Part Twelve - Unnamed

> "Here's your mail, Mr Anonymous!" The greycoated mailmare stuffs a number of envelopes and small packages into your outstretched arms.
> You'd think she'd be polite enough to look you in the eye when she's talking to you.
> Hmph.
> You take the mail, shut the door behind you and make your way to the kitchen.
> Spike is sitting at the table, resting his head on one hand staring into the middle distance.
> Little feller's not quite awake yet.
> Twilight has a book open infront of her aswell as a bowl of some type of cereal.
> Must be a good read.
> She still has the same dripping spoonful floating near her partially open mouth as she had when you left to answer the door.
> You've been filling your time over the last week with small tasks like this.
> A little helping hand here and there.
> Partially as a 'thankyou' for being such welcoming hosts, mainly to give yourself something to do.
> Not that you'll have time to spare today.
> One of the packages is the one you've been waiting for.
> You carefully open one of the small brown paper packages to reveal a pouch that jingles with a satisfying weight.
> As promised in the earlier letter, your stipend has arrived.
> In Canterlot all of your needs were taken care of for you.
> Here in P0nyville you have been given the freedom to manage your own affairs.

> You're still not too sure how harshly you're going to have to budget yourself.
> Given how much more they must be spending on food, you're definately going to have to give Twilight some of your... 'bits' is it?
> You spin a coin in your fingers, on one side the smiling profile of Princess Celestia, on the other a stylised montage of a pegasus, a unicorn and a p0ny holding aloft a flag.
> While your memories regardingt money are fragmented, at least it's something you have a point of reference with.
> Far too few things to be found like that around here.
> There's a lot of stuff you find strangely familiar, true, but there's always something slightly off kilter about it.
> A little like Lyra and her pictures.
> Close, but not quite right.
> It's not enough to make you uncomfortable.
> You are finding P0nyville to be a genuinely friendly and welcoming community.
> It's just occasionally something stands out as blatantly puzzling.
> The saddles, for example.
> You asked Rarity about them.
> She just responded, "Darling, sometimes you have just GOT to accessorise.", after which you really didn't know how to continue.
> Still, it's nothing to worry yourself about, you suppose.
> You manage to drag Twilight's attention away from the book and explain your plans.
> Offering them a goodbye wave from the door, you step out into a curiously overcast porch ready to face the day.
*Krakoom!* *Zak*
> "Gotcha! bwahaha!" Shouts Rainbow Dash from atop her small thundercloud.

> "I said I'm sorry! C'moooon!" Dash pleads with you as she hovers at your side.
> Dash had a day off it seems.
> Dash also likes pranks.
> In addition, Dash doesn't know much about human tolerance to lightning.
> This is why you smell faintly of burnt bacon.
> This is also why you no longer have eyebrows.
> Still, she did say sorry.
> Laughing at the smoke curling around you did make it sound a little less than genuine.
> ...and she said she'd make it up to you.
> Which is why she's helping you carry your supplies and various purchases, admittedly with a little reluctance and a lot of complaining.
> "I know I said I'd do this, but slouching around shops all day? boooring."
"We're nearly done. Just take me to a hardware store and were even."
> Dash rifles through one of your bags. "So, what ARE you going to do with all this junk?"
"You remember last week? My case broke a barn. I said I wanted to help fix it... and I think I owe the folk at that farm a little more."
> "You're going to sweet apple acres?" Dash gives a little grin.
"Uhuh. Like I said, I owe them."
> "Oooh, one taste and you can't keep away, huh?"
"What?"
> "Nothing, nothing..." She grins again.
> "Well..." She folds her forlegs behind her head as she flies backwards at your side. "...I've got nothing on today. Think I'll come and help."
> Oh no.

"You don't have to. You've done enough."
> "Oh, but I want to make it up to you."
"Look, it's fine. Debt paid. You're forgiven."
> "What if you go for a swim again? Who's going to be there to help you, huh?"
"Yeah. However will I get by without someone to drop me in the water and squeal like a foal."
> "That was all your fault. Your creepy hand things."
"Give me a break, Dash. I just want to help fix the mess I made."
> "Hey, Applejack's my friend. If she needs help, then I wanna be there."
"You... but... dammit..."
> She's not letting this go.
> Time to try bribery.
"If you stay here I'll let you zap me again."
> It'd be less painful in the long run, you reason.
> "Pfft. That's no fun when you know it's coming. Besides, I don't wanna miss this." She smiles sweetly.
"*sigh* just promise you won't... stir things up."
> "Alright, alright. You've got my word. No teasing." She places a hoof across her chest, holding one up as she pledges.
> You get to the hardware store and purchase the wood, paint, and other supplies.
> Your pouch is significantly lighter now, but given the amount you've bought, you decide to rent a small cart to pull carry your purchases.
> Dash waits nearby with the supplies while you make arrangements with p0nyvilles wainwright.
> "Where y'heading to?" asks the aged carter, a brown p0ny with a mallet mark on his flank.
"Sweet Apple Acres."
> "Oh, don't you go scrumping again... we've heard all about you and apples." He gives a knowing smile and a waggle of his eyebrows.
> You can hear Dash's muffled giggling from here.
> Godammit.

> Despite the wagon being made for p0nies, you still end up pulling it.
> "Pegasus are made for speed" Dash told you as she flapped along.
> You pull the wagon to a halt near the gate to the farm and rest against the sign post for a moment.
> It gives you a chance to get your breath back, but also to think things through.
> BigMac... everything you've been told about the big guy has led you to believe he wasn't looking to stomp you into a greasy spot, but it's still worrying.
> You left here at speed and under dubious circumstances, thanks in no small part to Rainbow Dash and her teasing song.
> Also, the orange p0ny did save your life, which is hard enough to talk about as is without considering the fact you slipped her the tongue during your stupor.
> Adding to it all, you'd swear you can feel Dash's grin burning into the back of your head as you struggle for breath.
> "You going to stand there all day?" She asks, eager for the show to begin.
"Jus'... *pant*... gathering my... thoughts."
> Better get things over with.
> You approach the farm house with the wagon in tow and can see ahead of you the door on the kitchen porch is open.
> The old mare, Granny Smith, is the only one home at the moment.
> She seems to be cooking what you can only assume is lunch.
> You knock on the doorframe, then again a little louder.
> She turns and looks at you with a complete absence of recognition. "Can ah help ya, son?"
> "Hi there Granny! This here's Anon, You remember right?" Dash calls over your shoulder.
> "The bad swimmer? Din't recognise ya dry sonny."
"Umn... that's fine, Mrs Smith. I came to help fix the barn and, well... to say sorry."
> You enter the kitchen and hold out the basket.
> Pinkie helped you put this together, a collection of treats and sweet things she knew the apple family enjoyed.
"...and to say thankyou. I put a hole in your barn, you all just made me feel so welcome and helped me without question. I just wanted to... show my gratitude. "
> Granny has pulled back the cloth that covered the basket and peered inside as you talked.
> "An apologies nice an all, but a-pastery is better. Mighty nice o' ya sonny." She smiles a toothless smile as she catches the scent of the treats within.

> You head over to the barn to begin work.
> Granny told you the others were out tending the orchards, and little Applebloom was at school.
> Rather than wait around, you decided to see what you could get done.
> Looking at the damage again, you're not sure where to begin.
> The hole on the roof seems a bit ambitious, even though it's the worst.
> Besides, Rainbow seems to want to tackle that.
> She tells you that she's best suited to it, being able to fly, but you suspect it's also so she can be in a good elevated position incase Applejack hasn't completely forgiven her teasing.
> The rafters remain out of your reach..
> The hole at the back has already been patched, albeit in a temporary fashion with gaps still visible.
> Not wanting to undo any work, you settle on the hay loft as your target.
> You can remember some things about working wood.
> Like everything, though, it's patchy and a little mixed up with other things.
> Despite what your memories tell you, you're convinced there's no job a carpenter would need a guitar for.
> You're sure you've done it before though.
> Hoping it'll all come flooding back, you begin by prying up the broken boards using a clawhammer with teethmarks on the handle.

>"Winona! dang dog, what's gotten into you?"
> Applejack just walked into the barn, looking over her shoulder.
> She turns and views your handywork..
> "*ahem* hey there Anonymous... wow. Y'all been busy. That looks... sturdy?"
> Her mouth scrunches up, as if finding something nice to say about your work was a physical effort.
> You hoped it'd all come flooding back.
> In a way it did.
> Unfortunately, what you've built to cover the hole looks more like an attempt at zombieproofing than careful repair.
> It's true though, it is strong.
> With that amount of wood, it'd have to be.
"Erm, yeah. I think I got a little carried away."
> "Don't you worry none. Strong s'what you want in a loft anyway, not pretty."
>You climb carefully down the ladder which sits at a slighter incline due to the hooved natures of it's regular user.
> Applejack is looking off to her left, a slightly worried look on her face.
> You don't really know what to say either.
> It's just hanging there, unspoken, silent, yet somehow drowning out all other words.
> The longer this keeps going, the worse it's going to get.
> One of you better say something, and soon.
> "Anon... I..."
"Applejack... there's something I..."
> Yeah.
> It'd probably work better if both of you don't do it at the same time.

"I'm sorry I..."
> faced off for the tonsilhockey championship? staged a mouth invasion with tommytongue? started a two-tongue throwdown in tonsiltown? dammit.
"...Kissed you."
> Weak.
> Applejack doesn't look comfortable talking about this at all.
> Understandable seeing as she's talking to mr mouthrapist.
> Nevertheless, she still looks you in the eye.
"... I was barely conscious. Confused."
> "ah know."
"...didn't know where I was. Couldn't see."
> "ah know."
"... I'm so sorry."
> "Anon, ah was tryin' t'get ya breathin' again. c.p.r. y'heard of it? I learnt 'bout it when ah was a filly. Y'gotta help a p0ny breath if they can't."
> ".... and when ah pulled ya outta the river, y'weren't breathin'." Applejack expression is serious, but there's an element of concern there too.
> She knows how close to tradgedy your misadventure strayed.
> When it happened, she acted with no time to spare on thinking, but afterwards? then she had time to think about what could have been.
> That, you realise, is the source of her discomfort.
> You had a brush with death, and by proxy, so did she and her sister.
> More than that, she doesn't seem to want to just say 'hey, I saved your life', too humble perhaps, but she needs you to know how close things came for your own good.
> "Y'have ta be more careful... If ah was just a little further away... ah don' know how things'da turned out."
> Applejack sighs frowning a little, unsure how to continue and unsure if you understand.
> Human expressions must be harder to read for p0nies.
" I get it AJ. I didn't mean to expose your sister to anything like that. I don't mean my, er, mistake with c.p.r. I mean the whole drowning thing."
> "Applebloom? She's tougher than you think Anon. You're mane'd turn pure white if ya heard some of the things she gets up to. She fair spooks me when I hear 'bout it."
> Applejack looks back towards the orchard as she smiles fondly at the thought of her impetuous sister.
"Then why?..."

> "Ah just want t'be sure you keep an eye on your trail. P0nyville is a nice place and all... wouldn't change if fer all the apples in the world, but it's not Canterlot."
> She meets your gaze with a serious look.
> "P0nyville is near to some dangerous places. The Everfree Forest has some mean critters callin' it home, an' they don't always stay put. There's the Gorge, Froggy Bottom bog..."
> She sighs, stopping herself mid lecture.
> "You're a mite wobbly on those hooves of yours at times... I'm jus' sayin', be careful, kay? Y'seem like a nice guy. Wouldn't want y't'get hurt now."
> You can't help but smile at her.
> She's like the big sister you never had.
> Or had and can't remember.
> Whatever.
> Which means you kissed the closest thing you have to a sister.
> Ew.
"I get it. I appreciate the concern AJ. I'll try to be careful. You have my word on that."
> "Ah don't need no pinkie swear or nuthin', Anon, ah just want y't'be safe, 'till ya know your way 'round."
> You nod.
"I'm still sorry about the... kiss. Didn't know what I was doing."
> "Wouldn'ta done it if ya knew what y'were doin? Wow. Y'sure know how ta make a girl feel purdy, Anon." She smiles, cocking an eyebrow and tipping her hat back a little with her hoof.
"I didn't... I mean...ah..."
> "Aw, don't fluster y'self none. Ah'm just yankin y'tail." Applejack grins at your discomfort. "C'mon, let's get the rest of this job done and git back in time for dinner."
"Yeah. Best if you show me what to do though."
> You glance up at your enthusiastic, but unfocused efforts as you say this.

>You don't know how long you worked, but by the end of it the sun is horizon bound and the barn is looking...
> Well, not as good as new, but a close second.
> You, Applejack and Rainbow Dash are heading back to the farmhouse at a slow walk.
> There's a splattering of red paint here and there on each of you, and in your case a couple of hammerbruised fingers, honour markings of a day's hard labour all.
> "So. You two kiss and make up?" Asks Dash.
> "Dang it Dash, I weren't mad with him. It was all a mistake." AJ doesn't sound mad, more tired.
"Dash..."
> "Aw, and I thought it was love at first sight." Dash sniggers a little.
"Hey, look, I didn't know what I was..."
> You glance momentarily at AJ as you start, and catch the faintest of blushes forming.
> No matter who or what was doing it, it can't be nice having someone desperately trying to explain why they'd never EVER want to kiss her.
> She doesn't deserve to have to hear that.
"Ok. Look, she's a very beautiful mare. No doubt about it. If I wanted to kiss her though? I'd at least buy her dinner first."
> She smiles, though the blush doesn't fade and she doesn't look up.
> Dash seems a little deflated though, what with the teasing being deflected.
> You walk the rest of the way in a companionable silence.
> As you approach the porch Applebloom clatters out of the door with a huge smile.
> "Applejack! can ya believe it? Anonymous brought us all dinner!"
> The basket... ah hell.
> The two mares look up at you silently, you can feel them staring.
> They burst into laughter as you all walk in to that family kitchen to enjoy a fine meal, a warm hearth and warmer hearts.

__________

> Later.
> The moon is rising and you're standing on the farmstead porch drinking slowly from a tankard.
> In the background you can hear somep0ny talking about wonderbolts, somep0ny snoring and the sisters chatting as they wash plates from a fine meal.
> A large, read coated colt thumps up next to you.
> Silence.
> More silence.
"You know Dash was just teasing right?"
> More silence.
> "Eeyup."
> Silence.
"So."
> Bit more silence.
"We're good, right?"
> You offer out your fist.
> Silence again.
> "Eeyup."
> BigMac Raises is hoof and moves it towards yours.
> Brohoof docking procedure initiated.
> Slow and graceful.
> It's like something out of 'a space oddessy'
*Paf*
> Broohoof docking complete!
> He may have only broke one finger.
> Result!
> All in all, it's been a good day.
> ...and a bit more silence to finish on.