Good Intentions

3
"Apples and Oranges"

Applejack and Big Mac were in the den of Sweet Apple Acres with Granny Smith, getting their monthly mane cuts. Twilight came in with Spike, excited and smiling, but once she saw Granny Smith was combing AJ's mane... she nearly walked out due to respect:

"I'm so sorry," she said, stepping back from the doorway. "I can come back later, if that works for you."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Twilight," said Granny Smith getting up. "It's time for ma afternoon tea, anyways. Ah know ya have been up ta some experiment lately... I'll give y'all a few to talk about it in peace."

Twilight slowly moved out of the way as Granny Smith walked by, leaving the room and going down the hall:

"Thank you... it wasn't necessary, though."

Granny Smith did not reply. She just looked back and smiled, leaving the four alone to talk.

"Okay, then...," said Apple Jack, leaning forward in her chair. What'da y'all want, Twilight?"

Twilight was so excited she could hardly contain it:

"I need a bushel of apples for my machine..."

"Really now," said Big Mac, with a playful smile. "Don't y'all think that's going a little overboard? Wouldn't one suffice?"

"I've already cloned a gem and a cupcake... I want to see what's going to happen with a large number of organic items. Plus your apples cells are alive! If I can clone live food, the potential for nutrition is exponential!"

"Alrighty, then," said AJ, looking at her brother. "Big Mac's gotta make a delivery in town today... y'all can fit another bushel on that cart, can't ya?"

"Ee-yup."

"There ya go, then, Twilight," said Apple Jack, a smug grin spreading itself on her face. "Complements of Sweet Apple Acres... just dun go making a mountain of apples, Twi... we'll wanna get you outta there unsquished."

"Oh, don't worry about that... I'm just going to have two bushels for all our friends to enjoy!"

"Well, thanks Twilight..."

Sure enough, later that afternoon Big Mac stopped by the old, dilapidated shack with a huge cart. He took one of the bushels from his cart and knocked on the door. Once Spike opened it, he quickly went inside.

He'd never actually seen the full machine in its complete state, only parts he'd helped bring to the shack... and he'd been given only a vague description of it in the past few weeks. His mouth dropped open as he was surrounded by the colors and crystals; he started at the two sizable glass shields, under which the two identical gems were placed.

Spike returned to the machine, and grabbed both gems, while he and Twilight talked.

"This truly is a marvel," Big Mac said, looking at the crystal control panels. "Aren't y'all afraid somepony is liable to break in here and steal something? All those crystals're probably worth a hefty sum, and that's not even thinking about what your invention could be worth assembled as it is."

"I have a gem hidden above our heads recording everything! No pony knows about it but me and the girls, and the Princesses. If anything happens, we'll know who did it."

"Reckon that's a good idea, then," Big Mac said, looking out the window. "I've got enough to worry about with 24 bushels alone. Ah can't imagine the anxiety somethin' like this must be causin' for y'all."

"Oh, I could easily replicate it..." Twilight said, motioning towards her noggin. "I've got it all up here, and the Princesses have the blueprints. Heh, I never realized I can replicate a replicator!"

"Good ta know." Big Mac stretched. "Mind if Ah rest a bit? Don't tell AJ, but there are times Ah just wanna take the whole day off."

"Oh, don't worry about us telling Applejack," Twilight said, looking at Spike, who nodded reassuringly. As long as you don't mind flashing lights and a few noises while we work."

"Not at all," replied the stallion, leaning against the wall and sighing.

Big Mac rested, periodically taking a glance out the window at his cart, while watching Twilight and Spike work curiously. They loaded the bushel into one side and Twilight pushed a few crystals. A melody filled the air along with a flash, and there were two bushels. Twilight used her magic to open the glass up and lift a few apples from the cloned bushel.

"Here ya go Big Mac," she said, passing him one. "You're a hard worker! You deserve more than a break."

"Well, that's mighty kind of you, Twilight," Big Mac said, taking a bite of his apple. His eyes went wide. "Oh, my. This is the best apple I've ever had in ma whole life."

"Isn't it, though?" Twilight chuckled, taking an apple for herself and Spike. "I'm going to look at these apples under a microscope later, along with a few other non-organic items and foods it's also cloned. It seems to make a perfect clone of whatever's put in the other side, but for some reason it comes out as though it's brand new."

"Might Ah ask, what do you mean by brand new?"

"Things it clones have the same imperfections, but they have a fresher taste and appearance... they're stronger, too. I suspect I might be able to unlock something akin to the fountain of youth if I study this long enough!"

"The fountain of youth, huh?" Big Mac mused about it. "Now that would be somethin."

Big Mac noticed Spike clearing off the bushels from both sides of the machine and setting an uneaten apple down on the first side. He watched as Twilight nodded.

"I just can't finish it, Twilight," Spike said, burping, as the Unicorn got up. "Too many gems earlier."

"That's perfect, Spike," Twilight said, pushing buttons on the control panel.

"Watch this, Big Mac," said Spike, pointing at the apple. "All Twilight has to do is hit a yellow button, and you're not going to believe what's going to happen!"

"You've got my curiosity peaked, Ah must admit," replied the red farm pony, watching as he finished his delicious cloned apple.

Sure enough, Twilight pushed a few buttons and the machine began to sing and glow again. With a flash, the apple was replicated once again... Big Mac's eyes went wide for the second time when he noticed the entire apple, not just a small piece of its core like Spike had left, were on the other side.

"Ee-yup," Spike said, with a grin.

"That's incredible."

"Just keep quiet about it, Big Mac," said Twilight, firmly. "I know I can trust you for that..."

"Yes, you can. I promise on ma parent's graves Ah will not tell one soul about this... well, maybe AJ, if that's alright."

"I'd rather show her in person," replied the purple Unicorn," but if you have to tell anypony, I'd rather be her than anyone else!"

"Duly noted."

Big Mac's stay was only ten minutes long. Soon he was one his way, feeling refreshed... his mind was blown, but that would subside. He had business to attend to, and that's all he could really focus on until he got it done.