Chapter 3 - Refreshing Honesty
“So this is the market,” Valiant said as he looked around at the various shops and stalls. “It seems a bit small... still, it is very charming!”
Fluttershy nodded as she finished paying for a few carrots. Placing them in Valiant's saddlebags, she said, “It might look small at first, but it has everything we need.” She walked over to the next stall and began to inspect the various heads of lettuce. Picking three, she paid for them before bringing them over to where Valiant stood, observing her brief interaction with the stand owner.
As she placed them in the saddlebags, he asked, “If you do not mind my asking, why are we buying so much food?”
Turning to face him, Fluttershy replied, “Well, the market is only open every other day, and the animals get hungry if I don't feed them...”
“Animals?” Valiant asked. “Just how many are in your care?”
“Hmm... Let's see...” Fluttershy said, wrinkling her brow in thought. “I don't really know for sure... I've never counted them.” Smiling, she continued, “It would probably be over thirty though. I just love taking care of animals! It's my special talent you know.”
Valiant nodded. So that's what her cutie mark meant. He had wondered about the butterflies since the moment he saw them. It made perfect sense. Lost in his thoughts, he missed the next thing she said. “I am sorry, would you mind repeating that?” he asked.
“Oh...” she repeated, “I was just asking what your talent was... I mean... does it have something to do with your... weapons?” She shuddered softly.
Valiant cocked his eyebrow. “I must admit, I am slightly surprised at the question. Surely you noticed, but I do not actually have my cutie mark yet.”
Fluttershy gasped. “But... I thought... I mean... Aren't you a little old to...”
Valiant nodded. “I had the same thought when I was a foal, but my father once told me that although normal ponies receive their marks at a fairly young age, the life-span of an alicorn is so long it can take well into adult life for them to find their special talents. Also, since the special talents of alicorns are usually extremely powerful, the events that cause the marks to appear are often... catastrophic and extremely hard to trigger.” Noticing her troubled expression, Valiant said, “Do not worry! I shall receive my mark when the time is right.”
Fluttershy cocked her head in thought, replying, “I... think I understand... I hope you get it soon! I'm excited to find out what it is!" Inwardly, she suddered again, hoping it wouldn't be something violent. Outwardly, she smiled and said, "Anyway, this is the last stall, and then we can go home!”
Behind the counter sat an orange colored earth pony, wearing a large brown hat matched in size only by the smile on her face. “Ya'll come on back now!” she shouted towards her previous customer, tipping her hat in a friendly gesture. Turning towards Valiant and Fluttershy, she said, “Howdy, welcome to...” recognizing Fluttershy, she said, “Well howdy there Sugarcube! Ya here to visit or shop?”
“Shop please!” Fluttershy said, smiling.
“Well alright then!” the orange pony said, gesturing toward the apples arranged at the front of her stall. “The finest apples in town! Just fer' you, I'll give ya a fifty percent discount, how's that sound?”
Giggling, Fluttershy said, “That sounds perfect, thank you!”
Valiant stood in silence as he watched the two ponies converse. After a few moments, Fluttershy seemed to remember he was there. “Oh!” She exclaimed, cheeks reddening in embarrassment, “I almost forgot! Applejack, this is my frie...”
At that moment the orange pony charged forward, grabbing Valiant by the hoof and shaking it up and down enthusiastically. “Well hi there!” She shouted, continuing to grin from ear to ear, “I don't exactly know who ya are but any friend of Fluttershy's is a friend a' mine! I'm mighty pleased to make yer acquaintance mister...”
Valiant paused for a second, his whole field of vision spinning from the violent hoof shaking. “My name is Valiant Daybreak,” he said finally. “I just moved to town and Fluttershy has graciously agreed to show me around. She is letting me stay at her house until I can acquire a place of my own.”
“Ah yer new in town!” The earth pony said, releasing his hoof at last. “Well ya couldn't'a picked much better a guide than Fluttershy! Very nice to make yer acquaintance!” Suddenly all business, she turned back to Fluttershy, asking, “Now, how many did ya want?”
Fluttershy browsed a while, before finally selecting ten apples. She paid for them, and gingerly placed them in the saddlebags. “Thanks Applejack!” she said, before turning and walking away from the stand towards the edge of town.
Valiant bowed slightly, saying, “It was very nice to meet you!”
“Likewise!” the earth pony said, waving goodbye.
As they walked down the path, Valiant couldn't help but reflect on the strange events of the last few days. Just two days ago he had been homeless, and now someone had not only opened their home to him, but was trying to make him feel at home. Most surprising of all, she cared for him, not because of his royal lineage, but because he was another living being. It made him feel... good. At the same time, her presence and personality were saddening. She reminded him of… At that moment, the thoughts swimming through his head were interrupted by a voice. Turning, they saw Applejack running up to them.
Panting, she said, “Whew! Gosh ya'll walk fast! Here!” She reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a single bit, dropping it into Fluttershy's outstretched hoof. “Ya'll paid me a bit too much,” she said. “It just wouldn' be right fer' me ta keep it, so ah brought it back to ya.” Turning in the opposite direction, she began to walk away, calling back, “Have a nice day!”
Valiant stared at the bit in Fluttershy's hoof. Why would she go through all that trouble to return something so... so... insignificant? Out-loud he said, “That was one of the most honest things I have ever seen in my life.”
Smiling, Fluttershy nodded. “Applejack is a very honest pony. She couldn't lie about anything even if she wanted to, it goes against her nature. She always keeps her word, even when it seems hard... I admire that about her...” Fluttershy placed the bit into her coin purse before continuing down the path towards her house. Valiant stood in place for a minute, thinking, before following her down the path.
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Late in the night, Twilight Sparkle quickly closed the book she had been previously reading. She called to her assistant, “Spiiiike! Spike! Come here, quick!”
The dragon, having been woken up from a deep and diamond infused dream, yawned and slowly padded his way down the stairs. “Come on Twilight! It's the middle of the night, can't a guy get a little bit of sleep around here!?”
“I'm sorry Spike but I need you to take a message to the princess immediately! It’s urgent!”
The dragon's eyes widened as she told him the message he was to send. As he signed it and sent it, he asked, “Twilight, what's going on?”
“I'm not completely sure yet Spike,” the unicorn said as she began paging through another book, “But I'm going to find out.”
Author's Comments
There you are! A few more plot points revealed! Hope you all enjoyed the latest chapter. Sorry for the short length... Probably means I'll release the next chapter early. Thank you all for the support! Glad to know so many of you like it! The response to this has been much better than I thought it would be, so thanks to all of you for being awesome!