//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: A New World, A Fresh Start // by drnkntst //------------------------------// Chapter 9 The two finally reached Sweet Apple Acres, it took longer than usual due to the slow pace they were taking so as not to aggravate Rick’s injury. They took the opportunity to discuss the differences between their worlds. Rick was especially interested in the two princesses that controlled the sun and moon. Twilight was amazed that on Earth, the moon orbited Earth and the Earth did the same to the sun, she just couldn’t fathom it. “Twilight! Rick!” Applejack shouted her greeting as she ran up the road to meet her friends. “Applejack, good morning. Rick decided he felt good enough to visit and move his truck for you today.” Twilight explained. “Yeah, I also wanted to try to fix the fence today, but Twilight thinks I might just hurt myself again.” Rick exaggerated an eye roll to lighten the mood. Both ponies giggled at this. “Well, to the problem at hand then.” Twilight explained what a hand was to Applejack as Rick headed toward his truck. The roar of the engine when he turned it over startled the ponies and even got the reset of the Apple family to come running to see what the source of the terrifying rumble was. Rick stuck his head out of the open window, “make sure you stay clear, I can’t see anything that gets too close.” The ponies happily took a few steps away from the waking, rolling beast before them. Rick drove to the side of the barn and killed the engine. “Wow, Mister! That thing sure is loud.” Exclaimed the small foul Rick recognized from before. “You must be Apple Bloom. I’m sorry I threw you last time I was here. As I told your sister, I’m not used to talking ponies.” Rick said as he leaned down and jostled her mane. Apple Bloom giggled, “that’s okay, Mister. Ya did save me frum that Timberwolf after all.” Rick smiled at this, “please, call me Rick. I feel old when you call me ‘Mister’.” The big, red pony approached Rick. The closer he got, the more Rick could see the muscles under his skin flex and the more Rick realized how big he really was. Rick was getting nervous again. The other ponies he had seen only came up to his stomach, but this one was nearly above his chin. Rick glanced over to Twilight and Applejack, his eyes pleading for help. The red pony stopped in front of Rick, raised a hoof and… introduced himself. “Ma name is Big Macintosh.” Rick reached out and shook Big Macintosh’s hoof. “Nice to meet you,” Rick’s heart started beating again. “And this is Granny Smith,” Applejack said introducing the elderly green pony. “How do you do young’un?” Granny said to Rick. “I’m doing well ma’am. This is a beautiful farm you have here.” “Well thank you young’un.” Granny replied. “Now, about that fence.” Rick stated while rubbing his hands together. Twilight shot him a silent warning glare. “I promise to look first, work later, Twilight.” This seemed to satisfy Twilight. “As long as you promise, I really don’t want you to hurt yourself again.” “Don’t ya worry none, Sugarcube. We won’t let him do anything stupid.” Applejack said while indicating that we included her brother. “Eeyup.” Came the reply from the large pony. “See, nothing ta worry about.” Applejack confirmed. The three walked down the road to where the collision had occurred. It wasn’t as bad as Rick remembered, but it was still bad. “Well, looks like two posts and three cross members are busted. That shouldn’t take too long to fix.” Rick observed. “I have a shovel in the back of my truck and if you can supply the lumber, I will work on your farm to repay the debt as soon as I can.” “Now don’t'cha worry ‘bout that right now. You need ta heal before you do anything ‘round here.” Applejack told Rick. “I appreciate the consideration, Applejack. You know, I gotta say, I have never seen apple trees look this healthy or apples look this good.” Rick said as he reached for and touched a low hanging apple. “Try one.” Applejack told him. Rick grasped the apple and plucked it off the tree with little effort. He went to buff it on his sleeve before he realized he still didn’t have his shirt. He buffed it on his jeans instead. As Rick bit into the apple, juice sprayed out and ran down his chin. The mess didn’t slow him at all. “That has got to be the best apple I have ever had in my life.” Both ponies grinned. Rick continued eating 'til there was only the smallest of cores. The trio headed back to the barnyard talking about how the trees were cared for to make them so healthy and the apples so delicious. When they rejoined the others by the barn, Rick decided he should get clothing back. Twilight gasped and covered her mouth with her hoof when she saw the tears and the blood, so much blood. Rick tried to break the tension. “Whelp, does anyone know a good tailor, heh heh…” Apple Bloom, totally ignorant of the tension, chimed in with, “Rarity, ah bet she could fix it.” All present looked at the foal, then each other. Rick shrugged, "what do you think Twilight?” But Twilight was still too shocked to answer. “Applejack?” Applejack cleared her throat, “Ah bet she could.” She then approached Rick sat down and asked to see the garment in question. “Ya know, Ah saw the damage that wolf did ta ya, but seeing this just really drives the point home. I don’t think we could ever thank you enough for what you did for Apple Bloom.” Applejack smiled up at him. “Please, I just did what I felt was right. Thank goodness I had on my jack…” Rick hesitated, realizing that the jacket was made of cowhide. “…my jacket, do you still have that too?” Applejack nodded and hoofed it to him. It was even more torn than the shirt. “Thank goodness I have an excuse to get rid of this before they ask too many questions about it.” “It looks like this is a total loss, I will just dispose of it.” “Ya sure, Ah bet Rarity could fix it too.” Applejack offered. “NO! …*ahem*, no. I don’t want to impose on her any more than I absolutely have to. Besides the weather is nice and winter is a long way off.” Rick covered his outburst as best he could, he knew Twilight at least would want to ask about it, but she would understand. He went to his truck and placed the jacket inside and then he retrieved his pocket knife and a small flashlight from the glove box. “I think I should head over there now. Would it be too much to ask to get some of those delicious apples to go?” “Ah honestly don’t see how we could refuse a request like that.” Applejack said as she headed for a nearby tree. Rick watched in awe and horror as she turned 180 degrees, put her weight on her front legs and kicked straight back into the tree so hard nearly all the apples fell. She quickly loaded a sack and carried it to Rick in her mouth. “Wow, that… was… impressive.” Rick told her in honest amazement. “Shux, that was nuthin’. We do uh lot more than that come harvest.” Rick and Twilight said their goodbyes. Rick even picked up Apple Bloom and none of the ponies feared that action or approached him in malice. He placed her back on the ground after he jostled her mane again. The pair started down the road back to Ponyville. After a long time in silence, Rick couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s wrong Twilight? You haven’t said a word since we left the farm.” “It’s just, I knew you were injured, but… seeing… all that…” Rick stopped and placed a hand at the base of her neck. He got down on one knee to get closer to her level, she was crying. “Twilight, you have no idea what it means to me that you would care so much about my well-being. We only met yesterday and we’ve already become such good friends that you let me into your home and you even cry for my pain. Back home, I had no one. Then, suddenly, I’m in this magical new land where everyone looks out for each other and I have six great friends. Thank you for accepting me, a stranger to this land.” Rick wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged his friend. He could feel her tears on his shoulder, he let them flow in silence. Chapter 10 “Darling! Come in!” Rarity called to the pair as they entered the shop. “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique.” Rick looked around at the shop. “This is a great place you have here, Rarity.” He walked over to one of the mannequins; he was unsurprised to see they were shaped like ponies. Careful to keep his hands off, Rick looked closely at the outfits. “It’s clear you put a lot of work into each of these outfits.” “Oh, Darling. Flattery will get you nowhere.” Rarity said waving away the compliment with a hoof. Twilight had barely come into the boutique, her eyes where still a bit puffy and red. “Oh dear, Twilight, are you alright?” Twilight looked at her friend and forced a smile. “I’m okay, Rarity. I just was taken by surprise is all.” “What took you by surprise?” Rarity looked back and forth between Rick and Twilight. “I think its my fault.” Rick held out his shirt as evidence. Rarity took it with her magic and held it up. Twilight cringed upon seeing it again and looked away. “Oh my. Rick, are you sure you should be walking with an injury like this?” Rarity herself looked like she was trying to back away from the shirt that she was magically holding. “An injury like what?” An unseen, high pitched and occasionally squeaky voice asked. The voice emanated from a small, white unicorn with pink and purple hair in her mane. Rarity quickly hid the shirt so as not to shock the newcomer. “Hello there, my name is Rick. What’s yours?” Rick lowered himself to the floor and held out a hand in greeting. “My name’s Sweetie Belle. I’m Rarity’s sister,” she answered while placing her hoof in Rick’s hand and shaking it. “Nice to meet you. You were the one who helped Apple Bloom, right? She told me all about it.” Rick couldn’t help but smile at this new face. “Yes, that was me. Are you a friend of hers?” “You bet! We’re both Cutie Mark Crusaders, along with Scootaloo.” “What’s a Cutie Mark Crusader?” Rick asked. He had to stand up now, or face the wrath of his own back later. “We get together and try different things so we can get our cutie marks.” Sweetie Belle said with a wide smile. “Sounds like fun. Any luck yet?” “No, not yet.” Sweetie Belle looked downtrodden all the sudden. “Well, do you and your friends have fun at least?” Rick asked, trying to cheer up the little foal. “We sure do. I love doing all that fun stuff with Scootaloo and Apple Bloom.” She was suddenly all smiles again. Rick scooped her up and rubbed her head, “well, isn’t that all that matters?” “Hehehe, yeah.” Sweetie belle giggled. “That’s right, you mustn’t give up. As long as you are having a good time, there is no reason to lose hope. Now, if Rick will just set you down, we can get started on taking care of the reason for his visit.” Rarity interjected. “Of course,” Rick said as he placed Sweetie Belle on the floor. She smiled up at him and bounded out of the room. He turned back to Rarity still grinning. “My word, you are good with fillies. You act just like a big brother. I imagine you would make a good father.” Rick froze; he forced his grin to stay. Twilight looked up at the two. “Thank you, Rarity, I have always liked kids, or fillies in this case. Now, about that shirt.” Rick was eager to move the conversation along. “Of course, I didn’t mean to upset you. Yes, let’s take a look.” The shredded shirt come floating back into view surrounded by a faint blue aura that matched the one emanating from Rarity’s horn. Her face took on a look of disgust at the sight of the blood stains, which was just one big stain. This shouldn’t be hard to repair, but the stains are another thing entirely. “I don’t think walking around town with that on my back would be a good idea.” “I would certainly say not. We’ll just have to replace it.” Rarity said returning the shirt to Rick. “I will just need to take some measurements.” “Thank you, Rarity. I will pay you back as soon as I can.” Rarity held up a hoof, touched the front of her barrel, turned her head and closed her eyes. “Absolutely not. You got this way rescuing my dear friend’s sister, I know how precious a sister is. I will not accept any form of payment for this.” She smiled at Rick. “Thank you again, Rarity.” Rick allowed Rarity to take all the measurements she needed, said his goodbyes to Rarity and Sweetie Belle and left with Twilight. They headed back to the library. “Twilight, Are you still upset about my wounds?” Twilight nodded. “I just can’t… it’s just so… the pain you must have gone through.” Her eyes started to moisten. “Stop. There is no need for you to be upset. To be honest, I didn’t fell much pain and I would gladly do it again to save any of you. This town has so many friendly peo… ponies. I don’t want to see anyone else getting hurt.” He smiled reassuringly, Twilight wiped her eyes and returned the smile. The two proceeded to their destination. When they reached to library, Rick opened the door for Twilight. He followed her inside, having to duck again. “SURPRISE!!”