AppleJack wipes the sweat from her brow as she kicks her second to last tree of the day, the apples all fall into the bucket at the base of the tree. Her hoofs had started to become sore as she kicked the last few trees. She stretches her back legs, relieving some of the built up tension.
"One more tree an' a nice big ol' slice of apple pie is mine." AppleJack mumbles happily.
As AppleJack approaches the final tree she notices a subtle glint near to one of the roots emerging near the base of the tree.
"What on earth?" AppleJack mumbles to herself as she approaches the glint.
As she gets closer to the glint it starts to take shape, at the base of the tree sits a half buried golden teapot.
"Why would somepony leave a teapot in mah orchard?" AppleJack asks herself as she approaches the teapot.
She grabs the teapot and pulls it out of the ground, dirt and grime cling to the teapot, collected from what appeared to be years of laying silently at the base of the tree.
"Looks like it's been 'ere a while." AppleJack says as she turns the teapot between her hooves, examining both sides.
AppleJack then lifts the lid of the teapot off and looks inside to see that it's empty, the only thing inside of the teapot was a few loose clumps of dirt. AppleJack puts the lid back on the teapot and decides to carry it back to her farmhouse. On the way back a feeling of being followed filled her mind, it felt as though somepony was right behind her, following ever single step she took. She looked back multiple times but never saw anypony. As she entered her house and closed the door the feeling of being followed didn't dim, it felt as if somepony was close enough to touch her tail.
"What is goin' on?" AppleJack asks with a quite gulp.
AppleJack then quickly walks to the kitchen and sets the teapot down next to the sink, as she sets it down a strong urge to clean the teapot rushes through her body. The feeling of being followed not leaving her at any point. AppleJack quickly turns back towards the teapot. She turns on the tap before moving the teapot under it. The teapot lets out a loud creak as the water his the lid.
AppleJack loudly gulps and bites her bottom lip as a shiver runs through her body. She quitely whimpers in fear as she uses her hoof to wipe away the dirt. As she wipes away the first bit of dirt the dirt and grime that clung to both the inside and outside of the teapot slide out and off of it and into the sink.
"What...." AppleJack mumbles as she steps away from the sink.
The teapot lets out a load squeal as if water was boiling within. AppleJack watches as the teapot lets out a faint blue glow, the lid of the teapot then shakes before flying off of the top of the teapot and into the ceiling. AppleJack runs out of her kitchen and towards her bedroom, her mind filled with fear and panic. She bursts into her room and slams the door shut behind her, she then jumps under her bed and curls up into a ball.
Minutes pass by in complete silence, the only audible sound was AppleJacks breath as she calms herself down. Just as AppleJack was gaining enough courage to climb out from under her bed the sound of heavy muffled hoofsteps scared her back into a panic.
'Please don't find me, please don't find me....' AppleJack repeated in her head.
The door to her bedroom slowly swings open and a pair of black boots step in. She looks at the boots and lets out a muffled whimper.
"AppleJack, please don't be scared of me anymore. I'm here to make your life better." A calm and gentle voice says.
AppleJack whimpers and starts to cry into the fur on her forelegs.
"Please don't cry, I know where you are. If I meant you any harm I would've already done so." The voice explains.
'I don't wanna die.' AppleJack thinks to herself.
"You won't, I am here to improve your life, not end it." The voice says as a heavenly white light shines from the ends of her bed. "I will wait as long as it takes, I'll be downstairs, come get me when you're ready to talk."
The boots of the creature turn towards the door and step out of the room, closing the door behind them. AppleJack lets out a sniffle before loudly crying into the forelegs. A faint light glows in the corner of AppleJacks sight. A small box of tissues sit next to her forelegs. She looks at the box with a feeling of apprehension. A note sits next to the box of tissues.
'I don't want to hurt you, so please, don't cry anymore.
I don't want you to ruin your beautiful fur.
I am downstairs, take as long as you need.
As she looked at the note an unexplainable wave of comfort flowed through her. She quitely shuffled from under her bed and took one more look at the tissue box before pulling a tissue out from it and using it to blow her nose. She takes a deep breath before walking towards her bedroom door. Worry niggling at the back of her mind. She calms herself down before slowly opening the door, peeking to both the left and right of the door. Nothing, the creature wasn't stood at the door nor in the corridor. She stepped out into the corridor and makes her way towards the staircase. As she reaches the top she looks down to the bottom and see's once again, nothing. The creature isn't there either.
'He must be in the kitchen.' She thinks to herself.
She then starts to walk down the stairs, each step letting out a tired creak. Each creak sending a shiver of terror up her spine.
"I'm in the kitchen, like I said, take your time. No need to rush things." The voice says in a calming tone.
AppleJack takes one more deep breath before stepping down the last of the stairs. She now stood in the living room of her house, once a place that used to bring her peace and happiness, due to her unknown guest, brought her fear and anxiety. She slowly steps towards the doorway to the kitchen. At the kitchen side stood a tall creature, wearing a white shirt and black jeans with a pair of black boots. It's skin was coloured like a peach and it had long black hair that was swept from the left of it's head to it's right, covering the right eye. It's face was oddly calming, on it's face was a pair of pale lips, a dainty nose sat above it's lips and it had one visible eye. A brown eye looked at AppleJack, the look that the creature gave AppleJack spoke of only happiness.
"My name's Aaron, I know you're confused so ask any questions you'd like." The creature says with a happy smile.
Author's Note
Hi there, how're you doing today? I hope you liked this chapter, if you did, why not tell me what you liked about it? If you didn't then please tell me why. I would like to know your opinions.
AppleJack looks at Aaron with a look of apprehension.
"Right, well you still seem weary of me, completely understandable. Let's get rid of the mystery. My name is Aaron, I am genie. You summoned me from my prison. You have a choice when it comes to genies. You can either accept a contract that allows you to make three wishes, or you can deny it and send me back to the teapot. If you'd like me to explain the contract then just ask." The creature explains.
AppleJack stays silent as she takes all of the new infomation in.
'A genie? I never knew those existed. It would explain why the teapot was so odd.' AppleJack thinks to herself.
AppleJack then nods to assure herself before talking to the creature.
"Mah name's AppleJack, Ah'm interested, what's this contract yer goin' on about?" AppleJack asks.
"The contract will seal me to you, only you will be able to use me. You get three wishes, they can be anything. Money, Fame or Stallions even. You name it and I can give you it. The thing about the contract is there is a little bit of fine print that I'll go over with you now. I can use magic myself to help you and it doesn't count towards your wishes, the only time a wish will count towards your three is if the wish is one that normal magic can't do. Such as creating a new planet, endless money or the love of someone and so on." Aaron cheerfully explains.
"Ah get anything ah want?" AppleJack asks.
"Yes, absolutely anything." Aaron answers with a smile.
"What's the catch?" AppleJack asks with a worried look.
"Nothing that will affect you directly, the only catch is that I will have to give something up to be able to grant your wish. In other words I lose and you gain." Aaron answers.
"What do ya have that would be taken away?" AppleJack asks.
"Nothing, so there's nothing for you to worry about." Aaron answers.
"Ah'd be stupid not ta accept." AppleJack says with a large smile.
"To accept the contract you need to press your hoof against the piece of paper that I'm going to give you, is that okay?" Aaron asks.
"Yeah, that's fine." AppleJack answers.
"Glad to hear it." Aaron says with a happy smile.
Aaron then picks up the golden teapot from the sink and reaches inside, pulling out a rolled up piece of paper. Aaron then passes the piece of paper to AppleJack, who hastily unrolls it. AppleJack then presses her hoof against it, her hoof leaving a blank imprint on the paper. The imprint then quickly changes shape to match the shape of Aaron's body.
"Thank you for accepting me, I hope I can be of use to you master." Aaron says as he kneels in front of AppleJack.
"What are ya doin? An' why are ya callin' me master?" AppleJack asks with a look of confusion spread across her face.
"I'm a genie, I thought you knew that." Aaron says, still kneeling in front of AppleJack.
"Aren't ya meant ta grant wishes?" AppleJack asks.
"Ah, so you don't fully know about genies. A genie is a magical slave, when you accepted the contract, you accepted that me as your slave. You are my master and I shall treat you as such." Aaron says as his fringe slides in front of his face.
"Woah, woah, woah. Yer gotta be kiddin' me. I don't want ta be yer master." AppleJack says with a glare.
"You already signed the contract, it is unbreakable. I am your slave and you are my master." Aaron says hesitantly.
AppleJack grumbles before leaving the kitchen and sitting in the living room in one of her chairs. As AppleJack lays against the back of the chair she's met by the most comfortable seat she'd ever sat in. Hell it was more comfortable then her bed.
"Why does this chair feel so good?" AppleJack asks.
"That is your throne master, I made sure it was softer then clouds so that you may sit comfortably." Aaron answers happily as he followers her into the living room.
"What?! Where's ma chair?!" AppleJack asks angrily.
"I can bring it in at any time you wish." Aaron answers nervously.
AppleJack lounges back in her throne and lets out a sigh.
"I guess it's fine, this chair is a lot nicer then my old one." AppleJack concedes.
"Thank you, your majesty, I will do what I can to be of help." Aaron says with a bow.
"Yer majesty? Why are ya callin' me that?" AppleJack asks.
"It sounds more important then 'master', I can switch back to master if you'd like." Aaron asks.
"Ah don't know, yer majesty does have a nice ring ta it." AppleJack says as she taps her chin with a hoof.
"Then I shall adress you as 'Your majesty'." Aaron says with a nod of his head.
"A slice of apple pie'd be nice." AppleJack sighs happily.
Aaron then steps towards AppleJack's throne and presents a plate with a slice of apple pie on it.
"Ah'll get it myself, thanks though Aaron." AppleJack says as she climbs off of her throne. "Ah'm still not sure about all a this but ah guess ah'll have ta get used ta it."
"Your majesty, I know this is out of line for me to ask but may I have the honor of brushing your mane? As a lowly slave it'd be an honor to have touched your beautiful mane." Aaron asks.
"Ah really don't like the slave thing, Ah'd rather not have a slave. It just don't feel right." AppleJack sighs.
"I'm sorry your majesty, how can I help you feel better?" Aaron asks.
"Ah don't know." AppleJack answers.
AppleJack then walks back into the kitchen and towards her refridgerator with Aaron following closely behind.
"Are ya gonna follow me everywhere?" AppleJack asks.
"You can send me away at any time you wish." Aaron answers.
"Actually there is one thing ya could do fer me." AppleJack says.
"What is that?" Aaron asks.
"How about you treat me as a friend and not as a master?" AppleJack asks.
"Oh thank god, I don't really like the whole 'royalty' treatment. It feels weird." Aaron laughs.
"That was a quick change." AppleJack mumbles.
"Of course it was, look at me, I don't look like some rich dude's slave." Aaron chuckles.
"I wouldn't really know, I haven't spent a lot of time with genies." AppleJack points out.
"Oh yeah, right. Forgot about that." Aaron says.