//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - Meeting the Princess of Magic // Story: Raised on an Apple Farm // by jkreader //------------------------------// Chapter 3 - Meeting the Princess of Magic Applejack, the three fillies, and Mike soon found themselves standing in front of the door to the Golden Oaks Library. Babs trotted up to the door and knocked twice. The door opened to reveal Princess Twilight Sparkle looking pleasant. “Good morning everypony,” she said. “Howdy Twilight!” Applejack said. The three fillies however bowed respectfully to Twilight. “Really kids, none of that,” Twilight said waving a hoof, “I’m still not entirely used to the whole ‘Princess’ thing.” The fillies brought their heads back up and smiled. “So what brings you all by?” “Well Twi,” Applejack said, “Last night, Apple Bloom and Babs found somethin’ in our barn last night, and we thought we should show you.” “What is it?” Twilight asked. “Twilight,” Applejack said turning to the side to show Mike on her back, “Meet Mike.” Mike looked at Twilight nervously and gave a meek wave. “Hello,” he said. Twilight was surprised. A human here in Equestria? she thought, Interesting! How did it get here without the portal? It was closed last I remember, and it hasn’t even been thirty moons. She trotted up next to Applejack to get a better look at Mike and placed a hoof over his back. “Hello Mike. My name is Twilight Sparkle. It’s very nice to meet you.” “It’s nice to meet you too,” Mike said smiling a little bit. “Hey! Crusaders!” Everypony looked over in the distance and saw Scootaloo riding over on her scooter. She skidded to a stop, took her helmet off her head, placed it on the handlebar, and walked over to the group. “Hey Scoots!” Apple Bloom said. “Where were you all?” she asked, “I’ve been waiting at the clubhouse for...” she paused suddenly when she took notice of Mike. She and Mike stared at each other for the good part of a minute. “Scootaloo!” Applejack said suddenly, “Mind yer manners, it’s not polite to stare.” “Right, sorry,” she said sheepishly, “Is he one of those humans you told us all about Twilight?” “Yes he is,” Twilight said, “This is Mike. Mike, this is Scootaloo.” “Hey Mike,” Scootaloo said rapidly flapping her wings. “Hi Scootaloo,” Mike said. Applejack brought Mike down off her back and onto the ground in front of Scootaloo. “Why don’t you all come inside?” Twilight said motioning them in. “Sure Twi,” Applejack said, “Ah need to ask for a favor anyway.” The ponies and human walked inside where Twilight motioned for Applejack to follow her up to her room. Before she reached the stairs however, she felt a small tug on her tail. She looked back and saw Mike looking worried. “Where are you going Applejack?” he asked. “Don’t worry sugarcube,” she said, “Ah just need to ask Twilight somethin’. You just stay down here with Apple Bloom, Babs, and their friends, ‘kay? Ah’ll be back in a bit.” “Okay,” Mike said walking back over to the fillies. Applejack continued to follow Twilight upstairs, where they shut the door behind them. “So what is it you need AJ?” Twilight asked. “Well Twi,” she said, “It’s about Mike. Y’see, last night, he told us that he’s an orphan.” “No parents?” Twilight asked. “Nope,” Applejack replied, “Ah was hopin’ you could maybe write to Princess Celestia ‘bout this. She would know what to do, right?” “She might,” Twilight said bringing out a piece of parchment and a quill. “So was there anything else Mike told you?” “Well,” Applejack said with hesitation, “The condition Apple Bloom and Babs found him in last night was...shockin’.” “How so?” “Y’see, he told us that at his school, bullies were pickin’ on him for not havin’ a family to call his own. When he told the teachers ‘bout it, the bullies beat him up and just left him in an alley far away from the orphanage he lived in. Next thing he knew, he was inside the barn lookin’ at Apple Bloom and Babs with no idea how he got there.” Twilight’s mouth was wide open when she heard that. “My goodness,” she said, “That’s so mean!” “Ah know,” Applejack replied, “It makes me burn with anger to know that there are some older kids have the nerve to hurt kids younger than them like that.” “Well, I’m sure Princess Celestia will know what to do about Mike,” Twilight said as she finished writing. She then levitated the scroll next to her to bring downstairs. “Now I just need to wait for Spike to come back and he can send that letter off.” “Let’s go check on Mike and the others,” Applejack said. Twilight nodded and the two of them trotted downstairs. While Twilight and Applejack were upstairs... Mike was a little nervous being around the four fillies without Applejack. Around her, he felt more comfortable, but at least he had Apple Bloom and Babs in the same room with him. They were the ones he first met. “Ya okay Mike?” Babs asked placing a hoof on his shoulder. “Yeah,” he said. “Say Mike,” Scootaloo said coming up to him, “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and I were talking, and we were wondering if you’d like to join our club.” “Your club?” Mike asked, “What’s it called?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle came up next to Scootaloo and Babs, and all four of them took a deep breath and exclaimed, “THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!!!” Mike covered his ears from the yell. After the fillies finished, he uncovered them. “What’s a cutie mark?” he asked. “Y’know those three red apples on Applejack’s flank?” Apple Bloom asked him. He nodded. “That’s a cutie mark. It shows a pony’s special talent, and as you can see...” the four fillies showed off their flanks, “We don’t have ours yet, but we’re workin’ on tryin’ to find ours.” “Can I think about it first?” he asked. “Sure buddy,” Scootaloo said patting his shoulder, “You just let us know if you’re ready to join, okay?” “Okay,” Mike said smiling. Soon, Twilight and Applejack came back down the stairs with Twilight levitating a scroll with her magic. “What’s that Princess Twilight?” he asked pointing at the scroll. “This is a letter I wrote to my teacher and fellow princess, Princess Celestia,” she said putting it on the small round table. “Hopefully when Spike gets back, he’ll send it off to her. “Oh, and Mike?” she asked him. Mike looked up at her and gave her a questioning look. “Just Twilight is fine, or Twi for short.” “Okay Twilight,” Mike replied. He then walked back over to Applejack. “What are we going to do now Applejack?” he asked her. “Well, Twilight an’ Ah were thinkin’ about introducin’ ya to the rest of our friends,” Applejack replied as she put Mike back on her back. “Okay,” he said as he wrapped his arms gently around Applejack’s neck. “Hey Applejack,” Apple Bloom said, “The crusaders an’ Ah need to get goin’. Scoots was waitin’ at the clubhouse for us for our next meetin’ before she came over.” “Sure Apple Bloom,” Applejack said, “You an’ yer friends go ahead.” “Thanks sis,” she said, “See ya later Mike!” The four fillies then ran off to do their usual crusading, leaving Applejack and Twilight behind. “Well, shall we AJ?” Twilight asked. “Sure, if Mike’s ready,” Applejack replied looking back at Mike. “I’m ready,” he said. So the two of them left the library to introduce Mike to the rest of their friends.