A/N: Three months too long since there was another chapter update for this. The author's note at the end will explain everything why, and what I have been doing.
Review Responses:
guest: That actually is the plan for this one. So you are in luck.
Elias E. Arias 2: There will more of that in the future, as well as drama after a huge serious moment.
Raptor trainer: I've replied to your question in the reviews. :)
guest (2): Here it is. Sorry for the wait. :(
mr234scott: Just have to make sure that everything is perfect for the chapter. Being that I'm now a 24 year old man, going on 25 at the end of August, plus being in the workforce, it does take more time than usual now to put out a chapter.
Anon: I haven't given up on the story. Just the occasional loss of inspiration to write.
"Alright now Brayden, the balcony doors are held wide open, and the ramp is ready!"
Rainbow Dash flew there above the railing of the balcony, watching me as I prepare myself to jump off from the balcony of the castle, seeing if my wings had truly healed up and if I was able to fly again.
My friends were outside below the balcony on the grass, waiting for me to jump and head into flight. I could hear that familiar party cannon from below, along with the excited scream of Pinkie Pie herself who was really eager to see me back in action after having laid in bed for so long for the healing process of my wings and leg. It was hell, yes... but I got to spend that with Twilight which made things better. At least I can walk and run again.
I can feel my wings behind me being unwrapped from their bandages. Spike was right there behind me, moving his dragon claws carefully, trying not to accidentally touch my wings. He knew I had been in bed letting them heal, so there were pre-cautions he had to take, especially with the scissors for cutting off the wrappings.
"Let me just clip this one bandage, so hold still..." He informs me, followed by the sound of the scissors cutting off another part of the wrapping. I turn my head to look right behind me, seeing the last one fall down with my closed diamond blue colored wings revealed again before my eyes. "There we go! Your wings are free to move now, and here's to hoping they are well for flying."
"Thanks, buddy." I said to him, sharing a friendly smile with him before turning my focus towards the ramp outside on the balcony for me to hop off from.
"I'll be right outside, waiting for you to fly! Rainbow will give you the signal when to go." He tells me, running outside of the room to leave the castle.
My eyes were still set on the blue skies ahead of the slight view for the mountain that Canterlot sat on. Rainbow Dash was there in sight, her wings flapping to keep her lifted while she waited for Spike to get down there. Her rose colored eyes keep an eye on at the ground as she waited.
She turned to look at me, the sun's rays shining in her eyes as she turned and looked back at me, giving me the okay signal and to make that leap forward when I felt ready to do so. Me? I've felt ready to do this since my wings didn't feel like they were stabbed a thousand times by a knife.
I take in a deep breath and I can't even feel myself as I motioned myself forward, accelerating myself to a run... to an absolute sprint with the adrenaline pumping into me from within as Rainbow Dash's expression changed from being patient to looking quite excited to see me fly once again.
Determination in my mind changed to that moment of happiness, I can feel Celestia's sun shining down on my face when I had passed the archway onto the balcony. Warm, and the right temperature for the day... it's just perfect for my return to flying. I was getting closer near Rainbow Dash who stays back from the direction I was headed.
From behind me, I can feel my diamond blue wings open up, getting ready for flapping when I was going to think about that. Yes, usually when I am flying and I have to operate them, I do have to think that they are flying in order for them to soar like a bird.
One second I felt like I was running up on the ramp above of the balcony railing and then another two seconds of me leaping off with my bare feet feeling nothing but air from my leap upwards into the sky. The breeze blew on my face as I can feel myself moving forward, my legs and arms still aswing.
My eyes being open for all of this along with the cheers of all my friends on the grass below, I can feel the sensation to laugh loudly with joy filling my voice, ready to start flying my healed wings.
"I'm back!" I shouted like I was shouting to the world of my success. "I'm baaaaccccccck!"
My wings are flapping for a moment, making their attempts to gain momentum and stay afloat in those blue skies I was now above the further my jump went. Even in my own excitement, I was too distracted that I totally had forgotten that I had to think about my wings at the same time, throwing me right off guard when my soaring in the sky turns into a fall.
From what was joy, turns into me absolutely screaming my face off when I descending downwards to the grass below from such a height above. Seriously?! I'm even trying to think about letting my wings to flap, but I cannot picture them from the situation I am in right at the moment.
On the grass where all of my friends look to be watching everything, I can see all of their reactions from my attempted flight, to my own fall. Fluttershy and Rarity almost cannot look, with the white unicorn covering her eyes so she couldn't see what would happen to me while my close friend will hope to catch me. Twilight, looks to be really worried with the look of horror on her face. Applejack and Pinkie are worried as well, with a look on the pink party pony that said by many words that she didn't actually think that I'd end up falling.
My special somepony looks to be a bit scared the closer I came to the ground... and I knew that was seconds away from getting myself hurt again, but it would probably be something else other than my wings and leg that are healed. Well... the wing looks healed but my thoughts on making them flap don't seem to be working.
Certain to fall and hit the grass harder than I could think, I was met with hooves gripping onto my shirt from behind, catching me in my fall. "Gotcha!" I can hear a voice tell me with a tone of assurance that I would be okay.
I look up to see that it is Rainbow who had caught me in the fall, and begins to fly me down towards the grass, being very careful not drop me unless I want to look like a pancake in the end. Once moved to the ground, I allow my feet to settle onto the grass while my friends all gather around me and the rainbow maned pegasus.
"Ya alright there partner?" The southern accent of Applejack asked me, trotting forward and placing her gamboge hoof on top of my left hand.
Pinkie as I know is eager to tell me about what she saw. "You were all 'yay' when you had jumped off and were trying to flap those wings of yours, and then there is the fall and your 'ahhhhhhh'! I was hoping that you would be able to fly at last." She tells me.
"I know," I said with a bit of disappointment in my tone of voice. "I was hoping that too. I'm not sure why they aren't keeping me off the ground when I ask them to."
"You shouldn't push further for now," Twilight says to me. "I was scared that you would get hurt. Give the wings some rest for a bit, and maybe they'll have the strength to fly again." She saw the disappointment in my eyes, moving and placing her right front hoof onto my left cheek.
I felt comfortable with her doing that, letting her hoof gently stroke down my cheek until it was off. I moved out my left hand to take her hoof and hold it, gently letting my fingers wrap around it.
"I was hoping that Brayden would finally fly at last," Rainbow Dash spoke out, feeling just as disappointed as me. "I wanted to hang out with him and go out on a flight with him and teach him flying tricks he could do."
"There are other activities you both could do at the time until he has re-mastered back on his wings, Rainbow," Fluttershy suggested to her. "Perhaps you could both probably go swimming, or maybe get something from Sugarcube Corner?"
A giggle from Starlight was heard when I turned to look at her. "I saw her going to the spa sometime ago, maybe some time there?"
"I- uh," Rainbow Dash sounds a bit embarrassed since Twilight did tell me at one point about how she and Spike were going to take care of the farm while Applejack and Rarity were at the spa for some repairs before hanging out. "Okay... you got me."
All of us had giggled, giving the cyan pegasus both an awkward smile as well as a blush on her cheeks. We calm quickly and the pink on her cheeks faded when she turned to look at me waiting for another suggestion and the decision if I want to hang out with her today.
"If Ah may, Brayden," Applejack says to me. "It has been a while since ya came to mah farm and spent time together. Ah was thinking ya 'n ah could do that. Plus y'all see Apple Bloom and her friends there. Saw 'em earlier before comin' over."
In a way, it was true that I haven't been to Sweet Apple Acres for a while and been with the first pony who had become a close friend to me. I seemingly owe her for saving her cousin Braeburn after all from that attack in Appleloosa, and if he is there, I am sure he will want to personally thank me. It looks to be a good afternoon and shouldn't be too bad.
"Yeah, I could come with you AJ. Has been some time, so why not? Haven't seen Apple Bloom in a bit either, so it'll be good to see her too."
Rainbow grumbled a little bit with disappointment. "I was hoping that it would be today..." She quietly said to herself.
"Well, maybe we could do something tomorrow?" I turned to the pegasus and asked.
She paused for a moment to think, her disappointment fading. "Well... I'll check. I might be having practice with the Wonderbolts tomorrow, but if not tomorrow... maybe the day after tomorrow?"
"You'll be the first to know if I am free on that day." I smiled and offered her a friendly hug.
Rainbow Dash smiles, happy to accept the hug that I am offering, wrapping a hoof around me, and my arms moving around her neck, sharing the hug with her. It was for a few seconds, and then me and the pegasus released from the hug.
"I'll see you when I get back from Sweet Apple Acres." I turn and tell Twilight who was right there next to me.
"Okay, see you tonight." She tells me, moving closer to me as was I when she held my hand and placed her lips onto my own. I closed my eyes, sharing a peck with her for that moment, and then releasing from the kiss and her hoof letting go of my hand.
I looked at everypony else who also hope to see me later, especially Pinkie who is eager to hang out with me again since the last time. Pretty sure it'd be another time going to visit somewhere in Equestria or just baking stuff at the Sugarcube Corner. But I still have my plans to go with Rainbow, so I have time to figure that out.
Joining up with Applejack, I walk beside her as we begin to make our way down the trail from the castle to head back to Sweet Apple Acres. A few bluebirds fly over our heads as they make their way to their nests to see their young ones. School wasn't in, so I could see at least two or three fillies trotting along the trail and talking among one another. I only saw a glimpse, but they looked surprised that I was standing up again and in action.
The farm looked to be quite the sight even when the first time I visited had passed years ago... or so I think. I honestly cannot tell how long I've been in Equestria for since I first arrived here and woke up in Fluttershy's guest bedroom. But to be back for a visit was a breath of fresh air for me.
Ahead past the arch that me and AJ had passed under, I could see that familiar mare on the the rocking chair, snoring away with no problem at all who was Granny Smith. Can't say I have seen her that much, but she would be happy to see me again, especially since she'll be wondering about the Rainbow Apples that I said that I'd look for.
Big Macintosh is right there by one of the apple trees that had already been rooted of its apples. He is trotting over with the wagon full of barrels on his back, that most likely will have apples in them fresh off from the trees.
"Granny Smith!" Applejack proceeds to call out to the sleeping olden mare. "Ya'll gotta see who's walkin' bout!"
There is a snort from the olden mare as she wakes up, muttering "Uhh... wha?" Just like usual when I see her in the rocking chair, she often will be this confused even with the age she is at. How old is she? 190 years? I'm not really sure. She finally opens her eyes and can see both my close friend and then looking at me with surprise on her face. "Yer alive?! Ah thought somethin' bad happened to ya!"
"Yeah, something bad did happen to me," I admitted to her, speaking in a calm and normal tone to her. "But I managed to brave it out at the hospital and made it out alive in the end. Here I am, once again."
Granny proceeded to get off of her rocking chair and trot towards me. "Ah was almost certain for sure that ya... kicked the bucket," She sounded worried about me for a moment. "Apple Bloom and her friends will be quite happy to see that ya are still here."
"Of course, had to make that chance of saving a member of your family, Braeburn. How's he doing?"
Granny Smith smiled. "He's doin' real good. He's still at the farm with us, just inside talkin' with Apple Bloom." She tells me.
"Eeyup!" The stallion Big Macintosh proudly says with a smile on his face.
"Ah tell ya," Granny says to me as I turn to go to the front door of the house. "Once she sees ya, she's gonna be so happy."
I chuckled for a moment, thinking about one of my favorite Crusaders and the excitement she will have. But of course, someone else that I know will probably be here, and it is... you know, Alex. I turn to look at the stallion behind me, and look at him with his eyes staring at me with proud content.
"Before I go in, how's Alex?" I asked him. "Is he working hard and helping out on the farm?"
"Eeyup." His trademark response was.
"So I guess he isn't slacking off or going off somewhere?"
"Ehhhh..." He paused in guessing for a moment before looking again at me, even having moved his hoof up to his chin to think before setting it back onto the dirt. "He is definitely slackin' off sometimes. Especially with Rainbow Dash sometimes stoppin' at the farm for cider."
"I figured he would. Nothing ever changes for him, I tell you. Is he here?"
"Nah," Granny says to me. "Saw him takin' off this mornin' to Ponyville. Said he was goin' for another hang out with Vinyl Scratch and Octavia."
"Typical him. He loves the dubstep music from them."
"Dubstep?" Granny asked me with confusion.
All I can do is smile. "It's an Earth thing."
"Ahhh..." She says with realization.
With Applejack right behind me, I let her follow me as I make my entrance into the farmhouse and entering into that familiar setting that I had been in before. From that comfy chair ahead was Braeburn himself who sat there, looking down at the young Apple filly, who was eager to listen to whatever he was talking about.
Hearing the door open and close which was me opening and AJ who closed it, his ears twitched with attention briefly as his eyes turned upward to see me standing there a few feet away and Apple Bloom wondering who had entered until she turned her head to see me and her sister.
"BRAYDEN!" The sound of the young filly's excitement sounded off as I had predicted, and she gallops over towards me. A joyful smile upon my face, I bent down on one knee, allowing her to move closer so she could hop up on my other knee and give me a hug.
She hops up on my knee and proceeded to wrap her hooves around me. I too place my arms around the young Apple and the both of us share a friendly hug. Braeburn looks quite happy to see me, almost looking forward to telling me about how it's been going since his rescue. Me and Apple Bloom are in the hug for a few moments, and then we release with her hopping off my knee after that.
"Yer alive! Ah knew it to be true!" Apple Bloom is telling me, almost eager to get some questions out while she can. "Twist was tellin' me how she saw ya headin' back to ya and Twilight's castle when ya got out from the hospital! And is it all true?! Are ya really the son of Princess Celestia?!"
"Slow down there Apple Bloom," I said to her, chuckling a little bit. "I'll be sure to tell you everything that's happened. I'm sure that Braeburn also wants to hear everything else as well. Just got to see how he is."
I turn to look at the earth pony getting up off from the chair and trotting over to join us in the conversation. "Ya risked yer own life to go in and save me and the mayor of Appleloosa. Ah don't know how we can repay ya." He tells me, placing his hoof on the top of my hand. "We all owe ya somethin'. We just don't know what to give ya."
"You don't have to give me anything," I said to him. "I was just doing what I had to do. I couldn't let anypony else suffer at the hands of the Dragon Queen."
Braeburn did sound concerned when he spoke again. "When your friend Alex carried you back to the train, you were in really bad shape. I almost wanted to help, but the Equestrian military soldiers couldn't for the sake of you bein' the son of the Princess."
"Figures that she'd be that worried about me, like any mother," I said to him. "I'll have to make sure that I go and visit my mother in Canterlot when I have the time."
"There's the Friendship Festival that Princess Twilight's runnin' comin' up in... a month or two from what Ah can remember," Apple Bloom says, thinking to herself for a moment but speaking with us. "Aren't ya thinkin' of attendin', Brayden?"
"She's running it all by herself? Where?"
"In Canterlot!" Apple Bloom exclaims with excitement. "Me, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are gonna be there! We're hopin' ya will come!"
A smile crossed onto my lips. "Of course I will be there." I promised to her.
"Last time Ah heard, Celestia's been renovatin' the throne room to make it all brand new. Even the courtyard is gettin' a huge one as well in advance for the festival," Applejack says to me, standing next to me when I turn my head to look at her. "Believe me when Ah say this, Twilight was tellin' me 'n Apple Bloom about it when she came to visit us durin' yer time in the hospital."
"Then I suppose we are to see every race in Equestria there in attendance."
"Maybe, Ah'm not really sure. It'd be good to see Princess Ember from the Dragon Lands though if she can come visit." Applejack says to me.
There is the clearing of a throat, sounding a bit like Braeburn who I give my attention to. He too has a smile on his face when his hoof reached to the back of his head, taking off his own hat that was similar to Applejack's Stetson-like hat. He has the hoof that gripped his hat on his chest, his eyes set on me.
"If you want to say thanks to me, there is no need to say so," I said to him, my voice calm and happy. I move and place my hand onto his left front leg that he had his hoof on chest. "As my own friends remember, when I had taken the Song of Order in my hand, I swore as the Paladin of Equestria that I would protect everypony with all of my heart. I intend to keep that promise as long as I live. If I had lost somepony that played an important part to me, I... I don't know what I would do. Losing somepony would make me feel empty."
"Ya did the right thing Brayden," Braeburn insisted a bit. "Ah need not repeat it, but from here on forward, whatever ya need from all of us to ya, we're all here if ya need to talk."
"Thank you," I said to him with a smile upon my face. I remove my hand from his leg, still in communication. "Just looking out for everypony. But you? What will you do with the loss of your home?"
"Ah and the rest of us can rebuild," He tells me, placing his hat back on his head. "It'll take some time, but everythin' will go back to normal. Judgin' by the attack of Appleloosa and it's destruction, Ah don't think anypony will be goin' back there anytime soon 'specially when we were next to... you know." The thought of Mortem looks to chill him to the bone, even when I saw it with my own two eyes and not he.
"No worries, take your time to find the new land to rebuild. I'm sure it'll be the richest soil like here in Sweet Apple Acres."
"Oh, Ah'll look." He says to me, trotting backwards with a trustful look when he sits back and rests in the chair. "Thanks again, partner."
Apple Bloom is tugging at my left hand, getting my attention. "Ah still have to show ya the clubhouse for the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" She says to me, letting go of my hand once I turn to look at her excited face.
"Yeah, I haven't seen the clubhouse at all yet. Perhaps you can bring me to see it."
"Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are there! They know that Ah had to go back to the farmhouse when Ah heard ya were comin'!"
"Lead the way," I said to her. She trots towards the door as I turn around to see my best friend standing there. "You coming AJ?"
"Ah am, sugarcube," Applejack says to me with a smile on her face. "Ah did want to hang out with ya after all, am Ah right? Ah do have some things to tell ya once it's just ya and me."
Nodding, I follow the young filly out of the house and towards the rows of the apple orchards with Applejack behind, but keeping close to watch us. After all, she's always had a bit of that protectiveness in her, even when it came to both family and friends.
Apple Bloom must have talked our ears off by the time we got to the Crusader's clubhouse six minutes later. But if you know me, I'm known for being the one to take the time to listen and it is rare to see me get annoyed. But these are my friends, so I could never feel that way when they do that. After all, would Pinkie be talking my ear off as well whenever I am hanging out with her. But I learned to be patient because of her from the years of watching the show, and now I've become a happier person.
The clubhouse as I remembered from the show over the years all the way back to the first season, stood there with the supports on that apple-less tree, it's supports and walls built all by my earth pony friend right behind me and formerly owned by her. Apple Bloom steps onto the green colored staircase that looks to be updated from the last time I saw it in the show.
Behind me, there are no hoofsteps heard behind me. I turn around as I was heading up the stairs behind my Crusader friend. Applejack just stood there a few feet away from the stairs. All she do is smile, in ways of telling me to go ahead and say hello to Apple Bloom's two other best friends. I nod and share the same trustful smile to let her know I was okay with her coming up to join us.
I turn back around, climbing up the rest of the stairs to get to the exterior balcony of the clubhouse where Apple Bloom had left the door open for me. She was already inside, saying hello to the rest of her friends inside. I move in a bit closer, practically outside before the door's arch.
Sweetie Belle was the first other one of the crusaders that I caught in my sight, and even she hasn't noticed me standing there just yet.
"So Brayden's here?" I can hear Scootaloo inside, but out of sight for the moment.
"Yeah! He's just right outside, visitin' mah sister Applejack!"
The innocent eyes of the unicorn filly turned and saw me standing right there at the door as I continue forward by a few steps behind Apple Bloom. Scootaloo was there at a table when her eyes turned to look at me.
"Hey Brayden," Scootaloo greets me with a welcoming tone in her voice. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Neither have I, how are you?" I asked her as she trots around the table to join me and Apple Bloom.
"The usual, since we got our cutie marks, we've been helping out other ponies get their cutie mark when they haven't discovered their special talent," She replied to me. Sweetie Belle trots forward and joins us as well. "Kind of like our friend Gabby. Still lives in Griffonstone with her family, but is spreading the message that even anypony who isn't a pony can also have special talents like us."
"I saw her when I was still living at Fluttershy's cottage. Came to the door and asked where you all would be. She almost didn't have time to talk when I gave her the directions."
"That explains how she found our clubhouse and waited for us..." Sweetie Belle wondered out loud to herself.
"How's your wings?" Scootaloo asked me. "Me? I'm still not lucky enough to fly. Not sure why, but it must be something to do with my wings being short."
An embarrassed blush came upon my cheeks when she had mentioned about my wings, even from earlier. "Yeah, I tried to fly, but my wings don't seem like they want me to fly at all. I think we're equal now." I would have said something else in that, but it involved a curse word and we all know how such language is forbidden from being spoken, and even fillies that young shouldn't be hearing that.
"Don't worry then Brayden," She says to me. "They might still be warming up on the inside, so I'd say just give it some time. Unlike me..." Her tone shifted to a bit of a disappointment, which made me remember what Cheerilee had told me about her wings. I think even she is unaware that she might not be able to fly.
But even then inside, I have never lost hope for Scootaloo and her dream of being able to flap her wings off of the ground. I have doubted many things before... to which some came true, but most others... didn't. It was an up-down of luck for me when I was growing up on Earth. I moved towards Scootaloo, bending down on one knee and looking at her.
"I know the dream itself looks far away for you when it comes to your wings," My voice was calm when I spoke to her. "I too have had my own dreams and doubts that even myself had believed a long time ago. Each one that came and went, I'd always go through trial and error to find the dream that I absolutely wanted. One of my dreams... one involved you."
"I was in one of your dreams? Have you thought about talking to Princess Luna about it?" Scootaloo asked.
"She's his aunt, Scootaloo," Apple Bloom said to her. "Ya know both of them by now, she'll talk to him anytime."
Sweetie Belle had a smile on her face. "I didn't think that you would be the son of Celestia herself. Why didn't you think about telling us?" She asked me.
I chuckled for a moment. "One at a time," I said with a hint of happiness. "For that matter of a fact, yes, I have seen you in my dream that you were finally able to fly."
"That is my dream," The young pegasus smiled, bouncing for a moment. "Being able to fly alongside Rainbow Dash and follow her dream as she did. Like when she became a Wonderbolt. I want to follow in her hoofsteps!" Her excitement drew back into a fade there, and a frown appeared on her face. "...But my wings... they haven't grown fully."
I placed my hand onto the young filly's back. "I know. Cheerilee had told me her concerns and fears about you, but I think you have a chance to live that dream like all others do," I spoke to her. "Don't give up just because there are others who believe you won't make it. Your friends are there by your side to ensure you'll be able to get there."
Her frown had changed as well as the expression on her face. She looked like she was thinking about it. A few moments later, she looked back at me. "I... I certainly hope you're right." Finally a smile slowly crosses onto her mouth to show that she believed every word that I have said to her.
"Your big sister Rainbow Dash will be there for you as well. When you are in those times where you feel you have lost hope, think about her and the struggles she went through to get to that place in her life she is now in."
I removed my hand from off her back, moving back to me. I turn to look at the unicorn filly who was wondering more about the surprise she got from the fact that Celestia was my mother. I don't want to cause a panic that was like what happened when Twilight gave the Crusaders 'Twilight Time', cause we all know how that ended.
I really wouldn't want the entire 'son of Celestia' publicity even when I had asked for no paparazzi, and even so... many of my friends here in Ponyville understand that and respect my privacy. If I were to go to Manehattan to visit Coco again, most likely I will be met with ponies snapping my photo and wanting me to sign stuff. That's not me...
"Yes, it is true that your sister said that," I said to her, turning around. "I really am the son of Celestia as everypony has been telling in rumor around town. But I must insist that neither of you, tell anypony of that status at school."
"Remember Twilight Time?" Apple Bloom asked. "That didn't go well when everypony found out 'bout us when Twilight was helpin' us with our homework."
Scootaloo nodded her head in response to her friend's question and statement. Sweetie had turned to see her friend nodding, and then turns her head back to look at me. "We promise that we won't tell our classmates! They don't even know yet about you yet. They only know that you were in the hospital after saving the ponies of Appleloosa."
"Thank you very much Sweetie Belle," I said to her with a smile on my face. "I do hope that we will be able to catch up on your school work and how it's doing when I visit Rarity again."
"You really should visit soon!" She says to me. "You should see how Ann has been doing with us. She said to me to tell you that you and her are overdue for a time together."
Knowing Sweetie Belle was too young to know about Ann or the ponies in my heart, I don't think she will understand. I will refrain from mentioning anything about my relationships for the simple fact that she is too young for that kind of material yet. Though I do see her and Button Mash getting together sometime in the future. Dammit Brayden, don't predict something just yet... you never know if it could be Button or not...
"I'll make sure to do that, and you are correct there. I do need to have a talk with Ann. How is she?"
"She has been really helpful with Rarity. A bit shy when she first met me, but eventually get settled into the place. She told us that she used to live on Earth with you and the other humans you brought back from your trip there."
"Next trip to Earth, I'll probably have to be a little more careful." I reminded myself out loud.
"Brayden!" I can hear Applejack calling from outside of the clubhouse, reminding me that I was still hanging out with my close friend after a while.
I turn towards the door to call to her from outside. "Coming!" I turn back to look at the Crusaders. "Sorry girls, I'd stay and talk with all of you if I could, but Applejack's waiting for me."
"It's okay," Sweetie Belle says to me. "I'll see you next time when you're with Rarity."
"Or Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed with excitement. I knew this because I will be hanging out with her soon after my hangout with Applejack. "Thanks for the encouragement."
I smiled and in my departure, gave all three of the Crusaders a hug. "I'll see you later." I said to them with a smile on my face when I got back up onto my feet and turn to the door to see my friend Applejack.
My back was lying there against the trunk of the apple tree with Applejack lying down as well on another side of that tree next to me. The both of us were staring off into that orange colored sky as the sun was setting. There were only a few apples on this tree planted on the hilltop, so I figured that Big Macintosh had already bucked the apples off of the tree.
None of us had said a word to one another just yet, even from our walk together to go up the hill and see Celestia's sun set down on the western horizon. The smell of dinner being made came from the farmhouse and I did remember seeing Alex's shadowed reflection as he came back from Vinyl Scratch and Octavia's place. The sound around us were that of the birds quieting down from a long day. We had been here for a while.
"Mah parents first met on this hill," Applejack spoke to me for the first time after a few hours of silence. "Mah mother was a Pear, while my father... an Apple."
I turn my head to look at her when she was talking to me. She doesn't look at me, her eyes only peering at her back hooves as she was lying down. "When Ah looked at the situation that had been placed for ya, Ah almost wanted to ask them if they'd be able to help ya when ya went to save Braeburn." She continued, her voice a bit quiet but still audible for me to hear her.
"Your parents? They're here? I haven't seen them yet." I said to her.
"Ya unfortunately would be able to..." She said to me with that same quiet in her voice. "When ya were riskin' yer life to save Braeburn. Ah asked mahself what they'd do if they were here. Yer one of the closest friends Ah can trust enough to talk about this personal matter with me, other than the members of mah family that know of them."
"Then... they're not?"
"Ya... they're not here," She paused for a moment. Her hooves move for a moment, followed by the sound of something coming out of the ground. She has a dandelion gripped in her hooves that she is looking at. "Ah was too young to remember what happened to them... but Ah still remember their faces."
"The pictures in the living room? That was them?"
"Yes, it's them."
"They're..." I almost didn't want to say the word 'dead' because this was truely a sensitive topic that she was beginning to share with me. I finally had paused, even with no sound coming out from either of us except the breathing from our nostrils.
She turns her head to look at me. She looked a little saddened by this, even by what she was thinking when referring to her parents, as even past memories had given her emotions that I didn't think were brought to light until she just told me. Those sap green eyes of hers just staring with sorrow to my own brown questioned eyes, not a word responded to me. Not yet, I suppose...
"They are." She managed to get out, letting the dandelion in her hooves fall to the grass again. "Ah miss them so much..."
By the tone, she sounded a bit upset. Almost as if I had set off something inside of her, and if I did, then I really didn't mean to do that. I placed my hand onto her shoulder, giving her the assurance that I was there for her if she needed to cry.
"Ah've never really shared this with any of mah other friends 'bout mah parents..." She is saying, a bit of wetness appearing in her eyes. "Ah was really young when Ah last remember mah parents. Apple Bloom was just a newborn when they ended up passin' away. Granny... she wouldn't tell me what happened..." She sniffed for a moment before continuing. "It was when Ah and Big Macintosh were much older when she had told both me 'n mah brother about why they never were back. It... it was an accident during a thunderstorm, took both of their lives... mah father Bright Mac were working with mah mother Pear Butter to fix a wheel on their wagon that had broken off. They had a spare wheel... but, were not lucky with an unexpected..."
Tears were forming into her eyes, and I have that feeling inside that wants to put me into action of giving the Earth pony a comforting hug. I had to listen more to what happened to them, as she was taking in a breath, her voice a bit shaky.
"...Another pony who had a little too much cider, was speedin' towards them with no control over how fast he was goin'. Ended up knockin' over the wagon on the other side where they were fixin' it. In that very fast rate, more damage had been done than everypony else thought. The pony who allowed it to happen, never was seen again. Took off in the wind with no single clue to whom he was since it had been rainin' and the roads had been muddy that evenin'..."
Shocked to hear this coming from her, I almost didn't know what to say when even the tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Applejack..." I said to her, moving closer to her. I place my hand onto her Stetson hat and remove it off of her head and place it next to me on the grass, showing me her pale light grayish olive colored mane in full. "I'm so sorry..."
Lowering her head, and more tears flowing from her eyes, I knew that I had to take action for my close friend. I moved close to her, wrapping my arms around her and giving her that friendly hug that she needed most.
"I know it must be tough for you to tell me this... but I understand what it's like to lose members, especially the ones who brought you into Equestria..." I spoke to her with a gentle tone in my voice. "Even I have lost those who I loved dearly in my own family back on Earth, so I have been through the same thing."
"Ah know..."
We were silent again as I held AJ close in a friendly way. I can hear her sniffing a bit, but she wasn't losing it since I know she is strong inside and outside of herself. For a long time having watched the show, I had that question about where her parents were throughout the show. I felt like that the answer had been given to me through her trust. But I don't dare try to tell anypony else about this, since this would be something that her family keeps private.
Releasing from the hug, I look at her tear-filled eyes and speak with her. "Though you still talk with them..."
"Ah know Ah can't see 'em," She interrupted briefly. "But Ah know they're there, listenin' and watchin' me and Apple Bloom."
"What about Big Macintosh, your brother?"
She nods. "They haven't forgot 'bout him. They are quite proud of him, for buildin' up the farm with me and Granny."
I look to the sky at the stars that were slowly coming into view in the dusk-filled sky. "Up there, in the stars above. They are right there, making sure you and the rest of your family are safe and sound. No matter what happens here in Equestria, the fate of all life is usually written into the stars and what is to happen is decided there."
"It is?"
"Yes," I told her. "Up there, your parents most likely are guaranteeing that you and your family will have a successful future ahead. Most likely, they are talking to the First Alicorn in regards to that. Just as I know you, you like all of our other friends, are brave and honest to us. After all, honesty is your gift, am I right?"
A smile appears on Applejack's mouth when I was speaking to her. "Yes... yes it is, sugarcube," She says to me, not really sounding upset but a little more calm now. "Thank ya for tellin' this to me. But there's one thing Ah need to ask..."
"Yes?"
"Can ya hand me back mah hat?" She said with a smile on her face.
I nod to her, picking up her hat off of the clean, fresh grass and handing it over to her. She raises her left front hoof, taking it from my hand and placing it back onto her head. Thanks were given to me from a nod of approval from her.
From afar, we can hear the ringing of a bell from the distance of this tree-topped hill to the farmhouse that signalled something along with the smell that had come along. "Dinner!" We can hear Granny Smith calling to practically the entire Sweet Apple Acres, which must be for me and Applejack included. By the smell, I can tell that something wonderful has been cooked up for tonight's meal.
"Time for supper then," Applejack says to me as I get back up onto my two feet. She as well get up onto all four of her hooves. "Ya comin' to join us? We could really use another one of ya at the table for seconds."
A smile crossed onto my face when I looked at her. "Of course I'll join you and your family for dinner. Someone's got to keep Alex under control after all, just in case he gets a little too 'big mouthed'."
Applejack chuckled and trots alongside me as we begin making our way down the hill. My bare feet can feel the soft, yet ticklish grass below along with a crunch by each step that I took. My focus though, is on food since I haven't eaten since earlier in the afternoon before the attempt at flying.
"And Brayden?"
I turn to look at Applejack again. She is smiling, even when she places her gamboge hoof on top of my right hand. "Thank you again for what ya told me."
"No problem," I said to her with a smile.
She takes her hoof off of me and we continue together as we head towards the farmhouse, eager for dinner on the table. By Celestia my own mother herself, I swear that there was potatoes in that smell, which means that I could very well have one of my favorite meals, the mashed potatoes.
Even when I was heading to the farmhouse, I didn't really notice the two shooting stars fly down in the night sky above for either me nor AJ to catch with our naked eyes. But I already knew what they meant when they passed.
A message from Applejack's parents in the heavens...
A/N: Well, that was the chapter, and now I shall make my explanation why I haven't been writing this one for a while. Plus this is pretty much between after this chapter and before the next when 'Consign To Oblivion' begins.
I haven't been writing for a while, I know... but it has most things to do with real-life matters like making time to do something like this, plus I would sometimes be sitting there with no inspiration to write at the computer. So in other words, this chapter holds no promises to when the next chapter will be and what will happen in the next one. Depends how busy it gets for me, but I will be shifting my focus for now onto Consign until some inspiration sparks into me for LTL.
Other than that, not really much has been going on for me other than watching Season 8. Just saw the recent episode "The Mean Six" with Queen Chrysalis. One thing I will promise though, is there will be something planned soon in LTL in regards to her which could be a rewrite. I've been thinking of looking into Starswirl and the other Guardians as well. I am considering the Friendship School students in the story as well, but am still thinking about it.
One of the recent concerts I went to was Def Leppard with Journey in Toronto. Someone tell Captain Alaska this since he's huge into Def Leppard, but they pulled off a phenomenal performance as they did the first time I saw them. Last I saw them, they were co-headlining with KISS. However, it was a first time for me seeing Journey.
In regards to movies, I have seen Avengers: Infinity War. All I can say is... that ending. :(
I've got to get going now, but the next chapter for Consign will hopefully be coming soon. I'll see you all very soon. Another trip to Montreal in September should pump in some inspiration hopefully.