Chapter 2: Meeting the mane 6
(AN: in this chapter the mane 6 individually meet with Draco)
Draco was just finishing his dinner of apples when there came a knock at the farm house door.
“Would yah mind getting' that Draco?” AJ called from the kitchen.
“I got it.” He replied back, trotting over to the door and opening it.
In front of the open door, stood a lavender unicorn with a purple mane, a stripe of pink running down its middle. Her cutie mark was a six pointed magenta star surrounded by five smaller white stars. Riding on her back was what looked like a baby dragon.
Draco stared at the duo, his cat like pupils narrowing slightly.
“Can I help you?” Draco asked.
“Uhm yes, I was wondering if Applejack was in.” The unicorn said.
“She's doing something in the kitchen if you don't mind waiting.” Draco said gesturing for the pair to come in.
“Who is it Draco?” AJ's voice asked from the kitchen.
“A lavender unicorn, and what I believe is a baby dragon.” Draco relied back.
“Twilight an spike?” AJ asked, tell 'em i'll be with them in a sec, just gotta finish these dishes.” AJ replies.
“Applejack, I could have done that.” Draco says sticking his head through the door, serpentine tail twitching.
“Ah got it you go say hi tah Twilight.” AJ replies.
Draco's head retreats back through the door and he seats himself before the unicorn, still taller then her even sitting down.
“Wow you sure are big.” Spike says.
“Observant. But yes, I believe it is due to my dragon heritage.” Draco replies.
“Spike, be nice to Draco.” Twilight says.
“He is fine, he is merely stating the truth. Besides I would only get mad if he or you were to begin calling me names as many others have done.” Draco says, halting her reprimand.
Twilight cocks her head.
“What kind of names?” Twilight asks.
Draco's eyes lock with hers and she shudders slightly as she watching them narrow dangerously.
“Half-breed, freak, and Abomination are the most common.” Draco replies.
Twilight gasps covering her mouth with a hoof.
“That's horrible, no pony deserves to be called such bad names, no matter what they look like.”
Draco smiles at Twilight warmly. “Thank you. you are another pony that does not think like the others.”
AJ walks through the door and spots her bookish friend. “Howdy Twi. What can ah do fer yah?”
“Well I just wanted to visit and see how you were doing I also came because of the town meeting earlier today. I must say I've never seen a town read the riot act before.”
“Well ah meant every word of it. Draco deserves to be treated like any other pony.” AJ replies.
Twilight nods smiling, watching Spike converse with Draco. “Oh I agree. And I'm rather glad he saved you, had he not been there you could have died.”
AJ nods. “Yep, that's another reason ahm lettin' him stay.”
Draco looks over at the pair. “I am glad. You truly make me feel honored to call you friend, you as well Twilight.”
Twilight smiles. “Really? Even though you just met me?”
Draco nods. “Your views are refreshing amongst those that would ridicule me.”
“Well thank you.” Twilight replied.
“Come on Spike I think we should head back home.” Twilight said.
“AWWWWW. But I wanted to talk to Draco more.” Spike complained.
“Listen to your sister youngling, she knows what is best for a growing dragon.” Draco said.
Spike slumped slightly before hopping on Twilight's back. “OK.”
“He really admires you.” Twilight said observantly.
Draco smiled. “Then I shall try my hardest to be a good role model for him.”
Twilight nods. “Thank you. Come one Spike I think this would make a good letter to the Princess!”
AJ notices Draco's look of shock as the pair exit.
“She knows the princess?” He asks.
“Yep, yer not worried are yah?” AJ asks.
“Only that the princess would take me from this place.” Draco says.
“Ah know she's tha princess, but I'll buck her hard iffn she tries.” AJ replies grimly.
Draco laughs gruffly. “You make me feel honored to call you friend more and more.” Draco replies.
“I am tired, I must sleep if I am to help with chores tomorrow.” Draco said walking up the stairs to his room.
“Night pardner.” AJ says.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draco is awoken in the morning by the gentle shaking of AJ.
“So, what are my chores today?” Draco asks after stretching.
“Well I was gonna take tha apple cart into town tah sell the apples. But Bigmac caught a cold so I gotta buck apples today. Yah think yah can take tha cart tah town fer me?” AJ asks.
“I am willing, I only need to know how much to sell the apples for.” Draco says.
“Well ah usually sell tha apples fer two bits per apple.” AJ replies.
Draco nods. “I believe I can handle that.”
“Tha cart's in tha barn, just take a couple of barrels of apples an' put 'em in tha cart.” AJ replies.
Draco nods. “It shall be done. Where in town do I park the cart?”
“Near tha fountain in the main square, that's where ah usually park it.” AJ replies.
“Very well, see you later Applejack.” Draco says, walking out the door, heading towards the barn.
He enters the barn and spots the cart. He also spots several barrels of apples nearby.
He grabs two of the barrels and stores them inside the cart, then steps back eying the cart.
He smiles as he realizes that the cart will only hold two barrels and figures he will return to the farm to replace the barrels should he sell out.
Draco then positions himself by the wooden leaders jutting ahead of the cart.
He then ties the ropes around his midsection, careful not to tie his wings as well.
Cart in tow, Draco trots towards town.
As he wander he notices various ponies glance at him, but the glances are fleeting they are walking past him as if he is a normal everyday pony.
Draco reflects on this as he parks the cart and flips the sign on the front from closed to open.
In every town he has gone to at least one pony has called him some sort of derogatory name, ranging from freak all the way to cur.
However this town is different every pony he has seen so far has treated him like they would any other citizen of town.
Perhaps it was AJ's rant that did it, or perhaps something else. But whatever the cause, Draco was happy to spend a moment in town without insult being slung at him.
Draco is pulled from his thoughts at the sound of a soft, polite knocking on the cart he is manning.
Draco looks up to see two ponies, one is a pristine white unicorn, her purple mane styled elegantly, the other is a small timid looking butter-yellow pegasus who is hiding one cyan eye behind her pink mane.
The white pony speaks. “Hello darling, my name is Rarity, and this is Fluttershy. We saw you at the meeting yesterday and when we noticed you manning AJ's cart we simply HAD to stop by and say hello.”
“Well hello to the both of you.” Draco replies.
Rarity looks at her pegasus companion. “Fluttershy darling didn't you want to purchase some apples for your animals?”
Fluttershy eeps. “Oh uhm yes but uhm I think I can come back later.”
“Nonsense darling! You can buy some now!” Rarity said, gently nudging the timid pegasus forwards.
Draco nods. “Indeed, you will find I am rather friendly to those I call friends, AJ and Twilight fall into that category.”
At hearing that he calls two of her own friends his friends, the timid pegasus relaxes slightly.
“Oh uhm, could I buy three apples, if that's ok with you?” Fluttershy said with a smile that could give a windigo diabetes.
“Of course.” Draco said, pulling forth three apples and shoving them to the edge of the cart. “That will be six bits please.”
The pegasus places six copper coins on the cart then places the apples in her saddle bags.
“Oh uhm thank you.” Fluttershy says before trotting off to somewhere.
Rarity nods at him. “Well done darling, I've never seen Fluttershy open up to another pony so quickly before.”
“I was just being calm and kind, I believe my mentioning of my friends may have calmed her down as well.” Draco said.
Rarity nods. “I agree, those two are our friends as well, sometime today you may meet two other ponies that are among our group of friends as well.”
“How many ponies are in your group of friends?” Draco asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Six, not including you. Two ponies of each type.” Rarity says.
“You would count me as your friend, even though you just met me?”
“Of course, you seem like a rather likable pony even counting your.... differences. I'm certain you've heard this from AJ and Twilight. But we'd be more than happy to count you as our friends.” Rarity replies.
“Then I shall need to know the names of the friends I have not met yet, so I can add their names to my memory.” Draco says.
“Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. I shall leave it up to you to find out for your self which is which. I must be off, farewell darling.” Rarity says before trotting off.
Draco nods at her in farewell, helping another customer that had been waiting while they chatted.
An hour passes and Draco briefly glances at the sky to see a rainbow colored blur passing over head before circling around and landing before the apple cart.
The cyan, rainbow maned pegasus smiles at the colt widely before speaking. “Hey there, I heard about you yesterday. I hear you're half dragon!”
“That is correct Rainbow Dash.” Draco replies.
Apparently mentioning her name was the wrong thing to say, Rainbow got a look of shock on her face before flying up into Draco's face staring him directly in the eyes.
“How do you know my name? Are you a SPY?!” Rainbow asks.
“No, Rarity told me to be on the look out for two more ponies, one was named Rainbow Dash. I believe that is you based on your rainbow colored mane.” Draco replies, meeting the mare's stare.
The mare guiltily rubs the back of her head with a cyan hoof before landing back on the ground.
“Hehe, I guess my mane is kinda obvious.” Rainbow replies.
Suddenly a pink blur hops over to the cart speaking a mile an hour. “HI! I'm Pinkie Pie! And you're Draco! Do you like parties? HUHHUHHUH?” The bouncing pink pony asks.
“Parties? To be honest I don't think I've ever had one.” Draco replies.
Pinkie Pie gasps loudly as if this is the worst thing in the world, nay universe. Her eyes grow huge as she speaks again going even faster if that's even possible. “NEVER HAD A PARTY?! I have GOT to throw you a party.”
“YEAH! You should experience at least ONE Pinkie Party! Those things are AWESOME!” Rainbow says.
Draco smiles. “I would be happy to have a party, as long as Applejack approves, I am living with her after all.”
Pinkie pie's eyes narrow and her grin grows larger, nearly consuming her entire face.
“Oh I'll be sure to ask her, you'll never know it's coming!” Pinkie Pie replies.
“I'll be looking forward to the surprise. Although I must warn you, it will be hard to get past my dragon enhanced hearing.” Draco replies.
Pinkie's eyes narrow further, and her face smile becomes almost evil in its look. “Okie Doki Loki.” She replies before hopping off in another blur of pink.
Draco watches this odd behavior before turning to Rainbow. “Does she eat a lot of sugar?”
“In the form of cupcakes and pies.” Rainbow replies. “Well, I gotta get back to the weather, the sky's not going to clear itself.”
“Farewell.” Draco says as she dashes of in a blur of her namesake.
A few more hours pass and both of the barrels in the cart are empty, the money bag attached to the cart full.
Draco turns the sign to closed and prepares to leave when he spots Twilight trotting towards him, Spike in tow.
“Hello Twilight.” Draco says, tying himself to the cart.
“Hello, I just wanted to let you know that the Princess replied to the letter I wrote yesterday, and she said that if you had time she'd be happy to meet with you and her sister tomorrow.” Twilight says.
“As long as I can bring AJ with me that will be fine.” Draco replies.
“I'm sure the princess won't mind.” Twilight replies.
“Very well I shall inform her. You may tell the princess I will be flying myself and AJ to the palace tomorrow around noon.” Draco replies, already trotting towards the farm.
A few minutes later Draco is detaching himself from the cart in the barn removing the empty barrels placing them aside. He grabs the money pouch and walks towards the nearby farm house.
Upon walking in he sees Bigmac talking to his older sister.
Draco waits until they finish before holding up the very full money pouch in front of the farm pony.
“Yall sold all them apples?” AJ asks.
“Every single one.” Draco replies placing the bag of bits on the table. “Just so you know the princess invited me to the palace tomorrow around noon. I was hoping you would come with me.” Draco says.
“Shoot ah don't know.” AJ replies unsurely.
“I know that you are worried about the princess but I trust nopony more than you to vouch for me in her presence.” Draco replies.
“Yall should go with him.” Bigmac replies hoarsely.
AJ smiles and nods. “Ah'll go, but yall said we need tah be there by noon?”
“Yes, I said that so we could do at least a few of the chores before we left, I did not know how long we would be there.” Draco replies.
“That's ah good idea.” AJ replies.
“We should get some rest. I will need the energy for chores and to fly us to the palace and back.” Draco suggests.
“Yall are flyin' us? Why didn't yah ask fer a chariot?”
“I don't need one, besides I'm fairly certain I can fly us there faster.” Draco replies.
“I reckon yer right. Goodnight Draco.” AJ says.
“Good night AJ.” Draco says walking up the stairs.
(AN: Done with this chapter. Luna and 'Tia make an appearance next chapter, be on the look out. And for future reference, yes, Draco was challenging Pinkie to surprise him with a party, which you know she'll do.)