//------------------------------// // Chapter 19 - Thank you, Mystic! // Story: Wherever the Light Shines: Part 2 // by MLPSolarDash1907 //------------------------------// The sun was beginning to set over the Apple family orchard. Mystic had been working all day and was looking forward to a warm bath in the homestead. Another day under my belt, Mystic thought, wiping the sweat from her brow. Honestly, it’s feeling like I’m becoming a farmer. She was a traveler, and she hated to be stuck here for now. But something else came to her mind, Applejack went into the house early, and while she worked the kids tried to speak with her at some parts during the day. I just want to be left alone, she thought. Mystic held in a growl as she walked towards the barn. Every day has been— go out into the orchard, work around the farm, go inside and go to bed. At least the ponies here are okay enough, she thought. Then, she saw Applejack emerge from the homestead with a grin on her face with Big Mac by her side. “What’s going on?” Mystic asked. Big Mac stepped forward. “Well, we’re gettin’ ready to start supper, and...” he smiled, “Granny, Applejack and I decided to surprise you and the others by making the meal bigger ‘cause of what ya did fer us and the kids.” “Wait what?” Mystic asked, with a surprised shake of the head. “Oh, we will definitely cook her up a big meal now!” Applejack trotted back into the homestead. “Wait, Applejack!” she cried, trotting after her, “I don’t want a... whoa!” When she’d entered the farmhouse, the CMC, Gilded Lily, Diamond, Silver, Button Mash, Chipcutter, and Tender Taps were all beaming at her. Mystic took a step back, “Uh... hi?” “Great to see you again!” Sweetie cheered as if she'd seen Mystic for the first time today. They tried to speak with me while I worked, Mystic thought incredulously. “We’d love to tell you about all our camping activities!” Diamond chirped. “And enjoy hearing some of your stories!” Button Mash stated. “Now simmer down everypony,” said a familiar elderly voice. Granny Smith emerged from the kitchen. “We’re glad you’re done with your chores,” said Gilded Lily, “That way we can hang out a bit more together.” “Oh no, I’m not the pony to hang out with kids,” replied Mystic, feeling a little uncomfortable. “Even if you aren’t, we can still talk a little bit.” “No, I don’t think so,” Mystic said quickly before moving past the kids and into the den. All of the kids were a little confused at her reaction. “Do you think we should ask her what’s up?” Button asked. “Hold on, little ones,” said Granny, stepping up to them, “Ah’m fairly sure she had a rough couple o’ days. Just give her a little space for a little bit.” “Yes, Granny Smith,” the kids answered in unison. “Now don’t get too dirty while playin’ we’ll be havin’ supper in an hour and a half.” “Wait, what?” Apple Bloom asked, confused, “Ah thought we were eatin' in fifteen minutes like we usually do.” Granny Smith smiled, “Oh, we’re preparing a bit of a thank you supper to Mystic for what she did fer all of you the other day.” “Wait really?” Sweetie asked excitedly. “Yep.” The kids clamored excitedly. The kids, Applejack, her granny, and her brother have gathered around the two tables to make one big table in new chairs Applejack set up for everypony in the dining room. It was a bit crowded but they’ll manage. On the table are roasted squash, beets, salads and milk for everypony, a fruit basket with a bunch of different fruits in it, and broccoli. “Mystic! It’s time fer supper!” Applejack called. Nopony responded so everypony began waiting. Every colt and filly waited with eagerness, wanting to spend some time with their hero. Applejack opened her mouth to call again, but they heard some hoofsteps on the upper floor. In a minute, they reached the stairs and just outside the dining room before Mystic stepped in. Mystic's eyes slightly widened at the sight of all the food on the tables put together. There was an empty chair next to Applejack with food in front of it. Taking a step forward, Mystic made her way over to the chair and sat down. “Everypony,” said Applejack, forming a smile, “We owe a big thanks to Mystic here for savin’ all of ya.” The kids clapped their forehooves and cheered. “And,” Applejack wrapped a foreleg around the unicorn, “We’d like to introduce my friends’ and I’s new friend here!” The kids cheered again and Mystic’s eyes slightly widened, she muttered “Friend?” under her breath, confused. Nopony seemed to take notice of her confusion and just embraced this very moment. “Any friend of Applejack and her family’s a friend of mine!” Button stated. “Same here!” Diamond added. “Don’t forget about me!” Silver bubbled. “I think I’m going to love having you as a friend, too, Mystic,” Gilded Lily giggled. “Yeah!” the CMC shouted in unison, completely excited. “Can you teach me those tricks you were doing?” Tender Taps asked. Chipcutter just smiled brightly. While Mystic remained confused and surprised, Granny laughed heartily, “Youngins here are always makin’ friends jus’ like I did when Ah was young. Great ta have a new friend of theirs in ma presence.” “Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed, raising his glass of milk, “To our new friend Mystic!” “To our new friend Mystic!” everypony cried in unison, raising their own glasses. All of them gazed at Mystic. The kids continued beaming their innocent smiles and their eyes seemed to sparkle. She’s still confused, but she knew what this meant when all of them had their glasses raised like this. They’re toasting to her being their new friend? But I didn’t say anything about being a friend, she thought, thinking back on when she told the Mane Six they'd 'try' to be friends. She considered dropping the bomb that she never considered them friends. However, the kids and their smiles were eager and happy. Plus, with this dinner they pulled together after saving them from the Alpha, it’s becoming apparent these ponies love showering strangers with love, friendship, and open hooves. They were treating her like a friend, yet she doesn’t consider them friends, just ponies she has to work for and pay off the rest of her loan. Besides, with Hong out there and knowing she’s here with them, she doesn’t want to throw away her sanctuary. So, forcing a smile for everypony she levitated her glass up. “O-Okay,” she stammered out. The kids cheered again and they all took massive sips of their milk with Mystic following right after. After the toast, the herd of ponies began eating their food and giving thanks to Celestia for having Mystic around for her heroic actions. Mystic insisted she wasn't a hero, but she is to the little ones. The fact of them wanting to chat with her didn’t help matters. “So, do you go around and fight beasts all the time?” Button asked. “Do you think you can kick the rest of the Everfree’s creatures’ flanks?” Scootaloo asked, flapping her small wings. “I bet she could!” Chipcutter beamed, “She’s really strong.” Mystic couldn’t help but smirk a little bit at that comment. It was true. “I think he’s right,” she said, “I am quite impressive.” She flexed her right foreleg’s muscles, showing their tightness. “Whoa, those are impressive,” Scootaloo awed. Mystic only nodded and went back to eating her supper. She wanted to eat and get gone, however, as the dinner wore on over the course of an hour, the kids, and the older ponies continued to talk with her. “Kids, the pies will be ready soon,” Granny announced, “So eat up and be sure y’all save some room!” “All right, pies!” Sweetie cheered. “Yay!” several other kids let out. Mystic slightly winced at the mention of pie, she didn’t like eating sweets at all. Finishing off her last slice of squash, she took a glance at Gilded Lily who was giving Granny some smaller plates with her unicorn magic. Mystic turned to look at her almost empty plate. She didn’t want to eat too much and was thinking of excusing herself early. “Hey,” said a voice. Looking up, Mystic saw Gilded Lily standing next to her. Caught a little off guard, she cleared her throat, “What is it?” “I just wanted to personally thank you,” she said. “For saving you?” “No, we’ve already done that,” Gilded giggled, “But since you brought it up, thanks again.” Mystic rolled her eyes, “Whatever.” “I just wanted you to know you’ve made an impact on all of us. Button and the CMC just won’t stop bringing up how you helped Applejack save us,” Gilded smiled wider, “It’s a story we’ll be telling for quite some time.” Mystic grunted, very annoyed they keep bringing what she did again and again, who knew kids could be this impressionable? “I don’t want to keep you,” Gilded went on, “But thanks for being an inspiration for us all. I’m very honored to be a friend to a special pony like you, Mystic.” Mystic, caught off guard again, just nodded. “Keep going strong, Mystic, we certainly will,” Gilded finished before she rejoined her friends. Mystic glanced at her again. Why can’t she stop glancing at her? Mentally slapping herself, she turned her attention back to the plate and began finishing off her food. When she did, she saw the kids have eaten most of the food with the adults’ help. “Excuse me,” she said under her breath. Applejack noticed her. “Mystic, yer done?” she asked. “Yes,” replied Mystic, standing up. “Everythin’ okay?” “I’m fine.” “Okay, but be back here for some apple pie in just a few minutes,” Applejack smiled. Mystic rolled her eyes, “Whatever, Apples.” With that, Mystic stepped out of the kitchen. But she didn’t leave right away. While everypony was having supper and socializing, Mystic didn’t take her eyes off Gilded for another minute until she shook her head vigorously, walked to the stairs, and climbed them to the bathroom. When she got in, she turned on the sink and sighed. She looks quite a bit like her... Mystic thought, splashing water onto her face. The unicorn had been processing all that she had been going through. Unlike her wishes for things not to be much of a big deal, they just wanted to do all of these needless tasks for her. She looks quite a bit like her... Mystic thought again, mentally cursing herself. The way these ponies showered her with affection and consistently thanking her... It was a little too much. She hadn’t received this much before in a long time. Mystic splashed water onto her face again, hoping it would finally clear her head. It was cloudy, unable to think about this kind of affection. Then she heard a knock at the door. “Mystic?” came Gilded’s voice. Why did they have to send her? Mystic thought. “Yes?” “We’re just checking to see when you’re coming back down.” As she looked down at the little unicorn, she couldn’t help but think of her true friend back in her earlier days. Was the universe trying to mess with her? Make this some kind of cruel joke? “Is there something wrong?” Gilded asked. Mystic snapped out of her thoughts. “Oh, sorry. I was miles away.” “All right then,” replied Gilded. Mystic ascended the stairs back into the kitchen, hearing Granny telling everypony else something. “-and that’s how Ah got into swimmin’ again,” said Granny, and Mystic knew she was finishing up a story. “Whoa, those brothers are just so manipulative!” remarked Diamond Tiara as Mystic reentered the kitchen. She saw the table was cleared and everypony had plates with forks in front of them. “Ah know, but thankfully Apple Bloom and Applejack managed to expose them and drive’em out of town,” Granny smiled as she grabbed an apple pie. “Aw, shucks,” Apple Bloom giggled, “It weren’t nothing.” “And what would we be without ya swimmin’ with us, Granny?” Applejack asked with a grin. “Probably not having as much fun without me,” Granny winked. The two apple sisters giggled. “How would y'all like some apple pie?” Granny asked. “Me me me me!” the kids said in unison. Mystic just stood there watching while Granny just smiled brightly at the kids. “Oh, all o’ you youngins remind me when Ah was a filly,” she said. As Big Mac pulled out a butter knife to cut the apple pie, Applejack noticed Mystic. “Oh, hey Mystic!” Applejack greeted, “Just in time for some pie!” Mystic gazed over at the smiling kids and the adults, “Uhm...” “You gotta try it!” Apple Bloom cheered, “It’s the best apple pie in all Equestria!” “Ya darn tootin' it is!” Granny giggled. All of the kids agreed, nopony seemed to object with the opinion that Sweet Apple Acres pie was the best. “I’m not really a sweet eater if you all didn’t know,” said Mystic. “Oh, jus’ ‘cause ya don’t eat sweets, don’t mean you can’t try some of this!” Apple Bloom stated. “She’s right, I didn’t want to before, but now I love it!” Diamond smiled. “So true!” Silver added. “Oh, but I really shouldn’t,” said Mystic. “Please! It’ll mean a lot!” Apple Bloom pleaded. “Yeah!” Scootaloo cried. Mystic heard pleads from all of the kids to try the apple pie. Mystic got uncomfortable, she looked at the older ponies and they had looks gently urging her to try it. “You’re strong and well maintained,” said Gilded Lily, “Some sweets won’t hurt once in a while.” The rest of the kids nodded and agreed. Mystic rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. She gazed at the steaming apple pie. It smelt good, no wonderful. With all of these kids pleading with her and the older ponies going along with them, she sighed. “Fine. Cut me a piece of the pie.” “Yay!” the kids cheered. “Eeyup!” Big Mac chuckled as he cut Mystic a piece. Applejack grabbed a plate and a fork. Big Mac put the piece of pie onto the plate. Mystic levitated the plate and fork over and gazed closely at the pie. She looked at it as if it were almost a foreign piece of food. Taking one final look at the kids who were in anticipation she stuck her fork into it and lifted it towards her mouth. Opening it felt like a bit of a chore, but she managed to open it enough to slide the pie into her mouth. She chewed, almost cringing, but as if a switch had been flipped, her taste buds felt like they were in heaven. Her eyes widened as her pupils widened as well and they seemed to sparkle. She didn’t like it. She loved it. Her taste buds seemed to dance at the apple flavor, the spices, cinnamon, and other smaller flavors all pleased them as well as her. When she finished eating, she gazed at her unfinished pie. Forget about not being a sweets pony, she can’t let this go unfinished. Without a second thought, she began eating the pie, smiling and savoring every moment of it. She even let out a small whinny. Mystic finished her pie and noticed everypony having large smiles on their faces, and Apple Bloom had a look “I told you so” on her face. Mystic licked her lips, “Can I have another?” This caused everypony to laugh, the kids were nearly howling at the little show Mystic had just put on. The unicorn looked confused. “What? What’s so funny?” Mystic asked. Applejack tried explaining but she was too busy giggling as the kids continued to howl in laughter at the confused unicorn.