It was a warm summer day, as Applejack worked hard in the field. She gave a tree a swift buck, causing all the apples to fall down neatly into the baskets below. After accomplishing her task, she gave a sigh as she lied against the tree and admired the orchard before her. Yes today would be a nice relaxing....
“Surprise!" A certain pink pony shouted from the tree tops.
Applejack quickly jumped back, ready to attack, before realizing who it was. “Darn it Pinkie, you almost gave me a heart attack! Didn't we tell you to stop appearing randomly in front of our faces?”
“Aww but it's so fun,” she said with a gentle hop to the ground.
“Right, well I've got some chores to finish so....”
“Wait a minute!” Pinkie interjected.
Applejack turned around to see her looking at her expectantly, like she was hiding something.
“Soooo...” Pinkie dragged out.
“So what?”
“So why didn't you tell me!?!” Pinkie squealed with a leap into the air, and some flaring of her arms.
Applejack silently questioned how she was able to do that without any wings, maybe some weird kind of passive magic.....or just Pinkie being Pinkie.
“Oh um, beg pardon?” She said shaking herself out of her internal thoughts.
“I said why didn't you tell me!?!”
“About what?”
“About this!” Pinkie said pulling an apple shaped box out of seemingly no where, “the most amazing game ever!”
“Huh?” AJ questioned, utterly confused by what Pinkie was even asking.
“Huh?!, Why are you huh-ing, you made a game and you didn't tell me or any of our friends about it! How could you!?!” Pinkie shouted as she suddenly appeared upside down in front of AJ.
“Pinkie, I never made no game, why would you think that?”
“But it's all about apples, it had to be you!”
“Let me see that,” Applejack said as she swiftly took the box from Pinkie's hooves.
"Equestrian Apples to Apples, The game of hilarious comparisons, Equestrian version.” Curious she turned it over to read more on the back
“See you made a game!”
“Pinkie I didn't make this, just because it's related to apples doesn't mean it's from me.”
“But....you're Applejack,” Pinkie sputtered out, trying to comprehend the idea.
The farm pony shock her head and laughed. It wasn't even worth trying to explain to Pinkie. “I didn't make it Pinkie, but I will say it does look like a mighty fun game to play. I'm guessing you bought it?”
“Ya huh, as soon as I saw it, I had to buy it! Any game made by Applejack has to be a good one!......But it wasn't from you.....” She finished, putting her hoof to her chin in apparent deep thought.
“Hmm, well you bought it, might as well play it. Why don't you gather the troupes and bring them back here to the barn!” The Earth pony said with a smile.
“”gasp” This is going to be so much fun!” Pinkie shrieked before running off as quickly as possible.
Later that day.
“So why are we doing this again?” Rainbow complained to Twilight as they headed towards the barn.
“Beats me. Pinkie just popped out from the bookcase, said to head to Applejack's farm as soon as possible for the most amazing fun ever, and then left." Twilight paused, thinking of all the possible things the pink tornado they called Pinkie could come up with. "Knowing her I'm sure it will be something interesting.” Twilight smirked
“Ya you got that right.” Rainbow agreed as they approached the door. Rainbow gave it several loud, impatient knocks before it finally opened, revealing none other then Pinkie Pie.
“Oh hey you're here, come on in!” She shouted excitedly, before bouncing off to look out the window for their last guest.
“So Rares, do you know anything about this?” Rainbow questioned as she took a seat next to Rarity.
“Well Pinkie said it was some kind of game she wanted us to play, I think it's a card game?” Rarity announced with a smile before having a sip of the tea she brought.
“A card game!? Gah, that's going to be so borrring.” Rainbow protested, emphasizing her point by dragging her hooves over her eyes.
“Actually you might be surprised RD” Applejack teased as she sat beside Rainbow.
“Pff, I'll believe it when I see it!”
“Well whatever it is, I'm sure it will be interesting.” Twilight added, finding her spot beside Applejack.
All the ponies nodded in agreement.
“Gasp” I see Flutters, I see her!!” Pinkie shouted, before rushing out the door. A few moments later both ponies came walking through the door side by side. Pinkie quickly sat down beside Twilight, with Fluttershy then sitting next to her. “Alright, let's get this party started! How do you play Applejack!?”
“Pinkie I already told you, I've never heard anything about this game before.”
“Oh heh, right,.... I forgot that,” Pinkie said ducking down a bit. “So does anyone know how to play?”
Twilight gave a quick “Are you serious look?” “Ahem, the directions are...” Twilight began as she held up the directions pamphlet.
“ Each pony gets 5 red cards, these cards each contain a noun. One pony then receives a green card, this card is an adjective. The pony with the green card will announce what it says. Then the other five pick the card they think will fit the green card most. The pony who has the green card will look at these and decide a winner. That winner will get one point, represented by these cardboard apples. First to ten wins! Everypony understand?”
“Certainly.”
“Got it!”
“Sounds easy enough.”
“Easy as a superrific fun pie!
“Um......I think.”
“Don't worry Fluttershy, It should start making a little more sense once we start,” Twilight reassured.
“Okay.”
“Alright so everypony pick five cards from the red deck.”
Each pony picked out exactly five cards from the deck and looked over them carefully.
“Hmm, well these are nice,” Rarity commented
“Ha, mine are probably more awesome! Look at these, they're perfe.....Wait a minute. No! There is no way I got that card!!” Rainbow shouted, glaring angrily at the card. “Twilight can I switch out my card, it's ridiculous!”
“No, the ones you pick are the ones you get, those are the rules,” Twilight reprimanded.
Rainbow crossed her arms in annoyance, before peeking over at the Earth pony beside her. “Hey what cards did you get AJ?”
“Some decent ones it looks like, I bet this one will work well with Twi.” AJ said holding back a bit of laughter. Rainbow couldn't help but do the same.
“Hey, you can't show others your cards!” Twilight quickly intervened.
“Oh uh, I didn't see anything,” Rainbow blurted out.
Twilight rolled her eyes at this, still Rainbow was probably a better liar then herself.
“Why not?” Applejack questioned.
“Because if the green card holder knew who's card was who, it might influence their decision! We must remain completely impartial.”
“Alright that seems fair,” AJ agreed.
“Aw so that means I can't show my cards to Flutters?” Pinkie whined.
“Um no Pinkie, you can't.” Twilight said taking a second to processes the new nickname.
Pinkie sat a minute in thought. “Can I at least ask her if her cards are good!” She asked.
“Uh....I guess, there's nothing against it,” The unicorn said as she wafted through the pamphlet.
“Yay! So are yours good,” Pinkie whispered.
“Oh um......I don't know.....a few are nice, but the rest are kinda scary.”
“Oh, well you'll have perfect cards if they have a scary card then! Hey what do you think Rainbow's cards are?” Pinkie asked.
"Um...maybe..."
“Alright so Everypony's got their cards." Twilight began announcing.
Fluttershy let out a startled squeak, before quickly hiding behind Pinkie.
"Now we just need to find out who will be first as the green card holder,” Twilight finished.
Rainbow shot her hoof into the air. “Oh I'll do it!”
“And why exactly should you?” Rarity criticized.
“Well duh, because I'm awesome!”
“Rainbow, we can't just pick you for that! Here, lets just start at this end.” Twilight said, handing over the first green card to Rarity.
Rarity stared at the card long and hard, with a certain disgust on her face.
“So what is it!” Pinkie nearly shouted, barley containing her excitement any longer.
“Um ahem, it says uh......Shaggy, synonyms Bushy or Stringy.” She said as she quickly put the card down and pushed it away, as if it itself was what it described.
“Bwahaha, oh that is perfect!” Rainbow said, falling over in laughter.
“Rainbow!” Twilight snapped, glancing a death stare at her.
“Ahem, well that is an interesting card to start with for sure.” Rarity said swiftly, “I suppose you all give me your cards now then?”
To be continued....
