//------------------------------// // A Culmination of Efforts // Story: Finding a Home // by Jeckard Cain //------------------------------// Chapter 11: A Culmination of Efforts "They look pretty cute together don't they? A young voice chirped out. "Eeyup." said another voice which was much deeper and more authoritative than Sparrow would have liked. Sparrow opened his eyes to take a look at the voices around him. Turns out that the storm was there all night, and so Applejack had slept on the couch huddled up next to Sparrow using his wing as a blanket. As his eyes adjusted to the light around him he saw the figures of both Applebloom and Big Mac standing in the living room discussing the current situation they all found themselves in. "I mean, he's only been here for a week, you think they're movin' a little fast?" Applebloom wondered aloud "Har har little sis," Applejack stirred under Sparrow's wing and lifted herself off the couch. He shifted up himself and stood off the couch to stretch out his wings and legs as well "Maybe it's too fast, maybe it's just the right pace. Either way, I like how it's goin." Sparrow turned his head and grinned at Applejack, she returned the grin and nudged his side "Don't be gettin a big head about it now." "Oh never, I'm known for my humility." Sparrow sat on his haunches and straightened his back. Applebloom snickered as Applejack crossed the room to give her sister a playful noogie. "What? You guys don't believe me? I'm the best source on information on me that I know." Sparrow breathed on his talons and rubbed the sharp edges against his chest to brighten them. Fits of giggling filled the room as Sparrow lost his bearing as well and chuckled at his own dumb joke. Big Mac even seemed a little amused. **** After helping to clear the table from breakfast Applejack whispered to Sparrow to follow her outside. Once he had exited the front door a hoof wrapped around his left claw and pulled him around the corner of the house and into a secluded area next to a tree. "I wanted to wait until we were alone to talk a bit more about last night and the last week you've been here." "Oh" was all Sparrow could say as he sat down across from Applejack, her orange coat was shining in the early morning sunlight. All of the clouds of the previous night had disappeared giving way to a bright blue empty sky. Sparrow shifted uncomfortably. Applejack continued "So last night was..." she looked like she was having trouble describing it, so Sparrow decided to interject. "It was special. To me at least." Sparrow placed a claw on his chest for emphasis, he felt his heart beating faster and faster. "That was the first time I've told anyone that story, and with how much you've shown that you care what happens to me maybe it was wrong of me to be so forward, but I really feel strongly about you after everything that's happened and with you taking care of me. Besides a few other ponies you've been the single kindest pony I've ever met besides my mother." "Sparrow please..." Applejack took her hat off and brushed her golden mane out of her eyes, he noticed a tear hovering in her left eye before she brushed it away. "I understand how you feel, I feel it too. But don't you think that all this might have just been brought about by a rush of feelings after staying here with us all? What if, what you're feeling is just a spur of the moment and you'll just move on once your goal here is met?" Sparrow looked down to the ground as blades of grass rustled freely. He thought of his answer and looked Applejack in the eyes, her beautiful emerald eyes. "I came to Ponyville to race Rainbow Dash after hearing about her speed from Gilda. Through my journey across Equestria I've learned that life is more about just trying to be the best. It's about all the ponies and griffons and giants you meet along the way. It's also about finding a place you can really be yourself, either a place in the physical world, or finding a place within your own mind where you can finally accept yourself and your place in the world, if that makes sense. I understand your hesitation in, us," that felt weird to say, but it felt right "but I think we should give it a shot. I felt happier than my entire life when you sat with me last night Applejack, and I wouldn't ever give that feeling up on finding a new goal for myself. I want to sit with you again, and again, every night, for as long as I can." Applejack stared into Sparrow eyes looking for any shred of a lie. There was none. Sparrow could see her mind racing as she thought about all that he had said and he thought for sure that she would reject his feelings. Instead she crossed over to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Sparrow felt her mane brush against his feathers and he lowered his head to press against hers. "Okay then Sparrow. I'm a little scared of what might happen, but let's give us, a chance." Sparrow couldn't help himself as he wrapped his claws around Applejack's slightly smaller frame and pulled her close to hug her. His heart was beating furiously in his chest, and he felt warm. **** The rest of the day passed fairly uneventfully. Sparrow and Applejack would both steal glances at each other every once in a while and smile to each other before getting back to work. During their breaks they would sit together and just enjoy each others company before getting back into the job at hoof. It was late into the day when they had finished their work on the trees and were heading back to the house. "Those were some pretty good techniques you were using today Sparrow." Applejack noted to him as they walked together "Where'd you pick them up from?" "From watching you buck." Sparrow grinned like an idiot to the mare even as she gave him a light smack to the head. "What? I have to learn from the best to do my best right?" Applejack just sighed loudly and laughed as they continued on. They spent a few minutes in silence as crickets began chirping throughout the orchard "Well Sparrow, if today is any way to go by how we are going to work out, then I'd say there's a pretty darn good chance we'll get along better than a hog in mud." "That's good to hear. I think." Sparrow spoke hesitantly. As they reached the farmhouse they noticed a blue mare with a rainbow colored mane leaning against the farm house waiting for them munching on an apple. "Took you two long enough, get lost in the orchard for some fun?" Applejack blushed and Sparrow couldn't help himself as he giggled. "What're you doin here Rainbow? Come to gloat about somethin'?" Applejack pointed a hoof at Rainbow as the mare finished her apple. "Nah, I'm here for my race." Rainbow stepped forward from the house up to Sparrow "Unless you're not ready?" Her nose was right next to Sparrows beak, close enough that he had to back up onto his haunches a little. "Wasn't that until next week though?" Sparrow asked "Eh, I figured one week was plenty of time for you to prep, you seem to be capable enough. So, wanna go?" Rainbow Dash looked like she was practically twitching with anticipation. Applejack leaned close to Sparrow "You don't have to you know, you just recovered from bein sick, no need to go pushin yerself right? Sparrow looked to Applejack and beamed "Nah, I think I'm ready as I'll ever be." "Alright!" Rainbow Dash whooped and did and back flip in the air "Let's go right now, we're burning daylight here!" As she finished she took to the skies and motioned for Sparrow to follow. He complied and spread his wings to lift himself from the ground. Applejack reached up to grab Sparrows leg, he turned around at the contact and smiled at her "Don't you fall an hurt yerself now ya hear? I don't need to take care of you by myself for another couple days." He nodded to her and took off with one large flap that sent him whizzing into the sky. Once Sparrow reached a cloud that Rainbow Dash had been resting on he sat down on it as well. "Took you long enough. Anyways-" Rainbow stood up and stretched out her wings "You ready? Were going to be flying in a large circle around Ponyville to come back down above Sweet Apple Acres. After hearing about you from Gilda and how well you kept up with me on cloud busting, I'm expecting a good challenge. Don't let me down alright?" She playfully nudged Sparrow's side as he nodded. The griffon and pegasus took to the air from the cloud. Rainbow began counting down "3...2...1...GO!" **** Rainbow and Sparrow lowered themselves to the ground as Applejack and Applebloom with her friend, a small dark orange pegasus with a magenta mane, approached them. The small filly shouted out "Rainbow Dash! That was AWESOME! I don't think I've ever seen somepony keep that good a pace with you before!" Rainbow Dash walked over as she panted for breath, she placed a hoof over the filly's mane and patted softly, "Thanks Scootaloo, couldn't have done so well without you cheering me on." Then filly then left Rainbow's side to trot over to the griffon who was breathing heavily drinking heavily from a water bucket that Applebloom had supplied, "Hey mister, I know you did your best up there. Thanks for racing with Rainbow Dash though, that was so much fun to watch!" Sparrow swallowed and looked to the filly "Thanks for the thanks and all the cheering, it was nice to hear something like that. Even though I lost, I still had so much fun." He grinned to the filly "My name's Sparrow by the way. And you are?" "I'm Scootaloo, the president of the Rainbow Dash Fan Club!" She puffed her chest up and spread her small wings and buzzed them. Sparrow grinned at her "Well if I had known I would be meeting the president of Rainbow's club today I would have worn something more formal." They both shared a laugh before they both returned to the group of Applebloom, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash stepped over to Sparrow and nudged him "Hey, no hard feelings right?" "None at all. That was by far the absolute best race I've ever been a part of. I gotta get your training program." Sparrow replied to Rainbow with enthusiasm. "Well my training takes up most of my day, if I'm being lazy then I can do stuff like this, but most days I'm busy working on my flight routines and other stuff." Rainbow Dash shined a hoof on her chest and grinned proudly. "Never mind, I like free time." Sparrow joked, which everyone responded with laughter. "Well, at least the race was kind of close right? "Eh, maybe. I couldn't tell because I was in the lead the whole time, or maybe you just like looking at my flank, HA!" Rainbow Dash was laughing loudly to herself as Applejack raised an eyebrow to her and both Applebloom and Scootaloo were already off whispering about what Rainbow Dash had implied. "Well either way Sparrow, it was a good race. So thanks for indulging me." Rainbow Dash reached out a hoof with Sparrow bumped with his talons all balled up, something he had seen other ponies do but he did the best he could with what he had. "Anyways, I gotta get going so I can write this letter." "What letter?" Applejack asked as she stepped over to Sparrow and stood next to him. "Oh nothin, just a letter of recommendation to Spitfire about Sparrow here trying out for the Academy." Rainbow said quickly before she took off and flew away before either of them could say anything else. "Academy?" Sparrow looked to Applejack who looked surprised. "The Wonderbolt Academy, where the team of Equestria's greatest flyers train others to join their ranks." Applejack stated. "Oh wow. I didn't think I warranted that kind of recognition." Sparrow sat down on his haunches and swished his tail around on the grass behind him. "Would that be something you think I'd do well with?" Applejack tilted her head and took a minute before she responded "You'd definitely be good at it, but that would mean leaving here." Sparrow felt Applejack press closer to him "Oh..." "It's fine if you want to go Sparrow. I know you said you weren't gonna leave here in search of another goal, but if you didn't go I think you'd regret it for the rest of your life. If it goes through, then do it. I'll be here when you get back, the whole family will be here and we'll all welcome you back." Applejack sighed. Sparrow looked up into the sky as night started to overtake the day. He would have to make a choice, he knew that the Academy could be an amazing chance for him. But he had found such an amazing place here with the Apple family. Do I really want to leave after such a short time here? "I don't know Applejack, I definitely feel like I should, but I don't know if I want to leave here either. Would you hate me if I left?" Applejack pressed closer to Sparrows beating heart and he could feel her tail lay on top of his behind them both. "I don't think I could ever hate you Sparrow. I think you should follow your dreams though, you've found one part of your dream here, why not chase the second part there and find that one too?" Sparrow took a minute to process what she had said to him, "Alright, I'll do it. I'll go to the Academy." He turned his head and looked into Applejack's eyes before she shut them and brought her face up to his and kissed his cheek. It felt funny against his feathers, but he still loved the feeling. Sparrow craned his neck down and nuzzled Applejack and wrapped a wing around her as the evening pushed ever forward. Sparrow and Applejack sat outside the farm house that night. He wouldn't have traded that night for anything else in Equestria.