An Apple Layover (Open: Ask to join)

[SteelEagle]

Many pigs lay on the ground, soaking in the mud on a hot day. Some others milled about but when the three ponies entered two of the bigger ones decided to come on over. They weren't all that interested in the two Apple ponies, they knew them well enough. What they were intrigued by was the new pony, the one who didn't smell of apples and had a broken pointer unlike most of the other pointer-ponies. They would be the easiest ones, these pigs who just walked on up to Tempest and started oinking and sniffing. “Them two's Willie an' Wonka. There never much of a problem, real friendly sorts. Won't be havin' ta lasso 'em up or any some such,” Applejack laughed as she pet one of them. Then she looked out over the rest and loosened up her lasso.

“If y'all could use yer magic, it'd be easy enough. But since magic ain't no good, requires a bit more effort,” she looked at Tempest, “Twi explained it ta me once. Creatures that ain't magical don't react well ta magic. Can get'm sick or somesuch, make bad milk, you name it. So no magic,” she nodded back at the pigs, “though Ah think with you bein' so athletic an' such yer gonna be fine,” she then took a deep sigh. “So, here's how we're gonna make it work- with a lasso. Ah have an extra one for ya, and Ah'm gonna teach ya how to use it,” she said with a big smile.

“Zap sweetie, get off of Uncle Big Mac's head,” Applejack crooned. Zap Apple did as requested, fluttering haphazardly towards the mud. Applejack gently trotted over and caught her little stallion before he did so, the giggling foal placed on her back as she trotted back next to Tempest.

“So, tha key ta a good pig lasso is tha same as any other good lasso.  If ya simply bite onto tha slack end of that there rope and start ta swing, tha tension in tha rope will pull tha loop in yer lasso shut before y'all can throw it. So, use yer teeth in a way that keeps yer lasso wide open as y'all twirl it and build momentum. Make a nice, big loop by feeding slack through yer Honda knot. Lay a foot or two of tha leftover slack rope next ta yer loop. Bite tha loop and the length of slack rope together. This should create a 'doubled-up' length of rope between the Honda knot and yer mouth. This doubled-up portion is called tha 'shank.'

 

Bitin' tha rope at tha end of tha shank, swing it in a circle above yer head. Be careful not ta hit yer head or ta catch yerself by tha neck. Swing fast enough that it's not difficult ta keep tha loop roughly horizontal like, but not so fast that y'all struggle ta control it.
Release tha rope as y'all feel its momentum swing forward. Throwing a lasso isn't tha same as throwing a ball - it's more a matter of releasing tha lasso at tha right time than of propelling it forward, just let momentum do its work. Try ta let go of tha lasso as y'all feel its weight swing forward - this isn't necessarily when tha loop itself is in front of y'all. Rather, it's most likely when the loop is directly ta yer side.

 

When you throw tha lasso, let go of tha loop itself but keep control of the rope so that y'all can tighten yer lasso.
Tighten the lasso ta grab yer target. Once it's around whatever yer trying to lasso, pull hard on tha rope. This will pull the slack in the loop through tha Honda knot, tightening tha lasso around whatever object is inside it.”

As Applejack spoke she demonstrated the various steps, doing so until it looked like Tempest got it. When the mare was ready, Applejack turned to face her big brother after hoofing over her lasso.

“We have a big'ol target ta practice. Big, red, built like a barn, can't miss'm- and he's so willin' ta help,” she raised one eyebrow at her big brother, with a sly smile underneath. “Now you just wait there an' let Tempest get some practice in on ya. Ah'm sure y'all can handle it!”

[RexDraco]

Mac followed along, hardly suspect of his sister's eventual plan to use him as a training dummy. He enjoyed the walk there, carrying his napping nephew. The stallion's steps were measured. Beyond the rhythmic clip, clop of his heavy hoofs his large body didn't at all bounce about unsteadily. Read ears swiveled forward as Tempest spoke. Sure seemed awful she had to deal with so much. Though...

 

She didn't seem too remorseful. 

 

That arrogant pride was on par with Discord. She went on how she was strong and made those no-goods the what for with her leadership yet... Mac would nod at his thoughts. "Take responsibility, however bad." Eeyup!

 

As a strong pony others followed and looked up to, you definitely has to take responsibility and not just by doing a few good deeds. That didn't make any pony good. She could do to tell her stories with a more remorseful disposition, but the last radiated pride and power. T'weren't a bad thing, mind you, but it would make it hard for some others to approach, specially after that there troublemaking. If'n they see she isn't much inclined to even frown, he was sure some of their more faint-prone residents wouldn't take to it.

 

And there went AJ with the overly complex explanations. Too much talk, bot enough do. It'd be easier if she just show her. The hogs that ran up, inspecting Tempest had the right of it. She was irregular, a new face. Petting them as they got near AJ instructed little Zap to clamber off, but what for? Tyke was right comfortable! Though it soon became obvious when she offered him as example.

 

"What?" He protested whilst stepping forward. 

 

He looked none too thrilled, expression flat and ears pinned against his mane. Really AJ? We're doing it this way? Didn't much seem he had a choice either! He sighed, shaking out his head, mentally prepping himself! Alright, come on! He debated on rearing up when Applejack tossed her lasso, but weren't what hogs did, so he'd likely sit and be stubborn about it all. Maybe.

 

 

 

[Dusty]

Big mac was not wrong in his judgement, Tempest lost no sleep over what happened to canterlot or the ponies in it. She lost sleep over failing to get her horn… or not betrying the worthless ‘king’ first. But her head was clear of all things as she watched AJ explain how to do it. Can she do it with magic? Easly. Will the pigs be safe? That was the unclare part of that and why she stuck to being more of an earth pony than a unicorn. If she was not helping AJ she’d not care if harm came to them. They were pigs. But for the sake of things she must not hurt them.

 

“I understand.” She says with a nod of her head and did a slow walk around big mac, her eyes darting over him as if was a textbook. Well she did she gets the the rope ready. “I have done a hogtie before, but I will try my best to be… gentle.” She added with a wink before she starts spinning the lasso about than slings it over Macs head. “Ah, not bad for you sitting about.” She walked up and removed it and moved away more this time. She started repeating this, moving back more every time she hit her mark and talking to AJ on tips to help her aim.

[SteelEagle]

 

 

Tempest wasn't half bad at it, really. She wasn't half-good either but that was the less positive outlook on matters Applejack believed. Big mac wasn't none too pleased but there wasn't anypony else who'd be better to practice on. He was as strong and durable as it got and Tempest needed to learn on somepony or something durable and strong. He could take it. He could be unhappy as he wanted to be but if she knew her big lovable brother it was that he would get ver it when it meant Tempest was all fine and dandy when it came to helping on the farm. This would be a huge boon for all involved and as Tempest worked out how to get her work done she was sure that the mare would calm down a little. Physical activity always worked on setting Applejack's mind right after all and she could only assume the benefits were universal.

Tempest was given a few more tips- "aim a little higher", "don't pull so fast on tha pigs as y'all did there, they've got small necks", and a few other choice ones- but for the most part she was on point. A good listener. She reckoned Tempest would have to have been a good listener, spending all those years on her own meant she didn't have the time or ability to pass up on juicy tidbits to further her survival. Applejack would move past that for now and focus on the here and now. After Tempest had a few more ties, Applejack nodded. "Good work. Ah think you can do it. Now, when we hogtie them we're gonna go ahead and put them in tha back of that there wagon. Then we can clean tha area up. Once we get ta that, yer magic is all good, okay?" she said, grabbing herself another lasso.

“Ready? On tha count of three we'll get to it, alright? One, two- three!”

[RexDraco]

Big Mac and Applejack have been roping hogs since they was foals, but he did have a touch of hesitation when it came to a greenhorn wrangling them. His worry as only abated by the fact that they were using the gentler oinkers and that Tempest was a soldier. But what he couldn't stand for was him.being used as the training dummy! He let AJ know by sitting his rump on the ground and giving her a strong look! Well he wasn't gunna say no either. She was a visitor and one AJ right sought to employ. A busy supervillain is one who ain't plotting to take over towns and such. With her reception he supposed they could move forward, maybe get a few.hooves more suited to the workload a farm like their’s required. But no one really ever stayed working longer an’ summer. T'weren't no picnic, to be sure.

 

When the lasso ring looked over his head it did to buck a strand of mane into his face, which he blew up with a distinct pbbbt. “...ready?” Did he really need that much practice? He chuckled a bit at her comment. “Hogs won't usually keep still.” And it was nothing like roping ponies neither, if there was such a comparison.

 

Enslavement and all.

 

When AJ started her countdown Mac had about til three to close the pen sn get himself on the other side! The older stallion scuffled a moment before he got to his hooves and pranced to the pen’s gate. He lowered his head to bump his snout to the surface. Bucking it would like resulted in tearing it off its hinges -- again. He wasn't like AJ in which he could really control his bucks like some rodeo pony. He was a workhorse ager all.

 

“Consarnit!” He neighed when he ended up closing himself inside the pen with them cause he had a split second decision to head in or out and with the pigs starting their squealing as the countdown began -- right awful clever them hogs were, and scattered when the mares began their assault. Some were more skilled as avoiding getting picked while the senior oinkers just laid their heads down against the mud when a lasso came by.

[Dusty]

Tempest noded as they got ready to gather up the hogs. “Well, this is going to be something.” She says looking at them all as she rares up on the fencing, she looked like a bird of prey ready to strike every last pig. “Shame they can’t talk like cows. Makes it much more easy to make them do something. Did that for a few weeks out west… Well, in truth I like that they can’t. Makes it less… weird. Some cows get too much in to milking and in truth i’d rather not have heard some of the things they told me.” She mutters more to herself than AJ. The countdown was done and she leaps over the fencing in to the mud. It seems she was fine getting muddy as she runs after hogs and gets swinging with her lasso. Well she did not have the aim of AJ she was making up for it in speed and willingness to get caked in mud and dirt if it means snagging up a hog and in no time has one hogtied tied and pulled over to Big Mac. “One!” she calls out happily looking over at AJ.

[SteelEagle]

 

 

“Four!”

Applejack liked playing around with her hogs. They were happy, persnickety little critters with not a sense of ease about them in their youth. They were just like children. Tell them to do something and you'd get a stirring negative response. You had to run them don and force them to do something and truth be told she was almost certain that they all had a hoot and a holler running about and getting dirty along with them. At least that is what she thought as they squealed and oinked, most with fat, happy smiles on their face as the mares gave chase. Well, Applejack didn't chase much. She didn't need to. She knew them well enough to know where they'd run.

A toss of her lasso there, a toss of the lasso here, and one by one she lasso'd their legs together and had them hauled back to the cart. She laughed loudly as she passed her big brother. The lovable goof had gotten stuck in the pens. “Hey Big Mac, y'all ain't supposed ta be fraternizin' with tha enemy,” she said, laying up the tuckered out piggies in the wagon and going back for some more. As she leaped back in she got close enough to Tempest to respond to what she said before. “Heh, you think that's bad? Big Mac, tell her about tha time you accidentally milked a bull!” she laughed, this time gently egging some of the older, weaker pigs on and into the cart.

 

[RexDraco]

And so it began! The pigs took off, knowing full well how to play this game! They weren't ornery and didn't take getting roped up to offense. Far from it. Seemed they liked a good run. Mac tried to stay out of the way so he didn't get hosed and splattered with mud. While getting a little dirty working on a farm was expected taking a wallow in the pigs' sty was far from a goal. He pulled up a forehoof to cover his face, turning his clean straw across on his muzzle so it didn't meet the fate of his one earlier, what with dealing with the cows in the early hours. With his straw and fur safe his fur far from a caking, gross mess he flicked back his head and huffed as he tossed his mane out his eyes. 

 

He reached up to the fence post, hoisting himself onto his hind legs. Looking to the left he would inspect the length of fence. Turning his head to the right he'd again regard the distance around the hogs’ pen went. He snorted, nostrils flaring as he tucked his straw on the other side of his muzzle. Ah nooope. It was best he did not jump the fence. If he missed, which the big fella wasn't given to agility, he'd more than likely take the whole of the fence with him and that was something he wasn't looking to repair. Reaching over he'd undo the latch and scramble out, slipping and sliding on the mud. Once out his hoof slid the gate closed as his gaze drew over to the warrior mare and than his sister.

 

The older Apple sibling sighed and looked over to AJ, his expression flat. By the looks of it the task was one he would rather forget. Hardly the heroic story of a soldier who dun lost a war or one of em legends of some great hero’s weapon used to reroute a volcano. Nope. In this case it was just a disastrous result of social faux pas and misguided views on cow spots. He sighed and looked off, gaze softening as if he was to begin a bardic retelling of an ancient tale….

 

“....noope.” Nah, he didn't want to bore Tempest with horrible farm memories. If he scarred her now she may never wish to work here again and extra hooves were a necessary thing during the spring and summer.

 

It was why they had folk come in from the city or farm schools learning while, in the same, helping out. Family reunions also did the job. “... hey, uh…?” Maybe they should get going to the next part? The hogs got wiggly if they had to spend too much time in the carts.

[Dusty]

Tempest was taken off guard by the fact Big mac milked a bull. How does one do that!? How do you not… She stopped herself, it was not worth following that path. Nope. “I am going do us all a good and not ask how you bucked up that bad big guy.” She says shaking her head and looking at the chart full of wiggling pigs. She was not shocked they were beating her at this, it was there job after all.

 

But she was not beaten yet! Leaping back into the mud she got running after the next pig, it honestly did feel good. She liked hard work and part of her did hold on to the ideals of maybe doing a farm or ranch some day. Not yet, but later in life… maybe she can do it when she was done making a mess of her life. As she jumped a pig and tied him up like a earth pony, she looked over her shoulder at the two farm ponies. “You know, for all it is worth.” She says well slinging the pig up on her  back without fuss. “I may have to make a note of stopping by here at least one time a year and do… this. Work. hard work. It's honestly relaxing, buzare as they may be to some this is allmost like therapy."

[SteelEagle]

 

Applejack was happy to hear that Tempest was liking all the good, hard work they were having. A lot of ponies seemed to think that their time was better served sitting on their rears and reading books, and there was certainly a time and place for that. But she sure as shine couldn't live without the sweat of a day's honest day labor to accompany her when it was time to lay down for the night. “Happy to hear it, Tempest. A good day is a day spent workin' hard as far as Ah'm concerned, bein' able ta rest easy knowin' ya actually did something. Best therapy bits could buy,” she winked, “except by the end, we get paid for it,” she finished as she looked at the pigs. Yep, all accounted for.

“Well, there we go. Now tha cleaning should be easy from here on out,” she said as the gears in her head turned, “but Ah think Ah can handle this on my lonesome. Kinda boring work ta boot. If y'all wanna head on out and start tha sorting Ah'll be there soon. Big Mac, teach her all she needs to know about sortin' apples. Tempest, we here at Sweet Apple Acres make all sorts of apple varieties on this here farm, and we gotta make sure we sort 'em proper-like. After all, some are better eaten than cooked, others are better cooked than eaten, and a lot of ponies have certain preferences for tha type of apple they want to eat! Personally Ah ain't ever run into an apple Ah didn't love, but that's me. Ah just might be a bit biased in that regard, hehehehe,” Applejack said as she started getting to work cleaning the pen.

It sure wasn't glamorous work but it was very obvious work, and Tempest needed to learn about the more subjective elements of farm labor. While Tempest was an active mare by choice and trade it was important she get an education on the many tasks there were to do, and better she do them before she got tired or started to get antsy. Besides, Applejack had confidence in Big Mac telling her the important details, and Applejack would be able to join later. The extra hooves would certainly help this whole division of labor thing!

[RexDraco]

Big Mac perked his ears, brows furrowing as he swiveled them forward. There was a moment he thought he heard Applejack say 'snortin' apples', and by Celestia he could tell you right now applesauce got stuck in your mizzle and gave you the worst sneezing fits... It had been on a date with one of his cousins! Well no matter. 

 

"Well ya see--" of course why would Mac explain something so detailed? It seemed the fates had it out for him. 

 

He could hear Granny calling from halfway across Las Pegasus it felt. He drooped and unhooked himself from the cart. It was high noon. That meant Granny like needed help with lunch.

 

"Uh, gotta go." He motioned his hoof and sauntered off. It was good reason why they needed so many hooves! Mac and Applejack had only so many! Off the big horse would go.

 

[Exit Post]

[Dusty]

“Well, I think the bull story made him shy and run.” Tempest says looking back at Applejack. “So, still stuck with me.” She added with soft grin of enjoyment as she stretches her legs out from all the running about in mud. She was very dirty now, her hide a mix of mud, dirt and sweat yet she was none to bothered by it. Baths are a luxury most ponies never understand is a luxury. Same for fresh drinking water but that’s a tangent for another day. 

 

She looked out over the farm and clear skies. Really this was what she grew up in. Well it was no farm life the lands outpost towns and cities was her home. How many farms did she see? Roads? Rivers? Can she ever settle down? She did not know yet. But for now this was what she needed. Looking back at AJ she watched the mare work. That was a Mare she can get behind. Working every day, feeling blessed for what she had and not shying away from work that will leave most laid out on the ground. Can they be friends? AJ may think so but something clawed at the back of Tempest’s feelings saying they can’t be. She can’t have friends. She’d never fit in with them. AJ had plenty. “So, what’s next boss?"

[SteelEagle]

                                                                                  

Applejack gave it some thought. There was a lot of work left to do but how much did she really want to show right about now? Beyond bucking and some other work, she reckoned a good day had been had. Still, Tempest was here and Appljack didn't want her to feel like her time was being wasted. Nothing against a nice lunch right now though, right? "Well, Ah reckon we can get ourselves a bite ta eat. Ah'm thinkin' some hay bacon an' some real nice flapjacks," she said witsfully, licking her lips. She loved herself some flapjacks. "Then we can go ahead an' check up on Zappy. Little fella had some nightmares last night on account of them timberwolves we ran into tha other day, poor fella."

They trotted their way back to the barn in good time, enjoying the good weather that the pegasi had prepared for them. Applejack wasn't very picky on the days she enjoyed. A nice rainstorm had a great rhythm to it and the brisk autumn air gave it a nice tinge. The summer sun could beat down and every shade of green hung itself erectly to greet it. In the autumn, winds shorn the trees of their leaves while an explosion of color delighted all who had the eyes with which to see the beauty inherent in nature. As long as she was told what to expect and could plan accordingly, there was no such thing as bad weather to her. Soon they were in her home and breached the barrier, getting hit with a wall of indoor warmth that radiated off of the walls. "Relax, kick up yer hooves. Help yerself ta tha kitchen. Ah gotta go check up on Zap Apple. Be back in a second!"

[Dusty]

“Flapjacks?” Tempest asked, somewhat shocked by the change of gears. But one she was fine with. Food sounds good. “Not had that… in a very long time.” she added thinking on it. “Last time I had some I was just a small filly. Be nice to enjoy them again” She stretched out and followed Applejack. “Got timberwolves? I can deal with them for you.” She offers. “When I move on I will head out in the woods and hunt them down.” She shrugs. 

 

 

Tempest looks about the home, taking her time to do so. She looked like a lost mare as she gently walked about and stopping to look at… just about everything. But most of all family photos. They really drew her as she gazed at them with no hint to what she was feeling about it. That same cold face blinked at them, moving from one to the next. “Ya.” She mutters, leaning down to look at one framed photo… Then something clicked. She looked back for AJ but the mare was gone. “Is… She a mother?” Tempest asked to nopony before looking back at the photos. Someing deep in her... did not know how to feel. It was unnerving. 

[SteelEagle]

                                                                                



It took a little while but Applejack returned, foal on her back. He looked tired and his eyes were wet, having recently been sobbing up a storm. Luckily mamma was here and she would do anything to ensure his continued happiness. She trotted into the living and laid him down on the couch, where he eyed the unicorn mare with equal parts curiosity and confusion. She sure didn't look like the other, bigger ponies with horns he knew about. Applejack was in the kitchen and got the food together quickly and started cooking it. As she cooked, she talked from the kitchen. "Eh, don't worry too much about them timberwolves. You can blast 'em, kick 'em, even break 'em apart but they always come back together. Y'all have ta head ta their lairs ta actually disable the magic that keeps 'em livin'. But you do that, you risk bein' caught by tha magic itself. A few ponies have been turned into timberwares by it. Ah mean, y'all can get healed, but it ain't easy. Spend too long and then y'all just up and become a timberwolf yerself. Better ta just patrol tha edges. They don't get too aggressive unless you have somethin' of theirs."

"Lil' Zappy over there found a glowing stick. 'Course we didn't know at tha time on account of it being too far away from tha rest of it, but it was part of a timberwolf. We were out in tha Everfree doin' an important chore, came home, turns out we had been followed by a littler of those mutts. Ah had to buck 'em ta pieces," she said as she started making her flapjacks. After a little more time passed she trotted back to the living room and sat next to her foal. She then pushed him in closer to her teats, grabbed a blanket, covered him, and fed him while she sat there. "He'll be fine. Apples are made of sterner stuff! Whatcha like with yer flapjacks, by tha way?" She asked as she laid her head down on the legrest, breathing in and out with regularity to help circulate herself properly. She would have fed him upstairs but she had cooking to do and by Celestia she could feed three with ease, she reckoned.

[Dusty]

By the time Applejack returned Tempest moved on from staring at everything, she did not want to look too weird or something. But her trotting in place soon stopped as she saw the foal. She cocked her head to the side, blinking at it. She looked at Zappy with as much curiosity and confusion as the foals own. After a few moments of the two just staring at one other she walked closer and looks the foal over as AJ talked. “You speak as if I never hunted them before. I did not live all my life in the Storm Army. The wild landes raised me more than they ever did.” She says in that ever classic tone of hers. “But more than one way to make them never come back. Never seen one pull itself back together from heaps of ash.”

 

She eyed the foal up as if she has never seen one before. But as soon as it reached for her muzzle she back pedals away as if was about to bite her… Feeling utterly uneasy about what to do with… it. She moved to the far side of the room and sat down. “I’m not shocked you held your own. Shame I was not here to help. Not that I think you need it… more so I’d have enjoyed destroying them alongside you.” She added, settling down on the rug on the floor like some dog as she watched the foal and all the odd sounds it made. 

 

When AJ came out Tempest looked over at her. Still laying on the rug. What AJ did next… confused her. At first. It took a few moments for it to click it was nursing. Something about all of this was unnerving her. Hatred. Want. Love. Disgust. All battling it out to explain this unknown feeling. Was she this disjointed from life? “maple?” Tempest says in response to what was asked of her. “I don’t really remember. Last time I had one… Well, I think I was younger… no, I know I was younger than Apple bloom. I did not have my mark back then.” She says with a glance at her covered body. “But I remember loving them. Are cook was a zebra… sweet mare. She made them so good.” She says thinking back on the old days. “Mother never did cook for me. To busy.” She looked back at the shape underneath the blanket.

[SteelEagle]

                                                                            

The way Tempest spoke about the Timberwolves was a little disquieting, though she tried to hide it- likely failed at least to some extent. She did have a rather honest face. She didn't want to destroy or kill them- the thought made her ill. She knew she might have to do something like that as a Twilight Guard or to save kin, but she would never seek it out. Didn't make her feel right as an Equestrian. She reminded herself that Tempest had a different life in front of her. She had been raised less by family and ponies and more by armies and officers in all the ways that seemed to matter to her. Applejack kept her comments to herself. This was the sort of attitude that would need to be broken over time if she truly wanted to find happiness in Equestria.

"Ah'm just happy ta keep mah family safe. Ah'll content mahself with that, hehe. Ah'm sure Ah have maple, thinkin' Ah can..." she responded, noticing that Tempest's tempo slowed down as she seemed to focus in on the foal under Applejack's blanket. Was she this thrown off by a foal? Hard to say unless...Applejack had an idea. Maybe it was a bad one but she was here to help Tempest become the pony she was meant to be, right? She could think of one thing to do right here, right now.
 

Did Applejack trust Tempest? Hard question to ask, the harder question to answer really. Ponies were a forgiving lot by nature and Tempest was trying her damndest to press herself through the grate of her past misdeeds to atone and create something for herself. Applejack didn't doubt for a foggy second that the beating heart within Tempest was wanting desperately to just be like the other ponies. Heck, she figured that was one reason why Tempest helped save Twilight. But this was Applejack's foal, the pride of her life. The light of her heart. She didn't doubt Tempest's intentions but she saw flashes of her temper here or there. How would he be with a creature that, while adorably designed, also came with all sorts of bells and whistles designed to drive you batty? 
 

Well, Ponies were a forgiving lot by nature.
"Wanna hold him?" She asked with a smile, pulling the foal off of her and then getting the blanket off. She burped him and did so with a smile, then nodded at him as of if to say get to it. "Ah'll get our food."

[Dusty]

Tempest chewed on a few things in her mind. She wanted to know what stallion sired the foal. It was most likely a pegasus… But she has yet to see one picture of a male pegasus. Just plenty with her friends and family. The lack of this unknown male is what made her feel so hesitant to ask about it. Some wounds are best left unopened. Most of all, if you did not know even the first words of the story behind them. 

 

-Wanna hold him?- That pulled her back to the topic at hand, at first she just thinks she misheard something. Than she looks about the room too see if another member of the family showed up. Nope. She looked back at AJ blinking in disbelief. “You wish to intrust me with holding the…” She cuts her words, it was not something. It was not some object. It was a living thing and it's…. His mother was in trusting his safety in the hooves of herself. That was something she did not know how to even break down. Where to start? Did AJ trust her so much? She did leave her alone with the foal before but to single her out and place its safety on her? 

 

“I… Never have held a foal before.” She says standing up and walking over to AJ. Her body language seemed to change before AJs eyes. Softer hoof steeps. Least threatening posture. Tempest was not even aware of it as her instincts tried to make her less threatening to the young one. Now that she was closer she sat down on her flank, holding her front legs out, close together. “How do… I hold him?” She asked, looking at the foal than at AJ. She felt scared, nervous… what if she hurt him? Something about that was deeply worrying and she can’t understand why. Why was she feeling like this? What was going on with her?

[SteelEagle]

                                                                           


Applejack smiled. Tempest was nervous. It was hard to imagine the absurdly confident general of the Storm Army, the mare who beat the collected Princess of Equestria, as anything less than overwhelming confident in everything she did. To see her look at a foal with the confident somepony would look at a live firework pointing at their face was sort of a hoot. Another part of her worried that the entire concept spoke ill of her ability to handle a foal, but she battered that voice down. Tempest could and would do this and do this well, she had no doubt of it. Applejack moved over to Tempest and fiddled with her legs until they were in proper foal holding mode. She then slowly moved Zap Apple from her arms to Tempest's, and then got up and trotted away. "You just hold him for a few minutes while Ah finish our food," She said, excited to see two different developments- one maternal, one delicious.

 

Zap Apple at first wiggled, trying to get comfortable in teh new mare's arms. And he was highly curious, putting his nose in and smelling her chest fluff, crawling up it, and testing her shoulders with his hooves. He then got tired of that and let go, falling into her arms with a poof. He then nestled into the nest-like structure of her arms and curled a little, burying himself into where her arm and chest met. Clearly comfortable, he spoke wordless words and mouthed unimaginable phrases, getting slobber slowly on her chest floof for a bit. He got more comfortable and felt very sleepy. You could tell- his left wing, the free one, sometimes half-opened and flapped before heading back down and resetting, as if in a dream state.
 

Applejack was in the kitchen during this time, and was hard at work on the food. She would look inside of the living room every once in a while, stealing a peek at the progression of her foal's embrace of the likely extremely warm Tempest Shadow. He wasn't hard to please when it came to a proper snuggle after all and Tempest, for all her faults, was not a pony likely to fail any task assigned her. Neither was Applejack prine to failure, so she did a bang up job on the flapjacks. They smelled right good, they did! She even had some maple syrup for them. Applejack, on brand, apple syrup all day every day. When she was happy with the result she poked her head back in. "Food's ready if yer wantin' some now, Tempest," she said quietly. Far be it for her to deny her little colt a proper roost.

[Dusty]

She was nervous, extremely so. Applejack may never understand how alien she was feeling. Battles no longer made her nervous. She did not fear them or death. They were normal. This was not. This so far removed from normal it felt like she was trying to switch tracks with a rusted lever. Yet it here it was. A foal was placed in her front legs. She just blinked at it as her brain struggled to understand what she was doing and feeling. 

 

She looked up at Aj as she walked away, all she had to do was hold him a few minutes. Why did something so basic, so small seem so hard? “O-of course.” She sutters, looking back at the wiggling foal. For so long she had discounted herself from others emotionally. She had too. So many things she had too do. So many awful things. She was horrible in many ways. Yet this foal knew none of it. It trusted her out the door, no fear or worry. It was blind innocence and trust. Something she all but forgot about. This foal can not fake its feelings. Its trust. It was all turthfull, heartfull blind trust. So much so it dozed off in her legs. 

 

With that she understood just what she was feeling. Love. AJ told her he was attacked, both of them were. Yet here he was… sleeping. Resting. Trusting her. A stranger that looked and smelled nothing like his family or mother. Yet he put his faith in her. And that made her feel like she has never felt before. Loved. Yes, he didn't love her like his mother or sister. But he, in his small head, believed she’d guard him just as well. That was trust and love that only a foal can have. And she felt some deep need to do just that. She can’t grasp why she did, but it was a powerful feeling.

 

Snapping her head up to look at the doorway she looked at AJ before the mare even spoke. Even distracted by a foal her reflexes nothing short of fox like, to sounds and movement. “Yes.” She says back, keeping her voice down. She then looked back at the foal… Gears turning in her head as she tried to work out how to move with him… Something AJ did all the time. But something Tempest had to work out. After a few moments she came up with her plan. Moving slow she moved him to her side, than using her muzzle hold him up pushed the foal up on her back as she stands up. With him resting on her back she moved to AJ. “He… sleeps well.” She says in soft words well searching for more. Something too explain what she felt. “I feel weird.” Very good explanation.

[SteelEagle]

                                                                               



She certainly looked like she felt weird. That weird contortion in her face that spoke equally of a grimace or a smile didn't fool Applejack a bare moment. She was a mare who wasn't used to caring for others or even about them. Selfish? Not the word Applejack would use necessarily. She was a survivor in a world she deemed hostile to her very being. It would be hard to assign judgement to such a mare, but it did mean that she was reticent to open herself to others. And part of that had to mean she was reluctant at best to hoist the banner of another pony's safety or well being to her, lest she get dragged down by the responsibility. By her emotions, good or bad. Most Equestrians loved the idea of community and working together. They loved the idea of hearth and home and warmth and love. They loved the idea of friends and family, always there to help, and you always there to help them. Tempest wasn't built that way. She had survived for too long to readily admit that deep down inside she was still an Equestrian, and an Equestrian mare at that.

 

Like Tartarus they could say no to a little foal.
"He is a mite tired Ah bet," she said as she trotted over and gently pet her foal. She wasn't going to remove him from Tempest, nope. It was going too well. Once it went less well, she would make a move. Until then. She then pulled back. "He certainly looks mighty comfy back there. Ya know, up close, yer muscles are very smooth. Toned as all get out, not ungainly at all. No wonder yer comfy ta nap on!" She said with a laugh as she started to make the plates. Flapjacks, warm and inviting, some maple syrup for Tempest and Apple syrup for Applejack, soon were ready for the eating on the tables. Their smell wafted lazily up but once they hit the nostrils- ooh boy, did they smell good! "Ah know what yer tryin' ta explain. Warm an' fuzzy maybe a litt,e but mostly you feel an attachment ta that little fella. He trusts y'all a whole lot more than you probably do. He's an innocent, and yer wantin' ta keep him safe. That may be tha start of love, but before that, yer gonna have ta feel a sense of kinship. Not familial, but between you an' somecreature you know is worth protectin', worth helpin', worth yer efforts an' yer heartache. It can be friendship, love, or just good ol' fashioned Equestrian harmony stokin' inside of ya," she said as she ruffled his mane again before taking the seat opposite Tempest, pushing a plate in front of the combative mare. "So, wanna rest yer hooves a bit and have a bit ta eat?"

[Dusty]

Tempest honestly felt flattered to hear some nice remarks about her body. It was such a weird thing for her. On one hoof she liked showing off how strong she was… on the other she hated showing her body. Most of all her mark. It's why she got so attached to her outfit in a way. For how much it was tied with the storm king it was more tied to her own self worth. It made her feel good. Not hiding underneath lots of robes but still keeping all the scars and her flank mark out of view. And it did a very good job showing off her muscles. She can not but help to flex them some at the remarks with a smug grin. 

 

What she was not ready for was how good AJ hit the nail on the head with her feelings. It felt extremely weird and made her uneasy. She did not like others reading her that well buy AJ was not wrong at all. “If this is what harmony feels like i’d rather stick with disharmony.” She says shaking her head. “But his trust is… enjoyable. Innocence feels so rare to me… I know it's all over this world, so many of you believe in real Innocence. But seeing it after what happened… it just feels weird. But I am glad he is like that.” She explained as best she can. “Mine was lost so long ago and I can never take it back. I never want another foal to see what I did. Do what I did. I can never… be like you AJ. But I don’t want others to be like me. The world needs more like you and less of me.” She says looking at the food… it did smell dang good. “If I ever end up in the care of one… That is what I’d want.”

 

Moving to her side of the table she looked at the foal on her back. He looked pretty happy there naping. So she did not move him. Just leaning her head down she takes a bite of pancake. Oh. That was good. She’d not have something like this in… so long. Years? More than that. Just home food like this, let alone pancakes. So much of her life was eating what she can get her hooves on… than in the Storm Army eating whatever ‘food’ the cooks made. She almost forgot how good some home-cooked food can be. After enjoying the taste she dived back in, chowing down on the food like a starving hound.

[SteelEagle]

                                                                               

 

Applejack chuckled, though not dismissively. She took compliments well enough now but she didn't reckon she was anypony special. Just a farmer who loved her family, happened to know some famous ponies and did what she could do to help. She wasn't anything special. Indeed, she found that to be one of her most important traits. Anypony could be like her if they really applied themselves to understanding what mattered about being Equestrian. "Shucks, yer jus' trying' ta make me blush. It won't work on me, ya know," she said with a laugh, then a drink from her cup. It didn't hurt to hear it though. When she was younger she struggled with questions of self-worth, especially after ma and pa passed away. She reoriented back onto the real subject at play here, something the apple farmer felt powerfully about.
 

"Harmony...well it comes from tha heart, and tha heart? Well," she said as she looked away, then back as if an idea struck her, "it's like any other muscle. You didn't get that figure on a lark, right? Y'all had ta work on it. It was within you tha whole time, but you still had ta work it, right?" She said as she pointed at Tempest's impressive physical form. Then she took a few bites to eat and swallowed fast.  "Harmony ain't no different. You've got harmony inside ya. Just about every creature does and those that don't have it? They don't walk around mah farm, do some chores, chat, and fall in love with lil' Zappy at first sight," She said- then looked up quizzically, back to her foal, smiled, and shrugged her shoulders. "Well okay, maybe the last one would happen regardless. Point being, you've had a hard life. That don't mean you can't have yer full fill of harmony in yer life. It just means you'll need ta work at it," she spoke from the heart, getting a glass of milk and trotting on over to give it to Tempest- and the mare certainly needed it, based on how much she was scarfing down!

 

"And Ah'll be thar ta help."

[Dusty]

Tempest slowed down eating as she watched Applejack talk. She felt almost guilty spending this time with her. Applejack was a good mare. Applejack had a heart of gold and did not blink an eye at really reaching out to help some pony that a week ago was hunting her and friends down like wild animals. Everything that happened and the trust put on her by all of them was confusing. And here Applejack was reaching out again, heart on a plate to welcome her back to something she tossed away years ago. 

 

She looked back at Zappy, sleeping on her back without a care in the world. Unaware of what he naped on and what it has done. If he knew the truth will he have done the same? He will learn of it in time. All of this land will hear her name soon. Can she even stay in this land? She can’t seem to let the feelings ago. Every time she did they found a way back. It was like an army of shadows followed her, armed with the past and chanting a march of what was. It all felt so inevitable. 

 

“I wonder if I have this heart you speak of. But sometimes… I do feel it. I wish I can put words to the feelings that grip me sometimes. It is like a band is marching, chanting a song of fire and ash. But between is one filly, singing how this is not how it was meant to be. No matter how hard they sing her voice is still heard in the winds. That is how it feels some times. I take that is the harmony you speak about.” Tempest says looking at the milk, she did not move too drink it yet. She just looked at it lost in her own thinking. 

 

“Vicious thoughts… stirring like hunting wolves they follow me. And I hunger for their power just to taste the opportunity of watching the world cower in fear. The fear that haunts me in my sleep.” She mutters her words, as if she was just about to sing before it trails off as she shuts her eyes, lost in her own world. 

 

After a few moments of silence she opened her eyes and looked at Applejack. “Someday I’m going to step past a line marking a cliff. There will be no going back and I am already standing on it. I know it. But where the cliff leads I do not know. If it's good I hope to stand side by side with friends. Maybe even you and the others. If not… if the wolves win? Don’t hold back but don’t just… toss me in tartarus or turn me stone. I want your world on that. There will be no coming back. Just free me from them for good. Give me that word and I promise to take your help trying to make that tiny filly of harmony lead the pack.” She holds a hoof out, shaking as it betrayed for how relaxed her voice was this was affecting her. 

[SteelEagle]

                                                                           


It became awkward, how long Applejack's hoof extended out with the cup of milk. She had expected a quick resolution to the whole ordeal. Instead Tempest got...dangerously introspective on the topic of her past and harmony. It got dark. Tempest was haunted by the sins of her past, sharp and pointed barbs that lived under her skin, in her mind, howling their aggression and her past crimes at her. Sometimes Applejack forgot that the events of the Storm King's invasion weren't that far off, that the rebuilding of Canterlot was still ongoing. And that, in many ways, the blood of a conqueror still flowed warmly through Tempest's veins. It would be enough to chill Applejack, but she had some warm cider in her so she reckoned that would hold it off.

 

Then Tempest dropped the proverbial hammer. She was willing to go down a journey of healing, but worried about whether she would stray from the path. And if she did- well, no uncertain terms to be spoken there. She preferred the cold embrace of the afterlife to whatever sin faced her down. Applejack couldn't promise that. She knew she couldn't. And if Tempest was being fair she knew she couldn't ask this of Applejack either. But Applejack reckoned this wasn't about fairness. It was about somepony, somewhere, being Tempest's bulwark against the terrors she felt about herself. Applejack could provide that, she knew that much.

 

"I'll promise you one thing. If them wolves come back and yer threatenin' mah kin and country, Ah'll buck yer head off yer shoulders. Now take tha milk, mah arm's gettin' tired."