A Spiked Life

Chapter 13 - A Silly Pony?
by LightningStrike34

Spike's Perspective
"Applejack?" I blurted out, shocked at who was looking back at me

"Uh, yes?" she cringed and looked over to Twilight, noting my eye, "Uhm, should ah even ask, Twi?"

Twilight huffed, "It's a long story, Applejack. We're just here to get a few apples and then we'll be out of your hair."

"Well alright then," Applejack replied. "We just started growing a new crop of Red Gala Trees back home in the Acres, care to buy some?"

She waved her foreleg over to her Apple Cart as she pointed to the selection of apples I assumed were Red Galas as Twilight spoke up, "That would be great, thank you Applejack."

Applejack lightly blushed, "Ah shucks, Twi. Ah'm just doing mah job, ain't nothing of it."

I spoke up, "Well, your job is important right? Where would all the ponies buy their apples if not from you?"

Applejack pondered, "My brother for one thang, I wouldn't think of sending mah granny out inta town unsupervised."

Twilight spoke up, "Well, what about your mother and father? Aren't they helping out to?"

Applejack had a sullen look before sighing deeply, "If... If only I were able to. Sadly... they're not here anymore."

My heart ached while Twilight spoke teary-eyed, "I'm- I'm so so sorry, I- I didn't know I-"

Applejack sighed, "No, it's mah fault for bringing it up. Ah'm sorry for bringing this into my workplace." She snorted before resuming her previous demeanor, "Anyways, here you go." Applejack held out three apples in her hoof as Twilight levitated them over in her magic, "That'll be three bits."

"Oh, um hold on a second," Twilight spoke as her horn lit up, pulling out three gold coins from thin air as she levitated them over to Applejack. "And that should be it."

Witnessing that brief display in front of my eyes, I spoke up, "Umm... What was that?"

Twilight asked befuddled, "What was what?"

I responded, "Uhh, you pulling coins magically out of thin air?"

Twilight and Applejack had confused expressions as Twilight spoke up, "You mean the Hammerspace Pocket? It's a fairly intermediate unicorn-level spell to learn Spike, it's not that complex."

"Hammerspace? Is that some kind of Pocket Dimension?"

Twilight is about to respond until Applejack puts a hoof on Twilight's shoulder before speaking, "Uhh, Ah don't mean ta interrupt but," 'But you're going to do it anyways. sigh.' Shouldn't he already be aware of this?"

"Uhm, a-about that uh-" was all I said before Twilight spoke up.

"He is... having memory problems, Applejack."

Applejack had a sceptical look, "How so?"

Twilight opened her mouth as I spoke up, "Oh gee, I dunno. What do you think blunt force trauma straight to the head does to somepony?"

Applejack looked ready to sock me as Twilight walked in front of me, "Sorry about him, he's had a pretty rough morning today."

Applejack poked out her head to look at me while I smiled sheepishly, "Ah can see that," I walked around to see Applejack looking back at Twilight, "Still. Don' make it right ta act like a might blowhard."

Twilight spoke up, "Don't worry AJ, I'll straighten him out."

"Uhh, I can hear you, ya kno-"

"HEY! Quit holdin' up the line." A gruff masculine voice spoke from behind us, "Some of us have places to be!"

Twilight and I spoke in unison as we backed away, "Sorry!"

As a well-built stallion walks over and pick up an apple, Twilight speaks over his shoulder, "We can talk later." Twilight then pocketed the apples as we headed on our way.

~13~

While we were walking away from the Apple Cart, I spoke up asking, "Ok, what's next on the agenda?"

Twilight responded, "Next should be the Banana stand, we passed by it not that long ago and if I'm right should be cheaper than the one's in Canterlot."

"And how much are they in Canterlot?"

"I think they were about 9 bits per bunch, I don't exactly remember." Twilight sheepishly grinned

"Bits?"

Twilight spoke up, "You saw me give some to Applejack, remember?"

"You mean those gold plated coins?" I asked

Twilight responded, "Not plated, but yes. Those are bits."

I spoke up, "You mean to tell me you use pure gold for coins? Why?"

"It's not Pure Gold, Spike it's-" Before Twilight could finish speaking, we had made our trek over to the Banana Stand as the aforementioned unicorn spoke up, "Hello there hun, I'm Banana Split. What can I do for ya?"

'I can't help but begin to notice a pattern here.' I thought chucking.

The blue and yellow unicorn looked down towards me, "Care to fill me in on what's funny? I love a good joke now and then."

"It's nothing really... I just find it a bit humorous that the ponies here have jobs equal to their names."

Banana Split asked, "Didn't the ponies in your old town have names like ours, hun?"

Twilight spoke sheepishly, "Sorry, he's having memory issues. I apologize for any inconveniences he's caused you miss."

Banana retorted, "No no, he's alright dear. It would explain the injury anyways." She turns her head towards me and kisses me above my eye, "Get better soon hun."

I blushed, "Thank you ma'am, I'll promise you that much."

"And he's a Gentlecolt as well, or whatever the equivalent is for a dragon anyhow."

"Gentledrake?" I purported

She giggled, "That sounds about right, thank you dear."

Twilight interjected before I could respond, "Aaaanyways, we're here to pick up some bananas, if you would be so kind Miss Split?"

"Right away, hun." Levitating a banana bunch in her magic she brought them over to us as Twilight opened her magic pocket and brought out a coin bag.

"How much is it for a bunch here?" Twilight asked

Banana Split responded, "It's 4 bits, hun."

Twilight smirked as she opened the coin pouch and levitated 4 bits over to the counter, "Pleasure doing business with you ma'am."

"And to you as well Miss... I never did catch your name."

Twilight giggled, "My name is Twilight Sparkle. It's a pleasure to meet you."