The sun rose over Sweet Apple Acres, sweeping away the shadows and letting in the candescence of the morning light. A cockerel crowed, signaling the start of what was to be a beautiful day. As the day began, animals stirred and wind slowly pushed through the tree branches. Everything was tranquil, serene. For a while at least.
“Time ta be getting’ up, sleepyheads. It’s gonna be a busy day.”
The gruff voice of a tired mare rolled through the farm, touching every corner of her dominion. Slowly our hero came into consciousness. Feeling stiff he attempted to flick back his short wispy green growth, (what could barely be called a mane). With a shock he realized he couldn’t move. He was fully paralyzed. Looking down at himself, he took in his wholesome, red, shiny form. Then he remembered he was an apple. He hated being an apple. But still, he had a duty to perform, and he was not one to break from duty. So with a fixed determination, he found a comfortable position (to the best of his ability) and got ready for another day of watching the world go by. It was his destiny.
Looking out upon his comrades, he saw but a sea of stoic statues. Each one glimmered in the sunlight that shone through the barn window high above him. He eyed up the edges of his confine. Thick planks barred the sides of his wooden prison. Each was chipped and cracked from the years of wear and tear. The light brown of the ages had slowly faded into a much crispier, darker hue of its former magnificence. Circling his gaze back down towards those which shared in his fate, he gave a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanks. He thanked Celestia that he had been blessed enough to be an apple at the top of the barrel; an apple with a view. His imagination could not even begin to comprehend the horror of being buried somewhere down there, all his life. To be buried in a prison of corpses; the bodies of his brothers. To be wanting to cry out, but to be unable to do so due to the confines of your very nature. He felt anger well at his sides as he considered the ghastly atrocities afflicted upon his kin. The horror.
Being an optimist though, he proceeded to lift his eyes towards the heavens. Through the musty miasma of the barn air he could see the sky, the clear blue sky. It towered above him. Through his window, he had a front row seat to marvel at the sheer vastness, the never ending nothingness, the freedom that was the sky. It just reached off, further and further. To one stuck forever on the ground, it was a promise of the possibilities of life.
Thy sky was lucid today; its blues burning vividly into the mind. Every so often a lazy cloud would pass by; strolling along as if to care was to waste. The white fluffiness and pristine nature of the chaotic systems which formed such beauty never ceased to amaze our hero. Even if he was an apple. Rays of light lit up the east bearing of the clouds, kissing them with a transcendental extravagance. They appeared to be billowing at the seams, each one reaching out to touch the fluid reality that enveloped their being.
As our apple admired their beauty, a cyan pegasus passed by. Jasper (yes, that’s right) the apple could have sworn he’d seen her before. With a brief thought he remembered she was the one called Rainbow Dash, she who had destroyed Jasper’s previous home in a shimmering explosion of light. Jasper gazed upon her. Rainbow Dash fluttered by casually, jerking her head round every so often, looking for some escaped cloud. Her prismatic mane and tail were timidly being buffeted by the breeze. The result was to create a cacophony of colour, one which burnt Jasper’s mind at the beauty that held him. He had never seen such a thing of iridescent elegance. He could barely comprehend such magnificence. Though, before he could react to such splendour, she was gone. In that moment he knew, his destiny was to find Rainbow Dash and be with her ‘til the bitter last. He swore that he would do everything in his power to be with such a creature of a heavenly nature.
Then he sat there.
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A creak and a crunch of hay signaled something approaching. Jasper came back from his thoughts. he had been thinking about Rainbow Dash, and his love for her and its tragic conclusion, which he was convinced had already been reached.
“Mac, get ya lazy flank in here, we got apples ta shift.”
An icy fear took over Jasper’s heart. What was happening? Jasper could only imagine the horror at what was about to happen. And then something worse happened. A great shockwave rippled through the barrel. He felt a heave as he began to momentarily feel weightless. Before he knew it his body fell back upon the mound. Momentarily afterwards, the bodies of other apples began to fall upon him, he feared the worst. Luckily though, he managed to stay on top. Though, his brief flight had done its damage. He’d now tasted what it was like to fly, and he wanted no more of this madness.
Composing himself, he looked out again, upon the the world he was beginning to be shifted through. He could see, over the edges of the barrel, the back of a red stallion. Strong, muscular and well defined. Surely the back of a working pony.
“So that’s one more barrel, and we’ve got the rest ‘lready down the market.”
“Eeyup.”
“Off we go then.”
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The day was progressing steadily. The sun was rising rapidly, heaving its way through the sky, rushing through the eternal nothingness. Jasper was getting used to the steady motion of the barrel, the steady sways and bumps that knocked his world around. He could here two voices. One, the voice of the mare of the farm, strong and confident, yet pleasant and comforting. The other was the voice of the stallion to which his home was tied. His voice was slow and simple, yet concise and sure. A pang was felt by Jasper in his heart. Realisation struck him that here these nice folk were, yet they did not realise the pain they put the apples through. He doubted that they were even aware apples were conscious. He made certain not listen to what they were saying.
To soothe his turmoil, Jasper focused on the world around him. Every once in a while he would get a glimpse of the world underneath the sky. They were walking down a path, dusty and stony, well worn. Grass sprouted out at the edges, fighting the path to reclaim what it had lost. The path held on fiercely though, keeping the grass at bay. Aligning the path were lines of trees placed sporadically but definitely. Oaks, willows, pine trees and even some fruit trees. Each was crowned with a beautiful canopy of leaves. Rays of sunlight were piercing through and the wind rocked the leaves in steady motion. The result was to create a shimmering parade of jade greens, contrasted by the heavy green shrub like grass that made up the fields and meadows spreading off from the edge of the path.
Further and further they walked, and as they went Jasper became aware of a small settlement up ahead. Cute would have gone someway to categorise it, but would surely have not done the village justice. Laying before them was a dainty little village popping out from the countryside in an array of muddy browns with the occasional colourful building burning its presence into the vista.. The houses were magnificent works of rural craftsmanship, solid wooden houses. Good quality, earthpony carpentry. The village was intersected by a river, running through the heart of it. Stunning stone bridges jutted up over the rivers, creating organic walkways through to the village centre, in which lay the most curious of buildings. It was a round building fully surrounded by a porch supporting a balcony. Hints of oriental architecture complimented an overall regal feel to the building, with a touch of gothic characterised by the building’s need to be excessively tall beyond all other structures encompassing it. It was definitely a sight to behold. The grounds leading onto the porch were separated into sections of twelfths, with either a set of stairs or a small garden arranged in a regular fashion. What Jasper marvelled upon was in fact the village’s pavilion, the centre of the village.
Jasper snapped out of his trance and began to listen in on the excited discussion occurring between his captors.
“Remember Mac, it’s Twilight’s surprise party t’night for Pinkie. Ya need t’ be there at the pavilion at seven sharp. Got th’t.”
“Eeyup. Is miss Fluttershy going to be there?”
“Give it a rest, Mac.”
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Making their way past the towering pavilion, the centrepiece of the empire that controlled Jasper’s every moment of life, they turned towards a marketplace. Horror flashed through Jasper’s mind as he comprehended that he was to be sold like a common trinket.
With a sharp thud, the barrel was jarred from motion. It had been put down next to a stall holding a central position in the marketplace. The stall was a stylish cart made of a lightly shaded ash. Adorning it were lovingly crafted carvings, emanating from the forward most corners of the cart, fanning out and swirling into intricate spirals. The cart consisted of a square cuboid, which had storage space inside, and a canvas roof providing shelter for the goods which sat upon large baskets built into the structure itself. With green wheels and a green and white striped canvas, the cart was visually attractive. Made to catch the eye while not being garish. The canvas itself was supported by a simple wooden frame, rising up a few feet above the main body of the cart. Sitting upon that frame was a beautifully made metal sign. Its main section was fashioned to look like an apple, supported by curled iron S’s on either side. The sign was a deep firebrick red, almost as rich as the apples on display. Inside it was a painted, overly sized horseshoe, originally bought from a clown, but now stripped of all paint and welded onto the sign which held it. It was a light, steel grey, adding a heavy hint of industry to the otherwise rural themed cart. Finally, painted upon the back of the cart, was the Equestria renowned Apple family insignia; the simple red apple with the brown stalk pointing directly upwards. It was a simple symbol, but one which purveyed many things: quality, a good deal, trust, hard work and, most importantly, honesty. All these were the qualities that the great philosophers called ‘the virtues of the worker’, and all these were the qualities which the Apple family sought to live by.
Jasper resigned himself to the idea. At least if he were to be sold, it was to be done at such a fine establishment, one worthy of his lofty standards. He was not just an apple, he strived to be the finest of apples.
“Right Mac. I’ll be here most of the day so I‘ll be needin’ ya t’ go run some errands for me.”
“Mm hmm.”
“First, ya need ta stop by Sugarcube Corner. If ya see Pinkie, just act natural. Tell ‘er that yer pickin’ up the cake for the Apple family reunion next week. Ain’t no lie like one with some truth in it. Next, y’all need to be headin’ over to the library to help Twilight move whatever needs movin’. Should take ya up ta lunch. After that, I’ll be needin’ ya to go to Fluttershy’s to pick up Angel for ma magic show. Got that?”
“Eeyup...”
“And Mac... make sure ya don’t get caught up socialising now, ‘kay.”
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Jasper looked out upon the market, taking in the hustle and bustle. A heartfelt prayer to Celestia had assured him a spot upon the top of the stall’s basket. It was early morning and the market was relatively empty, but it was far from quiet. To and fro ponies rushed, making preparations for the day. The market was in itself, quite large. It was well spaced out leaving lots of room for potential customers to browse the various wares of the stalls. Some keen early shoppers bargain hunting were on the prowl, bothering busy ponies with questions of ‘damaged goods’ and ‘stock clearances’. A particularly rash pony caught Jasper’s attention. She was white with a purple mane and tail, combed to perfection. Her hair sparkled under the morning sun and her flank was complimented by three diamonds, also catching the sun along with the rest of her pristine coat. Each hair on her body was perfectly conditioned and perfectly attended to, none being out of place, or untrimmed. The mare’s eyes shone with an intense fire, those of a pony in desperation. Currently she was on her knees, a shock to see as one who carried themselves with such a natural grace seemed so out of place when grovelling on the floor.
“Please you must. I need this fabric. It’s for a friend’s present, if you don’t it would be THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING.”
“Full price or nothing, lady.” Said the disgruntled sailspony, rolling her eyes.
“Fine. But I shall have you know, that in future I will be dealing with a new dealer who knows when to take pity on an esteemed client.” The sailspony just glared at the white mare until she pulled a purse from her mane, and handed over the correct sum of money. Once the transaction was completed, the white mare made her way over towards the stall that Jasper currently occupied.
“Well, hey there Rarity. No luck bartering.”
“It would seem that nopony in this town really values my business but still I have things to be doing. How’s selling going, Applejack, dear?”
“Oh business if just dandy. I thank y’all for askin’. Everything ready for tha party yut?”
“No, not quite. As you can tell I still, have my present to finish. Twilight’s making good progress but she’s having an awfully hard job of keeping Pinkie in the dark. Rainbow Dash is spending the day with Pinkie in order to avoid a repeat of last time but it seems to be quite difficult to keep Pinkie occupied the entire day.”
“Sure, it ain’t nothing Dash can’t handle.”
“Well, Dash sure doesn’t think so. Saw her about twenty minutes ago, she looked so tired she seemed almost ill. Pinkie was bouncing around like always though.
“Well, that’s our Pinkie. See ya later then.”
“Ta ta, for now.”
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Wind whistling, birds singing, sounds of the babble of the stream. Jasper had his eyes closed, cutting out his vision and just letting his other senses take hold of him. The market was busy now, and the sun was high. It was mid-morning and the sun beat down upon Jasper’s smooth skin. He embraced the radiant sunlight, letting the light caress his red flesh. Tuning his mind towards the sounds he had previously not noticed, he heard the laughs of children, the occasional bark of a dog. The air was dry and dusty, specks of dirt being kicked up from people walking were making their way into the atmosphere, caressing all that was clean and removing its sheen. A breeze shifted through the market, swimming through the crowds until it happened upon Jasper, caressing his long slender stalk, brushing back his lushous leaves and leaving a tingling sensation impressed upon him. The sweet smell of cinnamon, herbs and spices wafted throughout the marketplace, mixing in with the aroma of baking from Sugarcube Corner. They coalesced in the open and spread from there, enticing all too susceptible to a secret sin. They made Jasper feel hungry. Although Jasper was always hungry.
Jasper opened his eyes again and took in the crowd which seethed, each member busying themselves like a bee. Each perfectly in tune with those around it, whirling and twirling in the beautiful dance that some called navigating oneself.
Jasper began to eye up the unicorns in the crowd. To him there was something unnatural about a horse with a horn. Pegasii had the same effect on him. A horse with wings seemed like a preposterous idea, yet the goddess he worshipped had both a horn and wings. His life was a bitter irony. His brooding was interrupted by yet another passer by stopping at the stall to talk to the farm’s mare. The visitor was a lavender unicorn with purple mane and tail bisected by a pink highlight and a fringe cut in a strictly linear crop.
“Applejack, have you seen Pinkie and Rainbow Dash?” She spoke hurriedly with trepidation in her voice.
“Naw, Rarity mentioned seeing them earlier though. What’s up, sugarcube?”
“I need to find Rainbow Dash and tell her she mustn’t take Pinkie to see Fluttershy this afternoon.”
“What’s up wit’ Fluttershy?”
“She’s gone missing. Lyra said she’d seen her going somewhere with Big Mac earlier. She thinks Angel went missing and they went to find her. Fluttershy left some stuff in her house though, which isn’t meant to be moved over to the pavilion until later this evening.”
“Dammit, Mac,” Applejack grumbled to herself.
“Well, I’ll see you later, anyway. Bye”
“See y’all around.”
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Jasper had readied himself for being bought. He’d said his goodbyes to his old life and he was ready to take the brave step into the unknown. Who could predict what awaited him? The time for consoling himself was over and he was ready to accept his fate. So with a bitter resolve he sat there and waited.
The afternoon was pushing steadily on, the crowds in the market thinning out. The farm mare had begun to pack away for the day, tidying up what she could without having to fully close the stall. Every so often people would come over and buy something, but there had not been any customer for a while now. Jasper had watched as one by one his comrades had been stolen from around him. Watching it was like watching a part of himself being removed. He missed the times they had spent together, in the sweet silence that can only be enjoyed by those who know each other so well.
Just as Jasper was about to give up hope of ever achieving happiness, the most glorious sight possible came into view. There in front of him stood Rainbow Dash. Her magnificently strong figure was contrasted by her slender curves. She held herself in a manner that was both involved but aloof. What she called ‘being cool’, Jasper called ‘being sexy’. Jasper felt ashamed that he was a slave to such base instincts but when it came to Rainbow Dash, there was little he could do to hold in his sexual tension.
“Well howdy there Dash and Pinkie, what y’all up to today?”
It was only then, that Jasper noted the presence of the pink mare, with a mane wildly sprawling across her head and a spring in her step that would make a pogo-stick jealous.
“Well we’re...”
“We’re going around every place in Ponyville that sells food and trying everything on the menu. By the end of the day, we’ll know what’s the yummiest place to eat in town.” The pink mare cut Dash off, but Dash hardly seemed bothered. Jasper noticed she was in fact looking rather queasy.
“Well y’all got quite an undertakin’ there.”
“Tell me about it.” The pink mare’s voice had a flash of melodrama but was consistently cheery.
“Fancy buyin’ some quality Apple family apples then?”
“Sure do,” the pink mare chimed without missing a beat. There was something Jasper rather liked about this pink mare. She aroused in him something he hadn’t felt in years, laughter. There was something about her manner and demeanour that lightened up the whole world around her and made it seem like rather than her springing up and down, the world moved instead. It would spring up and down in a rhythmic rumble as if the world was having a deep throaty chuckle.
“Here y’all go, that’ll be two bits.”
Jasper’s world tumbled away beneath him. He was weightless and disorientated, bounding through space, falling. Then with a thud which ran through him and made one of his leaves fall off his head, he found himself in the hoof of she who he dreamed of. Rainbow Dash had bought him for herself.
“Thank the heavens,” Jasper tried to shout, failing.
Never in a million years had Jasper suspected that such a joyous, wonderful fate would be his to behold. His love had seen him for the beautiful soul he was and had now bought him, saving him from his pitiful existence, to be hers forever more. Jasper’s soul sang and his heart soured inside him. He could not contain his joy, he was happy beyond any understanding. Words could not express his gratitude and the love that he currently felt for his prismatic saviour.
“Thanks, AJ,” Dash muttered, briefly lurching forward, trying not to vomit.
“See y’all around.”
Rainbow Dash began to walk away with the pink mare bounding beside her, but to Jasper she wasn’t there. In his reality, the only thing that existed right then were the two lovers, their souls intertwined in a cosmic dance of eternity. They were meant to be. Jasper looked up and saw an uncomfortable look on Dash’s face. He empathised. Surely, there relationship would not be an easy one. She would have to do most of the talking, but at least he could listen, something in which he was very proficient.
And then, he was weightless again. His world collapsed beneath him and he felt another jarring shudder as he made impact with the ground. He was so lost, so confused. Searching for his Rainbow Dash his eyes managed to settle on her form merely metres away. Yet she was leaving. SHE WAS LEAVING HIM BEHIND. His entire being cried out to her, if she would just turn around and come back to pick him up then it would all work out. She’d see. But there was no turning round, no motion signaling a change of heart. not even a glance backwards.
Only then did all the pieces fall into place for Jasper. The elevation of his heart imploded as his soul burst into flames. Great sobs heaved his apple self to its limits, which were debatable if they even existed. His previously exuberant demeanour fell out of a hole in him and his coat began to lose its shine. The reason he had had hope in this world was all based on lies, trickery and falsehood. Everything he’d ever known had been wrong. Rainbow Dash had never loved him. She’d merely used him as a device to appease the pink mare. The realization tore at Jasper right his core. He now felt used, defiled, seedy. All he had wanted to do was forever be b-cider. But now all the life had been juiced right out of him and even to stalk her would have been painful to him.
He sat there despondent, broken and defeated, wanting nothing more than his own death.
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Jasper could still hear the farm mare’s words in the air. It was a cruel irony, because now, he did not even have left the comfort of his kinship with his comrades. He was bitter and alone, destined to be an outcast on a patch of grass at the edge of the now closing market. Twilight was upon both his heart and the world. He tried to dull the pain by concentrating on things outside of himself.
“Macintosh, where have ya been. Y’ve been gone all afternoon.”
“I’m sorry AJ. It’s just miss Fluttershy had lost Angel and...”
“Enough with Fluttershy. I wish you’d just ask her out ‘lready and get this darn’d crush out the way.”
“What are you talking about, AJ?” The stallion sounded defensive, almost hurt.
“Horseapples Mac. Ya fancy Fluttershy and ya know it. Now cut this nonsense and ask her out ‘lready.”
There was a long pause before the stallion cautiously started speaking again.
“Do you think she’d say yes?”
“Course she’d say yes ya big fool. She’s as crazy for ya as y’all are fer here. Now you go tonight and ya ask he, real nice like, if she wants to dance. She’ll say yes, and Strudel’s yer great uncle.”
Before the stallion could reply another higher pitched, rather stately voice butted in.
“AppleJack, Macintosh. Guess what?”
“What’s got ya in such a hurry, Rarity?”
“The princesses are coming tonight,” Rarity shrieked, before bursting into gleeful giggles, and continuing, “It’s going to be so elegant, so suave.”
The sound of galloping could be heard getting fainter as, who could only have been the white mare, left to find another to tell the news to.
“She does know that it’s a fun party, right?”
“Eenope.”
Laughing could be heard from the marketplace before fading into the distance. Then Jasper was all alone, everybody else had left for the evening, leaving Jasper to drown in his sorrows.
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Twilight was descending upon the world as the moon rose. The first hints of the stars were showing, like emeralds in a blackening ocean. The inky shadows spread across the marketplace, engulfing cobblestones and stalls alike. A cold wind pierced the night, chilling Jasper’s eyes until he forced them shut from discomfort.
A shout rang out across the shadowy town.
“FOR ME!!!”
There was a moment of silence.
“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, WOW. A PARTY FOR ME. I LOVE PARTIES. ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WHOLE TOWN IS HEAR. AND THE PRINCESSES. AND EVEN GUMMY.”
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Jasper hardly registered this last part, his mind was fading into the shadows, his thoughts going to dark places. A feeling of dread settled over him.
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It was in the early hours of the morning when the music and sounds of celebration finally stopped. Jasper could hear the sounds of ponies creeping and sometimes stumbling back to their homes, but he cared for none of it. Ponies had only ever bought him pain and suffering. He directed his gaze upwards to the waxy moon, shining with a fluid lucidity. The night was in flux and the stars twinkled, rushing away into the void as fast as was possible. Everything was leaving Jasper, nothing staying with him. Nothing was certain. He was even questioning his faith in his goddess when there before him she stood.
Her mane blew majestically in an ethereal wind. It sparkled like the sun but radiated a cool warmth, being careful not to disturb the night it was tenant of. Celestia’s figure towered into the sky, her legs like mighty pillars and her chest firm like the gates of Canterlot. She was resplendent in the moonlight, the rays of icy chill catching on her royal jewels and casting strange patterns of light that danced before the eyes. On her face was fixed a look of peace and sorrow... serenity.
“Jasper...” Her voice was strong and cool. Comforting to hear yet still commanding authority while touching the hearts of those it spoke to with the wisdom and love of she who had lived for millenia.
“Great, I’m going mad,” Jasper concluded, “Now I’m imagining the Princess of the Sun talking to me, a humble Apple. I bet she doesn’t even realize I’m conscious.”
“I know who you are Jasper.”
Jasper looked up and realized her mouth had been moving. He was struck by awe as he realized what was happening.
“Whoa...”
“I am a goddess after all. I’m aware of all conscious beings.”
“Celestia, I’m not worthy...”
“Quieten yourself, Jasper. I’m here to comfort you?”
Celestia moved over and lay herself down next to Jasper. She was warm to the touch.
“Jasper, I know you have been through a great many things. More than any one apple should have to go through.”
“But Celestia, why?”
“I do not know Jasper. I have resolved to live life as if I were not a goddess, meaning I cannot know everything. But what I have learnt from living is this. our suffering is what makes us stronger, better. It defines us Jasper, makes us unique. No other being in existence will suffer exactly how we suffer, that is what makes us special.”
“But why must we suffer? I still see no reason.”
“Jasper, think of someone who’s great who has not suffered.”
Jasper sat in silence for a moment, deep in thought.
“Celestia, I cannot.”
“That’s because there isn’t any. I’ll let you think about that one.”
With that Celestia got to her feet and started to leave. She suddenly stopped and turned back towards Jasper.
“Oh and Jasper.”
“Yes, Celestia.”
“I thought you might be interested to know that the red stallion you know of was lucky enough to follow his heart tonight.”
“Did it pay off?”
“Yes.”
Celestia smiled and then turned back around before trotting off into the night. Jasper was all alone again. He tried sighing and then looked up at the sky.
“You know... it’s kind of beautiful.”