Author's Note
So, for those not in the know, the wonderful Egophiliac has recently started up a new "Friendship is Magic" alternate universe on their tumblr dubbed "Accomplished Steampunk Scientist Twilight". The conceit, as implied by the title, is that in this universe, Twilight Sparkle is a human scientist living in a world at a "Steampunk" level of technology, and is the creator of six androids, this universe's answer to the rest of the Mane Six (and a robot dragon, Spike). It's a little universe right now and it's still unfolding in a lot of ways, but it just...struck my fancy so powerfully, and when she did the profile for Applejack, talking about how she's been sort of unofficially "adopted" by this universe's version of the Apple Family, I was so inspired I just had to write something.
You can see Egophiliac's "Accomplished Steampunk Scientist Twilight Sparkle" series on their tumblr here: http://egophiliac.tumblr.com/tagged/accomplished-steampunk-scientist-twilight
A Bushel of Apples
Applejack could not help but grin as she looked over her handiwork. Massive piles of scrap metal, several tons worth of new parts, and a good load of new tools...all loaded successfully into the carriage, ready for transport back to Twilight Sparkle's laboratory. The orange-plated android gave a nod and playfully dusted her hands off as her creator approached, her mechanical dragon Spike trotting alongside her. "Job well done, Applejack," Twilight said, adjusting the goggles on her head a touch, "I'm just going to catalog our haul, make sure we got everything I ordered."
"Gotcha, Doc," the Honesty Unit replied, taking a step back to let the young scientist and Spike come up to the carriage.
A smile appeared on the "dragon"'s face as he overlooked all the pieces inside. "Wow, Applejack," he said, "is there anything you can't lift?"
The android opened her mouth to answer, but Twilight, clip board now in hand, spoke first. "I've actually managed to gauge the Honesty Unit's maximum strength output at somewhere around ten tons, so theoretically there are objects in the world she would be unable to lift if they exceeded that capacity."
Applejack puttered a bit, slouching her stance as she turned a flat stare at her creator. "Uh, yeah...." the android grumbled.
"Feel free to look around the rest of the Apple-iance Store while I take care of this," Twilight said without missing a beat. "This could take a little bit."
Despite herself, Applejack smirked, "tch"ing with a shake of her head. "Sure thing, Doc," she said with a little laugh.
With that, the android placed her hands in her pockets, turning from Twilight and wandering off into the store (even as she could hear her creator's voice saying "check" again and again with increasing excitement). The android let her optical units slowly scan the building as she entered; according to the creator, this was the place for lab supplies, and even after only a handful of visits, the Honesty Unit was inclined to believe it. Looking at its gentle build, the clear care that had been put into every last beam and tile, she could tell it was a place that had been made with care and thought...and love. Applejack's smirk slowly began to turn into a real smile as she continued her slow, aimless little walk, observing the many shelves of parts along the way. It wasn't, perhaps, as fancy or elaborate as Twilight's laboratory, but she could tell...this place was good. This place was special. "That", she thought with a chuckle, "or I just like it 'cuz we share a name."
A loud CRACK from nearby snapped the android out of her reverie, and she immediately swiveled around in the noise's direction: a slightly opened door along the back wall. Applejack quickly jogged over, and she could hear voices on the other side as she drew close. "Consarn it, Big Macintosh, I told ya not t'overdo it! That load's way too much for ya!" one of them said, this one aged and high-pitched.
"S...sorry, Granny," another one spoke, so low and gentle Applejack's auditory sensors could barely pick it up.
The android stepped through the door and saw three humans standing before her. The first was a short, elderly woman garbed in an apple-patterned shawl, a faded green dress with brown smock, and a weathered bonnet on her head ("That must be 'Granny'," Applejack thought). The second was a tall, strapping man in a dark-red short-sleeved shirt ("And that'd make him 'Big Macintosh',"). More striking than his clothes, however, were the visible bolts along his forearms and the bridge of his nose. "Robotic parts...?" Applejack thought, "He must be one 'o' them 'augments' Doc told me about...humans what had a bit 'o' Robot added to 'em to make 'em better...."
As she entered, "Granny" was wrapping her arms around Big Macintosh, who in turn was letting his own arms hug her shoulders. "Darned fool of a boy..." the old woman whispered, "Nearly gave me a right ol' heart attack for a moment...thought you'd gone 'n' hurt yourself...."
"I'm OK, Granny," the young man replied softly.
In front of the man was a large crate, its lid ajar, revealing a healthy helping of new parts inside of it. Next to the crate was the third and final of the humans: a young girl with bright red hair, a tan yellow coat, a lovely pink bow (the android could not help but think the Generosity Unit would just love that touch), and wide golden eyes that were staring right at her. "Uh...howdy there," Applejack said, feeling a tightness in her screws as those eyes refused to waver or blink, "I, uh, didn't mean t'intrude or nothin', but I heard the crate fall 'n'...well..."
The android looked from the girl to the young man, and from the young man to the old woman. All three were looking at her now, but Granny and Big Macintosh remained tight in their embrace, and the young girl had begun tugging at the old woman's skirt with some urgency. "I just...wanted t'make sure everyone was OK," Applejack finally finished, taking her hat off and placing it against her chest.
The old woman finally let her hands leave Big Macintosh, who in turn let his own hands leave her (though he was quick to begin tenderly rubbing his wrist soon after). Her face showed curiosity through its every wrinkle as she continued to gaze at Applejack alongside the young girl (who was still pulling excitedly on her dress). She began to step toward Applejack with delicate little steps, and even as she kept her hat against her chest the android felt more than a touch nervous. Twilight had often told her to approach humans with some caution, as not everyone could be trusted to take well to androids, and it occurred to the Honesty Unit only now that she had failed to give that fact much consideration before acting on her impulse. Yet as the old woman came closer, those wrinkles began to move and soften until they showed a big, warm smile. "Well aint' that just sweet of ya," the old woman said, patting the side of Applejack's arm, "comin' t'help a bunch 'o' folks ya don't even know without a second thought."
The young girl at her side gave one last, hard tug at Granny's dress before the older woman turned to her, still smiling but with a crooked brow, to give her a light smack on the shoulder. "Yes, Apple Bloom, yes," Granny laughed, "I do see her, so why don't ya stop tryin' t'show her t'me 'fore ya tear my clothes clean off?"
Apple Bloom stepped away from Granny then, a little blush on her cheeks as she finally looked away from Applejack to instead turn to the old woman. "Heh...sorry, Granny Smith," she said with a little curtsy, "Guess I got over-excited, but..." She turned her eyes immediately back to Applejack as her voice became hushed and awed, "I ain't never seen nothin' like her before...."
Applejack chuckled awkwardly as she scratched the back of her head. "Heh...don't reckon I've seen a young'un quite like you before either," she said.
She then looked to the crate, still sitting there in front of Big Macintosh, who was still giving his wrists a rub. "Say, I don't mean t'be rude," the android said, "but d'you mind if I took care 'o' that crate for ya? It's...kind of what I'm built for."
Apple Bloom gave a little squeal as she looked to Granny, and Granny gave a sage little "hm" as she looked to Big Macintosh. He then looked to Applejack, gaze perfectly neutral as his lips gently rocked from side to side. Then, eyes closing as he let his hands finally go to his side, he said a simple, clear, "Eeyup."
With that, Applejack stepped toward the crate. "Thank ya kindly," she said before slipping one hand under it and lifting the whole thing up in a single, clean motion. "Now where d'you need me t'put it, m'am?" she asked, holding it over her shoulder as if it were nothing.
Granny Smith shook her head with a low little laugh. "Follow me, dear, I'll show ya."
She slowly began to lead the way, and as Applejack followed her, Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom followed Applejack, the young man with a subtle smile, the other with her eyes and mouth wide as could be....
Before long, they had made their way to the stock room in the back of the building, and Applejack had safely deposited the crate in its new resting place. "Well, there ya go!" the android said, dusting her hands a bit as she stepped away. "Anything else I can help ya with?"
"You've done more'n enough already, deary," Granny Smith replied, patting her on the back.
"Eeyup," Big Macintosh replied, still wearing that same little grin as he extended his hand toward Applejack.
With a "heh" and a grin, Applejack took the young man's hand and shook it firmly. "Now you listen t'your Granny from now on, OK?" she said with a friendly tone, "Don't want ya overworkin' your arms again, right?"
Even as he rolled his eyes, Big Macintosh gave a nod. "Good," Applejack said, letting go of him. "Well, I'd best be...."
The android took a step toward the door back into the store when she found her path blocked by Apple Bloom, whose face remained exactly the same as it had been before: eyes big and gleaming, mouth stuck in a big, open smile. Applejack raised a brow at her, stepping to her side...only for the child to side-step right along with her. The android tried again, and again Apple Bloom copied her to remain in her path. "Eh heh...look, little lady," Applejack said, kneeling down so that she and Apple Bloom were at eye level, "I gotta get back t'my friend, so if ya don't mind...."
"You" Apple Bloom suddenly piped up. "Were. AWESOME."
Before Applejack could even respond, she found herself wrapped in a hug far stronger and tighter than she would have expected from any human, let alone one so young. It felt...nice. Really nice. So nice, the Honesty Unit couldn't help but return the gesture with a hug of her own, though she was careful to keep her strength well in check. "Well thank ya kindly, m'am," she said softly, "It...it actually means a lot t'hear ya say that."
"'M'am'?" Apple Bloom giggled, still holding the android but loosening her grip a bit, "I'm barely a 'miss'. You can call me Apple Bloom, if'n you'd like."
"I'd like that quite a lot, actually," the android said. "And you can call me Applejack. Sound good?"
Apple Bloom nodded eagerly. Neither she nor Applejack moved to let go of their hug, however. Eventually, though, Granny Smith gave a firm cough. "That's very sweet 'n' all," the old woman said, "but I seem t'recall a friend this fine young lady needed t'get back to...?"
"Oh!" Applejack squeaked, finally letting go of the young girl and standing up as Apple Bloom did the same. "Heh...right."
She looked to Apple Bloom, then to Big Macintosh, then to Granny Smith, and felt her bolts tingle just a bit with each one. "It was...it was a right pleasure, gettin' t'meet all y'all," she said, doffing her hat to each, one after the other. "Thank ya kindly for bein' such pleasant company."
"Same t'you, Ms. Applejack," Granny Smith replied, "Don't be a stranger now, y'hear? Feel free t'come back t'our li'l shop any time y'feel like it."
Big Macintosh gave the android a little wave and an "Eeyup", while Apple Bloom was practically bouncing in place, nodding again and again. "Come back real soon, OK?" she squeaked.
Applejack waved back to all of them. "I promise I will," she said, "And that? Is the honest truth."
"...and check."
With one last flick of the wrist, Twilight Sparkle brought her list to its finish. "Spike," she said, eyes still fixed on the back of the carriage, "could you go find Applejack and tell her we're ready to head back to the lab?"
"Won't be necessary, Doc," a familiar voice spoke, "I'm right here."
"Hey, Applejack!" Spike said, "Have a good time at the shop?"
The android grinned, giving the clockwork dragon a wink. "Sure did, Spike," she said. "Sure did."
The three made their way to the front of the carriage, where a trio of iron-plated horses waited. Spike eagerly hopped into the front seat, with Twilight taking up the reins not far behind him. "Hey, Doc?" Applejack said, following Twilight into the front.
"Mm?" Twilight muttered absently, giving the reins a good slap that gave her "horses" the signal to begin their journey, steam pouring out of their joints as they activated.
"Twilight," Applejack said, more firmly this time.
Even as the carriage began to move, the young scientist looked to her Honesty Unit with a more attentive "yes?" this time; it was rare for Applejack to address her by her first name, and she knew by now when it happened, it meant the android had something important...something special...to say.
The android removed her hat, putting it in her lap and making sure to look Twilight square in the eye as she said, "Any time you visit this place again...even if you don't need no liftin' done or anything like that..."
She smiled ("Bashfully, if I didn't know any better," Twilight thought), lowering her head a bit. "...just...please let me come with ya. Please?"
One hand stayed on the reins, but the other came to Twilight's chin, rubbing it a bit as the scientist raised a brow at her creation. Eventually, though, she smiled. "Certainly," she replied.
"Thanks, Twilight," Applejack said warmly.
She then turned to look back at the Apple-iance store as it grew smaller and smaller behind them. "See y'all soon," she thought, the image of an old Granny, her helpful Big Macintosh, and her little Apple Bloom all crystal clear inside her programming.
END
