Generous Care

William Contrite rubbed his eyes as the train whistle blew, his reading glasses almost fell from his face before he removed them by hand and placed them in his waistcoat’s top pocket. He looked around his empty carriage before grabbing his suitcase and standing by the wooden door, waiting for the train to stop at the station.

As the train gently stopped, William braced for the inevitable jolt of the actual stop. The jolt caused him to stagger but he quickly regained his balance before he dared to open the door and step down onto the platform.

The first thing that came to William’s attention was the bright sun in the sky and the lack of clouds. His eyes moved down from the blue sky to look at the wooden walls that made the small train station, a simple map was trapped behind a clean glass screen.

William carefully inspected the map, the words were large enough for him to read without the use of his glasses. He found his location on the map and quickly scanned the rest for his destination. When the map failed to provide insight, his attention was diverted to his reflection in the glass.

The teenager in the reflection had clean, short, brown hair that was well kept. The rest of his head was also kept clean and tidy, he had smooth pale skin that enhanced his comforting hazel eyes. His attire consisted of polished brown shoes, ironed trousers, white shirt with brown tie and a brown waistcoat that had simple stripes that went around the chest. A pair of reading glasses poked out of his top pocket as he knelt down to pick his dull leather suitcase up again.

Sighing the teenager decided to head for a location where he could find out some information, the local library. As he walked out of the train station, his eyes were brought up to look at the sign hanging above the door.

Welcome to Ponyville.

The boy walked down the cobbled street with his chin up and his shoulders back, his eyes focused more on the path ahead rather than the people that walked around him, their eyes taking quick glances at the smartly dressed teen.

William kept his posture even though his eyes showed his real feeling of someone uncomfortable, his hand kept a firm grasp of his suitcase as he turned to look at what first appeared to be a large tree but, upon further inspection of the trunk, turned out to be a building.

The teen noticed a sign near the door of an open book. With this as a reassuring sign, William walked up to the door and stepped inside. His nose instantly caught the scent of fresh pine, probably the effect of being inside a tree, and sighed happily as he put his suitcase on the round table in the center of the room.

He smiled happily as he looked at the books nearest to him. They were arranged with great attention and care as he moved from section to section in search of an atlas or map. His original smile of being surrounded by books dipped as he failed in his search. Letting out a small sigh of disappointment he looked around for a librarian or anybody else using the library. When he realized he was alone he looked around at the other few doors before clearing his throat.

“Excuse me?” He called out in a slight tone of anxiousness that always accompanied the British accent in his voice, “Is there anyone that could lend me assistance?”

His answer came in the form of a door opening, followed quickly by a short yelp. Spinning in shock, William turned to see a girl of similar age to him staring at him. Her lavender eyes matched her hair, except two streaks that were slightly different in colour. She wore a short purple skirt and a thin, light purple jumper.

“W-why are you in my house?” Her voice sounded more confused than fearful that a stranger had broken in.

William nervously stepped back, “Oh, my mistake… I assumed that this was the public library and your impressive collection of books only helped confirm my suspicion.” He grabbed his suitcase as he nodded apologetically at the smiling girl, “I shall leave you now.”

“Wait, wait,” The girl laughed quietly to herself. “I’m the one who should be sorry, people have been using the library less and less.” She smiled at the boy in her home and he smiled back, “It has gotten to the extent that people knock before entering.”

William looked at the vast shelves of books and held his suitcase nervously in both hands, “Well they are missing out on some valuable resources.” He smiled as he extended a hand, “My name is William Contrite.”

“Mine is Twilight Sparkle,” The girl responded before sitting down on a stool beside the round table. “So how can I be of assistance?”

“Well I…” William was cut off as a young boy with spiky green hair stepped into the room. “Hello,” He smiled as the boy suddenly froze. His small frame was hidden behind a baggy, purple hooded jumper and baggy jeans.

“Umm… hello,” The boy responded nervously before turning to Twilight. “Anyway, Twilight have you asked Rarity if she is taking anyone to the gala as her plus one this year?” His eyes shone full of hope until they were smashed by Twilight’s shake of her head.

“Sorry Spike, I haven’t had the time to ask her since we have both been busy,” Twilight smiled sympathetically at the boy. “Anyway, this is William,” she indicated to the tall boy that still stood with his suitcase in his hands.

“Oh… Hey dude,” Spike did a small wave but gave a big smile as William nodded “So where do you come from?”

William’s smile inched towards nervousness, “Well I am from Trottingham, I lived there my entire life and have only recently began seeing the rest of the world.” His smile faded as he remembered his purpose in the library, “Does your library contain a map of the local area? The one at the train station was fairly vague.”

“Oh!” Twilight tapped her chin with a finger before speaking again. “Where are you looking for? That way I can find you exactly the right map,” As her enthusiasm of trying out her new sorting system grew, Spike groaned and left the room.

William hummed before opening his suitcase and pulling out a sheet of paper. He placed his reading glasses on briefly before replacing them in his pocket. “A place called ‘Sweet Apple Acres’ it is supposed to be near the town.”

Twilight suddenly beamed as she stood up, “My friend Applejack lives and works there, I‘ll just take you there!” She moved to the door before stopping. “Why are you going to her farm? No offence but you don’t look like the farming type.”

"Nice to know," William chuckled before following Twilight out of her library and onto the streets of Ponyville, his new-found companion directed him towards the edge of town before striking up a conversation.

“So you come from Trottingham? Why would you want to come to Ponyville?” She kept her pace the same as Williams as they walked, occasionally trying to get a good guess at his height now that she was standing closer. From her educated guess she assumed Six foot, three inches was a reasonable assumption.

William hid his disheartened face with a smile, “Well I had no reason to stay in Trottingham anymore so I started doing work and stayed in the town until the job was done before moving onto the next one.”

Twilight nodded, “So why are you in Ponyville and why are you looking for Sweet Apple Acres?”

“A few days ago I received a letter from a gentleman called Macintosh,” William smiled. “Let’s just say that the letter was brief.”

“That sounds like Big Mac,” Twilight laughed while William nodded. “So what did he ask you to do? Help on the farm?”

“Not exactly,” William reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out a silver pocket watch, the chain was missing but the decoration was too detailed for Twilight to get a good look before William put it away again, his eyes slightly sadder, “He said that he was going to a rodeo out of town and wouldn’t be back for several days.”

“Oh yeah,” Twilight remembered Applejack mentioning her brother’s short vacation to enter the competition. “Her little sister Applebloom is also on a school trip to Manehatten museum for a couple of days due to the distance… plus Granny Smith has been feeling under the weather.”

William nodded, “He mentioned that as well.” He noticed a large red barn that wasn’t too far from the town, “So for a few days, his sister and their grandmother would be alone.”

“Well I still don’t see why Applejack would need the help on the farm,” Twilight hummed. “It really isn’t a busy time of year for her, she could handle it on her own and besides…” Twilight turned onto the dirt path that traveled to the building that must be the main house, “Her friends will always lend a hand at the end of the day!”

“I’m sure you would help her but…” William noticed a blond girl with a Stetson hat and short jeans leave the house, her arms crossed beneath her breasts that were hardly concealed behind a red checked shirt.

“Are ya the lad my brother wrote too?” Applejack asked in a slightly annoyed tone as William nodded. Her glaring eyes moved to Twilight before they became warm and welcoming again. “Oh how do ya do Twilight?”

“I’m fine Applejack,” Twilight looked between the annoyed Applejack and the recessive William. “But what has got you worked up?”

Applejack rolled her eyes, “Mah brother thought that getting someone to look after Granny Smith would help me.” She took a sheet of paper that William offered and quickly read it before scrunching it up, “I can work the farm and take care of Granny Smith just fine!”

William sighed, “I am just going to make sure that Mrs Smith is comfortable while you are working.” He smiled reassuringly. “The moment Macintosh returns then I shall leave or remain depending on your joint decision.”

Applejack groaned reluctantly, “Well that’s ok I guess.” She held out a hand and shook the William's slightly larger but softer hand, “Mah name’s Applejack.”

“William Contrite,” William smiled as Applejack nodded. “But you can call me William or Will for short.”

“Call me AJ for short and ya better get used ta saying Granny Smith,” Applejack released her hand from the firm handshake she was in. “So how much are ya charging?”

“Nothing...” William winced at Twilight’s gasp. “And I shall take care of my own living arrangements.”

Applejack glared at William, Twilight knew she was trying to get the truth. “Now why would ya want to work for nothing and pay for your own living?”

William shrugged, “Just trying to be helpful, nice and caring.” He smiled as Applejack nodded slowly.

“Alright, Granny Smith is in her chair,” Applejack indicated to the house with a tilt of her head. “Just introduce yourself and be nice.”

William smiled and made his way into the house as Twilight stepped next to Applejack, “Was he telling the truth?”

“Sorta,” Applejack shrugged. “He is just being nice but… there is something else.” She shook her head before turning to Twilight, “Now I have gotta ask for a favour.”

Twilight smiled at her friend, “What is it?” Her eagerness to help her friend was obvious.

“Don't introduce him ta Rarity,” Applejack groaned. “Ah don’t want to know if those two could hit it off.”

“He is from Trottingham, so what?” Twilight rolled her eyes from the silliness of the favour but her eyes dropped in concentration for a moment. “Although it would be interesting to see what she makes of him.”

“Posh, caring and comes with an accent?” Applejack sighed as she began to start work, “Rarity wouldn't know what ta do.”

Twilight chuckled, “Rarity has always been the one that we talk to about relationships.” She followed Applejack over to the barn entrance, “Why would she have difficulty with him?”

Applejack chuckled as well, “William seems to be one of those guys that knows something is happening but is too polite to actually admit anything.” She picked up a few baskets before heading back outside, “She would go mad if she couldn't at least get a kiss.”