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- Note: I started this up with the intention of not continuing it until either Chivalry or And Everything Nice was concluded. With Chivalry done and AEN coming to a close, I'm still not sure what I want to do with it. I can't figure out a way to shoehorn Fluttershy's >rape antics without it seeming too samey to past stories, so the thoughts still linger. I may make this my first AiE multiparter, but I'm just not sure. So for now, I'm putting it on a sort of hiatus. Regardless, I hope you enjoy what I have so far.
- >The sun just barely peers over the horizon as your alarm starts blaring.
- >Instantly, you sit up in bed, give yourself a good, long stretch, and reach over, shutting it off.
- >You stand up and yawn, allowing the gears in your head to turn a bit, then walk to your closet and begin getting dressed.
- >Plain white T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
- >You grab your defining belt buckle and slap it on.
- >You chuckle a little.
- >You've always liked wearing big belt buckles.
- >When you started living here, you opted for an apple.
- >Seemed appropriate.
- >You leave your room and perform your quick morning routine, then head downstairs.
- >Your roommate, employer, and friend is already at the table, awake with a coffee, reading the morning paper.
- >His ears perk up to the sound of your heavy feet descending the wooden steps.
- >He puts the paper down for a sec, and gives you a smile.
- >"Well good mornin' there, Anon!" he says, chipper as ever.
- >You give him a smirk, and head over to the coffee maker.
- Mornin', Braeburn.
- >You greet, pouring a cup of coffee.
- [spoiler]Atuhor's Nose:[spoiler]Name that reference[/spoiler]Not Gayburn. Don't cross the fanons. Molecules exploding at the speed of light and all that.[/spoiler]
- >You bring the cup of black gold to your lips and take a sip.
- >"All excited for today?" he asks, eyes back on the paper.
- >You take another drink.
- Lil' bit.
- >The bustle of the town begins just outside the window.
- >Appleoosa is a very early-rising place.
- >Just like back home.
- Still got half a day's work before any of that happens, though.
- >Braeburn finishes up the last of his coffee, and folds the paper.
- >"Darn tootin' ya do," he remarks, heading towards the door, "but before ya start on anything out 'n the orchard, I need ya to take that shipment of apple pies to Chief Thunderhooves 'n his folk."
- >He opens the door and points out, out of your field of vision.
- >You poke your tongue against your cheek and take another sip of coffee.
- >Ohh boy...
- >Placing the cup down on the counter, you mosey over to the door and take a look.
- >Braeburn has loaded up and entire cart full of the delicious baked goods.
- >You give a whistle.
- Hoo boy...
- >Braeburn laughs.
- >"Quite a few of 'em, eh Anon? Think ya can handle it?"
- >You give a joking scoff.
- I reckon I can handle anything you throw at me, Burn.
- >He chuckles once more.
- >"Good to hear," he says, walking back into the house. "Well, better get started now so you can till that land in time."
- >Giving him a nod, you reach over to the assorted rack of clothing by the door, grabbing your red plaid shirt and boots.
- I'll get it done, don't you worry.
- >"I know ya will."
- >Putting on your other clothes quickly, you step down the porch steps into the cool Appleoosan morning air and take a deep breath.
- >Refreshing as ever.
- >The cart is fixed with a rope reign of sorts for easy p0ny pulling.
- >You, unfortunately for this task, are not a p0ny.
- >So you prefer to stick with grabbing it as one rope, swinging it over your shoulder, and hauling the cart that way.
- >And you do just that.
- >Gripping it in your palms, you ready the rope over your shoulder and take strong steps.
- >The cart starts moving forward slowly, but picks up speed quicker than you'd expect.
- >It's not so bad once the momentum gets going.
- >With that, you're pulling the cart full of pies across the dusty town's main road.
- >Many settler p0nies are about their morning routine.
- >They see and greet you with a kind smile and friendly wave.
- >You always make sure to give them a polite wave back.
- >The sun is just over the Western horizon when you make it to the town limits, stepping onto the path to the Buffalo Settlement.
- >The road gets a tad bit bumpier, but you still manage to keep the cart straight as you make your journey.
- >A lone man on the landscape.
- >Step after step, and after about fifteen or so minutes, you finally begin to see the buffalo tipis.
- >The activity of their settlement becomes visible as you finally close in, catching the attention of a few of them.
- >They also greet and wave.
- >Ever since this "Pie Treaty," the relations between the settler p0nies and the buffalo have been great.
- >Despite being a human, you're generally seen as a "p0ny" to them, since you're living with them and all.
- >The chief's decorative headpiece comes into view, and you steer the cart toward him and grab his attention.
- Mornin' Chief.
- >You say, finally letting the cart slow to a stop, the wooden wheels squealing.
- >He turns to face you, and a broad smile graces his face.
- >"Anon!" He bellows in his deep voice, "So good to see you again!"
- >He sniffs a few times.
- >"Oh, and you brought some pies too, how splendid!"
- >You laugh, and pat the cart.
- Only the best for you 'n your folk, Chief.
- >He approaches the cart and picks a pie, digging into it right off the bat.
- >You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose and laughing.
- >These buffalo sure do love their pie.
- >He finishes it in just a few good gulps.
- >"Ahh~, as delicious as ever!" He cheers, placing the empty tin to the side. "I take it the orchard is going well?"
- >You nod.
- Sure is. Just at the tail end of expandin'. Finishin' up the final row today, as a matter 'a fact.
- >He nods.
- >"Good, good. I'm glad. And I trust you'll be helping with the harvest, delivering more of these delicious pies?"
- >You trace your finger across the cart's wooden design, rubbing the dust between it and your thumb, then shake your head.
- I reckon I won't be, actually. Not for some time, anyway.
- >The other buffalo begin unloading the cart for you.
- >The chief scratches his head in curiosity.
- >"And why is that, Anon my boy?"
- >You watch the pies decrease from your cart, each buffalo popping one or two onto their heads and making off with it.
- Well, Burn 'n the town ain't the only ones expandin'. One of his cousin's from P0nyville's lookin' to expand too, and he figures I should go 'n help.
- >Chief Thunderhooves's eyes widen.
- >"P0nyville, you say?" He scratches under his chin. "Would this cousin of his happen to go by 'Applejack'?"
- >The final pie has been unloaded, and you lean against the cart, looking to the chief.
- That it is, Chief. How do ya know that?
- >He chuckles slightly, and smiles.
- >"Why, her and her friends were the few who helped strengthen the bonds between my people and yours!"
- That so?
- >You gaze off to the distance.
- >That's really something, huh?
- >Braeburn mentioned something of the like to you.
- >Guess it just didn't click.
- >Well, you figure she should be a right good p0ny, in that case.
- Well ain't that something?
- >You bend down and pick up the rope of the cart in your hand.
- Well I reckon her and I will get along just fine then.
- >The chief nods.
- >"She's quite the p0ny."
- >You nod, then pat the chief on the shoulder.
- I'll be seein' ya around then?
- >The chief nods, and bumps his head into your chest, causing you to stumble back a bit.
- >A sign of respect.
- >"We'll have to have a pie together when you return."
- >You recover with a laugh, and begin rotating the cart around, preparing your much lighter trip back.
- That sounds lovely. I look forward to it.
- >With a wave goodbye, and a quick farewell to the rest of the buffalo, you start pulling the cart back the way you came, down the same bumpy road.
- >Progressing much quicker, you make it to town in record time, dropping off the cart where you picked it up and jogging up the stairs to your home.
- >You swing open the door.
- Hello?
- >...No answer.
- >Braeburn must be out in the orchard.
- >You close the door and head out back, taking the shortcut into the valley full of apple trees.
- >You're soon completely surrounded by the tall plants, their trunks wrapped with healthy bark.
- >You can hear the sound of hooves impacting wood.
- >Probably best to follow that.
- >It doesn't take long to find him bucking a few trees.
- >He winds up his legs something fierce, then releases, driving them back into the trunk of the tree.
- >The tree shudders, and apples fall perfectly into the wooden baskets below.
- >Your boots crunch into the fertile dirt below, alerting him of your return.
- >He wipes some sweat from his forehead and turns to you.
- Hey,
- >You say.
- Need some help? Should I grab my buckin' boots?
- >Braeburn gives you a look worthy of Costanza himself, and laughs.
- >"No, Anon, I need ya to till that final row for the new apple trees."
- >You groan a little with a laugh.
- Can't YOU do that, and I'll buck?
- >You really don't feel like tilling.
- >It's not that you're a slacker.
- >Hell, you're a pretty hardworking man, if you do say so yourself.
- >But Braeburn as a boss is different than Braeburn as a friend.
- >And you swear, he always gives you the more tedious jobs around the orchard.
- >He shakes his head with a shit-eating grin.
- >"You're gonna be doing a heck of a lot of tilling over in P0nyville, ya might as well get used to it now."
- >He points a hoof over to the other end of the orchard.
- >"Now come on, Anon, get to it!"
- >You jokingly whine another time just to get on his nerves, then begin your walk to the far side of the plantation.
- >It's not a huge orchard, so the walk isn't very far.
- >The trees offer shade from the sun, now much higher in the sky than when you originally came outside.
- >You love walking through the orchard, with the smell of apples dominating your senses.
- >You hope Applejack's orchard is like this, too.
- >Finally, you get to your destination, at the end of the line of trees.
- >Leaning against one of them is a hoe and sack of seeds.
- >You laugh a little.
- >Braeburn almost never trusts you to get anything out by yourself nowadays.
- >All because you've forgotten your tools once or twice.
- >You pick up the hoe and lean it over your shoulder, walking down to the corner of the plantation.
- >A train rattles on the tracks not too far as you arrive at the first spot.
- >Whistling a tune to pass the time, you lift the hoe high into the air and drive it into the dirt, loosening it up.
- >You pull it from the dirt, back up to the next spot, ensuring to stay in line with the other trees, and dig it into the ground once more.
- >You repeat this tedious process for what seems like an eternity.
- >When you're about halfway there and passing the bag of seeds, you snag it and continue down the line.
- >Tilling over and over again.
- >Until finally, after about an hour, you make it to the other corner of the orchard.
- >You lean the hoe against one of the apple trees, and begin sticking seeds into the soft soil.
- >One per square.
- >This part is much quicker, but it's no less tedious.
- >You make it back across the line rather swiftly, getting this part done in around half the time.
- >With that, you carry the sack of seeds with you back to the house, walking through the newly expanded Appleoosa Orchard.
- >The sun sits perfectly high in the sky.
- >You figure it's about high noon.
- >You take in a deep breath as you walk, and exhale happily.
- >You're gonna miss this place.
- >Not that you'll be gone TOO long.
- >But hell, it's been home as home can be in this odd land of magical talking horses.
- >You find the path to the shortcut and make your way back up it, snaking around the cliff and back into the town behind your house.
- >You wrap around the side and up the porch stairs once more, opening the door to your humble abode.
- Hey Burn, it's all done!
- >You call.
- >You're certain he's done his bucking by now.
- >"Every tree?" you heard called from the other room.
- Every tree.
- >You reply, taking off your boots and placing the remaining seeds on the table.
- >"Great, thanks a ton, Anon."
- Of course.
- >He emerges from the room in time to see you head back up the stairs.
- >"Goin' to pack, I hope?" he says.
- >You flash him a thumbs up as you disappear from his view into the second floor.
- >You turn into your room and shut it, glancing to the duffle bag you have on the floor.
- >You haven't really started yet...
- >...Even though you really should have.
- >...Ehh, how hard is it really gonna be?
- >You open your closet and grab a couple pairs of white T-shirts, a few jeans, some underwear, a variety of plaid shirts, and your bucking boots.
- >You stuff them into your bag to make them fit, then work the zipper as carefully as you can to get it to shut properly.
- >Hmm... Now what else...
- >...Oh, yes!
- >How could you almost forget?
- >You turn to the corner of your room and grab your beautiful baby.
- >The only think you were able to bring from back home.
- >Your sweet old acoustic guitar.
- >You give her a quick strum.
- >...Out of tune.
- >You'll fix that for when you actually play.
- >You dart your head left and right real quick and look around the room.
- >...There it is.
- >You cross the room and grab your old guitar case off the ground, placing your instrument in and locking it.
- >Slinging your duffle bag over your shoulder and carrying your guitar case in your other hand, you depart from your room and head down the stairs.
- >Braeburn is by the door waiting with a saddlebag over him.
- >"You got everything?"
- >You nod.
- Everything I'll be needing.
- >Braeburn holds the door open for you, and you slip out into the warm Appleoosan day.
- >"Alright," he says, as you both leave the porch and begin walking down the street, "I don't wanna hear nothing about you forgetting anything once you get there, ya hear?"
- >You chuckle.
- What are ya, Burn, my momma?
- >He scoffs and laughs.
- >You two make your way through town.
- >The few p0nies that know of your departure wish you luck and wave goodbye from afar.
- >You politely thank them and wave back, closer approaching your destination.
- >Soon, you hear a train whistle, and you know you've arrived.
- >You round the corner of a building and see the Appleoosa Train Station.
- >You and Braeburn stop for a moment, looking at the machine that will take you across the country.
- >You both take a breath.
- >...
- >"Well," he starts. "Guess this is goodbye for now."
- >You look to him, then laugh, looking back to the station.
- Ya act like I'll be gone forever.
- >He looks up to you, and lets out a single breathy chuckle.
- >"I suppose you're right. A few weeks at most."
- >You nod.
- Mhmm.
- >...
- >"I got something for you, Anon. For your trip."
- >You turn to him.
- Oh yeah?
- >Braeburn reaches into his saddlebag, and pulls out something.
- >A hat.
- >A cowboy hat, really, like many of the Appleoosans wear.
- >Your eyes widen.
- >Braeburn sees this, and laughs.
- >"I had it made specifically for you. What with that monkey head of yours and all," he says with a smile.
- >You reach over to the hat, taking it from him.
- >You place it upon your head.
- >A perfect fit.
- >You nestle it into place, then turn to your friend, and nod happily.
- It's amazing, Burn. Thank you.
- >He smiles warmly.
- >"Now go on, Anon. You got a train to catch."
- >You give a thumbs up.
- >He holds out his hoof, and you reach out to grip it, shaking hand and hoof like two gentlemen.
- >"Say hi to cousin Applejack for me."
- I will, don't you worry.
- >He tips his hat to you, says one final goodbye, then turns back around, heading off toward the orchard.
- >Even though he can't see, you tip your new hat to him as well, then move toward the station and your boarding platform.
- >Showing your ticket, you get onto the train and settle into a nice, solitary cabin.
- >You put your duffle bag and guitar on the opposing seat and sit down, staring out the window, daydreaming.
- >About P0nyville.
- >About this "Sweet Apple Acres."
- >You wonder if you'll fit in at all there.
- >You have a hard enough time already.
- >...
- >Sigh...
- >Soon, the train lurches forward a bit.
- >It slowly begins to roll, before whistling and picking up speed.
- >And with that, the train begins moving toward P0nyville.
- >You halt your daydreaming for now.
- >You'll have time for that later.
- >It's a long ride to your destination.
- >Maybe you should grab some Zs on the way to pass the time.
- >...Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.
- >You snug yourself down into the seat and tip your hat down over your eyes.
- >After half a day's hard work, you drift off rather quickly, the world of dreams taking you from the dullness of your long train ride.
- End of Prologue.
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