//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 (Applejack) // Story: Gryphonies // by gryphon88 //------------------------------// Walking was weird. Well, sort of weird. Her paws, that is, the appendages on the end of her back legs, were like oddly-shaped hooves. They functioned in primarily the same way. Applejack’s front legs were a bit of a different matter. While they still moved like usual, they had long talons as her new fingers, and she was acutely aware of their feeling as she walked along the dirt path. Her tail, now much longer, swung gratuitously behind her, and her wings rested oddly upon her back. Up ahead, she could see the farm, perched on top of the hill. Rows and rows of apple groves slowly milled past her as she walked towards her home, an anxious expression across her features. Oh please let nopony be home... No, wait, please let everypony be home! No, err... Applejack’s ears drooped. Oh consarnit, Ah don’t even know who Ah want t’be home! Forcing herself to breathe, Applejack walked through the lawn, and towards the house. Before she could reach it, however, she heard a voice call out her name. “Applejack!” She turned towards the sound of the voice, only to see Apple Bloom, running from one of the further fields to meet her. “Hiya Applejack! Yer late back from Canterlot! How were the princesses! What did... you...” The filly trailed off, as she approached her sister. She slowed to a trot, before stopping completely. “...Yer not Applejack.” Apple Bloom’s face betrayed her fear and embarrassment. Applejack’s heart wrenched. “Well, actually-“ “Miss, can Ah help you?” A strong voice came from behind her, causing her to jump quickly and turn around. Standing there, right behind her, was Big Macintosh. “OH! Uhh, heya Big Mac...” AJ forced a smile. Big Mac trotted around her, and put a hoof defensively around Apple Bloom. “Miss, Ah can’t say we’ve ever met before, so don’t take this the wrong way.” He scowled at his gryphonized sister. “But why are you on mah farm, and why are you scarin mah sister?” HIS farm? Heh, that nutter. “Oh, um, well, Mac y’see, Ah-“ “We don’t take to kindly to yer type around her, Miss,” Macintosh continued. “Now we’re civil ponies, so Ah don’t want t’do anythin uncouth, but Granny remembers the wars all too well, so if-“ “Mac! It’s-“ “-YOU don’t take kindly to what Ah’m sayin, you best be gettin-“ “AH’M APPLEJACK!” Applejack screamed. Silence. Macintosh didn’t speak a word, hugging Apple Bloom tightly to his side. His eyes were wide. Apple Bloom, on the other hand, looked up at Applejack. “...Yer Applejack?” Applejack exhaled. “That’s right, Bloom. It’s me.” “You... you can’t be...” Macintosh stuttered. “Mac, Ah know it’s weird, but up in Canterlot there was some magical mumbo-jumbo, an then this happened.” Macintosh looked her up and down, confused. “Ah-Ah don’t believe you.” “Really? Why else would Ah be wearing pappy’s hat?” She grabbed the hat from her head and waved it in his face. “Hmm? An why would Ah be lyin t’you?” Macintosh blinked. “You... you could’ve replaced her.” Applejack snorted. “Why? Why would anypony go through that much trouble to replace a god-done farmer? Here, look-“ Applejack replaced her hat upon her head, “-remember mah sixth birthday?” Slowly, Macintosh nodded. Applejack continued. “Good! Now, remember cousin Apple Spice, she went up to the picnic table, with the cherries, remember?” Mac nodded. “Yeah, yeah Ah remember the cherries.” “Then you remember when she started puttin cherries in all the water, sayin it’d make it taste better, an then Auntie Appleseed-“ “-choked on the cherries and hopped on the table,” they finished in unison. Macintosh blinked. “Sweet Celestia, it really is you, AJ.” Applejack smiled. “Ah told ya-“ She was then tackled to the ground by a small filly. “Applejack! Wow you’re a gryphon! Ah thought everypony said all gryphons were meanies! Are they all meanies? Yer not a meanie! Granny always seemed a bit angry when they said that!” She hugged Applejack’s neck. “Wow AJ yer fluffy! What’s the beak for? Is it sharp? An the talons? Wow you have wings can you fly?” Applejack chuckled, holding her sister tightly. “Heya Bloom.” A moment later, Macintosh was participating in the hug as well. “...Ah’m sorry, AJ. Ah was a bit mean t’ya.” The gryphon waved a claw. “Don’t worry about it, brother. If it were you, Ah’dve probably done th’same thing.” Once again standing up, Apple Bloom hopped on Applejack’s back. “Go flyin!” “Maybe later.” “Awww...” Macintosh pawed the ground. “So, what happened?” “In Canterlot, we were waiting on a note to arrive from the Gryphon Republic,” Applejack noted, “but when it came by, there was a huge flash of light instead of a scroll. Celestia put a shield around it, but it didn’t do any good. When we all woke up, we looked like this.” Macintosh blinked. “You all did? Even the-“ “Even the princesses, yeah.” Mac whistled. “That’d be a sight. How long this supposed t’last fer?” Applejack hung her head. “Ah dunno. The princesses are workin on it, an they’ll let us know when they have something. Till then, well...” “...Right. Uh, how’re we gonna break this t’Granny?” Applejack glanced at the farmhouse. “Where is she?” “Inside. She’s prolly takin her afternoon nap by now.” Mac looked at his sister, who was peering at the farm with worry. He chuckled. Applejack glanced at him. “What?” He put a hoof on her face, rubbing slightly. “Heh, yer fluffy.” Applejack rolled her eyes. Granny Smith was gently shaken awake. Her eyes startled open, and she lifted her head from her rocking chair. “Huh? Whozzat?” Big Macintosh sighed. “S’me, Granny.” Granny nodded. “Hey there, Macky. Ah was just takin mah nap, boy, you don’t hafta worry about me.” Big Mac nodded. “Ah’m not worried about you, Granny.” “That’s good.” “But there is something I need to tell you.” Granny Smith sat up straighter in her chair, concerned. “Oh? What is it, Macky?” “It’s... about Applejack. She’s fine! She’s fine,” he added, upon seeing the sudden look of distress upon his grandmother’s face. “She’s just outside the door there.” “Well, what’s she doin that she can’t tell me about this herself?” Granny snorted. “Can’t be nuthin too embarrassin t’show me?” Macintosh chewed on his words for a moment. “...Well, Granny, y’know she was up in Canterlot for the census, right? She went up there with Twilight.” “Mmm, Ah remember. It was only this mornin, Macky.” “Right. Well, there was a magical, erm, mishap, Ah suppose you could call it. It was a bit of a surprise, an they have ponies workin on it, but in the meantime, AJ’s a bit... different.” Granny Smith digested his words for a moment, before she began to chuckle to herself, a rasping mirthful hack, unique to old mares. “Oh, Ah bet it’s a hoot. She grow a fifth hoof? Naw, lemme guess, she’s a stallion. No, wait, she’s pink!” Granny clutched at herself in laughter. “Not... any of those things, Granny.” Macintosh sighed. “Here, lemme just show you.” He turned to the door. “AJ?” Granny Smith stopped laughing, holding herself in long enough to look at the door. Macintosh gripped her hoof tightly, and the old mare grew slightly apprehensive of what her granddaughter was going to look like. The door gently swung open, to reveal a meek-looking orange gryphon, wearing a worn brown stetson. She waved a claw. “Hiya, Granny.” Dear reader, allow me to tell you a story. Or at least, a different story. And I’m not really going to tell you, I’m just going to give you the specifics. Now, you might be expecting some dramatic reveal, and lots of family tension and drama, following this encounter between Applejack the Gryphon and her grandmother, yes? The short of it, no. Take a look at the tags, attributed to this story. Do you see ‘drama’ anywhere? No? Well, that’s because there’s a nice, bright, ‘comedy’ tag there, instead. And if any of you say the word “Dramady” I’m going to strangle you. Anyway, back to Granny Smith. It has been implied, in the previous chapter and this one, that Granny Smith is prejudiced against Gryphons, and will react very poorly to Applejack’s confession. In fact, if it were any other mare, this would be accurate. When Smith was a spry young mare of 24, there was indeed a national conflict between the Gryphon Nation (not yet a Republic) and Equestria. And Apple Smith? Well. She had a bit of a reputation. If you catch my meaning. The stallion she happened to be ‘with’ at the time, (or at least, ‘with the most’) was shipped out from the brand-new ramshackle Ponyville homes to the foreign front in the Southern Gryphish Isles, to fight and die for his country. Apple Smith went with him. The boat ride took three weeks, and in that time, Apple Smith had moved on from that stallion, and three others. By the time she stepped onto the Southern Gryphish Isle, she was a single mare, willing to do her part to die for her country. Eventually, after much dying for her country, among many married generals, she was stationed as a nurse, in a tent hospital, close to the front line. Apple Smith thought that the sexy nurse outfit suited her well, and that she would have quite a bit of fun. It turns out, however, that front line hospitals are filled more with injured and dying soldiers, and less restless stallions, looking for a good time. It wasn’t quite what Apple Smith was expecting, but she did her best to help out, and actually began to progress in her knowledge as a healer. One day, Apple Smith was asked to give periodic examinations to a patient who was suffering from diabetes, and needed regular care. Smith happily accepted the responsibility, and proceeded to the patient’s room. What the head nurse neglected to tell Apple Smith, was that this patient was actually a POW. She found herself face-to-face, locked in a cell, with a rather handsome-looking southern gryphon. “Hellou,” he said, with a very pleasant accent. Smith smiled. Needless to say, Apple Smith treated this poor POW for several weeks, before eventually becoming his assigned nurse, even as he transferred from the meager front-line hospital to a more secure army facility. Contrary to pattern, however, Apple Smith was completely and madly in love with the exotic foreigner. And he felt the same about her. They wrote poems and letters and all sorts of ridiculously Byronesque nonsense. Eventually, the war ended (Guess which side won! Here’s a hint, the one commanded by a demigod) and Apple Smith had to return to Equestria. There was a tearful goodbye, and the lovers never saw each other again. Back home, ponies noted how much more mature the promiscuous young Apple Smith acted. Despite returning from the war with a more solemn disposition, she folded into an arranged marriage, almost as soon as she returned. Several weeks later, the doctor told her she was pregnant. She was quite far along, leading several ponies to whisper that perhaps the young Apple Smith had been unladylike overseas? While this was undoubtedly, totally, completely, undeniably and ineffably true, she had only ‘been’ with one individual for nearly an entire year prior to returning home. However, while every other returning mare and stallion despised their gryphon enemy, she alone saw them in a better light. So, she refrained from divulging her affair to her family. She was quite relieved (and ever so slightly tinged with a sorrowful disappointment) when the child came out with four hooves in place of paws, and a snout in place of a beak. The young colt did have diabetes, though. And so, with this wonderfully tragic backstory behind her, we return to Apple Smith, now known as Granny Smith, in the most peculiar situation. “Hiya, Granny.” Granny Smith stared at the gryphon in front of her. Orange fur and feathers, green eyes, holding herself the same way. It was undeniably her granddaughter. Applejack’s brow grew creased with worry. Oh consarnit she’s gonna disown me or have a heart attack or- Granny’s thoughts on the other hand, were more straightforward. Oh. -go into a rage sic the town on me try n start a riot or- Mah. -will she let me sleep in the house? Oh Ah’m sorry Granny Ah didn’t mean fer this to- God. Granny Smith cleared her throat. “Ah’m goin t’bed.” With that, she pushed her way out of her rocker, and hobbled over to the stairs, and up to her bedroom. Applejack blinked. “Uh... G’night, Granny.” She glanced at Macintosh. He just shrugged. “T’be honest, AJ, that could’ve gone a lot worse.” Applejack nodded. “Yeah... d’you think she’s angry?” Big Mac shook his head. “Naw, Ah think she understands that it was an accident. Ah mean, everypony knows she was in the war, an nopony who remembers the war likes gryphons. Ah think she’s just tryin to cope without hurtin yer feelings.” She nodded. “That makes sense, Mac. Ah’m glad she managed to contain her anger so well.” “Yep. Our Granny has the self-control of a saint, especially when it comes to her anger at gryphons.” “Yep.” A little while later, the two elder Apple siblings strolled out of the farmhouse. Applejack rolled her neck, stretching her wings and relaxing her shoulders. “Alright, brother, what chores kin we get done today?” “Well, there are a few rows in the West Field that are ready to be bucked.” So, the pair moved to the West Field. Once there, Macintosh unhitched his wagon and positioned some barrels around the base of the tree. “So, y’think you kin still buck?” Applejack laughed. “Brother, Ah could buck you into next week. Let’s get this show on th’road.” She walked over to the base of the tree, swung herself around, and kicked backwards into the wood. Thunk. The tree shook a little, but no apples fell. Macintosh choked down a laugh. Applejack glared at him. “Quiet, you! Ah just need to get used t’these, er, new muscles.” She flexed her legs, wiggling the toes of her paws, then once again reared up her hind legs and bucked the tree with all her might. Thunk. Once again, nothing. Mac laughed aloud, causing Applejack to grow red at the ears. He trotted over to the gryphoness, patting her on the back. “Well, AJ, Ah can’t say Ah blame ya, what with gettin used to yer new appendages an everythin. You just leave this hard work t’the stallions, an Ah’ll-“ One of Applejack’s wings shot out and struck Macintosh on the head. “Oww!” “Oh, sorry Mac,” Applejack grinned, “You know, Ah’m still gettin used to these new appendages an everythin.” Macintosh scowled at her. At that moment, a cream-colored earth pony came bolting into the farm. “Applejack! Macintosh! Something’s wrong with Pinkie! She...” Bonbon trailed off as she caught sight of Applejack. The farmgryphon tipped her hat at the mare. “Evenin, Bonnie. What seems to be the trouble?” Bonbon blinked, looking at Applejack. “AAAAAAAH!!!” Applejack sighed. “Of course.” Bonbon darted back towards the town, screaming. Macintosh sighed. “Wonder what Pinkie’s up to?” Applejack’s ears flattened to her skull. “Whatever it is, Ah don’t wanna know. Now what else is there t’do?” Macintosh thought for a moment, before glancing at Applejack’s back. “Say, AJ, you know how t’fly?” Applejack looked at her wings. “Well, sorta. Count n’ Suite, the two guards who were there with us, used to be pegasi, so they already knew how t’fly. While we were waiting on th’princess, they showed use the basics.” Her eyes narrowed. “...Why d’ya ask?” Macintosh shrugged. “Well, Ah was just thinkin, since you kin fly now, an we’d save a mountain o’ bits...” he trailed off, smiling at his sister. Applejack’s eyes widened in realization. Her long tail tucked itself between her legs. ‘Oh, no. No no no no no. Ah refuse. Ah don’t care how much we’d be savin, Ah am not, ever, not never ever gonna-“ Ten minutes later, Applejack was cleaning the rafters of the barn. She hovered in mid-air, using her dextrous talons to clean even the tiniest corners of the dirty support beams. She grumbled to herself as she did so. “Darn Macintosh... Ah’d like t’see HIM turned into a gryphon, who’d be laughin then... Clean the rafters, yeah right.” She scrubbed at the rotting wooden bars, clearing away pigeon droppings, dust, and an accumulation of dirt from however long it had been since they had rebuilt this damn thing. Applejack’s tail hung below her, the orange tuft dangling only several feet above the straw-covered floor. A certain terrier walked into the barn, smelling her owner inside. While Winona could tell something was off about Applejack, the nose knows, and the smart dog understood that the thing that was currently inside was indeed friendly. At least, Winona knew it well enough to not bark at the strange gryphon, flying high towards the ceiling of the barn. What did attract her attention, however, was a certain delightful-looking tuft, dangling enticingly above the ground. Winona bowed down, wagging her tail, not taking her eyes off of her new toy. The tuft of fur waved back and forth, twitching occasionally. After a moment, Winona decided she had to taste it. She jumped as high as she could into the air, and chomped down on the delightful treat. “Y’know, Ah bet Ah could’ve told him- YOWW!” Applejack cried out in pain as she was forcibly pulled downwards, a certain brown-and-white dog hanging off of her tail. In desperation, she landed on the ground. “Winona!” Winona, still happily munching on the tail, sat at the sound of her name, looking at Applejack with her tail wagging, her owner’s tail still chomped firmly between her teeth. Applejack groaned. “Winona, drop. Drop.” Winona was never very good with commands. She instead sprung to her feet, tail in the air as she assumed the “I-wanna-play-tug-of-war” position. Applejack began to panic. “Now, Winona, This is a bit of a drastic measure, hmm? Just, drop the tail, and this can all be over and done with.” With a playful puppy-dog glee, Winona pulled with all her might on the tail. “IPE!” Applejack let out a sound that was not quite earthly, as a ripping pain shot up her spine, and she felt the soft tearing of flesh around the dog’s teeth. “Winona! Bad dog! You drop that ri-AUGH!” To at least prevent any more pain in her spine, Applejack grabbed her tail with her hands, transferring the torque of the pull into her arms, which would easily take it. “Now, Winona, y’know Ah love you, but yer gonna hafta stop if you want me t’play nice.” Winona, happy as a clam, once again pulled on the tail in her mouth, attempting to participate in a very misguided game of tug-of-war. Applejack shook her head. “This was your choice, dog. Don’t say Ah didn’t warn ya.” An hour later, Applejack walked back into the house, a grumpy expression across her beak. Winona followed, meekly, with her ears bowed and her tail between her legs. Macintosh sat at the table, drinking a glass of iced tea. He saw the dog and nodded. “Trouble with the rafters?” Without saying a word, Applejack went to the cabinets of the kitchen, and pulled out a roll of gauze. She silently sat down across from her brother, took her long tail in her hand, and began to wrap a section of it near the tuft, which was bloodied and beaten. Mac glanced at the dog. Winona looked up at him and cautiously wagged her tail. Applejack scowled at the dog. Winona put her head down again and stopped wagging her tail. Big Mac fought with all of his might to keep himself from laughing. Applejack noticed this and pointed a claw, accusingly. “Not a word.” Mac’s face twisted as he fought not to smile. “Nnope.” The orange gryphon finished wrapping her injury, and returned the gauze to its place in the kitchen. The two sat in silence for a moment. There was the creaking of floorboards as Granny Smith descended from the upper floor. “Alrighty, that was a fine nap. Ah think Ah’ll-“ The old mare froze as she saw Applejack. Applejack twiddled her thumbs, nervously. (Thumb twiddling is genetically ingrained in all creatures, regardless of thumbs) Granny pursed her lips, as memories returned to her. She opened her mouth to speak. “AJ, Ah-“ “No, Granny, it’s alright.” Applejack interrupted her grandmother. “Ah understand that this must make you feel angry, and bring back some awful bad memories of the war, and Ah understand that.” “But Ah-“ “You don’t have t’explain yerself t’me, Granny. If Ah had seen the things you’d seen, and our positions’d been reversed, Ah can’t rightly say that Ah’d have as good self-control as yer expressin now.” Granny Smith stamped a hoof on the floor. “Now one second, AJ, Ah meant to say-“ Applejack raised her hands into the air. “Don’t sweat it, Granny. Ah know it’s hard, keepin all the anger trapped inside. But Ah don’t blame ya, no matter what you might say in the future, so y’don’t hafta explain this t’me.” Granny Smith gave up. “Fine, you feathery twit. Whatever you say. Ah’ll be outside.” With that, Granny proceeded to her rocking chair on the porch, grumbling about ‘bull-headed birdcats’. Macintosh looked at her sister. “S’nice that she’s holdin herself back so well.” Applejack smiled. “Ah agree.” Big Mac finished his tea. “Welp, Ah hope that th’rest of the ponies in town are as mature about this.” AJ drummed her talons on the table. “...Well, it’s a good thing that won’t be tested anytime t’day, right?” Macintosh shrugged. “Weeelllll.....” Applejack hauled the cart of apples down towards Ponyville, mumbling to herself once again. “Darn brother... Thinks this is sooo funny...” “HIYA AJ!” “Wha-ow!” Applejack stumbled and fell flat on her face. Apple Bloom cringed, retreating to her hiding place in the cart. Applejack slowly got back to her feet. “Ow, this thing hurts,” she said, rubbing her beak. “Sorry, AJ.” Apple Bloom smiled at her sister. “Yer goin t’town?” Applejack began pulling the cart once again. “That’s right. Ah go into town every day at this time, Bloom, y’all know that.” Apple Bloom shrugged. “Well yeah, usually. But Ah thought Mac’d handle it, seein as yer all, y’know,” she waved a hoof. “Gryphony.” Applejack sighed. “Yeah, that’s what Ah thought, too. But this just goes to show an important lesson, now.” “Oh yeah?” “Yep. There’s no excuse for not doin yer chores.” Applejack nodded with finality. Apple Bloom groaned. “Aww, man.” Her ears perked up again. “Can Ah help you sell apples? Please?” Applejack pursed her beak. “Ah dunno, Bloom, you weren’t exactly... helpful, last time.” “Pleeease?” Apple Bloom looked to her sister with pleading eyes. “Ah promise Ah’ll be quiet. Ah’ll just do what you say, an help you out an stuff. Ah won’t try to sell anything.” “...Oh, fine. Just don’t go harassin customers, ya hear? If ponies want apples, they’ll come t’the stand.” Apple Bloom nodded, smiling broadly. “Thanks AJ! Yer the best!” The two apple siblings rolled the wagon into town, just in time to see several more typical vendors setting up their stands among the Ponyville market. Applejack gave a sigh of relief as she settled back into her routine, making a beeline for their own stand area. She stopped the wagon and removed the table and sign, quickly setting up the apparatus needed for selling round red fruit. She hated to admit it, but Applejack was breezing through the complex tasks with ease, the dexterity in her newfound fingers growing with each passing minute. As they were loading the barrels of apples off of the cart, however, Applejack began to notice ponies staring. It made her uncomfortable, sure, but she could understand what they were staring at. It wasn’t that hard to guess. She was just hoping it wouldn’t affect business too bad. As the signature stand finished its assembly, Applejack took her customary place behind it, looking out to awaiting customers. Her fellow vendors, stationed in rows in the town square, continued to cast her sidelong glances, but they remained silent on the matter. Apple Bloom grinned, oblivious to the icy attitudes of the other ponies. “This is gonna be great!” As the clock struck five, the afternoon market officially opened. Ponies flooded into the market, saddlebags on their backs and bits in their purses, eager to restock their homes. As per the norm, a small queue of ponies began to approach Applejack, looking to restock on apples. However, as each pony would approach the stand, they would catch a glimpse of the orange gryphon running it, and not-so-subtly change their direction. For many ponies, not-so-subtly meant not-subtly-at-all. And for some, it meant say-aloud-hey-that’s-a-gryphon-and-then-turn-around-and-run-away. Applejack grumbled to herself. This far into the afternoon market, she had usually already sold two whole baskets of apples. Insofar, however, she had not sold one. Apple Bloom, oblivious to all the little racist ponies, turned her doleful eyes on Applejack. “...Maybe they don’t like th’apples we have out now?” Applejack sighed. “Yeah, maybe, Sugarcube. Ah’ll go get another barrel.” With a heavy heart, the gryphon went around the cart, pulling another large barrel out of the bed. As soon as she vanished out of sight behind her cart, a brown stallion approached the stand. “Hello, what apples do you have today?” Apple Bloom brightened. “Oh, heya Mr. Turner! We have lots n’ lots. Nopony seems t’be buyin apples today. You kin take yer pick.” Time Turner brightened considerably. “Oh, wonderful! The Granny Smith’s always seem to be gone by the time I get here.” He reached forward, and began to load various apples into his saddlebags. At that moment, Applejack returned from behind the cart, hauling a barrel of apples. “Well hey there, Time Turner. How’s yer day been?” Turner, still immersed in the apples, responded without looking. “Oh hello, Applejack. Uneventful, really. It’s really quiiiii...” he trailed off as he caught sight of the orange gryphon, his eyes bulging from his skull. Applejack cocked an eyebrow. “There a problem, Turner?” Time Turner’s jaw began working, but no sounds came out. Finally, the poor stallion managed to stammer a hesitant “N-no...” from his mouth. Applejack smiled, which may or may not have looked quite threatening on a razor-sharp beak. “Well, that’s good. An yer right, today has been quite uneventful, hasn’t it?” Turner blinked. “Uh, p-please excuse me, I just remembered I had an urgent appointment... over on the other side of town.” He turned and began to high-tail it away from the stall. “Turner!” Applejack called. Hesitantly, the stallion paused, and swiveled his head to face her. “Y-yes?” “You forgot t’pay fer your apples.” Turner glanced down at his bulging saddlebags, filled with fresh apples. “You’re right, it appears I have.” He didn’t move. Applejack rolled her eyes. “Turner, y’know it’s me, right? Ain’t nothin’s changed. There was a bit of a magical mixup, and now Ah’m like this. But that ain’t the end of the world, an it certainly ain’t the end of mah business, y’hear?” Time Turner nodded dumbly. “Good. So why don’t you come over here, pay fer yer apples, an if y’all promise to spread it around that Ah’m perfectly safe, Ah’ll give you a nice discount. How does that sound.” Turner finally managed to look Applejack in the eye, and gave a weak smile. “Heh, alright, heh heh! Sure...” He gingerly approached the stall, and passed his bits over to her awaiting claws. He flashed a brief smile before running as fast as he could to the other side of Ponyville. Applejack groaned, and slammed her head down on the table. Her ears flattened against her head. “Oh, Celestia, this is irritatin.” Apple Bloom looked at her sister with worry. “AJ? Is this all because of how y’look?” The gryphoness sighed. “Yes, Bloom. It’s cause of how Ah look.” “But don’t the ponies know it’s still you? It’s not like much is different.” “Well, Apple bloom, some ponies are just afraid of what they don’t entirely understand.” Apple Bloom scrunched her nose. “What? But, Ah don’t understand a lot of the stuff Miss Cheerilee says, but Ah ain’t afraid of it. That doesn’t make any sense.” “Well-“ APPLEJACK! No, wait. Pinkie was supposed to say that, not me. Well, my apologies, one moment. “APPLEJACK!” Pinkie Pie, the gryphon, popped up in front of Applejack. The farmer jumped backwards, as many are wont to do when they suddenly find themselves confronted with a pink gryphon that was smiling manically. “H-hey there, Pinkie. What’s up?” “Eat this!” Pinkie shoved a plain-looking pastry in Applejack’s mouth. Applejack, used to such odd force-pastrying from Pinkie, chewed obediently, admittedly curious as to the flavor of the mystery treat. Taste sensations exploded onto the apple farmer’s tongue. Buttery, warm, succulent flavors filled her mind. Applejack’s eyes rolled backwards as she ate. “Pinkie, this’s amazin! what is this?” Pinkie Pie giggled. “That’s a surprise, silly. Just enjoy it!” The insane pink gryphon vanished, just as quickly as she arrived. Applejack finished chewing on her treat, smiling, despite herself. “This is delicious. Ah don’t know what it is, but Ah can’t believe Ah’ve never had it before?” Apple Bloom looked up at her sister jealously. “What’sit taste like?” Applejack smecked her tongue. “Buttery, but also, like, a little bit tangy? Savory, Ah suppose.” She smiled down at the filly. “Don’t worry, Ah’m sure she’ll make more. You kin have one later.” Apple Bloom nodded, slowly. “...Say, AJ?” “Yes, Sugarcube?” “Are we gonna get anymore customers t’day?” “Prolly not, Sugarcube.” “Ah thought so.” Applejack and Apple Bloom were walking home from a very unsuccessful day at the market. Applejack hauled a still-mostly-full cart of apples behind her. Apple Bloom poked her sister. “Hey AJ?” Applejack sighed. “Yes, Bloom?” “You kin fly, right?” Applejack glanced backwards at her wings, flaring them slightly. “That’s right. Why d’ya ask?” Apple Bloom let out a small smile. “Can you fly me? Like, really high?” Applejack chuckled, shaking her head and looking down at her sister. “Y’want t’get really high, do ya?” The filly nodded eagerly. “Yes please! High as a kite!” “Ah reckon Ah kin manage that.” The new gryphon unhitched herself from the cart, stretching her wings in the pattern the two celestial guards had shown her. “Hasn’t Rainbow ever gotten you high before, Bloom?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “No, an Ah’m not really sure I’d trust her with gettin that high... seems like she’d do something reckless.” “What makes y’say that?” Apple Bloom pawed at the ground. “Well... sometimes, when she’s come back from doin somethin really fast, or really loopy, her eyes kinda... fade.” Bloom shrugged. “Ah’m not sure if Ah kin trust her when she’s faded like that.” Applejack nodded. “That sounds reasonable. If you knew Rainbow the way Ah do, you’d know she gets faded like that all th’time. But she can do pretty well, even when she’s faded AND high.” She lowered a wing to the ground. “Hop on my back, an don’t let go.” Apple Bloom scrambled onto her sister’s feathery back, wrapping her hooves around Applejack’s neck and holding tightly. “Okay, Ah’m ready. Let’s get high.” Without another moment wasted, Applejack leapt into the sky, unsteadily rising up into the air until the trees were an endless sea of green below. Apple Bloom laughed aloud as she looked around, watching the buildings of Ponyville below her, like tiny specks. “Ahaha! We’re really high!” Applejack grinned, and called back to her sister. “You wanna get even higher?” “Yes!” Applejack pumped her wings harder, taking Apple Bloom even higher into the clouds. Oh, wait, clouds. Applejack slammed into the bottom of the cloud, her ascent suddenly interrupted by the fluffy interloper. Apple Bloom lost her grip. “H-help! AJ! Ah’m fallin!” She tumbled off of her sister’s back and began to fall to the earth. “Apple Bloom!” Applejack pounced off of the cloud and zoomed downwards, diving in hope of catching up with her sister. Apple Bloom tumbled through the air. “AJ! AJ! Help me! Ah’m... Ah’m...” She screamed in fright. “Ah’m comin down!” “Hold on Apple Bloom! Ah gotcha!” Applejack reached out with her claws, and just barely managed to grab Bloom’s hoof. She hauled the filly onto her back, where she clutched at the gryphon’s neck tightly. She sobbed gently into Applejack’s feathery neck. “Ah don’t think Ah like gettin high, Aj.” “Ah don’t know about gettin high,” AJ responded, “but the comin down sure can be a doozy.” She glanced at the horizon, where the sun was already dipping beneath the trees. “Just’s well, Ah suppose. We’re almost late fer dinner.” Apple Bloom’s stomach grumbled. “...Ah do suppose Ah have a bit of the munchies.” Applejack chuckled, and slowly returned to the ground. “So, Big Mac, what’s for dinner?” Big Mac, hollered back from the kitchen. “Soup!” Applejack was sitting at the dinner table, along with Granny Smith and Apple Bloom. Macintosh had prepared dinner while his sisters had manned (ponied?) the marketplace. Big Mac came into the kitchen with a large pot and four bowls balanced on his hoof. He easily distributed the bowls to the table, then steadily ladled out a serving of hot, steaming soup into each one. Applejack smelled the soup, and almost drooled. Golly, Mac sure can whip up a good soup. A bit surprising, considering a cutie mark in agricultural biology. “Dig in!” Macintosh announced, and eagerly took a spoonful himself. Applejack gripped the spoon in her talons dang how did Ah do this before? and brought a spoonful of broth to her beak. Her beak clicked against the metal spoon as it gripped the utensil firmly. However, most sides of the spoon were still exposed to the open air. Applejack was unsure how to proceed. She removed the spoon from her mouth and glared at it. She glanced downwards at her beak. “Hmm.” Applejack gently replaced the spoon within her beak, and tilted her head backwards. A small amount of the soup in the spoon got into her throat, but most of it trickled out of the sides of her mouth and onto her neck. She hastily put her head over the food, dabbing at herself with a napkin. “Dangnabbit!” Granny Smith cocked an eyebrow at her granddaughter. Macintosh stifled back a laugh. Apple Bloom didn’t get it and was mostly trying to balance her spoon on her nose. Applejack glared across the table at her brother. “Shut it, Macintosh. Ah kin figure this out.” Macintosh smiled again, but did not argue. Applejack held the spoon close to her eye. She lifted another portion of soup out of the bowl, and brought it up to her beak. Hesitantly, she opened wide, and brought the spoon down her beak and close to the back of her throat. Gently, she tilted the spoon backwards. The soup began to trickle down her throat, giving the gryphoness a sense of relief. Then the spoon touched her throat and she gagged, coughing up the soup and sending the spoon flying onto the table. She coughed for a minute more before recomposing herself. Big Mac, who was trying very very hard not to laugh, bit his hoof to keep his laughter at bay. “S-say, AJ, d’ya n-need a straw?! Pfft-!” Applejack glared at her brother, fuming. He returned her gaze with mirthful eyes. “Yes a straw would be nice thank you.” Macintosh couldn’t hold it in any longer. He burst into an uproarious laughter, eyes watering and banging his hoof on the table, as he sank into his seat. Apple Bloom began laughing along with her brother, just for the sake of laughing. Even Granny Smith bit back a chuckle. Applejack scowled. “Ah’m goin t’bed.” This just caused Macintosh to laugh harder. He was rolling on the floor as Applejack stormed up the stairs. Good fer nuthin brother, she thought. Ah bet he made soup on purpose, just so he could have a laugh at me. She approached her room and saw her bed. She flopped down onto it gratefully, rolling over. As she rolled over, she felt an uncomfortable pressure on her back. What in- oh, right. Applejack rolled back onto her stomach, freeing her wings from the mattress. How in tarnation does Dash do it? Ah suppose clouds must be more comfy. After much rolling about, finding various problems sleeping with her wings, beak, talons, and tail in odd positions, Applejack finally determined the best position to sleep in. Curled up, on her side. She rested her head on the pillow, and closed her eyes, weariness overcoming her foreign limbs. Finally, gettin some sleep... “AJ?” Apple Bloom pushed open the door to her sister’s room. There she spied an orange gryphon, still wearing her hat, curled up and asleep. Apple Bloom began whispering. “Oh! Sorry AJ!” She took a tentative step towards the bed. “Oh, shoot, AJ, you left yer hat on.” Apple Bloom knew how much her sister loved her hat. And while she often slept with it on, she was quite adamant against it being bent into odd positions. The young filly saw the stetson under Applejack’s head, squished against the pillow. She got silently closer to the bed. Reaching over her sister’s sleeping form, she grabbed the hat with her hoof, and slowly, ever so slowly, began to pull it out. “...There we go, AJ. Just a bit more...” Apple Bloom froze as Applejack turned her head about in her sleep. She cast a frightened eye upon the sleeping face, but the cowgryphon remained asleep. Apple Bloom let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, Applejack reached out and grabbed Apple Bloom with her arms. Unconsciously, the gryphon squeezed the filly tight to her chest, giving into some primal mothering instinct. Apple Bloom let out an undignified “yalp!” as she was pulled in, her face pressed against the copious downy feathers of AJ’s chest. She spat out a few fibers that got in her mouth. The filly gently tried to pry herself away. Applejack squeezed tighter. “...shoot.” “Macintosh!” Apple Bloom whispered, as loud as she could dare to whisper, to her brother as he passed the room. Macintosh stuck his head into Applejack’s bedroom. His face broke into a wide smile. “Aww, how sweet.” “No! Not sweet!” Apple Bloom sputtered. “She just grabbed me! While she was asleep! Ah can’t get out!” Big Mac chuckled. “Well, Ah will admit, s’pretty early for you t’go to sleep, but if yer stuck, Ah don’t suppose you could stand fer an early bedtime?” “No way!” Bloom responded. “S’only like, seven! Ah slept in this mornin!” “Ah can’t say Ah see any other way outta this, Bloom.” “Can’t ya just wake her up?” Mac shook his head. “She likes to hit me when Ah wake’r up. And with those knives on her arms, Ah don’t think that’s an amazing idea.” “But-!” “G’night.” He slammed the door shut. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes. “Ugh.” Grudgingly, Bloom tried to make herself comfortable. She closed her eyes. Man, it’s not like Ah- Gryphon feathers are surprisingly comfortable. She was asleep before she finished her thought. Later that night, there was an explosion. I know, I know, it's a cliffhanger. So sue me.