//------------------------------// // Story Time // Story: The Sweet Taste of Apple // by Icecane //------------------------------// Squirming atop his bed of sheets, Trader tossed and turned as a cold sweat coated his brow. Eventually, his unconscious body could take it no longer, his eyes opening as he awoke from his slumber. Dim daylight poured in from the openings of the barn, letting him know the hour. Groaning lightly, the pegasus rubbed his eyes. He flinched as his hoof grazed against the sensitive flesh below his left one. Though the swelling had completely vanished, a noticeable sliver of bruised flesh remained, a reminder of what had happened just the other day. It brought a weary sigh from him as he looked about the barn, his body tensing as the sight of an orange-coated mare startled him. “You were murmurin' in your sleep,” Applejack said, a frown creasing her lips as she eyed him. “You didn't look too comfortable.” “It's... it's nothing,” the pegasus replied, not wanting to worry her. “This is just... the first time in a long while that I've not had that gryphon's shadow hanging over my life. I really don't know how I'm supposed to feel. Being stuck with something like that for so long... you get used to it...” Applejack gave a hopeful smile as she said, “It's gotta be better though, right?” “Definitely,” Trader replied, weakly chuckling. “Though, I remember that I never really thanked you for what you did. So... thanks. I know you wouldn't want me to think I've traded one debt for another, but I will do whatever I can to pay you back.” A giggle escaped the mare as she began to beam at the stallion. “Like Ah said,” she returned, “don't fret none. You just worry about getting back on your hooves with this all bein' over. But you're more than welcome to keep workin' at the farm, even if you no longer have money problems...” Looking just as happy as Applejack, Trader's lips parted into a large smile as he replied, “I wouldn't dream of leaving.” Taking a few steps back, the farmpony nodded off toward the exit. “Applebloom's off at school now. Ah've told Big Mac and Granny Smith that you'd be wantin' to talk with them, they should be waitin' for us now.” Nodding, Trader stood up from his makeshift bed and followed his friend out of the barn and toward the house, looking more and more uncertain the closer they got. With butterflies in his stomach, as well as an ever-expanding lump in his throat, Trader met the gazes of Big Macintosh and Granny Smith, both sitting at the kitchen table quietly. He could feel their curious gazes focusing on the wound by his eye, making him all the more nervous. Though he knew it was foolish to think they would react in anyway different than Applejack's own, it didn't make him feel any better about telling him. Trader was certain of one thing though, he wouldn't even be able to face them without Applejack. As he prepared himself and his explanation, she sat herself by his side, her smile being just the encouragement he needed. So with a deep breath, he told them. It was much easier a second time, especially without suffering from an emotional breakdown. But he told them what he had told Applejack the night before, about his parent's business being lost, his attempts to reclaim it, leading to debt with Vincent. It all came to an end with Applejack's own part in it, how she had payed off his debt, buying his freedom in turn. They just remained silent, leaving the room devoid of sound. Had it not been for his own nervous breathing, the stallion would have thought he had gone deaf. After a few moments of the two Apple family members soaking in what they were told, their lips spread into warm smiles while Trader looked at them with surprise. “Well, ain't that a wonderful story,” Granny Smith said, laughing slightly as she rocked in her seat. Why, you can't go thinkin' we'd be upset over a little money now. Bits come and go, but a honest pony is a treasure to keep.” “Eeyup!” Big Macintosh added, nodding his head as he shared in his grandmother's sentiment. Again, the old mare laughed as she got up and walked over to her granddaughter, giving her a light pat on the back. “And you, Applejack,” she said, with mirth, “stickin' up to that nasty fella you described, you sure are an Apple. Why, I remember back when your grand-pappy fought off against those suit and tie wearin' hooligans back when Celestia done tried to ban hard cider across Equestria.” Her dentures showed as she smiled broadly over the old memory. “Course, he still made the stuff under her nose, but those greasy weasels wanted to take it for themselves! But boy, did he ever give them such a wallop. They never came back.” “Ah don't think it went exactly like that,” Applejack replied, flushed slightly with embarrassment. Granny Smith barely took notice as her aged gaze fell back onto the pegasus, still looking somewhat surprised at their deceleration. “Now, now, Trader dear,” she murmured, tussling his hair. “Don't you sell yourself short now. Applejack did what any of us would've. None of us would've let ya go.” More to Trader's surprise, the grandmother wrapped her forelegs around him in a weak hug. “You're like family to us, and we Apples always look after our own.” Looking to the two older Apple siblings, Trader could see in their expressions that the sentiment was the same between them all. It caused the stallion to smile from ear to ear, his vision slightly blurred by the joyful moisture that began to build on his eyelids. With a dejected sigh, Rainbow Dash rested her chin against Fluttershy's outdoor table. The cup of tea set in front of her remained untouched, steam still trailing into the air. On the other side, the yellow-coated pegasus looked at her friend with sadness, barely sipping her tea as she awaited to hear what had happened during her 'date' with the Wonderbolt Soarin. Judging by her expression however, she already had an idea. “It was awful,” Rainbow Dash murmured, summing the experience up with but a word. “Really?” Fluttershy questioned, a mild look of concern crossing her. “I'm so sorry. What... happened?” A groan escaped the mare as she pressed her forehooves against her head. “What didn't happen?” she said, now sounding more agitated. “He had zero table manners! Yeah, I'm not one to get all Rarity on something like that, but Celestia's sake! And who the hay orders an entire pie as a meal?!” Fluttershy blinked curiously, her eyebrow crooking in a hint of confusion. “A... pie?” “Yes!” the cyan mare blurted out. “For lunch no less! Then he just stuffs his face in it without wanting a single lick of conversation! I couldn't even touch my own food, thinking I'd toss it just from watching him.” A silent pause enveloped as the fast flying pony remained still, lying across her side of the table again. Fluttershy began picturing just what her friend's date would have looked like, her imagination creating a rather amusing scene. In spite of herself, a soft giggle escaped her, quickly stifled as she held a hoof to her mouth. Rainbow Dash didn't seem to notice, her brow furrowing as her eyes developed a piercing gaze. “Then... there were those fangirls!” she growled, showing a clear look of hatred. The meek caretaker just stared silently, not fully understanding. “These two little mares just squealing and fawning over Soarin, completely forgetting how he stuffed his face just seconds ago. And would you believe it? He just forgets about me and starts chatting it up with them! Those dull, annoying little-” A growl of pure frustration and anger escaped her as Rainbow Dash's forehead thudded against the table, burying her face against the wooden surface. Fluttershy, still being the spectator and open shoulder for the venting mare, sighed lightly to herself, head hanging low. “I really am sorry, Rainbow,” she murmured. Perhaps she wasn't too keen on watching her friend set off with the stallion, but she especially didn't like seeing her in such a state. It all just seemed inevitable though. “Are you... going to be okay?” Once again, the rainbow-maned mare gave a sigh. It was much different this time around however, sounding much more fitting for the kind pegasus before her, rather than the tough pony she was. “Yeah... I'm just thinking... am I really different from those two mares?” Earning another confused look from her friend, the cyan pegasus continued. “I mean... aren't I just another fan? I get excited when I get the chance to see any of the Wonderbolts, especially Soarin and Spitfire.” “Don't say that,” Fluttershy replied, attempting to reassure her. “You're one of the best fliers around, they should notice that.” A light snort came from the athletic pony as she stared aimlessly at her still untouched cup of tea. “How far does that get me?” she questioned aloud. “The only reason I even got into their training hall to talk to Soarin was because of Trader.” She then blinked, rather forcibly as she developed a strange look of deep thought, continuing to offhandedly murmur. “You know... it was really nice that he did that for me too. He didn't even have to, especially how pushy I was about it... I don't even think I really thanked him. He was even a better listener than Soarin ever was. Because of Trader...” Then, Rainbow Dash's ears perked up as she lifted her head and gave a simple smile to her yellow-coated friend. “Thanks for the talk, Fluttershy,” she said, a slight, new found joy sparkling in her eyes. “Right now though, I need to go think about some things.” Fluttershy could only give a weak smile and nod of her head before the pegasus then took off. Finally released from school, Apple Bloom and her friends took off for the farm, the other two members of the Cutie Mark Crusaders eager to meet the strange pegasus staying there. Applejack and Trader were busily cleaning out the chicken coop, clearing up the straw from the nests that was strewn about, taking whatever eggs were left behind, and cleaning the entirety of it from top to bottom. Just outside, the evicted chickens wandered about aimlessly from the confines of their pen. They were not alone as the three eager fillies accompanied them. Applebloom took to lying atop her sister's head, taking the place of her stetson hat while she wore it herself. Sweetie Belle took the same spot on Trader's head, while Scootaloo stood on his back, periodically poking and prodding at his wings. The extra weight made the job a bit more taxing on the two ponies, but neither of them were bothered enough to voice a complaint. “So, do you have any good stories?” Applebloom asked, eying the white pegasus expectantly. Trader just looked at her questioningly for a moment, asking, “You want a story?” “You promised, remember?” the filly simpered, giving her best pout. “It has to be about you and Applejack!” The stallion nearly lost his balance when Sweetie Belle moved unexpectedly on his head, lowering herself just enough to block his vision, their eyes locked together and just a few hairs apart. “Yeah, I want to hear a story too!” she chirped excitedly. “Yeah, yeah, me too, me too,” Scootaloo added, jumping up and down on his back. “Okay, okay,” the pegasus said. He paused in his work for a moment as he thought on it. A smile crossed his lips as he thought of one. “Well, years ago, there was once this old mule who lived in Ponyville, right next to where the Sofas and Quills shop is now. He was a mean-spirited, half-blind old thing that was as cranky as they come. Though he was pretty much harmless, he did take it upon himself to be open about how much he hated nearly everypony around. He seemed to especially hate me and Applejack, for whatever reason.” “You did break his window that one time, Trader,” Applejack added, smiling to herself as she began to remember the story herself. A light chuckle escaped the pegasus as he nodded. “Alright then, perhaps his ire wasn't without reason. Anyway, me and Applejack got a plan to mess with the old mule. On Nightmare Night, when everypony was out gathering candy and dressing up, I took some special paint from my mother's store and covered myself in black. Applejack managed to find a stick just the right size for a fake horn, and I glued it to my forehead.” A gasp escaped Sweetie Belle, as she leaned forward again, looking the stallion in the eyes as she practically squeaked, “You were dressing up as Nightmare Moon, weren't you?” Trader jerked his neck slightly, causing the filly to nearly lose her position on his head, smiling up at her as he responded, “Why don't you wait for the story to end, huh?” Allowing her to get comfortable once again, he continued. “So, with me dressed up, it was Applejack's job to get the old mule ready. Nopony ever went to his house for candy, so it was quite a surprise for him to have a young filly knocking on his door, panic written on her face as she says...” He trailed off as he eyed Applejack expectantly. Catching on quick, the mare donned her most frightful looking face and said, “Oh, help me, help me, mister! Nightmare Moon's comin' to gobble me up!” “Then,” Trader said, holding a devious smirk as he bent his legs down, “I swooped down from the roof of his house!” With a single beat of his wings, the stallion jumped into the air at an elevated height. After a thud, he came back to the floor of the chicken coop, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo giggling happily as they held onto him as tightly as they could. “Like an angry bee, I flew as fast as my little wings allowed, swarming around him. Hiding in a nearby bush, Applejack provided a wonderful sound.” Again, Trader looked to Applejack to help. The farmpony stood on her back legs, her eyes going blank as she waved her forehooves about and moaned, “Oooooooooo,” with surprising talent. The pegasus shivered slightly, being noticed quickly by the two fillies on top of him. “Gets me every time,” he said with a chortle. Then, he began to laugh harder, remembering what happened right after that moment. “You should have seen the old mule's face, scared out of his mind as he scrambled into his house and locked the door. We barely made it back to the farm before we collapsed in a fit of laughter.” “Course, we didn't get away with it,” Applejack reminded him. “Granny Smith wasn't too happy about what we did, neither were his parents.” A sigh escaped the stallion as he nodded and said, “Yeah... I remember that, got chewed out something fierce. Though, I think my mother was more angry about the wasted paint we took.” “We were punished pretty bad too,” the blonde earth pony added. A light chuckle escaped her as she eyed the stallion wryly. “Though, Ah think you got the worst of it. What with that paint staining your coat.” Trader groaned at that, shaking his head at the bit of distasteful memory. “Don't remind me. Who knew that stuff was so hard to wash out... I had black blotches on my coat for over a month, not to mention the bald patch on the center of my forehead from when we ripped off that horn I wore.” “Let that be a lesson to all of ya,” Applejack remarked, looking up to her little sister before directing her gaze to the others. “Don't go doin' mean pranks to ponies, even if they deserve it.” “Or just be smart enough not to get caught,” Trader chided, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Applebloom and her friends giggled at that, especially so after seeing the mild glare of irritation Applejack directed to the pegasus. “Can you tell us another story?” The gleeful, bow-wearing filly asked, again looking at Trader with an adorable, pouty gaze. “Another story?” the pegasus murmured, rubbing his chin in thought. “Well...” He stopped himself, his eyes growing wide, his ears standing straight up, the corner of his mouth curly up into a devious smirk. Noticing the sudden change, Applejack directed her gaze toward her friend, seeing him eying her. “Perhaps you girls would like to hear about the little crush that Applejack had back when I knew her.” “Wh-what?!” Applejack exclaimed, a shade of red covering over her freckled cheeks. The mare's reaction was lost to the crusaders however, their eyes lighting up. It was especially so for Applebloom, the excitement practically shining from her face. “Applejack had a crush?!” she asked loudly, nearly slipping from her perch on her sister's head due to her enthusiasm. “That's right,” the white pegasus said with a chuckle. “He was in our class. An earth pony with an amber coat and the most unkempt mane you'd ever seen. We called him Bucky, on account of his front teeth.” Using the lower half of his forelegs, he brought them to his mouth, dangling them from his upper jaw to give the fillies a less than accurate image. “They weren't that big,” Applejack murmured, looking down at the floor. None of the crusaders noticed the mare's reaction however, or even noticing that she was speaking. They were completely enraptured by the tale that the stallion was spinning. Trader gave a shake of his head in disagreement. “I swear he must have been part rabbit,” he continued. “He wasn't really a bad kid, really shy though. From what I remember, he was only in town for half the year, visiting family that lived here. But, oh Celestia, you should have seen how Applejack acted around him.” A fond sigh escaped him as he batted his eyes dreamily, unable to keep a straight face when he was done. “I'd always catch her writing his name in her notebook whenever we were in class, sometimes glancing over to him.” The three fillies each giggled in amusement at the thought, causing the mare's flushed cheeks to worsen. A huff left the farmpony as she argued, “Th-that's not true!” “I know, I sat next to you,” Trader shot back, sticking his tongue out at her teasingly. “Though... I can't say I wasn't a little jealous of him...” Surprised by that, Applejack looked at her friend curiously. “You were jealous that Ah liked him?” she questioned. “Huh?” Trader blinked, just realizing what he said. An uneasy smile immediately crossed him as the mare's gaze stayed fixed on him. “Uh... N-no... not that specifically. I mean, it wasn't just you. Every filly in class had a crush on him, you, Rarity, Cheerilee, everypony.” His own irritated huff left him as he thought on it, frowning slightly. “I'll tell you what it was, it was that accent of his. That thick, Trottingham accent he spoke with.” “Trottingham?” Sweetie Belle questioned. “Oh, he must have talked just like Pip does!” “The little colt with the spots?” the pegasus asked, earning a nod from the young unicorn. “I guess some of your classmates are fawning over him too, huh?” They all looked confused for a moment, each shaking their head. “No, Ah don't think so,” Applebloom muttered. “Huh,” the stallion returned, sounding surprised. “Tastes must have changed over the years...” “It's not like you've had such bad luck with the mares yourself,” Applejack said pointedly. “Ah've heard from Rainbow Dash about you and that Wonderbolt Captain gal Spitfire.” It was then Trader's turn to blush, it being even more noticeable on top of his white coat. “Heh... so she's told you about that...” he muttered, realizing it was foolish to think that the multicolored pegasus would be able to keep her mouth shut. His embarrassment was short lived however, feeling his spine nearly snapped in two as Scootaloo jumped in a fit of excitement, gasping loudly. “You were together with Spitfire?!” she shouted, with just as much surprise that Rainbow Dash held when she realized it. “Wow! She's like, the second greatest pegasus ever! Beaten easily by Rainbow Dash, of course.” “What about me?” Trader asked curiously, flapping his wings lightly to jostle the filly riding his back. “Um...” she murmured, thinking about it. “You're... like, the fifth.” About to saying something against it, Trader paused as he shrugged slightly. “Well, that's pretty fair.”