Chapter 11: The Art of Applebucking
The sunlight shone through the curtains and into the room where Quentin slept. He shifted in the bed and pulled the covers over his head to block the sunlight. Finally, Quentin's eyes opened slowly as he sat up in bed. He yawned as his eyes adjusted to the light. That was one of the best nights he have ever had. It must've been for when Quentin looked at the clock, it was almost ten.
The human turned earth pony groaned, normally Quentin was a crack of noon kind of guy, but he felt it would be kind of rude to be waking up late in someone else's home. Quentin got out of bed and stretched his new equine body, small sounds of cracks was heard as he stretched. After he cracked his neck, Quentin walked over to the window and gazed out onto the animated world. The sun shone brightly over the farmland that was Sweet Apple Acres.
From a distance, a rooster crowed. Quentin couldn't help but smile at the sight he beheld. Everything was actually quite beautiful.
''Wow,'' was the only thing Quentin could say.
After Quentin made the bed, he headed downstairs. It was pretty quiet around the house. He heard faint humming coming from the kitchen, along with a delicious aroma. Quentin peered over the saloon doors to find that it was Granny Smith that was humming and baking numerous of pies, my guess apple pies. With a smile on his face, Quentin went through the doors and into the kitchen. Granny Smith looked towards him and smiled.
"Well g'mornin there young feller!'' Granny Smith greeted.
"Good morning Mrs. Smith,'' Quentin responded warmly.
"Now Quentin I done told ya once, I insist that ya call me Granny Smith,'' she said playfully.
Quentin smirked. "Yes ma'am if you insist, Granny Smith.''
Granny Smith smiled. "Now that's more like it. Did ya sleep ok hun?''
"Yes ma'am I did thanks,'' the stallion responded respectfully. "I can't thank you enough for letting me stay for the night.''
Granny Smith shook her head with a kind smile. "Now don't you mention it Quentin. Any friend of my Applejack is considered part of the family. Yall can stay as long as ya like.''
Quentin just smiled, somewhat touched by such a comment.
"Now, I imagine that yall must be hungry?''
Quentin's face lit up. "Yes ma'am, very hungry,'' he said, licking his lips.
"Well you just sit down at that there table and I'll bring you some breakfast,'' Granny Smith instructed.
Quentin did what she said and sat down at the table. "So where Applejack, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom?'' the dreadlocked stallion asked.
"Well Apple Bloom's at school, and the other two youngins are out doing their regular chores,'' Granny Smith explained, while she fixed his breakfast.
Quentin thought for a moment. He really couldn't thank them enough for taking him in. Surely there was a way for him to repay them. Within a few moments, Granny Smith came back with a bowl of mouthwatering apple cinnamon oatmeal. Quentin licked my lips as he inhaled the sweet aroma, apple cinnamon was his favorite flavor.
Granny Smith was like a natural, loving grandmother. When Quentin was done with the bowl, she would insist that he'd try some more, to the point where Quentin had to practically beg her to stop. She would make sure in all her power that guest had everything they need. After the tasty breakfast, Quentin thanked her and headed outside on the farm.
Quentin walked around the warm day, smiling as he experience the farm life first hand. It was pretty quiet, save for the rustling of the trees from the wind's breeze and occasional pigs and chickens. Out in the fields, he saw Big Mac, walking towards him pulling a wagon filled to the brim with different colored apples.
"G'mornin' Quentin,'' Big Mac said, giving his friendly smile. He was chewing on a piece of straw that came out of the side of his mouth.
"Good morning Big Mac. Nice weather today isn't it?'' Quentin greeted back with a smile.
"Eeyup,'' Big Mac responded. "Perfect day fer applebuckin.''
Quentin blinked a few times, and tilted his head in confusion. "Applebucking?''
"Eeyup it's how we harvest the apples,'' Big Mac explained.
The other worldly traveler just looked at the red stallion, completely lost but Big Mac just chuckled.
"Don't worry Quentin, yall go on yonder to the orchard fields. My little sister can tell ya all about it. Well, I best be getting back to my work. Have a good one Quentin,'' Big Mac said and began pulling the wagon away.
"Yeah, you too Big Mac,'' Quentin called.
Quentin walked toward the direction of the orchard fields. "Applebucking...what's next?'' he asked himself as he continued to walk.
As Quentin walked, he noticed that he had hardly any wobble to his steps as opposed to the previous day. Seeing this, he smirked slightly as he remarked,
"Well, nice to know that I'm finally starting to get use to this new body.''
Quentin walked past the carrot and corn fields and made his way into the orchards, a sea of trees with the sweet aroma of apples on its limbs. The brown pony inhaled the smell deeply, it was intoxicating for now that he was a stallion. At a distance, Quentin heard thick thuds and grunts and he investigated to see that it was Applejack. Quentin watched in interest as she kicked a tree trunk with a powerful force that knocked six apples from the tree and into waiting barrels around the base.
"Damn,'' Quentin said quietly. ''I would hate to be on the receiving end of that buck.''
With her barrels full, Applejack whipped the sweat from her brow and gave a satisfied smile. Her ears perked as she heard her new friend walking towards her. Her face lit up.
"Well howdy there Quentin. Finally awake I see,'' she joked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Yeah finally, I was knocked out too,'' Quentin laughed.
Applejack giggled. "Well I woulda guessed, seein ya had a pretty crazy o' a day yesterday. But I'm glad ya had a g'night's sleep.''
Quentin nodded and smiled. "Thanks. So I'm guessing that's the famous applebucking Big Mac was telling me about?'' he said walking closer.
"Yes sir,'' Applejack said proudly, crossing one hoof over another. "Been doing it since I was a youngin','' and with one strong, effortless kick, another four apples fell from the tree.
''Wow, I sure hope no one gets on your bad side. Hate to be on the receiving end of that kick," Quentin joked.
"Well so far no pony agitated me ta go that far, though I'm bettin my hide leg Big Mac would be the first if he keeps sneaking a drink o' my personal supply of apple cider,'' Applejack giggled and the two laughed.
Applejack took an apple and offered it to Quentin. "Oh, thanks,'' Quentin said taking the apple. He took a bite and his eyes widened.
"Wow, this is one good apple!'' Quentin said pretty loudly, and as if on instant, chomped the rest in one bite.
Applejack smiled. "Well I ain't a pony to brag, but the best apples in Equestria comes from right here on this farm.''
"I can believe that.'' Quentin swallowed the apple and licked his lips. Never had an apple taste so delicious and the strange thing is, he really didn't care that he ate the stem and seeds.
"Hey Applejack, can I ask you something?''
"Sure sugarcube. What's on yer mind?'' Applejack responded.
"Do you mind if you can show me how to applebuck?''
Applejack's face lit up. "WHOO-WEE! I thought yall never ask!'' she cried, and Quentin jump slightly.
"Well t'aint nothin to it Quentin. Yall come right beside me and I'll show ya.''
Quentin did as she said and stood beside her in front of a tree and awaited eagerly.
"Now hun, all ya got to do is plant yur front hooves firmly on the ground.'' Applejack explained, demonstrating the motion by digging her forelegs into the ground so they'd be nice and firm.
"Check,'' Quentin said, adjusting his hooves.
"Raise yur hind legs and...''' With a powerful buck, Applejack hit the tree, shaking it and all the apples dropped down below and into the barrels.
"Nice,'' Quentin grinned and Applejack smirked.
"See, ain't nothin to it. Now yall try.''
Quentin nodded with determination and readied himself. With his front hooves firmly on the ground, Quentin raised his hind hooves up and with a strong buck with all his might, he struck the tree trunk. The tree shook and four apples fell from the tree and into an empty barrel beside the tree. Quentin smiled happily at his success.
"YEE-HA! Now that's some good o'l applebuckin!'' Applejack praised. "Looks like we have ourselves a natural!''
She put a hoof around his shoulder and Quentin blushed.
"Oh well I wouldn't say that,'' Quentin said humbly. "I mean all of them came down when you did it.''
Applejack shook her head with a soft smile. "Believe it or not Quentin, a lot of ponies would have a mighty hard time the first time around.''
Quentin looked down embarassingly.
"Yup, as I said before, yall look like a strong colt. An' a cute one at that.''
Quentin widened his eyes and looked at Applejack. She immediately put a hoof over her mouth and looked at him with an embarrassed look, her ears perked down.
"Oh...well what I meant to say Quentin,'' Applejack stammered, blushing while he just stared at her, his head tilted.
"How bout ya try another tree, Quentin?'' Applejack asked, smiling sheepishly, still blushing.
Quentin looked at her funny, but brushed it off. "Yeah, I'll try another one. This is pretty fun actually.''
Quentin got walked over to another tree. Applejack sighed in relief.
"Celestia that was a close one,'' she muttered.
Applebucking was fun, really fun. Quentin and Applejack spend a great time talking and laughing as they applebucked. Before they knew it, they've had filled almost thirty barrels with apples, and it was half passed noon
"WHOO-WEE that's some mighty fine harvesting if I do say so m'self,'' Applejack breathed, whipping some sweat from her forehead.
"Yeah, totally,'' Quentin agreed, sweating and panting. "That applebucking is also some serious workout.''
Applejack giggled. "Yup, another benefit of workin on the farm. I'll say ya earn yurself a nice, cold glass of lemonade.''
"That would be great,'' Quentin said, beaming, sweat dripping down the side of his face.
Applejack and Quentin left the barrels of apples to get them later and the two walked towards the barn.
"I think we can take a break. Maybe I can show you around Ponyville?'' Applejack suggested.
Quentin smiled weakly, ''That...that would be great Applejack.'' he said softly, but then his face fell sadly.
Applejack saw this and had a concerned look on her face. "Why the long face sugarcube?''
Quentin chuckled lightly at the unintended joke. "It's just, even though I've been here for a day, I think I'm going to miss this place when I leave.''
Applejack understood this and looked down sadly. "Oh, right. I was havin' such a heapin'good time that I forgot about findin a way home for ya,'' she said with a disappointed.
Quentin nodded, and there was silence between them.
"Well I s'pose that we should gather the gang and start lookin huh?'' Applejack said halfheartedly, forcing a small smile, to which her friend just nodded.
Applejack sighed deeply and smiled warmly. "Alright Quentin, let's find go an find a way to get ya back home.''
Quentin looked into Applejack's emerald green eyes and smiled sadly. "Yeah...thanks Applejack.''
''Sure thing,'' Applejack responded with a kind smile, but then she looked away sadly. "Sure thing,'' Applejack thought sadly in her mind.