Children of Harmony

by Flora Spectrum

Chapter 3

A small filly lacking a cutie mark walked through the Apple family orchard carrying her baby cousin Foxwhelp while her older cousin Dayton walked by her side. She had golden coat abated by the three white freckles on each cheek right below her bright green eyes. Her crimson mane was braided with a pink ribbon her Aunt had given her two years ago.

Looking at her older cousin she sighed thinking of how it simply wasn’t fair. Dayton is only two years older than me but he’s already so big! And he has his cutie mark! Mom had her cutie mark at my age, so why can’t I get mine! Mom is in charge of running this whole farm yet I can’t even do the smallest of tasks! I’ve tried to hard to impress her, but I don’t think anything is working! I know she went to Manehatten when she was a filly, and I’ve been working on my manners and some French, I rather enjoy it, so maybe I can impress her with that.

“Arianne, if those gears in your head turn any faster, you’re gonna wake up Foxwhelp!”

Her cousin’s teasing but kind words snapped her out of her thoughts and caused her to gaze back at her baby cousin sleeping soundly on her back.

“You were thinkin’ bout your cutie mark again, weren’t ya?”

Arianne sighed. It seemed she could never hide anything from her cousin. Her mother had an older brother and a younger sister, and sometimes it made her feel slightly lonely as an only child. However, her cousin naturally took the role as her older and caring brother while Foxwhelp easily filled the role as a younger sibling.

“Why can’t you be more like your father and speak a total of two words except for the rare occasion?” Arianne teased.

“Because I take after my mother, now quit tryin’ to dodge the subject,” he shot back with a smile and Arianne couldn’t help but snort. True he took his speech from his mother, but one would have to be blind to not be able to see that Dayton would be as big as his father one day.

“Maybe I was,” she answered simply.

“You’re tryin’ too hard,” Dayton lectured lightly while shaking his head. “Nopony gets their cutie mark by trying, it happens naturally and when the time is right. You’ll get yours one day, just try and be patient.”

“But I need to get my cutie mark to I can figure out how to help on the farm and to make mom proud!”

“Arianne,” he said softly. He stopped walking for a moment and she turned to look at him. She shook her head and kept walking.

“Never mind,” she said while continuing to shake her head, “forget I said anything.” They walked in silence the rest of the way until they approached the house and an elaborately decorated carriage made its way towards them. “Who’s that?”

“Some rich ponies own some sort of fancy restaurant and are thinkin’ they want us to supply their apples. Your mom is supposed to try and make a deal with them today.”

“Here, take Foxwhelp back to the house,” Arianne commanded as Dayton obliged and crouched down enough for her to slide him off her back and onto his without stirring the sleeping foal. “I’m going to go see if I can go help my mom!”

The young filly took off as fast as her short legs could carry her, trotting the last distance to give herself time to collect herself. “Hi mom,” she greeted with a warm smile as she walked next her mother. “I saw the carriage pull up to the house, are you expecting someone?” she asked casually despite the fact that Dayton had told her the answer seconds ago.

“A restaurant owner from Manehatten is thinkin’ about makin’ us his apple supplier,” her mother answered honestly, “If we can come to an agreement, it would give us a lot more business.”

“May I join you?”

Her mother paused, and then shrugged her shoulders before continuing their walk towards the carriage. “I don’t see why not, just don’t be too rowdy or askin’ him all kinds of personal questions.”

She nodded and the two stopped as a formally dressed stallion stepped out of his carriage. “Oh my,” he gasped as he tried to brush the dust off his hooves but failing.

“Mr. Coinage,” Apple Jack greeted formally while outstretching a hoof, “I’m Apple Jack and this here is my daughter Arianne. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

Coinage looked down at the extended hoof before returning his gaze up and giving her a formal nod instead. “Quite.”

“Well, would you like a tour of the orchard?” Apple Jack offered with a hopeful smile.

“No thank you, I can see enough of it from here. It would be better I think to attend to business inside,” He answered stiffly.

“Of course!” Apple Jack agreed. “Please, follow me!”

As the three began their short walk to the house, Coinage commented dryly, “Well, I must say, I did expect this place to be a little more… civilized.”

Arianne saw her mother’s eyes widen in shock before turning to an icy glare. “Um, Mr. Coinage,” Arianne said in her most polite voice before things could get out of hoof, “do many apples grow in Manehatten?”

He looked at her for a moment before answering simply, “no.”

“Of course not,” Arianne continued. “You see Mr. Coinage, there is a place for everything. Manehatten is the place for exquisite restaurants and upscale hotels, while a countryside setting such as here is the perfect place to grow apples.”

“Hmm… I must say you do have a good point.” Coinage agreed thoughtfully.

Apple Jack led them into the house, “Please make yourself at home.”

As Arianne watched the two sit across from each other, she noticed they had relaxed quite a bit, but not enough. “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I’ll go retrieve some of our apple varieties, we also have a selection of apples prepared in several delicious entrées and deserts.” She paused to give him her most charming smile before continuing, “Perhaps you will even find one you would like to add to your menu.”

Coinage chuckled and gave her a warm smile, “Thank you child, that would be most lovely. Now, Miss Apple Jack…” As Arianne trotted into the kitchen and the adults began to discuss their business transaction, she couldn’t help but beam with pride.

}i{

Arianne and her mother walked back towards the house as Coinage’s carriage turned back onto the main road.

“We’re gonna cook a big dinner tonight! With lots of dessert! We have plenty to celebrate afterall!” Apple Jack declared proudly.

“This was a pretty big business deal, wasn’t it mom?”

“We got more to celebrate than that sugarcube.”

“Like what?”

“Like that mighty fine cutie mark you got there,” she answered with a warm smile.

Arianne stopped and looked at her flank, which was now adorned with a green apple standing behind a white fleur de lis. A fleur de lis for being able to socialize with the rich ponies, and an apple for my ties and dedication to my family. I guess this makes me a bridge between the two.

“I did it mom!” Arianne cried happily. “I found a way to make you proud!”

“Arianne,” Apple Jack said before sweeping her up in a tight hug, “I’m always proud of you.”

Author's Note:

Only three more chapters left! Tell me what you think so far!

Comments

[Silver Page]

Stop being so cute! GAAAH! So sweet, I might get Diabetes if this goes on!
Also, Foxwhelp seems like an odd name for a pony. Very odd. Like calling a human Wolfbitch or Deeroy (No joke, I met a man in Germany whose name was Deeroy. Last name was something else, but I forgot).
Otherwise, fun times all around!

[Flora Spectrum]

3501161
Well for the Apple Family names, I found this website with names for every apple known in existance and tried to come up with some creative names. So Arianne, Dayton, and Foxwhelp are all names of apples

Also, NEVER SHALL THE CUTENESS END!!!

[Pump It Up]

These are cute! I like how you didn't use the more common/popular pairings for the Mane 6. It makes it more interesting.

[Flora Spectrum]

3502574 thanks! I'm really happy to see how well received my story is

[Pump It Up]

3502630
You're welcome!

[Flash Chaser]

This is great u culd make way moar than 6 chapters and rock itt!! Great so far keep up the cute werk

[keam]

Arianne stopped and looked at her flank, which was now adorned with a green apple standing behind a white fleur de lis. A fleur de lis for being able to socialize with the rich ponies, and an apple for my ties and dedication to my family. I guess this makes me a bridge between the two.
OH. MY. GOD. That was just THE BEST idea for a cutimark EVER!