For Fun Photos, today was much like any other; the birds were chirping, the sun was bright and shining, and she was ready to go out with her camera and snap some shots of the residents of Ponyville. It was certainly an interesting job, but it was never a dull one, and the Ponyville Gazette paid her well for her work.
Fitting her grey newscolt cap snugly over her horn and brushing her bobbed brown mane out of the way of her light grey face, she stepped out into the cool spring air. It was late Spring so the weather was starting to warm back up, and the weather schedule said that this was going to be the last good cold snap of the year.
"Alright, what is on the list today?" Photos mused to herself. With a flick of her horn she pulled a small notepad out of a pocket in her dark green dress and flipped over to today's itinerary.
First she would have to make a stop over to Sweet Apple Acres and get a shoot of Applejack and her family for the front page write-up on Cider Season, followed up by a trip to town hall to attend a press conference with Mayor Mare. After that was a quick break for lunch followed by her daily route around town looking for any fun, interesting, or just plain weird pictures for the Gazette's "Pony Pic Of The Day" segment.
"Not too shabby," she said, replacing the notepad and checking her camera to make sure everything was in order. "I hope Applejack's already got some cider made up; if I'm lucky she might give me the first taste of the season!"
The spring thusly put into her step, she trotted down the road from her small townhouse on the far side of town, taking in the sights and sounds of ponies starting up their days as she went over to the town square on her way to Sweet Apple Acres.
"Fun Photos! Hey! Over here!" a familiar voice called to her from across the square. She turned 'round towards Town Hall to see her journalist friend and fellow employee at the Gazette, a dark grey pegasus named Silver Stroke, flapping his way towards her.
"Oh! Morning Silver," Photos greeted, a little weirded out that he was up this early. "What're you up to?"
"Oh, just 'helping' set things up for the announcement today," Silver replied with some playful derision. "The Town Hall ponies are so finicky, they've barely let me do anything to help get ready; when I saw you walking by I thought it would be for the best to let them handle it and then I'll just come back in time for the interview. How about you?"
"Oh, you know, just going out to Sweet Apple Acres to get some pictures for Cider Season," Photos answered. "It's a bit of a ways out there, so you can join me if you'd like. I mean, unless you had other things to do, that is."
"Fun, I would be delighted to walk and talk," Silver answered. "To be perfectly honest, I was just going to mill around Sugarcube Corner until the press conference."
"Okay then," Photos replied, the pair of them trotting out of town square and towards the road leading to Sweet Apple Acres.
"You know, I'm going to be doing the pictures for that conference today," Photos said. "Kinda wish the editor had told me you were going to be the interviewer, I would've discussed camera angles and whatnot with you."
"Really? Jeez, Printing Press needs to get on the ball with communication, but I'm glad that it's you that's doing it."
"Seriously?" Photos asked, a little perplexed. "I mean, I know I'm good, but there's probably better ponies for a press conference than me. What about Flash Bulb? She's good at that sort of work."
"She's also in Winneapolis for some convention or another, and her pictures tend to be a little overexposed for this sort of thing," Silver replied.
"Snap Shot?" Photos queried.
"Pretty sure he got thrown in dragon jail for trespassing in their lands, and the editor and Princess Celestia are still working out the amnesty papers," Silver answered with a chuckle. "He always did know how to get himself into trouble."
"Photo Finish?" Photos asked with increasing incredulity.
"She only does fashion, is based out of Canterlot, and is a guest photographer at best, you know that," Silver answered playfully. "Seriously, do you pay attention at all when you're at the office?"
"Not really, the only times I'm ever there are to turn in my pictures or get my stories for the week," Photos replied.
"Well, can't say I blame ya. Printing Press has been riding my flank all week about this conference, and all it's over is some new park or something! I wish I had more opportunities to just get out of the office, you know?"
"At least you've got me to keep you from going stir crazy in there," Photos said, playfully punching Silver in the shoulder.
"And at least you've got me to keep you in the loop as far as your place of employment is concerned," Silver replied, returning the playful punch.
* * *
Sweet Apple Acres was simply buzzing with activity when Fun Photos and Silver Stroke rounded the corner, the soft soil of the dirt road worn down by cartwheels and hoofprints. There were some dozen or so stout stallions wheeling in barrels and plywood in large carts, with Applejack and Big Mac directing the flow of traffic while Apple Bloom and Granny Smith looked on from the fence.
"Applejack, she's here!" Apple Bloom called as she noticed the pair walking by. Applejack turned, giving a friendly smile and wave as she did.
"Big Mac, keep the workers workin', I'll handle this," Applejack said as she left her brother to his work. He only replied with a taciturn nod before returning to his work.
"Morning!" Photos greeted, extending a hoof, "I'm Fun Photos from the Gazette, and let me just say that it is an honor getting to do the pictures for you today."
"Aw shucks, you're gonna make me blush," Applejack replied, taking Photos' hoof in a firm shake. "I'm just happy we're getting the publicity; with the amount of cider we've made this year we're gonna need everypony in town to buy some to get rid of it all."
"Well, you can count on me to be first in line when you start selling," Photos declared, before gesturing to Silver. "Also, this is my friend Silver Stroke. He's a desk writer at the Gazette who walked me over. Hope you don't mind that he's here."
"Don't worry, its fi- say, you're a pegasus, right?" Applejack asked of Silver.
"Born and bred," Silver answered, flexing his wings so that the light caught them just right. "Why do you ask?"
"...How strong's your grip?" Applejack asked again.
"Uh... pretty good?"
"Super, then I need some help," Applejack continued. "See, we've got a lot of cider barrels stored in the barn, but we're running out of space on the ground floor and none of the worker ponies are pegasi or unicorns. Think you could get some of them up in the loft for us?"
Photos turned to face Silver, a pleading expression on her face. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Applejack, and Silver seemed to pick up on what she was putting down.
"Uh... how hard can it be?" Silver replied, a somewhat forced grin contrasting Photos' genuine smile of appreciation.
"Great!" Applejack said. "Go talk to Big Mac, he'll get you started. I'll make sure to set aside some cider for you when we open up, pro bono."
Quickly Silver cantered over to Big Mac while Applejack returned her attention to the photo shoot.
"So, how're we gonna do this, sugarcube?" Applejack asked. "Do you need me to pose, 'cause I'm not super good at that."
"Oh, you should only need to pose for the big family photo at the end," Photos answered, prepping her camera with her magic as she spoke. "Mostly it'll be candid shots of you, Mac, the workers, and apparently Silver getting work done, a few of Granny Smith and Apple Bloom for some folksy charm, and maybe a nice scenery shot of the orchard for flavor. I'll be doing most of the work, you just keep doing what you were doing."
"Well thank goodness," Applejack replied with notable relief. "Last time I did a photo shoot was when Rarity roped me into one of her fashion shoots. It lasted so long I was pretty sure my own hooves were gonna pop off and run away and it took a week to get all the glitter out of my fur."
The pair shared a quick giggle, and soon enough they were underway. Photos had done a lot of shoots in her career, but there was something about candid shots that she loved more than anything else; they felt more natural, more real, and could capture all the fun, informal moments that you lose in a scripted shoot.
The sun was well up in the sky by the time that Photos had filled up her roll of film, save for the final family picture, and decided that that was enough for the editing department to sift through for good material. It also just happened to coincide with the end of the shipment of barrels and wood, meaning that Silver was done with his "volunteer" work.
"Alright, that should do it," Applejack declared to the gathered workers and her family, as well as Silver. "Thank y'all so much for the help, and especially to Silver for getting all those barrels up into the loft!"
"Yeah... yay me..." Silver slurred out. His mane was matted to his head with sweat, his wings hung loosely at his sides, and he had tied his blue scarf to his forehead to keep the sweat out of his eyes, having long since abandoned his light brown waistcoat.
"Now everypony gather 'round so Fun Photos can get her last big picture, and then y'all can go home," Applejack continued as she started corralling all the workers and her family to the front gate to Sweet Apple Acres. The stallions all crowded up in the back, with Silver standing off to the side of them while the Apples gathered up in the front.
"Alright, everypony say 'cider!'" Photos declared as she leveled the camera up to her eye.
"Cider!" everypony cheered, although Silver was half-hearted at best. With a quick flex of her magic the button clicked down and the shutter went off with a satisfying click.
"Okay, that'll do it," Applejack said to the gathered crowd. "Thanks so much for all your help, and we'll see all of you next year!"
Quickly the workers dispersed, taking their carts with them as the rest of the Apples went back up to the house. Applejack hung back with Photos and Silver, a warm smile decorating her freckled face.
"Thanks again for doing this," she said, "and double thanks to you, Silver, for the help with the loft; we would've been at this for at least another hour if you hadn't showed up."
"Well... it never... hurts... to help," Silver replied through labored breaths. "You... got a... shower I... can borrow?"
"Sure, back up at the house, upstairs, second door on the left, you can't miss it. You've earned it, trust me."
Without another word Silver shuffled up the path to the house, head still hung low and the tips of his wings making little tracks in the dirt.
"You think you might've overdone it?" Photos asked.
"Nah, he'll be fine," Applejack replied. "A little manual labor never hurt anypony, although he's gonna be sore as the dickens tomorrow."
"Good thing he's in good standing with our editor, so he'll probably be able to get the day off tomorrow."
"Yeah, about that," Applejack said, "I noticed some of the shots you were taking didn't seem to be the most glamorous; a lot of working and mishaps, stuff like that. Are you sure your editor's gonna like that?"
"Oh, Printing Press can be a bit of a tightwad, but he knows that I take good shots, especially for stuff like this. He likes my candids, he says they have a lot of heart and emotion."
"Really? I guess Rarity's kinda ruined my perception of photo shoots. How'd you get into this line of work, anyway?"
"Oh, you know how it goes," Photos replied, kicking the dirt idly as she did, "you get caught taking secret pictures of your classmates one too many times, get called a shutterbug by every adult around, and suddenly everypony's telling you you'd be great as a photographer."
"That simple, huh?" Applejack replied. "Is that what you're cutie mark's for, or did you have to learn it the hard way?"
"Oh, that's not my special talent; I'm actually a little embarrassed to admit what it is. It's why I always wear this dress," Photos added, brushing a bit of dirt off her collar as she did.
"Aw shucks, it can't be that bad. Imagine having to go around with fruit on your flank for your whole life. Besides, I can keep a secret," Applejack added with a wink.
"You promise?"
"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Applejack recited, and taking care not to actually poke herself in the eye.
"Okay... you are the Element of Honesty, after all," Photos said, drawing Applejack's ear close as she did.
"It's a bottle of hot sauce," Photos whispered, as softly as she possibly could while still being intelligible.
"Really?" Applejack asked incredulously. "That's all?"
"Uh-huh. My parents practically bottle-fed me on the stuff, so I guess it's always been my favorite food. I still put it on just about everything, and Dad runs his own sauce company back home in Mareizona."
"Well, that's nothin' to be embarrassed about," Applejack said. "It shows your ties to your family, just like mine does. It may not fit your job, but it fits where you come from, and in my opinion that matters far more."
"You think so?" Photos asked.
"I know so," Applejack answered. "Plus, food-based cutie marks are the best if you ask me."
Photos giggled, both from Applejack's assertion and some genuine relief. She had always been self conscious of her cutie mark ever since her affinity for camerawork had started showing up; she had worried that she had gotten the wrong mark and that it would haunt everything she did outside of it, so hearing Applejack's words of encouragement helped set her mind at ease.
"I better go check on Silver, make sure he didn't fall asleep in the shower," Photos said.
"Yeah, we worked him pretty hard," Applejack replied sheepishly. "Just be sure to swing 'round the barn before y'all take off, I've got a jug of cider for the both of you for all your hard work."
Photos started up the dirt path to the house before turning back around to catch Applejack as she went down the trail to the barn.
"Oh, and Applejack?" Photos called. Applejack turned to face her, smile still on her face.
"Thanks," Photos finished.
* * *
Fun Photos felt like she was walking on air on the way back from Sweet Apple Acres, her saddlebags laden with good pictures and even better cider. She couldn't help but have a big, goofy grin plastered across her face as she skipped down the road.
"Uh, Photos," Silver piped up from about a yard behind, "not that I'm not super jazzed for you, but could you maybe keep pace with the pony whose whole body feels like it was ripped apart and slap-dashed back together?"
"Oh, sorry," Photos replied as she waited for Silver to catch up. "It's just that that was a super good shoot, and we got the first cider of the season out of it!"
"The fruits of back-breaking labor are truly the sweetest of them all," Silver replied. "Maybe after the interview we can split this delightful beverage over lunch?"
"Sure. Have you been to that new café out where the library used to be?"
"They built something there?" Silver asked. Photos had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at his lack of awareness.
"Yeah," Photos answered. "After Tirek destroyed it and Princess Twilight moved the library to her castle they just had this big empty plot of land to do something with, so they made a café. I think they named it Golden Oaks as well, in honor of the old library."
"Well, let it not be said that I'm not open to new things," Silver said. "I'm surprised we didn't run an article on it."
"We did," Photos answered smugly, "it's just that you never read the paper."
"I work on it, I get my fill of the Gazette at the office," Silver replied, defensive but joking.
"And that's why you never know what's going on except for what you report on," Photos said.
"Look, we can play 'who doesn't read what' after the interview. I mean, it's already... 11:30?!"
Silver was staring, mouth agape and eyes wide as dinner plates, at the pocket watch he kept in his waistcoat. Photos quickly shoved his head aside to confirm, and her heart felt like it dropped into her hooves when she saw that the time was right.
"Cripes! The conference's at noon!" Photos exclaimed. "C'mon, we've got to move!"
Photos hurriedly secured her bags and broke out into a gallop, leaving tiny dust clouds as she ran. She had never been late for a shoot, and she wasn't about to start now.
"Wait up!" Silver called from behind her. She turned her head back to see him, desperately trying to keep up and even flapping his wings against the ground to gain some extra speed.
After a few minutes of running the town crested over the hill, and the pair noticed with some horror that a crowd was already gathering around Town Hall in preparation for the Mayor's announcement.
"Follow me, I know a short cut!" Photos said. She snagged Silver's scarf up in her magic, dragging him down a back alley just within the borders of Ponyville proper.
The patter of hooves on dirt slowly gave way to the clattering of cobblestones as they wound their way through the back alleys and side streets of Ponyville. The town was small, but its outer residential areas were quite dense and made for a lot of nooks and crannies for quick navigation.
Soon enough the pair were dumped out into town square, just in time to see Mayor Mare open up the doors to Town Hall. Photos also noticed with dismay that there was a seething mass of ponies in front of the stage; she wasn't going to get any good shots like this.
"Oh no, we're too late!" Photos groused. "Look at all those ponies, there's no way we'll get a word in edgewise with the Mayor."
Photos turned to Silver to see him staring intently upward, a deep furrow in his brow indicating his feverish thought process. It was rare that she saw him get like this, but when he did it meant that he was planning something.
"Photos, how heavy are you?" he asked, keeping his eyes to the sky.
"That's a little rude, and it's certainly not the time to ask," Photos admonished.
"I don't mean it like that, just give me an estimate," he smiled back. The seriousness of his tone cut through to her.
"I don't know, not much without my stuff," Photos answered. "Maybe a bit less than you?"
"Alright, I have an idea, but you're gonna have to trust me," Silver continued. Quickly he pulled his scarf off with his teeth, offering it to Photos. She gingerly took it, perplexed and worried about what he had in mind.
"What's this for?" Photos asked.
"Your waist," Silver answered, cracking his neck and stretching his wings as he did. "I'm gonna need you to get on my back, tie that around our waists with your magic, and then I'm gonna use my wings to jump us into the air so you can get some overhead shots over the crowd."
"Are you nuts?!" Photos asked. "After all that work you did for Applejack? You're in no condition to fly on your own, let alone with me and my camera!"
"Well, it won't be flying technically, just really powerful jumping. I won't be able to do it much, but I can trust your photography skills to get the shots we need with the stamina I have left."
"No, I can't, this is too much!" Photos continued to protest. "I may be good, but I'm not that good!"
"You sure?" Silver asked. "Remember that picture last month in the paper that you got of Rainbow Dash just as she was pulling out of a nosedive? The one you had to climb up a tree to get?"
"I was just in the right place at the right ti— wait, since when do you read the paper?"
"I don't, but I know talented photography when it's hanging on the office cork board," Silver answered. "You're really good, and I have every belief that you'll pull this off."
Whatever Fun Photos was feeling in her chest was an emotion she couldn't quite articulate. It felt like pride, happiness, and an inordinate amount of relief, but whatever it was was bolstering her spirits in a way she hadn't felt since she had first started working at the Gazette.
"...Alright," Photos replied, shuffling off her saddlebags as she did, "but lunch is on you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Silver said. He kneeled down to give her better positioning, and Photos could've sworn she heard his spine crack as she mounted his back and secured herself with the scarf.
"Ready?" Silver asked, wings outstretched.
Doing one last check of her angles and setting her shutter to rapid-fire mode, Photos looked down to him and nodded.
"Ready," she answered.
"Then hang on," Silver said, "and try and hold that camera steady."
With a big downward thrust Photos and Silver ascended, rising about ten or so feet in the air. Photos could feel her stomach sink down through her hooves and into the cobblestone, but Silver's ascension was surprisingly stable for somepony who looked half-dead not an hour before.
Just as they reached the apex Photos lensed her shot up. The angle they were at provided a nice overview of the crowd, as well as letting her catch a glimpse of some ponies in the crowd staring at the pair of them, as well as providing a neat shot of the Mayor and Town Hall.
The shutter let out five rapid clicks as they descended, slowed somewhat by Silver's wings before they landed with a dull thud on the ground.
"What'd it look like?" Silver asked, his voice a bit haggard. "Get anything good?"
"The shots lined up well, and the descent gave me some good angles that weren't just the tops of heads and downward faces," Photos answered cheerfully. "I'd say another one or two of those and we'll be set."
Silver didn't answer, only letting out a snort of exertion before stretching his wings outward again and jumping. The lurch wasn't as bad, and Photos was even able to get shots going on the ascent as well as the descent.
The landing, however, wasn't as good as the last. Silver's legs gave out from under him even after slowing down with his wings, and Photos had the good common sense to get off of him before she crushed his ribs and spine.
"You okay?" Photos asked, helping Silver up to his hooves.
"Pretty sure I pulled all of my rib, chest, and wing muscles doing that, but I'll last," Silver answered as he winced in pain. "What's more important is did you get what you need?"
"Yeah," Photos answered, the relief in her voice palpable. "That was actually a really good idea!"
"Yep, I'm just full of those," Silver answered through gritted teeth. "What say we get some lunch before my rib cage leaps out of me and runs away as my wings beat my about the head and face?"
Photos snorted a laugh at Silver's gallows humor as she put her things away and slipped her saddlebags back on.
"That sounds good."
* * *
Their lunch at the new Golden Oak café was enjoyable enough, although it had taken them a while to get there after Silver's brilliant plan. After Silver picked up the check the pair went their separate ways; he declared that he would be going to the spa to give his body a much needed bit of R&R, while Fun Photos started her rounds around town looking for fun candids for the "Pony Pic Of The Day" segment.
The rest of the day went much like any other; walking the town, snapping shots where she saw them, and having a lot of time to think. Think about what Applejack had said, think about what Silver had said.
So wrapped up was she in her work and her own head that Photos didn't even notice that the sun had gone down until the streetlights came on. Quickly she made her way back to her house through the twilit streets, its humble facade a welcome comfort after the hectic day she'd had.
She didn't even take her dress of when she got in the door, only taking the time to unpack her stuff before flopping into bed. Developing the film could wait, she just wanted to sleep.
She was just starting to doze off when a soft nock echoed off her front door. Curious and more than a little suspicious she trotted over to the entrance and cracked the door open.
"Hello?" Photos asked.
"Uh, is this Fun Photos' house?" asked a skinny young stallion wearing the outfit of a messenger.
"Mm-hm," Photos answered.
"Letter for you," the messenger said, holding a small envelope out for her. "Sorry for the lateness miss, he wanted to make sure you got this today."
"He?" Photos asked. "Who was it?"
"Sorry, I can't say," the messenger answered. "My boss would have my tail if I went around blabbing other pony's identities like that."
"Oh, right, duh. Well, thanks for the help," Photos said, shutting the door as she did.
She lit a small lamp with her magic and sat down at the kitchen table. The envelope only had her name on it; no return address and no way of knowing who sent it.
Not wanting to delay the suspense any longer, she opened up the envelope. Out of it poured a wide selection of pictures cut out from the newspaper, as well as a hoofwritren letter.
Upon closer inspection, Photos realized that all the pictures were ones she had taken for the paper; there was one of Pinkie Pie sneezing confetti, another of Princess Twilight and her dragon friend having lunch, and still another of Cheerilee trying to get a schoolfilly's cat out of a tree. Seeing the pictures gave her a pretty solid idea of who had sent it, and a smile decorated her face as she read the letter.
~ ~ ~
Hey Photos! Sorry for the late call, but I just wanted to say thanks for the great day! I'm gonna have the next couple of days off (don't worry, I cleared it with the boss) and I didn't want that to wait, but I also wanted to say a few things. First things first, I absolutely love the Pony Pic Of The Day section; it's the only part of the paper I read, and it's solely because of the pictures you take. It always brightens up my morning and remind me of the zany weirdness of the town I live in. Coming from the big city like I do makes you really appreciate a sense of community, and you are a focal point for this community whether you think so or not.
Secondly, you need to give yourself some more credit. You are a wonderful photographer, and I don't think anypony else has quite the talent for capturing those little fun moments in life the way you do. You don't just find the funny moments, you find the tender ones, the emotional ones, and yes, the knee-slappingly hilarious ones too. You have a gift for this, and I'm proud to know such a talented pony.
Anyway, I guess that's my two cents. I'm not gonna make this super long or anything (I'm guessing you're about as tired as I am), but I just wanted to say that. See ya at work, or maybe just around town sometime. Feel free to drop by my place anytime for lunch or something!
— Silver Stroke
P.S. Also, if you see me out and about in the next couple of days, DON'T tell Printing Press or he'll have my hide!
~ ~ ~
Photos read over the letter a few times, and each time the words started to sink a little deeper. She had been given a lot of words of encouragement over the years; from her family, from teachers, even from her professional colleagues, but this was the first time where it felt genuine.
She gathered up the letter and the pictures in a ball of magic and took them all into her room, where she had an entire wall dedicated to some of her best shots. It was covered in glossy printouts and yellowing newspaper clippings alike, and nearly the entire thing was overlapping itself at some point or another.
Finding a relatively clear spot by her desk, Photos pulled out a tack and pinned the letter up to the space. It was the only piece of written work she had up there, but she knew that's where it belonged.
* * *
Author's Note
This is a birthday present for tumblr user typhwosion, who also runs the funpicturesofponies blog as well as daily-applejack.
