Apples and Wheat

by TheAlmightySage

Wolf and Pink Surprises I

Archivist Notation: Fair warning, I had no editor or prereader for this chapter. Anyone wanting to prereader or edit PM me I guess.

Sugar Cube Corner is one of the more well known bakeries in central Equestria with its spectacular assortment of baked goods, specialty baking services, and excellent catering services. The bakery is also known for the pink dynamo of an apprentice baker that Mister and Misses Cake have been training, named Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie is best known for her seemingly boundless energy and fun loving nature, but what she is least known for, outside Ponyville, is her hereditary premonition like ability called the Pinkie Sense.

"Twitchy hooves! Twitchy hooves and wiggly ears!" Pinkie Pie declared on her back as hooves twitched wildly in the air with her ears wiggling like mad, while Rainbow Dash and Ditzy watched in confusion from their table where Pinkie had been sitting with them a moment ago.

"Uh Pinkie. What are...?" Rainbow Dash started before the Pinkie Sense interrupted.

"Twitchy twitchy hooves!" Pinkie practically shouted as she started twitching about the floor. "Wiggly wiggly ears!"

"I think its the 'new pony in Ponyville' Pinkie Sense," Ditzy guessed before she took a bite of her banana macadamia nut muffin.

"I thought that one was just twitchy hooves?" Rainbow Dash asked with a questioning eyebrow raised, while Pinkie started prancing in place on her twitchy hooves with her ears wiggling wildly, in some kind of bizarre dance.

"Maybe an add on twitch?" Ditzy ventured with a shrug.

"Hang on I'll ask her," Rainbow Dash said with sigh, before she grabbed a chocolate fudge square off Pinkie's rather large sample platter. "Hey Pinkie."

"Whaaaaaat?" The pink twitching and wiggling mare whined, dancing her twitchy hoofed dance, as she tried to fight off her Pinkie Sense combo.

"Catch," Rainbow Dash said before she pitched the chocolate fudge square directly into Pinkie's open mouth.

The Pinkie Sense combo stopped as the sweet rich fudge melted in her mouth, while a smile spread across her face with a resounding, "Mmmmmmm."

"Better?" Rainbow Dash asked as she sat back the table.

"Yeppers peppers! Thanks Dashie," Pinkie exclaimed with a smile as she sat back down with the two pegasi.

"No problem Pinks, but what Pinkie Sense twitch was that?" Rainbow asked before she popped a cookie into her mouth.

"Hmm well it was twitchy hooves and like Ditzy said that's the 'new pony in Ponyville I haven't met' twitch, buuuut the wiggly ears is a new one," Pinkie explained, tapping her chin in thought.

"Maybe it's somepony you met a long time ago coming back?" Ditzy asked while pulling a second muffin out of the basket on the table.

"Or maybe it's someone new in town who isn't a pony?" Rainbow Dash asked before she popped another chocolate chip cookie into her mouth.

Pinkie hmmm'd as she sat with her eyes squinted in concentration, tapping her chin while Rainbow Dash and Ditzy leaned forward in anticipation for her answer.

"I have no idea!" Pinkie declared, before stuffing a whole cupcake into her mouth, causing Dash to groan and Ditzy to giggle.

"Pinkie do you ever know what's going on?" Rainbow Dash asked, mildly annoyed.

"Nope, I'm not a pre-reader for this one," Pinkie explained nonchalantly as she grabbed another cupcake.

"Huh?" Rainbow asked, now even more confused.

"Remember the rule Dash," Ditzy reminded her old flight school friend with a nudge and a grin. "We do not question the ways of the Pink One."

Applejack glared at Holo, Holo glared at Applejack, while Rarity watched with mild concern as the two headstrong mares had their "discussion".

"Do you really believe that I will mistakenly reveal my lovely ears and that panic will ensue?" Holo asked with an annoyed expression on her face as her tail twitched in a similar fashion.

"All Ah'm sayin' is we oughta be careful," Applejack insisted as she sat in front of the wolfish mare, while Rarity watched. "And a big ol' party ain't the best way to avoid troublesome attention."

"Have you so little faith in my ability to blend in?" Holo asked with an annoyed glare.

"Um...well that's not it...per say," Applejack answered as she rubbed her neck, searching for a way to best explain things.

"Holo, dear, I believe Applejack is merely concerned for your safety," Rarity said, trying to diffuse the troubled conversation before it grew into a full blown argument.

"Yeah, Ah don't want nopony gettin' in a panic and gettin' hurt due to a misunderstandin'." Applejack readily agreed with a nod.

"I know how to behave and how to not attract unwanted attention," Holo countered with her head held up proudly. "I am no fool to the ways of social occasions."

Applejack gave Rarity a sympathetic smile, but the fashionista held her ground and pressed her point. "We aren't calling your wisdom into question, darling. We're just concerned that somepony may get the wrong impression and do something foolish."

"I certainly understand your points, but I must insist that I attend this party," Holo countered with a firm tap of her hoof. "If for any reason, then let it be because it is better take a small issue head on rather than needlessly avoid it and have it grow to become a larger problem."

Holo's statement gave Rarity pause. "Hmm, Applejack, I do believe Holo has raised an excellent point."

"Oh for Pete's sake, you're agreeing with her now?" AJ asked as she turned to face her friend.

"It's going to be a Pinkie Pie Party right?" Rarity asked as she moved to sit beside Holo.

"Course it is." Applejack said with a nod.

"Well think about it darling. How bad of an idea do you think it would be to hide the guest of honor from a party that Pinkie will be throwing?"

Applejack went to retort, but paused as her mind went back to the near fiasco of a surprise birthday party she and the girls had tried to throw for Pinkie a couple years ago. AJ shuddered at the memory of an enraged Pinkie Pie glaring at her as she tried to close the barn door. Pinkie's blue eyes had been practically glowing with anger.

"Ya got a point there, Rarity," Applejack conceded, looking down.

"So we are in agreement?" Holo asked, smiling at AJ.

"Yeah, Ah reckon we are," Applejack confirmed a bit hesitantly.

"Good. Now you may buy me that fine jade comb as an apology," Holo said, pointing to the display case by the door.

"What?!" Applejack blurted out in surprise as Rarity started laughing so hard she was snorting between guffaws.

Rainbow Dash idly watched as Pinkie moved about the kitchen of Sugar Cube Corner in one of the silliest displays of coordination, that was a trademark for Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie hummed a cheery nameless tune as she hopped to the cupboards, then skipped away from the cupboard, and closed the door with a flick of her tail while balancing a large mixing bowl on her head. Pinkie then went from mid-skip into a graceful hind hoof pirouette, scooping up the cupcake batter ingredients with her forehooves as she balanced the mixing bowl upon her head. Pinkie then spun to the counter and in one fluid motion twirled the ingredients into the air, then with eyes closed and wearing an exuberant smile, she caught every ingredient in the mixing bowl betwixt her hooves, she even had the eggs out of their shell somehow. This grand ballet of baking prowess left Rainbow Dash rather impressed, but she'd never admit that out loud. Even though Pinkie's baking skills were awesome, baking itself was still so...girly. Besides Rainbow had a more pressing issue to address.

"So Pinkie, if there is a new pony in town who needs a 'Welcome to Ponyville' party do you think the Cakes would let you break out that Sweet Apple Acres aged cider they have stashed away?" Rainbow Dash asked from where she lazily leaned against the kitchen doorway.

"Dashie, I already told you that stuff is for special occasions and special orders only," Pinkie explained as she mixed the cupcake batter with gusto.

"Aww come on Pinkie," Rainbow Dash complained --not whined, complained-- to her gal pal. "You know I barely had like three mugs last season."

Pinkie Pie whipped around pointing the cupcake batter covered mixing spoon mere inches away from Rainbow Dash's face.

"Rules. Are. Rules. Dashie." Pinkie stated firmly shaking the mixing spoon in Rainbow Dash's face at each word for emphasis, splashing the sugary mix on Dash's face.

"Okay fine. Geez," Rainbow Dash groaned and wiped her face clean of cupcake batter as Pinkie resumed her mixing.

"Good. Besides I got the feeling that they'll be coming to Sugar Cube Corner later today anyways," Pinkie said as she started pouring the batter into baking trays.

"If you say so Pinks. So are you almost done with those cupcakes? I kinda wanna go check the joke shop for something," Rainbow Dash said, her wings twitching as she glanced out the window.

"Yep, just let me put the trays into the oven."

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash replied as she turned to face Pinkie, only to end up facing an empty kitchen.

"Oh it'll be beyond awesome!" Pinkie chirped cheerfully from beside Rainbow Dash.

Dash did a double take between the kitchen and Pinkie standing beside her. "Wait. Pinkie when you did you..?"

"Less questions, more scene changes!" Pinkie blurted out before she snagged Rainbow Dash by the tail and darted out the door, dragging the bewildered pegasus with her.

Under more normal conditions Applejack would often catch herself whistling cheerfully as she made her way through the Farmer's Market to her apple stand. Today, however, she seemed to be in the habit of only grumbling.

"Ah'm tempted to start a tab fer ya," Applejack grumbled as she put her saddlebag under the counter of the apple booth.

"It would not be the first time," Holo giggled as she remembered a certain peddler she had traveled with many years ago, while she sat on the low bench inside the apple booth idly combing her lovely tail.

"Oh so ya'll have mooched off somepony else before?" Applejack asked as she set out a basket of red gala apples out on the counter for display.

"Hardly," Holo scoffed as she continued brushing her tail. "I am a proud wolf, as such I pay my debts and will not shamelessly freeload."

"Would that be before or after yer tab hits a hundred bits?" Applejack asked with a flat look.

"The comb was only 85 bits. A fair price according to Rarity," Holo said confidently as she continued to run the jade comb through her lovely tail's fur.

"It was still a lot of bits," AJ said sternly, before slipping on her sales apron and taking her place behind the apple stand.

"You wish for me to help you make that money back?" Holo asked titling her head.

AJ snorted. "Ah would ask ya to, if ya could."

"What do you mean?" Holo asked suspiciously.

"Ah mean, Ah doubt ya could help me get the money back through sales, but Ah do appreciate the offer sugar cube," Applejack said resting her chin on her hooves as she leaned her forehooves' elbows against the counter of her booth.

"Are you implying I do not have the skill to sell apples?" Holo asked as she set her comb down.

"Pretty much," Applejack answered casually.

"I am Holo the Wise Wolf! I can earn that money back before afternoon's end!" Holo bristled at farm pony.

"Nah, don't worry about it sugar cube," Applejack said dismissing Holo's outburst with a wave of her hoof.

"I insist," Holo said glaring indignantly at Applejack.

"Alright. Fine, prove me wrong sugar cube," AJ replied sharply as she held out a spare sales pony apron.

"Very well then, if I sell a bushel of apples will you consider us even?" Holo asked as she slipped the apron on.

"Sounds fair ta me," Applejack said with a nod.

Despite its humble appearance, Applejack's apple booth was a rather well known location and it was not uncommon for particular business ponies stop by her booth to either make inquiries about or to set up large purchases.

"So you see with the soil of the apple trees resting, to regain its magic, the Apple family is relying upon more grounded crops this year and shall have fewer apples for sale," Holo explained to Mr. Morbucks, cousin to Filthy Rich, as she flicked a hoof through her long brown mane. (1)

"Well, I can see why the trees would be resting after two large back to back harvests," the older, slightly plump, suite wearing stallion said scratching his chin in thought as Applejack watched from the counter masking her interest with a poker face. "And how are you connected to the Apple family, Miss Holo?"

"My family has been friends with the Apples for many years and is known for their special talent with growing wheat," Holo explained with a nod to AJ; who was mentally noting how the wolfish mare weaved a tall tale from a grain of truth, "I am from the town of Pasloe and came to Ponyville in order help the Apples with the wheat this season."

"Ah yes, I've heard of Pasloe before," Mr. Morbucks said with a nod of his own. "The families there are some of the best wheat farmers in the north."

"You flatter me," Holo giggled with a well practiced blush and shy smile.

The business stallion smiled and puffed his chest out a bit. "I'm only being honest, my dear."

"Well certainly a gentlecolt, such as yourself, would be interested in purchasing some of these wonderful apples?" Holo asked with a hopeful smile and pleading eyes.

"My cousin has told of the remarkable quality of the trademark fruit of the Apple family," Mr. Morbucks commented as he picked up and examined a red gala apple.

"Well let me inform you of a secret," Holo whispered conspiratorially as she leaned a shoulder against Mr. Morbucks.

"And what might that be, Miss Holo?" Mr. Morbucks asked with a sly smirk as Holo leaned against him.

"You are the first serious inquiry of the day and could have a very choice selection of fruits." Holo answered quietly as Applejack nodded in confirmation.

Ah'm only agreeing 'cuz that part's true, Applejack mentally reassured herself.

"You don't say?" Morbucks asked thoughtfully as he looked over the two baskets of red gala and golden delicious apples on display.

Hmm the Builders League United did request a fruit based buffet for that upcoming one day conference and I may not have such a good selection again, The business stallion thought while he sniffed the red gala in his hoof, noting its sweet crisp scent as he weighed his options.(2)

"How much for a gross?"

Applejack opened her mouth to answer, but...

"A gross starts at a 200 bits, Mr. Morbucks," Holo answered promptly speaking before Applejack could.

Applejack glared at Holo over the inflated price. Holo just winked covertly at the Applejack then quickly returned her attention to Mr. Morbucks. Holo could practically hear the bits clinking as they were being weighed out in the business stallion's mind, as he thought over the price.

"Buying directly from the grower helps establish good business relations, gets fresher produce, and is often cheaper," Holo said with a smile as ran a hoof through her long brown mane innocently.

Ain't no way this feller is gonna buy a gross worth of apples at that price, Applejack thought skeptically as she held her poker face of moderate interest.

"Hmm a gross at 170 bits?" Mr. Morbucks offered looking between Holo and Applejack.

"190 bits," Holo counter offered before Applejack could say anything.

After a moment of thought it became apparent to Applejack what Holo was trying to do and AJ couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was haggling him down to the normal price!

Meanwhile Mr. Morbucks grinned with a raised eyebrow. "180 bits."

"Shall we meet in the middle at 185 bits?" Holo offered with a pleading smile.

"Very well then my dear you have a deal. I would like to place an order for a mixed bushel of your red gala and golden delicious apples," Mr. Morbucks said with a chuckle as he pulled two bit bags out of his vest pocket and placed them on the counter with a heavy clink in front of a wide eyed Applejack. (3)

"Where would you like them delivered to, Mr. Morbucks?" Holo asked with a warm smile.

"I'll arrange for the Pony Express to pick the apples up from Sweet Apple Acres directly Miss Holo," Mr. Morbucks said as he scribbled down the farm's address in a small notebook.

"Thank you for your patronage, Mr. Morbucks," Holo said with a polite bow.

"Always a pleasure doing business with such lovely mares," Mr. Morbucks replied with a nod, before he trotted off to see what else was for sale in the Farmer's Market.

Holo smiled waving as the business stallion left, while Applejack wore a slightly perturbed expression as she stared at the two bags of bits.

"Shall we call us even now, my dear Apple mare?" Holo asked grinning like a Cheshire Cat.