//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Dinner // Story: TwiMacVerse Part 3: The Apple of My Bulls Eye // by ThatBronyWithTheClipOns //------------------------------// Pinkie Pie hopped about the south field of Sweet Apple Acres, trying to find Braeburn. “Oh Braeburn,” shouted Pinkie Pie. “Where are you!?” “Well hey there, Pinkie,” exclaimed Braeburn. “Didn’t expect to see you so soon!” “Neither did I,” said Pinkie. “But Rainbow Dash and Bookworm showed up all of a sudden in Ponyville, and she wanted to go see everypony after being gone for so long! Plus she wanted to get back her pet turtle Tank from Fluttershy because obviously he couldn’t live with her on Cloudsdale while she was a Wonderbolt! But Rainbow Dash quit the Wonderbolts and is gonna live back in Ponyville! And we ended up here on Sweet Apple Acres and Apple Bloom told me you were here in the South Field and here I am! Pinkie Pie finally stopped talking let out a huge sigh of relief. But during this whole ramble, Braeburn didn’t seem confused or annoyed by her fast talking; this was something the pink party pony had never come across. “Well that sure is some exciting news,” exclaimed Braeburn. “By the way, ah like the new bow in yer mane. It’s mighty pretty!” “Oh…um…thank you,” fumbled Pinkie, blushing brightly. “Rarity gave it to me today. Sometimes you feel like changing it up some.” “Ah know whatcha mean,” smiled Braeburn. “How’s work been going?” asked Pinkie. “Oh, just fine,” said Braeburn. “Pretty much done fer the day. Thank goodness too, cuz ah sure ah’m starvin.” “I could sure eat too,” said Pinkie. “Ah bet Granny Smith wouldn’t mind ya stayin fer dinner,” said Braeburn. “It would be nice to have a meal I didn’t have to cook myself,” said Pinkie. Just then, Apple Bloom came running towards them, stopping with an almost audible screech. “Hey, ya’ll,” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “Granny Smith and Applejack are fixin dinner. And Rainbow Dash and Bookworm are gonna spend the night in the farmhouse.” “Sounds like we got ourselves a full house tonight,” said Braeburn. “Granny know about Pinkie Pie comin fer dinner too?” “Eeyup,” said Apple Bloom. “Applejack told her everything. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will be stayin too!” “Almost as big as an Apple Family reunion,” exclaimed Braeburn. “Let’s head towards the house.” “Okie dokie lokie,” exclaimed Pinkie. Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash and Bookworm were sitting in the living room of the Apple Family abode, while Applejack and Granny Smith were in the process of making dinner. They then heard hoof steps coming down the stairs, and were greeted by Mal. “Howdy there,” said Mal. “Ah’m Mal Wesson, ol’ friend of Braeburn and the rest of the Apple Family.” “Yo,” said Rainbow Dash. “Pleasure to meet you, sir,” said Bookworm. “Ah’m gonna guess that yer Rainbow Dash,” Mal motioned to the cerulean pegasus. “Oh gee, what gave it away?” Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. “Could it be the rainbow mane?” “Ah heard you had some sas in ya,” chuckled Mal. “And this here must be yer lovin hubby, Bookworm.” “Best husband in Equestria,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash, which made Bookworm blush. “Ah heard you write them Daring Do books,” Mal asked Bookworm. “Well, only the last few years,” said Bookworm. “Chester Buckingham is a pen name that’s been used by three previous writers.” “Ah thought you looked a bit young to be writin them stories so long,” said Mal. “Mah Pappy’s been readin them books since he was knee high.” “Are you in the apple business too?” asked Bookworm. “Nah, ah’m just friends with the family,” said Mal. “Mah family manufactures slingshots an other projectiles.” “Wait…you’re gramps is Pappy Wesson?” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “The very same,” said Mal. “Holy cow, that’s awesome,” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “You probably don’t know this, Bookie, but the Wesson family produce some of the best projectiles in all of Equestria! The Wonderbolts use them all the time!” “That’s right, ah forgot you were part of the Wonderbolts,” said Mal. “Not anymore,” said Rainbow Dash. “Let’s just say, they weren’t the best teammates in the world.” “Oh, ah see,” said Mal. “Well, no point in doin somethin that don’t make ya happy. An ah imagine Bookworm here can write anywhere, so long as he gets it sent in to his publishers.” “I was actually plenty happy working for the weather team in town,” said Rainbow Dash. “Plus, it’s nice to be closer to my friends. I can’t wait for Twilight to give birth! I’m so excited to become an aunt!” “It’s fun havin little ones around,” commented Mal. “Ah myself have a few nieces and nephews. You two thinkin of havin any little ones?” This remark caused Rainbow Dash and Bookworm to blush brightly. To be honest, they hadn’t really thought about having kids. What with Rainbow Dash being a Wonderbolt, it wasn’t practical for them at the time. “Well…we haven’t talked about it really,” fumbled Rainbow Dash. “No rush of course,” said Mal. “Yer both young an healthy ponies. Plenty of time to decide on those sorta things.” “Are you married?” asked Bookworm. “Nope,” responded Mal. “Still single. But ah got mah eye on a certain mare.” It was at that moment that Applejack walked into the house. Rainbow Dash noticed the smile forming on Mal’s face as soon as the orange apple bucker walked in. Pinkie was right, these two clearly liked each other. “Hey, A.J.,” said Rainbow Dash. “Bookie and I have been sitting here talking with your special somepony.” “He aint no special somepony,” snapped Applejack. Rainbow Dash immediately started laughing; she missed messing with her friends. “So when’s dinner?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Granny Smith’s done some of the prep work,” said Applejack. “Ah’m gonna go help her out now. Apple Bloom’s friend will be joining us too. Gonna have to set up the big table.” “I’ll help you with that, A.J.,” said Rainbow Dash. “Thanks a lot, sugar cube,” smiled Applejack. A moment later, Pinkie Pie and Braeburn walked in and were greeted by Mal. “Nice to see you again Miss Pinkie,” said Mal. “An might ah add, that is a lovely ribbon you have in your mane.” “Gee thanks, Mal,” said Pinkie Pie. “Rarity gave it to me today.” “Will you also be gracin us with yer presence at dinner?” asked Mal. “You betcha,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Where are A.J. and Dashie?” “Settin up the big table for everypony,” said Mal. “Apple Bloom’s little friends will also be stayin fer dinner.” “Why didn’t you offer to help with the table?” asked Braeburn. “Ah figured Applejack wouldn’t much care for me tryin to help her out,” responded Mal. “Spose you gotta point there,” said Braeburn. “But on the other hand, she might see that yer a nice guy by helpin her out, and might get a bit softer on ya.” “Like ah care about that,” said Mal. “Ah wasn’t born yesterday, Mal,” retorted Braeburn. “Ah know full well why ya decided to join me on this trip. You’ve fancied Applejack pretty much since the first day ya laid eyes on her.” “You really do know me too well,” sighed Mal. “Course ah do,” said Braeburn. “Yer mah best friend in the whole world!” “How come we never met Mal when we visited Appleoosa?” asked Pinkie Pie. “Mal’s become something of a traveler in recent years,” said Braeburn. “But he heard all about it from me.” “Sure did,” said Mal. “Sounds like a crazy event. Wish ah’d been there. Ah heard you put on a heck of a show, Miss Pinkie.” “Well most, didn’t seem to feel that way,” sighed Pinkie Pie. “I tell you, some people have no taste in entertainment.” “Yer a spirited gal, Miss Pinkie,” chuckled Mal. “Thanks, Mal,” said Pinkie Pie who then sniffed the air. “Dinner sure is starting to smell really really good!” Rainbow Dash rejoined her friends in the living room after helping Applejack set the big table. “Hey, Dashie,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Where’s Applejack?” “Helping Granny Smith in the kitchen,” said Rainbow Dash. “They got a lot to fix.” “Got ourselves a full house here,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Super duper exciting!” Nearly a couple hours later, it was time for everypony to sit down and dig in on the bountiful feast Granny Smith and Applejack had created. “Oh wow,” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “This all looks scrumdidlyumptious!” “Ah’ll say,” agreed Braeburn. “Feels good, makin all this food,” said Granny Smith with a big smile. “Don’t usually make this much food unless it’s fer a family reunion.” “Sorta is like one though,” said Mal. “After all, I haven’t seen ya’ll in a good while.” “Ah never even met you before,” said Apple Bloom. “Very true,” said Mal. “And that certainly is a shame. Yer just as cute as Applejack was at that age.” Applejack noticeably turned a bit red at Mal’s remark; Mal of course noticed, but said nothing. “So Braeburn tells me that you and yer little friends have a club,” said Mal. “Sure do,” exclaimed Apple Bloom. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!” the energetic fillies yelled at once. “We do all we can to earn our cutie marks,” said Scootaloo. “But we’ve had no luck so far,” said Sweetie Belle, with a hint of disappointment. “Ya’ll just gotta be patient,” said Mal. “Ah once thought ah’d never get mah cutie mark.” “Really?” the crusaders said at once.” “You betcha,” said Mal. “In fact, Applejack helped me get it.” “How?” asked Apple Bloom. Applejack was clearly intrigued by this as well. “She helped me discover ah had a knack fer hittin things with pin point accuracy,” said Mal. “Are you really usin that excuse fer hittin me with stuff?” exclaimed Applejack. “Ah’ll admit, it started with simply pickin on ya,” said Mal. “But it didn’t take long before ah realized sharp shootin was mah special talent.” “You bullied Applejack?” said Apple Bloom, with disappointment in her voice. “Ah was a stupid kid,” said Mal. “Ah’m not proud of what ah did. Ah hope yer big sister understands that ah really am sorry for what ah’ve done.” “Aw, I think he’s sorry for reals, A.J.,” said Pinkie Pie. “Why not just forgive him?” “Ah’ll admit that he’s not as bad as he used to be,” said Applejack. “Well, that’s progress,” said Pinkie Pie with an enthusiastic smile. “Hey granny, can we be excused now?” asked Apple Bloom. “Ifin yer all done, than go right ahead,” said Granny Smith. “Come on girls, we got some more crusading plans to think up,” exclaimed Apple Bloom. The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran off in what seemed like a blur. “Granny, that was an awesome meal,” said Rainbow Dash. “Right, Bookie?” “Yes it was,” agreed Bookworm. “Thank you very much for the hospitality Mrs. Apple.” “Ah’ll have none of that Missus talk,” said Granny Smith. “Just call me Granny Smith, or Granny.” “Alright then,” said Bookworm. “Thank you, Granny.” “Aint no problem,“ said Granny Smith. “Any friend of Applejack, is a friend of mine.” “Bookie and I should probably get to bed now,” said Rainbow Dash. “That way we can get up early to go house hunting.” “Probably good fer all of us to hit the hay,” said Applejack. “Tomorrow’s when the real work starts.” “Aw, I was hoping we’d have more time to talk,” said Pinkie Pie. “Don’t worry, Pinkie,” said Braeburn. “We’ll have plenty of chances to talk while ah’m here. And remember, you can stop by the farm anytime yer free.” “Yeah, you have a point there,” said Pinkie Pie, instantly cheering up. “And ah’d be happy to walk you back to yer house,” said Braeburn. “I couldn’t ask you to do that,” said Pinkie. “It’s already night out, and you got work in the morning.” “Ah am first and foremost a gentlecolt,” said Braeburn. “And it would be wrong of me to have a mare such as yerlsef walkin home alone in the dark.” “Well…that is sweet of you,” said Pinkie, blushing brightly. “Ok, you can walk me home.” “Ah’ll be back in a little,” said Braeburn. “No rush,” smiled Granny Smith. Pinkie Pie and Braeburn walked out the front door and headed towards Sugarcube Corner. “You gonna show us the barn, A.J.?” asked Rainbow Dash. “Sure thing, sugar cube,” said Applejack. “Ah’ll get some blankets and pillows for ya’ll.” “Yer havin yer friends sleep in the barn?” asked Granny Smith. “We had it insulated recently, Granny,” said Applejack. “It’s plenty warm. Sepcially for just one night of sleep. Not like we have many other places to sleep.” “Gotta point there,” said Granny Smith. “Be sure to get our warmest blankets.”