//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Steel Apples // by Silentpegasus //------------------------------// Chapter 2. Steel made his way down the dirt path, past the outskirts of Ponyville and came across a massive farm. Hundreds of rows filled with apple trees. Steel couldn’t help but marvel at the sight. Steel made his way down the long path until he hot to the farm house, It was typical big red barn complete with white trim on the beams. He then noticed a red stallion working in the fields pulling an old plow behind him and was chewing on apiece of hay. The stallion was little bigger than steel and looked just as strong if not stronger than him. Steel trotted up to the stallion as he finished plowing a row. “Excuse me, but do you know where Applejack is?” “Eeyup, she’s in the south field behind the barn.” he said as he went back to his work. This stallions probably her colt-friend. Figures all the good mares are taken. “Thanks.” Steel said as he took his leave and went to the barn. Before he could circle around he was tackled to the ground by a flying orange and purple blur. As Steel recovered, he noticed that the orange blur was the pegasus filly that he fixed the scooter for. “Oh man, sorry about that.” the little filly said. “It’s alright, accidents happen.” Steel said as he got to his hooves. “Hey I know you, your the guy that fixed my scooter earlier today.” “Yeah, name’s Steel Hammer.” “Well I’m Scootaloo, Cutie Mark Crusader.” “Cutie mark what?” Steel said as he raised an eyebrow in confusion. “The Cutie Mark Crusaders are dedicated to help ponies find their special talent and earn their cutie marks.” she said with a smile. Two more fillies trotted beside Scootaloo with worried looks on their faces. One was an earth pony with a red bow in her hair and the other was a white unicorn. The two trotted up next to Scootaloo. “Are you alright Scootaloo?” said the unicorn. “Yeah I’m fine.” The earth pony then turned her attention towards Steel. “Who’s he?” Steel noticed that she shared the same accent as Applejack. “This is Steel, he’s the one who fixed my scooter this morning.” “Pleased to meet you three.” Steel said as he grinned. “What brings ya to Sweet Apple Acres?” asked the little yellow filly. “I’m here to see Applejack, she’s supposed to be around her some-” Steel didn’t get to finish his sentence due to being cut off by a familiar voice. “Applebloom! What have I told ya’ll about doing’ yer crusading on the farm?” said the cross orange mare. “Sorry sis.” the little filly said with a sad look. Applejack then noticed that Steel was standing beside the three little fillies. “Howdy Steel.” she said with a grin. “I see ya’ll already met my sister and her friends.” “Yeah, we just ran into each other.” he said with a small chuckle. “I gotta finish up this field here. You’re welcome to come I could use the help.” she said with a smile. “Sure, I don’t mind lending a hoof.” Steel said as he walked past the three fillies and over to the orange mare. “Great, sooner we get done sooner we can talk.” she said as she turned and went back to the orchard. “Alright, good luck with the crusading Scootaloo.” he said as he waved goodbye to the small fillies and went after Applejack. He followed her to the spot were she was bucking. Before she started she seemed to glare at Steel with an analytical look. “Um, Steel why do ya have that thing with ya?” she said as she pointed to his hammer that was secured on his tool belt. Steel took the hammer out and held it with his magic. “I always have this on me, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.” he said with a chuckle. “Right.... So, do you know how to buck an apple tree?” AJ said as she turned back to the tree. “You kick it right?” “Heh heh, just as ah figured, it ain’t that easy city boy.” she said in a playful tone. “You gotta find the right spot and hit it with just enough force.” she said as she angles herself in front of the tree, brought her hooves back and kicked the tree, the apples came tumbling down. Steel wasn’t sure if it was the amount of apples that fell or Applejacks’ muscular toned body that made his his jaw hit the ground. He quickly pushed the though out of his head and hid his blush from the mare. “Ya see ya have to hit it just right. Hit it too little and nothing will happen, hit it too hard and ya might uproot the tree.” she said as she turned back to Steel. “Impressive, let me try.” “Be my guest.” AJ said as Steel walked in front of the next tree, out of the corner of his eye he though he saw Applejack eyeing his flank. Steel put his ear tot he tree and lightly tapped it with his hammer. He found the weak point on the bark and scratched an X on the spot with his hoof. “What the hay are you doing?” Applejack asked as she cocked an eyebrow. Steel then took his right hoof and struck the spot. Steel saw a small ripple move through the tree and the apples started to fall. Steel stepped back and basked in his accomplishment he then turned his glance back to the orange mare, who stared in amazement. “That was amazing, how did you do that on yer first try?” “I listened to the tree.” “You did what now? Yer starting to sound like Fluttershy.” she said as she tilted her head in confusion. “I sent a vibration through the tree with my hammer, which let my find the right spot to hit it.” he said as he lifted his hammer in front of Applejack. “So ya cheated using magic!” “No! I only used my magic to find the right spot. The force that caused the apples to fall came from my own strength, and I usually never use magic when I’m woking.” “Really? I find that hard to believe.” AJ said as she squinted at the stallion in disbelief. “Well, I mostly use levitation spells to hold several tools at once or to change the shape of metal for sculpturing.” he said as he scratched his chin with his hoof. “How did you get that strong?” AJ asked as she calmed down. “Years of using a hammer.” Steel said as he put the hammer back into his belt and gave her a smug grin. “I guess I can believe that. I think that’s the last one. So what do ya wanna wanna talk about?” she said as she started trotting back tot he farm house. “What we were talking about earlier?” Steel said as he trotted up next to her. “Well, you said you were from Canterlot and then you mentioned your dad.” “Ugh, him. Great.” he said as he rolled his eyes and let out a huff of annoyance. “Sore topic?” “Yeah, you still haven’t told me anything about you. What’s life like on a farm?” “Well it’s pretty nice, hard work, early mornings and good food. So ah can’t really complain.” “Do you hire workers to help harvest?” “Nope, just me and Big Macintosh.” “Your colt friend?” “What? No, he’s mah brother, you probably saw him on your way in.” “Big red stallion, hauling a plow?” he asked the orange mare. “That’s him, and why did you assume I had a colt-friend?” Applejack asked as she stopped and started glaring at stallion. Steel started to blush at the question. His mind drew a blank and he couldn’t seem to pull his words together. “Umm....I just assumed that......uh...” “Relax, I’m just messing with ya.” AJ said as she began to laugh. “But I don’t have a colt friend, haven’t found the right stallion yet. You?” “Not really, I’m more addicted to my work.” Steel said as continued to walk down the dirt path. “I can respect that. So what’s it like being a blacksmith and all?” “Dull most of the time, I usually stick with making tools and other household items.” “Ever make weapons?” Applejack said. Hearing this Steel stopped on the path and let out a heavy sigh. “No, not any more.” he said with a flat tone. “Why not?” “I don’t want to talk about it AJ.” he said as he held his head low. “Oh, um okay.” Applejack said as she tried to make the conversation less awkward. “So why did ya leave Canterlot?” “Never liked the big city, always felt at home in small towns. Even when I was a colt I knew I wanted to live in one. My parent’s didn’t share my views, so when I saved up enough money I moved here.” Steel finished as he continued to walk next to Applejack. “So what about your parents? What are they like?” he asked the orange mare. “My parents are.....gone.” she said with a sad look on her face. “Oh AJ, I’m so sorry I didn’t know..... I’m such an idiot.” Steel said as he face hoofed. “It’s fine sugar cube you din’t know and it happened a long time ago.” “No it’s not okay. I just made a fool in front of a mare who I really-” Steel shut his mouth just as he was about to blurt out his feelings. Applejack then shot him a look of surprise. “A mare you really what?” she said as she gave a slight blush. Steel began to panic and tried to form words. “A mare I really.........value...... as a.....friend.” Steel said as he was fighting the blush that was starting bubble to the surface. “Oh, for a second there, I though you were gonna say that you were sweet on me.” she said as she gave a light chuckle and a hint of disappointment. “Well AJ, I’m not gonna lie, you are attractive....stunning in fact not to mention a hard worker. But I-” Steel didn’t have time to react as two orange hooves grabbed his head and brought him into a passionate kiss. At first Steel’s mind drew a blank and he was frozen in shock, he then came back to reality as she broke the kiss. “Ah’m mighty sorry. It’s just that you were such a gentle colt, then you want to hang out and start complimenting me. I’m really sorry I did that Steel.” Applejack said as she sat down on the ground and started to sob. “I’m not.” Steel said as he wrapped his hooves around her and planted his lips on hers. The two stood there for what seemed like an eternity just enjoying the embrace. Steel then broke the kiss and looked back at the stunned orange mare. “Wow, that was just....wow.” AJ said as she regained her composure. “Took the words right out of my mouth.” he said as grinned back at her. “Steel, you taste like ash.” Applejack said in a playful voice. “So? Mares find that attractive in a stallion.” “Yes, they do.” she said as she began to nuzzle his chest. Steel couldn’t believe that he was sitting with one of the most beautiful mares in Equestria. “Hey, AJ.” “Yeah.” “Are you free tomorrow night?” “No, why?” she said as she tried to hold back a giggle. “Well, I was wondering if you’d like to have dinner with me.” “Where at?” “How about Sugar Cube corner at around 7:00 PM?” He said giving her a smile. “It’s a date.” she said as she gave him another quick kiss on the cheek. The two headed back to the farm house quickly. After Steel had dropped AppleJack off at the house he made his way back to the shop. As he opened the door he let the familiar smell of ash and flame wash over him. He headed straight upstairs and decided to go to bed. While lying there he couldn’t help but think about the date with the mare of his dreams.