An Apple in a Bushel of Peaches

Chapter 2 - ‘Moonlit meeting’’

An Applejack in the Vogonverse Story

Ah let out a soft groan as Ah stood up and stretched ma back. The last week and a half had been busy, and both Mac and Ah had to replace some of the flooring up in the loft of the barn. Ah looked at the bushels of peaches we had ready ta go, and I saw something else. Jessica was carrying somethin’ in a five gallon bucket, and she stopped out near where I was. She gave me a grin and put the bucket down.

“I did a little talking with Margret and Frank. They had stopped by one of the nurseries that supplies Rider Farms, and they found a bunch of apple trees ready to be sold to some of the corporate and private farms. I thought that you and Mac might want to plant this, and let it grow into a big strong apple tree,” she said.

Ah walked forward and looked at the little thing. It was an apple tree, Ah could see that, but it was a ways away from producing any fruit. Ah smiled at her and nodded.

“Thank ya,” Ah said.

Ah walked over to her and gave her a hug. Ah’ll admit that Ah got a little misty over the gift. What with it being so sweet and all. The little sapling had the potential to grow into a strong tree. Why Ah figured it could get as big as Bloomberg, and that’s when it hit me. Ah walked back over to the sapling, and Ah stroked its trunk for a moment.

“Welcome home Harmony,” Ah said.

Ah picked the bucket up, and Ah walked with Jessica out into the orchard. Ah could see a place where there was a nice empty spot. It looked plumb big enough fer two trees, and Ah thought that maybe later we could git another apple tree. Jessica and Ah walked back toward the barn and Ah saw Big Mac coming back from making his latest delivery. He walked toward us, and then Ah watched as he gathered Jessica up in his arms and the two of them kissed somethin’ fierce.

He put her down and then looked over at me.

“Finished delivering the peaches?” Ah asked.

“Eeeeyup,” he replied.

“Did they like the homemade peach pie and fritters?” Jessica asked.

“Eeeyup. They actually had a few customers ask about the fritters and pie. They asked if we’d be willing ta make and sell them some of the pies and fritters,” he asked.

“Big Mac, it’d be like back home,” Ah said.

“Eeeeyup,” he replied.

“I don’t mind to do it, but what’s the order they want filled?” Jessica asked.

“A dozen pies, and about three dozen fritters is what they want to start off with,” he said.

Ah smiled at the thought of being able to sell some baked goods again. Ah wanted to make them Apple Family baked goods, and a thought hit me. Ah was. Anything we make was still Apple Family goods. Sure, we were gonna use peaches instead of apples, but it was still made by us Apples. Granny Smith once said that what made ever’thing we made so good was that it was made with love.

Ah knew she was right too. The Pies that Jessica and Big Macintosh made fer us tasted mighty good, and they did because the both of them put the love they had into makin’ ‘em. We walked back toward the house and talked about how we wanted to store the pies that we was gonna take with us. Ah could hear Apple Bloom up on the porch, and Ah looked to see her with a card in an envelope in her hands. Ah walked up to her.

“What’s ya got ‘Bloom?” Ah asked.

“Ah dun know. It’s from Pinkie Pie though,” she said.

Ah looked at it and noticed that it was made out ta me, ‘Bloom, Big Mac, and Jessica.

“Ah didn’t know that Pinkie knew we was even here,” Ah said.

“Ah didn’t either,” Apple bloom replied.

Ah opened the envelope and pulled out a white looking card with balloons for the border. Ah opened the card and suddenly I heard Pinkie Pie’s voice. Once her song ended there was a slight pause before Ah heard her voice again.

“Applejack! Hi! How ya doing Cousin?! Oooo… the little red light’s blinking, Andy, what’s that mean?”

“It means you’ve got about six minutes left,” another voice said.

“Awwww… I wanted to sing another song for them! Well phooey! Can I sing another song anyway?”

“Sure, but if you want to invite them you might want to work it in there,”

“Okie Dokie, Lokie! It’s a nice day for a white wedding!” Pinkie’s voice snorted.

“You really want to sing Billy Idol to them?”

“Applejack, I wanted to invite you, Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh, and Jessica to my wedding. Andy and I are going to be getting married, and I really want to see you there. Please? Pretty Please with sugar and cupcakes and chocolate and frosting… sweet creamy, creamy frosting.. and a bunch of other really good stuff please come?”

“How am Ah supposed to tell her yes?” Ah asked.

“She said yes!” Pinkie’s voice shouted.

“Pinkie, how do you know? We’re still recording this,” Andy asked.

“I just got a feeling. We’ll see you here! Andy’s gonna to arrange for train tickets for you. Oh, if you have a special somepony that you meet before you come out just call and let us know. We’ll make arrangements for them to come too!”

There was a small click and Ah watched the card light up fer a second. When it finished there was some writing on the card.

You are Cordially Invited to the wedding between

Andrew Franklin Williams

and

Pinkamena Diane Pie

The nuptials shall take place in one Month on October the second, 2054 at two pm. The wedding and reception shall be held at Anderson’s Funland Arcade. Gift Regestry on Amazon.com.

“Pinkie’s gonna marry that nice fella huh?” Mac asked.

“Ah… Ah guess so,” Ah said.

“How’d she even know ya said yes sis?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s Pinkie being Pinkie,” Ah answered.

We walked inside and Ah looked at the invitation again ‘fore handing it off to Jessica. She looked it over and smiled.

“When we go to town next week we should take a look at the clothing stores. It wouldn’t hurt to get something special to wear to the wedding,” she said.

Ah nodded, and Ah knew she was right. We could use somethin’ nice to wear to the wedding. Ah walked into the kitchen, and once in there Ah helped fix supper with ma family. We finally took a seat, and Ah was about to eat when I heard a voice off in the distance. Big Mac stood up, and Ah did the same. The two of us nodded to each other.

“Ya’ll stay in here,” Ah said to ‘Bloom and Jessica.

We walked out and Mac headed out toward the back side of the orchard, and Ah headed toward the barn. Ah walked in and saw the fella that tried ta burn the barn down. Ah started rushing toward him until I noticed he wasn’t trying to burn anything down. Instead he t’was holding a bottle.

“Told ‘em it wasn’t worth it,” he said facing away from me.

“What are you talking about?” Ah asked.

“I told them that this farm wasn’t worth the trouble they were trying to take in scaring you off. That it was going to take something more than just playing with fire. I won’t do what they wanted me to do next. I can’t. A man’s gotta draw a line somewhere,” he replied.

Ah walked closer and noticed that his breath stunk like whiskey.

“They wanted me to wait until either you, or the little one, or that other woman that’s involved with the big fella was alone. I can’t do it. I’ll do damned near anything to stay outta the stacks, but I won’t be turned into monster like that. Fuck ‘em,” he said.

Ah watched as he took another swig of his bottle and held it out to me.

“What did they want ya ta do?” Ah asked.

He laughed a bitter sounding laugh and shook his head.

“They said I should rape one of you. Maybe even kill ya afterward. They’ve got the DA for this area in their pocket, so it wouldn’t matter. Thing is it matters to me. I’m a fighter, a scraper, fuck a fucking Bruiser if you want to call a spade a spade. But I’m not a fuckin’ rapist piece of shit. The other fella was though,” he said.

Ah watched him stand and walk. There was a wet spot on the front of his shirt. Something that was making it cling to him.

“He… He followed ya out into the orchard. I couldn’t let him do it. I just couldn’t. Yer a fighter. Yer like me in that way. We fight, we know how to fight, and there’s some honor in that, but what that bastard was gonna do… I couldn’t let him,” he slurred before he stumbled.

Ah watched him fall to his knees, and Ah rushed forward to him. Ah put my arms around his waist and Ah felt the sticky and slickness there. Ah raised my hands and saw blood.

“He got me too. Fucker was carrying a knife… I think he wanted to slit yer throat. I didn’t let him. I fucked him up really good… Left him beside their wall… They know I did it… Guess I don’t have a job no more,” he muttered.

Ah helped him toward the farmhouse. Ah couldn’t let him bleed out like this. Not if what he was saying was true. We made it into the house and Ah heard ‘Bloom shouting.

“‘Bloom! Get something to help stop the bleeding!” Ah shouted.

“I’ve got a first aid kit, and a basic instruction program for wounds. It should give us a walk through on what to do,” Jessica said as she ran upstairs.

“Anyone ever tell you that yer mighty purty?” he mumbled.

“Jest keep talking. Don’t go ta sleep on me now,” Ah said.

“Sleep sounds good,” he muttered.

“Ain’t no sleeping on ma watch! Ya got a lot of work ta to ta make up for trying to burn down our barn, and Ah aim to make ya hold up to it! So no sleeping!” Ah shouted.

Jessica got back and opened up the lid of the first aid kit. A sort of smokey mirror started to light up and some critter wearing a doctor’s clothes appeared.

“Hello, this is a Johnson & Johnson First Aid Kit! This kit is able to handle simple to mildly complex situations. What seems to be the situation?” the critter asked.

“He’s been stabbed!” Ah shouted.

“Ah, a stabbing, well then you need to remove the following items from this kit. Needle, forceps, suture thread, local anesthesia, and of course the alcohol. Begin with cleaning the wound. Check to see if there is any foreign particles in the wound, and if there are remove them using the forceps,” the critter said.

“Ah ain’t even got his shirt off yet!” Ah yelled.

“Oh my, well my dear time is of the most importance. I suggest that you cut or otherwise remove his shirt, and then we proceed,” the critter said.

Ah grabbed his shirt, pulled hard and heard the fabric ripping. Once it was off Ah cleaned the gash he had. It was bleein’ something fierce, and Ah hoped this kit’s critter would help me stop it.

“What now?” Ah asked.

“Check to see if there is anything foreign,” the critter said.

Ah looked, but Ah didn’t see a thing sticking out.

“Looks clear,” Ah said.

“Very good. Thread the needle. Be sure to re-sterilize it with alcohol, and begin sewing him up,” it said.

“What about the bleeding?” Ah asked.

“If he has lost quite a bit of blood a trip to your local hospital may be advised. This kit does not contain a reserve of plasma,” the critter said.

Ah went to work sewing him up. Ah kept the loops small, trying to make sure it would pull everything tight. Part of me wished that Ah had paid more attention to Rarity when she was a sewing dresses. Maybe Ah would’ve learned something.

“Will he keep bleeding?” Jessica asked.

“If the muscle and skin has been sewn together properly he should stop bleeding, but I would suggest a trip to a hospital as soon as possible,” the critter said.

“Whiskey,” he groaned.

Ah looked at him and then at the bottle.

“Ah know that only makes ya bleed worse,” Ah said.

He groaned a little and quieted down.

“What should we do?” Ah asked.

“Want to take him to the hospital? The closest one that isn’t working for the Corporate Farm is a good hour away,” Jessica said.

“No, you stitched me up fine. This isn’t the first time I’ve had this happen,” he said through gritted teeth, “Still tired though.”

“Yer not going ta sleep!” Ah shouted at him.

Author's Note

(And our cast has grown a little. I wanted to add this in, and I’ve been planning on making our Bruiser part of the main cast for a little while. Even though he worked for that Corporate Farm I liked the idea of him having a sort of code of honor. What they wanted him to do violated that code.

And Pinkie Pie is getting married! The fun has been doubled!!!

Thanks for reading and commenting.

LF)