This story is a sequel to Call of the Mountain
Applejack and Fluttershy have been together a long time. They have a lot in common, including a mutual love for Everfree. The forest is their home. It had been for centuries, and it would be for as long as they lived.
Or rather, that’s what Applejack had thought. But then a pair of traveling griffons began enticing Fluttershy with stories of life outside of the forest. With the draconequus’s interests shifting away from Applejack, she takes it upon herself to prove that she's not just a dull forest-dweller.
A story in the Noodleverse series, a species swap AU shared by myself and Pasu-Chan. This is the second story in the Harmony's Chosen arc.
Written as a birthday present for Pasu-Chan, and based on her Noodle AU. Familiarity with the AU isn't necessary, but I’d definitely recommend checking it out for some amazing artwork 
Now with a TVTropes page!
Proofread by ArchAngelsWings, mouch30, Mind Jack, and Eddie Grammar
Cover and all internal artwork done by Pasu-Chan.
Wow
your writing style is great 
That was really fun to read, can't wait for the next chapter
i'm curious to see what will happen 
Sadly i have to pass this too
When will you continiu with my fav. drama dream team of all time? so i can read you're amazing stuff again :D
7984700
I'm looking forward to getting to it too 
Thank you
7984706
But since I've got to finish current projects, and I've got another novel length story before I can get back to them, it'll probably be like a year or so 
Eventually
7984738 okay i am just gonna get back to my tumblr cave and wait
I enjoyed this. I hope we get some time to get more info on Pinkie and Dash and how they met, how they are friends, how close are they, and other such things.
7984756
I plan on making a separate story to focus on each of the mane six, with this one being mostly about Applejack. That's a long term goal, though. In the meantime, there will be more Pinkie and Rainbow in this fic, but I won't be exploring their history until Rainbow's story.
As for how close they are, I'm just gonna leave this here
7984784
Nice I will definitely be following this story.
Ok, this is nice.
Honestly, I am intrigued by the deer, we don't have much canon information about them. I've heard they are like elves in a sense, I am guessing you are using that idea?
Sure, I will read this. I did mention I like your Applejack a lot.
Hey, if you are making a series out of this AU, can I has Sunset Siren someday?
Looks great so far!
7985069
Yeah, the deer have some definite elfish qualities, which is why Applejack is several centuries old in this story. We'll learn more about them as the story progresses.
Glad you're enjoying it
My plan is to first go through the mane six, with the final story (Twilight's) covering Nightmare Moon's appearance in this AU. Once that's done, who knows? Since Who We Become will remain my more active series, it'll probably take me a long time before I even get through those six, and I don't want to make plans too far out. But I'm sure I'll continue writing in the Noodleverse, and I'd be surprised if Sunset doesn't pop up (especially since I'm the godparent of her child
)
7985085
Thank you, hope you enjoy the rest of the story as well
7985108 So, there's a big chance.
You keep writing ponies for as long as you want, I keep reading; because you are good.
This was simply lovely. Nicely done.
7987162
Thank you, glad you're enjoying the story
The illustrations were simply great
both of them, and I really dig Rarity's design 
I wonder what will happen to Applejack once she reaches White Tail woods...
8000702
Pasu's certainly done an amazing job on all the Noodleverse artwork.
Aren't they though
Let's just say the adventure tag will finally make sense
Hehe, I like this characters.
The interactions are fun.
So, it is one of those stories. AJ will go to great lengths, adventure and peril to prove Everfree can be exciting. But Fluttershy in reality has no intention of leaving the forest, and is perfectly happy of how things are. Geez, you just want to see something different, and suddenly bam... your love one thinks you want to abandon your home forever.
Btw I think your title in the story document is wrong, still says chapter one.
8000702 Thank you very much!
(Yes I am Pasu) Hopefully I'll draw more of the water noodle soon so that rabbit can use another picture if needed 
8001697 Oh, happy to know you
Kricky showed me many of your great works, I added you to my follow list. I'll be looking forward to that also 
8000826 Oooh
8001525
Fluttershy: "I decided to try a new manecut. What do you think, deer?"
Applejack: "I don't know who you are anymore!"
lol yeah, somedeer might just be a little resistant to change here
And thank you for pointing out the error, that's fixed now 
8001697
I already have the pictures picked out for chapter three 
No need to draw anything on my account
8003224 As if you didn't know I had plans on drawing her anyway? =P
When is chapter 3 being uploaded? Is this because of the time change last weekend?
8018903
Unfortunately, I'm forced to take a bit of a break in my writing (more details here, but basically it's some irl stuff). I'll be updating chapter three as soon as I can, though.
Welcome back!
What a fun read. This Discord is interesting. Obviously, he can't be trusted, but is definitely charming. And somepony had to point out AJ's silliness.
You update whenever you want to update. Don't worry none, mate.
OMG Yes!!!!! I didn't get the notification because I have been on a plane for the last 12 hours with no service! I can't read right now because my next flight is about to take off so I'll read it later tonight!
8071461
Hope you enjoy the chapter once you've finally landed for good 
Twelve hours and then another flight after that? That's a lot of flying
8071281
Who'd've thought that out of everyone, Discord is the one to notice AJ's being silly here 
Thank you
My my you rendered Discord's character perfectly
I wonder what he wants with the Sungrove and what that emerald pendant is for...
Nice idea having him an hinny as well
Great work as always my friend
Yay, so it's back! It's great to see Fluttershy's side of the story. We got a lot of characterization for her. And also little pieces of world building for the deers. King Aspen seems very genuine, and that parallelism with elves, shows.
How do you put so much inside one single chapter? Again, glad you are back writing.
8406631
Hopefully she’s still reading as Fluttershy, and not just someone who has the same name and appearance traits as her.
Fluttershy is more troublesome to write in this story than others. Trying to keep her character recognizable from the show can be a challenge while factoring in that she’s an insanely powerful draconequus who is centuries old and is respected on a level equal to or greater than royalty
Glad Aspen’s coming across well. I was hoping he’d come across as reasonable and not just look like a huge jerk. I mean, he can be kind of an ass about things (iirc you read the IDW comics, but if you haven’t read the one with the deer, he yells about half his dialogue lol), but he does have a pretty valid concern if we’re being honest.
It’s good to be back, and as always I’m glad you’re enjoying the story
It is so good to see more from this story. The chapter was very enjoyable.
8407259
And of course, I'm glad to hear that you liked the chapter 
It's good to be back to updating it
I love it... Very well done.
Keep up the good work
8409088
And I'll certainly do my best 
Thank you
I liked the exchange with the king most of all, I really like reading Fluttershy being serious, not to mention Rainbow's and Pinkie's entrance
Also..."Taxidermy Mishap", really? Some ponies are such speciest
Ah, so Fluttershy and our griffon friends are already looking for AJ in the forest. And something unknown, or more like someone, is going to make this adventure a lot more interesting.
Good chapter mate, lots of mystery!
And good to hear you are ok.
8420163
Glad you’re enjoying the story 
Noodleshy is best Shy
lol the show is full of examples of ponies being racist against non-pony species (not so obvious as this, but still). That slur came courtesy of a friend of mine who’s far better at addressing problems of racism in storytelling than I am.
8421655
Glad you enjoyed the chapter, and you’re right that things are about to get a lot more interesting in the next one 
Everything I planned for chapter five wound up being 15k words, so I decided t split it into two chapters, which had the upside of leaving me with this fantastic cliffhanger
Don't worry, the action was great!
And the character interactions were genius.
A roc uh? Cool, I always like them giant birds; would be so awesome if we ever see one in the show.
8433806
And yeah, rocs are pretty cool and underappreciated. It’d be fantastic to see what the show would do with something like that 
That’s certainly nice to hear
I wonder if there gonna be more adventure like that?
8434054
Joining the Noodleverse group is the best way to keep up with any further stories set in this AU.
Not in this story specifically. The final chapter will be published next week, and it mainly serves to close up the story and answer some questions that are still open. But I am hoping to keep writing stories in this universe, which will include more adventure stories
8434100
joining now I can't wait to see more!
Thank you for the nice story!
8447617
A story focusing on Rainbow will probably be next, but I can’t guarantee anything. I’m glad you liked it, and thanks for all the comments along the way 
Definitely looking forward to continuing in this AU someday
Man, sea serpent Rarity is just so based.
10496697
Finally... finally someone reads this story.... thank you
10496704
I said I was only caught up on one universe!
The idea of the Apple family as deer is just so perfect! I love how it keeps their family dynamic intact. All the species choices work so well with the characters. Rainbow as a griffon is particularly good, especially with what their general character and culture are shown to be. And Lady Rarararara as a sea serpent continues to be my fave. It's just so glamorous!
10496719
I'm glad you like the species choices. I always thought if Pasu had made the AU later, Pinkie would've been a yak instead of a griffon, but I also like her and Dashie coming from the same place.
Gives me something to work with for Rainbow's story in this series