//------------------------------// // PPD Recording #1337 // Story: Barking Mad: Echoes // by TheGLQwardvark //------------------------------// The following is a magical recording of a conversation between a Ms. Maple ‘Apple’ Craft and a former officer of the Ponyville Police Department. Maple came to the PPD with the report that she had found a filly on the edge of the Everfree Forest. Due to a fire that damaged the recording about twenty years ago, only Maple’s responses can be heard clearly. “Maple ‘Apple’ Craft.” “What? The ‘Apple’ part? That’s mah real name. Ah had it changed when...it’s a long story. Just forget about it.” “Ah just don’t like ta bring it up is all.” “Now look. Ah thought that we were gonna be talkin’ bout the foal, not me!” “Ah really don’t see why it matters.” “No, it ain’t that.” “Not that either.” “Really? Yer serious..?” “Do ya ‘onestly think that Ah would do that? Do Ah look like a criminal?” “None taken. If it’ll getcha ta stop askin’ Ah’ll tell ya. Ah had a fallin’ out with mah family. That’s all Ah can say about the matter, so just drop it.” “It’s alright. Ah get it. Anyways just call me Ms. Maple. Makes it easier on the both of us.” “Thank ya kindly.” “Occupa-what now?” “Oh, mah job! Well, why didn’t ya’ll just that in the first place? Ah’m a carpenter. Best one in Equestria, if ya ask me!” “Ya weren’t asking me?...Smart-flank.” “Alright, alright...Ah’m sorry. Is that better?” “Good. Now where were we? Oh right, mah job! Well Ah’ve had a knack for fixing things ever since Ah was just a little filly. Ah got my cutie mark pretty late, though, last in mah class. Why, if Ah remember right, Ah was tending to the trees in the South Acres...that is the farm’s south apple orchards, and Ah saw...” “Pardon?” “Oh right. Sorry, Ah tend ta get carried away sometimes. Anyhing else y’all need ta now bout me?” “How dare you?!?! Didn’t yer mother tell ya ta never ask a mare that?!” “Ah don’t care if y’all are ‘in charge’ here!! Ya simply don’t go around askin’ a mare her age. Even in the woods that’d be bad manners! Now how would ya like it if somepony was flankin’ their nose inta yer personal life, mister...uh what did y’all say yer name was again?” “Vigilance, huh...Good name.” “Completely ‘onest.” “Yer welcome. Now can we please get to the foal?” “No. Not that Ah could see. Ah doubt that she’d have it now anyways. Not somepony as young as that un’.” “Ah’m pretty sure.” “She’s got a gray mane, really messy thing, and a blue coat.” “Like the sky, yeah.” “Some more? Uh...her eyes are purple, if that helps. Ah mean it’s not like ya have records on everypony’s eye color...” “What?! Ya do?! Well, Ah’m more surprised than an apple in an orange tree.” “Ah saw her a-layin’ down in the grass. The trees were all messed up. The darndest thing Ah ever did see.” “The bottom halves of the trees were all de-barked. There was a bunch of blood coverin’ them too.” “Err...she was close ta the trees... Actually she had a coupla splinters stuck in her side. She musta been the one who mangled mah trees. Not that Ah’m mad, of course! Ah’m just confused...” “The Everfree Forest. Why do y’all ask? Wait... Ah think Ah know. It’s ‘cuz of all the ‘dangerous critters’ that live in there, right? Well, Ah got a good reason fer not mindin’ them. Ah’m a carpenter, right?” “Yeah, so Ah need a lot of wood fer work and let me tell ya, these days it’s mighty hard to come across some high quality maple. There are some darn good maples in the forest. Lucky fer me, Ah found a bunch growin’ on the outskirts. So Ah set up mah house next to ‘em. Even used ‘em ta build it.” “Ah know, Ah know. A Maple is living in some maples next to some maples. Hilarious. Anyways that’s why Ah live out th...” “Then why else wouldja ask?” “A filly that ran inta the woods a coupla days ago? Ah haven’t heard anything about it.” “WHAT?! But that’s awful!! Have ya’ll at least caught the varmints responsible?” “Not yet? Do ya at least know who did it?” “Ah ain’t sure. Ah mean Ah haven’t seen anything like a dog lurkin’ in the forest. Ah’ll be sure ta tell y’all if... wait, what does this have to do with the filly?” “WHAT DIDJA JUST SAY?!?!” “Lemme get this straight. Y’all think that the filly Ah found and the one that went missin’ are the same?” “But that would mean...That explains why she was..! And her side..!” “Oh. Well...um...when Ah asked her a coupla questions, like where she was livin’ and who her parents were, she couldn’t remember a thing! It musta been from the shock! Oh mah Celestia! Oh the poor little...” “Ah’m...fine. It’s just that...when Ah was a filly mah parents meant the world ta me. Ah can’t imagine what she must be goin’ through right now.” “Can ya repeat that? Ah could’ve sworn ya said ya were gonna send her ta an orphanage.” “Ohhh no ya ain’t!! There ain’t no way in Tartarus that Ah’m gonna let that foal get raised in an orphanage!” “Well...Ah reckon that Ah could raise her. At least she’d have somepony watchin’ over her.” “No way. Ah already told ya that ain’t gonna happen.” “Ah don’t care what ya’ll think! She needs a good home where she’ll be loved forever! Ya ain’t gonna get that from no orphanage!” “Yes Ah sure as shoot can. May surprise y’all but Ah’m good with foals.” “Don’t get sarcastic with me!” “Ah’m sure.” “Of course Ah’d be willin’ ta sign a few documents. As long as ya’ll let me keep her.” About twenty minutes time passes as Ms. Maple signs papers, before conversation picks back up. “There. Ah signed yer dang papers. Anything else?” “Is that really necessary? Ah mean comin’ in every week is gonna get in the way of mah work... Oh who cares? If that’s what it takes then, yeah Ah’ll let ya know how she’s doin’.” “Great! Let’s shake on it then!” “Oh toughen up. Just a little spit is all. It won’t hurt none.” “Well, Ah’m glad Ah came down here. Ah need ta get on back home. Ah told her that Ah was going ta the farm for to do a bit of work. She might be gettin’ worried.” “Pleasure meetin’ y’all and don’t worry, Ah’ll keep y’all informed.” “Oh wait a second. Ah completely forgot ta ask fer the foal’s name.” “What? Are you sure? Ah thought ya were supposed ta be more responsible ‘bout these kinda things than that?” “Nevermind, Ah’ll just hafta come up with a name mahself. Well, Ah really must be goin’. Ah’ll be back next week.” End of recording