//------------------------------// // Caution, Heavy Machinery // Story: Friendship Kita!!!! // by cyberlord4444 //------------------------------// Applejack paused from her work to wipe the sweat off her brow. She had already managed to buck over 40 trees so far, and she needed to do at least 60 by days end if she was to ever get them all done in time. Unfortunately, it wasn't the bucking that was the problem. To be perfectly honest, most of the Apple Clan thought that her Cutie Mark was slightly off. Applejack had turned the Apple Clan's signature harvesting method into an art form, so much so that everypony thought that it should be an apple tree that marked her flank. No, Applejack's problem was getting the apples to the barn. While she'd didn't like saying it aloud, AJ knew that her carrying capacity was nothing compared to her brother's. To bring in the same amount of apples, AJ needed to make at least twice as many trips. While bucking the apples off the trees was no problem, without Big Mac to help cart them in, she wasn't doing nearly as well as she normally did. That business with the cows hadn't helped, stopping them from destroying Ponyville cost her at least an hour's worth of work. If they had least ran in the general direction of the orchards like they did normally, Applejack wouldn't have need to take as long to catch up with them and get back, and they might of caused a few apples to fall. Briefly, Applejack considered canceling the plans to help some of her friends, but dismissed it. If there was one thing Applejack would never do, other than lie, it would be to break a promise. She promised to help her friends, and she would. She could make the time to do both, the question was how. Applejack remembered seeing Pinkie eat while she was doing other things, perhaps she could ask how she did it when she saw her? Deciding that she had enough of a break, she got back to it. After a few minutes, she noticed Jack coming up. "Howdy partner," she said, "what brings you here." "Nothing too big," Jack said, "just wondered if I could ask you a favor." "Not rightly sure if I can oblige ya," AJ replied, "I've got enough on my plate as it is." "It's nothing too big, just wondering if I could use your barn for something," said Jack. "Now what would you possibly need with my barn?" AJ asked. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver colored Gate Switch, "Well, the thing is..." (Rabbit Hutch, 1 hour ago) "Are you sure you found something interesting Shutter?" Jack asked. "Yep," Shutter said as she led the way, "it's really big, and kinda funny looking." "My dear," Decima said, "everything looks really big to you." "Actually," Jack said as they arrived, "I think she might be on to something." It was a door, like many others they had passed on the way there. Above it was written one word in big block letters. Garage "So anyway," Jack said, "turns out that it has its own Gate Switch, and the door it connects to is so large that your barn is basically the only thing that I know can hold it." "I dunno," AJ said, "I need that barn. All the apples I've been harvesting are in it for one thing, not ta mention that I need to harvest all the rest of them within the next to weeks, otherwise they'll start going bad." "Not a problem," Jack replied, "unlike its golden brother, the Silver Gate Switch turns a wall into the Gate. If it makes you feel any better, I'll let you use one of the things in it." "Well," AJ said somewhat hesitantly, "I suppose that's okay, those Gate Switch thingies are the only way for you to get home. Just let me grab a few baskets so that I'm not wasting any time." "I can help with that," Jack said as he pulled his Driver out of a bag he was wearing over his shoulder. "No need, I've got this," AJ said as she hefted a few baskets into a cart, "besides, isn't that thing for important stuff." "And helping a friend isn't important?" Jack countered, causing AJ to blush. "Besides," he continued as he strapped it to his waist, "I need to practice with Jean anyway." "Who's Jean?" AJ asked as she strapped herself into the cart. Jack grinned as he flipped the toggles, "You'll see." 3! 2! 1! "Hensin!" AJ covered her eyes, no matter how many times she saw it, Jack's transformation was always impressive. Looking, AJ noticed that instead of his standard Rocket Switch, there was a pink one that she'd never seen before. Before she could ask what it was, Jack flipped it on. Magic Hand On In an instant, a large multi-jointed mechanical arm appeared on Jack's right wrist. "Let's get started, shall we Jean?" "No problem," replied a female voice from the arm. With that, Jack picked up a basket of apples, and the arm placed a few more on top of it, then grabbed one for itself. As they walked towards the barn, AJ couldn't help but comment, "So, I'm guessing you're Jean?" "Yep," she replied, "Spirit of the constellation of the Aura, named in celebration of the invention of the telekinesis spell that all unicorns use today." AJ whistled, "Guess you're pretty important then." "Not really," Jean admitted, "I'm pretty low level as far as constellation spirits go, only unicorns pay any attention to me." "And Princess Luna I'd imagine," AJ said. "I guess, but we've never been that interested in her that much," Jean said, "she's more in charge of the moon." After that, they were quiet for a while. Eventually, Jack grinned, "You know, this kinda reminds me of home." "You grew up on an apple farm?" AJ asked. "Corn actually," Jack replied, "although I have to admit, it wasn't quite for me. I was always more interested in fixing the family tractor than driving it. So I went to school, got a degree, and now fix engines for a living, or used to anyway." "Huh," AJ said, "I don't rightly know what you mean by tractor or engine, but I did something similar myself. Back before I got my Cutie Mark, I went through a patch where I didn't think I belonged on the farm. I went to live with my Aunty Orange in the city for a spell, but it wasn't for me. Soon enough, and with the help of a rainbow that pointed me home, I came back. Haven't lived anywhere else since, though I have traveled out of town once or twice for business or reunions." "Guess that's where you and I are different," Jack said, "I left to go towards something, you left to leave. Now, I'm not saying I didn't keep in touch with my folks, I actually was with my brother at that stupid convention, but you have to admit that you get a lot farther if you've got a destination in mind." "True enough," AJ said as they arrived at the barn, "let me just unload before we do this Gate thing." "Let me give you a hand," Jack said. With Jean's help, they unloaded the cart and stacked the baskets in record time. That done, Jack approached the back wall, Silver Gate Switch in hand. He pressed it into the wall, causing it to be partially absorbed into the wall, with only the switch visible, which he then flipped. Gate On Various boards slid away to reveal a massive hanger door, which opened as soon as it was completely clear. Inside were two machines, one of which rendered AJ nearly speechless. "What the hay is that thing," she asked, pointing with her hoof. "That?" Jack said, "it's designed for exploring rough terrain on alien planets and kicking Zodiart butt, but I think it'll make a very nice tractor." Powerdizer Up on the hill, the pony responsible for Big Mac's injury laughed quietly to himself. His plans were working perfectly, without Big Mac to bring in the apples, Applejack would work herself to the bone trying to do the work of two ponies. Throwing a snake into the cow pen was just insurance, although he did break the fence in just the right place so that they would head towards town. It was a pity she stopped them though, if the town was damaged she would have to dedicate time to help rebuild, costing her time and energy. Luckily for him, he wouldn't need to cause anything to distract her further, he so called friends had already seen to that. All he had to do now was sit back and watch Applejack destroy herself. However, his musings were interrupted by a strange sound. Then, out of the barn came something he'd never seen before. It was a monstrous contraption, larger than even the princesses. It rolled along on 6 wheels, and hauled behind it the cart that Big Mac usually used for the Nightmare Night hay rides. In what could only be the cockpit sat Applejack, with that damned Fourze character alongside, obviously showing her how to operate it. The main reason that Big Mac didn't use that particular cart for Applebuck season was that not even he could haul it if it was fully loaded with apples, but that thing looked like it could haul 3 of them easy. He snarled to himself and gripped his Zodiart Switch tightly, "Fine, if you're going to change the rules, I'll be more than happy to oblige."