//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Appleloosa // by Kraken Albatross //------------------------------// Appleloosa By Kraken Albatross Chapter 1 Dear Ms. Applejack, We regret to inform you of the death of your cousin Braeburn. He fell from a ridge in his apple orchard and sustained fatal injuries. In his last will and testament, he left his entire estate to you. This includes his orchard, farmhouse, and a small sum of money found on his body. You may retrieve the will and his effects at the mayor's office on West Dragon Boulevard when you are next in town. Our most sincere condolences, The Town of Appleloosa Applejack finished reading the wrinkled letter for the hundredth time and crumpled it up with a sigh. She turned to gaze out the window of a passenger train as it barreled across the prairie, heading west. As the sun slowly emerged from below the horizon, an eruption of brilliant rays painted the sky with countless shades of orange and purple. The earth pony took in the beautiful landscape as it rushed by her, unable to prevent the smile that crept to her lips. Hearing a murmur to her right, Applejack glanced over just in time to see Fluttershy nestle deeper into the adjacent seat cushion, fast asleep. Her smile broadened as she leaned back, attempting to discern just how long it had been since she first took the train with her future wife and the rest of her friends. "Ten years..." she whispered so quietly that she wasn't quite sure she had said anything at all. The earth pony's eyes widened and she almost gasped, realizing just how quickly time flies. After failing miserably in an attempt to not feel old, she looked down at the balled up yellow paper clenched in her hooves. The more Applejack stared at the letter she had received a month earlier, the more she wished it wasn't the sole reason the couple was moving to Appleloosa. After a brief moment of hesitation, she quickly uncrumpled the death notice and read it yet again, as if it would finally say something different. The mare simply couldn't help herself. Applejack had trouble believing that her life could change so drastically in four cold, impersonal sentences, barely a paragraph. She also couldn't believe that of all the ponies in Equestria that Braeburn could have left his estate to, he had chosen her. While they had become close after Applejack's relationship with Fluttershy alienated her from most of the Apple family, she had always assumed that there must have been somepony in Appleloosa or any place else that knew him better. Then she considered his salt addiction. Appleloosa had grown rapidly in its early years, and after the discovery of colossal gem deposits in the hills surrounding the town, ponies from all over the world came to stake their claim and make their fortune as the Equestrian frontier exploded. Consequentially, this meant that apples were no longer the dominant product of the region as gem hungry prospectors flooded the town and growers of all manner of crops set up farms to feed them. The town only kept the name ‘Appleloosa’ out of tradition. Braeburn apparently had trouble coping with the fierce, and at times, cutthroat competition and all of the stress combined with mare problems and who knows what else turned him to the salt, which lead to a slow and steady decline. Applejack sighed and hung her head, wishing it hadn’t come to that. Regardless, Braeburn had entrusted her with all of his possessions and she was not the kind of pony to let down a dead cousin, even if he had gone astray. Besides, Applejack knew that it was time for a change of pace and an excuse for a new life had been delivered right to her mailbox. As the family at Sweet Apple Acres grew to include Fluttershy as well as Big Mac’s wife and two foals, money on the farm became tight. The income from one orchard simply wasn’t enough to support so many ponies, and Applejack was more than happy to lighten the load and pave her own way in Appleloosa. She was simply relieved that her wife had agreed to leave all of her woodland critter friends behind in order to join her. As Applejack considered her good fortune, Fluttershy stirred and groggily opened an eye to look up at the mare beside her. Applejack ran a hoof through the pegasus’ hair and smiled. “Mornin’ sugarcube.” “What time is it?” Fluttershy asked sleepily, wincing and raising a hoof to shield her eyes from the garish sunlight. “Just past dawn. I reckon we’ll be pullin’ into Appleloosa any minute.” She sighed, obviously frustrated. “At least I hope so. We're already hours behind schedule! After all the fancy improvements to the rail and the engine and everythin’ else, the darn thing still ain’t on time!” She shook her head and looked back down at her wife, the scowl evaporating from her face. “You should try to get some more sleep. It’s gonna be a long day." “What about you? Have you even slept at all?” Fluttershy couldn't mask the concern in her voice. “Ain’t tired,” Applejack dismissed casually, looking back out the window. “Oh.” During the long pause that followed, the yellow pegasus searched her wife’s face. “If you’re nervous, Applejack, please don’t be ashamed, okay? I’m nervous too. Anypony would be,” she reassured, snuggling against the earth pony. Applejack couldn’t help but smile as she turned and draped a foreleg around her. “Aww shucks, Fluttershy. I ain’t nervous. I’m just... strategizin’... Ya know... Gotta go over our plans for the day... And all that...” Applejack trailed off in her pathetic attempt at a white lie. She didn’t even know what she was saying. She simply shook her head and patted smaller pony. “All I'm sayin' is, don’t you worry your pretty little head ‘bout me, darlin’. I’m finer than a frog hair split four ways!” "Frogs don't have hair," Fluttershy corrected sleepily with a gentle yawn as she rested her head on Applejack's lap and quickly drifted back to sleep. “Pumpkin and cream cheese! Duh!” exclaimed an elated voice to the couple’s right. Applejack turned her head and chuckled as she looked across the aisle at Pinkie Pie scribbling furiously in a notebook, pencil in mouth. “How’s the menu comin’ along, Pinkie?” Applejack called over to her. “Superly duperly! I can’t wait till everypony in Appleloosa tastes my mega-delicious cakes, and pies, and cookies, and donuts, and muffins, and brownies, and eclairs, and churros...” Pinkie Pie rambled on. She had managed to stay extremely enthusiastic and energetic throughout the years, much to everypony's surprise. Age was apparently irrelevant to her. “With your skills, Pinkie, I'd wager that the Appleloosans don’t right stand much of a chance. They’ll be throwin’ you all their hard earned bits once you set up shop!” Applejack cut off, grinning at the pink pony until a scoff shattered the pleasant atmosphere. “Oh yeah... There’s nothing more lucrative than a bakery... We’ll be millionaires in no time...” drawled Rainbow Dash sarcastically, gloomily staring out the window at nothing in particular. “Come on, Rainbow...” Applejack pleaded, her eyebrows furrowing and her grin shifting to a frown. “Oh she’s just cranky because it’s early and she’s not a morning pony. Isn’t that right Dashie?!” Pinkie asserted, lovingly nuzzling the multicolored mane. Rainbow Dash uttered nothing more than a few grumbles and continued to blankly gaze at the horizon. Applejack sighed and reflected on the blue pegasus’ bitterness, spying a crooked wing that pressed up against the seat cushion. Ever since the accident that obliterated any hope of her ever joining The Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash had become significantly more morose and distant. However, although everypony missed the brash and arrogant Rainbow Dash of their youth, Pinkie never relented in her seemingly unconditional adoration, and Applejack thanked Celestia for that. She didn’t even want to imagine what would happen to Dash without the pink pony in her life. Pinkie Pie had suggested that the pair move to Appleloosa along with Applejack and Fluttershy almost immediately. Dash’s impaired flying ability made it impossible to keep her job with Ponyville’s weather crew and Pinkie could barely make enough money for both of them managing Sugarcube Corner. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Cake weren’t going anywhere and her marriage to Rainbow Dash created a sizable rift between them. The earth pony’s dream of one day owning the establishment was dimming every day, so the chance to open up her very own bakery in a pioneer town of apparently countless opportunity was was too good to be true. Also, Between Twilight Sparkle’s promotion to Princess Celestia’s chief advisor in Canterlot and Rarity’s explosion onto the Manehattan fashion scene, there wouldn't be much left in Ponyville for them once Applejack and Fluttershy left town. It was simply the most obvious course of action. As for Dash, she would naturally follow wherever her wife chose to go. Although she would never even dream of showing it, much less admitting it, all of her friends knew that Pinkie was the only thing in Dash’s life that mattered to the pegasus anymore. Just as everypony went back to their own business, the train lurched and began to slow down. The prospect of their imminent arrival caused the passengers to clamor to the windows excitedly, all trying to catch a glimpse of their destination. However, once the train began to pull into Appleloosa, the hopeful smile on Applejack's face began to droop into an expression of horror. The town was so... different. She tried to think back to the adventure in her youth when she brought her favorite apple tree to Braeburn's orchard, and from what she could recall, it was hardly the same Appleloosa. For starters, the town was exponentially bigger, with muddy streets and alleyways sprawling in every direction. The buildings were crowded together and showed their age. The cheerful and animated settler ponies of her memory were replaced by grim and dirtied individuals, mostly stallions, shuffling through the crowds indifferently. Even the sky looked grayer. Although the rest of the passengers seemed undeterred by the sight, Applejack bit her lower lip and brought up a hoof to rub her head. "Oh horsefeathers. What have you gotten yourself into, AJ?" The swarm of bright eyed travelers flooded out of the train cars, eager to begin their own adventures. None of them appeared to be offput by the appearence of the town. Applejack and Rainbow Dash navigated the throng to find their luggage and arranged for it to be delivered to their respective lodgings. Upon meeting back up, the group looked about the station, admiring its brilliantly sleek design, a direct contrast with the rest of the town. "Well at least the train station is clean..." Applejack commented under her breath, mostly to herself. "It's not just clean! It's amazing! Everything is so stupendously awesome and pretty and I mean, just look at all the gold!" Pinkie Pie shouted a tad too loudly, apparently having caught the orange mare's quip. She twirled around shaking her forelegs at the entire station, especially the gleaming golden sign mounted at the entrance that read "Atlantis Locomotives." "It is very... nice." Fluttershy agreed. "The most nice!" Pinkie giggled. "I could just live here and sleep on the benches!" She pantomimed an exaggerated snore after flopping down on the nearest bench. Everypony but Rainbow Dash laughed. "Then you'd be a bum." The pegasus looked around skeptically. "Sure, it looks fancy, but what good is that when the train doesn't even get here on time?" The other three looked at each other quizzically. She did have a point. "Four hours behind schedule! Four!" Accused an angry voice behind them. The party turned to see an irate turquoise pegasus mare glaring at the team of stallions that had pulled the engine. Her striking seafoam green mane flowed in the light breeze that ran through the station, falling like water over her shapely frame. Even Applejack was impressed by her beauty, almost contradicting her impatient and commanding demeanor. "Well at Prankton, the mayor demanded that we stall in town to let a magistrate from Canterlot finish his dinner and catch the train," one of the stallions defended. "Do you work for the mayor of Prankton?" she asked, incredulously. "No, but he said that if we didn't wait, he'd-" "Then you tell him that I'll take full responsibility! I can handle blowhard politicians and nobles!" "Well there was also this hot air balloon that-" began another member of the engine team. "I don't have time for your excuses. I have a freight train that needs to be in Stableleen by noon and I need this engine to pull it. Not to mention the miles of track we're laying to Coltorado Springs and Hoofstone as well as maintenance on the entire Armadillo line. The last thing I should be worrying about is something as trivial as the trains being on time. So please, do your jobs," she interrupted, turning to leave. "Yes, Ms. Atlantis," the team replied obediently in unison. The four Ponyvillians stood mouths agape upon hearing the pegasus' name, looking up at the sign and back down to the mare and her train track cutie mark. Applejack began to trot over to her and called out. "Hey! You run the whole railroad!" was the only thing the earth pony could think to say. Atlantis stopped her brisk pace and rolled her eyes. "Yes. Yes I do," she deadpanned. "Name's Applejack! Us four just took your fancy train! It was mighty comfortable!" she beamed, gesturing to her wife and friends, introducing them one by one. "Glad you enjoyed it," Atlantis responded impatiently, tapping her hoof and looking at the large golden clock at the center of the station. After a moment, she sized up the group, and judging by their eager smiles, she knew they weren't going to leave her alone. "So... Are you tourists?" she asked to speed up the conversation without being rude to her own customers. "Nopey dopey!" Pinkie chimed in. "We're opening a bakery!" she informed enthusiastically while putting a foreleg around Rainbow Dash endearingly. "And we're takin' over management of Appleloosa Orchards!" Applejack added. Atlantis took a step back and her eyes widened, obviously surprised and impressed. "How do you like that? Some industrious entrepreneurs! Celestia knows, this town needs them. It's a pleasure to meet some capable ponies, since apparently none work for me," she said with a genuine grin as she warmed up to the group. "Oh, we didn't mind the delays. It was just nice to be able to enjoy the scenery," Fluttershy reassured. "That's all well and good, but it's still completely unacceptable for a legitimate railroad operation. Some ponies would rather die than make one rational decision for themselves... If only I could be everywhere at once to think for them!" The pegasus let out an exasperated groan. "If communication's the problem, why don't you just hire some unicorns?" Rainbow Dash asked matter of factly. It was the first time she had spoken in the conversation. "Excuse me? I employ many-" "No, no, no. I mean, just put a unicorn on each train so they can wizard letters back to HQ, then you have your own unicorn to wizard the response back. There are spells for that, right?" Atlantis raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Oh. Magic. Why didn't I think of that?!" She chuckled, attempting to minimize the embarrassed blush that flared up im her cheeks. "Well thought out, Ms. Rainbow Dash. I'll keep that suggestion in mind. Thanks for the input." She offered a nod to blue pegasus. "No problem, lady. That was nothing! I guess you could call me a problem solver. A pretty great problem solver!" Dash responded, the bitterness slipping away for a moment as she flashed one of her old cocky grins. Atlantis laughed. "Apparently so!" she conceded before turning to Pinkie Pie and pointing a hoof at Rainbow Dash. "Keep this one around. She's got a good head on her shoulders." Pinkie giggled and nuzzled her wife. "For forever and ever and beyond and infinity plus one!" "Good. Well I need to be off preventing the utter collapse of my railroad, so unless you need anything..." She trailed off, her eyes once again darting to the clock. "Actually, since you're from 'round these parts, can ya point us in the direction of the town doctor?" Applejack's thoughts drifted back to the crumpled letter in her luggage. "Oh no! Are you sick Applejack?" Fluttershy cut in, legitimate concern in her eyes. "'Course not! I just want to ask the doc a few questions is all," the earth pony reassured with a confident nod. "You'll be wanting Doctor Nevermore. He's set up at the end of Dead Mare's Alley, just around the corner there," Atlantis informed, gesturing out of the station at the street. The group gaped at her in horror. "Hey, I don't name the streets. I just work here!" She shrugged with a smirk before a thought struck her. "Just know, the doc is a real ass." "Beg pardon? You mean he's a donkey?" "No. He's just a jerk. And trust me, I know. I married him!" She winked before exploding into a gallop, spreading her wings and taking off. "I'm sure I'll see you around!" the turquoise pegasus called down as she waved goodbye and flew away. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed as she watched Atlantis enviously. Seeing her wife slowly lower her head, Pinkie quickly changed the subject. "So how about all that stuff we have to do and stuff, huh?!" she abruptly spat out. "We do have to shop around for vacant lots to build the bakery on," Dash confirmed with an ounce of enthusiasm after an awkward pause. Pinkie sighed in relief, grateful that she was spared the sight of a miserable Rainbow Dash, at least for now. "While ya'll do that, I s'pose we can pay a visit to Doctor Nevermore," Applejack agreed. "Sound like a plan, Fluttershy?" "Oh, of course. Whatever you want to do is fine," the yellow pegasus submitted. "Okey dokey lokey! Let's split up gang! Meet back at the mayor's office at oh-noon-hundred-hours! Let's go, team!" Pinkie shouted, sticking a hoof out for a group cheer. The other three just blinked at her. "See you guys at noon," Rainbow Dash said flatly, nodding at Applejack and Fluttershy. She turned to go, leaving her wife still frozen in place as she waited for three more hooves to bring it in. "Take it easy, Dash," Applejack replied, chuckling as Pinkie Pie snapped out of her pose and hopped after her wife. "Wait for me, my love!" she called out dramatically, chortling along the way. Applejack watched Pinkie go and scratched her head. "Ya know even after all these years I still wonder how those two ended up together." "I think they're such a cute couple," Fluttershy beamed dreamily. "I reckon 'cute' is the proper word," Applejack conceded. "But it must be exhaustin'. For both of 'em." "Unlike our relationship?" Fluttershy asked coyly. "'Course, sugarcube. Lovin' you is as easy as fallin' off a log." Applejack chuckled and winked at the furiously blushing pegasus who was too embarrassed to reply. "Why don't we mosey on over to Dead Mare's Alley?" With that, the pair made their way out of the train station and into the crowded street. The moment they emerged into the bright morning light, a pair of eyes from across the square zeroed in on Applejack and narrowed into slits. "Now she finally decides to show up..."