The 9:25 to Ponyville (Patreon)

 While Marble Vein was buying marble Yes, yes, I'll take this one!, another pony was waiting for the train. 

  It was a beautiful morning as Applebloom stood upon the platform of the Ponyville train station in my Equestria dreamscape. Actually stood would not be an accurate description of what she was doing. Nervously trotting in place would better describe her current behavior. 

  
  "Applebloom! Will ya calm down." Grumbled her big sister.  "Yer prancing around like yer tail was on fire."

   
  The little filly stopped pacing. For a couple seconds she was silent then she looked up at her sister. "AJ what time is it?"

 
  Applejack grumbled and glanced over at the station clock. "It's 9:20 Applebloom. Exactly one minute later then the last time ya asked me that question. Now will ya just relax." 

  "But what if the train has broken down? What if he didn't get on the train at his end? What if....." 

  Big Mac gently rested a front hoof on the little filly. "Applebloom, Dontcha worry. I'm sure he'll be alright. Okay." He said gently. 

  The buttercream yellow filly nodded her causing her red bow to flop and was still for a moment. "Okay. Um what time is it?" 

  
  "9:21!" Growled her big sister. 

  
  Eventually, but not soon enough for Applejack, one could hear the sound of the approaching train. Finally the maroon locomotive with its matching cars came into view. In a great cloud of hissing steam and screeching brakes it came to a halt. After a few seconds the doors to the cars opened and ponies began trotting out onto the platforms. There wasn't that many ponies exiting here but for Applebloom it seemed to take forever for them to exit. Unknowingly she started trotting in place again.  

 
  Finally a lone, colt stepped off the train nervously and onto the platform. He wore a vest of dark brown silk, along with a white cotton collar and black bow tie. The conductor stepped out of the car and set the colt's battered, brown valise on the platform. The conductor tipped his hat to the colt then he boarded the train. The colt started looking around frantically as the doors of the train closed behind him.

   
  "Stone Mane over here!" Applebloom was jumping up and down and waving her front hoofs. 

  
  After a couple seconds the colt spied them. grabbing the handle of his valise in his mouth the earth pony quickly trotted over to the Apple family and then he set it back down in front of Applebloom. For a couple seconds they just stared at each other. While they'd seen each other a couple dozen times now, this was their first true face-to-face meeting. Finally the colt spoke. 

  "Wow, you're for real." Said colt. 

  Applebloom gave the colt a deadpan stare. "Really? That's first ya say ta me? Of course I'm real! I've been helping ya along with Princess Luna fer the last few weeks!" 

  The colt blushed. "Um, uh, well I know you were a real a pony, but, but it is amazing how you look just like you do in my dreams."     

        This time it was Applebloom chance to blush. "Ah well, thanks, um well. Welcome ta Ponyville! Stone Mane let me introduce ya ta my big sister Applejack, and this here is my big brother Big Macintosh!" 

  The colt stepped forward and extended his right hoof to Big Mac. "Pleasure to meet you sir." 

  The red stallion smiled at the colt. "No need ta git all formal now. Just call me Big Mac alright."

 
  Stone Mane nodded his head and then turned to extend his right front hoof to AJ then suddenly stopped and stared at her wide eyed. "Oh my gosh! You're one of the Elements of Harmony aren't you?"

        Applebloom facehoofed. "Ya Stone Mane like I told ya only about hundred times in yer dreams! Do I need ta give ya test or something about this stuff?" 

  The colt shook his head. "No, no! He looked back at the filly. It's still so odd meeting ponies who I've only heard of or seen in my dreams." 

   
  Turning his attention back to AJ the colt suddenly became very formal. Standing up as straight as possible and looked her in the eyes. Then he stomped his right front hoof sharply once. AJ raised an eyebrow at this demonstration since she'd only received this greeting from the Royal Guard whenever she or any of the Elements of Harmony were in the Royal Palace. Stone Mane then spoke. 

  "M'am! As a loyal subject of the realm I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done to protect us! You and the other Elements are shining examples of what all ponies should strive to be!" 

  AJ got a bit more orange in the face. "Ah shoot Stone Mane! Dontcha git all formal on us. We're just simple farm ponies. What my friends and I did is was what any pony with their head screwed on right would've done. Please! Just call me Applejack or AJ please!"

   
  The colt relaxed. "Okay, Applejack. So where's is your farm?"

 
  Yellow-orange mare cocked her head and smiled. "Well it ain't here at the train station! We've got a cart waiting over here. You and Applebloom can ride in it. Then we'll show you the finest farm in all of Ponyville. Sweet Apple Acres!"

  
  A few minutes later they were on their way. With AJ in the lead and Big Mac pulling the cart they headed off for the farm. Due to the location of the train station relative to Sweet Apple Acres Stone Mane didn't see much of Ponyville, but Applejack promised him he'd get a proper tour later that afternoon. Still the colt could see ponies hanging banners and flags proclaiming Founders Day all around the town. 

  
  Soon they were out amongst the forests and rolling hills that surrounded Ponyville. Scattered out here were the numerous farms and cottages, but as they crested a hill Stone Mane saw for the first time in the distance amongst what seemed liked miles or orchards and the place Applebloom had described so many times. Standing up in the cart Appleblooom pointed at her home. 

  "Stone Mane! Welcome ta Sweet Apple Acres! It's the place I call home!" 

  The little colt looked around. Having lived in Baltimare all his life in his parents modest brownstone house his mind tried to grapple with the idea of a home being so big. He swiveled his head from side to side. 

  "You mean your family owns all of this? All of this land? This is your home?" 

  "Ya betcha it is!" Said Applejack looking back at colt in the cart. "The Apple family are some of the first ponies ta settle in what would become Ponyville. In fact we got our original land charter from none other than Princess Celestia herself! Sweet Apple Acres is one of the oldest and largest farmsteads in the county!" 

  The next few minutes was steady torrent of questions from the colt as he began to learn the Apple family history. Finally they came to a halt in front of the farmhouse. AJ lowered back gate of the cart so the foals could jump out easier. Then she looked at her little sister. 

  "Applebloom. Could ya take Stone Mane and show him where the guest bedroom is, but don't take too long because ya still need ta git yer chores done before we head into town tonight. That means ya probably will want ta wash up before ya put yer new dress on!" 

  The little filly nodded her head causing big red bow to flop up and down. "Okay! Come on Stone Mane! I'll show ya ta yer room!" 

  With that Applebloom lead the colt into the farmhouse and upstair. The bedroom across from Applebloom's was usually not occupied and was used for when guest came to visit. Stone Mane dropped off his valise, and after a quick visit to the bathroom he followed the filly as she did her afternoon chores. AB probably could've done them in half the time it took, but much to her surprise Stone Mane seemed to be fascinated with every little, boring, mundane thing she had to do. 

  
  Finally the chores were done. Now Applebloom just had to get cleaned so she go into town. With that thought in her mind she led the colt back up to the farmhouse. 

 To be continued.