Apples, Cherries, and Plums
On a day like any other the sun rose to brighten the sky and let ponies know a new day had come. The first of the ponies to awake was the well known intellectual of the town and student to Princess Celestia herself, Twilight Sparkle. She flung open the door of her library and stepped out into the morning air. A cool morning breeze passes through her mane, it waving in the wind.
“After a long night of studying, this is just what the doctor ordered.”
She went back inside to fetch her belongings; Spike was asleep so she did this herself. She filled her saddle bag with parchment, some ink, and three quills, for those impromptu letters to her teacher. Closing the bag she made her way to the main streets of Ponyville to acquire supplies that she would need for tasks this week and food so she can snack while performing an all night study session.
Two hours had passed as she waved goodbye to Golden Harvest. Getting carrots was the last thing on her list of errands to run. On her back to her library she ran into one of her friends, Applejack. She had a large sack on her back as she walked by.
“Hey Applejack.”
“Well howdy there Twi, nice to see you.”
She responded with her large friendly grin she always has.
“Nice to see you too. Need any help with that?”
“Naw I got this, it’s only laundry anyways.
“Laundry? I didn’t know you had more clothes that your hat and your gala dress.”
“Yeah, it’s not much but it needs to be washed so I’m taking it to Rarity’s so she can clean it.
“Mind if I ask what exactly is in there?”
“How’s about I shows you what’s in it”
She throws the sack on the ground and opens it. Inside was the outfit Applejack wore while at Cherry Jubilee’s orchard. Looking closer in the bag Twilight then saw something unfamiliar to her. it was an outfit she had never seen Applejack wear before.
“Hey Applejack?”
“Yes?”
“What’s this one”
“Oh that one, well um...”
She paused and looked like she was having a hard time forming what she wanted to say.
“It has a story.”
Twilight, now confused as to what she meant.
“It has a story?”
“Uh yeah...”
She stood there for a few seconds before she let out a sigh and spoke up again.
“I got it while I spent that week in Dodge junction.”
“Did she make you wear that while you worked?”
“No...”
She looked down, Twilight could tell she was hiding something.
“Ya’ll never asked what happened while I was there so I never felt the need to tell, now I’m wishing I had told.”
“Did she make you do anything bad?
“Course not, just...”
Applejack looked around before turning to Twilight and speaking again.
“I feel that I should tell you what ya’ll missed while I was gone, I’ll come to the library after I get these washed.”
“What will you say if Rarity asks about it?”
“I was gonna tell her it belongs to a relative of mine at Appleoosa.”
Twilight nodded in response.
An hour had passed since their meeting in Ponyville, Twilight had sent Spike on an errand to Canterlot to keep him occupied. Twilight let out a sigh thinking that the preparations she had made were in vain till she heard a knocking on her door.
“Come in, it’s open.”
In walked her friend Applejack. Twilight addressed her when she came in
“You ready to talk or do you need a minute?”
“I think I’m ready.”
Apples, Cherries, and Plums
It was just another normal day at Dodge Junction when I arrived, all the Ponies were going about their business and doing their daily routines. It was a well oiled machine that town. The clock always rang on time and ponies always got what they needed. They worked diligently to get tasks at hoof done when they had to be and carts were always mindful of the train.
“Ding Dong, Ding Dong!”
The clock tower chimed to signal the end of the work day. The final train of the day also pulled in at that time. The last train of the day never carries many passengers, but, that train was carrying a special passenger, me. I had never been to Dodge Junction before in my life. I looked over the town real quick to learn my surroundings. It reminded me of Appleoosa, while a smaller version of it, it felt homey. Before I could start making my way anywhere though I was approached and greeted by somepony.
“Howdy, I don’t reckon I’ve seen ya before so I’m guessing y’all ain’t from around these parts?”
“You guess correctly sir.”
“No need to be so formal miss and welcome to Dodge Junction!”
“Why thank ya kindly, my names Applejack.”
“How silly of me to forget, I’m Wagon Wheel.”
He turned to show his cutie mark which matched his name. It was a wagon wheel, plain and simple but straightforward.
“I’m the town greeter and I provide transportation too. Not to toot my own horn but I have the most reliable and efficient wagon service in the whole town.”
I needed a ride, so I told him.
“It just so happens I am in need of a wagon service, are you on the job?”
“For a newcomer, of course I am. Where ya headed?”
“Would ya happen to know where Miss Cherry Jubilee’s orchard is?”
“Sorry to say but no one’s there, this time of day everypony’s home.”
That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“Oh, well then I-”
“But, I ca take you to her estate. it’s not too far off from the orchard.”
“Thank you very much Wagon Wheel, I’d much appreciate if you could.”
“Can do Applejack, my wagon’s over here behind the saloon. Just give me a few to set up.”
I followed him over to the saloon and behind it, like he said, was a plain but sturdy looking wagon. Wagon Wheel hooked himself up to the front of it. He gave me one of the cheesiest voices and smiles I had ever heard when he said
“Your chariot awaits.”
That there made me roll my eyes at him, however, I walked towards the wagon, I jumped in and he started off in the direction of the sunset. As we rode he tried to strike up conversation.
“So Cherry Jubilee brought here did she?”
“Yeah, she did...”
I started to trail off and I was a bit down when I said it, what with my real reasons being quite the burden. He must’ve been put off because he immediately tried to brighten the mood.
“Well that’s good, a new face is just what they need over there at the orchard. Why you’d like the ponies there, they’re nice and kind, but hard working folk.”
I smiled at the thought of him trying to cheer me up, a nice pony helped brighten up my day.
“That sounds nice.”
“No really, you’ll like it and I think you’ll fit in just fine. By the way, we’re here!”
I looked up and we did arrive. Before me was a large gate with two bright red cherries that blocked me from going any further. The house itself looked far away and out of reach. While I was staring at the gate and beyond, Wagon Wheel had unloaded my bag from the wagon and gave it to me.
“It would appear that I would have fulfilled in my duty of bringing you to Miss Jubilee’s estate.”
He said this while trying to look as professional as possible. I couldn’t stop myself from letting one chuckle out. Less than pleased he resumed speaking with his cheery disposition.
“Do ya have all your things Applejack?”
“Ah think I do.”
I adjusted my saddlebag as I said this.
“Well I'm glad I could be of assistance.”
He turned and began on his way but before he got too far the turned around again to shout to me
“You cheer up okay?! I’ll be back to check up on you!”
I smiled when I heard him say that, I didn’t feel the need to respond though. It was comforting to know that there was someone lookin out for me.
I turned to face the gates and stood in awe. The sheer size and magnitude of those gates made me nervous. I finally found the buzzer, not to mention some courage, and pressed it. I stood there for a few staring at the gates until they finally opened. I was hesitant at first but I walked in. The gates slowly closed behind me. This didn’t help ease the tension but it didn’t stop me. I started makin my way up the hill before me and towards the house. Even from that far away it seemed perty large, it actually looked more like a mansion than a house when I thought about it. As I kept walking the road felt like it was expanding, I know I was makin progress because the gate kept getting further from me. The house looked no closer though. I didn’t know how long I was walking for, it probably was only for a few minutes but at that moment time might as well have stopped. Regardless of what I thought the path did eventually get me to the house. As I started to approach it I saw somepony waiting at the door, wavin to me. When I started to get even closer I saw that that “somepony” was Miss Cherry Jubilee. I upped my pace to keep her from waiting. I tuckered myself out a tad trying to get to her faster.
“Hello there Miss Jubilee, sorry to bother you at your house like this but by the time I arrived your orchard was closed, so I figured coming here would be the smart thing to do.”
She smiled at me
“Oh you're not bothering me, and coming here was a smart idea, infact I was hoping you would.”
“Ya were?”
“Yes I did. I had closed the orchard a little earlier than usual so I could talk to you one on one.”
I was quite confused at the time when she told me that, must’ve made a face too because she noticed I was confused.
“I might’ve expected you not to understand why, here, we’ll talk more inside.”
She turned and led me into the mansion. Once we entered I looked at what was one of the most extravagant rooms I’d ever seen, right up there with Canterlot castle. You should’ve seen it Twi’ right in the middle of the ceiling was a crystal chandelier, twice the size of you or me. The floor was white and black tile, in the dead center was a large black diamond shape with a big ol’ cherry in the middle. At the back of the room was two arching sets of stairs leading to the upper floor that looked over the room. Behind me, right above the door, the most interesting thing in the room. It was a huge picture of a stallion, he had a periwinkle coat with a moustache of a lighter shade. Oh and he had deep violet eyes too. All this and a small comforting smile to go with it. Err sorry bout that, he was rather good looking. Kinda awkward when you hear what she told me next.
“My late husband.”
See?
“Sorry fer your loss.”
“Oh don’t be sorry he was a good pony and took advantage of all opportunities, he made sure to grab life by the horns and wrestle it to the ground!”
She cleared her throat after that interesting display.
“Ya know what the best part was? He loved me to death, quite literally, even in his last moments he couldn’t help but tell me how much I meant to him.”
She kept silent for a few seconds before she went on.
“When he did pass, he was kind enough to leave me his whole fortune. His family, well, didn’t like me having any part of the will and wanted all the bits for themselves, but when he died before they could do anything about it their plan fell the pieces.”
Now you’re thinking the same thing I was at the time and that was, why is she telling me this? So I asked to find out.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
She told me with a smile.
“Because I want you to know everypony has their hardships and while I may not look bright, a pony like you doesn’t just pick up sticks and move out for no reason.”
She saw right through me. I was embarrassed, I looked away in shame.
“But, I will not ask you why you made that decision you did and I’m not one to pry in business that isn’t mine.”
That really cheered me up, somepony out there knew how I felt and understood it. I looked back at her and she gave a smile, just like her husbands.
“Now about you working at the orchard...”
We talked about the orchard and about my living arrangements for a few hours. I was to be living in the same building as the other workers. It had a bed, served four square meals, and was walking distance from the orchard. It sounded pretty nice. After we finished talking I went to the place where I was told I’d be staying. It was late so everypony was asleep and all the lights were off. I snuck up to my room just to make sure I didn’t wake nopony up. Soon as I got into my room I just dropped my stuff and fell on my bed. I was more tired than a wonderbolt after a race cross Equestria. I don’t even remember falling asleep I was that tired, but I will say that it was a tired well met. I had a long train ride and a lot on my mind. My first day in Dodge junction, short, but I feel that I got the ball rolling with something. I just didn’t know what yet.
