We'll always have AAAAAAAAAAAAAPPLOOSA

Chapter 2

“So, which way then” asked Octavia as she stepped out into the bright sunlight

“Well, Mrs. Orchards is just outside the town right in the center of the main orchard” replied Braeburn

“Right, you understand I haven’t the foggiest idea of where that is, correct?”

“Well, it’s a good thing that you got a guide now aint it?”

Tavi rolled her eyes “Yes, I suppose it is, do lead on please”

The duo made their way toward the southern end of the town, making their way through the maze of stages, booths and kiosks that made up the fair grounds. Dust kicked up as the crews worked feverishly to tie down and cover up their work

“They say that there might be a storm rolling through here soon, there’s talk of postponin’ the celebration for another day” noted Braeburn

“Great, another day in this damn town” Octavia mumbled under her breath

“Beg pardon, Miss”

“Oh, merely lamenting at the fact that we’ll not be able to enjoy a meal outside is all”

“Well, the storm IS a few hours out still, we should be okay”

“Oh, lovely”

“You know” Braeburn continued “for a performer, you really don’t project too well”

“Beg pardon?”

“Well, it seems like most of what you say is just mumblin’…you should speak up, it’ll save ya time and energy”

“I’ll keep that in mind” Octavia replied with just the slightest hint of sarcasm

The rest of the walk was relatively silent as both ponies were really just focused on the idea of a good lunch. Mrs. Orchards was – as the name implied- located in the main orchard. The path leading to the restaurant was flanked on either side by a row of large apple trees (as its namesake would imply), Octavia couldn’t help but stare.

“Beautiful aint they?” asked Braeburn, apparently noticing Tavi’s awe

“Well, I don’t see many trees IN Canterlot, you’d have to go into the valley for that, haha, and I don’t honestly get out too much”

“Shoot, I thought you traveled all over Equestria, being a big time performer and all”

“Oh, I do, but it’s mostly large urban areas you see”

“I suppose that makes sense”

Unfortunately the manager at Mrs. Orchards had closed the outdoor area of the restaurant due to the oncoming storm, however the restaurant was still open for service. As they entered they were greeted by an older, brown and green colored mare, she hustled over to the duo and gave Braeburn a hug

“Shoot, Braeburn, its been too long since you moseyed on over to my neck of the woods”

“But there aint no forests for a hundred miles”

“Hehe, you always did take things too literal”

Braeburn then turned to Octavia “Miss, Octavia, this here is Mrs. Orchard, of Mrs. Orchard’s, Orchard, this is Miss Octavia, she’s the headliner for the festival”

Mrs. Orchard approached Octavia, and extended her hoof “Welcome to My fine establishment, Mrs. Octavia, “Best service within a thousand miles of where you’re standing”, that’s our slogan and we live  up to it” she noted with great pride

Octavia shook her hoof and smiled “Well, I do look forward to experiencing such hospitality” she replied in earnest as she was still quite peckish

“And we look forward to givin’ it, and might I add, Little Braeburn here never did tell me quite how pretty you were in pony”

“Did I mention that she’s also quite senile?”  Asked Braeburn

“Oh hush up, I can complement whomever I want too, youngin’, anyway, follow me please”

Mrs. Orchard led them both to a booth in the center of the restaurant “Yall sit down and call me when you’re ready ta order”

“Thank you” Octavia replied as she opened her menu

Looking through she decided (after much deliberation) to try the house special:  “The Fancy Apple Fritters”

Octavia looked over her menu at Braeburn “So, what are you having?”

“Well, I always get the apple dumplings, sweetest dern things you e’er tasted”

“I can imagine”

Mrs. Orchard returned “So what’ll it be then?”

Braeburn spoke up “Why I’ll hav-“

“Boy, I know exactly what your order’ll be, you’re gonna have the dumplings with extra caramel dipping sauce, like ya always get”

“Yes ‘um”

“Now” she said as she turned to Octavia “What’ll you have?”

“I’ll take the Fancy Fritter please”

“Now would you like cream or powdered sugar on the top?”

“Both please”

“Adventurous aint we? Ya better watch out, our you're gonna grow up to be big and fat like me when you get older”

“Oh, please, you’ve aged quite well”

“HA! Pretty and a flatterer, I think she’s a keeper Brae, I’ll be back in a jif with yall’s orders”

“Keeper? That’s a good one, ya silly old pony, hahaha” Braeburn called after her as she walked away

Octavia turned to Braeburn, who seemed to sink into his chair out of embarrassment

“Soooooo, what odd weather we’re having today, huh”

“What did she mean by ‘in pony”

“Um, well, ya see, ah, this is kinda embarrassing actually…um…I've been a fan of yours for years ya see”

“Really?”

“In fact I was the one to suggest that we hire you to play the festival, I'm mean the way that you interpret Silver Strings 16th Overture was just beautiful, its actually what I used to convince them that you were worth hiring ya see”

“Hmm, I didn’t take you for a fan of my work”

“Ha, are you kiddin’? The way that you play is just amazing-wait…so you’re not upset?”

“At what? That I have an admirer? If I had  a  bit for every admirer I had, trust me I’d  be a much  more wealthy pony. You honestly wouldn’t believe the things that I’ve had to put up with, compared to them you’re quite pleasant”

“Well, that’s a relief. But say, what have you had to put up with anyway? Out of curiosity”

“Stalkers, paparazzi, and more requests for ‘private concerts’ than I can shake a proverbial stick at, things like that really”

“Shoot, sounds taxing”

“It’s just one of the things that come along with being a performer I suppose, the public  eye is always the harshest when its fixed on you…but that’s how I make my living and I suppose that I can’t complain so long as I get paid well”

“Well, a the very least there aint no paparazzi here in Apploosa”

“Yes, I suppose not”

Octavia desperately wanted to change the subject

“So, you and Mrs. Orchard are quite close then?”

“I lived with her for a good part of my youth”

“Why didn’t you live with your parents?” Octavia asked out of genuine confusion

Braeburn looked down and didn’t respond

“Oh?  I’m so sorry Braeburn, if I’d known-“

“It’s alright, you didn’t know ,after they died, I was sent to Apploosa just as it was getting’ its start, Mrs. Orchard didn’t have no kids of her own, so she took me in and raised me, well, her and about 30 hooves. Apploosa became my family and they’re the best family I could have asked for.”

“That’s quite a sweet way of looking at it all”

“I suppose t’is….speakin’ o’which”

Mrs. Orchard returned with a serving tray with their food

“Now that was the Fritter for the lovely young musician” She said as she handed Octavia her plate “And the dumplings for my dumpling” she said to Braeburn.

“Hehe, thanks Orchard” he replied, embarrassed

“Now yall enjoy ya hear”

Octavia looked down at the fritters, her mouthwatering with anticipation as the full force of the fresh apple aroma hit her like the 3rd Overture of Shooftofsky, as she drove in her taste buds began to sing. Orchard had been right, this WAS the best for a thousand miles. She couldn’t control herself and began to scarf down the fritters one after another.

“Uh, Miss Octavia?”  Braeburn asked from across the table

Tavi realized what she was doing and the invertible mess that she had made of herself

“Well, don’t I feel dignified?” she lamented

“Hehehe, trust me you aint the first ta go apples for those fritters”

“Ad she won’t be the last!” Orchard yelled from the kitchen “Bathrooms to the left “

Tavi got up and walked over to the bathrooms to clean herself off. She looked in the mirror to see that she had gotten powdered sugar and syrup all over her face, and even some in her mane, it almost reminded her of the night she….

“No” Tavi said aloud “Enough of that”

She filled the sink with water and dunked her face in. She dried herself off and went back out to her table where Braeburn had already finished his dumplings and was onto his second helping.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered us another round of food for us”

“Oh thank you, but I'm full I'm afraid”

“Hehe, I figured as much, they’re bagging it now, and I just love me these dumplin’s”

Octavia smiled and went back to her seat to wait for her fritters. Not long after Mrs. Orchard walked back out with a box in a bag.

“Well, I figured that you could use one for the road, I put the extra cream in there for ya, I know you like it” she said with a smile

“Well, I must say that you really are a master of your craft, Mrs. Orchard”

“Like I said Miss Octavia, we sure do aim to please”

Braeburn finished his dumplings “Great as always, so what’s the damage?”

“I'm offended Brae, you know that it’s always on the house for you, and your new lady friend”

“Well, she’s not, I mean”

“I'm just teasin’, this boy never could take a joke”

“I can tell”

Octy picked up her bag and walked out with Braeburn into the Orchard. The wind was picking up as the storm approached and the clouds grew darker.

“We should get back to the Hotel soon” noted Braeburn.

“Really, ya don’t say?”

The Duo made their way out of the orchard and into the town where the storm had just started to hit, the clouds burst and the rain came pouring down onto the fairgrounds, instantly soaking them both, thankfully, they both made it to the hotel before the storm got too bad. They looked at each other, both wet and shivering, and Octavia couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s so funny?”

“Haahahahaha, I have no idea, but I can’t stop laughing ahahahahah!”

“Well, okay then…well, I'm gonna go to bed I suppose, good night Miss Octavia”

“Hehehe, good night Braeburn”

As the young stallion walked away Octavia felt something…something that she couldn’t place her hoof on, but she felt comfortable around the young stallion, he wasn’t like many of those she knew back in Canterlot, maybe…she….

“No” she thought “It’s too soon”

But maybe, just maybe…