//------------------------------// // 25. Apple Brown Betty // Story: X Steps Through The Portal // by Tennis Match Fan //------------------------------// "Oh dear," Apple Brown Betty, or Crumble, as her shortened nickname was, sighed. "I don't have enough!" She stood in the checkout isle at Fresh Produce, several apple-related items on the counter in front of her. The cashier, with a name tag that read Roma, sighed as well. Her sigh, however, was one of frustration. "Miss, if you can't buy anything, I need to ask you to please step out of line and return these items to their proper shelves," she said. "Other customers are waiting." Crumble glanced behind her at the line behind her. "But I do have enough money!" she assured Roma. "For some of these apples, anyway. "How does ten dollars work?" Roma rolled her eyes, but she swiped the food for a price scan. "Ten dollars can get you these canned peaches, vanilla extract, this bag of golden delicious apples, and two red delicious apples, nothing more," Roma responded, annoyance clear on her face. Crumble sighed. "Are ya sure I can't get them cinnamon rolls?" She asked, pointing to the item in question. Roma nodded. "No cinnamon rolls, miss." "Okay." Crumble pulled a ten dollar bill out of her purse. Roma snatched it and placed it into the cash register. As Roma got her receipt and change, Crumble's eyes traveled around the room. "Miss, your change is 3 cents." Roma's sharp voice drew Crumble back to the shopping. "Thanks," Crumble replied, smiling sheepishly as Roma dropped the pennies and receipt in her hand. "And Miss," Roma added as Crumble took her bag, "I suggest you go to math class more often." "Oh, it ain't math," Crumble assured her. "I just don't do money very well." Roma sighed again and turned her back to Crumble. "Next!" She called to the next customer. Crumble kept her smile on as she left the store. "Roma seemed annoyed today," she remarked as she walked down the sidewalk to her cousin's farm. "She seemed annoyed yesterday, too." Crumble was on her way to Sweet Apple Acres to drop off ingredients for apple pastries. Between schoolwork and managing the farm, she knew Applejack and Big Mac and Apple Bloom didn't go shopping for ingredients very often. And Granny Smith slept all day, at least, that was what Crumble assumed. She didn't come around the farm very often. Crumble pulled out her phone to call Applejack. "Hi, Apple Brown Betty!" Applejack exclaimed when she picked up. "You don't have to call me that," Crumble told her. "Anyways, I just bought some groceries for you! I figured you'd need them since you're at school all day and you never go shopping and Granny Smith sleeps all day." Applejack was silent for a moment. "Who told you that?" She asked after seconds ticked by. "Wasn't it obvious?" Crumble responded with a smile. "Hey, I just want to help!" Applejack's sigh was evident over the phone. "I'll come pick you up," Applejack told her. "Are you still near Fresh Produce?" "Yeah, but I can walk, AJ. Honestly." "I'll pick you up anyways." Applejack hung up and sighed. "That gal does realize we grow most of our produce on the farm, right?" She asked herself as she went outside to start the car. "We should probably invited extended family over more often." In a few minutes, Applejack arrived. "Hi, AJ!" Crumble exclaimed, climbing into the passenger's seat. "So nice to see you!" "It's great to see you too," Applejack answered, leaning over for a quick hug. "We'll get back to the farm and you an help Granny with bakin' an' stuff." She pushed the pedal and began to drive. "Granny doesn't sleep all day, ya know," Applejack commented after a moment. "Really?" Crumble was surprised. "I mean, she was always asleep after finishin' all them quilts at family reunions. Always hadda wake her up for the pictures!" "Maybe you and your siblings could come out an' visit on Sunday," Applejack suggested. "We got nothin' better to do!" "That sounds real fun!" Crumble exclaimed. "We could play games and- stop the car!" She yelled suddenly. Applejack slammed her foot on the breaks. "What? What is it?" she asked frantically. "We're at Canterlot High!" Crumble exclaimed staring out the window at the school. "Didn't that girl Twilight Sparkle come from another dimension?" "Uh, listen, cuz', we should be getting on home," Applejack said, nervousness tinting her tone. "Are ya sure there's no portal?" Crumble persisted. "Uh, I dunno?" Applejack was sweating now. Crumble narrowed her eyes. "I'm gonna get out and look around," she answered, opening up the door. "Pick me up in half an hour." Applejack frowned. "Apple Brown Betty, you get back here!" She snapped. Even though Crumble was older than her, it felt like she was scolding a child. "No way!" Crumble waved. "Where's the portal?" "Please get back here," Applejack begged from the car. "I wasn't supposed ta go in the first place, and you don't even know Twilight. Get away from the statue now." "Statue?" Crumble questioned. "You mean that statue?" She gestured to the marble stallion that stood a good several yards away from her. Applejack smacked her forehead. "Just come back, Crumble!" She called. "You honestly make me feel like I'm talking to a three year old, sometimes." Crumble frowned. "Listen, Applejack, I know I'm no good with money an' such, and maybe sometimes I might act a little youn' an' ditzy, but you don't have to go saying I'm a little child like that!" She answered. "So is the portal in the statue?" Applejack bit her lip. "Uh, yeah," she said. "I'm sorry, Crumble. Anyway, only those that got the magic of friendship can go across-" "See ya, little cousin!" Crumble waved as she jumped into the portal. Crumble whirled around like extra cookie batter running down the drain. Colors swirled all around her. "Whoopeeeeee!" She cried, not frightened in the slightest. Sure, her hands were pinned to her side and she could barely move, but what was the worst that could happen? "Aaaah!" She yelled as the colors ended and she fell onto the floor. Crumble opened her eyes. "Wooooah," she gasped, taking in the large bookshelves on the other side of the beautiful crystal room, as well as the mirror behind her that she had probably come from. "I'm a pony!" she exclaimed, immediately noticing her new form. She had the same light brown coat, and when she looked in the mirror her poofy green hair and bright green eyes were still a part of her. Crumble twisted her neck to see her back half. "And wouldya look at that!" she added. "There's an apple brown betty on my flank!" It was the same icon she had on her shirt everyday- what a coincidence! "And of course, now I have to explore this world for a little bit!" Crumble decided. She pulled herself up and looked around. "Now, how hard can it be ta walk like a horse?" She asked herself. Sticking close to the wall for support, she put one hoof in front of the other until soon Crumble was at the top of the stairs. "Weeeee!" Crumble slid down the stairs like it was a ski slope. She landed at the bottom with a thump. "Excuse me?" Crumble looked up when she heard a voice. She was staring at a purple pony with a straight indigo mane. "Howdy!" Crumble exclaimed. "I'm Apple Brown Betty, but you can call me Crumble!" "Nice to meet you, Crumble!" the pony replied. "I'm sure you're looking for Applejack, right?" "Yes, ma'am!" Crumble agreed. The purple mare nodded. "Wait right here, I'll get her for you." As soon as she turned around, Crumble grinned. She ran back up the stairs. "I wish I could see her face when I disappeared!" She giggled. When the sound of hoofsteps reached her ears, Crumble jumped into the portal. "I told her to wait right here," Twilight assured Applejack. "But she's gone." "Twilight, I don't wanna say yer crazy-" Applejack put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder "-but yer crazy." "What did ya do?" Applejack asked when Crumble climbed back into the car. Crumble shrugged. "I looked around. Nice place, ponies have." Applejack rolled her eyes. "Jus' glad yer safe, Crumble." "Me too," Crumble agreed.