[Ponyville's Countryside] Mixed Fruits and Veggies (Ended)

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]Applejack's ribs were more bouncy than most. All those years of playing words games and wrestling with her older Big Mac. They hadn't wrestled in a while, with maturity and running the farm kicking gear when Granny got old. But it was times like these they still practiced edgy talk on one another. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Yeah, and we can talk about all those silly times Granny made you dress up in those funny costumes during the cider season to attract customers, and the time when he, uh,"[/colour][colour=#000000] [/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack thought about it, and decided that it might be a little too much for this table, with a couple fillies gathered around listening to conversation.[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]"Um, well, I guess we'll save more of those stories for the campfire after the youngin's fall asleep."[/colour] [colour=#000000]Applejack chuckled.

Looking ahead, Applejack could see Carrot's interest in Applejack. It wouldn't have been more obvious if it was written on his forehead. He was such a silly nervous pony, and with him acting like a goof-ball in front of everypony, Applejack felt a bit sorry for him and his grief, and Purple's dealing with the matter as well. She, unlike her brother, was very comfortable talking about anything.[/colour] [colour=#ff0000]"I bet you got funny stories about your brother too, huh, Hazey?"[/colour]

[colour=#000000]As Purple came back with a special carrot treat, Apple Bloom took a bite of one, and started overreacting immediately to the heat of the item. Applejack chuckled as Apple Bloom searched for water. The Carrot's must have had a watering trough next to thier barn. She figured Apple Bloom would find it eventually. Applejack picked up a carrot chimichunga, and as Purple began to explain what it could be called, Applejack remembered the horror of Pinkie Pie repeat over and over her ideas for a cherrychunga. It made her sweat a little, but she calmed down as she prepared to eat it. [/colour] [colour=#ff0000]"Heh, some little ponies can't handle the heat like some of us big ponies, huh, Carrot?"[/colour][colour=#000000] As soon as Applejack took a bite, the heat swarmed to her tongue and throat, engulfing the inside of her mouth with a flavor flame. To say the least, it was hot.[/colour]

[colour=#000000]Applejack displayed her best poker face, which was pathetic. Her mouth still full of the hot treat, she bluffed, [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Heh, it's not hot at all."[/colour] [colour=#000000]Sweat poured from her mane, her orange pelt turning redder by the seconds.[/colour]

​

[SunsetSombra]

Mac gave a wry smile at her attempt to retell the stories only he and her knew - fortunately, she had forgotten that that particular trip had been fuelled perhaps by a little too much Cider and brother/sister rivalry. Applejack stumbled as she spoke, deciding to let her rather weak comeback trail off for the time being.

A sensible idea, given the presence of the younger ponies here...wasn't really an ideal setting for 'em to hear about that!

Macintosh couldn't help but notice the distracted Carrot - seemed like Applejack was aware of the other ponies failed attempt to hide his interest, and was lookin' a little concerned for him. T'was cute to watch as Carrot stumbled over his sentances and tried to downplay where he was looking whilst he discussed the treats in front of them - Mac chuckled softly, and was just about to take a sip of his drink when...

"[colour=#ff0000]Waaaaattteeeerrrrrrrrrr[/colour] "

Applebloom suddenly looked like she'd swallowed a rocket, which prompted the ponies to momentarily pause and watch her after her effort to eat one of the rather odd carrot treats. Mac wasn't really sure if the filly wasn't just overreacting, but either way it was kinda funny watching her change colour a little whilst on her quest for a nice ice cold drink. He'd have offered her his own, but truth be told he was almost all out, and he didn't really like the idea of running dry whilst eating something himself. It wasn't that such things really got to him, as such, but he liked to make sure that he was perpared for it just in case there was a real kick to it that he hadn't anticipated. Of course, his suspicions about this particularly spicy food were compounded once Applejack gave herself a sampling of the same thing, andwoundup just about blowing steam outta her ears - Mac pauses and shakes his head for a moment, chuckling a little to himself.

" [colour=#b22222]Well, looks like you folks got yourselves quite the kicker there, eh[/colour]? " he says, taking one for himself out of curiosity - since AJ wasn't known for bein' a particularly weak filly in her own right, this was getting his attention whilst her face turned weird colors from the strength. " [colour=#b22222]Now AH gotta try...[/colour]! "

He then took a large bite out of the treat - pausing to take a moment to chew and savour the flavours that lay within...the carrot, the subtle spices, the rather unique way it all tasted as a combination...and then the rather subtle burning that followed, which took Mac a couple of moments to adjust to as he squinty-eyed and gave a small clearing of the throat as he tried to get to grips with just what was starting to creep over his tastebuds rather forcefully. He calmly takes a sip of the drink, finishing it off as he rubbed his forehead with a hoof, giving one loud cough before he speaks again.

" [colour=#b22222]That'd, uh...that'd be some mighty impressive spicin' ya got there - maybe we should share notes on that... [/colour]" Mac says with a small chuckle, still visibly trying to not just give in to the toasty sensations currently welling. " [colour=#b22222]Ah always...always was a fan o'spicy foods[/colour]! "

[Bramble Rose]

Purple Haze's eyes widened at the reactions of her guests to their bites of the carrotchamangachimis, especially wincing as Apple Bloom went for the juice. That wouldn't do anything - that'd just make it *worse*! She quickly pushed the basket of bread across the table with a concerned look, [colour=#8b4513]"Ach, nae, ye dinnae want water! Ye'd jes make it burn all th' more! Here, kip on a slice of bread, aye?"[/colour]

She looked down to the platter of blazingcarrmangas, biting at her lower lip. Had she messed up the spices? She took one onto her own plate and took a little nibble, then a larger bite, and licked her lips. Nope, just a pleasant little tingle that cleared the sinuses. Her relations out at the O'Carrot Corral would laugh to see someone consider this mild little concoction spicy!

[colour=#8b4513]"Maybe Oi should get th' next dish?"[/colour] she asked, a bit nervously, a bit flustered that the dish hadn't turned out as she'd hoped!

​

[brianblackberry]

Carrot Fields leaned over to pick up a jug of cool water, chuckling merrily at Applejack's annecdote about her brother. That chuckle cut short just a little as she asked Purple for similar embarassing stories, fumbling and almost dropping the jug. There were too many embarrassing stories, and his sister seemed to revel in telling such tales. At least she wasn't aware of those embarrassing situations when he was a wee foal and his older sister used to dress him up, ugh.

Fortunately, Purple Haze's food always had a way of diverting attention. Even just the smell of her delicious carrot chimichangas was enough for Carrot Fields to forget about the idea of embarrassing stories or about the grape wrestling challenge, at least for a little while. As much as he wanted to dig in, Carrot instead nibbled on a piece of bread covered in zap apple jam as he waited for their guests to get first dibs, curious how they would enjoy this latest dish.

Carrot knew the dish would be spicy but not terribly so as long as one didn't the chimichangas down too quickly, Applebloom appeared to have eaten her's too fast though, because she was clearly overcome. [colour=#ff8c00]"Ach! That's tae quick! Ye need tae nip small bites an' let th' flavor sink in, sae th' spices enhance, and nae kick yer tail!"[/colour] He smiled softly to Applejack's remark, but then both she and Big Mac got tears in their eeyes as they ate them, too.

Had purple messed up the spices? It seemed almost unthinkable. He took a cautious bite, tasting it. Aye, a bit of a tingle, just enough to make it interesting. Nothing at all like the veggie carrot chili that Sheriff Nantes kept feeding them every time they visited, and certainly not contest spicy! He took a few more larger bites ... Aye, it was fine. He didn't want to embarass his guests, though. [colour=#ff8c00] "Ach, aye! Aye, try some of th' bread, it's thick an' soft an' delicious!"[/colour] he said awkwardly, backing Purple up with a big, awkward smile.

[SteelEagle]

Normal Apple Bloom response to Applejack's big pony, little pony dissertations was to proclaim she was a big pony too. It was true, she was a big pony! She did farmwork and was pretty awesome at it too. Sadly, she wasn't able to deal with any thought process beyond those dealing with the flamethrower that passed as her mouth. She tried to get the water despite being told it was a poor decision, but the mind went, "Cold water defeats fire" and Apple Bloom had seen that on the farm often enough to put stock to her experience. She ignored her hosts and went for a pitcher of water and immediately tried downing it.

Never before had her experience failed her so starkly and painfully. The heat from her mouth was so intense that the water turned to steam before she could get even a single lick of refreshment, her momentary surge of optimism done in by the reality that Purple Haze had concocted some devilish carrot dish that apparently only family and Fet Loc folk could withstand. Her vision faltered as her eyelashes beat out a swift SOS. Underneath the heat there was a shock of flavor and deliciousness, but Apple Bloom believed there was nary a tongue left to taste it all! She then heard that her last possible salvation would be the bread. Sounded silly. Right silly. But when you had no other choice, silly was good enough.

She hurriedly took a piece of bread and slammed it into her mouth, chewing out of panic more than anything. The bread acted as fire-retardant foam, seemingly easing the blaze down second by second. After a while she felt the flames- whether they existed in reality or her mind- subside and the taste buds needles the bread that lay about the smoking ruins of her mouth. It tasted good, soft and sweet and delicious in all the ways possible. If only the taste of extreme spices didn't dominate, she could give the bread her full endorsement.

[colour=#ff0000]"It tastes mighty fine, Purple,"[/colour] She gasped for air, coughing several times as smoke breached her lips and rose in an ominous trail that left from both sides of her mouth.

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]The heat from the pastry still kindling in her mouth, Applejack smiled and nodded to her friends and family around the table, as if nothing was wrong. There was nothing happening here. Nope! Purple had said water would only make it worse and that the best thing to do would be to eat the bread that was out on the table. Applejack smiled and swallowed her mouth dry. She spoke as slowly as she could. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Well, gee. I think I'd like to trah some more of that bread."[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack continued to sweat. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Not because the chunga-thingy was hot though, just because I love this bread."[/colour][colour=#000000] She reached over the table and grabbed the basket of bread, and began shoving slice after slice into her mouth. As she chew the bread, she tried to fake her words. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Mmmm, this is some good bread here."[/colour][colour=#000000] After Applejack filled her entire mouth with bread, she made a massive, and quite painful, gulp of throat. One could see the per-digested bread lump fall down her neck. After it splashed into her stomach, she exhaled.

She took her hat off and started to fan herself with it. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Whew!"[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack wasn't sure if the others called their bluff. And in all seriousness, she didn't care. She knew she was a bad liar. What was still more important to her was the mane course that was apparently on its way. Applejack had reserved just enough room in her system for Purple's best. She couldn't wait to see what it was, but part of her also begged for it to be tolerable to the tongue.[/colour]

​

[SunsetSombra]

Big Mac had watched Applejack and Applebloom try and maintain a calm composure throughout the eating of the rather interestingly spiced concoction, and shook his head a little...clearing his own throat a little as he calmly acknowledged the discomforting heat still occupying his maw. However, he'd eaten perhaps a couple of meals that might have been a shade hotter than this in his time around Ponyville, but this certainly was the closest he'd come to breaking a proper sweat over an edible item - he had to admit, the carrots knew how to at least make things hot where the food was concerned!

" [colour=#b22222]Think ah'll...jusht take shome o'that bread mahshelf.[/colour] " The stallion says, finally reaching to take a slice or two back to his plate and starts to immediately take adequate bites out of it - he wasn't going to let appearances stop him from soothing the savage bite of the spice.

Looking back at Purple and Carrot, Macintosh was getting the sense that this was rather normal for the pair of them - both of them had tried their own wares and seemed entirely unphased by the exotic flavors, which the red apple Pony contemplated and decided made some lick of sense, since the Apple family clan were possibly the only ponies who could bite into a zap apple and withstand the rather unique flavors unlocked within - it was one of the reasons they made it into jam for the other ponies, instead, as the flavors were much more mild when boiled and mixed with other ingredients.

Appleblooms face had resumed, at this point, her normal composure at this point after finishing her morsels, and Applejack had 'Decided to sample the bread' of her own volition - he raises an eyebrow, a slight smile curling at the tips of his muzzle as things settled down - it was here that He took this time to voice a thought.

" [colour=#b22222]Jus' thought - it's be interestin' to see what we all could come up with as a group... [/colour]" Macintosh says aloud, rubbing his head with a hoof - the peculiar thought occurring to him after watching Applejack's expression return to a much more appeased one. "[colour=#b22222] Y'know, as a food - Bet it'd taste pretty great, too. [/colour]"

He'd been pondering the thought for a little bit now, but in venturing to bite into the spicy foods, he had been reminded that the idea should probably be voiced 'lest it fall through the cracks of his memory forever and never ventured into fully. He promptly pause, looking over now in the direction of Purple who had decided now was the time to give the best that they had to offer...sharing the same sense of wonder as his sisters as they await this mystery dish.

Just what type of dish was it she'd prepared that was about to come out this way and bless them with it's presence? Big Mac had no dern idea...!

[Bramble Rose]

Purple Haze hurried to her kitchen and looked around, worry finally showing on her face. What was she gonna do?! If they didn't like something mild like the carchimichamangarots, they probably wouldn't like any of the *other* dishes she'd prepped from the o'Carrot side of the family! Those all actually had kick to them! Not the nice spicy carrot-n-bean sausages, not the spicy carrot chili that was supposed to be the main course! That left what she had been intending as the desert. She nodded firmly, and decided one had to make do with what one had! But she knew that the sausges were some of Carrot's favorites, so she cut each sausage into thirds, dumped them into a bowl, then she went to the icechest and pulled out a wonderful golden carrot pie. So sweet, so tasty, full of brown sugar and honey and carrots and mmmmmmmm... soft and gooey, but just firm enough to stick together... her mouth watered, and she had to keep from drooling or just dropping her face into the pie to start eating it right there.

She poured a little heavy cream into a bowl and took a whisp to quickly whip it up into some whipped cream, then put everything on a platter and carried it back out. The little bowl of sausages went between her and Carrot's place. [colour=#ff8c00]"These are delicious carrot-and-bean sausages! But, um ... you might want to be careful with them, they're not like the chimichamarrots - they've got a good kick to them!"[/colour] Then she carefully put the pie out in the center of the table, and the bowl of whipped cream next to it. [colour=#ff8c00]"But this! Is Golden Carrot Pie ... and I'm *sure* you'll *love* this!"[/colour] She grinned eagerly, starting to cut the pie and hand out a generous slice to each of the ponies there. :9

​

[brianblackberry]

It was amusing - subterfuge clearly wasn't something Applejack was familiar with. Still, she was uncomfortable, and he was worried that she really didn't like the food, but glad that she tried so hard to make Purple Haze feel nice. [colour=#ff8c00]"Thanks, we wanted tae make sure tae gie some thick breed jis' fur this occasion… um, coz they gang sae weel wi' th' spices, they make a stoatin combo."[/colour] That wasn't entirely true - wheat bread would have worked better. That the bread was there was just pure chance.

Big Mac's suggestion was perfect though, what better to help bring the two families closer together than food? No doubt Purple Haze would have a blast in the Apple family kitchen. Carrot smiled broadly, [colour=#ff8c00]"Oi'm sure purple would love tae make some apple an' carrot recipes wi' yoo; fa in yer family is th' cook? unless ye aw loove cookin'."[/colour]

As if on cue, Purple Haze returned with the main dishes. Carrot couldn't help but smile proudly - surely this would impress; his sitter had worked so hard on them, especially the pie. Carrot almost laughed upon hearing Purple's cautionary note about the sausage,[colour=#ff8c00] "Dinnae worry abit th' links, jist tak' wee bites an' dinnae forgit th' bread".[/colour] He watched as his sister cut the pie, both eager to find out what their guests thought, and looking forward to one of his own favorite deserts, himself.[colour=#ff8c00] "Sae, thes campin' idea, if yer really keen, mebbe we can fin' a time an' place, coz Purple here, she loves campin'!"[/colour]

[SteelEagle]

Apple Bloom's eyes went wide at the thought of something being even hotter than the firechangas that still seemed to be burning in her stomach. The filly wasn't given over to outbursts of fear easily but there had been a time not seconds ago that she thought she had swallowed lava and was going up to that big orchard in the sky. Sugar Apple had told her all about Avalon Orchard, and if there was one place a filly could recover from swallowing lava, it was in Sugar Apple's magical apple orchard in the sky near the Rainbow Factory. Luckily, the bread had saved her from such a fate. It was delicious and acted like a fire retardant and if there was one thing that she needed, it was fire retardant. Would the bread be able to stop the extreme heat that passed for normal Carrot family recipes? They couldn't be ponies. Couldn't be! She didn't think that dragons had the same powers as Changelings but it was the only reasonable explanation. The only real question, then, was why they were taunting ponies with such hot food!

Still, no matter the motive, it would have been very rude to flat out deny the food that was being offered. It wasn't just rude for your normal Equestrian, it was more rude as an Apple family. You didn't deny what was being given to you out of the goodness of another pony's heart and you didn't play the part of a poor guest when you were over at somepony else's places. Despite her trepidation and even momentary spout of fear as Purple described the sausages, she knew that eventually she'd have to stuff at least one down her already scorched gullet. But that didn't mean she could buy herself a few minutes to recover from the last of Purple's dishes because Celestia knows she needed at least that long before she tried to burn her internal organs once more on these delicacies from the east.

[colour=#ff0000]"Y'know, talkin' 'bout makin' food got me thinkin'. We can make food together- while campin'! Tha best of both worlds, Ah reckon. How 'bout we take'm ta tha Galloping Glades, Mac'n'Jack?"[/colour] She asked as she drank a full glass of water that this time did not evaporate. Then she stuffed her face fiull of more bread, in preparation for fire-branded sausages.

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]Purple brought the mane course, or what was a little different from what she would expect. Carrots and beans in the form of, a sausage? [/colour][colour=#ff0000]What in the world is a sausage?[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack wasn't sure. Apparently it was a combination of foods mashed into a perfectly rounded cylinder, looking like it was almost processed. They looked a lot like those veggie dogs she tried in Canterlot during the last year's Equestrian Food Fair. But these were bigger, and apparently spicier, as Purple began to explain.[/colour]

[colour=#ff0000]"Oh spicier!? Good! I love me some spicy foods, heh."[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack said confidently, given plenty of room for her mind to bounce all over the place inside her head. Her heart sank so low, it began to heat up in her stomach from the remaining warmth that rested in her tummy. It bounced back up to continue it's nervous beating. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Well, I'm willin' to trah anything! Right guys?"[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack looked at her siblings. They weren't gonna back out of this. If Applejack was to go down in flames from a spicy sausage, then it meant Big Mac and Little Bloom were coming with her, as a family.

Applejack grabbed a sausage, and put it on her plate. Then she got an idea. She took some carrot bread and rolled the sausage onto it. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]That should cover the heat, right?[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack picked up the rolled carrot sausage and sniffed it. The nose hairs in her nostrils were immediately singed the moment the spicy aroma filled her nasal cavities, and it caused her to cough. She gulped. [/colour][colour=#ff0000]"Welp, here goes nothin'!"[/colour][colour=#000000] She took a bite of the sausage, maybe smaller compared to her normal bites. She chewed it for a few seconds reluctantly, with her eyes closed, but then a few moments later, opened them and smiled.

Applejack spoke with her mouth full. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Peaches and cream, Purple, this tastes amazing! How in the world did you come up with this?"[/colour][colour=#000000] And then the heat kicked in, as if the army of spices held their reinforcements until the saliva recruits were in the right position, they attacked. Applejack swallowed quickly, but it was too late, the spices took over her mouth and she began to sweat over-drastically. Applejack stood up on her hind quarters and danced in place. She pointed at her tongue, and gave into the hotness. She pleaded for help from her Carrot friends. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Hot! Hot!"[/colour][colour=#000000] She whispered from the back of her throat. Even talking too loud would make it worse.[/colour]

​

[SunsetSombra]

Well, the carrots sure knew how to put out a spread - mac watches as the next wave of delicious food makes it's way onto the table - it all smelt so much more potently delicious than anything that had come before it, and the apple stallion found himself barely able to contain himself from drooling just a little at the look of the delicious continuation of carrot family foods being brought forth from the kitchen of seemingly endless carrot-related delights.

" [colour=#b22222]Well, now...this looks like it's some mighty fine deliciousness right here[/colour]! " Macintosh utters aloud, watching as the others regard the food themselves - either deciding to pass on it for the immediate moment, or gulping one down and immediately regretting the heat rush directly afterwards.

He decides that perhaps it was better to at least show respect by taking a couple of sausage chunks and putting them aside on his plate for a munch momentarily, but for the immediate time being Mac figured the best idea was to start with the golden carrot pie, rather than follow Applejacks example and stuff one down without considering the warning that was already out there thanks to purple. Taking a moment to savour the delicious aroma of the pie on his plate, the red stallion boldly takes a bite of the much-praised foodstuff...not overly sure whether he should be prepared for nirvana for the tastebuds or just hell in his maw!

It took a few moments of chewing for the stallion to appreciate the fine tastes, the subtle delicate flavors and compound textures of the deliciously created delectable on his plate - this was most certainly a much wiser choice than just plunging straight into the deep end, like Applejack had apparently done.

After managing to swallow down the mouthful, he looks over at Applebloom who had posed her thoughts and suggested an ideal location for the camping before filling her muzzle with bread, to which Macintosh macintosh chuckles slightly...the idea that Applebloom was about to shovel some of the same sausages currently rattling Applejacks cage was somewhat adorably amusing to think about. Still, she'd come up with a pretty darn decent idea, and he found himself nodding firmly in agreement.

" [colour=#b22222]Ah think that sounds like a pretty nice idea, 'bloom - perfect kinda location for a l'il campout between families[/colour]!"

Overall, he couldn't really think of any reason why her idea WOULDN'T be worth following...of course, he couldn't account for everyponies view on the location, and the red apple stallion could at least admit to himself that he'd been wrong before - but for the most part, the idea seemed like one they could follow up on!

[Bramble Rose]

Purple Haze grinned eagerly as the talk quickly turned to campfire food, not even noticing as the veggie sausages she'd warned everypony about were grabbed and put on plates. "[colour=#ff8c00]Oooo, yeah!"[/colour] she cried out eagerly, [colour=#ff8c00]"Oi've a roit good carrots n' potatoes recipe! If'n ye make some apple deserts, we've got th' whole thin-"[/colour]

She blinked, then, and looked over to AJ, who was going nuts. Her eyes widened. [colour=#ff8c00] "Oi warned ye nae tae eat them! They're fer Carrot an' ... ah, ne'ermind, Carrot, goodness, do we have any milk left? Oi mighta used th' last of it fer th' pie... OH!"[/colour]

She hopped up to her feet and ran into the kitchen, flinging open the ice chest! She'd forgotten the best thing to go *with* golden carrot pie! She grabbed it and hurried back out to the front porch, and plopped a pint of vanilla ice cream onto the table. She quick grabbed a scoop and dropped a big ball of ice cream onto a plate without even pie at hand, pushing it across the table to Applejack. [colour=#ff8c00]"Here, hie up an' eat this!"[/colour]

​

[brianblackberry]

Carrot Fields head crooked to the right as his left eye brow raised, was Applejack serious about wanting the carrot veggie sausages because they were spicier? She could barely handle charromangas despite the good front she attempted to put up. It was no surprise then her reaction when she finally had one of the sausages. Purple Haze was right, those were specifically for Carrot and his sis, not because they wouldn't share them but because the sausages were known for their extra spiciness, one that even a Carrot family member had to grow tolerant of over years of eating them. One does not simply chow into Mordo- er ... carrot-bean sausages!

[colour=#ff8c00]"We hae some milk left Purple…"[/colour] Before he could complete his sentence, his resourceful sister took off and came back with a pint of the vanilla ice cream originally for the pie; even more effective in helping quench the fire in the orange mare's throat! [colour=#ff8c00]"ah guess we shoods have mentioned th' sausages ur one of those specialty dishes ay th' Carrot clans knoon fur their extreme spiciness. In fact they have annual contests back at Fet Loch fur th' sausages an' one ay th' categories is "most spicy"; Purple hair is usually one of th' finalists, she is a right stoatin cook!"[/colour]

Carrot pushed forward the salad and the pie as suitable alternatives. "try these, ah ink you'll loch them e'en more!" He hoped to encourage his guests to go with the mild, safe foods without calling any attention to their inexperience with the spicy fare. Now that dessert was out, there at least be no more spicy surprises and they could get down to the business of eating and enjoying each other's company. [colour=#ff8c00]"So campaign'! ah ink we can surely dae 'at these weekend! 'At Galloping Glades sound retie fun, we have never bin thaur ourselves, we can make a whole weekend of it if ye aw know of some other nearby places. At nicht Ah can shaw ye aw th' constellations, mebbe we'll e'en catch a few shootin' stars!"[/colour]

[SteelEagle]

Apple Bloom respected her big sister more than any other little sister respected her big sister. Well, maybe Sweetie Belle, but that bordered on a little creepy sometimes. Not creepy as in necessarily bad, but just a litle odd. Unlike Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom didn't feel this unending desire to please her big sister. Apple Bloom did her chores as well as could be expected out of a little filly of her temperament and never spoke poorly of friend, family, or most other ponies and she didn't even curse often. This was because Applejack had told her not to and had helped raise her with that sort of moral sphere that had only been the bedrock of her hard-working, hard-chargin' livelihood. She was kind, hard-working, and respectful and didn't ever TRY to make anypony upset.

But funny was funny, and seeing her sister finally succumb to the heat, the spice of the food that challenged Celestia herself in the realm of heat causin', made Apple Bloom giggle impishly. She then watched the hosts struggle to help her whole trying to carry on the conversation like normal ponies, which was hard considering the Apple family were partially dead. The parts that weren't dead were wishing they were dead. Well, that was an over-dramatic expression, but the fact was that Apple Bloom wasn't gonna follow her sister into heat town, Equestria. She still had a few taste buds left and wasn't wiling to have them seared off, no matter how polite she wanted to be nor how tasty the treats were underneath.

[colour=#ff0000]"Ah'm real sorry Applejack. Ah ain't laughing AT you-" [/colour]She giggled again, looking down ad then back up,[colour=#ff0000] "Oh, well, Ah'm laughin' at ya, yeah. But, uhh-" [/colour]She turned to Purple, then took a piece of sausage in her hoof,[colour=#ff0000] "Ah...don't think Ah'll be eatin' this're, 'cause mah mouth would probably melt and Ah don't think Ah want that. How does't hold over night? Looks like it'd be delicious for breakfast!"[/colour] She finished sweetly, taking another sausage for safe storage as she once more turned over to Applejack.

[colour=#ff0000]"So Applejack, Gallopin' Glades this weekend!?"[/colour]

[Hippo]

[colour=#000000]After scarfing the complimentary ice cream down her throat in desperation, Applejack gave a smile and a nod to both Purple and Carrot. They were good enough hosts, and were willing to sacrifice their plans for the better of their company. This party seemed to have a couple poopers though. Neither Apple Bloom nor Big Macintosh decided to take a bite out the sausage. They would get theirs. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "Oh, well. Purple, we would love it if you wrapped up some of these sausages for us, we can try them more later today or tomorrow."[/colour][colour=#000000] Applejack was going to eventually shove a sausage down Big Mac and Apple Bloom's throat. It might be in their sleep, it might be against their will, but Applejack was going to make sure it happened.

Applejack sat back down, wiped the remaining sweat off her brow, and slid a slice of the golden carrot pie towards her. She leaned forward and took a bite and smiled with the satisfying taste of it. She swallowed. [/colour][colour=#ff0000] "So yeah! Galloping Glade is one of our favorite campin' spots. I think we should go there. How about a week from tomorrow?"[/colour]

​

[SunsetSombra]

Macintosh was definitely feeling that there was a mixed blessing that he hadn't taken a bite of the rather spicy sausages - once Carrot had revealed that they were indeed a very special type, Macintosh breathed a sigh of relief at now being secure in the knowledge that he'd dodged a real situation there by having skipped them.

His eyes travel over to applebloom - the filly wasn't quite as capable at keeping things levelheaded, and as such she was giggling quite openly - Mac almost found himself slipping into a few giggles of his own, before stuffing his face with another bite of pie to silence himself before anything he might regret happens...the last thing he wanted to do now was aggrevate Applejack, who looked like she was already battling with the spices still firing up on her tongue - still, it wasn't often the elder brother saw his younger sister get this 'steamed up', and it was the sort of thing that he would probably prod at her later over...although she seemingly shot him a glare that made him think twice on that particular venture.

"So yeah! Galloping Glade is one of our favorite campin' spots. I think we should go there. How about a week from tomorrow?"

" [colour=#b22222]Eeeeeyup...[/colour] " Big Mac agreed, finally over his small moment of internal thought and observations of the scene before him.

" [colour=#b22222]Ah think it'd be jus' the sorta thing that'll help us all get t'know one another, one family to another - ya'all never know what kinda opportunities might lay ahead in a venture like that[/colour]! "

It was true - what better method for the families to mingle and get to know each other better than an ol' fashioned campour at Galloping Glade?

As far as Macintosh was concerned, there jus' wasn't anything better for quality family binding time!

[Bramble Rose]

Purple had seen this before - stallions and mares who sought out spiciness for the sheer joy of battling against the pain, prefering heat over flavour. Purple tended not to use the spiciest of peppers, because those tended to not taste quite so good - Crazypeppers, Owiepenos, and even the Magma Bells that grew on the sides of active volcanos all had quite a kick, but tasted all right, but the flavour just tended to be rather muted, and could be better reached with much milder peppers. Purple Haze went for the mid-range ones, instead, that had the strongest flavour along with the spicy kick.

But she had seen the competititve eaters sit there with entire bushels of the desert-growing Brushfire Suicide Peppers, a judge for each eater pulling out a pepper with a long-handled tongs, dipping it in a glass of milk to douse the flames, and setting it down before red-faced ponies who sat there with eyes streaming with tears and noses running like faucets, staring each other down as they destroyed their tastebuds one bite at a time. She supposed Applejack must be like that.

[colour=#ff8c00]"Oh, aye! That's th' best tae do it! They're roit tasty fresh, but if ye pop 'em intae th' icebox an' letem sit in their own juices fer an even, ye'll be roit on flavourful th' next morn! Ach, th' spices really come tae th' fore, then! Then they finally get a proper bite tae them!"[/colour] She laughed softly. [colour=#ff8c00]"It's a good thing we dinnae have any Brushfire Peppers in these hills! Ach, those'd set th' greenery aflame fer sure, though they're a roit pretty sight burnin' away on th' glass hills in th' desert! Aye, that's wot we use fer th' really spicy eatin' contests! Oi dinnae think ye're quite ready fer those, Applejack!"[/colour] She gave another soft little giggle at the thought of how Applejack would react to even *one* Brushfire Suicide Pepper!

[colour=#ff8c00]"But Oi'm ready tae have a noic campout, that's roit certain! Oi kin bring some more sausages tae cook over th' campfire, an' a noice potato an' carrot mix tae cook fer dinner in th' coals! An' ye kin bring some cinnamon apples tae cook in th' coals fer desert, Oi'd love tae have some made by proper apple bakers! Is there a swimmin' spot? Oi'd fancy a nice dip!"[/colour]

​

[brianblackberry]

Given how Applejack stubbornly ate the sausage with great difficultly and not a small heaping of ice cream, and more so how she just barely got through it, Carrot Fields was shocked that she wanted more of the intensely spicy veggie kielbasa. He was also polite, regardless how could he refuse such a beautiful mare? [colour=#ff8c00]"We can sure pack ah few fur ye, an' if ye loch, we can brin' some tae th' campin' trip!"[/colour] He laughed at Purple Haze's mentioning of the Brushfire Suicide Pepper version, [colour=#ff8c00]"Weel we willnae brin' any ay those, they're tay hot, e'en fur me!"[/colour]

As Carrot passed out slices of the carrot cream pie along with the ice cream for each of his guests, he felt much more relaxed than at any time during the gathering; after all the lunch was a success and he felt Purple Haze and he really created a connection with their Apple neighbors. Showing his renewed comfort he placed another dish of pie and ice cream right in front of Applejack and sat next to her, enjoying the moment. [colour=#ff8c00]"It's settled 'en, we'll gang oan a campin' trip thes weekend. it'll be a reit guid time, i'll be sure tae brin' th' telescope equipment, yoo'll loove seein' th' stars up close, jist th' other day Ah saw a pair ay shootin' stars fly reit ower th' coontryside."[/colour]

Carrot Fields sighed contently, it will be fun, and relaxing, and perhaps even provide more time to chat one-on-one with the beautiful orange neighbor, who he just remembered challenged him to a wrestling match in a vat of grapes.

Content, and blushing as he ate one of the zap apple sandwiches.

I consider this the end. If anyone wants to post an epilogue or anything else, they are welcome, but no more posts are required.

[Hippo]

((Camping trip RP thread: ))