The Missing Bard
Chapter 19: To Sweet Apple Acres
One of the biggest things I missed from Midgard was the food and the styles of cuisine that were available back in my old home. Granted now I was a pony and Equestria had its own fair share of cuisine, however I didn't really care for most of it. Considering I wasn't much of a vegetarian in Midgard, but I was having to slowly adjust to it here, even though my body had no problems with it, but it was mostly the memories of the delicacies that I could no longer have here that gave me the most problems. I guess I was a bit stubborn, not letting go of the subtleties of my old home and my old world, but I believed it gave me a sense of uniqueness here in Equestria.
But Spike's preparation of this morning's breakfast was extremely delicious, for once Equestrian cuisine sat right with me once. The odd thing about it was that it almost seemed to mimic some dishes I've had back when I lived in the Swartzvald Republic in Exile. Even though most of the breakfast this morning was considered mostly vegetarian, with the exception of eggs, I didn't find myself just eating to sustain myself, but actually enjoying it immensely.
"That was amazing! I can't say I've ever had a better breakfast! You're awesome Spike!" I stated with a sigh of satisfaction as we walked out of the kitchen into the main library." I swear I could eat more if I took off this vest."
"I agree Spike that was delicious." Twilight added in.
"Just splendid Spike, you have really out done yourself!" Rarity confirmed.
"Aww shucks, its just breakfast." Spike stated with a heavy blush set in.
"But you really have out done yourself Spike." Rarity complimented.
"I'm glad you... liked it... Rarity..." Spike began to stutter slightly.
"Ah delicious..." I restated my satisfaction. "Well I am definitely feeling better!" I commented as I stretch out my legs. "I wonder if Applejack would be home right about now..."
"Don't tell me that you're going to have her kick you to test out that vest right now?" Twilight responded with slightly frustrated tone as she took a seat on the couch.
"Why not?" I quickly retorted.
"Don't you think this is a tad bit rash Kiniro?" Rarity agreed as she took a seat beside Twilight.
"Well, I was going to test it anyway! The sooner the better, besides what if I wait for to long and worst comes to worse?" I tried to defend my idea.
"Ugh... Fine, better catch the problems early as opposed when its to late." Twilight seceded.
"Wait what? You're not going to detest this one?" I asked.
"Well when you put it that way, it is better to get things done early so that you have more time to test them later if the first experiment fails." Twilight stated.
"Oh... well... ok." I responded skeptically. "Are you sure?"
"By all means." Twilight answered.
"Oh well... then ok. I'm going to head to Applejack's place and see if she's in. I'll be back later today." I commented as began to head toward the door.
"Do be careful Kiniro!" Rarity stated.
"Yes Kini, please don't hurt yourself, because if you do, trust me you'll be taking care of yourself this time!" Twilight stated with a smile and stuck out her tongue.
"There it is!" I joked back. "I promise I'll try to take care of myself. I'll see you all later. Hey spike, when I get back, are you up for some ice cream?"
"Ice Cream? Are you kidding? I'm always up for some ice cream! Think we can get some sapphire sprinkles on it if we can?" Spike eagerly asked.
"Alright alright Spike, it will be my treat. I'll come get you after I test out this vest with Applejack." I responded to Spike as I pushed the front door open with my hoof. "I won't be long, I promise."
"Take care!" Twilight, Rarity and Spike said out in unison. I responded in kind with a simple hoof wave with my right hoof.
"Ok to Applejack's I go!" I said aloud as I stepped out side. "Now... which way..." I pondered to myself, but it had not been the first time I had gone to Sweet Apple Acres recently, considering I occasionally aided the Apple family this past apple buck season. "Ah yes! This way!" I stated as I began my trek south toward Sweet Apple Acres.
Taking a steady pace, I slowly passed the grey wall eyed pegasus's house, but it appeared to be empty. As there was no rummaging sounds coming from inside. "She must be out today." I thought to myself.
As my trek continued I passed Octavia and Vinyl's place, hearing the sound of a beautiful Cello playing. I paused my journey to slowly enjoy the melody, and began tapping my front right hoof on the ground. Shortly after a loud crash was heard from inside followed by a loud amount of feedback coming from the second story. "VINYL!!!" I heard Octavia yell from inside as a very interesting bass heavy song began playing.
"Must be one of Vinyl's inventions or she just started playing her music." I said to myself with a smile and I pushed forward. "Those two!" I chuckled slightly. I few moments later I had arrived in front of Sugar Cube Corner. "Man I would love some treats right about now, but... still too full from breakfast. Maybe later." As I stared at Sugar Cube Corner as I passed through I saw Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy exit the shop and I stopped shortly to give a hoof wave. Fluttershy was still wearing a bandage on her right wing.
"Hiya Kini!" I heard Pinkie Pie call out. "Me and Fluttershy got something for you and Twilight later!"
"Oh what is it?" I asked.
"Oh just a little something me and Fluttershy put together for you two!" Pinkie responded.
"Well alright! Take it over to Twi's place, I'm just out to go test something with Applejack so I'm going to meet her at Sweet Apple Acres. I'll be home in just a bit! I promise!" I replied.
"O-oh. Well please don't take t-to long." Fluttershy asked.
"I promise I'll be back home soon!" I confirmed.
"Well we'll meet you back at the library!" Pinkie Pie mentioned. A subtle hoof wave was given from both her and Fluttershy as they began their trek to the Library. As they turned away from the shop I saw a box wrapped up in a red bow being carried on Pinkie's back.
"Hmm I wonder what that is... I guess I'll find out soon enough." I smiled as I pondered its contents and began my trek again. I passed by a few more buildings, especially the iconic windmill of Ponyville. The majestic structure that was our source of fresh water in town and filled up the local reservoir. I had never figured out what that giant reservoir was for. I even took a good look at it as I crossed over the bridge passing over the local stream that the windmill pumped out of.
As reached the opposite bank of the stream I stared over to the west to see Rainbow Dash's glorious mansion in the sky. Sure enough though, I saw her performing some aerial acrobatics with perfect precision. After she finished her stunt I saw her fly over in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. "Hmm I wonder what she's going over there for? Maybe her and Applejack have been preparing stuff for me once I got better.
As I turned away head away from the sky, and reoriented myself to face forward. I saw a small gazebo surrounded by some pink trees in front of me some ways with a road branching off that lead to Sweet Apple Acres.. Continuing my stroll I looked to my left to see the Ponyville Schoolhouse with a red flag hoisted up high to signify that there was a class in session. "Shouldn't Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo be in class?" I mentioned to myself aloud. "Well it is a small school maybe they alternate days or something to be able to teach the younger ponies." As I pondered in this thought I hadn't noticed how long I was walking.
I stopped looked behind me to see the Gazebo quite some ways back. "Crap I have to back track a bit." But as I turned forward, I noticed a small hill ahead of me. I had never given this hill any attention previously as I usually just avoided it getting to Sweet Apple Acres. "Hmm... I wonder if I can get a good view from up there?" I thought as I decided to make a slight detour in my trip. The hill wasn't very steep but the distance to the top wasn't far either. As I reached toward the top of the small hill. There it stood, Sweet Apple Acres, but for some reason... this view seemed very familiar. To only have a sudden thought pop in my head, "Maybe if I go there, I can find the owners of the orchard, maybe I could get some answers to where I really am."
I had remembered where I was. This was exactly where I had stood when I originally arrived in Equestria. I began to investigate the ground looking to see if there was still a charred ring of grass on the ground nearby. As I intensified my search I saw a ring on the ground where the grass had completely died out. "That's where I must have originally landed." I stated aloud as I walked over to it to investigate. "Wow... this is the place... this is where I was were I arrived in Equestria from Midgard..." I thought to myself as I sat down in ring, and I began to look around like I had originally done when I arrived, reliving the memory, but this time now knowing what good would come from such an incident.
I again looked over to Sweet Apple Acres. "Who would have known that me being in this exact spot nearly five months ago would have lead to all this. I can't say I don't miss Midgard, I know it is doing better with me gone, but I'm glad that I'm here. Here in Equestria, here with all my new friends, and here with somepony that cares for me. I'm glad to call them all my family. But I'm also glad that I still have something to remember my past by, it may not be my guitar, even though I will miss it, I have something." I mentioned aloud as I slowly pounded my hoof on my vest. "I will never forget you Midgard... but you will never miss me... I wish I could have felt this appreciation there, but I finally have a home, no matter how much I must have to remind myself. I am finally home, where I belong and I hope that for the things that I've done, I will never be forgotten here..." I said to myself as a tear ran down my face. "I will never be forgotten here..." I said as I wiped the tear off my face and continued my trek to Sweet Apple Acres just as I originally had done five months ago.
End Of Chapter 19.