Nuthin' Like a Day on the Farm
Oh my Celestia; It's 7:00 in the morning. It's my fault anyway; I wanted to wake up at this hour. Princess Twilight as sent me on a special assignment for the next month: Get to know the ponyfolk in Ponyville. If I reach more than 15 then I get free tickets to the next Grand Galloping Gala...with free VIP passes. I gotta get ready though; I need to meet up with Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres to help with Applebucking. I hope it's not a hard as the yardwork I used to do with my dad...I wonder how he's doing?
I get out of bed and galloped slowly into my bathroom. Brushing my hair and teeth at the same time; cool trick I taught myself. Soon headed towards the stairs once I finished and out the door I went.
"I'll be back later, Cathleen." I yelled out. She's probably still sleeping. Lazy dragon. Dang, the sun's barely even out...*yawn* gosh I'm still tired. I might stop at the Coffee Shop for a bit for a pick-me-up. Yeah...I think I might just do that.
Meanwhile...
Mmmmmm...I love the taste of French Vanilla Cream in the morning. The coffee here is just about as amazing as the coffee back in Canterlot. Just having morning coffee outside just watching the sunrise. Princess Celestia you did a might fine job of the sunrise today. A promise of a new day...and new ideas. Anyways, I need to get going; the farm is waiting.
I travel pass the Ponyville Library; looking at all the stores open. From the Flower Stand to SugarCube Corner. Everypony must be excited...which is funny because today is Monday. I laugh to myself; everypony is so lively here and it's so blissful too. It reminds me of mornings in Canterlot when Princess has that morning ceremony where she raises the sun. Those got pretty boring for a while but now I miss them sometime. I'm literally about 30 minutes away from the farm; come to think of it I've haven't been to a farm in a while. I mean, I don't mind getting a bit dirty but the smell of somethings...eww. I walk and drink my coffee, hoping that the caffeine would kick in. I then stumble upon the biggest ranch I've seen...directly across the way of the Carrot Farm. I walk under the arbor that lead towards the barn itself; trotting down the dirt road towards the small house next to the big barn. Soon I smell an amazing aroma of pancakes...mixed with a bad aroma of pig droppings. Approaching the red door; I knock on it and stand back. Then the door opens to big red pony with a...thing around his neck...I literally have no idea what it is...it's like a giant horseshoe necklace or something.
"Hey; um you're Big Macintosh right?" I asked nervously.
"Eeyup." He responded.
"Is Applejack home? I was supposed to meet her here early today for some Applebucking." I grinned. Big Macintosh looked towards the clock. 7:45 am. Gosh, I must of came by too early. He looked back at me and smiled.
"You're early Maxie. Come on in, We're having breakfast before we start." Big Mac open the door wider as I walked in and shut the door behind me. "Just follow me. You must be hungry."
"Thank you." I replied as I walked into the kitchen. There I seen Apple Bloom sitting on the dining table and Applejack serving breakfast.
"Howdy Maxie. Glad you stopped by early today. I was just finished making breakfast for the family. C'mon in, have a seat." Applejack, one of the most honest ponies in Ponyville, heart warmed by my visit. That says a lot.
"Hey Maxie!" Apple Bloom smiled, looking towards me.
"Hey Smallfry. Any plans for your crusader group today?" I ask the young filly. So full of imagination and energy. Kinda reminds of me at her age.
"Yeah, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and I are meeting up later to try skateboarding and being detectives later on today! Wanna come?" Apple Bloom insisted.
"Errmmmmmm...oh alright. But only if I can help solve a mystery with you guys." I smiled. "Anyways; Applejack. Whats the plan for today?"
"Welp, It's Applebuckin' season again and Imma need some help. But before we get into all that would you like some breakfast?" Applejack smiled. My stomach soon growled after smelling that amazing aroma again.
"Sure. I only had coffee this morning so I'm pretty famished." I laughed as soon as Big Macintosh sat down right next to me.
"We have Pancakes with Apple Syrup with a side of toast with butter and Zap Apple Jam," Applejack placed the plates onto the table with the pancakes and toast. "Don't be shy Maxie; dig in. Our home is your home."
"Try the Zap Apple Jam," Apple Bloom pleaded. "It's delicious."
"It's awesome that you can grow something about as rare as Zap Apples. I only seen pictures in books; are they about as good as they say?" I turn to Big Macintosh as he sits on the chair next to me.
"Eeyup." He responded.
"No joke; it's family tradition to make Zap Apple Jam every season it comes by." Apple Bloom said.
"Well that's just cool, ya know?" I wonder. Had I ever had family traditions? Or do I have just family history of good and evil? Either or I'm hungry and ready to eat.
Later...9:30 am
I look over to the giant apple orchid. Wow. This farm goes out longer than a football field. "Whoa..."
"It sure is big. Yew sure you're gonna be able to handle it with us Maxie?" Applejack asked me.
"To be 100% honest: Nope. But I'm gonna do it anyways." I smiled. "I need a workout anyways, I hate being tired too easily."
"Alright everypony. Lets get buckin'." Applejack soon yelled out with her hat almost off her head.
For a couple of hours; each tree was bucked and apple dropped into barrels. I mainly used my magic to pick the apples off the trees and carry the filled barrels to the wheel barrel. It wasn't hard but it wasn't easy either. Carrying six filled apple barrels at a time was breaking more of a mental sweat that a physical. I felt like I was cheating in a way. I mean I'm working with hardworking-to-the-bone earth ponies; and I'm a unicorn. *sigh* I need a somewhat better way to actually look like I'm helping.
After finishing one side of the orchard. I trotted towards Applejack.
"Nice work with the collecting today Maxie; you're a big help." Applejack smiled at me. Then noticing my worried face. "Sumthin' on yer mind, Sugarcube?"
"Well I mainly used my magic to help you guys and watched you all 'buck the apples'," I grinned nervously again. "Can you teach me how to do that...kick thing that you do?"
"Why sure Maxie. But don't fret about the work yew put in. Anyway yew help us is the best kind of help." Applejack said with so much sincerity in her voice. "But yeah I can teach you to applebuck; C'mon."
Applejack and I walked down towards another part of the the orchid to the first two trees they both stood by.
"Ok, so all yew have to make sure yer hooves are sturdy and properly stretched; only reason why is that you'll pull a muscle and throw yer leg out of place." Applejack told me while showing me her examples. "Then yew wanna make sure that you're at least a couple feet away from the tree; or longer depending on height. Lastly you balance on yer first two hooves and kick with yer back hooves towards the tree like so." Applejack kicked the tree as hard as she could and then all the apples dropped swiftly into the barrels.
"Whoa. Must of taken years to get that experienced." I added.
"I wouldn't say years but it did take some time and practice. Now yew try." Applejack pointed to the tree. I soon stretched out by back legs, then balanced on my front hooves and kicked towards the tree. It only shook a little and nothing but leaves fell out the tree.
"Aww man. Nothing fell out." Suddenly a big tree branch fell on top of my head and I collapsed onto the ground. My head was spinning for about a couple minutes. Applejack soon galloped towards me to pull the branch off from under me.
"Are you alright, Sugarcube?" Applejack soon helped me on my feet with my head still spinning.
"Oh hey Applejack...why is everything so...spinny?" Wow, my head is killing me. I must of strained myself while using my magic earlier.
"C'mon, lets get you back to the barn." Applejack, with my front leg around her shoulder, walked with me back to the barn.
2:30 pm
My gosh. What a ringer. Where am I now? Oh! The barn. I must of fell asleep...I'm still a little woozy from earlier. Anyway I should be getting back to work in a...owwwww. My head still hurts...
"Maxie; are you alright?" Apple Bloom slowly walked in with a senior; she must be an older relative.
"Yeah...I must of hit my head harder than I thought." I rubbed my aching head; then turned my attention to the woman. "I'm sorry I don't mean to-"
"No problems youngin',"
