Apples and Wheat

by TheAlmightySage

Wolf and Town

Many thanks to BronyBozly, The Gweat and Powaful Twixie, and Venom0861 for their awesome editing, input, and patience. Special thanks to acv_critter for helping me with the economics in this chapter.

Applejack was, by the nature of being a farmer, an early riser; this however did not necessarily mean that she was a morning pony. As such, her mornings typically start with a groggy mind set to autopilot directed to a hot shower and then to a cup of hot coffee. While this was normally a helpful thing, it can and did led to less than pleasant moments in some mornings...

Applejack was lost in blissful dreams of bountiful harvests and piles of bits as she slept warm and snug in her blankets with a warm pillow. However, some part of her sleeping mind noted that her pillow smelt of earth and wheat instead of it's usual lavender and cotton, but the part of her mind that would have normally registered this change was still fast asleep.

A series of hard knocks on her bedroom door, from Granny Smith's walking stick as she passed by on her way to the bathroom, caused the farm pony to groggily groan in protest as her body started to slowly wake up. But after yesterday's hard work, the trip to town, and the revelations of and from the crazy wolfish mare, Applejack just wanted to sleep in a for a few more minutes. She yawned and wrapped her forehooves around the pillow, pulling it close as she nuzzled into the soft wheat scented pillow. Applejack then felt the pillow wrap its own forehooves around her neck, murmuring softly. It was at this point Applejack's mind caught up to the situation at break neck speed.

Applejack's eyes shot open, her field of vision filled up with tan belly fur before she looked up and saw Holo's sleeping face. Though Applejack would never admit it, this situation wasn't completely unfamiliar; though last time it involved a sleepover at Twilight's treehouse with the other girls, a small barrel of hard cider, and the librarian herself in a similar hold. Despite the situation's familiarity, or perhaps because of it, the farm pony's reaction was just as strong as last time's reaction.

"WHAT THE BUCK?!?!" Applejack practically shrieked as she pushed herself away from the wolfish mare, inadvertently throwing herself and Holo off the bed that resulted both of them landing in a tangle of bed sheets on each side of the bed.

"Must you yell so loud so early?" Holo whined gingerly rubbing her ears as she sat up. "My ears are quite sensitive you know."

"WHAT?" Applejack shouted but then quickly coughed into her hoof before she spoke in a lower, yet still angry tone. "What in the Sam Hill are y'all doin' in mah bed?"

"Is that where I am?" Holo asked as she rubbed her bleary eyes and looked around the room. "I do not remember coming in here."

Applejack just glared back at her family's house guest, mentally debating if bucking Holo upside the head would be worth the trouble.

"The last thing I recall was having trouble getting comfortable in my bed," Holo said as she got up and stretched her legs.

"Uh huh," Applejack grunted in response as she stared the wolfish mare with a suspecting eye.

"Honestly and truly I do not remember," Holo said becoming annoyed with Applejack's accusing tone.

"Whatever ya say Holo," Applejack said as she got up, kicking off the blankets that had gotten tangled up with her legs. "Ah ain't gonna argue."

"I am telling the truth. I would certainly remember bedding a mare like you," Holo insisted as she followed a slightly perturbed Applejack out into the hallway and came face to face with Big Mac as he was walking out of his bedroom.

Big Mac just stood there with eyebrows raised, looking at the pair of disheveled bed headed mares barely suppressing a grin.

"It ain't whatcha thinkin'!" Applejack proclaimed at Big Mac's unspoken thought.

"Yes, there was not nearly enough hard cider for me to become that lecherous," Holo said casually with a yawn and wave of her hoof.

"Ah ain't sayin' nothin," Big Mac commented with a grin on his face as he passed the odd pair and headed to the downstairs bathroom.

"Y'all are a pain ya know that?" AJ grumbled to Holo as she rubbed her forehead fighting back the pounding twinges of a headache.

"Wisdom is indeed a painful burden," Holo smirked.

"Ah'll be getting ready for the day," Applejack sighed as she trotted into the bathroom.

Holo nodded then returned to her room and proceeded to search for her wheat pouch and a comb for her magnificent tail.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, this is especially true with farm life. Without a good filling breakfast it is very difficult to preserve through the morning till lunch.

"Mmm what smells so wonderful?" Holo inquired, sniffing the air and licking her lips as she walked into the kitchen.

"Y'all think more with yer stomach than yer head," Granny Smith said with a smirk as she flipped a flapjack.

"Thine cooking is just that good, my dear Apple mare," Holo purred as she reached for a fresh hot hash brown.

Only to be swatted at by a spatula. "Y'all can wait fer everypony else, sugar cube."

Holo just rolled her eyes and took a seat at the table.

"You mentioned a trip to town last night, correct?" Holo asked as she poured herself a tall glass of apple juice.

"Eeyup. Applejack is gonna be sellin' some apples at the stand this afternoon," Granny Smith answered as she stacked flapjacks onto a plate. "Ah figure she can show around the town this morning.

Holo quietly pondered what Ponyville would look like after decades of long sleep in the Everfree as she drank her sweet apple juice.

"Morning Granny," Applejack said, kissing her grandmother on the cheek before she took a couple of the plates of food to the table, nodding to Holo as she set the plates down in the table's center.

"Mornin' Applejack," Granny cooed as she started scrambling some eggs.

"Good mornin' ladies," Big Mac drawled out to the women folk as he walked to the table from the sitting room then set a plate with tall stack of flapjacks on the table.

"Morning everypony," Apple Bloom said cheerfully before she trotted up to the table placing silverware out while Applejack set out healthy portions of breakfast on everypony's plate.

"Alright, dig in everypony," Granny Smith insisted after she took her seat and set down a large plate of scrambled eggs.

"Excellent," Holo beamed before she literally, and very noisily, started wolfing down her stack of six flapjacks in a four large bites then began her assault upon the scrambled eggs as the Apple family watched in two parts disgust, one part old annoyance, and one part youthful amazement.

"Wow y'all eat faster than Scootaloo!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in wonder.

"Who?" Holo mumbled with a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

Apple Bloom's explanation was cut short as Granny Smith whacked the ravenous she wolf on the head with a wooden spoon. "Y'all got manners, so act like it. Chew, unless y'all wanna choke like last time."

Holo growled, but obediently chewed and swallowed her mouthful of eggs before she replied to her benevolent attacker. "What do you mean 'like last time'?"

Old Maria Smith just smirked and said one word. "Potato."

"Ugh you would remember that," Holo groaned before she bit into her buttered toast.

"What about a potato?" Apple Bloom asked, voicing the same question AJ and Big Mac had, as she poured maple syrup on her short stack of flapjacks.

"Heh the Wise Wolf here almost choked ta death on a cheese covered baked potato a number of years ago," Granny Smith chuckled as she added a bit of milk to her coffee.

"It is not my fault pony throat's are so much more narrow than a wolf's throat." Holo groused as she stabbed a piece of hash brown with her fork, muttering, "Stupid potato."

Applejack had to cover her mouth to stifle a laugh at the mental image of Holo flailing about with a potato stuck in her mouth.

"Alright the golden delicious and red galas are all loaded up," Big Mac said after placing the large barrels into the back of the cart. "Are ya sure you don't want me ta go with ya to help you keep an eye on Holo?"

"Yes, Ah'm sure Big Mac," Applejack replied as she slipped a securing belt around one of the barrels. "If Ah can manage keeping tabs on Apple Bloom and her two friends Ah'm pretty sure Ah can keep Holo outta trouble."

"If ya say so," Big Mac drawled out skeptically.

"Where is that crazy mare anyways?" Applejack asked as she glanced around the barn.

"Hmm she was on the porch talkin' with Granny earlier. Then she said something about going to the cellar ta get a couple of baldwin apples from the cellar for the trip ta town," Big Mac said with a nod to the open apple cellar door.

"Think ya do me a favor an' go get her?" Applejack asked as she tightened the securing belt around the second barrel.

"Eeyup," Big Mac answered and headed for the apple cellar.

The Apple family's apple cellar is a simple, but sturdy and spacious cellar with various large stalls for the storage of barreled apples, a large number of shelves for the storing of jams and preserves, and a row of shelves specifically marked for persevered jars of the famed zap apples and Granny's immensely popular zap apple jam.

"Open curse you!"

Big Mac heard Holo shout from deep inside the apple cellar in an almost whiny tone that he'd heard from Apple Bloom before when she was frustrated at something. The red stallion sighed and trotted down the stairs into the dry, but chilly cellar, occasionally hearing frustrated growls and grunts. Big Mac walked past the various barrels of stored apples narrowing down the wolfish mare's location when he heard.

"ACCURSED JAR! OPEN!"

Followed by several thuds and tinkling of jars from around the corner where various jars of preserved zap apples are stored in their magically sealed jars.

Big Mac raised an eyebrow as he rounded the corner then saw Holo laying on her belly, in a mock pounce stance, with her flank rather high in the air as she held a sealed mason jar between her hooves while she growled and gnawed upon the metal lid with her tail thrashing back and forth angrily.

"Um Holo?" Big Mac ventured unsure of how to approach the growling wolfish mare.

Holo's ears twitched at the sound of Big Mac's voice. She glanced up at the large farmer then sat up and cleared her throat.

"Ah Macintosh. I would like to eat this," Holo explained her ears twitching while she held up the stubborn jar in which a large zap apple rested in perfect magically sealed air tight preservation. "Can you open this accursed jar for me?"

Big Mac glanced at the preserved zap apple then Holo's expectant smile, before he took the jar from her and replied. "Nope."

"But I want, nay crave, the delectable sweet zap apple," Holo pleaded as she grasped Big Mac by his shoulders.

Big Mac could feel his resolve starting to melt, much the same way as when Apple Bloom applied this same tactic, as Holo pouted up at him pleadingly.

"I..um well.." Big Mac said with failing composure.

"Please? I have not so much as smelled the sweet scent of a zap apple since I went to sleep the decades away. It calls to me!" Holo pleaded as she leaned against the large red stallion's chest with her tail twitching anxiously.

"Um...the thing is.." Big Mac mumbled as he started to fight back a blush.

"Please Macintosh," Holo pleaded with a lethal pout as she looked up at him.

"Granny Smith said the zap apples are for sellin' and buyin' only," Big Mac blurted out looking anywhere, but at Holo's big pleading apple eyes while he scooted back from her by more than a few inches.

"I should have known Maria would say such a thing," Holo sighed as she got back on her hooves. "She was always quite protective of the harvested apples."

"Granny is a bit strict about the zap apples, but they are our biggest cash crop," Big Mac explained as he regained his composure.

"I would think so with such a rare and tempting fruit," Holo said eyeing the zap apple in its sealed jar.

"AJ is ready to head into town," Big Mac said as he put the jar back onto its shelf.

"Very well then. I shall go meet her," Holo replied as she trotted off to the stairs.

Big Mac let out a sigh of relief when he heard the wolfish mare's hooves on the wooden steps. "Granny wasn't kiddin' when she said that mare is as much a hooful as she is pretty."

Apple Road, as previously mentioned, connects Sweet Apple Acres to Ponyville's proper. It was a deceptively long walk down this old familial road and often a boring one if you do not have company to have conversation with. However, today Applejack found her knowledge of Ponyville taxed by a certain inquisitive wolfish mare.

"And winter is still cleaned up without unicorn magic?" Holo inquired as she trotted along side the farm pony.

"Yup. Ah'm usually in charge of the ground clean up while Rainbow Dash, she's a pegasus, is in charge of clearin' up the skies up," Applejack answered with nod, smiling proudly as she pulled the apple cart without much effort.

"Sounds like it is a rather large effort to me," Holo commented as her wolfish ears twitched.

A thought popped into Applejack's mind as she watched Holo's ears twitch.

"Should you go into town without being covered up?" The farm pony inquired as she looked Holo over.

"Are you implying something?" Holo asked sharply as she glared a bit at AJ.

"Whoa easy there sugar cube," the Apple farmer said appeasingly. "Ah just meant your ears ain't exactly gonna blend in when we get to town."

"Are ponies still that easily panicked?" Holo asked in a flat tone.

"Well the flower sisters an' a few others tend to get in a tizzy over just about anything," AJ answered as she tapped her chin in thought.

"I see somethings do not change after all. Do you by any chance have a hat or cloak I could wear?" Holo asked as she looked into the back of the cart.

"Hmm give me a sec," Applejack replied as she slowed the cart to a stop and slipped out of its harness.

Holo watched idly as Applejack proceeded to dig around in a small chest that was in the back of the cart. After a few minutes Applejack sat up holding a rather interesting piece of headgear for the wolfish mare to see.

"Surely you jest," Holo said with obvious disdain.

"It's this or you go back to the farm house, sugar cube," Applejack said in a firm, but slightly sympathetic tone.

"I am Holo the Wise Wolf if I wear something like...like that it will surely turn my nose," Holo said indignantly.

"We ain't exactly got a lot of choices ya know," Applejack replied flatly.

"Fine give it here," Holo sighed rather petulantly.

Since Ponyville was considered a small town there was only one major grocery store, which was not visited with great frequency by the towns folk. Instead there was a very lively and lucrative farmer's market, where the various growers display, barter, and sell their goods.

"I am finding this bonnet more and more appealing as kindling," Holo grumbled as she sat at the Apple family's apple stand, futilely trying to adjust the bonnet into a comfortable position while she waited for Applejack to finish putting away the two barrels of apples and the cart.

"That bonnet still has your tail in a twist?" Applejack asked as she trotted from the apple stand's side door.

"I do not like this abomination of a so called bonnet," Holo growled as she pointed at the white and red polka dotted bonnet she was wearing.

Applejack chuckled at Holo's scowl. "Well Ah was plannin' on introducing ya to mah friends anyway, so Ah guess we can swing by Rarity's shop and get ya something else if ya'd like."

"Rarity?" Holo asked tilting her head. "She is the fussy white unicorn you mentioned earlier, correct?"

"Yeah she's a fussy one, but she's a good pony," Applejack explained as she lead the way to the fashionista's boutique. "And can make almost any kind of clothin' you can think of."

The farm pony and the wolfish mare trotted at a casual pace with Applejack pointing out various landmarks and shops of note to Holo as they made their way through the market.

"What coinage is in popular use now?" Holo asked Applejack, after the farm pony finished chatting with a pear selling earth pony mare named Forelle who spoke with an odd accent Holo had never heard before.(1)

"Bits are what we use here in Ponyville. Same as the rest of Equestria," Applejack answered matter-of-factly as she caught up with Holo.

"And what does a 'bit' look like?"

"Y'all ain't never seen a bit before?" Applejack asked eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Despite my lovely figure I am not as young as I appear to be, my dear Apple mare," Holo explained with a flat look.

"Oh right," Applejack replied feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

Holo just smirked at AJ.

"Alright let's take a seat for a minute so Ah can explain it," Applejack said as she nodded to a small café at the side of the road.

Holo followed AJ to a small table and sat across from her as the farm pony slipped a hoof under her hat and pulled out a single bit; setting it on the table for the wolfish mare to see. "Here ya go, one bit."

"Is it made of gold?" Holo asked as she attentively looked over the golden coin with a small stylized intersecting sun and moon on it.

"Yup the Equestrian bit is gold." The farm pony nodded before continuing her explanation. "Sweet Apple Acres apples are priced at 2 bits a piece during a good harvest, a bag of three apple costs 4 bits, while a mug of our cider is 2 bits. Make sense?"

"Yes, the amount and cost have a direct relation, despite a slight difference in amount," Holo replied as she picked up and examined the shiny coin.

"Yup. All bits hold the same value of one, because they all have the same amount of gold in 'em. That gives 'em a trusted level of stability because of that quality." Applejack explained while she began tracing various numbers on the table with her hoof. "Now then 100 bits are equal ta 1 tradin' gem, tradin' gems are small red gems that are used fer convenience when dealing with very large purchases; because of that tradin' gems are only really used by the wealthy, the nobles, and so forth . For example a gross of 144 apples is 175 bits or 2 tradin' gems."(2)

"But what of the 25 bits lost in trade?" Holo inquired as she rolled the bit between her hoof and the table.

Applejack smiled at Holo's quick up take and good question, AJ didn't get many chances to explain her trade. "The difference o' 25 bits from tradin' gems is usually made up in bits or by orderin' a number of products, in this case apples, that will cost an even number o' tradin' gems that'll end up with no difference or change needin' ta be paid in bits," Applejack explained as she waved off a waiter carrying a tray of various fresh hot breads. "Tradin' gems require extra thought when usin' them; since it takes various amounts of rounding up or down of the product amount to be purchased or sold to avoid any currency transition slip ups."

"It sounds rather complicated to me." Holo commented as she subtly nodded for the waiter to come closer.

"It can be at times, but for most part cost and value differences work themselves out in the math wit' a bit of haggling and bulk discounts," Applejack said as she stretched. "Another option is to have a bank note that's valued to the exact amount of bits or tradin' gems. Using a bank note avoids using bits or tradin' gems all together, but it's uncommon outside the big cites away from the larger trusted banks, so Ah ain't never really had ta deal with it much mahself."

"Leaving the more complicated math to the money changers, eh?" Holo asked as she took a bite from a small loaf of honey glazed bread.

"Well they are better at it than Ah am," Applejack chuckled before she noticed the bread between Holo's hooves that she was happily eating. "Wait where'd ya get that bread from?"

"Well you did give that bit to me and the walk from the farm house was quite far," Holo explained with a sly grin.

Applejack just groaned and planted her forehead on the table.

"Your wit is quite sharp, my dear Apple mare," Holo said between bites of the warm sweet honey glazed bread. "But your perception needs a bit more polish."

"Ah'll take that into consideration," AJ groaned with her head on the table.

"So if coins were hard ta come by what was used for purchasin' the last time you were up and about?" Applejack asked as she and Holo resumed their walk to Carousel Boutique.

"When I first started traveling and seeing what the lands of the ponies looked like, most purchases that I saw were done with the bartering of goods. This was because coins were uncommon the further one was from the cities," Holo answered as she walked with her magnificent tail swaying idly.

"That must've been ages ago. How old are ya exactly?" Applejack asked with a bit wonder in her voice.

"I do believe it is in poor manners to ask a lady her age," Holo replied with a flick of her magnificent tail's white tip at Applejack's nose.

"Don't do that in public. Ponies might get the wrong idea," Applejack said curtly as she rubbed her nose while she glanced around the mostly empty market road nervously.

Holo just raised a questioning eyebrow, looking at the orange mare..

"Sorry, but uh let's just say there's a good rumor mill 'round town Ah'd rather not be a part of," AJ answered to Holo's unspoken question.

Holo stared at Applejack for a long moment before replying in a neutral tone. "As you wish," she said with a shrug.

"Thanks," Applejack sighed.

"In which direction is this shop?"

"That's it just ahead," the Apple mare said nodding to a large circular building.

"My word I daresay this place is bathed in extravagance," Holo said as she looked over Carousel Boutique with its light blue paint, delicate white highlights, light lavender checkered roof, and various fine and stylish clothing on display it the ornate windows.

"Sugar cube, Ah believe the word y'all meant was gaudy," Applejack said with a smirk before she trotted up to the boutique's door.

"I still say your wit is most amusing, my dear Apple mare," Holo giggled as she followed the farm pony as the door's bell jingled.

"Coming!" declared a sophisticated voice in a sing song tone from the back of the boutique.

"It's just me Rarity," AJ called out as she glanced over at Holo, who was busy eying the various clothes and accessories displayed around the shop. Some of the clothes were, to be honest, ridiculous to Holo's eyes. Though most were designed to fit a certain style and retain some functionality. However, her eyes mostly lingered on a finely crafted green jade comb in a small display case. Holo idly wondered how expensive such an exquisite comb could be.

"Applejack, darling, how are you today?" Rarity asked with a smile as she walked out from her work room.

"Doin' pretty good Rarity," The farm pony replied with a smile to her fashionable friend.

"You're out and about early today. I don't suppose you decide to help me with a bit of modeling?" Rarity asked a bit hopefully.

"No, Ah ain't here for somethin' so froufrou," Applejack answered in a firm tone. "Ah had to show my...er my friend the way to your shop fer a new hat."

"Friend?" Rarity asked as she looked at Applejack with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, that would be me," Holo said as she stepped away from the display case and closer to Applejack.

"Rarity, this is Holo. She's a um..." Applejack trailed off unsure how to explain the wolfish mare without telling a lie.

"I am a friend of the Apple family and it is a pleasure to meet such a refined friend of Applejack's," Holo said with a polite nod to the fashionista.

"Thank you Holo. It is very good to meet you, as well. I must say your coat's coloration is lovely and your tail is simply magnificent," Rarity beamed before she got a good look at Holo'a hat and frowned slightly. "Although your choice of accessories is rather, shall we say, unique?"

"Spare your kind words. It is an ugly hat, plain and simple." Holo deadpanned. "And I was hoping you could make for me a more suitable one."

"If it ain't too much trouble that is," Applejack added on.

"Oh it's no trouble at all. Besides business has been a rather slow this morning," Rarity answered as she levitated over her note pad and pen.

"Y'all need me ta stay here?" Applejack inquired in a bored voice as she walked up to Rarity.

"I could certainly use an honest opinion of my work," Rarity said as she started scribbling a few notes down in her notebook.

"I would appreciate it as well," Holo said with a smile.

"Alright fine, but Ah still ain't trying nothin' on," AJ said firmly.

"Really Applejack it's not like I plan on unleashing various outfits on you every time you come by," Rarity said with a roll of her eyes at her country friend, before returning her attention to Holo, "Now then let's put aside that polka dotted nightmare."

"Um Rarity.." Applejack started when she saw Rarity's magic envelope and lift off the polka doted bonnet.

"Oh my stars," Rarity said wide eyed as she saw Holo's pointed wolf ears with their white tips. "I've never seen such complimentary shades and highlights between ears and tail."

"Thank you." Holo beamed quite proudly at the compliment. "I see Applejack did not exaggerate when she said you had an eye for beauty."

"Really now? Applejack giving moi compliments?" Rarity said coyly with a raised eyebrow directed at the farm pony.

"Don't you start with me Ah get enough fuss from this one," Applejack said with a roll of her eyes and a nod toward Holo; causing the other two mares to laugh.

Rarity levitated over a strip of flexible measuring tape and quickly started getting the dimensions and sizes of the wolfish mare.

"So Holo where exactly are you from?" Rarity asked as she took a quick measurement of the wolfish mare's head.

"I am from the north originally," Holo answered the fashionista as she stood still for her measurements. "A village named Pasloe. It lies on the other side of the Everfree Forest near the border to the lands of the wolves."

"That sounds rather far away, darling. Was the journey difficult?" Rarity asked as she jotted down the measurements.

"One could say it took ages to complete," Holo answered giving Applejack a knowing smirk.

"I can imagine. And how long has your family known the Apples?" The fashion forward mare asked while she levitated over a few rolls of fabric.

"Since they were known as Smith and not Apple; though that was many long years ago," as Holo answered as Applejack noticed her eyes showing her mind to be a midst memories. "My family gave them wheat seeds as they passed through Pasloe all those long years ago."

"That's quite the history." Rarity smiled as she trimmed the beginning of a beret 's outline from a large square length of fine white cotton cloth. "Forgive me if I'm being a bit forward, but your ears are quite reminiscent of wolf ears and I was wondering why that is."

"Uh Rarity don'tcha that's a bit personal?" Applejack interjected feeling a bit nervous at the unicorn's questions.

"I'm just a bit curious," Rarity said her nosy nature peeking out a bit.

"It's quite alright Applejack I do not mind the attention," Holo said as she detected the Apple mare's undertone of worry. "According to Pasloe legend my ancestor, a brave mare named Tarwe, had become quite taken with a wolf from the nearby forest. The earth pony Earl forbad her from seeing the wolf, but love knows no limitations. One thing lead to another and through the magic of True Love she gave birth to a foal with a wolf's ears and tail, which they say marks my lineage."(3)

"Ooh how romantic and exotic," Rarity intoned in an almost dreamy voice.

"I think it is an exaggeration myself," Holo said with a smirk earning a polite laugh from Rarity.

Applejack felt something odd after hearing the short tale. She knew it was a tall tale made up to satisfy Rarity's curiosity, but somewhere in her mind the Element of Honesty could not call what she had just heard a simple lie. Applejack felt there was a grain of truth in the tale, but she wasn't sure where it was. AJ resolved to ask Holo about it later in private, but for now she was thankful Rarity believed Holo's tale.

"So how much do I owe ya Rarity?" Applejack asked as the fashionista while she put away her fabric, scissors, needles, and various other things.

"Oh don't worry about darling," Rarity said with a dismissive wave of her hoof, "Holo is a delight to chat with and was most cooperative with me as I worked."

"Are you certain? These clothes are quite fetching." Holo asked smiling ear to ear as she looked over her new clothes. The vest was made from black wool and was three-quarters-in length, so that it came just short of her flanks leaving her cutie mark exposed while her white oversized beret was made from finely woven soft cotton that perfectly covered her wolfish ears without being the least bit uncomfortable.

Huh, Ah never realized just how short Holo really is, Applejack thought to herself as she noted that Holo was around a full head shorter than her while the wolfish mare posed and examined herself in the full length mirror.

"Consider it a welcome to Ponyville gift." Rarity smiled over at Holo before adding, "Just be sure to mention where you got them from if anypony asks."

"I shall." Holo smiled back with a polite bow.

"Speaking of welcomes to Ponyville," Rarity said as she turned to face Applejack with a raised eyebrow. "Has Holo met our pink friend yet?"

"Oh pony feathers," Applejack swore as her eyes widened in realization.