//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Set In Stone 
// by kudzuhaiku 
//------------------------------//

	Applejack looked at the colt in the bed with a strange sense of anger and pride. She sat there quietly, feeling conflicted, in a hospital room with her sister and her sister’s two friends. Sandow looked a little worse for wear she concluded, seeing his bandaged wing. And the dozen or so stitches just behind his right ear. The doctor had commented that Sandow was far more durable than the average pegasus and told her not to worry. Nurse Redheart had done much the same. 

She still worried. 

She had just found a new family member and she wasn’t ready to lose him just yet. Loss hit hard in the Apple family. And Sandow was definitely one of their own. She had seen his cutie mark. A rotten green apple with a worm sticking out of it. And wings. A tiny set of wings that mirrored Sandow’s own. 

Sandow began to stir, slowly moving, a groan escaping his lips. 

“Girls, I want you gone for a spell.” Applejack said, causing the fillies to whine and cry out. They left the room under protest. Applejack took a deep breath… 

“Sandow Rotten Apple, what in tarnation was you thinkin’ gettin’ into a slobberknocker with an goldurn thrice cussed owlbear you daggum fool?” Applejack said, letting her breath out in one long sentence. 

Sandow squirmed, wincing, Applejack’s voice ringing through his head. 

Applejack waited patiently, tapping her hoof on the wooden arm of her chair. 

“It was going to eat Sweetie.” Sandow said weakly, not opening his eyes. “Like a wedge of watermelon from the other night. Just bite right in.” 

“I know that already you jackass.” Applejack said, feeling remarkably angry. 

Sandow opened his eyes. “I had to do it. If I flew away, it might have gone after the foals again. I had to give them time to get away.” 

Applejack fell silent. She sat there for quite some time in her chair, She scowled. She glared at Sandow. 

“Applejack?” Sandow said, his tone pleading. 

“I was thinkin’ that maybe you had tried to commit suicide by owlbear when you had the chance. I was a bit peeved with you.” Applejack said, her voice low. 

“Oh.” Said Sandow, taking a deep breath. “I think I understand. I’m not that sort.” 

“Good.” Applejack said. “I’ll let it go. And I’ll try to forgive ya for being right stupid. Pickin’ a fight with an owlbear Sandow…” She shook her head. “Lucky you have witnesses, ain’t nopony ever goin’ to believe that.” Applejack cracked a faint smile. “I done heard what ya did, bustin’ that owlbear right in his acorns.” 

“Had to be done.” Sandow said. 

There was a giggle from the hall. 

“Girls, get in here. I know yer out there listening.” Applejack said. 

The crusaders burst into the room, all of them standing up on their hind legs, leaning on Sandow’s bed. 

“You saved us!” They said in unison. 

Sandow nodded, but said nothing. 

“What was you girls doing off in the Everfree anyhows?” Applejack inquired. 

“We visited Zecora and said hello. We was comin’ back when the owlbear ambushed us.” Applebloom explained in a drawl. “Came out of nowhere and we took off a runnin’.” 

Applejack nodded. 

“We found Rainbow Dash in the orchard, near her tree. She was getting ready to take a nap. We told her what happened.” Scootaloo said. 

“It was going to eat me!” Sweetie Belle said. “I was almost gobbled.” She squeaked. “I didn’t want to be gobbled.” She finished with a whine. 

“You owe me a story.” Sandow said to Applejack. 

“I do?” Applejack said, suddenly afraid of what sort of story Sandow might ask for. 

“I think so.” Sandow said. “I’ve told you some stories. And now I’m in this bed, hurting, and a little comfort might be nice. 

“I reckon so.” Applejack said. “What sort of story you want to know about?” She tensed, waiting.

“How did you get your mark?” Sandow asked. 

“Aw shucks Sandow,” said Applejack heaving a sigh of relief, “I can do that.” She smiled. “I decided to go a wanderin’ when I was a filly, and see what the big city was like. I went to see family. The Orange side. In Manehatten. It was uncomfortable and ponies was rude. They made fun of the way I talked. All the food there was funny and weird. They made me wear my hair up all froo froo like. I got lonesome. Powerful lonesome. I hated the city. I came home as fast as my legs could carry me. And I got my cutie mark. I done been here since.” Applejack nodded a few times, smiling. 

Sandow smiled. “Not much of a story.” 

“Well, there was one time I fought a chimera in a swamp full of flamin’ geysers.” Applejack said. “Had to go rescue Applebloom cause she went off and did somethin’ right foolish.” 

Applebloom squirmed in embarrassment. 

“Now that’s a story I want to hear.” Sandow said.