//------------------------------// // Chapter I- The Granny and the Knight *edited* // Story: FOR SHOVELRY! // by RedStar76 //------------------------------// It took a couple of good heaves, but AppleJack and her brother brought the creatures back to the barn. They were both wearing what looked like armor. The one with the red armor was scuffed up a little though, so they brought it to the barn, and brought the blue armored one up to AppleJack's room. Until, of course, the blue one woke up about half an hour later. "Where is she?!" AppleJack would say she was fairly strong, but this creature pinned her down without a problem. Hearing the noise, AppleBloom ran upstairs to see what was wrong. "AppleJack!" AppleBloom looked terrified, thinking that whatever that thing was, it was about to eat her older sister. Thankfully instead, it grabbed its shovel a headed for the door, and she immediately jumped out of the way. Once it sounded like it was out of the house, AppleBloom trotted up to her sister. "Are you alright?" "Been better sugarcube," AppleJack said getting back up on her hooves. They cautiously went outside. Big Mac trotted up to them and pointed at the barn. He was able to lead the blue guy there and now he was with the red one in the barn. AppleJack sighed and said, "All right, ah'm gonna go get Twilight for some help. Make sure they stay in the barn- wait, where's Granny?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shovel Knight held Shield Knight in his arms, sitting on a bale of hay. She was sleeping, thank the gods. He was not entirely sure what exactly had taken place. The last place he remembered being is in that mine. Were they attacked? He was uncertain. As long as they were in a safe place, they should be okay. "Ya'll look mighty tired," Shovel Knight heard a southern accented voice. Such an accent was rare in the land. Looking up, he saw a lime green colored creature. Now being calm, he tooked notice of the creature's details. It appeared to be frail, even elderly with its white hair. So he did not worry about possible danger. From the lighter tone of voice he assumed it was an elder female. Looking at her though, she appeared to share a build similar to that of a horse. No, something smaller. Perhaps a pony? "Indeed I am." he responded, realizing how fatigued he actually was. "Well, ya'll can rest here as much as ya like," she smiled. Shovel Knight took notice of his surroundings into greater detail. He appeared to be in a barn of some sort. "Is... this your home?" "Well ah don't sleep in here, that's for plum sure," her soft smile encouraged him for further conversation. "My apologies miss. We truly did not intend to invade your home." "Now ya stop that. Ya'll were the ones that were scruffed up out in the orchard. Ah'm just happy ya'll are alright." "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality," Shovel Knight said happily, a smile under his helmet. "Pleasure ta help out some fellow farmers." Farmers? Why would- Oh wait... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hm hm hm," Rarity hummed happily as she trotted down the street. Today has been a wonderful. She received two new orders for dresses, both from Canterlot, just this morning. On top of that she got an AMAZING deal on the fabrics for the dresses. Today was positively the best - day - EV--- A whoosh went through the air. Looking up, expecting to see Rainbow Dash doing some sort of stunt once again, she was surprised to see a purple trail instead of a multi-colored one."That's odd," Rarity commented. Twilight rarely flew at such speeds unless it was a true emergency. Looking ahead, she then saw her friend AppleJack galloping with haste down the street. "AppleJack?" "Sorry Rarity, can't talk now!" she said as she galloped by. "Wait!" she said, concerned for her friend. She galloped up and along-side AppleJack. "What's going on?" "Ya wouldn't believe if ah told ya. If ya wanna help them come on!" AppleJack said increasing her speed. Rarity galloped after her friend, wondering what sort of emergency could be going on. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Shovel Knight lost track of time as he continued to talk with Ms. Smith. He had become well acquainted with her over what he assumed was about an hour or so. His previous assumptions were confirmed as she was indeed a pony. As it turns out, she part of a rather large clan, and she along with her grandchildren live here in this Sweet Apple Acres. From her description, it sounded like quite the large orchard that was just outside the barn doors. "I see. You sell your apples and apple treats in a local market?" "Yup, we make deliveries too. Course' I do all the bakin'" she said, clearly proud of her abilities despite her old age. As they got deeper in conversation, the more he learned about the world he and Shield Knight were now currently in. Equestria, was name of the country. His thoughts slipped back to Shield Knight at brief points during their conversation, still asleep in his arms. He had some explaining to do about their current situation when she awoke. "Are ya sure ya'll are alright sugarcube? Ya haven't even taken off that there helmet of yours the whole time ya been here." Ms. Smith asked politely concerned. "Oh, yes." Shovel Knight rarely took off his helmet. It was lighter than it looked, he was easily able to breath, and of course always provided protection for his head. He wore it when he slept. Perhaps he should take it off- "Granny!" Shovel Knight turned his head to his left side, seeing the somewhat exhausted looking orange pony bursting in through the barn doors. "Shh!" Ms.Smith shushed her, "Can't ya see we've got somepony sleepin'?" she said pointing her hoof to Shield Knight. "S-Sorry," the orange pony said trotting to Ms.Smith's side, turning to look at Shovel Knight. "Good. Now then-" Ms.Smith cleared her throat,"Mr. Shovel Knight, ah'd like ya to meet my granddaughter AppleJack." AppleJack and Shovel Knight stared at each other, both waiting for the other to say something. Nothing but silence. "Um, I am sorry about before," Shovel Knight said apologetically to AppleJack. "Ah, a-apology accepted," AppleJack cautiously said. "*Huff, Huff* Honestly, AppleJack, could you be bothered to slow down a little next time?" A pony, this time with a coat of snow white fur and violet mane, entered the barn. Followed by another pony with lavender fur and a mane of deeper purple with a magenta stripe in it. "Sorry Rare, I was in a bit of a rush," AppleJack smiled sheepishly. At first, Shovel Knight believed them to be more of Ms.Smith's grandchildren. Until he noticed a peculiar difference. They all had markings, or rather symbols, on their posteriors. Both AppleJack's and Ms.Smith's had that of apples and apple pie respectively. However, these two other ponies had symbols that of what appeared to be diamonds and a six pointed star. Perhaps these markings signified their clans? "Mh..." Shovel Knight looked down, hearing the slight mumble. "S-Shovel...Knight?" Shield Knight said, stirring from her slumber. "Shovel Knight?" she sat up on his lap as the ponies looked at her. "Shield Knight, you're awake," he said putting a hand on her back to keep her steady. "Are you feeling alright?" "I suppose so, a little drowsy," she carefully moved off of Shovel Knight and the hay bale, regaining her footing and balance. "Well, hello there missy!" Ms.Smith joyously greeted Shield Knight. "Oh, yes... hello..." she looked at Ms.Smith, not exactly knowing what to her address her as, or even knowing what exactly she was to begin with. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Twilight wasn't sure what to make of this. AppleJack knocked on the door of the palace with the speed and fury of a jackhammer. She said that two odd creatures had landed in the orchard and that Granny Smith might be in trouble. Now though, she wasn't even sure what was going on. Granny Smith was fine, and that's what mattered. These creatures on the other hoof, seemed to be more of the injured ones, if not fatigued. In fact, they seemed rather nice. Though, the question that still needed to be answered for her was simple- Who are they?