Applebuck Season - Real Episode (4)

by Goatmeal

Rating: everyone
Tags: Comedy, Slice of Life
Length: 7270

The fourth episode of MLP:FIM in story form.

This is a written version of the fourth episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I do not own My Little Pony, nor do I plan on using the episode or this story for monetary gain. I only wish to entertain.

If you wish to be notified of more Real Episodes, be sure to watch me or bookmark me, as each episode will be done in individual stories. I typically stick to scene breaks as chapter breaks, but sometimes I will make an exception.

As always, I am very open to corrections or recommendations is spelling, grammar, or plot. I try to make the reading smooth and immersing. (At least, as immersing as you can get with an episode you've probably already seen!)

My current prior editor is FIMFiction user shadowsreached, who does amazing work. I encourage you to go to her user page, read her stories, leave a comment, or anything of the sort. She really deserves our gratitude.

Without further ado, the story.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-08-06 23:14:09 UTC

The Orchard

Remember to watch or bookmark me for more Real Episodes! Griffon of the Brush Off is coming next.Applebuck SeasonChapter 1: The Orchard

“Boy, howdy,” Applejack stated, eyeing numerous rows of trees beneath her. “I’ve got my work cut out for me.” For miles around, apple trees could be seen standing close together, coating the hills and valleys of Ponyville in wood and apples. Big Macintosh, although having a few white bandages wrapped around his stomach, stood tall besides his sister under the noon sun, admiring the sheer number of trees. Applejack continued with a wave of her hoof. “That there is the biggest bumper crop ‘a apples I ever laid eyes on.”

“Eeyup,” Big Macintosh said, being sure to keep the strand of wheat which hung from his mouth in place. “Too big for you to handle on your own.” Clearly he was electing to help his sister.

“Come on, big brother.” Applejack stated with a smile and soft nudge to Big Macintosh’s side. “You need to rest up and get yourself better. I haven’t met an apple orchard yet that I can’t handle.” With an emphasis on ‘yet’, and the need to accentuate her statement, Applejack struck a stray hoof on her brother’s injury. Grimacing, Big Macintosh glared at Applejack while putting up a rear leg in an attempt to shield his wound from further harm.  “Sorry,” Applejack apologized in heart. Looking back to the field, she continued, “I’ll take a bite out of this job by day’s end.”

“Biting off more than you can chew is just what I’m afraid of.”

Applejack turned her head and glared at Big Mac with a questioning eye. “Are you sayin’ my mouth is makin’ promises my legs can’t keep?” It was a challenge.

Big Macintosh looked over at her with a clearly unmoved expression. “Eeyup.”

Applejack looked affronted. “Why, of all the…” She let down a raised hoof to stomp the ground in opposition. “This is your sister Applejack, remember? The loyalist of friends and—” She moved to get into the face of her brother. “—the most dependable of ponies!?”

“But still only one pony,” he tried to reason. “And one pony plus hundreds of apple trees just doesn’t add up to—”

“Don’t you use your fancy mathematics to muddle the issue!” Applejack interjected, stepping back to point an accusing hoof at her brother.  “I said I could handle this harvest, and I’m gonna prove it to you!” To once again emphasize her point, she stamped the ground with her hoof stubbornly.

Big Macintosh focused on his sisters next words as Applejack continued. “I’m gonna get every apple out of those trees this Applebuck Season,” she stomped her hoof yet again, “all by myself!”

Seconds later her ears dropped and, having realized the enormity of the promise she just made, she gulped with a worried expression strewn across her face.

The Prized Pony

Applebuck SeasonChapter 2: The Prized Pony

Walking through an orchard path, Applejack viewed the trees around her. She had just left from atop the hill, knowing full well that she needed to get started as soon as possible. “Well, I better get kickin’,” she said, stopping for a moment to look around at the job that needed to be done. “These apples aren’t gonna shake themselves outta the trees.”

Suddenly, the ground beneath her hooves started to tremble, and from above her, an apple began to wobble from its branch. With cruel irony, it landed atop her head.

“Hey!” she exclaimed in surprise, looking to the fallen apple and then behind her. With the sudden realization of what was happening, she cried, “Oh, no,” and rushed off towards town.

Rainbow Dash rose into the air as Ponyville began to shake. She squinted and, from her heightened viewpoint, it didn’t take long to figure out what was causing the shaking of the small town.

“Stampeeede!” she yelled for the town to hear.

Surely enough, dozens of cows were charging towards Ponyville, trails of dust being left in their wake. With the announcement of the stampede, ponies throughout the town frantically rushed about. Some attempted to close themselves into their houses, pulling shutters closed and moving ‘welcome’ mats safely to the other side of the door, while others simply ran and cried out “stampede” in blind worry.

As the ground trembled more violently, a clear sign that the stampede was drawing nearer, Pinkie Pie, seemingly oblivious to the fact that there was a danger to be had, bounced up and down along the ground. “He-e-e-ey!” she said after giggling. “Thi-i-is ma-akes my-y vo-o-oice sound si-i-illy!”

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight shouted over the commotion to her absurd friend. “Are you crazy? Run!”

“Everypony calm down!” the mayor stated calmly yet firmly from the center of the town’s havoc.  “There is no need to panic!”

Rarity trotted over to the mayor. “But mayor?” she asked in worry. “What ever shall we do?” Lifting a hoof to her head, the unicorn swooned dramatically.

“Look there!” Rainbow announced, pointing a hoof over to the stampede. Rarity looked over.

Rushing through the stampede was Applejack, with her dog Winona trailing right beside her. “Yee-haw!” she called in exhilaration.

The ponies of Ponyville  cheered.

“Move aside, Winona,” Applejack commanded, knowing they couldn’t do much on the inside of the herd. Barking her approval, Winona did as she was told. Applejack subsequently moved to the outer front-right edges of the stampede to make sure no cows stayed from the pack.  “Put ‘em up, girl!” Applejack shouted to Winona, calling for the dog to move to the outer-left of the herd. Winona did as she was told with ease, barking again to let her owner know she was in position.

As the stampede got  closer to Ponyville Rarity looked away  in fear as Fluttershy watched on in terror. Pinkie Pie, a bag of popcorn in her hooves, said, “this is the best rodeo show I’ve ever seen!” Twilight simply rolled her eyes at her pink friend’s odd antics.

Realizing how close they were now coming to the town, Applejack thought quickly. “Come on, little doggies!” she attempted to say to a traumatized cow on her left. “Turn!” with this command, Applejack  bumped her entire left side into the cow, trying to maneuver its path away from the town. When the cow didn’t respond, she whistled. “Winona, put ‘em up!”

Winona, leaping upon several cows backs to move faster, ran to move in front of the lead cow. Applejack, in order to get a better advantage, hopped upon the back of a cow as well. “Haha! Gotcha!”

Seeing her pet was in place, Applejack spun a lasso around in the air. With impeccable precision, the farmpony snagged the lead cow’s neck and, hopping down, she gave a great pull to the right  as Winona barked to help move the cow in that direction. “Atah girl!” Applejack called as the cow in front began moving to the right. Soon, it was turned fully away from Ponyville and, with the lead cow now taking a new direction, the other cows followed suit. “Yee-haw!” Applejack cheered one last time.

From Ponyville, the on looking ponies cheered, happy that their town was safe from danger.

“Whoooa!” Applejack grunted, digging her hooves into the ground to stop the running cow she had lassoed. Once it stopped, and all the others stopped, Applejack spat the lasso to  the ground with a “hoooie” and walked to the center of where the cows now stood. She asked them kindly, “now what was that all about?”

After hesitating slightly, a nearby brown spotted cow mooed in reply. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “Oh, my, beggin’ your pardon Applejack, but, Mooriella here,” she indicated towards a nearby yellow-spotted cow, “saw one of those nasty snakes.” With the mention of snakes, the rest of the cows of the herd looked suddenly frightened. “And it just gave us all the willies, dont’cha know?”

“I completely understand,” Applejack said, nodding in understanding. “Just, next time? Try and steer clear of Ponyville.”

“We certainly will, Applejack,” the brown spotted cow answered with respect as she and the rest of the heard began their trek back home. “So long, Winona!” she called back happily to the dog.

Winona barked her farewell.

After the cows had departed at last Applejack and Winona came upon a hill which allowed for the ponies of Ponyville to see them both. They all cheered upon her arrival. Rising to her hind legs she cried a “Yee-haw!” before rushing off again to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Yee-haw!” Pinkie Pie imitated with the leave of her friend, bucking her legs as she bounced to the center of the town.  “Ride ‘em, cowpony!”

The mayor was at a loss for words. She looked at Twilight and Rarity. “Applejack was just, just-”

“Appletastic!” Pinkie interjected.

“Exactly!” the mayor agreed, looking pleased. “We must do something to thank Applejack for single-hoofedly saving the town.”

“I know,” Pinkie said, her eyes glittering with an idea “a party!”

In front of the town hall, ponies decorated the area with various balloons, streamers, and flags. Not one inch of the town, even the ground, was missing something on it. Applejack’s thank-you ceremony would begin soon, and everypony wanted it to look great.

With Spike on her back, Twilight walked over to Rarity who was tying a ribbon around a tree. “We all ready?”

“Just one last thing!” Rarity replied. Using her magic, she levitated an enormous banner from the ground at their hooves and hung it on the main hall’s support beams. It was golden-yellow with five apples decorating it, some with stems spreading about decoratively. “Now we’re ready.”

Twilight turned her head back towards Rarity after looking at the banner. “Is Applejack all set?”

Rainbow glided over to the two ponies. “Actually, I haven’t seen her all week.” She landed on the ground, looking worried.

“Not since the stampede!” Pinkie Pie added cheerfully, trotting over.

“But she’ll be here for sure,” Rainbow said confidently, holding one hoof in the air. “Applejack is never late.”

It was the day of Applejack’s thank-you ceremony and all of Ponyville stood in the town square, looking towards the podium while chatting animatedly to pass the time. Twilight walked up to the podium and magically adjusted a tall stack of notes she had prepared for Applejacks’ thank-you speech. Raising the first note card, she spoke to the crowd, “welcome, everypony!” The crowd hushed. “Today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small.” She flipped to the next card. “A pony, whose contributions to-”

“Did you see Applejack’s slick moves out there!?” Rainbow Dash interrupted forcefully, driving Twilight to move out of the way. “What an athlete!” she announced, raising her hooves in the air in exclamation and smiling. Twilight scrunched her face in annoyance as  Rainbow continued. “This week, she’s gonna help me with my new flying trick, and I know it’s gonna be so awesome!” She held her hooves to her cheeks, hardly able to contain her excitement.

“Exactly!” Twilight said, pushing her friend off the stage roughly and levitating her papers to begin once again.  “And-”

Suddenly Pinkie popped up in front of Twilight.  “This week, I get to run Sugarcube Corner for the first time!” she exclaimed excitedly.

Twilight looked at Pinkie curiously from behind. “What does that have to do with Applejack?”

Pinkie blinked in question, a blank look locked on her face. “Oh!” she said after a few seconds. “Applejack, one of the best bakers ever, is gonna help me! Applejack makes everything great, so free samples for everypony!” The crowd cheered at the promise of delicious treats.

Twilight gave a laugh of deliberate annoyance and pushed Pinkie out of the way unceremoniously. “Okay, that’s great,” she muttered under her breath. She levitated her notes once more. “Now, if I could just make a point without being interr-”

“Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, nudging the unicorn on the side from below.

“-upted,” Twilight finished lamely before dropping her notes to the ground and allowing Fluttershy to take the podium alongside her, although irritated.

“Twilight? I’m so sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is also helping me this week with the official bunny census, where we count up all the new baby bunnies that were born this season.” Twilight rolled her eyes, but Fluttershy took no notice. “She’s gonna help gather them using her wonderful herding skills.” Finished, Fluttershy looked over and smiled at Twilight. She immediately regretted it.

“Anyone else?” Twilight asked the crowd with clenched teeth as Fluttershy shrunk slowly away from the podium. “Anyone?” Nopony spoke up. “No?” Seeing that the crowd wasn’t going to try and interrupt her she levitated her notes again and placed a renewed smile on her face. “Well then, as I was trying to say…” She stopped upon seeing the mayor of the town standing there, an expectant smile upon her face. She tossed her notes in the air, scattering pages everywhere. “Ugh! Never mind.”

Walking up to the podium calmly, the mayor cleared her throat. “And so, with no further ado, it is my privilege to give the prized pony of Ponyville award, to our beloved guest of honor; a pony of the upmost trustworthiness, liability, and integrity, Ponyville’s most capable and dependable friend, Applejack!” Everypony cheered as the mayor pointed to her left towards a pair of dark red curtains. They drew back and  revealed…no one. Everypony, although already cheering ahead of time, stopped and gasped.

“Whoa, way to go, Applejack!” Spike cheered, not noticing she wasn’t there. “That was awesome, I mean… heh.” He shrunk down as he noticed his mistake, blushing. The mayor shifted uncomfortably at the podium, unsure of what to do. She coughed lightly and Spike added unnecessarily, “Awkward…”

“I’m here!” Applejack suddenly called from the back of the crowd. She walked up to the podium with  two saddle-baskets full of apples on her back, so full some were dropping to the ground as she walked. Her mane was a disheveled mess. “I’m here…” She announced again,  yawning loudly. “Sorry I’m late, whoa…” she separated the crowd with rough pushes. “I was just… whoah. Did I get your tail?” she asked a pony  she had bumped into. Coming to the podium at last she looked at the crowd with tired eyes.

“Miss Mayor!” she greeted happily, pushing the mare out of the way before she could reply. “Thank you kindly for this here…heh…award thingy.” Her eyes  squinted, as she tried to understand what was going on around her. She walked over to the trophy that was being presented before yawing once again. “It’s so bright and shiny and…” She looked at her reflection in the curved metal. “heh, heh-heh, I sure do look funny..heh.” She moved her head back and forth in a trance-like motion. “Whoo, whoo!” Pinkie, seeing an excellent opportunity for some fun, moved up and copied Applejack.

“Whoo, whoo!” The two ponies said together, moving their head back and forth in an effort to make their faces look as silly as possible.

“Oookay?” Twilight said uncomfortably, back on the stage once more. “Well, thank you Applejack, for saving us from that scary stampede” she said, before looking to the crowd to say her last bit. “And always being there for everypony.”

Applejack yawned. “Yeah…I like helpin’ the pony folks, and…” she yawned again. “And stuff…”  Before she could help it she  drifted off and began to snore, still standing in front of the entire crowd. Twilight and Pinki looked around nervously. Realizing her mistake she shook  herself awake and  continued, “oh, yeah! Thanks!” Grabbing the  trophy handle with her mouth, she  began dragging it off the stage. Everypony was silent, all that could be heard was the awkward scratch of the metal on wood, and then ground, as the farmpony retraced  her steps, and continued to drag the trophy all the way to the back of the crowd, and then off to Sweet Apple Acres.

Once she was out of sight, Twilight spoke up. “Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little…”

“Tired?” Rainbow aided.

“Dizzy?” Fluttershy added.

“Messy?” Rarity said, at which Rainbow looked at her with disbelief. “Well! Did you see her mane?”

“She looked fine to me!” Pinkie said, hopping up next to Twilight. She tilted her head back. “Whoo! Whoo!”

After watching Pinkie, Twilight looked concerned. “Hmm…”

Baked Bads

Applebuck SeasonChapter 3: Baked Bads

Applejack bucked a tree, and then another, sending their apples cascading down into masterfully set buckets and landing. She bucked one more before finally feeling fatigue take her over. “Phew,” she said, dozing off a little. Shaking her head, she looked over to the tree. She lifted her back legs and attempted to hit the trunk of the tree but, instead, fell back into thin air. The tree was several feet behind her and already void of apples.

Twilight watched as Applejack repositioned herself, kicked back again, and knocked over an apple bucket. “What in Equestria is that pony doing?” she asked herself.

“Whoops…” Applejack said tiredly, beginning to walk to a different tree.

“Hey, Applejack!” Twilight called from her position. Although in mid-step, Applejack fell asleep. “Applejack!” Twilight called again, watching her friend sleep. “Applejack!” she tried again. With no response, Twilight teleported over to her sleeping friend. Once she was next to her, she yelled again. “Applejack!!”

“Whuh?” Applejack woke up, startled. She shook her head. “H-Howdy, Twilight.” She greeted with a weary smile.

“What is all this?” Twilight asked, looking behind her at an apple tree.

“It’s Applebuck Season,” Applejack answered, walking away to buck another tree.

Seeing the farmpony walking away, Twilight teleported to her side, just in time to see an unsteady buck of a tree and hear a drowsy “whoa” from her friend. “Applewhat Season?” She asked, looking  confused.

“It’s what the Apple family calls harvesting time.” Applejack explained, moving away from Twilight and to another tree. Twilight teleported once again be next to her friend. “We gather all the apples from the trees so we can sell ‘em.”

“But…” Twilight asked as Applejack continued to move on. “Why are you doing it all alone?”

“Cause Big Macintosh hurt himself.” Applejack replied.

Twilight teleported in front of Applejack. “What about all those relatives I met when I first came to Ponyville? Can’t they help?”

Applejack walked past her. “They were just here for the Apple Family reunion. They actually live all over Equestria, and are busy harvesting their own orchards.” As Applejack moved, once again, Twilight teleported herself to be in front of her. “So uh, I’m on my own.”

Twilight stood in front of her friend, not allowing her to move forwards. “Which means…” Applejack started. “I really should get back to work.” Silence. “Hem hem, hint hint, get back to work?”

Twilight looked disapprovingly at Applejack. “Fine,” she said, moving over.

“Uh, could you step aside, Twilight?” Applejack asked, one eye dropped, swaying dangerously.

“I just did,” Twilight said slowly, catching the mares attention to her right. “Applejack, you don’t look so good.”

Applejack looked at Twilight curiously, her eyes failing her with double, triple, vision. She shook her head clear and began walking to another apple tree, bucking in mind. “Yea… don’t any ‘a you three worry none, I’m just fine and dandy.” Miscalculating the distance she was from the tree she lifted her hind legs in the air and struck at what she figured was the trunk. She only hit air and fell backwards a bit. “Whoa.”

Twilight teleported in front of her friend. “Do you… want some help?”

“Help?” Applejack looked insulted and shook her head. “No way, no how.”

“But there’s no way you can do it all on your own.” Twilight insisted.

Applejack moved offensively close to Twilight, much like how she had done with Big Macintosh earlier. “Is that a challenge?” she tested.

“Um… no?”

“Well, I’m gonna prove to you that I can do it!” Lifting a hoof in defiance, she began to walk away. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got apples to buck.”

Twilight watched her friend leave, being unable to help the look of worry that showed on her face.

Rainbow Dash stood upon a fence post, wings flared, an impatient look etched upon her features. She tapped her hoof.  Looking back she saw Applejack rush up to her. “There you are!” she exclaimed, clearly annoyed.

Applejack yawned. “I’m a might sorry, Rainbow. I was busy applebuckin’ and I guess uh, I closed my eyes for a second and when I woke up, I was late. N-now, what’s this new trick of yours?”

“See this contraption?” Rainbow asked, gesturing to the middle of the town square. There was a large wooden tower, about twenty feet high, and below it was a teeter-totter of sorts. One end of the teeter-totter, the side on the ground and furthest away from the raised tower, was bare. The other end, the side in the air and the side closest to the raised platform, had  an ‘X’ decorating its seat.

“Uh…” Applejack started. “Yeah?”

“Well, I’m gonna stand on one end,” Rainbow gestured to the side of the teeter-totter away from the tower, “then you’re gonna jump down from that platform, launching me into the air faster than I can take off on my own.” She paused on slightly before continuing the explanation. “Once I’m in the air, I’m gonna do some amazing flips and spins, that are sure to impress the Wonderbolts!”

Applejack looked unsure. “Isn’t that a might dangerous?”

Rainbow chuckled. “Not for a pony who can fly.” She flew over to her end of the launcher.

“Well, alrighty then,” Applejack said. She was confident that her friend knew what she was doing and so  walked over to her own side with haste.

Standing on the top of the tower, she looked down to her target. Rainbow was standing confidently on one end of the launcher, while the other waited in the air for Applejack to land on. Her vision, however, failed her again, and only showed various smudges of color.

“Ready?” Rainbow shouted so Applejack could hear. “One… two… three!” Applejack took the cue and jumped from the platform. Unfortunately, instead of landing on the launcher, she landed face first on the ground, next to the launcher. “Uh, maybe I wasn’t clear,” Rainbow said, trotting over to her fallen friend. “You’re supposed to land on the other end.”

Lifting her head from the ground, the farmpony let her eyes roll with dizziness. “Got it,” she replied.

Three jumps later, she continued missing the launcher. Rainbow, still at her position on the teeter-totter, looked peeved. “Applejack, what the hay is going on?” she raised a hoof to the air in frustration. “I mean, I thought I was working with Ponyville’s best athlete!”

Applejack shook her head. “You are!” she insisted. “I’m okay, really. I- I have an idea. Watch this.” Reaching up to where she was supposed to land, she pulled her end of the launcher downward, lifting Rainbow into the air, but not off the pad. “Ta da!” Rainbow glared at her. “Oh, maybe not. I’m sure to get it this time!” She let go of the pad to trot back over to the raised platform. Unfortunately, her actions sent Rainbow back to the bottom with a hard thud. Laying on her stomach, and slightly confused, Rainbow wasn’t ready to go yet.

Applejack, now at the top of the tower, looked down confidently. “Hehe, he, here I go!” She jumped off.

“Wait!” Rainbow yelled, flailing her front hooves. The earth pony landed squarely on the pad, launching Rainbow high. She was in earshot just long enough to yell “Applejaaack!”

“You’re welcome!” she shouted back.

Lying on the library’s astronomy balcony, Twilight read a book propped up on other books. She was enjoying herself until a crash from in front of her accompanied a beat-looking Rainbow Dash on her railing. “…can I help you?”

Rainbow groaned. “I… think somepony else needs your help.”

“Applejack?” Twilight guessed, though knowing the answer almost for certain.

“Yup,” Rainbow replied, lowering her head.

Applejack bucked another tree, this time with no baskets to catch the falling apples. She picked up an apple to deposit in her saddle-basket and then raised her head to put it away. However, being completely unaware of her surroundings, she hit the top of her head on a branch sticking out. Painful ringing could be heard in her ears.

“Applejack, can we talk?” Twilight asked from behind her.

The earth pony looked over. “Can bees squawk!?” she shouted. “I don’t think so!”

“No,” Twilight said. “Can we talk?”

“Twenty stalks!? Bean or celery!?”

“No! I need to talk to you!”

“You need to walk to the zoo!? Well, who’s stoppin’ you!?”

“I need to talk to you!!!”

“Oh, well why didn’t you say so!?” Applejack replied, still yelling. “Whatcha wanna talk about!?”

“Rainbow Dash dropped in to see me today!” Twilight answered, knowing that if she didn’t shout she wouldn’t be heard.

“That’s quite neighborly of her!”

“Yes, except she crashed into my balcony after you launched her into the air!” Twilight said pointedly.

“Oh, yeah,” Applejack replied, no longer shouting. “I wasn’t feelin’ quite myself this mornin’.”

“Because you’re working too hard and you need help!”

“What? Kelp? I don’t need kelp! I don’t even like seaweed.”

“Help!” Twilight screamed. “You need help!”

“Nothin’ doing, Twilight. I’m gonna prove to you, to everypony, that I can do this on my own!” She turned to walk away, only to bump into the same branch she had previously hit. “Now if you’ll excuse me,” Applejack said, stumbling away groggily. “I’ve gotta go help Pinkie Pie.”

Twilight sighed.

“Now, Pinkie Pie, are you sure you’re up for baking the muffins and running the store this afternoon?” Mrs. Cake asked. She, Mr. Cake, Applejack, and Pinkie were all standing in the main lobby of Sugarcube Corner. The Cakes were packing boxes of sweets, preparing for their departure.

“Yes siree bob, Mrs. Cake,” Pinkie answered with a huge smile. “Plus, I have Ponyville’s prized pony to help me out. Why, she’s the best baker ever! Right, Applejack?”

Applejack looked over at Pinkie, hearing only muffled words coming from her. Trying to wake herself up, she gave her head several vigorous shakes. Mr. Cake said confusedly, “No? You’re not the best baker ever?”

Applejack sounded surprised. “What? Oh, no! I mean, don’t you fret. I can bake anything from fritters to pies in the blink of an eye.”

Mrs. Cake chuckled nervously. “Oh, right. Well, see you later, girls!” With that, the two shop owners left. Applejack shook her head again, trying to stay awake.

Pinkie put her hooves on Applejack’s cheeks, ceasing her attempts at consciousness. “Stop with the shakin’, it’s time to get bakin’!”

Shortly after, Pinkie stood in the kitchen, reading out of a red and white checkered cookbook propped up on the counter. All around her were various measuring tools, ingredients, and dishes, waiting to be used in whatever recipe that was desired. “All righty,” she began. “I’ll get the sugar and the eggs. Can you get me some chocolate chips?”

Applejack woke up quickly from the snooze she had been taking. “Eh, what wassat?”

“Chocolate chips,” Pinkie repeated, oblivious to the fact that Applejack’s hearing wasn’t at its best currently.

“Chips, got it.” Applejack walked over to the other side of the room to the snack cabinet. “Tater chips… all salty and dry? Okey dokey.” Grabbing the bag, she deposited a good amount of potato chips into the mixing bowl for the cupcakes. “What next?” she asked.

“Baking soda,” Pinkie answered cheerfully, too distracted to see that a mistake had been made.

“Soda?” Applejack asked to herself. “Perfect! That’ll get the tater chips nice and wet.” Opening the refrigerator and taking out a bottle of cola, she proceeded to empty its contents into the bowl. “Now what?” she shouted.

“A cup of flower,” Pinkie said, still not noticing the mistakes being made.

“A cup ‘a sour?” she repeated confusedly, yet unfortunately not loud enough for Pinkie to hear and correct. “Well, lemons are sure sour. One cup of sour, comin’ up.” Picking up a measuring cup next to a bowl of lemons, she added lemon juice to the mix. “Anythin’ else, Pinkie?”

Pinkie said to Applejack happily, “One last thing: wheat germ.”

“Ugh, wheat worms? Oh, that must be fancy talk for earthworms,” she reasoned not-too intelligently. Walking out the kitchen door and into the back yard, she scraped her hoof on the ground, making a small hole. Picking up a mouthful of worms, she made her way inside and added them to the slushy mix.

“Now, that’s gonna be delicious!” Pinkie declared, looking at the image of the cupcake batter in the cookbook.

Applejack eyed the real ‘batter’ with distaste. “If you say so.”

About half an hour later, Pinkie walked into the main lobby, two trays of muffins with her. “Free muffin sample spectacular!” Pinkie presented, placing the trays of freshly baked muffins on the counter of Sugarcube Corner’s main lobby. They looked delicious, with brown bodies, yellow tops, and what can only be described as brown and pink “spots” decorating the top.

At least two dozen ponies stood around the counter, looking at the muffins eagerly. Many licked their lips at the appetizing sight. Others simply stared, openmouthed. Everypony was smiling.

Walking up next to Pinkie from the kitchen, Applejack announced loudly, “Yeah! Muffin spectacles! Get ‘em while they’re hot.”

Nurse Redheart pulled back the curtain on the outdoor nursing area, not having enough room in the hospital itself to store her patients. “We came as soon as we heard,” Twilight said, Spike next to her.

“Oh, thank you, Twilight,” Nurse Redheart said, allowing both the unicorn and dragon to take in what they saw. “We need all the help we can get.”

Inside the area, many ponies lay painfully on beds, all looking about to get sick. It was evident there were not enough beds for all the sick who had come in as some ponies even laid on the floor. In the end though, the results were the same. Everypony was moaning in pain, some using the assistance of buckets to relieve themselves, while others were simply being treated to medically.

“Oh, no,” Twilight said, looking on in pity.  “What happened?”

“It was a mishap with some of the baked goods.” Redheart explained while Spike picked up a partially eaten muffin, one which had a worm poking out of it.

“No, not baked-goods…” Pinkie Pie corrected weakly, “baked-bads.” With the thought of what she had eaten she tried to hold back a hurl.

After Twilight’s initial surprise worse off, she got angry. “Applejack,” she muttered under her breath.

“Oh, man,” Spike said happily, chewing on the cupcake he had found on the ground just seconds ago, while holding onto a few others. He lifted one in the air for Twilight. “Want one?”

Applejack stood in the apple orchard once again, trying her best to get the immense amount of work needed done completed. Next to her was a lone, but large, apple tree. Underneath it, a few feet away from her, rested a wagon filled to the brim with apples. She gave a halfhearted kick to the tree behind her and promptly fell asleep. It was the falling apples, one of which hit her on the head, that woke her up. , “What? Huh?” she asked quickly. With no answer to accompany her, she went back to work.

Walking backwards with a wagon attached to her belly, Applejack attempted to dump the load of apples it carried into a large crate strategically positioned between a nook of two humps in the orchard. Trying to tip the wagon over, she merely rolled down the hump, sending her and the wagon back ninety degrees. Hanging there upside down, her hat now on the ground, she fell asleep once more.

Twilight approached the sleeping farmpony, an edge to her voice. “Applejack, we need to talk.”

Applejack woke up to the sound of Twilight’s voice. “Whuh? Huh? Oh, it’s you, Twilight.” She yawned, too tired to right herself. “I know what you’re gonna say, but the answer is still no.”

“Not to upset your apple cart,” Twilight said, gesturing toward the wagon. “But you need help.”

“Hardy har,” she said, still sleepy. Shaking her hooves, she tried to tip the wagon, and herself, back down. It failed. “And no I don’t.” With a grunt she tried again to help herself back up, but failed.

“Here,” Twilight said politely. “Let me help.”

“Help?” Applejack exclaimed before Twilight could say another word, or make another move. “Nooo thanks!” She struggled mightily for a few seconds, and eventually righted the cart back into its proper position. “There.” Applejack proclaimed, walking over to another tree. “I’ll prove that this Apple can handle…” she lifted a single rear leg, ready to strike the nearby tree, “…these apples.” She kicked the nearby tree with her tired hoof. Nothing happened. “Come on…” She kicked twice again. Nothing happened. “…apples.” She kicked again, this time with both back legs. Still, nothing happened. “Fall off!” She continued to kick with all her might, or, whatever might she had left in her.

Twilight grimaced. “AJ, I think you’re beating a dead… tree.”

Applejack looked upwards and saw that she what she had been kicking the entire time was indeed…a dead tree.

“I knew that,” she lied, trying to sound sure of herself. She walked down the orchard path, un-bucked apple trees mocking her way with every step.

Twilight followed. “Actually Applejack, I had something else to talk to you about. I just came back from Ponyville urgent care and-”

“You know, I’m a little busy to get lectured right now, Twilight,” Applejack said heatedly, continuing to walk down the orchard path..

“But if you’d just let me help-”

“Ugh! No. No! No!” Applejack stopped suddenly to turn her head back at Twilight. “How many times do I gotta say it?” She began to walk away once more. “I don’t need no help from nopony!”

Twilight said with frustration. “Ugh! That pony is as stubborn as a mule!”

Baby bunnies could be seen frolicking happily as Fluttershy, Applejack, and Winona walked on a dirt path, side by side, and into the bunny roundup grounds. Fluttershy, as peaceful as ever, looked ahead as she talked to Applejack. “Oh, Applejack,” She began. “Thank you so much for offering your herding skills for the Annual Rabbit Roundup.”

Applejack groaned in irritation, her exhaustion clearly taking over her mood, and patience, at this point. “Why, are we doin’ this?”

Fluttershy turned her head to look at her friend as they continued down the road. “Well, lots of new baby bunnies have been born, so it’s my job to get a count of all the new families.” She smiled, pleased.

“Fine,” Applejack growled. “Can we just get on with it?”

Fluttershy took no notice of the farmpony’s shortness. “Certainly, but remember, these are bunnies we’re dealing with, not cows. They’re a timid bunch and need to be treated gently.”

Applejack sounded annoyed, raising her head in cheek. “I do not need any direction on corrallin’ critters. Right, Winona?”

Winona barked happily in agreement.

Poking their heads up as the group came closer; many different rabbits looked to their new arrivals. They came first to greet  Fluttershy sincerely, practically able to feel her kindness. “Okay, little bunnies,” she said tenderly. “I need you all to gather right here in the middle.” She gave them all a warm smile.

Suddenly, Applejack stomped an intimidating hoof down. “That’s right,” she exclaimed irritably. “Let’s go, bunnies. In the center! Hop to it!” With this, every single bunny darted off down the path, scared for their lives. Fluttershy looked on with surprise. “Swell,” Applejack steamed angrily. “Just swell!” Without another thoughts hesitation, the farmpony took off after the bunnies, Winona right next to her.

Feeling threatened, the bunnies scattered in all directions, hopping for their lives. “Put ‘em up, Winona!” Applejack yelled as she continued to run after them. With her cue, Winona chased the bunnies herself, trying, but failing, to gather them into a circle herself.

Fluttershy couldn’t help but look stunned at what was transpiring. “Applejack, Winona! Stop!” she looked to the bunnies as they continued to flee. “You’re scaring them!”

“We know what we’re doin’!” Applejack snapped, running faster up a hill. “Get along, little bunnies!”

Using the assistance of Winona, the farmpony was finally able to corral the  large group of bunnies into a tight circle, herding them together against the grounds fence. Winona growled as both she and her owner   moved towards the petrified bunnies in a menacing manner.

“Oh no…” Fluttershy mummered, knowing what would happen next.

Unable to back up any further, the bunnies suddenly bounded past the two in a blind panic. They ran out  of the grounds together, and in the direction of Ponyville.

The ground of Ponyville trembled and, for the second time that day, Rainbow Dash flew high up into the air, squinting into the distance for the source of the commotion. Seeing the problem, she yelled at the top of her lungs, “stampede!”

Just as before, ponies everywhere scattered. Some pulled their mats in while others ran blindly for shelter.  Soon, it could be seen that hundreds of bunnies were charging through the main streets, leaving trails of destruction in their path.

A few ponies watched as the rabbits toppled and ruined everything they passed over. Some ponies were fortunate enough to get inside before the creatures hit.

Others weren’t so lucky.

Help

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.