James was led away from the room that Jack and Rose were in by the nurse that led him out and she looked back at James with concern and at the same time fear. She was worried about what would have happened had he provoked him to a breaking point. She soon brought him downstairs and looked at him.
“Any reason why you were trying to provoke him?” She asked with a stern look.
“I wanted to figure out what was going on with him.” James replied. “I wasn’t trying to provoke him, it’s just the way he acted around my friends seemed...off…”
“No offense, but I think you should leave this alone.” She followed up. “He hates it when anypony tries to butt into his personal life.”
“It’s not healthy to keep things bottled up for so long.” James replied, crossing his arms.
“What makes you think you know about what’s going on in her brother's life?” She asked in a rather fierce tone.
“Because I know what it’s like to be stabbed in the back by someone you thought you could trust.” James replied calmly. “I’d rather not talk about it since it is on a personal level, but I at least want to talk to him at all. That’s pretty much it.”
“At least I can understand so you should understand why Jack doesn’t like it when anyone asks about his personal life.” She added with an even tone. “Now I’d like to ask you to leave the premises. The stallion can take care of himself.”
“Alright, I know when I’m not needed.” James said as he turns around and leaves the room. He takes about four steps towards the end of the hall, all while turning back to the nurse with a serious look on his face. “I at least want you to know that I’m not giving up on this.”
James finally left the hospital and the nurse mare only sighs to herself as she walked back towards the room that Jack and Rose were currently in. She could only think to herself on thing;
‘And I thought Jack Daniels was stubborn about his life, but to be stubborn about wanting to get to know someone is just unreal.’
-Outside-
James finally stepped outside of the hospital with a lot on his mind. There was Macareina with how she acted towards when Scott fell on her, Jack’s sudden hostility towards James, and now him and his brother trying to adapt to a new world that they know nothing about. While he was contemplating his thoughts, he turned around a corner, and bumps into a familiar dragoness that was looking for him. It was Barb as she was looking for James and he noticed that Applejack and Scott weren’t with her.
“Finally.” She called letting out a huff. “I was waiting for about thirty minutes, and when you didn’t come out I started looking for you.”
“Sorry Barb.” James replied. “So where are Scott and Applejack?”
“They went on ahead to the barn and asked me to find you dummy.” She added with a pout.
“My bad. So you’ll lead me back to the barn you destroyed?” He added, teasing the young dragoness, causing her to punch him in the arm slightly making him jump.
“Shut up and come on.”
“Alright, alright.” James said in annoyance as he followed the rambunctious dragoness. They walked through the town and noticed several ponies minding their own business as they were on their way to Sweet Apple Acres. As they walked through town, James decided to spark up a conversation. “So how bad was the damage?”
“Well the wall I smashed has to be rebuilt, some of the areas I’ve burned have to be replanted and refurbished, and then plant some new crops, AJ says she’s still herding some of the animals after I spooked them, and cleaning around their house.”
“Sounds simple enough.”
“I also have to replace some patches of grass with some of the turf being burned off.” She added with a sheepish smile while rubbing the back of her head.
“Okay, that one is going to depend on how wild the flames were.”
“They had to call the fire department after I was chasing you guys.” She added while blushing.
“Heh, I’ve heard of a rampaging dragon, never thought I‘d get to see one in action.” James’ chuckled a little, earning him a light punch in the arm from Barb.
“Ow.”
“That’s not funny, jerk.” She groaned as she and him continued to walk.
“Okay, okay, sorry.” James replied as he now had to change the subject. “You know, I know that we talk about you being adopted and all, but did you ever meet your parents before?”
“Not really no.” Barb said as her mood soon went south. “I honestly don’t even know where they are or what they look like. Ever since Twilight hatched me, her, her parents, her brother, and Celestia were the only family I ever had.” She replied sadly, James couldn’t help but notice her shoulders droop a little.
“If it makes you feel any better, I never knew my parents either.” James replied, making Barb a little stunned.
“What?”
“Yeah, Scott doesn’t know his dad either. But I don’t think he wants to know.”
“How come?”
“He doesn’t like talking about it, and I already made a promise that unless he brings it up, I don’t say anything.” He explained.
“I see, what about your dad, what he is like?”
“I honestly don’t know.” James said as he looked down. “I do know that I was found by Scott’s family for a bit after being on my own until I was seven.”
“What do you mean on your own?” Barb asked. James only held the right side of his shoulder as they walked and had a dark moon on his face.
“That’s a sour topic that I’d rather not talk about.”
“You sure?”
“Trust me when I say this, since it’s a sour topic I don’t like talking about.” He replied. “I’ll only say that it happened when I was six and it was a year after that before I met Scott that I really couldn’t trust anyone.”
“Alright, guess I won’t press any further.” Barb added as she looked at him. “By the way, why were you still in there?”
“Had a run in with Jack and his little sister Rose.” James replied in a calm tone.
“You do know we try to avoid him right?” Barb added.
“I just feel there’s something off about him, as if we’re connected or something.” James replied in a calm tone.
“I’ve seen your personality and I doubt you both are connected.”
“You never know.” James added in a calm tone. “There are some people with the way they act, that they hide how hurt they really are.”
“Whatever floats our boat.” Barb added with a dull look. She then looks forward to see the large barn up ahead. “Okay, Sweet Apple Acres shouldn’t be that much farther from here.”
“Okay then.”
-Sweet Apple Acres-
Both individuals arrive at the barn and James takes the time to smell the fresh air there, as well as assessing the damage that was caused. Barb wasn’t kidding about the damage that was done as James saw it first hand. Some of the barn animals were still running around and waiting to be captured.
“Geez, I didn’t think you spooked them this bad.”
“I wasn’t expecting Scott to call me a lizard at the time.” Barb replied with a dull tone.
“Well It's about time ya got here.” A voice called out making Barb and James turned to the direction of its owner. It was Applejack dressed in her usual attire of a red checkerboard shirt and baby blue shorts. She was walking towards the two with a wheelbarrow rolling in front of her and wiping the sweat from her forehead. “I was beginning to think ya skipped out on us,”
“I’m not the kinda person to skip out on anything.” James replied as he walked over to her. “I say I’m gonna do something, then I’m gonna do it.”
“Good mentality.” Applejack replied. “Maybe you can help ma sister out on the fields by picking crops.”
“Sure, where are the fields?” He asked.
“Down this path and make a left. Mah sister is out there as well so try to be on yer best behavior.”
“Sure thing.”
“What about me?” Barb asked. Applejack just gives the dragoness a dull glare as she shoved a paint can as well as a brush in her hands. She then points towards the gaping hole on the side of the barn that Barb made when she chased the two brothers the other day.
“Yer gonna help yer new coltfriend fix the hole y’all made in the barn yesterday.”
“Hehe, right.” She said as she walked away from AJ towards the barn. Only to be grabbed by the shoulder and meeting the farm ponies steely gaze.
“Oh no yah don’t partner, yew might be old enough to have sex and be on your own, but as long as yer here, you gotta go by my rules or else, I’m gonna have tah remind ya who’s in charge here.”
Barb shuddered at the mare, quickly nodding her head yes. She knew better than to anger the Apple family when it comes to barn work. On the outside it looks like Applejack was smiling, but she felt an intensity in her eyes that made her scales shiver, Applejack let go of dragoness and she walked away from her.
“Phew and I thought Pinkie Pie was scary.” She sighed to herself as she turned to the hole in the wall. She then noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Scott carrying a stack of wooden planks in his hands.
“Oh hey Barb, looks like you got here already.” He said as he set the boards down. “What took you so long?”
“Was trying to find your brother only to learn that he was dealing with Jack.”
“Oh boy, so how did it go?”
“He said not much, and I figured I would ask him about his life but certain questions I asked him he got pretty defensive about.”
“What questions?”
“I asked about a scar on his left shoulder and he only held it as if he was in pain for a moment.” She said, Scott's face shuddered and grimaced at hearing that as he knew what she was talking about. “Is there something I should know about?”
“Sorry, I can't say.”
“Oh come on.”
“I’m serious,” Scott added with a stern look. “Our lives may be crazy, but there are some things that even we don’t talk about. Plus me and bro made a pact.”
“And that pact is?”
“Unless either of us brings up something about our past life, the other doesn’t bring it up.” Scott added. “Unless you’re okay with having a needle in your eye.”
“Okay...dark much…”
“Yeah, I know.” Scott added. “But it’s how we keep our pasts from biting us in the ass and to move forward with our lives.”
“Alright alright, I won’t ask anymore.”
“Okay then.” Scott said as he
“You know Scott,” She batted her eyes at him which wasn’t helping as it weakened Scotts resolve to resist. “Maybe after work, you and I could sneak off for a little and…”
“Uh Barb I-I-t-think we really should get back to w-work.” Scott stutters as the dragoness wraps her arms around his shoulders and runs her right leg along his outer thigh making him blush deeply, as his cock begins to harden from her ministrations. Luckily before the dragoness could take it any further a red sphered object hit her right in the back of the head.
‘Splat’!
“Ow!”
The couple turned to the offender to find Applejack leaning against the barn wall not far from them tossing an apple in her hand while a bushel was right next to her. She was glaring at them, almost daring them to go any further so she could unleash her righteous apple based fury.
“Ah thought told you two to git to work, not makin’ out like a couple a’ teenagers.”
“Uh sorry Applejack, we...were just about to start.” Scott smiled nervously leaving Barb frowning at the interruption.
“See to it that ya do,” She added.
“You didn’t have to throw an apple at my head,” Barb whined at the pain she was currently feeling.
“Well how else was I gonna have ya keep yer mind on the damage ya did to mah farm?” She added with a glare and Barb couldn’t really say anything. She just joins Scott with her chores and sets up for her next run.
“And don’t even think about skipping work just to fuck like a couple’a rabbits in heat season!” Applejack called out making Barb slink back from the young man who was now blushing up a storm.
“Um you weren’t really planning on doing that right?” Scott asked, feeling nervous.
“Not yet,” She purred, walking closer to the blushing male brushing her tail teasingly along his groin, only to get an apple to the back of her head.
“Ow!” She yelped after clutching the back of her head where the apple struck her, a little bump forming on her head. Both individuals then turn to Applejack who was holding another apple and crushes it in her palm with little effort.
“Less yappin, more fixin you two.” Applejack called out as she walked away the two went back to work repairing the barn.
-Field-
James followed Applejack’s directions to where the field was after leaving Applejack and Barb back at the barn with his brother. His thoughts turned back to him wondering if he was going to be alright.
“I just hope Scott doesn’t break something or angers one of them...or both of them.” He sighed, he loved his brother a lot but sometimes his clumsiness can get pretty out of hand for James. For the moment he focused on finding where Macarena is and helping her with the crops. Soon he finds her pulling a large plow with one arm to plant a few more seeds in the field.
“Hey Macarena!” James called out towards the red farm mare. She heard his voice and turned to the male with a dark glare.
“‘Bout time ya’ll showed up.” She said as she got back to pulling the plow. “What the hay were ya even doing?”
“Had a run in with a stallion by the name of Jack Daniels.” He replied. “Just wanted to have a chat with him that’s all.”
“Well if ya got time to chat,” She said as she pointed to the other field behind her. “Y’all can start by picking out the lettuce and carrots we have out on the farm. Ya just gotta get 'em in those bins back there.” She followed up pointing towards some large bins that looked to be four feet in length with a six foot height.
“So you want me to pick these and get them inside these bins?” James replied. “Doesn’t really seem that hard.”
“Well if yer so confident,” She said shoving him in front of the field. “Then see how much you can get done within three hours. I’ll be back in around that time to see yer progress.”
“Okay.” James said. “Good luck with your job.”
“Juet get to work…” She growled.
James puts his arms above his head and stretches moving his body from side to side feeling his back and hips pop and crack. Putting his arms down and shaking his hands he gets into a squat and readys his hands. Taking a deep breath, he shoves his hands into the soft dirt and lifts up, flinging the lettuce into the air and having it land into the bin.
“What in the hay?” Macareina said as she left her mouth agape. Watching as James ran through the field throwing up lettuce like it was a small pebble tossing it one after another into the bin.
“Man, this is a work out, I never knew I could move this fast and work at the same time” James thought to himself.
A faint glow was emitting from James body a faint white aura pulsing and shining dimly
James stops holding a couple heads of lettuce in his arms looking back at Macareina who was now looking at him in confusion.
“What?”
“What do ya mean what?” She asked in a rather irritated tone. “How the hay did you even get that done so fast?”
‘I don’t know, I just started moving and it just happened.” James says looking around at the field. “I normally do this back home, but I never got done this quick.”
“How the hay could you possibly not know?” She added walking towards him. “It makes no sense.”
“Me and Scott showing up to an alternate world filled with magic and mythical creatures also makes no sense when we found that rock earlier.” He replied earning a glare from the red farm mare. She lets out a sigh and tries to ignore him while thinking for a moment. Seeing him work as fast as he was doing it earlier, it didn’t make much sense to him, but it would make doing the chores much faster.
“Fine, just get it over with and we’ll see what happens from there.” She said as she got back to plowing the field. It took half an hour, and by the time she was done, James had already cleared out three of the fields that had Carrots, Lettuce, and Radishes.
“Done.” James replied as he looked back at the bins that were now full of produce. “What’s next?”
“Well I guess since you’re done with that,” She said, tossing him a bag worth of seeds towards James. “You can help me plant seeds in the fields to get ready for the next harvest.”
“Okay, so I’ll just wait till you move the plow,” James said as he threw the bag over his shoulder holding on to it with one arm while he waited on the red mare to pull the plow. As she pulled it, James planted the seeds one by one in the field behind her. It was around thirty minutes, that they only got half of the field completed.
“Wow, we are moving fast,” Jamas said standing up and wiping away the sweat from his brow
“Ma sister and I usually never move this fast” Macareina said looking around at the field they had half way done. “It usually takes us just an hour to get a quarter of it done”.
“Do you want to take a break for a bit then we can get started on the last half of the field,” James says looking over at Macareina.
She looks back suspiciously and says “Sure, I’m mighty thirsty.”
“Well why don’t we take a break, seeing as I can’t figure this out?” She said in annoyance. “We have a watering hole just outside of the farm.”
“Lead the way,” James added, putting the bag of seeds on the ground.
The two then made their way over the group of trees moving in between the tightly knitted orchard. It wasn’t long before they arrived at the large body of water that was around the size of the barn as it sat near their farm.
“Here it is, our very own lake.” Macareina says as she finds a rock near the water and sits down looking at the glistening water, sparkling in the sunlight. “Ma sisters sometimes come here to cool off or think about things.” She says staring off at the calm water.
“Wow, this is actually beautiful.” James said in shock. “And not to sound rude or anything but you’ve been strangely nice to me considering how we first started earlier. Why the sudden change in attitude?”
“Don’t get the wrong Idea,” She said with a growl, glaring at James causing him to back up slightly. “It’s just something to show mah thanks for how fast ya picked all the crops out on the field, and planted them seeds, I still don’t like you but I appreciate hard work.”
“Noted,” James replied. He walked up to the water dipping a hand inside feeling the cool soothing water. “It feels amazing,” He says standing up. He reaches down and grabs the end of his shirt and pulls up taking it off. Macareina notices this and raises an eyebrow at him.
Then she notices all the scar on his right shoulder.
“Where’d ya get that scar from?” She asks as he turns she then notices the one on his abdomen.
“Yeah some asshole that got mad at my brother for calling him out for cheating on a major test that we had back home.” James replied in a more somber tone.
“Okay how does cheating on a test get you a scar in yer gut?”
“It was what the bastard tried to do to my brother after that for ratting him out,” James replied in a dark tone. “He and a few of his buddies tried to beat up Scott and planned on not only beating him up but making an example out of him. If I didn’t find him when I did, I would’ve lost him for sure.”
“That sounds horrible,” Macareina said in surprise at what she was hearing from him.
“Yeah, bastard only managed to pull a knife on me but that was about all he could do,” James continued. “I landed him and his two goons in the hospital for what they tried to do and even smashed one of the guys' balls. Told the folks at school what happened and now he and his buddies are in prison for about 20 years for what they tried to do.”
“Guess that’s a good thing,” Macreina replied. ‘Why am I talking to this fella so openly, although he doesn’t seem so bad, especially after a long time of not datin anypony. Hmf just wait wait until he shows his true self, I wouldn’t be surprised he’s like all the rest of them stallions’, She thought bitterly. ‘ Still, he’s rather somethin…’ She thought to herself as she shook off her bitterness for a moment and looked at the next scar on his right shoulder. “So how’d ya get that scar in yer right shoulder?”
“Some asshole my brother busted for cheating on an exam,” James replied.
“What do you mean yer brother busted?”
“Exactly what I mean,” James followed up. “He was running late home and he saw the guy taking pictures of the answers for an upcoming test in one of our classes that we were taking and Scott soon exposed him in front of the whole class.”
“Ya serious?” She added in surprise confusion.
“Yeah even with the threat of the entire football team threatening to kick his ass,” James replied chuckling. “He busted them anyway and the school actually supported that, but the football team didn’t take too kindly to Scott ratting their star quarterback. When I found him he was bloodied and bruised but still breathing.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Yeah I was pretty pissed when I found out what he did, and this was in middle school,” James followed up with anger in his voice. “Let’s just say I paid each of them a visit and gave them a pretty painful lesson.”
“By what?” Macareina asked, actually interested in this.
“Breaking some of their legs, some of their arms, and the last guy who Scott busted, I broke all four of his limbs, and cracked a few ribs.” James replied with a sigh. “I was beyond pissed that day for what he and the football team did, and for selfish reasons no less. I got suspended for a week because of it, but it was worth it if you ask me. I actually got on the news for what I did, but what would you do in that situation if you were in my shoes?”
“Well ah’ll be, and I thought you were just some cocky punch jockey,” She said looking at him. “So what happened to the football team after that?”
“Well after Scott recovered, I made the football team apologize for what they did to him and threatened that they'll be in worse shape than what I put him through if they tried that again,” James replied. “A lot of the students actually commended me for what I did to them for what they did to my brother and they had a pretty bad reputation since they had to do community service for what happened after that. If you’re the kinda guy that cheats and then beats up someone for exposing you for cheating, you’re gonna have a bad time.”
“Ah’ll bet,” Macareina said in surprise.
‘Ah can’t believe I’m listening to a male for the first time, and he isn’t like the last stallion ah met’ She thought to herself thinking of how different he was. ‘Still, ah can’t trust him without fully understanding who he really is.’
“So what about that in yer right shoulder?” She asked pointing towards the scar that looked like a gash in his right shoulder.
“Yeah, that was when I was about nine years old and got cocky one time,” James replied with a blush. “I found out the hard way not to show off since I got my shirt caught in a fence and my shoulder got punctured, and it hurt like hell.” James said as he reached around and rubbed his right shoulder looking away.
“Why were you at a fence?” She asked in confusion.
“I tried to jump it on a skateboard and got punctured by the wiring of the metal fence.” He followed up rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah it’s not one of my brightest moments.”
“Sure doesn’t sound like it.”
‘Hmm, he seems pretty honest with himself.’ Macerena
“Hey, what about that last one on yer left shoulder?” She asked, pointing towards his left shoulder. James immediately froze up as his face looked like he was struck with fear. Macareina was confused by his reaction and his right arm shot up to cover his left arm and he gripped it as if he was in pain. HIs entire body shuddered from fear as he looked down onto the ground.
“What was that about?” She asked in confusion. “I ask one question and you suddenly freeze on me.”
“That’s… something I don’t want to talk about,” he replied. “That’s more of a painful memory.”
Macarena was confused for a moment but then shrugged it off knowing when to leave something alone, she knew personally what it meant to keep things to herself and dropped it. They sat there for a little while longer as they simply let the quiet serenity of the pond wash over them, to James it was very peaceful and he could see why Macerina liked coming here and it’s a way for her to calm down.
“How about we go back to the farm and see how my brother is doing?”
‘Hmmf hopefully he hasn’t burned down the barn’ She huffed to herself. She and James then sat up stretching while James happened to glance at the scar that ran down his left shoulder as James felt a wave of sadness wash over him whenever he looked at the mark.
‘I wonder what’s with that scar of his?’ She wondered as she looked back at him. She wasn’t sure why she felt sorry for him even after how she treated him and her brother earlier. They continued their walk until they reached the barn.
“I’m surprised that nothing got destroyed yet,” Macareina replied with a sigh and is surprised to see that the only thing that was noticeable was what appeared to be a dragon shaped hole Barb had made the other day.
“Yeah other than the large hole Barb made trying to chase me and Scott,” James replied in a nervous tone. “Where are Scott and Barb anyway?”
“Hopefully doin’ their work and not slacking off or foolin around if ah have anything to say about it,'' She replied with a growl while clenching her fist.
“Why don’t we see if they’re inside then?” James replied as he stepped through the dragon shaped hole and Macareina followed him to see what was going on. The barn looked to be empty and neitherJames nor Macareina could see Barb or Scott.
“Now where the hay is Barb and that simple minded brother of yours?” She stated until the pair heard a loud creak and suddenly a leg burst through the wooden floor.
“Found him.”
“Damn it! Come on!” Scott groaned since his foot got caught again in a floor board.
“Oh come on Scott,” Barb groaned as she stopped what she was doing to try and pick up Scott. “That was three times now.”
“How’s that my fault when the floorboards are all busted up?” Scott groaned struggling to get his leg free from the wood he fell through.
“Glad to see that the barn wasn’t burned down at least,” James replied with a smile getting Scott and Barb’s attention.
“I thought you were working out in the fields?” Barb questioned.
“We’re already finished half an hour ago so we decided to have a short break and then came back here.” James followed up. “Something crazy happened to me when I was working on the field though, I didn’t think I could finish hauling in the vegetables so fast.”
“Seriously?” Scott asked. “What did you do?”
“That’s just it, I don’t know,” James replied. “I just felt faster and stronger for no reason, it was crazy, everything was like moving in slow motion”
“Well at least you're done with the field work” bard said “what’s next on the list?”
“I was thinking about lunch?” James said looking over at Scott
“Sounds good to me what do you want Barb,” Scott said looking over at Bard
“I don't know how about sugarcube corner?” Bard said her stomach grumblumbling and she rubbed the back of her head.
“Okay, but isn’t there just sweets there?” Scott asked.
“Yeah i've been craving sweets for a while” Barb said drooling a bit.
“Y’all still gotta do something about that hole ya made up there,” Applejack said in a dark tone.
“Don’t worry about it,” James replied as he stepped out. “How about I take care of the floor he broke and they go and get something from Sugarcube Corner?”
“I guess that will work,” Applejack says as she folded her arms under her bust. She then turns to Scott and Barb. “y’all don’t mind If ah go with ya now do ya?”
“Course not,” Barb said with a smile.
“Thanks bro,” Scott said with a smile as he and Barb walked towards the door. “We’ll bring you a shake back.”
“Sure,” James followed up as he and Barb left the room. “So you got any spare wood to replace the beam that Scott accidentally broke?”
“It’s in the back,” Macareina followed up pointing to the back of the barn. “Over there by the stacks.”
“No problem,” James followed up as he went over to where Macareina mentioned earlier. He goes to the back of the barn to see the stacks of wood behind the hay bails.
“This looks to be it,” James followed up as he picked up the wooden boards and was about to walk away, but stopped when he saw something slip out from between the boards. “Hmm?” Curious,James picks up the object and finds out it's an old photograph depicting a younger looking Macareina and a stallion he couldn’t recognize.
He was a gray colored pegasus with a silverish mane, he wore a jock outfit as what James called back in high school and consisted of a simple tank top and gym shorts.
“Was this someone she knew?” He pondered to himself as he continued to examine the photo. It looks like it was taken during her teenage years. Unknown to him Macareina saw him holding the photo, curious to what it was she walked up to the man.
“Just what has y'all taking so long, ya better not be slackin off or I’ll…” The second she saw the content of it, her heart froze. A well of emotions swirled inside of her when she saw it, and used every ounce of restraint not to tear the photo out of his hands.
“Where. Did you.Get that?” She growled, her fist clenched in pure anger.
“Oh uh I found it under the floorboards and-.” James tried to explain, but whatever he would try to say only pissed her off more.
“Get. Out.”
“What, it’s just an old photo, and all I did was-!” He didn't’ get to finish what he was going to say when she glared at him.
“I said GET OUT!” She shouted, grabbing him by the scruff of his collar and belt and tossed him outside like he was nothing.
Before James could process anything he landed in a hay bail head first. James, while in the hay bail, he thought to himself ‘What the hell made her act like that?’ as he was struggling to get out of the hay bail. It took him some time, but a moment later he was spitting out straws of hay and brushing it out of his hair.
“Great, not sure what I did to deserve that,” James grumbled to himself, as he heard the sounds of the barn door slamming behind him. “And now she hates me… great…”
Back inside of the barn the mare was panting hard with her back against the now closed barn door, sliding herself down until she was sitting weakly on the floor while hugging herself tight. She looked over at the fallen photograph and unconsciously picked it up. Looking at it, Macareina could feel her hand shake as the tears began to fall.
“Stupid stallions.” she said crumpling the photo in her hand wiping the tear away “ i thought I got rid of him.”
Meanwhile James was brushting the last of the hay off of his clothes after what happened. He felt his face and felt there was some dirt from where he landed. He wasn’t sure what was going on with Macareina now, but it involved something personal. He only wondered what it was. He heard the sounds of hoofsteps behind him and he turned around to find Applejack behind him.
“Howdy James,” Applejack replied with a smile, but stopped when she noticed James' expression and some of the dirt on his face. “What happened to you sugarcube?”
“Hey AJ,” James replied. “Macareina happened. I found a weird photo that was where the boards were, and when she saw me with it, she flipped her lid and tossed me out of the barn yelling “get out.”
“A photo,” Applejack looked at him in confusion. “What kinda photo?”
“I only saw some stallion that she was in a photo with, it didn’t make sense when she got upset with me about it.”
“Maybe y’all went into something you shouldn’t have,” She said in a calm yet angered tone.
“I didn't, that's the thing,” James answered. “I went over to where she asked me to pick up some boards to fix the hole scott made, and the next thing I know I see a photo fall out of the wood pile and I happened to see it that’s it.”
“Now why in the hay would a photo get her so worked up?” Applejack says with a shake of her head. “Ya didn’t snoop in anything personal did ya?”
“I literally just said that it fell out of a woodpile and I picked it up not knowing what it was,” James said with a blunt glare. “Why would I lie about something like that?”
“It’s alright, ah believe ya sugarcube,” Applejack said in defense. “It’s just ah try to get both sides of the story.”
“Okay, I understand,” He said with a sigh.
“Now go on and finish up ya work you were doin” AppleJack says with her hands on her hips
“Would if I could,” James replied with a sigh. “Your sister yelled at me to leave when I picked up the photo.”
“Well she will get like that from time to time when she gets flustered” AppleJack says
“She looked like she wanted to hit me,” He added.
“Ah’ll try and calm her down then,” She said walking towards the barn. “In the meantime, why don’t y’all go and take a breather while I have Barb and Scott cover for everything else here?”
“Oh, thanks,” He said with a smile. “You want me to bring you anything back while I’m out?”
“Nah, I’m good sugarcube,” she says as she walks back to the barn. “Just take it easy, I’ll keep an eye on yer brother to keep him from hurtin himself.”
“Thanks,” He said as he walked away from the farm and Applejack walked toward the barn to check on her sister.
-Ponyville-
‘I wonder what’s going on in Macareina’s head that made her go off like that?’ James thought to himself as he was walking through town. He was enjoying the scenery trying to take his mind off of the events that played out earlier.
During his walk though, his thoughts then turned back to Macareina. He wasn’t sure why, but he couldn’t get her out of her head or why she was so upset over a photo. He knew that he didn’t want to pry into her social life, but he felt it gnawing at the back of his brain.
“Hmmm, maybe I should wait until AJ and her are both in the room. Maybe that’ll be my best bet to talk to both of them about what happened. Judging by how she reacted, it must’ve been pretty bad,” He said to himself as he was walking towards his destination.
He looked up and smiled when Sugarcube corner was in sight. He walked in and saw Pinkie pie standing at the counter leaning over so her breasts were being supported by the polished wood counter.
“Maybe a drink can smooth over my thoughts,” He added as he walked towards the counter. Pinkie smiled seeing his face. “Hey Pinkie.”
“Hiya James,” She said seeing him and leaning upwards, her breasts jiggling from the movement. “How’re you doing today?”
“Was doing okay till I pissed off Macareina earlier,” He said with a sigh. “So AJ sent me here till she calms down.”
“Aw, what’d you do that made her so angry?” She asked.
“That’s just it, I don’t even know,” He said as he leaned on the counter. “I was doing alright helping with work on the farm and the next when I picked up a woodpile, a photo fell on the floor.”
“A photo?”
“Something involving her and a guy she was with,” He added. “Whatever happened she seemed pretty pissed and yelled at me to leave.”
“Hmm, anypony that isn’t happy here, doesn’t make me happy,” She added with a small whimper. “Hopefully she can forgive you though for-”
“Before you add onto that, I wasn’t snooping around,” He said, cutting off the bubbly pink mare. “I didn’t even know the photo was there,”
“Oh, okay,” She said with a smile. “Anyways, what can I do for you?” she asks giggling
“Maybe a chocolate, strawberry milkshake would be nice,” He said. “Put it on my tab for now,” he says rubbing the back of his head.
“No problem,” She said as she dashed away from the counter, leaving James alone for five seconds. After those five seconds, she came back with James’ shake. “Here’ you go,”
“Thanks,” He said as he took the shake. He sits down at the table near the window with a smile on his face humming a little tune as he drinks his shake.
James lets out a burp as he sighs and sits back enjoying the sugary feeling in his stomach and the slight pain in his head. He gets up and sets the glass on the counter with a satisfied smile.
“Thanks’ for the shake Pinkie,” He said to her.
“Glad you like it James,” Pinkie said with a smile.
“I think I will head back to the farm,” He says, stretching outside the door to the sugarcube corner. Looking around, there weren’t many ponies around as they were going about their daily business as usual. James starts to walk down the road and as he makes a turn down the right street to Sweet Apple acres, but he runs into a familiar pegasus stallion that he met before. Literally runs into him as he crashes head first into him without realizing it.
“Ow!”
“Ah, Son of a bitch!”
Both males collided with each other and fell onto the ground and the sounds of cracked eggs and chips hitting the ground followed suit as both males would look at each other.
“Sorry about that,” James replied and he realized who he bumped into. It was the same stallion that he met yesterday. “Wait, it’s you!”
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” Jack replied, but then he saw that it was James again. “Oh great not you again!”
“Hey, I said I was sorry,” James replied. “Plus It’s not like I knew you were there.”
“Yeah well thanks to your sorry ass, my groceries waisted all over the ground.” Jack said in annoyance looking at his spilled bag. “You just love getting into other ponies' business don’t you?”
“Hey, I said I was sorry, I didn’t even know you were around the corner,” James replied standing up. “I was trying to get back to Twilight’s place and that was that,”
“Well if you’re done talking, kindly get out of my way so I can buy the groceries your sorry ass made me spill,” Jack said as he got up and picked up the bag that he dropped and walked away from him.
“Sheesh, what crawled up his ass and died?” James said to himself as he stood up and dusted himself off. He would then feel something sticky on his shirt and looked down to see that some of the milk and eggs were now on his shirt. “And now I’m covered in eggs, great.”
He sighed as he turned around. “Hopefully Pinkie has something for me to lean this crap off me.”
James back around the corner walking back into SugarCube Corner. He looks back to see that Pinkie was cleaning the countertop, wiping it down with a washcloth.
“Hey Pinkie, do you have a washcloth I could borrow?” he asks, sighing.
“Sure, what do you need it-! Wow, did you mess up baking a cake or something?” She asked, when she noticed the milk and eggs on his shirt.
“No, I ran into that guy outside that me and Scott met earlier,” James replied with a sigh. “We ran into him at the hospital earlier when Scott got hurt last time.”
“What did he look like?” Pinkie asked as she gave him a washcloth from her mane. James looked at her in confusion.
“Okay, I’m not even gonna ask that,” He said to himself. “Anyways, he was a pegasus who has a hat similar to AJ’s and usually hangs out with this small filly. I don’t know what the hell his problem is, but he doesn’t seem to like to hang out with anyone.”
“You must be talking about Jack Daniels,” Pinkie said with a sigh. “He’s actually pretty friendly if you get to know him.”
“If you call bumping into him by accident and spilling his groceries with him yelling at you as friendly, your world seems pretty weird,” James said with a sigh. “Figured his parents would’ve raised him better.”
“He doesn’t like talking about his parents,” Pinkie brought up, making James look at her in confusion.
“What do you mean?” He asked.
“I don’t know,” Pinkie asked. “Nopony really knows actually. Whenever anypony tries to ask him about it, he gives them a cold stare. But whenever I try to ask, he just walks away from me with sadness in his eyes.”
“So it’s more of a personal thing then?” He asked her.
“Yep, I stopped after that since he felt hurt whenever anyone brought it up,” Pinkie added.
“I guess he and I can relate,” James said, making her look at him funny.
“What do you mean?”
“Sorry Pinkie, I need to go see him,” James replied as he walked towards the door. “I think I can relate to him in this sense.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then good luck,” She said with a smile. James then leaves the building and Pinkie then has a bit of a worried look on her face. ‘Why do I feel they’re going to start a fight?’