Applejack at the Edge of the World

by MagicS

Apples, Strawberries, and Pears, Oh My! I

The two fruit-themed mares stared at each other for a moment longer before Wild Strawberry’s face brightened up in a huge grin—her eyes positively sparkling.

“It is you! I knew it!” She yelled and ran up to Applejack, practically tackling and hugging her out of the chair Applejack had been sitting in.

“Whoa there!” Applejack chuckled in amusement, patting the younger filly on the back and picking herself up. She didn’t care that the rest of the ponies were looking at the two of them—she was just happy to see a familiar face, a face she rightly didn’t expect to see ever again. Wild Strawberry had grown a little bit but the hat was still just slightly too big for her head and the filly had to adjust it with each movement. Still, Applejack just couldn’t help but grin. “Now what in the hay are you doing all the way out here? Ain't it far from home? Heh—but I’m sure glad to see you again, Wild Strawberry. I may have had to leave quickly last time but I’m glad it seems you’re doing alright.”

“I’m doing better than alright!” Wild Strawberry smiled. “And what are you doing all the way out here? Do you just go traveling around the whole world or something?”

“Uhh… not quite,” Applejack grimaced awkwardly and rubbed her neck. “I’m here on business—this place is just as far from home for me as I’m sure it is for you.”

Although truthfully Applejack had no idea where Wild Strawberry’s family farm actually was. She had been dead lost when she stumbled upon it in the past.

“I guess it’s just a real big coincidence—but a good one too!” Wild Strawberry laughed.

“Sure is,” Applejack smiled. “But really, Wild, what are you doing all the way out here? Is your family here too?”

At that question, Wild Strawberry’s smile somehow grew even wider. She puffed up with pride and stood tall before turning slightly and showing off her flank to Applejack. “I’m out here because of this!” She said and pointed to her Cutie Mark.

Her Cutie Mark. The mark that wasn’t there last time Applejack saw her.

“Well I’ll be,” Applejack whispered in quiet joy and appreciation. Wild Strawberry’s Cutie Mark was, not surprisingly, a strawberry—but with white eagle wings coming from it and a bright burst of light around it.

“I got it almost right after you left. I discovered that, as much as I love my family and my farm, my calling wasn’t just to grow strawberries on it forever. It was to spread the joy of strawberries all across the world. Ever since I got this mark I’ve been traveling, strawberry seeds in hoof, helping to grow them and do whatever else I can,” Wild Strawberry proudly told Applejack. “It’s been amazing. I never thought my life could become something like this.” She giggled and pointed up to her hat. “And I’ve had your hat with me all the way too.”

“Wild Strawberry, I can’t even tell you how happy I am to hear that,” Applejack felt a warmth in her chest as the little filly told her story. “I’m so dang relieved to hear you’ve found your place, sugarcube.”

“I really owe a lot of it to you. Meeting you changed my whole life,” Wild Strawberry said.

“Shucks...” Applejack blushed.

“It’s true!” Wild Strawberry pressed, nodding her head up and down at Applejack. A lightbulb then lit up right over her head as the filly got an idea. “Wait! Hold on one second!”

Wild Strawberry then turned around and ran off while Applejack watched, a little confused. She saw the young filly run over to the side of the street right outside the cafe where a bucket practically just as big as the filly was sitting. She struggled a mite bit, but Wild Strawberry was able to grab the handle of the bucket with her mouth and carry it over to Applejack, finally plopping it down on the ground in front of her. It was full of luscious red strawberries, as fresh looking as any Applejack had seen in her life.

“Have one, please!” Wild Strawberry said.

“Thanks for the offer, but-” Applejack tried to refuse out of kindness.

“I insist,” Wild Strawberry pushed the bucket closer to Applejack.

Applejack fought back the urge to roll her eyes and instead merely smirked at the filly, patting her hat. “Alright, alright, sugarcube. I get it.” She reached down into the bucket, finding a particularly nice and juicy looking strawberry, before taking it out and tossing it into her mouth. Her teeth came down and as she chewed… as she chewed…

Applejack didn’t hate strawberries. There was a mare who grew strawberries that got on her nerves every now and then, but Applejack didn’t hold that against the fruit itself. They may not have compared to apples, but she still didn’t hate them. They had a different flavor, a different sweetness, a different feeling when you ate them. She knew what a good strawberry was supposed to taste like.

That was exactly why she knew this wasn’t a good strawberry.

Her chewing slowed down and she swallowed it all the same—but instead of any sweetness there was only bitterness instead. Enough that she had to physically hold back from wincing.

She looked down at Wild Strawberry and saw the filly had a blank expression on her face as she watched Applejack.

“How was it?” Wild Strawberry asked, intently staring into Applejack’s eyes.

“Uhhh...” Applejack grimaced and looked away. “It was… um...”

“Bitter,” Wild Strawberry sighed and sat down resting her head in her hooves. “Darn it! I was hoping that maybe it was something about the ponies here… or that maybe it would taste different for you… or, or just something!”

“Something the matter? You knew these strawberries were bitter?” Applejack asked her, a little confused by this whole situation.

“Yes… I’m sorry for not telling you first but I wanted to see what you honestly thought of them,” Wild Strawberry apologized.

Applejack tilted her head. “Okay, but why?”

“The truth is… things aint exactly been perfect since I came here to Elysium’s View and all,” Wild Strawberry told her. “When did you get here? Did you know there’s a huge strawberry farm already here?”

“I just got here earlier today—and no, didn’t know about that,” Applejack shook her head.

“Well there is, just south of here and out of town the rest of the lands are used for farming. I found it out when I came here too, that there were already strawberry farmers. Maybe even long lost relatives of my family or something. But anyways—at first I was super excited to meet them! Strawberry farmers here at the edge of the world? It’s amazing! And their farm is so huge, they grow so many strawberries, there are so many ponies working on it!” Wild Strawberry’s excitement died down and she glumly looked at the ground. “But lately they’ve been having problems with their strawberries. They’ve lost their sweetness, every strawberry grown and picked is just bitter. Nopony knows why. This whole bucket here? They’re leftovers from the market today, we’ve been having trouble selling.”

Applejack scratched her head. She was no stranger to crop failures, they could come about for any number of reasons, but seasoned farmers out here should at least have an idea of what’s wrong. They’d especially know more about growing strawberries than she did. “That’s rather strange I say...”

Wild Strawberry sighed. “It aint the only problem either.”

“What else is wrong?” Applejack asked.

“So the thing is, there’s not just a big strawberry farm out here. There’s also a really big apple farm and a really big pear farm too-”

Applejack’s eyes widened.

“-all three of them were started around the same time a long time ago. Just families of farmers arriving at Elysium’s View together and trying to make a living. At least that’s what I’ve heard from Mr. Berries—he’s the boss of the strawberry farm. Their ancestors all came here before there was much of a town, the way he puts it, the three families were responsible for making sure Elysium’s View could grow bigger since they always had plenty of food around,” Wild Strawberry explained. She bit her lip and looked at Applejack’s Cutie Mark. “And well, I know you may not be happy to hear this but there’s been some problems between the families lately. A long time lately. Mr. Berries and a lot of the other Strawberry’s living here say they’ve been feuding with the Apples and Pears for years. And it’s gotten worse and worse because of the strawberries suddenly becoming bitter the past few months...”

Wild Strawberry sadly looked at the bucket and picked out a random strawberry. “I’m scared for everypony out here. And I feel so bad thinking that maybe nopony in Elysium’s View will ever be able to eat a delicious strawberry again...”

Applejack blinked, looking up and ahead to the south, staring into the distance for a moment, her eyes not seeing the buildings but picturing what lied beyond them. After a small sigh she then glanced at her own Cutie Mark.

There was no question about it.

“Well you know something, Wild Strawberry? I can think of exactly one mare in all the world who’s uniquely suited to solving the problems between a group of apple, pear, and strawberry farmers.”

“Who?”

“Me.”

---

It was late at night by the time the two of them were walking along the dirt road south of town that led into the farmlands, now with Applejack generously carrying the bucket of bitter strawberries on her back. Here there weren’t any lampposts or lights for the road, but the moon and stars were still out and provided enough illumination for now. Wild Strawberry trotted at a brisk pace with a smile on her face—happy as a clam to have met Applejack again. She was proud and excited to show her the big strawberry farm she had been working at even despite its issues. Applejack for her part was also excited but in a different way.

This was it.

This was absolutely it.

The reason the Cutie Map had sent her and her alone all the way to Elysium’s View. No wonder her friends hadn’t been sent with her. As an Apple and a Pear she would have a unique perspective. And the Map had to somehow know Wild Strawberry would be here too so she’d have a friend on their side. Shoot, the Map usually wasn’t this precise. Applejack was going to have to take back everything she said about it maybe being broken.

She just hoped she’d be able to help these ponies out and resolve their feud in a nice and timely manner. And maybe get to the bottom of why the strawberries had become bitter too.

As a fellow farmer she just couldn’t leave others hanging when it came to their livelihood.

Applejack was so caught up in her thoughts that she had completely lost track of time and didn’t even notice until Wild Strawberry started tugging on her hoof.

“There it is! There’s the Strawberry Family Farm!” She loudly said, pointing ahead down the road.

Just slightly further, past a grove of green grass and to the east of the road, was a massive expanse of farmland and row upon row of strawberry bushes. It was the most wide open spot Applejack had seen so far in Elysium’s View, the strawberries covered numerous hills and plenty of flat ground as well. The farm truly was massive—easily putting Wild Strawberry’s family’s farm that she had briefly visited to shame. In terms of pure ground covered it might even beat Sweet Apple Acres. Also because of how open this spot of Elysium’s View was, if you looked to the west you could see the land continuing all the way to the edge of the cliffs without any obstruction. It certainly gave the farms a unique character.

“Mighty nice farm,” Applejack nodded.

“It sure is!” Wild Strawberry beamed, puffing out her chest with pride. It might not have been her farm but she had been working on it. All the strawberries that must’ve been harvested from it probably made her quite happy. “The apple and pear farms are right behind it to the south, you’ll be able to see them tomorrow morning but right now I just want to take you to the Strawberry Manor and introduce you to Mr. Berries. You can get a room there for as long as you’re staying.”

“Are you sure I’m gonna be welcome? With everything you’ve been saying about their feuding...”

“I’ll vouch for you,” Wild Strawberry confidently held her hoof to her chest. “Besides—it’s not like you’re one of the Apples from here. They shouldn’t have a problem with you.”

“I wouldn’t expect everypony to act so sensibly if I were you,” Applejack muttered.

“Look—there’s the manor too!” Wild Strawberry said and enthusiastically pointed ahead.

It was beyond the first hill of strawberry bushes, sitting right in the middle of the huge farm. As expected by the name, the Strawberry Manor was a large three-story mansion that unlike the white marble style of Elysium’s View was constructed in a much more contemporary style. Applejack imagined numerous mansions just like it sat all over Equestria. It was a little big for her tastes—these were just farmers right? But they probably had more workers and more immediate family living together than at Sweet Apple Acres. Aside from just the manor there were a trio of large barns to the east of it, along with a few other smaller tool sheds and some wells dotting the strawberry farm. The mansion’s windows were mostly lit up so it seemed like Applejack and Wild Strawberry wouldn’t be waking the Strawberry’s up at least. Now it was just time to see if this Mr. Berries pony would really let Applejack stay there while she tried to help them. She might have to keep her reasons for coming here to herself, otherwise they could get suspicious or just flat out not believe her.

The road they were walking on continued going south but there was a side road that branched off from it and started going through the rows of strawberry bushes—leading right up to the manor. Wild Strawberry pranced down it while humming happily to herself while Applejack kept her eyes on the manor.

When they finally reached it, Wild Strawberry didn’t bother knocking, the filly pulled open the front doors and strode inside.

“Hey everypony! I’m back!” She shouted out.

The manor wasn’t quite so lavish or garish inside, instead furnished pretty simply, which Applejack could appreciate. The hardwood floor had a carpet lying over it leading from the hall they were in towards the stairs and down other corridors and into a few other large rooms on the first floor. Applejack could see from here a library, a billiards room, and some kind of den. On the wall to her left, beside one of the corridors, was a large and old painting of a family standing in front of rows of strawberry bushes. Maybe the founders of the entire farm.

When Wild Strawberry had announced herself, Applejack heard the sounds of ponies coming from a couple different directions. The first she saw though was an older stallion stepping out of the library. In his forties by the look of things, he was a tan earth pony with a deep brown mane and tail wearing a black suit. When he saw Wild Strawberry he smiled and started to walk over. Applejack noticed that on his flank he had a Cutie Mark of a bucket of strawberries, much like the one she herself was currently carrying.

“Welcome back, Wild,” the stallion said. “How were things today?”

Wild Strawberry winced, her happy attitude faltering a bit. “Same as yesterday, Mr. Berries. Sorry to say.”

“None of that’s your fault, you don’t need to apologize none,” Mr. Berries sighed. “If it keeps up though...” he trailed off before looking over at Applejack. “And who’s this? A friend of yours?”

Applejack placed he bucket down on the floor and smiled to Mr. Berries—offering him her hoof. “Name’s Applejack, pleased to meet you.”

Mr. Berries’ eyes narrowed and Wild Strawberry nervously chuckled.

“You brought an apple into our home?” Mr. Berries glanced down at her, checking out Applejack’s Cutie Mark he snorted in derision at her outstretched hoof. “Wild Strawberry—I thought you knew better.”

“It’s not like that! She’s not one of the Apples from here and besides, she’s my friend!” Wild Strawberry stamped her hoof for emphasis.

“Your friend?” Mr. Berries said.

“You heard her,” Applejack said, her patience wearing a bit thin. She put her hoof back down and confidently held Mr. Berries’ gaze. “I don’t know what exactly your problem with the apple farmers here is, but I’m not even from Elysium’s View. And more importantly, yes, I’m Wild Strawberry’s friend. Or does something like that not count for anything out here? Cause where I’m from, farmers got a little bit more character than that. And they’d be happy to show hospitality to anypony that came in for a visit.”

Mr. Berries held his head up and stared at her for a moment longer, before giving her a small nod. “It counts for something. Wild Strawberry here has been nothing but a blessing and a ray of sunshine since she came, and if you’re her friend… well then you’ll be treated like our friend too. I’m happy to extend the hospitality of Strawberry Manor to you.”

Applejack smiled and held her hoof out once more. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Mr. Berries shook it and they both put their hooves back down. “Besides, whether you have a relation to these Apples out here or not, if you’re not from Elysium’s View then it’s not like you’re responsible for anything they’ve done.”

“Anything they’ve done?” Applejack raised an eyebrow.

“Pa, I really wish you wouldn’t say stuff like that, it isn’t true,” another voice came into the hall.

“Why you always trying to defend those others? They wouldn’t say anything nice about us,” another voice said.

“Quiet you two—don’t argue in front of visitor,” a third and much deeper voice said.

Three ponies, a mare and two stallions, were coming down the stairs from the second level. Two of them around Applejack’s age while the other was probably in his late teenage years. Unsurprisingly they were all earth ponies just like Mr. Berries. While the mare and the younger stallion were average-sized, the one other stallion was a mountain of muscle. All three of them were shades of tan or brown, with the big one having a jet black mane and tail, the younger one having orange, and the mare a frizzy red mane and tail with a bunch of equally red freckles scattered on her face.

“Big Hoof! Sunshine! Peddler! How y’all doing?” Wild Strawberry waved up at the three of them.

“Oh, a little bit better now that you’re back. Things are so boring lately,” the young stallion said.

“Stow it, Peddler. Now the three of you come down here and say hi to our new guest. Be on your best behavior—do your family proud,” Mr. Berries said. He then graciously smiled to Applejack. “My children. Big Hoof, my oldest son, Sunshine, my only daughter, and Peddler, my youngest son. Got some grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews that also live and work around here. I’m sure you’ll meet plenty of them while you stay.”

The mare—Sunshine—came giddily hopping down the rest of the stairs. “Hey there! I’m Sunshine Berries, how ya doing?”

“I’m Applejack, and I’m doing pretty good,” Applejack smiled. Nice to know at least one of the strawberry farmers didn’t seem to care that she was an Apple.

Peddler then came up and offered his hoof to shake to Applejack, but when he saw her Cutie Mark he couldn’t help but cringe. “Eugh—apples.”

Applejack bit her tongue. She didn’t need to get in another argument just over another pony’s honest opinion when it came to apples. Especially when she was a guest in their house. So despite her feelings she shook his hoof as well. “N-Nice to meet you too.”

She then turned her gaze to Big Hoof as the big stallion came plodding up behind the others. He easily towered over them all and Applejack gave him a nod. “Howdy.”

“Mm,” Big Hoof quietly nodded back.

Taciturn, similar to another big pony Applejack knew.

“They’re all fine and dandy ponies who love strawberries just as much as me,” Wild Strawberry smiled. “I know you’ll all get along real well.”

“Yeah… I’m real sure too,” Applejack tried to stay optimistic.

“I didn’t hear yet why you’ve come out to Elysium’s View though?” Mr. Berries asked. “Did you come to visit Wild Strawberry?”

“Well, um…” Applejack knew this explanation was going to be either a little tricky or just weird. And she was still really curious about what was happening here. “Actually it was just a coincidence earlier that Wild Strawberry and I happened to run into each other. I came out to Elysium’s View for personal reasons I suppose you could say. And… well the reason I came back here with her was that she told me about the problems you’re facing. I’d like to help you out if I can.”

Mr. Berries’ face darkened slightly but he kept his voice even. “I don’t see how that’s any business of yours or how you can help us.”

“First off—although it might not be strawberries I’m still a farmer too and I know my way around growing fruit. Secondly, I don’t mean just with how your strawberries have gone bitter, I’d like to maybe stop you from feuding with the Apple and Pear families that live out here,” Applejack explained.

“Those Apples and Pears are the reason we’re in this mess in the first place,” Mr. Berries growled.

“Pa! That’s not true! You can’t know that, they’re suffering just like us right now,” Sunshine said.

Applejack looked between the two of them. “Is there something I’m missing here?”

“Um,” Wild Strawberry tugged on her mane. “The Apple and Pear farms are actually having the same problem as us. Their fruit’s all gone bitter too. Every apple and pear tree is just producing bitter apples and pears.”

“And it was one of them who must’ve done something wrong to mess up their crops. And then they probably sabotaged us—or were trying to sabotage us to begin with and ruined their crops too! That’s why our strawberries have gone bad!” Mr. Berries shouted.

Peddler nodded along with him while Big Hoof stayed aloof, it was only Sunshine who shook her head and disagreed.

“That’s just crazy talk, there’s no proof of any of that!” She shouted right back.

“We’ve had problems with them both for years now, it’s no surprise that it’s gotten worse. Now stop disagreeing with me,” Mr. Berries said to her. “This is what’s called a feud. They both couldn’t stomach that we were more successful and our strawberries were much better than their apples and pears.”

“Hold on—this sort of family feuding is all wrong!” Applejack said. “I know that from experience, there aint no reason why you can’t all get along.”

“Well I’ll tell you this-” Mr. Berries said. “This feud aint ending anytime soon so long as our strawberries keep turning up bitter. You’re a friend of Wild and you seem like a good mare, I have no quarrel with you, I’ll let you stay here and do what you want, but don’t expect me to start getting all friendly with the other Apples and the Pears out here. Even before this we didn’t get along and I don’t see why that would change.”

“At the very least I’d like to talk to them too and see if maybe you can all come to an accord. Then maybe your families can get to the bottom of what’s happened to all the fruit,” Applejack said.

Mr. Berries shrugged. “You’re welcome to go talk to them, though even if the Apples welcome you I doubt the Pears will be so kind. And like I said—my house is your house so long as you’re a guest here. We do believe in hospitality and treating guests with kindness.”

“Thank you. And I’m at least still going to try. Cause after all wouldn’t things be a whole lot better if you got along?” Applejack said, shrugging.

“Mmm…” Mr. Berries merely muttered before glancing at Wild Strawberry. “You can take her to the guest room next to yours. Try and get a good night’s sleep, still plenty of work to do tomorrow morning.”

Wild Strawberry nodded. “You got it, Mr. Berries!”

Mr. Berries then looked to Applejack. “Another thing, when it comes to getting to the bottom of this bitter business, the families are already coming together to hold a meeting in two days. I’d suggest you try getting on their good sides before then, since I can already tell you that the meeting aint going to end well.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Applejack grimaced.

What in the hay have I gotten myself into out here? She wondered.

Comments

[RoboRed]

Looks like she did get her cutie mark. And brought with her what definitely seems to be the friendship problem that Applejack was sent to resolve.
Time to have a meeting with distant relatives and get to the bottom of whatever's causing all these bitter fruits.

“Now what in the hay are you doing all the way out here? Aint it far from home?

Missing an apostrophe in "ain't" here.

[Fanwriter]

...the rate we're going here one of the farmer ponies or someone who hates fruit is into magic...or the families literal bitterness towards others is going into the crops.

[redmar]

At least Applejack has found the friendship problem. This isn't going to be easy to solve though.