Cider Season
Becoming Pinkie Pie
By Alaborn
Standard disclaimer: This is a not for profit fan work. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is copyright Hasbro, Inc. I make no claim to any copyrighted material mentioned herein.
Chapter 3: Cider Season
The first rays of Celestia’s sun illuminated four figures, standing on a slight rise. Above them, a lone apple tree stood. Unlike the orchard visible on three sides of the hill, this tree was left to grow naturally, with only minimal care to keep it healthy.
The branches of the tree shaded two gravesites. Granny Smith stepped forward, resting one arthritic foreleg on the tombstone of her daughter. “The farm’s as beautiful as ever, dearie,” she said, sniffling.
Apple Bloom stepped up to the two graves. “Ah’ve been studying hard at school, just like you always said. Applejack is teaching me how to buck apples, and Ah’ve been workin’ to fix things around the farm.” The filly closed her eyes and embraced one of the headstones. “Ah miss you, Ma, Pa.”
Big McIntosh stepped forward, shrugging a barrel off his strong back. “It’s cider season again,” he said, “and we brought some of our finest. You should be proud of your recipe, Ma. We have ponies linin’ up to drink our cider, more each year.”
“And we learned somethin’ about pride last year,” Granny Smith said. “Ah promise not to do anythin’ foolish. Ah won’t do anythin’ to hurt your children, even if somepony calls me chicken.”
Applejack grabbed her family members in her forelegs, forming an impromptu huddle. “Why so gloomy?” she asked, smiling.
There’s no need for sadness
Just put those frowns away
Be happy for the morning
Be happy for the day!
The other three ponies stared as Applejack bounced around the tree, performing feats of acrobatics they didn’t think pony bodies were capable of handling. As she began the next verse, she jumped to each family member in turn, physically lifting their faces into smiles with her hooves.
Don’t think about the bad things
Get those thoughts out of your head
Just smile because you know that
In the long run we’re all dead!
Life is one big party
With cupcakes and frosting
Cider’s made for drinking
And ponies for dancing!
So live each day with gladness
Just jump and dance and sing
Be happy for the sunrise
And for the evening!
Applejack finished her song with a jump, balancing on her rear legs while spreading her forelegs, ready for the hugs that were sure to come. Instead, there was silence, her grandmother and siblings staring at her, jaws on the floor.
“Sis, what was that?” Big McIntosh asked.
“Applejack, why did you do that?” wondered Apple Bloom.
“Applejack Apple! How could you disrespect your mother and father like that?” Granny Smith scolded.
“YAAAAAAAH!”
Applejack screamed as she sat up suddenly in bed. She struggled to free herself from a tangle of sweat-soaked sheets. She breathed heavily, and tried to calm the fierce pounding of her heart.
“It’s just a nightmare,” Applejack whispered. As she finally calmed down, she checked the clock on her nightstand. It was four thirty in the morning of the first day of cider season.
There was no way the mare could get back to sleep. She decided to go for a walk, to clear her head, before joining her family to share cider with her deceased parents.
“Ah wonder how the line’s lookin’ for this year?” she said to herself. That was as good a place to go as any, so she went to check it out.
Halfway to the gate, Applejack noticed she was wearing a skintight black suit. “Now where did Ah get this?” she muttered. “And why don’t Ah remember puttin’ it on?” She shrugged, and continued.
Right by the gate, just like last year, was a tent with balloons printed on it. On the front flap, Pinkie Pie had hung an invitation for the “it’s cider season and we’re all going camping and there’s a party in my tent and everypony’s invited party”.
She looked at the closed tent. “Looks like almost everypony’s there!” Applejack said, chuckling. “Wait, how did Ah know that?” she whispered.
There were a smaller number of ponies waiting in line behind the tent. It was highly unlikely they didn’t receive an invitation from Pinkie Pie, so these ponies either weren’t interested in the party, or arrived rather late. Among the ponies in line was Fluttershy. Her head rested on a pillow and she was curled up into a little ball under a quilt embroidered with apples; both items were borrowed from Big McIntosh.
Applejack reached the end of the line, not seeing one particular friend. “Poor Rainbow Dash,” she said, as she returned to the farm.
Sometime between leaving the line and reaching the barn, Applejack had somehow gotten out of her black suit. She chose not to think about how that happened, and rather focused on getting an early start to her chores. She fed the chickens and collected eggs. She drew two buckets of water from the well. Finally, she checked on the pigs. Miss Plumpley, the pig that overate the previous day, looked to be doing much better.
Applejack was in the kitchen, making eggs and toast, by the time the rest of her family arose and joined her.
“You okay, sis?” Big McIntosh asked.
“Jus’ fine,” Applejack replied. She was feeling fine, as memories of her nightmare faded. “Excited for a big cider season, hopefully without no good cheatin’ ponies this year.”
“Eeyup,” Big McIntosh said, nodding.
Following breakfast, the family made the short trip to the resting place of Applejack’s parents. She felt just a little nervous, as the scene looked just like her dream.
Granny Smith stepped forward, resting one arthritic foreleg on the tombstone of her daughter. “The farm’s as beautiful as ever, dearie,” she said, sniffling.
Apple Bloom stepped up to the two graves. “Ah’ve been studying hard at school, just like you always said. Applejack is teaching me how to buck apples, and Ah’ve been workin’ to fix things around the farm.” The filly closed her eyes and embraced one of the headstones. “Ah miss you, Ma, Pa.”
Big McIntosh stepped forward, shrugging a barrel off his strong back. “It’s cider season again,” he said, “and we brought some of our finest. You should be proud of your recipe, Ma. We have ponies linin’ up to drink our cider, more each year.”
“And we learned somethin’ about pride last year,” Granny Smith said. “Ah promise not to do anythin’ foolish. Ah won’t do anythin’ to hurt your children, even if somepony calls me chicken.”
Applejack gulped nervously. She knew what she planned on saying. As she worked that morning, she reminded herself of what she wanted to say. She doffed her hat and stepped forward.
“Ma, Pa, Ah still don’t know everythin’ about the farm. But when Ah’m not sure of mahself, Ah just think what you would have done. That’s never steered me wrong. Ah wish you could see your little Bloomie now. Ah wish you could see how Ponyville’s grown. And Ah wish you could meet my friends.”
Applejack exhaled slowly as she stepped back. Behind her, Big McIntosh kicked the tap into the barrel. Apple Bloom took out six mugs. Applejack then filled the mugs in turn, placing the first two on the graves of her parents. Each pony then took a mug in hoof.
“To the start of the Apple Family cider season,” Granny Smith announced, raising her mug.
“To cider season!” the three grandchildren echoed.
The taste of cider still on her tongue, Applejack trudged to the front gate, pulling the cider press behind her. Big McIntosh pulled a wagon with barrels of cider, and Apple Bloom pulled a smaller wagon with apples. As in previous years, Applejack would handle the sales while the rest of the family produced more cider, helping to stretch the day’s limited stock.
Applejack pulled out the megaphone from Apple Bloom’s cart and held it to her mouth. “Attention, everypony! Cider season is now officially open!” she called.
The flap of Pinkie Pie’s tent opened, and balloons of white, pink, blue, and black poured out. They flowed to the ground and then over each other, soon forming three meter tall sculptures resembling Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
Pinkie Pie then jumped out of the tent. “Do you like it? Huh? Huh? I thought the princesses would like your cider, but they’re always so busy, but then I realized I had lots of balloons, so I made balloon princesses!”
“Yeah, they’re quite nice,” Applejack said, staring up at the huge figures.
“I hope you have lots of cider today!” Pinkie Pie said, pulling out a huge sack of bits from somewhere. She dumped it out, and collected her normal dozen mugs of cider.
“Pinkie?”
“Uh huh?” she replied.
“Would you be so kind as to go to town, and bring Twilight Sparkle and Rarity here at…” Applejack paused, checking her body, “two thirteen this afternoon?”
“Okie dokie lokie!” she replied cheerily, before inhaling one mug of cider. Literally. After coughing the mug out of her body, she pulled the tent flap open. “All right everypony, it’s cider time!”
A long line of ponies formed out of the tent. In the distance, Rainbow Dash shouted, “Oh, come on!”
It took the good part of six hours to serve everypony that had attended Pinkie Pie’s tent party. Knowing the tent was bigger on the inside than on the outside, that didn’t faze Applejack. She kept turning her eye to the line of ponies not coming out of the tent. Among them was a familiar light blue pegasus, flying in place impatiently with her forelegs crossed.
All of the premade barrels of cider were gone, and they worked through most of the barrels Big McIntosh had pressed that day. The stallion brought the day’s final barrel as Fluttershy stepped to the front of the line.
“Just one mug, please,” the shy pegasus said, fumbling with her saddlebags to get at her bits.
Applejack pushed away the two bits after she offered them. “No charge, after how you helped us yesterday,” the earth pony said. “Just stick around and enjoy your mug.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Fluttershy replied quietly. She stayed, watching the rest of the family clean up the dirty mugs and used barrels. Or watching one of them, Applejack thought.
Rainbow Dash was six ponies back in line when the final barrel ran dry. “Sorry, everypony, that’s all for today,” Applejack announced through the megaphone.
“Awww,” the crowd whined.
Rainbow Dash flew up to Applejack, pressing their muzzles together. “You ran out again,” she hissed.
“Ah told you to be in line by 4:28 this mornin’,” Applejack countered. “So when did you get here?”
“I… uh… I mean… Never mind that!” Rainbow Dash stuttered. She was then distracted by the arrival of Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Twilight Sparkle.
“Ooh, did we interrupt somepony’s special moment? Oh, please say we did!” Pinkie Pie said, grinning.
“No!” both mares replied, backing away from each other.
“Well, I for one am just dying to know what’s going on,” Rarity said. “Pinkie Pie was rather insistent that I come with her, and at a most peculiar time!”
“I didn’t mind the break from my work,” Twilight Sparkle commented. “I just wish we could have gotten here while you still had cider.”
“Yeah, about that,” Applejack said. She turned around. “Granny Smith? Big McIntosh? Apple Bloom? Could y’all come here?” she called.
A bit surprised by the change in routine, they joined Applejack. “What’s goin’ on, Sis?” Big McIntosh said.
“This mornin’? We forgot about our honorary family members. Think we still have enough to share?” Applejack said.
“Ah reckon so,” Big McIntosh replied.
Inside the farmhouse, the Apples and their five friends gathered, as Applejack placed the tap into the unmarked barrel. Rainbow Dash hovered in the air, her tongue hanging out, knowing just what was inside.
Applejack grabbed a mug, but paused before filling it. “Each year, we make one barrel of cider for the family. And we share it with those no longer with us, to remember Ma’s recipe and Pa’s marketing, that made cider season Ponyville’s biggest fall event.”
“What about Nightmare Night?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“And in terms of overall participation, wouldn’t the Running of the Leaves be the biggest event?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
Applejack shot a dirty look at her friends. “It’s biggest for us. Now, Ah thought that, since you were honorary family members, you should share in some of this special cider. That way, if you’re busy workin’ or too lazy to get your flank up in time to get in line, you can still enjoy Apple family cider.”
Rainbow Dash was about to protest, but Applejack offered her the first mug. She swallowed half of it at once. “This… is… AWESOME! It’s, like, twenty percent tastier than your normal cider!” she shouted.
As each of the friends got their own mug, there was a general nodding in agreement with Rainbow Dash’s assessment. “How do you do it?” Rarity asked.
“All Apple family cider is made with love and care, but this cider is made with extra love and care,” Granny Smith explained.
“We use only the apples from a tree planted by Ma and make the cider on an antique hoof-cranked press,” Applejack continued. “And cider is always sweetest when shared with family.”
“That’s right!” cried Pinkie Pie. “We are family.”
“Ah got all my ponies with me,” Applejack continued.
Pinkie Pie grinned. She added a melody as she repeated what she had just spoken
Applejack picked up the melody, urging everypony to join them in song. Pinkie Pie and Applejack were on their hooves, singing and dancing.
Three minutes later, Pinkie Pie and Applejack finished their song. Applejack became acutely aware that everypony, save for Twilight Sparkle, was staring at them.
“Uh-oh,” she muttered.
“So, that’s the story of these last few crazy days,” Applejack said after she finished recounting the strange things that happened to her. She didn’t mention her nightmare, but otherwise described each twitch, each strange feeling, each unexplainable translocation. “So, uh, what do you think?”
“Has anypony else had something super duper awesometacular happen to her?” asked Pinkie Pie.
The sound of crickets chirping filled the room.
“Fluttershy, would you mind?” Applejack asked.
“Oh, not at all,” she replied. The pegasus poked her head outside. “Could you please keep it down, if that’s alright with you? We’re conversing, and it’s just a little hard to hear.”
Even with the insects silenced, nopony was feeling inclined to talk.
“I have nothing that can compare to that story,” Rarity said flatly.
“I’ve been trying to help Applejack,” Twilight Sparkle explained. “At this point, I still don’t know why she’s becoming Pinkie Pie. Perhaps it would help if we all talked about our last few days? After all, we haven’t spent much time together in the last week. I’ll start.
“In addition to my normal duties in the library, I’ve been helping Applejack, and researching the magical nature of what we’ve always called Pinkie Sense. She has been gracious with her time, helping me measure the magical nature of these abilities. Perhaps one day, my research will lead to a groundbreaking discovery in earth pony magic. At the same time, I find myself at a loss in understanding why this happened to Applejack.”
“I’ve been working on some new designs,” Rarity said. “Between the glamorous royal wedding and our trip to the historic and exotic Crystal Empire, I have had a wealth of inspiration to draw upon. In fact, I’d say the last three days have been among my most productive ever!” Hearing this news made everypony smile.
“Nothing unusual has happened to me,” Fluttershy admitted. “Just the normal sick and injured animals, in need of care and love. Oh, and how is Miss Plumpley?”
“Lookin’ a lot better,” Applejack said. “How about you, Rainbow Dash?”
“The only strange thing to happen to me is hearing you give me a very specific time to get in line today.”
“That’s just Applejack being Pinkie,” everypony said.
The crowd turned to the lone stallion in the room. “Eenope,” said Big McIntosh succinctly.
A snore came from the now sleeping Granny Smith.
“Ah fixed up the cider press, but still no cutie mark,” Apple Bloom said.
“Keep it up, Apple Bloom. Maybe you need to fix somethin’ that isn’t workin’ at all,” Applejack suggested.
“Like an old mill!” Pinkie Pie interjected.
Applejack chuckled. “That’s a good one, isn’t it?” Again, she found herself wondering why she said that.
“And I’m working on a super new cupcake recipe! I can’t wait to share it with you!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Soon, the time will be right for cupcakes!”
Perhaps the utterly mundane nature of Pinkie Pie’s revelation was the biggest surprise of all. In any case, the room fell silent again.
“Ah suppose it’s time to get back to work,” Applejack said. “We’ve got cider to press for tomorrow, and only so much sunlight left.”
“Thank you, dear, for inviting us to share this most excellent cider,” Rarity said.
“Yeah, invite me over any time,” said Rainbow Dash.
With that, Applejack bid her friends goodbye.
“Are you sure this can’t wait? Ah’m just beat.” After three days of making and selling cider, Applejack was tired. But at Twilight Sparkle’s request, she stopped by the library for more testing.
“What will you be doing next week?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“Makin’ apple treats to sell on Nightmare Night, and preparin’ our games,” she said.
“See? You’re always hard at work, Applejack. Tonight, I just want to ask you some questions. I promise, no lab tests or spells. But if you still want to reschedule, let me know.”
Applejack took a seat on the couch. “Ah suppose Ah could talk.”
“Excellent!” Twilight Sparkle said. She took a seat, summoning a scroll and quill, but left them on the ground. “Let me start by asking a question unrelated to this research. How did your family react to your situation?”
“We had a long talk over dinner that night, just the four of us,” Applejack said. “Ah told them how Ah was afraid of causin’ problems around the farm. They said they understood, and that they’d love me no matter what. And Granny Smith said that back in her day, she didn’t need a big song and dance number to talk about these kind of changes.”
“Does that mean you still want to get rid of these powers?”
“Ah do,” said Applejack. “It’s not mah magic. It’s not me.”
“While I’ve made good progress at understanding these powers, I still don’t understand how you might have received them,” said Twilight Sparkle. “So, I’d like to just talk about what you’ve experienced over the past week.” She brought her quill and paper to the ready.
“Ah’m listenin’.”
“Any other strange things happen to you recently?” asked Twilight Sparkle.
“Nah,” Applejack replied.
“Something must have happened. Did you spend any time in the Everfree Forest?”
“Eenope.”
“Did any Everfree Forest monsters visit the farm? Timber wolves? Hydras? Ursas? “
“Well, mah farm’s still there, so it’s not the last two, and Ah didn’t see any tracks or hear any commotion,” Applejack replied. “So probably not.”
“Have you traveled anywhere else unusual?”
“Nah. This whole week, I’ve either been on the farm, selling at the marketplace, or with you girls,” Applejack said.
“Is something happening with the zap apples?” Twilight Sparkle wondered.
“They’re not comin’ in ‘til later in the year.”
“Did you encounter any other rogue magical effects?” asked Twilight Sparkle.
“Twi, if there’s any rogue magic in town, you’re probably the reason,” Applejack said, laughing.
“Have you been sick at all? Even a cold?”
“Fit as a fiddle,” Applejack said proudly. “Other than this whole becomin’ Pinkie Pie thing, this week has been, well, ordinary.”
The paper drooped in Twilight Sparkle’s telekinetic grasp. “I have to say, I’m stumped. I feel I have a good understanding of the what of your situation, but I was hoping to get some clue that would help me investigate the why and how. I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to come back for a large number of tests. I’m sorry. I wish I could narrow it down.”
“That’s all right, sugarcube,” Applejack said reassuringly. “Ah couldn’t ask for a better friend.”
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Uh-oh, the secret's out!
I wonder..... What if Applejack was Pinkie all along?
Loving this story! Sorry, Apple Bloom, no cutie mark!
Also loving the "The Mill" Referance.
If Applejack could become like pinkie pie does that mean ALL ponies could be like pinkie?
Would that mean the end of equestria as we know it?
1680959 Cue Inception music!
Also guess which fic made the feature box, this one of course.
1681054
It's the End of the World as We Know It,
It's the End of the World as We Know It,
It's the End of the World as We Know It,
And I Feel Fine...
1681054 Don't worry, Twilight's recently learned a trick she can use to cull excess Pinkie Pies whenever there's a population explosion.
Your AJ has now sung more than her cannon counterpart.
Hmm, this looks interesting.
1681024 Having Apple Bloom get her cutie mark would be a distraction from this story. Now, if she listens to Applejack, she'll get it, eventually.
God, you wrote a better Applejack's dead parents scene in three lines than I did in three paragraphs.
1681114 It didn't make it on its release, but it did appear there with both chapter updates.
1640387 My hand...it fits perfectly...
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!?
Also, sent to the "read later" folder for safety.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA~!!!!!
YOU SO KEWL-!
1681164 I did promise singing this chapter!
1681144 Season 3 refrence?
If every pony had pinkie sense wouldnt an inordinate number of ponies arrive at exactly say 4:38? It would be more efficient though as every pony who got there and looked and saw say 4:41 would just go home and not have to wait.
This was a good bit.
Maybe a bit much in terms of fourth wall breaking. And yes, I did see the earlier comment specifically approving of the reference to "The Mill." I still mean it that I didn't care for the references.
1680959
iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/151549__UNOPT__safe_pinkie-pie_fluttershy_animated_vulgar_spoiler-s03_spy_surprised_disguise_artist-walterwitt_surprise-motherfucker_surprise-muthafucka.gif?1353029354
And then AJ wakes up the next morning with the Pinkie Pie Mane. :P And can not get it back in her ponytail. MADNESS.
What a nightmare to have.
cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/30786973.jpg
And all I have to say is....
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5h2lz6JC51qg9f9k.gif
Damn you. I'm going to be singing "Family (Ponystyle)" all night now!
I still think that AJ is just developing her Earth Pony magic and has started developing the abilities Pinkie has. I'm sure it will be a bitter pill for her that Pinkie is a stronger earth pony than her but life isn't fair, is it?
1681536
1681879 I thought it was nice and subtle, myself.
This is interesting. Keep it up.
I keep picturing Applejack with this powerful and soulful singing voice in this chapter...
This whole "AJ turning into Pinkie Pie" thing...
IT HAS TO BE DISEASE!!! IT NOT NATURAL!!!
I think it is a sort of earth pony magic that is stronger than usual casing things like "hammer space" capability, teleportation, craziness, 4th wall breakers, and such.
Also, I'd like to submit Celestia as the cause for all this
1682508 Fluttershy was already at the farm, and she wanted to get in line for tomorrow's cider. Instead of going home for her own blankets, Big McIntosh lent her a pillow and quilt. How gentlestallionly of him.
1681879 Expect less fourth wall breaking next chapter.
1682879 All the more reason for me to ship it.
At first when Pinkie made that cake, I was like.
Hmm, maybe if Applejack is turning into Pinkie Pie...
Maybe Pinkie Pie is turning into Applejack...
My three theories that arelrobably wrong
1 they are both elements of harmony which means they in away connected and because they are the same species pinkies powers were always slowly traveling into aj
2 she has spent sk much time near pinkie shes becoming her
3 the crystal wave from s3ep2
>> It could be how with some poeple/ponies that if you have such a great friendship they end up creating a psychic link that both experience at the same time
Betcha Pinkie knows the answer to all of this, but nopony's asked her the right question for her to provide the answer.
1684079 I'm sure she knows best how Pinkie Sense works!
My theory on AJ's condition:
I believe that everypony experiences magic differently, as per special skill, like Rarity, as she could locate gemstones like it was second nature, whereas Twilight couldn't. As with AJ and Pinkie, there are large differences, like Pinkie's partying abilities, and AJ's farmng skills. This magic possibly reaches a certain level, through coming of age, making everypony equal in relation to overall ability. Both AJ and Pinkie share a connection, through both the Elements, and their ability to bake. This magic level could be lower for AJ than Pinkie, so through their connection, Pinkie's magic could be transferring onto AJ to even out the difference, resulting in AJ feeling like she's turning into Pinkie.
To sum up:
Even after growing up, she doesnt know everything about the farm, and farming overall, which could mean her abilities aren't fully developed, so she develops some of the abilities of her connected friend until her full talents are revealed.
To sum that up: She's half-Pinkie as she's only half-AJ
1684099
i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/007/666/_57c8a1a431a592af806925e57258202f.png
1682064
lmao where did you get this gif?!
1687469
Um... Google?
1687656
Oh.
Yes, Applejack. Yes it is.
Those darned crickets!
IT WAS THE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT IS PINKIE'S DROOL BUCKET AND APPLEJACK DRANK IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE THIS!!!!!!!! AND YES I HAVE CAPS ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
imageshack.us/a/img507/426/pinkieproblem1.png
1711080 FIMFiction Enhancements //dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Spitfire_lazy.png
me: *full contact facepalm*
===
e: gah, ambushed by random shipping :\