//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 (Edited!!!) // Story: Crimson and Gold: An Unlikely Friendship // by TwilightAppleDash //------------------------------// Today looked like being a pretty good day. The sun had just risen into the sky, yet there was still a fresh crispness to the air. Perfect for a round of Apple-bucking! I paused for a moment and wafted my old Stetson across my face and hair, puffing from exertion. Beside me, Big Macintosh was just collecting up the apples that had missed the buckets. We had been out for about twenty minutes already, and both of us were kept plenty warm in the chilly sunrise. I placed my hat atop my head again and reached my arms around the tree. There was a great shiver in the tree as I shook the thick trunk, and a cloud of soft, crimson apples fell into the buckets I had carefully placed around the tree’s circumference. Standing back and admiring my handiwork, I couldn’t help but feel smug as after watching Big Mac collect up his fallen apples, I was greeted by the satisfying sight of all my apples evenly filling up the buckets, with not a single one touching upon the ground. “Darn it!” Cursed B.M, stretching out his back as he loaded up with buckets. “Ah swear yeh’ve got some kind o’ talent fer this. Ah’ve been doin’ it fer years, yet ah still can’t tell where them apples’re gonna fall each time!” “Aw shucks, bro.” I replied, turning and flashing a grin up at him. “Ah may be able to land em in all in t’buckets, but it takes real skill to carry that many bucket loads, all at the same time!” He shrugged and hoisted a basket of apples over his back, while picking up two more. “Ehh, strength’s all this is, when y’all been buckin’ apples long as ah have, it’s nothing to lift this many.” We walked the short distance to the storage room in silence and dropped off our cargo. “Besides.” He continued, punching me playfully on the shoulder. “That bucket load yeh carried here t’aint nothin’ to sniff at!” We carried on bucking apples for a couple of hours, and by the time we finally called it quits, the sun had well and truly risen in to the sky. “Weel, ‘bout time ah got off to school ah guess.” I mumbled, wiping the sweat from my brow as we stood by the storage room and admired our hard work. “Make sure yeh grab a shower ‘fore y’all go.” B.M. replied, pretending to recoil from me. “Y’all are pollutin’ the air ah’m breathin’ with yer sweaty stink!” I gave him a good natured shove and together we headed up the hill towards our home. “So.” Big Mac said, an amused smile upon his face. “Y’all gonna hang out with ol’ Flutters in ya free period again?” I flushed faintly and growled at him, as he smiled knowingly. “Y’all know that’s not why ah’m headed to school!” I cried hotly, knowing that he was just messing around, but mad all the same. “Believe it or not, but ah have a B grade average to uphold!” “In everything, except Drama, which y’all only have a D+ in.” Chuckled Mac “Well ah ain’t never seen the point in horsin’ around, pretendin’ to be what we’re not!” I fired back, glaring up at him. “That stuff’s for Pinkie, she gets a kick out of it.” Even though I was kind of in a rush to get to school to hang out with Fluttershy and the others, (Shut up!) somethings just cannot be rushed. I sighed in pleasure as the hot water ran over my bare skin and swirled through my hair, relaxing my joints and releasing tension. After I got out of the shower, I wasted another couple of minutes debating whether to braid my blonde mane of hair, but decided to wear it long, slipping my trusty Stetson on top. Besides, Flutters had told me she preferred it down. When I had got to school, my friends were all hanging out in our usual spot, the equestrian horse statue/portal thing. Drawing nearer, I notified them of my presence by calling out a cheerful greeting. “Mornin’ Y’all!” Squealing, Pinkie skipped over to me and threw her arms about me, enveloping me in a warm hug. Rainbow nodded at me from where she was lounged against the statue, head-bopping a soccer ball. Rarity was busy on top of the foundation block, hastily scrawling bourgeoning fashion ideas into a small and un-necessarily elegant notebook. My heart leapt with joy as I found Fluttershy, who was busy studying with Sunset, or at least trying as a small and irate bunny kept jumping onto her work. “Now Angel,” I heard her gentle voice as I broke out of Pinkie’s strangle hold and walked into the group circle. ‘I know that you want a carrot from my backpack, but I’m afraid that you’ll need to wait just a few more minutes. This 1000-word essay on the roosting habits of Eurasian Eagle owls simply needs to be done before first period!” Crouching beside her, I slipped my arms around her and rested my cheek on her shoulder. “How’s mah favourite little Fluttershy?” She smiled and putting down her pen, she pulled off my hat and ran her fingers through my hair. “I spent the morning helping out at the animal shelter.” She replied, standing up and hugging me back. “I’ve been so busy these past couple of days that I simply haven’t had the time to focus on my homework.” “You’re not alone there sister.” Replied Rainbow, expertly flipping her soccer ball from her head to her foot, not breaking her rhythm. “Between soccer try-out and volleyball practices, I’m getting way behind on my subjects.” “Well dear, I would imagine that the best way to get up to date would be to actually study, instead of messing around with that ball of yours!” Rarity huffed impatiently, still scribbling away at her notebook. “What, and ruin my reputation as the King Jock?” Rainbow replied, incredulous. “Uh thanks, but no thanks.” She lost her concentration and the ball slipped off her foot and hit the ground. Rubbing her neck in reluctant agreement, she added in a rueful tone. “Though, I guess you’re right. I’ve got nothing on tonight, so it would be….” Here she paused and took a deep breath, looking nauseated before continuing. “….A good idea to put in an hour or two of study.” “Rainbow, if you want, I could always swing by your house after school and help you out.” Sunset offered, looking up from her homework. “A problem shared is a problem halved after all.” “Or even thirded!” Pinkie cheerfully snag, scarfing a cupcake that God alone knows where she got from. “If that’s a word!” “Sounds like a good plan.” I agreed, sitting back down and holding Flutters. “We could meet up at mah house for a bit o’ studyin’ and mebbe even have a sleepover!” “That does sound like a good idea.” Fluttershy replied, resting her head on my shoulder. “Just as long as there’s snacks and video games for afters.” Rainbow added, smirking at me. “Y’know, so I can beat Applejack at her own games.” Too comfortable to get up, I contented myself with tossing a pebble at her, which she neatly dodged. “Ooh, ooh, ooh!” Squealed Pinkie jumping up in excitement. “I’ll bring some snacks along and we can make it into a sorta party! I’ll bring chips, dip….and.” She continued, drooling and staring vacantly, lost in her own world. “Sweet, delicious and moist and sweet cupcakes.” “And ah’ll provide the beverages, this is turnin’ into a mighty fine plan, ah do declare!” I replied. “Oh….well…” Stammered Sunset. “Yeah sounds….great, you should totally have a sleepover study party!” “Ah really shouldn’t hafta say this, but Sunset, y’all are comin’ too!” I told her. Even though the events at the fall formal happened a year ago, Sunset still had trouble adjusting to the fact that she no longer had to rely on herself anymore and that she had six other friends to count on. That and she also had to endure daily taunting and teasing from the other school kids that hadn’t forgiven her. Well she only had to endure them when none of us were around her, basically very little. I know she's changed. It's just.... I just feel like I need to be cautious around her, like I can't be myself as naturally as I could around the others. I know that Sunset knows how I feel about her, and I feel really guilty, because I know how it makes her feel, like even among her closest friends, she still had trouble with friendship. I try to get over these feelings and I've told her that I've forgiven her for bullying me. All that's water under the bridge now. I think she thinks that I'm not very friendly to her because along with the rest of the school, my brother and little sister were brainwashed when she went she-demon, about a year back. Honestly, I wasn't impressed and still aren't, but then we've all done things we're not proud of. Shit, I know I have. But it's hard, trying to push aside my gut feelings. I can't help but think, what if she goes demon again? I figured that it would be a good idea to host a studying/party thing at mine, so I could maybe talk to her and get to know her a little better. Her face lit up and she smiled joyfully. “Thank you A.J.” She responded, then her smile faded as she looked away. “I keep forgetting that I have you guys now.” She continued softly, lost in her own world. “I keep fearing that one day, you will all turn your backs on me and kick me back to the gutter, where I belong and should be.” “Now really, dear.” Rarity said, pulling off her glasses and sitting up so that she could better see us. “You really must stop fretting about us abandoning you at the drop of a hat.” “Sunset, we accepted you because we knew, deep down, in our hearts that you’re a changed person.” Fluttershy added on. “Since last year, you have really begun changing your school reputation and recast your image in the school.” “Fluttershy’s right!” Replied Rainbow, twirling her ball upon her finger. “You have definitely changed. Heh, besides, it sure is nice to have a girlfriend who can give me a run for my money in athletics for a change.” “You’re a completely different person now.” Chimed in Pinkie. “Take last year, for example. Back then you were a mean and backstabbing and incredibly nasty person who dedicated her schooling career towards breaking up friendships and relationships!” Sunset winced and I shot a frown at the bubbly pink girl. “Pinkie! Ah don’t think Sunset here needs a reminder ‘bout the person she was before she understood friendship.” Pinkie apologized, seriously and I continued, addressing Sunset directly. “In the time, we’ve gotten to know ya, y’all have been a kind, generous, loyal, honest girl, always keen to share a laugh or two. Anyway, it’s not like any of us haven’t done something in their life that we ain’t proud of.” She brightened and a smile crossed her face once more. “Thanks girls, you are the greatest people I could ever have asked for as friends.” Just then the bell went, and amid mutterings and groaning’s, we packed up and got ready for first period. “So, just to recap.” Rainbow commented, sliding her bag over her shoulder. “After school today, we all meet up at yours, and study for a couple of hours.” “Then the night is ours!” I agreed, enthusiastically and helped Fluttershy up. Then we headed our separate ways, each cheerfully thinking hours ahead of the plan for that night. Little aware of how drastically our lives were to change in a matter of hours.