Dixie was excited. It’d be grand to meet her mother’s sister. They had a whole huge dinner planned and Dixie loved it when the Apples got together and had these shindigs. Granny, despite being in her late 80’s, still insisted on making the fresh spring greens salad with the sliced green apples and walnuts. Dixie Whistle’s favorite treat. But she had chores to finish before she could wash up for supper. It was her turn to dig through the old apple trees and find the crisp honey gold apples that her father turned into delectible hors’d’ouves. Or as Granny called them ‘fancy unicorn starters.’
 
However, Dixie was shocked to hear sobs from the darkness of the trees. She paused and approached the sound only to find a small, bitty unicorn she’d never seen before. She stopped in front of her. “Hey there, filly,” she cooed, “Who’re you?”
 
“I’m snf Arkansas Black…” The filly looked up, confused. “Hey…yer a unicorn.”
 
“Yep,” Dixie said, “And so’re you. Are you an Apple? Ah ain’t seen a unicorn Apple ‘cept me.”
 
“I’m Apple bloom’s daughter.”
 
“Are ya?!! Well shoot! Hey there cousin!” Black whimpered and curled up again. Dixie frowned, placing the apple bucket down before kneeling in front of the girl. “Hey, it’s alright, Arkansas. Ah’m family.”
 
“Everyone’s so in your face here. I hate it.” Dixie chuckled.
 
“That’s them apples,” she said, “Sometimes they don’t know ponies don’t want them all up in their face first time they meet’em. But…they don’t mean no harm really.” Arkansas looked up.
 
“I guess…” She paused. “Why’re you a unicorn and they ain’t?”
 
“My Pa’s a unicorn,” Dixie said proudly, “And ah’m the only unicorn on the Apple farm! It’s cool. But ah guess ah gotta share that title, huh?” Arkansas grinned softly.
 
“S’nice t’see another one tho…”
 
“I know how yah feel,” Dixie said, “Hey…if’n you wanna? You can help me with the apples here and I’ll GENTLY introduce yah t’the rest of the family. And if they scare ya I can pick’em up with my magic ‘n throw ‘em!”
 
“Even that big ol’ red one?”
 
“Oh shoot, Uncle Mac’s a cuddly bear once yah get t’know him.” She smiled. “C’mon, we don’t even need t’talk.” Arkansas stood. Maybe she had found a kindred spirit in…
 
“I don’t…what’s yer name?”
 
“Oh yeah,” Dixie said with a smile, “Call me Dixie Whistle.”
 
Can’t stop, won’t stop. Arkansas meets her first friend; Dixie Whistle. The only other unicorn on the farm!
 
I really like these new illustration pens I’m using…haven’t opened my tablet yet.