//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: Mastering the elements: the Earth pony chronicles // by Eriku719 //------------------------------// Chapter 11 “Wait cousin your hitched!?” said Breaburn is shock. “Yes sir. She’s my wife and that means I’m your cousin in law. So could we please enter the games?” asked Erick. “Of course cousin.” Breaburn said as he gave them the entry sheet and they sign their names. Applejack finally dragged Erick and her brother to a secluded part of town to have a chat with them. “What the hay Erick! Why did you say we’re hitched!?” yelled applejack. “I saw the looks in your faces. I had to something and that seemed like the only option.” Said Erick “And Big Mac, why didn’t you stop him?” Asked Applejack. “I was just as shocked as you when he said that.” Said Big Mac “Well what’s done is done o.k. beside only breaburn knows we’re ‘hitched’.”said Erick As Erick said it, they heard a voice called out to all apple family members to go to town center. “Now can I have your attention? I’ma make this short and say the ponyville apple family will play because of their third member and applejack’s husband, Flower Power.” Said Breaburn to the rest of the families as he pointed out to Erick and Applejack to up on stage. They both nervously went up on stage and and waved at them. “So how did you snag an Alicorn to be your husband cousin?” said Breaburn. Applejack had to think quickly on her hooves and Erick whispered to her ear” Don’t worry. I’ll answer any they have.” “Sorry. It’s that she’s nervous about all this. Anyways we met when I asked for a job on their farm to help me get back up on my feet. I started working for months and I decided to get to know them more by hanging out with them, especially applejack. Eventually I had enough bits and enough guts to ask applejack to only a date and she said yes.” Some members aw’d at his lie and Applejack was “intrigued” by where this story will go. “And then what happened?” asked Applejack “Like you don’t remember honey?” said Erick nervously “After a long time of working with you and dating…. I spent all the bits I had to get the best ring I could afford for you. We waited for the family to get together and I told how much you mean to me. Your smile, the way you buck trees, everything. When I showed you the ring and popped the question, you said yes and cried on and on about how you never thought a farm pony like yourself would never find true happiness with anypony. After that we got married and here we are.” The majority of the apple family clapped their hooves in joy for them. “Well it’s nice to know my cousin married a nice stallion.” Said Breaburn. “Now let’s get this apple games started.” Fireworks went off and the teams gathered around the fields for the first event. “Alright the first event is the apple buck competition. Each team must have a bucker, a catcher and a delivery pony. Team with most apples win.” Said Breaburn A whistle went off and everypony started bucking trees and by the end of the time limit Erick and his team placed second. More events went on such as the apple pie eating contest, the cider contest and drink off, sharp pie flinger showdown and the running of the buffalo. As time when on ponies were asking more about Erick’s and A.J’s marriage and Erick was making his lie pit even deeper and the more he lied, the more of this weird feeling keeps growing in his chest. He felt bad about lying to them because no one caught him lying; they’re simple earth pony folks that would believe anything. It hurted him and he had to talk to his teammates. “That’s guilt you’re feeling Erick.” said Applejack “Eeyup” said Big Macintosh. “Well what should I do? The final event is near and we’re tied with the manehattan family” “I think that-“ “When the time comes, you’ll know what to do and remember, Honesty is the best policy.” Said Big Mac. The final event was the relay Wild West obstacle course. Each team member were set at a certain position. Erick was placed last and while waiting for this teammates he took the time to recollect what big mac said. The more he thought about it, the more it hurted him on the inside. When it his time to run, he could focused on the track, but he still got first place and the Ponyville apple family won. As they were given their ribbons, Erick kept pressing his chest and a small tear fell before him. “Is something wrong Flower power?” said Breaburn “N-no I just don’t feel right.” Said Erick “Well whatever it is we’re here to help you cousin. Because we’re family.” Said Breaburn The words finally cracked Erick. “I’M NOT YOUR COUSIN!” Everypony looked at Erick as he fell to the ground in shame. “Listen apple families, I have something to tell you.” He explained that he lied to them and his reasons why. “You lied to us.” Said Breaburn “I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart and I don’t deserve this ribbon, but all I ask is that you please forgive me.” Erick said as he gave back his ribbon. “…… Family meeting everypony.” Said Breaburn as they all left Erick behind. An hour passed before they went back to Erick. “We talked it over and seeing that you were taught our farming ways and you lived with an apple family long enough, we have a proposition for you. All your lies will be forgiven and you’ll become an honorary apple if you can buck one apple.” Said Breaburn “Just one apple? What’s the catch?” said Erick “It has to be an apple from apple roots.” Said Breaburn as he pointed toward a giant apple tree that stood alone on a hill; “That tree has been there since the first ponies made Appleloose and has been said said to hold the sweetest of apples. If you can knock one apple off that tree, you will have proven yourself worthy of being an apple.” “I’ll do it.” Said Erick. “You have until sundown to get up that hill and buck an apple.” Said Breaburnas they all disperse from Erick. Later in the down when Erick was about ready to go up the hill, Applejack and her family came to talk to him. “Now are sure you can knock an apple down an apple from Apple roots? That tree doesn’t give up his apple to just any fella.” Said Granny Smith. “I take my chances.” Said Erick “Granny Smith told us that the last pony to buck one from apple roots was our pa and he was really strong.” Said Applebloom. “Well as long as I believe in myself, I think I’ll be able to buck an apple.” Said Erick as he petted Applebloom “I’m not saying you’ll lose but, no matter what you’ll always an apple in our eyes Erick.” Said Applejack “Eeyup.” Said Big Macintosh “Thank you all, I think your words will help me and I’m glad I was able to be honest with the rest of your relatives” said Erick as he walked up the tree and standing next to it was Breaburn. “Alright Flower Power. Whenever you’re ready.” Said Breaburn. Erick focus on the weak spot of the tree and lifted his hind legs and at that moment he thought to himself. “Even if I don’t make it, I’m glad all this guilt left me. My honesty was what cured me.” At that moment he felt on flower petal of his cutie mark turned orange with a red apple in the center of the petal and a sudden surge of earth pony strength came to him and he bucked the apple tree. The tree shook from the impact of the kick and leaves fell but no apple in sight. Erick was about to trot away in disappointment until an apple fell from the sky and hit his head. “I don’t believe it.” said Applejack as she picked up the apple that hit Erick’s head. “You got an apple from Apple roots.” said Breaburn as all the nearby ponies celebrate Erick’s triumph. “I guess they don’t call you flower power for nothing huh?” said Breaburn. As they made their way to Appleloosa, ponies gather around them and saw what Applejack held in her hooves. They all celebrated and the bakers took the apple and started baking it. Night came along and it time for the final event. The Apple family hoedown and in the center table was Erick, Applejack and her family and Breaburn. “Now I would like to make a toast to Flower Power. Not only did he get and apple from apple roots, but he proven himself to be worthy of the name apple.” Said Breaburn and he handed Erick a freshly made apple pie made from the apple he bucked. “All I can say is welcome to the family Flower Power.” said Breaburn. “Thanks but you can just call me Erick.” said Erick as he cutted the pie in five pieces and give each of Applejack’s family a slice and eat his. The hoedown went great and Applejack pulled Erick outside of the party. “Now what Applejack?” said Erick. “I just wanted to say congrats on being family now and also I’m sure you noticed but look at your cutie mark. It’s looks like you finally earned the element of honesty.” said Applejack “Well that’s just the first step. I still have five more left.” said Erick “I know but until then……. I guess this is a reward. Now do-do-don’t take this seriously. “Said Applejack nervously as she closed her eyes and puckered her lips. “What are you doing?” said Erick “I going to kiss you.” said Applejack. “As a reward of course. Hehehe” said Applejack nervously. Erick was supraised and didn’t know what do. This was the second time some pony kissed him. He closed his eyes as well. Applejack opened her eyes to see that Erick kissed her on the forehead instead of her lips and was hugging her. Erick retracted from his kiss and said, “I glad you feel that way, but right now, I see you as a friend. Maybe one day, when I know nocturne is gone for good, I might give you that kiss you want.” He let go of Applejack and walked back to the party, leaving Applejack love struck. “By Celestia, I think I’m in love that alicorn” said Apple jack. When the hoedown was finished, Erick and the others bought train tickets back to ponyville, Erick told Luna about his day and was confused on why Luna got angry when he mentioned applejack trying to kiss him, he ended up having nightmares that night. When the morning came, their friends were waiting for them and pinkie threw a welcome back party for them. A week passed by and Erick had made his decision. “The next element with be the element of laughter.” End of Chapter 11