//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Morning Glory // by MorningGlory //------------------------------// "Mor-ning!" A sing-song voice called from downstairs. Applejack frowned as she continued to hear silence, signifying her cousin was still asleep. "C'mon you lazy filly," she grumbled under her breath as she trotted up the stairs. Much to Applejack's surprise, Morning Glory was awake and simply watching the sunrise. She didn't even stir when the other mare walked in and sat beside her. A nudge from the orange pony stirred Morning from her thoughts and she smiled slightly. "Oh. AJ. Hi. Guess I didn't hear you." "I reckon you didn't," Applejack said in agreement, nodding once. She had seen the look on her cousin's face before and it was often a hint for a heart-to-heart before the day progressed. She hesitated, then went on. "Mornin', honey... What's the matter? I ain't seen you look so blue since Pappy Smith passed away." Morning slumped a little before turning her eyes back to the sunrise. "I miss them," she said softly. "Momma and dad, I mean. I wonder how they're doin', how the farm is comin'. But at the same time, I never wanna go back. I've been here a few days and I'm already feeling like I found my place, my calling." Applejack nodded solemnly. She could relate to the confusing feelings that were swarming over Morning Glory. "Well, I reckon that means you're happy here but you just love your folks so much you miss 'em. There's nothin' wrong with that, sugar cube. Even Granny Smith would tell you that," she said soothingly. "Yeah. I suppose you're right," Morning agreed, trying to smile and finding it came easier as time drifted along. "Well, we better get to breakfast before Mac gets a hankering for our portions." The two mares giggled and began to meander down to the kitchen, the familiar voice of Apple Bloom telling a tale of her adventures with the Crusaders leading them the entire way. Morning began to wonder if she would ever have the heart-warming feeling her mom and Granny Smith had when watching their offspring grow, laugh, play and just generally be of good health. It was a comfortable idea and it helped her chores for the day fly by. The remainder of Morning's day passed by uneventfully, and before long she found herself wandering the streets of Ponyville with a purple dragon by her side, chattering with her casually. Spike had become aware of Morning's cooking and was currently placing an order for his birthday cake, even though his birthday wasn't for a few months at best. "...And then you gotta get some gorgeous white pearls and some purple gems. Don't ask why, but they gotta shine like the sun and be flawless," he explained sternly, causing a giggle from the mare. "Shoot, Spike," she said. "You got several months before I gotta worry about your cake. My memory's good but it ain't that good! Why don't you write it down when you get home and give it to me next time you see me? That way it's written down exactly how you want it and I'll have proof of what you want so I make sure your dream cake is flawless." The adolescent dragon seemed to enjoy that idea. His green eyes grew in delight and he quickly hugged the laughing mare around the neck. "You rock, Morning!" With that, the dragon took off home to write out his dream cake. "Well shoot," Morning said with a laugh. "I didn't mean you had to go and do it right now." Shaking her head, she continued along her way. She was meeting Zecora and Pinkie at her new home today to begin cleaning and moving in furniture the kind stallion at the furniture store gave her free of charge as a 'welcome to Ponyville' gift. The hairs on the back of her neck rose, a familiar feeling of eyes on her causing the mare to stop dead in her tracks. She inhaled, held it, then exhaled and walked on. Alright, you sneaky rascal, she thought. If you wanna follow me all the way to Timbucktoo and back, then you better be willin' to meet me face to face. Morning then began to pick up the pace and almost broke out in a full gallop, trotting as though she were slightly in a hurry. Soon, however, the eyes disappeared off her. Almost disappointed, she slowed her walk. No pony she passed seemed to give the hint that someone was behind her. Perplexed, she turned the corner and saw the familiar Zebra and excited pink pony waiting at her new home, a modest tan color home with a navy blue roof and shutters. It was different but she was in love with the house. With a hug from the hyper-happy pony and a poetic but sincere greeting from Zecora, the three girls set in to cleaning and prepping the house. Somehow, along the way, Pinkie Pie burst into song- unsurprising, the amused Morning noted- about cleaning with every detail from their trials, right down to getting lint from the carpets. After several hours and well after the sun went down, the girls sat tiredly in the living room, giggling and laughing as they relaxed. Zecora was telling some tales from her homeland and igniting lots of 'oohs', 'ahhs' other reactions from the others, perhaps from Pinkie Pie moreso. They all began to tell stories and share their life's adventures, growing more and more comfortable all the while. "So, there Applejack and I were, wrestlin' in the mud when my mom comes up..." "The shaman of my villiage was a stallion of mystery, for he seemed to recall perfectly our history..." "So I called him crazy because, like, everypony knows that raspberries are the most super-duper-bestest berries..." Morning found her concern for the mystery stallion who seemed to be eying her was disappearing quickly the more time she spent with friends. And if this was frequent in Ponyville, then she felt that she had found the place she belongs.