- Welcome to CanterU: Roll in the Hay+ Edition!
- The Story So Far: http://pastebin.com/u/Kiyo3
- Yesterday with posts: >>http://archive.heinessen.com/mlp/thread/14091724
- >Damn this bed...
- >It's so soft.
- >You just can't beat homemade sheets.
- >And a homemade bed.
- >Wait, where are you again?
- "Mornin', sleepyhead."
- >You open your eyes to see Applejack in the doorway.
- >You look around.
- >Not your regular dorm room.
- >Everything looks so... farmish...
- "Ya know we're on a farm, right?"
- >Yeah.
- >You're just messing with Applejack.
- >A roll out of bed and kiss her.
- "If ya hurry, Ah can introduce ya to mah folks before we get to work."
- >Ok, su-
- >Did she say work?
- "It's what we here on the farm call, 'Applebuckin' season'."
- >And you're helping because...?
- "We haven't... The farm isn't turnin' out the apples like it used ta..."
- >Applejack rubs her arm.
- >Hey, it's okay.
- >There can't be so many apples to harvest.
- >You'll have it done in no time flat.
- >Applejack smiles a little, but she knows you're exaggerating for her sake.
- "Ah... Ah think we'll manage someth-"
- "Applejack? Is'at you?"
- >A feeble sounding voice from downstairs.
- "Granny Smith... Ah didn't get ta see her last night."
- >Applejack heads down stairs.
- "If ya want'a shower, it's two doors down an' left."
- >Thanks.
- A. Shower
- B. Go down stairs
- C. Sleep
- >You can't meet your girlfriend's folks smelling like an art museum.
- >Because, apparently, the scent of Rarity and plaster...
- >It's still on you.
- >It haunts you.
- >But it's nothing a shower can't fix.
- >Two doors down...
- >And a left...
- >Here it is.
- >It's small, just a tub, sink, and shower head.
- >Assumed cabinet for toiletries as well.
- >It's... modest...
- >You deleted "poor" from your vocabulary for the span of your visit.
- >There's a single towel.
- >Purplish... but it will do.
- >You brush your teeth and turn on the shower.
- >Warm.
- >You didn't plan on that.
- >You probably should've skipped going to the museum.
- >The traffic getting to the farm was ridiculous.
- >Considering the short distance..
- >You turn off the water and put on the towel.
- >A knock at the door.
- "Big Mac? Applejack? Are any'a in there?"
- >Who's that?
- >It sounds... young.
- >Applejack mentioned a little sister before.
- "Ah guess they ain't in there..."
- >The door knob turns.
- >Wait, don't come in-
- "Ah! Who are ya?!"
- >You'r-
- >She looks down.
- "Mah CMC blanket!"
- >CMC?
- >Is that a clothing line or something?
- "Granny! Applejack! Big Mac! There's a man in 'ere!"
- "A man? Big Mac, go 'n check on yer sister!"
- "Eeyup!"
- >This situation is spiraling out of control.
- >Fast.
- >Pretty soon, Big Mac, followed by Applejack helping an old woman walk, appear in the doorway.
- >The girl stops screaming.
- "See?! Ah told ya-"
- "Anon?"
- >Applejack blushes.
- "Sorry ya'll. Ah fergot ta introduce ya'll last night... This is Anon... Mah boyfriend..."
- >After a small discussion on bathroom etiquette, you find yourself sitting at a table downstairs.
- >You find out the screaming girl's name is Applebloom.
- >Freshman in high school.
- >Perfect lolita candidate.
- >Because everyone read the book, right?
- >Makes perfect sense.
- >Granny Smith and Applejack are cooking something.
- >Smells delicious.
- >Big Mac takes a seat next to Applebloom.
- >First impressions are always wet...
- A. Big Mac
- B. Applebloom
- C. Applejack
- D. Granny Smith
- >You turn to Applebloom.
- >Sorry about the blanket.
- "It's alright. Ah put it out in the sun ta dry."
- >She moves her chair closer to yours.
- "So, yer datin' mah big sister? How's that like?"
- >It's... nice.
- "Ain't she just amazin'? Ah wish Ah was more like her..."
- >Applejack is quite amazing.
- >In and out of bed.
- >But mostly out of bed.
- >She's great company and [insert compliments].
- >Just being in college is fun.
- "Ah know! Applejack writes all the time. Ah can't wait to go in a few years."
- >That bubble's gonna burst.
- >Hard.
- >You around.
- >Things can't be that bad.
- >Can it?
- >How's school for Young Applejack.
- "High school's hard as nails. Ah don't know how ta go on..."
- >And wait till she gets to college.
- "Why? What's wrong with it?"
- >Two words.
- >Art.
- >History.
- >Applebloom gasps.
- >Truestory.jpg
- >What does she want to do in college anyway?
- "Ah don't got a clue... Maybe Agricultural stuff, like Applejack!"
- >Is nice to dream.
- "Yeah..."
- >The smile fades.
- >She knows.
- "Alright ya'll! Soup's on!"
- >Applejack carries the food to the table and pulls a chair for Granny Smith.
- "That looks amazin', Applejack!"
- >Applebloom reaches over the table to grab some, but the hand meets cane.
- "Applebloom, we ain't said the pr'yer yet!"
- "Sorry, Granny..."
- >Everyone joins hands and prays to the Almighty.
- "And... fer our guest Anon. May he be welcome our house as he is in Yer kingdom."
- >Amen.
- >The food disappears in minutes.
- "Alright Anon. Ready fer work?"
- >Work?
- A. Work
- B. Sneak off upstairs
- C. Help inside
- >Yeah.
- "Yah might wanna change yer clothes. It might git messy."
- >Noted, Applebloom.
- >But Anon doesn't wear farm clothes.
- >You're as fabulous as Rarity.
- >Just not Rarity yesterday.
- >Be nice...
- >Granny gets her cane and heads outside.
- "Big Mac, there's a squeaky board out 'n' the gazebo. Would ya mind takin' a look at it later?"
- "Nope."
- >That can only end well...
- >Applebloom follows her elders outside.
- "C'mon Anon. Let's git started!"
- >You turn to Applejack.
- >Is her sister always this... enthusiastic?
- "Yep. She likes tryin' new things. Findin' what she's good at."
- >You were like that at her age.
- >But clearly your talents lie in bed.
- A. Applebloom
- B. Applejack
- C. Big McIntosh
- D. Granny Smith
- >You walk with Applejack and Applebloom to the field.
- >So many apple trees.
- >Do they grow anything else?
- "Not really. Mah family's been growin' apples fer generations."
- >You go back to economics class.
- >Something about traditional economy comes to mind...
- "Applebloom, you best stick with us."
- >She whispers in your ear.
- "She ain't tall enough yet ta do the pickin' by herself..."
- "Hey!"
- >She is pretty short...
- "Hey!"
- >Just messing with her.
- >They lead you over to a part of the orchard that hasn't been picked.
- >Which is most of it.
- >You can see where the financial problems are coming from...
- ""Alright Anon! It's just basic pickin' and liftin'. Follow mah lead!"
- >Applebloom takes your hand and starts leading you away from Applejack.
- "No ya don't! C'mere."
- >Tug-of-war.
- "Applebloom, just stick with us over here."
- "Fine..."
- >Little girls like older guys.
- >Basic psychology.
- >You're dragging bushels and whatever.
- >Heavy lifting like a real man.
- >Lift with your back, not your legs.
- >Because, that's the right way to do it.
- >Picking apples from the trees, throwing away the crappy ones.
- >Applejack is lifting Applebloom into the trees to grab the apples.
- >Teamwork.
- >Smart.
- A. Work alone
- B. Sneak off
- C. Climb a tree
- >The little girl has the right idea.
- >You start climbing a tree.
- "Anon, what're ya doin'?"
- >Working.
- >What're you doing?
- "Actually doin' work."
- >Touche.
- >You shimmy across to a branch with a whole mess of apples.
- >This should be easy.
- "Careful Anon!"
- >Don't worry.
- >You're a champ at trees.
- >Or something like that.
- >You get a few of the apples into the basket.
- >One more to go.
- >Reach for it.
- "Anon..."
- >Don't worry Applejack.
- >You've got th-
- *Crack*
- >Uh-oh...
- >The ground tastes... dirty.
- >With a hint of lemon.
- >Must be the apples.
- You failed bio-chem
- "Anon!"
- >Applejack and Little Applejack come into view.
- "Anon! Are ya alright?"
- >Yeah.
- >You shake your limbs out.
- >Perfectly intact.
- "That was a nasty fall. Are ya sure yer alright?"
- >Definitely.
- >Just a little sore.
- >You get up and start picking up the fallen apples.
- >At least the fall got the rest of the apples out of the tree.
- >Somehow...
- >You should really pay attention in physics more.
- "Ah guess that's a new way ta pick apples!"
- "Applebloom..."
- >Let the girl have some fun.
- >After all, high school is all she has left.
- >Poor family.
- >Literally.
- >And it's over!
- >You saw the sunrise, fell out of a tree and worked out every muscle in your body.
- >You meet Granny Smith back at the farm house, each of you carrying a basket or whatever.
- >Big Mac still isn't back from... wherever.
- "Ya'll want some snacks? Ah made lemonade and a pie."
- >What a productive old woman.
- >This family is... nice.
- >It's not fair that they have so little.
- >But they don't seem to mind.
- >Everyone except Applejack, that is...
- >You all gather around the table, say grace and dig in.
- A. Applejack
- B. Applebloom
- C. Granny Smith
- >The food is great.
- >You can see where Applejack gets her skills from.
- "Thank ya, young feller."
- >Apple pie is always best.
- >Applejack blushes and takes a sip of her lemonade.
- >Granny Smith gives you an eye.
- >Hopefully not literally.
- "So yer the boy our Applejack's been smitten with."
- >That'd be you, yes.
- "Ah thought you'd be taller..."
- "Granny!"
- "Ah'm jokin' with the boy..."
- >The old woman rubs her wrinkles and looks at you seriously.
- "How do you feel about her?"
- "Granny!"
- "Ah've a right ta know..."
- >Applejack?
- >Besides being your girlfriend.
- >She's... a great friend.
- >Honest to a fault.
- >Really athletic.
- >Fun loving.
- >Pretty.
- >Strongwilled.
- >Applejack smiles at your remarks.
- >Family oriented.
- >Priority driven.
- >And she's a definite dreamer.
- >And... you'd be crushed to see her leave Canterlot U.
- "Ah reckon Applejack's told you about the sitcheation here."
- >She gives Applejack a look.
- "Ah... Ah thought he should know..."
- >Granny nods.
- "It was a good decision..."
- >She turns back to you.
- "Ah tell ya... the farm is goin' through a heckuva lot. Drought, dry seasons, no rain..."
- >You should tell her that's the same thing.
- "It's tough puttin' Applejack n' her brother through college... and ah don't think we can do it no more."
- >Applejack looks like she's about to cry.
- >Applebloom comes over and hugs her.
- >You don't know what to say either.
- >It's a lot to take in.
- >Really.
- "Ah... Ah need a minute. Ah'll be right back."
- >She runs outside.
- A. Applejack
- B. Granny
- C. Bloom
- >Applejack...
- >...Probably needs some time alone.
- >Applebloom sighs and goes into the living room.
- >Can you say Courage the Cowardly Dog?
- >Because it looks just like it.
- "Ah ain't never seen that show b'fore."
- >Not being a 90s kid.
- >You feel for Applebloom.
- "Uh, what?"
- >Nothing, nothing.
- >She grabs a remote and sits on the floor.
- >It's an old black-and-white antennae t.v.
- >They really are poor...
- "Wanna watch somethin'?"
- >Sure.
- >A few minutes of static and bad programming later...
- "Anon, you like mah sister right?"
- >Of course you do.
- "An'... she means a lot to ya, right?"
- >Yeah.
- >Where's the Lil' Applejack going with this?
- "What're ya gonna do if she can't go ta school no more? What's gonna happen to you two?"
- >You... hadn't really thought about that.
- >If Applejack leaves CU...
- >For good...
- >You'll definitely be losing a part of yourself.
- >Sure, she'd only be a few minutes away...
- >But not having her there...
- >Not seeing her face in bed next to you every morning...
- >Not watching her make breakfast for you and your friends...
- >Sure, she'd only be a few minutes away.
- >But that's too long.
- "Ah'm... Ah'm sorry, if that counts fer anythin'..."
- >It doesn't.
- >But it helps a little.
- >The kitchen door slams shut.
- >Applejack is back.
- A. Watch T.V.
- B. Applejack
- C. Go upstairs
- >You get up and go back into the kitchen.
- >Granny Smith is putting away the dishes with Applejack.
- "Granny, stop... Ah-Ah can take care of these."
- >Old Apple shakes her head.
- "Ah've c'n get these. Ya should be out spendin' some time with Anon."
- >Granny nods to you.
- "Take her out, will ya?"
- >Uh, sure.
- >You take Applejack's hand and head outside.
- >The orchard doesn't give you a lot of places to hide and talk.
- >Where's the secret garden?
- "Anon, let's go in there."
- >She points to a tree house a ways out.
- >It looks pretty old...
- "Don't worry. Big Mac built it fer me. It's sturdy as iron."
- >You hope so.
- >Those old floorboards creak as the two of you go inside.
- >Out the window, you can see over most of the farm.
- "Ain't it just pretty out there?"
- >Yeah.
- >You turn to face Applejack.
- >Her eyes are red from the tears she's trying to hide from you.
- >Applejack...
- >You reach out to hug her.
- "Anon... Ah ain't got a clue as to what's gonna happen..."
- >Neither do you...
- "Ah know. This whole thing is so... so..."
- >The tears start back up again.
- >It really isn't fair.
- >Thanks Obama.
- >Her tears are getting on your shirt.
- >But you don't mind.
- >Your tears are coming too.
- >So much for manly, Hemmingway-based Anon.
- A. Business
- B. Bizness
- C. Give her some space
- >She could try commuting to school.
- >Those dorms cost money.
- >Or, she could try applying for scholarship...
- "Ah ain't that smart, Anon. Mah grades ain't... they ain't so good..."
- >You let her lean against you.
- >You... don't really know what else to do.
- >Applejack, of all people, deserves to stay at CU.
- >She's been working hard, and her priorities are totally in order.
- >She's not going to school for herself.
- >She's doing it for family.
- >She's doing it to carry on a legacy.
- >And that...
- >That deserves a chance to go on.
- >She's... cried herself dry.
- >And you've been stroking her back for a good few minutes now.
- "Ah guess... *sniff* all there's left to do is... get back ta farmwork."
- >For now.
- >You walk her back to the farm house.
- >It's getting dark out.
- >Apparently time is weird here too.
- >Must be the county or something.
- >You carry Applejack into her bed.
- "A-Anon?"
- >Yeah, Applejack?
- "T-thanks, Anon... for bein' here for me."
- >You pull her in for a hug, making her let out another big sigh.
- >Sounds... conflicted.
- "G'night, Anon."
- >Goodnight, Applejack.
- End Day 34+
- End Day 34+
- >You try to ignore it.
- >But it's hard to ignore it.
- >Her room is right next to the guest room.
- >You put your pillow over your ears.
- >But, you can't ignore it.
- >It's seeping through the walls.
- >Applejack... crying.
- >It's tearing you apart.
- Met Applebloom
- Met Granny Smith
- Apple family rapport up!
- The financial problems...