I had horrible paragraph structure when I first wrote this, so I went back and edited some of this chapter... I tried my best not to change the plot or anything, but trust me, I would If I could but that would probably ruin for the other people reading this...

Enjoy the read~

"Big Maci'tosh! Ya need ta delivir dese thangs to the royal gatehrin! H'rry now! Princess Celestia awaitin ya!" Applejack swiped her hand across my back and gave me a hearty thump. My, how glad I'm to be a well-built man! Any less and I would've broken a rib or two.

Apple bloom tugged on my pant leg, and fidgeted with the ends of her skirt,"Have a nice trip brother! H-here 's a little somethin I wipped up… I kind woke up urly today…" The youngest of my sisters, slipped in a tightly wrapped package into my shoulder sack. I didn't budge a smile but I nodded in approval and headed out to the metropolitan city of Canterlot with my horse drawn cart.

The trotting of my horses was halted by a Guard in his mid-fifties. "Now… uh," the guard eyed my cross hatched, button up shirt and rolled trousers, "sir… we can't allow your horses any further…"

I would have answered but this man, if he weren't a complete stranger who sent me negative vibes. Sweat was starting to gather on my forehead and the rate of my pulse accelerated as I thought of a response.

"Sir… are you alright? I'm simply going to put your horses in our shed… just sign out here," he handed me a form, "Then get them on your way out."

I relaxed as some of the pressure lifted off.

"Don't forget to sign sir"

I took the well-crafted pen from him and scribbled over the blanks, then pushed it towards him. He glanced at my work and grimaced when he could not comprehend the words.

"You may pass sir."

Since the horses were no longer on the job, I took it upon myself to pull the cart to the Castle.

The people around me gossiped and mumbled about by attire and deed. I didn't want this attention, infact, I wanted to return to the comfort of my home and help Grandma bake her signatures pies.

A lady wearing a traditional Celestian dress whispered to her husband, "My! Look at him! Looks like a battered dog! Disgusting! A younger female beside her responded, "Forget about that! Look at what he's doing! Pulling a cart full of apples, like a horse!"

By the time I neared the castle, the sun was setting and hues of purple and pink were streaked within the clouds. I made it on time. A prestigious butler dressed in black and white attire addressed me at the door, "Who are you? Sir I'm afraid you have reached the wrong destination!"

I was sure of it! This was the castle! I wanted to speak up, but those vibes, they were the same ones the gatekeeper had given me, and they made me agitated.

"Sebastian! It's fine. He's here to deliver apples."

A man behind me responded for my intention.

"Here, let me lead you to the kitchens."

The man who had just saved me from embarrassment was now leading me to the kitchens. My muscles were sore and I could no longer keep up with him even though his pace was steady and gallant to keep up with mine.

"You must be Applejack's brother! I've heard a lot about you from twilight."

Wha? How does he know Twilight?

"Oh! Almost forgot introduce myself! Forgive my rudeness!" He turned around to face me. For the first time I could make out his engraved features. Sharp blue eyes and that paired well with the dark navy of his hair. "I am Shining Armor, brother of twilight."

The wheat strand I was chewing on almost slipped out my mouth in surprise.

'He is the revered Shining Armor!' Instead of continuing on with our journey, he simply kept staring at me… as if he wanted something. Oh, an introduction! I paced my palms around the bar of the cart.

"W-well it's alright if you would prefer to not! I don't mind at all!," he formed an assuring smile to prove it, "Let's continue, shall we?"

"Thank you Macintosh! I hope to meet again someday!"

I rolled all the apples into the kitchen parlor and nodded at his exclamation. Then I was seized; seized that is by the unstoppable force of hunger. My stomach growled pitifully. I swear my face had gone buck red. It mortified me that Shining Armor only chuckled at my embarrassment.

"Aww! You must be hungry from carrying all those apples with your own strength! What was I thinking! Once again, forgive my rudeness. You simply must eat something!"

There was no way such a nice offer could be refused so I followed him obediently to the kitchens.

Inside the kitchens lay a grand table. It stretched so far that the end vanished. I placed my hand on a chair. Its head was carved to exillence, every curve and detail identical to the hundred others that accompany it.

The knight pulled out a chair next to him, ushering for me to take a seat.

I BARELY knew this man and I was going to sit and eat next to him. I placed my hand on the chair and watched it quiver, 'dammnit, stop shaking!'

The Knight, seeing my discomfort, asked, "Is there something wrong?"

I shook my head furiously and sat down next to him.

Shining called for a cook who placed the mouth watering masterpiece in front of Mac, "Here is Canterlot's specialty, Berry cake with Vanilla milk as a side drink. Enjoy.

I was greeted by uneasiness. What exactly was the proper way to eat with a fork?! 'Ok! Relax! If I get this wrong, just run out the door'! Like that would work! But I gave it a try. My hands were shaky as I wrapped the utensils in a fist and sawed through the cake's icing and bread, and then stabbed the isolated piece with the fork. I tried my best to shove the delicacy in mouth with grace… and tried to chew it as slow as possible.

The knight erupted in laughter."Y-you went at it like you were fighting for your life! What has the poor cake ever done to you?" his eyes were teary as he gasped for air, but I on the other hand was shaking with humiliation.

"O-oh. I-Im sorry! I- didn't mean to!" from the corner of my eyes I could see him smiling.

'Go on! Humiliate me until you're satisfied!'

"Why don't I help you?" I was overtaken by shock, even flinched, when he placed his palm on my elbow, "Now this must not be on the table" he then pulled it to my waist. Then he got up and stood behind me, chest pressed to my back. It was a small gesture, a little touch, never the less, he was a stranger and his physical contact threw me off, blood rushing to my head and all. "look, the piece you cut is no were near bite sized. To start off," I stiffened as he wrapped his fingers around my left hand and accompanied we with placing the fork in the cake, "Now cut behind the fork with you right hand." We [more like he] finished it off by neatly dividing the cake. I was stiff as a statue and didn't attempt to even place the piece in my mouth. "You alright? You seem quite feverish…" to make the situation worse, he neared his hand to my forehead, which by instinct, I slapped away.

"I'm sorr-" The pupils of my eyes surely dilated. This time I slapped my mouth shut.

Instead of being faced with anger, I was met by a cocky grin. "So you finally decide to speak!"

"Uh…"

"All I usually hear from you is an extended 'yes'"

"Um!" Though my heart grew warm at his words, it also thud unevenly at the foreign situation, "Uh! Um! S-sorry! Th-the cake wa-was goo-dd!"

"No worries! It was my fault anyways! I got a little to close I guess."

A little close?!