Chapter Six

One ...Two  ...Three ... Pull! One ...Two ...Three ... Pull! Laron counted in his head with each pull of the flour bag. He had no choice but to drag the bag with his teeth all the way back to the farm. He tried carrying it on his back, but that only resulted in him wobbling a few feet before collapsing under the heavy weight of the bag. He had opted to ask Mrs. Cake for help, but it seemed she mysteriously disappeared as soon as he had exited the store. Mr. Cake didn't seem to be around either. Hmm. You don't think they're- He forced the thought from his head. He had no desire to put that mental image in his head.

Other ponies saw him struggling with his heavy bag, but paid him no attention. He had long ago given up asking for help from anypony, as whenever he did, they would seemingly go out of their way not to help him. Some would even turn an entirely different direction when they heard the little foal calling to them for assistance. He couldn't exactly blame them for it, though. He did have a bit of a reputation around town. They probably expected him to steal from them while they were busy helping with the bag.

So, he continued his arduously long trek alone across the streets of Ponyville, bag of flour still clenched in his teeth, each pull beginning to make the feel of numbing pain in his mouth grow stronger and stronger. It felt like his teeth were being painfully yanked from his mouth with each pull, but he had to keep going. I'm not going to screw this up. I can't do this. Just try not to think about the pain. You can do it. The positive encouragement he was giving himself was all that was giving him the energy to keep dragging the bag. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over him from behind. Oh thanks Celestia, somepony is finally here to help me.

"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Did you miss me, runt?"

Oh no.

---

Applejack was busy working the field as per usual, she and Big Macintosh had been bucking apples well into the afternoon. She had sent the little pegasus off into town hours ago, where could he be? It shouldn't be taking nearly this long. She decided she had better head into town and see what had been keeping the little guy.

"Macintosh!" Applejack yelled across to the red farm pony, tilting her stetson up to get a better view of her brother.

"Ah need ta go into town fer a bit. Ah won't be long, alright?"

"Eeyup." Was his entire response. It wasn't exactly an answer to her question, but it would have to do.

The farm pony trotted through town, first stopping by the obvious place; Sugarcube Corner. She asked Mrs. Cake where the foal was, but the teal mare didn't prove to be of any help. Relax, Applejack. Ah'm sure it's nothin' ta worry 'bout. Probably just stopped by the school ta talk to Applebloom. I see the way they look at each other. She giggled a little at the thought. They were both just so adorable.

He wasn't around the school. Applejack was beginning to get a little worried. She decided to check in with her friends, hoping one of them had a clue as to Laron's whereabouts. Twilight hadn't seen him, Rainbow didn't even want to talk to her about it. She ended up spending a few minutes lecturing her about holding grudges, but Rainbow didn't seem very interested in listening. As far as she knew, none of her other friends had met the pegasus, leaving her completely out of places to check.

She spent hours wandering through town, calling for his name, but her cries never yielded a response. As she was walking down the same street for the umpteenth time, an unusual sight caught her eye. It was a bag of flour. Completely empty, however.  Not far from it was a faint trail of the chalky substance that hadn't been carried away by the wind. She followed it into an alleyway. Her heart dropped in her chest at the sight of what lay at the end of the alleyway.

Laron was laid on his side, cuts and bruises littered his body. His entire body was covered in flour, and he showed no signs of life except for the faint rising and falling of his chest. Applejack didn't have the luxury of letting her body go into shock at the time, she had to get him back to the farm. Pulling him onto her back, she wasted no time in galloping off. In the midst of the thoughts of her worries and fears of what might have happened, she found herself thinking as she ran.

Why do ah care s'much 'bout this one? He ain't family, he ain't no friend, all ah know 'bout him is he's a little bandit. So why do ah keep puttin' mahself outta the way ta help 'em? The strange thought took Applejack by surprise. Now don't ya go thinkin' like that, Applejack. Yer better than that. He's been at least tryin', hasn't he? Besides, it don't matter right now what ah think of 'em. He needs mah help. Now that was an opinion she felt suited her. She let out a quick burst of speed, her legs burning with each step as she neared the farm.

---

The next few hours passed by in a blur for the pegasus. He remembered bringing the flour back from Sugarcube Corner, then- Baritone! Baritone caught me by surprised and left me bleeding in the alleyway. Then what happened? Applejack carried me back. Right. Right. Then... Um... Cleaning! Yeah, I spent a lot of time getting cleaned up. She cleaned out all these cuts pretty good. Still stings like crazy. though. And bandages. Geez, these things are tight. Not that I really feel like moving. I feel sore just about everywhere.

Laron had been lying on a couch inside the Apple home for a few hours now. He was completely by himself with nothing to do, so he just sat there looking at the wall, trying not the think about the pain. Nopony tried to bother him, but he could hear them whispering just outside the room. Clearly he had a lot of explaining to do as soon as somepony decided to ask about it. For now though, everypony seemed content to just let him get some rest. He liked that. So he rested.

That is, until Applebloom came wandering in. She entered slowly, a worried expression staring at him. He didn't try to tell her to leave, though. He didn't really mind her being there. The yellow filly trotted up to him, and tried to put on a little smile for him. Her eyes were still in a 'frowning' position, however.

"How're ya feelin'?" The sincerity in Applebloom's voice was very relaxing to hear. At least, it was to him.

"I've been worse. Don't worry, i'll bounce back." The pegasus' voice dry and raspy. He managed to smile back at the filly, wincing a little as a cut on his lip stretched as he did so.

"Oh, alright. Good to hear. Can I get ya anything?" Applebloom's face still carried the same concern as she spoke. She also seemed a little... Eager? Was she really hoping there was something she could do?

" Well, I guess I could use a glass of water."

As soon as he had finished, Applebloom had quickly run off and returned, holding a glass of water in her hooves. He looked at the drink, then back to Applebloom. She does realize I can't move to grab it, right? As though on cue, a look of realization hit Applebloom's face. She moved the glass up to his lips, letting the cold liquid pour into his mouth. Water never seemed more delicious to him than it had at that moment.

"Aaaah. Thanks." He gave her a beaming smile. It wasn't often he got such acts of kindness, so it was much appreciated to him. Applebloom looked away, her own lips forming a wide smile. Is she... blushing? Nah, you're just imagining things.

The two of them spent a few moments just looking at each other, neither of them really sure where the conversation was going.

"Well, I guess i'll let you get your rest. I hope you get better soon." Applebloom turned around and trotted off towards the door.

He had planned on saying "thank you" but sweet Celestia was he tired! He just wanted to sleep. His eyes slowly lowered, and he listened to the hoofsteps of the pony walking out of the room. Suddenly, the sound stopped. As suddenly as it stopped though, it started again, only now it sounded like it was getting closer. He felt a light kiss on his cheek. Laron's eyes shot open, darting around the room, looking for the perpetrator. Nopony was there, however. He was completely alone in the room. Had he just imagined it?

---

Laron awoke from his sleep with a startle, as somepony had just taken to sitting right next to him. He looked over to see Applejack, staring down at him. Everypony keeps looking at me like that lately. I'm not a charity case. I don't need sympathy. He had to admit though, it was a nice change of pace to see that somepony cared about him. It was only just then that he noticed it was now late into the evening; He had just slept through the entire afternoon.

"So, how ya feelin'?"

He had to think about that for a moment. He felt rather stiff from having just woken up, but other than that, he felt much better than he had earlier in the day. Still hurt a little when he moved.

"Could be worse. Thanks for helping me out today. Sorry about the flour." What the hay are you apologizing for!? It's her fault you got beat up by sounding you out on this stupid errand in the first place! He pushed back the angry thought as soon as it came. It wouldn't do him any good right now to get all riled up like that.

"Good ta hear. And don't sweat it, ah'll pick up more tomorrow. I did want to talk to you, though."

"Oh. About today? Or did you mean-" He paused, figuring the mare would catch on to the earlier conversation he was referring to.

"Both. But first, today. Ah want ya ta walk me through what happened." Her voice was stern, the undertone of caring had disappeared. She was serious.

Clearing his throat, Laron began began his story.

---

"And that is pretty much it. Baritone has always been a part of the reason I've had to steal. I needed to get money for him in order to keep him off my back. That was why I couldn't give you back your bits. Sorry." He hung his head down low, looking at the floorboards. It was really the first time he ever regretted having to steal something from anypony.

"Well, don't you worry. Ah forgive ya. Yer gonna have to take it easy the next few days, ya realize that, don't ya?"

He nodded, and leaned himself against the orange pony next to him. He was getting awfully tired. He could have fallen asleep right there, if Applejack hadn't started speaking again.

"Now, ah believe ya got a story ta finish, don't ya?"

Now there was that sympathetic look he loved.

"Hehe, yeah. Alright, lemme see, where was I..."

---

"I stood with my parents at the front door of the orphanage. I was begging and pleading to them not to leave me. I told them that whatever I did wrong, I was sorry. I just ended up falling into the constant repetition of telling them how much I loved them, and how I don't want to be left alone. I don't think they were even listening anymore. The looks on their faces, I realize now it was just as hard on them as it was to me. I was young, and didn't understand what was really going on. They couldn't afford to raise a child anymore."

"It was an old, grey mare that answer the door. My parents and I were brought in, and I was left to wander around the halls while my parents went and filled out the paperwork. I just sat in a corner sobbing most of the time. Eventually, my parents came back, each of them gave me a kiss, told me how much they love me, and left. I tried to follow them out, but the old mare held me back from the door. I watched as my parents disappeared down the street. I never saw them again."

"I wasn't at the orphanage long. That was my choice though. I couldn't stand staying there, so I left. The kids were horribly mean, the living conditions were horrible, and the food was disgusting. I decided I would be better off living on the street. Looking back on it, I can't really say one was better or worse than the other. I went back to the orphanage once, just to see if any of the kids missed me. I was welcomed with mock and ridicule. I learned my lesson. I broke some colt's nose and left."

"The first thing I did after leaving the orphanage was go home. That was probably the most miserable day of my life. My parents weren't even there. Instead, it was some young couple. I asked them where my parents were. They told me they had just bought the house. They said it was dirt cheap. Apparently my parent's couldn't make payments anymore and got kicked out. I don't know what happened to them."

As he finished his tale, he looked up to Applejack. Tears were sitting just at the brim of her eyes, and her lips were quivering.

"Please don't cry." Because if you start crying, then i'm going to start crying.

She pulled him close into a tight hug, and let tears slowly leak down her face, all the while blubbering apologies. Next Chapter: Chapter Seven Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes