It was a mild spring day in Ponyville. Noon hour had come and past and stallions and mares alike had finished their lunches before going to back to work.
Others were not so fortunate enough to go on break in the first place, especially those who worked at Sweet Apple Acres. Bucking trees and harvesting the succulent fruit of their labor, the Apple Family and their farmhands sometimes needed to skip lunch to finish their quota.
Today was no different.
Big Mac overlooked his farmhands as they piled crate after crate of Sweet Apple Acre’s selection of red delicious on one of the many roads that cross his family’s orchard. Leaning back as he chewed on his Tassel-weed and pulled his worn working gloves on, Big Mac sighed loudly as he watched Goldengrape struggle with a crate containing only a quarter of its carrying capacity and Caramel realizing he should have worn his work boots today, just as Lucky Clover knocked an overloaded apple crate onto his toes.
To his credit, at least Lucky Clover didn’t knock it on his own this time.
For as long as Big Mac could remember, the Apple Family had run and maintained the farm and the orchard single handedly with very little help from the town of Ponyville. However, the weeks after Winter Wrap up weren’t exactly all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, what with the closing of the blueberry crumble factory when Pinkie Pie revealed to the general public that the blueberries were just raisins filled with blue food dye and something about the health inspector issuing a record breaking 167 health and safety violations to the manager who was in charge of the plant and surrounding warehouses. They still haven’t found him yet, not since he pushed Pinkie Pie and the health inspector into a vat of blueberry raisin jam and emptied the companies accounts before darting out of the plant, leaving scores of confused and jobless employee’s and two very sticky Ponies in his wake. The police are following a lead after he was spotted running out of a hotel in Manehattan with a duffel bag overflowing with bits. They are optimistic in his eventual capture once Pinkie Pie took the case.
He did break a Pinkie Promise, after all.
Suffice to say, many ponies were out of a job. However, it was Ponyville, the home of the Elements of Harmony, as well as the leading contender for the most numerous property damage claims in the known world.
Rarity, being the element of generosity, hired many of the ex-staff of the Crumble Factory to help her with her new spring line-up and the remodeling of the Carousel Boutique. Granted, she had to train each of them individually, but it gave her the opportunity to finally expand her store now that she had employee’s at her disposal. Applejack and Big Mac, inspired by Rarity’s show of compassion, followed suit by taking in the workers from the neighboring warehouses to help around the farm until new job opportunities arose around Ponyville in the near future.
And as of now, several weeks later, the farmhands were still coping with their new working environment during the first harvest of the year.
“Bring it all in, fella’s, this here’s the last batch of the day!” Apple Cobbler chirped as she readjusted the strap on her shirt cuff. “Unless Big Mac has other plans, that is!”.
“Nnnnope!” Big Mac smirked, rubbing his coarse gloves across his bare arms before readjusting the straps on his coveralls. Apple Cobbler yawned as she leaned against a sturdy apple-tree with a couple other work hands eager to avoid Celestia’s afternoon sunrays in the shade. Apple Cobbler was called in from her own farm after her younger siblings began working the fields back home when Big Mac offered her more hours to help turn the warehouse ponies into proper farmhands. Wanting her younger siblings to strive in their new independent surroundings, and looking for any opportunity to pay off some cumbersome debts, she took the job immediately.
The hard work was worth every drop of sweat clinging to the Earth Ponies furrowed brows. The crates stood tall, ready to be shipped back to the farm in the back of the Apples famed utility truck.
Except there was no truck stampeding down the road when there definitely should have been one. And Big Mac’s own red 1967 Chevy pickup wouldn't make it past the first incline.
“Hey Big Mac, where’s the Persuader?”. Baritone gestured as he tilted his baseball cap just as Caramel kicked Lucky Clover in the shin with his good foot, rendering it just as pain-ridden as the one now turning purple under the apple-crate.
Big Mac frowned. The Persuader was a gift from the Royal Guard to Applejack after the Changling invasion, courtesy of the Commander on duty that day who expressed displeasure with the lack of a reward for such an act of courage and bravery, something which Applejack and her friends seemed to emit in at every given opportunity. Applejack accepted the gift in stride, finally giving her the chance to retire Granny Smith’s vintage long-bed to the barn.
“Hay, we could have gotten this whole orchard done by lunch if Applejack bothered showing up for work today.” Baritone rolled his eyes as Caramel screamed in agony and Lucky Clover hopped around clutching his shin, tripping over a tree root. “So much for her punctuality. Maybe she could have been the one to drive the damn truck!”.
Oh, yes. And Applejack chose was forced to take a day off.
Heck, Applejack grabbed her work duds and had to be dragged back in to the house by Big Mac himself this morning. She had been working 70 hour weeks for seven weeks and needed some time to cool down, even if she didn’t particularly like it. When the harvests were slow, Applejack used her spare time to help her friends, which almost always meant storming headlong into peril, usually saving Ponyville in the process. But those were on slow days on the Apple family farm, during a harvest, Applejack was pumped and ready to lift steel girders if it meant helping the farm get some good, hard earned bits. Maybe she was a little too strong-headed, pushing her agile body beyond it limits.
But it was her day off. For reals. Seven weeks of nonstop work had put a chilling routine into her head, where rest was a secondary option. Today was her day to not contribute to anything at all.
And unlike any other pony in Ponyville, she didn’t like it one bit.
However, things were turning sour in the midst of Big Mac and his working crew. Or in the case of the apples. Ripe.
“So, are we just gonna let them roast in Celestia’s sun or are we going to haul them back to the farm one by one?”. Burnt Oak muttered with a hint of utmost subtle sarcasm.
“I gave the keys to Baritone this morning.” Apple Cobble said, uncapping her water-bottle.
“Well, I gave the keys to Caramel a minute afterwards, I can’t drive something that big. Besides, I thought Applejack taught him how to drive the dang thing yesterday.” Baritone frowned.
“And you honestly thought Caramel would remember? He forgot the grass seeds for winter wrap up again!”. Burnt Oak snapped. “And just last week he forgot he worked here! I had to pick him up from the crumble factory parking lot!”.
“Hey, no need to throw me under the bus! I try my best to remember!”. Caramel whined.
“If you tried your best we wouldn’t be stuck here with the whole orchards supply of apples ready to bake in the sun, and you sure as hell wouldn’t have forgotten where you put the confounded walkie-talkie this morning!”. Lucky Clover snapped, his eyes narrowing.
Caramel gulped loudly. “Okay, granted, I did forget where I put that thing, and I misplaced my wallet before leaving the house at dawn, but I do have the keys to the Persuader right-“Caramel patted his pocket, only to pause and pat his other pocket. “-Right-“he patted his breast pocket. “-Right-“he patted his rear pockets and then his knee’s. Looking at the group with a mixture of embarrassment and strained pride, he gulped. “Okay, I don’t know where the keys are.”
HONK HONK
Whipping around to the blaring sound of a truck horn (Baritone and Goldengrape conked heads doing so), their strife had been vanquished by the incoming monster that kicked up a storm of dust and gravel in its wake.
Celestia’s rays reflected off the deep shade of Orange that coated the body of the massive 6-wheeled 2.5 ton M35A3 as it ramped off an incline that Bic Mac never seemed to remember existed until he bumps his head against the roof of his truck when driving over it. Screeching to a halt in front of the groups apple pile, the truck’s air brakes gave off a high-pitched sigh. With such an enormous vehicle rumbling away, it was no wonder Applejack named it the ‘Persuader’.
“I thought Applejack said she was takin a day off, wasn’t she Big Mac?”. Apple Cobbler asked as the driver, still slightly obscured by the dust, unbuckled his seatbelt and pried open the door, which once bared the military insignia of Celestia’s blazing sun, now sported a blush red apple, which obscured the driver as he stepped out of the truck.
And would you guess who it was?
“Blue Bonnet?”. Baritone called out.
“Icy Drop?”. Caramel called out as well. “Is that you?”.
“Nah, stupid! Those guys called in sick today! It’s probably Romana!”.
“My bit’s are on Bill Neigh.”
Stepping into view from the cloud of dust, sporting a pair of Brown Chestnut knee-high cowpony boots and matching gloves, faded blue jeans with three red apples stitched onto each thigh, a red flannel shirt topped with an opened brown Chestnut vest and her signature Stetson hat tilted low to cover her deep green eyes.
“…Icy Drop?”.
“Guess again, Caramel!”. Everypony’s favorite orange mare replied in a gleeful tone. It was none other than Applejack herself, who smirked as she cracked her knuckles before reaching into the breast pocket of her vest. Her Orange coat practically glistened in the sunshine as the wind picked up, her blond ponytail caught in the wind as well as every particle of dust for two miles, Which wouldn’t even cover half of the orchard that still needed to be picked (Or bucked) free of apples. Her ears perked up as she heard a collective sigh of relief from her farmhands.
“Ah think ya forgot these, Caramel.” She smiled, tossing a set of keys to Caramel, who nearly caught them with his eye. “Now, ah wasn’t just goin’ ta let mah apples roast in the fields on mah day off, so why don’t chu all lend ah hand?”. Applejack scooped an apple crate off the ground and slid it across the truck bed with an immense show of strength. Finding their motivation, the farmhands quickly began to dismantle the pile of crates and move it to the Persuader. Big Mac, relieved that the apples weren’t going to end up worm-food today, shrugged his shoulders. Not at the relief, but at Applejacks dedication. Either that, or her sheer stubbornness.
“Awww, why the long face, Big Macintosh? Ya’ll upset yer little sister is hoggin all the fun?”. Applejack playfully sneered as she climbed into the bed of her truck and began stacking the incoming crates.
“Nnnnnope.” Big Mac replied as he carried four crates at once to its destination on the Persuaders back.
“Well then, maybe ya can give Goldengrape some help with them half-empties.” Applejack breathed, taking five at once to the very back of the truck bed as Caramel and Baritone began loading the Persuader with two crates at once. “Come on, Goldengrape! Yer pencil pushin’ days are long over! Put some muscle into it.”
“I don’t have enough muscle in my entire body to lift more than one!”. Goldengrape gasped, his face turning red as his knee’s trembled from the immense weight in his hands nearly toppled him over like a house of cards. “THE PAPER SHREDDER I OPERATED COULD LIFT MORE THEN ME!!”. Big Mac rolled his eyes, this was Goldengrape’s last chance to find work in Ponyville after the plant closed. At first, Big Mac turned him away due to his lack of physical experience and any muscle but had a change of heart last week when he learned Goldengrape and his family had to choose between paying the gas and electricity for that month, or, buying groceries.
Big Mac wasn’t going to let a stallion chose between keeping the lights on or feeding his wife and daughter, but, he was honestly thinking if he had made the right choice hiring him. Goldengrape could seriously hurt himself in this field of work.
Shutting his eyes, Goldgrape gritted his teeth as sweat dripped down his face, crying out just as his knees buckled. Dropping the heavy crate, Goldengrape fell to his hands as he waited for the crate to clatter to the ground and spill its contents. But it never happened.
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, Grape, you are doing a better job today then you did all week.” Baritone muttered, receiving a harsh glare from Big Mac, who had earlier caught the apple crate just in time and placed it on the Persuader’s bed. Goldengrape shook his head, wiping the sweat from his brow as his muscles tensed up as Big Mac looked on.
“How the hell do you do it, Macintosh?”. Goldgrape inquired. “Those arms of yours can bend steel girders, what do you eat? 8 servings of veggies and wheat for breakfast?”.
“Yyyyup.” Big Mac Responded, offering the exhausted stallion a hand. “Don’t you worry none, I’ll give you ah hand.” And with that, Big Mac took one end of the next crate and gestured Goldegrape to grab the other.
“That’s the most I’ve ever heard you say all week.”
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Several hours and many bumpy rides through the orchard later, it was time to call it a day, much to everyone’s relief (Especially Goldengrape).
Everypony peeled out of their working attire and fumbled for their keys while others took the time to stretch and relax before fighting over whom would drive out of the impromptu parking lot near the barn first. However, they still needed to be paid. Preferably in bits.
Lined up in front of the Apple Family Homestead, Big Mac counted out their pay and handed them out to his farm hands one by one as Winona ran across the lawn.
“Thanks for the help today, Big Mac. I think I’m getting the hang of this.” Goldengrape thanked his boss as he pocketed his bits before turning to leave. Big Mac gave him a wave before turning into the house to change out of his workduds while the rest of the farmhands took to the road as the sun began to set over Ponyville. Big Mac imagined many of them were going to spend the final hours of the day at the pub.
“Yeah, maybe next week you can muster the strength to lift your daughter.” Baritone chuckled as Applejack shot him another frown. It didn’t last long, as she quickly smiled and slapped Goldengrape’s shoulder with her glove.
“Don’t mind him.” Applejack said as Baritone rolled his eyes before clambering into his dirty Mercedes Benz, far beyond the pay of anypony who once worked at a warehouse. “Keep up the hard work, Goldengrape. Over time, ya’ll be as strong as I am.” With that, Applejack rolled up her sleeve and flexed her bicep, which was something only a hard-working farm mare could obtain through many years of grueling crate lifting and cow-wrangling.
“Well, maybe not that strong.” Goldengrape laughed as he touched his tender arms, and sure enough, he could feel something growing there. Maybe the mare was onto something.
“But it’s somethin’, and that’s what counts.” Apple Cobbler smiled, patting her neck before stretching her arms. The stallion nodded and went on his way as Winona ran circles around Applejack’s feet. “Gotta hand it to you, Applejack, you drive that thing like a pro! How long have you had the persuader anyway?”.
“Long enough to practice, an’ give it ah new paint job, partner.” Applejack laughed. “Ya’ll wouldn’t believe what Rarity wanted to do with the thing, turnin’ ah military vehicle into ah fanceh shmanceh , diamond studded train wreck. Then you should have seen her when ah’ said how many puddles of mud ah intended on drivin’ the Persuader through!”. Applejack giggled. “Shut her riiiight up!”.
“We’ll, that there is Rarity for you.” Apple Cobbler chuckled before climbing the patio for the door. “Anway, ah’m goin’ on up to see if ah can lend a hand to Granny Smith with dinner. See ya then!”.
“Later, Partner!”. Applejack hollered. “An’ keep workin’ on that accent of yers!”. Winona continued to bark and run circles around her owners legs, eventually bumping into one of them and falling over. Kneeling down, she picked the scamp off her paws and placed her on the porch before seating herself next to her, who rolled on her back for a belly rub. Pulling her Stetson hat off and placing it onto the oak planks, she obliged and began to run her fingers through Winona’s fur. “Now, what was yur contribution to the day, Winona? Ya sure didn’t contribute to putting the finishin’ touches on this here porch.” Applejack ran her fingers down the patio banister.
“Ah'd say running several miles was her only contribution today.” Big Mac said, announcing his arrival from behind by placing a cold bottle of beer on the base of his sister’s neck. Applejack tensed up and bit her lip before she snagged the beer from her brother’s hand faster than he could blink. Playfully punching her brother in the shin, Winona barked and began to nose the bottle in her owners hand as Big Mac sat next to her, scratching Winona behind the ears. His tattered jeans, a size too big, had a tendency of dragging under the heels of his boots until they shredded and resembled frayed tassels. While he never went into the field without his working jacket and flannel shirt, that was not the case in the house, where Big Mac was free to wear his favorite baseball jersey without fear of getting it dirty.
“Muller?”. Applejack inquired in a cynical tone.
“Yyyup.” Big Mac shrugged, popping the cap off of his bottle of Muller Draft. “Caught Baritone placing these in the downstairs fridge, didn’t think we would notice or somethin’.” Big Mac didn't normally speak outside the farm. Many knew him by his phrase 'Yyyuuup!'. Any more then that was odd. And heck, a whole sentence was simply alien. But, between his sister and family, he had plenty to say.
“And after we offa’d him some of ah left-over cider’?”. Applejack recoiled, insulted upon hearing that the callous stallion would choose cheap draft beer over her own alcoholic cider. “Ah’m not sure if that there stallion is just dumb or owns ah hefty pair ah steel balls.” She uncapped her bottle with little effort.
“Maybe ah little bit ah both, if ya ask me.” Big Mac suggested, clanging his bottle of draft beer with his sisters. “It’ll be an hour before we go insider fur sum good eatin’, so maybe ah could have a word with you in the meantime.”
“What’s Granny Smith cookin’?”.
“That’s not what ah want to talk to ya about, AJ.” Big Mac narrowed his eyes. “I told you to take the day off, not half ah day, ah full day.” He took a long sip from his bottle before he gave it the stink-eye. Not bad, but not anything good either. The finish was boring and the faint aroma matched the overall taste.
“Ya’ll would have been stuck in that there field if ah didn’t show up.”
“And we could ah just sent Burnt Oak and Lucky Clover to get the Persuader’s keys, you needed the rest, this ain’t zap Apple Season, ya know. I admire yer diligence. We all do. But you need to leave some work for other ponies, too.”
“Ah know, Big Mac.” Winona clambered onto Applejacks lap, her tail wagging to and thro. “Ah’ve been puttin’ in a lot ah hours for the spring harvest and, believe it er’ not, Zap Apple season is right around the corner-“
“But it’s not Zap Apple season right now, is it? You’ve heard Granny Smith, It could be anywhere from next week tah next month. Them Timberwolves are fluky beasts, even Granny Smith has trouble knowin’ when they’ll start howlin’ next. And until then, ah want you to settle down. 70 hour weeks aren’t good for nopony, no matta how strong they are. Back when ah was half-bed-ridden because of that damn girdle an you worked them fields till you near-lost yer damn mind, you were still workin’ 50 hour weeks. Ah don’t even want to think about what would ah happened if you were workin’ 70!”.
“Well, them Ponies who burnt out probably never heard of a mare like me, now have they? Ah’ve gotten better, heck, I’ve gotten stronger too!”. She pulled up her shirt to reveal her naval, which now sported a well-maintained and intimidating six-pack. Pulling her shirt down, she laughed as she pet Winona. Big Mac let his sister have her laugh and chose to wait until she finished.
“Mahm an’ Pop crashed too, ya know.” Applejack stopped laughing, staring at her beer as her smile receded. “They were strong Ponies, hay, you remember them here an’ there. They were still mortal, they had their limits. Ah remember when Pop worked eighty hour weeks for ah brief stint. An tah be fair, Pop was as strong as ah giant with the power of an Alicorn, but those hours, week afta week. He… he hit the wall.”
He turned to his little sister, his face frazzled and tired. “It was ah livin’ hell, AJ. Seein’ Pop, collapsin’ inta that there dirt.” Big Mac turned away, gazing into the sunset, all hints of his positive demeanor drained. “I neva’ thought for one second I would see that stallion cry… at ten years old, ah could literally feel the weight of the world fall on mah shoulda’s. And it all could ah been avoided if he ended his shift ah little bit earliah. Slept in ah little bit more. I dunno.” He turned to his sister again, his determination giving him his voice. “Ah don’t want that happenin’ durin’ Zap Apple Season, ya hear!? Ah don’t want tah see ya hit the wall! You’re a strong mare, AJ! Who else would know more about that then yer olda brother? But-“He placed his hand on his sister’s shoulder. “Yer still a mortal, AJ. Mahm and Pop live on inside ya, they live on inside me. They too were still mortal. They had limits. I just want ya ta realize that before…” he paused. “…You… you find yerself unable to pick yerself up off the ground…”
For once, the stubborn mare did not retort with brash spit of the tongue. Applejack, for all her honesty and hard-hardheaded determination, remained silent for an unsettling long time.
“Ah understand.” Applejack finally whispered, her gaze turning to her boots dangling over the dusty ground. Winona’s usual happy-go-lucky demeanor too had vanished. Twilight told the cowmare that dogs could sense when others were feeling down. Those black eyes of hers certainly justified her brother’s words.
Turning to her brother, Applejack sighed.
“Ah know.” She started. “Mahm an’ Dad were the strongest Ponies ah knew. I swear to Celestia that they could go fifteen rounds with King Sombra if they was still alave. Ah was very young when they hit that wall you speak of, their bodah’s just giving up when their minds wanted to finish…” Applejack peered at the orchard. “The neva endin’ work of ah farm.” She sighed. “It’s not Zap Apple Season, yer right. Ah’ve been workin’ too hard. Sometimes ah just don’t know how much ah can handle until I wake up the next mornin’, sometime’s fightin’ to get outta bed. Get mah duds on…” She placed her glove over her brothers hand, her green eyes shuddered as the last of Celestia’s sun glistened off her face. “Ah forget that ah need to have a line in the sand!”. She laughed, or rather, forced a laugh. Big Mac could have sworn he saw her bottom lip quiver for a brief moment as she turned to the sunset. “Yes… “She breathed. “Tomorrow looks like ah good day for ah day off, doesn’t it?”.
“Yyyyyup.” Big Mac chirped, wrapping his free arm around his little sister, who brushed her muzzle against her brother’s neck. The two watched as the sun finally went down, illuminating the headlights of a few sparse vehicles that trekked across the streets of ponyville as the towns streetlamps burst to life, one by one.
It must have been ten minutes before the two said anything else.
“Ah Suppose it’s not too much tah ask for breakfast in bed?”. Applejack inquired, her face lightening up with a smirk.
“Yyyyyup.” Big Mac replied. “If yer sorry keester can make it yerself that is. Breakfast ain’t as hard to make as buckin’ ah tree.”
“Sounds like ah plan!”. Applejack finished, drinking half the bottle in one gulp before recoiling in disgust. “Blech! I can barely taste anythin’ from that!”. She then poured the remainder into the open mouth of Winona, who barked happily and lapped up the foamy mess.
“Awww, AJ!”. Big Mac snarled. “That’s no way to treat Winona!”.
“Ah know!”. She replied. “This here is some mighty expensive an overrated water!”. Big Mac laughed, finishing his bottle with all the strength he could muster. Winona herself didn’t seem too pleased either.
“To AJ’s day-off!”. The two siblings said in unison, clanging their empty beer bottles together as Winona gave out a faint hiccup.
= = = = = = = = = =
With a gut full of fantastic grub and eyelids heavier than a minotaur on Nightmare Night after a binge of candy and root beer, it was no wonder Applejack fell asleep not a second after her head hit the pillow of her comfortable bed.
Unconsciously pulling the covers over her shoulders, Applejack snored softly as the moonlight cascaded into her room through a crack in her bedroom blinds, illuminating Winona, who’s curled up form rose and fell with every breath. It was a picture-perfect scene that nothing could ruin.
Nothing.
Nothing could ruin thi-
“THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE A-HOWLIN’!!”.
-Well okay, maybe that.
“THE TIMBERWOLVES ARE A-HOWLIN’!!”.
Sputtering to cruel consciousness, Applejack tilted her head above the covers of her bed and blinked several times, her eyelids just as heavy as they were when she went to bed, if not heavier. Rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands, Applejack swung her legs out of bed and pressed her feet against the cold floor. Tightening her night-gown to her body, the cowmare quickly pulled open the blinds of her room, exposing herself to the brisk air. The howling of wolves echoed through the night-sky. Followed by the insistent banging and clanging of pots and pans strapped to Granny Smith. Who, despite her age, still sprinted like she was half a century younger, jumping over hay-bales and vaulting fences as she made a mad-dash across the grassy fields behind the Apple Family homestead.
“Warbgarblewaaa…?”. Came the mangled voice of Apple Cobbler as she dragged her feet out of the spare room, her blonde mane a mess and her night-gown limp on her Indian-yellow coat. Applejack took that as a ‘What’s going on?’.
“THE ZAP APPLE’S ARE COMIN’!!” Roared Granny Smith as she tore up the grass in her mad-sprint. “THE ZAP APPLE’S ARE COMIN’!!”
Turning to Apple Cobbler, who now stumbled into her cousins room, Applejack brought a smirk to her face as Apple Bloom shuffled into the room while the Timberwolves let out a final crescendo of howls into the night. Grinning ear to ear, Applejack pushed her head out the window with her little sister following suit.
“YAY!!” The two sisters shouted in unison as Winona finally stirred herself from her dream of chasing every car in Ponyville and began howling too. “The Zap Apple’s are comin’!”
“That’s what ah jus’ said!” Granny Smith snapped from the field. “Jeez Louise, I swear you youngin’s are goin’ deaf!”
“It’s all gud, Granny Smith!” Apple Bloom squealed in delight, bouncing up and down. “Ah’m gunna go get them jars ready!” A heavy muffled yawn could be heard through the opposite wall of Applejacks room.
“An’ Ah’m gunna restock the fuel reserves, we’ll be doin’ ah lot a drivin to an’ thro!” Big Mac’s muffled voice could be heard through the wall.
“An’ Ah’m gonna start preppin’ the zap apple tree buckets fer the harvest!” Applejack announced, pulling on her cowpony boots without a hassle in the world. “They haven’t been cleaned in Celestia knows how long!”
“Annnahhmgunnabud.” Apple Cobbler garbled, scratching her flank before turning back to her room with the weight of two elephants balanced on her eyelids. She didn’t get far, as Apple Bloom took hold of her hand and happily dragged her away from her room and down the hall to the staircase. Applejack followed suit, her heavy heels clunking against the hardwood floor. She didn’t even see Big Mac until she rounded the bend and ran into his chest nose first.
“An just what do you think yer’ doin’, Missy?”. Big Mac asked curtly, moving himself forward.
“An just what do ya think YER doin’, Mister?”. Applejack retorted. “It’s Zap Apple Season!”.
“And it’s also yer day-off.” Big Mac Deadpanned, holding his sister by the arms and forcing her back into her room.
“Oh.” Applejack muttered, finally remembering what was going to happen today. “Well, ah can help mahself with some breakfast-“Big Mac hoisted his sister into the air as she let out a small yelp of surprise just before he gently placed her back onto her bed.
“Yer not goin’ anywhere, and that’s final.” Big Mac states firmly, taking hold of his sisters boot by the instep and yanked it off her foot.
“But you said ah can help mahself to-“Her other boot followed suit and was placed on the floor next to its twin. “-Some good eaten on mah dayoff!”
“Yes.” Big Mac said. “Ah did say that. But first-“He pulled the covers over his sisters squirming body. “Get some well deserved rest.”
“What do you mean, rest?”. Applejack inquired, her tone cold as ice.
“Sleep in.” Big Mac deadpanned, before turning to the window and shutting the blinds. “Trust me, waking up after a good ol’ fashioned sleep in can do yer body wonders.” The red stallion clicked his tongue, getting Winona’s attention as he stepped out of the room. “See you in the morning, sis. An ah don’t want to hear ya prancin’ aroun’ before seven o’ clock, ya hear!?”.
“But-But-“ Applejack stammered, pushing herself up. “The Zap Apples!”
“-Will be taken care of. We got farmhands now, remember?”. Big Mac finished for her. “Ah’ll train em’, turn em’ inta proper Apples by the time the day is over. Who knows, maybe we’ll double our profits this year!” Big Mac grabbed hold of the doorknob. “But as fer you, get some well-needed rest. Don’t chu worry none, Ah’ll make you ah proper breakfast in the mornin’. Maybe then we can plan what you can do fer the day. Goodnight, Applejack.” And with that, he closed the door to her room, submerging the mare in darkness.
“Pfft…” Applejack sputtered. “More like ‘good mornin’.” She huffed. “Fine, Ah’ll give sleepin’ in ah shot.” She remembered what Big Mac had said to her yesterday evening, and she wasn’t going back on her word. Now, was a day of rest. Even if she didn’t particularly like it.
Rolling onto her side, Applejack got comfortable, her eyelids growing heavy once more. “Who knows…” She yawned. “-Ah might just enjoy this…” closing her eyes, the mare instantly feel into a deep sleep.
= = = = = = = = = =
Shuffling her legs, Applejack’s ear flicked as she picked up the sounds of a truck revving to go somewhere outside. Opening her eyes, she pushed herself off her pillow as she smacked her lips and rubbed her eyes with her wrist.
The sun had risen long ago and judging by the light fading through her blinds, it was time for all of Ponyville to get crackin for the new day.
Stretching her arms and popping her shoulders, Applejack let out a final yawn and threw her legs out of her bed and stood up tall. Pulling back the blinds, she inadvertently blinded herself momentarily, stumbling back from the window in surprise. Opening her eyes, she was greeted by the sight of Celestia’s sun topping the tree line.
If that wasn’t a sign to wake up and start the day, then Applejack didn’t know what else would suffice.
Turning to her closet and swinging it open like there was no tomorrow while trusting that Big Mac decided to put off removing the stump from the field within view of her window, she pulled off her night-gown and laid it out on her dresser as she picked out her underwear before fighting her way into her clean jeans and red flannel shirt, ready to start her day off with a bang.
“Yes-siree!” Applejack Chirped as she pulled on her vest. “Big Mac was right once again!” The mare wasted no time pulling on her ankle-high socks and knee-high cowpony boots as she relished in the warm atmosphere. Pulling a scrunchie out of her dresser and fixing her ponytail (Not to mention her actual ponytail), Applejack brushed a few strands out of her eyes before topping her head with her Stetson hat.
Sleeping in really did do wonders! The farmmare felt more relaxed, strong and significantly less rough around the edges. “Ah should sleep in more often! To heck with wakin up at six, ah should wake up more often around-“her eyes grew wide as she turned to her clock. Her tone barely audible. "Seven.... thirty!?".
How could she have slept in so late!? Applejack thought maybe an extra twenty minutes on the clock wouldn’t hurt nopony, but an hour and a half!? That there was downright insane thinking! Just like teaching goldfish math, hitch-hiking at airport runways and commissioning the greatest minds of this generation to spend the remaining years of their lives to try and figure out how Pinkie Pies brain ticks! Utter madness, her family would say!
But Pinkie Pie probably wouldn’t mind, she hitched a ride off the wing of an F-35 once.
Turning to her alarm clock, Applejack facepalmed when she realized that she woke up instinctively at six all her life and hadn’t even bothered setting her alarm. Ever. Heck, she lost the manual after buying it and when she asked the store for help, they told her to read the manual, using a rather rude acronym.
To put it bluntly, Applejack thought planning a day off during a harvest required a lot more work than it really needed.
Stomping out of her room, Applejack bolted down the stairs with malicious intent. Big Mac was going to get one hay of a verbal lashing for letting his little sis’ sleep in so late!
Rounding the banister of the stairs and leaping four steps from the ground floor, she hit the ground running and stomped into the kitchen.
Where a breakfast consisting of cereal, Orangejacks (They don’t taste like oranges at all), a plate of sliced apples, waffles with copious doses of maple syrup and jam with a hefty helping of hash browns and a sizable mushroom, pepper and daffodil omelet oozing succulent cheese with a tall glass of the Apple families finest apple juice.
Applejack’s stomach grumbled in response.
“Feelin’ alright, sugar cube?”. Big Mac chirped sheepishly, entering the kitchen from the living room.
Applejack frowned. “Whats the big idea lettin’ me sleep in so late!?".
“Ah wake up half-an-hour after you-“
“Don’t bring up yer bad sleepin’ habits to justify yer hairbrained scheme! Do you know how much of the day I missed?”.
“Not a whole lot, sis.” Big Mac sighed, disapointed by his sisters determination to work. “I thought you were going to give this here day off a shot, heck, yer dressed up fer the fields right now.”
“-Ahm always dressed this way-“
“-Don’t chu have a pair of runnin’ shoes you could throw on?”. The response from AJ, or lack thereof, prompted a facepalm from the red stallion. “Ah’ll take that as a no. But perhaps you could explain to me what yer even plannin’ on doin’ today.” Applejack maintained her frown, her gaze staring out the window for a brief moment.”
“Ah don’t suppose that there meal is off limits, is it?”. Pointing at the breakfast platter produced a shake of the head from the stallion, who sighed once again.
“Look, AJ.” Big Mac started, taking a seat at the table with his sister. “Ah know taking ah break during ah harvest is… odd-“
“When there’s work to be done, yes siree, its weirder then Pinkie Pie.” Applejack replied, biting into her fruit and sinking her spoon into the bowl of cereal.
“-I was thinking, flaky, outlandish and abnormal, but that works.” Big Mac agreed. “But treat today like ah slow day on the farm. Like all the times you go on those adventures with yer friends.” Applejack nodded as she finished her cereal. All those ventures into the Everfree Forest, or those train rides to the Crystal Empire or even the odd trip to Appleloosa have all occurred on the slower days on the farm, where much of the Apple family kicked back for once. However, after the winter, it was time to kick into high gear for the spring and summer harvests. And Zap Apple season was no exception. With so many weeks of hard work under her belt, it was no wonder Applejack had trouble breaking out of her routine.
But. They have farm hands now. Which will make things a little bit easier on them but not on their wallets.
“Okay, Big Macintosh. That there sounds like ah plan.” Applejack chirped. “Ah wonder what Rainbow Dash is doin’ today, or if Twilight needs help reversin’ ah spell or hay, ah wonder if Rarity needs help with her dress makin’-“
Big Mac blinked several times, running his sisters words through his head several times.”Okay, you don’t need to go that far.” Big Mac suggested with a hint of worry. “Have fun, sis, there’s no need to give yerself ah lobotomy.”
“Oh thank goodness.” Applejack brushed her forehead with the back of her hand, relieved. Just as Applejack breathed out, the sound of vehicles approaching the farm pierced the uncomfortable atmosphere. “Are those the farmhands?”. Applejack jabbed her thumb out the kitchen window as a certain Mercedes crawled up the road. “Here bright an’ early! Well, for them anyway.”
“Yyyyyyup.” Big Mac said, before swiping a few of his sisters hash browns. “Ah called them mahself before you decided to wake up. Granny Smith has been jumping aroun’ in her bunneh suit, Apple Cobbler is refueling our trucks an’ AppleBloom is rearin’ to go to school early. Ah’ll drive her, o’course.”
“Aw, she’s such a clear-headed filly, so eager to go to school-“Applejack started.
“-Somethin’ about Cutie Mark Crusaders, Dungeon Defenders.” Big Mac muttered, invoking a blank stare from Applejack. “Ah… ah-ah don’t know either.” He shrugged, just as Applebloom stumbled into the kitchen in her school attire.
“An’ what will you do when ah’m at school, sis?”. Applebloom asked as she stumbled after her sister, who was making her way to the front door to greet her farmhands. Turning to the little filly, Applejack smirked.
“Ab-solute-ly nothin’!” Applejack laughed. “Ah just hope our farmhands are eager to work! Considerin’ how early they arrived fer the job!”
= = = = = = = = = =
“WHY the HELL did’ja call me at seven in the morning!?”. Baritone snapped as he stumbled out of his Mercedes, whose mane was as un-kept as his attitude. He clearly ran out of the house with soap still clinging to his coat.
How long would it take for him to realize his pants are on backwards. More importantly, how long will he realize he’s yelling at his boss for having the audacity to give him more hours?
Big Mac face palmed, his patience with the rambunctious stallion waning thin.
“Ah just figured ya’ll needed some more hours.” Big Mac responded curtly. “An ah would consider lowering yer voice and getting some semblance of manners, yer talkin’ to yer boss after all.” Other farmhands began to show up in droves, filling the impromptu parking lot near the farmstead.
Regardless, Baritone thought this over in his head. For two seconds. “You said we weren’t working for another two days. I stayed up late and woke up after a five hour nap, of course I’m grumpy!” Baritone snapped. “I don’t even know why I showed up! I should have just stayed in bed and told you to go drive on the railroad tracks!”
Applejack shrugged from the porch.
“Okay.” She responded, stepping down to the ground. “Go home.” This brought on a quizzical facial expression from her big brother. “Aw, shoot, go ahead an’ sleep the day away, partner!” Baritone nodded and smirked, climbing back into his Mercedes and slamming the door behind him. “-An’ don’t ever come back! Because if you drive on out past the gates, consider yerself fired!” Baritone dropped his keys, blinking several times before huffing and kicking open the door, muttering foul words under his breath. Big Mac sighed as Baritone shuffled over to the work shed to get his equipment. Turning to her brother, Applejack cupped him on the shoulder with her glove. Big Mac had to suppress the urge to yank them off her hands. “An’ that’s how ya wrangle the cows that don’t want ta conform.” She whispered to her brother as she tipped her Stetson at a grumpy Baritone, who bit his lip as he passed. Baritone was brash. But he wasn’t willing to go back home without a job. “So-“She leaned on her brothers shoulder. “You think ya need mah help today?”.
“Nnnnnope.” Big Mac replied, buttoning up his flannel shirt. “Apple Cobbler is gearin’ up the boys an’ girls fer the day. Ah say, you head on inside and watch those movies you’ve always wanted ta watch. Army of Darkness is a good one. Ah just got the boomstick edition fer mahself… buuuut....” He smirked. “Ah know it’s not yer cup a tea and it’ll make Rarity run fer the hills-“
“Run fer the hills?” Applejack beamed. “I’m all in!” Big Mac smiled.
“Then climb out of yer duds an’ settle down, ah’ll take care of Applebloom-“Applebloom clambered out of the house and down the steps in her casual overalls, an adorable shirt, matching denim skirt and stockings and polished buckled shoes clicking across the dirt as her bow bobbled with every step. “-Come on, Applebloom, climb into mah truck and buckle up, we’ll be headin’ off to school in just a minute-“ and then Big Mac’s 1500 rumbled to a stop in front of the Apples, with Apple Cobbler at the wheel.
“Sorry, Big Mac! Ah’m gonna need yer help this mornin’!” Apple Cobbler called out from behind the wheel. “Icy Drop thought he could take a shortcut through the orchard on his quad bike and now he’s stuck in ‘Big Ben’!”
“How the hell did he get up there!?”. Big Mac sputtered, receiving a nudge from Applejack for swearing in front of Applebloom. Although, what Icy Drop accomplished was nothing short of extraordinary, for ‘Big Ben’ was the biggest and tallest apple tree in the entire orchard.
“We’ll ask the dumb stallion when we haul him from the tree.” Apple Cobbler said, opening the passenger side door of the Chevy with her foot. “Come on in, the other guys need our help!” Big Mac sighed. Turning to Applejack, he narrowed his eyes.
“Say no more, Ah’m on the case!” Applejack Chirped. Big Mac didn't want the whole day playing out like this.
“Ah didn’t say nothing-“Big Mac Began as Applejack took Applebloom’s hand and turned to the barn. “AJ!!” Big Mac roared, stopping his sisters in their tracks. Realizing how loud he had yelled, Big Mac calmed himself down and chose his next choice of words and spoke as slowly and sternly as he could. “Applejack. Ah don’t want chu liftin’ a finger besides drivin’ Applebloom to school, ya hear?”.
“Ah understand-“
“Do you promise?”.
Applejack brought her hand to her chest.
“Cross my heart an’ hope to fly, stick ah cupcake in mah eye.” Applejack sang, although refusing to poke herself in the eye. Big Mac’s face still wore a sour expression. “Ah promise, Big Mac. Ah’ll drive Applebloom to school an’ perhaps see what mah friend’s are doin’ aroun’ Ponyville today before comin’ home to watch that movie ya recommended me. An nothin’ else. You have mah word as yer sister, Applejack. The element of honesty, after all.” And with that, Big Mac smiled.
“Alrighty then, have fun, the both of ya’ll.” Big Mac bid Farwell by throwing a set of keys to his sister. “Take Granny Smith’s ol' truck.” Applebloom cheered as Applejack smirked.
As Applejack climbed inside and instructed Applebloom to do the same, she ignited the ignition of the truck as Applebloom buckled in.
“Make sure ya hit the incline real fast, AJ!” Applebloom requested in her everlasting happy demeanor. “Ah want to see this baby fly!”
“Ah wouldn’t want to scratch the paint, now would ah?”. Applejack replied, shifting the truck into gear and lurching it forward. “Although, that would be kinda fun.”
It was her day off, after all.
I mean, a little jump wouldn’t hurt nopony.
It’s not like anything else is going to happen today.