We'll always have AAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA

We’ll always have AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA

“Miss Octavia? Miss Octavia?”

Octavia stirred in her booth, apparently she had dozed off, and the silent ride of the Train lines had always put her mind (and eyelids) at ease. She looked up at the pony that had awoken her, the sight of the kindly train conductor signaled to her semi-conscious brain that they had arrived at their destination; a small yet growing town on the edge of the frontier: Apploosa. Octavia got up from her seat.

“I take it we’re here then?”

“Why yes, Miss Octavia, and it would seem that the local welcome wagon is waiting”

Just as the conductor finished his sentence a loud blast of trumpet music assaulted Octavia’s eardrums. The unyielding screech of their “instruments” caused her to physically cringe.

“Ugh, they could use some tuning”

“Haha, can’t say that they’re not enthusiastic now can you?”

“I’d have preferred they not sound like a dying mule”

Tavi got up on all fours, then threw her personal bag over her shoulder, her Cello along with the rest of her luggage was stowed in the hold and being unloaded by the stations staff. She opened the door to her train car which led directly onto the platform where she was again forced to endure the blare of the trumpeters while the welcome committee whooped and hollered. After what seemed like an eternity of noise pollution a young, orange Stallion walked up to her and vigorously shook her hoof.

“Welcome Miss Octavia to AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA, we’reohsohapppythatyouwereableto-*Sharp inhale*-make it to perform on the main stage for our towns founders day JAMBOOOOOORRRREEEEEEEEEEE”

“Well, the check DID clear” Octavia mumbled under her breath

“Sorry, what was that?”

“Oh, I just jumped at the chance darling, after all, it’s not every day you get invited to an event such as this” Tavi answered, lying through her smile.

“Well, we’re just so happy to hear that I’m the towns Guide, if you need anything at all just let me know and I’ll have it for ya in a flash”

“Well, thank you, but I’d really like to get to my room, it’s been a long day of travel and I need my rest for the show in two days”

“Of course Miss Octavia, your room is prepared over at The Golden Apple; it’s the biggest hotel we have here in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLEOOSA”

“Fine, fine, I trust that someone will-“

“Get your luggage? Well shoot, we’ve already done all that now”

‘Thank you”

“Speakin’ to which”

The young stallion offered his hoof. Tavi took a second to catch on but then handed over her bag for the guide to carry.

Octavia followed the young Stallion through the crowd of onlookers and onto the main (unpaved road) that served as the town’s main thoroughfare. The young stallion kept on his droning.

“Now the town was settled just a few years ago well about 10 years to be exact, well 10 years in 2 days, but I suppose that would be obvious from the signs, posters and jumbo-tron  which all  read “Happy 10th birthday APPLOOSA”

Octavia looked up and noticed that yes pretty much every part of the town had some form of reminder of the celebration which was at hand. Including a 60 foot billboard which served almost as a second sun.

“Okay, I have an inquiry”

“Shoot away Miss”

“How do you power the Billboard?”

“Magic of course” he responded enthusiastically

“Well, ask an obvious question I suppose” Tavi said under her breath

“What was that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, don’t worry”

“Well, alrighty then”

As they walked, Tavi took notice of the apparent hustle and bustle of the settlers, ponies were moving large quantities of apples In anticipation of the founders day celebration, stages were being built, booth being set up and venders were already stocking them with their simple, yet beautiful wears, Tavi thought that she must at least get something here for-

”And here we are Miss Octavia” Said the young stallion proudly as they stopped in front of their destination.

The Golden Apple was a surprisingly beautiful structure which was situated on the southern side of the town. The outer facade was made from marble and gold trim, the pillars which flanked the entrance were a pair of very well crafted marble stallions; Octavia noted that the hotel would not be at all out of place in Canterlot or Manehatten.

“The hotel is owned by Hoity Totty, the big fancy design mogul from Canterlot” Noted the stallion “he built it here about a year ago. He called AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA the gateway to the future of Equestria, and he wanted to be in on it.”

“Ah, I’ve made his acquaintance before, nice enough pony I suppose, i preformed for the opening of his 4th hotel in Las Pegasus"

"Really?"

"Yes, it was quite the event, the food was quite lovely from what i remember"

"Well, i hope that your stay here in AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA, is just as good"

"Yes, well...lead the way if you would"

The stallion stood there dumbfounded for a second, seemingly staring off into space just past her

“Ahem”

“Oh right, this way please Miss”

The interior was even more beautiful than the outside, red velvet carpet lined the floor, and the same marble and gold workmanship which was displayed on the outside was even more prominent on the interior, and while Tavi had seen the finest hotels in the finest cities of Equestria the fact that a hotel like this was situated on the frontier made her jaw drop slightly. The Stallion misunderstanding the reason for her awe went on

“Sure is sumtin’ aint it miss?”

“Ah, yes, well, seen one 5 star Hotel, I suppose…”

“O’course, I reckon a pony such as yourself is used to more lavish settings than this”

“It’s a fine building don’t get me wrong”

“That it is, Miss Octavia, now let’s get you checked in”

The attendant was friendly and offered to take Octavia to her room but she declined, then she turned and took her bag from the young stallion.

“I’ll be fine from here on out, thank you”

“Well shoot, no problem Miss Octavia, I’ll be down on the bottom floor in the attaché suite, if you need me…..i pronounced that correct right?”

Octavia was almost dozing at this point “Um yes, now if you’ll excuse me I really have to go and rest my eyes, but thank you again for all your help”

“T’wernt no issue, well, sleep well”

As Octavia turned to go up the elevator to her room she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask the stallion’s name, she turned and asked “Um, good sir”

The stallion stopped and turned “what is it?”

“I feel so embarrassed, what was your name?”

“Why, it’s Braeburn, Miss”

“Thank you” And with that Tavi turned back to the elevator, sweet rest just moments away

*****************************

The next day

Octavia sat tuning her Cello on the main stage of the town’s large amphitheater as her stage crew rushed to get things ready for the following days “Festivities”. Despite all the noise and the work of power tools and stage equipment going on around her focus was so intent on tuning her cello that the noise didn’t even register with her. The perfect pitch of her cello was all that mattered, she sat there making almost microscopic adjustments to the strings. After all she didn’t become one of the best musicians in Equestria by NOT spending hours tuning her instruments to the point of perfection. Satisfied that her instrument was up to her standards she tested it buy playing the first part of her opener, for 3 minutes her cello made the most beautiful of music, she almost wanted to finish the song but that would have taken too long and besides that no one could really hear her over the sound of the crews working. Finally satisfied with the quality of sound her cello was producing she laid it back into the case and fastened it closed. As she began to lift her case she heard the faint sound of clapping, she turned to see her guide peeking out from behind the curtain…clapping.

“That was quite beautiful Miss Octavia, is that there the song you’re gonna play tomorrow?”

“Well, just the first 20 or so seconds, but yes, yes it is”

“Shoot, I knew dat you were then right pony to play for our here celebration”

Octavia walked toward the storage room where her cello would be stored for the time being, Braeburn however took it and carried it for her himself.

“Well, truth be told, I didn’t expect to play such an event, I’d have thought that ponies on the frontier would have preferred something more….”

“Uh, lively?”

“Something like that”

“Well, all truth be told, you were the town councils 3rd pick to headline the celebration”

“Wow, only their 3rd pick? Who was their first? The Buffalo Bills?” Tavi asked with distinct sarcasm

“No, that was their second pick”

“Of course”

“Well, if’in ya don’t mind me askin’, you’re a high class pony, what made you come all the way out here to preform?”

“It’s personal” she muttered

“Beg pardon Miss?”

“I have my reasons” she said with a slight hint of venom in her tone

“I’m sorry Miss Octavia” Braeburn replied “I didn’t mean to upset you”

Octavia looked over at the stallion, he seemed genuinely hurt by the way she replied

“It’s not your fault, I’m sorry”

Octavia’s stomach began to rumble, she took her watch out of her bag and noted that she hadn’t eaten in 6 hours

“Ya hungry Miss Octavia?”

“Yes, in fact I’m am quite famished”

“Well, I got me here some food vouchers, you can eat free anywhere you want here in   AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA!”

“Do you have to say Apploosa like that all the time?”

“There’s other ways to say AAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPOOSA?”

“Ugh, never mind…anyway what is there to eat around ‘these parts’ “?

“Well, we’ve got a nice apple restaurant called “Mrs. Orchards” it’s set up in the middle of the Orchard itself”

“Actually that sounds quite charming, do you have the vouchers?”

“Of course I do”

“Well, let’s go then” Tavi said with a smile

*********************************

End of Chapter 1…..