The smell of fresh apples wafted through the air tantalizingly. A breeze tickled the treetops at Sweet Apple Acres. Overhead, the sun peeked through gaps in the clouds. In the shade of the orchards stood Starlight Glimmer and Applejack.
"Thanks again fer helpin' out, Starlight." Applejack smiled gratefully. "I'd hate ta think of what'd happen if Big Mac had ta buck all them trees and run the market stall alone."
"Of course! Big Mac told me what happened, and I figured you could use the help. Are you sure you should be putting weight on that knee though?" Starlight asked worriedly.
"Ain't no way I'm gonna stay in bed. I can still help with other chores, even if I can't do the apple buckin'." Applejack scoffed. She stamped a hoof for emphasis, only to wince in pain.
"Are you sure?" Starlight tilted her head quizzically. "There's nothing wrong with taking a day or two to rest up."
"I'll be fine." Applejack replied a bit too sharply. "I'll be right as rain in a jiffy. No need ta worry about me."
"Okay." Starlight said after a long pause. "So, um... What do you need me to do?"
"Simple, really. I just need this section of the orchard bucked today. I went an' marked the area off with some flags on the ground." Applejack gestured a good hoof at one of the nearest red flags so Starlight would know which ones she meant. "All you gotta do is get them apples off the tree and into them buckets here."
"Okay." Starlight answered cheerily. "I can do that."
"Great! And thanks again fer this, Starlight." Applejack tipped her stetson hat towards her friend. "I'll leave ya to it. If ya need any help, just holler, 'kay?"
Starlight nodded and Applejack trotted away with a noticeable limp.
A jaunty little tune, wordless but happy, filled the air as Starlight hummed brightly. She'd fallen into a comfortable routine in the hours that she'd been working. The sun was already high above her, warming the mare through her fur coat. A few beads of sweat could be spotted dampening the mare's brow, but she wiped these away.
Starlight had spent her time going tree to tree and gently plucking the apples from their branches en masse with her magic. These were then gently placed into buckets that were to be hauled back by Big Mac when he returned from the market stall later. It wasn't particularly stimulating work, mind. But it was satisfying. Starlight couldn't help but smile when she looked over her shoulder at the progress she'd made.
Starlight could see why Applejack loved her work. Being able to tend and care for all these trees was certainly hard, but there was a touch of pride in knowing that you harvested the delectable fruit that somepony would enjoy later.
'Maybe I should start my own garden. That sounds nice.' Starlight thought. 'I'll have to ask Applejack where to start with that.'
Starlight's ears perked up at the sound of a noise nearby. Gently placing the apples she held in her magic into another bucket before looking around for the source of the noise.
"Applejack? Is that you?" Starlight called. No answer came though. Starlight's brow furrowed as she concentrated on listening for the noise again. After a few seconds, she heard it again. She carefully trotted forward, pulled along by curiosity.
Every few feet, Starlight would stop and listen again, only to continue moving towards the sounds once she heard them again. As she drew closer, it became apparent that somepony was talking. While she couldn't make out the words, it sounded as though somepony was having a conversation, but there was only one voice.
Eventually Starlight stepped around a tree to find the source of the voice: Tree Hugger.
"You're absolutely beautiful." Tree Hugger said, her words drawing heat to Starlight's cheeks.
"T-Tree Hugger? What- um... what are you doing out here?" Starlight stammered, desperately trying to rationalize how she misinterpreted Tree Hugger's words.
"Oh, hey. What's up, Star?" Tree Hugger looked to the new arrival with that same serene smile she always seemed to wear.
"I, uh, heard some noise and was trying to find out what it was." Starlight finally started getting her words to a more controlled level.
"Righteous. I was just admiring the orchard here. There's some fantastic trees here." Tree Hugger placed a hoof on one of the apple trees to emphasize her statement.
"You were talking to trees?" Starlight's shock vanished instantly, replaced by confusion.
"Of course. Trees are living things too. Sometimes they just need to hear some encouragement, you know?"
"Uhhh..." Starlight was at a loss for words.
"I should head out. I'm going to an art class tomorrow." Finally, normal words for Starlight to respond to in a normal fashion.
"I didn't know you liked art."
"Oh, yeah. Its, like, a great way of expressing emotions that you can't put into words." Tree Hugger closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You should totally join me."
"Oh, I don't know. I'm not really artistic."
"It'll be fun. Its a super relaxed class. Nopony will judge you."
"Well..." Starlight said slowly. Technically speaking this would probably advance her friendship studies. And Tree Hugger did seem to want Starlight to go. "Okay. I guess I can give it a shot."
"Far out. Meet me at Easel's Art Studio tomorrow morning."
Starlight agreed, and after a quick hug Tree Hugger left Sweet Apple Acres. Starlight decided that break time was over and got back to harvesting.
The sun hung low in the sky as Starlight finished harvesting the last tree. Big Mac had gotten back a short time ago and, after a short chat, began hauling apples into the barn. Applejack trotted out to check on Starlight, still limping.
"Howdy, Starlight. Mighty fine work you done here. I don't know how I'm gonna repay you."
"It was nothing. I had fun." Starlight gave Applejack a genuine smile. " Although I wouldn't mind learning how to start my own garden if you wouldn't mind helping me."
"Shoot, that's the least I could do. You really saved my hide today. I'm sure Big Mac's plum tickled that he don't have to do no applebuckin' tonight." Applejack grinned. "You didn't have no trouble, did you?"
"Not at all. Although I did run into somepony in the orchard, come to think of it."
"Somepony was in the orchard? Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Applejack sounded mildly alarmed.
"I didn't think it was a problem. She was talking to the trees."
"Oh, Tree Hugger stopped by, huh?" Applejack breathed a sigh of relief.
"How'd you know it was Tree Hugger?" Starlight asked, certain she hadn't said a name.
"She comes by every time she visits Fluttershy and 'encourages' the trees. She says it helps the apples grow bigger." Applejack let out a chuckle. "I don't have the heart ta tell her I do that already."
"Really?" Starlight shot a flat expression at her friend.
"Eeyup. Does plants a lotta good to hear somepony talkin' to them. You should try it when you start that garden o' yours." Applejack smirked, not missing the disbelief in Starlight's voice or the expression on her face. "Now come on inside. Granny Smith's almost done makin' supper, and I already set a place for ya."
Starlight smiled and wordlessly followed Applejack back to the house.