A Faraway Land.

Chapter 15

The Apple Farm

I opened my eyes as a gentle warmth rolled over my face. I looked towards the window. It was once again a sunny day in Ponyville. I got out of bed and turned around to see Spike got up before me. Twilight was still sleeping, so I made my bed. I made my way down the stairs to see Spike sitting on a chair. It looked like he was enjoying a glass of orange juice.

"Morning Spike. You got any more of that?" I pointed to his glass.

"My orange juice?" Spike asked. "Ya would you like some?"

"Ya. That would be awesome." I watched spike walk off. He quickly returned.

"Here you go James." Spike held the glass up as far as he could.

"Thanks little man." I took a drink. "So Spike. Why do you get up so early?"

"I have to do my chores; You know. I have to put the books away, clean the floors and sometimes rearrange the books in their proper order." Spike looked on at me as I drank the juice. "What's wrong James? You never had orange juice before?"

"No I have had it before, but it has been a long time ago." I gave Spike a smile as I put the glass on the table. I turned to a noise by the stairs. "Morning bed head! Looks like you had a good night's rest." Spike and I giggled a little.

"What?" Twilight walked over to a mirror. "Oh my..." She quickly levitated a brush to comb her hair. "So James, are you ready to see Applejack?"

"Ya. Ready when you are."

"What is Twilight talking about James?" I turned to see Spike was confused.

"Well... I got into something I shouldn't have at Rarity's house. I touched a magical ruby and now only I can use it."

"What!? Why would you look around for stuff if it's not yours!?" Spike was noticeably angry.

"Calm down Spike. She told me to look for something." I pated my hand on Spikes head as he calmed down. "It was nothing more than an accident. I am going to make some money so I can get her another ruby."

"Oh. Well just as long as you find her a replacement it will be fine." Spike scratched his head. "Do you mind if I can see the ruby?"

"Sure Spike." I reach down the collar of my shirt and pull the necklace out. I gave spike a worried look, as I noticed him drooling.

"That looks delicious." Spike continued to drool.

"So you eat gems?" I put the necklace back under my shirt.

"You bet! Have you ever tried some? They are so good." Spike got excited.

"I can't say I have. I don't think my teeth can handle me chewing rocks." Twilight interrupted.

"Are you ready to go James?" Twilight smiled. For some reason, it felt like she was trying to get rid of me today.

"Ya let me get my boots on." I waved to Spike to come closer. "Spike. Be carful... Twilight is trying to get rid of me. I need you to hold down the fort. Don't let anything slide past you; alright?" I gave Spike a wink as he laughed.

"You can count on me!" Spike continued to laugh as Twilight looked on at us confused.

"Alright Twilight. Let's get going." I opened the door for Twilight and followed her out.

"So do you know what I am going to be doing at Applejack's?"

"I don't. I'm sorry." Twilight gave me a curious look while walking. "So James... I was wondering. Can I see your Ruby of Desire?"

"Ya I don't think so..." I smiled at Twilight. I reached in my shirt to retrieve the necklace.

"Oh... Okay." Twilight looked at the ground.

"I was kidding... Here" Twilight quickly gave me an exited look. She quickly levitated the necklace away to look at it. "When I picked up. It was only the gem, so the gold trim and chain. She added to it."

"Ya. The metal work on this is amazing. It must have cost her a lot." She rotated it to look at the back. "You know that this ruby was used to find love?"

"I do. I also know that there are six of them."

"How did you know? I didn't see you read anything about them." Twilight levitated the necklace back to me.

"I talked to Luna in my dream last night." I grabbed the necklace and put it back on under my shirt.

"That's convenient." She smiled.

"Yep. So is that the farm I am going to work on over there?" I pointed.

"Ya. How did you guess?"

"Applejack had apples for her cutie mark, so I put the two together." We walked up to a barn.

"Hey Applejack! You in there?" Twilight yelled.

"Well howdy Twi! Is this my help today?" Applejack pointed towards me.

"He sure is. Just go easy on him. I don't want to have to take him to the hospital again." Twilight turned to me. "Behave James. I need to go run some errands, so don't do anything to hurt yourself."

"I understand..." I was slightly irritated, but I hid that from Twilight. It was almost like she was treating me like a pet. "I guess I will make my way back when I am done, so I will see you later Twilight."

"Don't forget to get something to eat." Twilight levitated three bits to me.

"Thanks." I grab the money. "I won't forget to eat." I watched as Twilight galloped off.

"So partner. You ready to get to work?" Applejack smiled.

"Sure am. Where do I start?"

"Eager to get working. I like that." Applejack walked up to me and started to circle. "First we need to find out what you can do." Applejack stopped and put her hoof to her chin. "Come with me inside the barn."

"Alright." I followed close behind Applejack.

"You mind standing in front of that cart over yonder?" I walked to the cart she pointed at. "Good! You will be perfect for the cart we have down in the fields." Applejack walked out of the barn as I followed. "Let's go down to the fields with Big Mac. I wana see if you can buck for apples."

"Hey Applejack. Who is Big Mac?"

"Why Big Macintosh is my brother. I help him with the farm work."

"I am guessing that is him over there." I pointed at a large red horse.

"Yes siry!" Applejack smiled at me as I walked over to him.

"Hey Big Macintosh. My name is James."

"Hello James." I watched as he went back to kicking trees.

"You mind if I call you Mac for short?"

"Nope."

"Alright James! Let's see what ya got! Walk over to that there tree." Applejack pointed to the tree next to Mac. I walked to the tree she pointed at. "Now give it a good buck!" Applejack smiled.

"Buck? You want me to kick the tree?..." I looked at her confused.

"What else would I be talking about?" Applejack looked confused.

"I will try, but I don't think it is a good idea..." I take a step back. I bring my right leg up and kicked the tree as hard as I could. A small pain shot up my leg as it made contact. "That wasn't as bad as I expected." I watched as three apples fell to the ground. I turned to applejack. "I am guessing that was not all that great?" A fourth apple dropped on my head.

" Hahahaha!" Applejack laughed as the apple rolled off my head. "I don't think bucking is your thing!"  Applejack continued to laugh.

"Eeyp" Mac said behind me.

"Then what would you have me do?" I rubbed my head where the apple hit.

"Well... I think you will be good loading the cart up. When the cart is full. I need you to unload it in the apple cellar." Applejack adjuster her hat. "You can find the cellar door about 20 feet away from the barn. It's not too hard to find."

"Understood boss." I started to load up the cart. I continued to think while I worked on the farm.

My dream last night with Luna. I had a feeling she was hiding something from me. I just couldn't put my finger on it. She avoided the question when I asked about the white ruby, but she answered that question later. Maybe she was stalling for something, or someone. Maybe Celestia had the same power as Luna. It was possible, but very unlikely. The small fight we had at the hospital tells me she can't look into dreams, or the minds of the dreamers.

That brings up another problem. How much has Luna told her sister. Luna seems to have a lot of respect for me. She kept my personal side a secret from her sister. It makes me wonder if she has told her about my ruby yet. Not to mention that both Luna and Celestia has one of the rubies. They are obviously collecting the rubies, but for what reason. They must have some kind of power if they are combined together.

The only problem is combining them. They link to only one user. Luna told me Celestia gave her the ruby. This gave me the conclusion that Celestia was protecting something. She has her sister Luna link to one of the rubies to stop someone from linking to all of them. I could only guess that all six together would give you a lot of power. I understood now! It was the perfect plan. You have to kill the one linked to the ruby, before you can use it yourself. What better way to protect something then to split it up between powerful people. This brought up another thought.

What on earth did Rarity want with that gem. Was it right for me to try to repay her with another Ruby of Desire? She didn't seem to know about its greater secret. If she did, she would have killed me to sever the link. She was way too kind to do anything like that. I was thinking about this way too much. I should stop before I think of something I shouldn't.

"Hey James!" Applejack yelled. "You don't need to bring the cart back! Could you put it in the barn!?" Applejack ran up to me. "We are done for the day." Applejack gave me a smile. "When you put the cart back in the bard. Come in the house so I can get you your payment."

"You got it boss." I took the cart back to the barn as Applejack made her way to the house.

I placed the cart in the barn and closed the barn doors. I made my way to Applejack's house. I opened the door and I was confronted by a green horse. She looked very old.

" Now you wait one cot picking minute! What are yey? I haven't seen a thing like ya before..."

"I am Applejacks friend." I put my hands up. "She told me to come in and get my payment for working on your farm today."

"Ohhh?" she raised an eyebrow and looked at me. "In that case. Applejack is in the kitchen." She gave me a smile and walked up stairs.

I walked around looking for the kitchen. It didn't take me too long to find it. A strong smell of baked apples led the way. As I walked in the kitchen. I noticed apple pies on the windowsill. I looked at Applejack as she looked through a small chest. As I continued to smell the pies. I remembered I forgot to eat.

"Howdy partner!" Applejack continued to look in the chest. "How does 10 bits sound for your hard work?"

"I think you can do better..." I said while eyeballing the pie.

"What did you have in mind?" Applejack looked at me.

"How about 5 bits and one of your apple pies." I looked at applejack with a straight face.

"Well..." Applejack laughed. "You drive a hard bargain! I am going to have to accept." Applejack walked over to the window and grabbed a pie. "Would you like me to cut it up for ya?"

"Sure. That would be nice." Applejack cut the pie and placed 5 bits on the counter. "So would you like me to come back?"

"Sure do! You helped out a lot and I appreciate it." Applejack smiled.

"Alright! I will see you tomorrow." I smiled at applejack. I made my way out the door.

I walked home while eating my apple pie. It was the best pie I had ever eaten in my life. This is the kind of food people would kill for. The best part was; it was still warm. It made it all that much better. I was on my sixth piece. I looked down and thought that Spike and Twilight might want a piece, so I saved the last two for them. I walked through the door of Twilight's house.

"Hey Spike, Twilight. I have something for you two." I watched as spike ran up to me.

"What is it James!?" Spike was obviously very excited.

"It is some of Applejacks homemade pie." I handed the pie tin to spike.

"Oh boy! It's been a while since I have had some of Applejack's pies." Twilight quickly levitated the pie away from spike.

"Thank you James; that was very kind of you." Twilight looked at the pie. "There is only two pieces here. What about you?"

"Who do you think ate it?" I laughed. "It was really good." I smiled. "Well I am beat, so I am going to head off to bed. Applejack wants me to come over tomorrow again. So I will see you in the morning."

"Okay James. I will see you in the morning. Thanks again for the pie." Twilight smiled at me while she levitated two plates towards her.

"Ya James! Thanks a lot." Spike said while watching Twilight.

I made my way to the bed. It wasn't a bad day. I made a total of 8 bits today and I got some good food in my stomach other than just bread. I put my money next to my gun and laid back to go to sleep.