Applejack stared wide-eyed at the incoming pony, then jumped to the side, and just in time, too. The pony was standing right were she had been. Her eyes then narrowed as she glared at him, and she waited for some sort of an apology... but none came. Instead, the pony- a dark green earth-pony with a light gray mustache, mane and tail with rust colored highlights, and a cutie mark of a guard helmet and some bits lying around it, started to yell at poor Applebuck.
"Applebuck! And just what do you think you're doing here? Did you forget about what I had said about you entering this silly contest!? Not only did you disobey me, but you're wasting your time! You'll never win, do you here me? Never!"
"I-I..." Applebuck sputtered as he cowered under the gaze the stern pony was giving him. But before he could say anything else, Applejack immediately stepped in.
"Excuse me! And just who do you think y'all are!? You just charged in here like a stampeding buffalo, disrupting the peace, you almost squashed me like a bug, and now you're yellin' at my new friend, tellin' him he's got no hope for this contest? Well, I won't stand for it! Now, the first thing I suggest you do is apologize to the both of us!"
The pony then froze, and slowly turned towards A.J., with a menacing glare on his face.
"And just who," he spoke in an unsettling, quiet tone, and immediately Applejack had wished she'd stayed quiet, "do you think you are, telling me that I don't know what's best for my own family? You think you know better than me, is that it? Sure, because you've known my family longer than I have. Tell me, missy, what is your name?"
"Uh... uh, m-my name is Applejack, sir," she told him. Something about the way he was staring at her and speaking to her was making her very nervous- it was like being stuck on the same island as a volcano, and all you could think about was that it could explode at any minute.
"Applejack... wait, Applejack? Huh... ah-hem! Well, Applejack, I think you best be on your way- this is a family matter, you hear? I know what's best for my family, and this contest is an unnecessary waste of time! Now, c'mon, Applebuck, let's go!" Before Buck could move, however, another voice was heard:
"Your right, Green. This is a family matter. So, I suggest you talk it over with the second oldest member of the family first- then we'll see about the boys." Suddenly, a gray-blue stallion with goldenrod colored eyes, thick-rimmed black colored glasses, orange hooves and a mane with deep gray highlights, and a cutie mark of three enlarged apple seeds came trotting towards the small group.
"Appleseed..." the old pony grimaced. Appleseed turned to Applebuck and said to him,
"It's okay, son- I'll handle this. Why don't you show your friend around the fair grounds?"
"Uh, okay, dad. C-c'mon Applejack! Follow me!" Applejack looked from Buck, who had a nervous grin, to... Green, was it? Who still had the same grimace, and then to Seed, who wore a gentle smile of confidence. He nodded to her, and she then said,
"Okay, Buck. Let's go, I guess." As soon as they were out of earshot, Applejack spoke again:
"Now what the hay was that all about?" Buck sighed and said,
"Well, it's... kind of a long story. I know a quiet spot around here, I'll take you there and then tell you," said Buck. Applejack simply nodded and followed him. Soon, they found themselves near a small grove of trees, away from the bustle of the festival preparations.
"Okay, that pony you saw, the one that was... yelling, that was my grandfather, General Green."
A.J. gasped and said,
"your grandfather! But... I don't understand. why would your grandpa say those mean things to you?"
"Well... This is were the long story part comes in. You see... okay, well, we have an apple orchard not far from here. When I was younger, the farm was really popular. Mom and dad worked hard to keep it going, and it was a place of joy. Ponies came and talked, laughed, danced, played, joked..." Buck closed his eyes and smiled, lost in the joyful memories of his colt-hood days. He then opened his eyes and a shadow passed across his face.
"But then... then the illness came. My mother caught it, and it... wasn't long before s-she..." he bowed his head low and closed his eyes again.
"Oh, Buck... I'm so sorry. I lost my parents when I was young, too." Applejack said softly. Applebuck's head snapped up and he said,
"Wow... both your parents? I'm very sorry to hear that, as well." they stood there together in silence for a moment, then Buck spoke up,
"Um, there is a bit more to the story, i-if you'd like to hear it..."
"Oh, right. Sure, go ahead."
"Ah, okay. Well, after mom... passed, things kind of went downhill for the farm. My mother and father had worked hard together, and then the balance shifted, all onto my dad. My older brother and I, (my only sibling,) we were too young then to really help him much. We also... kind of grew apart, too. My grandfather was devastated at his only daughter's loss. He... he kind of blames the farm for her loss, and I think... I think he may also blame my dad a bit, too."
"Your dad? Why?" asked A.J.
"Remember how I said that both my parents did a lot for the farm?" A.J. nodded.
"Well, I think my grandfather thinks that my dad just put most of the workload on my mom, and it was too much for her. He wasn't around much, though, so he doesn't really know what happened!"As he said that last part, his voice rose to nearly a shout, and anger burned in his eyes. Applejack looked at him in surprise, then turned her head to scan the area to make sure nopony had heard him. Thankfully, no one was coming over, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Applebuck cooled off as quickly as he had become angry. He also gave a sigh, but his was much heavier.
"My grandfather wants to get rid of the farm and put something else in it's place, but my dad is fighting to keep it." He then turned to face her and gave her a sad smile.
"Listen, I'm sorry I wasted your time. I just figured you'd want to know what was going on, since you got all caught up in that last argument." Applejack, however, shook her head and responded,
"No, no- it was fine. In fact, I'm glad you told me! And I'm very sorry about your situation... W-would it be okay if I asked you some questions about your family?" Applebuck smiled and said,
"Thanks, and I don't see why not. What else would you like to know?"
"Well, your cutie mark is apple-related, and your name is Applebuck. Now, I'm related to a lot of Apples, from all over. You... you don't think that we could be..."
"Related? Hmm, I doubt it. My dad has some family here and there, but our family isn't all that big. Besides, it's likely there are a couple Apple families out there, with no relation to each other at all! So, I doubt that were related... sorry to disappoint."
A.J. shook her head again and said,
"No, not at all! I was just curious, since our family is so big. Now, you have an apple orchard, and as you might have guessed by my cutie mark, I have one, as well! Do you think I could come and see yours?" Buck's smile turned into a frown, and he replied,
"Uh, well, our apple orchard isn't doing all that well, to be honest. Oh! I could show you our "special" patch, it's a small area of trees, but I'll bet their the strongest, sturdiest, and healthiest trees in all of Equestria!" His chest puffed out, and a look of pride spread across his face. Applejack chuckled a bit and said,
"We'll see about that! Really though, I can't wait to see them! Can I come by your place tomorrow, and if so, where is it?"
"Sure, tomorrow works! And... you're staying at the Royal Rainbow hotel, right? I could come by and bring you to my place!"
"Okay, sounds good to me!... wait, how'd you know I was staying at that hotel?" Applejack asked with a bit of suspicion in her voice.
Applebuck laughed and said,
"Because that's were all the contestants stay when there not from around here! I assume your from out-of-town?"
"Oh, right! Uh, yeah, I'm not from around here. Anyways, looks like everything's all set! Well, we should probably go back now."
"Yeah... well, hopefully my dad will have changed my grandpa's mind by now. C'mon, let's go!" As the two went back to the fair to continue to help with the preparations, Buck said to himself,
'please, please say that we can be in the contest, I have to do this... I promised her, and I won't let her down!'