THE EQUESTRIAN VENTURE
Chapter five: bad apple
Written by TheCrimsonDM
Rita and Fluttershy walked a couple of miles heading towards sweet apple acres. There they would meet up with another one of Fluttershy’s friends. Rita’s knee was beginning to hurt a little by the time they arrived. To try and take her mind off of the pain she decided to ask Fluttershy a question that had been bothering her.
Rita asked. “So I noticed that there are several different types of ponies. Some are like normal horses; others have horns or wings, and a very few have both. Could you explain why there are so many variants in your species?”
Fluttershy took a moment to answer and sounded a little nervous when she did. “I um…I’m not sure why, but I do know that pegasi like me are able to fly. Unicorns, those are the ones with the horns, they can use magic. The normal ponies as you call them are actually called Earth Ponies, they are really good at farming. And when a pony has both wings, and a horn it’s called an alicorn. In fact I think only a princess can be an alicorn, which is why Twilight Sparkle is both an alicorn and a princess…I guess.”
Rita had wondered about whether Twilight’s royal connection had something to do with being alicorn before, she was glad to hear her theory was correct. Now she began wondering about crossbreeds of these three types of ponies, and how their unique physical aspects would change there off spring. She supposed that this could explain the alicorn race, but this didn’t explain why they had to be a princess, perhaps a perfect alicorn is so rare that they give them a special place in society.
The pair had finally arrived at the apple orchard where Rita was astounded to see how much of the land here was turned into an apple farm. She felt like she was staring at an apple tree forest. She looked at Fluttershy and asked. “How many ponies work on this farm?”
It had to be dozens if not more working on the farm. The farm was so big she could swear that the mountain barely visible in the distance was part of the farm. She walked next to Fluttershy admiring the work that had been put into the trees as she waited for Fluttershy’s answer.
Fluttershy said. “Three ponies, sometimes they have there cousins help out, but that’s rare.”
Rita couldn’t believe that only three ponies could take care of such an orchard. She had to be missing something important here. She examined her surroundings attempting to pick out what could possibly be off, and finally it hit her. Fluttershy had said that Earth Ponies were good farmers, maybe they had some kind of supernatural farming ability. Could this be part of the inherent magic Fluttershy had mentioned once?
It took a little bit of walking down the old dirt road but the two finally arrived at a clearing where she could see a barn, or was it a large two story house, complete with an attic. Actually it looked like the two things were fused together, it was a barn house. Rita found it amusing that ponies would live in barns in this world, and turn said barns into houses. A single red pony with a blond mane was walking towards them, judging by the shape of his body Rita guessed that this was a stallion.
On his approach he waved to Fluttershy saying. “Howdy miss Fluttershy.”
Rita stood frozen solid in fear though, since he got closer she noticed that this pony was a giant, in fact he wasn’t a pony at all. This had to be a horse, he was nearly six feet tall and he towered over Rita. Rita gave a quiet squeaking sound as she attempted to tell Fluttershy about the big scary horse. The big red horse had a piece of hay sticking out of his mouth.
Fluttershy then said. “Oh um…Rita this is Big Mac, he’s a nice pony. Big Mac this is Rita, she’s my newest friend.”
Big Mac bowed his head slightly and said politely. “Howdy miss Rita.”
Rita then began to back up a little and whispered to Fluttershy. “He’s not a pony, he’s a full fledged horse. And he’s so going to bite me.”
Fluttershy gave a soft little laugh before saying. “Big Mac may be big, but he is the most gentle stallion I’ve ever met. Isn’t that right?”
Big Mac looked away somehow managing to blush a little bit through his red fur coat. Rita could see from the way he held himself that, maybe Fluttershy was right about him. Rita tried to work up her courage as she said. “It’s nice to meet you…Big Mac.”
Big Mac smiled to her and said. “It’s mah pleasure.” He then began walking passed them saying. “Applejack is in the barn.”
Fluttershy then said. “Thank you Big Mac.”
He replied. “Ayep.”
As he left Rita watched him suspiciously for a few moments, not trusting the giant horse. She followed Fluttershy to the barn house while still feeling a little nervous. Rita then realized something that she was thankful for animals having, as she watched Big Mac walking away. She said to herself. “Boy am I glad that horses have tails.”
Fluttershy asked. “Why is that?”
Rita looked at her and said blatantly. “Because penises are gross enough on a human, but on a horse it’s just yuk. I mean, imagine having to stare at it while he walked? Eww, animal’s are gross.”
Fluttershy stopped dead in her tracks, her face became a deep shade of red as she squeaked. As Fluttershy continued squeaking Rita wondered what had her so worked up. It took her far too long to realize that Fluttershy was a little shy, and scientific terms probably embarrassed her. So Rita decided to try and fix her mistake.
Rita rubbed the back of her head and said nervously. “Oops, I uh…guess you don’t like that word. Would it have been better if I said meat stick?”
Fluttershy squeaked again, and Rita stammered. “Um…fifth leg, his second tail, his Gentlemen’s cane?”
Fluttershy wasn’t even squeaking now, she was opening her mouth and no sound was coming out of it. Rita wasn’t quite sure what she had done to make Fluttershy so upset, most people were fine with the use of scientific terms when it came to animals.
An orange mare with a blond mane set into a ponytail, and wearing a cowboy hat walked up to the pair of them saying. “What is goin on here, what did ya’ll do to Fluttershy?”
Rita looked at the pony and answered. “I think she’s embarrassed by male genitalia.”
Applejack looked confused as she asked. “What?”
Rita explained. “Well I was talking about Big Mac’s penis and then she-“
Rita was cut off by the orange pony shouting angrily. “You said WHAT ABOUT MY BORTHER!”
The orange one was snorting steam out of her nostrils, and she began digging at the ground with a foreleg preparing to charge. Fear shot through Rita’s entire frame as she realized she had just said something exceedingly stupid…again. And gotten herself into trouble…again. This pony was going to attack her, and she had no way of defending herself. Rita looked over at Fluttershy who had clenched her eyes shut tight and was holding her breath.
Rita said in a nervous tone. “Fluttershy, I think she’s going to kill me. Fluttershy please help…Fluttershy?”
The orange one took in a deep breath and was about to charge when Fluttershy opened her eyes and stared sternly at the orange pony. Fluttershy then said in low even tones. “You will calm down, and be very nice to my friend Rita. I know she is very blunt but she doesn’t mean any harm. Calm down Applejack.”
The orange pony who was named Applejack fell flat on her hind quarters and exhaled, before saying. “Sorry.”
Something was very off about this moment. Applejack was going to kill Rita, or at least try her best, and considering the condition she was in that wouldn’t be a very hard task. But when Fluttershy talked to her, Applejack calmed down and even apologized although she was probably in the right here. Something just happened that made Rita very curious about Fluttershy, and she wanted to investigate more into it.
It took a few minutes for Applejack to completely calm down, and Fluttershy explained in a whisper that Rita needed to be a little more modest in the future. They all sat down on some bushels of hay in the backyard. There was an awkward stillness to the air as the three of them tried several times to start a conversation, and failing each time.
Eventually Applejack sucked in a deep breath and said. “So tell us a little about yerself.”
Rita found it funny that this was the first time anyone had actually asked her about herself. Rita thought about how to answer the question for a few moments before she finally said. “Well I’m a scientist, and a soldier. I’ve had a…different life. I’m one of the last of six friends, the war was hard on everyone, Sometimes you lose the battle even if you’ve won the war.”
Applejack and Fluttershy both looked intrigued by Rita’s words, although she wasn’t going to continue talking about herself. She was beginning to feel a little down now that she was thinking about the past.
A familiar earth pony filly with a pink ribbon in her hair walked up holding a plate by her mouth, on the plate were some glasses of apple juice. After setting the plate down next to them she said excitedly. “Rita, what are you doing here? Are you friends with Applejack?”
Applejack looked sternly at the filly for a second asking her. “How did you know her name?”
Applebloom looked nervous and backed away a little saying. “Um…I heard you say it.”
Applejack rubbed her face with a hoof while saying. “Ugh, Ah’d ground ya, but ah think Rita’s not such a bad pony. Just don’t get yerself in trouble.”
Applebloom smiled and ran off just as an old looking green coated pony with gray hair fashioned into a bun walked up. Rita couldn’t help but ask. “Whoa is she okay?”
Applejack gave a sneer towards her and explained. “That’s granny smith, and she’s just fine. She’s just a little old.”
Granny Smith walked up and said. “Now hear this you whippersnapper, I’m as young as a spring chicken.”
Rita gave a little laugh at seeing Applejack put into her place by an elder. Granny Smith then said. “Well ah believe you already know my name, what’s yours young’en?”
Rita smiled at the polite elder pony and said. “My name is Rita Rainwater, and I’m a human.”
Granny Smith snickered a little before saying. “Well don’t that just beat all, ah’ve never seen a human before, and ah’ve seen everything.”
Rita’s ears perked up at the hint of a good story. Rita then asked. “Really? I bet with how young you are, you have a lot of good stories.”
Granny Smith raised an eyebrow, as Applejack let out a sigh. Granny Smith then said. “Well I may know an interesting tale or two. But ya’ll couldn’t possibly be interested in them.”
Rita sat up and crossed her legs, she then said with barely contained excitement. “I’d love to hear one.”
Applejack whispered the words. “Why did ya go and do that?”
Rita shushed her and then said. “Please.”
Granny Smith beamed as she said. “Alright, I suppose I could tell you one. Ya see back in the my day, I was really good at swimming. In fact I was the ponyville…”
Granny Smith continued to relive her younger days with Rita listening attentively. Rita always loved to listen to stories, it was one of her favorite things. Although when she was younger didn’t enjoy it. She used to dislike the long boring stories that her dad would always tell her. But one day he was gone, and she was no longer able to hear them. She learned then that there are some things you should always cherish in life, because they won’t always be there for you, when you need them most. Granny Smith’s stories reminded Rita a lot of her father’s old stories..
By the time Granny Smith had finished, both Fluttershy and Applejack had fallen asleep, and Rita had learned more about ponies then she had ever thought she could. Not in terms of scientific facts, but in terms of culture and about whom they were. Ponies truly were people, and Rita was now feeling guilty over having thought of them only as advanced animals.
When Granny Smith yawned Rita knew that story time was over. Rita then said. “I loved hearing your stories.”
Granny Smith looked at the sleeping ponies and smiled saying. “I loved telling them to you Rita.” Granny Smith then looked at her and became a little more serious as she said. “You understand don’t you? The reasons why us old codgers tell you youngsters these stories?”
Rita looked away feeling her eyes water up a little, she then wiped her eyes on her jacket sleeve before saying. “Yeah, I do. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love hearing you’re awesome stories. You’re pretty awesome Granny Smith.”
Granny Smith smiled and gave a laugh before saying. “You can call me Granny, and you can come by and listen to me talk yer ears off anytime you want.”
Rita smiled and asked. “Really?”
Granny gave her a nod and said. “Of course, your part of the family now. Despite what Applejack here may think. Give her some time to warm up to you, and I just know that you two will become great friends.”
Applejack stirred a little, she raised her head slowly and asked. “What did ya say? She’s family already, but we hardly know her.”
Granny gave a little smile and said. “She’s a nice girl Applejack, and she needs good friends like you. So treat her nice or it’s you’re hide being tanned.”
Applejack shook her head as she tried to wake up. Granny looked at Rita and said. “Well ah ought to be going inside now, it’s time for my nap.” And with that she walked back inside the house.
Applejack was still waking up and Rita remembered that they were still supposed to meet one more person today. Looking over at Fluttershy, Rita placed a hand gently on her head and brushed the hair out of her face. Rita then said. “Hey Fluttershy we still have one more pony to meet today.”
Fluttershy opened her eyes and rubbed at them with her foreleg before saying. “What time is it?”
Rita looked up at the sun and realized that she had no idea how much time had passed. She then looked at Applejack for the answer. Applejack said. “It’s afternoon, which means ah got to get ready for the thing today.”
Fluttershy sat up slowly and gave a tiny little yawn before saying. “Oh…okay we need to meet with Rainbow Dash now.”
The two left Applejack and her farm behind. As they walked away Rita said. “I like the apple family. Although I feel like I might have made a poor first impression on Applejack.”
Fluttershy shook her head and said. “At least it’s going to be hard to make a bad impression on Rainbow Dash. She’s easy.”
Rita couldn’t help but giggle at the way Fluttershy said the word easy. Fluttershy then blushed a little and stated. “I meant she’s easy to please.”
Rita began laughing now. Fluttershy then said. “She’s uh…a…likes to be…um she…is….easy going.”
Rita couldn’t help but laugh at Fluttershy’s attempts to fix what she had said. Rita decided to end her torment after a few minutes, and in between laughing she said. “It’s okay, I understand, what you meant.”
Fluttershy seemed to calm down a little bit after that, and the two of them left to go meet Rainbow Dash.