Appleloosa
Chapter 1:
As the sun slowly emerged from below the horizon, an eruption of brilliant rays painted the sky, morphing it into an enormous orange and purple tapestry. The first beams of light to escape as the sun was reborn radiated through the window of a passenger train that barreled across the prairie. Applejack gazed out at the beautiful landscape as it rushed by her, unable to prevent the smile that crept to her lips as she took in the vista until she heard a murmur beside her. Applejack glanced over just in time to see Fluttershy shift in her sleep and the smile broadened across her face as she leaned back in her seat, shocked upon realizing that it had been ten whole years since the married couple had first taken the train together with their friends. She looked down at the wrinkled piece of yellowed paper clenched in her hooves, almost trying to forget that this letter that she had received a month ago was the reason that they were moving to Appleloosa. She uncrumpled the document and read it for the hundredth time.
Dear Ms. Applejack,
We regret to inform you of the death of your cousin Braeburn, due to injuries he sustained after falling from a ridge in his apple orchard. In his last will and testament he left his entire estate to you. This includes his orchard, farmhouse, and a small sum of money found on his body. You may retrieve the will and well as the money and the keys to the house at the mayor's office on West Dragon Boulevard when you are next in town.
Our most sincere condolences,
The Town of Appleloosa
Applejack could hardly believe that her life could change so drastically in four cold, impersonal sentences, barely a paragraph. She also had trouble fathoming that of all the ponies in Equestria that Braeburn could have left his estate to, he had chosen her. While they had become close after Applejack's relationship with Fluttershy alienated her from most of the Apple family, she had always assumed that there must have been somepony in Appleloosa or any place else that knew him better. Then she considered his salt addiction.
Appleloosa had grown rapidly in its early years, and after the discovery of colossal gem deposits in the hills surrounding the town, ponies from all over the world came to stake their claim and make their fortune as the Equestrian frontier exploded. Consequentially, this meant that apples were no longer the dominant product of the region as gem hungry prospectors flooded the town and growers of all manner of crops set up farms to feed them. The town only kept the name 'Appleloosa' out of tradition. Braeburn apparently had trouble coping with the fierce, and at times, cutthroat competition and all of the stress combined with mare problems and who knows what else turned him to the salt, which lead to his slow and steady decline. Applejack sighed and slowly hung her head, wishing it hadn't come to that.
Regardless, Braeburn had entrusted her with all of his earthly possessions and she was not the kind of pony to let down a dead cousin, even if he had gone astray. Besides, Applejack knew that it was time for a change of pace and an excuse for a new life had been delivered right to her mailbox. As the family at Sweet Apple Acres grew to include Fluttershy as well as Big Mac's wife and two foals, money on the farm became tight. The income from one orchard simply wasn't enough to support so many ponies, and Applejack was happy to lighten the load and pave her own way in Appleloosa. She was just relieved that her wife had agreed to leave all of her woodland critter friends behind in order to join her. Just as Applejack was considering how lucky she had been, Fluttershy stirred and groggily opened an eye to look up at the mare beside her. Applejack ran a hoof through the pegasus' hair and smiled.
"Mornin' sugarcube," she greeted.
"What time is it?" Fluttershy asked sleepily, wincing and raising a hoof to shield her eyes from the garish sunlight.
"Just past dawn. I reckon we'll be pullin' into Appleloosa any minute." She sighed, obviously frustrated. "At least I hope so. We're already hours behind schedule! After all the fancy improvements to the rail and the engine and everythin' else, the darn thing still ain't on time!" She shook her head and looked back down at her wife, the scowl evaporating from her face. "You should try to get some more sleep. It's gonna be a long day," the earth pony advised.
"What about you? Have you even slept at all?" Fluttershy inquired with a concerned tone.
"Ain't tired," Applejack dismissed casually, looking back out the window.
"Oh." was all she responded with. During the long pause that followed, the yellow pegasus searched her wife's face. "If you're nervous don't be ashamed, okay? I'm nervous too. Anypony would be nervous," she reassured, snuggling against the earth pony. Applejack looked back at Fluttershy and couldn't help but smile as she draped a foreleg around her.
"Aww shucks, Fluttershy. I ain't nervous. I'm just... strategizin'... Ya know... About our plans once we're in town..." Applejack trailed off. She didn't even know what she was saying. She simply shook her head and patted smaller pony. "Don't you worry your pretty little head 'bout me, darlin'. I'm finer than a frog hair split four ways!" she affirmed.
"Frogs don't have hair," Fluttershy corrected sleepily, yawning and nestling into her seat in an attempt to fall back to sleep.
"Pumpkin and cream cheese! Duh!" exclaimed an elated voice to the couple's right. Applejack turned her head and chuckled as she looked across the aisle at Pinkie Pie scribbling furiously in a notebook, pencil in mouth.
"How's the menu comin' along, Pinkie?" Applejack called over to her.
"Superly duperly! I can't wait till everypony in Appleloosa tastes my amazingly delicious cakes, and pies, and cookies, and donuts, and muffins, and brownies, and eclairs, and churros..." she rambled on.
"With your skills Pinkie, I'd wager that the Appleloosans don't right stand much of a chance. They'll be throwin' you all of their hard earned bits once you set up shop!" Applejack cut off, grinning at her friend until she heard a scoff from behind Pinkie.
"Oh yeah... There's nothing more lucrative than a bakery... We'll be millionaires in no time..." drawled Rainbow Dash sarcastically, gloomily staring out the window on the other side of the train at nothing in particular.
"Come on, Rainbow." Applejack pleaded, her eyebrows furrowing and her grin shifting to a frown.
"Oh she's just cranky because it's early and she's not a morning pony. Isn't that right Dashie?" Pinkie asserted, lovingly nuzzling the multicolored mane of her wife. Rainbow Dash uttered nothing more than a few grumbles and continued to blankly gaze at the horizon. Applejack sighed and reflected on the blue pegasus' bitterness, spying a crooked wing that pressed up against the seat cushion. Ever since the accident that obliterated any hope of her ever joining The Wonderbolts, Rainbow Dash had become significantly more morose and distant. This never caused her wife to care about her any less and Applejack thanked Celestia for that. She didn't even want to imagine what would happen to Dash without the pink pony in her life.
Pinkie Pie had suggested that the pair move to Appleloosa along with Applejack and Fluttershy almost immediately. Dash's impaired flying ability made it impossible to keep her job with Ponyville's weather crew and Pinkie could barely make enough money for both of them managing Sugarcube Corner. Unfortunately, Mr. and Mrs. Cake weren't going anywhere and her marriage to Rainbow Dash created a sizable rift between them. The earth pony's dream of one day owning the establishment was dimming every day, so the chance to open up her very own bakery in a pioneer town of countless opportunity was was too good to be true. Also, Between Twilight Sparkle's promotion to Princess Celestia's chief advisor in Canterlot and Rarity's explosion onto the Manehattan fashion scene, there wouldn't be much left in Ponyville for them once Applejack and Fluttershy left town. It was simply the most obvious choice. As for Dash, she would naturally follow wherever her wife chose to go. Although she would hardly ever show it much less admit it, all of her friends knew that Pinkie was the only thing in Dash's life that mattered to the pegasus anymore.
Just as everypony went back to their own business, the train lurched and began to slow down. Naturally, the prospect of their imminent arrival caused the passengers to clamor to the windows excitedly, all trying to catch a glimpse of their destination. However, once the train began to pull into Appleloosa, the hopeful smile on Applejack's face began to droop into an expression of horror. The town was so... different. She tried to think back to the adventure in her youth when she brought her favorite apple tree to Braeburn's orchard, and from what she could recall, it was hardly the same Appleloosa. For starters, the town was exponentially bigger, with muddy streets and alleys sprawling every which way. The buildings were crowded together and showed their age. The cheerful and animated settler ponies of her memory were replaced by grim and dirtied individuals, mostly stallions, shuffling through the crowds indifferently. Even the sky looked grayer. Although the rest of the passengers seemed undeterred by the sight, Applejack bit her lower lip and brought a hoof up to rub her head.
"Oh horsefeathers. What have you gotten yourself into, AJ?" She muttered to herself.
The swarm of bright eyed travelers flooded out of the train cars, eager to begin their own adventures. None of them appeared to be offput by the appearence of the town. Applejack and Rainbow Dash navigated the throng to find their luggage and arranged for it to be delivered to Braeburn's old farmhouse and a room at the Pioneer Central Hotel, respectively. Upon meeting back up, the group looked about the station, admiring its brilliantly sleek design, a direct contrast with the rest of the town.
"Well at least the train station is clean..." Applejack commented under her breath.
"It's not just clean! It's amazing! Everything is so super awesome and pretty and I mean, just look at all the gold!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, apparently having caught the orange mare's quip. She twirled around shaking her forelegs at the entire station, especially the gleaming golden sign mounted at the entrance that read "Atlantis Locomotives."
"It is very... nice." Fluttershy agreed quietly.
"The most nice!" Pinkie giggled. "I could just live here and sleep on the benches!" She joked and pantomimed an exaggerated snore after flopping down on the nearest bench. Everyone but Rainbow Dash laughed.
"Then you'd be a bum," she asserted dryly. The pegasus looked around skeptically. "Sure, it looks fancy, but what good is that when the train doesn't even get here on time?" The other three looked at each other quizzically, not exactly sure what to say. She did have a point.
"Four hours behind schedule! Four!" Accused an angry voice behind them. The party turned to see an irate turquoise pegasus mare glaring at the team of stallions that had pulled the engine. Her striking seafoam green mane flowed in the light breeze that ran through the station, falling like water over her shapely frame. Even Applejack was impressed by her beauty, almost contradicting her impatient and commanding demeanor.
"Well at Prankton, the mayor demanded that we stall in town to let a magistrate from Canterlot finish his dinner and catch the train," one of the stallions defended.
"Do you work for the mayor of Prankton?" she asked, incredulously.
"No, but he said that if we didn't wait, he'd-"
"Then you tell him that I'll take full responsibility! I can handle blowhard politicians and nobles," she instructed, sighing and shaking her head.
"Well there was also this hot air balloon that-" began another member of the engine team.
"I don't have time for your excuses. I have a freight train that needs to be in Stableleen by noon and I need this engine to pull it. Not to mention the miles of track we're laying to Coltorado Springs and Hoofstone as well as maintenance on the entire Armadillo line. The last thing I should be worrying about is something as trivial as the trains being on time. So please, do your jobs," she interrupted, turning to leave.
"Yes, Ms. Atlantis," the team replied obediently in unison. The four Ponyvillians stood mouths agape upon hearing the pegasus' name, looking up at the sign and back down to the mare several times. Applejack began to trot over to her and called out.
"Hey! You run the whole railroad!" was the only thing the earth pony could think to say. Atlantis stopped her brisk trot and rolled her eyes.
"Yes. Yes I do," she deadpanned.
"Name's Applejack! Us four just took your fancy train! It was mighty comfortable!" she beamed, gesturing to her wife and friends, introducing them one by one.
"Glad you enjoyed it," Atlantis responded impatiently, slightly tapping her hoof and looking at the large golden clock at the center of the station. She sized up the group and judging by their eager smiles, she knew they weren't going to leave her alone. "So what? Are you tourists?" she asked to speed up the conversation without being rude to her own customers.
"Nopey dopey!" Pinkie chimed in. "We're opening a bakery!" she informed enthusiastically while putting an arm around Rainbow Dash endearingly.
"And me and the misses are takin' over management of Appleloosa Orchards!" Applejack added. Atlantis took a step back and her eyes widened, obviously surprised and impressed.
"How do you like that? Some industrious entrepreneurs! Celestia knows, this town needs them. It's a pleasure to meet some capable ponies, since apparently none work for me," she said, actually smiling as she warmed up to the group.
"Oh, we didn't mind the delays. It was just nice to be able to enjoy the scenery," Fluttershy reassured.
"I'm glad for that, but it's still completely unacceptable for a legitimate railroad operation. Some ponies would rather die than make one rational decision for themselves," Atlantis responded, sighing. "If only I could be everywhere at once to think for them," she lamented.
"If communication's the problem, why don't you just hire some unicorns?" Rainbow Dash asked matter of factly. It was the first time she had spoken in the conversation.
"Excuse me? I employ many-" Atlantis began.
"No, no, no. I mean, just put a unicorn on each train so they can wizard letters back to HQ, then you have your own unicorn to respond. There are spells for that, right?" Dash suggested. Atlantis raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Oh. Magic. Why didn't I think of that?" she asked, laughing. "Well thought out, Ms. Rainbow Dash. I'll keep that suggestion in mind. Thanks for the input," she said and nodded to the blue pegasus.
"Eh, it just seems to make sense," Dash responded, simply shrugging. Atlantis turned to Pinkie pie and grinned.
"Keep this one around. She's got a good head on her shoulders," she complimented, gesturing to Dash. Pinkie giggled and nuzzled her wife.
"For forever and ever and beyond and infinity plus one!" the pink pony reassured.
"Good. Well I need to be off preventing the utter collapse of my railroad, so unless you need anything else..." the turquoise pegasus said, trailing off.
"Actually, since you're from 'round these parts, can ya point us in the direction of the town doctor?" Applejack asked, remembering the crumpled letter in her luggage.
"Oh no. Are you sick Applejack?" Fluttershy cut in, legitimate concern in her eyes.
"Of course not sugarcube. I just want to ask the doc a few questions is all," the earth pony reassured, winking at her blushing wife.
"You'll be wanting Doctor Nevermore. He's set up at the end of Dead Mare's Alley, just around the corner there," Atlantis informed, pointing out of the station at the street. The group gaped at her in horror. "Hey, I don't name the streets," she said, shrugging. "Just know, the doc is a real ass," she warned.
"Beg pardon? You mean he's a donkey?"
"No. He's just a jerk. And trust me, I know. I married him," she announced with a grin, spreading her wings and taking off. "I'm sure I'll see you around!" the turquoise pegasus called down as she waved goodbye and flew away. Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed as she watched Atlantis enviously. Seeing her wife slowly lower her head caused Pinkie to quickly change the subject.
"So how about that stuff we have to do, huh?" she abruptly spat out.
"We do have to shop around for vacant lots to build the bakery on," Dash confirmed, with an ounce of enthusiasm. Pinkie sighed in relief, grateful that she was spared the sight of a miserable Rainbow Dash, at least for now.
"While ya'll do that I s'pose we can pay a visit to Doctor Nevermore," Applejack agreed. "Sound like a plan, Fluttershy?" she asked her wife.
"Oh of course. Whatever you want to do is fine," the yellow pegasus submitted.
"Okey dokey lokey! Let's split up gang! Meet back at the mayor's office at oh-noon-hundred-hours! Let's go, team!" Pinkie shouted, sticking a hoof out for a team cheer. The other three just blinked at her.
"See you guys at noon," Rainbow Dash said flatly, nodding at Applejack and Fluttershy. She turned to go, leaving her wife still frozen in place as she waited for three other hooves to bring it in.
"Take it easy, Dash," Applejack replied, chuckling as Pinkie Pie snapped out of her pose and hopped after her wife.
"Wait for me, my love!" she called out dramatically, chortling along the way. Applejack watched Pinkie go and scratched her head.
"Ya know even after all these years I still wonder how those two ended up together," she commented.
"I think they're such a cute couple," Fluttershy beamed dreamily.
"I reckon 'cute' is the proper word," Applejack conceded. "But it must be... exhausting. For both of em," she continued.
"Unlike our relationship?" Fluttershy asked coyly.
"'Course, sugarcube. Lovin' you is the easiest thing in all of Equestria," Applejack affirmed, winking at her furiously blushing wife who was at a loss for words. "Why don't we mosey on over to Dead Mare's Alley?" she suggested. The pair made their way out of the train station and into the crowded streets.