Anniversary
The wind jogs through all of ponyville on a clear and sensational sunny day. Everypony going along with their day's
exchanging a “hi” or a “hello” as they walk past each other. It was the kind of day Elstar always basked in, because that meant an even better
day helping out on the farm with her mother.
She hurries with buying a new rake for the for the farm, since her mother accidentally threw it in the wood chipper. She
finishes up the exchange in two heartbeats, grabs the rake and runs off like a rocket. She hurries so fast she hardly has time to notice
herself running into another pony.
There is the sound of two thudding bodies hitting the floor, and a loud crack. Elstar, feeling more dazed than a hammer
without a nail, is helped up by that ponies' hoof.
“Whoa there, are you alright?” the stallion says, lifting her up. she pulls her head together again and looks straight at him.
“Oh, yes I'm fine. Please, forgive me for that.”
“No, please, forgive me.”
“Honestly it's fine, I was in such a rush that I didn't see where i was going. Are you hurt?”
“Not at all, but you gave my flank quite a scare. what was the rush anyhow?”
“I needed to get back to my farm, and I was picking up a new rake. Actually, where is...” Elstar frantically looks around for the rake, and finds
it torn in two on the ground. “ Oh no, how in equestria did it break? Great, this is just my luck. And that was the only money mother gave
me for the trip.”
“I can help you out with that.” says the pony
“What?”
“I'll buy you another one, no sweat.”
“I couldn't ask you to do that.”
“It's the least I could do. Besides, I think part of that is my fault anyway. I heard something crack beneath me when I fell over. It's no trouble.”
“Really? Oh, you are such a life saver.” they both go back to the gardening tools kiosk shop.
“I would like to buy a rake please.” the clerk looks between him and elstar.
“Weren't you just here like thirty seconds ago?”
“Yes.” elstar says “But It was broken in an accident.” the clerk huffs for a second then looks behind him, gets a rake, puts it on the counter
and says...
“Five bits please.” The pony reaches into a satchel around his body and hands over five bits to the clerk .
“Have a god day.” says the pony. The clerk huffs again. The pony hands elstar the rake. “See? No trouble at all.”
“Oh, I can't thank you enough.”
“No biggie, just helping out is all. It's pretty much my job and my whole life view.”
“What do you mean?” They walk up toward the broken and the pony puts both pieces in both sides of his satchel.
“My job is to be a big helper around here. Sometimes I will work for a a factory, sometimes at a hospital. My new assignment was to help
out with some farms. In fact, the farm here is my last stop. Sweet apple acres. I don't suppose that's the farm you were going to, right?”
“Yeah, I live there actually.”
“Oh really, can you show me the way then? My map flew out of my hooves once I got here.”
“Of course.”
“Thank you so much. My name is Jonathon by the way.”
“ I'm elstar”
Pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, chocolate cake, apple juice, some mini dogs, bologna sandwiches and fritters, all in
that order on the counter in the kitchen where an oddly hyper applejack is cooking. Granny Smith walks in to the whole ataxia that
consumes the kitchen.
The smell is wonderful and yet overwhelming at the very same time.
“So, where is our breakfast?” Granny jokes to Applejack. AJ, feeling pretty alarmed, jumps back a bit like a cat would often do with a scary
noise.
“Oh gosh, I am sorry granny, I didn't mean to disturb.” says AJ
“No, no it's fine. I am just surprised we even had this much food in the first place, let alone the ingredients to make it. Why all the grub?”
“Actually, to tell you the truth granny, i couldn't sleep.”
“Something on your mind kiddo?” Granny asks as she sits on the kitchen table, poised in a listening matter.
“Well...” Applejack turns off the stove, washes her hooves a bit, and sits on the table like granny.” I was up all night, thinking about ma and
pa's anniversary that's coming up.”
“Is that it? That thing ain't for another six months, you have nothing to worry about. Besides, I think I cou...” mid sentence, granny catches
AJ's eyes telling her that is not what she meant.”Oh, THAT anniversary. What about it?”
“Well, I figured it's finally time we...went with you. To talk to them.”
“Are you sure?”
“I think I am ready. And I hope the same for Big Mac and Applebloom. We should talk with them later. Have a meeting.”
“I think this is a wonderful idea. I'm glad you finally want to do this.”
“I am too.”
Ever since the passing of the apple parents, Granny smith would be the only one to ever go their gravestones and pay respects.
It's not that Applejack, Big Mac or Applebloom didn't want to go, they did, truly with all of their hearts, but none of them were ready to face
them, even if it was only looking at a headstone.
They never had the courage. Instead, on that anniversary day, they would be separate in their rooms, and quietly contemplating
their mom and dad. Even if some had more memory than others.
It was only a few minutes from the town, back to the entry gate to sweet apple acres, before Jonathon and Elstar had almost
arrived. And in that span of time, they have gotten really friendly.
“...Back onto the train and says to me, 'you are one unlucky duck!'” Jonathon finishes
“Wow, must have been some sort of nightmare.” says Elstar
“It was more than that actually, there is no word in equestria that could describe it.”
“Scruff shoes.”
“What?”
“Scruff shoes.”
“I don't understand.” Elstar giggles a bit
“It's a word for your situation.”
“Really? Is that even a word?”
“Nope, I just made it up.”
“I think I like it. I'll use it the next time I get dumped on at the office.” before they notice they are already a few steps past the front gate. “Oh
man, what in the world, we're already here?”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
“Wow,i never even noticed it. I guess I was so caught up in my story. Darn, I wanted to ask you about yourself, I am so sorry, not very
stallion like of me.”
“NO, I thought it was a good story. For some reason my favorite part was when that little foal threw up in your saddle bag.” Elstar starts to
giggle.
“I know. In case you don't remember you laughed so hard we had to stop for ten minutes so you could get your head back together.”
“I apologize, it seems rude.” they make it to the farm house and around the back where another pony is there, picking something out of the
ground.
“Hi mom, I'm back.” says Elstar. Her mother jumps back a bit, almost toppling over.
“Oh, Elstar it's just you. You scared me half way to Monday there. Did you get the rake?”mom asks
“Yes and no. the first one broke, so Jonathan offered to get me another one when I ran into him.”
"Who's Jonathon?"
“Oh my gosh right.” she leads Jonathon up to her mother in a quick sweep. “How rude of me. Jonathon, this is my mother, Granny Smith.
Granny smith, this is Jonathon, an all around worker. “
“Pleased to meet you there fellow.” says granny
“The same as you ms. Smith. Funny, the whole walk here Elstar never mentioned a younger sister.”
“Oh, don't get all stallion charming with me Mr. although it is working. You must be a master at this.”
“Actually it's my first time.”
“Well, you sure seem like a pro. Any-doodle, enough milking the cow, what are you here for?”
“He's a work hog.” says Elstar playfully.
“Well, I guess that's one way you could put it. I work for a company revolving mostly around experience. Think of it as some kind of one big
survey. You know, how is this job like compared to your experience to the last one. Basically I have had more jobs than you could name.
“My my, that certainly sounds like a rodeo.” says granny.
“Nah, i already worked at the rodeo. It wasn't as fun as I would imagine.”
“Well I would like to hear about this more if you ever decide to visit.”
“Then tomorrow is your lucky day and also the next and the next after that. My next assignment was to help out at farms and, this is the last
one on my list. That is if it's OK with you.”
“Well, I don't see the trouble. It would be rude of me to keep a hard working pony like yourself from doing your job. That sound good to you
Elstar?”
“Another helping hoof wouldn't be that bad.” says Elstar. “Gives me a chance to slack off a little.” Granny gives her a disproving look.”Okay
Okay, at least 94 percent work.” Jonathon laughs
“Well, I guess this is settled then. Mrs. Smith, Elstar.”
“Jonathon.” they both say in unison.
“Alright, I'll be back later then.”
“Where are you going?” asks Elstar “Dodging work already?” she smiles
“No, no. I am just going to find a hotel to stay in on the mean time.”
“Aw shucks, save your bits.” says Granny “I Don't want you having the trouble of walking all the way here everyday and going back to
probably no one. You can stay here.”
“No,i Don't want to impose.”
“No I insist,it's my pleasure.” the points to the top of the house, most likely the attic. “You'll be sleepin' there.”
“Ooh, the ghost Attic.” says Elstar in an almost Eerie tone.
“She's just Teasing. Anyway follow me.” She leads Jonathon to the front door and turns around to Elstar. “Could you Take care of those
Andre Apples?”
“No problem” Elstar says as she trots off one way, and Granny And Jonathon enter the house. Granny smith leads him off through the rest
of the house, giving Jonathon a small history tour of every room in the house. Even the heater closet had about four stories to it's history.
Jonathon was already starting to like this place. Granny smith leads Jonathon up to the attic, which somehow looked cleaner than a new
washed piece of clothing.
“Okay then feller” starts Granny “Here's where you can stay for as long as you need to.”
“Thank you very much Mrs. Smith, I gladly appreciate it.”
“Any-doodle, take your time to settle in get comfortable. There's no bed in here, so I'll have Elstar bring one up later.”
“No, there's no need for that. All i would need is a pillow and a blanket. But thanks for the offer.”
“You sleep on the floor?”
“For as long as I can remember.” Granny looked a little puzzled but shrugged it off immediately.
“Alrighty then, I think I have some extra ones somewhere around the house.”
“Thank you.” Jonathon looks around the room, all it being nothing but boxes, but it felt familiar to him, and made him feel home. He heads
towards the open window, Which could overlook mostly the whole farm. When he looks out, he could see Elstar pulling something out the
ground with her teeth. She was pulling on a large stem. This made him confused a bit.
“Hey, Mrs. smith?”
“Yes?” says granny, about to step out of the attic.
“What Exactly is an Andre apple?” Granny Smith walks up next to him with a smile, overlooking the struggling Elstar as well.
“You'll see.” Granny says, in sort of soft but suspense type of tone.” after a few more undertakings at the stem and the mystery beneath,
Elstar gives one huge grunt, and one huge pull, and out pops one huge Apple. Elstar's head is lifted toward the sky, with the apple along for
the ride. She takes a few steps back, turns around and gently puts it in a cart that was behind her.
Jonathon stands there, hooves on the sill of the window, basking in the marvel he had just witnessed. It was glorious. Granny looks
at him with a smile.
“She's so strong.” says Jonathon, with excitement and a bit of what sounded like intimidation in his voice.
“Strong Mares intimidate you?” Granny says with a smile.
“NO, it's not that. I like strong mares. Besides this is a farm, I should expect people who work on farms to be really strong. I just didn't
expect anyone to be pulling gigantic apples out of the ground strong.”
“Well, people can surprise you..”
“So, why are they called Andre apples?”
“Back a bit in my day, there was this wrestler named Andre the giant. He was about eight feet tall, and a muscular feller. So when I made
them i named them.”
“Wow. Wait you made them?”
“Eyuup”
“Apples, from the ground?”
“You bet your bits I did. I experimented with it for a while but eventually i got it right.”
“How long have you been doing this?”
“Only three years. They have gotten to be a pain getting them from out of the ground. Getting them from tree's are better anyway.”
Jonathon continues looking outside like an excited puppy dog at Elstar, still struggling once more at the ground apples.
“I am going out to help her” he says. And runs off.
“Watch your head when leaving the roo..” but it was too late, Jonathon hit his head exiting the door, but it didn't hurt him any. He speeds
downstairs like the town roadrunner. He moves as fast as he can and out the door to help Elstar.
“If I didn't know any better I would say Andre is a Ton of fun.” Elstar stops and looks up from her straining pulling. She smiles at him, and
nods her head at the attempted pun.”Let me help you with that.”
“You sure you got the teeth.?”
“I visit my dentist twice a year. Says I'm the peak of all pony kind.” He flashes his all white teeth at her.
“Yeah, and I'm Princess Celestia. Besides, it's not all about the teeth. All in the strength. Legs and neck.”
“Neck and legs check. Like I said, I have worked in multiple farms. For my middle name is bulk.”
“Really?”
“I wish”
“Alright then Mr. Bulk. Surprise me.” and with that Elstar waves Jonathon to the big brown stem in the ground. He clenches the stem with his
teeth, and with one huge grunting pull he...doesn't pull it out of the ground. He looks to Elstar embarrassed and gives it another pull. That
one doesn't do much either. “Well, while you're doing that, I'll be finishing up the rest. Holler if ya need anything” with that she leaves him
there, in the struggle of pulling out one Andre apple.
On the mean while Elstar picks another Apple to pull out. And with three grunts, out it pops. She puts it on the cart beside her and
wheels it off to the other side of the farm. This pattern goes on for the rest of the day, with Jonathon still trying to pull out the apple that
had been given to him. He had seen it as a challenge.
Hours later, with the sun behind mountains and the moon partially up in the sky, Jonathon gives one last Grunt of strength towards
the humungus apple, that had seemed to stare him down. He had failed to get it out once more.
“I give up.” Says Jonathon. He lies down near the stem, until someone pats him on the back, he looks up.
“Come on, lets get inside.” says Elstar.
“But the apple.”
“It's rotten anyway now. Besides, the ones I picked are plenty. Granny will probably get it in the morning.”
“Your mother can do this?”
“Eyuup.”
“Well, that's embarrassing.”
“Come on, Granny smith just made dinner.” Jonathon gets up slowly
“Good thinking, all that work makes me hungry.” Elstar smiles and shakes her head. They head inside, Jonathon slowly up the rear. On the
kitchen table are bowls of tomato soup, and bread. Granny smith is pouring apple juice in three separate cups on the counter near the
fridge.
Elstar goes and sits down at the table. Granny turns around and serves the cups on the table.
“Dinner is ready Jonathon. But you should go wash up first.” says Granny.
“Right.” Jonathon starts towards the stairs, stops, turns around and says “Hey guys listen. I know today I made a fool out of myself, and I
hardly did any work. But trust me when I say that starting tomorrow, I'll be the most helpful thing at this house since the invention of the
vacuum cleaner. I am deeply sorry for today. I promise.”
“I am glad to hear that.” says Granny “Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres.”
Coming down from the top floor, Applebloom looks into the living room, where the rest of the family is waiting. She sits on the sofa
next to big mac and granny, and Applejack on the opposite side sitting on the UN-reclined recliner. The place was quiet.
“What's this about Applejack?” Applebloom asks
“I don't really know how to start off saying this” says AJ, “but, We need to talk about Mom and dad's Anniversary”
“But that's not for six months.”
“Not that one” Applebloom scratches her head for a few seconds.
“Oh.” she looks down to the floor “Why?” Applejack looks over to granny, and granny gives her a nod.
“Huh. Look guys, you know how Granny is the only one who ever visits mom and dad on their Anniversary?” Big Mac and Applebloom nod.
“And you know how we don't go because we're scared?” they nod again. “Well, I think maybe we should go with her this year.” they both
look up at her. “Look guys, it's not a bad thing at all. And we put the 'scared' excuse to work for far too long now.
In fact,it's a childish excuse. Besides, that's not an excuse. That should have never even been an excuse. Scared or not, we should
have gone with Granny and Give the respect mom and dad deserve from us. They cared for us.” Applebloom and Big mac look at each
other. They look at granny, and she gives them a nod.
“You're right.” Says big mac
“Right.” Answers Applebloom
“It'll be on Thursday.” starts granny “Two days will give you three some time to think about them. Maybe about what you'll say to them. We'll
head off in the morning, before the sun rises. Sound good?” all three of the ponies nod. Granny smith smiles. She gets up and hugs all
three individually. “You're all such good children. I love you all.”
“I love you too Granny.” They all say in unison.
“Well, I guess I'll go fix dinner then.” and Granny walks off into the kitchen. The three of them, all sit there quite for a good solid ten minutes,
not speaking.
“This will be good for us, I promise.” says AJ, finally breaking the chains of the silent room.
“I guess” Applebloom pouts
“Whats wrong sugar cube?”
“Hmm. I just thought that, well. I thought the first time I would talk to them was when I was alone. You know, in private.”
“I'm sorry sugar cube. But hey, don't worry. We'll all be at the bottom of the hill, and one by one we'll go up and pay our respects. It's as a
family, but it's still private. Sound good?”
“Yeah, but I also thought that the day I would talk to them was when I was older. You know, more collected about it.”
“You're plenty old right now. In fact, it's better if you do it now. That way, you won't have that feeling of regret of not talking to them for so
long. And after Thursday, you can talk to them any day of the week month day or year you please. If ever you feel alone.”
“Really?”
“That's what I'm gonna do.” Applebloom's eyes start to well up for a seconds, then leaps off the couch and right onto Applejack, hugging her
tightly. She starts crying.
“I just Don't know what I would say. What if I say something wrong that upsets them? They'll be mad at me forever, they wouldn't want me
to speak to them ever again! They would hate me!” she keeps sobbing profusely until Applejack lifts Applebloom's head from her body and
says..
“That's not going to happen. They're not going to get mad at you. When you get there, just speak from the heart. Maybe just start with like a
'hello' or something. Look, I am nervous too. I have never done this before. Just keep your chin up. It's fine.” with that Applebloom smiles,
and the two sisters hug. During the hug, some deep sniffles come from the couch where big mac is. His face pointed towards the floor.
Applebloom notices too and gets off of AJ. Applejack gets off the couch and towards her brother.
“Whats wrong big bro?”asks Applebloom.
“You Okay?” AJ Asks. Big mac sniffles a few more times before looking up to face his sister.
“Whats the matter?”
“Why didn't we go earlier?”
“What?”
“Why didn't we visit them sooner? We lost all that time, time that could have spent talking with our own parents. Instead every year we
locked ourselves in our rooms like the cowards we are. I am disappointed in all of us. Mostly myself. It's disrespect, that's what it is.”
“Big mac, it's Okay. I know it's no excuse to not see them. We were all hurt by it.”
“What do you know.”
“Excuse me?”
“I am the one who's hurt the most by this. I hold most of the pain and the weight. I should have taken the charge in this. You don't know
anything.”
“Now hold on just a minute...”
“Dinner is almost done!” yells granny from the kitchen “Prepare those tummies for A Granny smith masterpiece of food!. Oh dang it,
dropped the ladle.
“We'll be there in a minute” yells AJ “What's up with you mac?” but he doesn't say a word and walks into the kitchen.
“What's up with Big mac?” asks Applebloom.
“I don't have the slightest idea.”