//------------------------------// // Visiting Ponyville // Story: Red Dead Revival // by Crimson_Moon //------------------------------// After that so-called "Demon of the Nightmare" showed up, I didn't have much problems trying to sleep. It seems whatever that blue flying unicorn did gave me my first decent night's rest since coming to this place. "Equestria" Zecora kept reminding me it was called. Still, not so bad as names go I guess. I can't really complain, seein' as I grew up around places like Saint Denis and Armadillo for names. Speaking of quaint towns, this is the part of my journal where I talk all about how I get to meet the folk of the nearby town of Ponyville, how they changed my life for the better, and all that sappy crap you hear about in these kinds of things, right? Wrong, stranger. This is the beginning of how I came to meet The Pink Demon and her band of Merry Minions. It began like any other day, save that for today I promised Bloom I'd at the very least go meet her sister on the outskirts of Ponyville. Well, I reckon it went all downhill from there... "Wake up, wake up!" Apple bloom bounced outside Arthur's tent. "Wake up, Arthur," she threw her hoof at the tent flap, letting a cascade of light pour over the stallion to rouse him from sleep. "Today's the day!" "Nngrh, what time 's it Bloom?" He woke, rubbing his eyes. "Half past 8, by my reckon." Eight? Applebloom, you'll be the death of me... Taking a deep yawn and stretch, Arthur set out to make his morning coffee. He only had enough instant mix for 2 more cups at the most, so going to town was inevitable. With a swift kick of his hind leg, Arthur disassembled his tent and packed everything in the saddlebags he had nearby. Zecora was kind enough to give him one of her old pairs, seeing as how the shoulder pack that arrived with him wouldn't fit his new body now. "Nngh, alright Bloom," he stretched out his legs, careful not to trip and fall. Though he knew how to walk now, the brown stallion still tripped up now and again. "I'm ready to go, just let me get some coffee going then we can go visit your folks." "Woohoo! My sister and brother and even granny are all real excited to meet ya! They might even hire ya as a farm hand!" The filly bounced around every which way, filled to the brim with excitement. "I don't rightly doubt that, knowin' your knack for tellin' ponies about me." He chuckled. "Still though, where I come from, strangers are never trusted, especially ones that live out in the woods and have their younger kin visit them regularly." Now that he thought about it, their excitement to meet him could turn out to be a double edged sword. On one hand, Applebloom could be absolutely correct and they just want to meet him in a friendly manner. However, seeing how this looked from an outsider's perspective, "excited" could mean something...not so nice. Something, given his true nature, that put him on edge. Passing a glance to the gun and holster still set near the spot where his tent was set up, Arthur pondered whether it was a good idea to bring it. Nothing more than a glance, but that was enough. Going back to the percolator, he saw the coffee was done and poured a cup. Blowing the steam away, he let it cool before taking a cautious sip. Once it met his lips, the temperature was good enough so he continued drinking. "Ahh, now that's a good cup of coffee!" He smiled. Clearing his throat, he continued. "I appreciate you tellin' your kin about my well-being, Bloom, I really do." He glanced at his gun again. "But my...nature and habit of bein' away from city life might paint me in a bad picture." "Whaddoya mean, Arthur? They're excited, they told me myself!" The filly beamed. " 'specially Big Mac! He said, and I quote 'I can't wait to see this stallion that's been Caring for my baby sister all this time. He sounds like a Special pony, and I can't wait.' . Isn't that great?! He even drew out the words caring and special cuz he knew how much of a friend you are to me!" A fight it is, then... Arthur swallowed the rest of his coffee in one quick gulp, either out of fear or bravery, He didn't know. "Well," he said, kicking out the fire and throwing on his saddlebags, gun and holster included, the stallion got up, did a quick dust off of his coat, and tightened his hat. "Time to get goin', Bloom." A few hours later, Arthur and Company passed Fluttershy's cottage. Seeing as how it was empty, the filly relented and they continued their small trek to Sweet Apple Acres. The rest of Applebloom's family stood at the gates, eyes focused on the lone stallion trailing behind her, not all of them filled with good intentions... "Wow! You got the rest of the family to come see him, too? That's great!" Applebloom exclaimed, glancing back at Arthur with an innocent smile. "Don't you think so, Arthur?" Before him stood a platoon, nay, an army of the Apple family tree. Not a single inch of yard was empty, each and every eye boring into his own. If he wasn't glad he brought his revolver before, he sure was now. "Yeah," he chuckled nervously. "Great..." It was at that moment, he remembered something: He can't fire his gun. "Why do y'all look so scary lookin'?" She crooked her head. Just then, an orange pony opened the gate and approached the filly, whispering something in her ear as she passed. A few trots later, and she was inches away from Arthur's muzzle, a fire in her eyes so fierce, he was half convinced they'd catch him on fire. "Uh, howdy miss...?" "Nuh uh, no pleasantries yet, partner. I got one thing to ask, and believe me," she set a hoof behind the Stallion's brown neck, like the feeling of steel upon gravel. "I'll know if you're lyin'." He gulped. Loudly. "Uh, heh, n-name's Arthur." She didn't budge. "One question, that's all I got." Her glare boring through him like a bloodthirsty hawk. "Did you touch my lil' sis, in any way not appropriate for a growin' filly? Cuz if you did," she chuckled maliciously. "This hoof of mine might just put a bit too much-" Suddenly the mare's arm felt less like steel and more like a mountain, slight popping sounds coming from Arthur's neck, most likely his vertebrae being popped by an insane amount of pressure. It was then he saw the glares of everypony behind her, and seeing as how they were related, this could end with nothing but a blazer left if he didn't play his cards right. Well, Arthur, time to put on that fake city charm! "N-now I don't rightly know what Bloom and Zecora said about my *ahem* disposition towards city life, b-but I can assure you, even as a frontiersman, my life as an adult is strictly kept to the adults. No need to *coughs nervously* tarnish my reputation with those that attempt to k-keep explicit company with the young and innocent." He paused, seeing if his strategy was working. It was something him and Dutch came up with while scoping out their robbing targets. Observe, overwhelm, guage the response; it was the three-step plan they used on many different occasions, and almost always, it worked. One quick nod and the mountain of a hoof relieving pressure from his neck told him this was one of the times it was, thankfully. "Alright, Everypony! He's good, y'all can get back to it!" With a tidal wave of relieved sighs, the rest of the Apple family departed save for a few, going back to the various duties they had around the farm. "I appreciate your understanding, miss...?" "Applejack!" She beamed a friendly grin; a stark contrast compared to a few minutes ago. Extending her hoof, Arthur grabbed a hold and, unsurprisingly, got shook about from how strong the orange mare was. "Now from what I heard about you from my sister, it sounds like you're lookin' for work?" "If it's not too much trouble, ma'am." He said, taking his hat off out of respect. "Good lookin', smooth talker, and polite? Well hot dang!" She hollered. "Sounds like we got a perfect fit for the farm then, huh?" Applejack smiled. "G-good looking?" He was startled for a second by that, but seeing as how the mare across from him was blushing mighty fierce now, it looked like she wasn't lying. "H-heh, noticed that lil' slip-up I had, huh? N-not that I mean calling you good lookin' was a slip-up! I mean, all I'm sayin' is in all honesty, you do look good. Gah! I mean-" The stallion held up a hoof, stopping her. "Don't worry, Applejack. I understand what you were tryin' to say, and I appreciate it." He smiled, holding out his hoof this time. "Friends?" Looking at it, then him, then it again, Applejack got a big grin and took it earnestly, giving it a solid shake. "Friends! Now about that place you're livin' in..."