//------------------------------// // 1 The Seed of Interest // Story: Going with the Grain // by Bronyxy //------------------------------// “So, what’s that you’re saying Goldie?” asked Applejack, “D’ya mean to say our family’s even bigger than we thought?” “Well, I can’t say for sure, but the funniest thing is if you go back, way back here to a time before the Apple family first asked Princess Celestia for some land down by the Everfree, there’s a Cinnamon Jack right here. Now, I happened to hear from a Golden Graham just the other day … it’s right here somewhere …” “What’s it say, Goldie?” asked Applejack impatiently as Goldie swept a hoof over the sideboard where she thought she had probably left the letter, causing at least half a dozen assorted cats to jump to somewhere less likely to see them moved along. “Now, I’m sure I left it here somewhere …” “Is this what you’re looking for, Goldie?” asked Applejack picking up a fat envelope propped up between a plant pot and a water jug on a part of the table not quite completely overrun with cats. “Well, whaddya know, it was there all along …” she said, opening it up to reveal a hoofwritten note inside sketching out a family tree of many generations’ past. All the names were unfamiliar, excepting one; Cinnamon Jack. “Ya don’t think … do ya?” asked Applejack moving her head in for a closer look. “Well, he was around at the same time as the one in the Apple family tree; can’t say more than that. Seems it would be quite a coincidence to have two ponies of the same name at the same time unless they were the same one, if you follow me?" “Oh, I follow you Goldie. Where would I find this Golden Graham?” “Well, the postmark says Whinniesota” she said, “Rest of the address is right there on the letter; someplace called Whinnieapolis.” “Never heard of it” Applejack replied blankly, shaking her head slowly. “Me neither, if I’m honest. Tell you what; I expect it'll be a quiet time on the farm right now; why don’t you go and find out?” “I don’t know if I can” Applejack baulked; she was a homebird and the thought of going so far beyond what she knew frightened her. “You’d better take this letter, just in case you want to go find out” cajoled Goldie, seeing that the seed of interest was taking root in her head, “Why, if I was only thirty years younger, I’d have jumped at the chance. Trouble is I can’t jump at all these days …” Applejack spent the remainder of a pleasant afternoon going through old family records and sorting photographs, picking up little family anecdotes that brought the personalities behind the names to life. Although she tried to focus, she found her mind speculating at the prospect of suddenly being part of a much bigger family with new relatives to get to know, and a whole host of new stories. After she had said her goodbyes, she walked to the station in the fading daylight to catch the last train of the day back to Ponyville, her mind wrestling with the indecision of whether to go to Whinnieapolis and confirm what she was now really hoping was true. *** “So, it’s like this Granny” concluded Applejack over the breakfast table with both her brother and sister following her revelations intently, “Goldie says we’re only going to know for certain if the families are linked if somepony goes there and meets them. I’d sure be happy to go myself, y’know, but there’s so much to do on the farm I couldn’t in all conscience leave my chores for y’all to do for me.” “Oh, nonsense” retorted Granny Smith, “Ain’t nuthin’ here that can’t be left for a day or two; ain’t that right Big Mac?” “Eeyup!” he agreed. Applejack’s bluff had been called. “Can I come, Applejack? Oh, please can I come too?” “No, I don’t think being so far away from home is safe for a young ‘un like you. Heck, even I don’t know what dangers there are to protect you from.” “Truth is Applejack, there’s no better time" interjected Big Mac, "The apples won’t need bucking for a couple of weeks yet, and I’ve got everything covered.” “Besides” chipped in Granny Smith, “I’m sure Apple Bloom and Big Mac could fit in an opportunity for more of that sibling bonding.” Apple Bloom looked a little put out, but then turned to her big brother with thoughts of the unexpected guest appearance at the Sisterhooves Social by her long-lost cousin Orchard Blossom, and put a hoof to her mouth to cover a giggle. “Oh, yeah. Right. Of course” Applejack foundered around trying to find another remotely plausible excuse, but failed. “So, you’ll be on the first train out of Ponyville tomorrow, then?” said Granny Smith, making it seem less of a question, and more of a command. “Uh, I guess I will then” replied Applejack, knowing that sleep was going to elude her for most of the coming night. *** “Whinnieapolis?” queried the clerk in the ticket office, flipping through a yellowed and dusty old train timetable that had not been opened since it had been received at the station, and it was doubtful whether anypony working there today knew when that had been. “Don’t get a lot of call for ponies from around here to go so far away” the clerk continued, “I think you’re probably the first.” Applejack hadn’t slept well, full of the worries of what lay ahead, and as result felt tense. Having heard that nopony had made the journey before did not make her feel any easier. “Wait a minute “ said the clerk, “Here we go. Now you take the train to Vanhoover, head cross country to Branding then drop down to Whinnieapolis.” “Uh, OK, got that” said Applejack, “I think.” “Oh, one last thing; that cross-country bit will take you a whole day. “What, you mean like, 8 in the morning till 5 in the afternoon kind of all day?” she shifted uncomfortably. “No, I mean like 11 in the morning until 11 the next morning. Still want to go?” Applejack blanched. The thought of being shut inside a train for this long was not in any way appealing to an outdoorspony like her. “Well make up your mind” grumbled a curmudgeonly old voice behind her, “Back in my day we knew what we were lining up for so other folks wasn’t kept waitin’. Now, are you gonna get a ticket or not?” “Oh, er, sorry” stumbled Applejack, beads of sweat beginning to form on her forehead as she felt herself being pushed into a decision she didn’t want to make. She looked from the old pony behind her to the clerk, her apprehension clear for them both to see. “I’ll take it!” she blurted, instantly regretting her decision. “That’ll be thirty-five bits please” announced the clerk. “How much?” spluttered Applejack, “Why that’s more money than a … a … well I don’t know what it is …” “Make up your mind already” came the voice from behind her again, “I’ve got me a train to catch!” She fumbled in her purse and found to her surprise that it was wedged full of bits and immediately worked out where they had come from. “Oh, that Granny Smith” she chastened lovingly, a smile spreading across her face. Then she returned her attention back to the clerk and affirmed confidently, “Here ya go, an’ sorry for the delay.” The clerk scooped up the pile of bits and handed over the freshly stamped ticket. Applejack looked at it like it was a magical charm that could grant her three wishes and stowed it safely in her hat, before thanking the clerk and politely turning to the impatient old pony and bidding him a good day. He just harrumphed and inched forward to the counter, slapping two bits down and demanding to be served. “Hope you have a nice journey, Miss!” called the clerk over the grumpy expression of his next customer, secretly rather sad to see her go, “Come back and tell me what it’s like, won’t you?” “Yes, that I will, thank you” said Applejack and strode off with the first confidence she had felt that morning.