//------------------------------// // 10 - Flight // Story: Homemade Kites and Whatnot // by getmeouttahere //------------------------------// The road home for Applejack was long and winding, but it was finally nearing an end. She was up with the sun and on her way soon after, bidding farewell to her presently annoying brother and kindly grandmother to start on her way back to the family farm. What followed was ten hours of traveling at a brisk trot as mile after mile passed her by, with several more hours of necessary breaks to rest sprinkled along the way. The last fourth of the trip was the worst part of all, considering the harsh winds and rainstorms she had to pass through, but the last mile itself was thankfully clear, with sunlight peeking through the clouds as if to show her the way. But as grueling as the trip was, it wasn’t all bad. Though she’d never readily admit it, she was happy to have a reprieve from all that thankless work. What she would readily admit was that she was also looking forward to seeing her little sister again, as well as all her good friends. In hindsight, five days away from home really wasn’t much, but it felt like an eternity to her, and she was glad the trip was over. She passes through the entrance gate a little after dinner time, still somewhat soaked from the recent downpour and exhausted from her travels. Her first order of business after trudging inside the farmhouse is to head to the bathroom and towel herself dry. Once that’s done, and she looks at least a little less like she just showed up after running an endurance race, she heads to the kitchen to try to track down her little sister and have a quick bite to eat to renew her energy before she has to hit the road again for Sugarcube Corner. “What in tarnation…?” But the sight that greets her as soon as she gets there freezes her in her tracks. There, framed by golden light from the window and seated at the kitchen table is a particular pink pony, happily snoozing away, a snot bubble rising and falling as she snores. “Pinkie Pie?!” Applejack whispers, her confusion at the sight of her friend napping in her kitchen still unable to overcome her manners. She trots over to the sleeping mare, only to notice the bags under her still-closed eyes and the tiredness on her face. The poor pony looks absolutely exhausted, so Applejack resists the urge to wake her and instead starts poking around the kitchen for any clues as to why she decided to take a nap here of all places. The first thing that catches her eye is the sight of the list she left for her little sister, unfurled in the table’s center. Each task has been diligently checked off, and she smiles with pride. The thought of Apple Bloom then causes her to wonder just where said little sister was, considering she hadn’t run into her yet. Was she out in one of the fields or outbuildings, or maybe running an errand in town? Before she can consider it further, the sound of the back door opening, along with the pitter patter of little paws on the hardwood floor draws her attention to Winona, who runs and leaps into her hooves the second she catches sight of her. “Alright, alright! I missed ya too!” Applejack giggles, trying to dodge the doggy tongue darting around her face while keeping her voice down. “Were ya a good girl while we were gone?” The faithful border collie answers with a low whine, her tail wagging so hard that she nearly wiggles out of Applejack’s grasp. Carefully, Applejack sets Winona down, ready to reward her with some much-desired bellyrubs, but an unfamiliar clicking sound draws her attention back to the door for a moment. Curiously, the screen has closed on its own, and when she stands to her hooves and trots over to investigate, it’s easy to tell why. “Would ya look at that…” she mutters, her emerald eyes following the length of the elastic bands now connected to the doorframe. Gently, she places a hoof on the door and pushes it outwards, watching with amusement as it’s pulled back, clicking into place in the two-way latch. “Ya were really busy while we were gone, weren’t ya, Apple Bloom?” “Woof!” Winona loudly agrees. Instantly, the pink pony’s head pops up from the table, her eyes frantically sweeping back and forth. “I swear I didn’t do it! Everything was already covered in frosting when I got there! I…” Applejack fixes her friend with a deadpan stare. “Have a nice little nap there, Pinkie Pie?” “AJ! Wow, you’re back early!” Pinkie exclaims, quickly ramping up to her usual level of boundless energy. She wastes no time in hopping out of her chair to give her orange friend a big hug. “’Cause you called me back here, remember?” Applejack replies with a roll of her eyes, trying to ignore the pink cheek pressed to her own. “Ya should be in town bakin’ up a storm right now if your deadline’s tomorrow like ya said. What in tarnation were ya doin’ here snoozin’ the afternoon away on our dinin’ room table?” Pinkie’s eyes widen. “Oh! The festival! Yeah, we finished all the baking for that already. Mr. Cake went to make the delivery earlier this morning.” “You WHAT?!” “Yep, yep! We had to pull two all-nighters in a row to get it all done in time!” she giggles. “So… you’re tellin’ me…” Applejack murmurs, one of her eyes twitching involuntarily. “That I came all the way back here early as fast as I could for nothin’?!” “Uh… well, our schedule got real crazy a few days back and I maybe kinda sorta forgot I sent you that letter,” Pinkie replies, sheepishly looking away and tapping her front hooves together. “Whoopsie!” The exhausted farmpony groans and massages her temple with a hoof, working in desperation to stave off an inevitable migraine. “Oh, for the love’a— consarn it, Pinkie!” “My bad!” Applejack lets out a deep sigh, pushing her frustration away as best she can. “Well, what’s done is done… there’s no use gripin’ about it now. D’ya happen ta know where Apple Bloom is?” “Apple Bloom?” Pinkie tilts her head, tapping her hoof in thought. “Oh, she’s probably at Non-non’s. She wasn’t here when I came by this morning to bring food over, so she must’ve left already.” With a relieved sigh, Applejack trudges over to one of the dining room chairs and hops in, placing her head on the table and closing her eyes as if to start napping just like Pinkie was mere moments ago. “Anon’s, huh? Well, that’s good. I’m real glad she didn’t have ta spend all week by her lonesome. But poor Anon’s probably at his wit’s end by now, ‘specially since nopony asked him whether he wanted ta be a foalsitter or not this week. I really owe him one for this.” “Oh, I don’t think he minds that much. Apple Bloom says they’ve been having lots of fun making kites together!” Applejack smiles. “And that’s another thing… how in the world did she talk him inta that? Anon doesn’t seem like the kite-flyin’ type ta me… I mean, can ya imagine him runnin’ around on those two long legs’a his…?” She raises her head from the table and laughs. “It’d look right silly, don’t ya think?” “Oh, Non-non’s really fast when he wants to be,” Pinkie replies, giggling a few times herself and prompting Applejack to wonder exactly how she knew that. “But Apple Bloom told me the kites were his idea to start with. She’s just helping.” “Ya don’t say…?” Applejack murmurs, her curiosity piqued. “I wonder what—” “Hey, I know!” Pinkie suddenly exclaims, hopping out of her seat. “Why don’t we go visit them right now? We could even take some of the food I brought with us and have dinner together if they haven’t eaten yet!” Applejack sighs and shakes her head. “Pinkie, I just spent the entire day on the road… the last thing I wanna do now is walk all the way ta Anon’s house on these achin’ hooves. Apple Bloom oughta be back soon, anyhow, and I’m sure I’ll see Anon again later in the week, so…” “But don’t you want to see the kites they made?” Pinkie asks, a look of pleading in her sapphire eyes. “C’mon AJ, it’ll be fun! I mean, it’s not like you have anything better to do now, right? Don’t worry, I’ll carry all the food, all you have to do is come with me!” Pinkie bounds over to the refrigerator and opens it, digging around for the food she left there earlier in the day, while Applejack merely chuckles and rolls her eyes. It’d take more energy than she currently has to get out of this, and really, the idea didn’t sound so bad once she thought about it. She was anxious to see her little sister, as well as Anon, and she was curious just what they’d been up to together while she’d been gone. Plus, a little more walking on sore hooves was nowhere near as bad as the sleepless night spent baking she thought she’d be facing when she got home. The pink party pony, her saddlebags packed with food, moves to the front door and calls after her, and Applejack stands from her chair to follow. Patting Winona once more for good measure, she carefully closes the back door, admiring her sister’s work on the screen, then joins her overly-energetic friend at the entrance. Together, the two set out, crossing first through the Acres’ gate and turning down a familiar path just off the main road which skirts the forest’s edge not much later. Leftover rainwater drips from the leaves of the trees lining the path, and the muddy road itself is covered by many large puddles that they carefully avoid. The breeze, while constant, is warm and soothing thanks to the humidity spurred on by the last few hours of daylight shining down upon the forest, painting the surroundings with a faint golden hue. Applejack closes her eyes and breathes deep, relishing the feeling of the steady wind across her coat and listening to the sound of her hooves against the earth and the quiet, joyful humming of her friend. Soon, she can sense the change in the land as they travel. The leaves on the trees seem to retreat into their buds as they pass by. The clouds above gather together, painting distinct bands of light and shadow upon the trail. The wind changes too, from calm and steady, to strong and still. At certain times, she has to hold her hat with a hoof to prevent it from being torn away, while at others, the quiet is so striking that each hoofstep echoes like thunder in her ears. A familiar home appears in the distance not much later, and with it the sensation of a very light drizzle of rain upon her back. The two quicken their pace, eventually reaching the covered porch and its promise of safety from any sudden downpours. Pinkie raises a hoof and knocks on the door, but after several minutes, and many more enthusiastic follow-up knocks, no reply is heard. “Doesn’t seem like they’re here, Pinkie Pie,” Applejack sighs. “If they were headin’ ta the farm from here we would’a passed ‘em on the trail, so I reckon they must be in town.” “Hmmm…” The pink pony’s ears twitch to and fro, her tongue stuck out in concentration. “Nope! They’re here somewhere, I can tell. Hey, I know, maybe they’re out back flying right now! Let’s go see!” The farmpony shakes her head, holding her hat steady with a hoof as another gust rolls across the porch. “Pinkie, there ain’t no way anypony with any sense would be out flyin’ kites in this weather. Apple Bloom might be crazy enough ta try, but I know Anon’s got way more sense than that. Now c’mon, we oughta head back ta the farm while there’s still daylight left. They might even be there ahead of us if they were comin’ from Ponyv—” Before she can finish, the pink party pony has already turned and leapt off the porch, following the path from the front of the house to the back yard. Applejack lets out an annoyed grunt and follows after her, well aware that there’s no point in trying to convince her to head back until her curiosity is settled. Once more, she feels the light pattering of raindrops across her back as she passes through the yard and the dense line of trees at its far edge. She weaves around the trunks, following after the cotton candy tail just ahead of her until it suddenly comes to an abrupt stop and she’s forced to stop as well. Applejack steps around and alongside Pinkie, who stands still at the edge of the band of trees that divides the home and its yard from the large field just beyond. For a brief moment, she almost asks her friend why she decided to stop here of all places, but instead finds her gaze drawn forward to a sight which robs the words from her mouth. The light of the setting sun washes over the field, framed by the swirling clouds in the distance. Already, stars are visible in the deep blue sky overhead, shimmering between the constantly shifting gaps torn through the azure bands by the wild winds. The colors of the setting sun tinge the horizon with brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange, shifting the hue of the dancing leaves of the distant western trees, almost as if autumn has arrived once more. The light travels across the tall grass, which waves in every direction at the wind’s whim, painting some in deep shadow, while others shine as if they were wheat ready for the harvest. Even to a pony like Applejack, who’s witnessed sunset after sunset during long days working in the fields, the scene is breathtaking and beautiful, and she can’t help but admire it. But more breathtaking still, and the very thing which roots her hooves in place and prevents her from either moving or turning away, is the sight of the lone kite that sails in the sky above the field. It too holds the colors of the sunset; of gold and scarlet and fire, as if it were a fragment somehow pulled and captured from the sun itself. The very colors around the sweeping embroidery seem to shift with the light as the long tails billowing from its wings weave back and forth, painting sweeping patterns as if the sky itself was an artist’s canvas. The airy dance is mesmerizing, and for a moment she wonders if she’s hallucinating from her fatigue, but a wayward raindrop falling on the tip of her nose forces her to blink, and when she opens her eyes again the kite is still there, along with the two unmistakable silhouettes standing in the field, also framed by the sunlight and nearly as radiant. Anon stands there amid the tall grass, arms crossed and watchful gaze trained upon the kite high above. The many pieces of clothing that he wears are damp with rain, but they still manage to flow and flutter in the strong wind. In contrast to her own overwhelming sense of awe, Anon’s simple smile reveals that he’s satisfied to merely witness the spectacle unfold, trusting completely in the in the smaller figure nearby while also quietly watching over her, ready to lend a hand should it be needed. The sight causes an old memory to come to mind, and Applejack’s breathing hitches for just a moment as a youthful feeling she thought she’d long forgotten suddenly wells up in her heart once again. And it becomes all the more pronounced at the sight of Apple Bloom, her little sister, red mane and tail matted and wild from the wind and rain and the kite’s spool held confidently in her mouth as she runs to and fro. Her genuine and joyous laughter rings out clearly despite the wind’s howl and each step she takes is nearly as light and airy as the kite itself, which somehow, despite the fact that it should be impossible to fly on such a day, she directs with the same effortless grace a bird would display when sailing from one branch to the next. As her emerald eyes watch the two of them together, she recalls the letter her sister wrote her, and she smiles brightly as a new meaning behind the words and the simple drawing appears. It makes itself known each time the little pony looks back at the human with every turn she takes, searching for his approval, or just to make sure he was watching her, just as she herself did so many years ago, when she turned back after a first nervous and clumsy cast of a fishing line into that small stream, yearning for the guidance and reassurance that every child, at times, so desperately needs. Tears well in her eyes as the memories swirl around her like the wind, and the realization comes that the beautiful kite her little sister so expertly guides is proof of the time she and Anon shared together; moments she would’ve spent alone and miserable without her family which were instead found in the company of an unlikely, though clearly beloved new caretaker and friend. With a shake of her head, Applejack wipes the scattered tears away with her hoof, remaining still and silent for fear of somehow intruding on the scene. It seems the two haven’t noticed either her or Pinkie yet as they stand just outside of the field, partially hidden by the trees. Pinkie herself has remained oddly quiet, too, and when Applejack glances over to check on the pink mare, she finds that she’s simply watching the two with a goofy smile on her face. It warms Applejack’s heart, and she feels a strong urge to whisper some words of thanks to her friend. But it’s instead a gasp of surprise that suddenly leaves her mouth as she witnesses what happens next. Out of the blue, the wind howls and swirls stronger than it has all afternoon, and it pulls the kite, its fabric soaked through and heavy now thanks to the light rain, sharply to the side. Apple Bloom, though caught by surprise, has the sense to move with the wind, but already it’s too late to prevent what’s to come. The gale mercilessly drives the kite into the bare branches of the proud sycamore tree which stands atop the hill in the field’s center. In an instant, the beautiful fabric is torn to pieces, the wooden rods of the frame bend and snap, and the two tails are shredded and pulled apart, wrapping themselves all around the branches. The little pony drops the spool of line onto the grass, the line itself now hopelessly tangled in the tree and useless. She stands before it and watches the wind move the torn fabric and ribbon back and forth, as if they’d suddenly become leaves, and Applejack’s heart sinks at the loss of something they must’ve worked so hard on together, and which must’ve held so many happy memories for them both. “Oh, Apple Bloom…” she whispers under her breath, the strong instinct to run over and comfort her sister compelling her tired legs to move. But before she can take a single step forward, a pink hoof is raised to stop her, and she finds herself captured by Pinkie’s strangely focused sapphire eyes. “No, wait. Just watch.” The odd seriousness in Pinkie’s hushed tone compels her to follow the advice, and she remains where she is. The fierce wind, which not a moment ago was the cause of the tragedy, has disappeared entirely now, and it’s so quiet she can even hear Anon’s footsteps on the grass as he walks over to where Apple Bloom stands. Her little sister’s ears perk up when she hears the human approach, and she’s certain when she catches a glimpse of those golden eyes again, they’ll be filled with tears. But when Apple Bloom turns back to face him, there isn’t a hint of sorrow in her expression. She stands tall and confident, wearing a big, happy smile and with excitement in her voice. “Did ya see it, Mr. Anon?! Did ya see how it flew?” Anon takes a seat on the ground next to her and pats her head. “I saw, and I couldn’t believe my eyes.” He pulls his hand away, showing her a soft smile of his own. “I’m so proud of you, Apple Bloom.” The little pony responds to his words with a cross between a laugh and hiccup. Though her smile remains, small tears begin to flow down her cheeks, and she sniffles as she tries to wipe them away. “Don’t worry,” Anon reassures her, helping by using his sleeve as a tissue to clean her face. “I’m sure the next one’ll be even better. There’s no need to cry.” Apple Bloom shakes her head, laughing and sniffling at the same time. “No, it ain’t about that…” “Then what’s the matter?” Her ears fold back and she blinks some fresh tears away. “I… I don’t know. I’m so happy, but I can’t stop cryin’.” She smiles at him again and their eyes meet. “What about you? Why are you cryin’, Mr. Anon?” “Oh?” The human brings his hand to his face and pulls it away, surprised to find a few tears clinging to his fingers. He smiles and laughs as well, turning his gaze back to the tree, the pieces of fabric and ribbon now unmoving without the wind. “…It’s a long story.” With a nod of understanding, Apple Bloom trots over to sit beside him. He places his hand on her head once more, scratching behind her ears, and together they quietly watch the last minutes of daylight stream through the tree’s tangled branches. Applejack closes her eyes and shakes her head, fighting back her own tears at the sight of how much her sister’s grown in just the few short days she’s been away. After a deep breath, she turns back to the still strangely silent pink pony by her side. “Pinkie Pie… I want ta thank ya from the bottom of my heart for bringin’ me out here and givin’ me the opportunity ta see this. I don’t know how I’ll ever be able ta repay ya, but I promise I’ll figure somethin’ out.” Pinkie’s soft snoring is the only reply she receives, and Applejack chuckles at the sight of her friend fast asleep on her hooves. Leaving her to her dreams for the time being, she heads out into the field toward the two figures resting side by side in front of the tree. “Hey there, y’all!” Her voice rings out clear and strong, and the two turn around in surprise. Apple Bloom immediately leaps to her hooves as soon as she sees her sister’s face, while Anon remains where he is, content to let the family reunion play out. “Sis! What’re ya doin’ back so early?” the filly asks, rushing over to give Applejack a big hug which she gladly returns. “I came back ta lend Pinkie Pie a hoof, but it turns out she didn’t need me after all,” she replies, ruffling her sister’s mane out of habit. “I saw that ya took care of all your chores, and even fixed the back screen. Ya did a great job lookin’ after the farm while we were away.” The filly blushes at the compliment. “Thanks, Sis.” “But I need ya ta do one more thing for me,” Applejack continues. “Pinkie Pie’s standin’ over there next to those trees snoozin’ away with some food on her back. Can ya go wake her up and at least get her inside the house before it gets completely drenched by the rain? Anon and I’ll be right behind ya, and then we can all have some dinner. How’s that sound?” The filly looks over to Anon and he nods back at her. “Go ahead, it’s unlocked. I’ll take care of things here.” “Leave it to me! I’ll handle it in a jiffy!” she declares, rushing to the line of trees. Applejack chuckles and watches her for a few moments more, before turning and trotting the rest of the way to take a seat beside the human on the grass. “Howdy there, partner.” He turns and smiles at her. “Welcome back, AJ. Good trip?” “About as good as I could hope for,” she replies, closing her eyes. “But I’m sure glad ta be back home.” She turns and admires the tree along with him for a few moments. Though the sun has already set, the final crimson band of dusk still clings to the horizon in the distance, granting them enough light to see clearly. It gives her the opportunity to see some of the embroidery up close, still recognizable on the larger torn pieces that begin to flutter as the breeze picks up once more. “Y’all sure made somethin’ else,” she mutters, breaking the silence. “Oh, did you get to see it in flight?” he asks. “I wish I could take credit, but the design was all thanks to Apple Bloom. You truly have a gifted little sister, AJ.” Her smile widens. “I know. And I thank ya so, so much for lookin’ after her while I was away. It means the world ta me, and it’s easy to tell that it meant the world ta her, too.” “She was a joy. I mean that.” She nods happily, turning back to the tree, and several more minutes pass before she speaks up again. “Y’all must’a worked really hard.” “We did.” “But… I don’t get it, Anon,” she says, her eyes cast down to the earth and her sorrow at the sight of the ruined kite slipping through for just a moment. “If ya worked so hard on that kite, and put so much effort in it, then why’d ya let her fly it on a day like today?” She raises her head again, curious emerald eyes capturing his own. “I know this couldn’t’ve been your idea… I mean, ya must’ve known what would happen…” Somewhat to her chagrin, the human chuckles at her questions and directs his gaze to the stars above, now shining bright as the clouds drift away and the light on the horizon fades. “She wanted to fly.” He speaks the words calmly and definitively, as if they were all that needed to be said. Applejack, not satisfied with the answer, moves closer, but when she does, the sight of his expression freezes her in place, unable to move further or speak. Because she could tell he wasn’t looking at the stars in that moment. He was looking beyond them, beyond the sky, beyond the veil itself, into a time, a place, a world she could never truly know. He closes his eyes again and breathes out, then turns to her once more with a sad, yet serene smile that causes her heart to tremble. “AJ… sometimes, when they want to fly, you just have to let ‘em.” The tears which she held back now flow freely. In part, because she knows he’s right, and it’s something she’ll have to learn to accept as her sister continues to grow. In part, because he’s already shed all the tears in the world over what he’s lost just by being here. She didn’t know the whole story, but she knew enough through their talks out on the lake, and much like on many of those walks back home afterwards, her heart once again feels the need to cry for him. And in part, because of the pang of selfishness she feels when her honest spirit tells her clearly that even despite all that, she’s grateful that he’s here with her now. Unable to hold herself back, she leaps into his arms and wraps her hooves around him, holding tight. He calmly returns the hug, his comforting fingers dancing through her golden mane as she sobs against his chest and the light of the newly risen moon shines down upon them from above. The tears stop in time, and she places an ear to his chest to listen to his heartbeat, closing her eyes and enjoying the feeling of his arms around her. “Ya told me before I left… if I needed somethin’, ta tell ya,” she says, turning to meet his eyes. “Well, I need somethin’.” “You know if it’s something within my power, I’ll do it.” She grins. “Careful now, ya haven’t even heard what I want yet, and if ya say somethin’ like that I’m gonna hold ya to it.” Her expression softens. “Tuesdays and Thursdays… those are the nights I do the cookin’ for dinner over at the farm. I want ya there with us, every single time. No excuses. I promise the food’ll be ta your likin’, and I’m sure Apple Bloom would enjoy seein’ ya around more often too.” She turns away again, closing her eyes and reclaiming the spot against him that brings her the most comfort, hugging him even tighter for just a moment before releasing her grip and curling up in his arms. “Anon, our home, and our family, are always open ta you. Don’t you ever, ever forget that, ya hear me?” “Loud and clear,” he whispers, his free hand finding one of her curled forehooves and squeezing it to make the promise official. “And…” she continues, somewhat hesitant. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again. When you’re ready, sugarcube, I’d love ta hear all about ‘em. Everything you care ta tell.” The human chuckles, the sound rising up through his chest and clear in her ears. “Someday soon, I promise. And careful now, ‘cause if you say that, I’ll hold you to it, and there’s a lot to tell.” Their shared laughter rings out above the sound of the crickets and the cool night breeze, and not much later the two reluctantly part. With one last glance at the sycamore tree and the memory now held within its branches, they turn back, their steps guided by the light shining from the large bay window of his work room. Though partially obscured by the trees, it’s a clear beacon all the same; a sign that, no matter where one comes from or where they’ve been, eternally represents the promise of warmth, of a meal shared together with family and friends, of a gathering of those precious to one another, and of a place where treasured stories and memories will be recounted and made alike.