honestapples | 1st Rodeo [Voice]

[It's been raining for days and Applejack is getting bored. She found the farm not too long after she arrived, and the rain wasn't exactly stopping her from tending to everything, but the weather's turn for the worse today is definitely an impediment. And so, she's cooped up inside, running out of things to do. But hey, that's what this journal is here for, right?]

How come nopony told me 'bout this farm y'all got here? This is great! It just needs some more apple trees and it'll be just like home. Or... well, as close as Ah can get it. But that reminds me...

Have any of y'all ever heard'a zap apples? They're magic, but they're downright tasty an' real particular 'bout how they're grown an' harvested. Mah Granny Smith's the one who normally makes all the jam an' such, but if Ah can grow some zap apples here, Ah'd sure be happy ta share whatever Ah can make. Might not be quite as good, but Ah think Ah've picked up a thing'er two. Anypony got any ideas?

[It's something to think about, at least! Something that isn't baking more apple fritters, in any case.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh! This must be one of the talking animals she heard about.]

You grow apples back home?

Sure do, sugarcube. Apple orchards as far as ya can see. Hopin' Ah can get some more planted around here, too.

How do you pick them? The apples.

Applebuckin'. [Said as if it's the most common practice in the world.] Give the tree a good enough kick an' all the apples fall right off.

We don't have applebucking back home. We just climb ladders and the trees and pick them ourselves. Is it hard? Applebuckin'?

It takes a lotta practice, but it ain't too hard ta learn. Easier'n climbin' a tree for most ponies, at least.

I've never talked to a pony before. I didn't know you guys had orchards too.

Yep, we do. Earth ponies make real good farmers.

[She's starting to get used to this Talking To Hue-mans thing. She smiles.]

You had orchards back home too, sugarcube?

Oh yes, lots and lots of them! My district was in charge of agriculture so we had all the crops and orchards.

[A hue-man after her own heart.] Sounds like a whole lotta crops. Ya had all of 'em in one place?

Uh-huh! It was our job to grow all the food.

Hooo-ee. [She's impressed.] We grew a lotta the food for Ponyville, but not all of it. Musta been a lotta work.

Sunrise to sundown during harvest season, sometimes after, but we got it all done. I like the orchards the most. I can climb to the very top since I'm so small and light.

Must be quite a sight from all the way up there. The orchards always are the prettiest part of our farm, too.

It was beautiful. [There's a hint of nostalgia in her voice.] It was best if you were up there when the sun was going down since it was so pretty.

[She hears that nostalgia and definitely shares in it. She hasn't felt so homesick since she went to Manehattan. Her ears droop for a moment before she perks right back up.]

Tell ya what, sugarcube. Once Ah've got the orchards growin' up a bit bigger here, how 'bout ya come on by an' watch the sunset with me? Might not be the same, but it should still be a pretty sight.

Really? You mean we can really do that?

'Course we can! Any time ya like, sugarcube.

Do you want help with the orchards? I've never planted, but I've trimmed branches before.

Well, Ah should be okay with plantin'... [Planting all these trees, taking care of them, and harvesting all by herself is a little bit daunting. If Big Mac were here for backup, she wouldn't hesitate to assure this filly she'll be fine, but...]

Ah could always use help trimmin' branches, though. It's slow goin', ropin' 'em down solo.

I can do that then. It won't be hard! Might take awhile if there's a lot of trees in the orchard, but I don't mind.

Ah 'preciate the help, sugarcube! Probably won't need trimmin' for a while yet, but Ah'll let ya know.

Okay! I'm Rue!

Ah'm Applejack. Nice t'meetya, Rue.

It's nice to meet you too. I like your name.

[Voice]

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