(Ponyville Town Market)

Ponyville is such an enigma that even official Agriculture people have a hard time explaining. While there are only a total of maybe three farms (not including the Apple Orchard of Sweet Apple Acres), each was attended to by two ponies and the fields of said farms...well, each farm had only one field and each field was barely an acre in size. Despite that, and again, not including the primary produce of Sweet Apple Acres, the town always had more than enough to eat every day...and no food, except really rare or expensive food items are imported from out of town.

This is rather important because there are some days that I have cleared out the entire market of all produce (not including apples), and only a few hours later and it’s completely restocked. It’s really puzzling to those who actually have a knowledge of where food comes from...and I mean it. Several idiot nobles back in Canterlot had the thought that the shopkeepers and restaurant owners had a designated unicorn conjuring the food from thin air and thought that ponies that ate food from Earth Pony farm towns are just as filthy as they are...if only they knew.

And the entire point of this was a bit of a Pride problem that happen shortly after one of those ‘cleared market’ moments. I had just barely finished putting the large stock of food away when I started feeling the ground shake. Taking a peek outside, there was a giant cloud of dust and dirt coming towards town.

“Stampede!” A nearby pegasus shouted. The town erupted into chaos at that warning. Ponies either took shelter indoors (like anyone should) or began literally running around in circles like chickens with their heads chopped off (dang it, Daybreaker. Why did you have to try to make life so “perfect” that ponies don’t know how to handle danger properly?). I immediately summoned my Auxiliary armor, sent up a magic flare to alert my squad and began running towards said stampede.

I arrived at the eastern bridge out of town, meeting my squad at it. “Cap! What’s the plan?” Flash asked for the group. I looked at the rampaging cows and back at the town while thinking. I suddenly heard a gleeful yell coming from off to the side of the stampede. In that location was one of Twilight’s friends, Applejack, accompanied by a Border Collie dog or Austrailian Shepherd dog...I kept getting those species mixed up.

“Form a small perimeter on this side of town, and we’ll let the cowgirl do her thing.” I said. The squad followed my orders and we watched as Applejack managed to herd the stampede into a different direction and managing to stop them and question their reasons for stampeding. After she finished talking with them, she and her dog ran off to Sweet Apple Acres. As she left, most of the townsponies left cover and began to cheer as she left. I dismissed the squad and went home as I overheard some ponies speaking about throwing an award ceremony for her.

Looks like we’re coming upon the Apple’s Applebuck Season. May Faust help us all.

(One week later)

Well, the time had come for me to get ready for action to help Applejack. From the insane lesson plans, Luna and I learned that Celestia pretty much had every little detail of what would happen for those lessons, all the way down to who says what and when. So, looking at what today was going to be, I needed to be ready to keep the chaos Applejack unintentionally makes under control, or not happen at all.

Anyway, the town had set up an Appreciation Party (or as Pinkie Pie called it, a Hero Party), and Twilight went up to the podium to deliver a speech. However, the constant interruptions from some of her other friends and the mayor got her to toss her misused cue cards all over the stage. The mayor then introduced Applejack...who turned out to be late, tired, and slightly delirious. After a little ‘whoo’ session after she saw her distorted reflection in the trophy she received from the town, she dragged it home and Twilight, her friends (minus Applejack), and I came together.

Twilight looked at Applejack and then turned to us. “Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little-”

“Tired?” Rainbow suggested.

“Dizzy?” Fluttershy pointed.

“Messy?” Rarity said, getting everyone but me to look at her with confusion. “Well, did you see her mane?”

“She seemed fine to me.” Pinkie said, oblivious to Applejack’s fatigue. She then started hopping around and making the sound of an ambulance siren.

“Twilight, see about getting Pinkie under control while I go talk to Applejack.” I told her as I began walking to Sweet Apple Acres. A couple minutes pass and arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was unloading a cart of apples while her older brother, Big Mac was attempting to talk to her about something. After she finished unloading while ignoring her brother, she walked off into the orchard.

I approached the fuming red earth pony as he started carefully moving the apples into barrels. “Hey there Mac.” I said as I came close, getting his attention. “Is Applejack trying to do all the harvesting to try to compensate for you getting injured?”

“Eeyup.”

“I take it that she has been skipping meals and sleep to keep working?”

“Eeyup.”

“Does she have other things scheduled during the next few days?”

“Eeyup.”

“And you haven’t been able to talk her down or even get her to eat or sleep?”

“Nnope.”

“Do I have permission to talk to her and, if needed, detain her to get her to eat and rest?”

“Eeyup.”

I nodded and entered the orchard, keeping an eye out for Applejack. It took me only a few seconds because I nearly ended up bumping into her as she was asleep standing up. Only a few meters away from where she entered. Shaking my head, I unhitched her from the cart and carefully carried her to their farm house. The grandmother of the family, Granny Smith, saw me entering with Applejack in my arms and nodded to me and gestured upstairs. After getting her tucked in to her bed and got back downstairs, Granny stopped me. “Thank you for getting her back inside to rest at least. I started getting worried sick about her when she passed day two without food, nor rest.”

“She was asleep when I found her. Also, mostly classified info you should know, Celestia expected something like this to happen and was also expecting her to create accidental chaos around town without being fully aware of it. Something about the ‘Curse all Earth ponies share’?” I shared with her.

Granny shook her head in frustration. “All the better that she is at a funny farm and not on the throne now.” She said. “Taking advantage of the natural stubbornness and pride of our tribe to further her own goals. I’ll be having words with Applejack about this.” She then walked into the kitchen and came back with a stack of fresh apple pies. “And here. Some pies for you, your wife, and Applejack’s friends.”

“Thank you, I’ll pass these along.” I told her. “Heck, I’ll see if Twily and my wife are willing to help in the orchard and I’ll be there as well.”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said, walking in from outside.

I nodded and left, eating one of the pies as I walked back into town. I made a stop at my sister’s place just as she and her other friends began to leave the tree. I gave them their pies (Rainbow politely declined it...more for me), and told them about Applejack’s self imposed exhaustion and hunger to do some apple harvesting. Twilight figured as much and talked her friends into going to help. I gave her the go ahead while I told Cadance and got her on board with helping Applejack (to which Cadance agreed and came with me to help).

Upon arrival, Applejack was tied to the porch and was receiving an earful from Granny as she and Big Mac tried feeding her a few apple fritters. Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends gathered the tools and carts they needed and entered the orchard to begin harvesting. Cadance followed them into the orchard while I approached the house, hearing the back end of what Granny was saying. That, however, was drowned out by Applejack yelling when she saw me approaching.

“Why you no good, rotten, lazy, fat, unicorn supremist!” She bellowed, almost giving her grandmother and brother a heart attack with how loud she was. “Trying to take away good and honest jobs from us Earth Ponies!? I ain’t gonna let that happen!” She broke out of her bonds and charged me. I quickly cast an Armor Flesh spell just as she pivoted herself to buck my belly...but the buck only bounced off, sending her tumbling forward. As she laid on the ground, dazed, I kneeled down and gave her a strong flick to the forehead, which instantly knocked her out due to her exhaustion and hunger.

I picked her up and brought her back inside, then pulled out a piece of parchment and wrote a small message to Dr. Clinician before burning it with a dragonfire match. Exiting the house, I looked to Granny and Mac. “She’ll be okay. Dr. Clinician will be here shortly and should help her get back to normal, both physically and mentally.” I told them. I then walked into the orchard and began helping in the harvest.

(After the harvest and Doctor visit)

Cadance and I were sitting down to enjoy dinner when someone knocked on the door. I placed a heat shield spell over the top of the food and answered the door. Standing just outside was Applejack without her hat, and Big Mac. I gave Cadance a slightly concerned look and then stepped outside to talk with the two Apples. Applejack had a look of remorse while Big Mac gave her a stern look. “While don’t like how you had to get me to rest and eat, I’m both mighty grateful and mighty sorry. I didn’t mean what I said while I was tired and hungry. I hope that you can forgive me.”

“I already have.” I told her, surprising both Apples. “I have a tendency to consider the circumstances behind actions and words. I knew you were tired and delirious, so you wouldn’t have been thinking straight. For now, take some time and get rested up and fed.” Applejack nodded and left. Big Mac followed after giving me a grateful smile and a nod in appreciation.

One insane day down, many more to go.

Author's Note

Took me a while to get this done. had to catch up on some reading.