Archivist Notation: Fair warning, I had no editor or prereader for this chapter. Anyone wanting to prereader or edit PM me I guess.
---Apples and Wheat---
“Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.”
― Albert Einstein
---Wolf and Pink Surprises I---
------
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.
Holo
Wise wolf and cunning sales pony.
Spice and Wolf? And my little pony?
Together?!?
You sir, have my complete and utter attention.
I LOVE Spice and Wolf
I have conflicted feeling on this. On one part it reminds me of the spice and wolf novel wich i ll never finish due to it getting licensed and baka tsuki droping it (and the guys with the license not actually puclishing it.....ARHGG) and in the other hand is horo + ponies.....awesome
EDIT: ok i feel like an idiot. Yen press has been releasing the books XD. Ill try to get them, i only hope this 4 years has not changed me beyond enjoying them .
tf2 reference ftw (can never remember whether im using that right)
Sorry for asking this, but why did you bring BLU from Team Fortress 2 into this? If you're going to pull one of them into the story, you sir, will have my full attention.
*Grins and applauds* Very cool! Don't worry this chapter was great prereader or no.
I have waited too long for this, and I'm glad the waiting has paid off.
All of the yes. I will read this when I go to breakfast after work about an hour from now.
You have made me very happy.
The first reason why I like this story is the anime...IT IS BUCKING awesome
Another thing is that you got the personality of Holo the Wise wolf really good
Ponfox? ponefox? Is Horo Molzilla?
Aww when I saw BLU I was like TF2!
Totally rhymes.
Also was looking forward to an update soon. I've got about...12 old updates that I could get to and I stopped everything to read yours
Crap, been so long I cant remember who Morbucks is in Power Puff Girls. Gonna have to go back and watch it again.
Also, I am likely going to look up Spice and Wolf as well.
ANOTHER note, did you know Power Puff Girls is coming back? Even Ringo Star is going to be a voice.
Finally! Someone who knows about Spice and Wolf!
Thank you!
I'm gonna read this as soon as I get the chance, but I'm gonna wish you luck... You're gonna need it This is either gonna be awesome and epic, or something completely opposite. Anyway, your Horo is cute And she does fit perfectly to the Apple family farm
2323521 I happen to know Spice and Wolf too.
2323147 VAT. I read the whole thing and I saw no mention of BLU.
I sure hope not. They would throw off the idea and course of the story. It would become cluttered with characters from very different parts of the spectrum of personalities.
If it is in there somewhere, I bet it's just a bit of fan-wordplay.
I keep hoping Holo will joke about eating a pony just to get Applejack's goat.
Wait... goats are sentient in this universe,nevermind.
ok so I read it now
become i start Ppraising this thing
1. Yes, Daddy Morbucks is a Powerpuff Girls reference. I assume that's a parody of warbucks .
2. Builders League United is the full name of the BLU team from Team Fortress 2. They are also the better team. YES! Best color Best Princess.
YOU NAILED HOLO congratulations. in fact all of the characters feel correct. and you also manage to infuse your story with the spirit of the anime I can easily picture this story in either universe and just as easily picture them as part of one another.
2322965
Darn Tootin'!
2323005
Why thank you.
2323050
NO WAY! ME TOO!
2323083
DO IT FILLY!
Also: GIVE ME YOUR MUSTACHE!
2323146>>2323147
Don't worry it was just passing reference. I will not be bring the TF2 crew into this story.
2323181>>2323184>>2323244>>2323404
Thank you. I am completely and utterly terrified of having the characters go full OOC, which would mean I would have failed as a writer in my eyes.
2323481
Huh? Did I make typo?
2323493
Thanks!
2323494
PPG is coming back!?
2323862
Hmmm a meat joke? I like that idea.
2323868
Thank you!
2324118
Interesting note. I had just finished watching Spice and Wolf (second season) not long before I seen this story.
2324125
Tis a sign from the gods!
2324129
2324118
Pretty sure. I have seen adds, and there is a description on FB with an actual page.
For example:
Add
Article
And thats right, Tara Strong is still going to be a voice.
Unfortunately, it is only going to be a special on Friday nights shared with other returning classics. The style is getting reimagined as well, with some CG effects. Still, any new PPG is better than no new PPG.
2324252
AWESOME! Thanks for sharing the info.
Talk about getting milked!
I saw this on the front page, recognized Holo, and immediately exclaimed, "Holy shit." I feel obligated to read this.
2324320
Front Page?
2324304
No problem! Glad to help a fellow Brony and fan of PPG.
2324371
Yeah, thats how I found the story; featured box earlier today. You are still in the popular stories sidebar right now.
2324118 Don't worry! If that ever happens, we will descend upon you in a horde and leave nothing but the bones.
2324371 Yeah...home page, front page, whatever it's called.
2324420
O.o .....ok....
2324425
HOLY CRAP It's on the popular story list!
I'm glad I started reading this story. I've also been watching the anime.
2324446 Feature box, buddy.
2324537
AWESOME
2324567 Good job. Now I need to write something this good...
or at all. That would be a good start.
2324118 The moustache is mine, and i am alredy reading the first novel. Cant remember how much baka translated so ill just read the entire thing again.
And this reminds me why i dont read light novels ....GOD its like reading an awkardly written fanfic and so hard to follow (japan grammar being diferent the wjole structure of the narrative becomes a little silly)
did pinkie just broke the 4th wall again also i loved the quote from Ditzy,
i laughed so hard at that
great chapter, glad to see more of your story, and multi part chapters could be very well the answer for your problems of time with your demanding job
also don't be surprised to be on the featured box, i wasn't surprised at all, i have seen stories less enjoyable and good written on it than yours but now i wonder how did i find it in the first place blasted memory of mine, oh well it would come to me eventually... hopefully.
one thing, pardon me but i was a little confused with the gross business, is 180 bits the normal price for the product? well i can suppose Applejack don't sell that much often hence why would Applejack consider the debt of the 85 bits settled, since in the show they only show one big business for the farm with the sales of the Zap apples to Filthy Rich. Maybe a monologue from Applejack in these scenes could help to avoid confusion its been some time since i watched Spice and wolf, but i could swear that Lawrence had one or two monologues or some interaction with Holo giving light to the profit that Holo was trying to make.
i´m sorry if i cross my boundaries with this last thing but i really love your story
2324974
I know they are sooo weirdly written.
2324979
Well me and acv figured the math like this:
1 gross = 144 apples.
1.22 bit rate for a gross of apples; assuming that's the starting rate.
1.22 x 144 = 175.68 = 175 bits; assuming bits have no cent value only whole value like the unreformed British Pound Sterling
HOWEVER 200 bits was Holo's declared price.
12.5% off total for the haggled "discount"
200 - 12.5% = 175 + 10 = 185
Holo skillfully sold the apples at a perceived discount that is actually ten bits over the NORMAL price.
2325307 When i was younger (like six years ago...not that much really) i used to speed trough the light novels on baka tsuki, reading one or two books per day. The other day i tried reading some of the new chaoters of my old histories....seriusly in 4 out of five cases i could not understand what was going on, and i mean not UNDERSTAND.
I guess i lost the practice.
Eh...part of the appeal of Spice and Wolf, for me, wasn't just the fact that it made quasi-Elizabethan economics sexy and intriguing, but also how well the characters interacted with each other given the setting and premise.
That being said, I'm enjoying this so far. Tracking, but reserving my rating until one of two things happens:
1. This finishes
OR
2. I start making conclusions on how to rate this thing.
2325307 thanks that helped to clear my mind
and LN aren't that bad, it could be me or some very talented translator, but i have enjoyed the few LN i have read, sometimes what helps me is to think of the structure of Japanese, 15 ish years (more or less) does leave you with a little understanding of the language i still haven't read Spice & Wolf LN, maybe i should try to search for the books in amazon or ebay
If this is your work without a pre-writer, then you have talent! I could only find a single misplaced comma.
Should be:
The bakery is also known for the pink dynamo of an apprentice baker that Mister and Misses Cake have been training, named Pinkie Pie.
Please, for the love of everything sacred, keep this story alive.
2324118
Dunno fairly sure in the sub I watched her name was Horo but a quick search also comes up as Holo so I plan to say Holo from now on.
Both seem to be correct. perhaps it's a english vs jap thing translations and all that.
2328163 Well in Japanese L's tend to sound like R's. So her name is Holo despite the way it sounds.
2328403
It's was spelled that way Horo since it was a sub. eh minor detail doesn't really matter.
heck no! Reliable Excavation & Demolition!
also, i've noticed you need an editor for ALL of your chapters.
2327456
UGH I debated on the wording of that sentence for a week. Give me sec and I'll fix it.
2328163>>2328666
There is no "L" is japanese, bakas! Seriously though, the no letter "L" thing is why the stereotype says, "Robster craw" instead of, "Lobster claw".
2328764
I am PAINFULLY aware of that, buuuut thanks for reading anyways.
Also:
RED TEAM IS BIG BABIES!
2329458 then why is BLU only seen as th' brainless killees in th' "Meet The" series instead of also killers?