//------------------------------// // Seeking out Wisdom // Story: Applejack Through the Ages // by Paradise Oasis //------------------------------// Seeking out Wisdom Thank you Spike, but I think I can take it again from here. Anyway, after that little incident, the other three tossed Fluttershy out of the Story Loft, and went back to reading. Not having been as thoroughly angry at the mare for her antics, I excused myself, and went outside to help her... "Just what the heck were you thinking, Fluttershy?!?" Apple Spice asked her angrily, as she and AJ applied ice to the bruised mare's wounds. "We've told you again and again NOT to take pictures like that of ponies without asking them first!" "I'm sorry, Apple! But you know I can't help myself!" The pink mare whined. "Whenever a pony strikes a picturesque pose, I just gotta capture the moment on film!" The three mares were sitting in the kitchen of Applejack's small house, after the red mare had brought the beaten Fluttershy back here following the disastrous story club. Even after talking it over with Apple Spice, the three ponies were having a hard time deciding what to do about the situation. "It's true... ever since she was a little filly, Flutters has had this obsession with documenting everything on film." Apple Spice sighed. "She even set up her dolls to re-stage important events here in town she missed, just so she could take pictures of them!" "Yeah *click* I gotta say *click* it kind of comes naturally to me! *click*" The pink mare was zipping around the room, the flash of her camera going off rapid-fire. "Besides, what's wrong with *click* being a shutterbug? *click*" She spun around, aiming her camera straight at AJ's flank. "Ohhhh, I know a whole lotta stallions who would want this shot! *CLICK!*" "FLUTTERSHY, STOP!" Applejack's hoof shot out, stopping the picture pony dead in her tracks. "Please, just... stop." "Ooopsss.... sorry, AJ." The mare whimpered apologetically, as the red pony with the angrily twitching eye let her go. "I didn't mean to do that, I just couldn't help it!" "We need to get you broken of that habit, Sugar Cube." Applejack told the pink pony, taking a sip of her apple cider. "You can't just go around stalking ponies and taking photos of them. Folks will start thinking you're some kind of creepy wierdo." "Wait, I know!" Apple Spice exclaimed, smiling at the other two ponies, "we could take Fluttershy to the wisest pony in the land!" "Yeah, she'd definitely be able to help me!" Fluttershy replied, nodding her in agreement. "perfecto!" "All right then, let's go to see this 'perfecto!' Applejack agreed. "Maybe she can help you." "Oh, you're such a silly pony, Applejack!" Apple Spice replied, giggling at her cousin. "We're talking about Kimono, the wisest pony in the land! She'll know how to help cure Fluttershy of her problem, just like she always help all of us with all of our problems!" "Yeah, I've never heard of a pony named 'perfecto' before!" Fluttershy laughed, before asking "Oh, does anyone know where she lives? I'm dying to get a picture of her!" "Applejack, I'm going to have to ask you to be a good friend, and go with Flutters to see the wisest pony in the land." Apple Spice asked her cousin. "I know you haven't been in town long, but if you could take a picnic lunch to Kimono, and try to explain why we-" *click!* The camera shutter snapped from beneath the table. Apple Spice looked under the tablecloth, to see the camera lens pointed between her legs, right at her lower extremities. "Ah hah hah... hi, Spice!" Flutters laughed nervously, putting the camera away as the other mare glared at her. "W-what's new with you?" "BLAST IT FLUTTERSHY! I'M GONNA SHOVE THAT CAMERA STRAIGHT UP YOUR MARE HOLE!" "I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRRRRRYYYYYYYY!" Now, I had noticed how most of these ponies seemed very simple-minded, so I didn't expect much when Apple Spice wanted me to go and seek advice from their 'wisest pony'. But I felt I owed it to the original Fluttershy to help out her descendant who was in such desperate need. So when Apple Spice had to go to her Dance Practice at Twinkle Twirl's studio, it fell to me to escort my new friend to meet with Kimono. Besides, it kind of felt... in a weird sort of way... that when I was around this Rainbow Dash, this Pinkie Pie... i was almost like being back among my friends again. I really think part of me hoped, if I could get Flutters straightened out, that maybe I could get the friend I had lost back in some way, too. Anyway, I decided to pack Kimono a picnic lunch, and journeyed to where she lived outside of Ponyville... "Up there, Applejack!" Fluttershy exclaimed, pointing a hoof at the path that lead around Ponyville lake. "That's where Kimono lives!" The red mare followed her around the stone path, which led to a tall circular gazebo with round columns. Behind it stood a small mountain, with lovely waterfalls cascading down the sides. As the two ponies approached the Gazebo, AJ noticed a cave entrance on the other side, leading right into the rock face. As the two ponies approached the opening, the pink pony marched right into the entryway, without hesitation. "Ummm, you sure we're supposed to go in here, Flutters?" The red mare asked, setting the picnic basket down at the enterance, and trotting into the cave after her. "I mean, it's not like I have a problem going through a dark and smelly cave, but I can't think of any pony that would live in -AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" "AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Suddenly, the two mares were airborne. Something just beyond the entrance picked the both of then up, and hurled AJ and Fluttershy against the cave wall. The old red mare felt an intense pain throughout her whole body, and she wished the world would stop spinning so she could get off. "All right, you two intruders, I-" A serious but quiet voice started to whisper. "Oh my word, Fluttershy! Are you and your friend all right?" "Yeah, I'm all right." Futtershy replied, as the sound of her camera clicking filled the air. "But I think my friend over there took a nasty fall. Oh, I should get a snapshot of this!" "Would you please put that camera away, and lend me a hoof in getting her up?" The voice called out again. "Honestly Fluttershy, you need to keep your priorities straight!" At first AJ couldn't see anything, as the source of the voice had thrown her straight into the wall. But as the two ponies lifted her up, the red mare saw a serene, yet obviously strong earth pony, wearing the upper portion of a karate Gi, and sporting a purple mane and paper lantern cutie mark. "sorry about that, my friend." The mare apologized in a voice barely above a whisper. "I was in the middle of practicing my self-defense moves, and mistook you for an intruder." "That's all right." Applejack gagged, trying to get her breath back. Looking over the mare in front of her, the picnic maker couldn't believe the aura of maturity and wisdom she seemed to radiate, so different from the other ponies she had met in this town. "You must be Kimono, right?" "Yes, that is correct. I am indeed Kimono." The taller mare smiled, giving off an air of what felt like absolute serenity. "How may I be of Service to you?"