Chapter 6
After having explained what Internet is and what it could be used for, I thought that it might be a good idea to take Applejack and Apple Bloom out to get some fresh air. I could probably hide Apple Bloom in a stroller. And I knew where to get one. But hiding Applejack would be more difficult. I needed to find her a disguise. Maybe I could try and find a small dog costume. She's the right size and build, for now anyway.
I looked at Applejack. It could work. If anyone looks to closely, I could just say that she ran into a wall. Which explains why her face is flatter then a dog's should be. I knew where to get what I needed. I was worried about leaving them alone, but I would have to if I wanted to go out and buy the necessities. No small shop has a delivery service.
"Hey Applejack?" I called.
"Yes?" came the reply.
"I need to go out and buy a stroller for Apple Bloom and a disguise for you. Will you be ok on your own for a little while?"
"Umm... Ah think so. But you'll come back, right?" She asked slightly worried.
"Of course I will. I live here, remember?" I replied teasingly.
And so I left, making sure that the blinds were lowered and the door was locked. I got on my bike and rode to the nearest market. Thankfully, I live in a student area. So things were cheaper around here. I walked into the second hand store that had literally everything. I was greeted by the man who owned the store. He greeted me like all the people who walk into his store. With a frown. He was always doing that for some reason. This guy desperately needed something in his life to cheer him up. Maybe one day I would sit him on a chair and make him watch something funny and uplifting.
I explored the shop until I found an old stroller. I looked in every dirty corner of his store, and Luna be praised (Where did that come from?), stuffed in a small box, was a dog coat. This coat even had a hood with a nose warmer, so a flat face wouldn't be a problem. I paid for it and then rode home on my bike as fast as I could, slightly worried that something may have happened while I was away.
Five minutes later I was back home, having narrowly avoided several car accidents because who needs traffic lights anyway. I put my bike in it's usual place and walked to the stair that would take me to my flat. I started the arduous climb up the grey, dull staircase. These stairs are worse than that really dangerous "staircase" from The Lord of the Rings. I couldn't see anything, you never knew what you might find in these stairs. I'd once accidentally stepped on one of my neighbors, a student like me, who was asleep on the lading in front of his door. Someone had taped a note to his forehead that said "I lost my key". Possibly himself.
Anyway, I finally reached my floor. I squeezed three fingers in the ridiculously small pocket of my jeans and started fishing for my keys. Why couldn't they make normal sized pockets on women's jeans? Was it that hard to do? I felt my key ring and clenched it with all three fingers. I slowly pulled out my key, I didn't want it to get caught on my jeans and fall back in the pocket again. My keys safely in my hand, I unlocked the door and walked in.
"Applejack? I'm home!" I called out closing the door behind me. I entered the living room and found Applejack dangling her ponytail above Apple Bloom, the baby pony gurgling happily at the distraction and trying to catch the hair with her tiny hooves. Applejack turned her head towards me and stopped swinging her hair.
"Is everything ok?" I asked the orange pony.
"Yup! Everythin's just dan... Ow!" she exclaimed all of sudden. I rushed over to see what was wrong and saw that Apple Bloom had, finally, managed to grab a part of Applejack's ponytail and was pulling it towards her, trying to get it into her mouth. I slowly pulled the strands of hair out of her grip (How do ponies hold on to things anyway?) so as to not cause Applejack any more harm or upset Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom gurgled on happily and Applejack just looked at her like if she were looking at a horrendous monster. She turned her attention back to me and asked:
"What did you go an' do?"
"I went to buy a disguise for you so that you can walk... Um. I mean trot (I guess) around without causing other people to bother you or be bothered by you." I replied as I pulled out the full body dog coat.
"Sarah?"
"Yeah?"
"Why would people be bothered by me?" She asked.
Bollocks. I turned around to face her. Worry had etched itself on to her face.
"Um... I don't actually mean bothered. I just mean people might find it strange to see a pony walking around in the middle of town. Here, ponies are usually found on farms. It's the other people, not you."
"Oh. Ok then." She said. Applejack still looked a bit worried, but less so than before.
"Come on." I said with the most encouraging smile I could produce. "Let's get this on you so that we can go stretch our legs."
She seemed to relax at that. Maybe going out more often would be a good idea. I get the feeling that Applejack is more of an outdoors pers... pony. I hope Apple Bloom will be more of an indoor type and stay out of trouble.
I helped Applejack get into the coat, pulled the hood over her head and slipped the nose warmer on.
"How does it feel?" I inquired.
"Well. It fits ok. But it's really warm too. Are we leavin' soon?" She asked.
"Yes, we are. Just give me a second to get Apple Bloom in the stroller."
I picked up the young filly and gently placed her down in the stroller, making sure she was properly strapped in. I went into my bedroom and grabbed a blanket to put over her. It would serve the dual purpose of keeping her warm and hiding the fact that she wasn't a human baby. I returned to the stroller and placed the blanket over the baby pony.
"Ok Applejack. We can leave now." I said with a smile. I walked to the door, pulling the stroller behind me, and opened it. I walked out of my flat and pressed the button to call the lift.
The lift arrived and we all got in, I pressed the button for the lobby. The lift started it's slow descent, thankfully there was no irritating shopping music. I hate those jingles. The doors opened with a ding. Applejack stepped out, followed by myself. I buzzed the door so that it unlocked and we all stepped out into the sunlight. Of course being Britain, there wasn't really any sunlight. It just wasn't dark. I made sure that Applejack's muzzle was well hidden and that Apple Bloom was invisible. I started walking towards the park, the two ponies in tow. I was right, there weren't a lot of people walking in the streets, but I would panic inside every time we did cross someone. But they would hardly give us a second glance. Sometimes, not even a first glance. So I eventually relaxed, and made my way to the park.
We arrived at the park a few minutes later, and I was relieved to see no one there. I went to the nearest bench and sat down there. I enjoyed the feeling of not standing for a few seconds. Then I realized that Applejack was just staring me. She looked confused.
"Do you... Um... need something Applejack?" I inquired.
"Um... No. Ah... Ah just want to make sure that Apple Bloom is ok. Here."
"Ok..."
I looked at Applejack closely. While it was understandable that she might not want to leave her sister alone, considering that I didn't have the best record of looking after her. But Apple Bloom wouldn't be out of her sight if she went to play on the park. Maybe she was worried. She did look a bit apprehensive. Maybe she's scared off walking off on her own. She's never been alone since she got here. And she doesn't remember anything from before she arrived.
"It's ok Applejack. There's nothing here that can hurt you." I say
"Are ya sure? Um... Ah mean. Of course there ain't. I was just keepin' an eye on AppleBloom."
"Don't worry Applejack. I've got her."
I smile at her, hoping to reassure the orange pony. She looks at me and Apple Bloom, then looks to the park.
"Ok then." Applejack walks off towards the park. I watch her as trots around it for minute. She finds the ladder leading up the platform that precedes the slide. I watch her try to climb it several times but she falls off every time. I should of seen that coming. This isn't a park for ponies.
I see her turn around with her back hooves facing the ladder. I guess she's giving up. I expect her to start walking. But she doesn't. Instead she seems to be pulling her back legs in, as if she was planning to... Oh no... Before I could stop her, her hooves shoot out from their usual position on the ground and hit the ladder with a loud clang. denting several of the rungs.
I look around guiltily. I hope that people just assume that a drunk went at that ladder with a crowbar. I focus my attention back on Applejack. She seems to have moved on to a set of swings. She climbs on and tries to sit up on one. But the seats being made of rubber makes that impossible. So she just ends up lying on her stomach and using her hooves to propel herself forward, with the occasional squeak of the chains rubbing against the wood. I watch her, smiling a bit, when...
"Ow!"
Apple Bloom had managed to get a hold of a few strands of hair and was currently chewing on them. I looked down at the little filly. Well. I guess that means she's hungry. I gently extract my hair from her mouth and fish through my bag for the milk bottle that I had brought with me. I grab the bottle and put the end bit in Apple Bloom's waiting mouth. I hold on to the bottle for the first few seconds and then she grabs the bottle herself. Well. She can clearly handle this by herself. I smile at her as she drinks the milk. She's so adorable. I could have stared at her all day. But then I realized that I couldn't hear anything other then birds tweeting. The sound of a pony playing on a swing was horribly absent. I look up and turn my gaze towards towards the swings. No sign of the orange pony anywhere. Ok. Time to start panicking.