//------------------------------// // Ch 4 // Story: The Lost Cousin // by caveman0803 //------------------------------// Apple Risotto was flying away from Sweet Apple Acres deep in thought. When he decided to move to Ponyville his original intentions was to work as a line cook for a couple years, make a couple friends, and eventually open his own place of business. What he didn’t expect was to get off the train and immediately run into a member of his family that he didn’t even know existed. On top of that get dragged off to an apple farm and get told by some deranged old mare that not only is she his grandmother but that his father was a scumbag who only bedded his mother for the sake of getting laid. If that wasn’t a lot to think about Risotto didn’t know what was. He kept flying towards Ponyville Proper until he saw a cloud that looked rather comfortable. He laid on the cloud and watched the various ponies go about their business. One pony however caught his attention. The first thing he saw was more like a pink blur but as he focused on the blur it turned out to be a pink earth pony mare moving around saying “Hi” to everypony she came in contact with. Everything she did amused him. She would play with the young ones for a few minutes or she would help somepony with an errand. As he watched Risotto wasn’t aware of a prismatic pegasus glaring at him. “Excuse me” said a voice behind Risotto. Surprised doesn’t even begin to describe how Risotto felt when this mysterious mare spoke to him. He felt like he jumped straight out of his hide. He quickly turned around clutching his chest to see a very annoyed cyan pegasus. His eyes were immediately drawn to her rainbow mane and then to the annoyed expression on her face. "Uh hello there miss. Can I help you?" He asked. "Yea, you can move out of my way." Said the cyan mare. "Oh my apologies miss, I didn't realize you were clearing the clouds today. I guess I'm a bit distracted right now." He replied "Ya whatever; who are you anyways? I know every pegasus in Ponyville and I've never seen you around." She asked. "Oh I'm sorry. My name is Apple Risotto and I just moved here after staying in Canterlot." Risotto explained "So are you a member of the Apple Family?" She asked. "Yeah but I only just found out." Said Risotto. "Excuse me?" She asked with a questioned look. "Well...." He proceeded to tell the cyan pegasus his entire life story whether she wanted to know or not. "And that's my story." He finished. "I see. Well you're in good hooves now. Applejack takes good care of her friends and family." She said. "That reminds me. I don't know your name miss." Said Risotto. "My name is Rainbow Dash. Maybe you've heard of me." She said with a cocky grin. "Actually, my mom talks about you all the time." He said "She says that you're a good weather manager but you need to stop sleeping on the job." Rainbow Dash was speechless. "Uhh who exactly is your mom?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Rainy sky. She's the regional weather director for Cloudsdale, Ponyville, Canterlot, and Seaddle." He explained. "Wow, I didn't realize your mom was so important." Rainbow Dash said. "Yeah, don't worry though I'll make sure she knows what a good job you do." He said with a small smile and a wink. "Thanks." She said "So I noticed you checking out my friend earlier. You got the hots for her?" She asked with a sly smile. "Your friend." He said while trying to hide his blush. "Who's your friend?" "You know, the lovely pink mare you were watching from afar." She said teasingly. His blush could rival the color of his mane. "I....I don't know what you're talking about." He said trying desperately to hide his blush. "I wasn't watching anypony from afar. That would just be creepy." Risotto stated. "Hey now I wasn't trying to make you look like a bad guy. I just noticed you watching Pinkie and thought you might be interested in talking to her." Rainbow Dash explained. "I'd like to but I've never had any experience with dating or anything like that. Nopony really wanted anything to do with me in school." He said with a depressed tone. This confused the cyan mare. "What do you mean exactly?" She asked. "Well I was a bit of a social outcast in high school. Nopony wanted anything to do with me and the one time I got up the courage to ask out this mare I had a crush on she gave me a disgusted look and just laughed and laughed and laughed. From then on I just kept to myself. I didn't even go to my high school graduation." He finished his story with a sigh. "Sounds like you went to school in Cloudsdale." Commented Rainbow Dash. Risotto replied simply by nodding his head. "Hey, no worries. You're in Ponyville now and you're a member of one of the nicest families in Ponyville. Not to mention your friends with the awesomest pony in all of ponyville." Rainbow Dash said with a smile on her face. "I am?" He questioned "Of course. Why wouldn't you be. From what I can tell you're a really nice guy and anypony would be lucky to have you as a friend, plus you can cook! That's bonus points towards getting a mare." She explained. "Well I never thought of it that way but maybe you're right. Thanks Rainbow." Risotto said. "Now let's head back to Sweet Apple Acres. I think Applejack might be getting worried." Rainbow said. They flew off together, after Rainbow busted the cloud, and headed back to Sweet Apple Acres to talk to Applejack and the rest of the Apple clan.