Intermixture

The next morning Sarge was awoken early by Applejack over at Sweet Apple Acres.

"Rise'n shine Sarge." Applejack said, tapping on Sarge’s shoulder. "If we hurry we can finish buckin' all the apples today."

"Sounds good." Sarge said, yawning heavily and stretching.

Applejack smiled and left the barn, Sarge got up and followed soon after. By the time he'd gotten outside, Big Mac had already started to work.

"What about Emelc, or whatever his name was."

"Enolc." Enolc said from a tree which he bucked. "Enolc 'Relikee."

Sarge smirked in respect for Enolc's enthusiasm to work.

Instead of exchanging pleasantries, the group just went straight to work. It took them just a couple hours to finish off what was left of the apple trees.

"Listen Sarge." Applejack said, wiping sweat off of her brow. "I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I really appreciate you helpin' us out. And Enolc, bright n' early, you just got here but we appreciate your help too. Me n' Big Mac made y'all a thank you gift. It's inside the house."

"Really?" Enolc said.

"You shouldn't have." Sarge said. "Is it a shotgun?"

"What in tarnation is a shotgun?" Applejack asked.

"The most beautiful discovery since hurting Grif." Sarge said, pretending to wipe a tear from his eye.

"No it isn't a shotgun." Applejack said, laughing slightly. "It is something much better than that."

"Better than a shotgun?" Sarge said. "I find that hard to believe."

"Come on, it'll be easier if we just show you two what it is." Applejack said, opening the door to the home.

"Better than a shotgun." Sarge muttered. "That'll be the day."

"It would be the day if people started making shotguns around here, wouldn't it?" Enolc remarked.

"Very funny." Sarge muttered.

Applejack made her way to a table where Granny Smith and Applebloom were sitting. There two small boxes that sat on the table and Applejack grabbed them. She then walked up to Sarge and held one up to him.

"We know it isn't much, but we still hope ya like it." Applejack said, rubbing the back of her neck.

Sarge grabbed the box and opened it slowly and saw a dark brown stetson hat.

"You got me a hat?" Sarge asked.

"We dun’ have much so it was hard t' find a proper way to repay ya." Applejack said. "We just wanted t' tell ya that we really do appreciate ya bein’ here Sarge. And we consider ya to be apart of the apple family now."

Sarge gazed at the hat and grabbed it. He put it on and looked back at Applejack.

"D'ya like it?" Applejack asked.

"Yeah. Yeah I do." Sarge said happily.

Applejack walked up to Enolc with the other box. "Here y'are." She said with a smile. "Me and the apple family figured you'd be here fer a while t' help out, so we got you one too."

Enolc opened the box and put the hat on. "Thanks." He said as he flicked the top of his hat like a cowboy.