//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: More training // Story: From the isles of Avalon // by The Drifting Bard //------------------------------// even Rocky had a montage Ponyville became a bustling busy town at 11am. thankfully it was a monday, so I had the entire day to waste. Running down to Sweet Apple Acres, I jumped over several different obstacles. Finally making it over the fence and into the orchard, I saw Applejack standing there looking a tad surprised. "heh, Sorry I'm late" I chuckled. Applejack just looked me up and down fro a moment. "uhhh... Sugarcube? Where's yer shirt?" I simply shrugged, settling on a simple "Don't ask" "So what are we doing then? Picking apples?" "yup, Got it in one Alan, lemme demonstrate how we do things here" I watched as the blonde Applefarmer walked up and pulled her leg back, she then kicked the tree with a hard kick. "Holy horseshit" I exclaimed upon seeing the tree simply just drop the ripe apples. "so how many trees do you need to kick?" I asked. "about the entire north field" "aren't we in the north field now?" I asked a stupid question. she simply nodded and told me to get to work. I walked over to the first tree of the day. I attempted to copy the kick which Applejack used to no avail. In the end, I drew my fist back and threw it forward as hard as I could snapping it back. 12 apples hit the ground. "great... another few punches like that and I'll have a full basket and a broken hand" I grumbled to myself. I attempted another kick, this time swinging with my hips. sure enough, it worked. the rest of the apples came tumbling down. "okay, 1 down... 200 hundred to go," I sighed, "and then I start ferrying them to the barn" Twilight had stopped over at sugarcube corner to pick up some cupcakes and muffins. something told her that Alan was quite partial to them. as she paid for them, Pinkie Pie sighed. "What's wrong Pinkie?" Twilight saw an uncharacteristically solemn look on Pinkie's face. "I just had a twitch, when you came in" "Really? what about?" "Alan" It had been precisely one hour, one arduous, painful hour. my feet and shins were red raw, throbbing with pain. "Ouch, sugarcube, you're legs look like they could fall off at any second" Applejack looked at me apologetically. "Heh, nothing i can't handle" I grunted as I stood up. she then watched as I proceeded to backflip. "whoah, heh and ah thought you were out of surprises" she let out a small chuckle. she threw a bottle of water to me. I caught the bottle. "How many have I got left?" "Ah'd say round-about 50" I tilted my head slightly. "oh good grief" I plonked the bottle of water in my jacket pocket, and began to work again. after a few minutes, the 50 tree had caused the skin on my left shin to break. I was now bleeding. "well, this is going to hurt like hell" I sighed, popping the top of the water and pouring it on the bleeding leg. "er, AJ? could you go get me a pole or something?" she looked over to me for a moment, saw the blood and took off to the barn. I simply sighed. "Its only a bit of blood!" I called out with a chuckle. "What about him?" "I think... no wait... hmmmm twitchy left eyelid... ah yeah he hurt himself again" Twilight facepalmed. "well, at least it wasn't serious right?" she chuckled "So where is he anyways?" "Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack asked for his help with the harvest" As I picked myself up off the floor, Applejack and her elder brother came back with bandages and iodine. "Iodine? get that shit away from me!" Her brother then grabbed me by the arm. "sorry pal" came the only words from the big guy. Applejack administered the iodine, eliciting a yelp of pain. I felt my leg being wrapped in the bandage. "eh.. got that pole?" "what?.. this one?" Applejack held it out, as i got up. I simply nodded, grasping the pole in my hand. "what are ya doing?" she asked. "simple I'm going to carry the baskets two at a time on this" "Well, we were just going ta load 'em up on the cart, You can pull it if you want" She chuckled. "don't think i can, it's got a drivers seat" I chuckled. "well, thanks for the help Sugarcube, ah got a feeling this year's harvest will be alot quicker" I twirled the pole for a moment. "no problem, glad to help, now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go and get stronger" Big Mac looked at me for a moment, confused. "er, Mac? thats Gallant Knight" Applejack informed her brother. I reached a prime location and began a staff kata, having learned how to use staves years ago. As i swung the staff around, my mind became clearer, as I heard footsteps slowly coming from behind me It was at that point i had the pole outstretched, a centimeter away from the unknown person's throat. "whoah, dude, chill" "Sorry Dash" I sighed. "thats okay, that was pretty fast" She giggled slightly. "heh," I looked at the pole for a moment. "want to see something even more cooler?" "heh, If I did, I'd look in the mirror" Dash grinned. I sighed, then threw the staff into the air. she watched the staff, as I took off into a run. I began to jump over things yet again. she shook out of her trance and saw I was half way near the town. "I'm gonna catch that... dumbass" She chuckled before zooming after me.