//------------------------------// // Must Be the Work of An Enemy Stu! // Story: Appledashery Vol. Two // by Just Essay //------------------------------// "Hrnnnngh!" Stu Leaves swung his rear limbs into yet another tree. And—yet again—barely a third of the fruit fell into the basket. "Unnnnnngh come onnnnnnnn!" He slumped to his belly, covered in sweat, leaves, and the flakes of tree bark. "Rnnnnnnnnnngh!" Calmly—barely breaking a sweat—Applejack carried yet another basket full of apples to the cart positioned atop the nearest hill. "I hate to sound awfully drill-sergeant-like, but you'd better get a move on there, partner." She gestured at the orchard around them. "I've already done three lines of trees and you haven't made much progress at all!" "Miss Applejack..." Stu Leaves wheezed. "Call me 'AJ.'" He gulped, shaking sweat loose from his mane. "AJ... I j-just don't have the gift for this," he stammered. "Not like you do! I mean... I'm trying to do it just like you showed me, but... b-but I haven't gotten the gift! Unlike you, I don't have the m—" "Dun you dare say 'mud!'" "I was gonna say 'magic touch.'" Applejack nodded. "Fair enough. But you just need to try a bit harder." "Unnff..." He fanned himself with his own feathers. "I'm just not cutting it, AJ." "Now, what kind of a spirit is that?" She approached him, eyebrow raised. "The Stu Leaves I know is all about learnin' and adaptin' so that he can make friends with everypony in Ponyville. Dun tell me you've given up on bein' that kind of go-getter stallion!" "I haven't given up! It's just..." Stu Leaves lingered in place. His brow furrowed contemplatively. Applejack blinked. "What?" "I... I wanna try something," he said, hovering above the ground on flapping wings. He threw her a humble expression. "That is... if that's okay with you, AJ." "Uhhhhhhhhh..." She thinned her eyes curiously. "...sure?" Taking a deep breath, Stu Leaves hovered up until he was at level with the lower branches of the apple tree he had been working on. He levitated in place, slowly spinning around until his hooves faced the tree. "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." Applejack cocked her head to the side. "What in tarnation are ya—?" "Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!" Stu Leaves proceeded to rapidly pummel the uppermost portion of the trunk with blurring hooves. "Ya-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!!!" Applejack clenched her teeth until her molars nearly cracked. She planted her front hooves over her ears and grimaced all over. "Guhhh! Stuuuuu! What in blazes do you think you're—?!" "Wa-taaaaaaaaaa!" Stu gave the tree one final buck with both hooves. He hovered backwards, limbs vibrating from the intense impact. And... ...his efforts were rewarded with all of the fruit falling free and landing in the baskets. "... ... ..." Applejack blinked, eyes wide. "Ha!" Stu swiped the sweat from his brow and smiled down at the mare from where he hovered. "Check it! All in the basket!" "What... in Tartarus... was that...?" "It's... uh..." Stu blushed slightly. "...something I read in a Japoneighs Comic somewhere." "Excuse me, what?" "Doesn't matter. Basically..." He pointed at his wings. "Pegasi are super good at doing stuff the agile way! Let's face it, Miss AJ. You're stronger than me." "Just AJ, thanks." "AJ, you're stronger than me." He landed with a wink, folding his wings at his side. "So, I just can't hit a tree trunk as hard as you can! I'm not an earth pony! I haven't got the m—" "Ehhhhh—!" She pointed at him. "I was going to say 'mettle.'" Applejack lowered her hoof. "Dang skippy ya were..." "Soooooo... the way I see it..." He pointed at the trees. "If I just kick the trees my way, then I can get all the fruit bucked clean in no time!" "Dun tell me you gotsta make that ridiculous chipmunk shrieking noise every time you go at it?" "Yup!" Swooooooooooooosh! Stu flew to the nearest tree. "I'm gonna do the whole orchard, now! Weeeeeeee! "OH NO YOU DUN!" Applejack hollered, jumping and swiping after him. "GET BACK HERE, YA VARMINT!"