The best part of waking up...
The sun rose slowly over the visible horizon, soft golden rays gently covering Sweet Apple Acres. The animals on the farm and near began their routine as they always had for many years. The birds awoke and left their nests, cheering happily while seeking worms for their young chicks. The rooster that inhabited the farm began his morning ritual of alerting all nearby that morning had arrived.
For Apple Bloom, the morning was a welcome greeting, which meant the chance to enjoy spending the day with her best human friend. She needed no prompting from her sister or brother or, as Celestia forbid, her grandmother to wake her up. After making her bed with a smile, Apple Bloom excitedly knocked on Konrad’s door while shouting,
“Wake up! We got a whole day to spend! It’s mornin’ Konrad!”
No answer came from the other side of the door.
“Didn’t you hear?! It’s mornin’ and-”
Her sister’s hoof pulled her own away, preventing Apple Bloom from knocking any further.
“Let him stay in Apple Bloom. He was mighty plum tuckered last night.”
Not happy about it, Apple Bloom pleaded,
“But-”
“No buts, Apple Bloom! Let him rest some more and meet us downstairs. It’s breakfast time, and I reckon he’ll change his tune when he smells pancakes.”
While pancakes were Apple Bloom’s favorite, she wanted to enjoy them with Konrad.
“I want to spend time with him! Is that too much to ask?”
A slight gurgling sound could be heard from her stomach, causing her to blush. Grinning, Applejack followed up,
“C’mon, you whippersnapper! You can help me make them.”
Smiling, the two sisters walked into the kitchen to cook breakfast. After about a few minutes of preparation, Big Macintosh slowly walked into the kitchen, yawning and struggling to open his eyes while having a bad case of a messy mane. While being a strong and reliable stallion, Big Macintosh often suffered from “slow starting,” as Applejack put it.
“Morning, Big Macintosh! Did you sleep well enough?”
Weakly replying,
“Eeeyup...”
Taking that queue from her brother, Applejack quickly heated water in preparation for coffee. Like any able-bodied stallion, Big Macintosh needed coffee to get a good start in the morning, and a day off was no exception to this personal rule. After the water was ready, Applejack took out the old Prench presser, and delicious coffee for her brother was ready. Taking a sip of the miracle cup, Big Macintosh’s attitude and groggy was replaced with his signature smile and relaxed demeanor.
Apple Bloom giggled at her brother’s grogginess and continued to mix the pancake batter. Somehow, it reminded her of Pinkie Pie whenever she was sad and happy. In some ways, it was almost as if he was a different pony whenever he had coffee, similar to Pinkie Pie when she took sugar. After finishing the pancake batter, Apple Bloom set it aside, cleaned up her kitchen area, and prepared the table.
“Well, I’ll be! You youngins whipped this table up real fast! Now, where’s that human stallion?”
Apple Bloom walked over, hugged Granny Smith, and pulled the chair out so she could sit down.
“And while you’re at it, please pour me a cup of miracle.”
Nodding, Applejack quickly poured her grandma a cup of coffee, who happily took it.
“Pancakes are almost done. And Konrad’s still asleep,” said Applejack as she continued to flip the pancakes while heating a small cup of syrup.
“Yeah, he won’t wake up! I knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer!”
“Eeyup, your knocking woke me up just fine. I reckon he’s just that tired.”
“But I wanna spend time with him! I wanna show him the barn and the clubhouse! It’s not fair! Just not fair!”
Taking a few sips of her coffee, Granny Smith closed her eyes and pondered, making everypony in the room wonder what was going through her mind.
“I wonder what she’s thinking.”
Opening her eyes with a sly grin, Granny Smith turned towards Applejack and said,
“Applejack...make the Morning Apple Stack.”
Everypony else in the room stopped what they were doing, unsure of what Granny Smith had just said.
“Granny Smith, did you just say make the-”
“Morning Stack? Yes, I did.”
“THE Morning Stack? I wanna be sure.”
With a grin, Granny Smith replied,
“Yes! It’s what I said! Unless you forgot how to make it, that is.”
Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh looked at Applejack, who in return merely narrowed her eyes and replied,
“Challenge accepted.”
Within seconds, Applejack quickly moved her forelegs in a furious flurry of pouring batter, mixing a particular type of sweet butter and a secret pancake syrup mix forbidden to be shared outside the family. The special breakfast recipe was reserved for special occasions and was not something indulged in often. It had been a tradition of the Apple family to create and serve the stack to a family or close friend, a heartfelt appreciation of having the best breakfast the family could ever give.
If there was ever anypony who deserved it, it was Konrad for saving Apple Bloom.
“No way! He’s getting the Morning Apple Stack!? I hope he wakes up now! He’s just gotta!”
Before two minutes had barely passed, a massive and impressively finished stack of pancakes sat on the table. Everypony in the room stared at the perfection of a country breakfast in awe. Crossing her forelegs in satisfaction, Applejack smiled and said,
“I reckon that’s a new record.”
Apple Bloom sat in her chair, hoping Konrad would come down the stairs and into the kitchen. Everypony else sat down and took their servings of pancakes. Before anypony could indulge, thudding steps could be heard from the stairs. Apple Bloom smiled when she saw a groggy human rubbing his eyes. He looked much like her brother, who needed coffee in the morning with less of a messy mane.
“I sensed a presence I have not felt since…well, forever ago.”
His eyes focused with precision on the stack of pancakes before him and said,
“I knew it…I can always sense pancakes.”
Apple Bloom asked cheerfully,
“Oh, cool! Is that like a sixth sense of humans?”
Smiling while still focused on the pancakes,
“No Apple Bloom. It’s just my thing.”
Applejack and Granny Smith giggled while Big Macintosh smirked before taking another sip of his precious coffee.
“Well, don’t just stand there like a tree! Come and join us! This stack is here for you, mister.”
Before anypony could react, the seat was filled with a man, armed with a fork and knife in his hands and ready to combat the pancakes before him. The fork stopped just an inch away as the man noticed everypony was staring at him, eager to see his reaction to the perfection of pancakes before him. Taking a rather large bite, Konrad slowly chewed the pancake and savored every second of it. His eyes opened wide as his brain processed the sheer perfection of the breakfast masterpiece.
“Well? Whatcha think?” asked Apple Bloom.
After swallowing the first bite, the man had a neutral expression, worrying the Apple Family. Slowly, a smile formed on his face before replying,
“It’s sheer perfection. The best I’ve ever had. Nothing I’ve ever had has come close.”
The dining table broke out in cheers of “yeehaw!” from the ponies while the man still held his fork and knife, ready to eat the rest of his breakfast. Granny Smith added,
“Well, no need to wait for us! Go right on ahead and-”
The elderly country mare had no time to finish her sentence as Konrad immediately began devouring the breakfast. The speed at which he consumed his food almost rivaled that of Pinkie Pie eating sweets without food splattering everywhere. In no time, the plate was spotless; not even a spot of syrup remained. Setting the utensils down and whipping his lips clean with a napkin, Konrad noticed the stares upon him.
“Yes?” he innocently asked.
Applejack answered in astonishment,
“You…you completely just…ate the darn thing!”
Confused, he asked,
“Yes? Did I do something wrong?”
“Oh, nothing; you only beat Applejack’s eating record like a stallion. I haven’t seen it done before.”
As Granny Smith and Apple Bloom giggled while Applejack blushed, beat red and replied,
“Granny!”
“It’s true, though! You do eat faster than all of us!” said Apple Bloom.
Applejack held her head high with a slight blush while Big Macintosh watched in amusement. Konrad asked in confusion,
“I’m…sorry?”
“Don’t be! You’re a young stallion. Ain’t anything wrong with that, and have some more if you want.”
“Yeah! Have some more Konrad! We don’t like to keep leftovers.” added Apple Bloom.
Shrugging his shoulders, the man replied with an appreciative smile,
“Okay. Thanks! This was really overdue for me, honestly. I haven’t had a good breakfast in a long time. It’s usually just coffee and some boring toast before I head to work, and I feel terrible later before lunch. Such is city life and all that it comes with.”
As everypony else continued to eat their breakfast, Apple Bloom couldn’t help but take the opportunity to learn more about him.
“You lived in a city? What was it like? Was it like Manehatten?” asked Applebloom as she took a bite of pancakes.
Konrad laughed, causing confusion at the table. Before Apple Bloom could ask, the man apologized before answering,
“Sorry about that, Apple Bloom. The name got me for a second.”
As curious as a filly could be, she asked,
“Why? What’s so funny about the name?”
Signing, the man replied,
“We had a big city called “Manhattan” during my time. Well…it was a name of a borough inside a bigger city called New York City. Very flashy, and only the tough city folk can make it there. It had lots of big buildings and such, along with the best pizza in the world.”
Konrad frowned before adding,
“Or…it did, I should say.”
“Aw! He misses home!”
“I’m sorry, is that where you’re from?”
Taking a sip of coffee, the man replied,
“Nah, I lived in a smaller but still huge city called Raccoon City.”
“Raccoon City? Did they have raccoons there?”
“Heh, not really; they lived in the forests north of the city near the Arklay Mountains. But for the most part, it’s just a name the founders chose because they were lazy. Cool place to go hiking before it got kinda dangerous.”
Before Apple Bloom could ask, Konrad merely held up a finger and said,
“But that’s for another time.”
“Now, why does he not want to talk about it? What was dangerous about it? Was it like Everfree Forrest or something?”
“Um…okay.”
Seeing her younger sister frown, Applejack jumped into the conversation,
“Aww, cheer up, Apple Bloom. I’m sure he has his reasons. Besides, ain’t you excited about today?”
Her mood completely changed, and she once again was excited.
“Oh! I’m going to show you around the farm! And I can’t wait to show you our clubhouse!”
Grinning, Konrad asked,
“Oh, you have a clubhouse, huh? Sounds awesome. What’s it like?”
“It’s where my friends and I hang out! It’s the headquarters of the Cutie Mark Crusaders! YEA!”
“No shouting Apple Bloom.” chided Applejack.
“Sorry!” smiled Apple Bloom with a slight blush. “I really can’t wait to show you! It’s where we hang out and try to find ways to get our cutie marks!”
Taking a sip of coffee, Konrad asked,
“Please, tell me more.”
Breakfast was a success in the eyes of the Apple family. Apple Bloom spent the remainder of the time telling Konrad everything about the Cutie Mark Crusaders, from stories about her friends to their attempts to earn their cutie marks. It was a welcome change for Applejack to see Apple Bloom happy and not emotionally scarred from the terrible event two nights ago. Having Konrad around Apple Bloom made her happy, and the family would forever be indebted to him for saving her life.
When nothing remained of breakfast, Konrad tried to help clean the dishes. Despite him trying to be a gentlecolt, Granny Smith would have none of it and demanded that the honored guest leave the cleaning to her. After everypony else cleaned up and brushed their teeth for the day, Konrad stood outside the front door, taking in the sight of the farm. As Applejack walked outside, he turned around, taking notice of her.
“Hey, thanks again for breakfast. I appreciate it.”
Smiling, Applejack replied,
“No problem Konrad. Glad you liked it. How you holding up all things considered?”
Looking around, he took a sigh before replying,
“I’m still…adjusting. Still feel out of place being here but all things considered, I’m lucky as it could be worse.”
Applejack felt a pang of sympathy for the man, remembering he would never be able to go back in time.
“I understand you just fine. I used to live in Manehattan with my aunt and uncle. As a country filly at the time, I felt out of place. I can’t imagine living away from home for too long and would be homesick if I did it again. But you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.”
Turning around to Applejack, Konrad smiled and replied,
“Thanks. I really do appreciate it. Don’t think I’ll stay here long, though. The Princesses want me to go to Canterlot, and it looks like I might be there for a while. But I promise I’ll come back and maybe help if you need it. I’m certain Apple Bloom would love it.”
Smiling, Applejack replied,
“That would be mighty fine. We certainly won’t say no to free help, and Apple Bloom would love it, as all of us would.”
In the distance, a Solar Guard could be seen down the small dirt road outside the Apple Family Orchard. Konrad and Applejack took notice of the Guard and spotted a few more around the farm several hundred yards away.
“Yeah…hopefully, things will die down a bit. I kinda feel bad they’re here on account of me.”
Frowning a bit, Applejack replied,
“Can’t say I like it, but I understand why and don’t feel bad on your account you hear? Now just where in tarnation is Apple Bloom?”
As if on cue, the door swung wide open, revealing an eager Apple Bloom.
“You wanna see the clubhouse!?”
Chuckling, Konrad replied,
“You know it!”
Before Apple Bloom could lead the way, Konrad picked her up and held her on his shoulders.
“Lead the way, Apple Bloom!”
“YEEHAW!” cheered Apple Bloom.
As the pair walked off towards the Cutie Mark Crusader clubhouse, Applejack smiled at the duo, happy as she could ever be at the adorable sight before her.
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Great work, was worth the wait. Hope your tets and exams went well and I wish you a happy nightmare night! Hope you like the scene I showed you in the PM.
I'm pretty sure Konrad will like the cubhouse, Apple Bloom, enjoy every second of it. In my opion, he is already a family member to her.
*looks at picture * AAAAAAAAAARGH *heart attack*
(There ain't no Folgers here)
Photobucket is actually at fault. They want people to pay for the privilege of using uploaded pictures on other sites.
8521443 Almost... he is almost. Things will never rest but at least he has this small break to build a great bond.
8521486 I take it you like? I had this commissioned years ago but never got around to finally posting the damned chapter until now
8521524 You likeadechapter?!
8523074 I tried other sources. Same result. Do you have one that works?
8529262
Indeed. I Hope you like the Scene i showed you
8529262
Lemme get power back so I can give a proper answer
Any chance for a new chapter in the near future?
8858451
I have a kid on the way, so not likley until christmas.
And it's a colt!
8872528
Well I think a congratulation is in order then! 🎂
8318647
Huh
Every 2-4 months I come here to peak in and check for new chapters, ever since the first chapter in this story. Literally made an account just to track this and one other story. Haven't seen a new one in a while but I'll just assume the author (typed out developer at first lol I make a lot of game reviews) is busy with life things. I'll probably come back in 6 or so weeks. :3
9092290
I'm about to have a son in 3 weeks. I'm here everyday though. I have a draft that's been collecting dust.
I'm not giving up though. When did you first find out about my story?
Where is the next chapter?
derpicdn.net/img/2014/8/21/704942/full.gif
derpicdn.net/img/2014/8/21/704942/full.gif
9315849
I'm deploying away from my family for a short time, so I'll use that to finish the next one. About january time frame.
9318784
Oof,staysafe.
The animation of Konrade nailing Rainbow Dash with an apple.... Hilarity perfected.😆
9547503
My son died 2 months ago. I have some things to take care of and the chapter is on the way side for now.
9550058 He passed away in his sleep. SIDS. It's thrown my whole life off track. I have it almost done, but it's not a priority.
9551146
My condolences, and sorry that it happened to you.
9435073
I'm happy you like it.
9562172
It's sad it's ending but I think the fandom will keep going for awhile. I don't think Hasbro expected this to blow up as it did. I'm certain they'll keep it alive in some fashion.
9643406
thank you.
9643458
How are you holding up anyway? I know that every time that somebody dear to me pass away it always takes a while for me to get back on my feet. And feel free to ignore me if you don't want to talk about it to some stranger.
9643483
Struggling at my job.
9647678
Well shit, hang in there man. Are you still in the army?
I read the first part and I really want to read this one but I don’t want to be left with a cliffhanger so I’m just going to leave like and put it flagged if it updates.
I’ll come read it if it updates I just can’t read stories that have not been updated in a year
9659472
I've got too much personal life problems at the moment. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
9662144
It’s not a inconvenience for me just sad that I can’t continue. The main reason is the fear of getting a massive cliffhanger so don’t feel bad it’s just me being dumb
9662144
might be late, but you can use funkyimg or imgur for uploading images
10232194
I'll have to see. I kind have lost a lot of my art.
This was a very fun story to read even if the sequel is not finished. Go back one or two chapters in the sequel and you have a pretty good ending for the original story without a sequel (not saying that the first story ending wasn't epic, but it didn't elaborate on konrad's ending). I'll keep this story in tracking in hopes that you have time to write again. Best wishes irl.
Dude, this unfinished sequel has so much potential for what lies ahead for Konrad and Equestria as a whole! I do hope that you would find the strength to return to writing the story again since unlike many writers of unfinished fanfics, you are pretty much alive and online. Of course, I don't want to force you if things in real life are more important than this. But still, I hope you will come back to finish Aftermath of the Blanks in the future.
Peace!
The Human Writer (formerly The Human Commentator)
11044746
I intend on writing in February. As of now, I have too much on my plate.
11045241
Well, if that is the case, I cannot wait to see this continued in the near future! Of course, I will not put my hopes too high in the case something else happens. But as I said, cannot wait to see you back writing man!
10288461
I almost didn't make a sequel. I started this before I got re-married and had a kid and said kid past away. Ever since those things have happened, this whole project been on Half Life 3 hold. I think I can still beat HF3 though in release date. Appreciate it.
11046280
That's heartbreaking to hear. I lost my grandma to alzheimer's this summer so your not hurting alone. It still hurts to think of the last few months before she passed. I'm sure it dosn't mean much but i'm proud of you for being able to move on. Take all the time you need and if it's still too much to keep writing then remember you are under no obligation to do it despite what some people believe. Best of luck to you.
11047530
It's only been about 3 years since he died. I don't have the luxury of staying put and not being able to move on. I'm sure when I retire in 5 years from the USAF, I'll be able to have more time to mourn hardcore. My wife took it exceptionally hard and understandable.
11047874
Honestly cant think of anything to say. I feel bad about my life sometimes but my problems are nothing compared to what you fought through. All I can say is thank you for your service and hope everything turns out for the best.
update?
11315212
This weekend.
11315243
?
um is ruby coming back in this as i hope she will be
11315261
She's in Family of the Blanks. She will be talked about but no references will be made.