The Quest for the Golden Apple

After getting several affairs in order, picking up a saddle, and buying train tickets, our duo found their way to the train station.  Due to Applejack being an Element, she was offered a box car with fine mattresses and room services.  After Spike convinced her to take up the offer, the two boarded.

The train hissed and squealed as the iron wheels started turning.  Moments later, they were going full speed ahead to the far away town of Appleoosa.

"...Wow, this really is pretty nice."  Spike said, bouncing on the bed.  This reminded him; no more ridiculous sleeping schedules...  He could sleep almost whenever he wanted!

"Sure is.  Nice view, too."  Applejack said, looking out the window at the land speeding by.

The two sat in silence for a moment.  After Spike was done with a short thought, he looked at Applejack.  "...AJ, did that book say anything about why those golden apples exist?"

"Actually, no, it didn't.  All it said wus that there were records written by the Mareyans in riddles 'n' stuff.  The book was just a record o' dig sites, in case ye didn't notice."

"...You're telling me it had a thousand pages on dig sites, but hardly anything on their culture or history?"

"All they found of interest was a bunch of pottery and crafts way too good for their time, as well as a few gigantig gemstones.  As for culture, all they said they managed to recover were some engravin's of some strange lookin' deity, the pictures too mangled t' tell exactly what.  Whoever they worshiped, it wasn't Celestia."

"...Seriously?  They couldn't have been that old."

Applejack merely shrugged.  "Well, if there wasn't nothin' in Twi's library, I ain't got a clue about where we can find anythin' else."

Spike thought for a moment.  "...Wait...  How old did you say they were?"

"The book said 'round six-hundr'd years."

"Don't you think Celestia might remember something like that?"

"Did she even know?"

"Maybe.  Worth a shot, if you ask me.  How about we send her a letter after we deal with Pinkie?"

"...Yeah, guess ye got a point.  But ain't she all busy with...  Royal stuff?"

"Pfft, from what Twilight tells me, she just fusses over her and her sister's hooves, handles some courts, and occasionally does negotiations with the Griffin Kingdom.  Other than that, she's either in her room or dealing with the sun."

Applejack blinked.  That didn't sound much like Celestia.  Then again, she didn't know Celestia much either.  "...Oh.  Well then."

"Yeah, I'll send her a letter when we're done with Pinkie."

Applejack chuckled.  "How much you wanna bet Pinkie's gone to an insane level t' get ready for the party?"

"Pfff.  If I know Pinkie, she probably has the entire town covered in streamers, confetti, and frosting."

"...Y'know, Ah love Pinkie, but sometimes she just goes a bit too far.  ...But Ah like it most of th' time!"  Applejack said, recalling the time Pinkie Pie had an after--after-birthday-party--party for Gummy.

"I can tell, AJ.  Every time after one of Pinkie's parties, you go home with a gut the size of your barn.  How can you eat so much?  I can't even eat that much ice cream!"

Applejack thought for a moment, a smirk sneaking it's way onto Applejack's face.  "...You ever worked on a farm, boy?"

"No.  But I'd like to give it a shot some day!"  Spike said, thinking Applejack was implying an invitation.

"...Ah think we can find SOME use for ye.  Y' sure can't buck, but..."

"It beats sorting books..."  Spike said rather bitterly.

"That's gotta be harsh.  And borin'."

Spike sighed heavily.  "You have no idea.  I love Twilight like a mother, but, sometimes, I feel like sort of a slave, the way she treats me after everything I do.  I mean, I know she gets stressed easily, and I understand that, but sometimes it's just too much.  Have you ever wanted to just scream, Applejack?  Just scream out all of your frustration?"

Applejack thought for a moment.  "...Not often, but, occasionally...  Sorry, Spike."

"Ugh! The more I think about it the more it irritates me! That day we learned how to cook food with magic alone?  Seven hours straight!  SEVEN. HOURS!  I could have used those hours to go up to Sugarcube Corner, play some board games, maybe talk to Rarity... The list goes on!  ...Oh, sweet Celestia, lists!  Bucking lists!!  The bigger the list, the happier Twilight is!"

Applejack listened intently, worry on her face, as Spike continued his rant.

"...And the more I have to do!  And not a single say in it!  'Have a list of lists? Check. Have a list? Check. Have a bad case of halitosis? Check. Daily morning attempt at making Spike's brain vessels burst? Check.'  It's madness!  I's like she has no...  What's the word?  What am I looking for?  Freedom?  Chaos, even?  I think that fits pretty well.  Maybe she needs a lesson from Discord.  Her mind is so tight and so strict, it's as if she has a corn husk shoved rrrrright up her--"

Before Spike could say any more, a loud knocking came from the door.  It was room service.  Applejack motioned for Spike to sit down while she handled the situation.

Applejack opened the door.  "Hello, ma'a--  GAH!"  The stallion gasped when he saw who was in front of him.  After a brief glance, Applejack would realize it was none other than Flim, one of the brothers that almost ran the Apples out of business.

...Applejack couldn't help but laugh. She could only guess what had happened.  "They got you workin' here now, eh?"

Flim sighed, defeated. There was no way he could lie to the Element of Honesty.  "...Yes, Ms. Apple.  We ran out of business shortly after our little incident in Ponyville.  Me and Flam now work here.  I suppose you're about to bomb me with wise comebacks?"

Applejack couldn't wipe the dumb smile off of her face.  "...Nah. Don't feel like stoopin' that low.  I'll just make an order. You guys got food on here, right?"

"We sure do.  Have a look at the menu.  I'll be back." He said, closing the door behind him as he walked out.

Spike started rolling around on the floor laughing as Applejack looked back over.

"...Ah ain't got nuttin' t' say 'bout that except for karma bites."  She said, opening the menu as Spike composed himself.  "What do they got?  Pumpkin pie, tomato soup, Griffin-style cheese pizza..."

Spike was drooling at this point.  Although he liked gems, he enjoyed other foods almost just as much.  "...Applejack, how does a gigantic pizza with Zebric cheese, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and pineapples sound?"

"...Pineapples on pizza?"

"You ever tried it? It's actually pretty good..."

"...Guess it's worth a shot."

A few minutes later, Flam knocked on the door.  The only distinguishable difference between the two was Flam's mustache.

As the door was opened, he gave a slight bow.  "H-Have you decided, Ms. Apple?"

"Cut the 'Miss Apple' tar. It's AJ.  And, yes, we've decided.  Large mushroom cheese pizza with pineapples.  Please."

"Er... Sure thing!"  Flam said before hastily making his leave.

AJ and Spike shared a chuckle.  "You know, AJ, this actually seems pretty fun.  Just us?"

"Nice t' be away from home sometimes...  Not to mention what Ah have to deal with sometimes.  Like ye said, Ah love 'em t' death.  It just gets tiresome after awhile, with Granny, and Big Mac.  ...Specially Applebloom and those cute, but annoyin' as buck, crusaders.  It seems e'rry night, at least ONE of them five has to do somethin' that keeps me up. Don't get no durn sleep."

"I know the feeling..."

"Ah s'pose Twilight likes t' stay up?"

"Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Otherwise her schedule will get off.  And you know what happens when her schedule is off."

"She's..."  Applejack gulped. "...Tardy?"

"Yeah..."

"...Ah'm so, so sorry, Spike."

"Don't be. It isn't your fault."

"Ah still feel bad."

"Try not to.  There isn't anything you can really--"

The door suddenly opened. Film, carrying a large pizza, trotted in.  He unfolded a small table, set the tray down, gave them a few plates, bowed, and walked out before any of them could say anything.

Applejack looked confused.  "Well, that was fast..."

"What?  The cooking or the delivery?"

"Both!" She said, facehoofing.

"They probably did something to it..."

"Yeah, they probably did.  Lemme take 'er back and see wut's up."  She said, grabbing the pizza and standing up.

She walked in between cars to go see Flim and Flam.  However, she noticed nobody was there... She went further ahead.  Nobody was in the train at all.  How could Flim and Flam NOT be here? How could they have exited?  The train hadn't stopped!

Then it hit her.  Flim and Flam were unicorns.  And we're likely vengeful.  Very vengeful.

She galloped to the window to look outside.  Sure enough, her and Spike were on the wrong route; on a new rail that lead off of a ravine.  She looked back at where they were supposed to go, which was a turn to the east.

"...How in the...?!"

Applejack panicked.  If she didn't think fast, she was going to die.  She made a quick estimation; about a minute and a half before they were launched off the edge of the cliff.  She started galloping back, thinking.

She was pulling a blank.  She couldn't think of anything!  Come on, come on!  Her and Spike's lives depended on this!  If only she had the imagination of Applebloom and her three little...  Wait a minute...

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"Cutie Mark Crusader Blacksmiths!"  The three voices said in unison.

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...Applejack busted the door to her cab.

Spike looked up, frightened.  "...AJ?  What's happening?"

"No time, Spike!  I need somethin'...  Somethin' big 'n' heavy!"

Spike looked around quickly.  Soon, he found a fire extinguisher.  "Here!  Will this work?"

"Celestia, Ah hope so!"  She said before going through the doorway in between the cabs.  She started pounding on the bolts that connected hers to the rest of the train, in hopes to detach.

Eventually, she had success.  Applejack let out a loud "Yee-haw!"  As she saw their cab inching away.

Her success was short lived.  She looked ahead, and noted they wouldn't slow down in time.  They would have to bail.

But how?  How would they even survive the landing at this speed?  How would they...

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"Cutie Mark Crusader Parachuters!"

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Applejack's eyes widened.  She grabbed her bags, hooked them onto her saddle, and grabbed Spike.

"Hold on, Spike!"

"Applejack!  What are you doing?!"  Spike said as Applejack grabbed the blanket off of the queen sized bed.

"Savin' our tails!"  She screamed as she busted down the back door.

She climbed up the ladder on the caboose to the top of the train.  She grabbed the blanket, and was about to see how much time they had left.

She didn't look up on account of Spike's screaming answering her question for her.

Without hesitation, she grabbed the blanket, flung it open, and jumped backwards.  The wind resistance managed to keep the two a safe distance away from the edge of the cliff.

Their landing was a different story.  Applejack face-planted, still going at a high speed, and tumbled over onto her back, later noticing she lost her hat.  Spike was flung another few feet to Applejack's right, not having much more luck with his landing; a belly flop.

The two got up, dazed and stunned, and eventually waddled over to eachother.  The explosion coming from the ravine moments later reminded them just how close to death they were.

Applejack, after getting her hat and reaching Spike, rolled over onto her back to ease her pain.  Spike did the same.

"...Spike...?"

"...Yh...  Yeah?"

"Y-You alright?"

"...I'll...  I'll live...  Ugh..."

"Let's just...  Rest a minute..."

"Yeah..."

The two sat in what was almost silence; occasional groaning and heavy breathing interrupted it.  After a few minutes, Applejack weakly hoisted herself to her hooves, put her saddle on, and grabbed everything they had.

"...We'll check the damage in Appleoosa.  Ah'm sure there's... A doc there.  Come on, Spike.  Hop on.  'Fore somethin' bad happens.

Spike obliged, forcing himself to crawl up onto Applejack's bruised back as they followed the other railroad tracks to Appleoosa, which was but a few miles away.

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I hope you expected action.

And morals.