Starry Skies over the Apple Orchard
Chapter 6
Luna carefully walked up the stairs to the second floor of the Apple farmhouse, making sure that she did not agitate her leg any further. Line Prancing probably wasn’t the best choice of activities for this afternoon, but it was much too fun to be missed. Besides, it is only a minor sprain and should be fine by tomorrow, Luna thought to herself as she reached the top of the stairs. Luna looked down at Apple Bloom, who walked a few steps ahead of her, and saw the filly slow down and turn around to face her.
Apple Bloom raised her right hoof and pointed at a door. “This here’s the bathroom.” She lowered her right hoof and started walking again, stopping in front of a door at the end of the hall. She opened the door, turned on the light, and then looked back at Luna. “And this is our spare room. It might be a little dusty around the edges, but we keep it clean,” she said as she smiled up at Luna.
“Thank you,” Luna replied as she looked down at Apple Bloom, “this room will be wonderful.”
“You’re welcome, Starry Skies. If you need anything, just let us know,” Apple Bloom replied. “There are clean towels and washcloths in the bathroom closet if you need any.” She walked over to the bedroom closet and opened it. “There are also a few robes if you like...sometimes it gets a little cold after a bath.” She closed the closet and then walked out of the room and down the hall to rejoin the family downstairs.
Luna turned and exited the spare room, turning the light off as she left. She went down the hall and walked into the bathroom. After closing the door, she walked to the closet. Upon opening the closet doors, she was greeted with the sight of a number of towels and other supplies. She collected a large towel and then walked over to the bathtub, laying the towel onto the stand that stood nearby. She looked at the bathroom door to double-check that it was closed, and then took a deep breath. As she slowly exhaled, her horn lit up and she was surrounded by a glow. Her disguise spell slowly faded, and in moments she had returned to her normal form. She took another deep breath, extended her wings, and stretched as she slowly breathed out. Luna repeated this once more as she stretched out first her front legs, and then her back legs. A good stretch, and a good soak, will do wonders for my leg and is the perfect start to the evening, she thought to herself.
Luna reached over and turned the water on, put her hoof under the stream of water to feel how how it was, and made adjustments until the water was just the right temperature. She watched as the tub began to fill, and then looked back and forth, grinning as her horn lit up. A flash of light accompanied by a popping noise briefly lit the bathroom. After the flash went away, a small bucket sat on the floor, filled with small boats and two rubber ducks. Grinning widely, she lifted a rubber duck and squeezed it. She listened to it as it squeaked, and then put it and the rest of the toys into the tub. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes, now I remember. When last we saw our heroes, Valor Mallard was heading towards the Mystic Bubble Mountains of S’oap…”
*-*-*-*
Big Macintosh sat in front of the fireplace, watching a few logs cheerfully burning. As he watched the fire, he could hear the logs crackling, as well as the creaking of Granny Smith’s chair at the other side of the room. Whew, that was close. Starry really saved me by coming to dinner. He lowered his head and rested it on top of his front legs. He continued to watch the fire dancing over the logs in the fireplace, having a peaceful moment to himself. Hoofsteps could be heard walking down the steps towards the living room. Big Macintosh turned his head to look behind him and saw Apple Bloom walking down the stairs.
*-*-*-*
Luna pushed the rubber duck around a large mound of soap bubbles.
And so Valor Mallard quickly hid behind a rock to escape those who were pursuing her.
”Who knew that the Mystic Mountains of S’oap were inhabited by territorial sheep?”, said Valor Mallard. “The S’oap Baa’r were friendly enough until I suggested climbing the mountains to explore ancient ruins.”
Valor watched as the group of S’oap Baa’r ran by the rock. She waited for five more minutes to make sure that the road was clear before stepping out from behind the rock.
Luna reached behind her to grasp one of the toy boats. She quickly pushed it towards the front of the tub, causing a small wave to move ahead of it. When the wave hit the front of the tub, it bounced back towards Luna, carrying the other rubber duck with it from where it sat at the front of the tub.
Unknown to Valor Mallard, one more member of the S’oap Baa’r had fallen behind the group that was chasing her.
Luna looked ahead and saw the second rubber duck bump into the first rubber duck. She blinked and watched the two rubber ducks floating beside each other in the tub. After a few minutes of staring at the rubber ducks, she lifted the second duck in her hoof and held in front of her face. Her horn lit up, and the duck became surrounded by a magical glow. The duck changed from yellow to a reddish color, and some of the feathers on its head changed color as well. She lowered her hoof and placed the rubber duck, which had been transformed to resemble a certain stallion in the Apple family, next to the first rubber duck in the tub. Luna’s horn lit up a second time, and this time the glow surrounded the other rubber duck; Valor Mallard changed to resemble Luna’s coat and mane.
”My lady, please forgive me for running into you and knocking you over. The S’oap Baa’r are no longer friendly towards outsiders and I needed to get away from my camp as fast as possible.” Valor looked at the duck, and saw that he was dressed as a knight would dress in a non-combative assignment.
”And who might you be?” she said with a questioning look.
Luna moved the second duck closer to the first rubber duck.
”I am called Mighty Mackenzie, but you may call me Mack. Please, allow me to carry you to safety,” said Mighty Mackenzie as he helped the lady duck to her feet, noticing that her leg had been hurt during their collision.
Valor looked at Mackenzie as he gently lifted her up onto his back. “Thank you, Mack, for your help. I am Valor Mallard, but you may call me Valor.”
*-*-*-*
Big Macintosh continued watching the fire as he thought about everything that had happened during the day. As his thoughts wandered towards the accidental kiss during brunch, he felt a warmth in his cheeks that did not come from the fire. He quickly blinked his eyes and then thought about the afternoon they spent in the park.
Unseen by Big Macintosh, Granny Smith grinned as she watched the stallion. Suddenly, she stopped rocking in her chair and her ears swiveled to catch a sound coming from another room. “Brr,” she said as she started to shiver. “Big Macintosh, would you be a dear and get the blanket that I keep on the quilt rack up in my room?”
Big Macintosh stood up and turned around to see Granny Smith shivering in her chair. “Eeyup,” he said and then walked towards the stairway to go upstairs.
Granny Smith shivered and rubbed her sides as she watched Big Macintosh leave the room. After he was no longer in sight, Granny Smith resumed rocking her chair with a smile.
*-*-*-*
Luna pushed the two ducks over to the side of the tub. “And so, we leave our heroes at the traveller's lodge for the night. What lies in store for our heroes? How does Valor Mallord feel about all of this? What does Mighty Mackenzie think about everything? What shall our heroes do?” Luna grinned, and said, “To be continued…”
Using her telekinesis, Luna gathered the rubber ducks and boats and placed them into the bucket that was sitting by the tub. With a flash, the bucket disappeared again. Luna sat up and looked around, and spotted a bottle of shampoo sitting on a shelf. She levitated it in front of her muzzle, opened it, and breathed in the aroma. Smiling at the pleasant smell, she squeezed some onto her hoof and then began rubbing her scalp and mane. She took a deep breath, and began singing as she washed her mane.
“I travel all around the land,
And see what I can see.
But there are none to call my own,
Or walk around with me.
I saw the place where once I lived,
Before I left to roam.
I cannot recognize it now;
The trees are overgrown.
I once had family and friends,
But now they are unknown.
No matter how I wish it so,
I cannot go back home.”
As she finished washing and rinsing her mane, Luna rubbed her face to clear away the water and soap. “Alas, it has been quite some time since we last sang this one. ‘Tis an old song, but a good one.”
*-*-*-*
Big Macintosh stood at the top of the stairs with one hoof on the top step. He paused when he heard the first notes of the song, not wanting to make any sounds to ruin the music. He had heard many ponies singing before, but this voice was enchanting. He listened as Luna sang, not moving a muscle.
All too soon, the song ended and he could hear movement in the bathroom. Slowly, he resumed walking towards his room. As soon as he neared the bathroom door, there was a flash of light from a magic spell being cast, and soon afterwards the door opened. Luna took a step into the hallway right as Big Macintosh had reached the doorway. Halting just in time to avoid another collision, he grinned at Luna. “Your song was mighty pretty, Starry. I didn’t know you could sing like that.”
Luna froze, and her eyes opened widely. Oh...that’s right...this is not the royal bath in Canterlot. These walls are not designed to muffle sound. “Oh, um, thank you,” she said as her cheeks slowly darkened with a red tint. “Tell me, was there anything else you heard?” Luna slowly asked, and then held her breath.
“Eenope,” answered Big Macintosh with a small shake of his head. “I came up to get a blanket and heard you singing when I got to the top of the stairway.”
Releasing her breath in a quiet exhalation, Luna smiled in relief.