//------------------------------// // Applejack - Tripping over Apples // Story: Pony Stimulation for Weary Travelers Season 2 // by KenDoStudios //------------------------------// You are walking up to Applejack who is sitting under a tree with a basket of apples. She notices you and smiles. Well howdy there, partner. What brings you to Sweet Apple Acres? She chuckles softly. Don't tell me you're here for some of these delicious apples. She picks one up and holds it close to your ear. Can you hear how crisp and juicy they are? She bites into it and makes a satisfied sound. Mmm... nothing like a fresh apple from the orchard. She swallows and offers you the apple. Here, have a bite. Go on, don't be shy. It's not like it's forbidden fruit or anything. She laughs gently. Or is it? Are you trying to resist the temptation of these sweet apples? Do you have some reason to avoid them? Maybe you're on a diet or something? She lowers her voice and leans closer to you. Or maybe... maybe you're afraid of what might happen if you taste them. Maybe you think they'll make you fall in love with me. She whispers in your ear. Is that it? Do you have feelings for me that you're trying to hide? She pulls back and looks into your eyes.[/] Well, I'll tell you what. I won't force you to eat this apple if you don't want to. But I will say this: life is too short to deny yourself what makes you happy. And if that happens to be me... well then... I'm right here for ya. She smiles warmly and puts the apple down. So what do you say? Will you join me for some apple talk? We can chat about anything you like. Apples, farming, friendship... anything at all. She pats the ground next to her. Come on now, sit down with me. Let's enjoy this beautiful day together. i only eat apples she said giggling You are watching Applejack buck some apples from a nearby tree. you observe her hat and the bandana around her neck. to you She looks strong and confident as she kicks the tree trunk with her hind legs and makes the apples fall into a basket. Applejack: Whew! That's another one done. She turns to you and smiles. You enjoying the show? I hope you don't mind me working while we talk. I've got a lot of apples to harvest before sundown. She walks over to you and nudges you with her nose. You know, you don't have to just sit there and watch. You can join me if you want. It's fun and good exercise too. She laughs softly. And don't worry, I won't make fun of you if you can't buck as hard as me. I know I'm pretty good at it. She picks up a basket of apples with her mouth and carries it to a cart. Come on now, follow me. I'll show you how it's done. She leads you to another tree with ripe apples. Alrighty then. Here's what you do. You stand behind the tree like this... [She demonstrates.] And then you lift your back legs like this... [She lifts them up.] And then you kick the tree like this... [She kicks it hard and makes several apples fall into another basket.] See? Easy as pie. Now you try it. She steps aside and lets you take her place. Go on now, give it your best shot! I promise I wont make fun of yah. She watches you with encouragement and curiosity. You kick the tree as hard as you can but you end up hurting yourself. You feel a sharp pain in your leg and you fall to the ground with a groan. Oh no! Are you okay? She runs over to you and kneels down next to you. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for you to get hurt. She examines your leg and frowns. Ouch. That looks bad. You might have sprained it. She wraps her bandana around your leg and ties it gently. Applejack: There. That should help a little bit. But we need to get you to a doctor right away. She lifts you up with her mouth and puts you on her back. Hold on tight now. I'll take you to Ponyville Hospital. She starts trotting towards the town. Don't worry about the apples. I'll come back for them later. She looks back at you with concern. How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Water? A hug? She nuzzles your cheek softly. I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to join me. She sighs sadly. You reach the hospital Alright sugar cube, let's take a look at that injury. Hmm, it looks like you've sprained your wrist pretty bad. Don't you worry though, the good folks here at the hospital will take care of ya. I'm sorry I pushed ya too hard out there. I was just tryin' to show ya how we do things on the farm. But I reckon I should've been more careful with ya. Now, let's see if we can get you patched up and back on your feet. The doctor will give ya some painkillers, and they might wrap your wrist up in a bandage to help it heal. In the meantime, you just take it easy and rest up. I'll be right here by your side the whole time. Maybe I can even read you a story or sing you a song to help take your mind off things. I know it can be scary being in the hospital, but you're gonna be just fine. You're a tough cookie, just like an apple, and you'll bounce back in no time. *** now you listen here, you're part of the family and friends that I care about. And I won't hear any talk about you being separated from the tree. You're as much a part of our community as any pony else. And you're right, it was my fault for pushing you too hard. I should've been more careful and made sure you were ready before we started bucking trees. I promise I'll be more mindful in the future. But for now, let's focus on getting you healed up and feeling better. We'll take it slow and steady, and make sure you're fully recovered before we get back to any more farm work. Just know that I'm here for you, every step of the way. You're not alone in this, and we'll get through it together. Well, speaking of apples, we've got a whole bunch of them back at the farm that are just waiting to be harvested. We're gonna have a bumper crop this year, I can feel it in my bones. I can already taste the apple cider, apple pies, and caramel apples. There's nothing quite like the taste of a freshly picked apple straight from the orchard. It's like a burst of sunshine in your mouth. And let me tell ya, there's a lot of hard work that goes into growing and harvesting those apples. But it's all worth it in the end when we see the joy they bring to folks like you. Oh, Apple Bloom promised you some of our apple cider, did she? Well, I reckon we'll have to make sure you get some once you're feeling better. And not just any cider, mind you, but the best cider straight from the source. We take a lot of pride in our apple cider on the farm. It's made from a blend of our best apples and pressed just right to get the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. We even have a special recipe for our hot apple cider that's perfect for those chilly fall nights. But like I said, we'll have to wait until you're all healed up and ready to come back to the farm. In the meantime, I'll make sure you have plenty of fresh apples to munch on. And who knows, maybe we can even teach you how to make your own apple cider once you're feeling better. It's not as hard as you might think, and there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of making your own cider from scratch. Oh, shoot. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make it sound like I'd be able to stay with you the whole time. As much as I want to be here for you, I do have a farm to run and a bunch of apples that need tending to. But don't you worry, I'll make sure some pony comes by to check on you and keep you company. And I'll come back to visit as soon as I can, maybe even bring you some fresh-baked apple muffins or something. In the meantime, just rest up and take it easy. You'll be back on your feet in no time, I promise. And once you're all healed up, we'll have you back on the farm, helping us with the harvest and maybe even teaching us a thing or two. You're part of our family now, and we take care of our own. So don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything you need. We'll do whatever we can to make you feel better. Oh, of course! I almost forgot. Before I go, let me give you a little something to remember me by. Applejack walks over to you and gently rubs her hoof through your mane, smoothing it out and tucking a stray strand behind your ear. There we go, that should keep you looking sharp while you're resting up. And who knows, maybe it'll even bring you a little bit of luck. Take care now, and I'll see you soon.