//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Royal Harvest Festival // by Featherdust418 //------------------------------// The next day, after a restful night from all their hard work the previous day, Applejack was becoming, well... restless. As she paced back and forth, Granny cried out, "for Pete's sake, Applejack! If you're so bored, why don't you go for a walk?" "Well, I would, Granny, but then I might miss Buck! Oh, where is h-" A.J., however, was interrupted by a knock at the door. "Ah, finally!" she responded to the sound as she rushed to the door and opened it wide. Before Buck could say a word, A.J. quickly said, "Alright, you're here! C'mon, let's g-" "Now wait just a minute there, Applejack! I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meetin' your new friend!" A.J. groaned and rolled her eyes. Normally, she wouldn't have minded, and gladly introduced the two to each other. However, she had been stuck inside a small, stuffy hotel room for most of the morning, and now that Buck was here, she wanted more than anything to leave- especially since she was going to an apple orchard! She knew, however, that in time she would get used to the hotel room, and, more importantly, that she had promised her Grandmother she would meet her new friend. After leaving her to work by herself to talk with him, she at least owed her grandmother that much. "Okay, okay... c'mon, Buck," said A.J. as she led him in the hotel room. As they walked in, his eyes went wide. He realized that the room that they were staying in was one of the upper-class suites, but before he could mention it, his hoof was grabbed and swung up and down vigorously. After the initial shock of being in a fancy suite, Buck realized he was getting a hoofshake. He returned it, and the mare whom the other hoof was connected, said: "Well howdy! My granddaughter has told me a lot about you, Applebuck! My name is Granny Smith, and it's so nice to finally meet you!" "nice to meet you too, Mrs. Smith!" replied Buck courteously. Granny, however, told him, "Aw, you can just call me Granny! Any friend o' Applejack's is a friend o' mine! Also, A.J. told me about your family situation... I want to say I'm sorry, and I do hope things get better soon." Granny put a hoof on his shoulder, and looked at him with sad, intense eyes. He could tell that she truly met every word she had said. "Why, Thank you, Mrs.- uh, Granny! That means a lot to me," he responded. Applejack, however, had been standing there rather impatiently, dancing back and forth on her hooves. "Okay, okay! You've met, you shook hooves, you chatted... can we please go now?" Granny laughed and said, "alright, alright! Better go on, you two- I think A.J's gonna explode if she doesn't get out of this hotel!" Applejack's face went red and she groaned, "Graaanny! Ugh, c'mon, Buck- let's go!" Applebuck chuckled a bit and replied, "Okay, I'm coming!" Soon, they found themselves away from the hotel, walking down the street. "So, A.J.... your grandma seems really nice." "Heh, yeah, she is pretty great, even if she can get on your nerves at times... Still, she's done so much for us- that is, my siblings and I, so I'm really glad I have somepony like her... Buck? You Okay?" A.J. noticed that her friend had stopped and was staring at the ground. He looked up when he heard his name, and then replied, "Huh? Oh, it's alright, I'm fine! Really! It's just... I'm so happy you have such a close family! I think all families should be like that- it's great!" A.J. walked over to him and said, "oh, Buck... I'm sorry, I guess I just wasn't thinkin'..." Buck, however, shook his head and responded, A.J., you didn't do anything wrong. Really, it's fine! And it's not all bad- my dad and I are pretty close, and we try to be there for each other. Now, were almost at the farm, just a little bit further..." Eventually, they came to the top of a small hill, and there were many fields with rows and rows of apple trees. Applejack closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled. "Ah, Buck- this is amazing! Wow, feels so good to be on a farm again- even if it isn't quite my home." She told him as she scanned the fields with her eyes. In her honest opinion, there weren't quite as many fields as Sweet Apple Acres, and the trees seemed to be lacking the bright, healthy glow that her trees had- although that could be due to the fact that a cloud was passing by the sun, somewhat darkening the fields. Then, all of a sudden, the sun found a spot to peek out through the large cloud, and a single ray hit a far off, secluded-looking grove of trees. A.J. squinted, and then her eyes went wide. The apples on the trees out there were practically sparkling in the bit of sunlight they were receiving! But how? Suddenly, A.J. became very excited- she had too at least see these apples up close! Applebuck prayed a silent 'thank you' to Celestia, then spoke up: "A.J.? Welcome to my home: Golden Apple Orchards!" As Applejack and Applebuck walked through the orchards, A.J. noticed that the trees seemed to be a mixed bag of healthy and ill. "I know what you may be thinking... 'how could you let some of your trees get this bad?' Well, we try to do as much as we can- but, as you know- none of this has been easy. I mean, it's basically just me and my dad, we can't afford to hire anypony to help, and besides- in a city like this, who would want to? They're all too busy thinking about themselves!" Once again, A.J. saw Buck's temper flare up, only to quiet after just a moment. He sighed and continued, "A.J., I'm really sorry- we just met, and you've already seen a side of me that I wish you hadn't- twice. It's not like me to be so angry- I guess I just wish things didn't seem like they were falling apart around me. I don't know... am I asking for too much? For things to just... be the way they were?" Applejack said to him, "No, Buck- I don't think you're asking for too much. I would imagine that wanting things to be the way they were before is completely normal. From what you've told me, things seemed much better, so why wouldn't you want things to go back?" Applebuck pondered this for a moment, then replied, "I... I suppose you're right. Well, anyways, enough about all this! You're here for a tour, so let's get on with it! Next stop- the special patch!" He led A.J. up a small path leading to the crest of a hill, and as they came to the top, A.J.'s eyes went wide. These were the trees that had the sparkling apples! And, now that she was closer, they seemed to shimmer and glow even more. "Wow... I don't think I've ever seen apples quite like this! It's amazing!" Buck's chest puffed out in pride and he said, "Why, thank you, A.J.! See? I told you they were super-healthy trees- like none you've ever seen before!" Applejack noticed his growing pride and responded, "easy there, don't go gettin' a big head! I've gotta admit, though, I don't think I've ever seen such a healthy glow to apples before! You must have some secret!" Buck's chest deflated a bit, and he looked at her sheepishly. "sorry about that- it's just I take a lot of pride in this patch- my dad and I worked extra hard doing what we could to make this patch be the very best! And, as for a secret... yeah, we have one- but nopony can ever know what it is!" he grinned. A.J. laughed and said, "relax, I don't want your secret! Maybe, though- could I try an apple- just one?" Buck hesitated a moment. This patch was their only chance to win the G.G.G., and their weren't many trees on the patch. If they won the contest, then every apple would count into making deserts for the G.G.G. But... surely just one apple wouldn't be missed? Just one... for his new friend... "Alright, A.J.- you're about to taste one amazing apple! And"- he paused as he gently bucked the tree, and a single, ripe apple landed on his hoof he had been holding out- "here you go- enjoy!" She took the apple from him, and took a bite... and made a "mmm" sound. "Why, Applebuck, this... this is amazing! I don't think I've ever tasted an apple quite like this! It's so... crisp, juicy, and has the perfect amount of sweet flavor! With these, you really could actually win the contest!" A.J. had to admit that the flavor of these apples rivaled that of her own family's zap apples. Buck chuckled a bit and said, "Why, thank you very much, Applejack! That means a lot to me! And I'm glad you enjoyed your apple from the special patch! C'mon, there's one more thing I want to show you." So A.J. followed Buck down the small hill, and he took her to a large, red barn. When they had gotten inside, Buck announced, "Welcome to the barn, A.J.! I just had to show you this- this is where, well, basically everything happened! Ah, I remember when I was younger- the parties, the bake sales, the family reunions..." he closed his eyes and sighed a happy sigh, soaking up the memories. He then opened his eyes and said, Sorry, A.J... I guess all the stuff I'm talking about is kind of lost on you, huh." Applejack, however, shook her head and replied, "not really, actually- sure, it may be your family, but I do know all about that kind of stu-" "Well well well! If it isn't my baby brother! Still wasting your time in this smelly old barn?" A voice cut off Applejack as it echoed off the barn walls. Buck's eyes shot open, and then he closed them and groaned, 'It had to be him... it just had to.'