Unusable Story Husk

For another year, it was cider season for the citizens of Ponyville. This time, nopony was left out since Applejack's family and her friends were helping out. The citizens were happy, the Apple family was making good money and it looked like it'd be another successful season.

It didn't help that the 6 friends working the cider couldn't bear to keep working for another day, exhausted out of their wits.

"Applejack, this is getting really tedious!" Rainbow Dash complained. "Every day since the season started, we've been working extra hard so that everypony gets plenty of cider. What about us? Shouldn't we have some fun?"

Sighing, Applejack nodded her head, just as exhausted as her friends.

"The day is almost over, we can at least make it past today. If we persevere, I think we can make it past tomorrow too. I'm sure we could all take a trip to Manehattan or somethin' as a vacation after that," Applejack replied.

The other 5 ponies grumbled at 'Manehattan'. They had gone to cities like Fillydelphia, Manehattan and Canterlot so many times that it was often more fun to leave.

"Well, what'd ya'll expect? The only other direction to go is over by th' long road, but nopony goes that way. We'd be exhausted from the journey before we make ten miles, let alone see somethin' interesting."

More grumbles and sighs all around with the realization that the one interesting, new thing they could experience is an impossibility.

As the second last day of cider season ended, the 6 friends collapsed on the ground, too exhausted to walk to their respective homes. Even Applejack, who was a few hundred feet from her house, couldn't move a muscle as she stayed the night on the grass with her friends.

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        Waking up in the morning while you’re still tired is one thing, but seeing the face of an old rival while waking up tired is another. The colt standing over Applejack didn’t seem in the right place though, since his brother wasn’t anywhere to be seen.

        “Well, good day to you, Applejack! Haven’t seen you in a year!” the colt said, still hovering over Applejack.

        In a flash, Applejack bolted up and crossed face to face with the familiar face. It wasn’t a heartwarming reunion.

        “Flim, what in tarnation are you doing here? I thought you two lost the contest- wait just one second, where is your brother? Aren’t you two inseperable?” Applejack interrogated.

        Flim’s eyes shifted to a nearby tree, avoiding any eye contact with Applejack.

        “Well, we were doing a demonstration with our cider machine, and he was giving a few words to the ponies around. He was getting so into it with movements and whatnot, that he didn’t see himself approaching the apple intake...”

        By now, all of Applejack’s friends were up and awake, shocked at the latest piece of news. It was some time before Twilight took the nerve to break the silence.

        “I’m... I’m so sorry, Flim. It must’ve been horrible dealing with your loss. Is there anything we can do to help?”

        Flim turned to face the 6 ponies, renewing his feeling of happiness.

        “It’s not a big deal now, it happened almost a year ago, just after we left this town. But that’s not why I’m here. You see, we’re - er, I’m running a little low on funds and judging by the success of last year’s cider season, I wanted to ask if I could spend just today here selling some cider. I would only need a couple barrels of your apples, I already have plenty of stock,” Flim explained.

        It was understandable to see and sympathize with Flim’s situation, but that didn’t change Applejack’s mind.

        “I’m mighty sorry, but the funds we’ve already collected are the funds for my family that we need, and today we need to sell more cider so that we can have some vacation time. It’s not easy doing this, especially now that we’ve increased our production so much!”

        “But Applejack, we don’t want to go somewhere that will end up costing us money, like Fillydelphia! It’s so boring! The only place we want to go to is on that road, and-” Rainbow began.

        “Well, why didn’t you say so? I don’t need the vehicle me and my brother made if I stay here for the day, so why don’t you borrow it and go on the road? I’ve been there once, and it was one of the best experiences of my life!” Flim interrupted.

Rainbow couldn’t contain her excitement- there was finally a way to travel on the road with her friends. Sure, she could fly her way over, but it’d be so tiring in the heat, and she wouldn’t have anypony with her.

“I’m all for it, how about you, Apple-”

“Hold on just one second, Rainbow. Flim’s not telling us the whole story. Care to tell us everything, Flim?” Applejack questioned.

        Keeping himself professional and business-like, Flim went to go drive his vehicle over to Applejack.

        “Here’s the whole scenario. You all allow me to take a few of your apples, and to spend the day selling my cider for my own profit, and I will lend you this vehicle- without The Super Speedy Cider Squeezer 6000 of course- fully stocked with food and water so you can spend the day and night travelling on the road. I assure you, the road has a very special end to it, and the journey there will be fun. You won’t need to sell cider today for your vacation because I’ll essentially be funding the entire thing!” Flim explained.

        Anypony still half asleep was up and happy, glad to hear they could finally take a vacation somewhere they wanted. Even Applejack seemed convinced, as she hopped inside the vehicle to get a feel for it.

        “So, you’ll take care of the customers if we leave? And we can just go right now?”

        “Yes, everything is already prepared,” Flim replied. “I had originally come here to try and start another bet, but I found this way that benefits everypony!”

        “How does this thingy run, anyway?” Rainbow inquired. “I’d love to see how it works, sometimes flying does get tiring!”

        Flim gleamed a bright smile, filling with pride as he bragged about his vehicle.

        “Manufactured by me and my brother, but mostly myself. Basically, it’s already full of fuel, so all you have to do is pull this knob downwards. After that, you press your hoof against this pedal and move this circle thing, a wheel if you will, to steer where you’re going. This vehicle goes at a pretty decent speed, about as fast as an Ursa Minor at top speed, even though all you’ve seen is it’s slowest setting like we used last year. We needed to keep it stable for The Super Speedy-”

        “Yes, we all know about your cider maker. Now, let us go, everything’s already! Come on everypony!” Rainbow exclaimed excitedly.

        A few of the friends hopped inside the vehicle, not pausing to ask any more questions. If they were any less tired of making cider, there might be more hesitation, but this was their time to have some fun.

        “I guess I’ll try driving... I hope I don’t... hey, this is pretty easy!” Fluttershy said as she started the car, going at the insane speed of Tank at his fastest speed.

        Rainbow couldn’t take the snail-like speed Fluttershy was so eager to drive at, and took control of the wheel. Before she could hoof it on the gas, Twilight blocked her way with her hoof.

        “Wait, where is Rarity and Pinkie?”

        Out in the distance, the 4 in the vehicle saw Pinkie hunched over Rarity behind a tree, slobbering incessantly on each other’s mouths in a tight embrace. They had no idea everypony was watching.

        “Oh Celestia, that is just wrong in public. Could somepony go get them?” Twilight said, sighing heavily.

        “There’s no way I’m doing that,” Rainbow declined.

        “Nor am I,” Applejack responded.

        “Um... I really don’t want to...” Fluttershy said quietly.

        “I’m going to go make cider, but I wouldn’t do it anyway,” Flim said, to everypony’s surprise. It was assumed that he already left.

        “Ugh, fine! I’ll do it,” Twilight said, giving up.

        She hopped out of the vehicle, thinking of a way to split the two apart without making things awkward. A light, brilliant raspberry colour surrounded a branch above the two lovers, cracking and creaking until it snapped off, smashing down in between them and seperating them.

        “Hey, what’s the big idea, Twilight?” the two said in unison.

        “You two need to either get a room or get in the... car? Vehicle? Whatever Flim said, you guys need to get in it.”

        Pinkie and Rarity reluctantly agreed, cursing at Twilight under their breath.

        As the three ponies entered the car, Rainbow pushed Fluttershy away from the wheel again to gain control.

        “All right! Everypony’s here! Is everypony ready?” Rainbow called out.

        With cheers of excitement, it was clear that this trip was long overdue. With her hoof slamming against the pedal, Rainbow called out the one thing on everypony’s mind.

        “Road trip!"