I yawned as I awoke semi peacefully. Ever since I started working at Sweet Apple Acres, my body had a natural alarm clock that would force me awake at around 4:00am to make sure I was to work on time.
I yawned again as I slipped out from underneath my warm blankets and onto my cold tile floor. Goddess… maybe I should just… stay in bed. Tell Applejack that I was sick or something. I quickly discarded the idea, knowing that my mild discomfort and sleepiness would soon pass.
I trotted into the dark kitchen of my small house and stumbled around, looking for the fridge. I finally stumbled upon it and opened the door. The bright fridge light briefly blinded my still sensitive eyes.
I groaned as I held my hoof over my eyes while they adjusted to the seemingly blinding light. After a moment’s pause, I took my hoof away from my eyes to look inside the fridge. “Nothing…” I muttered to myself as my stomach grumbled.
Figures, I had forgotten to go to the grocery store last night. I grumbled to myself, figuring maybe I’d just peck a few apples from the orchard for breakfast. I moaned tiredly to myself as I kicked the fridge door shut and made my way out of my tiny house and onto the still dark streets of Ponyville. Buggers were all still asleep… lucky.
* * *
Minutes later:
I arrived at the barn, forgetting to get my apples on the way, and began getting the wagon ready for the long day ahead. My stomach began to grumble more times than not. “Oh hush up you… I’ll feed you later.” I muttered but the feeling of hunger became more prevalent than before.
I rolled my eyes and gave a morning stretch. Today was going to be a ‘long’ day. I just knew it. I brought up my right foreleg and flexed. “Gangnam style… eyy sexy lady…” I chuckled to myself before rubbing my eyes and continuing my morning routine.
Things seemed to be going incredibly slowly and… where the hay was Applejack? She was usually out and about before I even got here. I quickly discarded the thought and continued.
Soon enough, a beautiful voice called out from behind me. “Hey, sorry ah’m late. Needed tah do some dishes before ah could get out here.” She spoke in a somewhat frantic voice.
“Oh no worries. Besides, I don’t think you’re late… two minutes early actually.” I said with a small smile as I looked to my wrist watch. Work didn’t officially start for another two minutes so technically she wasn’t late.
“A course ah’m late. Ah should be out before muh employees.” She told me and I chuckled.
“What if I came even earlier? Would you still come out before three in the morning?” I asked jokingly. She nodded.
“If yah could handle it… yeah, ah would.” She stated and I chuckled. Only she would be so naïve.
“So… you really do like me so much that you have to be around me every chance you get.” I laughed and she gave me a playful punch to the shoulder.
“Yah know that ain’t what ah meant.” She laughed then began to help me load empty baskets onto the wagon. As we loaded the baskets onto the wagon, she began to explain the plan for the day. “So we’ll start with the northern orchard then…” She trailed off as my stomach growled and interrupted her.
“Sorry… didn’t eat this mornin.” I apologized and she gasped.
“Yah never ate nuthin?!” She gasped and I nodded. “Why the hay not?!” She asked in a worried tone.
“Meh, don’t worry. I just needed to be on time was all.” I replied.
“Don’t say such things. Ah’ll understand if yer a little late, as long as it meant yah got somethin in yer tummy. Breakfast is the most important meal a the day. Now come on inside and let me make yah somethin tah tide yah over till lunch time.” She offered but I declined.
“Nah… beside, ain’t got nothin at home either. Forgot to get groceries last night.” I chuckled and she gasped.
“What the hay yah been eating? Grass?” She asked and I shook my head. “Well… yah can stay fer lunch but for Celestia’s sake. After work, go get somethin fer yer fridge. It’d look bad if muh employee died a starvation.” She told me and I smiled.
“Thanks. A date it is.” I laughed and she rolled her eyes as my stomach grumbled again.
“Ah’ll be back. Just… don’t go anywhere.” She ordered me then galloped off. That mare really had a kind heart. Almost too kind.
I continued to load both wagons until everything was set. I was just waiting on AJ. In technicality, I should just go and start working in the fields, but she had told me not to go anywhere.
After a few more minutes, Applejack returned with some goodies. Two large cinnamon rolls topped with icing. “Here, this should hold yah over till lunch time ah reckon.” She offered me one of the cinnamon rolls.
“Hey thanks…” I trailed off and gave her a wink. “Kind and beautiful. What a combination.” I chuckled and she rolled her eyes from my fail attempt of flirtatious attitude.
We both hopped up onto the wagon side and looked out to the Eastern horizon as the sun began to rise. “Ain’t it a beautiful mornin?” Applejack asked and I nodded.
“Not as beautiful as you, sweet cheeks.” I commented and she shook her head.
“Yer a fool.” She laughed playfully and gave me a friendly punch to the shoulder. I leaned my body into hers and nudged her back. Suddenly we both heard a bark and only seconds later, Winona appeared.
She leaned her front side down and playfully wagged her tail. Her ears suddenly perked up as she spotted the cinnamon rolls. “Ah don’t think so Winona. Yah ate muh entire drumstick yesterday.” Applejack stated.
Winona began to whimper and whine as her eyes became wide as saucers. Applejack let out a playful sigh then tore a small piece of her cinnamon roll and tossed it to Winona who caught it in her mouth.
The dog probably didn’t taste it as she immediately swallowed then begged for more. “No more Winona. No more beggin.” Applejack ordered the dog but she didn’t listen. Soon her eyes began to water up. Her expression made my cold heart melt.
I let out a pitiful sigh then hopped down from the wagon. “Alright Winona, but this is the last bit. So enjoy it.” I told the dog and her face brightened.
I pulled a small piece off my cinnamon roll with my left hoof and offered it to the dog. She took a second to think then in a flash of motion, lept forwards and snatched the large cinnamon roll out from my right hoof and dashed away with it.
The whole action took a few seconds to process in my head as Winona quickly scoffed down the entire cinnamon roll in mere seconds. “BUUUUCCCCK!” I yelled as my stomach growled yet again.
Applejack snickered to herself. “Didn’t yah learn from last night?” She asked and I gave her a cold glare.
“You hush… Winona!” I hissed and she looked over to me then slowly walked towards me with a look of happiness on her face. “Dog… you are sooo dead!” I scowled. In another brief motion, she lashed her face forwards and snagged the small parcel of cinnamon roll in my left hoof and rushed off with it, this time completely out of sight.
“GAAAAAHHHHH BUCK!” I yelled again. Applejack tried to stifle a laugh but ended up just rolling on the ground laughing. I gave a very irritated frown as I looked to the sunrise. ‘Stupid day is going to take forever to end… maybe I should just fake sick.’ I thought to myself.
Applejack sighed as she trotted over and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Yer too funny. Here, ah reckon ah’ll share muh cinnamon roll with yah.” She offered. I returned her smile.
“Thanks AJ… you’re too kind… stupid dog.” I muttered the last part under my breath as I took the half that Applejack offered me. I kind of felt bad taking half of hers but I guess she offered so that made it alright. I looked over to her and smiled faintly. She noticed my stare.
“What?” She asked curiously.
“You kissed me.” I replied with a smile and she blushed furiously.