//------------------------------// // Ch. 3 // Story: A New Perspective // by portaljumper339 //------------------------------// A New Perspective Ch. 3  A week had passed since Twilight's party, and things were going swimmingly for me. Turns out that my wing wasn't broken, only dislocated, so Fluttershy and I went down to Ponyville Urgent Care where they popped it back into place. It hurt like the dickens, but at least it was functional again. I had been living a pretty idyllic life for the past week. I helped Fluttershy take care of her little animal friends, Rainbow Dash had gotten me a position on the weather team, and was teaching me how to properly control my flight, as well as some awesome tricks, and I had checked out a book from Twilight. It was a storybook, but I thought that I might as well bone up on Equestrian culture. It was about noon, and I was just coming back from one of my training sessions with Rainbow Dash when I noticed a sign on the front door of the cottage, written in a tight, looping script. "Went over to Rarity's for our spa day. Will be back at around 4:30 - Fluttershy" Well, looks like I've got the cottage to myself. Maybe I could catch up on some reading. I'd been a little behind on my book, and I wanted to get it back in a reasonable timeframe. I was just settling onto my couch when a frantic knock came at the door. "Fluttershy, you home?" said a thick southern accent. "Just a sec," I said, getting up to open the door. Right on the front step was Applejack, and she seemed kinda miffed about something.  "Oh hey, AJ. What's up?" "Hey, is Fluttershy around?" I motioned to the sign on the door, which she hadn't noticed in her hurry. "Ah, horse-apples," she swore, "just my luck." "You need some help?" "In a sense. We've got some critters stealing our apples back on the farm, and I was hoping I could git Fluttershy to help round 'em up. It's nearly Applebuck Season, and the last thing we need are some varmints stealing our crop." "Apple-what season?" "It's what we call harvesting time. We git all the apples bucked outta the trees so we can sell 'em." "Well, I'd be happy to help with your little infestation." "You sure, Evan? It's mighty hard rounding those little things up, and I know you're wing is still a bit sore." "No trouble at all. I don't have anything to do today anyway. Let me just get my vest on."  I came outside a minute or two later, in the vest Rarity had made for me on my first day. "Why do you wear that, anyway?" asked Applejack. "Most ponies are fine without a stitch of fabric on them." "It just feels kinda weird for me to not wear clothes, I guess. It's probably like with you and your hat. But, I digress. Which way are we going?" "Follow me!" she said, taking off at a gallop. I quickly took to the skies, barely managing to keep pace. =============== The situation over at Sweet Apple Acres was bad, to say the least. We got there at half past one, and there were animals all over the place. Rabbits and various other rodents on the ground, as well as birds picking apples straight off the trees. There was a crimson stallion chasing down the rabbits, trying to corner them into a pen, and a bright yellow filly was using a butterfly net to try and catch the birds, with mixed success. "Ah hayseed, it got worse," muttered Applejack "How bad was it when you left?" "Well, for one, there weren't birds trying to steal the apples when I took off. That, plus when I left, we were actually starting to make some headway. From the looks of things, though, the tide of this battle must've turned." "Well, I can help round up the birds while you help what's-his-name over there." "That 'what's-his-name' over there happens to be my older brother, thank you very much. Still, I suppose yer right. Apple Bloom could use all the help she can get. She tries so hard to help out, but she needs to learn her limits. Go do what you can, just don't stress yourself." "By you're command," I said, taking to the sky. Apple Bloom had moved over to the other side of the orchard, and it became rapidly apparent that she was fighting a losing battle. She had managed to catch an eagle by it's head, but it kept it's flight up, and was starting to drag her across the ground. "Hey!" I yelled down to her, "Let go! You're not gonna bring it down with that thing!" She passed me a backward glance, and through gritted teeth, said, "Yes I can! I've almost got it!" With a quick jerk of the neck, she managed to break up the eagles flight just enough to send it into a tailspin, which sent it careening into the ground. It landed beak first with a dull thud, which unfortunately tore through the thin netting, rendering the butterfly net utterly useless. Fortunately, the eagle took the hint and flew off, after disentangling itself from the ruins of Apple Bloom's net. I landed next to her as she was calling out triumphant taunts to the bird, as if it could understand her. "... And STAY out! See," she said, turning to me, "I told ya I could bring it down." "Wow. You are really strong for somepony so young." "Well, I guess you could say that it sorta runs in the family. You should see Big Mac push a plow, and Applejack once bucked a tree so hard that it cracked!" "I wouldn't put it past her. I'm Evan, by the way." "Oh, so you're that new friend of Fluttershy's that Applejack's been talking about. I'm Apple Bloom." A crow cawing overhead brought us back to the matter at hand.  "Um, if you don't mind," Apple Bloom piped up, "but could we save the introductions for AFTER we get rid of these things." "Right. However, since your ingenious bird catching solution is in a crumpled heap in front of us, we need a new method of getting those things to shoo." "Hmmmm... Maybe you could throw me into the air, and I could scream and holler to scare them off?" "Bad idea. Unless you want to fall and break your leg, in which case go for it." "Ha ha. Well, maybe I could ride on your back." "That... might just work. I sure as heck can't think of anything else, so if your willing." "Alright!" she said, jumping up onto me. I just prayed that I could support her weight, cause the last thing I need was to crash and burn with passengers. Again. When I got in the air, Apple Bloom took to her screaming-and-hollering strategy, which seemed to work effectively enough. While it took a minute for the birds to get the picture, they, slowly but surely, started leaving. Their hasty retreat gave Apple Bloom even more vigor, and she started waving her hooves around, trying to get them to move faster. "C'mon, scoot! Are you crows, or are you chickens?" "Yeah, get outta here, you rats with wings!" I added, gesturing to a crow that was pecking at an apple. Oddly, it didn't seem to register me, like I wasn't there. Weird. "That's the spirit! Keep it up!" And so we flew over the acres for the better part of an hour and a half, hurling insults and just generally having a big ol' time. By the end, we had forgotten almost entirely about the birds, instead just reveling in the unbridled freedom that flight can give. She even got me to do some of the flips and tricks that Rainbow Dash had been teaching me. "Hey, Flare, dare ya to fly through that fork in the tree!" said Apple Bloom, pointing to a tree that was seemed to be split in half down the middle. "Just you watch," I replied, "and hold on tight!" Apple Bloom wrapped herself tight around me, trying to flatten her tiny form as much as possible, as I flapped my wings as hard as I could. When I got within a few yards of the tree, I tucked my wings in and started spinning in a perfect corkscrew, just like Rainbow had shown me. I could practically feel Apple Bloom tighten up, expecting us both to smash into the tree. How she must've been disappointed as I blew through the fork with enough force to knock a few of the apples off just from the wind. I heard Apple Bloom let out a holler, not quite unlike her big sister would've, and I felt compelled to join her. I had never felt a high quite like it before, a mixture of adrenaline and relief at having not hit the tree. "LOOK OUT!" I heard Apple Bloom yell over my own thoughts. "Look out for what?" I asked as I turned my head forward and Apple Bloom bailed out. Well, there goes the sense of relief. WHAM! goes my body as I slam headlong into a very solid apple tree. It seemed like something out of a cartoon, where the character slams into a wall, gets squashed flat, and slowly slides down. That's what this felt like, only painful. Very painful. When I finally hit the ground, amongst the apples that had fallen out, all I could do was flop backwards and black out. I think I was out for about two minutes or so, and when I came around, I had a headache to rival that of a pony who had drank two kegs of beer the night before. It didn't help that Apple Bloom was standing over me when I woke up. "Oh, thank goodness. You okay?" "Not particularly," I said, wincing as her voice hit my ears. "You wouldn't happen to have a sensory deprivation tank handy, would you?" "A sensory what now?" "Just a joke. Seriously though, I definitely need an ice bag, and maybe a painkiller or four," I said, getting to my hooves. Bad idea there. As soon as I stood up my vision swam and my head started to throb, forcing me back down. "Actually, on second thought, could you get Applejack? And a wagon big enough for a pony. I don't think I can walk on my own." "Sure thing. Judging by the quietness, I think they managed to run all of the critters off, which probably means she's coming to find us." And as if on cue, Applejack appeared from around a tree. "There you are, finally. We managed to round up all of the critters and sent 'em packing. Judging by the lack of birds squawking, I'm gonna assume you two got rid of the birds as well." "We sure did, but he hit a tree," said Apple Bloom, gesturing to me with my head in my hooves, trying to drown out their voices. "Oh hay, are you alright?" "I've been better. I've got a killer headache, and my sense of balance is all out of whack. I just hope I didn't fracture my skull." "Let me take a look," said AJ as she trotted over to me and parted my mane. "Tch, ain't nothing but a big old knot on the head. You'll be fine. Can you walk?" "What part of 'my sense of balance is all out of whack' did you not get?" I asked rather tersely. "Well, sor-ee, just making sure. I'll go have Big Mac git ya a wagon. Apple Bloom, you sit tight and tell me if anything happens to him. We clear?" "Crystal," she replied as Applejack galloped back across the acres. I probably shouldn't have been so short with her, but sheer, blinding pain makes one do stupid things. =============== Big Mac and Applejack returned fifteen minutes later, him hauling a wagon big enough for two and her with a freshly made ice pack. Applejack set the ice pack on my head as she helped me to my hooves and guided me into the wagon, which was thankfully lined with some nice soft blankets. "You feelin' any better?" she asked in a flat voice, without any real sympathy behind it. "A little," I said as we climbed into the wagon. "The ice pack really helps. Thanks a lot." "No problem," she replied, turning to Apple Bloom. "Now Apple Bloom, I want you to head back home and get on your homework. Just because you had to get rid of those birds doesn't give you a free ticket to miss school tomorrow. Cheerilee will be expecting you bright and early." "Can I at least ride with you back to Fluttershy's? I want to make sure Evan's okay." "Apple Bloom, you really need to do your homework." "PLEASE?" she begged, mustering up a puppy dog face to rival an actual puppy dog. "... Alright, fine," conceded Applejack rather hesitantly, "but as soon as we get home, you go straight upstairs and git on your homework. Understood?" "You betcha!" she replied, hopping into the wagon and clambering onto my back. "Let's get goin', Mac!" "Eeyup," he replied, as if that was all that was needed to convey his thoughts at any given time. We took off at a steady pace, Big Mac drawing us out of the orchard. "Sorry I was a little short with you, Applejack, but my head was killing me. Still is, sort of." "Oh, don't think nothin' of it. I understand the feeling. I've been more than a bit quick-tempered with ponies at times myself. Don't beat yerself up about it." "Just so long as you don't hold it against me." "It's alright. To get off of this dreary topic, how did you two fare against the birds?" "He did AMAZING!" interjected Apple Bloom, climbing in between us. "You should've seen him, looping and spinning! He was scarin' those birds senseless! I tell you what, he should have a cutie mark like Rainbow Dash's. Or maybe a bird scaring cutie mark!" "A what mark?" I asked. "A cutie mark. It's a little symbol that appears on each of your flanks, and it tells you what you're special talent in life is. It's what separates you from everypony else." So that's what it's called. Looking down, I couldn't help but notice that where my mark should've been there was nothing but blank gray fur. "Hmm. I thought that was just for decoration, like a tattoo or something. Kinda makes me wonder where mine is." "Oh, I'm sure you'll get yours soon enough. Everypony does eventually, you just need to figure out what your special talent is. Hey, maybe you could go with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I to our next Cutie Mark Crusaders meeting! We could use somepony who's a little older to make sure we don't get into trouble." "I'd like that. But can it wait until after the headache subsides?" "Our next meeting is on Friday after school. I'll come git ya at Fluttershy's." We spent the rest of the ride back in silence, mainly for my sake. We got back to the cottage at around 5:30, and Fluttershy was busy feeding her otters. The sounds of Mac's hoof steps drew her attention, and she flew over to greet us. "Hello Applejack, what brings you-" she stopped mid-sentence when she saw me, ice pack pressed firmly against my head. "Oh no, what happened? Are you alright?" "He hit his head pretty hard," said Applejack, helping me out of the cart. "It shouldn't be too bad, but I'd keep him off of his feet for a day or two." "Thank you so much, Applejack. I would've felt just awful if something happened and I didn't know about it," said Fluttershy, taking my weight off of Applejack. "Don't fret about it. You'd have done the same. See ya around!" she said, getting back in the wagon. Big Mac started pulling away, but not before Apple Bloom could give me one last wave and a smile. "C'mon, we need to get you inside, and I'll get you something to dull the pain," said Fluttershy as she led me into the cottage. "What were you doing, anyway?" "Applejack needed my help getting rid of some animals that were stealing her apples. She originally wanted you to help, but you were out at your little spa day, and I had nothing better to do." "Oh dear, if only I'd have been here. Oh, this is all my fault." "No, it's not your fault. You deserve a little time to yourself. Besides, it was my own fault that this happened." "What do you mean?" she asked, lowering me to the couch. Man, it felt good to get off of my hooves. "Well, Apple Bloom sort of dared me to fly through a fork in a tree and-" "-You hit the tree," said Fluttershy, matter-of-factly. "No, I made it through fine. It was the tree a few feet behind that has earned my irate hatred." "Well, no matter which tree you hit, you still need something for that headache. I think I have some pain killers in the cupboard." She walked over to the little hutch on the other side of the room and pulled a little white bottle out of it. She set it down beside me and knocked two pills out. "Here, these should calm the pain. Only take two a day though, and only if you need them." "Thank you, doctor," I quipped, scooping the little pills into my hoof and popping them into my mouth. They went to work almost immediately, a wave of relief rushing over my aching head. "Ah, now THAT is what I call relief," I sighed, stretching myself out on the couch. "So," said Fluttershy, sitting down on the floor next to the couch, "what else happened over at Sweet Apple Acres?" "Really, it was pretty much Apple Bloom and I scaring away birds. I kinda noticed something weird, though." "Oh? What was it?" "The thing is, I kept up a facade of scaring the birds, but it was really Apple Bloom doing all the work. The birds didn't seem to notice me at all, like I was invisible." "Hmm, that is sort of strange. My animals can see you and interact with you just fine. I wonder why those birds didn't?" "Well, whatever the reason, now is not the time to mull this over. I, for one, am beat. Chasing birds and nearly splitting your skull open takes a serious hit to your energy." "I imagine it would. You just sit there and relax, and I'll make you some nice tomato soup. Sound good?"  "Divine," I replied, my eyes starting to sag. "I'm just gonna rest my eyes for a sec. Wake me when dinner's ready, okay?" "Of course," she said with a smile. Man, I love her. Smile, that is. I love her smile. Stupid Freudian slip. Gotta watch that.