The True Me

by lightningman

Chapter 16 - Applebuck Season

I sigh as I look at the sky, it was still noon. I see that Applejack had left.

"I guess she had some things to do." I shrug as I left for home. Suddenly there was a rumbling in the ground.

"Whoa.. whoa!" I tried to stand up. I saw a bunch of cows stampeding towards ponyville.

"STAMPEDE!!" I heard someone yell.
"H-H-Hey." Pinkie Pie said, "T-This makes my voice sound s-silly!" She said in a quivering voice from the vibrations of the ground

Twilight ran towards me.

"Lightningman! We need to stop them!"

"Nah."

"WHAT?!" She asked angrily.

"Applejack's got it." I smile as I point at the herd. A second later she saw Applejack and Winona herding everyone. Soon enough they stopped and there was cheering.

"THREE CHEERS FOR APPLEJACK!" I heard the pony from earlier yell.

"Hip hip, HOORAY! hip hip, HOORAY! hip hip HOORAY!" Applejack lowered her hat a little and went towards the cows.

"Now what in tarnation was that about?"

"I'm sorry Applejack. But Moorietta saw one of those ghastly snakes." Said one of the cows in a surprisingly dignified voice. All of the cows flinched at the mention of the snake

"Alright, just make sure you steer away from Ponyville next time?"

"Alright Applejack." She nodded and they began to walk back to the farm. Applejack followed behind and everyone was laughing as pinkie pie was dancing around saying. "Yeehaw. Ride em cowpony!" I smile a little. twilight turned to me.

"How did you know Applejack was going to save Ponyville."

"This is the beginning of the episode, AppleBuck Season." I look around at where the camera should be and there was a slight shimmer in the air. That made a theory I had to begin to take place. Maybe, I hadn't just traveled through space, I had traveled through time as well. Just then, Mayor Mare come up and said

"We simply must do something to thank AppleJack for Single hoofedly saving the town."

"I know." Pinkie Pie said as she took out her party cannon. "A PARTY!" I roll my eyes and put shields around everypony to stop them from getting hit by stuff. She shot the cannon and everything was set up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- A Half Hour Later -------------------------------------------------------------------

"We almost ready?" Asked Twilight.

"Almost," said Rarity as she levitated a banner depicting a bunch of apples and vines. "Now we are ready."

"Where's Applejack?" Twilight asked.

"Don't worry, she's just bucking some apples right now. She'll turn up. Exhausted, but she'll turn up."

"And how.." I cut her off.

"It's still the episode right now. It ends when you write the friendship lesson down and send it to Princess Celestia."

"We learn a friendship lesson?" Twilight's eyes gleam.

"Yeah, But don't rush it alright?"

"Oh.. Alright. What is the lesson?" She asked

"Spoilers. I won't give." I shake my head and use my wand to conjure a zipper on my mouth. I zip it shut. They all laugh as I make it disappear.

--------------------------------------------------------An hour later --------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight went up to the podium and said. "Welcome Everypony, We are here today to honor a pony we can always depend on through thick and thin. To help with matters great and small. A pony who..." She was interrupted as Rainbow Dash flew in and said

"Did you see Applejack's slick moves out there? What an Athlete! This week she's going to help me with my new flying technique, and everypony knows it's going to be so awesome!" Her voice was squeaky near the end and twilight shoved her aside

"Exactly, and..." Interrupted again by Pinkie Pie who said

"This week, I get to run Sugar cube corner for the first time."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Oh.. Applejack is going to help me bake the cupcakes! She's one of the best bakers ever!" Twilight shoved her aside and said

"Ok, that's great. If I could just make a point without getting inter...." Fluttershy popped up and whispered something in Twilight's ear "...rupted." She moved aside for Fluttershy

"Twilight. I'm so sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is helping me this week as well. She's helping me round up all of the bunnies."

"Anyone else?" She sighed as Fluttershy left. "Good, now then as I was trying to say.." she sees Mayor Mare waiting to talk. "UHH!" She gives up and walks away. "Never mind."

"And so, with no further ado. It is my privilege to give the prized pony of ponyville a prize. A pony with the utmost trustworthiness and reliability. APPLEJACK!" She motions to the curtains and they pull back to reveal nothing.

They all gasp. "Where is she?" I call to them.

"Don't worry, she'll be here in 3... 2... 1..."

"SORRY I'm LATE!" Applejack called from the back. her saddlebags full of apples. She looked exhausted. I turn to Twilight and said. "Told ya."

She went up to the podium and said. "Miss mare, thank you all for here uh.... reward thingy." She yawns and said "It's so... Shiny." She looks into it and laughs. "Heh, heh. I sure do look funny in it." She began to move her head forwards and back. Soon enough Pinkie went and joined her. They were both moving their heads forward and back toward the trophy looking at how weird their heads looked.

"Ok.... Well. Thank you Applejack, for saving the town. And always being there for everypony."

With that Applejack yawned and said. "Well, I like helping the pony folks and... Yawn... and stuff." She fell asleep for a second before waking up. "Oh, thanks." She began to drag the trophy back.

"I told you she would be tired," I said to twilight soon.

"Yeah, we better see what's going on."
----------------------------------------------------------------------Later---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We spot Applejack trying to buck apples, but she is so tired that she can barely stand straight.

"What is she doing?" Twilight asked herself. She then called out. "Hey, applejack... Applejack!" She then teleported to in front of Applejack and yelled her name. Applejack woke up and said.

"Oh, howdy twilight."

"What is all this?"

"It's applebuck season."

"What now?"

"It's what the apple family called harvesting season."

"And why are you doing it all alone?"

"Cause Big Macintosh hurt himself." She said as if it's the simplest thing in the world.

"What about all those relatives I met when I first came to ponyville?"

"They were just here for the Apple family reunion. They actually live all over Equestria. And their busy harvesting their own orchards. So it's just me. Which means I should really get back to work." A few seconds of twilight not moving. "um... Hint hint? Get back to work?"

"Fine." She moved.

"Um.. could you step aside twilight?" She asked dizzily

"I... just did? And, you don't look so good."

"Don't you three worry none, im all fine and dandy."

"Do you... want some help?

"No."

"But there's no way to can harvest all these trees by yourself."

"Is that a challenge?

"Um... no?"

"Well, ill show you." She said as if she hadn't heard her. "I'll harvest all of these trees by myself. Now if you'll excuse me. I have apples to buck."
-----------------------------------------------------------A few hours later.---------------------------------------------------------------------

"Lightningman, we have to do something about Applejack."

"What happened?" I asked as if I didn't know.

"She basically poisoned all of ponyville with terrible muffins. She scared all of Fluttershy's rabbits. And she sent Rainbow Dash flying into orbit!"

"Oh, she did all that already?" I look at my watch. "I would have figured it would have taken at least another day or two to get to this point."

"Wait. You knew this was going to happen? And you didn't stop it?" She asked

"Yeah, I don't want to interfere with the show."

"Grr. Gah! Fine! But are you going to help now or not?"

"Yeah, it's nearing the end of the episode anyway."

Soon we were walking toward Applejack, who was on a hill trying to buck one last tree. She bucked it and apples fell and hit her on the head. "Wha huh?" She then brought the apples to a basket and she tipped over with the cart.

"Applejack? Wake up." Twilight said when we got near

"Huh wha? Oh, It's you twilight, lightningman. I know what you're going to say. But the answer is still no."

"No to upset you. But YOU NEED HELP!" she told her.

"Yeah. Besides, I know how this is going to turn out. I basically know the future right now."

"No, I don't need help." Applejack told twilight. She then turned on me. "And I don't need no hocus-pocus future seer telling me what I need to do." She then proceeded to get off the flipped cart and buck a dead tree.

"This is what I'm talking about. Your so tired, you can't see straight." Twilight said. "Plus I just came back from Ponyville urgent care and..."

"I'm a little too busy to be lectured right now."

"If you would only let me help...."

"Guh! no. No NO! How many times do I have to say it? I DONT NEED NO HELP FROM NOPONY!"

"Gah. She's stubborn as a mule."

"No offense," I say even before he brayed. Twilight turned around and spotted the mule. she blushed a little.

"None was taken." He said and went on his way.
--------------------------------------------------------------another hour later.---------------------------------------------------------------------

"You think she'll come to her senses now?" Twilight asked as she looked around at the devastation that the rabbit stampede did

"Pretty sure. Plus I get to make a joke soon with Big Macintosh." I sigh

"Really? What's the joke?"

"you'll see." I laugh
--------------------------------------------------------------- A half hour later.----------------------------------------------------------------------
We soon get to Applejack. She was again, bucking a tree on a hill. She was mumbling in her sleep. We get there. as soon as she finished bucking the tree.

"All right Applejack. Your apple bucking hasn't just caused you problems. it's caused the whole town problems! I don't care what you say. YOU NEED HELP!"

"HAh!" She said as the apples fell into her basket "No I don't. look, I did it. I harvested the entirety of sweet apple acres without your help. How do you like them apples?" Just then big macintosh came and we both said at the same time.

"Um... How do YOU like THEM apples?" He looked at me in surprise and laughed. Twilight then laughed as well as Applejack widened her eyes at the other half of Sweet Apple Acres, Still loaded with apple trees. She then fainted for a few seconds.

"Applejack. Oh good. You're ok. Now Applejack I completely respect the apple family ways. you're always there for someone in need. Now maybe you can put your stubborn ways aside and let your friends help you?"

"Ok twilight." She sighed

"I won't take no for a... Wait, what?"

"I said yes. please help twilight."

Twilight giggled and sighed. "Alright. Now you go get some rest." She turned to me. "Lightningman. You think you can handle these trees?"

"Simple," I said as I pull out The harmonic wand. I feel sam talk inside of my mind.

"What are we doing?"

"I need you to supply my body with as much aura as you can give."

"Alright." I immediately feel as if I was going to burst if I didn't get the energy out of my system. I direct it all into my fist. I then go to a tree and punch it as hard as I could. A loud and powerful shockwave echoed all the way to the distant mountains. All the apples fell down.

"There," I said to Twilight. Her and Applejack stood, jaw agape at the power I had just shown.

"Um alright. Now if you'll excuse me. I have a friendship lesson to write down."

"Ok." The power left me. "And I'm going to see if I can create new spells in case something like this happens again." I do a two fingered salute and left. Twilight went to her pen and paper and wrote down.

"Dear Princess Celestia. My friend Applejack is the best friend a pony could ever have. She's always there to help any pony. the only trouble is, she's reluctant to accept help when she needs it. So while friendship is about helping friends. It's also about accepting it when your friends offer it. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."

"Oh, also I forgot to ask?" Twilight turned to me. Everyone was taking a break. Big Macintosh was with us.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Why do you call big mac by his full name?"

"Because I refuse on moral counts to call him Big Mac." Everyone looked at me strangely.

"And why would that be?"

"Because a Big Mac is a hamburger on my planet." Everyone paled at this.