Applebuck Season - Real Episode (4)

Applebuck SeasonChapter 4: Help

Twilight trotted happily down the main streets of Ponyville with a brisk pace to her step. She hummed  to herself cheerfully, deciding  not to let Applejack’s stubbornness get the best of her. However, once she came into the town’s main square, she saw a sight that made her gasp.

In the middle of the street were ponies, three to be exact, laying in an ungraceful heap and looking as if they had just been in a fight.

She looked on as one pony said to nopony in particular, “The horror, the horror!”

“It was awful!” the next in the group shouted.

“It was a disaster!” the last one finally commented. “A horrible, horrible disaster!”

Twilight looked up from the three to look for the disaster. What she saw instead was a seemingly normal Ponyville. All the buildings were intact and none of anypony’s property seemed to be ruined. “I don’t get it,” she said aloud.

Getting up, the second pony of the group  ran over to her house, in front of which lay tarnished lily beds. “Our gardens!” she exclaimed, “destroyed!”

“Every last flower, devoured!” the first pony cried, looking to her chewed up roses.

“By… by, them!” the last pony exclaimed, getting half way up from the ground and pointing a hoof  over to a large flowery path leading off the main road. On the path, dozens of baby bunnies chewed on whatever flower they could find, while Fluttershy tried desperately to stop them.

“Oh, oh… please stop, little bunnies,” the pegasus exclaimed, upset that she was being ignored. “Oh, no! Please… let’s go home! Oh my goodness!”

Twilight had reached her limit. “Alright, enough is enough.”

Applejack stood in the orchard again, bucking weakly with one leg at a tree atop a small hill. Her eyes were closed, but she continued muttering to herself. “Must… keep… buckin’. Must keep… buckin’. Just… a few… more.” A few apples dropped off the tree. “Must finish harvestin’...”

Twilight promptly marched up to her friend. “Alright, Applejack,” she stated sternly. “Your apple bucking isn’t just causing you problems. Its over-propelled pegasus, practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of brand new bouncing baby bunnies. I don’t care what you say. You. Need. Help.””

Applejack frowned, giving one last buck to the tree behind her and finally rearing the rest of its contents into the baskets she was wearing neatly onto her back. “Ha!” she exclaimed, smiling. “No I don’t, look!” She gestured a hoof over to the rest of the orchard from their elevated viewpoint. “I did it!” Looking over, Twilight couldn’t see a single tree with apples still on it.  “I harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help.” Taking a quick breath of relief, she continued, “how d’ya like them apples?”

“Um…” Big Macintosh’s voice struck up from next to Applejack, “how do you like them apples?” The large farmpony gestured to the opposite direction, where a quarter of the orchard was still full of un-bucked apple trees.

Applejack’s eyes went wide. She started muttering inaudibly in a high pitched voice, and then fainted.

“Applejack?” Twilight asked, as Applejack attempted to clear her head while still lying on the ground. “Applejack!” The unicorn announced again.

“Huh?” Applejack blinked in surprise to see Twilight standing above her.

“Oh, good. You’re okay.” Twilight said, sounding relieved. However, she quickly became stern. “Now Applejack,” she started, “I completely respect the Apple Family ways.” Applejack looked away in shame. “You’re always there to help anypony in need, so maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you.”

Applejack closed her eyes in acceptance. “Okay, Twilight.”

“I am not taking no for an answer-what!?”

“Yes, Twilight,” Applejack repeated, cupping her hooves together in a desperate plea. “Yes, please. I could really use your help.”

Twilight smiled and let out a sigh of relief. Everything was finally starting to work.

Dear Princess Celestia,

My friend Applejack is the best friend a pony could ever have, and she’s always there to help anypony. The only trouble is, when she needs help, she finds it hard to accept it. So, while friendship is about giving of ourselves to friends, it’s also about accepting what our friends have to offer.

Your faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle

Applejack walked into the orchard, where all five of her friends helped her clear the orchards. In front of her, she pushed a cart carrying a tray of five bottled refreshments. “How about ‘yall take a break?” With this her friends looked up and smiled. “I’ve got some fine apple juice waitin’ for ‘ya!” Setting the bottles down on a wooden picnic table, she sighed contently as her friends and her prepared to drink. Once everyone was at the table she began to speak. “Girls,” she said, looking at all five of her friends around the table. “I can’t thank you enough for this help. I was actin’ a bit stubborn.”

Twilight smiled. “A bit?”

“Okay, a might stubborn,” she conceded. “And I’m awful sorry. Now, I know that the town gave me the prized pony award, but the real award is havin’ you five as my friends.”

The five ponies smiled and took a sip of their drinks as Spike approached the table. After her drink, Rainbow announced, “phew! That applebucking sure made me hungry!”

“And I’ve got the perfect treat!” Spike declared, holding up a plate of half-eaten “baked bads”.

Pinkie Pie recoiled from next to him. “Eww, Spike, I threw those away! Where’d you get them?”

“From the trash!”

“Eww!” everypony said in accord. Twilight shook her head and walked away, her friends following.

“Just a little nibble?” Spike asked, smiling. “Come on!”

Twilight rolled her eyes.