The past of the apple

One Year Later

Macintosh trotted the orchards pulling his cart behind him. His flank was now covered by a huge green apple. He was delivering the apples from the south field, his pa still bucking the last of the apples. Then a little orange blur raced past him. He smiled at his sister’s antics and shook his head. The boisterous little filly was always running around and attempting to buck the trees. She also loved playing with her pa’s ropes and trying to do tricks. Macintosh had taught her some rope tricks already but her hooves would always get caught. She complained about a lack of a cutie mark constantly and often Macintosh had to tell her off because she was doing something too rash. Applejack thought she was perfectly fine on her own and tried to do things herself including farmwork. Her mother had tried to tell her not to overexert herself but she wouldn’t listen and usually fell asleep at the dinner table. Her pa was proud of her regardless as she had already successfully bucked all the apples from a tree. Secretly Macintosh was a little jealous of how quickly his sister had mastered apple bucking. However he was quite the apple bucking master himself so he didn’t care that much.

“Slow down! You are gonna git yerself hurt!” he called. Applejack skidded to a stop and trotted back to walk alongside her brother.

“Ya think Pa will finish mah treehouse soon?” she asked plucking an apple from Mac’s cart and taking a bite ignoring her brother’s protest.

“Sure, if ya stop eatin the harvest.” Mac said pulling a little harder to make it up a small hill. “We gotta sell those apples for bits. And ya know how much planks for houses cost.” Applejack rolled her emerald eyes and finished her apple quickly. She ran ahead to a small plot of land waiting for new trees. Dragging her hoof through the dirt, creating a shallow path in the earth. With expert skill she sucked the appleseeds from the core and spat them neatly in a row. Throwing the apple core to the birds she patted brown dirt over the wet seeds and beamed at her brother.

“Now that’s how ya plant them appleseeds!” she said. Macintosh gave a small chuckle and patted her mane.

“It sure is.” he said and Applejack’s grin grew even bigger. One of her front teeth was chipped and made her look a bit like she had a fang. Fillies and Colts at school had called her a timberwolf once earning them a swift kick to the stomach. Applejack had spent a couple days in detention for that. Her mother had told her that once they had enough money, they would have the dentist fix her tooth. Applejack had shaken her head saying she liked being the timberwolf pony.

“Mac?” the little orange filly asked prodding his shoulder.

“Huh?”

“Can Ah help ya sell the apples today?”

“Ask momma.”

“You always say that!” Applejack said running off to the farmhouse. Her brother shook his head, heading to the barn to deposit his load.

“Can ah go and sell with ya momma?” Applejack asked. “I wanna see if I can get my cutie mark in apple selling!” Honeybell tutted, stirring a pot of vegetable soup on the stove.

“I’m not sure sugarcube. You’ll have to be able to stand still a long time.” Applejack’s eyes narrowed.

“Ah can do that!” she boasted. Demonstrating her ability by stiffening like a wooden board. Her mother chuckled.

“I can see Applejack.” The little filly sniffed at the air.

“What’s for lunch?” she asked.

“Just some carrot and potato soup. With a few noodles.” Applejack licked her lips.

“Yum! Ah can’t wait until we eat!”

“Neither can Ah.” a male voice said behind Applejack.

“Papa!” she yelled giving him a big hug. The green stallion chuckled and patted his daughter’s blonde maned head.

“Y’all ready to go to the market?” he asked as Macintosh squeezed in the doorway behind his pa.

“Yeah! Ah’m gonna get mah cutie mark in apple sellin!” Applejack cried happily jumping up and down. Johnny smiled and trotted over to give Honeybell a quick peck on the cheek.

“Ya gonna bring ‘er along?” he whispered to his wive.

“I don’t know...I don’t want her to get bored.”

“Because then she’ll run off and do something else.” Johnny finished.

“Yes something dangerous!” Honeybell said a little louder catching the attention of her son.

“Ma? Pa? Is something wrong?” he asked glancing at his little sister who was still dancing around an excited smile plastered to her muzzle. Honeybell sighed setting down the spoon she had been using to stir the soup.

“I’m just a little nervous about having Applejack come with to the market. I don’t want her to get bored and run off…”  Mac nodded seriously.

“Ah could watch ‘er for ya.” he stated. Honeybell beamed at him.

“That would be mighty helpful sugarcube!” she said warmly. Johnny nodded.

“That sounds good. Now Honey, is there something Ah can do ta help with the food?” backed up and let his parents talk before grabbing his sister by the hoof and taking her outside.

“Mac! What the hay are ya up to?” Applejack cried her freckled face scrunched in a frown.

“Ah wanna talk to ya about the market.” Mac countered sitting down. Applejack rolled her eyes and stayed standing.

“Why’s everypony worried about me? Ah can do jus’ fine in a market! Ah’ll be a good filly, Ah promise!” her voice was strong and Mac believed her. Not once had Applejack lied and there was no reason she’d start now.

“Ok. Jus’ make sure ya don’t go and do somethin stupid.” Mac said swinging open the door to the farmhouse. Applejack kicked at the dirt with one hoof. Why did everypony think she would act badly out in the market. She’d been to town before, besides she was sure she’d get her cutie mark in selling apples. The orange fillys ears pricked as she heard her mother's sweet voice calling her for lunch.

“Comma Momma!” she called running full speed into the kitchen.

The ponyville market was hot and noisy, hoof steps slapping on the earthen roads and the yells of sales ponies echoing off buildings filled Applejack’s ears as she walked behind her brother. The air was a mixture of sweet smelling treats and the fresh scent of hard work. Both of which was common around the farm so Applejack felt like she was back home, helping Granny with baking her signature pies. The apples walked to the end of the row of booths and started unpacking some of the harvest onto the shelves and into the baskets set out in front of the simple wooden stand. Macintosh carefully laid out the hoof painted sign he and his sister had made the morning before and stepped back admiring their work.

“Hey Mac!” a rough voice called. Turning the red colt was greeted by the waving form of his pegasus friend Cyclone. The black maned, blue colt smiled and patted him on the back. “See you’re selling today! My moms recruiting ponies for her fitness center.” Mac smiled waving at the light blue mare that stood behind a brightly colored stand. Cyclone nodded at Johnny and Honey. “Hi there Mrs. and Mr. Apple.” he said.

“Hello Cyclone. How are you?” Honeybell asked politely.

“I’m alright. How’s the farm? And good ‘ol granny Smith?” Cyclone continued.

“Oh work’s been busy but we’ve gotten through alright. An’ Granny’s fine.” Johnny said fidgeting with his hat keeping one eye on his daughter who hadn’t noticed Cyclone and was trying to unload another load of apples into a basket.

“That’s great. If you ever need any help I’m happy to assist you.” Cyclone said walking over to help Applejack. “Here let me help you miss.” Applejack looked up from her task and a grin spread over her muzzle.

“Cyclone!” she shouted wrapping her hooves around him in a hug.

“Hey there squirt.” Cyclone responded dumping the apples as carefully as he could into the basket.

“You gonna help us sell apples?” Applejack asked. Cyclone chuckled.

“I’m helping my mom today, sorry. But it doesn’t look like you need me.” he said glancing at the rest of her family.

“Well...Ah guess we got it.” Applejack said. Cyclone ruffled her mane.

“I’ll see you around squirt.” he flapped his wings and hovered in the air for a few seconds before flying over to talk with Mac. “Your sister’s really cool.” Cyclone remarked as he landed beside his friend. Mac nodded pride gleaming in his eyes.

“She is somethin’ ain’t she.” he mused. “Gonna get ‘er in loads of trouble though. Betcha she’s gonna try and get pa to get something here at the market.” Cyclone laughed.

“Yeah. Well have fun selling. My mom’s waving me over. She likes telling ponies that i’m a wonderbolt’s son and that I go to her gym. Also I like showing ponies my awesome muscles!” He flexed and Mac stifled laughter. Cyclone was very muscular, but not as much so as Mac. The way Cyclone went around boasting his muscles was hilarious to Mac and couldn’t see any point in it. The blue pegasus went back to his mother’s stand and shined a toothy white smile at a potential gym member.

Mac shook his head and wiped the sweat from his brow. He stepped beside his mother behind the counter lifting the bit chest onto the wooden board. Johnny and Applejack were gone, checking out the other stalls and seeing if there was anything the Apples could use. Mac sighed staring out at the busy crowd of ponies all in a hurry to get someplace.

“They all go around so fast ma.” he said. Honeybell made a humming noise.

“Reminds me of Manehatten. Everypony there is always in a rush and rarely has time to stop and say anything to anypony. One of the reasons I love ponyville is ponies don’t care so much about hurrying to wherever and are happy to talk with you.” Mac thought about that.

“Well not today.” he remarked. Honeybell laughed.

“I suppose not.”

“Uh...excuse me? How much for five apples?” a timid voice muttered. Honeybell turned her attention to a young looking mare. Her mint green mane was tucked up in a bun while her purple eyes stayed on the ground as she held some apples in her hooves.

“Five bits.” Honeybell said and the mare handed over the money. “How are you miss?” the orange pony asked kindly.

“Oh!” the timid pony seemed shocked that anyone would want to talk with her. “I’m a-alright.” she squeaked.

“Yer not from these parts are ya?” Mac chimed in. The mare nodded, a bit taken back by how large this young colt was. He was nearly as big as the other grown stallions. He’ll be taller than everypony someday she thought.

“N-no...I’m just visiting.” the mare said tucking the apples into her bag.

“Well, Ponyville’s a great place miss. There’s lots you can do.” Honeybell said. “I’m Honeybell by the way and this is my son Macintosh.”

“I-I’m Pale Lily.” the mare said, her shy shell beginning to crack.

“That’s a lovely name.” Honeybell said.

“Thank you.” the mare said a tiny smile flickering on her lips. “Well I should be going...er not to say I don’t like talking to you but I’m expected at-”

“It’s quite alright sugarcube. You go right ahead.” Honeybell said. Pale Lily swallowed.

“Ok. Thank you for the apples.”

“Sure thing sugarcube.” Honeybell said waving. Pale Lily hurried away her form becoming lost in the crowds. Mac kept an eye out for his pa and sister wondering when they would return to the stand. Yet he felt himself drifting off into thought. Honeybell patted Mac on the head.

“You alright Mac?” she asked.

“Eeyup!” the colt replied.

“Ok, If you say so dear.” his mother said a little worried about her son.

His eyes seemed far away like he was in another world. That happened sometimes. Her son liked to imagine whole other universes filled with magic and strange creatures. He often told Applejack about these places, his face lighting with excitement and hers glowing with fascination. Honeybell liked how creative Mac could be, but she often worried that he would get lost in one of those worlds and wouldn’t come back.

“Um excuse me?” A snobbish voice asked and Honeybell looked up. A tall purple stallion stood his grey mane gelled back in a fancy hairstyle and his deep blue eyes fixed upon the baskets of apples.

“May I help you?” Honeybell asked.

“Oh I just want to know where these apples come from.” he mused peering closer at the fruit. Smoothing out a frown, Honeybell cleared her throat.

“Well, they come from Sweet Apple Acres, right on the edge of Ponyville.” the stallion looked back up at Honeybell.

“Oh are they now? I’ve heard many praises about Sweet Apple Acres apples.” Honeybell tilted her head.

“Really now? Wherever did you hear such things?” Honeybell wasn’t aware that ponies talked about how great the apples product were. Sure, she knew ponies liked them, but she didn’t know they talked about it.

“Oh yes, yes! My cousin lives here and she was just spouting off about all these good things about the apples around here! She said they were the most delicious things she’d ever tasted.” Honeybell smiled.

“I’m glad she thinks so.” The stallion gathered a few red and golden delicious apples in his hooves and spilled ten bits on the counter. Honeybell eyed the four apples in the stallions grip. “Sir you gave me too much.” she pushed six bits back towards the stallion and he chuckled.

“Oh keep it! I have too much pocket change anyways.” he said. “Good day madam.” He trotted off leaving Honeybell with a wide smile to her lips.