//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Resistance: Remain Human 
// by Hurgusburgus 
//------------------------------//

Applejack closed the lids of her saddlebags, having placed some fresh apples and pies in them. Making sure that no one saw her depart, she snuck away to the Everfree Forest. From what Princess Celestia had told them, there wasn’t really a reason to be afraid of James and the others, right?

Right?

Oh, Ah haven’t really thought this through, have Ah?

I looked in the water, trying to discern if there was anything at the end of the hook. I tugged on the cord slightly. No, nothing yet. Clacking my tongue absent-mindedly, I let it drop back in the water, deciding to see if I can find some fruits or suchlike, though Snag was more adept at that. Unfortunately, said Leaper was off hunting rats and other pests. Of course, Fred recently had the idea to grow our own stuff. The mental image of the hulking Titan trying to be a farmer was now forever burned in my memory. Nice one, Fred. Pessimism aside, it was a good idea. We could clear out a small spot; plough it, fence it off so no beasties could get in. It would take some time, but it was doable. Fred would be able to use his collection of seeds.

Alice looked up as she heard a branch snap.
“Who’s there?” A surprised gasp reached her ears.
“Ah… Uh… Is James here?”
“Well, he’s out doin’ somethin’. Who am Ah talkin’ to?” Applejack entered the small clearing then, a nervous smile on her face.
“Mah name’s Applejack. A while ago, James saved mah lil’ sister an’ her friends. Who’re you?” Alice chuckled softly, walking over to the orange mare, extending her hand to shake.
“Ah’m Alice. Alice Bradley. Nice t’meetcha, Applejack. Ah think Ah like this world already.”
“Well, that’s nice t’know. D’ya know when James’ll be back?”
“Nah. Want to meet my friends, then?”
“Sure. Beats standin’ around and doin’ nothing.” The woman eyed the pony curiously, obviously interested in hearing Texan accent in a completely different world. She led the orange farmpony around their cave, introducing her to the rest of the group. Once that had been done, they waited outside, chatting quietly, taking to each other rather quickly.

“A farm, eh? Ah’ll have t’drop by someday.” Alice grinned, familiar memories flooding her mind.
“Yer more than welcome to do so, Alice.” Applejack assured her. “Be nice to introduce y’all to my family.”
“Well, let’s not be too hasty. James is still bein’ pretty moody. But then again, he’s clammed up tight. Won’t talk to no one about what’s eatin’ him.”
“Oh. Well, anyway, Ah brought some apple pies and fresh apples over. James did save my lil’ sister some time ago an’ Ah can’t let that go unrewarded.” She removed her saddlebags, lifting out the still-warm foodstuffs, handing them to Alice.
“What’s that?” Fred poked his head out from the cave, sniffing loudly.
“Applejack here brought us some pies!”
“…Pies?” Fred seemed to teleport, materialising at their side in a blink of an eye, and immediately swallowed aforementioned foodstuffs whole.
“Whoa! Fred! Those weren’t just fer you!” Applejack called out indignantly, as the Titan munched noisily, a blissful expression on his face.
“Armnarmnarmmunchdelishusmunchmunch…” Fred muttered, finally swallowing and letting loose a loud burp.
“Do forgive me, ladies. I have always had a craving for pies. Could I perhaps have some more?” He looked hopefully at the dumbstruck farmpony.
“Ah… Well… You’d have ta drop by our farm fer that.” Fred looked like a kid in a candy store, a big grin on his face.
“Can we go now? Those pies were simply delicious!” He fidgeted impatiently, making the orange pony chuckle.
“Easy there, big fella. If anypony else wants ta come along, speak up now.” Alice grinned, standing up.
“Count me in, Applejack.” She then turned to the cave, shouting. “Y’guys! We’ll be away for a while, ‘kay?” Several faint answers reached her and she grinned, just as Jen strode up to them, sans her weapons and helmet.
“I’d like to come along, too, if that’s not a problem.”
“Don’t worry, Jen. Let’s go, everypony!”

Sweet Apple Acres

Big Mac paced restlessly, trying not to let his nerves get the better of him. He knew exactly where his sister had snuck off to and he berated himself for not realising it faster.

AJ, you better be okay, or somepony’s going to get seriously hurt.

Just then, the mare in question showed up, cantering down the road to the farm and Big Mac allowed himself a small inner smile.
His smile shattered in thousands of tiny terrified pieces when he saw her entourage. The big tall ‘un, the fierce tinheaded ‘un and somepony with a short, red mane were following the orange farmpony.

What have you done, Applejack?

The mismatched group walked up to him, and silence reigned supreme.

“Greetings!” Of course, Fred was the first to speak. He extended his hand to shake. The red-coated stallion stared at him blankly.
“Big Mac, where’s yer manners? Say hi!” Applejack whispered to her dumbstruck brother.
“Uh… Uh… I… Howdy. I’m Big Mac.” He seemed to shake off his surprise, shaking Fred’s hand.
“I’m Fred! Nice to meet you, I say!” He straightened out, letting Jen and Alice introduce themselves. Just then, Granny Smith wandered outside, and promptly ground to a halt upon seeing them.
“Well, Ah’ll be damned! What have you brought home this time, Applejack?” Before the orange pony could answer, Jen interrupted.
“Not friends. Just Fred here has an insatiable craving for apple pies. Thought I’d tag along. Could use a walk.”
“Pies? A big feller like yerself likes pies?” The elderly mare eyed the strangely-timid Titan.
“I do. Seriously, you have no idea.”
Applejack chuckled at that.
“He just up an’ swallowed ‘em whole, Granny!”
“Well, lemme make a deal with ya! If y’help us with some chores around the farm, we’ll bake you some more p-“
“Dealdealdealdealdeal!” Fred had to restrain himself from jumping up and down, making the old mare chuckle.
“Well, aren’t ya an enthusiastic one, an’ no mistake! When can ya start?”
“I’m not busy with anything at the moment, to be honest. So, what can I help with?”
“Well, the applebuck season’s in full swing and we could always use a helping hoof ‘round here. I’ll have Big Mac show you how it’s done.”

Fred was a quick learner, fuelled as he was by his need for apple pies. He would drum his oversized fingers on a tree’s trunk, shaking the apples loose in seconds. Alice and Jen then would pick the fruits up, filling up the baskets and carrying them to the barn. The air echoed with Fred’s contended humming as the Titan wandered around the apple trees, Jen and Alice following him with empty baskets, filling them up once he’d moved on.

Four hours later

Applebloom trotted down the path to her farm, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle following her. Their happy return trip from school was interrupted by seeing Fred’s ponderous bulk move among the trees. Though they knew that there was no reason to be afraid of him, their imagination blew their doubt out of proportion. They ran over to Twilight’s library, who contacted Princess Celestia in turn. Fearing the worst, the alicorn departed immediately. What she saw was beyond her wildest ideas.

Fred happily scarfed down another pie, humming blissfully, failing to notice the white alicorn canter up to him, surprised.
“Fred?” He opened his eyes, waving at her amiably.
“Oh, hello there, princess! Would you like some pie?” He held out one of the aforementioned foodstuffs to the befuddled princess. The proverbial gears in her head crunched noisily.
“I… Um… Sure.” Somewhat hesitantly, she took the pie, biting off a piece.

It was a sight none of the Apple Family would ever forget - Princess Celestia and Fred eating pies. Alice and Jen were hiding behind a tree, with Alice having a fit of giggles, while Jen shook her head defeatedly, feeling a headache coming on.
“Jesus Christ, Fred…”
“What’s wrong, Jen? This is gold! Now Ah’ve seen everything!” The giggling Texan doubled over again.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders returned later, with Twilight and her friends in tow. They, too, were treated to the sight of the rather unlikely pie-eating duo.
Celestia flinched guiltily, mouth covered with crumbs, hearing Twilight call out her name.
“Princess? What is happening here?”
“Oh! Uh, hello, my student. There’s nothing to be afraid of. It would seem Applebloom mistook Fred’s intentions. He was simply helping out around the farm.”
“Well, I did what I had to. For delicious pies!” He thundered victoriously. Granny Smith appeared then, disturbed from her nap by the ruckus. Pretty soon, Applejack and Big Mac followed, looking on in surprise at the group. Fred tried breaking the rather uncomfortable silence by sharing some of his pies. After a while, though, they were all sitting together, eating, chatting amiably. Fred would spin tall tales that would beggar belief, but his storytelling was very enjoyable, if a tad strange.

It was a rather odd farewell Fred said to Celestia. Though she assured him they could come to Ponyville anytime if they needed anything, he declined, saying they’d just scare everyone.
“Well, be assured we will not disturb you. Still, if there’s anything important you need to tell me, don’t hesitate to visit my student. She knows how to contact me.” Fred bowed in response.
“I will keep that in mind, Princess. Well, best I get going before Jen has a fit.” Celestia nodded in response, a bit disappointed to see the affable Titan leave, if she was being honest to herself.

I hummed absentmindedly, wandering to nowhere in particular. Tag and I had bagged another manticore, skinning the beast for furs and meat, seeing as autumn was encroaching. I’d have to get others to help with insulating the cave to some degree. While it’d be cold for the Yanks, I and others wouldn’t suffer. If it was cold enough, we might be able to finally do maintenance on our heat stacks. Jen, of course, being the tech wiz she is, was planning on modifying the stacks and improving their heat dispersion efficiency.
But that was just me trying to distract myself from something more pressing. I was having trouble keeping the Chimeran me reined in. Blasted thing kept roving through my mind, trying to goad me into going on a rampage. Well, balls to that, I say. I didn’t need to bother others with my own troubles. They were mine and mine alone to deal with.

When I arrived back at our humble abode, I was in for a bit of surprise. Fred was eating something cooked, something that made my mouth water, my senses unaccustomed to baked goods. Apple pies.
“Um, Fred?” He flinched, looking like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“James! Good to see you! Come, join us and have some dinner!” I looked at Jen questioningly, and she shrugged in response.
“It’s sort of a long story, James. Want some pie?”

What had they been up to while I was away?