William politely took off his shoes as he entered the house. Picking his suitcase up again, William slowly made his way into the living room. As he stepped in his ears noticed the soft creaking sound of a rocking chair in the corner.

William's eyes moved to look at the elderly woman sat in the chair. Her grey hair was tied up in a bun on the back of her head. Her wrinkled frame was coated in a dull green, her bony hands poked out from her jumper and delicately held a small cup of tea.

“Hello are you Granny Smith?” William slowly entered the room as met the orange eyes from the old farmer.

“Well howdy there fella,” Granny Smith put her tea aside as she inspected the boy. “Are ya that fella my grandson wrote ta?”

William nodded, “Yes I am, he said that your granddaughter would need some help while he was away.” William played with his suitcase nervously, “Mr Macintosh said that you weren’t feeling well.”

“Mr Macintosh?” Granny Smith chuckled as she rocked back and forth. “Now ya might want to lose the formalities if ya want ta work here.” She held her hands together as she waited for the boy to put his suitcase back with his shoes, “Now sit, you younglings always have to be doing somethin or other.”

William sat down on the apple red sofa, keeping his back strait and his shoulders back, “Well Granny Smith, I am here to be as helpful as I can until you are well again or until… Macintosh returns.” William played with his hands as Granny Smith nodded. “Well I will help you with anything that makes your recovery as easy as possible,” William smiled. “By the way my name is William.”

Granny Smith leaned forwards, “What’s wrong with ya willy?”

William blushed, “No, no I said that my name was WILLIAM!” The boy waited until the granny relaxed and nodded.

“So be it,” Granny Smith smiled. “So Will, what kind of payment are ya gettin?”

“Just seeing somebody happy and well again is more than enough,” William smiled as he relaxed into his seat. “I spoke with your granddaughter Applejack outside.”

“Applejack?” Granny Smith hummed. “She didn’t give ya a hard time now did she?”

William shook his head, “Not at all, she understood and is probably working.” He looked outside the window and gazed across the orchard, he spotted Applejack kicking a tree so all the apples fell out, “Yes, I can see her from here.”

Granny Smile put on a gentle grin, “What do ya think of Applejack?”

“She seems hardworking, caring and protective of those close to her,” William continued to watch the blond girl collect apples in a basket. “You must be proud of her.”

“We all are,” Granny smith picked up her tea and took a few final sips. “Do ya think she is pretty?”

William looked back at the aged woman, “W-well I wouldn’t know what to say...” He looked back at Applejack out of the window, “She is attractive that is for sure and…”

“Why don’t ya talk to her?” Granny Smith smiled as William blushed, “She wouldn’t mind the company.”

William shook his head, “I’m afraid I have to decline, my purpose is to help look after you, not bother your relatives.” He noticed Granny Smith’s empty cup and offered to take it, “Would you like some more tea?”

“Yes please,” She handed William the cup before pinching his cheek. “Ya are such a polite young lad!”

William rubbed his red cheek, “Thank you, I try to be.” His smile faded as he walked into the kitchen and searched for a teapot, “Would you like something to eat?” He called out.

“Yes please dreary!” Granny Smith replied, “There should still be some apple fritters in the oven!” William opened the oven to find a pair of freshly baked apple fritters, he care fully placed one onto a plate but froze as he heard Granny Smith yell, “APPLEJACK! SOUPS UP!”

William chuckled to himself as he placed the other apple fritter on another plate and got a glass of cold water for Applejack. He walked back into the living room, placing the water and one of the fritters on the table and handed the other to Granny Smith.

“I’m just going to get your tea,” William smiled as he hurried back into the kitchen and found a pot of hot tea. He carefully filled the cup and took it back through to Granny Smith. “Careful, it is still quite hot.”

“Don’t be such a fuss,” Granny Smith took a sip as if the tea was water. “I like my food baked and my drinks hot,” She took a bite of her fritter as the front door opened and Applejack walked in.

“How are ya holding up Granny Smith?” The tired farmer asked, “Has Will here been nice?” She shot him a glare that would melt ice cubes. William merely indicated to the apple fritter and cold water on the table.

“I got you some water in case you were thirsty,” He smiled until Applejack’s eyes narrowed. “A-and I got you the other apple fritter in case you were hungry, if you aren’t then I can always put it back in the oven for later.”

Granny Smith looked between the nervous boy and the glaring girl, “Sit yerself down Applejack, Will here is only trying to be polite.” She smiled as Applejack groaned and sat next to Will.

“Thank ya kindly,” Applejack sighed as she took a gulp of water and a hungry bite from the fritter. William smiled to himself as Applejack enjoyed her light meal, even though her messy chewing was off-putting to William.

Granny Smith looked at a large grandfather clock in the corner of the room, “Will? Would ya be as kind as to fetch the pills the doctor gave me?” She smiled as William stood up and awaited directions. “They should be on the drawer next to my bed.”

William politely nodded before walking upstairs, the doors were luckily labelled. Granny Smith’s room was right in the center of the corridor between Applejack’s and a door labelled ‘Applebloom’.

There was a small chest of drawers beside a large green bed, sat upon it was a small glass medicine bottle and a framed photograph. William minded his business by ignoring the photo and picking up the bottle of pills, putting on his reading glasses so he could check the label, making sure they were the pills Granny Smith were talking about

“So what’s yer game?” Applejack stood at the door, arms folded while she glared at William. “Why would ya want to help a sick old lady for free?”

William sighed as he looked at Applejack, “I just like helping out.” His look through his reading glasses were met with a cold stare.

“You’re lying,” Applejack took a step towards the taller boy. “What are ya? A conman or somethin?” Her tone was aggressive as she got nearer.

William gasped, “I am no conman!” He pulled off his glasses as he poked Applejack with them, “I am here to make sure your grandmother is cared for and making everyone’s life easier.”

Applejack’s face twisted in confusion, “Wha… how did you do that?” She shook her head before moving onto a greater issue. “Did ya just poke me?” Applejack shoved William in retaliation, his free hand reached out to stable himself but he ended up pulling Applejack with him.

Thankfully, William landed on the bed but unfortunately, Applejack landed on top of him. William averted his eyes from Applejack as a blush swept across his face. Applejack sat up and realized she was sat on top of William’s waist, pinning him to the bed.

“Well this certainly takes the top spot of most awkward situation in my life,” William sighed. “If it isn’t too much trouble, I think we should get up,” He moved but Applejack pushed him down again.

“Not until ya tell me how ya did that,” She glared down at the posh boy beneath her.

“I’m afraid that I have no idea what you are talking about,” William tucked his reading glasses back into his waistcoat pocket. “I still have to take these pills to Granny Smith.”

Applejack stopped William from moving again, her strength and position made escape almost impossible, “Ya were lying then telling the truth about the same thing!” She glared angrily at William, “Now I will ask one last time, why are ya being so nice?”

“I’m afraid that I have my reasons that I can’t disclose with you,” William avoided Applejack’s gaze. “But you can trust me when I say that I don’t intend to do you or your family any harm.” This time, William’s eyes locked with Applejack’s.

Finally the girl climbed off William and helped him to his feet, they picked up Granny Smith’s medication as they headed downstairs. The elderly woman was dozing off as Applejack and William stepped in.

“I wondered where you young’uns had got to,” Granny Smith took the small medicine bottle and took the required amount she needed. “I’m goin ta bed, I’m as beat as a punch bag.”

“Ok Granny, I’ll see you in the morning,” Applejack helped her grandmother out of the rocking chair and over to the stairs before returning to William. “So where are ya gonna stay?”

William was tying his shoelaces as Applejack walked over, “Well there must be a hotel or some other form of accommodation in Ponyville.” He grabbed his suitcase as he headed for the door, “I will see you tomorrow.”

“Now you don’t even know where ya are goin,” Applejack followed William out of the house. “Now I know where the hotel is so I might as well take you there.”

“Thank you for offering but will Granny Smith be alright on her own?” William looked back to the house before Applejack began pushing him down the path to Ponyville.

“Shucks, Granny Smith is tougher than she looks,” Applejack reassured William to a point where he walked on his own. “Now the hotel in Ponyville isn’t cheap, are ya sure ya don’t want any payment?”

William smiled at Applejack’s concern, “I will be perfectly fine, thank you for showing me the way.” His eyes looked to the sun that was slowly descending to the horizon, “Would you like me to return tonight or just in the morning?”

“Tomorrow will be fine,” Applejack lead William into the streets of Ponyville with care. “Alright, now if ya see a girl in a pink shirt… hide,” she stared William in the eye until he nodded.

“Any particular reason I am avoiding a girl I have never met?” William looked around to see if he could spot anybody wearing anything pink, “Is she a delinquent of some sort?”

“Uh… no, she ain’t bad,” Applejack chuckled at the thought. “She is one of my best friends but… you will get noticed by everyone is she notices you.”

William hummed before gripping his suitcase tighter, “I suppose that the extra attention would be a hassle.” He smiled at Applejack, “Thank you for thinking about my privacy during my stay.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Applejack smiled back before she looked up and her eyes froze. “Uh oh,” She pushed William behind a building and placed a hand over his mouth.

William gently pushed the hand away as he looked to where Applejack’s eyes were carefully watching. His head poked past the wall as he spotted Twilight speaking to another girl of similar age but her stance and attire suggested a higher level of elegance and style.

The other girl wore a plain white dress, her violet hair curled as it hung down her back and some partially covered her face. William took in every detail, from the single diamond that hung around her neck to her subtle makeup.

“Who is she?” William looked back to Applejack before quickly looking back. Applejack grabbed him by his waistcoat and dragged him further from the edge of the building.

“That was Rarity,” Applejack sighed. “She is slightly more… fancy than others that live here,” She frowned at William’s thoughtful hum. “And it would be best if ya didn’t get ta meet her.”

“Why is that?” William frowned slightly at having his social life guided before coming to his own conclusion “So that’s why you didn’t me meeting a girl dressed in pink, I take it that my appearance and my reason for being in town is embarrassing you.”

“No!” Applejack kept her voice quiet. “I am not embarrassed by you, but I don’t want Rarity coming around all the time fussing me with questions!”

William hummed, “I suppose that having your work disturbed would interfere with Granny Smith’s recovery.” William nodded, “Alright I will try to avoid meeting people during my stay, but how do we get past undetected? I assume she was in the way of the hotel?”

Applejack groaned as she nodded, “If ya like, ya can stay in Big Mac’s room.” She sighed as William politely shook his head. “Fine, I will probably see ya tomorrow then,” She stepped out from her cover and began to walk to her friends. “Wait till we are gone!” she said before entering her friend’s attention.

William watched from his hiding spot as Applejack talked with Rarity and Twilight. Rarity seemed to be asking questions, obviously Twilight told her of William’s arrival and his reason for such a visit.

After a minute or two, the group dispersed and Applejack gave William a wink, signalling him to hurry for the tall building she walked past. Without hesitation William hurried for the hotel and stepped into the lobby.

After a quick exchange of money and key, William made his way to his room on the second floor. He entered the decent sized room and instantly dropped his suitcase on the bed before inspecting his new living space.

The room had a cosy feel to it, the walls were basic with only a few obscure paintings for decoration. A double bed took up most of the room but it left enough space for William to comfortably undress and change into his pyjamas. He folded his clothes up and placed them on coat hangers before leaving them in a small wardrobe near the bathroom door.

William climbed into bed before thinking about the day’s events. He arrived safely, met Granny Smith and her hardworking granddaughter before avoiding one of her friends. William could not understand why he had to hide, or why he even agreed to do as Applejack said.

William was sure of one thing. His stay in this town was certainly not going to be boring.