A split-second decision changed Little Strongheart’s life for good. She had come back to her village from a day of work, only to be told that a prisoner had been taken. As the days till Braeburn’s execution ticked down, she reasoned and begged with her father to spare him. On the last day, the chief crumbed and allowed him to go, at the cost of a finger. Strongheart snuck into his tepee before Braeburn was sent on his way, meeting the man she had helped save for the first time. He begged her to come with him, to start a new life. He spun tales of love, of adventure. She took a risk and deserted everything she knew to be with someone she had just met. A plan to rob a bank went awry, and the two ended up on the lam, hiding in Sweet Apple Acres.
((Part of the Without Rainbows universe))
Sweet Apple Outlaws
She sat down besides the apples, bringing her knees to her chest. This was just embarrassing- everyone in town was gawking at her, or even openly pointing. Her cheeks burned in shame, though she wasn’t sure why. Her appearance wasn’t her fault, or something to be ashamed of….
She stifled a yawn and leaned back into his chest, studying the brightly-coloured buildings around them. Pinkie’s appearance shook her out of the reverie quickly though. She- she didn’t even notice anything different her! Little Strongheart was grinning widely, even as Pinkie walked into Sugarcube Corner. They stood up, ready to go home. It wouldn’t do them well to venture through town a second time, so the two took a path that cut around the main town square.
Strongheart turned to Braeburn as they walked, her eyes wide and eager. “Did you HEAR that? She thought we were cute together!”
They arrived at the farm after a little while, at about two in the afternoon. The orchard was full, and would take quite a bit of work. The pair would have to work their hardest to get everything done by sunset. She picked up an apple basket, and scurried to the nearest tree. Scaling its trunk would have been a snap, but with the apples to protect she didn’t want to risk dropping the basket. Instead, she pulled up the step ladder, plucking the fruits from their branches with ease. There were easier and more efficient ways to pick apples, but Strongheart wasn’t very skilled.
She followed a few steps behind Baeburn, taking slower steps. The smaller girl couldn’t see her feet with the basket blocking her view, so every step was a surprise, tripping over rocks in the path, narrowly missing puddles. “I won’t, I won’t. It’s not like I’m made of…
She sat down besides the apples, bringing her knees to her chest. This was just embarrassing- everyone in town was gawking at her, or even openly pointing. Her cheeks burned in shame, though she wasn’t sure why. Her appearance wasn’t her fault, or something to be ashamed of. “Okay then.” She said quietly. But though everything, she was afraid. The farthest she had ventured from the house was to the edge of the orchard. She stuck out enough that someone would recognize her, even in a faraway town.
Little Strongheart didn’t want Baeburn to worry though. “So, how quickly should we be able to finish up the orchard? Have some time to ourselves for once.”
She followed a few steps behind Baeburn, taking slower steps. The smaller girl couldn’t see her feet with the basket blocking her view, so every step was a surprise, tripping over rocks in the path, narrowly missing puddles. “I won’t, I won’t. It’s not like I’m made of glass.” She said breathlessly, stumbling on a pothole in the road. “Pinkie Pie? Oh, I’ve heard of her. Makes good sweets..” She trailed off, lost in thought about her birthday, which was in a couple of weeks. What she wouldn’t give for a cake.She bit her lip as he stroked her cheek, fighting off a grin. He never failed to do that to her. Strongheart melted into his chest and smiled sweetly, returning his affection. “Ne mohotatse.” I love you. Snapping out of this tender moment, she placed the two glasses in the…
They walked in relative silence for a few moments, until the two rounded a bend in the path and arrived in town. People glanced at Braeburn and Little Strongheart quizzically; it was an unusual pairing. The townspeople weren’t very used to different cultures, much less ones that had been said to be at war with their sister town. Strongheart kept her head down, catching up to Braeburn quickly.
She nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. “People aren’t meant to finish an entire field in two days.” She finally said. Little Strongheart had always been the one to console Braeburn, to comfort him. But lately, she had started to loose hope. She had thought it would be…
She bit her lip as he stroked her cheek, fighting off a grin. He never failed to do that to her. Strongheart melted into his chest and smiled sweetly, returning his affection. “Ne mohotatse.” I love you. Snapping out of this tender moment, she placed the two glasses in the sink. She could wash dishes later. She pulled away, suddenly all business. “Who’s the delivery for?”
They walked back outside, Little Strongheart hefting a large basket of apples that lay on the ground up into her arms.
She nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. “People aren’t meant to finish an entire field in two days.” She finally said. Little Strongheart had always been the one to console Braeburn, to comfort him. But lately, she had started to loose hope. She had thought it would be enough to just know that Braeburn loved her, that he was working hard so that they could be together. But she was now seeing that it wasn’t. Strongheart wanted to talk to him for more than ten minutes at a time, and to see him happy and rested for once. They were trying to start a new life together, but this was putting them on hold. It was her job to be supportive- so she kept her mouth shut. But Braeburn could see the light leaving her eyes gradually. Just like what happened to Big Macintosh and Applebloom and Granny.She sensed the hesitation in his voice. “You have to take care of yourself, not just me and the farm..” She said gently, letting him lead the way to the small house’s porch. Their hands clasped tightly, as if Strongheart was making sure that he was really there. She…
She filled a glass for herself, clinking them together in a toast. “I can help more today, can’t I? I could come with you and help finish everything up. I feel so useless just fixing things up around the house ‘nd feeding the animals. It’s not doing anything for the farm.”
She sensed the hesitation in his voice. “You have to take care of yourself, not just me and the farm..” She said gently, letting him lead the way to the small house’s porch. Their hands clasped tightly, as if Strongheart was making sure that he was really there. She desperately hoped that Braeburn wouldn’t kill himself trying to save the farm. The screen door’s white paint was cracking a chipping away, and it swung open easily, slamming the inside wall. She would have to fix that tomorrow.She briefly shared a kiss with him, before resting her head upon his chest. Braeburn was damp with sweat, despite the cool weather. He had been working too hard. “Too much, that’s how.” She murmured, giving him a tight squeeze before letting go. Little Strongheart glanced to…
The two walked in quietly, the living room floor creaking under their feet. Granny Smith sat on the opposite side of the large room, in one of the only two pieces of furniture, an old paisley chair. She didn’t look up from the dusty window she was gazing out of, preferring to look out across the fields. Little Strongheart walked with Braeburn to the kitchen, bending over and taking a glass of cold water from the fridge. “I wanted it to be cold..” she said, leaning against the counter as he drank deeply. “How far along are you in the north orchard?”
Little Strongheart roused from a light sleep in the hay loft. She was meant to be picking apples, but things were tough after a day of work. The spry woman quickly hopped down the ladder, stumbling only once in her grogginess. Hopefully Braeburn would be working the same…She briefly shared a kiss with him, before resting her head upon his chest. Braeburn was damp with sweat, despite the cool weather. He had been working too hard. “Too much, that’s how.” She murmured, giving him a tight squeeze before letting go. Little Strongheart glanced to her left and to her right, and once to the overcast skies. It was the middle of the day, just about when she should be getting lunch gathered. Apples again, she surmised. “You need water.” She said plainly, brows furrowed in concern. It was in her nature to be worried about him.
Taking his hand, she looked at Braeburn with her wide eyes. “Walk with me to the house? I can get you some water, or some lemonade. Please.” She interjected, before he could even answer.
Her mind was focused on finding her partner as she weaved through the trees, softly calling out his name. They were of course, permitted to see each other whenever they liked, but the opportunities were hardly numerous. Braeburn worked until nightfall, and then he could only stay up long enough to kiss her goodnight.
