Island Day 1: The Getaway-Package
View Online

Expanding Your Horizons

Island Day 1: The Getaway-Package

Applejack blinked her eyes open. She definitely wasn't in Canterlot Castle anymore.

Instead, she felt air-sick and claustrophobic in her newly discovered seat. Applejack also noticed she didn't have her plumber costume on, either.

It appeared she was in a small room that was somehow floating.

The orange mare sat upright when she heard snoring to the right of her. She swiveled her head, and saw a costume-less Rarity smiling with her mouth wide as she slept.

Rarity's snoring stopped as she fluttered open her blue eyes, realizing something was wrong.

"Oh my, where is everypony, Applejack?" the unicorn asked as soon as she noticed Applejack.

"Ah don't they're here. But I do know we're in a floating doo-hickey," Applejack replied.

All of a sudden, a new voice added, "This is my helicopter. You two don't have this technology where you're from, hm?"

The two mares turned to see a creature sitting from across them. It was a brown male racoon of some sort, wearing a smug, green sweater and khakis.

"Well, we do know what helicopters are, Mr. Racoon; we just aren't this advanced in it," Rarity calmly stated.

The creature nodded and explained, "Oh. I am actually a tanooki, yes. You can call me Tom Nook. So what are your names, hm?"

"The name's Applejack."

"Mine's Rarity. Pleasure to meet you, darling."

The two mares looked at the tanooki, and noticed another creature sitting near him.

It looked feminine, due to the very cartoonish eyelashes it had atop her yellow eyes. Her hair was a wavy pixie cut, and it was a darker shade of pink than Fluttershy's. She wore a purple shirt, and a dark teal skirt to finish the look.

She barely whispered to the tanooki, "Tom, do those two look odd?"

"They look like regular horses, yes?" Nook replied in a whisper.

The creature sighed. She pulled out a virtual menu that was invisible to every creature on board. The girl glanced at the game's code, and internally gasped.

'They aren't Cherry or Antonio! Did those mares sneak in through the code..? That's impossible!' she thought to herself.

Suddenly, a tiny bell dinged, and the speaker above Tom Nook said, "Excuse me, Island-Getaway passengers. We have landed at our peaceful destination. Thank you for taking Dodo Airlines."

Applejack, Rarity, Nook, and the mysterious creature got up from their seats and slowly exited the helicopter.

The two mares gazed at their surroundings in awe. On the coast of the island lay platinum, shining sand that touched the crystal waters. There was a tiny slope at the other end of the giant row of sand, which led to soft, green grass.

Apples trees were spread as far as the eye could see, and there was a green tent already set up in the midst of it all.

Tom Nook looked around and swiftly led the three females towards the little tent, where two smaller tanookis awaited their arrival.

Applejack's mouth watered as they strode past the trees, and Rarity resisted the urge to trot towards the beach and lay in the sand.

As soon as the group made it to the tent, Tom Nook asked, "We should put up our own tents to sleep in, yes?"

The creature, now known as a human, shrugged and took a tent kit from one of the mini tanookis. She walked off towards the waterfall up north to set up her tent.

Meanwhile, Applejack decided to put her home near a pond that was surrounded by about twelve trees. After she finished placing the orange tent there, she noticed something shine in the corner of her eye.

Applejack turned to see an axe and fishing rod both laying next to a tree. The mare picked them up with her mouth and thought, 'These will do mighty nicely..'

Nearby, Rarity was struggling to find a good spot on the beach. Every time she placed her tent down down, it wouldn't fit in between the shore and grass.

The human approached her and asked, "Need some help, little pony?"

"You can just call me Rarity, darling. And yes, I'm afraid this tent isn't working here," the unicorn responded.

"Cody. Anyway, let me just-" The human, now referred to as 'Cody', took the tent kit out of Rarity's hooves.

Cody appeared to pull something out of her pocket, but nothing was there. She then placed the azure tent where Rarity previously had struggled to set it.

Rarity squealed in delight and hugged the girl. "Thank you, darling! Also, Cody is a- uh.."

"A boy's name. You could just say I was just nicknamed because of my.. talent. Yeah, that's it," Cody responded. "See you at Nook's tent, Rare."

Rarity exclaimed, "Alright, darling!" The unicorn hummed as she went to decorate the inside of her new azure tent.

As the sun set in the horizon, the three females were all gathered by Tom Nook's tent.

Tom Nook asked, "We should gather sticks to build a fire, hm?"

Applejack blazed off, leaving a trail of dust.

Seconds later, she came back, carrying a dozen sticks on her back.

"Got 'em!" she announced triumphantly while panting.

"Or that, yes," Tom Nook stated.

All five creatures sat around the campfire, relaxing and getting to know each other.

Apparently Tom Nook owned a company, and Cody bought a getaway package from him, which was what got them to this island.

The two smaller tanookis, named Timmy and Tommy, were Nook's nephews and assistants.

Then Cody, Nook, and the Tanooki Twins learned Applejack owned an apple farm, and Rarity was a fashion designer; but the mares mentioned nothing else.

Cody knew they were hiding something.

Silence followed, and the only thing heard was the crackles of the fire.

Tom Nook suddenly spoke up, "We should name this island, yes?"

"That's a wonderful idea, darling," Rarity agreed.

"Any suggestions, hm?" Tom Nook asked.

Rarity exclaimed, "Sandgem Island!"

Tom Nook nodded approvingly, right before Applejack suggested, "What about Big Apple Ridge? This island is filled to the rim with apples and cliffs!"

"Yes, Applejack, darling; but the sand here look like they are tiny gems!" Rarity explained.

"Maybe we could try the name Pony Island..?" guessed Cody.

'I assume more ponies broke through the coding of this game, too. I can just feel it-' she thought to herself.

"Pony Island, it is!" declared Tom Nook. Applejack and Rarity nodded their heads in approval.

After hours of chatting and laughing, every creature parted ways to go to their tents.

Applejack shouted from her orange tent, "G'night, Rarity and Cody!"

"Sleep well, darlings!" chimed Rarity before closing her azure tent's flap.

"Good night.." loudly moaned an exhausted Cody. She stepped towards her cot and smacked the back of her head on the pillow.

Cody took out her Nook phone and started scrolling on the internet.

Rarity dreamed of sewing dresses and opening a business on the island.

Applejack dozed off, chuckling while thinking if Applebloom and Rainbow Dash had a pie-eating contest.

And Cody finally fell asleep, dreaming of what the second official day on the island would be like, with just her, Tom Nook, the Tanooki Twins, Rarity, and Applejack.

Little did that human know that there were other guests that arrived to Pony Island that day..

Author's Note

October 26, 2020...

Again.

I'm on a writing streak, bro!

Next few chapters, we're going to explore the adventures of where everypony else were when Applejack and Rarity landed on Pony Island.

(And yes, Cody is sorta dressed like Ariel from The Little Mermaid. Except she has a pink pixie cut, and she's wearing a purple t-shirt with a green-ish blue skirt.)

Thanks for reading!

~Otaku Tsundere.