Apple Computer, Part 1
The setting sun bathed the orchard in its soft, warm glow. A crisp autumn breeze blew through the branches of the apple trees, causing the heavy apples weighing down the boughs to sway gently. A few apples fell to the ground, released from their branches by the gentle gust.
Moving through this orchard, a single earth pony wearing a weathered brown hat approached one of the trees. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but she ignored her body’s demands that she stop to rest. Instead, she turned her back to the tree and gave it a powerful buck. The force of her strike shook the tree, commanding it to release its crimson bounty. The apples rained down, dropping into the buckets with a brief, drumming staccato.
Loud as it was, the drumming could only just mask the sound of the mare gasping as pain sliced through her body. Her legs demanded that she stop, buckling under her, but she refused to listen. She stood back up. She was not done yet. She rubbed her hip, tenderly massaging it, even as her breath came in long, shaky drafts.
She should have gone back an hour ago. She knew that. Even so, she had worked late before. Her family was counting on her; they would still be there and they would not think much of her making the most of the day’s light before the night fell. They would greet her with smiles and commend her for her determination.
They would be proud.
She’d done it before. Time and again, she’d done it to get ahead of her personal quota, to do more than was required for the day. But this time… this time she was behind.
She took one last, deep breath and went over to the next tree. “Two more,” she whispered. “Just two more and I’ll head in for the day.”
The tree loomed before her, seeming larger than the last. Yet it held so many apples. Apples that, if not bucked soon, would drop to the ground and begin to rot. They would be wasted, all simply because she had not been there to collect them.
“Like hay I’ll let that happen,” she muttered to herself, narrowing her eyes. She turned away from the tree, looking over her shoulder to make sure she was lined up correctly, and steeled herself as she kicked her hind legs out again.
The apples rained down again, but this time the sound was not loud enough to conceal her cry of pain. Had anypony been around, they would certainly have heard her.
She clenched her teeth and shut her eyes tight, forcing back the tears before they could be shed. That dull ache was gone, and in its place was a sharp, stabbing pain that felt like she’d been skewered through the flanks with a lance.
One more! she told herself. Just one more and then I can stop!
She nodded, as if obeying her own mental command, but her own body was fighting her. She could hardly stand, but Applejack ignored her protesting limbs and pushed forward, forcing herself to walk.
“I ain’t leavin’,” she growled, though it came almost as a groan. She paused for a moment, her barrel heaving, her head throbbing, her vision blurring, her hips practically screaming, as she eyed the next tree. “Not until I’m finished! I… I carry my own weight! Now let’s buck this here tree and go home!”
The sweat was beading on her forehead and pouring off her body. But she ignored the pain, ignored her fatigue, and took aim at the last tree. Her quota would be met, no matter the cost.
She raised her hind legs up one final time and planted them hard against the trunk.
Something popped.
Her eyes went wide. Her voice stuck in her throat as a silent scream took hold. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed the ground as roughly as the apples she was collecting.
She tried to stand. She failed.
With a groan that was more a whimper than anything, she tried again, but once again her legs failed her and she hit the ground, almost as hard as the first time.
“H… h-help…” The feeble sound was barely a whisper. She took a deep breath, mustering her strength and ignoring the awful, hideous pain that set her lower half on fire.
She screamed. Loud and hard, with all her might, she screamed for help. She called names, she begged, she pleaded.
At first, there was nothing, not the sound of hooves galloping to her aid, not the panicked cries of her kin, calling to see if she was alright.
But then it came: the strong, hurried thundering of her brother’s hooves as he barreled down the orchard’s row. She could see him now, as he came into view. He called for her, but it was all muffled. She couldn’t understand his shouts, but she could tell that they were worried.
It was then that the tears came. From the pain at first, yet also from relief, and then from something else; that terrible gnawing fear that had stalked her these last few months. Now, at last, it had finally caught her.
“No,” she whispered, sobbing face down into the grass. “No… no… no…”
***
Twilight briskly moved up the hallway at Ponyville General Hospital the next morning. Spike was right behind her, and the pair of them skidded to a halt when they spotted the room number the receptionist at the front desk had given them.
Twilight knocked lightly on the door and heard small hooves clattering on the other side. The door opened slightly and she saw Apple Bloom peek out.
“Oh, Twilight, yer here,” the little filly said, sighing with relief. She turned her head slightly and saw Spike. “Guess ya found her for me, Spike. Thanks!”
“Sure thing,” Spike said, nodding.
Spike had been walking over to the Quills and Sofas store on his usual errand when he’d encountered Apple Bloom. She was looking for Twilight, but Spike had agreed to deliver her message and get Twilight instead. And that message was simple: “Applejack’s in the hospital!”
Now that Spike had retrieved Twilight and the pair of them had arrived, Apple Bloom’s relief was plain to see, but so were the dark circles under her eyes, and Twilight realized that the girl probably hadn’t slept well the previous night.
“Come on in,” Apple Bloom said, opening the door and beckoning them inside. “Applejack, Twilight an’ Spike are here!”
“That’s a relief,” Applejack said. Her voice was surprisingly clear and when Twilight saw her, she was happy to see that her friend looked surprisingly energetic and alert. Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Dr. Stable were standing next to the hospital bed where Applejack lay.
Applejack was sitting up in bed and she wore a warm smile. Her hat was hung on a coat rack next to the bed and she wore a pale blue-green hospital gown, but she looked, for lack of a better word, normal.
“Wow, Applejack, you look really good for a pony in the hospital!” Spike said, voicing Twilight’s sentiment before she could.
“Yeah,” Twilight agreed. “I was worried you were really hurt, but you look fine!”
“Aw, thanks, Spike. An’ fer the record, Twilight, I am fine!” Applejack said, raising her chin proudly.
“The hay you are!” Granny Smith shouted, glaring at her granddaughter and startling them all with that sudden outburst. “Ya darn near gave me a heart attack an’ ya worried yer brother an’ sister sick, puttin’ yerself in the hospital like that!”
Big Mac merely gave an annoyed grunt in agreement.
“Uh, yeah,” Applejack said, blushing slightly as she rubbed the back of her neck. “I guess I overdid things a little last night.”
“Which, I might add,” Dr. Stable said, raising an eyebrow at her, “is exactly what I told you not to do.”
Twilight blinked. “Um, I’m sorry, but am I missing something?”
Apple Bloom opened her mouth. “Applejack’s got--”
“Apple Bloom, hush!” Applejack snapped.
“Now, you listen here, young missy!” Granny Smith said, stomping one hoof. “Ya done got everypony worried, now yer gonna tell Twilight what’s goin’ on or else one o’ us will do it fer ya!”
“All right, all right!” Applejack said, raising her hooves defensively. “I just… look, can ya give me a moment? I’d like to tell Twilight an’ Spike in private, if ya don’t mind.”
The other three Apples looked to each other, communicating their mutual thoughts in their expressions. At last, they looked to her and Big McIntosh gave a short nod. “Eeyup,” he said.
“Don’t worry, Applejack,” Apple Bloom added. “I’m sure Twilight can help.”
“I… I’m sure she can,” Applejack said quietly, giving her a smile.
“Well, come on then, everypony,” Granny Smith said. Then she took on a sly grin and rubbed her chin as she eyed Dr. Stable. “Uh, say, Doc, can ya help a lady find the pharmacy around here? Might as well get Applejack’s new medicine while we’re steppin’ out.”
“Oh, uh, yes. Certainly,” he said, walking out with the Apples.
“Mmm, tell me, Doc, are you single?”
“Ye-- no!” he said hurriedly, looking helplessly over his shoulder as Granny Smith walked out with him, shoulder-to-shoulder. Apple Bloom and Big Mac just snickered to each other.
“Hoo boy,” Applejack muttered, chuckling as she watched the poor doctor be led away before the group shut the door behind them.
“Okay, Applejack,” Twilight said softly, placing her hoof on Applejack’s, “what’s wrong?”
Applejack heaved a sigh. “Twilight… I’ve got Bucker’s Hips.”
Twilight and Spike blinked in unison, looked at each other, then back to Applejack, staring at her blankly.
“Ugh,” Applejack said, rubbing her forehead. “Right. Y’all both come from Canterlot. Ya didn’t grow up with a lot o’ farmin’ earth ponies around, I guess.”
“Are you kidding?” Spike asked, laughing and thumbing a claw in Twilight’s direction. “Twilight here used to think eggplants actually hatched from eggs when she was a filly!”
Twilight’s cheeks flushed and she glared at Spike. “And you thought gems grew on trees!”
“The point,” Applejack said sharply, cutting off the pair’s argument, “is that you two ain’t ever heard of it. Bucker’s Hips is a thing farm ponies get from buckin’ trees all day. It’s generic.”
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “It’s what?”
“You know, one o’ them things that runs in the family?”
Ah. ‘Genetic,’ Twilight told herself, but settled on not correcting her. “So, what are the symptoms? And does it have a cure or a treatment?”
“Well, it makes yer joints swell up and it hurts like the dickens. As fer a cure, there ain’t one. The Doc gave me some good meds when they hauled me in here last night, though, an’ there are some pills I’ve been takin’, but the problem is that the only way to really keep it under control is to just quit apple buckin’ so much.”
Spike snapped his claws. “I’ve got it!” he exclaimed. “Why don’t you just buck the trees with your front legs!”
Applejack shook her head. “You can shake the trees that way instead of buckin’, but it takes a lot longer. If ya try buckin’ it and miss, though, yer liable to just split yer noggin right open.”
Twilight tapped her chin. “So, wait, you said you need to quit bucking trees ‘so much.’ You mean that you can still do it, but you just need to do it less?” She smiled. “That doesn’t sound so bad!”
She rolled her eyes. “Tch. You sound just like Dr. Stable, Twi.”
She glanced out the window, remembering when she’d first been diagnosed months ago.
“Applejack, you buck trees during bucking season for up to twelve hours a day,” he’d said. “Nopony else in town works that hard, and even most of the apple farmers I know take a long break every so often. You’re pushing your body too hard!”
“But this is what I gotta do to support my family!” she’d shot back. “What am I supposed to do?”
“You don’t have to stop completely. Just buck less trees!” he’d shouted. “Finish earlier or hire more help! Is that really so hard?”
She heaved a sigh. Harder than ya think, doc. She turned back to Twilight. “Look, I’ll just level with ya. The truth is, we didn’t have as good a year as I was hopin’. We had lots o’ expenses dealin’ with one thing after another. I mean, do you know how many times the dang barn’s been destroyed an’ rebuilt this last year?”
Twilight looked up and ran her tongue around her cheek. “Four?” she asked.
“Uh, yeah, actually.” She shook her head. “Look, the point is that if we don’t take in one more good apple harvest before winter hits, we’re gonna have to tighten our belts extra hard come next year. Too many o’ those, an’ things’ll start lookin’ pretty bleak fer Sweet Apple Acres.”
Twilight nodded. “I see. But Applejack, you could have asked us for help. I would have thought that after last time, you’d be okay with asking us--”
“It wasn’t that I didn’t wanna ask,” Applejack said softly. “I mean, it was, but not fer the same reason.” She swallowed, her frown deepening. “Look, there was still time to pull in the crop. I figured if I just met a quota, we’d be okay. But this darn case o’ Bucker’s Hips kept slowin’ me down. An’ this wasn’t even that much! Even less than what I did every day last year!”
Twilight laid her hoof on Applejack’s, and Spike came around the other side of the bed to hold her other hoof.
“Don’t worry, AJ,” Spike said quietly, patting Applejack’s hoof. “We’ll figure this out.”
Twilight nodded, smiling at her. “Spike’s right. Listen, let’s figure out how to finish this harvest, and then you can heal up, recover, and be back to bucking apples next season.”
Applejack’s lip quivered, but she managed a laugh and wiped her eyes. “Ah, pony feathers… yer right, Twilight. I just didn’t want everypony in town to go around pityin’ me. I also didn’t wanna ask y’all two years in a row, but I ain’t too proud to admit when I’m in over my head. Would y’all ask the rest of the gang to come help?”
Twilight bit her lip. “The rest of us? Umm…”
Applejack tilted her head. “What? What is it?”
“See, the thing is…” she began, trailing off.
Spike sighed. “Pinkie’s babysitting the Cake twins all week, Fluttershy is helping Tree Hugger collect some rare mushrooms or something, Rarity’s at the Canterlot Boutique to talk business with Sassy Saddles,” he said, ticking off their friends one by one on his claws, “and Rainbow Dash got a call as a Wonderbolt Reserve to perform in the Annual Reserves Showcase, so she’s off practicing with the other recruits. Oh, and now that I think about it, Twilight has--”
“Spike, that isn’t important!” Twilight exclaimed, waving a hoof dismissively. “Applejack needs our help right now!”
Spike nodded, but Applejack’s gaze turned stony. “Twilight… what was he about to say?”
“Oh, uh… it’s nothing that you need to worry about.”
“Too late. I’m already worryin’.” She leaned closer, raising her eyebrow. “Now what is it?”
“Well,” Twilight said, looking away. “It’s a conference at the Crystal Empire to discuss the influx of new commerce and travel between Equestria and Yakyakistan.”
Applejack’s eyes widened. “That sounds important.”
“No! Well, yes, but--”
“The yaks wanted Twilight there since she’s the one that helped make friends with Prince Rutherford,” Spike explained.
Applejack sighed. “Go to the conference, Twilight.” Then she smiled. “You know them yaks ain’t exactly even-tempered when things don’t go their way, so you best not disappoint ‘em.”
“But Applejack, I could help you!”
“Much as I appreciate the sentiment,” she said, crossing her forehooves, “I can’t ask you to put me an’ the farm before Equestria, especially not after all the work we all did tryin’ to please those yaks.”
Spike stood ramrod straight, as if at attention. “Then at least let me help! As an honorable dragon, I--”
“No, no, that’s mighty nice o’ ya, Spike,” Applejack said quickly, holding out her hoof. “But Twi’s gonna need her number one assistant. An’ - no offense - yer way better at bein’ her assistant than ya are at bein’ a farmhoof. Farmclaw. Whatever ya call it.”
Spike drooped at that, but he couldn’t deny it. “Well, all right. But what are you gonna do instead?”
She sighed. “I dunno, Spike. I guess I’ll just have to hire more workers. It’ll take time and a bite out o’ the profits, but maybe we’ll just make it into the black this year anyhow.”
Twilight shut her eyes, scratching the side of her head. “There’s got to be a way. If only… if only… oh!” Her eyes lit up, but then she froze as Applejack looked at her hopefully.
“What is it, Twi? Did ya come up with some kinda magic solution or something like that?”
Twilight looked away. “Um… not a magical solution so much as a… technological solution.”
Applejack blinked. Then Twilight’s meaning dawned on her and her eyes bulged.
“Oh. Her.”
“Now, Applejack, I know you two haven’t gotten along, b-but you said you’d spend time with her,” Twilight said, speaking frantically, “and she can learn how to apple buck in no time, she won’t get tired, and she can move so fast that I just know she could help you!”
Applejack grinned. “Look, I didn’t say no, Twilight.” She sighed. “I mean, every time I see her, she’s a little more like a pony an’ less like that thing we found in the orchard. I guess she’s learnin’ all kinds o’ things now, right?”
“Oh!” Twilight exclaimed, smiling when she heard Applejack’s receptiveness. “Yes, she has learned lots of things! She’s learned more humor, she can feel affection now, and last week she even learned how to lie!” Twilight froze the instant she said that.
Applejack’s eyes narrowed. “Did she now?”
“I… I can explain…”
Applejack leaned back in bed, putting her forehooves behind her head. “I’m listenin’, sugarcube.”
***
Applejack tossed and turned in bed. She’d been released from the hospital and her family had walked her home earlier that afternoon. Apple Bloom had rushed on ahead and kicked every single minor obstruction out of the road, lest Applejack trip over it, and warned her about every slight change in elevation or root growing in the way.
“Applejack, look out!” Apple Bloom screamed, pushing Applejack out of the way to throw her own body over some unseen danger.
“What? What is it?!” she’d shouted back.
“I just stopped ya from slippin’ on this!” Apple Bloom declared. She’d held up a dry, brown leaf in her hoof.
“Apple Bloom, that’s a dead leaf,” she’d said.
“More like a deadly leaf!” Apple Bloom replied, crushing the offending leaf to powder between her hooves.
Applejack grunted, punching her pillow at the memory. The very idea of Apple Bloom treating her with more care and concern than Granny Smith while walking her home of all things was ridiculous.
Nonetheless, she plopped down on the pillow, pulling the bedsheets around her tightly as she shut her eyes. Slowly, bit by bit, she let her anxiety leave her and felt sleep begin to overtake her.
Knock-knock-knock.
Her eyes popped open. The hay was that? she asked herself. Did she imagine it?
Knock-knock-knock.
She went to her bedroom door. She opened it, but there was nothing but the dark and empty hallway.
Knock-knock-knock.
Applejack knew she wasn’t imagining it. The rhythmic knocking was coming at regular intervals and she followed the sound downstairs and right to her front door. She opened it to see a pair of glowing violet eyes staring right back at her.
“Uwah!” she shouted.
“Good morning, Applejack,” Turing Test said. “I am here to assist you as you requested.”
Applejack clutched her chest. “Good gravy, ya scared the living daylights outta me!”
“I do not detect any luminescence leaving your body, living or otherwise, Applejack, but I apologize for frightening you.”
“That ain’t-- what the hay are you doing here?!”
“I am the hay here to assist you with your harvest.”
“What? Do you have any idea what time it is?!” Applejack shouted.
“It is 12:01 am. Wait… now it is 12:02 am. I can switch to maritime designations if you prefer.”
Applejack blinked. “It’s the middle of the night. Why. Are. You. Here. Now?” she said slowly through her gritted teeth.
“You. Told. Twilight. Sparkle. That--”
“Stop talkin’ like that!”
“I apologize. I thought you wanted to.” She bowed her head slightly before continuing. “You told Twilight Sparkle to inform me that I was to begin my task ‘first thing tomorrow.’ I arrived in time to knock on your door at midnight. It was the first thing I did today, fulfilling your request.”
Applejack blinked. “Are you pullin’ my leg?”
Turing’s ears twitched, and she looked down at Applejacks’ leg. “I am not. If you believe I am, then perhaps you are still under the influence of your medica--”
“Go home and come back tomor-- no, no, I mean… come back today at… I dunno, 7:30?”
Turing Test nodded, her neck whirring as she did so. “Understood. I will be here at that time. I apologize for any confusion.”
“Yeah, yeah, just… ugh, don’t be late, all right?”
“Acknowledged.”
“I guess that’s Fancy fer ‘Yes,’ so see ya then.” Applejack shut the door in Turing Test’s face and trudged back through the house.
Big Mac and Apple Bloom had both poked their heads out of their rooms and were peeking down the hallway.
“Applejack, what was all that shoutin’ about?” Apple Bloom asked. “You were so loud, ya almost woke up Granny Smith!”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac said, jerking his head at Granny’s door (behind which there came the long, steady sound of snoring).
“Nothin’ y’all need to worry about,” Applejack grumbled before yawning.
“Oh!” Apple Bloom said, rushing to her sister’s side. “Are ya sure ya don’t need anything? Maybe ya shouldn’t be outta bed!”
“I’m fine, I’m fine!” Applejack snapped, whirling on the little filly. “Just leave me alone and go back to sleep!”
She stomped into her room and shut the door before jumping back into bed.
This has gotta be the dumbest idea I’ve ever agreed to, she told herself, throwing the covers back over herself. That dang robot… workin’ the farm? More trouble than it’s worth!
***
Apple Bloom was the last to get to the breakfast table. She was allowed to sleep in a little later while Granny cooked breakfast and her siblings fed the animals and collected the eggs and milk. The little filly trotted up to the table where her family was already seated and licked her lips at the sight of the bowl of grits along with a plate of eggs and some steamed vegetables.
“This looks great, Granny!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, digging in.
“Oh, it ain’t nothin’ special, but yer welcome anyway, dear,” Granny Smith replied, giving her a smile.
“I just wish ya hadn’t used these here vegetables,” Applejack muttered. “I mean, they’re great, but maybe just some simple hay woulda done the trick.”
“Oh hush now, ya gotta keep yer strength up, Applejack,” Granny Smith said, putting another helping in front of her.
Applejack sighed, but dug in anyway. There was no point in not eating it now that it had already been cooked, after all. “Thanks Granny,” she managed to say between bites. Then she glanced up at the clock. In just a few minutes, it would be 7:30.
“Now, before we get the day started, do y’all remember what I told ya about the help we’re gettin’ today?” Applejack asked, tapping on the table to get her family’s attention.
“Eeyup!” Big Mac replied.
“Sure do!” Apple Bloom said before taking a huge bite of grits.
“Yes indeedy!” Granny Smith added. “An’ I can’t wait to meet this Robert feller ya hired.”
The three younger Apples all stifled their chuckles.
“No, Granny,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes, “it ain’t nopony named ‘Robert.’ I said it’s a she, an’ her name is Turing Test. An’ I said she’s a ‘robot,’ not ‘Robert.’”
“You gone crazy? Why’d you hire a rowboat?!”
“No, she’s a robot!”
“What the hay’s a robot?”
Applejack groaned, burying her face in her hooves. “Like I was sayin’ yesterday, she’s--”
Knock-knock-knock.
“--here, apparently.” She sighed and got up from the table to go to the door. The rest of the family followed her.
Now just be nice, Applejack told herself. She’s here to help, after all, an’ she ain’t a bad pony. She saved four o’ yer friends from those two crazy ponies back on Nightmare Night, an’ everypony else seems to like her well enough. So don’t look a robot in the mouth an’ show some manners.
She took a deep breath and opened the door, putting on her best smile.
“Mornin’, Turing Test!” Applejack said.
“Good morning, Applejack,” Turing Test said, bowing slightly. “I timed my arrival to occur at 7:30. However, that time is synchronized to Twilight Sparkle’s clock which is in turn synchronized to the Ponyville Clocktower. If you wished for me to arrive at your own clock’s time, then perhaps I should wait outside or apologize for arriving late.”
“No, no, yer fine,” Applejack said, keeping her smile in place. “Come on in an’ meet the family. Though I guess ya already know Apple Bloom.”
“Correct,” Turing Test said, stepping inside the house. “In fact, I am told that you were the one that suggested taking me to the hospital,” she said to Apple Bloom. “That act may have resulted in me being repaired and taken in by Twilight Sparkle. I am indebted to you and the rest of your family.”
Apple Bloom beamed, but was interrupted by Granny Smith’s loud gasp.
“Ohhh!” Granny Smith said. “So you’re the pony they found in the orchard! Well, ya look dang good! Even got yer armor back on, not that ya need it fer apple buckin’.”
Applejack opened her mouth, but Apple Bloom beat her too it.
“It ain’t armor, Granny,” the little filly said, leaping to Turing’s side. “She’s made outta the stuff! She ain’t any ordinary ol’ pony; she’s a machine pony!”
“She is? Well dang it, why didn’t anypony tell me that!” Granny Smith shouted.
The other three gave another collective eyeroll.
“Aaaanyway, that there’s Granny Smith,” Applejack went on, “an’ this here’s my older brother Big McIntosh. Just Big Mac, fer short.”
“It is very nice to meet you,” Turing said, looking from Granny Smith to Big Mac in turn. “Twilight Sparkle informed me about you as well. Granny Smith, you were instrumental in contributing to the founding of Ponyville.”
“Well, good t’ hear that Twilight is keepin’ ya up on yer history!” Granny Smith said, lifting her chin proudly. “Lemme know if’n ya ever wanna know more about the good ol’ days.”
“Acknowledged,” Turing said, and then turned to Big Mac. “Twilight has also informed me of your strength and dependability. Also, that you have a pleasing singing voice.”
The tall stallion before her actually blushed and looked away slightly. “Heh heh… Eeyup.”
“All right now, everypony, we best get to work. We already lost a day an’ we only got five more ‘til our deadline fer harvest. Apple Bloom, ya best finish breakfast an’ then get t’ school. Big Mac, I’ll see ya in the orchard in a few. Granny, ya best get back t’ managin’ the family budget fer this month. Everypony ready?”
“Ready!” they all shouted in unison.
Applejack turned to Turing Test. “Uh, I’ll be right out, okay?”
“Acknowledged. I will wait by your barn.” She turned to leave as the Apple family waved to her.
Applejack watched and waited until Turing Test was a good distance from the door and then shut it, turning back to her family. “Ok, y’all, now I know she seems kinda strange…”
“She’s not so strange, Applejack!” Apple Bloom said, hopping forward enthusiastically. “She’s funny! An’ she’s real nice fer comin’ here to help! Can me and the other Crusaders come talk to her after school?”
“I… well, we’ll see,” Applejack said slowly, frowning at Apple Bloom’s nonplussed reaction.
“She seems nice enough to me,” Granny Smith said, turning to go back to the kitchen. “Shame though… nice mare like her bein’ named Robert. She’ll have a hard time snaggin’ a stallion with a name like that!”
Applejack’s eye twitched as she watched her go.
“I’m… I’m just gonna go out to the field now, Big Mac. See ya in a bit?”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac said, giving her a nod.
***
Applejack trotted out and found Turing Test standing in front of the barn doors, almost like a sentry that was guarding it.
“Thanks fer waitin’,” Applejack said, giving her a quick nod. “So, ya ready to go get some apples?”
“I am.” Turing Test said.
Applejack smiled and walked to the barn doors, opening them and leading Turing inside. “All right then. Let’s get a couple carts and load ‘em up with some buckets. We’ll need to go place ‘em under the trees to collect the apples when they fall.”
“Understood.” Turing Test entered the barn, noting the dim light and the straw that was strewn all around it. Farming equipment of all kinds was hung on the walls and large bales of hay were stacked in the loft. “How interesting,” she remarked.
“What’s that?” Applejack asked, looking over her shoulder.
“My apologies. This is the first time I have been in a place like this. It is very different from Twilight Sparkle’s residence.”
“Heh,” Applejack chuckled, smirking slightly. “Yeah, it ain’t no castle, that’s fer sure.”
“That is true, but I still find this an interesting place. I anticipate that I will gain a large amount of input from this experience.” She followed Applejack’s lead and began to load stacks of buckets into a nearby wooden cart. She paused, glancing over at Applejack, who likewise stopped and furrowed her brow at the sudden attention.
“Uh, ya need somethin’?” Applejack asked.
“It is not that I require anything,” Turing Test said, “but perhaps I should, as they say, ‘clear the air.’”
Applejack set down the bucket she held and nodded to her. “Okay… what about?”
“Twilight Sparkle has briefed me on many things. I am also aware that you have previously mistrusted me. I do not fault you for that. It is only natural to be protective of your friends.”
Applejack nodded. “All right, then.”
“Furthermore,” Turing continued, “Twilight Sparkle informed me that you were now aware of me recently gaining the ability to lie. She was apprehensive of you having a negative reaction, but I assure you--”
Applejack held up a hoof and shook her head. “Actually, there ain’t no need to worry about that,” she said. “At first, I admit I thought it was just askin’ fer trouble. But the way she talked about what happened over in Trottingham, I kinda came around on it. Now, I ain’t got no patience for liars and tricksters, but there’s a difference between tellin’ the truth only ‘cause ya got no choice an’ tellin’ the truth when a lie would be a heck of a lot easier. I figure the fact that ya chose to tell the truth rather than keep lyin’ just to beat that goofy test they gave ya says a lot about yer character.”
Turing Test placed her hoof on her chest. “I am very happy to hear that, Applejack. It is my hope that we will become friends through this experience.”
“Well, I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?” Applejack said, giving her a grin. “Now that’s enough yammerin’. Let’s load up these carts an’ get ‘em out to the field!”
The two harnessed themselves to their respective carts and Applejack led Turing Test out to the field where row upon row of apple trees awaited them.
“Now, just watch me,” Applejack said, parking the cart by the side of the dirt road that went to the field. “We’re gonna put these buckets out under the trees. Try to get ‘em under the biggest, heaviest lookin’ branches so they can catch the apples when they fall.”
Turing Test nodded and they began to place the buckets.
“Now, how are ya plannin’ to pick the apples?” Applejack asked.
“What method do you find most optimal, Applejack?” Turing Test asked.
“Well, I just buck the trees. Give ‘em a good kick and the apples fall right off. But then again,” she said frowning, looking over Turing Test, “that’s more of an ‘earth pony’ thing. Maybe you should just try shakin’ the trees or usin’ yer magic.”
But Turing Test shook her head at that. “My magic abilities are still far more limited than Twilight Sparkle’s. I am unable to levitate so many objects with sufficient accuracy. Is kicking the trees the most efficient way to harvest?”
“Well, yeah,” Applejack said slowly, her frown deepening. “But there’s a technique to it. Kick it too softly, an’ the trees won’t drop enough an’ you’ll just have to try again. Too hard, like Big Mac did that one time after the other foals at school teased ‘im fer bein’ tall, an’ ya just might damage the tree.” She took a step over to Turing Test and narrowed her eyes. “An’ believe me… I won’t be happy if ya hurt my trees.”
Turing Test nodded. “Perhaps I would benefit from a demonstration?” she said, raising an upturned hoof to Applejack.
“Sure thing, but I gotta warn ya… it takes years to buck like a farm pony like me!” she said, tipping hat with a smug grin.
Turing Test said nothing as Applejack strolled over to the nearest tree. She turned away from it, lined up, and aimed her back hooves at it, giving it a powerful kick. The sound of her hooves slamming into the trunk reverberating throughout the orchard in the calm, crisp morning air, and the apples rained down into the buckets.
Not a single apple was left on the trees, and not a single apple missed the buckets below.
“A very efficient technique, Applejack. However, I require slightly more data.”
Applejack beamed. “Well, I don’t know if I can spend all day teachin’ ya,” she said. “Besides, like I said, it takes years to get it right!”
“I have analyzed your technique, but I believe there is an additional component to it. One moment, please… engaging E-Mode.”
Applejack gave a start as the pistons in Turing’s legs engaged.
“Hold on, now!” she cried, holding up a hoof. “What are ya doin’ that for?”
“In addition to augmenting my physical strength, E-Mode enables me to read expanded biometric data. If you will buck one more tree, then I may be able to extrapolate from additional data.”
Applejack blinked. “I, uh… I don’t really get it, but if it’ll make ya happy, I guess I can oblige.”
She went to the next tree and gave it another solid bucking. Again the apples rained down perfectly into the buckets.
“Analyzing… data has been assimilated. I will now attempt to imitate your technique.”
Applejack watched as Turing Test went to the first tree in her row and, mimicking Applejack’s stance, lined up and gave it a quick buck. Applejack tensed up, worried that the powerful robot’s legs would smash the tree to splinters, but instead there was the same solid sound she’d heard thousands of times before, followed by the sound of apples raining down into the buckets below.
The branches were now bare. Just like her, she’d managed to get every single apple without missing a single one.
“Apples acquired,” Turing intoned. “Now proceeding with harvest.” She paused, glancing over at Applejack. “Thank you for the demonstration. It was very helpful.”
Applejack’s jaw dropped open. To buck a tree for the very first time and do it so perfectly, as perfectly as she could… she’d never seen anything like it!
Raising herself up, she galloped to her next tree and bucked it as well, letting the apples fall.
Immediately after, though, Turing had hit her next tree and was already bucking the next. Applejack wasted no time and went further down her row, as if this had suddenly become a good old-fashioned bucking competition.
The two mares went to work, bucking and collecting apples. Applejack filled all her buckets and began to load them back into her cart. Turing Test was doing the same. Once loaded up, the pair began to haul the loaded carts back towards the barn to load them up into crates. Applejack was already starting to sweat as she strained and pulled the cart onto the dirt road, but suddenly Turing and her cart burst into view, blocking her path for a mere moment before she dashed back down the road, kicking up a large cloud of dust.
Applejack coughed and waved the dust away. When it cleared, she saw that Turing Test was already halfway back to the barn.
She’s fast! Applejack said to herself. Then she grit her teeth and tore off down the road. No greenhorn was going to show her up on the very first day!
***
A half hour later, Applejack had completed several rows of trees and was still going strong. But keeping up with Turing Test’s pace, she realized, was easier said than done. It took her utmost concentration to aim, buck, and move on to the next tree as fast as she could. Even so, she could hear the rhythmic whirring of Turing Test’s legs and the rapid-fire sound of her kicking each tree. She wasn’t sure how well the robot was doing compared to her or vice-versa, but she felt like she was keeping up pretty well. She smiled at that thought before rearing up to buck the next tree.
“Applejack?”
She gave a startled cry and halted in mid-buck, losing her balance and falling over. With a frown, she looked up to see Big Mac standing over her.
“Oh, there ya are,” she said, getting to her hooves. “Nice o’ ya to join us,” she grumbled.
“Ya passed me on the path over here,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I waved to ya. Didn’t even say hello.”
She looked away. “Too busy, I guess.”
“Eeyup,” he said, giving her a certain look.
“Oh, what? Gonna tell me I’m pushin’ myself too far?”
“Eeyup.”
She waved him off. “Relax. The doctor said I’m good to buck apples today.”
“Doctor also said to pace yerself,” Big Mac said, walking alongside her. “It ain’t even nine o’clock an’ yer sweatin’ like you’ve been out here all day.”
“Oh hush, I’m fine,” Applejack said. She picked up her pace and quickly made for the next tree, ready to buck it. Right when she kicked at it, her brother was there, catching her back legs with his forehooves.
“What the heck are you doin’, Big Mac!” she shouted, whirling on him, getting right in his face. “You know how important this harvest is! An’ I’m just tryin’ to pull my own load! Can’t let our new volunteer get too far ahead and think we’re slackin’ off, can we?”
Big Mac sighed. “Don’t think she’s worryin’ about it,” he said. “An’ neither should you.”
“I wouldn’t if you hadn’t stopped me!” she shouted. “She’s probably gettin’ ahead o’ me by now with you holdin’ me up!”
“Applejack,” Big Mac said, heaving a sigh, “it wouldn’t matter. She’s already an entire row ahead of you.”
Applejack’s eyes went wide and she staggered back. “N-no! She can’t be that much faster’n me! Not with my own technique!”
“Uh, actually, she ain’t usin’ yer technique,” he said, jerking his head in the direction of where Turing Test was harvesting a few rows over. Applejack followed him through the trees and saw that the mechanical mare was moving nimbly through the trees, far faster than she’d realized.
Not only that, but Turing Test was now quickly stopping at each tree and kicking it with just one leg, much in the same way that Big Mac did.
“T-Turing Test?!” Applejack gasped.
The robot stopped and turned to see the two siblings watching her. “Hello, Applejack. Hello, Big McIntosh. I have improved my efficiency by 29% on average. Also, after observing Big McIntosh’s technique, I concluded that it was a more efficient use of my power and would drain my battery much more gradually than your technique. Is this satisfactory?”
“Eeyup!” Big Mac replied.
Applejack was still gawking at her. “You… you can buck that much faster?”
“Affirmative. However, you could also increase your own efficiency by decreasing the angle of your bucking by 3 degrees. Currently, it is slightly inefficient.”
Applejack just stared back at her for a moment, blinking once or twice before closing her mouth and swallowing hard. “I see. Well… you… I mean, I best let you get back to work, then,” she said quietly. “Um… keep up the good work,” she added, and turned to leave.
Big Mac and Turing Test watched her go.
“Was my comment inappropriate, Big McIntosh?” Turing asked once Applejack had left them. “It was intended to be helpful.”
Big Mac frowned, mulling that over. “Mmm… nope,” he said at last. But then he added, “But I wouldn’t go sayin’ more stuff like that if I were you. Just focus on what yer doin’ an’ let everypony else mind their own business.”
Turing Test nodded. “Acknowledged. Thank you, Big Mac. I will be more cautious with my feedback.”
The stallion nodded to her and then went back to the row of trees where Applejack was working. Only now, she was bucking at her normal pace, rather than the frantic, grueling pace she’d been attempting earlier. He noted the way she carried herself, though, and something was off about it.
“You okay, Sis?” he asked.
She gave a short nod. “Eeyup,” she quipped, smirking at him.
“Ya know she’s only tryin’ to help, right?” he asked.
She nodded again, going to the next tree. “Eeyup,” she replied, and this time it was with the barest edge to her voice.
“All right, then,” he said, though he kept his eye on her as he walked off. “I’m goin’ back to my row.”
She nodded once more.
He paused. Applejack being that tight-lipped meant that something was wrong, and he knew his sister well enough to see that and to guess what was bothering her.
“Look, Applejack,” he said, “it ain’t about who can buck the most apples. And it ain’t about replacin’ you with a fancy new robot farmhoof either. It’s just about gettin’ the harvest in on time and doin’ what we gotta do fer the farm an’ the family. You know that, right?”
Applejack paused, but heaved a sigh and finally gave a more genuine smile. “Right.” She took a breath. “Yeah. Sorry, I guess I’m just still a little off kilter after, well…” she glanced down at her own hip, “...you know.”
He smiled. “Eeyup.”
“You get back to work now, all right? And I’ll do the same.” She watched him go, her smile still in place right until she heard the sound of Turing Test galloping off with yet another cart loaded up with apples.
It’s for the farm, she told herself. It’s like Big Mac said - it ain’t about me. Just grin an’ bear it, Applejack. Just grin an’ bear it…
***
In the early evening, Big Mac and Turing Test brought in their last haul of apples. They saw that Applejack and Granny Smith were already waiting for them.
“You two both done fer the day?” Granny Smith asked.
“Eeyup!” Big Mac replied.
“Affirmative.” Turing Test turned to look at Applejack. “Through our combined efforts, we were able to harvest approximately 55% of the total number of trees from the field.”
“Probably woulda done even more,” Applejack said, giving a roll of her eyes, “if Granny hadn’t made me stop a couple hours ago.”
“You heard what that nice Dr. Stable said, Applejack,” Granny Smith said, glaring at her. “No more’n six hours until ya recover all the way.”
“My hips didn’t even hurt!” she shot back.
“Kinda the idea,” the older mare grumbled. “After all, the idea is to stop before ya hurt yerself.”
“Right, right,” Applejack sighed. “I just can’t wait until next season rolls around an’ I can get in a full day’s work instead of loungin’ around the house like a bump on a log. But regardless,” she added, giving Turing Test a smile, “thank ya kindly fer all yer help, Turing. Looks like we just might finish ahead o’ schedule. If we do, we might be able to start sellin’ the apples earlier, maybe even make an early batch o’ cider!”
Turing’s ears shifted. “Understood. And you are welcome.” She bowed politely to the three gathered Apples. “If my assistance is no longer required, I will return to Twilight Sparkle’s residence.”
“Wait a minute there, missy,” Granny Smith said, holding up a hoof. “Ain’t Twilight doin’ that thing up there in the Crystal Empire right now?”
“Correct. Currently, the castle is empty. I intended to practice my magic or merely conserve my power by entering sleep mode until tomorrow.”
“Well that just ain’t right, bein’ left all by yer lonesome,” she said, stroking her chin. “Say, why don’t ya just spend the night over here with us?”
Turing Test’s ears stood straight up and both Applejack and Big Mac turned to stare at her.
“You wish to invite me into your home?” Turing Test asked. “I have never received such a request. Is that truly acceptable?” At this, she looked from one Apple sibling to the other.
Big Mac nodded emphatically. “Eeyup!”
Applejack tapped her chin. “Well, it is the neighborly thing to do, what with you helpin’ us out an’ all,” she said slowly. “So… yeah, I guess that’d be fine!”
“Then it’s settled!” Granny Smith exclaimed, a warm smile crossing her aged face. “Looks like we’re havin’ ya fer dinner!”
Turing Test took a few steps back. “I would not advise that. I am neither edible, nor willing to go to such lengths to gain your favor.”
Big Mac broke out into loud guffaws.
“She means,” Applejack said, her smile becoming stiffer and more forced, “that we’re invitin’ ya to have dinner with us.”
“I see,” Turing Test said, halting her retreat. “I will gladly attend. However, please do not prepare any food for me, as I do not eat.”
“Oh, pshaw!” Granny Smith said, turning to go back into the house. “Ya say that now, but you ain’t ever had some good ol’ fashioned Apple family cookin’!”
The other three watched her go.
“I will return to Twilight Sparkle’s castle to retrieve my charging device. If I am to resume work tomorrow, a fully charged battery would be optimal. I will return shortly.”
Big Mac and Applejack waved to her as she left, heading back through the trees of the orchard and up the road to Ponyville, the glow of sunset still reflecting brightly off her metallic exterior.
“She sure is a nice little robot,” Big Mac said. Then he placed his large foreleg around Applejack, startling her. “An’ I’m proud o’ you, Applejack.”
“Huh? What the hay for?” she asked, squirming out of the sudden hug.
“I know she gets on yer nerves a bit,” her brother replied, “but yer bein’ a good sport about it.”
“Oh, ya mean because I didn’t try to fight her comin’ over here for the night or for gettin’ sore about her buckin’ more apples’n me?” she asked.
“Eeyup,” he replied.
She laughed and waved him off. “It ain’t a big deal. She’s lendin’ us a hoof, after all, so why would I be upset? Ain’t no reason to be upset, now is there?”
“Nope!” he replied, and turned to go back in the house. “Ya comin’?”
“I’ll, um… I’ll just be a bit,” she said, glancing in the direction of the field they’d been harvesting. “Just give me a few, alright?”
He shrugged, then went inside the house.
Applejack began to walk toward the field. It wasn’t too far, just down the path and over a small hill. She stood on the hill and looked down at all the trees.
A little more than half of them were now free of the ripe, juicy apples that had burdened their branches that morning. And so few, she realized, were that way because of her.
A cold autumn wind blew past her, letting her braided mane and tail wave in the wind as she held her hat in place.
Not since I was a filly have I been out-bucked so badly. I know she’s helpin’ us out, an’ I know that I gotta be nice, an’ I can’t just go tell her off even though she rubs me the wrong way. That ain’t her fault. I’m the one with the problem. She glanced back at her hip. That’s right… I’m the one with the problem. An’ right now, I need to do what’s best fer the farm an’ the family. How I feel personally ain't...
She took a deep breath, biting her lip. She felt her eyes start to tear up, but she held her breath and stayed strong.
“Strong.” She whispered the word, bringing herself up, standing firm against the wind. That’s what I am. That’s what I gotta be! Fer the farm an’ the family, she repeated to herself, turning back toward home. How I feel just ain’t important…
To be continued…
And so begins the Applejack Arc. It's been a while in coming, but I hope it'll be worth the wait!
First off, thanks to my editors and an extra big thank you to GenerousGypsy, who really helped give the first scene in this chapter an overhaul and made it flow a lot better.
Next, of course, we've got references. Not too many this time around, but...
-The title, of course, refers to the company Apple, which I'm sure everyone got. But on that note, many of you might have noticed that I spell Big Mac's name as "McIntosh," not "Macintosh." My reasoning on this is simple... "Macintosh" is a computer, but the type of actual apple he's named after is "McIntosh." And if it's good enough for Lauren Faust and M.A. Larson, then it's good enough for me!
-Something of an old gag, but Turing's use of the phrase "the hay" in her answers is a slight reference to a similar gag used by Spock in Star Trek IV: The Journey Home.
See y'all next time, ya hear? 
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Oh dear
Ah yes, it's Celestia's anecdote about the plough pulling automaton all over again isn't it?
6940098 They couod be mushroom goblins...
Your feelings aren't wrong, AJ. Nor do you necessarily have a problem. Nopony is immune to having their pride stung that, so don't think that your feelings are invalid. Being strong is good, but not to the point where you ignore your troubles. Just talk the problem out with Robert and your family and I'm sure they will try to help find a solution, because your feelings are important!
6940098 Agreed, Fluttershy has enough trouble with attention. the last thing she needs is something to make herself bigger.
mariowiki.com/images/1/12/Items_-_MaLPiT.png
6940200 That would be the most obvious answer, wouldn't it? But... is it the right one?
This little back and forth made me laugh and remember a bit from Young Frankenstein.
Inga : "Werewolves!"
Dr. F : "Werewolves?"
Igor : "There."
Dr. F : "What?"
Igor : " There Wolves... There Castle."
Dr. F : "Why are you talking like that?"
Igor : "I thought you wanted to."
6940309 Oh yeah, it is a little bit like that! Ha! I wonder if my subconscious was channeling Mel Brooks.
When I first saw the picture, I didn't realize those were tears. At first I thought they were odd blue pupils, and she'd been drawn with veeery wide set eyes for some reason.
It's John Henry and the Steam Drill all over again--and we all know how THAT came out.
6940243 or worse...
mariowiki.com/images/f/fc/1-Up_Mushroom.png
I still say that you shouldn't have used AJ's name in the first scene, but watevs. Also:
The. That's supposed to be 'The force'.
Other than that, I love the final result, and I was more than happy to help with the first scene!
6940442 Ha! Oh man, I totally see it now!
Well, if you want to blame anyone, you can blame me. I told Green to draw it like that.
6940455
And whose fault is that, Mr. Editor?
...Nah, better late than never. Thanks for the catch!
And I kept Applejack's name juuuust in case there was any doubt in a reader's mind. I considered leaving it out, but I decided to keep it in the end.
6940483
Aheh, heh heh...
*sarcasm* And I guess the readers *sarcasm* are kind of dumb. *sarcasm* But seriously, it was your choice, and I respect that.
//disclaimer// I know the readers aren't stupid. I was just being a smartass. I do that sometimes. Most times.
6940548 I wish they still had the original cast. The new Top Gear is fugly.
Very good chapter (You really need name the arc like this, isnt?
). So Applejack suffers from a genetic disposition towards what could be an earth pony combination of tendinitis, repetitive strain injury and arthritis? Makes sense when we remember how much she pushes herself...
It was amusing to see Turing being her adokable literal self and that Granny Smith, Big Mac and Apple Bloom are ok with her.
You really did justice with Applejack's personality here, in that she put her family's welfare over here own feelings (even if it guarantee a blow up later...
).
I think that Applejack's dilemma with Turing is something deeper than the "farming automaton dilemma"... she knows that Turing have no intention of substitute her, but seeing somepony able to do so easily something that she took a lot of time and hard work to master, something that she is proud of and in a way built her identity and self-image around it... Applejack really got shaken...
I really hope that Applejack and Turing help each other...
Hopping that Applejack doesn't over do it and ends up in the hospital again...
...though in a reverse of fortune, Turing will be the one carrying her.
6940444 He kicked the drill's ass then dropped dead.
We have calculators that can do stuff SOOOOOO much faster than a human can, yet if we don't know how to use it or do more complex calculations, a calculator is useless (Someone has to program the damn things!)
6940483 Just a thought, but in the next chapter you should have a flashback or allusion to the Super Speedy Cider Squeezey 6000, just seems appropriate to me.
6940712
Now ...imagine how Turing Test, who is not a mindless machine like the steam drill, would feel about Applejack's death.
Turing does not handle paradoxes well.
The situation here is quickly turning into a Moral paradox.
Applejack needs help, so Turing is sent to aid in the harvest. A robot replacing work done by ponies is exactly the reason Celestia suppressed the development of automata, both because it would drive ponies out of jobs, and in the case of genuinely sentient machines, create a slave race. It's in Defiance of this decision that Turing was built.
Is it right for Turing to help Applejack in the manor she is?
How will Turing react if this is brought to her attention?
This is always enjoyable when it updates, and the effort you put into the references while still disguising them is incredible.
I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
6940309 I love that movie!
6941031
Logically , and Turing is able to handle "logic" quite well ,she should not have any problem with it.
I explain.
In our case Turing isn't driving Applejack out of her job but is in fact making sure that she is able to keep it.
Moreover , she is doing it without being forced to do so , and is ultimately doing it to gain some "friendship" points with Applejack.
In short , as neither of these two situations (both being valid concerns and very... bothersome) are applicable to the present case , Turing should be able to bypass the problem entirely.
Oddly, this is one of the few times a machine would be better than an organic; machines don't suffer from repetitive hard work. Still I only guess what AJ's real problem is.
Well, Turing came clean, can Applejack reciprocate?
The "her name's not Robert!" scene reminded me of how Andrew was named in Bicentennial Man. We'll leave it to you readers to figure out the source word!
Harvesting efficiency would be improved by almost 18 (guesstimates) percent by increasing the number of wagons Turing uses during transport, as by far the greatest amount of time is used in travel from the trees back to the barn..... And I'm rambling again.
Keep going! ;)
6940200
That's probably part of it. But going by that bit at the ending there, there's probably also going to be a whole heap of self-worth issues. And since this is a moderately feelsy fic with the focus now turned to Applejack, probably some dead-parents issues. My guess is that the latter had a part in causing the former.
Reading this opening, I'm reminded once again of the idea that Rainbow Dash and Applejack got their Elements switched.
Also, oh dear.
"Bucker’s Hips is a thing farm ponies get from buckin’ trees all day. It’s generic."
...Evolution in this Equestria is Lamarckian? Or is it perhaps that Applejack is not quite right, that the tendency is genetic and the expression is lifestyle-based? Hm.
"If ya try buckin’ it and miss"
Didn't she just say that using the front legs wasn't bucking, though?
"Applejack’s eyes narrowed. “Did she now?”"
Yeah, maaaaaaybe not the best thing to say to sell this idea to person who does in fact bear Honesty. :)
re Applejack's talk with Turing about the lying thing:
...Huh. That is a good point. :)
"“Kinda the idea,” the older mare grumbled. “After all, the idea is to stop before ya hurt yerself.”"
It is both kind of the idea and exactly the idea?
Well, not that this is the most surprising route for this to be developing along, but still, a good read. :)
A big question for me is whether Applejack is more worried about being replaced or being replaceable. The former is relatively easy to solve, I think (though it might take the characters longer to realize that); Turing can just say that, whatever she's capable of, she wouldn't do something that would hurt a friend that what. If it's about the capability itself, though, about being not only no longer one of the best farm ponies out there (as I expect Applejack sees herself) but actually significantly inferior to the average robo-farmer... That I'm not so sure how to solve. Nor do I think Applejack is the type to be told that, even if she's completely irrelevant in terms of food production in the face of machine cultivation, it's okay, because she can still run her farm as a hobby, maybe supplying hoof-grown apples as novelty items (however likely that scenario actually is or not).
Though there is another possibility, of course: Turing is certainly better at harvesting apples... but how is she at growing them? Does earth pony magic in this universe have that sort of component, and, if so, is Turing capable of duplicating it?
4.bp.blogspot.com/-YLxdM02OR4Q/Ux_ZleLrEGI/AAAAAAAAB5w/sv8Kn92vfPc/s1600/Applejack_smiling_and_Apple_Bloom_frustrated_S4E17.png
Nice chapter. I honestly expected Applejack to accept Turing's presence so fast, but seems like things are going well.... Too well
And the last part... darn it, now I have to wait the next chapter
This chapter is basically Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 all over again but more on a personal level. It's hard to tell who has more pride between Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Although I don't see why Applejack thinks the weight of the family business rests on her shoulders alone. Sure the last time it was that, but since Big Mac is around this time, she should be taking it easy. The fact the ignored the logic about pushing herself. Instead of taking it easy, while this would result in less daily productivity she would still be able to keep going in the long run but she chose to over exert herself to the point that she now has no choice but to limit her work load even more than she would have taking it easy. And it doesn't look like Turing will be able to help with her emotional problems but will unintentionally make them bigger.
6940548
Please, don't remind me of that, I'm suffering from an acute case of broken heart concerning that. And a very severe case of sheer rage at the list of utter twonks that will be starring from now on. They won't be able to make politically incorrect jokes about anything.
Still, I could see Spike as a good replacement for Hammond, he's certainly short enough...
Somepony has been bit by the green eyed monster.
Pony up AJ, you should be resting and be happy your family's harvest will be in with plenty of time and no loss of profit. I hope Big Mac talks some sense into her if she goes off the deep end.
6940444 John Henry won but died with his hammer in his hand... luckily AJ doesn't have a hammer.
6942023 I didn't catch that Karma bit until I read your comment, but I can just see AB shooting her sister looks every time she 'overreacts' and keeping tally for each one until she's even with AJ for that whole episode.
6942049 I think part of the problem is they're on a time limit to get the last harvest in and AJ stopping now would hurt their final harvest.
6945503
The problem with this is that AJ has been doing this for a long time. While I can't remember which chapter first showed the signs I do know that a lot of time has passed since then by at least a few months.
6945522 True, but if she hadn't been pushing herself to get more of the harvest in then she wouldn't have gotten injured and need the help.
There are times when a competitive nature is foolish. Yes, RD, that's blasphemy, I know...
But the old wisdom says one needs to learn to choose one's battles. Some things are worth an all-out effort disregarding cost or damage to oneself... but many things are not.
Applejack's taking a competitive stance toward Turing Test in that situation would be as foolish as if I'd chosen to arm-wrestle a forklift.
6940201
6940347
I miiiight have been inspired by a certain comic...
img06.deviantart.net/2105/i/2015/142/a/0/radical_by_doublewbrothers-d8uac49.jpg
6945522 Thanks for the comments and feedback, Shadow Bolt!
Well, while there is a bit more going on than what might be outwardly obvious, you have in fact pointed out something I was trying to hint at.
In fact, it's back in Chapter 1 that it is first alluded to, as in before the story began. It's a good question to ask... why would Applejack injure herself? Why not plan ahead and let Big Mac fill in, as you've suggested? Indeed, as you say:
Why would she behave so irrationally? Heh... why indeed?
Without giving too much away, I'll just say that you're very perceptive, and the speculation is much appreciated. Hopefully the next few chapters answer those lingering questions...
6948236
Glad you liked my comments.
Thanks.
Hm...
I know why she's the last pony now, been suggested since very early on.
'Farmer, the kind of job that is build off hard, honest work', and then technology comes around to make all that hard work seem like nothing.
Celesta banned it for that purpose, and now Applejack is feeling...jealous? Inadequacy? A llot of different bad emotions.
She's too self sacrificing that mare...
I'm interested to see the ultimate resolution here, it's nice that she at least tries to be civil and polite early on, she knows that Turing is pretty much better than her original thoughts before. But...she's finding new ones the more time she stays.
Here we go, one last Mane 6 member to go.
Oh God, the puns!
(which gets destroyed when they are explained, but still as funny as that story where Rarity was a changeling and a sister to Chrysalis thing)
Oh God, the comedic references!
(No, seriously.)
Oh God, seriously!?
(It's that thing with Celestia all over again!)
Well. I have sufficiently caught up with the rest of y'all. It's time to work on my own stuff, now...
Back to trying to decipher that damn code.
Angry scribbling.
6953243 Should you decide to give up, the blog post with the solution can be found here.
6953401 I didn't, however, what I ended up with was M I N T IS, and that's about it. It took me all day to get this far >;c
Well, I'm glad that A.J.'s got some help on the farm. It just killed me when her hip finally gave out..
I hope she's sensible enough to know that Tee has no intention of replacing her.
AppleJack's own pride and loyalty to the Family has pushed her beyond her limits, She's gotta learn to take better care of herself. Self-care and a little indulgence is the best way to show how much you love yourself. Look at Rarity, seriously, do you think she doesn't love herself?
While driving home from work yesterday a thought hit me, I doubt I'm the first to think of it, or the first to comment on it but I would like to make a prediction about this story.
The story will end with Turing Test getting her Cutie Mark. I really hope this happens, because that would be awesome!
6975339 Well, unfortunately there is no interactive automata section or even a human fossils section (it's a bit of a rapidly shifting museum and a fair amount of it is food court place, outside play thing, and also a gift shop), but there is a controllable "mars rover" in an easily travellable box that shows you what it sees and has an "infrared camera" to show "heat" representative of life.
Silly AJ, I know just how you feel, painful conditions caused by genetics.. slowing you down, makes you just wanna screem.. but how you feel IS important, if you can't do you job like you where, try to think of possible solutions..