IDK why this story was harder to write than the other, but I really hope you like it!

Apollo sighed as he leafed through another one of his books, his eyes occasionally glaring at Mac when he had the chance. Worthless shook his head at his bull headed friend as he sipped his cider, his purple hair swaying to and fro. They were sitting at a picnic table relaxing, while Mac and Cinder were collecting the apples. Apollo had come by to help, but as soon as he had stepped foot into the orchard, Mac had picked him up and put him under Worthless's supervision. Apparently he wasn't allowed to help!

"That no good cowboy…ohh if I could…" Apollo muttered before sticking his nose back into the book.

"You would kiss him if you could…" Worthless teased, keeping a straight face even as Apollo sputtered at him in horror. "He's being protective Apollo, I would think you out of everyone else would know that." Worthless trailed, swishing his empty cup with only ice cubes left.

Apollo's face lit up in a blush before he sighed. He knew his friend was right…but he hated feeling useless…it just wasn't him. but he did admit, he wasn't quite feeling up to snuff. Still a bit dizzy and tired, Apollo was slightly glad he didn't have to haul around those apple barrels. He laid his head down on the table, feeling slightly tired.

"I'm gonna just rest a bit Worthless…yawn…is that okay with you?" Apollo asked tiredly, already feeling his mind drift.

"No, cause I demand that you stay up just for my entertainment," his friend chuckled sarcastically, "Take a nap."

"Thanks your majesty!" Apollo chuckled, before falling asleep.

His sleep was peaceful. He didn't have any dreams nor nightmares, only a relaxing blackness that lulled him into a sense of security. He could feel a blanket around his person, and snuggled further into the comfort. He didn't know how long he was asleep, before…

"BARK! BARK!"

A sloppy kiss to his cheek only awakened him more as his head shot up from the tabletop. He mumbled and tried to rub the sleep from his eyes, only to have a tongue lick him all over. he was able to look once, before his vision obscured by the tongue. There was the culprit!

"KACI! Ugh…stop it!" Apollo grunted, struggling in vain to push the full grown German Sheppard off his chest.

Kaci, who was Mac's loyal friend through and through, only barked in happiness at her 'second' master and continued to lick the blond to death. Apollo kept leaning back, hoping to escape the insistent tongue. He leaned so far back that he tipped back, landed flat on his back. Kaci, not far behind, landed on his chest and continued to lavish Apollo's face with love. Apollo sighed loudly in defeat and scratched the eager pup behind the ears and gave her a kiss on the muzzle.

"You are so stubborn…" he groaned, turning his head to the side, in order to avoid Kaci's tongue in his mouth.

"Looks like someone has a crush on you Apollo," Worthless chuckled, looking down at the pair from under the picnic table.

"Oh, well I'm sorry miss Kaci," Apollo replied in a babying tone , smothering Kaci's fur against his head, "But you're just not my type!" he laughed, as the dog continued to lick him as if he had never even spoken.

"Well, at least she doesn't mind being second in your heart," Worthless smirked, wondering when the dog was going to release his friend.

"Naw, she's always a good sport like that, aren't you Kac?" Apollo replied, kissing her forehead.

The dog just barked into Apollo's ear in agreement, the noise making Apollo's mind swim.

"KACI! Gosh darn it girl, how many times do I have to tell you? No jumping on people!" Mac yelled, his scolding turning into laughter as he couldn't stay mad at her.

Kaci barked in happiness at seeing her master, and gave Apollo one long, last, sloppy kiss before trotting over to Mac. Apollo sighed in relief as the weight was lifted off his chest. He sat up, and shook his head, trying to rid his face of the dog drool. Mac bit his lip to hold back his laughter as he saw Apollo's face sopping wet.

"Catch," Worthless laughed as he threw his friend a towel.

"Sorry about that Apollo, but you know she just loves it when you come by!" Mac chuckled as he watched the blond furiously scrub at his face with the towel.

Apollo gave a sigh but smiled and proceeded to stand up. She walked over to Mac and slugged him in the arm. Mac just laughed, as Apollo didn't put much force behind the attack. The platinum blond ruffled the German Sheppard's head before smirking at Mac.

"Mac…she sees me everyday…because I come here everyday. I think someone trained her to jump me…" he accused, looking at Mac who chose to turn away and whistle 'so guilty' Apollo thought with exasperation.

"But that's just Kaci, and I wouldn't have her any other way, right girl?" Mac laughed as his friend barked back in agreement.

Apollo looked at the two, and felt something tug at his chest. He sighed, and didn't notice Worthless looking at him. The purple haired boy looked between Apollo and Kaci and Mac. He stood up and walked to Apollo's side before bumping his shoulder.

"Why don't you have a pet?"

Mac stilled at Worthless's question, and he began to wonder as well. Apollo always seemed like the type of person who thrived on taking care of something. He did have about a hundred of plants and flowers in his house, and he had a smile on his face when he attended to them.

"Yeah, why don't you have a pet Apollo?"

Apollo blinked and looked to the sky before facing his friends. Shrugging with Chagrin on his face, he blushed at his answer.

"Um…I never thought about it?" and it was true, a pet had escaped his mind.

It wouldn't be bad. To have a friend to always be there, and have fun with. Well he had Mac for all those things, he thought with mirth. But a pet was a totally different experience. One that he wanted to try.

"Well, where do I start? I know how to take care of a pet! But…where do I get one?"

They all stood in silence before smiling.

"Fluttershy!"

{At Fluttershys house} (Worthless went to get the basic pet supplies.)

"Ah! Apollo and Mac. How are you?" Fluttershy whispered, smiling sweetly at the two as they walked into her yard full of animals.

"Good Miss Fluttershy…whoah there…" Mac replied as he rapidly lifted his foot to avoid stepping on one of the ducklings waddling around. "Sorry 'bout that,"

"That's quite alright. Now what can I do for you boys?" the pink haired girl asked, brushing back a lock of hair with her baggy yellow sleeve.

"Well Apollo here is looking for a pet. And we knew you were the person to go to," Mac explained, rubbing the back of his head, not knowing what else to do.

Fluttershy's face lit up in excitement at the prospect of one of her friends being adopted. She could also see the love in Apollo's eyes as he picked up one of the bunny's scratching at his leg, and nuzzled its nose. Fluttershy knew he would find his pet here.

"Well, feel free to look around. I'll be feeding the ducks over by the pond if you need me," and with a small smile, the shy girl slowly walked towards her feathered friends. Apollo just stood there in the middle, kind of lost. What kind of pet did he want? A bird? A lizard? A dog? A cat? A bunny? What? Mac noticed his expression and chuckled before gently shoving Apollo in a random direction.

"Go on and explore! You'll never find your pet if you don't," Mac laughed, and then got distracted by one of the puppies playing in the mud.

Apollo rolled his eyes at his friend before walking towards the more shaded part of the compound. His eyes searched through the grass and the piles of animals. Dogs were cute, but Kaci was enough for him. Cat's seemed scary after he met opalescence, scary demon she was. But what did he want? He smacked into a tree, as he was thinking instead of watching where he was going. He rubbed his head and groaned at his stupidity. A snickering sound came from above, and he looked up to see nothing but tree leaves. He raised an eyebrow, before shaking his head, cursing under his breath that he must be going crazy. He laid back fully on the grass, watching the sun filter through the leaves. He laid there for five minutes, his self lost in his thought.

Suddenly a scratching noise interrupted his musings, he propped himself up on his elbows to see an arctic fox climbing down the trunk of the tree. It's white fur shone in the sunlight and it's blue eyes flickered with mischief. It slowly approached him, sniffing the ground as if he were a threat. Apollo smiled and sat still for the next ten minutes as the young kit circled his person. After the kit deemed him as worthy, he jumped onto Apollo's chest and started to snuggle into his sweatshirt. Apollo started to pat the kit, before he laid back. He knew that young animals got bored when there was nothing to do, so he expected the fox kit to walk away in boredom. But no, the white fox just sat with him, eyes on his eyes, content to wait for him. Apollo blinked and then gave a smile.

Twenty minutes later, that's how Mac found them. Apollo laying on the grass with the Arctic fox kit on his chest. One hand was cushioning his head, while the other combed through the animals pure white fur. Every now and again the kit would raise its head and gently nibble on his fingers. Mac smiled and slowly sat down next to the duo. The fox lowered its ears warily at the new visitor, before looking to Apollo. Apollo just smiled.

"He's my friend…"

And like magic the fox's ears perked back up and wagged its tail at Mac, in an obvious plea to be patted. Mac laughed, and fulfilled the fox's desire, smiling at how the other nuzzled into his huge palm.

"Oh, you found the fox kit! Wow…" Fluttershy gasped, her eyes wide in shock.

"what? What's wrong?" Apollo asked, sitting up, which resulting in the animal tumbling comically to his lap.

"Well, he has never warmed up to someone that fast…" Fluttershy murmured, obviously confused and in shock.

Apollo's eyes widened, before he looked down to the cute fox to see it yawning in boredom. How could this sweet creature not warm up to anyone? When the kit looked at him, he made a decision. He picked the young fox up in his grip and stood up to smile at the confused yellow Pegasus.

"I'll take him. is that ok?" Apollo asked, asking both Fluttershy and the fox.

"Of course!" Fluttershy squealed, happy that her little friend had finally been adopted.

The fox seemed to smile and crawled up Apollo's chest, and licked his nose with his tongue. Apollo giggled before smoothing down the animals fur. As they bid Fluttershy goodbye and walked down the dirt path, one thing still lingered on Mac's mind.

"So what you gonna name the little fella'?" Mac asked, watching as the baby fell asleep in his friends steady arms.

Apollo bite his lip as he recycled numerous names through his head. All of them fit, but yet, they didn't fit this certain animal. Then a smile lighted upon his face. He turned to Mac, ready to announce his decision.

"I think I'll call him…Fate."

Mac raised his eyebrow at his friends choice.

"Why Fate?"

"Well to be cliché, it was by Fate we met, and it was by Fate that he trusted me. I dunno' it just fits him, don't you think?"

Mac looked from the kit, to his friends adoring stare as he cuddled his new pet.

"Perfect. Now when can we introduce him to Kaci? She'll love having another baby to raise…"

"I dunno, she might step on him"

"Kaci would never do that!"

"You also said she would never jump on me. And look at the truth in that,"

"Aw come on Apollo! Just trust me!"

"I trust you,"

"Course you do! Cause you love me!"

"….."

"Apollo? Are you ok? You don't have a fever again do ya'?"

"S-S-Shut up and keep walking, it's just warm out!"

"but it's freezing!"

"Mac…"

"Um…yeah?"

"Shut up…"

"But…"

Stare

"Shutting up now,"

"Thought so,"

Remember!

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