//------------------------------// // Working on the Farm // Story: Finding Happiness // by Wildcard25 //------------------------------// One morning at Fluttershy's cottage, Fluttershy was giving Angel a snack while Anton was kicking back on the sofa reading one of his comics. The boy sighed, which Fluttershy took notice of, "Is something wrong, Anton?" "Just feeling a little bored today. My pals are all busy right now, and so far reading this is about all that I can think of." "I'm sure there's something we can find for you to do." Fluttershy assured him. "Oh, right. Like someone's going to come right to your door and have the answer to my boredom." Anton said in sarcasm, while finger pointing to the front door. Suddenly the door opened and walking in was Applejack and Applebloom, "Morning, y'all." Applejack greeted. "How're y'all doing?" Applebloom asked. "Oh, we're ok. Thanks. What brings you two by?" Fluttershy inquired. "Well, Applebloom and I were thinking about inviting Anton to Sweet Apple Acres and show him around." Applejack explained. Anton hearing what she just said and realized his call made his sarcastic remark come true, "I must use this power for good!" he pointed his index finger up. The sisters looked at each other in confusion before looking at Fluttershy who shrugged and giggled. Applejack turned to the boy, "How about it, Anton? Wanna come and see our Apple farm?" "Really? Well, I've never been on a farm before." "Then this should be perfect for you." Applebloom said. Anton spoke, "Well, I don't have anything else to do right now. Is it ok with you, Fluttershy?" "Of course. You just make sure to listen to Applejack, ok?" "Sure thing." "We'll have Anton back later, Fluttershy." Applejack promised. "Ok. I'll see you all later." Fluttershy said, as she watched Anton leave with the Apple siblings. They walked from Fluttershy's cottage all the way to the apple farm. When Anton saw the whole area he looked speechless, "So this is Sweet Apple Acres?" "Uh-huh. We make the best apple based products in all Equestria." Applejack answered. The boy looked out into the orchard in wonderment, "That's a lot of apple trees." "You bet. We grow this much all year around." Applebloom explained. "Fascinating. From up here, this is definitely picturesque." Anton said, feeling like drawing a picture of the orchard. They continued on before reaching the barn seeing Granny Smith and Big Macintosh waiting for them, "Well, there ya are. We was wondering when y'ad be back." Granny began. "Eeyup." Big Mac agreed. "Sorry it took so long, but we brought a friend to join us. Y'all remember Anton MacLeod?" Applejack revealed the boy who presented himself. "Course we remember, he's the youngster we had that big ol' party for weeks ago." Granny Smith recalled. "Well, we brought him along to see the farm. That won't be any trouble, right?" Applebloom asked. "Nnope." Big Mac answered. "Well, good. Anton we'd like ya to meet the family. This here's Granny Smith, and our big brother, Big Macintosh." Applejack introduced them. "Nice to meet the both of you." Anton greeted them respectively. "Same to you, youngin." Granny Smith said, as she ruffled the boys head. "So anything I can do around here to help. I never seen a farm before up close." "Why don't ya let Big Mac show ya the ropes? You don't mind do ya, bro?" A.J asked. "Nnope." he answered. "Well, we'll leave Anton with you." Applejack said, as Big Mac motioned Anton to follow. Which he did. Soon the two were in the barn, as Big Mac went over and got himself connected to a plow. The pony motioned a bag of seeds. Anton realizing what he was getting at nodded, and picked the bag up and brought it over. The red pony nodded, as he led Anton out to the fields. "So what do we do?" Anton asked, feeling it was going to be awkward. "First I plow the field and then you spread some of the seeds." he instructed/ Anton looked at Big Mac curiously, "So you can speak." Big Mac gave Anton a confused look, "Whatcha mean?" "Sorry it's just from what I've been hearing all you've said was eeyup or nnope whenever someone addressed you." "Mm, it can get confusing if you're not used to me like others are. Truth is I'm a straight to the point kinda pony with only one word to let others know how I'm feeling. Plus when it comes to sharing my true feelings I'm a little bit on the shy side." "I see. Well, at least I understand you and you understand me." "Eeyup." Big Mac chuckled, as the two got to work with Big Mac pulling the plow. Anton followed from behind planting seed after seed. After spreading the seeds, Anton was helping Big Mac pick some carrots, and spoke to the pony, "Boy farm work is even harder than portrayed in media." "When ya grow up on a farm ya get used to it," Big Mac replied, "Take it from me." "Really?" "Eeyup." "Well, I always hear songs can make the work go faster." "Really?" "Yeah. And I think I know a song fitting for this line of work. Something I'd hear my dad sing when he'd work around the house." "Well, let's hear it." Big Mac beckoned him. Anton nodded and began humming a few bars before singing. As Anton sang, he was picking carrots faster while Big Mac was shaking his head to the rhythm of the song. When they finished picking carrots, Anton announced, "Thank God I'm a Country Boy, yeah!" Big Mac smiled, "That was some song." "Thanks. I used to hear my dad sing it a lot among other songs from his number one hits collection." Anton said, as he sighed at the memory of his departed father. Big Mac sensing the boy's distress trotted over and put a hoof on his shoulder, "I understand where you're coming from." "You do?" Anton asked, as he hid a tear. Big Mac nodded, "A.J and Applebloom told me about your family. You lost both you ma and pa on different occasions and were sent to live with a aunt who never acknowledged ya." "That's right. Because of her I ran away and wound up here." Anton sighed. "I know it's hard dealing with the loss of a parent. Trust me, me and my sibs know too well." "Hmm?" Anton looked at Big Ma curiously. "Our parents passed away to. I was younger, A.J was just a filly, and Applebloom... She was just an infant. So young she barely even knew them," Big Mac said with a sigh, "Granny Smith took us in, but given her state she couldn't raise us by herself. I had to drop out of school to work on the farm full time to help Granny provide for mah sisters. It was tiring, but I managed. Eventually A.J came of age and started pitching it. And as she got older we both were able help each other out and provide for Applebloom." "Wow. I didn't realize you went through so much, all for the sake of your sisters and grandma." "I'd do anything for my family. I care so much about them." Big Mac said as he looked out in the horizon of Sweet Apple Acres. Anton looked at Big Mac feeling astonished from his wise words, especially since they were coming from a pony a few words. When Big Mac looked back at Anton, he smiled, "Just remember if ya have any problems that ya can't tell anyone else about. Feel free to talk to me." "To you?" "Eeyup. Think of me as your big brother too." Big Mac winked. "Really? I never had a brother before." "Never too late to have one." the pony replied. Anton smiled, "Then let's be bros, Big Mac." he held out his fist as he bumped it with Big Mac's hoof. "Bros for life." Big Mac declared. "Eeyup." Anton answered, and the two laughed. Later on during lunch time, Anton was joining the Apple family in their kitchen with Granny Smith bringing out a freshly baked pie. "Mm, this pie smells delicious, Granny Smith." Anton said, as the aroma of the pie entered his nostrils. "Well, thank ya, Anton." the elder pony said. Applejack cut the slices and gave one to Anton. The family waited as Anton took a bite of his pie. The boy swallowed it and spoke, "Now this is some tasty pie." "Ya darn tootin'." Granny Smith replied. "And here, we got ya a little something special." Applejack offered him a mug containing a beverage. "What's this?" Anton looked at the drink. "That's our famous Sweet Apple Cider," Applejack explained, "One of our more popular of products." "Give it a whirl." Applebloom said. Anton looked at the drink again before shrugging, "Bottoms up." he took a swig of the drink. Suddenly his eyes bulged out as fireworks were set off in his mind. He gasped with delight while looking at the mug, "Where have you been all my life?!" "Sounds like you liked it, huh?" Applejack asked. "I loved it. If I could only have one drink to have the rest of my life it would probably be this." "Easy there, sugarcube. We don't need ya to turn into Rainbow Dash. One cider freak is all we need." Applejack joked, as Applebloom chuckled. "Sorry, but man the stuff you make here is to die for. You guys must seriously be making a fortune if you sell stuff this good." "The profits don't mean as much to us." Applejack said. "What matters most is seeing the happy satisfied ponies faces enjoying what we can provide for them." Granny Smith added. "Eeyup." Big Mac agreed. Anton smiled seeing how humble and caring this family was and remembered how it was when it was just him and his parents. He sat in his chair and continued to enjoy the rest of his pie while enjoying his time with the Apple Family feeling as if he was truly one of them. Big Mac nudged his shoulder, "Say, Anton. How about after lunch I show ya my collection of hoofball cards?" Anton smiled, "Sure thing, bro." Applejack smiled seeing how well Anton was getting along with her bro and thought, 'Anton, you are one of us. An Apple to the Core.'