Appledashery

by Just Essay

Stupendous, Leaves

"Uhm... my apologies in advance," Stu said, shuffling down the narrow corridor that led into the heart of his apartment. "I-I don't get visitors often... or at all." He cleared his throat, using his wingtips to flip on lights, illuminating a claustrophobic den with a sliding glass door overlooking a tiny lawn. "So, please forgive me for the mess."

"Uhhhhh... yeah..." Rainbow squinted at the... sparse furnishing. Aside from a tiny layer of dust, the abode was mostly threadbare. "I'll try not to puke at... all of the piles of refuse, dude."

"Seriously, Rainbow." Stu fidgeted in the corner of the living room. "I know it may not seem like much. But... imagine this place filled with all sorts of Cloudsdalian nick-nacks, spilled all over the place! I swear! If I let myself go, I can create a total pig-stye!"

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but giggle slightly. "Stu, are you certain it's not just your head that's cluttered?"

"Huh?"

Rainbow sighed, shaking her head. "Why don't we get this over with? What are you dying to show me, Stu?"

"You... uh... remember that package from Trottingham Trinkets you delivered to me?"

"It was three hours ago, dude."

"Oh... uh... right. Eheheh... uhm..." Stu Leaves took a deep breath, then trotted off into the even tinier kitchen. "Just wait right there!"

Rainbow Dash sat in the only chair the living room had. She called into another room, "I swear, Stu! If you trot back in wearing a pink ballgown, I'm calling the Ponyville police!"

"What?! N-no! Nothing of the sort!"

She chuckled. "It's called a joke, Stu! Yeesh... you gotta learn to chillax for once!" She turned to look at the nearest wall of family photos... only to notice that there were none. The mare blinked, taking in how empty the place looked, inside and out. The only noticeable detail to the living room—aside from the chair she was sitting in—was a lonesome radio with a tall antenna sticking up at a crooked angle. For the first time since Lancie left, she actually felt that her own home was more accomodating.

The air rattled with a scraping noise.

Rainbow looked across the room. Her eyes narrowed.

Stu shuffled in, shoving a familiar cardboard box with his forehead. He came to a stop with the package, catching his breath. His eyes darted up, meeting Rainbow's. He held a hoof up, smiled, then hoisted the hollow box up, revealing the glittery object within.

Almost immediately, the living room shone with dazzling light. The entire apartment took on a brand new life—all courtesy of an ornamental "tree" fashioned out of hoof-carved crystals and finely-hammered plates of silver.

Rainbow even had to squint. She leaned forward on the edge of the chair, cocking her head to the side in order to get a better view.

"Eheh..." Stu exhaled nervously, then waved a forelimb. "Ta-daaaa..."

Rainbow's eyes bounced between the shiny boughs, the crystalline leaves, and the glass-like branches.

"Well...?" Stu shifted from one set of hooves to the other. "What do you think?"

"... ... ..."

"...Rainbow?"

"Still thinking, dude," Rainbow exhaled. At last, her eyes fell upon a series of plump round glass "fruit" hanging from the branches. She tightened her jaws as her ears folded back.

"It's... it's hoof-built, y'know," Stu said, pointing at each inch of intricate detail. "Not factory-made. Real, living, breathing artists fastened each piece of the ornament together." He cleared his throat. "I think—more than anything—she'll really appreciate that."

Rainbow Dash sighed, slumping back in her seat. "It's an orange tree."

Stu leaned his head to the side. "Huh?"

Rainbow waved with a limp forelimb. "It's a friggin' orange tree, Stu."

He looked at the glittery ornament, then back at her. "...I know."

Rainbow did a double-take. "You know?"

"Uh huh."

Rainbow chewed on her bottom lip. "Stu, I..." A cough, and she stood up, pacing about awkwardly. "Okay, for one, Applejack is—like—never all that big on physical gifts. Like... ever." She paused in mid-step, staring at him pointedly. "As a close friend who's seen Rarity do her darnedest to shower dresses all over AJ for months now, I can tell you straight up that something like this is... is not..." She winced. "Just how much did this thing cost, Stu?"

"Oh... y'know..." The stallion shrugged. "A little here... a little there..."

Rainbow looked at the barren apartment and its threadbare walls. "... ... ...you don't say."

"I got a good deal on it!" Stu pointed. "Want to know how?"

"No. I mean..." Rainbow face-hoofed. "Stu, do you really think this was worth it?" She looked up. "AJ appreciates honesty and... and loyalty." She cleared her throat. "But gifts? Especially expensive ones?" She shook her head. "It just doesn't float her boat. If anything, I'm willing to bet she'll feel uncomfortable with having to accept something so glitzy and expensive!"

"There's a spot in the corner of her living room that's absolutely perfect for it!" Stu said with a crooked smile. "And if that's too cumbersome for her, it's okay! It's weatherproof! I bet it would look good in one of Granny Smith's gardens—"

"Stu, it's a friggin' orange tree!" Rainbow pointed with both limbs. "Have we forgotten that detail?"

"Uhhhhh—"

"I mean... seriously? Of all the details you shoulda gotten right..."

"Well..."

"Did you even think this over? Take more than a cursory glance at the Trottingham catalogue or... however you stumbled upon this 'deal?'"

Stu fidgeted where he stood. "Well, Rainbow, you see..." He gulped. "Sweet Apple Acres wasn't always going to be just apples. Once upon a time, the plan was to grow a whole bunch of orange groves."

"Huh?"

"Yeah! Crazy, right?" Stu smiled. "All of the orchards in the west fields were originally meant to be filled with orange trees! But... uhhh... Big Macintosh planted apples instead, and the ranch excelled in one specialty crop over the last two decades."

Rainbow grimaced. "I don't get it. Whose bright idea was it to ever dabble in orange trees?"

"Well..." Stu blinked. "Applejack's dad. For... for her mother." He gulped. "It was a promise he once made to her. She moved in from Manehattan, after all—leaving her wealthy Orange family to live on a rough-and-tumble apple farm. For years, Applejack's dad struggled to keep the land fertile, and her mother remained steadfast at his side. He was always thankful for this. Once they had a family going and the farm afloat, he promised to grow orange groves for her, but... well..." Stu smiled painfully.

Rainbow stared at him, then at the ornament.

"I know it can't... live up to their legacy," Stu said with a shrug. "But the Apples work so hard, day in and day out, and they barely squeak by. Heck... AJ keeps telling me how the farm never made much of a profit gain until just a few months ago."

Rainbow clenched her jaw muscles, saying nothing.

"And, y'know, I don't exactly earn a ton of bits every month myself. But at least I've got the luxury of... of not aching each and every day from apple bucking." He cleared his throat. "So, I figured that maybe it's time to afford something for the Apples to remember their missing members by."

"I... I didn't know a single thing about any of that," Rainbow murmured. "The Apples wanted to plant orange groves?" She blinked, and then her ears folded back as she gazed softly at Stu. "...AJ told you, didn't she?"

Stu shrugged. "Yeah. I... I think it first came up in conversation months ago."

"Before Orlandoats?"

"That or during. Memory's kinda fuzzy. Eheh..." He rubbed a hoof through his mane. "It was either this or save up for a new wagon. And... well... there's always rentals. Heheh."

Rainbow Dash sighed.

"You..." Stu gulped. "You think it looks tacky?"

Rainbow closed her eyes. Slowly, she shook her head. "I think it's the snazziest gift AJ's ever gotten."

He exhaled, his wingtips fluttering. "You... you r-really think so?"

"Yeah..." She reopened her eyes, fighting a lump in her throat. "Nice one, Stu."

"It... it can still be returned," Stu said. "There's—like—a fourteen day refund policy or some-such. So... uh... if you really think that AJ would just consider it to be clutter, then—"

"No." Rainbow shook her head. "This... this can only make Applejack happy."

"You think so?"

Rainbow took another deep breath, then gazed at him with a tired smile. "I'm her friend, Stu. I know so."

Comments

[Tim the Planes-pony]

It is no doubt nice, but I....... There is something that doesn't sit right with me about this.

[Mister Saxon]

Well, I thought it was going to be an engagement ring, or something similar. I'm glad I was wrong.

[destinedjagold]

awww... I no longer know who to root for...

[viofriedsevey]

Alright what the fuck who am I supposed to feel bad for? I know you love showing how lonely stu is and how much of a nice guy he is, and how much he probably deserves Applejack, but goddammit how the fuck is Rainbow not in the same boat? WHY THE FUCK IS LOVE SO COMPLICATED? One detail though, and I beleive this is an incredible, masterful example of writing. Soul mates don't always get along perfect, infact I've noticed it's kinda rare, and I think a perfect relationship where a couple agree on everything is a bit boring, this seems to be how you set up Stu and AJ. The relationship between Stu and AJ feels far too friendly, their banter especially. They'll probably have a thing going in the story at somepoint, but the differences between Dash and Applejack make a far more interesting couple, in my opinion. I think Applejack, and maybe Stu as well might notice it's very stale between them, and stick to being friends. Then again who knows? Applejack does seem like someone who might be happier in a "boring" relationship.

[Phoenix Kitten]

So... did AJ tell Stu about her trip to Manehatten to live with the Oranges when she was young, and how miserably homesick she was as well?
This could bring up some sour memories for her.

Oh Dash....

6693305

Then again who knows? Applejack does seem like someone who might be happier in a "boring" relationship.

Something stable she can rely on, considering the ups and downs of her profession... seems like something she'd be clamoring for.

[CommanderCuddle]

Empty apartment... I detect evil bullshit surrounding Stu... complete and utter evil bullshit.

[Salad king]

Nice job shoving all that in rainbows face stu.

[Lone Gazebo]

One of them got swapped. AJ, or Stu. We don't have a villain, and Changelings seems like the perfect thing to pop up at around this time.

[Autumn Rush]

That moment when you absolutely try your hardest to find something to criticize but you can't...

Dang it, Stu!

[Leftover of Saikano]

6693724 You can criticize it's not a practical gift, or something. AJ would have prefered if he had used that money to buy some lands and planted some orange trees already.

[Tchernobog]

Hmm. Nope. Still want to punch him in the face.

[Jern]

Part of me feels bad for the guy and it's a nice gesture, but saving all of your excess money for months just to buy somebody that's only a friend to you a gift seems more than a little obsessive.

[BabySkittleMonster]

Rainbow closed her eyes. Slowly, she shook her head. "I think it's the snazziest gift AJ's ever gotten."
He exhaled, his wingtips fluttering. "You... you r-really think so?"
"Yeah..." She reopened her eyes, fighting a lump in her throat. "Nice one, Stu."
"It... it can still be returned," Stu said. "There's—like—a fourteen day refund policy or some-such. So... uh... if you really think that AJ would just consider it to be clutter, then—"
"No." Rainbow shook her head. "This... this can only make Applejack happy."
"You think so?"
Rainbow took another deep breath, then gazed at him with a tired smile. "I'm her friend, Stu. I know so."

This actually pains me. If I was in Dash's situation, I don't know if would be nearly as accepting as this. She, despite the obvious discomfort and anger, is honestly trying to be a good friend to both AJ and Stu. I could learn something from this. Good going, Rainbow, you are ten times the person I'll ever be.

[Appledash_Gurl]

Ugh...Rainbow..ugh Stu...GUH what am supposed to feel, and for who..I quit I'm done with this story. Ha, I'm funny. As if I could just stop reading this story, its way too good.

[Autumn Rush]

6693865

True. But I wonder if that would actually be more expensive.

[zaponator]

I mean, technically Stu is doing a better job at relationshipping with Applejack than Rainbow ever did.
Credit where credit's due. There's no point in hating Stu when it's not his fault for winning. One can only blame Rainbow, really.

[LucyHorseThing]

Oh, snap.

[DrEggnog]

Is Stu Raiden?

[Thursday]

I wish with every fiber of my being that Stu was behind the snake bite that got rid of Rainbow.... Just make him evil so we can get rid of him

[Snowdrifter]

My interpretation of this is vastly different. Not only is it going to go against the grain of practicality and economics for AJ, but it will trigger very sad feels. And RD is fine with Stu giving this to AJ because these things might push them apart a little.

[arancaytar]

Dashie just keeps digging herself deeper.

[bronyheat]

Now I feel bad for all the mean things I've said, this is just really sweet.
And with that out of the way, we return to our regularly scheduled Stu hate-fest.