Birthday Bio Double Feature: Stayman and Idared · 3:51pm Oct 11th, 2016
Heh, it’s kind of nice to be revisiting OCs from my first fic, The Rock Farmer’s Daughters. Especially the two little ponies that served as a contrast to the antagonist of the fic, since he was their older brother. Between Stayman’s impulsive curiosity and Idared being a somewhat shy hopeless romantic, it was kind of fun writing these little twins.
Keep in mind, between them and Cortland, I’m sticking to the Main ‘Verse instead of the RFD ‘verse.
Stayman and Idared Apple were born in Nickerlite, after a hard labor that nearly killed their mother Blossom, and would have her a little sickly for a few years. Since Blossom could only do feedings during her recovery, father Haralson and teenage brother Cortland were the main ones taking care of them. That included getting them out of mischief when their little legs were taking them further and further into the orchard.
They were a curious pair, trying to see everything that the world had to offer. On the one hoof, they found some nice things, like the time Idared found flowers and gave them to her mother, or Stayman finding his brother’s old treehouse; on the other, Stayman had got bitten by a rattlesnake once, and Idared got sick from eating some poisonous berries.
Since they were members of the Apple family, it was standard for them to be growing up and learning lessons involving apples. Usually it was literal farming things like apple bucking and how to prepare apple products; however, sometimes their father would use them as a metaphor for an important life lesson.
Stayman wasn’t much for listening to the latter, preferring to go off on his own adventures and pretending he was a Wild West hero. He scared off squirrels and birds as he pretended they were mean bandits like the infamous Roanie and her gang. Plenty of times, he ran into some animal raiding the orchard and tended to fight it off with wits, speed, and agility (though his father and brother usually came to the rescue). And often, he’d practice his aim in throwing things, lassoing, and bucking something through the air—which always hit Cortland. The older brother did not appreciate that.
Sometimes he dragged his sister along his adventures, even when she wanted to stay inside and play with her dolls. Typically, they’d end up fighting or otherwise getting into some trouble.
They sometimes went off to other places in town. They both had a lot of friends from their little schoolhouse, and visited them often. They went down to the river for a nice swim on hot days, went to the candy shop with their father to get goodies, and played around the nearby railroad, with them being warned to keep an eye out for trains. Cortland once scolded them for not paying attention when a train was coming in, explaining that they’ll automatically lose when it’s a pony vs. train deal.
A couple of times, they even walked far enough to the Pie Rock Farm, and often asked the Pies how the hay they were farming rocks. The Pie parents were nice enough, though their daughter Limestone was scary, Maud was boring, and Marble didn’t even talk to them. It wasn’t until later they’d meet the other daughter, Pinkie Pie, who was funny and playful like they were—and happened to be a friend of their cousin Applejack. She really annoyed Cortland.
Pinkie Pie once brought a friend, Cheese Sandwich, to help her throw a party in town for a holiday. Idared found Cheese pretty cute, really nice, and had the air of a Wild West hero. Stayman liked to pick on her for developing a crush on an older colt. But, Idared still had her hopeless romantic daydreams for a couple of years, up until she learned that Pinkie and Cheese had gotten engaged. She locked herself in her room for a week and her mother had to convince her that there were other fish in the sea—but she shouldn’t be looking until she’s older.
After their amazement at seeing their cousin Apple Bloom’s cutie mark, they both went out to try to find theirs. Idared got hers first, as she ended up tutoring some of her friends in their schoolwork, and later taught them how to applebuck. Stayman, on the other hoof, was a late bloomer, and it wasn’t until he was nearly thirteen that he discovered that his speed and agility that he developed from his fights against pests helped him during a junior rodeo.
Their teenage and young adult years had them flirting with other ponies a lot. Idared typically had colts at her beck and call, and they often helped her carry stuff when she was running errands. Even when she had become the new schoolteacher, she still had a bunch of boys helping her around with her tasks. As nice as it was, she still wanted a deep romantic relationship; however, she couldn’t choose one to try to court, since she didn’t want to hurt any feelings.
Stayman often traveled around Equestria to compete in rodeos, and had mares swooning over him at every turn. He has dated some throughout his travels, but most of them he never quite got around to contacting them again. They were nice (well, most of them were), but he just simply forgot because he had other things to do.
However, in competing in the Frontier Festival Rodeo in Salt Lick City, he ended up in a conversation about family with a mare named Amber Waves, who had been backstage helping her brother (one of the rodeo clowns). She turned out to be really interesting—and talkative, so he asked her to show him around town. It blossomed into a beautiful friendship, as they became pen pals and would visit each other whenever they had the chance.
They got to meet each other’s families; Stayman was really surprised that Amber had seven siblings (as well as a few siblings-in-law and nieces and nephews) and had trouble remembering everyone’s names. He was also kind of scared of Amber’s father, who was in the military. Meanwhile Amber had a bit of trouble getting along with Idared (who was jealous of her brother for actually finding a special somepony) and Cortland (who found her annoying and merely tolerated her) at first. Both families tease them about their “friendship”.
Stayman teases his sister as an adult, and while Idared’s annoyed with him, they still like having times of playfulness and taking trips down memory lane. Idared often helps him practice for the next rodeo, while he helps her try to be more engaging with her lessons. And sometimes, they’d pull little pranks on Cortland, who still doesn’t appreciate it.
At the end of the day, these twins will sit out in that old clubhouse and watch the sunset.
Not much to say about these two, rambunctious though they may be. If nothing else, I appreciate their role as karma's collectors, whittling away at Cortland's debt.