//------------------------------// // Applejack // Story: Feather Bangs Dates the Mane Six // by BrawnyBold //------------------------------// On one night, Feather was trotting his way towards Sweet Apple Acres. Feather could tell that it was the right place as he saw the vast amount of apple trees over the long fence. There was also the fact that Sweet Apple Acres was the only apple farm in Ponyville. The outside of the farm was heavily decorated with country-themed party decorations and almost all the ponies there wore country-like clothing. The purpose of the decorations and the attendees was that the Apple Family would sometimes host hoedowns to celebrate another successful apple harvest. Feather almost felt out of place as he doesn't usually go to these kinds of events. But this event was an exception as Feather was set up with a blind date. It started when Sugar Belle noticed that Feather has been feeling really lonely lately. So she decided to invite Feather to this hoedown that Big Mac invited her to. At first, Feather felt a bit hesitant as he wasn't into hoedowns and country-related things. That was until Sugar Belle mentioned to Feather that Big Mac might know a mare who could be Feather's date. Feather decided to accept the invitation as it was better than moping around. Feather slowly trotted through the farm's entrance and looked around in hopes of finding Sugar Belle and or Big Mac. Luckily for Feather, he was able to spot both Sugar Belle and Big Mac near one of the food tables. Feather quickly trotted to the couple until Sugar Belle spotted him in her sights. "Feather! You've finally made it!" Sugar Belle said while waving a hoof. "Yeah, I appreciate you inviting me." Feather said while rubbing his neck. He then turned to Big Mac. "Hey Big Mac, I see you're doing well." "Yup," Big Mac said while nodding. "Don't think we haven't forgotten about you, Feather." Sugar Belle said. "Big Mac said that he found the perfect mare to be your date." "She should be right over there." Big Mac said while pointing at the side of the farm. Feather looked closer to see a pony coming out of the shadow. Feather felt shocked when he saw Apple Bloom galloping. "Come on, Applejack!" Apple Bloom hollered. "We're missing the party!" Feather turned back to Big Mac. "Um, Big Mac, I know that your little sister likes me, but I think that I'm way too old to go on a date with her." Feather said. "What? No! Apple Bloom isn't your date." Big Mac confirm while pointing his hoof again. "She's going to be your date." "I'm coming, Apple Bloom!" An older mare's voice said from the distant. Feather was shocked again to see who was approaching them. It was none other than Applejack, the Element of Honesty. Feather could tell it was her based on her familiar orange fur, light yellow manes, bright yellow freckles on her cheeks, and iconic cowpony hat. He had seen her picture on many newspapers about her and her friends' exploits of saving Equestria, but seeing her up close made Feather feel more nervous than usual. Feather's heart raced when Applejack made her way towards him and the rest of the group. "Sorry about the delay, y'all." Applejack said. "There were a lot of apple barrels to move before the hoedown really gets going." Applejack paused when she noticed Feather looking at her with a nervous look. "So who's the colt?" Applejack asked. "This is Feather Bangs," Sugar Belle answered. "He'll be your date for the night." Applejack raised a brow while looking at Feather. She took a good look at him and obviously knew that he wasn't her type. "Big Mac, can we talk for a minute?" Applejack said as she nudged her head to a certain direction. "Okay," Big Mac said as he and his sister trotted at a far enough distant so nopony could hear them. "Are you sure this is a good idea to set me up with that stallion, Big Mac?" Applejack questioned. "That Feather stallion looks like he could break easily as Granny's fragile back." "Come on, Sis." Big Mac pleaded. "Feather needs some way to enjoy himself instead of being sad. Besides, you and Apple Bloom still owe me for what happened during the Confluence." Applejack remembered how that turned out. She couldn't forget how tired Big Mac looked while she and Apple Bloom were off hunting the Great Seedling. "Alright, but just for this night." Applejack confirmed. Big Mac smiled and nodded before he and Applejack returned to Feather and Sugar Belle. "It's nice to meet you, Feather Bangs." Applejack said as she offered a hoof to shake. "It's always a pleasure to meet somepony outside of Ponyville." "The pleasure is all, Ms. Applejack!" Feather said while shaking her hoof. "Especially to one of the saviors of Equestria!" "There's no need to be so starstruck." Applejack said while waving a hoof. "I'm just a simple country mare who helps her friends." "Saving Equestria from dangerous threats is more than just helping." Feather replied. "I love a mare who can live for adventure." Feather then flipped his manes to show off his looks. Applejack couldn't help but shiver from how creeped out she felt. 'This is going to be a long night.' Applejack thought. "Come on, Feather. I'll show you around the party and we can start from there." Applejack said as she and Feather trotted away. "Have fun, you two!" Sugar Belle hollered while waving. Applejack first led Feather to a spot where ponies were dunking their heads into a large barrel to pull out apples with their mouths. "Apple bobbing is always fun at any hoedown!" Applejack encouraged. "You should try it, Feather." "Um, I don't exactly know how to." Feather admitted while rubbing his arm. "Oh, it's actually quite easy." Applejack said as she went up to the barrel. "All you have to do is hold your breath while going into the water and bite down the first apple you feel." Applejack took a deep breath before she dunked her head into the barrel. It took a bout a few seconds before her head popped out with one apple in her mouth. Applejack spit out the apple before speaking, "See, easy as apple pie!" She went behind Feather to push him closer to the barrel. "Now you give it a shot, Feather!" Feather gulped while looking at the apple and water filled barrel. He began to think of any worst case scenarios that involved him apple bobbing. But Feather didn't want to act like a wimp in front of Applejack. So, he took a deep breath before he dunked his head into the water. Applejack and some of the nearby ponies watched as Feather moved his head in search for at least one apple. Applejack then noticed that Feather started to move his body deeper in the barrel as if he was struggling. Applejack panicked and trotted to Feather to pull him out of the barrel. When Feather fell on his flank, he was having a hard time breathing as if he was choking on something. "Feather, are you alright?!" Applejack asked with worry. Feather replied by coughing up a small apple from his throat and it landed on the ground. "Hey, I actually caught an apple!" Feather said in surprise. "Not bad for my first time!" Applejack signed in relief as her date didn't die from drowning or choking on an apple. "How about we try a different activity, Feather?" Applejack suggested. "Lead the way, Ms. Applejack." Feather said as he followed the farm mare again to whatever she was taking him. The next place Applejack took Feather would be the horseshoe toss where ponies try to throw horseshoes to a small metal pole. "This game is pretty simple, Feather." Applejack said as she picked up one of the horseshoes. "All you have to do is throw these here horseshoes towards that pole over there!" Applejack threw the horseshoe in the air to kick it towards the metal pole. The horseshoe hit the pole and it spun towards the dirt ground. "Easy as apple pie!" Feather picked up his horseshoe and took a good look at it. "I think I got the gist of it." Feather said as he looked at his horseshoe and then the pole. Feather threw the horseshoe with all of his strength, only for it to land at a spot too far from the pole. "That was...a warm up attempt!" Feather laughed nervously and decided to pick up another horseshoe. He threw it again to have it land a little further than his last horseshoe. The nearby ponies stared awkwardly at Feather as they had no idea a stallion like him wasn't able to throw that good. Even Applejack felt really embarrassed from watching Feather as she covered her face with her hat. Before Feather could embarrass himself more, Applejack approached him. "Let's move on with the next game, Feather." Applejack said as she pushed Feather away from the area. Feather couldn't help but grumble as he made such a fool of himself in front of his date. Feather and Applejack arrive to a long table where some ponies sat in front of some freshly made apple pie. "You like apple pie, don't ya Feather?" Applejack asked. "Who doesn't? I love apple pie!" Feather claimed. "You're in luck cause we can participate in the apple pie eating contest!" Applejack said as she led Feather towards some seats near the table. As they sat down, Feather took a whiff from the pie's aroma. "Wow, these smell delicious!" Feather said looking at Applejack. "They will taste delicious once we start chowing down!" The announcer walked up at the center of the table while holding up his hoof. "On your mark...get set....go!" The announcer said while putting his hoof down. The ponies near the table began to stuff their faces in each of the pies and ate whatever was inside. Everypony on the table finished one pie after another while Feather was still on his first pie. Several minutes passed before Applejack pumped her hooves in the air as she was the winner for eating the most pies. "And the winner for this pie eating contest is Applejack!" The announcer said while raising one of Applejack's hooves. Applejack turned to be completely shocked to see Feather collapsed on the table as he was completely full from eating his one pie. "Feather, are you okay?" Applejack as she approached Feather. "Yeah, but I'm really full." Feather groaned. "But you only ate one whole pie." Applejack said. "I never eaten that much before." Feather admitted before he groaned again. "It's alright, Feather." Applejack said while patting his back. "I got you." She carried Feather inside the barn so he could sit down on some haystacks. "You should be able to recover while resting here." Applejack said while sitting next to Feather. "Thanks, Applejack." Feather said before he formed a sad look on his face. "I'm sorry if I've been a terrible date on this hoedown." Feather admitted. "It's alright," Applejack assured. "This is your first time at a hoedown after all." "Yeah, and I messed up on each activity unlike most of the ponies around here." Feather admitted. "And I can tell that you were trying your hardest to impress me." Applejack mentioned. "Big Mac has told me that you try to impress any mare that catches your interests. There were multiple times when stallions would try to impress me by showing how strong they are and that would make any other mare swoon. That wouldn't work for me as that just shows the stallions' muscle strength and nothing else. The point I'm trying to make, Feather, is that you don't have to try so hard to impress any mare as all a mare would want from a stallion is to be true to himself." "I appreciate you talking to me, Applejack." Feather said with a smile. "I think I'll try being more true to the next mares I meet." "Giving important advice is one of my skills," Applejack said while tipping her hat. Feather slowly got up from the haystack he was on. "I think I've recovered from that stomach ache. Shall we do another activity? I promise to not try too hard for you." Feather assured. "As much as I appreciate it, Feather, I got something else in mind." Applejack said as she lead Feather out of the barn. "We're almost there, Feather." Applejack said while both of them were climbing up a tall apple tree. "I really hope so," Feather said while gulping. "I'm not so good with heights." "Don't worry, I'll help you until we make it up." Applejack assured. They climbed up some more until they arrived to one large tree branch that was strong enough to hold both Applejack and Feather. "Have a good look, Feather." Applejack said as she pointed forward. Feather looked up to be completely amazed from seeing the large fields of apple trees that spread throughout the land. Feather had no idea that the Apple family's farm was so large. It's no wonder he heard great things about the Apple family from Ponyville's residents. "It's beautiful!" Feather said in amazement. "Darn tootin'," Applejack commented. "I often come here on some nights to enjoy the sight of the apple trees. It reminds me of how lucky I am to be part of the Apple family." "Now I really wish I was part of the Apples." Feather said. "I could watch this view every night." "Was that a proposal?" Applejack asked in shock. Feather blushed in embarrassment. "N-no! I-I mean I just thought it would be interesting to be a farm pony like you!" Feather said while waving his hooves. Applejack chuckled. "Shucks, I was just messin' with ya." Applejack said while winking. "You seem like a nice colt, Feather. I do hope you find the right mare." "Thanks," Feather said while rubbing his neck. "I should also thank Big Mac for setting me up with you." "You can do that once we're done." Applejack said as she and Feather continued to watch the view.