//------------------------------// // A New Beginning // Story: Day after Day // by starbright154 //------------------------------// Cucka-loocka-choo The rooster’s loud call woke up. I’d forgotten last night events until I heard a heavy, dry cough come from across the hall. I began to get up at a much faster pace, grabbing my iconic hat off the headboard before making my way across the hall to the distressed stallion lying in our guest bedroom. I peered around the corner of the door to see Flim sitting up in bed, coughing, which sounded like a cat hacking up a fur ball. I backed away and rushed to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Granny Smith was cooking breakfast but noticed me rummaging around the kitchen to get a cup but didn't question anything I was doing as she probably assumed I was doing something for Flim. Once I got the water, I hurried back up the stairs and quickly handed the glass to Flim who chugged it down in no time at all. Once downing the water, he looked relieved that the cough was finally gone; so was I. “Did that water help?” I asked. He cleared his throat before responding. “Yeah, it did. Thank you again, Applejack.” “What did I say?” I smiled kindly at him,” No need to thank me. Anypony would’ve done the same thing if they saw you in trouble. Flim pinned his ears back at this comment and looked down at the sheet covering his thin, bruised-up body. “Wouldn’t they?” I asked in a concerned tone. “I’m not so sure,” he responded,” I don’t think anypony would have taken me in if I stumbled upon any other house here in Ponyville.” I couldn’t exactly disagree with him. After him and his brother came back two times, they were not the most liked, and certainly not the most trusted ponies of the ponies of Ponyville. My family and I were the most affected by their visits, but, right now, I paid very little to mind the past we had with the troublesome brothers. Of course it bothered me slightly that a conman was lying in the guest bed, but his moans and groans of pain overran my mind to send him outside, but rather to help Flim get well. “Well,” I started, sitting on the far end of the bed,” You and your brother weren’t the friendliest ponies to come around here.” “Yeah, we weren’t, were we?” he sighed,” Applejack, I want to apologize for everything me and my brother did to you and your family. I understand we weren’t the most trustworthy ponies around, but I need to tell you, none of it was my idea. It was my brother’s.” “What do you mean?” I questioned, cocking my head to the side, causing my hat to slant and cover my right ear. Flim smirks at this, which makes me glow inside. He uses his magic to set my hat back on head in it's proper place between my ears. I felt a slight tug at my heart. Something I had never felt before and wasn't quite sure why it happened. Why did that happen? Did Flim cause that new sensation? I felt my face began to heat up and turned my head to look out the window instead of at Flim so he couldn’t so the very visible blush appear on my light orange cheeks. Flim was about to respond to my question, but Granny interrupted him. “Breakfast is ready!” I got up slowly, not to move Flim’s body too much. “Don’t worry,” I said to comfort him,” I’ll bring you some food. You just stay here and rest for a little while longer.” I left the guest room before he could thank me once again and walked down the stairs to the glorious smell of pancakes with eggs. After washing off the dishes and collecting some food for Flim onto a plate, I went back up the stairs to deliver a hearty breakfast to a pony who needed it much more than I did. Flim’s head instantly lifted off the pillow when he smelled the sweet aroma of homemade pancakes. I placed the plate onto his lap and backed away so he could enjoy the food without somepony in his personal space. He licked is his lips in anticipation and then dug right into the food. He was obviously very hungry because he didn’t stop until there wasn’t a crumb left on the plate. He placed the already cleaned plate on to the table beside him. I picked it up and began walking away, but Flim stopped me in my tracks before I could get one hoof out the door. “Tell Granny Smith that she is an excellent cook,” he said, then adding,” Is there anything I can do to help you or your family today?” “Not a chance, Sugarcube,” I responded,” The only thing you can do today is get as much rest as possible.” He sighed before saying,” I just want to thank you one last time for everything that you have done, Applejack. I don’t know what would’ve happened to me if you hadn’t come and saved me when you did.” I looked at Flim and saw just how honest he was truly being. I’ve never seen this side of him before. I liked it. “You're welcome, Flim,” I said, adding a smile to my face,” Although, there is one thing you can do.” “Really?” Flim asked, excitedly,” I will gladly help whatever way I can.” “You can help me by telling me how you ended up at Sweet Apples Acres in the middle of the night and badly hurt. Do you think you can do that by the time I finish my chores this afternoon?” I could tell it wasn’t a topic he wanted to bring up, but he realized he wasn’t getting out of telling me a story that could help me understand just what had happened to him. “Okay, Applejack,” Flim reconciled,” I’ll tell you this afternoon.” “Thank you,” I said, winking at him on the way out of his new room. No one could have prepared me for the story I was going to be hearing later this afternoon.