Chapter 5
It didn't take to long for Toby to reach Sweet Apple Acres after getting Starbloom settled down. He pulled the wagon up the dirt path to main house. Setting the handle down he helped her out and they went up to the door, she was still limping but not as bad as before.
Toby reached up and softly knocked on the door, after a few moments Applejack answered it. "Well hello there Toby, nice of you to come and visit." She said politely then noticed Starbloom tilting her head, "Hello there again, little'n." She said to Starbloom, "Starbloom was it?"
Toby blinked looking from Applejack then to Starbloom. "Y.. you have meet auntie Applejack?" He asked Starbloom a little confused.
Starbloom nodded softly and blushed faintly. "Yea... this morning." She said looking at Toby then over at Applejack, "I'm sorry about, what happen... I was a little confused. I hope.. I didn't cause to much trouble." She said trying to look timid and apologetic.
"Ah shucks, it's alright. If you and Toby are friends, I guess you can't be to bad." Applejack said tipping her hat up lightly. "Besides you did look pretty out of sorts this mornin."
Toby nodded up at Applejack, "Y.. yea, mama said she was s.. sick, had a fever and e.. everything," Toby said smiling at Applejack, "But.. even though s.. she was.. sick... she saved me f.. from some... bullies."
Starbloom blushed softly sitting on her haunches and raised her forehoof of her hurt shoulder slightly to relax the pressure off it. "It was nothing really..." She said softly smiling. "I don't like bullies is all."
"Well, ya might think it was nuffin, but it means a lot to me and the rest of the Apple family. We don't tolerate bullies either." Applejack said smiling at Starbloom watching her as she sat down and raised her hoof. "Something wrong with yer hoof?"
Starbloom shook her head alittle but Toby answered for her. "H.. her shoulder... it's hurt pretty bad... mama said.. she isn't sure... w.. what she can do... to help it though." He said, the blushed looking at Starbloom, "S.. sorry"
Starbloom shook her head and smiled at him, "It's okay Toby, no need to be sorry." She said then looked up at Applejack nodding, "He's right, it's my shoulder. It got hurt a while back, the doctor said it'll never fully heal right. Something I'll have to live with. I lost my pain medicine though."
Applejack frowned softly and nodded as she listen to Starbloom explain after Toby finished explaining as well. "I see, I'm right sorry to hear that Starbloom. Filly your age shouldn't have to live that kinda problem." She said waving both to come inside. "Come on, I'll get ya something to snack on." Applejack said smiling at them.
Toby smiled and Starbloom moved to her hooves carefully. "O.. okay Auntie Applejack, that sounds wonderful." Both followed Applejack into the house, Toby holding the door for Starbloom before following her in, keeping an eye on her incase she needed help.
Starbloom did alright getting into the house on her own and followed Applejack into the kitchen getting onto a chair settling herself. Toby taking a seat next to her. "How would you two like some of the Apple Families famous Apple Pie?" She asked going to get them a slice.
Both Toby and Starbloom smiled at the idea, "T.. that sounds wonderful auntie Applejack that you," Toby said and Starbloom nodded in agreement.
"Alrighty then, two slices coming up." She said getting both a slice and bring it over placing it onto the table for them. "Now, Starbloom. If I may ask, what bring you to Ponyville?" She asked sitting across from them.
Starbloom used her magic to take a pie tilting her head at the question. She wasn't sure on the best way to answer, but she knew Applejack could spot a lie pretty easy. "Well, that other pony in the field with me is a bad pony. She stole something and I was trying to get it back." She said being honest, but purposely vague at the same time.
Applejack nodded quietly as she listen to her explain. Glancing over at Toby who was enjoying his own apple pie. "I noticed your cutie mark, does that have something to do with it?" She asked looking at Starbloom again.
"Yes ma'am, I'm good at finding things... and finding evidence," she said smiling at her quietly taking another bite of her pie.
Toby looked at Starbloom cleaning his mouth with a napkin. "L.. like a detective, or a superhero?" He asked her smiling, "Solving c.. crimes and helping t.. the weak, like m.. me," he said.
Starbloom blinked at him and smiled, but shook her head abit. "Your anything but weak Toby, strength comes in many different forms. Not just the physical." She said, Applejack nodding in agreement with Starbloom.
Toby smiled at Starbloom and reached over hugging her carefully not to hurt her shoulder. "Y... you really mean that?" He asked looking up at her smiling at the compliment.
"Of course I mean it," She said hugging him back softly. "You have a strong heart and strength in kindness." She said moving a hoof to ruffle his heart softly.
He smiled at her and released the hug after a moment, "T.. thank you, for saying so Starbloom," he said, moving back to his seat.
Applejack smiled at the two, "Well Starbloom, yer always welcome here at Sweet Apple Acres. You seem to be a very good filly." She said watching as Starbloom finished off her own pie and used her magic to put the dishes away in the sink.
"Thank you Applejack, I try to be." She said smiling at her looking over at Toby then back at Applejack, "I'll return the saddle bags soon as well. I promise I will."
Applejack smiled at her, "Don't worry to much bout that, it's one of Apple Bloom's spares. Keep it as long as you need it."
Starbloom smiled at her and nodded, "A.. Auntie Applejack, if it's alright, I.. I would like to take Starbloom.. to visit, Auntie Twilight now..." Toby said smiling at Applejack.
"Sure thing Toby, I think she'll enjoy that." Applejack said, Toby slipping from the chair. Starbloom smiled and slipped from her chair as well careful of her shoulder. She followed behind Applejack again, while Toby followed after her.
Once outside Toby helped her into the wagon again. "Goodbye Applejack, thank you for the snack." Starbloom said settling herself into the wagon comfortably.
"G.. Goodbye, Auntie Applejack, thank you.. for the pie." Toby said waving to Applejack smiling up at her before picking up the handle to the wagon.
"Goodbye Starbloom, was nice getting to meet you." Applejack said smiling at Starbloom before looking to Toby, "Goodbye Toby, always nice to have a visit from you sweetie."
Toby smiled and started to pull his wagon with Starbloom inside behind him carefully down the path leading away from Sweet Apple Acres to the road turning towards Ponyville. Next stop Golden Oaks Library to visit Twilight Sparkle.