//------------------------------// // Chapter Ten // Story: A Strange But Familiar Place // by KP9457 //------------------------------// Chapter Ten The Second Date The remainder of this week past pretty quick with each day following a similar pattern going to work and helping Rarity create the outfits for the Winter Ball Spectacular, and after work going home and continuing to painting the walls. The outfits were all looking fabulous each expressing everyponys individuality, Applejack’s used more earth tones, while Rainbow Dash’s had dark bold colors, Fluttershy’s used light colors to show her kindness and Twilight Sparkle’s used a combination of dark main colors with light accents showing that she had a bit of mysteriousness about her dress. The two suits were both great as well, Spike’s had a high level of class about it, while mine had an eye catching look to it. On Friday Rarity brought everypony over to give the last fitting before we would leave for Canterlot, all of the outfits fit perfectly. Spike and I were the first two to try on the suits with each fitting perfectly, then Applejack tried hers on and she looked so fabulous and left me speechless. After Applejack was done she had return to Sweet Apple Acres but before leaving she wanted to speak with me outside, I nodded and followed her outside. Once outside Applejack asked me “Hey Maverick what are you thinking for our date tonight?” After pondering for a second I retorted “Well we could go for a picnic and walk around for a bit and talk.” “That sounds very nice Maverick; I’m looking forward to it.” She responded. We agreed that I would meet her at Sweet Apple Acres tonight at seven, and then went our separate ways. I went back inside and admired Rarity’s work. Once everypony left I began talking to Rarity about everything we were going to do tomorrow to get ready to leave for Canterlot. She decided that were going to pack the dresses and suits up and spare fabric just in case there were any issues. After a few hours Rarity paid me for the week and Saturday as well just to make life a little easier for her. I went to the market and picked up a garden salad and daffodil sandwiches. Before heading back to my house I went over to Sugar Cube Corner where I found Mrs. Cake, she looked over and rejoiced “Maverick it’s so good to see you again. What can I do for you today?” “It’s good to see you again too; I was hoping that I would be able to buy a desert for two.” I replied to her. “I got just the thing for you give me one minute.” A little bit of time passed and then she returned “Here you go Maverick, this is a small chocolate cake with vanilla icing. It comes to two bits Maverick.” Mrs. Cake responded to me. “Thank you Mrs. Cake this is perfect.” I lilted and paid her then left the shop. I headed back to my house washed up and listened to a record before heading out. Once I left my house I went directly over to Sweet Apple Acres to pick up Applejack. I reached the arch outside the farm I thought to myself “Another great night in paradise.” I began walking up to the farm I saw Big Mac hauling apples to the barn, “Good day for apple picking, Big Mac?” I asked him. “Eeyup.” He replied to me. I nodded and kept making my way to the house where I saw Apple Bloom running around “Well howdy Maverick, you here for your date with Applejack?” She asked me eagerly. “Yes I am, is she ready to go?” I questioned Apple Bloom. “I think so just go up to the house.” She told me. I thanked her and continued up to the house and knocked on the door and heard from inside “Hold on their sonny I’ll be there soon.” I waited and as the door began to open I saw an old mare with green fur and grey mane, whose cutie mark was a pie. “Well what do you want?” She demanded. I leaned in to the door way a bit to look and see if Applejack was around, “I was wondering if Applejack was ready?” I asked her. “No now go away!” she seethed before slamming the door in my face, catching my snout on the hardwood door. “OUCH!” I screamed out I tried to knock on the door and explain myself, hoping that the mare would talk to me. This time however she yelled out to me “Go away we don’t want your kind here!” I decided to sit down on the step and think about how I could get the mare to let me in. When all of the sudden I heard Applejack’s voice say “Granny Smith, who was at the door? Was it a stallion with brown fur and light brown mane with blonde high lights?” Applejack questioned the older mare. “Why yes Applejack, how did you know that?” she asked. “That’s my date Maverick.” Applejack told the older mare. “Well he’s gone now.” The older mare said. I walked up to the door again and knocked on the door, this time though Applejack answered the door, “Maverick it’s you I thought you would have left!” She exclaimed. “You didn’t leave; you must be very persistent sonny.” The older mare told me. “I didn’t think it was time to leave yet.” I responded to them. Applejack butted in saying “Maverick I’m glad you didn’t leave, and Granny Smith this is my date Maverick, Maverick this is Granny Smith.” “It’s nice to meet you.” I told her “I don’t know about you, I will have to see about you. It's time for me to go to bed anyways.” She said before slowly walking out of the room. “Are you ready to go Applejack?” I asked her. She nodded and we headed out the door and in to the apple trees, to a certain point near a small pond where the Apple family goes swimming in the summer. As we got there I laid a blanket and placed the food down. We sat down and enjoyed the meal, once finished eating we began talking about her family and I discovered that Granny Smith has an issue with others getting involved with the Apple family in fear that the family will become separated. We also began talking about random ideas such as Canterlot and what we are each looking forward to with the princesses. We kept talking for a few more hours; we decided we better get going back. So I packed up the picnic blanket and took her back to her house. Once there we said our goodnights but before leaving Applejack began to lean in close and gave me a soft gentile kiss on the lips. “Bye Maverick, I’ll see you in a couple days.” I finished saying goodbye and I headed home, on my way back I began thinking to myself “This is great, like WOW! Applejack just…WOW!” The more I kept walking I began to think deeply about Applejack and came to the conclusion that she gave me butterflies in my stomach. When I got home I went to bed. The next morning I got up and went over to Carousel Boutique and began helping Rarity pack up for the trip to Canterlot. “Alright Maverick each one of these dresses and suits need to go into theses bags and then we will take them over to Twilights where we all will meet up and head to the train station.” Rarity told me I agreed and we began to take all of the outfits to the library along with some spare fabrics. Rarity took her four suitcases to the library as well. Once we got there Twilight greeted us “Oh hello Rarity and Maverick are these all that you’re taking Rarity?” “Oh my yes dear.” Rarity responded. We continued talking as Twilight told us where to put everything and we followed her instructions. When we finished Rarity told me to go home and start packing. I agreed and went and grabbed my toiletries and a couple books and that’s all I took. The next morning I got up and met up with everypony and headed over to the train station. Once at the train station Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Spike and I packed up the train while Rarity supervised. With everything packed we left for Canterlot.