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Post by applejack on May 6, 2011 20:23:44 GMT -5
A particularly violent storm had blown through Sweet Apple Acres not long ago, only a couple of nights ago, and Applejack was cleaning up the mess. The pegasuses had warned her, but they had failed to mention the sheer scale of the storm- and it hadn't helped that Rainbow Dash had tapped on her window and told her just as she was getting ready to lay down in the hay and sleep all night. She'd be all tuckered out by that point!
The desperate gallop outside, through the large orchard of trees, to remove the worst of the excess branches had done little at the far reaches of the farm, and Applejack guess that she should be grateful that she was only taking care of this mess. This terrible mess, unripe apples littering the ground from the sheer force the wind had howled through the trees at. The tired gallop had probably just done enough to stop the family from running at a loss this year though, some large, fat and green apples- soon to turn red, thought Applejack- hanging on the sturdier trees, or nestled in the hearts of the branches. And the leaves were everywhere!
Now, Apple Bloom was at school and Big Mac was clearing up in the most remote- and damaged- areas of the farm, leaving the mare to work hard in her corner. Her tail flicked as she headbutted and pushed a log, grunting from the effort, mourning the loss of a rather beautiful apple tree. Dang it, why didn't Rainbow Dash ever warn her earlier? She'd have to give that darned friend of hers a good talking to when she next had enough time to get out the orchards.
And so, Applejack worked on, munching on the nicer windfallen apples when her stomach rumbled with hunger. She wasn't expecting company any time today, but it'd be nice- even someone to talk to while the earth pony worked. As it was, there was no one, and she hummed to herself. Little tunes she'd picked up off of Pinkie or Rarity crossed her mind and she hummed them.
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Post by firebrand on May 7, 2011 8:24:48 GMT -5
"Well throw me in a hay basket and call me a filly! This is a downright mess you got here," Firebrand stopped, she was hoping to use a shortcut through the orchard to reach Ponyville. Just having finished a successful delivery, but she would never ignore a pony in need, and so she trotted up to Applejack, grinning.
"Howdy! M'name's Firebrand! I only just moved in to Ponyville, y'need a hand?"
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Post by applejack on May 8, 2011 18:39:15 GMT -5
The mare swung round from her job in surprise, blinking at the newcomer with wide eyes. "Well, if it weren't f'r them darn weather ponies, Ah wouldn'a had this mess!" Applejack grumbled as she gestured at the messy tangle of broken branches and piles of leaves. Her long tail flicked as she looked round to see if she could find something for the new pony to help with.
"Ah'm Applejack, sugarcube, an' Ah'd love it if y'helped me clear them leaves!" Her hoof gestured over to a small pile. "Y'can keep th'apples y'find, Ah couldn' sell those anyway, an' they still taste just as good." As if to show so, she took a windfallen apple in her mouth, tossing it in the air and crunching it whole.
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Post by firebrand on May 8, 2011 23:57:08 GMT -5
"If you don't mind, then I certainly don't!" Firebrand replied, then deciding to strut her stuff, she quickly sped around collecting leaves, she wasn't an express earth delivery pony for nothing! Her fast pace of work was sure to help the farm pony see the end of this job before the end of the day. Though even Firebrand could tell it would take a while, even with her help.
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Post by applejack on May 9, 2011 18:31:13 GMT -5
Nodding, Applejack mused quietly. "Ah'd be a fool t'turn down help." Trotting back to her own work, she grinned whenever the mare passed her, dashing around her work. In fact... Even just watching her made Applejack thirsty! And this was thirsty work. With a last headbutt and move of a fallen branch that had been blocking the way, the earth pony turned her attention to the other one, still dashing around.
"Well now, sugahcube, Ah'm almighty thirsty! How 'bouts we stop f'r some apple juice?" Looking proud, she pawed the ground and tossed her mane back. This was an accomplishment to be proud of. "We make it all ahrselves! An' we got's some lovely treats if'n you'll be wantin' them?" Gesturing towards a small cart at the end of a row, Applejack started making towards it, stopping to rub her aching head occasionally. "Call it a 'thank y'f'r helpin'' treat."
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Post by firebrand on May 10, 2011 15:54:19 GMT -5
"Well that sounds mighty fine t'me!" Firebrand exclaimed with delight, "Hmm, I could go fer some applejuice right now, and don't be babbling such nonsense, I'm glad to help!" The orange pony trotted over to Aj, giving her a friendly bump to her side, as though to indicate thanking her for her help was a silly thing.
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Post by Selenia on May 11, 2011 14:35:58 GMT -5
"Well then, what do we have here?" A black and orange unicorn said as she walked among the rubbish of sticks, leaves, and apples.
She trotted over to Applejack and Firebrand, and greeted them both.
Then she turned her attention back to the mess around the farm.
"That storm last night caused all this?" She said with a slight frown, looking at the fallen apples.
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Post by applejack on May 11, 2011 19:05:19 GMT -5
Smiling warmly at the orange pony, Applejack gently nudged the other pony back. "Sugahcube, Ah couldn'ta done as much as Ah did without y'help." Trotting the rest of the way with the pony, ears skewing back almost contentedly under her hat, the mare kept her warm, if a little tired, smile. She yanked the cover off her cart, and had just been about to take a bite of an apple fritter when she heart another voice.
Turning to look at the newcomer- why, everyone must be cutting through her farm today- Applejack waved her over. "Yeah, tha's what happens when y'r neighb'rly weather ponies don't tell y'about a storm." Looking frustrated, the mare frowned before, turning back to the newcomer with a smile. "So, what'll it be, sugahcube? Apple fritter? Apple pie? Apple tarts?" Glancing round at the ground. "A normal apple?"
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Post by firebrand on May 11, 2011 20:08:28 GMT -5
"Ooh, I'd like some juice and a fritter if y'don't mind! Boy, these look splendorific! Why, I don't think I ever seen such delicious looking fritters in my life!" The spicy mare said, jumping around with excitement, "And hey there pardner!" She called at Selenia, "How's it goin'?"
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Post by Selenia on May 12, 2011 6:31:29 GMT -5
Selenia continued to walk up and watched Firebrand as she jumped around. "It's going pretty good." She said with a light laugh, still watching Firebrand bounce about. She then turned her attention to AJ. "This is quite the mess you have here." She said, looking around again at the scattered debris. "Do you want any help cleaning it up?"
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Post by applejack on May 12, 2011 18:35:00 GMT -5
Applejack pushed the requested items to the other earth pony, still smiling. "Ah hope y'like 'em, ah just gots maself a new recipe f'r them here fritters." Watching intently, her eyes followed Firebrand's actions, hoping she'd hurry up and take a bite...
Spinning round to face the unicorn, she nodded. "Ah ain't about t'stop yeh!" Beckoning to the unicorn, Applejack held out an apple fritter. "But we're takin' a break, an' y'should try mah new recipe f'r fritters!" She proffered it, giving her little room to disagree. "An' Ah ain't about t'take no f'r an answer, Ah'm sure y'gotta be hungry!" The smell caught on the breeze, drifting toward the other, as she smiled tentatively.
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Post by Selenia on May 13, 2011 6:30:11 GMT -5
Selenia caught the scent of the newly baked fritter, and she was instantly in love.
"Why, thank you AJ, it smells delicious!" She tentatively took the fritter with a smile and took a small bite.
With a moan of approval she said "Ohh... By Luna.. This is the greatest food I have ever tasted..." She continued to enjoy the fritter as AJ watched.
Upon finishing the fritter (rather quickly I might add), she licked the crumbs off of her face. "That new recipe you have is amazing... I wish I had your culinary genius!" She said with a light laugh.
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Post by firebrand on May 13, 2011 10:43:25 GMT -5
Taking a bite and a sip from her apple juice and apple fritter Firebrand hummed with delight! "Well strap on a girdle and call me granny! That is the most dee-licious fritter and juice I have ever had the pleasure to sample. My, it's like a sunday special at the ice-cream shop, tasty, exciting and makes you wanna cut in line t'get it!" Firebrand hollered, stamping her hooves on the ground in enjoyment.
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Post by applejack on May 15, 2011 18:25:51 GMT -5
Giving a cocksure grin, the mare skewed her ears back, flicking her bunched up tail in satisfaction. "Well, sugahcube, Ah'm almighty pleased y'like it." Her pride radiated off her. "Ah'm pleased eht ain't just mah fam'ly that likes it." Suddenly, she started a small amount, ears flicking back up and idea coming to her, visible on her face. Her eyes were alight as she danced around slightly, grin growing wider.
"Ah gotta send some t'Apploosa! Mah fam'ly there'll try 'em on the buffalo." Looking round at the devastation on her land, she paused. "But not 'afore Ah clean this lot up."
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Post by Selenia on May 15, 2011 21:40:39 GMT -5
Selenia swallowed down the rest of the fritter. "Appleloosa? Is your family still in that feud with the Buffalo? Because your comment of 'trying them on the buffalo' sounded like you're supplying them with.. ammunition... or something." She coughed and looked around, openly wondering if her question was out of the question, so to speak.
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