//------------------------------// // Family Matters and bonding time // Story: Applejack's Love Bug // by Applefai //------------------------------//      After breakfast Pix Sprite helped do the dishes before heading out to town with Applejack to sell the apples. They were joined by Applefai who quickly reached up to them.      "Mornin' you two, I see y'all are a few steps ahead." Applefai greeted them as he started walking beside them. Once they get into town they set up their stall and set the price for the apples. The prices range from ten bits for a basket to fifty bits for a whole barrel. There was enough for probably a whole day's worth of selling.      A few hours passed and Applejack realized that stock was looking scarce, "Hey y'all I'm gonna head back to the farm to grab some more stock, could y'all hold down the fort while I'm gone?" Applejack questioned as she hooked herself to the cart.        "S-sure thing." Pix Sprite answered while the farmer pony gave a simple nod as he made another transaction. With that Applejack set out to replenish the stock as the strange pony and Pix Sprite held down the fort.     A few minutes of uncomfortable silence passed. The duo faced each other. "I'm mighty grateful you're helping us out. I'm just sorry ya had to run away from home." The rival started a conversation in a nicer mood.      "I-it's alright, sir." Pix Sprite replied and placed the bits in a box.      The stallion chuckled a bit doing a transaction with the Cakes, who promptly exchanged two barrels of apples for one hundred bits. "Please, call me Applefai, no need to be formal."      "Ok, may I ask you a question, Applefai?" Pix Sprite asked, a little nervous.      "Ya just did." Applefai joked as he let out a laugh leaving Pix Sprite a little confused. "Ah, I kid, ask away." Applefai caught his breath as he lent an ear to Pix Sprite.      "Please forgive my curiosity, but what relation do you have with the Apples?" Pix Sprite inquired.      Applefai scratched his head before answering. "That is a good question, and one I'm happy to answer." Applefai said as he sold the last bit of stock and put up a sign reading "on break". "I'll admit some will think the name is obvious, but even I know it's just a name. I'm Applejack's cousin and nephew to Granny Smith." Applefai told Pix Sprite as they waited for Applejack to return.       "Oh." Pix Sprite said surprised. "I thought you were dating her." Pix Sprite sheepishly admitted.        Applefai chuckled again, patting Pix Sprite on the shoulder, "not since my creator changed my story." Applefai explained, causing Pix Sprite to look perplexed.      "So what are your parents like?" Pix Sprite asked, wanting to know more about the Apple family.       Applefai lowered his head a bit and let out a sigh. "They've been dead for a while now, they died protecting me and a friend of mine from timberwolves." Applefai told Pix Sprite as he teared up a bit.      "I-i'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up something so personal." Pix Sprite apologized for not knowing only to have Applefai put a hoof up to stop him.      "It's alright, it's good to remember them, besides I know they're up there in heaven." Applefai said as he wiped his tears.       "What were their names and did you have any siblings?" Pix Sprite asked as Applefai smiled.      "My pa's name was Shadowkai and my ma's name was Apple Beat. My ma wanted to be a country star and my pa was a royal guard. My ma was the sister of Granny Smith. As for siblings I had two blood siblings, my twin brother Apple Ibara and big sister Vinyl Scratch."      Pix Sprite's eyes grew wide as he heard Vinyl's name. "Wait you mean the Vinyl Scratch, DJ PON3 herself?" Pix Sprite asked, surprised as even he had heard of her. "Yes, but when Vinyl was born, she was switched at birth with Octavia Melody, when my parents found out I was already born so they figured they'd wait till I was older, but they died when I was five, and Octavia and I moved in with Granny Smith. Though I did find out eventually, I still consider Octavia part of the family though." Applefai continued.      Pix Sprite listened to the story full heartily as he sat there and didn't interrupt anymore. "That's a pretty sweet story, it's nice how family is always there for each other." Pix Sprite said as he smiled.      Applefai smiled as he patted Pix Sprite on his shoulder. "I want to tell you something, something only a select few know." Applefai said as he makes sure that nopony is looking their way. After determining it safe Applefai lifts up the front of his hat to reveal a horn to Pix Sprite before lowering it down to hide it once again.      Pix Sprite stood there surprised before speaking "y-you're an alicorn?" Pix Sprite whispered as he couldn't believe it.      Applefai turned to him and answered. "Yes, I am. I don't like showing it off so I hide it, I want ponies to like me for me, not because I'm technically a prince."      "But aren't you worried about living forever?" Pix Sprite asked knowing the stories about alicorns.      Applefai smiled and simply answered. "No, because alicorns don't live forever. I'll age normally and die like everypony else. All that talk about one thousand years is pretty much exaggerated.      Applejack returns to the stand and unloads the supplies, the trio then continues to sell apples until they completely run out at dusk. Once they get home Applejack takes the bits and starts counting the day's income and putting the majority away in a safe.      Applejack sets aside a small bag of bits and takes it up to Pix Sprite's room while Pix Sprite is in the shower. Before she could leave though, Pix Sprite comes back from the shower wrapped in a towel.      "Oh, I thought you'd be in there longer." Applejack spoke as she blushed and rubbed her head.       "It's ok." Pix Sprite walks to the bed to find a small bag of bits. "What's this?" Pix Sprite asked curiously as he picked it up.      "Yer payment. Fer all the help you gave us." Applejack told Pix Sprite as he held the bag.      "You don't have to pay me, I'll gladly help for free. Here, please…..".      Applejack interrupted by putting a hoof on Pix Sprite's muzzle, "please, keep it, I insist. That's 100 bits, that's so you can buy stuff for yourself, besides you're like a part of the family, so you should get a share." She removed her hoof and Pix Sprite placed the bag down on his nightstand as the orange mare smiled "Come on, dinner is ready."      The next morning, Pix Sprite walked around Ponyville with his Daring Do doll in a saddlebag Applejack lent him and searched for some treats he might like. He decided to go to the local bakery "Sugarcube Corner" to browse its wares. Upon entry, he spotted his fellow earth pony friend at a table enjoying an apple cupcake. The stallion silently approached the counter where he was cheerfully surprised by the other, but pink, female earth pony.       "Hiya, so you're the new farmhand AJ has been telling me about, I know it's late, but allow me to welcome you to Ponyville." The mare excitedly said as he approached.      "T-thank you." The male pony shyly thanked as he perused the menu board. "M-my name is Pix Sprite by the way.      "Nice to meet ya Pix Sprite, my name's Pinkie Pie." Pinkie introduced herself as she vigorously shook Pix Sprite's hoof.      As Pix Sprite looked at the menu Rainbow Dash walked in behind him and patiently waits in line as he tries to decide what to order. Pix Sprite decides to get an order of apple crisp and as he goes to retrieve the bits to pay, the Daring Do doll falls out and catches Rainbow's attention.      "Well, looks like a big strong stallion needs a security doll, don't tell me do you sleep with it when you get scared?" Rainbow Dash teased him causing him to blush but was about to draw him to tears. "Well come on tough guy, tell me." Rainbow continued until Applejack slammed the table resulting in everypony within earshot to jump. Pinkie proceeded to jump afterwards.      "THAT'S ENOUGH RAINBOW!" Applejack scolded her friend, standing and picking up the doll and dusting it off to put it back in Pix Sprite's bag.      "Ahh come on, AJ, I'm only kidding." Rainbow defended herself only to have Applejack arch an eyebrow at her.      "He doesn't know that, and besides ya like Daring Do too. Need I remind you of your stay in the hospital?" Applejack asked, causing Rainbow to blush.      With dropped ear,s Rainbow apologized to Pix Sprite with an approving nod from Applejack. Pix Sprite paid for his apple crisp and joins Applejack at her table. Rainbow joins later still feeling a bit bad.      "Hey dude, I want to say sorry again. I gotta admit it's pretty cool and I'm a bit jealous, I should look for one." Rainbow told Pix Sprite.      Pix Sprite finished his mouth full before speaking. "It's ok, I'll admit you're right, I do sleep with it, but it's also a reminder of my brothers." Pix Sprite said as he smiled. "My favorite book is, well, they're all too good to pick one." Rainbow smiled as she found another fan to geek out with her.      "I feel the same way. We should hang out sometime." Rainbow said as she flew out the door.      That night at the barn when everypony had fallen asleep, a thunderstorm rolled in and started pouring down. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed, jolting Pix Sprite awake he tries to ignore it but eventually, he starts whimpering and shaking, luckily he hasn't had any nightmares lately, but when he ran away from home, he had to spend many nights alone in the woods, and it was there he developed a fear of thunder, a fear of lightning, and the ever crippling fear of being alone.      Pix Sprite's low whimpers are heard by Applejack who is just heading back to bed from the restroom. She enters the room and turns on the light. "Ya ok, sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she saw him shake and shiver.      "Yeah, I'm ok." Pix Sprite fibbed not wanting to feel embarrassed.      Applejack smiled as she came over and sat on his bed. "You're afraid of thunderstorms aren't ya, sugarcube?" Applejack asked as she wrapped a hoof around Pix Sprite and pulled him into a hug.      Pix Sprite sheepishly nodded yes as Applejack smiled and started to stroke his mane. "It's ok, it'll pass. Would you like me to sleep with you tonight?" Applejack offered Pix Sprite causing him to blush.      "A-are you sure?" Pix Sprite asked embarrassed as Applejack turned off the light and laid down with him.     "I'm sure, sugarcube. I don't mind" Applejack said as she held Pix Sprite in her arms to keep him calm from the storm outside as they both fell into a blissful sleep.