Asinine Details
The train pulled into the Ponyville train station in the late afternoon, the sun just an hour or two away from hitting the dusk line. As per usual, the commuters quickly filed out with the hustle and bustle of the race most had just seen. All ranging from happy and excited to bear witness, to many crying or chuckling about bets both won and lost.
As Macitnosh and the Elements departed, his sister gave a few words of good bye to her freinds before beginning the journey back home. However, there was a third companion to accompany them back to the orchard.
"Uh, Fluttershy?" Applejack asked, looking to her friend.
"Oh, I'm sorry." The pegasus squeaked. "But, I told Applebloom that I'd come to see how Sin was doing."
While it wasn't strange for Fluttershy to be so caring to other another pony's and their well being, the stallion in question wasn't particularly fond of her. The fact she was more concerned for his injuries over his rather... condemning personality did speak volumes to her character.
No objection being given from the Apple siblings, the three ventured forth with a silent and almost palpable tension. With what was said on the train ride, any words would just be awkward or lead to an argument that he'd rather avoid.
Thankfully, the destination came quickly. Even had Granny Smith and Applebloom sitting out on the porch waiting for them.
"Yay!" The filly proclaimed before running and tackling the elder mare. "So, how was th' race! Was it fun? Did y'all buy me anything?" Applebloom demanded, bouncing up and down.
"Easy there, sugarcube." Applejack said, attempting to calm her sister down.
"Ah'll never understand dem races." Granny commented, nursing her forehead. "Jest a bunch of ponies goin' round in circles, if ya ask me."
Chuckling, Mac couldn't help but agree with his Grandmother. Out of all of them, it was Rainbow Dash who was the most enthralled with the race in and of itself. Hay, if it weren't for the fact he had a few bits on a pony, he wouldn't have been interested at all past the first five minutes.
While Applejack tried to answer to the fillies interrogation, Fluttershy followed him up to the porch and into the house before guiding her to his bedroom.
"Hey Sin, y'all up ye-" He stopped and looked at the empty bed with naught but a haphazardly tossed blanket on the floor to insinuate that anypony had been there at all. Mac's eyes shifted and he stepped forward to grab a pair of broken black goggles from the floor.
'How did that happen?'
The two did a shallow sweep of the up stairs before treading back down and asking about the injured pony.
"Oh, he left." Granny said with a simplicity that was far too dismissive for her character. The two looked to Applebloom for confirmation; who's story was a bit more detailed, but still the same conclusion.
According to her, Sin and granny were talking in the kitchen until she tripped and caused a big mess which he helped clean up and she and her friends saw him walk out the door a few minutes later.
Mac shouldn't have been surprised, if the stories about him surviving in the mountains with a broken leg were true, him getting up after collapsing from exhaustion should be expected at this point.
With mild concern, the pegasus sighed and excused herself from the home. No reason for her to be here if the pony she was looking for wasn't.
"So, how'd yer date with that pegasus, go?" Granny seethed.
AJ rolled her eyes. "Why ya gotta say it like that? And it went fine, thank you very much."
The elder mare scoffed. "Ain't no wondarvolts gone do no good werkin' the fields, missy." She slowly wondered back to her seat. Far more slowly than usual, Mac noticed.
"What are you gettin' at?" AJ challenged.
Granny Smith hissed as she lowed herself to the polished wood, taking a breath and her grand daughter and look. "Do Ah need tah spell it out fer ya? Farms need Earth ponies, not pegasi foals!"
It took a minute for the implication to set it, but when it finally did, Mac had to stop himself from bursting out in laughter as his sister's cheeks burned a red that put the apples on her cutie mark to shame. "G- granny Smith!" She stammered, a slew of unintelligible and half words failing the flustered mare, serving the rest of her kin's amusement at her expense.
The look on the elder mare's face was stern, almost serious. But, the small smile that threatened to overtake her quickly betrayed her portrayed prejudiced and she broke quickly.
Granny went into geazerly chuckle that quickly spread to her grandson, and eventually, despite her being flustered, Applejack. Even Applebloom had joined into the merriment.
In times like these, Macintosh loved being around his family. Laughing light heartedly at one pony poking teasing fun at another with out any passive aggressive undertones. Just playful fun.
Why couldn't his life be like this all the time?
"Hey Mac?" Applebloom called, the other two still snickering. "What's everypony laghin' about?"
As Twilight and Spike were about to head to the Library, Rainbow Dash tapped the drake's shoulder for a quick word. Figuring it wouldn't take too long, he sent Twilight on and promised to catch up.
"Soooo, what did ya think?"
"That was pretty awesome, actually." He replied cooly.
"I know, right?!" Dash almost squeed. Obviously she found the entire event a bit more exciting, understandably since it was her passion after all.
After recounting the days events for the fourth time since the train ride, a small awkward silence past between the two. Spike wasn't really sure why she kept him back just to ask him about that.
"Soooo..."
He looked at her with a brow quirked.
"Since we've done what friends are supposed to do, are we better friends?"
'Ohhhh, so that's what this is about.' He had to bite his tongue to stop himself from chuckling at his own dimwittedness. The entire point of his invitation was so that he and she could bond. In all reality the bonding was minimal, but it was a start and defiantly a more exciting day than the typical.
Allowing himself a small smile, Spike nodded and gave her a sincere thank you for his inclusion as more than just a tag along. Yea, it wasn't anything new that he would join the girls for events like this, but to be personally invited? That was a unique circumstance; and defiantly one that he could appreciate.
After the typical pleasantries of promised plans the two parted ways. It didn't hit him until now but that pesky lightness in both his shoulders an neck that precluded a yawn crept on. With a soft inhale and exhale, Spike rubbed his eyes and commented on his lack of energy. Apparently the race had taken a bit more out of him than he thought. All well, he'd pass off as soon as he got back home.
Though, as he approached the Library he found Twilight standing outside the front door. The reason being a... griffin stood in her path.
He approached and found the two talking about something before both breaking into laughter.
"Oh, dear, oh my. That Shopenhoof is quite a delight." The griffin proclaimed. Both his voice and the slight greying of his feathers both gave light to his age, same with the small balding on the top of his crown. Still, the fire and twinkle in the cross breed's eyes spoke to his inner youth as well as his muscular form. Considering the shear size of the saddle bags that lay on the steps to the library, it would appear he was a wonderer.
Had it not been for the light atmosphere, the darker feathers and utter size of the beast would be quite intimidating, especially since Griffians were genetically larger than ponies.
"Oh my, is that a baby dragon?" Spike suddenly became aware of the two orange and red eyes beaming right at him.
"Yep, that's my assis-" Twilight paused. "This is my good friend, Spike." She introduced. "And I'm Twilight Sparkle, Local Ponyville Librarian. What's your name?"
"Oh wow." The griffin rubbed the back of his neck. "Where are my manners. My name is Tycan, but you may call me Ty."
That name, he couldn't put his claw on it, but Spike thought that name sounded familiar some how.
"Well, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." The unicorn mare smiled with the up most enthusiasm. Aside from Rainbow Dash and a few others, not many had such a high appreciation for literature, especially for the more sophisticated works.
Both Tycan and Spike repeated the gesture.
"The pleasure is mine."
"I haven't seen you around Ponyville before." Spike spoke, testing his theory. "What brings you here?"
Twilight was about to scold him for his bluntness but the Tycan beat her to the punch. "You would be correct, sir. I'm not a resident, but I've come here to find something."
"Oh? What would that be?"
"Spike-"
"You know, I'm not entirely sure. Well, I suppose you could say that I'm here to find a few things, actually."
"A few things, huh?" The drake eyed skeptically.
Spike knew it wasn't fair how cynical and judgmental he was being, but his prior experiences with griffins wasn't exactly the best. What with Rainbow's friend Gilda and that one time when He and Mac put in three days of labor for a few dead rats as contracted by a Grifonian caravan.
Though, that was mainly his fault for not reading the fine print.
"Spike, don't be rude." Twilight scolded.
"Easy lass, I can understand the boy's skepticism." Tycan proclaimed heartily. "From my understanding, Ponyville isn't exactly known for its peace and quiet."
While Spike could appreciate his feelings given affirmation, it was true that he was being rude.
"Oh that's right. What time does the library open tomorrow? I'm guessing it's a little to late to rent anything?"
With a blush of embarrassment, the librarian explained that they had been out for the day and gave him the official time of opening.
"Fantastic." The traveler smiled before turning away to leave, "thank you for the information."
"Sure thing. Will we see you tomorrow?"
"As sure as Tapio Bearking is the ruler of the forest." He nodded quainlty before disappearing into the town.