"Wow, this looks amazing!" I said, looking on at the table of food that was laid out before us, completely filled with apples and apple products of all kinds. "Ehyup. We got, apple fritters, apple frys, apple jam, apple dumplings, some of the best apple cider that y'all are gonna ever taste, and best of all..." AJ stopped to build suspense as her, Apple Bloom and Big Mac looked as thought they were about to unveil the biggest pumpkin in the county fair. "Granny Smiths Super Special: ZAP Apple Pie!!" they all said in unison, pointing to a pie that seemed to simply shimmer.
Me and Rainbow Dash clapped at the big reveal. "Awesome! Now can we stop talking about the delicious food and actually eat it?!" She said causing everyone to laugh.
"Go right ahead Y'all!" AJ proclaimed.
There was no need to tell us twice as we all grabbed our plates and quickly began to fill them. "So what exactly happened to your shoulder Big Mac?" I asked the crimson stallion as we all sat down to eat. "Dislocated it while Ah was plowin' the fields fer the new sapplins we're gettin' in soon" he answered before taking a bite out of a red gala.
"Which is why he ain't wearin' his watchamacalit right now, cuz the doctor said that it'd get in the way of his shoulder gettin' better" Apple Bloom pipped up, then taking a sip of apple juice.
"Ah think it's called a 'yoke' Sugarcube" AJ corrected, taking a bite of a fritter.
"Now where was it y'all said you were from sonny?" Granny Smith asked me with a mouthful of dumplings.
I was about to take a bite of ZAP apple pie when she asked that. "That's... A bit complicated to explain"
"SURE it is" Dash said, in an accusing sort of way.
"Now there ain't no need for takin' up THAT kinda tone Rainbow Dash! If he don't wanna talk about it, we ain't gonna force it outta him" AJ said, causing Rainbow Dash to to huff in response.
"Thank you AJ" I said, now patting my full stomach. "And thanks for lunch, it was delicious! Especially that ZAP apple pie"
"Why thankya kindly there Jack, Ah'm just glad y'all managed to show up while the zap apples were in season so you could try it fresh" Granny Smith said with a smile.
"Well" AJ said as she stood up. "Ah gotta go into town and have Rarity mend a hole that SOMEpony made in my hat when she fell outta a tree earlier"
"I said I was sorry!" Rainbow pipped up with a mouthful of Jam covered apple frys.
"I'll go with you, I have to head into town anyways" I said, also standing up from the table.
"Well, ah sure would 'preciate the company! And don' get me wrong or nothin', but sometimes ah jus' can't STAND that mare without somepony there ta keep me in check"
"AWWwwwWWW.... But I was gunna introduce ya to my fellow crusaders!" Apple Bloom whined.
"Heheh, maybe next time kiddo" I said with a smile as me and AJ were walking out the door.
Me and AJ had a nice long talk as we walked to the Carousel Boutique about what life was like for a farm pony. "Wow, and you still almost beat them even when they turned off the efficiency filter on their machine?" I asked as we walked through the Ponyvile market. It was a slow day there with only a few stands even set up. "Ehyup, and it's a good thing that it didn't keep all the branches it sucked up outta the cider, otherwise we coulda lost the farm!" She said as we rounded the corner and walked up to a circular shop that was very ornately decorated that fit its name Carousel Boutique perfectly. "Those brothers sound like a real piece of work" I said as we entered the store. Inside was a white unicorn with a curled purple mane and tail levitating multiple pieces of fabric and bringing them closer and further from her face one at a time. "No.. no.. no.. Heavens no!" I heard her mumbling to herself as she did so.
"Howdy there Rare!" AJ said as we came in.
"Aha!" she said as she dropped all the fabrics she was levitating except for a navy blue strip as she ran over to get some more just like it and then to a dress on a pony manikin and proceeded to sew it on.
"Ahem!" AJ cleared her throat, snapping the mare out of her dress making daze.
"Huh? Oh! AppleJack! How long have you been standing there?"
"Not too long, ah could use yer help. Y'see, ah managed to tear a hole in my hat. Think y'all could give 'er a patch job?" She asked, holding out her hat in her hoof. Rarity took it up in her magic and proceeded to examine it. "Hmm.. moderate sized hole, just above the ear on the left side.. this shouldn't be too difficult. I'll start right away!" She said as she set it on her table to begin working.
"Great! ah really would hate to be without it at the party tonight" AJ said with a smile.
"Oo! A party! What's the occasion, Darling?"
"Pinkies throwin' Jack here a welcome to Ponyville party"
"Hi" I said.
"Oh I'm terribly sorry sir! How rude of me" she said as she turned around.
"My name is Rarit-EUAGH!!" She said with as shriek as she saw me for the first time. "was my apperence really that off-setting?" I thought.
"Land sakes, Rarity! What is it?"
"Y-your.. Your clothes.." At this, AppleJack did a simple face-hoof. "My clothes?" I asked as I looked myself over.
"S-surely you don't go around in those.. rags, Darling" Rags? Ok, fair enough they aren't really something I'd leave the house in on a regular basis. But rags? "I generally only wear them around the house, but I was kinda.. thrown from it recently"
"Oh my.. You poor poor dear! I'm terribly sorry... I know! I'll make you an outfit" I was a bit confused at this, and it wasn't until I noticed the look of pity I was getting from AppleJack that it hit me what was happening "W-wait wait! I think you misunderstood what I meant by thrown from home. I have a home! It's just really far away!" I said, trying not make either of them think I was homeless.
"Shush, Shush! I WON'T hear another word of it! If Pinkie is throwing you a party tonight, then I INSIST on making you something to at least look presentable and not like you just rolled out of bed!" She said, now pushing me towards a miniature stage that was nearby. "I'm terribly sorry AppleJack, I know I said I would start working on your hat right away but I simply CANNOT allow this to go unattended!" She said as she pushed me on-stage.
"No worries sugarcube. Jus' bring it by at the party tonight."
"Oh, I don't know.. Am I invited?" She asked as she levitated a tape measure over to me and started taking measurements. "It's Pinkie Pie. Ah wouldn't be surprised if the whole town was invited!" AJ retorted as she made for the door. I gave her a desperate look to say don't leave me here but she either didn't notice or REALLY didn't want to be anywhere near here while Rarity went back into "fasionista mode". "Please, Miss...."
"Rarity, Darling."
"Rarity, I don't have any money. And I don't want you to be doing this without pay."
"Pay? Nonsense! In your case I'm willing to make an exception. Besides, I've never made a suit for a bi-ped before so this is really mutually beneficial for both of us" she said as she undid my flannel with her magic and took it and my gym shorts off.
"Those stays on!!" I said quickly as I grabbed my aura surrounded boxers before she could pull them off. She gave me a look of confusion before shrugging and releasing her hold on them.
"So tell me darling, what style do you want me to create for you?" She asked me, with no lack of flare.
"I'm really not that picky, just as long as it can breathe" I said, starting to feel slightly embarrassed about being up on a stage in nothing but my undergarments. That apparently wasn't enough for her "Oh come now Darling, surely you care more about your appearance than that! Now tell me, WHAT! Is Jack's style!" She said, looking up at me with determined eyes. I actually got to thinking about it and then realized that my legs and mid section weren't the only things that were exposed up here. "I do normally wear a Fedora" She visibly brightened up at that. "Yes! Good! I shall return!" She said as she ran off to the back room.
I was left standing on-stage in my boxers. "Well, at least no one can see me." I said, instantly wishing I hadn't when a white unicorn filly with a pink and lavender mane and tail walked in from upstairs. When she saw me, her cheeks turned from their normal white color to as red as Apple Blooms mane as she turned around and walked back upstairs.
Rarity came back in levitating all kinds of hats different sizes and styles in her light blue aura. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that! I ordered all sorts of different kinds to base outfits around. Sadly I haven't had the time as of late and they've just been sitting back there in that room gathering dust!" I browsed them all until I finally laid my eyes on one. A brown fedora with a brim that went all around the base. "That one." I said as I pointed to it. It floated closer to me and I took it and placed it on my head. A perfect fit! "I love it! It's just like the one I have back home!" Rarity continued to smile as I said this. "Now, we just have to assemble a style that circulates around it... A good hat like this requires at least medium effort put into the outfit in order to pull it off!" I nodded as we started talking about what to put into my outfit.