My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Ladder Company 6 (Engine Company 22)
Chapter 12: Applebuck Season (As Told By: Glenda)
There isn't much action to be found being an archivist, but somebirdy has to do it. I look out the window day after day, and wondered if I needed to make a change in my life. When the 'Firebirds' were formed, I read all about the work they do saving lives everyday. It was then that I decided to make that change, and went to the Academy to join up.
My name is Glenda. It has been months since I had just finished my training at the Griffonstone Fire Academy, and I recently got word that I would be joining Ladder Company 6 in Fillydelphia. I flew to the station fresh out of Griffonstone just as the companies were getting the rigs out to be washed, "You looking for Whitewing? He's inside," said Greta,
"Good to have you with us, Glenda," said Captain Gordon as I saluted him, "right on time too",
The captain was a very handsome griffon. It is no wonder this one is married. You would be a birdbrain to say no to him, "Thank you so much," I said shaking his talons. My new friends in the fire service came into the office too. There was Engineer Greta, Firefighter Giselle, Firefighter Gretchen, and now there is me. Five will make it a full company now.
"You're just in time for something special," said Gordon, "we've received a call from Applejack, her brother Big Macintosh got hurt on the job and she needs some help around the apple orchard," I know to expect the unexpected, but this was new to me. As firefighters, we do more than just put out fires and rescue those in danger. We all do our part.
"Looks like we can use axes and pike poles for more than just breaking down doors," I replied,
"Exactly," said Greta with a hand on my shoulder, "we're part of this community, so we do what we can to help out, that means going the extra mile," I also got a tour around the station. I met the fire-griffons of Engine Company 22 and their Lieutenant Wilhelmina or 'Big Billie'. I swear she is the biggest hippogriff I had ever seen. She is also very pretty.
With the fire trucks out and gear ready to go, so were we. Our trucks arrived at Sweet Apple Acres. The apple trees seemed to stretch for miles, "Mighty kind of y'all to show up today, y'all ready to get a goin'?" Applejack asked, we had axes and pike poles ready for the job, "a'ight then, let's do this," we used the hooks our pike poles to shake branches.
I used the top of my axe like a hammer, and got rained on by apples, "You alright?" asked Billie
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said shaking some apples off my head after being up to my beak in the fruits, and getting a talon up from Billie. Baskets of apples began to fill up, and we placed them in the barn or where ever Applejack needed them to go. It was first time meeting the Apple Family. I don't think there is any family in the Griffon Kingdom that big.
The space between the lines of apple trees was wide enough to get our rigs through. We used every method we could think of to bring the apples down from the trees without chopping the trees down. We used our quint units like cranes to reach the top of the trees, and used a pike pole to hook the tree, and shake the ripe apples free of the branches.
Billie used her back mare hooves to kick the trunk and bring apples down, "Wow, you're strong,"
"Thank you," said the big hippogriff, now I see why some of the fire-griffons nickname her 'Thunder Flanks'. Billie doesn't seem to mind though I shouldn't test her. Billie is a lieutenant after all. Gilda and Greta joke that if a fire is just the right size, Billie can put it out by sitting on it. Hours went by, and we were working up a sweat on this warm day.
"Winona! No-no-no bad dog!" Greta yelled as Winona the farm dog did what a dog usually does when it sees a hydrant on the chrome wheels of our fire truck, "aww...and I just waxed the hubs this morning!" she groaned, I patted the engineer on the wing knowing we can always just do it again. It's not the end of the world, and not the end of our work
"I must say I'm mighty thankful for all the hard work you birdies put in today," said Big Macintosh.
"We're just here to help," said Captain Gordon, the sun setting off in the hills, it will be evening in a few hours. The barn was now full to the brim with bushels of apples. All in a good day's work. We did more work than most griffons in Griffonstone do in a year, if not more. Applejack and all her family soon came up to us as the work is done for the day.
"Y'all griffons did a mighty fine job out there today, and this is our way of saying thank you," said Applejack, the trucks were backed up out of the orchards and we were all invited into the home for a treat. That treat was every apple treat under the sun awaited us inside. Food just tastes better when you work for it, and sharing it with the families.
"From our family to yours," said Granny Smith, you will never find a family back home this charming,
If this is what it's like to be a firefighter in the way of helping out others in the community, then I believe I am taking the right path in life away from the library. I get to feel that sense of adventure I felt was missing in my life. It feels great. I hope to put out my first fire one day. I know the day will come. I don't know when. I'll just have to wait and see.
(Author's Note: 'Applebuck Season' with firefighters, who'd a thunk it? Please read and review kindly ^_^)
