Chapter 14 - Care
Around noon Arc turns to Applejack.
“How you doing?”
“Feeling a lot better actually.”
“Sounds like you’re responding well to the medicine.”
“Yeah. Still feeling really tired though.”
“Think you could keep some food down?”
Applejack nods. “Probably, yeah.”
Arc stands. “Good. I was getting a bit worried, after all.”
“About what?”
“Well, you haven’t eaten yet today.”
Applejack “chuckles. “I don’t think I’m in any danger after missing one meal.”
“That and we got interrupted when making supper last night too, so you didn’t exactly have a full dinner then either.”
“Ah! Now I kinda get it. But that works both ways, doesn’t it?”
“Huh?”
“I didn’t see you eat anything for breakfast either.”
“Oh… I suppose not.”
Applejack frowns. “I had an excuse. You didn’t.”
“Kinda did.”
“What was it?”
“Wasn’t really hungry at the time.”
Applejack shakes her head. “Can’t imagine you not wanting to eat OR forgetting to do so though.”
Arc sighs. “To be completely Honest with you… I was too worried to eat.”
“Worried?”
“About you.”
“But I’m okay.”
“Well, you weren’t exactly at your best early on.”
Applejack blushes slightly. “Guess not.”
“So let’s see about getting something in your stomach.”
“Any suggestions?”
“Uh… there is something that humans like to eat when they’re sick, but…”
Applejack raises an eyebrow. “But what?”
“It’s not exactly… pony friendly.”
“Well, I’ll try it anyways.”
“You sure? It’s…”
Applejack interrupts him. “Yeah. After all, I do want to understand human culture.”
“Okay. Give me a few minutes.”
Heading into the Kitchen, Arc gets to work. Applejack hears the banging of pots and pans and a can being opening. A few minutes later a wonderful scent fills the air. Sometime later Applejack grins as Arc nervously approaches her with a bowl. Setting it on a tray table as she sits up Applejack looks up at him anxiously.
“Smells amazing! What is it?!”
“Soup.”
“What’s in it?”
Arc counts on his fingers nervously. “Noodles, carrots, broth, and… um…”
“And what?”
“Chicken.”
Applejack raises an eyebrow as she looks down at the bowl. “Come again?”
Arc sighs. “It’s called Chicken Noodle Soup.”
“So this has… chickens in it?”
“Yes. Or at least it did.”
“Did?”
“I carefully removed every little piece before pouring it into your bowl.”
“But… why?”
“Wasn’t really sure if you were quite ready for that.”
“Um… thanks.”
“Are you upset?”
Applejack shakes her head. “Not at all. Quite the opposite actually. You cared so much about my feelings that you went to all that trouble.”
“I had to be Honest with you about it, yes.”
Applejack looks up at him again. “But I don’t understand one thing. How did you know that I wouldn’t have just started eating it the moment you set it down?”
“Well, for starters, it’s hot off the stove. Second…”
Reaching into his pocket Arc pulls out a soup spoon and holds it up before continuing.
“…you couldn’t have eaten it before I gave you this. And I couldn’t bring myself to do that until you knew exactly what you were eating and were okay with the ingredients.”
“Thanks. This might be just what I need.”
“Yes, it’s a traditional sick food.”
Applejack shakes her head. “No, no. I mean something to give me the flavor of animal flesh.”
“Well, it might give you a bit, yes. However don’t feel that you have to eat it if you don’t want to.”
Applejack smiles nervously as she accepts the spoon. “I have to start somewhere.”
Taking a deep breath, she puts the spoon in the soup and picks up some of the liquid. Blowing on it for a few moments Applejack closes her eyes and quickly puts it in her mouth. She sits there unmoving for a time before opening her eyes and looking down at the bowl.
“Interesting.”
Arc chuckles. “Not quite the word I was expecting.”
“I mean the flavors. It’s nothing like what I’ve had in the past.”
“Honestly, I think that’s the broth.”
“But the meat must impart something if it’s cooked in there.”
“Probably.”
“It’s that way for vegetables. So I can’t imagine it being much if any different for animal flesh.”
“In that case, eat up.”
Applejack grins. “I will!”
She eats happily as Arc returns to the Kitchen. Looking back, he calls out to her.
“You going to want some more?”
Applejack nods happily. “Yeah! I’m starving!”
Arc chuckles. “Coming right up.”
“But could you… um… you know…?”
“Yes, I’ll pull out the meat before serving it.”
Applejack breathes a sigh of relief. “Thanks. Sorry for being like that, but I’m not quite ready for the real thing yet.”
“It’s understandable.”
A short time later Arc sits down next to Applejack with a pot. Putting it on the floor between them he ladles her another bowlful before serving himself. They continue watching television together as they eat. Turning to Applejack, Arc puts a hand on her forehead.
“You feel good.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean I think your fever is broken.”
Applejack blushes slightly at her mistake. “Oh… right. That and I feel better too.”
“Quite a recovery.”
“Is that normal?”
“Not usually, no.”
Applejack chuckles. “Guess I’m just a bit above average then.”
“All’s well that ends well, I suppose.”
“You want to go back out to the woods? Get back to the camping trip?”
Arc shakes his head. “The tents are going to take a day or so to dry out completely. That and I haven’t even started going through the rest of our supplies and the clothes we brought.”
“I’ll help you get that done after we eat.”
“Thanks, but I’d rather you rest.”
Applejack frowns. “But I feel a lot better!”
Arc puts a hand on her shoulder. “That may be. However I don’t want you to have a relapse.”
Applejack groans. “Fine.”
“Thanks for understanding. And don’t worry. I’ll stay right here with you on the couch. If you want me to, that is.”
“That does sound nice. I mean… if you’re okay with it.”
“Sure. It’s a date.”
Applejack blushes. “A what?!”
“A date.”
“How?!”
Arc chuckles. “Well, we’re spending time together, aren’t we?”
“I… suppose so.”
“Then it’s a date.”
Applejack smiles happily. “Guess you’re right.”
Finishing her soup, she hands her bowl to Arc whom takes the dishes to the Kitchen. Returning as she lays back down, Arc takes his place at her feet again and the pair turn back to the television. Watching for the rest of the day, Arc turns to her as he reaches out to turn on a light.
“How’re your muscles?”
“I’m still a bit sore actually. But at this point I kinda think it’s due to us trudging all through the woods yesterday along with sleeping in your wagon.”
“Sorry about that.”
Applejack giggles. “Don’t be. I had a blast! You?”
“Yeah, it was a lot of fun hanging out with you, Applejack.”
“How would you feel about a group setting?”
Arc looks to her nervously. Huh?
“I mean if we all got together for a group outing.”
“Like a party?”
“More like a dinner date than something Pinkie would come up with.”
“You mean so we could all get together and talk things out?”
Applejack grins. “Right.”
Arc breathes a sigh of relief. “That would be nice.”
“You okay, sugarcube?”
“Sorry. I just thought… you meant something different when you said that.”
Applejack looks away and grimaces. “Oh… right. Our conversation last night.”
“Exactly.”
“This would be purely in the name of everyone getting better acquainted with you and talking matters over. No physical interactions needed.”
“Then yes I’m all for that.”
“Where would you like to have it?”
Arc puts a hand to his chin thoughtfully. “It’d have to be someplace with a really big table, for starters.”
“None of us really have something that big though.”
“I do.”
“Huh?”
Arc grins. “Light’s Hope. The Cafeteria is certainly capable of holding all of us. Families too if we want to go that far.”
Applejack grimaces. “Maybe at a later date we could do that. First we should start with just the herd members.”
“Fine with me.”
“Not sure when we could do this though.”
“Probably after Ponyville is rebuilt. The workers are currently living in my base with Hard Hat staying in my quarters.”
Applejack groans. “It’s going to be awhile before the town’s done though.”
“Then we can either wait or find another place.”
“Canterlot Castle would work too. Probably not the Dining Room though, as I’m sure the princesses would like to have that.”
“Agreed. But there are other rooms we could borrow for a meal.”
“Right. Like the Ballroom.”
Arc narrows his eyes and frowns as Applejack gasps.
“I’m so sorry, Arc! Not sure what I was thinking there!”
Arc sighs. “Yes, well… let’s just say that I don’t ever want to enter that room without a good reason ever again.”
“That’s understandable.”
“And I don’t think everyone would be comfortable meeting at the castle. It’s kind of… impersonal.”
“Fluttershy and Derpy would certainly agree with that.”
She puts a hand to her chin thoughtfully before speaking again.
“If we do it soon, weather permitting, we could have it outside at Sweet Apple Acres.”
“Hard Hat said it’d really be a push to get Ponyville rebuilt before the weather turns cold.”
Applejack sighs. “And we don’t really want to be having a party while others are working so hard to rebuild.”
“Agreed. So Ponyville and the surrounding areas are out.”
“We could rent something. A hall somewhere.”
“That might work as a last resort. But I’d rather do it somewhere everyone already knows and would feel comfortable in.”
“All we have to do is figure out where that ‘someplace’ is.”
Arc shrugs. “Right. But I’ve got nothing.”
“Wait a second! I just thought of something!”
“Oh?”
“Twilight was telling us about an ability you have. She said you could use Realm Magic.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Don’t you see? With that you could make ANYTHING! Light’s Hope. Sweet Apple Acres. Anywhere or anything else you could imagine could, for all intents and purposes, be real.”
“That’s true, yes. But I’ve never had that many individuals inside my Sanctuary. Not sure I’m ready for that.”
“So you could work up to it?”
“Probably. But that would take a lot of time.”
Applejack sighs. “So it’d probably be easier to just think of something else.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Arc. But this is turning out to be harder than I thought.”
“Yeah. So why don’t we table the idea for the moment?”
“Sure. I mean, if we’re not getting anywhere with it, why bother going on?”
“Maybe something will come to us another time.”
Applejack nods. “I’ll keep thinking.”
They are silent for a time. Eventually Arc puts his hand on his chin and speaks.
“Speaking of the others, I do wonder what’s been keeping Twilight from making contact with us.”
Applejack looks to him nervously. “Think something’s up?”
“It’s certainly possible. But I can’t imagine everything falling apart THAT fast. I mean, we’ve only been gone a few days.”
“Has it been that long?”
Arc nods. “Yup. Sorry this happened.”
Applejack grins. “It’s okay. After all, none of this is your fault.”
“I guess not. Celestia and her stupid ‘experiment’ are. Though I can’t help but wonder why we can’t go home.”
“That pendant still isn’t working?”
Arc nods as he pulls Cherry’s pendant out of his ring and focuses for a few moments. Shaking his head he groans.
“Nothing.”
“You sure it just doesn’t need some kind of special spell cast onto it to work?”
“Nah. I did test it out one beforehand though. All I had to do was channel my magic into it and a portal formed. That and my grandfather would have said something if there was a trick to getting it to work. And I’m sure Celestia felt its power when I pulled it out.”
Applejack lowers her voice. “You… you don’t supposed she somehow sealed the transdimensional barrier, do you?”
“No idea how much magical prowess that would take. But I’m assuming it would be a LOT.”
“So it’s possible?”
“Anything is possible. However there is a bit of a catch to that idea, Applejack.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“You’re here.”
“So?”
“As much as Celestia hates humans I can’t imagine her sending me back here with you and then locking us both out.”
“Right. Even if I wasn’t an Element Bearer it just isn’t in her nature to do something that heinous to someone innocent.”
Arc looks at the pendant in his hand. “Yeah. But I still don’t get why this thing isn’t working.”
“Or, like you said, why Twilight hasn’t opened a portal with the Crystal Mirror yet.”
She lowers her voice again before continuing.
“You don’t suppose Princess Celestia forbade her, do you?”
“I doubt it. That and she can’t actually do that. At least I don’t think she can.”
“And even if that’s what happened SOMEONE would have done it by now anyways.”
Arc sighs. “Something’s up, but there’s no clue as to what.”
“All we can do now is wait for something to happen.”
“Right. And make the most of our time together until then.”
“Eventually they’ll figure out how to get us back. Of that I’m certain.”
“Agreed. Twilight, Auriel, Ember, heck even Hammer wouldn’t just sit by and leave us here. They’ll put their heads together and figure out something.”
“Not to mention they’ll have Princess Luna and Princess Cadance’s insight into the matter too.”
“That much isn’t reassuring. But I know what you meant.”
“Now all we have to do is figure out what to do with this… um... extra-long date we’ve been given.”
Arc taps his chin. “Date… date…”
“You think of something, Arc?”
“Kinda. As it stands, we’re still technically on our date.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not exactly. You see, my idea is to…”
He is cut off as a low rumble echoes in the distance. Arc looks out the window just in time to see a flash of lightning.
“Looks like that storm from the other night came back.”
Applejack pulls the blanket up to her chin nervously. “Y-yeah.”
“Something wrong, Applejack?”
“Kinda. You see…”
A crack of thunder rings out causing Applejack to yelp, roll over to turn her back to the windows, and curl up into the fetal position. Arc raises an eyebrow.
“Are you… scared of the storm?”
Applejack nods but says nothing. Arc smiles and scooches closer to her. Putting a hand on her shoulder he smiles as he speaks.
“Don’t worry. I’m right here.”
“Th-thanks.”
Arc looks at the clock. “It’s not really that late, but maybe you should go to sleep now.”
“I… don’t think I can.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
Applejack shakes her head vehemently. “It’s… not something I like to think about.”
“Alright. Do you want to go upstairs?”
“I don’t… want to be alone right now.”
“Okay. Um… how about you just lie here and try to fall asleep watching television?”
Applejack nods and they continue their show. Arc puts his hands on her feet but notices that she tenses up with every flash and crash of thunder. After another show ends he turns to her.
“How do you feel?”
“Really stressed.”
“This isn’t helping, huh?”
“Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“Why don’t you get to bed then, Arc? I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep a wink tonight.”
“Well, I am pretty tired. But I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“I’ll be okay. Really.”
Arc thinks for a minute before speaking.
Arc: Applejack, would you be interested in trying something I used to do as a child?
“Sure. If you think it’ll help, that is.”
“No promises. But it’s worth a shot. Would you sit up please?”
Applejack does so as Arc stand and takes the blanket. Sitting down next to her, he covers them both with it up to their chins and puts an arm around her.
“How’s this?”
Applejack smiles. “It feels nice.”
“Good.”
Going back to their show, Applejack leans her head on Arc’s shoulder. Sometime later he feels her nodding off. Smiling, he turns to her.
“Ready to head for bed?”
“Kinda. But…”
“The storm?”
“That too. What I was going to say was… um… that I don’t really want to leave your side tonight.”
She fidgets for a few moments before looking up at Arc and continuing.
“Do you think we could…?”
Lowing her voice, she whispers in his ear. Arc nods.
“If that would make you feel better, sure.”
“Thanks.”
She moves away from him as Arc pushes the blanket back. Laying down, Applejack rests her head in Arc’s lap. He carefully covers her with the blanket, leaving only her head exposed. Arc looks down at her as she blushes.
“Comfy?”
“Very. This just makes me feel safe.”
“Good. Now then you just rest.”
Nodding, she looks toward the screen as Arc lays a hand on her head and gently strokes her hair. Eventually Applejack drifts off to sleep. Arc turns to look down at the sleeping young woman as he smiles.
“Pleasant dreams, Applejack.”
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https://youtu.be/e9n9iR7iJNE
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Angry Beavers?
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Yes. love the line "Dramatic Reverb"
I would have to imagine this "date" has to be ending soon.
I also get the feeling that Celestia is going to claim Arc attacked Applejack and she knocked him out and they both look like they're in comas and Celestia is going to try and pull Arc's "plug".
Hmmmm... something tells me bs is about to go down whether it be Celestia pulling them back to try and prove her point and humilate Arc or soemthing to do with Damocles base, or another issue in Equestria and she has no choice but to recall him
That storm got too much of a tude not to be associated with the Rain God, on Earth.
great chapter
this would make sense, celestia created a pocket realm in there linked minds for this and her stupid experiment.
it explains everithing abnormal that had happend so far, jokes on her they have good time anyway
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You'll know for certain by week's end.
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Glad you liked it.
Next up Arc and Applejack do some chores! Doesn't that sound exciting?!
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Must be a bad year. They just keep having storms.
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Stay tuned then. This will all be over by the end of the week.
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I'm getting Matrix vibes.
Celestia is convinced that given the opportunity, Arc would try something with a frightened friend.
Ugh.
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Celestia is doing her best to try and make a point about humanity. But thus far is failing.