There is No Chapter, Only Story
“Thanks for inviting us to the farm, Applejack,” Sunset Shimmer said.
“Well, with all that I've been goin' on about 'em, seems only fair that ya come and see 'em.” She waved her friends to follow her around the house the barn in the back.
“I can't believe you have so many baby animals!” Fluttershy squealed.
“Well, it is spring. Lotta creatures are born around this time. They're the last of it, though, then it all starts ag'in next year.”
“How many animals do you have?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Um... we have about five dozen chicks, six rabbits, three lambs, two calves—”
“... and four little piglets!” finished Pinkie Pie.
Twilight Sparkle adjusted her glasses. “So, that's seventy-five animals.”
Applejack pushed open a door and ushered the others inside. “We'll see the chicks first. Grab some seed from the bag so ya can feed them.”
The girls walked inside and were instantly met with the happy chirps of little, yellow puffballs. The cuteness was overwhelming. Coos and giggles erupted from the girls.
“Ooh!” Fluttershy squeaked. She gave little pinches of seed to each chick. “A little for you, and a little for you.” She giggled as the chicks fed from her hand. “What are their names?” she asked Applejack.
The farmer raised an eyebrow. “Names?”
“Sure! You must have some way of calling them.”
Applejack rubbed the back of head. “We don't really name our chicks...”
“What?” Pinkie Pie gasped, “Why not?”
“We just don't...”
“Well everyone must have a name!”
Fluttershy agreed.
Applejack's shoulders slumped. “You're gonna name them now, aren't you?” She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.
“It's okay, darling,” Rarity said, “It will take us a while to finish feeding anyway.”
“... Alberta...”
“... Simon...”
“... Beatrice...”
“... Paul...”
“... Lucy...”
“... David...”
Pinkie picked up a chick, “... and Harland.”
The other girls had seated themselves in a corner of the barn to wait.
“Are you done?” Applejack asked, flatly.
“Yep!” Fluttershy smiled.
“About time,” Rainbow whined.
“Good,” said Applejack, “On to the rabbits.”
The hutch as located in a little shed on the side of the barn. Applejack filled the feeders and reached into the nesting box. “The kits are just over eight weeks” she explained, “Their mom should have no trouble with us holding them.” She gently pulled out the babies and handed them off to each of her friends.
Twilight gently rubbed the little ball of fur with her cheek. “They're so soft!”
“I know!” Rarity giggled, “I'd love to make something with their fur.”
“'Fraid ya can't get much outta these fellers,” Applejack said, “You'd need angoras fer that. I do know a breeder, though. Might be able ta hook ya up.”
“What have you named them?” Pinkie asked.
“Uh...”
“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy said, “You haven't named them yet?”
“Not really...”
“That's okay,” smiled Pinkie, “We'll pick names for you!” She stared intently at the kit in her hands. “I think this one's a Victoria.”
“This one is Peter,” said Rainbow.
“Benjamin,” chimed in Twilight.
Fluttershy scratched her rabbit between the ears. “How do you feel about Timothy?” She giggled at the kit's response.
“What did he say?” Sunset asked.
Fluttershy giggled again. “Goo goo blah blah.”
Twilight frowned. “What?”
Her friends' confusion amused her. “They're babies. They can't speak yet. None of them can.”
“Well,” Rarity said, holding up the little rabbit to her face, “I think Fleur fits you perfectly.”
The rabbit just wiggled her nose.
“What about you, Sunset?” Twilight asked, “What are you gonna name your rabbit?”
Sunset gently stroked the rabbit in her arms. “Oh, I dunno. I'm not really good at naming animals.”
“Awe come-on,” Pinkie whined, “Just give it a try.”
Applejack rolled her eyes. “Might as well...”
Sunset looked at the tiny rabbit. She raised it up and looked at it from different angles. “Walter.”
Rainbow's nose crinkled. “Walter?”
The other girls shared her sentiment.
“That one's a girl,” Applejack pointed out.
Sunset's cheeks burned.
“And what's wrong with that?” asked Pinkie Pie, “If Walter wants to be a Walter, then let her be!”
Applejack gave a relenting sigh and slowly returned the kits to their nesting box. “The sheep and cows are in the pasture. We'll carry some hay out there.”
At the sight of fresh hay bales, all the animals in the pasture came running to the girls. The adults reached them first, but the little ones were timid and stayed behind.
“They're not quite used to humans yet” Applejack smiled, “But, once they see their parents are cool with us, they'll come around.”
Fluttershy laughed as the calves approached her and gently began to push her with their muzzles. “Awe, aren't you all just too adorable!”
“You gonna name them, too?”
“Can we?”
Applejack sighed and waved to them the go-ahead.
The calves were christened Clovis and Samuel.
Fluttershy petted to one of the lambs, “I think this one is Grace.”
“I like that” smiled Pinkie, “This one is definitely Lucas.”
Two two looked at the third lamb.
Pinkie let out a hum. “I can't think of anything.”
“I have a few ideas, but I can't decide.”
“Matilda.”
Pinkie and Fluttershy turned to see Sunset standing behind them. They turned back to the lamb.
“I can kinda see it” Pinkie said, tilting her head.
“I think it suits her perfectly” smiled Fluttershy.
“Ya'll about done?” Applejack asked, “We still gotta tend to the pigs and it's startin' ta get dark.
“Granny'll be callin' us for dinner soon.”
A cheer came from Pinkie Pie. “I can't wait to see the piglets. You've been talking about them all day and making me so excited!”
“Well, we'll see how they are. They were just born last night, an' don't know if they're ready for visitors yet.”
She led her friends back into the barn and to a far corner isolated from everything else. She stopped the girls short. “Lemme check on the mama first. She was still tired this mornin'. Don't wanna stress her.”
Applejack walked over the pen and after a quick peek, waved her friends over.
The girls each lined up on the sides of the pen and veered over to see the mama sow nursing four tiny piglets.
Fluttershy's eyes lit up. “Awe! They're so cute! Do you have names for them?”
“Sure do!” Applejack smiled broadly and pointed out each one, “Bacon, Pork Chop, Sausage, and Ham.”
Pinkie Pie turned to Applejack. “That's not kosher.”
Author's Note
So, apparently, there is a Feghoot festival going on. And, while I don't expect to win anything, this was a nice little deviation from my schoolwork (don't tell my professor).
Go check out the festival, if you haven't already.
In the meantime, I need to go prepare for an all-nighter.
Read on, y'all!
