//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Small Stallion Is Small 
// by Fat1thatyoulove 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 10 – By the crackle of the fire

It has been a little over a half an hour since Applejack showed up at my house, and since then I have tiddey up a few things and hid a few others. Luckily though, the crackling fire that sits a little from the couch; which has done a really good job of warding off any chill as well as help to set a relaxing mood.

The tea on the little table in front of us that I may have made to hot still cools as I hold the conversation with surprising ease, "...So how come you're not wearing your hat?"

Applejack cocks a slight smile to the comment as she speaks up, "It's not bright out, why would I need it on?"

I shrug to the mare as I continue, "I have seen plenty of ponies wear sunglasses when there is no sun out, worse still even inside of a house."

The mare gives a little smirk to the comment as she speaks up, "Well ah never been one for sun glasses. Mah friend Rarity would be that kinda pony." She turns her gaze fully back to me as she continues, "Have ya'll ever meet Rarity? I mean shoot everypony in Ponyville probably knows everypony."

I nod to the comment as I slowly start to spark my horn up towards my own tea cup, "Actually she made my ties..." I float the cup up to my snout a little, but I do not take a drink as the lava like heat hits against my snout.

My previous sentence continues as I casually float the cup back to the table, "...I personally do not understand why everything have to be so flashy though."

Applejack's ear flicks to the comment as she slowly brings her voice out, "Well...I have never been one to speak ill about anypony, but sometimes I think she should realize not everypony in Ponyville needs to look like they're from Canterlot."

Trying to push her honest opinion of her friend aside Applejack continues before I can speak up, "So is that why ya'll don't wear them ties?"

I shake my head to the comment, "Actually no, I only wear them for work."

My words slightly bring the mare's smile down a little as she cocks her head, "Ah don't really know what you do." The mare slight rubs her hooves together as she gives a little laugh, "Ah mean shoot you seem to know everything about me, and all I kinda know is what Granny Smith says."

A slight smile comes to my face as I nod, "I'm a mortician."

Applejack blinks to the comment for a moment as she lowers her head a little, "You mean like you work with d-dead ponies?"

I nod completely unfazed by the mare's slow voice, "Of course." I proudly bring my hoof to my chest as I continue, "I cut them, drain them, stuff them and fluff them." I smile as I wiggle my hoof a little, "I also have to get the color just right."

My slight smile fades as I look over the mare's expression, "Well at least you know now." I turn my attention back to the tea as I float i back to me.

Applejack's voice comes back up as she cocks her head to me, the emerald green rims of her eyes almost looking through me, "How can ya'll be so happy when you have to do stuff like that? A-and in Ponyville, you had to have seen just about everypony at some point."

The cup of tea floats beside me for a moment as I think over her words, however turn back to her as I shrug, "I have just never had a problem with death. We all have to face it at some point in time, no sense in getting worked up about it."

The orange coated mare just blinks to me as I continue, "...It also has its own benefits."

My sentence pauses for a moment as I take a sip of the tea, not bad by the way. But as I swallow the little sip I bring my voice up, "...I have learned that life is to short to be sad, so I always try to find the brighter sides of things."

"So ya'll just put on a smile at everything?" The mare shakes her head as she speaks up, "I could never find the brighter side of things if our apple trees stopped making apples."

I crack a slight smile to the comment as I float the cup back to the table, "At least you wouldn't have to send all day in the hot sun, and you would not have to hurt your back bucking trees."

A slight laugh comes up from the mare as she rolls her eyes, "Ya but then we would not have much of a farm would we?"

"Hey, I said I find the brighter side. I never said it would stay bright."

My words bring a little laugh from the mare, which actually catches me off guard a little as I just perk my ears up to the unique sound of this serious mare's laugh.

However, the sound is quickly lost to the room as she looks me over, "Alright then Stony, what would've been the bright side of our little situation. Because for the last few days I've been worried to show my face outside, think'n that you would've called the guard."

I blink to the comment as I bring my voice up a little, "Well at least I got lucky."

The mare shakes her head as she speaks up a little though a laugh, "You're a bold little pony aren't ya-..I-I mean not that your small I just you know-..."

I wave my hoof the mare's stuttering as I shrug it off, "It's fine Applejack."

A fading one ha laugh comes from the mare as she rubs her hoof to her neck, "Sorry."

That word slightly rolls my eyes as I speak up, "Like I said Applejack, you really don't have to apologize."

As my voice comes down there is a slight moment of awkward silence, which I hope was not brought up by that fact of the couch we sit on.

However the silent is quickly brought to an end as the mare turns her head towards the dark window, "Well Stony, I think i'm gonna have to head home soon. I wouldn't want Big-..."

Before her words can come to an end the booming sound of the front door comes to the room as we both quickly turn our heads to the panting red stallion that stands in the doorway.
Applejack stands from the couch as she brings her voice up, "H-hey Big Mac."

The stallion just pants as he blinks between me and the mare, however as I hold eye contact I spark my horn up as I slowly float the tea cup towards me, "Yes, hello Big Mac."

My words bring the stallion's winded voice up as he speak to the orange coated mare, "A-applejack what'cha doing out so late?"

The mare's stance shifts a little as she speaks up, "Ah was just talk'n with Stony. Now what are you doing galloping all over Equestria? You know them Zap apples could come in any day. You did stretch before running right?"

Big Mac just blinks to the mare's response as he takes his head up, "S-sure but-..."

Applejack waves her hoof to the comment as she speaks up, "No buts Big Mac, you know it's important to stay ready for the next few weeks."

The big stallion nods to the smaller mare as she continues, "Now i'll meet you back at home."

Big Mac slowly turns from the door as he turns his eyes towards me for the moment. I naturally just smile to him as I take another sip of tea.

But as the stallion moves from the doorway Applejack turns back to me, "It was nice to talk Stony..." She slowly continues as she rubs her left hoof to her right leg, "...Although maybe next time I'll make the tea."

The words flick my ear as I think her comment over for a moment, she actually wants to go through with giving this a chance? My thoughts quickly bring my head into a motion as I nod, "O-okay."

Applejack gives a little smile as she nods her head, "Night Stony."

I nod back as I bring my own voice up, "G-good night Applejack."

As my words ring to the room the mare torts towards and then out of the door.

I stare to the door until it closes, and when it does I continue to just stare to it as I run through everything we had talked about. Most of which I still can not believe, however I clear my mind as I speak up to myself, "Next time..."

End of chapter 10