//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: An Apple of Kindness // Story: A Crumbling Path // by Secondhand Brony //------------------------------// The harsh school day full chaos for Jolly was finally over, so he was just starting to walk to his cave, as he went on he saw a orange filly with a golden mane but as he saw the mysterious filly he also saw Rapid Runner backing the filly down on a brick wall, he saw Rapid's mouth move Jolly tried his hardest to find out what Rapid was saying, he finally got a signal as if he were a radio he heard Rapid insult the filly using the words,"Oh wow another worthless pony, what do you guys even live for?" "Hey leave her alone!" Jolly demanded while yelling, he never would stand up for anypony but he felt that the bullying needed to stop. Oh and what are you gonna do about it, tell your mom and dad oops I'm sorry you don't have somepony to call mom or dad." Rapid teased trying to get Jolly to show the slightest emotion so he could tease him on that. Jolly felt his eyes welling up but no tears came out. "I, I challenge you to a race, if I win you can't bully anypony and if you win, you can tease me anytime." Jolly blurted throwing the first thing that popped up in he mind. "Deal." Rapid accepted as fast as lighting could strike. "Your parents called you Jolly Racer and you can't even race." Rapid said as he walked off. "Thank ya, ah owe ya one." The filly thanked. "No need to thank me I could never really stand up for anypony." Jolly said feeling ashamed and pitiful of what a wussy he was. "So whats your name?" Jolly asked forgetting to ask her that first. "Ah'm Applejack." The filly answered happily answered. "Ah ain't catch your name." Applejack questioned. "Oh sorry, I'm Jolly Racer." Jolly apologized. "So how come your parents weren't here to pick you up?" Jolly asked. "That's because they're gone." Applejack answered her faltering at the end. "Well your not alone." Jolly mumbled trying not to let Applejack hear him. "Your parents are gone too, finally someone just like me." Applejack said relief. "So ya got any where to hit the hay?" Applejack asked hoping Jolly would say no, but she felt selfish for hoping for even having that thought, she also felt horrible knowing hoping Jolly didn't have any where to sleep. "Well not really." Jolly said, he hated and also loved when ponies felt sorry for him. "Then ya can stay 'till ya get backup on ya hooves." Applejack offered being the kind filly she was. "O-K, hope I'm no trouble just let me get a few things first." Jolly answered not trying to seem so eager. "Do what ya need to do." Applejack kinda complimented waiting for Jolly to come back as he trotted off. Jolly went to his cave got his picture and left of to Applejack. "So, who are those to ponies in that there picture?" Applejack desperately trying to start a conversation. "Those are my parents." Jolly answered but not without taking a gulp. "That mare on the right is my mom Candy Cone and the colt on the left is my dad FlagPole. "Well they look like a mighty nice couple " Applejack complimented trying to make Jolly give a sign of happiness. "Thank you." Jolly said giving a sign of just a little happiness. "Great were here." Applejack alerted breaking up peace and quiet between the two ponies. --------------------------------------------------- "APPLE-JACK." Granny Smith questioned using her slow voice. "Ah can explain Granny." Applejack answered in a fast motion. "Applejack why in the hay do ya have a unicorn here?" Big Mac asked demanding an answer. "Hugh, Big Mac he's just like me he has no parents and I kinda already offered him to stay for a few days." Applejack being forced to say something she didn't want to bring up. "Better be, he could be a thief and ya know we can't afford having anything stolen." Big Mac insulted while giving a strict statement although in the back of his head knowing Jolly could steal something in a few nights. "Thank ya Mac, and Granny." Applejack thanked also adding the 'and Granny' part knowing Granny Smith knew what that meant. "Ok AJ just hope your right ." Granny answered in doubt that Jolly wouldn't steal anything. As the two new friends walked up the stairs Jolly broke the short silence with the words "Applejack I know you wanna do something but I'm very tired so wheres my room?" Being the sweet, kind, and shy pony he was he hated how he asked Applejack where his room was. "Here's ya room, have a mighty nice sle." Applejack ignoring how Jolly asked but not without getting cut off by Jolly's snoring, Applejack started to get two pink lines through her cheeks thinking 'Wow I've finally found the one to help through my problems in life.' Applejack grabbed a blanket and covered Jolly still blushing over the unfortunate unicorn, as this happened Applejack asked herself as early she would've she couldn't because of all the commotion 'And anyway why did his ma and pa name him Jolly Racer if he was a unicorn.' Applejack trotted out of the barn making sure Granny Smith or her brother did not see 'cause first of all Granny would be pissed off and Big Mac would think this was because of Jolly without a second thought. Still thinking she started to wonder in why her big kind brother would just judge Jolly so harshly and quickly. She had made it to her destination. "Meet me at the barn at 5:00 A.M.." Applejack demanded in a whisper. No vocal response came from the two ponies, but 2 slow nods.