It was a cool summer day on the farm of Sweet Apple Acres, but instead of the usual work the apple family is holding a special ceremony. Today is the wedding of apple family member Macareina and her soon to be husband, Rainbow Blitz.
Inside the house Macareina was preparing for her grand entrance. It has been a few months since Blitz knocked her up and ever since he returned from the war, they have been planning this wedding. By now the mare's belly has grown larger, indicating the foal's development.
Inside the house with her is her grandfather, Grandpa Smith. The elderly pony was sitting on the couch while watching his granddaughter pacing around the living room. Sensing her anxiousness the old green stallion decide to try and comfort her.
"Calm down dear," Smith said, putting his hoof on her shoulder . "There is nothing to be worried about."
"But, Grandpa what will happen when things doesn't as a plan?" asked the worried Macareina. "What will happen is I messed up my vows or the wedding ring is missing?" she then gasps "What if Blitz leaves me at the alter?"
"Now wait a minute Macareina!" Smith raised his voice, "Why would you think Blitz would leave?"
Realizing in what she just said the red mare felt depressed. "You right Grandpa, how could I think Blitz would ever leave me." She smiled a bit when her fiance was mentioned. Despite not being here she could still picture the cocky pegasus in her head.
That pegasus was full of himself, but aside from that he was also loyal. She remembered that day long ago, when Blitz explained his loyalty to his best friend AJ. It was also the day she started to fall in love with him.
"And beside Dear," Smith spoke bringing the mare out of her daydreaming.
"If that Blitz does leave you, I just grab my shotgun and threaten him to come back. We can have ourself a good old fashion shotgun wedding."
"Grandpa you can't be serious," asked the red mare.
"What?" he questioned. "That's how your uncle and aunt Orange got together, I should know I was there when my father was pointing the gun at your uncle."
Before Macareina could say anything she was interrupted by the sound of knocking on the door. "Macareina it's time." said a voice coming from outside.
Caught of guard by this the red mare began pacing around the room again. Grandpa Smith decides to be assertive and push the mare out of the house. Once outside their eyes are drawn to the big spectacle in front of the house.
Outside of their house are two rows of chairs, one for the groom's friend and the other for the bride's friend. There was also a long red carpet between the two rows of chairs. On the bride's side there were family relatives and some of her friends from Town. On the groom's side there was his mother, his co-workers at the weather patrol, Scootaloo, and some Wonderbolts members. There was even a male griffon sitting quietly in his seat.
Standing in front of the rows of chairs is the altar, where Macareina's fiance is standing. The rest of his friends were standing on side next to him. One the opposite side the red mare could see some of her friends as well. Standing behind Blitz is the recently crown Prince Dusk Shine.
Apparently after his coronation Dusk was given many perks and abilities. And one of those abilities just happens to be legally wed two ponies.
Once both Macareina and Grandpa Smith were outside, all the attendees focused their attention on the groom. The red mare felt nervous from all the stares, but luckily her grandpa was there to comfort her and they both walk down the red carpet path leading to the altar.
Normally this part was supposed to be for the father of the groom, but unfortunately he's not with them anymore. So in his place is Grandpa Smith.
As the two trotted further to the altar flashes from cameras were taken by both sides. At the front the blue stallion watched as his soon to be wife trot slowly on the red carpet in her wedding gown. While he looks calm the green elderly pony could see that he too was nervous.
The two finally reached the altar, once his role was done the old green stallion took his seat next to Applebuck and watched the wedding. The procedure started of smoothly with both partners saying their vows to each other.
As he watched the old pony started having memories from long ago. Memories he has long forgotten and repressed, they were memories of him and the mare that stolen his heart, Scarlet Scent.
It was many years ago when Ponyville was still young and new. Back then Grandpa Smith was a young adult and lived by himself in the old family farm. His siblings moved away and his parents retired, leaving the small farm to him.
It was hard work maintaining a farm by yourself, but Smith was a still young and strong. It also helped that he had some help from friends and hired hooves. Despite all the challenges the green earth pony managed to make a living and provide the town with a fresh source of apples.
Then one day when the young Smith was in town selling his apples, he met her, the red earth pony named Scarlet Scent. Like her name this mare's coat was bright red with a brown orange long mane. This pony was something this green stallion had never seen before.
Sure he has seen beautiful mares before, but for some reason this one was different. Perhaps it was the way she trotted into the market, swaying her flank around. Or perhaps it was that seductive look she gives to anypony that looked at her.
Whatever it was, Smith wasn't able to take his eyes off her. Distracted, the green stallion didn't even noticed the scarlet mare approaching his stand.
"Excuse me", she said.
Her words fell on deaf ears, as the stallion stood there, staring at the mare.
Noticing the look he was giving her, the red mare smiled. "Excuse me sir", she said this time louder.
This was enough to get his attention. "Er...sorry ma'am", he said embarrassingly. "How can I help you?"
The red mare then leaned forward, her face few inches from his. "Well sir, I have just recently arrive in this new settlement. And I heard some rumors of a very handsome green stallion." She then turned her face to one side. "You wouldn't happen to know this stallion, would ya?" she winked at him.
This wasn't the first time a random mare tried to hit on him, and like all of them he turned them down. "Look miss, I'm flattered and all, but I'm just not looking for a relationship right now." The apple pony stated.
The red mare continued to stare at the green stallion for a for a few seconds, until she backed off from his stand. "Oh well, can't win them all," she shrugged and left.
'odd' Smith thought in his head. Almost all mares he rejected wouldn't have given up that easily. He turned his head towards the red mare and spotted her munching on a red apple. Strange, he didn't know sold her an apple. Then a moment of realization came to him.
She came to her stand with nothing, tried to seduce him, and then left with an apple in her hoof. Putting two and two together, the green stallion realized that the mare has stolen his apple. Smith then left his stand and chased after the mare.
Once done with the apple, the red mare tossed it in the nearest trash can. She then continued her trot around the market place. But, when she reached a corner, she felt something pushed against her. Turning her head, she was face to face with the same green stallion from before.
"Well hello again sir." she spoke nonchalantly. "If you wanted a kiss, all you had to do was asked," she smirked.
No effected by her response, Smith decides to state his business. "Look miss I don;t know who you are but-"
"Oh my," she gasped. "Where are my manners, my named is Scarlet Scent and you are?"
"It's Apple Smith, and as I was trying to say-"
"Oh I heard of you!" she interrupted him. "I heard that your family was the founder of this town, not Smelly Wealthy."
"Yes but, as I was sayin-"
"Oh it must be dreadful living by yourself. All alone, to do all the work on the farm and-"
"Enough!" , he raised his voice a bit, so not to draw any attention. "I know what you did and I want you to pay for it."
"Whatever do you mean sir?" she questioned, trying to sound innocent.
To another pony, it would've fooled them. However, Apple Smith here can see through her act and knows she is lying. "Don't try and act all innocent with me. I know you stole that apple and I want you to pay me two bits for it." The green stallion demanded.
Scarlet gave him a questionable look and started chuckling. 'Oh is this what this is about?" she asked. "Sir, I do believe you got it wrong, that apple was already in my possession."
"Oh sure, you just went up my stand and you left with an apple in your hoof," he pointed it out to her.
"Well Mr. Smith this situation can go both ways. Either I'm innocent and everypony here will know you roughed up a poor little mare like me or that I'm guilty and that you roughed up a mare just for stealing a single apple. Either way you'll look bad in front of all these ponies." Then she smiled, "now you gotta asked yourself, is it really worth one apple?
He didn't want to admit it but, she got him. He has no evidence to support his claim and even if he did, all the trouble just for one stolen apple. He was conflicted, sure the stolen apple was significant but, it was the principal. However most ponies would not agree and most of these ponies were his customers.
Seeing no other alternative, he had no choice but to let her go. Scarlet Scent left the green stallion alone with a smug look on her face. Apple Smith made sure she was far enough so that he can quietly curse to himself and to a certain red mare.
He trotted back to his stand, wishing to never see that mare again. Unfortunately for him, he'll be seeing more of the red mare.
A few days has passed, and Apple Smith could help but, still thinking about that mare. He was angry at her, yet at the same time was fascinated by her. Before he dwell any further he was interrupted by a little black colt.
"Excuse me, Mr. Smith?" the young colt asked. Apple Smith tilted his head downward and spotted the little black pony. This colt's coat was a very dark gray, a total opposite of his very bright golden hair with a few strand of white hair.
"Hey, Gold Mine" the green stallion said as he looked down into the little colt's yellow eyes. "What can I get you?"
"Welllllll my mommy told me to pick up five apples" he said, his voice sounding very energetic.
"Well Gold Mine, each apple here cost two bits each. Can you tell me how much bits you need for five apples?"
The little dark grey colt calculated the math in his head. "Oh oh, I know. Ten bits....for five apples!" he exclaimed.
The green stallion smiled at the little colt. "That's right Gold Mine, good job!" he congratulated him. Gold Mine then took out his pouch containing the bits and slowly counted them.
"Here you go mister." the colt gave the bits to him.
"Hey Gold Mine, do you want to earned another apple?" Smith asked, gaining the little colt's attention. "Don't worry it's pretty easy. All you have to do is stay here and watch over my stand while I go to the washroom. Do this and you'll earned yourself a sixth apple."
Gold Mine smiled and agreed to do it. With that taken care of he can finally use the restroom. A couple of minutes later he returned back to the stand and saw that all the apples are gone.
"Wow!" Smith yelled out, sounding amazed. "Gold Mine did you sold all my apples, while I was gone?" eh questioned the little colt.
"Oh yes I did Mr. Smith." Gold said proudly. "In fact this single lady came and bought all of these apples."
"Amazing, was is it Smelly Wealthy?" he asked about the town's resident rich pony/? "No sir, it was this red mare."
Upon hearing those words, the green stallion felt a sense of dread in his gut. "This red mare wouldn't happened to be named Scarlet Scent would it?" Smith asked the colts, hoping to be wrong.
"Why yes, that's her name!" the colt said cheerfully. "She even payed for all the apples with this gem." Gold Mine showed Smith a small blue gem. Apple Smith picked up the gem and closely inspect the small shiny rock.
He remembered learning this from his father, when he was just a little colt. What Smith learned from him, was the ability to to tell a difference between a real gem and a fake one. The one in his hoof is definitely a fake.
"Say, Gold Mine. You wouldn't happen to know where Scarlet is, do you?"
"Oh yeah I do," he answered. He then pointed his little hoof into the market place, indicating that she was in the middle of the market place.
"Thanks," he said and left the little black colt b himself.
Apple Smith trotted further into the marketplace, until his eyes were drawn to a large crowd gathering in front of a large machine on stage. The machine itself was strange, it was all made up of metal, covered in rivets, and there was a bunch of tubes and wires hanging around.
However, the strange machine wasn't the only thing on stage, besides it was a certain familiar red mare. Scarlet Scent was sporting a red and white stripe vest, along with a boater hat.
"Ladies and gentlestallions" she shouted out. "Gather here and be amazed by this wonderful contraption!" The more she yelled out, the more ponies gathered in front of the stage. All of them curious of what that machine behind her does.
"Now y'all probably wondering, what this machine behind me does? To answer your question let me ask you something." Scarlet then picked a mug of cider and showed it to the crowd of ponies.
"Now I may be new here but, I've heard that all of you enjoy a nice cool mug of ciders, right?" she rhetorically asked and the crowd murmured in agreement.
"Yes, having a cider would be nice. However, the process of making it, is quite long and exhausting." She then turn and faced the machine. "But with this contraption, you can get yourself some cider in mere seconds."
The crowd of ponies whispered amongst themselves. Many were quite skeptical over the red mare's claims.
Sensing the ponies skepticism, Scarlet decides to give a demonstration. She took a couple of apples and placed them into the machine. After that she pushed a few buttons and pulled a lever. The large machine sprung to life, inside the crowd can hear loud noises. The sound varied from the grinding gears to the sound of steam coming out from the top.
Just as she said, in a couple of seconds a mug appeared in a hatch and cider was poured right in. Scarlet picked up the cider and gave it to the nearest pony. The pony took and drank it. "By gosh, this is really good!" the pony said happily.
"See folks my ciders are genuine!" she stated to large audience of ponies. "Now eveypony, who want some ciders!" After saying those words the crowd yelled out, wanting a cider.
"Alright folks get you bits ready because I'm turning on the machine!" she shouted and poured more apples into the machine. Soon the machine was spewing out cider after cider, each one given to a very happy customer.
Seeing an opening Apple Smith got on stage and made a beeline to the red mare. Scarlet was too busy counting the bits to notice him coming. The green stallion poked the mare with his hoof, gaining her attention.
"Oh well Hi there Smithy," she spoke cheerfully.
It took Smith a second to process the nickname she given him. "It's Smith," he corrected her. "And I'm here for my money."
"Whatever do you mean?" the red mare said. sounding innocent.
"Please, I know you gave Gold Mine a fake gem to pay off all of my apples."
"Oh, and just how do you know it's fake?"
Smith then took out the gem. "Well for starters, this gem's structure is too perfect. Almost like somepony made it like that. Then lastly-" he dropped the gem on the floor and stomped on it. "They break easily," he continued.
"Oh well goodness me." she gasped. "I didn't know that my gem was a fake."
Even with her sincere answer, Apple Smith can still tell that she was lying.
"Look I'm sorry for my mistake. How about I pay you with my bits I earned from this." She pointed to bag of bits that was filling up with bits from her customers.
The agreement sounds fair but, Smith was still mad about her trickery. The day ended when the last pony payed his bits and drank his cider. Scarlet's bag was full of bits, despite the subtraction to pay off the apples from Apple Smith.
The green stallion was about to leave but, was stopped by the red mare. "Hey buddy cheer up," she said in a friendly tone. "Here take this as a sign of my apology for you." She hoofed a mug of cider for him.
Smith was considering whether he should accept it or outright refused it. Deciding to be the better pony, he accepted her gift and drank it all down.
Another couple of days passed again and Smith was once again in the market to sell his crops. This time it was a variety of vegetables: cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Now most ponies would find it odd that an apple farmer would be growing other crops.
The reason behind this is because Apple Smith is trying out new crops to grow and sell. The apples pay for most of the stuff but, Smith wanted to get some extra money from these crops. Money has been tight lately for Sweet Apple Acres.
With only him working the farm, the workload was almost too much for him to bear. It also doesn't help that he lost some of the crops from viruses and insects. He wished he could hire somepony to help him on his farm but, that will be costly.
Suddenly Smith was interrupted from his trot by a familiar red pony. Scarlet crashed into him, resulting in both ponies to fall down. "Ouch....watch where your going!" she yelled out.
"Watch where I was going?" he yelled back. "Why the hell were you running?"
Scarlet was about to say something , but she heard something and hid in his wagon full of vegetables. "What are you-" before he could finish his sentence, the red mare shushed him and pointed to something behind him.
Apple Smith turned and saw three large stallions galloping on streets, looking for somepony. Smith can tell that these guys are trouble and that Scarlet must have done something to cross these guys.
"Please you gotta get me out of here." she pleaded to the apple farmer. Smith thought about his options, he could simply refuse and kick her out. However, he has seen the stallions looking for her. They look dangerous and he can't imagine what they would do to her if they got her.
Sure she was a thief and a liar but, he doesn't want anything bad to happen to her. So he decided to take outside of the town. The trip lasted for an hour and Smith stopped at a crossroad. He told his passenger that the one to the right leads to another town. She questioned what the other path leads to, but Smith ignored her and told her to leave.
The red mare did as he said and went on the right path. Once she was out far away did Apple Smith moved. He trotted along the left path, which lead him back to his farm. Smith parked his wagon and stored his crops in a barn. Once done he headed for his house and made himself something to eat.
While eating his meal Smith took a look around the tables and noticed just how empty it was. It wasn't the first time the green stallion felt alone in his home. He misses his family, but knows that they can't stay here. His siblings have their own life, so does his parents.
Still it would be nice to have some company on his farm. After finishing his meal, the farmer called it a night and headed to bed. He'll need his energy for workload for tomorrow.
