//------------------------------// // Apples Everywhere // Story: Braveheart // by BraveheartStudios //------------------------------// It took a few days for Braveheart to be himself again. Of course he still thought about Twilight, but he kept his emotions to himself. He hasn't seen Twilight since he went to talk to her. He constantly wondered if she was alright. He asked his other friends and ponies around Ponyville if they've seen her lately, but no luck. Braveheart was laying on his couch, lost in his thoughts, when Rainbow Dash flew down with Tank behind her. "Hey Braveheart, what are you doing today?" she asked. "I'm not really doing anything important, why?" Braveheart said. "I was gonna ask you if you could take Tank outside for some fresh air. You can walk with him around Ponyville if you want." Braveheart didn't know that tortiouses needed to be walked, but he didn't ask why. "Yea I can do that, but how do I keep him from flying away?" "I have a leash you can tie around his shell, if he does get loose then you could catch him. He's not really fast with that thing, but just to be safe, I'll go get the leash." Rainbow said. She flew upstairs, but was back down in a second. She had a red leash around her hoof. One of the ends was tied in a big circle. She took that end and put it around Tank's shell. She handed the other end to Braveheart. "Ok, he should be good." Rainbow said. "Where should I walk him?" Braveheart asked. "Just around Ponyville, just make sure that he doesn't get into trouble." she answered. "I think I can manage that." Braveheart and Tank were heading for the door when Rainbow said, "Hey wait." He turned. "Do you, uh, have anything planned for tonight?" she asked. Braveheart shook his head. "Oh, well, if you want, we could go somewhere and hang out, if you want." Braveheart couldn't believe it. Was Rainbow Dash asking him out? "Uh...yea, that would be great." he said. He could feel himself blush. "Cool." Rainbow Dash said. Braveheart heard the excitement in her voice. "Well, I guess I'll see you when you get back." "Yea I guess so." Braveheart took Tank out the door. Once he closed it, Rainbow Dash said with extreme excitement, "YES!" Braveheart had no idea where he was going or how long he'd been gone. All he could think about was Rainbow Dash. She actually asked him out, who would've guessed. He'd never been more excited about anything. He wanted time to hurry up so he could be hanging out with her already. He had some time before that would happen though. He was walking near the market area when he heard a strange noise. He looked around when he saw the pony that was making it. He saw Applejack coming out of the market area with a few baskets on her back. One of them fell off. "Ah hayseeds." she said. She went to pick it up when another one fell. Braveheart wanted to help her, but what time was it? Would he be back in time? From the looks of things, it seemed as if it was mid-afternoon. He had time. He pulled the leash and Tank followed him. Applejack was trying to pick another basket off the ground when she heard, "Need some help?" She looked up and saw Braveheart coming towards her. "Oh, howdy Braveheart. I could sure use some." she said. Braveheart picked the basket off the ground and got two more off of her back. "What are you doing with all these baskets?" Braveheart asked. "This is the time of year that the apples back home are growing like crazy. I'm getting these baskets so we can collect 'em all." Applejack answered. "Are you sure that you, Big Mac, and Applebloom will be able to handle that?" "Well, Applebloom and her two friends are collecting apples around their clubhouse, and Big Macintosh can't buck them out of the tree 'cause his back hooves are sore from bucking trees all day. So it's pretty much up to me to clear out the orchard." Applejack said. "You can't do that by yourself, I've seen that orchard and it's huge. Are you sure your up for it?" Braveheart asked. "Me and Big Mac already cleared most of it except for a couple trees, but all that's really left to do is collect 'em." Braveheart didn't know what to do. He really wanted to help Applejack out, but would he be risking his time with Rainbow Dash? This may cost him, but he couldn't just stand around and know that Applejack is working hard all on her own. He knew what he had to do, even if it did mean his time with Rainbow will be jeopardized. "You know what, I'll help you with that." Braveheart said. "Oh no Braveheart, I couldn't ask you to do that." Applejack said. "Applejack, I can't do nothing while you're working. I want to help you." Applejack didn't say anything for a minute. Braveheart had figured out the Applejack is a pony who doesn't want help at times. She doesn't want to trouble ponies with her work, even if it was too much for one pony. "Ok Braveheart you can help out, but just this once." she finally said. "Thank you, but uhh.. What are we gonna do with him?" Braveheart asked as he pulled the leash and Tank flew up beside him. Applejack hadn't even noticed Tank until now. "What are you doing with him?" she asked. "Rainbow Dash wanted me to take him for a walk, I was actually getting ready to head back, but you need some help so I guess I have to take him with us." Braveheart answered. "Well I guess we can tie him up to a tree so he won't get away. I'm sure he'll be fine." "You sure?" "I hope so." Braveheart didn't like the sound of that, but he trusted Applejack, and he knew nothing was gonna happen to Tank. What could possibly happen? Braveheart now understood when Applejack said that it was the time for the apples to grow. They got to Sweet Apple Acres to find that the apples had been knocked off the trees and onto the ground. Only a few trees still had apples on them, but it would be a while until Braveheart got done here, but it didn't matter to him. Applejack still needed help, and he was determined to stay here until they were completely done. "Well now that you've seen the big job we gotta do, you can go ahead and turn around and leave since you don't want to do it." Applejack said. Braveheart looked around the farm. Sure it was covered with apples, but he was still gonna stay and help. "Well... where do we start?" he asked. After two hours of picking up apples and putting them in baskets, Braveheart was starting to regret that he ever did this. Applejack had kicked all the apples out of the remaining trees. When she found Braveheart in the middle of the orchard, he had already filled up almost half of the baskets. "We'll I'll be Braveheart, it was mighty kind of you to help me out. I don't know how I could've gotten this done on my own." Applejack said. "Well don't thank me yet, there's still a whole lot more to go." Braveheart said as he put more apples into a basket. "'Ya got that right. If we keep the speed we're going, I bet we'll be done by sundown." "Sundown?" Braveheart asked. He sounded more nervous than he wanted to. "Yea, why is there someplace 'ya gotta be?" Applejack asked. Braveheart knew that Applejack was too smart for him. One way or another, she'd get it out of him. Might as well go ahead and get it over with. Besides, he's been anxious to talk about this all day. "Well, before I left to take Tank for a walk, Rainbow Dash asked me if I wanted to do something tonight. I don't know what she's got planned, but I gotta be there before its too late." Braveheart explained. "So what you're saying is that you've got a date with Rainbow." Applejack said. "I wouldn't call it a date, it's just two friends hanging out." Braveheart said. 'Definitely a date.' Braveheart thought. "I don't know. I've seen the way y'all look at each other." "Whoa hold on there partner. Are you trying to say I like her?" Braveheart asked even though he already knew the answer. Applejack just smiled. "C'mon Applejack, how could I possibly like her?" "How could 'ya not? I mean, y'all are perfect for each other." Applejack said. "Don't be ridiculous." Braveheart said. "Braveheart..." Applejack started. She reached into the basket and pulled out an apple. "You're blushin' brighter than this apple." she finished. Braveheart didn't even realize he was blushing. He looked down at the ground in embarrassment. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." Applejack said. Braveheart felt relieved. If there was one pony who knew Braveheart's secret, he was glad it was Applejack. Braveheart knew that Applejack would never tell anypony. Once Applejack makes a promise, she keeps it. "Hey Applejack!" A voice screamed from inside the orchard. Braveheart recognized that little country voice. Applebloom. "What is it Applebloom?" Applejack shouted back. "What do 'ya want us to do with these baskets?" "Just bring 'em over here and set 'em with the rest." "You got it. We'll be bringing them out now." Applebloom shouted. Hoofsteps were heard in the distance. They soon faded away in a matter of seconds. "Those fillies, I tell 'ya, they've been working hard all they. I don't know if they can take anymore." Applejack said. "Maybe they were like me, couldn't let you do this alone." Braveheart said. "You may be right." Applejack said. Then, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo came out of the orchard, each holding a basket by the handle in their mouths. "Oh, hey Braveheart." Applebloom said. "Hi Braveheart." Sweetie Belle said. And of course, Scootaloo said nothing, but stared. "Here she goes again." Applejack said. "What?" Braveheart asked. "Every time you're around, Scootaloo acts weird. I haven't been able to find out why." Suddenly, they heard a thump sound. They looked back and saw that Scootaloo had tripped on a root and had fallen. The handle had come out of her mouth and the basket fell to the ground. The apples scattered everywhere. Braveheart and Applejack rushed over to her. Scootaloo rubber her head and saw a hoof extended out to her. She looked up and saw Braveheart standing over her. "Are you ok?" he asked. "Uh...yea." Scootaloo said as she took his hoof. He helped her up and she said, "I am now." It only took a few seconds to get the apples back in the basket. "Here 'ya go Scootaloo." Applejack said as she pushed the basket towards her. "Th-thanks." Scootaloo said. "You be careful, ok?" Braveheart told her. "Um...yea. Ok." Scootaloo said. As soon as she said that, she blushed. She realized she was blushing and said, "Uh...I guess I should take this and get out of your hair." She grabbed the basket with her mouth and took off in the direction of her friends. Applejack's eyes widened. "Heh, looks like you're not the only one with a crush on somepony." she said. "You really think that Scootaloo likes me?" Braveheart asked. "It makes sense, doesn't it?" "Yea I guess so, but c'mon, lets get back to work." Braveheart was starting back towards the apples when Applejack stopped him. "What?" Braveheart said confused. "You wanna have a little fun with this?" Applejack asked. Now Braveheart was even more confused. Applejack walked over to the baskets and picked one up. She headed back towards Braveheart and put the basket on top of his head. Apparently, this is some kind of game that Applejack and Applebloom made. Braveheart and Applejack were back in front of the barn so they wouldn't lose any apples in the trees. Tank was tied to a post next to the barn doors. Applejack's dog, Winona, was sitting by him, sniffing him. Applejack had brought a ton of apples to play with. "All righty, 'ya ready?" Applejack called out to him. "Ready for what?" Braveheart said, still with the basket on his head. Applejack placed an apple in front of her. She turned around and, with her back hooves, kicked the apple towards Braveheart. Braveheart closed his eyes and awaited the collision of his face and the apple, but the apple landed in the basket. "Hey good job!" Applejack said. Braveheart opened one eye, and then the other. Braveheart now knew what was going on. Applejack kicked another apple, but this time it was a little off to the side. Braveheart ran for it and it landed in the basket. "Man Braveheart, you're pretty good at this. I'll step it up a notch if you think you can handle it." "Try me." Braveheart said. Applejack smiled. She put more apples in front of her, probably five, and kicked them, one by one, towards Braveheart. It was difficult, but Braveheart somehow did it. "You're a pretty good catcher, lets see how you do at kicking." Applejack said. They switched places. Braveheart started with one apple. He didn't want to push his luck just yet. He kicked it and Applejack caught it. "Nice!" Braveheart said. "Nice yourself." Applejack said. Braveheart put two in front and kicked them one at a time. Of course, Applejack caught them. Braveheart had to step it up. He put four in front of him and kicked them. Applejack caught the first three, but the fourth one was sailing over her head. She jumped for it and missed. Braveheart's smile faded when he realized what was about to happen. The apple sailed towards the barn, and, of course, where Tank was. It seemed as if time had slowed down. Braveheart knew exactly where this was going. The apple slammed into Tank's head and knocked his flying hat off him. Tank brushed it off like it was nothing, but the flying hat didn't really do that. It fell to the ground and the propellers broke off. Applejack and Braveheart rushed over to Tank, made sure he was ok, and picked up the broken hat. "Oh man, what am I gonna tell Rainbow?" Braveheart said. "You have to tell her what happened. She'll know what to do." Applejack said. "What if she doesn't? What if she kicks me out and never speaks to me again? I can't go through that pain again Applejack, I just can't." Braveheart sat down on the ground and Applejack sat next to him. "Listen sugarcube. I know its tough, but you have to tell Rainbow what happened. If you don't, then you'll be living with a lie for a while, and she'll find out sooner or later. Either way, you're gonna have to tell her. Might as well do it now before things get worse." Applejack had a point. If he didn't tell Rainbow, the consequences would be worse. This may cost him his night with Rainbow, but he knew what he had to do. "Hey, go on. I'll finish up here. It seems you have something more important to do." Applejack said. "Are you sure?" Braveheart asked. He didn't want to leave her to finish, but he also needed to tell Rainbow Dash. "Yea, thanks for your help. Don't know what I would've done without 'ya." She put out her hoof, and Braveheart pounded it with his. He got up and grabbed the leash and Tank. He said goodbye to Applejack and ran off for home, hoping what Applejack said was true.