//------------------------------// // Why Don't You Make Like A Tree... // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// Midday... Ponyville... ... Applejack stepped out the front entrance of a hardware store, carrying a load of lumber on her flank. She whistled in spite of the sweat and grit. At long last, she reached the wagon, grunted heavily, and—"Htttt!"—tossed the heavy load into the back of the cart. She lingered in place, dusting her hooves off and preparing to trot back into the store to carry another supply of wood. "Hey there, Applejack!" Golden Harvest chimed as she and two other mares trotted down the street with bulging saddlebags. "Getting ready for the Sisterhooves Social?" "You know it!" Applejack winked back with a sweaty grin. "Yer gonna show up with lil' Green Tail?" "Hah! She's not so little any more, but you betcha!" Golden Harvest winked from afar as she passed by. "With any luck, we'll get the bronze ribbon this time!" "Eeeyup!" Applejack tilted the brow of her hat. "Luck'and'a'half!" "Hahahaha! You and Apple Bloom are just too good!" "We do try! Have a good day now!" "Back at ya!" Applejack smiled. She turned to trot back into the hardware store... ...when she heard some pained grunting noises from the nearest street corner. "Hmmmm?" Applejack craned her neck to look. A panting, sweating stallion was hunched over besides a wagon. While an elder couple looked on, he fussed and struggled to fit a wheel to the corner of their vehicle. "Htttt... grnnnnngh!..." He fumbled with a wrench and multiple bolts, attempting in great futility to fasten the round object in place. "Fuuuu... whew!" He paused, sweating up a storm. "Really is a stubborn sonuvagun, isn't it?" "We... we appreciate the g-good ol' college try, sir," the old mare stammered. "But... m-maybe if we asked somepony from the hardware store to lend a hoof?" the old stallion added. "Oh! Absolutely not!" The stallion wiped his brow. "And get charged Celestia-knows-how-much?" He reoriented the loose wheel and began twisting at the wrench again. "Grnnnngh! Grnkkk!" He wheezed. "B-besides... I-I promised I'd do this for y'all for free! Httttt!" The old couple squirmed awkwardly. Watching, Applejack couldn't help but wince. She looked down the street, readjusted her hat, then stepped out towards the spot where the wagon was. The stallion was really straining by the time she reached them. His grip of the wrench slipped and he fell back completely on his spine. "Oooomf!" Wincing, his blinked upside-down at Applejack with twitching, green eyes. "Uhhhhh... h-hi there..." "Hi yerself!" Applejack smiled pleasantly. "Havin' some trouble there?" "Oh! Hello, Applejack!" The elder mare beamed. "I'm afraid we hit a rock and the darn thang fell apart," the old stallion said. "This feller showed up and has been... erm... nice enough to help." "I see." Applejack nodded. "What seems to be the problem?" "Oh, it's... erm..." The stallion grunted and sat up, pointing with a shaking hoof. "Whew... the bolts don't want to fasten in place. I wonder if the screwholes have been frayed... or something..." "Mind if I have a go?" Applejack asked. "Oh! Uhm... s-sure!" The stallion scooted aside, still trying to catch his breath. He blinked curiously at Applejack as she leaned in. "But, I'm tellin' ya... I've been working at this thing for a good thirty minutes now." "Uh huh." Applejack squinted at the wheel, the fasteners, and the axle of the wagon. "Mmmmmm..." She reached a hoof out. "Wrench?" "Sure thing!" He eagerly hoofed her the tool. A dumb smile flickered across his muzzle. "Nice hat, by the way!" "Thanks." Licking her freckles, Applejack gave several of the bolts a few twists and turns of the wrench. Within seconds, the wheel had tightened in place. The stallion blinked, his muzzle dropping in amazement. "Whoah! Holy cow! What did you..." He winced. "...what was I doing wrong?" "You were turnin' the wrench in the wrong direction," Applejack said. She tightened the bolts even more and gave the rear wheel a test-spin. "Eeyup!" She smiled evenly. "That was it! But dun matter—it's fastened up nice and tight now." "Thank you so much, Applejack!" the elder mare said with a bright smile. "Yes..." The elder stallion looked at the other pony with a crooked smile. "And thank you for... erm... being so good-spirited." "Heheheh..." He scratched the back of his neck. "...you're too kind. Really." "Whelp..." Applejack stood up and hoofed the tools back to the stranger. "...that should about do it." He took them in tired, jittery forelimbs. "Wow... talk about a life-saver! The ponies around town must really like you, Miss...?" "Applejack," she said. "Ha! Of course!" He grinned, wingtips fluttering. "My name's Stu. Stu Leaves." "Uh huh." She tipped her hat one last time. "Well, I've got lots of stuff to get back to. Pleasure to make yer acquaintance." "Heheh... sure thing!" "So long, Applejack" The old couple waved. Applejack smiled, waving back. "So long! Take care, y'all!" She turned back towards the hardware store, smiling ot herself. "Hmmmmm..." Teeth glistened in the afternoon sun. "...I sure do lurve this town."