//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: My Little Pony: A New Apple 
// by Hopeful Soul 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5


By the time the sun rose over the land of Equestria, the always honest Applejack opened the door to her new son’s bedroom and stepped inside before walking right over to the crib, where the young Johnny Appleseed slept.
Applejack awoke the little baby boy, smiling rather motherly as she swooned over him.
“Rise and shine, Johnny.” Applejack cooed to him, tickling his belly. He giggled adorably, and she picked him up, wrapping his blanket around him to keep him warm.
It had been a little over a week since the Apple Family had accepted Johnny Appleseed into their home. The legal permits were to be approved any day now, and Twilight and company, , had decided that the townsfolk needed to meet the baby boy and get over their irrational fear of him, which was part of the reason why they currently had to hide him from them all. All that was left was to convince the Apple Family also.
Applejack trotted into the kitchen. Big Mac was already gone, out to the market to sell some apples and such in the early morning. Granny Smith was bent over a cutting board, slicing some Red Delicious apples for a pie. Apple Bloom was sitting at the counter, munching on a bowl of wheat flakes.
The two greeted Applejack. Applejack trotted over to Granny Smith’s side, fetching some specially marked milk. It was a special formula for Johnny to drink until her became old enough to eat solid food regularly.
The baby chugged the bottle of milk while Applejack took out a green apple from a ceramic bowl. She bit into it, its bitter taste washing over her taste buds.
Soon Johnny had finished. Applejack set the  bottle in the sink to be washed as burped the boy. After that, Applejack carried him back upstairs to get him dressed. Apple Bloom rushed over to them, giving both of them pecks on the cheeks before galloping out the door to school.
Applejack soon reached the summit of the stairs. 
She had asked Rarity after the first day if it wouldn’t be too much trouble to make a few garments for the boy, for no pony supplied such simple things for a creature such as he in Equestria. Rarity had taken his measurements and dropped off several outfits two days ago.
Applejack slid the boy into a plaid shirt, and then a set of denim overalls. For a finishing touch she placed two little white socks upon his feet.
“There you go, all comfortable like.” Applejack smiled while Johnny giggled and waved his arms.
Applejack had discovered that for Johnny’s kind to walk comfortably, a pair of shoes was needed at all times. But due to the fact that the baby could not complete such a task yet, special shoes for him were not a priority.



Later on that day, by the time Apple Bloom had come back from school, Applejack galloped back downstairs with Johnny in tow, having just awoken him from his nap and walked into the living room, where she saw that Big Mac had finally returned home and everypony else was there as well.
“Ah, Big Mac, good you’re here,” she said, pleased.
“Eeyup.” Her brother confirmed, nodding.
“So what’s up, sis?” Apple Bloom inquired. “You called a family meeting pretty urgently you know.”
“Is little Johnny doing ok?” Granny Smith added as Johnny held onto Applejack tightly and snuggled into her chest
“Yeah, he’s fine, anyways the reason I called ya’ll here is because that I think it’s time to show him to town and get them to calm down.” Applejack stated.
“What!?” They all said.
“But sis, if they see him they’ll run for the hills! Again!” Apple Bloom pointed out.
“Eeyup.” Big Mac nodded.
“Your brother and sister are right Applejack, it may not be the best time to show them off to the town just yet.” Granny Smith agreed.
“Hey, I know it’s risky, but I don’t know if I can keep this secret from the whole town any longer… and don’t think you or my friends can either.” Applejack reasoned.
The Apples all exchange glances and glanced away, which clearly showed that Applejack had hit the nail on the head during that last part of her sentence
“Look, if we can get everypony to understand that he means them no harm, it’ll be easier for him to interact with them without anypony being scared of him and we won’t have to isolate him here forever.” Applejack reasoned. “It’s the only way, ya’ll.”
The Apples looked at each other again, and without saying it, agreed that Applejack had a point.
“Alright, Applejack, we’ll do it your way.” Granny Smith relented. “But please tell me you got a plan of some kind.”
“Way ahead of you Granny. Me, Twilight and the others have already thought of ways to get nearly everypony in town gathered up in one place.” Applejack told her. “And I want each of you to gather up the rest, as well as set up the stall.”
“I can do that.” Big McIntosh said.
“Yeah, and I’d love to help gather everypony up!” Apple Bloom added, excitedly.
“I think I can help with that too.” Granny Smith added.
“Well, alright! Let’s get to work Apples, we only got one shot at this so let’s not mess it up!” Applejack told them. Her entire family stared at her, blankly.
“Yeah… no pressure, sis…” Apple Bloom remarked to her, flatly.
Applejack blushed and chuckled, nervously. “Sorry… now let’s do this.”
“Right!” They all said before heading out the door together.



Sometime later, Applejack informed her friends that the rest of her family was in and with that they all agreed to set their plan in motion.
Soon enough Granny was already waiting at the marketplace where the Mane Six and the Apple Family would be speaking to the citizens of Ponyville about their newest, and oddest, resident. Even Apple Bloom would be able to make it, for she had convinced Cheerilee to take the class on a field trip to the market to hear the speeches.
The two mares and baby sped out the door and onto the dusty dirt road.
The trio soon reached the bustling market place. Applejack could see Big Mac working their stall in one corner, and most of the Mane Six setting up a stage smack dab in the middle of the square.
The school foals and Cheerilee appeared on the horizon, smiling and galloping around the stalls.
Applejack saw Granny being drawn towards a particularly shiny pie tin, and set her free to go inspect.
The orange apple mare reached the stage just as Rainbow Dash, the last of the others, zoomed down and landed upon the newly constructed oak stage.
“Ok guys, this is it.” Rainbow Dash told them.
A white megaphone lay in front of Applejack. Twilight nudged her smiling.
“I think ya’ll should do this one, Twi, you being the princess here and all.” Applejack told the princess.
“Yes darling, I do believe you will have the most positive impact speaking to the crowds than the rest of us.” Rarity added. Twilight sighed and quickly worked up the nerve.
“Okay, I’ll do it,” she said.
Twilight took the megaphone up to her mouth with her magic. A few of the market goers had seen the stage and had come to inspect. A few had even spotted little Johnny and made a beeline for their homes.
“Attention, Ponyville!” Twilight cried into the megaphone. The whole market fell silent as everypony in a half a mile radius turned towards the purple pony princess. “I would like to speak about our newest resident. You may have already met him, but I know all of you probably fear him in some way.”
Murmurs and whispers broke about in the crowd, but they fell silent after about a minute.
“Fillies and gentlecolts… meet Johnny Appleseed, the newest member of the Apple Family!” Twilight declared as Applejack stepped forward and took Johnny out of her saddle bag before holding him up to the large crowd before them. He giggled at them and they all gasped.
“It’s the creature from before!” Roseluck cried.
“Run for your lives!” Derpy added, causing nearly everypony to run around screaming, their heads off while Applejack, her friends and her family stood there looking distressed and helpless to stop it all. Eventually, Johnny started crying also.
“Ooh, there, there, it’s ok Johnny…” Applejack tried to assure him.
“Don’t think he believes you…” Rarity noted.
“Don’t think I believe me…” Applejack confessed.
“Ooh… what do we do?” Apple Bloom whimpered. Eventually, Rainbow Dash had enough and stepped forward before raising her voice.
“QUIET!” Rainbow Dash yelled. Everypony then stopped in their tracks and the entire market quickly became dead silent as they all turned to her. Even her friends were stunned by her outburst, with Pinkie breaking the silence by clapping three times and very slowly also. “Thank you, now if all of you will just shut up and listen for a second, the Princess would like to say something. Go, Twilight.”
The Princess then stepped forward. “Thank you… Rainbow Dash…” she said, slowly before clearing her throat. “Everypony listen up, I know you’re scared of little guy but I assure you that he means no harm! He’s just a baby!”
“So what is he?” Lyra inquired.
“We don’t know.” Twilight responded.
“Can you send him back to where he came?” Aloe added.
“Well… we don’t know if we can…” Twilight admitted.
“Then how can you be so sure about him?” Bon-Bon accused. Other ponies then started to agree with her
“Look, he might be different, but remember Spike and Zecora? You all were a bit afraid of both of them, but when you got to know them, you all became rather good friends with each of them.” Twilight stated.
More murmurs broke out, as they realized her point.
“I say we give this child a chance. How would you feel if you were abandoned and then nopony wanted to look at you? To even think about you? Are we really citizens Equestria, the amiable and harmonious ponies who treat others better than we treat ourselves or are we a bunch of judgemental jerks who run in fear whenever we see something that’s not like us?” she asked, which struck a chord inside each of them. “So… who is with me?”
After some thinking the crowd began to feel guilty for how they acted and realized that she was right and thus most of the crowd cheered heartily. Twilight smiled, satisfied.
“Way to get them to listen, Twilight.” Spike congratulated her.
“Yes, I knew you had it in you.” Rarity agreed.
“Way to go.” Fluttershy smiled. Twilight smiled back at them.
“Johnny Appleseed everypony!” Twilight cried out as Applejack held him up again (Lion King Style) and the crowd cheered. Johnny laughed with joy.
As everypony went back to their everyday lives, Applejack smiled and gave Twilight a tight hug.
“Thanks Twi.”
“Always a pleasure.” Twilight said, sweetly. They both then looked outward towards all the many ponies walking about. 
“You sure everypony will be ok with him now?” Applejack inquired.
“Well, they seem to be all calm now, but there will always be somepony that doesn’t trust him, some still don’t even trust Zecora or Spike, but they keep to the themselves since they know everypony will hate them for it.” Twilight said.
“So what do you think?” The cowgirl asked.
Twilight gave her an assuring smile. “Don’t worry Applejack, just gave faith, they’ll all come around sooner or later. And we’ll be right with you to help raise this child,” she said. “Because he’s our responsibility. All of us. Together.”
“Aw, thanks again Twi. Really, I mean it.” Applejack expressed.
“Well, what are friends for?” Twilight said, sweetly as they hugged and nuzzled a bit. They soon stopped when they saw Rainbow Dash spooking some ponies or yelling at them with the Megaphone Twilight used.
“Come on, Ponies! This stage isn’t gonna move itself! Move it! Move it! Move it!” she yelled at them, repeatedly.
“Ok… one of us has to steal that megaphone away from Rainbow Dash…” Twilight observed, looking stunned.
“Agreed.” Applejack nodded as she slowly walked over and put Johnny on Big Mac’s back before she and Twilight both slowly scurried to the side while Rainbow wasn’t looking while everypony covered their ears to block out her various loud orders.
“Oh, could somepony please make her stop!?” Rarity proclaimed.
“That’s right everypony, follow me!” she cried before both Twilight and Applejack suddenly tackled her and then crashed.
“Thank you!” Rarity said, gratefully. This performance caused Johnny to giggle a bit.
“Um… shouldn’t we be concerned over the fact that Johnny seems to enjoy watching ponies fight?” Fluttershy pointed out.
Pinkie Pie thought for a little bit. “Hmmm…” she said, before pausing and then finally saying… “Nah!”
Fluttershy just sighed in dismay.