Chapter 3: Hope comes in orange and apple flavored
It was bright day and the weather was great but I was so hungry and frustrated not even that made me crack a smile. I didn’t know what I was going to do, for some reason not a single living soul in Ponyville would let me work there and I doubt the ones living a bit outside would be any friendlier.
I was in a real pinch, starved and jobless I couldn’t think of anything else besides moving back to Canterlot but then a terrible realization stroke my mind: I had spent the last few bits I to travel to this hole. As soon as I realized this fact I started to bang my head repeatedly on the table.
I barely could hear the sound of somepony knocking on my door, but even so I was feeling so frustrated I didn’t even care at first. The knocks continued even though I first ignored them, and judging by how hard I bumped my head I didn’t think the one at the door didn’t notice it. Since I wanted to be left alone I went there just to dismiss the possible visit. As soon as I attended the door I was cheerfully greeted by an earth pony, “Mornin’, how ya doing?” she had orange coat and a blonde mane and was wearing a brown cowboy hat, her voice had a curious accent.
Feeling upbeat like I was I should’ve answered like this: “Hi! I’m feeling super! I’m starving, no one wants to give me a darn job and I’m stuck in this town because I don’t have a single bit, I don’t know how things can get any better!” that’s what I really wanted to say, but I held my tongue.
“Fine, I guess,” I replied indifferent, “May I know who are you?”
“The name’s Applejack,” she politely raised her hat, “I’ve heard you’re new here so I’ve came to talk to ya.”
As much as it’s nice to have somepony to welcome you I just wasn’t in the mood for it, I replied with the same indifference, “I’m Lone Star.”
Applejack looked around and saw how poorly tended my cottage still was and with said deadpan, “Well, your name sure suits you since you are all alone here isolatin’ yourself an’ stuff.”
Well, seriously? I just wasn’t in the mood for puns with my name and I wasn’t isolating myself, the folks in that town were running from me for some reason. I just knew that joke got the small piece of patience I had and I ended up answering angrier than I intended, “Listen Miss Applejack, I really need to get some urgent stuff done pronto and can’t waste more time, so if we’re finished here...”
I saw Applejack’s smile leave her face before she talked again, this time a little disappointed, “I thought you may have been interest in a job, but nah, heh?” as she talked she turned around and was leaving.
“Horse apples!”, I grunted and face hoofed myself. I had to act fast since this could be my only chance to find a job in this place. “Wait!” – I sprinted to her, thankfully Applejack heard me, – “I really need a job!... But how did you know?”
“You and a wagon, r‘member? You’ve caused quite a scene yesterday back in Ponyville, y’didn’t think you’d simply pass unnoticed, did you?” while talking she was fiddling with the grass in her mouth.
“Oh, because of that,” I laughed very embarrassed. My legs were still kind of sore because of that kick.
“Before anythin’ I just wanna know why you were so angry,” now Applejack was looking at me right in the eyes, but she wasn’t glaring and I didn’t feel even slightly uneasy with that for some reason.
I scratched my head before starting, “You see... I just moved from Canterlot and I had no problems up until now, I need a job to live here and after few days looking for one I still didn’t find any.”
Applejack frowned and her tone changed from tender to scolding, “I still think that wasn’t reason to get that angry to take it out on somepony’s wagon. You could’ve hurt somepony there y’know!”
I tapped my hoof on the ground a few times embarrassed, “I know... The problem was that they didn’t even let me explain my situation. The moment I asked they would simply refuse as if I did something really wrong.”
“Well, now that’s strange... You sure you’re tellin’ me the whole truth?” she looked right into my eyes again.
“Yes.”
“You told me you were from Canterlot, Lone?”
“I moved from there recently.”
“Did you live here befor’ that?”
“Sorry, but what’s with all this questioning?”
“Now there,” she shook one of her hooves, “If you want to work in my place I need to trust you at least a little don’ you think?”
“Oh, right. Sorry,” my hunger and impatience had gotten the better of me.
“So, did you live here before anythin’?” Applejack insisted on that question.
“No.”
I know I should had told Applejack about my memory stuff, but what if she had thought I was making excuses and refused to give me the job? I just couldn’t take the risk. Applejack kept looking into my eyes for a while, I will never really know what she was thinking, but this time I felt as intimidated as I was when facing Princess Celestia.
When she finally made her decision she fixed her hat and talked to me with a firm tone, “Listen I knew about everything you passed through these days you were in Ponyville, but I had to be sure you’d tell me the truth. I REALLY don’t like liars and I don’t normally call newcomers to work in my farm.”
I had barely met Applejack but even after few minutes talking to her I could notice she was a transparent liar, while I didn’t think she was lying she most certainly wasn’t telling me everything but why should I care, I was too happy for finally getting a chance to work in Ponyville. “Thanks... Sorry about my mood, it’s just that I’m out of money and didn’t eat anything in all those days I was looking for a job.”
“What? You serious? Bet’cha you’re starving then!”
“Yea, kind of,” what an understatement.
“Come on now, don’t be hangin’ there!”
And so I left following Applejack until we reached a farm called Sweet Apple Acres, easily the biggest propriety in that town. Applejack lead me to a table close to a barn and told me to wait there, while I was waiting I could smell something delicious cooking, whatever it was smelt really good and stirred my hunger even further. Few minutes later Applejack appeared and handled me a plate full of fritters which I scarfed in a blink of eyes. I was on the verge of tears when I finished, even without memories I felt that was the most delicious meal I’ve ever had, and the fact it was given by somepony who I had met for few minutes made me it even more special, the word “generosity” wouldn’t be adequate for it.
“Y’were THAT hungry, huh? Sheesh,” Applejack said fixing her hat smiling and chuckling.
“Y-yeah. Sorry about that, I mean, the way I chomped the fritters.” I pigged out those fritters in a less than polite fashion, I thought she would be disgusted with my table manners instead of saying a jolly “sheesh”.
“Hey, don’ worry about table manners here, Lone, I know how bad is to do have an empty belly. It just took a bit more for ‘em to come since I had to be sure the Apple Fritters were warm or else you could’ve burnt your tongue,” Applejack said proud of her cooking and happy to see I did enjoy the meal.
The fritters had finally hit my belly and I lied down my head on the table to relax satisfied before talking MUCH more relived, “Thanks again, I think I wouldn’t be exaggerating saying you just have saved my life.”
“In that case you better work the best and hardest you can now!” Applejack said with liveliness.
“Will do,” once I had at least one of the fritters digested I forgot to add.
Later when I had relaxed enough Applejack introduced me to the rest of her family, her brother Big McIntosh and Granny Smith, she also had a sister but she was at school. Once the introductions and formalities were done Applejack lead me to the place where I would have to work, it was a very big field and there was two plows.
“There it is, you’ll have to plow all this field. My brother Big Mac will do one part and you’ll do another,” she pointed with her hoof the part I was supposed to do.
“Sounds simple,” I said confident ignoring the fact that “simple” not always means “easy”.
“It is, now try to make it quick. We’re late on schedule for plantin’ here,” she spoke firmly as you would expect from a boss giving orders to an employee.
“Yes ma’am.”
I saw Applejack frowning a bit and scratch her neck, she surely didn’t like to be called like that.
“Applejack. Call me Applejack, ‘kay?”
“Right, Appeljack.”
My first job in the Sweet Apple Acres was simple enough: to plow a field. But it was then I discovered how out of shape I was. Big McIntosh was pulling that plow like it was nothing while I was struggling to barely move it, my hurting legs didn’t help either but it was my first job and probably the only opportunity I’d get in that town, so I didn’t want to screw it. I had put every last bit of my strength and in the end I managed to almost catch up the pace of Big McIntosh. However it still took me nearly twice the time Big McIntosh needed to finish his part so I could finish mine’s and when I finished I almost collapsed, I barely could feel my legs and my back.
Big McIntosh came close to me and took a good look on the field I plowed (he didn’t look even a little, tiny bit tired by the way). Since I took so long to finish it when they were in a hurry I was expecting to get one BIG scolding incoming, but he only said “Eeyup, good job,” told me to stay where I was and walked away. Applejack came running few minutes later carrying some baskets.
“Y’looking pretty tired there. Wanna give it a rest?” sounded more like she was taunting me instead of being concerned.
“I’m still good.” I tried to sound confident, but that job really had drained me.
“Don’t need to push yourself ‘ere, you’re not used to this routine after all, city boy,” her snarky tone definitely made sure she was challenging me.
“I’m not that weak. Come on, what do you got for me now, Applejack?”
“Follow me and I’ll show ya!”
She sprinted ahead and I had a lot of trouble just keeping up with her, my legs were killing me and every step made my back ache even more. Thankfully it didn’t take too long until we reached a field full of apple trees and buckets everywhere.
“I’ll have to harvest all these trees ‘ere and there, I don’t want it to take the rest of the day so I’m gonna need your help, Lone,” she said while trotting in place to warm up.
“That’s... A lot of trees,” so many I lost count.
“If you’re feeling you ain’t up for it you can go and do somethin’ else. You’ll need to use your legs to kick all you can here!” Applejack exclaimed while kicking with her back legs.
“No problem. That’s what I signed for, right?” Applejack chuckled and zoomed to her job, she told me to watch closely how it was done.
My second job: apple bucking. That would be a lot easier if I didn’t exhaust myself plowing that field, Applejack needed only one good kick to drop all the apples flawlessly on the buckets bellow it or even in her baskets. Me? I had to kick four, five times and even so the apples simply wouldn’t fall inside the buckets or the baskets and I almost always had to pick every single apple from the ground.
How did she manage to do that so perfectly? Was she using some kind of magic? Homing apples? Apple family secret? I guess I’ll never really know. Anyway Applejack finished her part so fast that I wasn’t even a third part done, while I was at it I could see her evaluating me during task, I could hear her sighing from time to time just to make even clearer how poorly I was doing.
A few hours later I was finally done, Applejack watched me moving towards her very slowly, utterly bushed and I braced myself for whatever it was coming. “Well, it surely took you long enough, Lone.” Applejack shook her head.
“Sorry, I’m a little tired.” I was gasping for air while struggling to keep myself on feet.
Sure, I was just a little tired, so little tired I barely could keep myself standing. My legs were visibly shaking and the only thing keeping me from fainting was the fear I’d throw my only chance to stay in Ponyville. If I lost that job I’d probably have to move away to anywhere I could get money to live.
“You didn’t do a spectacular job there, but you got it finished. Gotta admit I didn’t think you’d do it, I thought you’d give up after the second tree,” she raised her hat and looked all trees I had bucked.
“I told you, I signed for that. S-so, what’s next?” I tried my best to keep a straight face, but the pain in my legs and backs were too much.
Applejack looked at me and this time she was really worried and before I could take another step she halted me, “Simmer down, Lone. You need to rest now.”
“I’m still fine, I can do whatever you ask me,” I said visibly tired and still walking, or rather, dragging myself forward.
Applejack stomped fiercely in order to make me stop and look at her, “No, you can’t. Think you can fool anypony shaking like that? You need to rest before you faint!”
She didn’t need to tell me twice, the moment I relaxed I fell right where I was standing nearly passing out there. Applejack chuckled and hurried to bring me some apple juice to help me recover. While I was drinking and trying to feel my legs again she looked at me satisfied.
“You worked really hard there, Lone. But you looked so nervous, why?”
I slurped the that tasty juice and talked while remembering on how all ponies in Ponyville would simply deny my requests, “With not a single pony willing to give me a job I had to do my best here to ensure you wouldn’t fire me...”
“Good gravy!” She stomped again showing irritation. “You didn’t have to work yourself that hard.”
“Yes, I had to make it count. But it looks like I only end up delaying you all even more.” I looked down a bit disheartened.
“You sure did.” Applejack said kicking a pebble on me and cracking up when she saw my face. Brutal honesty, huzzah.
In the end I was laughing too, laughing so much not even my achy back could make me stop, “Sorry, Applejack,” I said in the middle of my laughs.
“Y’don’t need to be.” she said while stretching her legs. “But do you wanna know why folks didn’t let you get a job in Ponyville?”
“Of course I do!” it was about time to understand and solve that mystery.
“Y’see... You don’t have a cutie mark.”
The word cutie mark sounded familiar, but I couldn’t remember anything regarding it, out of curiosity I asked her: “Cutie mark? What’s that?”
I’m not sure how to describe Applejack’s expression when she heard that question, at first she thought I was joking but when she saw my face straight and expecting an answer she probably felt baffled on how an adult stallion couldn’t know something like that.
Applejack face hoofed before starting, “Sheesh, Lone Star! A cutie mark!”
I simply shrugged. “Yeah, and I repeat, what’s that?”
She couldn’t believe that and while walking in circles she nearly yelled, “How come you don’t know what a cutie mark is? It’s something we learn when we are fillies!”
“I guess I didn’t explain something.” Applejack then looked at me with suspicious eyes. “That I, well, I lost my memories.”
“But that’s common knowledge!” she exclaimed rolling her eyes.
I shrugged again. “Common knowledge included too.”
“I just can’t believe this...”
I think I had noticed that by now.
I had to wait for Applejack to settle down, while she was walking in circles mumbling something, maybe thinking I was crazy, weird, dumb or just really amnesiac. When she finally took a break from her reflection I got my chance to get things clear, “Anyway, what does this mark thing has to do with my job hunting problem?”
Applejack sighed and decided to accept that I really didn’t know about cutie marks, “You see... We all earn our cutie marks when we find a trait that differ us from everypony else, something that makes us special, unique.”
“I still don’t know how that explains my situation.” I said growing impatient as I remembered the ponies of Ponyville.
“Lone, I’ve never seen any adult pony, stallion or mare, without a cutie mark. If you still don’t have one that means you might have done nothin’ your entire life. Nopony would ever want to take a slacker as their employee”
Mystery solved they thought I was a slacker. I face hoofed myself and shook my head, “So that’s why. But then why did you come and offered me a job?”
Applejack looked me in the eyes and spoke sincerely, “I think everypony needs a chance to prove himself. I’m glad I wasn’t wrong.”
That feeling again, she was being honest but I couldn’t stop thinking she wasn’t telling me the whole reason she decided to employ me. But still she gave me a chance and since she was being honest I felt I had to be too, “I still caused more trouble than any actual help here.”
Applejack gave me a small tap on my head and said nearly laughing, “I wasn’t lookin’ for help, Lone. I just wanted to see if you were up for some hard work. I put you to work with Big Mac first on purpose since that would tire you really fast. The apple bucking was just ‘nother test, no lazy pony would even start doing that if they were bushed like you were.”
“All of this was only a test?” I wasn’t really sure what kind of results I should expect out this disastrous test.
Applejack seemed to love my confused face and had a good laugh, “Yes, but don’ worry, this wasn’t for nothin’! Once I tell the folks in Ponyville they will be more than happy to let you work there!”
Applejack was confident about it and I felt honesty coming from her, I couldn’t bring myself to even to start doubting her statement. “I hope you can help me with the ponies there, Applejack... No offense, but I’m not cut for the hard work here,” I said stretching my achy back legs, I had finally gathered enough strength to stand again.
“Don’ say things like that, Lone, nopony does a perfect job on their first try. You only need practice and maybe get in shape,” she said poking my flank practically saying “get some muscles!”.
“You bet...” I snorted a laugh once I remembered how stupid I should’ve looked struggling to pull that plow.
“Oh, Lone, you better also study I a little bit more so you don’ look so—”
“Ignorant?” I questioned cutting her.
“Clueless,” Applejack corrected.
“And where I can cure my cluelessness?” I said looking upwards.
“A friend o’ mine works in the library of Ponyville, it’s inside a really big tree so you can’t miss it.”
“Oh, there. I ran around that place quite few times, but never thought there could be a library inside,” I was surprised that anypony could live there in first place.
“Surprises, surprises.” Applejack spoke cheerfully, she really found fun my confused face. It made me wonder how goofy I look when amazed.
Applejack walked me until the gates of the farm and gave me the direction to the library again. My day of work was done there for the Apples had the rest of the day ahead of them, Applejack couldn’t afford to lose any other minute and bolted away to another chore.
Impressive. Applejack was working even while I rested and still was full of strength, compared to her I was nothing, yet she treated me with respect and never said I was useless. Words will never be enough for I to tell entirely how much respect I had for her and her family too. The Apples were sure fantastic not only because of that, but also because they were kind and generous. When nopony would even let me explain my problem they would simply give me a chance to prove myself and hopefully I didn’t waste it.
Although I still had several hours before the sunset I decided I’d visit the library on the next day. I was too tired from the work in the farm and I wanted to go see a small lake I overheard the folks in Ponyville saying it was great to relax.
Well, Ponyville could not be so bad to live after all. So as long as I could count on somepony that place would still be my home.