Echoes of Equestria

The sun filtered through the apple trees, casting patches of light across the dirt path as I followed Applejack, whose basket swayed slightly with each step.

“Just give the tree a good kick, sugarcube,” Applejack said, glancing back. “Don’t overthink it.”

I sized up the tree. How hard could this be? I planted my hooves, wound up, and kicked. Nothing. Not a single apple budged.

Applejack chuckled. “A good try, but ya need more oomph.”

“Right. More oomph,” I muttered. My second kick was harder. The tree shuddered, but still, no apples.

I sighed. “Maybe magic?” Closing my eyes, I called forth my magic to enhance my leg muscles a bit. Just a little boost, I thought, as I bucked the tree a third time.

CRACK!

My eyes flew open and I saw that the tree was now upside down, roots in the air, apples and dirt scattered everywhere.

Applejack stared. “What in tarnation?!”

Celestial winced, giving her a weak smile. “Uh… too much oomph?”

The tree swayed in the air, groaning ominously. A lone apple fell, bouncing off my mane. I flinched.

Applejack glared, causing me to cower, as she shouted, "Ah reckon you must’ve left yer common sense on the other side of the fence! You got more foolishness than a gaggle of goslings! An’ now look whatcha done! One o’ my trees is all topsy-turvy, all cause o’ yer wild magic shenanigans!"

Apologetically, I stated in a calm voice, attempting to appease the furious farmer, “I apologize. You’re right. I not only should have checked with you before using magic—which was clearly a mistake—I shouldn’t have used it at all as I’m still learning it.” My ears flattened. “Uh, sorry about the tree. I was just trying to help.”

She forced herself to relax by taking a deep breath before replying, “Helpin’ usually means keepin’ the tree upright, sugarcube.” She then pulled her hat off to fan herself. “But I reckon we can—”

The tree gave another groan and toppled forward as a nearby chicken squawked and bolted for cover.

Applejack stared at the mess. “…fix it later.”

Celestial muttered, “Maybe I shouldn’t try magic anymore today.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

Fluttershy peeked out from behind a bush. “Oh my. Is everypony alright?”

“Define alright,” I said as I nudged an apple with my hoof.

Fluttershy trotted closer, her gaze moved between the overturned tree and the scattered apples. “That poor tree must be so confused.”

I blinked. “It’s a tree. Can trees even get confused?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh, absolutely. Uprooting them like that can be very disorienting.”

I blinked at Fluttershy’s statement about the tree being disoriented. Then I remembered that time Applejack tucked Bloomberg into bed, reading it a bedtime story and treating it like a beloved family member. Right. Why am I even questioning this? It’s a land where trees get bedtime stories.

Applejack shook her head. “Celestial, you ever think maybe you’re tryin’ too hard?”

I sighed. “Yeah, I guess. I just wanted to help.”

Applejack gave me a small smile, her tone becoming softer. “Startin’ small’s still helpin’. How ’bout pickin’ up them apples instead?”

Smiling, I nodded and for the rest of the day, Applejack bucked while I picked up any stray apples.

Some time later Apple Bloom joined us out in the field. “Heya Celestial. Didna’ know you’d be here helpin’ out on the orchard.”

Smiling I replied, “It kinda just happened actually.”

***

“Well, heya thar sugarcube,” Applejack greeted me brightly as I approached her stall. “What kin I do ya for?”

“Oh, nothing really. Was just wondering if we could hang.”

“Hang? Hang what?”

I shook my head. “You’re a silly pony.” Sorry, not sorry. “Hang as in hang out. You know. Chill together? Shootin’ the breeze?

She chuckled. “Ah. I see now. Sorry Celestial. I have a full day of work today. Ain’t got no time to just hang out.”

Disappointed, I lowered my head as my ears went flat. “Oh. OK. Never mind then.” I began to dejectedly walk away.

“Hold up thar sugarcube. Why’s it so powerful important for ya to hang wit me anywho?”

Glancing back at her I replied, “Just wanted to connect with you. You know? Become friends.”

“Aw shucks. If’n that’s wut yer on about we’re already friends.”

My eyes widening with surprise I asked in disbelief, “We are? When? How? What?”

She gave a knowing grin at my confusion as she clarified, “Now I know we haven’t exactly interacted none, beyond the whole dressing us down thing y’all did with that Cozy Glow incident, but it was actually that day when I thought of ya as a friend. The fact that ya had such a clarity when it came to the truth really impressed me.”

“Oh, really?” I paused to think on it a moment. “Ah. Yea. Guess I see your point.”

“Well, anyway, if’n ya wanna hang out so bad, you could always lend me a hoof today.”

“Sure. That should be interesting,” I stated eagerly.

***

Apple Bloom smiled brightly at the recounting of events that lead me here today. “Aww. That was a sweet story.” Then she notices the tree. “I’m guessing you had a bit of a mishap tryin’ ta help.

Applejack smirked slightly. “Y’all could say that.” Then looking toward me she continued. “What exactly was that anywho?”

“An enhancement spell. Particularly for strength.”

“When did y’all learn to do that?”

“What can I say. Magic books to me is like a ‘kid in a candy store’ situation.”

She laughed. “Yea, reckon I can see that. You bein’ from a world widout magic and all. She then shifts back into work mode. Well, that’s enough gabbin’. We all got chores ta finish.”

With that Apple Bloom headed off to do whatever, while AJ and I got back to our thing. Eventually however as days tend to do, this one began coming to an end.

As we traveled to the barn—Big Mac hauling the wagon full of apples—Applejack removed her hat as she wiped her brow, then stated, “Once we get done offloadin’ these here apples inta da barn, we’ll call it a day.”

“I’m all for that,” I said exhausted. “The farmers life is so tiring.”

She gave a playful smirk. “Speak to me again, after putting in a full days work, from before the crack of dawn.”

Smiling sheepishly, I scratched at the back of my head as we silently got to work offloading the apples.

As we exited, and Big Mac closed the barn doors, Applejack turned to me and offered, “Y’all wanna sup wit us? I say y’all’ve earned it.”

“Sure. What’s on the menu?” I asked as we headed inside.

“Chili,” Granny Smith answered unnecessarily, as I could smell it the moment we walked in.

Sniffing deeply the wonderful aroma, I opened my mouth to say that I’d be taking Applejack up on her offer, but then paused as something clicked.

“Somethin’ eatin’ ya sugarcube?” Applejack inquired.

“How can you be having chili. Ponies are herbivorous.”

Everpony, even Big Mac, gave out a hearty laugh at that.

“Land’s sakes child. Haven’t ya evar heard a meatless chili?” Granny asked.

“Meatless chili? You serious? Chili’s not chili without the ground be…” Trailing off I swallowed hard at what I had nearly said.

“Ground be?” Apple Bloom inquired innocently with a confused tilt of her head.

“Never mind Bloomy. Whatever it was he was about ta say I’m guessin’ we all is better off not knowin’.” She then directed a look at me, but softened upon seeing the look of fear on my face. “It’s OK sugarcube. I’m sure whatever meat y’all humans eat back home isn’t considered sentient like it is here.”

My eyes widened as I turned white. “H-how did ya…”

“Know that y’all was gonna mention something from a sentient critter? It’s really quite simple actually. If it had been a simple animal, y’all wouldna cut yourself off like that, with a look of abject horror on your face.”

As my face returned to normal I shook my head as I got over my shock. OK. These ponies are far sharper than the show ever gave them credit for. “Oh. That was pretty astute of you. Coming to that realization based on nothing more than that is really quite amazing.”

She chuckled as she took her seat around the table she said, “Twas nothin’. Just puttin’ two and two together is all.”

Seriously. Damned clever.

Then, as I also took my seat, we all tucked into the chili… Well, I took a bit more convincing.

“Go on sugarcube. Try it. I betcha y’all will love it.”

Stirring the chili with my spoon I scoop out a small round thing and inquired, “What’s this?”

“Good grief child. Y’all never et beans before?”

“Yes. I can tell it’s got red kidney beans in it. I was asking what this is?” I pointed to the spoon for emphasis.

“Land sakes. That thar is a pinto bean.”

“Ohhhhhh. So, you must use this as a substitute for meat. Another bean is actually a smart replacement for the protein as well as adding bulk to it.”

“Now yer catchin’ on,” Applejack said.

Placing my spoon back into the bowl, I gathered a full bit, and brought it to my mouth. “Well, over the teeth, through the gums, look out stomach, here it comes,” I recited, taking that first bite.

Bloom, giggled as she said, “That was a fun little poem.”

“Chewing a bit, I then swallowed as I replied, “Just something I picked up as a child back home.” I then took another bite.

“So, how is it?” inquired Applejack.

“Amazing.”

“Knew y’all would enjoy it.”

We then tucked in to the grub with a relish. I sat there listening to them talk about their days—Bloom learning about a new chemical reaction in chemistry class, Granny who had gotten that creaky chair leg I was sitting on fixed, stuff like that—and as I listened in I got this smile on my face that just kept growing to a huge grin.

“Celestial?” Bloomy began with worry in her voice? “Why are you crying with a huge smile on your face?”

Startled, my smile faded, as I wiped at my eye with a hoof and saw that is came away wet. “Oh. I guess I was feeling nostalgic is all.”

“About what?”

“I didn’t realize how much I missed this—family dinners, sharing what everyone did during the day.”

The adult ponies nod in understanding. “Y’all don’t do that no more I take it.” asked Applejack.

I shook my head. “No. I only live with my dad in a studio apartment. He sits in bed to eat as I sit in my chair while we watch TV. Didn’t know how much I’ve missed the simple joy of just talking to my family.” As I had been talking, more tears were slipping from my eyes despite my best attempts at stopping them

“Well, I’m glad y’all feel some of what ya lost again as ya share our meal with us. But, you should join us instead of just listening to us all going on.”

I giggled as I did just that, and we all spent the remainder of dinner communicating.

As we all rose from the table I thanked them for having me.

“Twere a real pleasure to have ya sugarcube. Don’t ya be a stranger now.”

I nodded at Applejack as I took my leave to head home. This was a great day.