710
Haha! It's such a good scene, isn't it?
9491742
Yup! I’m trying to think of an Autumn Blaze to write but I’ve got nothin’....
9491759
I know what you mean - she's such an excellent character, but we know so little about her (despite her song - which has got to be one of the best songs in MLP!).
9491770
The best I’ve come up with is “bumpkin rube visits Canterlot, hijinks ensue,” but my talent is writing sad, not hijinks. Autumn Blaze and sad don’t mix.
9491782
That's a good story idea - but I know what you mean! I tend to write sad stories too, so this one is going to be a bit out of the ordinary for me. You could always give it a shot and see what happens - you never know, maybe you'll get your cutiemark in bumpkin story-writing! =D
9491808
Thanks! It’s in my queue, but I’ve got a Vinyl-Tavia short to finish, a Luna novel to finish, a Cadance-Twilight novelette to recruit prereaders for, and two other Luna novels I want to start, so.... it’ll be a while!
9491815
Blimey, a busy chap! I find my inspiration comes in fits and starts, rather, with often months between ideas - I've certainly never had as many on the go at once as you!
9491832
I throw away more idea by noon than I have the time to write all year....
I think it’s all the caffeine.
9491835
Hmm, I know that feeling. . ! It's just coming up to midnight here in the UK and the only thing that's kept me going this long is SUGAR. But now I think it's time for beddie-byes.
Pinkie Pie gets to meet autumn, maybe in group therapy. I can just imagine her meeting big mack.
9492096
Pinkie, pikamena and surprise meats autumn and her voices two person parties with unlimited energy and no end in sight
"Ya want ta take this one, Autumn?"
🍂 "Oh, absolutely! I love it! It's very true to who I am, captures my breathless, scattershot, stream-of-consciousness nature really well! Like, how I run right out the door and hop on the train for an hours-long ride without any luggage or money? Oh yeah, been there, totally! Though really, this is a little subdued for me... I mean, this is like me before my first cup of coffee? And I can't wait for stuff to start happening! I mean, there's Applebloom waiting way over there on the porch, and I can't even say hello to her yet! I want to just run right over and meet her! Seriously though, I hope this story keeps it light and fun, and doesn't get all broody and tortured about me being twisted up inside from years of enforced silence and months of social ostracism, right? Because that's just not me. Talking to anything that moves, and even things that don't? It's a coping strategy! C'mon! We all have 'em! Hey, you know what my therapy should totally be? Writing fan-fiction! Yeah, or better yet, writing comments on fan-fiction! That's the way to deal with voices in your head, put 'em to work! Right, A.J.?"
"Eee... yup..."
Ahem... this is a great beginning for this story! It's well-written, has good characterization, and lots of potential for comedic scenes if you can keep the energy up. I like where you're going here with Autumn Blaze, and look forward to seeing where you take this. Nice job!
Being forced into silence for any period of time over a month would have long-term, if not permanent effects on her mind. Not trying to be cruel, but she could be partially insane.
9797348
I wonder if any of the other kirins have suffered from their self-imposed silence, or just Blaze after a long period of exile.