Chapter 2

“why were you eatn' mah apples?”, Applejack asks in an accusing tone.

“Eh.....I’m new in town and I was hungry and I didn't have any money. Sorry about the apples again.”, I apologize. I'm then knocked, rather hard I might add, into the tree I hid in.

“Ow.”, I say.

“Who are you and why were you in that tree?! Are you one of those apple raiders that keep stealing her apples?!”, Rainbow accuses with her arm left forearm pressed against my throat and right arm raised in a fist.

“I'm a guy who's new in town and I was in that tree because I was hiding! Please get off, I’m having a hard time breathing!”, I plead with what little air I have.

“Rainbow get off him. His face is turnin' purple.”, Applejack commands taking note of my face.

“Fine, but keep your lasso around in case he tries to run.”

“Oh I intend ta keep mah lasso on me me.”, she said patting the lasso on her hip. “Now, ya said that yer name is Stanley right?”, applejack asks.

“yeah, but I kinda like what skittles over there called me. Raider, I like it.”, I say.

“I said you were a raider I didn't mean that was your name.”

“i know but I’m keeping it. My name is Raider now and I’m not changing my mind.”, I protest.

“Fine, But ya know yer gonna have ta pay back those apples ya ate.”

“Okay, that seems fair, but I don't have any money on me so is there any other way I can help pay back the apples?”, I ask.

“Well......”, Rainbow says with a smirk on her face.

“No, not that. Probably should have worded that differently, I mean through labor. I could work on this farm, help sell the apples, or help clean your house. What do ya say?”, I ask with hope.

“Well mah big brother, Big Mac, does need some help with the animals. If ya help him with that ah'll let ya go. How does that sound?”, Applejack said.

“Great! Lead the way!”, I exclaim with enthusiasm. I get to work with animals! I wonder if I’m going to brush horses or feed the chickens? I can't wait!

“Ah'm Applejack by the way, and that over there is Rainbow dash.”

“It's nice to meet you Applejack and Rainbow dash.”

I follow Applejack back to the dirt path to her house with Rainbow following me, most likely because she wants to keep an eye on me which is understandable. We then make it to the big red barn where I see what looks like Big Mac out front pushing barrels into the barn.

“HEY BIG MAC!”, Applejack yells which grabs his attention, “Remember when ya said ya needed help with the animals?”

“Eeyup.”

“This guy, Stan-er Raider, volunteered to help ya. He's all yers.”, she said with a smirk that worried me.

Big Mac leaves the barrel alone, walks into the barn and comes out with a big shovel and gives me the 'follow me' arm gesture, to which I do accordingly. He leads me to the big animals like cows and horses, then explains what I am to do.

“What ah want you to do is take this shovel, scoop up the manure and put it in the big wheel barrow over there.”, he explains with his deep voice.

“Wait, you want me to pick the crap of the animals?”

“Eeyup.”, he said while smiling.

“Is that why you guys were smiling?”

“Eeyup.”

“Dang it.”, I mutter as I take the shovel he was offering, “Do you have anything to close my nose?”

“Nnope.”

“Wonderful.”, I said a monotone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3 smelly hours later--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Ugh, I have horse crap on my favorite shoes and pants. Why couldn't you have me clean the house or brush the horses?”, I complain as Applejack and I were standing in front of the barn.

“Because neither Big Mac or I wanted ta do it and you were willin' ta do anything, so ah took the opportunity. Well, since ya paid yer debt yer free ta go.”, Applejack explained

“Thanks, and I’m guessing you got some entertainment by watching me freak out when the crap got on me?”

“Eeyup.”, she said while snickering at the memory.

“Well then, I guess I’ll be on my way then. Oh I just remembered, do you know of any place I can stay?”

“You can stay here if ya want.”, she said giving me a friendly smile.

“Really? Even after me eating your apples, you're still gonna let me stay here?”, I ask with confusion.

“Ever heard of hospitality before. Ah may be peeved about the apples, but ya don't have a place ta stay and us apples always help those in need.”

“Wow, thanks. I really do appreciate it.”, I say with a smile, “Is it alright if I walk around town or am I still needed here?”

“Na, ah think that Big Mac and I can handle the rest of the work. Don't ferget, supper is served at eight o'clock, so in about four hours.”

“Alright thanks, I won't forget. I take food very seriously.”, I said as I’m walking away.

I'm so happy I don't have to shovel up any more poop. That was the most disgusting thing I've ever done. Now what to do? There's always Sugar Cube Corner, or the Golden Oaks Library, or useless walking around town and listening to random conversations as I walk by................... I'll go with the last one.

With the decision made I head into town to do absolutely nothing productive, which is how I like to do things. I'm walking aimlessly through the towns and none of the conversations are interesting. There mostly about how good today is and how their businesses are doing. I did pass Sugar Cube Corner but didn't go in because I was afraid Pinkie would get me all wound up with her fast talking. I assume she talks fast from what I've read in fan fics. As I'm walking down a road that has stores, I see a music shop on the left side of it. A music store. Hm, I'm intrigued as to what kind of music I'll find in there.

I walk to the store and open the door which rings a bell at the top of it, getting the attention of the girl behind the desk who looks like Vinyl Scratch listening to music on headphones. She looks up at me and waves, I wave back. I take notice of the stores organized settings, which surprises me because it's Vinyl. I see that the store looks like your normal music store, but the vinyl discs are on the left side, the cassette tapes are in the center, and the CD’s are on the right side.

I head over the the CD's and start flipping through them. I notice that there are some albums that have names that look almost exactly like ones from Earth. Some band names are the same, some are different, some are, I think, ones made here and are only here because I don't know them. One album grabs my attention, it's a hand hold a grenade in the shape of a heart and says on the top 'EQUESTRIAN IDIOT'. I look on the back of the CD case and I see that some names of the songs have been changed. 'American idiot' turned into 'Equestrian idiot', 'Jesus of suburbia' has turned into 'Luna of suburbia' and 'St. Jimmy' has turned into 'St. Discord'. Oh I so have to get this, but how? I'll ask Vinyl.

“Excuse me ma'am, is there a way to pay for this album without using bits?”, I ask walking up to the counter.

“Ma'am? Please don't call me ma'am, it makes me feel old, Call me Vinyl Scratch. No, there isn't another way to pay. Sorry.”, she said with her raspy voice.

“oh, alright. Thanks anyway.”, I say with a defeated tone as I go to put it back.

“Wait.”, she says making me turn around.

“If you can play an instrument, I'll take you in the recording studio and if you can impress me, like really impress me, then I'll pay for it. How 'bout that?”, she asks giving me hope again.

“Sure!”

“Alright come on then.”, she said while leading me to a room behind her. She takes me in the room and I see a drum set, a bass guitar, and electric guitar, a mic stand, and an electric triangle?

“Choose your instrument.”

I walk over to the drum set and sit in the seat. I pick up the drum sticks that were on the snare drum. I step on the hi-hat pedal repeatedly to begin the song I'm going to play, 'Basket Case'. When the time comes for the drums to enter the song, I go all out. I'm Hitting the cymbals, snare drum, hi-hat, and bass pedal on time or nearly on time. When the song ends I put the drums sticks back on the snare drum and stand up.

“How was that?”, I ask.

“I can't believe you know how to play 'Basket Case' That song is hard. There were some parts where you you hit the bass pedal to soon or to late, but other than that you did great. What other songs can you play?”, she asks.

“I can do 'Welcome to Paradise'.”

“Do it man and if you can do it, you can keep the album.”, she says with a smile. I sit back down, pick up the drum sticks, and play the song flawlessly. After I finish I stand up, put the sticks down and walk to Vinyl.

“Dude that was sick! That album is all yours man.”

“Really? I was that good? Wow thanks.”, I say with a satisfied smile.

“I forgot to ask, what;s your name dude?”, she asks as we get back to the counter.

“it's Raider.”

“Well you already know my name so I don't have to say it again.”, she then pays for the album and hands it back to me, “Here you go Raider. Have a wicked day.”

“Thanks.”, I said. As I'm about to walk out of the building, I look at the clock on the wall behind Vinyl and see that it's seven thirty. My eyes go wide and I think to myself OH CRAP. I put my CD in my jacket's pocket and sprint out of the store.

I run as fast as I can through the streets narrowly avoiding carts, people, and food stands. As I'm running I see two picnic tables in front of me and instead of going around them and wasting time and energy I decide I'm gonna do a little parkour. As I approach the first table I jump a few feet in front of it and stick my legs out in front of me, putting my hands on the table and push off landing on my feet smoothly. With the second table, I lunge forward, putting my hands on the table, tucking my knees up to my chest and push off the table landing on my feet as I get over it, successfully doing the Dash vault and the Kong vault.

I keep running, occasionally stopping to catch my breathe, until I make it to Applejack's house. I'm standing in front of the house feeling exhausted from all the running so I walk up the the porch and sit down in a rocking chair. I don't get to relax for long because a few seconds later I hear the door open and see Applejack come out with what looks like a dinner bell.

“SUPPER'S READY, COME AND GET IT.”, she yelled while banging the bell as loud as she. Apparently she didn't take notice of me to the side with my hands over my ears.

“Ow! I'm right here you don't have to yell.”, I say while waiting to get my hearing back.

“Sorry. Ah was yellin' ta Big Mac at the barn and mah lil' sister Applebloom in her tree house out there.”, she said while pointing to the orchards.

“Ah'm coming Applejack!”, I here a young voice say.

I see little Applebloom running out of the orchards and Big Mac walking from the side most likely from the barn. Applebloom makes it to the house first and stops on the porch when she sees me.

“Uh, Applejack, who's that?”, she asks point to me.

I bend down to her eye level with my hands on my knees and say, “My name is Raider. I'm going to be staying here for a bit till I find another place to stay.”

“Who offered you ta stay?”, she asks.

“Applejack did.”

“Oh, well then if Applejack trusts ya, then ah do too.”, she said with a friendly smile and walked in the house.

“She seems nice.”, I said.

“Eeyup, but she and her friends can get into some mighty big trouble.”, Big Mac said as he walked past me into the house.

“Come on sugarcube, let's eat.”, Applejack said as she went in the house.

I went into the house because my hunger was starting to get to me. I follow Applejack into the dining room where there was already a large amount of food on the table half of which are apple products. Before I sit down next to Big Mac I take off my gloves and put them in my pockets then take off my jacket and put it on the seat.

I see an old lady, who I think is Granny Smith, sit at the end of the table and ask, “Who's this young whipper-snapper sittn' next ta Big Mac?”

“My name's Raider Mrs........”, I ask out of politeness.

“You can call me Granny Smith, Raider. Ah'm everyone's Granny in this town.”, she said with a warm smile, “If'n ya don't mind me askin' but why are ya eatin' at our table and not yer own?”

“Well, I'm new in town and I didn't have a place to stay so Applejack here offered me a place to stay here.”

“Is that true Applejack?”, to which Applejack nods.

“Applejack you showed good apple hospitality. Ah'm proud of ya.”, she said while looking at Applejack.

“Aw shucks, thanks Granny.”, she said looking a bit bashful.

Big Mac then looks to me and says, “After supper I'll show ya the guest room fer you ta stay in.”

After dinner was eaten, I grabbed my jacket from the seat and Big Mac took me up the stairs into a hallway and lead me into the room I'm staying in. “This is where ya gonna be stayin' in. If ya need anything ah'm right across the hall. You have a good night.”, He closed the door leaving the room.

I look around the room, it isn't a big fancy room, but it's nice. It has it's own bathroom, a nightstand with a lamp on top of it next to the bed, a dresser, a mirror, a closet and a window. It's kinda big and roomy, I like it. I head over to the closet and put my jacket in it, put my gloves on the night stand, and basically take everything off except my pants. I flop in the bed, get under the covers, and finally get some rest.

Author's Note

Just to make things easier for everyone all the characters are wearing the clothes that they wore in Equestria Girls, except for Applejack. She's wearing jeans instead of a skirt.